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Home My WebLink About2007 03 26 Consent 202 Approval of March 7 Special Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 7, 2007 CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting of Monday, March 7, 2007 of the City Commission was called to Order by Mayor John F. Bush at 5:33 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). Roll Call: Mayor John F. Bush, present Deputy Mayor Sally McGinnis, present via telephone Commissioner Robert S. Miller, present Commissioner Rick Brown, present Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore, present via telephone Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, present City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, present REGULAR AGENDA REGULAR 300. Office Of The City Manager Requests The City Commission Discuss Potential Strategies In Response To Proposed Legislative Property Tax Reform. City Manager Ronald W. McLemore introduced this Agenda Item and stated, "We are on two (2) tracks. One (1) is a publication that we'll be taking to Legislative Session Friday. Very similar to that, would be a second document that we'd use to send to all of our citizens here in Winter Springs. That information would change some, but the basic document is here, based on comments from the Commission. We do have one (1) comment from the City Attorney that we need to incorporate into this, which we'll do tomorrow first thing. And we need also to pass this Resolution finding a public purpose for us to spend funds to produce this information." Discussion. ~ If;-~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "l>::;;;;JIP" ~..........l ;~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING ~ MARCH 7, 2007 PAGE20F6 Deputy Mayor Sally McGinnis asked, "When will that brochure go out and will we have a hard copy in our box prior to that?" Mayor Bush stated, "Yes, you will and it will be passed out - Friday morning at the meeting with the Legislature - the Budget Committee." Mr. Kevin Smith, Director, General Services Department addressed Deputy Mayor McGinnis saying, "And Commissioner, you have a copy in your box as we speak. " Commissioner Rick Brown stated "Point of Order" and spoke of the brochure. Continuing, Commissioner Brown remarked, "But if we're sending out a document that represents the views of the City Commission, shouldn't the City Commission have been involved in its creation?" Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs asked, "Is this finalized already?" Manager McLemore stated, "No, you can make changes to it." Commissioner Krebs added, "It says, 'A message from the Mayor John Bush'. But, I was wondering if it could say a message from the City Commission and the Mayor with our pictures on it?" Manager McLemore replied, "Well, this is as best we can do on a short time frame that we had and - that's all I can tell you." Discussion. Commissioner Robert S. Miller said, "The only critical comment I had - and that is when you open the front page, when you open the document and look at the upper left hand comer, which is normally where most people start, I would prefer if it said, and I will just read it the way it reads right now. 'Funding for each of these services will be drastically reduced or eliminated completely within the next year as a result of proposed property tax legislation.' I think it might be better to put 'Funding for each of these services will be drastically reduced or - mayor might possibly be required to be eliminated completely' - or 'possibly eliminated' - rather than 'or eliminated completely'." Mayor Bush suggested, "'Or completely eliminated', take that out." Mayor Bush continued, "So, we are striking the words 'Or eliminated completely'." Manager McLemore remarked, "Okay." With discussion, Commissioner Brown asked Commissioner Miller, "Were you - suggesting taking that out completely, because what I thought I heard was changing it to possibly 'eliminated'?" Commissioner Miller said, "Either way." Manager McLemore said, "I'd be more comfortable with that." Commissioner Miller added, '''Possibly' is good. " ~ lF~"':":"","" '"'""'ll ~~ ~~~ :C:> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 7, 2007 PAGE30F6 Mayor Bush reiterated, "Or possibly eliminated." Commissioner Miller said, "There you go." Mayor Bush continued, "Just take out the word 'completely'." Next, Mayor Bush explained the change in wording, "Or possibly eliminated." Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore said, "Sounds good to me." Deputy Mayor McGinnis said, "Sounds good." With further comments, Mayor Bush said, "We need to have them tomorrow when we get ready to go." Mayor Bush said, "Yes, that disclaimer has to be added." City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese said, "It's not your standard paid political advertisement disclaimer. The disclaimer makes it clear that this is a document that has been approved by the City Commission because if it is approved by the City Commission, there's no need to create a Political Committee to send out this political publication. " Regarding the publication, Commissioner Miller commented, "I would be willing to say let's go with the way it is then." Mr. Smith said, "We'll do two (2) things, Mayor. We'll go ahead and get a sticker ready to go at the risk of not being able to get this document done. But, we'll do our best. If they can make it happen, we'll make it happen." Mayor Bush said, "I think Commissioner Miller's comments are appropriate." Commissioner Miller added, "If we are going to hand this out, the disclaimer - it should be a professional looking document." Discussion. "MOTION TO APPROVE THE DOCUMENT WITH THE CHANGES SUGGESTED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER AND THE ADDITION OF THE DISCLAIMER." MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KREBS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BROWN. DISCUSSION. VOTE: COMMISSIONER BROWN: AYE COMMISSIONER MILLER: AYE DEPUTY MAYOR McGINNIS: AYE COMMISSIONER KREBS: AYE COMMISSIONER GILMORE: AYE MOTION CARRIED. ,...