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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1984-09-10 Minutesr r CITY OF Ml Ml COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON September 10, 1984 (SPECIAL) PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY H AL L RALPH G., ONG 19 CITY CLERK rb li INDEX MINUTES OF RROULAR MEETING CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA September 10, 1984 ITEM SUBJECT LROWLATION FAGS 90. NO. 1 FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET - FY 84-85. DISCUSSION 1-13 2 MOTION CONTINUING PUBLIC HEARING TO SEPTEMBER 13 AT 5:05 P.M. AT COCONUT GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. M-84-965 13-16 3 DISCUSSION BY COMMISSIONER CAROLLO ON COST OF BODYGUARDS FURNISHED TO CITY MANAGER FOR HIS PROTECTION. DISCUSSION 16-17 4 INFORMARTION DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER REGARDING POSSIBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS ON FY 84-85 BUDGET. DISCUSSION 17-18 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 10th day of September, 1984, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in Special Session. The meeting was called to order at 5:15 O'Clock P.M. by Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr. with the following members of the Commission found to be present: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr. ABSENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ALSO PRESENT: Howard V. Gary, City Manager Lucia Allen Dougherty, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. -- -- ------------- - --- ----- --- ------ - -- - - 1. FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET - FY 84-85. g Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our next Special Commission Meeting. First, we would like to know if anyone wants to make any comments or wants to speak in reference to our hearing today. We would like that they come to the microphone, make public the name, the identity and make the comments. Does anyone want to speak? Mr. Plummer: I think what we need to do is to put on the record that this is a Budget Hearing that started after 5:05 at 5:16 in the afternoon and anyone wishing to speak at this Budget Hearing, you are requested to go to the Clerk, give your name and then we will have some order in which to call people to be speakers before this public hearing. Mr. Perez: First we have the discussion of the proposed millage rate on the budget for the City of Miami. First the percentage increase in millage over roll back rate. Mr. Manohar Surana: The increase is 4.5 of a per cent. Mr. Plummer: Say that again? Mr. Surana: The increase in millage, our roll back rate is 4.5 of a per cent. Mr. Plummer: 4.5%. Mr. Peres: B, specific purpose for which our tax revenues _= are being increased. -` Mr. 8urana: The increase in property tax up =3,426,610 will partially fund for the salary and rate increase for City departments. Mr. Perez: It doesn't appear here in the... Mr. Plummer: Yes, here. Now we go to Item C. Mr. Perez: Okay, Item C. The City Commission will listen and respond to citizen comments regarding the proposed millage increase and explain the reason for the increase over the roll back rate. Does anyone want to speak on this issue? Mr. Plummer: May I suggest, Mr. Vice -Mayor, that you also announce that in Spanish? Mr. Perez: Si alguna persona quiere hablar sobre el presupuesto, to invitamos a que venga a microphono al City Clerk, se presente, se identifique y haga su eommentario. Alguna to presente quiere decir algo? Mr. Plummer: Let the record reflect that no one came forth to speak at this time at this budget hearing. Move on to D. Mr. Perez: Action of City Commission first to amend the tentative budget. Mr. Plummer: Mano, that's the next Item, D-1. Mr. Surana: Right, if there are any amendments. We have to adopt a tentative budget, we have to adopt a millage if there are no changes. Mr. Plummer: And how do we go about that? Mr. Surana: I think the City Commission has to take some action. They have to vote on these things. Item 4, Item 5. Mr. Plummer: And if no motion is made by the Commission, what happens? Ms. Dougherty: Mr. Commissioner, you must hold a public hearing within 75 days of the certification which is today. If you don't adopt it, I suppose you could continue this public hearing to another date certain and then you have 15 days from that time afterwards to adopt it on Second Reading. Mr. Plummer: Well, my understanding is there is a scheduled hearing on September 18th which is also a public hearing on the budget. Is that correct? Ms. Dougherty: Yes, I believe that is scheduled for Second Reading and probably has been noticed as a Second Reading. Mr. Plummer: Nothing would prevent it from being First Reading? Ms. Dougherty: You can't have two readings on the same day any longer. Mr. Perez: Do we have to call again for the whole hearing or only for .... Ms. Dougherty: This is just a tentative budget. At the next public hearing you can amend that tentative budget downward, you could not increase it once you have adopted this tentative budget. Mr. Plummer: Well, we did that before. We did that at the last sooting. Mr. Surana: I think the budget can go upward or downward but the millage cannot go upwards next Commission Meeting. Ms. Dougherty: Yes, that is correct. Mr. Plummer: What you're saying is we set the millage before? Mr. Surana: Yes. Ms. Dougherty: I'll read you what you must do today. Within 75 days of the certification, which is today, but not earlier than 60 after the certification, the governing body shall hold a public hearing on the tentative budget and the proposed millage rate. Prior to the conclusion of the hearing, the governing body