Elected Officials Present:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Mayor

Tamara Cornwell, Vice Mayor, Commissioner-at-Large 2—(entered the meeting at 5:34 p.m.)

Jonathan Davis, Commissioner-at-Large 1

Harold Smith, Commissioner, Ward 1

Tambra Varnadore, Commissioner, Ward 2

Brian Williams, Commissioner Ward 3—(entered the meeting at 5:38 p.m.)

 

Staff Present:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Allen Tusing, Public Works Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Amber LaRowe, Assistant City Clerk

 

 

Mayor Bryant called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

 

1. FY 2020 BUDGET DISCUSSION

Mr. Freeman opened the meeting up to the Commission to discuss any specific questions they have with the Budget thus far.  He stated that Version 2 of the budget will be presented at the next meeting and a change summary will be given to the Commission to highlight the changes made between this Version and the next. The CRA Advisory Board met last week to discuss the CRA Budget as well as the Community Policing through Crime Prevention (CPIP) Plan as presented by the Chief of Police. The Board unanimously voted to recommend the CPIP and the Budget to the CRA Board for approval. The CRA budget will be presented at the August 5^th Workshop for discussion with possible approval on the CRA Board Agenda the same night.

 

Commissioner Varnadore questioned the utility rates. Mr. Freeman explained that the way they are entered into the budget is without the proposed increase as previously discussed earlier this year during the rate study presentation. The Ordinance for the utility rates will be presented to the Commission on August 5^th for a first read followed by the public hearing on August 26^th. If it is approved, the utility revenues will be adjusted prior to the final budget hearing.

 

Commissioner Varnadore questioned why the Celebration Center repairs were being budgeted when the City has not decided what is going to be done with the facility. She is concerned about making minor repairs over and over without a plan. She requested more information on what the plan would be for the viability of the building and if staff needs to demolish it, rebuild it, move it, etc. Mr. Tusing will bring information forward to a future meeting.

 

Commissioners Cornwell and Varnadore stepped out of the meeting at 5:48 p.m. and returned at 5:49 p.m.

 

Discussion ensued on the building inspector and Mr. Tusing stated that a new building inspector company has been contracted with and, so far, there has been a vast improvement over what the City has received in the past.

 

Mr. Freeman informed the Commission that Public Works identified the need for a bucket truck and found one priced at $65,000, used and from a local vendor. This cost will be in the next version with a split of 80/20 between the Road and Bridge fund and the Parks Department fund. Ms. Miller explained that Finance found the money to fund the purchase of the bucket truck by removing some items and putting them into a capital lease.

 

Commissioner Varnadore questioned the budget of a reuse rate study; Mr. Freeman was unaware that was still in the budget as this is something that has already been completed. He said this will be removed for the next version of the budget.

 

Commissioner Varnadore mentioned an impact fee rate study and questioned if staff needed to put money in the budget to fund that. She also asked for staff to research the last time the City conducted any impact fee study.

 

Mr. Freeman explained that the next version will be published and ready for the next budget workshop on August 7^th. He will also include a change summary with the next version that will outline the changes between this version and the next.

 

Attorney Barnebey briefed the Commission on the Sunshine rules regarding the two community meetings this week. He stated that if Commission attends, then he recommends no one speak; if there is a Commissioner that would like to speak at the meeting, he recommended that any other Commissioner present should exit the meeting.

 

Mayor Bryant reminded the Commission of tomorrow’s Council of Governments meeting at the Civic Center.

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 6:26 p.m.