Sep 08, 2022 City Council

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

[00:00:01]

[Items I & II]

MAYOR REED. YEAH.

VICE MAYOR LITT HERE.

COUNCILMEMBER WOODS.

COUNCILMEMBER MARCIANO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER TINSLEY HERE.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR MODIFICATIONS THIS EVENING? NO, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRESENTATIONS]

WE HAVE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH OUR POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.

SO I SEE CHERYL STEWART, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR, IS AT THE PODIUM TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

HI, CHERYL. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.

THE CITY AND THE POLICE UNION BARGAINING TEAMS BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR AND BY THE END OF THE FOURTH SESSION IN AUGUST SUCCESSFULLY REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR A NEW CONTRACT, A THREE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WOULD BEGIN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2025.

THE PBA SUCCESSFULLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS AGREEMENT.

AND ON AUGUST 22ND, THE VOTE WAS 112 TO 11 IN FAVOR.

TO TOUCH ON SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS THAT WE ADDRESS THROUGH THE BARGAINING PROCESS.

TO BEGIN, OUR OFFICER IN CHARGE AND FIELD TRAINING OFFICER PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR INCREASES IN THOSE ASSIGNMENT PAYS FROM 3% TO 5%.

IN ADDITION, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE ASSIGNMENT PAYS ARE CALCULATED ON BASE PAY, BUT THEY ARE PAID SEPARATELY AS A SEPARATE ITEM ON EMPLOYEES PAYCHECKS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR INCREASES IN OUR EXTRA DUTY DETAIL EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS WHEN OTHER EMPLOYERS IN THE COMMUNITY CONTRACT FOR SERVICES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

THOSE RATES WOULD INCREASE BY $10 AN HOUR FOR OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS AND FOR BY $3 AN HOUR FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL.

THIS PUTS OUR PAY RATES IN LINE WITH NEIGHBORING POLICE AGENCIES FOR EXTRA DUTY DETAIL.

IMPORTANTLY AND DUE TO THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS A NEW PROGRAM, A NEW EMPLOYEE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES A NEW PHYSICAL EXAM AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM TO BE PHASED IN OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THE AGREEMENT.

STARTING OFF, BOTH UNION AND MANAGEMENT TEAMS RECOGNIZE THAT PHYSICAL FITNESS IS ACTUALLY AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, MUCH LIKE OUR CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS.

SO THIS PROGRAM WOULD ALIGN THE POLICE PERSONNEL WITH OUR FIRE FOR SWORN AND CERTIFIED BECAUSE IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE THAT ARE PERFORMING THOSE LIFE SAVING JOBS FOR OUR PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY AS A HEALTH BENEFIT FOR EMPLOYEES.

THE CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR A NEW LIFE SCAN, A COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL EXAM, WHICH IS KNOWN WIDELY FOR PREVENTING AND IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES, IN PARTICULAR FOR REDUCING AND PROACTIVELY PREVENTING RISKS FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE AT HIGHER RISK.

IN ADDITION TO THE MEDICAL EXAM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL INTRODUCE A PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST, GIVING THEM TIME TO PREPARE VOLUNTARILY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE AGREEMENT, AND THEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE SECOND AND THIRD YEARS, THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS THE TEST BY THE END OF THE THIRD YEAR IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY.

AND THE PROGRAM WOULD THEN BE IMPLEMENTED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

NEXT CENTRAL TO THE AGREEMENT IS A NEW SALARY PLAN.

THE SALARY PLAN PROVIDES FOR ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON OUR LOCAL MARKET.

IT'S A CONSISTENT APPROACH THAT WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEE GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE SALARY STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF PAY RANGE MINIMUMS, WHICH IS THE STARTING PAY AND MAXIMUMS, WHICH IS TOP OUT.

BY DOING THIS, WE WOULD BE SLOTTING ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OR ARE ACTUALLY OUR OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS INTO THE NEWLY ADJUSTED SALARY RANGES IN YEAR ONE. BY DOING THAT, OFFICERS WOULD RECEIVE AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 9.73% IN THE IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 21% ON AVERAGE FOR OUR SERGEANTS.

COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL WOULD RECEIVE AN 8% INCREASE TO THEIR BASE SALARY.

THEN IN THE SECOND AND THIRD YEAR OF THE AGREEMENT, ALL EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE A 7% INCREASE IN THEIR BASE SALARIES.

[00:05:06]

THIS CHART SHOWS YOU WHERE THE BARGAINING UNIT POSITIONS WOULD BE BY THE END OF THE THIRD YEAR OF THE AGREEMENT AS A RESULT OF THOSE INCREMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PAY RANGES. THE GOAL IS BASED ON OUR COMPARATIVE MARKET DATA.

ONCE AGAIN, BASED ON DATA THAT WE HAVE AS OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR WOULD BE TO KEEP US IN THE TOP QUARTILE OF OUR LOCAL MARKET WITH WHOM WE COMPETE FOR LABOR.

ALSO, THE NEW AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR A NEW ADDITIONAL PENSION BENEFIT, A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN THE POLICE PENSION PLAN.

0.5% WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED EACH YEAR.

THE AGREEMENT FOR A TOTAL OF ONE AND A HALF PERCENT.

THIS WOULD APPLY TO ALL CURRENT MEMBERS, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM, AND IT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATE $1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY.

THE PROJECTED TOTAL COST OF THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU WOULD BE OVER THE OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THE AGREEMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 4.75 MILLION IN TOTAL, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.6 MILLION EACH YEAR OF THE AGREEMENT.

AND STAFF IS APPROVING RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 52, WHICH WOULD RATIFY FULLY RATIFY A NEW THREE YEAR POLICE CONTRACT. AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE CITY AND UNION BARGAINING TEAMS. WE WORKED REALLY HARD, DILIGENTLY AND COLLABORATIVELY AT THE TABLE AND BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND WITH US TONIGHT, OUR LOCAL PBA REPS, SERGEANT PETE REYNOLDS AND OFFICER BRIAN TO ALLOW GLUE TO WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. GOOD EVENING, CITY MANAGER, MANAGER, FERRIS AND COUNCIL AND OTHER MEMBERS.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SCRIPTED TO SAY.

WE JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THIS CONTRACT THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS.

I KNOW NOTHING GETS DONE IN THE CITY WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL.

GET YOUR HANDS ON IT. AND WE WE WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE FEEL THE CONTRACT OVERALL IS VERY GENEROUS AND HAS GOT OVERWHELMING SUPPORT BY OUR MEMBERS DURING THE VOTE.

AND I THINK IT'S A WIN FOR THE BARGAINING UNIT AND THE CITY AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION GOING FORWARD THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

OKAY. RON, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING AT ALL? GOOD. GOOD. ALL RIGHT, MARCY, WERE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING LOVELY? ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S NOTED.

IS ON CONSENT. YEAH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[V. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

I DO HAVE THREE COMMENT CARDS FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.

I ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS IF I DON'T PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME PROPERLY.

SO FIRST UP, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR MR. DANIEL. DANIEL HART.

CHECK THE HART TRICK.

ALL RIGHT. MY APOLOGIES.

IF YOU COULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM, TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. DANIEL LOVATO CHECK 10789 NORTH MILITARY TRAIL PALM BEACH GARDENS.

IT'S A UNIT THAT I RENT OUT.

BUT I'VE LIVED IN THE IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE 85 BOUGHT THERE IN 92.

THE REASON I'M COMING HERE IS THE IT'S THE COMMUNITY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL TRAILS AND VILLAS.

IT'S A TOTAL OF FOUR.

OWNER OCCUPIED OR CANNOT OCCUPY UNITS IN ONE CLUBHOUSE.

AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF REROOFING A TOTAL REVAMPING IT THE.

COMMUNITY AND THE.

PRIMARY ROOFING.

THE ROOFS. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE OFF THE TAKE OFF THE AC UNITS AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THEM BACK ON STANDS TO GET THEM TO CODE ONCE YOU PUT THEM ON STANDS TO GET THEM TO CODE.

THERE'S A FENCING CODE THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE CITY.

[00:10:02]

TO COVER UP SHIELD THE AC UNITS FROM THE ROAD.

AND I'M ASKING FOR A WAIVER ON THE BUILDINGS, ONE, BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANDFATHERED IN.

THE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1973.

TWO, IT'S AN EXTREME COST JUST FOR THE SCREENING.

THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ROOFING OR THE PAINTING OF THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO RUN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 4500 4500 TO ABOUT 6800 PER UNIT.

WE HAVEN'T GOT THE FINAL NUMBERS IN YET, BUT THAT'S THAT'S JUST FOR THE SCREENING.

THAT'S NOT FOR THE ROOF, THE PAINTING, THE TREE TRIMMING AND ALL THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE REST OF IT.

AND IT'S A PRETTY EXTREME COST FOR EACH.