or the taxing authority shall amend the tentative budget as it sees fit, adopt the amended tentative budget, recompute the proposed millage rate and publicly announce the per cent, if any, by which the re- computed proposed millage rate exceeds the rolled back rate computed pursuant to Section 1 which is what you did last week. Mr. Plummer: If it exceeds. Ms. Dougherty: If it exceeds. Then again, it goes on to say that if you have adopted the proposed millage rate today, at your next meeting you may not increase it, you could decrease it but you could not increase it. Mr. Plummer: Next item. Mr. Perez: The second item is a discussion of the proposed millage rates and budget for the Downtown Development Authority. ... increase over the roll back rate. UNINTELLIGIBLE CONVERSATION Mr. Plummer: Well, that's why I asked. If there is no action then it goes over to the next meeting. Correct? Ms. Dougherty: You will have to continue this public hearing to the next date certain, yes. Mr. Plummer: Well, that it is already scheduled. Mr. Surana: But that is to adopt a final budget, not to adopt a tentative budget. Mr. Plummer: No, instead of the next meeting being the Second Reading, it becomes the First. Mr. Surana: But on the 18th we must adopt the final budget. Mr. Plummer: I wish you well. Mr. Surana: Today we have to adopt a tentative budget. Mr. Plummer: I wish you well. Mr. nary: Commissioner Plummer, Commissioner Dawkins, the final decision of the City Commission is made at the second public hearing on the 18th. I would urge and suggest and recommend to the City Commission.... The final decision on the budget is scheduled for action on September 18th. Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir, that is what it is scheduled for but obviously it won1t take place. Mr. Gary: Why is that? IT 3 9f 10/94 Mr. Plummer: Well, because you don't have the First Reading today so you don't. Mr. Gary: Well, there is no such thing as a First and Second Reading, there are two public hearings that we have informed the public that will exist. The decision with regard to the final budget takes place on the 18th of September. Any action taken by the City Commission today does not preclude any modifications to the budget at that meeting with one exception and that is if the City Commission takes away its flexibility in adopting and reducing the millage rate today then they cannot make any changes at the next meeting. So, therefore, I would urge you to adopt a proposed budget at this public hearing and with the understanding that you do have an option of making reductions at the next meeting if you so desire. NOTE FOR THE RECORD: MAYOR FSRRB ENTERED THE MEETING IT 5:25 O'CLOCK P.M. Mayor Ferre: Or additions. Mr. Gary: No, no additions within the millage. Mayor Ferre: Oh, on the millage. .... The budget you can always change until the last... Mr. Gary: You can change it but you can't go up in terms of the millage rate. Mr. Plummer: Within the millage as tentatively set. Mayor Ferre: Let's go over the process. Mr. Plummer: We've already gone over the process. Mayor Ferre: Well, I don't understand it. I want to make sure I understand it. The way I've been doing it for all these years is we approve the millage. We've voted already on First Reading. Now, this would be the adoption of the budget on First Reading, this is not the adoption of the millage yet. Mr. Gary: This is the first... Mayor Ferre: This is the first public hearing to discuss the budget. Mr. Gary: Correct. Mayor Ferro: At this time you've already done A, B and C. Mr. Plummer: We're down to D(1). Mr. Gary: You adopt the millage, you adopt the budget or you can modify the millage or you can modify the budget. Mayor Ferro: We don't have to adopt either the millage or the budget today, by law. Mr. Gary: You adopt it but it is tentative, Mr. Mayor, bsoauoe you can change it... Mayor Ferro: We've already adopted it on First Reading. Mr. Pluwer: The millage. Mayor Ferro: The millage. The next time we adopt the aillage it is on Second Reading. E! 4 9/ 10l$4 T t Mr. Gary: Correct technically, yes. f Mayor Ferre: We adopted the millage on First Reading... 6 Mr. Gary: Not yet. Ms. Dougherty: You have adopted a millage and it was certified and that was what was notified, all the notice went out to all the property owners. Now today, you must adopt at this public hearing whether you continue it or hold it today, you must adopt a tentative budget. Then you must adopt a final budget. So there are two public hearings. Mayor Ferre: Okay, but at this public hearing we would adopt a tentative budget and that budget can be changed at the final hearing. Ms. Dougherty: Yes, you may lower. Mayor Ferre: We can go up or down, obviously within the millage limitations. Is that correct? Ms. Dougherty: Yes, that is correct. i- Mayor Ferre: The millage can also go down. Ms. Dougherty: The millage may go down, it may not go up. Mayor Ferre: I accept that. All right, now, we need to... Has there been any public input which is the purpose of this meeting is the public hearing? Mr. Plummer: We've already asked and no one came forth. Mayor Ferre: Have you closed the public hearing officially? Mr. Perez: No. Mayor Ferre: All right. I will ask one more time and then we will do this in an official capacity. Is there any member of the public who wishes to address the Commission on the public hearing before us dealing with the millage and the budget? This is the first public hearing to discuss FY18513 tentative budget and the adoption of the millage commensurate with that. You will have an second opportunity to talk at the second budget hearing on the ) 8th at 5: 05 in the afternoon. Is there anyone that wishes to address the Commission