Special City Council - September 6, 2023

  1. Agenda

City Council

Special Meeting

September 6, 2023

 

The City of Titusville City Council met in special session on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at Titusville City Hall, second floor, Council Chamber, 555 South Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida 32796. Mayor Diesel called the City Council meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Those present in the Council Chamber included Mayor Daniel E. Diesel, Vice-Mayor Joe C. Robinson, and City Council Members Herman A. Cole, Jr., Col USAF Retired, Jo Lynn Nelson, and Dr. Sarah Stoeckel. City Manager Scott Larese, City Attorney Richard Broome, and City Clerk Wanda Wells were also present. Assistant City Clerk Jolynn Donhoff completed the minutes of the meeting. 

 

Mayor Diesel requested a moment of silence. He then led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. City Clerk Wanda Wells read the procedures for public comment and participation.

 

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City’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 - City Manager Larese reviewed the purpose of the special City Council meeting, as provided in the Council agenda packet. The request was to conduct the first public hearing on the City's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 and read the related ordinances and adopt the Tentative Operating and Voted Debt Service millages; Conduct the first reading of ordinances proposing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Water/Sewer and Solid Waste rates; and adopt the Tentative Operating, Enterprise and Capital Budgets. 

 

  • Budget process and millage rate
  • Use of millage over the rollback rate
  • Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024
  • FY 2024 Budget environment
  • FY 2024 Budget priorities 
  • FY 2024 Proposed General Fund Budget Changes since the August 17, 2023 Budget Workshop
  • FY 2024 Proposed Budget All Funds Revenues $132,022,062
  • FY 2024 Proposed Budget All Funds Expenditures $132,022,062
  • General Fund millage rate comparison
  • FY 2024 Proposed ad valorem per resident comparison
  • General Fund millage rate comparison
  • Proposed property tax on a residential home in Titusville based on $6.7945 mils 
  • Budget related ordinances scheduled for first reading 

 

City Attorney Broome read the following ordinances for the first time, by title only, as followed:

 

Ordinance No. 37-2023 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE MILLAGE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE; AND VOTED DEBT SERVICE LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

Ordinance No. 38-2023 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE GENERAL AND RELATED BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

Ordinance No. 39-2023 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 21-241(3) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING AND INCREASING THE SCHEDULE OF RATES AND CHARGES FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND INCORPORATION INTO THE CODE.

 

Ordinance No. 40-2023 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA; AMENDING SECTION 16-116 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING AND ESTABLISHING AN INCREASE TO THE RESIDENTIAL MONTHLY CHARGE FOR SOLID WASTE, RECYCLING AND ADDITIONAL CART FEES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-117 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING AND ESTABLISHING AN INCREASE TO THE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AND COMMERCIAL CAN MONTHLY CHARGES FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING FEES AND INCREASING THE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER RENTAL FEES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 16-118 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING AND ESTABLISHING AN INCREASE IN THE EXTRA CHARGES FOR SPECIAL SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND INCORPORATION INTO THE CODE.

 

Ordinance No. 41–2023 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE ENTERPRISE FUND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

City Manager Larese continued his presentation and highlighted the following information:

 

  • Information that must be read publicly, per Florida Statutes 200.065 (completed)
  • Recommended actions
  • The final public hearing on the FY 2024 budget was scheduled for the special City Council meeting on September 21, 2023 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber

 

City Attorney Broome advised that proposed Ordinance Nos. 37-2023 and 38-2023 were related. For this reason, the first public hearings for these ordinances could be held together or individually. 

 

Ordinance Nos. 37-2023 and 38-2023 –

 

Mayor Diesel opened the first public hearing(s) on Ordinance Nos. 37-2023 and 38-2023. 

 

Stan Johnston distributed information. Since he submitted public speaking and hearing cards on both of the proposed ordinances, he was given 6-minutes to speak. Mr. Johnston read from a prepared statement that reviewed his concerns on the cost of water treatment plant improvements, 4-Log Virus, boil water alerts, fraud, secrecy, his communications with the Department of Environmental Protection on 4-log Virus treatment, his estimation there were deficiencies in the treatment system, etc. 