UNIT OWNER.

LIKE I SAID, THAT COST IS FOR EACH UNIT OWNER.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S A THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY WOULD GIVE A CONSIDERATION TO WAIVE THE SCREENING REQUIREMENT CODE.

THAT COMPLEX.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

OUR STAFF WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

THAT WOULD HANDLE THAT MATTER.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR. WHO WOULD CONTACT ME ON THAT? WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL HAVE ONE OF OUR STAFF REACH OUT TO YOU JUST FOR THIS MOMENT ON YOUR WAY OUT, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED APPROPRIATELY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT, WE HAVE SUZANNE ARCHER, PLEASE.

SUZANNE ARCHER, IF YOU COULD COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

THANK YOU. THINK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SUZANNE ARCHER.

I LIVE AT 3187 GARDENS EAST DRIVE.

IT'S KNOWN AS MERIDIAN PARK, BUT MANY PEOPLE CALL IT SANDALWOOD.

THE COMMUNITY IS NOT A PUD.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. I'M SORRY.

CAN YOU PLEASE BE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE? WE'RE NOT PICKING YOU UP PROPERLY.

THANK YOU. THE COMMUNITY IS CALLED MERIDIAN PARK.

IT IS NOT A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, ALTHOUGH IT IS BEING TREATED THAT WAY.

AND MANY PEOPLE THINK IT'S A CONDO, BUT IT IS NOT.

BACK IN 2005, WE HAD THE ROOFS REPLACED AND IRONICALLY, I HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER REGARDING THE SCREENING AROUND THE AC SKIRTS ABOVE THE TWO STORY TOWNHOMES.

I OBJECTED TO THE STRUCTURE AND HAD A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST IN IN 2008 FROM THE CITY.

I WANTED TO SEE THE PERMITS AND THE DESIGN.

ENGINEERING GOT NOTHING FROM THE CITY.

I DID GET A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR ALL 62 BUILDINGS ON ONE SHEET OF PAPER THAT SAID THAT THE ROOFS WERE COMPLETED AND COMPLIED, WHICH TO ME DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S VALID.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE CITY GAVE ME.

IN THE MEANTIME, I DID GET A HOLD OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING IN THE STATE, AND THEY SENT ME A 200 PAGE DOCUMENT WITH TWO WITH TWO EXPERTS THAT CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ROOFTOPS, AC SKIRTS ARE GROSS NEGLIGENCE.

THEY DO NOT MEET FLORIDA CODE.

THE ENGINEER WAS CITED, FINED.

HE WAS ALSO REPRIMANDED, MADE TO TAKE CLASSES.

THE DAMAGE TO THE SKIRTS, THEIR METAL SKIRTS, AND THEY DID ALL BLOW OFF.

I HAVE A PICTURE OF THEM I COULD SUBMIT AND I'M REQUESTING THAT THESE AC SKIRTS, WHICH ARE A HAZARD ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

BE REMOVED.

ALL 60, ALL 45, BECAUSE 17 BUILDINGS WERE ALLOWED TO.

RELOCATE THE ASHES ON THE GROUND.

THAT WAS DONE WITHOUT A PERMIT AS WELL.

I DO SHOW HERE THAT SANDALWOOD IS RESIDENTIAL.

IT'S NOT PLANNED UNIT.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITY TOLD ME.

AND AT THAT TIME, THERE'S AN EMAIL FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION THAT STATES THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE.

THE MAYOR IS ALSO OF PALM BEACH GARDENS WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND WHY IS HE INVOLVED IN OUR ROOFS? I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT THIS CAN BE DONE.

AND I'VE GOT SUPPLEMENTAL PAPERS HERE AND OUR AC SKIRTS COST US 360,000 JUST TO PUT THEM UP.

A MONTH LATER, THEY ALL BLEW OFF THE DOORS AND GATES, AND IT TURNED OUT THAT WE JUST GOT CHARGED 3500 TO REPLACE THE GATES.

I'M REQUESTING REMOVAL OF THE AC SCREWS.

UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING.

SO WE'LL WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME THING IF WE.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND EITHER ON YOUR WAY OUT OR IF YOU'RE HAVING A SEAT.

SOMEONE FROM OUR STAFF WILL COME RIGHT OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

ALL RIGHT. OUR LAST CARD IS TERENCE DAVIS, PLEASE.

[00:15:03]

MY NAME IS TERRENCE DAVIS, AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN 4822 NORTH LAKE BOULEVARD IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

THANK YOU, SIR. LIKE I STATED, MY NAME IS TERENCE DAVIS.

I'M CURRENTLY A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN PALM BEACH GARDENS AT 4822 NORTH LAKE BOULEVARD.

I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF PALM BEACH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 94.

GO GATORS.

I AM A GRADUATE OF FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, WHERE I GOT MY DEGREE IN HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY.

I RETURNED TO PALM BEACH GARDENS AREA TO COACH TRACK AND FIELD AND CITY SCHOOL FOR THE LAST DECADE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THIS COUNCIL AND TO THIS MAYOR GREAT JOB OF WHAT YOU DID TODAY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THESE YOUNG LADIES AND MEN IN UNIFORM AS WE SHOW GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.

THESE ARE THE TIMES WHERE WE NEED MEDIA HERE SHOWING GOVERNMENT AND POLICE WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AS WELL.

AND MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND LEADERSHIP AWARD THAT YOU RECEIVED RECENTLY.

I RECENTLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AS I SERVED ON THE COUNCIL AND REVERE BEACH, I SAT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.

AND ON THAT BOARD I UNDERSTOOD HOME RULE AND WE FOUGHT FOR HOME RULE FOR OVER SIX YEARS.

AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND, AS WE FOCUS ON YOUR PRIORITIES, AS TALLAHASSEE HAS COME, AS YOU'RE PROVING THIS BUDGET COMING UP THIS CYCLE, IF IN POSITION TO BE ELECTED TO THIS NEW DISTRICT HOUSE SEAT 94, THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOMEONE TO REPRESENT YOU AND SIT THROUGH THESE BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND FOCUS ON YOUR PRIORITIES.

PALM BEACH GARDENS START OFF IS WHAT GOT MY REASON.

YES, I WAS BORN IN REVERE BEACH, BUT I SPENT ALL MY EDUCATION IN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I JUST WANT TO COME HERE TONIGHT JUST TO SAY HELLO.

YOU HAVE A GREAT SMILE. GOOD GREETINGS.

MY NUMBER IS 8503399380.

I WILL BE AROUND. I WOULD BE REACHING OUT TO YOU JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? IF WE ARE BLESSED TO GET TO TALLAHASSEE, TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES PRIOR TO GETTING TO TALLAHASSEE, TO PALM BEACH COUNTY.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT STATE LEGISLATORS COME TO THESE MEETINGS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THIS DISTRICT TO BE A PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS.

SO WHEN YOU GET THERE, THEY ARE THERE WAITING ON YOU.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TERRENCE DAVIS.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE HAVE THE CITY MANAGER REPORT.

[VI. CITY MANAGER REPORT]

FIRST THING AS AT THIS TIME, SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY AN OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

THERE'S A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER CARD.

MY YARD IS THE BUSINESS HAS REACHED OUT TO THE CITY WITH AN IDEA OF PLACING SIGNS, ENCOURAGING PHRASES THROUGHOUT PALM BEACH GARDENS.

YOU'LL LIKELY SEE THESE SIGNS AS YOU DRIVE AROUND THE CITY AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND PARKS.

EACH TIME IS ACCOMPANIED WITH A DISPLAY WITH INFORMATION ON THE 988, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE BY CALL, TEXT OR CHAT 24/7.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AROUND TOWN AND SEE THESE ENCOURAGING TYPE OF SIGNS OUT FOR SELF FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.

SO JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AS YOU CAME IN INTO CHAMBERS A VOTE FOR THE GARDENS GREEN MARKET ON THE SCREENS UP HERE, THE GARDENS GREEN MARKET IS CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET COALITION, TOP FARMERS MARKETS IN AMERICA. IT'S A CONTEST, AS YOU KNOW, OUR GREEN MARKET IS NOW RATED FIRST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AT THIS MOMENT, AT THIS MOMENT, WE NEED MORE VOTES TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT IF YOU WISH TO VOTE.

WE HAVE FLIERS OVER HERE ON THE ENTRANCE BY THE ENTRANCE ON THE TABLE.

YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE, PLACE YOUR VOTE.

THE VOTING ENDS SEPTEMBER THE 19TH.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FREQUENTLY AND AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN RUN THOSE NUMBERS UP.

BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT FROM DIFFERENT COMPUTERS.

SO IF YOU I WAS GOING TO SAY YOU CAN'T VOTE TWICE BECAUSE I ALREADY TRIED AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO DIFFERENT EMAIL.