at this time? If not, let the record reflect that nobody stood up on this. Would you please record that into the record and is there a motion then that the public hearing portion be closed? Ms. Dougherty: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: Yes, ma'am. Ms. Dougherty: Excuse me for interrupting you, but you must adopt the tentative budget at this public hearing. Mayor Ferro: We're going to do that. Ms. Dougherty: Otherwise we will continue the public hearing until that time as you adopt the tentative budget. Mayor Ferro; Oh, what you're saying is that we should not close out the public hearing until such time as we have adopted the budget. Ms. Dougherty: The tentative budget, yes. AT 5/ 1l Mayor Ferre: The tentative budget, I stand corrected. Okay. Now, actions by the City Commission which is amendment to the tentative budget, recompute the proposed millage rate and publicly announce the percentage, adopt the tentative millage rate and adopt the tentative budget. Again, if we move right now to adopt this as a tentative budget, Madame City Attorney, into the reoord, this Commission is free to change the budget at second hearing. Ms. Dougherty: Yes, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Plummer: Up or down. Mayor Ferre: Up or down. Ms. Dougherty: Correct. Mayor Ferre: We cannot change the millage up, we can change it down. Ms. Dougherty: That is correct, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: All right, are there any amendments to the tentative budget at this time? Mr. Plummer: I amend the budget to delete from the General Fund the moneys allocated to the DDA. Mayor Ferre: All right, there is a motion to delete from the General Fund those moneys allocated to the Downtown Development... Mr. Plummer: From the General Fund. Mayor Ferre: From the General Fund. Is there a second? Mr. Dawkins: Second. Mayor Ferre: Is there any discussion on this? Are the representatives of the DDA here today? I would imagine that you want to discuss that and then, Mr. Manager, does this have your recommendation and your approvals Mr. Gary: What, to reduce the DDA budget by $600,0007 Mr. Plummer: $772,0009 that moneys that are coming from the General Fund to operate the DDA. Mr. Gary: My response to that is if you plan to... First of all, the functions presently carried out by DDA I think need to be carried out. Mr. Plummer: Exactly, I agree with that. Mr. Gary: And if you decide to take $7729000 from then I think those functions still have to be carried out. Mr. Plummer: I agree with that. Mr. Mary: And therefore, the money should be given to the administration to do it. Mr. Plummer: I don't disagree with that. Mr. Gary: But I would say, that before, my recommendation, before any decision of that nature be made there are other gatives involves. And the other actors which are involved are the Downtown business community which have b000me aeoustoeed to having this type of service for themselves and IT 64 I think it would be appropriate before any decisions are made with regard to effectively eliminating this department by cutting out $772,000 that some discussions and public hearings should be held where the downtown people are aware that this is about to occur. Mayor Ferre: Well, I think you would have that opportunity on second hearing. You could always reverse that. Okay? Is there further discussion? All right, call the roll, please. The preceding motion introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner Dawkins failed to pass by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins NOES: Commissioner Demetrio Perez Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ABSENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to amend the tentative budget to delete the money that is supposed to be raised by the $160 garbage collection and that the money be found someplace else in the budget or deleted out of the budget in its entirety. Mayor Ferre: There is a motion on the floor, is there a second? Mr. Plummer: Second. Mr. Gary: That is the $60 increase you're talking about. Mayor Ferre: I understand. That has to do with the whole curbside issue and all of that and I'm certainly not, I understand. Is there any discussion on this? Commissioner Dawkins there is a request to explain your motion to the Commissioner. Mr. Dawkins: Okay, the motion is, I've said from this morning, I've said before this morning and I'm saying now, I truly believe that this City can continue to collect garbage from the backyards on the money that is presently budgeted. I do not think that it is necessary to add $60 per household to the budget in order to continue to collect garbage from the backyards and until the budget is adjusted to reflect this or amended to reflect this then I'm not in favor of voting for the budget and so, therefore, I'm asking Demetrio Perez, that this be deleted or amended, whichever words you want to use, and that the administration find another method of balancing the budget. I'm not asking that the budget be reduced or increased, I'm just saying that whatever the millage is that we voted on and whatever the total amount of the budget that Mr. Gary has recommended remains the same. The only thing that I'm saying is Mr. Gary has to find a way to, for the lack of a better word, "juggle his figures" so that every item that he has here comes up to be done and we don't have any more money. Mr. Gary: Under discussion, I think this City Commission should be proud of the position it finds itself in today in view of the position that other cities including the county find themselves in and also to add to that other cities across the country. As a result of your leadership we have been able to have a fiscally healthy city