Town Commission - Regular Meeting

All right, ladies and gentlemen, if we could please find our seats. Good to go? All right. I almost don't feel like saying the time, because then we'll know how late we are. But it's Thursday, August 27th, 1.40 PM, calling today's budget workshop into order. Madam Clerk, if you'll take the roll, please.

Chief, you okay to talk? Yeah, I just didn't know if you could speak after your crown came out. Thank you. All right, moving on to a budget workshop discussion direction for fiscal year 2027 budget. We move this down here a little bit to kind of hopefully ease a lot of the formalities that happened when we're up there and a much more comfortable conversation. It's a little difficult. I know we all got this book last night, or at least the update that Andrea here who will give us some of the highlights was what has been happening over the last couple of weeks. And at some point, I mean, I reall

Yeah, yeah, yeah, with the previous years and strengths, we can say it's sort of a stress test. I don't know.

We're not speaking. We're waiting for Andrew. Well, I think you just let's just cover the summary of the changes from that. Yeah, we can do it from sitting there, right?

I know we've got some public comment. I guess we'll start this.

Yeah, I was going to ask. Do you want me to go over there? Okay. Good if we see it.

I just want to add for the record, these are not positions that are currently filled. There's no disruption to current service or reduction in force. These are just open positions that have been open for the last couple of years that we're looking to close.

That's... Can I ask you if you could go on maybe presentation mode so that it... Yeah, I just have to... Yeah, down at the bottom. Almost, no, up, up left. A little bit to the right. One more. There you go. Well, now.

And then we would just have to make up for the additional 200 or so? Correct.

So I think the idea today was, again, the town staff has gone through this budget, was built essentially throughout, when did you guys start? Like, when did you start putting this together with the departments?

Beginning of April. I mean, we still hadn't, you know, the commission input hadn't been put in. I think the directive of what our initiatives hadn't been projected yet. And when we looked at a budget, it was essentially utilizing all the general fund revenue for operations. The goal is obviously to look at the growth responsibly. Again, the state has been going after cities that have exceeded, I think it's like 20, 26.3% or something over five years. This budget in a lot of areas has gone up over 25 in the last two. We need to start being a little bit more responsible as far as operations. At

Essentially, what would we like to focus on the next years? The money is not unlimited. I don't think any of us want to sit here and start raising taxes. You've been able to create some funds for us to access for some projects over the next few years. But what we don't want to happen is every commission meeting, we keep throwing something else at the town administration. Hey, we want this. We want this. We want this. That's what this cycle is about. It's about prioritizing, putting it together. And so we'll get that list of what we worked on at the last budget workshop. And we'll kind of put t

Just to be clear, we have $2.9 million, and Surfside Memorial is already included.

When I glanced through this, I noticed it was something like $3.9 million. Is that...

Let's see, capital project. 3.69 from the right. Wait, what was it? 3.69. Let me see. The Surfside Memorial Park. Thank you. Yeah, on the page, page 133. So much better with page numbers now.

Okay. So Summer Memorial Park, 3.69. We approve 3.550. Is there a reason why And again, I don't want to start bouncing book to book, but we were talking about capital projects.

No, so let's be clear. The county gave us a half a million dollars, which was already spent. We have a million dollars for the memorial. That was the 3.5 is taking into account a million from the state. And then we're hoping that we, in the development order with the property, I believe it's another million, million and a half. But that's all encompass of the project.

So it's not 4 million, it's 3.550. Why don't we set 3.69?

That's incorrect. The $3.5 includes a million from the state. It's not $4.5 million. It's $3.5 million. The money from the county was already spent two years ago.

Okay, so 2.9, does that include, that's in addition to everything that's in the book, correct? Correct.

Okay, so I guess it falls now to the commission to kind of look through the list that we were just given, and hopefully we have some pricing to some of it.

I have a question before future projects. At a town meeting here, the commission voted for $500,000 of repairs towards the stormwater pumps and system. That was for emergency repairs and pumps that were found to be in immediate need of repair. Is that included here?

Okay, I just wanted to clarify, so that's aside from these funds that are available?

I have a question, if I can speak. Of course. Can you hear me? Yeah. Yes. So the street lighting project that we're going to, it's going to get approved eventually soon, is that included in the budget? No. Okay. And, okay, so that we should put it because that's going to happen anytime soon. I'm guessing. I'm guessing.