[00:20:02]

YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

SO DO WE HAVE ANYTHING BEING PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

SO NOTHING HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO MAY I GET A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE? MOTION A SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSE MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND AND IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT WAS THE BEST AND SHORTEST NEGOTIATIONS ON RECORD.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING AND REALLY COMING TO THE TABLE AND DOING THAT.

THAT WAS AWESOME. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT, FINE.

DO YOU WANT TO GO? ONTO ORDINANCE SEVEN.

[VIII.a. ORDINANCE 7, 2022 – (1ST READING) ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022/2023. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2022, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2023; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER ONE, 2022, AND ENDING TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023.

PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, PROVIDING A COMPLEX CLAUSE IN A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.

PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR THE PURPOSES.

THANK YOU. I GUESS I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING AND WE HAVE FOLKS TO THE PODIUM AND I'M GOING TO KICK IT OFF TO RON HERE NOW.

OKAY. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, LIKE EVERY OTHER BUDGET THAT WE FACE, IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE AND FOR MANY REASONS.

THE CITY STAFF FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS WORKED VERY WELL TO FUND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OPERATIONS OF ALL OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

THE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN OUR DEPARTMENTS AS USUAL IS UNPARALLELED BY ANY GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION THAT I'M AWARE OF, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

TO COMPOUND THE ISSUE OF A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

A NEW ELECTRONIC FORMAT WAS INTRODUCED THIS YEAR, WHICH YOU ALL WILL HEAR ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.

AND YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION, AT YOUR AGENDA REVIEWS, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE STUDIED THAT LABORIOUSLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE ENGAGED THIS NEW CHALLENGE WITHOUT HESITATION, AND THEY STARTED LEARNING THE PROCESS.

THEY QUICKLY REALIZED THE ADVANTAGES OF THE MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND THE VALUE OF THE NEW SYSTEM.

THEY ALSO REALIZED THE VALUE OF THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE BUDGET BY THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC.

HERE TONIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THAT PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET AND INTRODUCED THE PUBLIC TO THE TO THE NEW SYSTEM WHICH IS OUT ON THE WEBSITE NOW.

REGRET NOT REGRETTABLY, BUT I'M SORRY THAT ALAN OWENS IS SICK AND NOT HERE.

HE'S DYING TO BE HERE, BUT HE'S VERY, VERY SICK AND ABLE TO ATTEND.

BUT WE HAVE OUR TOP ACES IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HERE TONIGHT TO BRING YOU THE PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2223.

SEAN O'BRIEN, OUR DEPUTY FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR IN ARIAN PAN.

ZACH, OUR FINANCE MANAGER, ARE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THAT PROPOSED BUDGET.

THANK YOU.

BEING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING OF ORDINANCE SEVEN 2022 ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET.

GOING OVER THE BUDGET ADOPTION TIMELINE.

AS YOU KNOW, THE MAXIMUM MILLAGE WAS SET AT THE JULY 14 COUNCIL MEETING AT 5.32.

THE BUDGET WAS ISSUED TO COUNCIL AND THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT REVIEW BOARD ON JULY 15.

THE BUDGET WAS POSTED ONLINE FOR RESIDENTS ON AUGUST 3RD.

WE RECEIVE THE BOARD REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 2ND.

AND THIS BRINGS US TO TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.

LOOKING AT PROPERTY VALUES.

PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED FROM 13.5 BILLION TO 15.6 BILLION, A 15.6% INCREASE.

THIS ALSO INCLUDES NEW CONSTRUCTION OF 303 MILLION AND AN INCREASE TO EXISTING PROPERTIES AT 12.82%.

MOVING ON TO THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE.

THIS WAS A PRIOR YEAR COMMENT BY THE BY THE BOARD THAT WE JUST FOUND IT EXTREMELY RELEVANT THIS YEAR WITH HANDLING EVERYTHING WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR TEN YEAR

[00:25:02]

SO, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS NO DEBT MILLAGE RATE.

SO THE OPERATING RATE OF 5.32 IS A TOTAL RATE, WHICH CALCULATES OUT TO 8.14% ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.9195.

THIS NEXT COMPARISON, THIS TABLE WE PUT TOGETHER, WE REALLY WERE INTERESTED IN HOW DID OUR TAX RATE COMPARE TO THE OTHER TAXING AUTHORITIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY? YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE LISTS ALL THE TAXING AUTHORITIES.

NEXT COLUMN IS THE FISCAL YEAR 22 ADOPTED OPERATING MILLAGE RATE.

THE NEXT COLUMN IS THE FISCAL YEAR 23 PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND THEN THE CALCULATION OF THE ROLLBACK RATE AND THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE.

IF YOU SEE THE IN YELLOW PALM BEACH GARDENS, WE APPEAR EXTREMELY FAVORABLE WITH ONLY THREE MUCH SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES ABOVE US, AND WE RANKED ABOVE ALL THE OTHER ONES THAT WE COMPARE TO.

YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASES ANYWHERE FROM 6.17 TO THE CITY AT 8.14, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 30.78% ABOVE ROLLBACK RATE.

SOME OTHER INFORMATION TO LOOK AT.

THE TAXING AUTHORITIES HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN ARE THOSE PROPOSING TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE.

THOSE IN BLUE ARE PROPOSING TO KEEP THE MILITARY FLAT AND THOSE IN RED ARE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THEIR OPERATING MILLAGE RATES.

SO AGAIN, WE LOOK EXTREMELY FAVORABLE.

TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THIS IMPACTS THE PROPOSED RATE ON A TYPICAL HOMESTEADED PROPERTY.

WE LOOKED AT FOUR DIFFERENT VALUATIONS OF HOMEOWNERS.

WE TOOK A 450,000 650,000 ASSESSED HOUSE.

850,000 AND A MILLION.

50,000. AND WE SHOW WHAT TAXES THEY WOULD PAY UNDER THE CURRENT 5.55 AND WHAT THEIR RATE WOULD BE UNDER THE 5.32.

AS YOU CAN SEE ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT VALUATIONS, EACH WOULD RECEIVE AN ANNUAL TAX DECREASE.

USING THE SAME ASSUMPTIONS.

BUT FOR NON HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES THESE WOULD BE CAPPED AT THE 10% MAX.

THEY WOULD SEE A MONTHLY INCREASE OF ANYWHERE FROM $11 TO $26.

THE QUESTION WE OFTEN RECEIVE IS HOW MUCH OF MY TAX BILL GOES TO THE CITY? AND IN THIS CHART WITH THE DOLLAR.

YOU CAN SEE $0.72 OF EVERY DOLLAR COLLECTED FOR TAXES GOES TO OTHER AUTHORITIES.

THAT INCLUDES PALM BEACH COUNTY, THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND ALL OF THE OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS.

AND THAT LEAVES ABOUT $0.28 THAT GOES TO THE CITY.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL HAVE ERIN GO OVER SOME OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET SUMMARIES.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO START BY GOING PULLING UP OUR NEW OPEN GOVT BUDGET PLATFORM THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY WEBSITE UNDER THE FINANCE PAGE.

ALL RIGHT. SO LOOKING AT THE ALL FUND SUMMARY, THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR IS $236 MILLION.

GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS MAKE UP 208 MILLION, WHEREAS PROPRIETARY FUNDS MAKE UP 27 MILLION.

THAT'S AN 8.5% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET OF 217 MILLION.

SCROLLING DOWN TO THE NEXT GRAPH CATEGORIZED BY REVENUE TYPE, AD VALOREM COMPRISES OUR SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THE CITY, MAKING UP 33.7% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE SOURCE.

THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE IS THE SECOND LARGEST AT 32%, AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES IS THE THIRD LARGEST AT 15%.

MOVING ON TO EXPENDITURES.

WHICH ARE BALANCED AT 236 MILLION.

YOU'LL SEE, PERSONNEL IS OUR LARGEST USE AT 100 MILLION.

OPERATING IS 40 MILLION.

CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 6.6 MILLION.

DEBT SERVICE IS 6.9.

AND RESERVES ROUND IT OUT AT 880.8 MILLION.

ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE CITY'S LARGEST FUND COMPRISING OF 165 MILLION OF THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET.

YOU'LL SEE AD VALOREM IS THE LARGEST SINGLE REVENUE SOURCE MAKING UP 48% OF ALL REVENUE SOURCES.

[00:30:03]

SCROLLING DOWN AND LOOKING AT REVENUES WHICH ARE BALANCED AT 165 MILLION PERSONNEL.

IS THE FOR THE GENERAL FUND MAKE UP 78 MILLION OPERATING IS 29.8 MILLION.

CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 3.6.

DEBT SERVICE IS 3.5.

AND THE RESERVES ROUND OUT AT 49.8 MILLION.