and basically maintain services at an acoeptable level in those departments other than Police, lire and Sanitation. I think IT 7 T this is a critical point in terms of what your goals and policies are in terms of how services are to be delivered and what services would be affected. We've gone through a process of maintaining services at the current levels but also making some management improvements to insure that we can continue to provide services to the citizens. We have also gone through the years looking at other areas where revenues can be generated and we're not talking about any large amounts of money, particularly large enough to the extent that it won't affect economic development or economic growth in this town. I think also we can take into consideration that during the year this City Commission has established policies in terms of how it would like to see services provided even to the extent of what level of services. And all I suggest to the City Commission is that it assume in this decision making process that we are not at budget time but that we are during the course of a year and all those demands that you place on City administration to perform those services, that you vote likewise or that this City Commission begin to give me some direction in terms of those things you're willing to forego. If you don't get that fee increase are you willing to forego festivals which we spent $2,000,000 on this year. Are you willing to forego a continuing erosion of Parks and Recreation services? Are you willing to forego not being able to provide the level of Public Works activities that this town so rightfully needs? So I would ask the City Commission to give me some direction in terms of what things you are willing, from a policy level to forego. Mr. Perez: But I want to point out something, Mr. Manager. Do you have the answer to the 20 questions, 15 questions that I made? Okay, I received this answer the day of the budget hearing. Mr. Gary: Yes, I have, it is coming down. Mayor Ferre: I'd like a copy of that too. Mr. Perez: And something very important. I think that you only mentioned when we asking about any deduction if we are willing to reduce the festival activities, but are you willing to reduce the higher salaries of the higher executives of the City? Are you willing to reduce a lot of bureaucracy that we have in the City at this time? I think that we have to follow, I don't think that special activities, for example, this group for the blind institute, el Hogar del Ciegos, I think that we have to be very proud of this kind of activity and I will vote in favor of this kind of activity at any time that Z will have in the future. When we have events of the InterAmerican Chamber of Commerce Congress that we had last week was an exceptional event in this community that we have to be proud. But I think that we have to find other ways to reduce and I asked two times in the past, in the last three or four weeks for some avenues for reduction but I don't think that the only avenue is to reduce the Social Service that this community has the opportunity to provide. I would like to call your attention on this matter and I think that we have to follow the new avenue. yr. Gary; If I may respond, first of all, my comments under no oircusetanoss were intended to belittle festivals but I must remind this City Commission that we spent $2,000,000 which were not budgeted, maybe a million of that was budgeted, we did do that and we had to forego some things. And I am saying there are some alternatives that have to be looked at, we just cannot sit back and say we want to spend spend spend but then when it is time to allocate the dollars or to vote to generate the dollars to do that regardless of RT 8 9/ 10/64 T T whether it is in festivals or in paving streets, you cannot do that. Now, I think it is easy for peopl4 to say that we ought to out th,+ salaries of the top professionals but I must remind you that as the ball goes up it comes down also and you cannot and I would not recommend that any of my executive appointees or any of my appointed positions take a reduction in salary when you're not asking the unions to do likewise. That salary is based on a scale and you cannot unilaterally reduce union salaries when it is negotiated. If you can't unilaterally do that then you can't unilaterally punish the executives who are just as devoted to this City as anybody else. Mr. Plummer: Well, that is fine except for the fact.... Mr. Perez: The vacant positions that we have in the City? Mayor Ferre: Let Commissioner Perez finish his line. Mr. Perez: We have a lot of vacant positions at this time that we have not reflected in the budget and that is something that I would like to clarify in the next budget. Are we including vacant positions for the next budget? Mr. Gary: I've got right now nine police officer vacancies, do you want me to cut that? Mr. Perez: But we can freeze a lot of vacant positions and we don't have to affect anyone that is in the administration at this time. Mr. Gary: We've done that, we do that every year. As we go along, if things dictate that we don't really need that position for a period of time we freeze it. That's how we're able to get fund balance, that's why you're able to get your bond rating increase, that's why you're able to get your MFOA, that's why you can sell bonds at a low rating and save the City money. Mr. Perez: But you are the only one who knows that, you know, we're not familiar with that issue. Mr. Gary: No, air, I gave you a mid -year budget review which reflected that. Mayor Ferre: All right, next is Commissioner .... Plummer, I will recognize you in a moment but I want to show something to you. I want to ask for a show