Special City Council - September 21, 2023

City Council

Special Meeting

September 21, 2023

 

The City of Titusville City Council met in special session on Thursday, September 21, 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 final public hearing on the City's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2024; conduct the final reading of the related ordinances to adopt a final Operating and Voted Debt Service millage rate; conduct the final reading of the ordinances proposing the Fiscal Year 2024 Water/Sewer and Solid Waste rates; and adopt the final Operating, Enterprise and Capital Budgets. Additionally, City Manager Larese gave a presentation that reviewed the following information:

 

  • Budget process 
  • Budget related ordinances for final reading 

 

City Attorney Broome read the following ordinances for the second 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: 

 

  • Public Hearings and Florida Statutes, Chapter 200
  • FY 2024 Proposed Budget All Funds - Revenues and Expenditures
  • Information required to be read publicly per Florida Statutes Chapter 200.065

 

  1. The City of Titusville, Florida was the Taxing Authority
  2. $6.4048 was the Rolled-back Millage Rate
  3. The operating millage rate to be levied was $6.7945 mils
  4. The percent of increase over the rolled-back millage rate was 6.08%, which was characterized as a tax increase
  5. The voted debt millage rate to be levied was $0.2234 mils

 

  • Millage rate information (the lowest rate in 15-years)
  • Use of millage over rollback rate
  • Fiscal Year 2024 General Fund proposed budgeted revenues and expenditures pie graphs
  • 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
  • FY 2024 proposed budget utility rate changes
  • Stormwater and solid waste rate proposals
  • Stormwater rate comparison (single family)
  • Solid Waste rate comparison (residential and commercial)
  • Typical residential and commercial monthly bills for ¾” meter at existing and proposed FY 2024 rates
  • Typical commercial bill for 1.5” meter at existing and proposed FY 2024 rates
  • Current rate comparison – FY 2024 rates
  • Public Hearing – FY 2024 Proposed Budget
  • Fiscal Year 2024 Follow Up Items
  • Council Actions

 

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

 

Ordinance Nos. 37-2023 and 38-2023 –

 

Mayor Diesel opened the final public hearing on Ordinance Nos. 37-2023 and 38-2023. 

 

Trenton Mansfield expressed concern on inflation, the proposed millage rate, and landlords increasing rents as a response to any increase in property taxes. 

 

Katie Delaney expressed concern for raising property taxes and how it affected various individuals and businesses in the community. 

 

Stan Johnston distributed information. Since he submitted a public speaking and hearing card on both of the proposed ordinances, he was given 6-minutes to speak. Mr. Johnston did not support the proposed ordinances. He advised that his concerns on sewer spills was not budgeted. He further commented on concerns for fraud, hiring outside professionals to dispute his concerns, etc. 

 

Member Nelson commented that the inflation rate last year was 8.6% and the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) last year were 5%. In FY 2024, the proposed COLA increase was 4.5%. Member Nelson also commented on her personal experience of having once lived in the County versus now living in the City, and her appreciation of the City’s service levels. 

 

As there were no additional persons that wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. 

 

Motion:

Member Nelson moved to approve Ordinance No. 37-2023 providing for a millage rate for the operation of the City of Titusville at $6.7945 mils, which was 6.08% increase above the rolled-back millage rate of $6.4048 mils, and the Voted Debt Service levy millage rate for Fiscal Year 2024 at $0.2234 mils, as recommended. Member Cole seconded the motion. 

 

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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Motion: 

Vice-Mayor Robinson moved to approve Ordinance No. 38-2023 adopting 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 public hearing on Ordinance No. 39-2023. 

 

Stan Johnston requested budgeting to cover the costs for his concerns on public health and safety and as these items were related to sewage spills. 

 

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

 

Motion: 

Member Nelson moved to approve Ordinance No. 39-2023 by amending and increasing the schedule of rates and charges for water and sewer service, as recommended. Vice-Mayor Robinson 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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Ordinance No. 40-2023 –  

 

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

 

Stan Johnston supported the services provided by the Solid Waste Department and its Director.  

 

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

 

Motion: 

Vice-Mayor Robinson moved to approve Ordinance No. 40-2023 amending Sections 16-116 and 16-117 of the Code of Ordinances by increasing the Solid Waste service charges and rates, as recommended. Member Cole seconded the motion and the roll call vote was:

 

                   Vice-Mayor Robinson            Yes

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

Member Cole                          Yes

         Member Nelson                      Yes

         Mayor Diesel                          Yes

 

The motion carried unanimously. 

 

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Ordinance No. 41-2023 –  

 

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

 

Stan Johnston expressed concern for prior boil water alerts and correcting issues related to 4-Log Virus.   

 

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

 

Motion: 

Member Cole moved to approve Ordinance No. 41-2023 adopting 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:

 

Member Stoeckel                    Yes

Member Cole                          Yes

         Member Nelson                      Yes

         Mayor Diesel                          Yes

Vice-Mayor Robinson            Yes

 

The motion carried unanimously. 

 

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Petitions from the Public Present – 

 

Stan Johnston commented on City officials not addressing his comments during Council meetings, his concern that the property survey for the SNJ Oaks Project was incorrect and how this could perpetuate mistakes on subsequent plans for the project, etc.  

 

Toni Shifalo requested providing citizens more information how the annual budget was derived. Second, she requested testing stormwater for pollutants at the drainage outfall locations that flowed into the Indian River Lagoon, etc. 

 

Trenton Mansfield indicated that he worked for the State and there was almost 10-years during his employment that State employees did not receive pay raises. He did not support tax increases. 

 

Member Stoeckel engaged Mr. Mansfield to expand on some of his concerns. Mr. Mansfield advised that there were ways to cut (reduce) the budget and give employees raises, it was impossible to fix or correct the issues with the Indian River Lagoon and the State should take financial responsibility on this matter, and he and Member Stoeckel discussed there were costs associated with repairing and correcting aging infrastructure, etc.  

 

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With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.