ALL RIGHT. SO THERE ARE A FEW COST DRIVERS THAT ARE AFFECTING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

THE LARGEST IS THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT IN AVANIR.

THIS IS THE CATALYST THAT IS DRIVING THE EXPANSION THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT AT OUR GOLF COURSE IN THE FIRE STATION SIX.

ALSO WE ARE SEEING THE THE EFFECTS ON INFLATIONARY COSTS ON OUR COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES AS WELL AS NECESSARY SALARY INCREASES TO KEEP UP WITH CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS TO RETAIN STAFFING.

SO MOVING ON TO THE GENERAL FUNDS, WHAT IMPACT WE'VE HAD.

OVERALL, THE GENERAL FUND PERSONNEL COSTS ARE UP 6 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 78.1 MILLION.

THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO INCREASED HEALTH, PENSION AND SALARY COSTS, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO NEXT.

ALL RIGHT. SO. GENERAL FUND SALARIES, THEY ARE UP 3.4 MILLION TO 51.2 DUE TO THE PROPOSED SALARY INCREASES FOR PERSONNEL.

AT THE TIME WE WERE PREPARING THE BUDGET, PBA WAS UNDER NEGOTIATION, SO FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES WE PROJECTED AN 8%.

THE IAFF BARGAINING AGREEMENT PER CONTRACT IS 5%.

SEIU BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS 6% IN THIS YEAR FOR GENERAL FUND EMPLOYEES, WE PROPOSE AN 8% MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT.

MOVING ON TO THE SUMMARY OF NEW POSITION REQUESTS, RECREATION HAS REQUESTED THREE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR A REC SUPERVISOR, A LEAD LIFEGUARD AND AN OPERATIONS MANAGER. ALSO THE.

GOLF DIVISION HAS REQUESTED FOUR NEW POSITIONS FOR THE EXPANSION OUT AT THE GOLF COURSE TO INCLUDE AN OPERATIONS COORDINATOR IN A TOURNAMENT AND EVENTS COORDINATOR.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER.

AND ONE CHEF.

BOTH OF THESE DIVISIONS, NEW POSITIONS WILL BE FUNDED BY REVENUES GENERATED FROM THE USER FEES.

MOVING ON TO THE GENERAL FUND REQUESTS, WE PROPOSED THE PHASED HIRING OF 21 FIREFIGHTERS TO BEGIN TRAINING FOR STAFF FIRE STATION SIX.

WE'D PLAN TO HIRE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS AND TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS.

GROUP ONE WILL PROPOSE HIRING TEN EMPLOYEES AND PLAN TO HAVE THEM ONBOARDED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN THE SECOND GROUP, 11 EMPLOYEES, AND THEY'LL BE ON FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

THERE'S ALSO TWO LOGISTICS COORDINATORS AND ASSISTANT DIVISION CHIEF REQUESTED.

ALSO WE HAVE A ONE NEW POLICE CAPTAIN, TWO POLICE SERVICE SPECIALISTS.

ONE PLANNER.

ONE DEVELOPMENT COMPLIANCE TECHNICIAN.

A LEGAL ASSISTANT.

WE'RE ALSO REQUESTING A MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES.

THIS WOULD GIVE US A TOTAL NEW POSITION REQUEST OF 39 POSITIONS.

OVERALL, THIS WOULD BRING OUR FULL TIME COUNT TO 596 OR 9.98 PER 1000 OF THE POPULATION.

WE ALWAYS LIKE TO USE THIS METRIC TO MEASURE OURSELVES BACK TO OUR PRE RECESSIONARY DAYS JUST TO SHOW THAT WE ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS.

ALSO, PENSION COSTS ARE UP 1.3 MILLION PER ACTUARIAL EVALUATIONS FOR BOTH PD AND FIRE, AS WELL AS STATUTORY RATES FOR FRS FOR A TOTAL OF 13.3 MILLION.

MOVING ON TO HEALTH COSTS.

MEDICAL COSTS ARE ALSO UP 10.4% OR 840,000.

FUNDING FOR OUR PREMIUMS PAID THROUGH OUR SELF INSURANCE FUND HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY DUE TO TRENDS OF THE PLAN.

WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY RESERVE BALANCE WITH AN ESTIMATED 7.9 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR RESERVES THAT WOULD COVER ROUGHLY TEN MONTHS WORTH OF CLAIMS. THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE REGULATION REQUIRES 90 DAYS, SO WE'RE WELL OVER THAT MINIMUM.

MOVING ONTO OUR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OPERATING COSTS.

DAVID AND HIS TEAM OVER AT COMMUNITY SERVICES HAVE A FIVE YEAR SCHEDULE THAT IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY.

[00:35:05]

TREE TRIMMING AND PLANT REPLACEMENT.

AND FINALLY, WE HAVE 150,000 BUDGETED FOR CANAL MAINTENANCE AND DREDGING PROGRAM AND AN ADDITIONAL 250,000 FOR THE STORMWATER REPAIR PROGRAM.

ON TOP OF THIS, WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE AWARDED AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATOR.

THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THESE AMOUNTS NEXT YEAR.

SO THEY'LL HAVE A TOTAL OF 500,000 TO SPEND FOR CANAL MAINTENANCE AND AN ADDITIONAL 500,000 FOR THE STORMWATER REPAIR.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK INTO THE NEW OPEN GOVT PLATFORM.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO LOOKING AT OUR FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, WHICH IS ALSO REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE GENERAL FUND PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGET IS 3.3 MILLION, SPECIAL REVENUE IS 3.12, AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND IS 2.3 MILLION.

JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE LARGER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR.

UNDER PARKES, WE HAVE 400,000 BUDGETED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LILAC PARK PLAYGROUND.

WE ALSO HAVE.

200,000 EARMARKED FOR ADDITIONAL PICKLEBALL COURTS OVER AT JOE RUSSO PARK.

AND WE HAVE 1.1 MILLION FOR THE COMPETITION POOL SURFACING DUE TO AGING FACILITIES.

SO WHEN YOU COLLAPSE THAT ALL UP, OUR TOTAL OF CAPITAL PROJECT CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 IS 5.9 MILLION.

GO AHEAD AND PASS THIS BACK TO SEAN.

TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO BE BALANCED NEXT YEAR.

WE ALWAYS DO THIS BALANCING THE USES OF FUNDS WITH THE SOURCES.

WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH THE BUDGET SHORTFALL FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OF 2 MILLION.

THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN PERSONNEL AND OPERATING COST OF 8.9 MILLION.

SMALL INCREASE IN DEBT PAYMENTS OF 288,000, AND THAT LEFT A SMALL AMOUNT ADDED TO ENDING RESERVES OF 6000.

AND TO HELP OFFSET THESE INCREASES.

SOME OF THE SOURCES OF FUNDS AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL AUM OF 7.8 MILLION INCREASE IN OTHER REVENUES OF 837,000.

THIS IS MOSTLY ELECTRIC FRANCHISE AND GAS OR SALES TAX.

A DECREASE IN BUDGETED CAPITAL OF 2 MILLION AND A DECREASE IN TRANSFERS TO OTHER FUNDS OF 450,000.

GOING BACK INTO OPEN GOVT AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS YOU KNOW ARE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS THE CITY HAS TO THE FLEET MAINTENANCE AND THE SELF INSURANCE FUND.

YOU CAN SEE THE SELF-INSURANCE FUND IS BUDGETED, BALANCED AT 20.8 MILLION AND FLEET MAINTENANCE IS BALANCED AT 6.5 MILLION.

LOOKING AT SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

THE MAJORITY OF THESE, THE LARGER ONES INCLUDE GAS TAX FUND, THE RECREATION FUND AND THE GOLF COURSE FUND.

STARTING WITH THE GAS TAX FUND.

TOTAL BUDGET OF 1.6 MILLION.

THAT'S MADE UP OF 850,000 IN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL.

THAT'S OUR GAS TAX COLLECTIONS AND BEGINNING RESERVES OF 647,000.

AND THIS IS BALANCED WITH 1.6 MILLION, ENDED UP 1.1 MILLION OF OPERATING AND 384,000 IN RESERVES.

MOVING ON TO THE RECREATION FUND.

TOTAL BALANCED BUDGET OF 7.6 MILLION.

IT'S MADE UP OF 5.6 MILLION IN CHARGES AND RESERVES, AND THAT'S BALANCED WITH EXPENDITURES OF 7.6 MILLION, MOSTLY COVERS PERSONNEL TO OFFER TO OFFSET THESE COSTS AND OPERATING OF 1.6 MILLION.

AND LASTLY, THE GOLF COURSE FUND.

AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW COURSE, REVENUES INCREASING FROM 7.7 MILLION TO 4 MILLION.

THAT'S ALL DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE GOLF, GOLF COURSE AND FACILITIES.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES.

[00:40:01]

AND THEY END RESERVES WITH 1.6 MILLION.