of hands. I don't want any City employees to raise their hand, anybody who is directly involved in the City or the DDA just stay out of this. I would like to know how many citizens are here today who are here at this budget hearing who speak English. Would you raise your hands? Who understand or speak English. Don't tell them to raise their hands if they don't speak English. If you speak English raise your hand. Twelve. Now, yo quiero saber cuanto de ustedes que estan aqui an esta reunion de esta tarde habla on espaffol y no habla ingles pero estan interesado on to quo as esta discutiendo aqui an la Ciudad de Miami on este, alcen las wanes. Aquellos ustedes quo hablan espaffol pare no hablan ingles, quo no entienden ingles pare quo hablan espa!!ol y **tan interesado on to quo seta oeurriendo aqui. Trees, so it is about the same number of people on both sides. In other words I think it in important to note, Mr. Manager, and the only reason I an pointing this out is that you know the Latin Chamber of Commerce this Saturday announced at their annual igth convention that it is their intention to at the County level bring this matter up. You know, there are a lot of people in this town who happen to be blind or have problems. Most of these people who are back here are ET 9 9/ 1444 r blind and who suffer the trauma of being blind. They come to these things to these public hearings because they are brought here by the people who are the directors and that's the American way, people come to defend their own and to speak their mind but they don't understand and they can't see. And not only can they not see, they can't understand what is going on. I think in some of the major developments that we're having here down at the Knight Center and, you notice at any of these international conferences we provide simultaneous translation and the day is not too far away, I'm sorry to say, because I think it is an unfortunate expense, where we're going to have to have when we have a number of citizens that are taxpayers are people that are here to participate in the procedures of government. We are going to need to deal with this issue and I'm just saying that that is something that I know is not in the budget, I'm not proposing that it be done today but I do think that I would like for you to respond to this need. These people live here in Miami, they go to bed here at night, they wake up in the morning in Miami, most of them are taxpayers and they are participants and yet they are totally left out. And you say, "Well, this is America, let them learn English". How are you going to teach some of these people English? You know? And what, in effect we're doing is we're disenfranchising them from what is happening in the City. They can't go back to Cuba, you can't say well, go back to Cuba. A lot of them would love to go back to Cuba but they can't and we have a problem we need to deal with. I'm sorry, Commissioner Plummer, but it just struck me, I wanted to make that point. Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Gary, I need a clarification. Everything I read in the news media said garbage collection fee would go up to $160 dollars. Now, all day today, outside the earshot of the media all I am hearing is $60 per household. Now what is it? The fee goes up $160 or $60? Mr. Gary: Only $60. Mr. Dawkins: Well, why didn't you put in the newspaper $60 instead of $160? Mr. Gary: I don't control the newspapers. Mr. Dawkins: Here again we go playing on people's emotions. See, right away a person see $160 he gets much more disturbed than he would at $60 although he is going to be angry. Mr. Gary: Well, first of all, I don't control the _ newspapers, but the first time it came out was the Miami News where they made a mistake that it was going up $160... 160%, but then they corrected it to 60% in the same day. Mayor Ferro: I've got it framed in my office. Mr. Gary: But it is only a $60 increase, the fee is currently $100 and we're proposing that it go to $160. Mr. Plummer: Well, that's typical of the Wawa, they're only 100% off. Mr. Dawkins: Okay, so what you're saying is that you only intended to raise the garbage collection fee $60. Is that what you're saying? Mr. Plummer: He isn't saying anything because as usual he µt isn't listening to you. ?' 10 9110/64 f, Mayor Ferre: All right, further discussion on the motion? Mr. Manager, you have my support, sir. I just want to announce that to you publicly. Mr. Gary: Can you get two more? Mayor Ferre: No, that's your job, not mine. But you know, sometimes it can and sometimes it doesn't. Mr. Dawkins: Call the roll, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir. Any further discussion? Mr. Perez: Commissioner Dawkins, could I ask, would your motion, what are you trying to get, another recommendation? The only thing that I don't understand is what are you trying to get, a new recommendation from the City Manager anyhow? Mr. Dawkins: Cesar Odio, will you come up there a minute, please? Mr. Perez: Personally I think personally on my personal vote I think that we have a motion and I think that the motion was the curbside. I know that you don't share the curbside but I think that the curbside is the only way that we don't have to increase from $ 100 to $ 160 . I think that we have a motion from the administration. Mr. Dawkins: Well, see, that is your opinion. Okay? And I'm going to respect your opinion. Mr. Perez: But you're looking for another outlet. Mr. Dawkins: See, I'm doing to you What you don't want to do to me, I'm respecting your opinion and I'm letting you have your opinion. I'm not trying to ask you excuses for your opinion. I'm accepting it as your opinion. Mr. Perez: What I was trying to find is that if you have something special in mind. Mr. Dawkins: Yes, air, I have something in mind and I'm not going to vote for the $160. Mr. Plummer: Nor curbside. Mr. Dawkins: Nor curbside. See, what I'm saying, what I told the Manager, that if he takes this year and he studies it and he can come back and show -me how he lost money and how he could have made money of some alternatives then Its willing, but don't just come up and tell me that this is the only way it can be done. That's all I'm saying. Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Manager, you are in the enviable and the unenviable position that your two strongest supporters are not with you on this issue and it looks to se, without having counted noses yet, that you are going to be in the hands of Commissioner Carollo who will make the final decision. Now, let se just for the record so we understand my vote, and I think it is important that we all not try, we all respect each other's opinions and votes, we do try to lobby each other, that's all right, that's the logislative process and Congress, Tip O'Neill tries to sake sure that Dante Fasoell and Claude Pepper are in agreement and Dante tries to sake sure that Claude is in agreement and so on. That happens, that's Okay. What we need to got on the record which has not been put on the record, is Mr. ftnager, how such does Metropolitan Dade County charge to oollsot their garbage, sir? RT 11 9/1V Mr. Gary: $211 for curbside. Mayor Ferrer $211 for curbside. And in other words not only do they charge a hundred but $211, they also make you take it to the curbside. Is that correct? Mr. Gary: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Plus your trash to a central location. Mr. Manager, we have looked all over the country at Sanitation Departments throughout America. Would you say that it is an accurate statement for me to say on the record that the vast majority of cities in America have either fees and/or collect the garbage at the curbside? Mr. Gary: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Would you also say, Mr. Manager, that the vast majority of American cities have modernized and mechanized their garbage collection system? Mr. Gary: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, in your personal opinion, as a subjective party, realizing that you have an opinion and you express it freely and openly and strongly, do you feel that when we let the people of Miami vote on their choice of curbside that it was properly thought out, that the wording was properly drafted, not by yourself but by the City Attorney, discussed at this Commission, voted on it by this Commission and then placed before the people and then they strongly voted for curbside over an increase in the fee. Do you think that was a fair submission on a plebicite by the people on what they wanted? Mr. Gary: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Now, havi that that is your opini( opinion in these partic now. Now, having said t wants to go to heaven b wants a free lunch. Yc want to tell you one thi is "there are no free 1 are no free lunches. N that Metropolitan Dade somebody has to pay for of service for $100, it that it could be done ai every house it costs of Gables or the City of citizens. to Day for $21 ig, and I want to say on the record n and I agree 100% on you with your filar matters that we have discussed hat, it is my opinion that everybody it nobody wants to die and everybody u know, I'm not a Republican but I ng that I agree with the Republicans inches", somebody has to pay. There aw, if you want the kind of service county gives to its people then it. We cannot give you $210 worth just doesn•'t exist. There is no way id right now to pick your garbage in or $300 whether it is Metro, Coral Miami. Metro is asking- you, the 0 per house, it costs over $300. We are asking you to pay now $100, we're going to increase it to $160. It is still $50 less than you would be paying it you move out to the County. You will be paying less for garbage pickup in Miami than you would be paying in Metro. However, you can't have it both ways. If we're going to be *barging you $60 more that is $160 a year rather than $210 we'll pick up your garbage in your back yard but if we don't oharge that then we've got to go up to front yard pickup. Now, ■y opinion is this: We've submitted it to the people for a vote. The people overwhelmingly voted in favor of not increasing the tee and moving the garbage up to the curbside. That is what I'm for. That's what I support. Now, absent that, we've got to go up to $160 and you're etting a $50 break from Metro. Now, that is the way I eel, that is where I stand now and that is the way I'm going to be voting. That is the Manager's position, I agree IT 12 9/10/$4 I with the Manager as I did last year and the year before that. The preceding motion introduced by Commissioner Dawkins and seconded by Commissioner Plummer failed to pass by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. NOES: Commissioner Demetrio Perez Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ABSENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo On Roll Call: Mr. Perez: I share, in my vote, I want to specify my position. I .share the point of view of Commissioner Dawkins and I applaud his concern but I want to specify that personally, in my personal vote as a one person vote, I think that the alternative here is the curbside. I don't have any doubt, I have made public in the past and I think that that was also the suggestion of the people of Miami in the 1982 election when 60% of the people voted in favor of the curbside. For that reason, I vote no. 2. MOTION CONTINUING PUBLIC HEARING TO SEPTEMBER 13 AT 5:05 P.M. AT COCONUT GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mayor Ferre: We're still on Item D on amendments to the tentative budget. Any other amendments? Remember now you have the right to do this again at the next Commission Meeting. Is that right? Again, for the record. Ms. Dougherty: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferro: Hearing no other amendments, what is the wish of this Commission at this time? Do you want to continue this hearing? Do you want to pass the budget on First Reading? Do you want to pass the budget on First Reading, on you want to keep on discussing it? Those are the three choices you have, you can continue, you can keep on talkic,g or you can pass it on First Reading and discuss it.... Mr. Plummer: I move to continue. Mayor Ferro: All right, there is a motion by Commissioner Plumper that this hearing be continued to what time? You have to have a date and time certain. Mr. Plummer: September 18th. Mayor Ferro: We have to do it before September 18th by law. Mr. Plummer: Prior to? Mayor Ferro: I don't know, let's get the law. Mr. Plumer: Well, ou've got to readvertise if you go other than September 11th. Mayor Ferro: No, this is going to be a continuation of a bearing. Somebody tell so what the law is. 13 U '. Ms. Dougherty: The Manager, they would like to have the final adoption.... Mayor Ferre: I'm not asking you what the Manager wants, I'm asking you what the law is. Ms. Dougherty: The law is that you have to have a hearing on the tentative budget then within that next 15 days after you adopt the tentative budget you must advertise for a final adoption of the budget. That final adoption has to occur at least three days, no less than two days, no more than five days from the time that you publish. So, you could conceivably have it 5 days in advance of your final hearing, your final adoption and you could conceivably have the final adoption on the 3Oth of September. Mayor Ferre: Well, tell me how you want to do it, J. L. Mr. Plummer: We could do it on the 13th, right? And then have it on the 18th? Mayor Ferre: Yes. What do we have on the 13th? Mr. Plummer: We have Regular Commission Meeting. Ms. Dougherty: It has to be after 5 O'Clock. Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, as I see, we're stalemated today so I would say that we continue it to September 13th at 5:05. Does anybody have any objections? Do we have any conflicts? Have you seen the agenda for September 13th? It t is a killer agenda. It is going to be at Coconut Grove Elementary, you know that. It doesn't have to be 5:05• Mr. Plummer: After 5:00• Mayor Ferre: No, sir. Mr. Plummer: Oh, no? Mr. Gary: No, it has to be after 5:00. Mayor Ferre: Okay, even on a continuation? Mr. Gary: Yes, air. Mayor Ferre: Okay. So it has to be at Coconut Grove Elementary, it doesn't have to be at City Hall, right? Mr. Gary: No, air. Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Manager, would you have somebody on staff look at the agenda for the 13th and look to see if there are any conflicts with those other public hearings at 5:00. Mr. Gary: We have a regular Commission Meeting on that day. Mayor Ferre: What you want, and I think Comsissioner ' Plummer is eminently correct, and that is we need a 5th vote here because obviously, as I said before, you are in the hands of Joe Carollo. Mr. Gary: The Regular Commission Meeting is September 13th, it starts at 4:00 A.M., so you will be in session so at 5:05 of that date you can then... Mayor Ferre: So you see no objections, nobody has any objections, is that right? Are we ready to vote now? The motion is that Items .... RT 14 9/10/94 Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, Mr. Mayor, excuse me. We now have all of the questions and answers as proposed by Commissioner Perez. Do you want to go through those before the continuation? Mayor Ferre: I don't, I think I can read them better ... I want to read them. We can take them up on the 13th. Mr. Plummer: Okay. Mr. Perez: I think that I have to send back to the administration some of the questions because they did not provide all the information ",hat we requested and what we have is a lot of papers but we don't have the concrete recommendation. Mayor Ferre: What he's saying is that your answers are non- responsive. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Gary, how much have we got to reduce the budget so that there is no increase in taxes over last year? Mr. Surana: 3.4 million. Mr. Plummer: 3.4 million, and does that include the $160 pick up for the curbside? Mr. Surana: No, that's separate. Mayor Ferre: If you throw in the $60, we're up to $100 now, if you throw in the $60, you said that was 4 point some odd million, right? Mr. Surana: 7.8 million then. Mayor Ferre: So that means you would have to add the 4 to the 3. You're talking about decreasing this budget almost $800000000. Mr. Surana: Right. Mr. Plummer: Or roughly 10%, maybe 11$. Mayor Ferre: 10% of $1800000,000 is $18,OOO,OOO. You're off by 10, it would be less than 5%. J. L. 5$ would be 99 you're talking about 8, $8,000,000, 5$ is 9 but you're talking about 8, that's less than 5%. The motion, as I understand it is that Items ... I would imagine you want to hold off on all these items, J. L.? Mr. Plummer: I don't care. Here is Joe now. I'll withdraw my notion. NOTE: Commissioner Joe Carollo entered the Meeting at 6:03 P.M. Mayor Ferre: Commissioner, you are in the unenviable or enviable, depending on how you look at it, of being the deciding vote here. So the future of the City is in yoY.r hands. Mr. Carollo: Are we firing anybody? Not yet, huh? Mr. Plummer: Yes, Mr. Gary has found 4.5% more money. Mr. Carollo: What is the 2 to 2 vote on, if I may ask? Mayor Ferre: We voted on two things. The first thing we voted on was a series of reductions, one dealing with the IT 15 9 1 0 Downtown Development Authority and the next one dealing with Sanitation and the $60 thing, in other words the $60 and the curbside issue. The thought that was expressed, as I understood it by the proponents was that we should (1) not have curbside pickup and (2) not increase the fee from 4100 to $160. