MinutesMINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY
2001/2002 HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 800 SEMINOLE ROAD, AT 5:00 P.M. ON
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2002
City Commissioners Present:
John S. Meserve, Mayor
Louis M. (Mike) Borno
Richard M. Beaver
Paul B. Parsons, and
J. Dezmond Waters, III, City Commissioners
Staff Present:
Jim Hanson, City Manager
Nelson VanLiere, Finance Director
Alan Jensen, City Attorney
Maureen King, City Clerk
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Meserve who announced that the items to be
considered 'this evening were the adoption of the tentative millage rate, the first reading and
public heazing on the ordinance adopting the operating budget for FY 2002/2003, and setting the
date for the second public heazing on the ordinance. .
Action on Proposed Budget
(a) Public Hearing and setting tentative millage rate
The Mayor announced that the tentative millage rate was 3.1721 for operating purposes for fiscal
year 2002/2003, which was 10.21% higher than the rolled-back rate of 2.8783 mills. He
explained that the purpose for the increase in ad valorem tax revenue was to maintain adequate
funding for the existing level of service at anticipated increased cost.
Commissioner Borno moved to adopt a tentative millage rate of 3.1721 for operating
purposes for fiscal year 2002/2003. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Beaver.
The Mayor then opened the floor for a public heazing and invited comments from the audience.
Dennis Veith, 1235 Seminole Road, said he was surprised that the city was not going to roll back
the millage rate considering the increase in property values and the down turm in the stock
market. ~ '
J.P. Marchioli, 414 Sherry Drive, said his major concern was not the millage rate, but that the
city used tax revenues in a fiscally responsible manner.
Alan Potter, 324 Second Street, requested that the City Commission address the proposed
increase in the stormwater fee before setting the millage rate. He felt this increase was not
justified and since revenues were not used for stormwater treatment as originally intended, he
felt the stormwater fee should be abolished and stormwater maintenance funded from ad valorem
taxes.
Page Two
Minutes -Special Called Meeting
September 16, 2002
Since no one else wished to speak to the millage rate, the Mayor closed the public hearing and
asked the City Manager to explain why the millage rate should not be reduced.
The City Manager explained that the City was holding the. same millage rate. He pointed out that
after the budget was adopted last year, the Tax Collector submitted a revised tax digest and the
City Commission rolled the millage rate back to reflect increased revenues.
Commissioner Waters pointed out that the city would receive increased revenues due to the
increased property values and suggested that the City Commission reduce the millage rate by
even a small portion.
Commissioner Borno referenced the 3% cap on property taxes in Duval County and pointed out
that owners of homesteaded properties would not experience any increases.
Commissioner Parsons agreed with Commissioner Waters and suggested the millage be reduced
a small amount.
Mayor Meserve pointed out the City Commission had had several workshops and had set the
budget based on the current millage. He felt that suggestions for millage reductions should have
been made at those workshops. He said some of the projects in the budget would not be done if
the millage was reduced. He said he did not want to use reserves to fund projects and felt the
millage rate of 3.1721 should be retained.
Commissioner Beaver agreed with the Mayor and noted that this Commission has been trying to
improve some areas that had been neglected such as the Selva Marina Streets, Core City
improvements, opening Church Road, and he felt to maintain the quality of life in Atlantic Beach
it would not be responsible to reduce the millage rate at this time.
Following further discussion, including an explanation of the meaning of "the rolled back rate"
by Nelson VanLiere the motion carried on a 3-2 vote with the Mayor and Commissioners
Beaver and Borno voting aye and Commissioners Parsons and Waters voting nay.
(b) Ordinance No. 20-02-55 First Reading and Public Hearing
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF
ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2042/2003 BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2002 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
Mayor Meserve read Ordinance No. 20-02-55 by title only and stated that the ordinance would
adopt an operating budget of $26, 670,810 for fiscal year, 2002/2003. Commissioner Borno
moved for adoption of Ordinance No. 20-02-55. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Parsons.
- , ____
Page Three
Minutes -Special Called Meeting
September 16, 2002
The Mayor opened the floor for a public hearing and invited comments from the audience.
Jackie Matcheft, 311 5`" Street, representing the Atlantic Beach PTA, addressed the City
Commission regarding the exercise track at the elementary school. She noted that this project
had been deleted from the budget. She said the PTA had some funds in hand for this project and
she hoped the City Commission would reconsider and budget $2,000 for matching funds for this
project. - .
No one else spoke regarding the proposed budget so the Mayor declared the public hearing
closed.
There was no further discussion and the motion to pass Ordinance No. 20-02-55 on first
reading carried unanimously.
(c) Set date and time for second public hearing
The Mayor announced that the second reading of the ordinance would be held at the next regulaz
City Commission meeting at 7:15 p.m. on September 23, 2002.
3. Public Hearing on the 2002/2003 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
Public Safety Director Thompson explained that this block -grant was in addition to the grant
from Jacksonville for radio systems. This is a Federal Government grant the Police Department
is proposing to use the funds to convert data from the old system to their new records
maintenance system. Dir. Thompson reported this conversion would cost approximately
$25,000, after which officers on the street would have access to several years of data.
The Mayor opened the floor for a public hearing and invited continents from the audience. Since
no one wished to speak to this issue the Mayor closed the public hearing
4. Any other business
There being no further discussion or business to come before the City Commission the Mayor
declared the meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
JOHN S. MESERVE
Mayor/Presiding Officer
ATTEST:
MAUREEN KING
Certified Municipal Clerk