NOW MOVING ON TO OUR TEN YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

WE MAINTAIN THE OPERATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE FLAT AT 5.32 FOR THE ENTIRE TEN YEAR PERIOD THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2032.

THERE WAS NO INCREASE. THERE'S ZERO DEBT SERVICE MILLAGE.

BY THE END OF THE TEN YEARS, THE UNASSIGNED RESERVES WERE ESTIMATED AT 26.7 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2032.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH COUNCIL POLICY OF KEEPING AT LEAST 17% IN RESERVES.

AND THE BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE MAINTAINED A BALANCE OF EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION BY THE LAST YEAR.

TAKING A LOOK AT THE GRAPH.

YOU SEE THE BUDGET STABILIZATION BEING CHARTED OUT AND YOU SEE A REDUCTION IN FISCAL YEAR 24.

THAT'S FOR THE PROJECTED TRANSFER TO COVER COST RELATED TO THE BURNS ROAD EXPANSION PROJECT CAN SEE IT STAYS RELATIVELY STEADY AND ENDS AT 8.5 MILLION.

NEXT SHOWS THE UNASSIGNED RESERVES STAYING STEADY AT THE 26 MILLION AND BUMPING UP SLIGHTLY IN THE LAST YEAR TO 26.7.

AND THIS IS ALL WITH KEEPING THE MILITARY FLAT AT 5.32 FOR THE TEN YEAR PERIOD.

THIS IS WHERE WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

IF A CERTAIN HOMEOWNER IN THIS HOUSE, WHAT THEY WOULD PAY IN TOTAL TAXES SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AS YOU KNOW, UNLIKE MOST CITIES, THE CITY DOES NOT LEVY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING.

THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE OR TRASH COLLECTION.

THERE IS ZERO UTILITY TAXES ON ELECTRIC WATER AND GAS BILLS.

THE CITY DOES NOT ASSESS A STORMWATER OR FIRE SERVICE ASSESSMENT.

AND BASED ON SOME OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS, WE USED A CALCULATION BASED ON A 650,000 ASSESSED VALUE WITH A 50,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

AND WE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED SOME OF THESE TAXES, YOUR UTILITY TAX COLLECTIONS, WE ESTIMATED 2400 FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS BILLS, $780 FOR WATER.

AND THE COMMUNICATION SERVICE TAX WAS BASED ON A TOTAL BILL OF $3,600 FOR YOUR INTERNET, YOUR PHONE, YOUR CABLE TV.

SO HERE'S A CHART WHERE WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO SOME OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY.

YOU CAN SEE PALM BEACH GARDENS LOOKS FAVORABLE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF THE TAX LIABILITY GOING FROM PALM BEACH GARDENS AT 11,509 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WEST PALM BEACH AT 13,735.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT COLUMNS, THE CITY AD VALOREM TAX, ALL OF YOUR OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS MAKE UP.

THAT'S PART OF THAT $0.72 YOUR UTILITY TAX.

CITY DOES NOT HAVE ONE SOLID WASTE STORMWATER FIRE ASSESSMENT.

ANOTHER ITEM TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, THOSE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE.

YOU CAN SEE UNDER THE CITY AD VALOREM, THEY HAVE A MUCH LOWER TAX RATE AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.

MATTHEW AND THAT SHOWS UNDER THE OTHER AD VALOREM.

BUT OVERALL, OUR TAX LIABILITY LOOKS THE LEAST.

GOING ON TO THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT REVIEW BOARD.

WE RECEIVED THEIR LETTER.

AND JUST TO PULL OUT SOME OF THEIR THEIR FINDINGS, THEIR HIGHLIGHTS.

THEIR WORK FOR THE $0.01 SALES SURTAX.

THEY FOUND THAT THE CITY EXPENDED TAX FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL STATUTES, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.

THEIR FINDINGS WITH THE 2023 BUDGET, THEY MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TO AVOID A TAX INCREASE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET.

THE CITY ALSO REMAINS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION, WHICH IS MOST IMPRESSIVE GIVEN THE COMPLEXITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES RESULTING FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. SOME OTHER STATEMENTS THEY MADE.

THIS IS ONE FROM LAST YEAR THAT THEY CONTINUED.

THE TEN YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT TOOL IN ASSISTING THE COUNCIL IN THE CITY HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN KEEPING THE PROJECTIONS FORECASTS UP TO DATE.

AND LASTLY, THEY ARE THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE OPEN GOVT PLATFORM.

THEY STATED CITY STAFF HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT THROUGHOUT THE BUDGETARY PROCESS WITH ITS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS AND HAS TAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING THE OPEN GOVT PLATFORM. AND FINALLY, THE BOARD WAS PLEASED TO SEE A RESPONSIBLE DECREASE IN THE PROPOSED MILITARY.

NEXT REQUIRED ACTION.

THERE WILL BE TWO MOTIONS TONIGHT.

THE FIRST STAFF RECOMMENDS A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ADOPT A PROPOSED OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.32 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.9195 BY 8.14%.

AND THE SECOND MOTION STAFF RECOMMENDS A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE SEVEN 2022 ON FIRST READING ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023.

AND THAT CONCLUDES. ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT WORK.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT FOR NOW OR NO.

OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?

[00:45:01]

SECOND AND.

LET'S BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION OR DO WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE SECOND MOTION SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT? YOU CAN DISCUSS THAT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S RACHELLE.

YOU MADE THE MOTION. GO FOR IT.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN? I AM JUST VERY EXCITED THAT AFTER SIX YEARS ON COUNCIL, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER THE RESIDENTS A REDUCTION IN TAXES SIGNIFICANTLY, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN WITH COVID.

I THINK THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT BOARD HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THAT WHEN YOU KNOW THE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY STAFF HAS GOTTEN US THROUGH THAT, THAT SITUATION IS QUITE AMAZING.

THE FACT THAT ALL OF OUR CONTRACT PRICES HAVE GONE UP, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER OUR CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES INCREASES GOING FORWARD.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FUND 39 NEW FULL TIME POSITIONS WITH THIS BUDGET WE'RE MAKING OF A $2 MILLION SHORTFALL WITH IT AS WELL.

AND OPERATING COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD WENT UP AND WE'RE STILL ABLE TO HAVE A 4.15% REDUCTION IN MILITARY.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR ALWAYS BEING ON TOP OF THINGS.

AND I THINK THIS NEW SYSTEM, THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE NEW SYSTEM AND THE ABILITY TO CHANGE IT IN REAL TIME AND ALWAYS KNOW WHERE WE ARE IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET FOR THE CITY.

AND THANK YOU TO RON TWO FOR SPEARHEADING EVERYONE FOR.

KEEPING US ALL IN LINE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S SEE. MARCY, ARE YOU OR.

I KNOW. MARK, YOU MUST BE SO EXCITED TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, MARK, YOU'RE UP.

WELL, THANK YOU.

USUALLY I COME WITH LIKE A TWO PAGE PRESENTATION AS TO WHY WE SHOULD BE LOWERING THE MILLAGE TODAY.

GOT TWO LINES WHICH BASICALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, RACHELLE ALREADY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

WE'RE IN AN ENVIABLE POSITION TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE WITH YOU, SEAN, BECAUSE I NORMALLY ARGUE WITH ALAN WHEN HE'S STANDING UP THERE, BUT THINGS JUST TO CONSIDER FOR FUTURE.

SINCE THIS IS OUR LAST BUDGET, WHEN I SAY OUR RACHELLE AND I OUR LAST BUDGET TO TO DISCUSS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN A BELIEVER OF TRYING TO HIT ROLL BACK BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPOSSIBILITY AS COSTS GO UP.

THE CITY'S IN A VERY ENVIABLE POSITION.

WE HAVE ALL OF OUR MAIN CONTRACTS UP TO DATE.

WE HAVE STAFFING LEVELS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL.

WE HAVE FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FUNDED.

WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IN PERFECT SHAPE FOR A CITY THAT'S GROWING, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COMING THERE.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE FOR FOR CONTINUED.

SCRUTINY OF THE BUDGET.

I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THIS COUNCIL AND FUTURE COUNCIL AND STAFF CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE BUDGET REVIEW BOARD SAYS.

THIS CURRENT GROUP IS VERY STRONG AND VERY GOOD, BUT ALSO TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, I MEAN, WE HAVE AN UNASSIGNED RESERVE REQUIREMENT OF 17%, WHICH IS TYPICALLY WE'RE HIGHER THAN THAT, WHICH IS ALWAYS FAVORABLE.

BUT THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND IS REALLY THE KEY BECAUSE THAT'LL TELL US WHERE WE'RE AT, WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE CAN SIMPLY PROCESS THIS THIS REQUEST FROM STAFF TO PASS THIS BUDGET.

ALAN, IF YOU'RE LISTENING.