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, would I be privileged to make my motion again, and since there are two motions we just go through them again for Commissioner Carollo? Mayor Ferre: I think I'm going to play some Dempsey Baron today because I've got to go catch a plane and it is 6 O'Clock. Mr. Plummer: I was not on the prevailing side, I withdraw my request. Mayor Ferre: Madame City Attorney, there has been a motion made on a series of things. Those motions have failed because they were on a 2 to 2 vote. Technically, those matters have been voted upon and it seems to me that under the Roberts' and Mason's Rules, the order of legislative procedure, you cannot revisit those issues at this time. Ms. Dougherty: You can have a motion to reconsider made by someone in the prevailing side of any vote. Mr. Plummer: Right, which I was not. Mayor Ferre: And what I would recommend is that we follow the course that you were recommending which is to put those whole matter off until Thursday when other things also come before this Commission. So if you will restate your motion, we will adjourn. Mr. Plummer: My motion is to continue this hearing until September 13th at 5:05 PM. The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: MOTION NO. 84-965 A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CONTINUING THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON FY- 1984-1985 BUDGET TO SEPTEMBER 13, 1984, AT 5:05 P.M., AT COCONUT GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr. Mayor Maurice A. Ferro NOBS: None. ABSENT: None. r--------------------r—.-------r—rr.wr.►����r9w# M► 3. DISCU3310I By COMISSIOUR CAROLLO 00 COS OF SiOliARM FUNISD TO CITY UNAM FOR 9I3 PRO WTIOM. r------ -r �..--- ----------- —-----------r-----------haw—��e—�@R.R�.r! IT 16 9/ 10 4 Mr. Carollo: Mr. Manager, sir, can you possibly have for me on Thursday the total amount of dollars that have been spent in 1984 in police protection for yourself, whatever kind of police protection whether it is bodyguards or watch orders or what have you? I appreciate it. --------- ----- - -- -- - -- -- - - ----- ----------- --- ---- -- --------- 4. INFORMATION DIRECTION TO CITY RAVAGER REGARDING P033IBLE BUDGET REDUCTIONS ON FY 84-85 BUDGET. Mr. Perez: Mr. Manager, could I get for the next Commission Meeting what I requested about two or three weeks ago, a formal recommendation from your office in order to reduce the charge to the taxpayers of the City of Miami $100 instead of getting an increase? Could I get a formal recommendation of how to do that? Mr. Gary: We answered it, it's there. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Manager, I would also like for the next hearing to show a total reduction of budget of 5%, keeping it at last year's level, what would have to be adjusted in priorities. Whatever it takes to keep the millage at last year's level and dollars, no increase in taxes, what in your estimation and recommendation would be the priorities that would have to be eliminated, altered or changed? Mr. Perez: And I am asking about a decrease by $100. Mr. Plummer: Well, let me understand Commissioner Perez. Mr. Manager, be careful. Let me understand from Commissioner Perez what he is talking about. You are speaking about reducing by $100 the ad valorem tax? Mr. Perez: That's right. Mr. Plummer: Then you understand that of the total ad valorem tax this City is only a portion of that so what you are really in effect asking to be done is reduce the budget by 25%. Your total tax, the City is only a quarter of that total tax. If you reduce only what we address, that $1009 you are in effect asking the Manager to reduce the budget by 254. Mr. Perez: What I am asking is in other words, for example, a regular taxpayer of the City 'who is paying now $450, instead of paying $450 to pay i350. Mr. Plummer: You are then asking the Manager to reduce his budget by 25%. Mr. Perez: I would like to ask him for the options but I share also what you are asking for. Mr. Plummer: Okay, because the only thing we control is a fourth of what the total tax bill is. So we understand that. His request, in effect, is to reduce your budget by 25%. Okay, just so we understand, I don't know that I have any disagreement with that. Mayor Ferro: We stand adjourned, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your presence here today. Those of you that are interested on this issue, we will reconvene at Coconut Grove Elementary School at the Auditorium at 5:05. RT 17 9/10/64 Mr. Plummer: Let as ask a technical question just so we're in compliance. Do we have to do the same thing with each of the budgets such as the DDA? We technically have to make a motion to continue those individually and separately? Mayor Ferre: No, I think we can do everything. Madame City attorney, or Mr. Clark, the question is we don't have to vote on each one of these budget items separately for continuing do we, Items 29 39 41 59 A 6? Ms. Dougherty: No, so long as there is a consensus by you all. Mayor Ferre: In other words there was a consensus that all items 1 through 8 be continued. Ms. Dougherty: Then there is no reason to have them done separately. Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 6:10 P.N. Maurice A. Ferre M A Y O R ATTEST: Ralph G. Oagie �� CITY CLERK Matty Hirai ASSISTANT CITY CLERK 1Oa�� 11AT9 >� F