Yes, I think the assumption is if we go through this entire list, we might exceed the 2.9 million, right? So what we're here to do today is try to figure out, you know, we're kids in a store. We want everything. I have 20 bucks in my pocket. What is it that we're buying and walking out with today? And that's what we're going to try to do at this meeting. But I guess before we dive into it, let's just open up the public comment. This is Sal's hour.

Thank you so much. Michael Kurok in three minutes, please.

So again, I wish we had these as kind of a spreadsheet. along with some pricing, and then we can allocate and move it. But, Commissioner, you seem to have a lot of work done. I'd love to hear what the assessment has produced.

Well, so there's some homework that I ran the budget with the CHUG GPT just to see if there were any inconsistencies. So there's just a couple of minor inconsistencies. things that I think need to be fixed, like there's a mismatch in the general fund operating expenses. In the summary it says 7.339, no, summary says 7.639, and then the line item total shows 7339. So there's like a $300,000 difference.

Yeah, yeah, maybe, you know what, yeah, I think these are clerical errors. We don't need to spend time on those. Anyway, going to the heavy stuff. So... Ah, okay. All right, so we have to balance what we want to do in terms of... the capital improvement projects and what we want to do in terms of the recurring costs that are growing because we picked up some costs on the professional services, lobbyists. Well, the general fund operating went up 25%. And so from 6.12 to 7.64. So I don't know if maybe there's, I mean, it is true that there's a trade off. If we're talking about the communications

Yeah, exactly, so it's approved. I don't know if we're gonna be able to start the construction project by September next year, Maybe, I mean, so then we should allocate a little bit of money to that. And maybe this $250,000 could be money for the street ends and the street lighting. And finally, the last comment I have is for the Colonies Water Main, Colonies Avenue Water Main replacement. so now it's off the ballot, but my understanding is that that water main is not doing well. This is pretty corroded, so what are we gonna do there?

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, the $250,000, oh.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we wouldn't be able to use that for, let's say, street lighting or.

No, no. Yeah, because it's a different fund. Well, I mean, yeah, again, I wish. Until we have scope. Go through this, prepare it, and kind of categorize it, which was going to kind of, I wanted to do that before our next meeting. The 2.9 that we spoke about is general fund money, right? So, you know, we can use it towards capital improvement projects and different initiatives. If there's initiatives that tie into, you know, whether it's the water taxi or pressure washing, those kinds of things come out of the tourist money. So it's different than that. Right, right, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yo

So I have a few thoughts for my colleagues. Number one, as far as the communications, I know 300K could sound like a lot, and we have public comment on that as well. And I believe we got a few quotes. I know you're encouraged getting a few more quotes.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we tried, but so far we only have one. I mean, if... We got two. Ah, two. Okay. Oh, we got a second one. Okay.

So a few things, I chair the tourism board and there's actually, it was the first meeting and I had to step out in the last five minutes of the meeting and in that time there was a vote by the board to spend $80,000 on the video segment called the Surfside thing.

And that's something that typically would be covered by a communications department or And this is, you know, or our outsourced resource that can cover that. So I'm just looking at total net spend that would have been rolled up if we had someone doing that as part of it. So that was $80,000 just on that segment for as long as that's going to go. To Commissioner Trevani, as far as some of the bigger projects, and including the spend on the lobbyists this year, which is definitely an increase. I see it as an investment. Firmly believe we'll get appropriations through that. That will be a well-sp

The lobbying, the lobby. So there's a spend there, but I see it as an investment. Hopefully we'll get more money from the state towards big projects, Collins Avenue, Water Main, hopefully Stormwater, capital improvement projects that we have lined up on the list. So I'm really hoping that that will be a significant offset to some of the spend. And then, finally, a question for you. Right now, we will not have an increase in taxes if we stick to the numbers we have here, correct? I want to address Ms. Salazar's comment. She said she got her tax bill and it has gone up.

Can you remind me one second, what is the rollback rate?

Yeah, I'm a little confused because last year the millage was 3.8 or eight and we want to bring it

down to 3.78. So that's reducing it. So I'm confused. We're not increasing it. It's the opposite.

Question, what is the money difference between 35221 and 38743?

So it would touch the reserves, it wouldn't touch... Well, you could cut other things. Yeah, yeah, it has to.

For clarification, for it to be a net zero or zero increase, what would we have to do as a commission?

Yeah, that would be this, 35221. That would be dollar value would be the same as last year.

And what's the risk in doing that other than us?

So instead of having then $3. Down to $1 million. There you go, 2.9 to the reserves, they go down to one.

