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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 09 02 CALNO Minutes MINUTES Council of Local Governments in Seminole County (CALNO) Seminole Community College 100 Weldon Boulevard Sanford, FL 32773 Wednesday, September 2, 2009 1. Call to Order/Invocation /Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Steve Wolfram at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Wolfram called for a brief moment of silence and all participated in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Mayor John Bush, City of Winter Springs Deputy Mayor, John Maingot, City of Longwood Councilman Steve Henken, City of Oviedo Commissioner Jo Ann Lucarelli, City of Lake Mary Commissioner Steve Wolfram, City of Altamonte Springs Donald J. Payton, Director of Governmental Relations, SCC Commissioner Mike McLean, Seminole County Members Absent: Board Member Diane Bauer, Seminole County School Board Commissioner Colleen Hufford, City of Casselberry Commissioner Jack Bridges, City of Sanford Others Present: Dr. E. Ann McGee, President, Seminole Community College Michael Garlich, AVP Community Relations Marketing, SCC Cindy Gennell, Winter Springs Citizen Demitri Nikitin, CEO of Advanced Solar Photonics Edgardo Rodriguez, Advanced Solar Photonics Richard Whitenack, Advanced Solar Photonics Charlene Glancy, Mayor, City of Casselberry Stan Stevens, Jr., Citizen Stan Stevens, Sr., Citizen Kyle Morse, Advanced Solar Photonics Linda Cowels, Office Manager, Seminole Community College John A. Horwath, Citizen Dino Lucarelli, Citizen 1 3. Minutes of June 3, 2009 Motion: Commissioner Mike McLean moved to approve the minutes of June 3, 2009. Seconded by Mayor John Bush and carried by a unanimous vote. 4. Treasurer's Report Commissioner Steve Wolfram presented the Treasurer's Report. The ending balance is $500.97. Motion: Commissioner Jo Ann Lucarelli moved to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented. Seconded by Deputy Mayor John Maingot and carried by a unanimous voice vote. 5. Program A State of the College Seminole Community College Dr. E. Ann McGee Dr. McGee provided a presentation on the State of the College and indicated that she mentioned that this is an exciting time for SCC. We are building an academic village. Dr. McGee showed the six (6) College sites: the Port of Sanford Incubator; the Geneva Driving Track; the Heathrow Center; the Oviedo Campus; the Altamont Campus and the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. She discussed the College's process for a name change and announced that the Board will vote on the new name at the September 21 meeting. 6. Advanced Solar Photonics Group Mr. Demitri Nikitin, CEO of Advanced Laser Photonics Group, provided a brief presentation about Advanced Solar Photonics. 7. Reports from Members: INTERCITY SAVINGS INITIATIVES Deputy Mayor Maingot reported that many of the local cities are looking to pool their services to enhance savings. He said this is especially important for those cities that are facing serious budget considerations. There will be opposition especially from the unions. However, the cities are responsible to the tax payers. He asked the group to think about it and come up with some suggestions. Commissioner Mike McLean stated that we should take a cooperative approach in the mutual best interest of each city. This approach will unite everyone. Councilman Henken encouraged everyone to begin working with the agencies that are nearest to the city. A suggestion was made to inform citizens that the 2 cities are currently cooperating with other services in their areas to enhance cost savings. SEMINOLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Donald Payton informed the Council that we have a new Board member, Cynthia Drago, who was recently appointed by Governor Crist. SEMINOLE COUNTY Commissioner Mike McLean reported that all cities must deal with three issues: the concept of water; how much, when, and the distribution and conservation. Transportation how, when, who pays, etc. Energy cost, distribution, conservation, etc. The budgets for all are challenging. The economy is a piece of it but the entire piece. There are 3 pieces economy, effective Amendment 1 and the rollback. Seminole County had a $47 million budget shortfall out of a $223 million general revenue budget. Out of that $47 million, $34 million was directly related to Amendment 1. We must review how we distribute services at a level that our citizens expect. Out of 1400 positions, 235 positions have been eliminated in the past 2 -3 years. Seminole County is considering raising the millage rate and will have a public hearing on the matter next Wednesday. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS Mayor John Bush of the City of Winter Springs mentioned that they are in a stable condition. They have not laid off employees and will not be raising their millage rate. He further mentioned that they cut $1.5 million out of their budget and have about $5 million more than is needed. This occurred because of good planning. He asked if anyone knew what a community budget issue request. He reviewed previous requests and suggested that the counties consider researching this option and indicated that many colleges take advantage of this option. He further recommend that cities investigation the option. CITY OF ALTAMONTE SPRINGS Commissioner Steve Wolfram of Altamonte Springs reported that they recently chose a new City Manager, Mr. Frank Martz, to take effect October 1, 2010. Mr. Martz is a resident of Oviedo and Commissioner Wolfram said he believes he will do an excellent job. He told a brief story about a citizen who came to one of their meetings with her toothpaste and complained about not having enough fluoride in the water. CITY OF CASSELBERRY Mayor Charlene Glancy of the City of Casselberry reported that the last two Commission meetings adjourned at 8:37 p.m., verses midnight. The brand new park is due to be complete in the next 30 days. The city is expected to raise their millage rate to 5.45. They have eliminated a total of 39 positions since 2007, and only seven (7) more positions were eliminated in this budget session. She mentioned that their reserves are healthy with excess funds. In addition, they also plan to institute a street light assessment fee that will cost the residents about $37 3 per year. Walmart Corporation is moving forward with their plans in the city; however, it will not be a super Walmart. CITY OF LAKE MARY Commissioner Jo Ann Lucarelli reported that the City has eliminated approximately 3 positions in the Building Department. They have a salary freeze and the City Manager changed their health insurance from Aetna to Cigna which provided a cost saving. The City will not raise its millage rate. In addition, she said the City is using this time to focus on developing their Master Plan. CITY OF LONGWOOD Deputy Mayor Maingot reported that the City of Longwood will keep their current millage rate. However, they did have to withdraw $1.4 million from reserves to balance their budget. He mentioned that he had a lengthy meeting with the new administrator and director and reviewed each line of the budget. He said that he believes proactive action now will help save dollars in the future. He further mentioned that the City has a drainage issue in the new park that must be addressed. And, he recommended that the City provide quarterly reviews of their budget to keep the city on track. He further reported that the City of Longwood has not cut any of their community projects. OVIEDO Councilman Keith Britton reported that the City of Oviedo did not raise taxes. They cut about $2 million from their budget and about 20 positions were eliminated. He indicated that this is a year where everyone is going through the budgets and cutting as much as possible to balance the budgets. However, at some point there is no more you can cut. He mentioned that the City of Oviedo's budget is pushed to the maximum and there is no more to cut. He indicated that the City will be opening an Employee Health Center in the City's old Fire Station called One Care. The new on -site program is expected to reduce health premium cost about $2 million. He invited the group to visit their facility in January when it opens and consider partnerships. He further mentioned that the program's start- up cost was approximately $250,000. 5. Other Business: Deputy Mayor Maingot asked if the cities would discuss how they are dealing with the surmounting foreclosures so that the surrounding homes do not suffer. Commissioner McLean mentioned that they are having discussions with Habitat for Humanity and the prison programs to perhaps assist in keeping up the properties. Commissioner Wolfram asked if the City of Oviedo anticipated a change that would be forced upon them from what Congress passes regarding healthcare. Councilman Henken indicated that they have not addressed that possibility. 4 9. Adjournment: Commissioner Steve Wolfram adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Linda Cowels Recording Secretary Seminole Community College 5