GOOD JOB AND THANK YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO BE VERY FAVORABLE IN SUPPORTING THIS THIS YEAR.

BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS AND I'M LOOKING OVER THERE AND OVER HERE AND HERE AND EVERYWHERE ELSE THAT YOU GUYS JUST KEEP LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING WHAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

WE'RE A VERY GOOD PLACE AS A CITY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REVENUES AND A LOT OF STRONG FAVORABLE ECONOMIC OUTLOOKS HERE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY AND SAY, GREAT, WE'LL JUST BE THE BANK FOR THE RESIDENTS AND SPEND IT AS WE WANT.

IT'S TO PLAN AND TO PROVIDE AND TO ALSO DO WITH AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARK.

[00:50:02]

OKAY. SO I THINK THE THEME OF THIS YEAR IS GROWTH.

AND WE DISCUSSED THIS AT OUR LAST WORKSHOP THAT WE HAVE THE LOWEST POPULATION PER SQUARE MILE IN OUR COUNTY, BUT WE HAVE OVER 60,000 PEOPLE AND WE'RE STILL GROWING, WHICH IS WHICH IS A WE'RE A UNIQUE CITY.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE ARE TWO FACTORS.

AND TAX REVENUE, THE VALUE OF PROPERTY AND THE RATE IT'S ASSESSED AND BOTH HAVE INCREASED.

SO OUR ASSESSED VALUE HAS GROWN BY 11% AND WE HAVE A VERY HEALTHY GROWTH RATE FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITY WITH A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN REALIZED YET.

WE HAVE AVANIR STILL GROWING.

WE HAVE PGR STATION THAT WE'VE JUST RECENTLY APPROVED.

FPL IS SOON GOING TO TAKE OCCUPANCY ON THEIR FIRST BUILDING AND THEY HAVE PHASE TWO THAT'S GOING TO BE STARTING.

HOPEFULLY WE HAVE DOWNTOWN AT THE GARDENS AND LEGACY AND A LOT OF INFILL DEVELOPMENT.

SO IT'S VERY EXCITING IN THIS CITY AND THIS BUDGET PROVES IT.

SO THIS YEAR WE'VE INCREASED OUR RESERVES EXPONENTIALLY.

FROM LAST YEAR WE ADDED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESERVE AND A LARGE COMPONENT TO OUR BUDGET STABILIZATION.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GROWTH, I WOULDN'T I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DON'T MENTION THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALSO INCREASED A LOT OF OUR EXPENSES WITH THE INFLATION RATES THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN IN INTEREST RATES AND THE COST OF MATERIALS.

I KNOW YOU TOUCHED ON THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT WITH ALL OF THIS GROWTH, OUR CITY HAS NOT REALLY INCREASED IN THE SIZE OF ITS WORKFORCE WITH THE HUGE SURGE IN GROWTH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND ANNEXATION ACTUALLY AS WELL.

TEAM PALM BEACH GARDENS AND A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE HERE TONIGHT DID WHAT THEY COULD.

THEY KEPT UP WITH THE PACE, THE PACE OF THE GROWTH WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU.

AND WE WON NUMEROUS AWARDS ON TOP OF THAT.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU, BECAUSE YOU DO IT SO WELL.

YOU MAKE IT SEEM SEAMLESS.

AND I KNOW IT'S NOT. IT'S A TIRELESS, TIRING EFFORT, BUT YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB.

I WANT TO THANK RON AND ALLEN, SHAUN, EVERYBODY, THE WHOLE TEAM, ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING AND TAKING OUR COMMENTS FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET REVIEW AND PUTTING IT INTO ACTION BY REDUCING THE MILLAGE.

IT'S EXTREMELY EXCITING, THE GROWTH THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS IS THE FACT THAT WE GET TO REDUCE OUR MILLAGE BY 4.1%, WHICH MEANS THAT OUR TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO THOSE THAT ARE HAVE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, ARE GOING TO SEE AND REALIZE A TAX SAVINGS, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

OUR BUDGET ALSO ALLOWS THIS PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOWS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 39 EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S EXCITING, TOO, TO GIVE YOU GUYS THE HELP THAT YOU REALLY NEED.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DO A LIKE A PSA BOASTING OUR CITY.

WELCOME TO PALM BEACH GARDENS.

OUR CITY DOESN'T CHARGE, YOU KNOW, FIRE RESCUE TAX AND SOLID WASTE TAX AND STORMWATER TAX.

AND WE DON'T HAVE AN MST VIEW.

IT'S SUPER EXCITING.

AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE NUMBER ONE NOW, I KNOW WE USED TO HAVE BOCA'S NUMBER ONE, BUT NOW WE'RE NUMBER ONE.

SO I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING.

AND I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF PASSING THIS BUDGET.

AND RICK AND AS MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY, HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOKING FOR SAVINGS AND GETTING A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE ROLLBACK RATE IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S VERY EXCITING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARL.

THE BUDGET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS COUNCIL DOES ALL YEAR TO THE CITY IS TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET.

AND THIS IS LIKE THE SHORTEST CONVERSATION.

WE TALK LONGER ON BUILDING A 711 THAN WE DO ON THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO ALL YEAR.

AND IF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS HAPPY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN SITTING NEXT TO HIM, THEN WHAT DO I GOT TO SAY ABOUT IT? BUT THE WORK'S BEEN DONE.

WE WERE LOOKED AT BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY WHICH HELPED ME GRASP THE FUTURE OF THE CITY A LITTLE BIT BETTER, OTHER THAN RELYING ON STAFF ALL THE TIME. SO THAT HELPED ME.

WE HAD COMMUNITY INPUT ON THAT WORKSHOP, WHICH WAS A POSITIVE FEEDBACK.

WE'RE TRANSPARENT.

WITH THE BUDGET BEING ONLINE, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK.

[00:55:05]

AND THEY DO BECAUSE WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH HOW FAST THEY CAN GET TO PEOPLE WITH THE HEART ATTACK RATE, HOW FAST WE GET THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE PUT FIREFIGHTERS ON THE ROAD.

THE POLICE ARE OBVIOUSLY HAPPY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE THREE BUDGETS THAT I'VE BEEN WITH THEM, THEY'VE NEVER COME UP AND SAY, WE'RE GOOD FIRST TIME.

SO WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY ABOUT IT? SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.

MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORTS IT.

THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS IT.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

AND. AND HERE WE ARE.

OKAY. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

I'M GOING TO ECHO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR A MOMENT, BUT I JUST WANT TO SORT OF DIAL BACK FOR A SECOND.

THIS HAS BEEN INTERESTING FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS ELECTED DURING COVID AND GOT TO WATCH THE BUDGET DO DIFFERENT THINGS THAN IT NORMALLY DOES DURING THAT FIRST YEAR THAT I GOT TO SIT UP. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, I THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE LOOKING AT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE? WHAT DOES IT CREATE FOR THE CITY? WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO THEY DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY? WHERE DOES IT GO? AND NOW THAT WE'VE WEATHERED STORMS, WE'VE WEATHERED A PANDEMIC, AND NOW YOU ARE ABLE TO PULL UP THE BUDGET IN REAL TIME, JUST LITERALLY ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO ANY OF OUR RESIDENTS CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL, TRANSPARENT SERVICE THAT I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE AROUND HERE HAS.

AND IT WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THE TIME THAT YOU DID TO HELP OUR COUNCIL LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE IT AS WELL AS WE DID.

AND THIS BUDGET, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER, WE KIND OF WON A LOTTERY THIS YEAR AND WE EARNED IT.

WE DESERVE IT, BUT WE'RE NOT TAKING IT AND GOING ON A FABULOUS VACATION.

WE'RE TAKING IT. WE'RE BUYING AN INSURANCE POLICY.

AND IT IS REFLECTIVE IN EVERY SINGLE CLICK OF THE MOUSE ON THIS BUDGET.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET ONTO OPEN GOV.

I KNOW EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT AND IT'S NOT EASY TO MIGRATE THAT MUCH DATA, BUT NOW IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

EVERY NIGHT IT REFRESHES AND YOU HAVE THE BUDGET IN REAL TIME.

AND NOT ONLY IS IT IN REAL TIME, BUT IT GIVES US THE ABILITY AREA.

AND EXPLAIN TO ME THAT AS WE HIRE THESE FIREFIGHTERS, IT ALLOWS US TO SHOW THEM COMING ON IN STAGES AS WELL, WHICH WE COULDN'T DO AS EASILY FOR THE RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND.

AND ALSO WHAT I REALLY LOVED ABOUT ABOUT THE BUDGET THIS YEAR WAS UNDER THE KEY INITIATIVES SECTION WHERE OUR CITY MANAGER'S LETTER STARTED.