So, and that's kind of what we're here. I'm throwing a bunch of the stuff that we've kind of talked about. I don't have a lot of pricing for it. I don't know, Madam Manager, if you have some of it already. Let's say urban planning, if I'm not mistaken, there was 200,000 we started getting prices for, correct?

Oh. Again, I don't know if this belongs on here, but the home, we spoke about purchasing the last home on Harding Avenue as an initiative for this year. That could, I mean, in theory, we really don't have to budget for that, because that is a lifelong investment in this town, and I think we should be able to access reserves for that. How much do we have in reserves?

So essentially in our savings account we have Yeah. Okay. So, I mean, if we have to take a specified amount.

Quick question. Sorry. Yeah. Good question. Are we also budgeting, putting in the budget the fact that I think the town is still collecting funds of permits that we have to give back?

Is that in the budget? Because that's money that the city owes to the residents.

It's half and half, so part of that, you know, these lawsuits or these threats that we've been having now, some of it is the building fund and some of it went straight into the general fund reserves, and they would have to be paid out of that, if I'm not mistaken. Manny's shaking his head yes, no. You want to say something? Just to clarify that, the refunds, the vice mayor's point, right? Certain people decided that they're going to charge whatever they want for permit fees. They're going to charge a certain amount for review. We're going to have to, these people are now suing. Now that they'r

Well, you know, we're gonna have to try.

It's not like we're just gonna cut them a check, but you can't just make up fees. The state regulates this.

I mean, well, it's a separate conversation anyway.

We'll take it outside. But to your point and to the Vice Mayor's point, there's money. I don't think that's in the budget, but I guess if it comes down to it, we'll have to start pulling it out of reserves. All right, so.

Yeah, it's money that we need to allocate. I mean, eventually we need to pay all that money.

So on some of the things, let's say Vice Mayor, since you're talking, the street cleaning, the robot, one of those initiatives, is there even an estimated price of what something like that would cost?

I mean, I can do the research. If you want me to do, I can do a research. It's not a lot of money. It's even cheaper to just buy, for example, a smart machine than to actually have a crew or to outsource a company to clean it. You just buy, you have them there, and you have the machines running all day cleaning your streets. It's a one-time...

We have a thing on the budget for street cleaning, so I guess we could just kind of keep it as a wash for now if we put a price. All right. I'm sorry. Oh, there's Andre.

One thing about what you mentioned about that urban planning, it's going to be more than 200,000 because the quotes that we got back where the scope was basically mostly focused on aesthetics, which is not what we want. I'm thinking it's going to be, I don't know, between 300 and 400, somewhere around there. Yeah, yeah. But because it's actually, like, the idea is that we have to focus on actual projects. It's not a conversation about just aesthetics. It's got to be a plan, and it's got to include also these things that we want to achieve within two years. So...

All right, so I'm trying to throw some street lighting.

But that's for this fiscal year, not for the next one, right?

The budget amendment for the current year? Okay, so that's not for 27. So assuming that moves forward, I think we had a plan kind of put together. What would an estimate for a project be? Do we have any sort of number for that? Can you make something up, Andrea?

is so that's to get to complete design right that's like 100 design okay so maybe the project i would i would like to bring that into the september item in the september agenda uh to discuss for the solar you know the solar option the lighting with the solar panel

Yeah, so what's going to happen is they will get to a, I believe, what did we say, 60% design, and then they're going to show us the... fixtures and all that.

For input, and probably at that time, we're going to have the opportunity to address the solar, or do they need to know earlier?

Yeah, because we're just talking about design now. So I wouldn't imagine that the design portion is going to change. But anyway, you ask. But just to clarify, 1.4 is just to get to the workshop or to get to 100% design?

because then I can tell you what is the construction value.

Yeah, now I remember the points. And actually, FPNL is going to do the detailed design on the electrical part. So, yeah, you will need to go out to Kimley Horn and ask them. Because at that point, then, we wouldn't be relying on FPNL. It would be a standalone project. Kimley Horn does the whole thing. And then we hire a contractor ourselves, I guess, without going through FPNL because it's solar panels.

I've got a few points to keep in mind if we do go solar.

But even if it's solar panels? That's what we're going to ask.

But wait, I have a question. Are we married to FP&L? Like, is that the only option?

Let's put a ping on this. I'm sorry, Mr. Tony. I don't mean to interrupt, but let's talk to Committee Horn. Let's see what they tell us, and maybe hopefully by next week we'll know if we need to change the fee or not.

Okay, yeah, but still, if you get a feedback, maybe we can circulate it with the Commission. We'll do it.

