08-09-17 CC Minutes Budget Workshop MINUTES
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP
AUGUST 9,2017—6:30 P.M.
CITY HALL, 800 SEMINOLE ROAD
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mayor Mitchell E. Reeves City Attorney Brenna Durden
Commissioner John Stinson Interim City Manager Kevin Hogencamp
Commissioner Mitchell R. Harding City Clerk Assistant Joanie Bowman
Commissioner Jimmy Hill Recording Secretary Nancy Pyatte
Commissioner M. Blythe Waters
Call to Order:
Mayor Reeves called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. City Clerk Assistant Bowman, sitting in for the City
Clerk, called the roll. Mayor Reeves noted that a quorum was present.
Introduction FY 2018 Budget
Interim City Manager (ICM) Hogencamp stated the budget focuses on maintaining and improving the
quality and level of services we provide to our citizens. At this point he introduced Russell Caffey,
Finance Director, to present a detailed report.
Courtesy of the Floor
Mayor Reeves explained the process for the public comments and opened the Courtesy of the Floor to
visitors.
Candice Kelly, 149 Belvedere St., spoke about the Homestead Exemption and the possibility of a
decrease, and how the budget would account for that.
There were no other speakers. Mayor Reeves closed Courtesy of the Floor.
FY 2018 Budget Update presented by Finance Director Russell Caffey:
Finance Director Caffey took the floor to address the Commission. Mr. Caffey soke about the millage
rate. He stated the current millage rate is 3.2285 and staff is proposing maintaining that rate.
Next Mr. Caffey addressed the slide that details the Total General Fund Revenue and the Total
General Fund Expenditures, covering the budget for FY17 and the projected budget for FY18. He
stated that both of these funds reflect an increase in the proposed FY18 budget, leaving a $397,000
deficit.
The next slide titled Reserve Reconciliation addresses the deficit by proposing a transfer from the
Reserve Fund for the three items listed—Legal Fees, Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) software, and
City Hall Remodel. This will then reconcile the balance to a positive $319.00.
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August 9, 2017 Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes
Finance Director Caffey explained the $799,350 increase in the FY18 Expenditures referring to the next
slide which shows the Change between FY17 to FY18. There is an increase with four new staff
positions added, there were increases in Legal fees, General Employee Pension Plan, Workers Comp,
Raises for Sworn Personnel, and miscellaneous net increases. There was one decrease in the Police
Pension plan.
Next, Finance Director Caffey addressed Capital Purchases for the City. He reviewed the list showing
the IT Department will be installing cameras for the parks and replace the FTP server. There will be a
new vehicle for the Police Chief, surface pros for laptops/tablets, three patrol vehicles, eleven lap tops
and five mobile printers, and Interview Room surveillance equipment. There were expenses listed for
the Lifeguards and ABET.
The next slide reviewed was the Convention Development Tax Fund. For FY18 a Spray Park and the
Lifeguard Station Development have proposed budgets from this fund.
From the Half Cent Discretionary Sales Tax Fund there is a proposed budget for renovations to
Russell Park, Jordan Park, and Veterans Park.
The Capital Improvement Fund will be used for the ERP software and the City Hall Remodel. Also
budgeted for Public Works from this fund is the rubber tire loader and a striping machine.
Mayor Reeves stated the Lifeguard Station remodel was budgeted for but not done this FY17 and
questioned if those funds were carried over to FY18. Mr. Caffey responded those unencumbered funds
were carried over to the FY18 budget.
Commissioner Hill expressed that he would prefer the Spray Park money be put towards safety
expenditures on Mayport Rd. Discussion ensued about the Spray Park and how it became an item for
consideration.
ICM Hogencamp explained this is not the final budget, just a proposed budget. The Spray Park item
resulted from conversations and/or meetings with citizens, staff, and the Commission.
There was a brief discussion about legal fees and having a report detailing the expenses by each
department showing a description of the charges.
Finance Director Caffey referred to the slide titled 2017 Total Proposed Millages stating that Atlantic
Beach is the lowest at 18.5022. This chart showed the rates for Jacksonville, Neptune Beach,
Jacksonville Beach, and the Town of Baldwin. The current budget is achieved with the 3.2285 millage
rate. If that rate was lowered by 1/10t of a Mil, equal to $150,673, the budget would have to be
adjusted down. An example of how that could be done is shown on the slide titled Salary Lapse.
Discussion ensued about millage rate reduction and Homestead Exemption Tax and how they affect the
budget. It was noted that counting on employee salary gaps to make up surplus could equate to
experiencing lower levels of service. Finance Director Caffey confirmed that the current budget does
not propose a salary lapse.
There was a brief discussion about police vehicles in operation and replacing those with high mileage.
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August 9, 2017 Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes
Discussion continued about not counting on a salary lapse to balance the budget. There was discussion
about the Homestead Exemption Tax - if this gets extended the City needs to educate citizens of the
effects on the City budget.
Finance Director Caffey summarized his review of the Special Revenue Funds for the Environmental
Stewardship Committee, for Streets/Paving/Sidewalks, and the ERP software and City Hall Remodel.
He continued his review of the Convention Development Tax Fund for the Spray Park and the
Lifeguard Station Development, the Local Option Gas Tax Fund for paving and street/sidewalk
improvements, and the Half Cent Discretionary Sales Tax Fund for renovations to City parks.
This completed the FY 2018 Budget Update presented by Finance Director Russell Caffey.
Discussion ensued about having more emphasis for the Marshside infrastructure improvements,
sidewalks, and septic-to-sewer mediation. Regarding public safety, it was noted there is a need for
lighted crosswalks along Atlantic Blvd. and Mayport Rd.
There was discussion about increasing revenue generation in the business district, the status of the
potential buildout of the Country Club, developing park settings at beach accesses, and improving
parking at those beach access endzones.
There was discussion regarding preservation purchases of two parcels of land - Johnston Island and the
Preserve.
There was discussion about funding for strategic planning workshops and if that was in the budget.
A review of the timeline was confirmed noting on August 14th the Commission will be presented a
budget compiled from all the Budget workshops — inclusive of proposed projects with proposed costs,
and a report on grants from Langton & Associates as well. After that there will be another presentation
for the Commission to prioritize for the final budget.
A brief discussion ensued about healthcare costs, adequate staffing for completion of Public Works
projects, and paying down Pension costs.
ICM Hogencamp thanked the Commission and stated there will be an update on Monday.
Courtesy of the Floor
Candice Kelly, 149 Belvedere St., Atlantic Beach, spoke about the Mayport Road Corridor meetings,
and inquired about City revenue generated from Atlantic Beach businesses.
Rick Harper, 1810 Selva Grande Dr., Atlantic Beach, spoke about the Spray Park costs and
maintenance, creation of a Parks Master Plan, Johnston Island, and the Public Works resurfacing
program.
There were no other speakers. Mayor Reeves closed Courtesy of the Floor.
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August 9, 2017 Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes
Adjourn
There being no further discussion by the City Commission, Mayor Reeves declared the meeting
adjourned at 7:26 PM.
Mitchell E. Reeves, Mayor
444/niet 6/L14/tee-
I Donna L. Bartle, CMC, City Clerk
DLB/njp
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