IT TALKED ABOUT WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANTED IN THE SURVEY THAT THEY FILL OUT EVERY TWO YEARS, AND OUR BUDGET THEN RESPONDED TO EACH OF THE REQUESTS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE BEST PART OF OUR BUDGET COMES FROM.

WE LISTEN TO WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT AND THAT IS WHAT WE PROVIDE.

SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THANK YOUS TO EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT HEAD, EVERY SINGLE STAFF MEMBER AND TO OUR ACCOUNTING STAFF.

AND ALAN, I HOPE YOU'RE FEELING BETTER AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR LEADING THE WAY ON THIS ONE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE SITTING UP HERE WHEN TAXES ARE GOING LOWER.

SO WITH THAT, WE NEED TO READ THE SECOND STATEMENT.

I BELIEVE WE ACTUALLY NEED TO CALL THE QUESTION ON THE PAGE.

WE'LL DO SO IN A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

LET'S DO IT. ALL RIGHT.

SO NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. NOW WE NEED TO READ IT.

WE'VE READ THE TITLE. WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE IN 2022 AND FIRST READING ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023.

OKAY, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT ORDER IN SEVEN 2022 ON FIRST READING ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 APPROPRIATE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.

ALL RIGHT. BUDGET'S PASSED.

CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE.

I HAVE TO CALL IT. OKAY.

SORRY. I'VE ALWAYS WATCHED EVERYONE DO THIS AND WONDER WHY THEY DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, SO ALL IN FAVOR.

I'M ANY OPPOSED NOW? IT PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY INDULGE YOU JUST FOR ONE MORE MINUTE, WE HAVE ONE SMALL LITTLE SPECIAL PRESENTATION LEFT.

I CAN'T WAIT.

WE HAVE ONE LAST SPECIAL THING WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE TONIGHT.

IT'S A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, AND WE WANTED TO CREATE A BUDGET MESSAGE THAT WAS THAT WE SHARED ON THE CITY WEBSITE AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. LET ME GO AHEAD. THAT WAS FAST.

HELLO, PALM BEACH GARDENS.

I'M ARIANNE, AND I WORK IN THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S BUDGET SEASON HERE, AND THIS MONTH, CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD TWO BUDGET HEARINGS BEFORE OFFICIALLY ADOPTING OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS $236 MILLION?

[01:00:06]

THAT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS, BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW AS A GARDENS RESIDENT OR BUSINESS OWNER.

ONE THIS YEAR WE ARE PROPOSING A TAX CUT.

YES, YOUR CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER A 4.15% REDUCTION OF THE MILLAGE RATE TO 5.32 MILLS.

THAT MEANS MOST HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES WILL SEE A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN TAXES.

TWO. WE ARE PREPARING TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND WILL BE BUILDING A SIXTH FIRE STATION SOON.

WE'LL NEED TO FULLY STAFF THAT STATION SO WE WILL DO A PHASED HIRING OF 21 FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING RECREATION, GOLF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE WILL RECOMMEND AN ADDITIONAL 19 POSITION.

REMEMBER THAT RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY RESPONDED TO THE BUDGET IS WHERE WE PUT THOSE RESULTS INTO ACTION.

WE'LL BE FUNDING ALL OF THE PROJECTS IT TAKES TO KEEP PALM BEACH GARDENS SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL.

AND THREE THIS YEAR WE'VE DONE AWAY WITH THOSE DULL SPREADSHEETS AND REPLACE THEM WITH A REFRESHING WAY FOR YOU TO INTERACT WITH THE BUDGET ONLINE.

IT'S CALLED OPEN DOVE, AND IT MAKES NAVIGATING THE CITY'S BUDGET SO MUCH EASIER.

YOU'LL HAVE TRANSPARENT ACCESS TO DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS THROUGH GRAPHS AND VISUAL DATA.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBGC.

FLAG BACKSLASH BUDGET.

IT'S THAT EASY. OUR CITY WORKS BETTER WHEN OUR RESIDENTS ARE ENGAGED.

SO DIG IN AND LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

WELL DONE, EVERYBODY.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. JOHN'S GOT SOME COMPETITION FROM THIS VIDEO NOW.

I DON'T KNOW. ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU GO ON YOUTUBE TO WATCH THAT, YOU CAN SEE JOHN IN THE RIGHT HAND CORNER WITH HIS.

YEAH, IT'S STILL READY TO GO.

ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THAT WAS REALLY EXCEPTIONAL.

AND MARCI GOT HER WISH INSTANTANEOUSLY.

SO WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.

NEXT, WE HAVE ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION AND DISCUSSION OR ITEMS OF INTEREST.

[X. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION/DISCUSSION AND ITEMS OF INTEREST]

I HATE TO DO THIS ON SUCH A GOOD NOTE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE GOT AN EMAIL THE OTHER DAY.

WE ALL DID, AND I DIDN'T RESPOND TO IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE DID ABOUT THE DOG PARK SITUATION.

I SHOULD HAVE CALLED YOU ON TO DISCUSS IT, BUT I JUST KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT IT AS I WAS SITTING HERE LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DOG PARKS IN THE CITY.

I KNOW THAT LILAC DOG PARK IS BEING RENOVATED, SPENDING SOME MONEY TO MAKE THAT PARK MORE YEAR ROUND WITHOUT THE CLOSURES.

WE'VE GOT THE PARK AT ALTON.

AND, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY DID CALL DAWN LEVINSON FROM PGA, ASKING HER WHAT THIS SITUATION IS AND WHY A PARK CAN'T BE PUT IN PGA NATIONAL AND THEN TALKED TO SOMEONE ELSE FROM A DIFFERENT WAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAINLY A LIABILITY ISSUE THAT GOES WITH DOG PARKS.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYBODY WANTS TO INSURE HOAS WITH DOG PARKS AND PGA NATIONAL, WHERE I LIVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OPEN COMMUNITY.

SO HAVING A DOG PARK DOES NOT PROHIBIT ANYONE FROM ANYWHERE TO COME AND USE THAT FACILITY, WHICH WAS WHAT THE POWER'S CONCERN WAS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TWO PUBLIC DOG PARKS IN THE CITY.

WE'VE GOT A GROWING CITY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT BUDGETS AND TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

SOME OF THE NEW COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THAT ARE BEING BUILT HAVE DESIGNATED DOG PARKS FOR THEIR RESIDENTS WITHIN THEM.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT? DOES ANYONE DOES ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOG PARKS IN THE CITY BEFORE I ASK WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT? I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO SPEND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THE LILAC DOG PARK TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE EXTRAORDINARY.

SO I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS GO THERE FREQUENTLY.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY? SOMETHING.

OH, NO, GO AHEAD. NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

GOOD. I'VE USED THE LILAC DOG PARK AND I'M SO HAPPY.

I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I READ THE EMAIL THAT WE WERE SPENDING MONEY FIXING IT UP BECAUSE IT NEEDS IT.

AND I KNOW HAVING GONE THERE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MY TWO DOGS THAT IT IS HARD TO MAINTAIN AND PEOPLE DON'T HATE TO SAY IT CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR DOG.

SO I'M REALLY AND THE DOGS WHEN THEY RUN AND EVERYTHING IT DOES RIP UP THE SOD AND THAT IS SO TRUE.

SO I AM VERY PLEASED THAT WE ARE SPENDING MONEY ON THAT PARK AND I THINK IT WILL BE MORE UTILIZED ONCE WE DO.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A LOVER OF ANIMALS AND DOGS AND I KNOW WHEN I GO TO NORTH CAROLINA, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS VERY, VERY DOG FRIENDLY.

THEY'RE ALLOWED EVERYWHERE IN EVERY PARK AND EVERY SHOP HAS WATER BOWLS OUTSIDE AND EVERYWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT HERE IN OUR CITY, I LIVE IN EVERGREEN AND WE TRIED TO PUT A DOG PARK IN EVERGREEN.

[01:05:03]

UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE.

THE RATES WHEN WE INQUIRED AND STARTED DOING THE RATES WERE SO HIGH THAT WHEN IT CAME TO A VOTE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO DO IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO AMORTIZE THAT COST AMONGST THE 963 HOMES, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT WAS THAT MUCH OF AN INCREASE AFTER THE FACT.

I KNOW THAT AVANIR THEY MIGHT HAVE A DOG PARK.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO COME TO FRUITION.

THAT'S IN THE WESTERN COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, THAT'S ALSO THEY HAVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GATED AND THEN THEY HAVE SOME THAT ARE NOT GATED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE A DOG PARK FOR THE WHOLE CITY OR IF IT'LL BE A DOG PARK FOR JUST AVANIR.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WERE PROPOSING.

BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY UNDER REVIEW, SO WHO KNOWS? BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS OUT THERE.

I MEAN, I'VE GONE TO JUPITER.