Just a few things to keep in mind. If we do go solar, the capital expense, the initial investment may be slightly higher, but then we reduce the ongoing electric expense. Keep in mind when we hit undergrounding, this would avoid many complications there. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, we're going to reduce all the. Yeah, sure.

And honestly, in the past, I remember a few times that we had like storms and hurricane season. I remember a couple of hurricanes that we had. It was a disaster. No power. It was dangerous. The power lines fell. It's a ghost town. It's very dangerous. It becomes like a pitch black. It looks like a war zone, completely black. So it would be very beneficial for the residents to really get the solar option. Even if it's a little bit more expensive now and then long term, it's going to be beneficial.

But wait, can we get our own polls so we don't? have to be married to any company? Can we get our own poles?

We were talking about getting our own poles. Anyways, I think that the challenge, and I may be mistaken, but I think right now the engineering is about spacing, confirming the spacing, confirming where we need them. And then we're going to look at the type of hardware we're looking to do. And that's the next step.

I don't mind that we do the due diligence and get to work on the solar option. 100%. It's much more beneficial. We don't have to rely on FPL every time. I mean, let's be independent. All right.

So we've got Hawthorne, Flutterman. That's not in here, is it? The second project that we've identified for the flooding, right? We did Abbott. I think the next one we looked at is Hawthorne. I know Christina is looking at grant opportunities now and appropriations. We're going to be looking for those things, but we still have to allocate money for it.

Don't we have it already? Yeah, because there's 2.5, 2.5, 2.5. You see them? 2027, 2028, 2029. It's one, no, actually 30.

Yeah, that's a reoccurring built-in for stormwater.

Yeah, yeah, so there's four projects included.

Well, that's not gonna be enough. The Abbott ended up being like 10 1⁄2 at the time.

Well, that's not gonna be enough for the project.

All right, again, just to throw some numbers onto these things. Street and parks, are you? Yeah. Do we have a cost for that?

Nice try. We're going to throw that into 26.

How long is it going to take you to do that? Three months? We're going to want to start to put a shovel down now.

Yeah, I think that on the street ends, we should be able to get into construction within fiscal year 2027.

So can we throw just a rough number on there?

Yeah. So you got a proposal just for the engineering, I guess, right?

Okay, yeah, but that doesn't include the landscape design and, okay. So we should have something like, I don't know, like $200,000, $300,000.

Just as a rough number, I'm saying. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Street sign improvements, again, something that's come up. There was a cost to that that we had brought forward a couple years ago. The project got scrapped because of the undergrounding, but there was a cost. Even if it's rough and it's going to go up, again, right now we're at, like, without finishing all our priorities, we're already at 2.7, so... Just want to make sure that we have enough to move forward with our initiatives.

So that was in the budget, which means it shouldn't be included in the 2.9, because in theory it's already budgeted for. That's under the tourist.

What are the quotes saying? the quotes are option one six hundred and eight thousand no and but that's what yeah it's two hundred and seventy thousand no sorry two hundred and seventy thousand oh they're all over the place but but that's what i'm saying i i think that we should i mean if we want to provide some uh temporary relief which is a good thing i think because people are looking for that we should go for the cheapest option because that thing you know and once we define what we want to do in that area that might go

Yeah, so I think we can bring that. I mean, it's already in the budget, right? Let's bring that number down. We are not looking to do something permanent since we're already going to be addressing that whole corner. Can I ask Rudy, not to put you on the spot, did we get any pricing for the turf and the parks? Yeah, I guess just a rough estimate of what we're looking. What do we know? All right, so just how much are we paying now to get it done? Like 30?

Yeah, so like two, three times a year we re-sod it. I know this town has asked for artificial turf in the park for years. I'd really like to put that in there finally. Is that something we can take from tourism or not? Because 96th Street Park, usually we're able to access that. Keep it off, it's fine.

Okay. So, I mean, it seems like we pay more at the outset of it. So I'll put that in there, I guess.

Back to the three quotes. Was that like for like as far as the actual product?

Yeah, we're 2.95. Street cleaning robot is going to be hopefully just carry over or an enhancement. Street sign improvements, we've got to get some. My point is, and that's why I'm going through this exercise, is we're over budget already as far as what we have in there.

While you work that, I have a question for Andrea. In general, what position do we want to be in with our reserves against our general fund and operating budget?

We have a ballpark or just a general figure?

And does this take into account new developments that will receive their certificate of occupancy and therefore be a tax generating revenue item?