~ ~~":l< ~~ ~ .~ ~ ~1I ~ ~ ~ ~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 7, 2007 PAGE 4 OF 6 REGULAR 301. Office Of The City Manager ADD-ON Requesting The City Commission To Adopt Resolution Number 2007-13 Regarding Legislative Proposals For Changing The State's Property Tax System. Mayor Bush read the proposed Resolution 2007-13. "MOTION TO APPROVE." MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BROWN. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER. DISCUSSION. VOTE: COMMISSIONER KREBS: AYE COMMISSIONER GILMORE: AYE COMMISSIONER BROWN: AYE COMMISSIONER MILLER: AYE DEPUTY MAYOR McGINNIS: AYE MOTION CARRIED. Commissioner Miller said, "This might be a good thing to do, is just find a way to get it in every Representative and Senator's hands, in the State of Florida." Mayor Bush said, "Okay, we will try to do that." Mayor Bush said, "We will find out Thursday night about that. " Mr. Smith then gave a presentation on issues related to the proposed Property Tax Reform matter. Further discussion. Mayor Bush said, "I would recommend, go to the very first slide, let's put a slide in front of this and say - put all of our pictures up there, the Commissioners, the Mayor, so forth. Indicate that we passed a Resolution this night, maybe even put a copy of the Resolution up there because it is not that long." Mayor Bush also suggested it say, "This in itself has been approved by the Commission." Continuing, Mayor Bush remarked, "Have that on there as the very first slide and talk about the Resolution or maybe the Resolution should come last - but, I think that it would be good to show the Resolution there and also - show the other Commissioners." Commissioner Miller said, "Good idea." ":.~'.h',-i\':',',~;'_:~ ~":,:..:.'--,,,;.',{! fL::~;j(~~~~ :f;::;;~i:~'lU ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 7, 2007 PAGE 5 OF6 Regarding the changes proposed by Mayor Bush for a Consensus, Commissioner Krebs said, "I am okay with it." Mayor Bush noted, "The changes that are recommended - we are adding the Resolution, adding the pictures of the Commissioners, much like the 'State of the City'. Everybody in agreement with that?" Commissioner Miller stated, "Sure." No objections were noted. Furthermore, Mayor Bush commented, "I appreciate - Kevin (Smith), all the work you and Ron (McLemore) have done on getting this together." Discussion. Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Gilmore were recognized for their Birthday's. Regarding a Citizen's Committee, Mayor Bush asked, "What's the Commission's desire to proceed with this Committee?" Commissioner Krebs said, "I was just looking for the purpose, exactly what we would have them do and what they would be charged with?" Mayor Bush explained, "The [Florida} League [of Cities} has recommended we do that as well; that we form a Citizen's Committee to start investigating - the reduction of services if necessary; asking them to look at the Budget - that is the idea. So, do we want to moveforward with that recommendation?" Commissioner Brown said, "Yes, I do." Commissioner Krebs said, "Yes, 1 think it is a good idea." With no objections voiced, Mayor Bush remarked, "So, we have Consensus that the Committee will be formed. " With further comments, Mayor Bush said, "The objective would be to educate the public, especially the citizens of Winter Springs, on the impact that the proposed legislation would have on our Budget and our services that are funded by the Ad Valorem taxes." Manager McLemore said, "I'll write a Resolution for Monday night, setting up the Committee." Commissioner Krebs suggested, "Look at the budgeted areas of where possible cuts might have to come from, is that not. . ." Mayor Bush said, "... I think that would be part of their - 1 agree. 1 think their recommendations would come back to the Commission. The Commission would accept them or not." Discussion. Mayor Bush asked, "How many people do you think we should have on this. I recommended that each Commissioner appoint two (2)." Mayor Bush continued, "Is two (2) sufficient?" Commissioner Miller said, "I think so." No objections were noted. Mayor Bush said, "So that would be twelve (12) altogether, okay. Does anybody disagree with that?" No objections were noted. Mayor Bush said, ''And Ron (McLemore) will prepare something for - the next Commission meeting to get this formally approved. " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~...r: ~ ~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING - MARCH 7, 2007 PAGE60F6 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Bush adjourned the Special Meeting at 6: 12 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: DANIELLE HARKER, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY CLERK AND ANDREA LORENZO-LUACES, CMC CITY CLERK APPROVED: JOHN F. BUSH MA YOR NOTE: These Minutes were approved at the , 2007 Regular City Commission Meeting. ~~ ~ _.~ !ifl""" ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~