I LIKE THAT ONE BETTER, SO IT'S A GOOD ONE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE USED FOR SURE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN LOOK AT OR MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AT ANOTHER HALF STAFF, LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE FOR BEING SECOND BEHIND JUPITER, A DIFFERENT PARK. WE DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING IN JUPITER BEING BETTER THAN PALM BEACH GARDENS.

WHAT ABOUT THE DISTRICT? TAKE YOUR DOGS TO JUPITER.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I KNOW THAT OUR CITY JUST AS MUCH AS YOU.

TALK ABOUT THE LIABILITIES THAT GO ALONG WITH THE DOG PARK IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

AND SO DO LIABILITIES GO ALONG WITH A PUBLIC DOG PARK? AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE A LARGER LIABILITY THAN PRIVATE COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE EASY, MARK, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SUE US.

WE GET SUED OVER CRACKS IN SIDEWALKS IN OTHER CITIES.

SO IT'S A SUE SOCIETY OUT THERE.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE EXISTING DOG PARK WE HAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED TO THE TUNES OF 175,000 WHEN WE'RE PUTTING IN THE ARTIFICIAL TURF THAT AND FRANKLY, THE PROBLEM IS THE USERS, THEY MIX THE LARGE DOGS WITH THE SMALL DOGS AND THE SMALL DOGS WITH THE LARGE DOGS. THEY DON'T PICK UP AFTER THEMSELVES AND THEY LET THEM RUN WILD AND THEY DO HAVE DIFFICULTY.

WE GET POLICE CALLED OUT TO TRY TO MANAGE THE DOG PARK.

SO THERE'S THE EXPENSE OF THE DOG PARK.

THERE'S A MAINTENANCE OF THE DOG PARK.

THERE'S A LIABILITY OF THE DOG PARKS.

AND I KNOW THAT SOMEONE WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF HAVING A DOG PARK AT NORTH COUNTY GARDENS, NORTH COUNTY DISTRICT PARK.

THERE WAS NEVER A DOG PARK PLAN THERE AT ALL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SPORTS FACILITY AND THAT A DOG PARK WAS NOT APPROVED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION, WHICH HAS TO APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN, WHICH IS COUNCIL APPROVED ALSO.

SO THAT WAS A MISTAKE ON THE OTHER PEOPLE'S PART THAT THEY THOUGHT A DOG PARK WAS GOING TO BE THERE, PARTICULARLY WHEN, AS YOU POINT OUT, THERE'S A DOG PARK UP ON HOOD ROAD.

AND ULTIMATELY, WHATEVER THE ROAD THAT IS, THAT COMES THROUGH.

SO THERE'S ONE IN THE VICINITY.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE DOG PARK.

WE HAVE BETTER AND SAFER.

AND SO WE'D LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

IN THE MEANTIME, YES, THERE ARE LIABILITIES IN THE PRIVATE COMMUNITIES IF THEY SHOULD BUILD DOG PARKS.

BUT THERE AGAIN, IF THEY'RE GATED, COMMUNITIES ARE FOR RESIDENTS ONLY.

AND SO THAT'S A CASE OF WHERE RESIDENTS WOULD BE SUING RESIDENTS.

IT'S A LOT LESS LIKELY THAN ANYBODY WHO COMES WITH PUBLIC PARK PARKS, BUT THAT STILL HAPPENS.

I'M SURE IT DOES.

I'M JUST SAYING LESS LIKELY.

SO THERE'S NOTHING BUDGETED FOR A DOG PARK AT THIS POINT.

WE'D LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THIS RENOVATION WORKS.

I HAVE A QUESTION IS.

DO WE KNOW IF THE AVANIR WON IS GOING TO BE THE AVANIR PAK IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IF THERE WAS A DOG PARK IN THERE OR.

NO, WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.

THE AVANIR FOLKS HAVE EXPRESSED A LOT OF TALK ON THE ON A POTENTIAL DOG PARK.

BUT THERE'S THERE'S NOTHING OFFICIAL THAT STAFF IS REVIEWING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THAT INCLUDES A DOG PARK AT THIS TIME.

I LIVE IN PGA NATIONAL TWO, AND WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RESIDENTS AREN'T PRESSURING THE HOA.

WELL, THEY LIABILITY.

THEY NEED TO PRESSURE THE HOA FOR THE DOG PARK AND PGA, PRECISELY FOR THE REASONS THAT THAT RON REITERATED ON THAT.

[01:10:09]

AND IF THE RESIDENTS WANT IT, THE LIABILITY COMES WITH IT AND THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

YEAH. THAT'S IT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST.

I JUST. BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF IN PUBLIC, IN PRIVATE.

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE MORE EMAILS AND BOUNCE THINGS AROUND VIA EMAIL, SO I WANTED TO JUST HAVE THE CONVERSATION WHILE EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO.

I THINK I'VE GOT TWO DOGS.

ONE OF THEM IS SICK AT HOME.

APPARENTLY HE GOT INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS THROWN UP ALL OVER THE PLACE AND JUST LET ME KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

BUT THAT THAT, THAT, THAT BEING SET ASIDE.

I MEAN, WE'RE ALL DOG LOVERS AND YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE.

EVERYBODY'S BRINGING THEIR DOGS EVERYWHERE.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO BRING DOGS WHERE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING DOGS, INCLUDING ON CITY PROPERTIES.

SO THAT DOES POSE ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

BUT ANYWAY, THANKS FOR THE CONVERSATION.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH LILAC.

AND, YOU KNOW, FUTURE COUNCILS WILL OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS AND AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT LILAC PARK WORKS WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ARTIFICIAL TURF.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT MUCH BETTER.

SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL IT'LL BE A GOOD PILOT PROGRAM FOR MAYBE A FUTURE ONE GOING FORWARD.

RIGHT. AND THE OTHER CONVERSATION POINTS, TOPICS OF INTEREST.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

MAX, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT THIS EVENING?

[XI. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]

THE CASE IT'S FULLY BRIEFED SEPTEMBER 1ST WAS THE DEADLINE TO FILE FOR ORAL ARGUMENT AFTER AN EXCRUCIATING DELIBERATION WITH THE WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM.

I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE LAWYERS THAT BOTH ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY POOR AS WELL AS SCOTT HAWKINS AND MIKE TANNER AND KEN BELL AND WENT BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH AS I LABORED OVER THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO REQUEST ORAL ARGUMENT.

IT. IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION AND CONVINCING FOR ME FINALLY NOT TO REQUEST ORAL ARGUMENT.

IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME NOT TO AT LEAST ASK FOR IT.

BUT BASED ON THE QUALITY OR LACK OF QUALITY IN THE COUNTY'S BRIEF, WE DEEMED IT MORE PRUDENT NOT TO REQUEST OR ARGUMENT AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF THE COURT AND POTENTIALLY REHABILITATE SOME OF THE RIDICULOUSNESS IN THEIR BRIEF.

I THINK OUR APPELLATE TEAM DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB ON THE BRIEF.

KEN BELL AND MIKE TANNER'S EFFORTS ON THE BRIEF WERE OUTSTANDING.

SO WE'RE SCOTT HAWKINS AND AND WOLPER, THE TEAM, EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER AND WE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD ON THAT BRIEF.

YOU HAD FIVE ATTORNEYS WITH OVER 150 YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE WORKING ON THAT BRIEF.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WIN.

SO SEPTEMBER 1ST CAME, THAT WAS THE DEADLINE TO REQUEST ORAL ARGUMENT.

AND THE COUNTY DID NOT REQUEST ORAL ARGUMENT, AND NEITHER DID WE.

THE COURT COULD STILL ORDER ORAL ARGUMENT IF THEY IF THEY READ THE BRIEFS, THEY DEEM SOMETHING UNANSWERED THAT THEY WANT TO BASICALLY QUIZ US ABOUT. BUT WE'LL SEE.

I EXPECT IT TO BE PROBABLY 3 TO 4 MONTHS BEFORE WE GET AN OPINION UNLESS THEY ORDER ORAL ARGUMENT.

TYPICALLY, IF THEY ORAL ORDER ORAL ARGUMENT, ONCE THAT ORDER COMES OUT, USUALLY TWO MONTHS, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE ORAL ARGUMENT.

AND THEN USUALLY 3 TO 4 MONTHS AFTER ORAL ARGUMENT, YOU GET AN ANSWER.

SO NO ORAL ARGUMENT.

3 TO 4 MONTHS FROM NOW.

SO RIGHT AROUND CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS, WE SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER.

THAT'S WHEN I WOULD START EXPECTING IT TO COME OUT.

THE OPINION IF THEY ORDER ORAL ARGUMENT, I WOULD EXPECT THAT ORDER TO COME OUT PROBABLY SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT 45 TO 60 DAYS.

AND IF IT DOES, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

MICHELLE, YOU'RE TO SAY SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT UPDATE.

WE APPRECIATE IT. OK.

IF THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.