All right, I'm looking. I found the proposal for the street signs back then. We've got 284 stop signs, 47 apiece for $13,300. Let me see if I can find the street polls for the corners. There is no price on this sheet. Let's see, F dot, that's the F dot stop signs. All right, we've got some pricing here. Sleeves are breakaway square posts, 4,800. Again, I wish we had more time to do this, but we're talking about, let's see if I can sum this up. 55, 10, 60, 90. We've got the full quote. The total cost of $224,818 was the assumption back then. So just as a reference, if we did street sign improve

Street improvements. Yeah. Like if we wanted to kind of skim the surface of the road.

Uh-huh, okay. Resurfacing. Yeah, resurfacing.

So as of now, we're what, 300,000 over budget?

So can we look at those two things that we discussed? Because I'd like to hear from you as well. So one is the communication and the other one is the legislative aid. Unnegotiable. Well, let's start with the easier one, the communications. Can we maybe set a lower budget for that? We have $300,000 now in there. Can we find a way to reduce the scope? Just aim just that something that is really for strategic communication. Because we can use Cindy and what we have now for the regular posts, I think. And then maybe shave off 100K. Instead of 300, go to 200. Set that limit and see what we get.

Well, to Commissioner Weingart's point, $80,000 for one video. Now you're talking about one a week.

Yeah, it was like a year of work there. No, but I'm just trying to, because we are $300,000 over, right? So a little bit here and there, I think we can do it. Urban planning. Urban planning.

Tennis center coverage is something we can look at for next year. That would already put it back in.

Mr. Mayor, could you run through what you're saying we're over budget for which projects? What do we have so far that you're listing?

Yeah, good point. So I've got the urban planning for $400,000, street resurfacing. I didn't put a price in there. Tennis setting coverage we have for $250,000. Maybe we can reduce that down to what you said you had, like $160,000. I mean, I don't even think any of us would approve that amount.

And could any of that come from tourism? It's another park.

It should because it's open. What? Yes, but it's for a facility that is open to tourism. I mean, we've built it, we've managed it with that, so in theory, yeah, let me move that over. Okay, so yeah, we're 2.95. Something that's in there that, again, kayaks and paddle boards, you know, purchasing that, bringing that in-house, you're talking about 10,000, whatever, 20, it shouldn't be much to... Insignificant. Insignificant. Again, well, not parks and rent, I don't think we want to bring it from tourism. But if we were to bring something like that in-house, that's a nominal. I don't even have to put that in there.

Street lighting was 1.5 I put in there, but probably more. But at least for the next year. Street sign improvements, the 250, just as a number. Street end parks, 250. Or you want 300?

No, I think it's going to go, we're going to start this year. I'm not sure if we're going to finish within fiscal year. 2027 might be some money. I was in 2028.

You got to share some of the pot and share.

Um, there was something, and again, it was $20,000, but that could probably come from the building fund, which is, it's a conversation I'm having still got to bring it to the commission and flush it out. But it's, uh, It's an AI company. You integrate it with your calling system. It'll read your website, your flyers, your data, and everything, and people can feel like they're talking to somebody and get a lot of information. It can help offset a lot of what the people do downstairs. If they want to know the status of a permit, if they want to know what's happening at the program on Sunday, if

You got to call a number or how does it work?

Yeah, it integrates into our calling system.

Yeah. It goes through, again, every flyer we ever produce, our website, any system that we decide to hook into it. So it can read Tyler, it can integrate with Tyler and give people, I'm trying to think of the company name, but essentially enhance our customer service here in town without having to hire 10 more employees.

A lot of the cities are starting to incorporate that. Street cleaning robot left alone. Bathroom. Oh, tot lot bathroom. I put in $300,000 for. Okay. That's a self-cleaning, self-maintaining RFID password. Again, I've been on the parks board for a number of years. For decades, residents have been asking for this. And the pushback has always been, well, we don't have the maintenance staff. We're concerned about security, about outsiders using it, about opening up the park to people from all over that are going to start using the park from different cities. Whether it's a homeless issue, teenager

Better mics? No. No better mics. Thanks.

Do you want to make sure we include, I think it's important, the routine pressure washing for Harding Avenue and Collins Avenue sidewalks from a static and safety perspective?

Yeah, actually, so when I wiped out the, not wiped out, but balanced out the street cleaning robots, I guess we could put it against that, supposedly. So what's the...

If it cleans the sidewalks. I haven't seen the robot yet. We have to see what that is.

That's lower cost than staffing it in-house. No benefits, right?