 

As there were no additional persons that wished to speak, the first public hearing on Ordinance Nos. 37-2023 and 38-2023 was closed. 

 

Motion:

Vice-Mayor Robinson moved to tentatively adopt Ordinance No. 37-2023 and the tentative millage rate for the operation of the City of Titusville at $6.7945 mils, which was a 6.08% increase above the rolled-back millage rate of $6.4048 mils, as recommended. The motion also included tentatively adopting and the Voted Debt Service levy millage rate for Fiscal Year 2024 at $0.2234 mils, as recommended. Member Nelson seconded the motion and the roll call vote was: 

 

Member Cole                          Yes

Member Nelson                      Yes

Mayor Diesel                          Yes

Vice-Mayor Robinson            Yes

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

 

The motion carried unanimously. 

 

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Ordinance No. 38-2023 –

 

Motion: 

Vice-Mayor Robinson moved to tentatively adopt Ordinance No. 38-2023 and the General and Related Budgets of the City of Titusville for Fiscal Year 2024, as recommended. Member Nelson seconded the motion and the roll call vote was:

 

Member Nelson                      Yes

Mayor Diesel                          Yes

Vice-Mayor Robinson            Yes

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

Member Cole                          Yes

 

The motion carried unanimously. 

 

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Ordinance No. 39-2023 – 

 

Mayor Diesel opened the first public hearing on Ordinance No. 39-2023. 

 

Stan Johnston read from the information that he distributed earlier in the meeting, which concerned his professional background, his objections to improvements to recycled water and the related costs, etc. 

 

As there were no additional persons that wished to speak, the first public hearing on Ordinance No. 39-2023 was closed.

 

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Ordinance No. 40-2023 –  

 

Mayor Diesel opened the first public hearing on Ordinance No. 40-2023. 

 

Stan Johnston supported the proposed ordinance and the services provided by the Solid Waste Department. 

 

Toni Shifalo verified the billing structure for yard waste pickup. She did not support paying additional costs for yard waste pickup. She also expressed concern for garbage trucks not immediately picking up items like old mattresses that citizens may set out by the curb, etc. 

 

As there were no additional persons that wished to speak, the first public hearing on Ordinance No. 40-2023 was closed.

 

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Ordinance No. 41-2023 –  

 

Mayor Diesel opened the first public hearing on Ordinance No. 41-2023. 

 

Stan Johnston further read from the information that he distributed earlier in the meeting, concerning his professional background. He also discussed examples of items that he disputed about the City, infrastructure and capital improvement recommendations, etc. 

 

As there were no additional persons that wished to speak, the first public hearing on Ordinance No. 41-2023 was closed.

 

 

Motion:

Member Cole moved to tentatively adopt Ordinance No. 41-2023 and the Enterprise Fund and Capital Improvements Program Budgets of the City of Titusville for the Fiscal Year 2024, as recommended. Member Nelson seconded the motion and the roll call vote was:

 

Mayor Diesel                          Yes

Vice-Mayor Robinson            Yes

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

Member Cole                          Yes

Member Nelson                      Yes

 

The motion carried unanimously. 

 

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Petitions from the Public Present – 

 

Stan Johnston commented on his concerns about money and fraud, as provided in the information that he distributed earlier in the meeting. 

 

Toni Shifalo commented on following the annual budget cycle, improving communication with the public on budget terms and calculations, and the importance of board meeting minutes, Low Impact Development (LID) principles, arts and culture, etc. 

 

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City Manager advised that the final public hearing on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget was scheduled for the special City Council meeting on September 21, 2023 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber. 

 

Next, the Council commented in appreciation of staff and their hard work. 

 

Mayor Diesel commented on his observations on the City’s service levels, the number of projects and comparisons over the last several years, the road resurfacing and paving program and its goals, etc.  He and Member Nelson commented on exceeding and making progress on big goals, such as the Indian River Lagoon, etc. Additionally, Member Cole commented on his professional experience and observations of City operations, to which he was impressed and appreciative.   

 

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With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.