If we tried to get that done with in-house staff, it would cost us more, I believe, by staffing it and dealing with the benefits and all that other kind of stuff.

And then I've got synthetic turf at $200,000. So I wish I could print this immediately. You're happy to share it.

Do you know the lifespan of the synthetic turf on average?

Oh, the synthetic turf. I thought you meant the sodding.

It's definitely more efficient. But this reminds me of all the soccer tournaments I went to with my son. It's just that during the summer, the heat is brutal because it's a big area, and this is plastic because you've got plastic in the bottom. It's just also the fact that then, you know, you have these kids playing and they fall down and roll over and then you got all these plastic pieces all over you. So that's why, I mean, I'm with Messi on this one that he's saying that he shouldn't be using a turf when he plays soccer. But I know that it's a bit more money, but we got to think about it.

The question, why does the side have to be replaced so often?

And is there any additional maintenance we could do that would protect it for as long as it's serviceable life?

Yeah, I want to say something. I go every Sunday to watch my grandson in Bay Harbor. He plays soccer every Sunday because my daughter lives over there. And they play on the on the big soccer field that they have. And it's the turf. It's like the fake grass. And I'm like, wow, this is... Because to me, you know, soccer field is fresh grass. But I actually go there every Sunday, and I'm telling you, these kids are able to actually play. It's not muddy. It rains. It stops. It's humid. And this is super flat. It's very easy for the kids to play. It's very comfortable. It has a lot of usage, and it

Can we talk about the legislative aid? I know that we didn't really. No, I want to say, because it is true, what is this person going to do?

As they like to say, this is not a job, but it is a job. I think in the last two days, God help me, and I appreciate the emails of support from what was at the end, Jewish Hate, but I think they sent me like 400 emails. I don't know where they put it on social media, but I mean, it completely blocks my mind. But that's just one. I get 1,000 emails a day. If I can look at it twice a week at this point, I am trying to separate out Last time I was in, I put in like 40 hours a week here, came home and worked till 2, 3 in the morning. I can't function that way. It's a family to balance, work balanc

For sunshine issues, again, depending on what you're asking for, but you can create a whole other slew of issues. Every other city, depending on how they structure it, some are, you know, everybody will have a couple of people, some will have one. Some people have one person to help, you know, either the mayor and then one for the commissioners. And a lot of the cities have, you know, they'll have drivers and aides. I mean, this is the only city where we continue to look at, you know, and treat us with a certain level. And we should be treating ourselves with respect if we want people to do th

That's fine. Again, we always just agree to disagree. And like I said, I have a different vision of the way the role is. I act differently than some of the others. That has resulted in appropriations. That has resulted in... Relationships that we haven't enjoyed before you know I don't have to tell you the colossal mess up that has happened with Indian Creek the loss of the town that happened when we lost the ability to upgrade our pumps and everything else that came in line with the deal that we made we are now working on joint. between all the cities, and that comes from outreach, and that c

Which appropriations did you get during your two years?

You know why he vetoed that? Because your mayor decided to pick a fight with him.

It comes from sitting with the governor's person for an hour and 45 minutes going line item by line item. Each appropriation has a number, and that's all it is to Tallahassee. But what that number applies to a woman that was hit by a car in a corner who was six months pregnant and lost her baby, and I could say that person's name and articulate that I need the funding for a light on the corner, I got it. When I can articulate that I live on a barrier island and I've got people whose water is coming in their front door and going out the back and I can say them by name, that gets me the money as

No, it's they come to me, I don't go to them. Okay, you know what? This is where you lose us, and you lose this connection. This conversation is over. We're moving forward. You don't like the item. I get it. You don't have to. That's fine. I don't like everything you propose either, but this is what this is about.

Question so if it's legislative aid wouldn't it be because I understand your point about the sunshine law but I'm trying to wrap my head around the so if this is job description that we were all like legislating. So that we would all kind of need that help.

I support that. So let's give the mayor one, and let's give a budget to each commissioner to have a paid part-time or paid intern, because it seems like Gerardo is concerned about the mayor only having it. So let's each give ourselves one. Every other town I speak to. I got a phone call this week that said, I tried reaching the mayor's office. I said, you mean the mayor? There's no staff provided. Every other town. has staff to be, we're talking about, you know, people are complaining they haven't gotten responses. You've complained that we haven't responded to some of your emails. Do you know

All right. Eliana, please stop screaming. Sit down.

All right. This is what it is. Every time I go to an event, and I'm speaking yesterday, I met the secretary of the DBPR, as we spoke about. You know what the first response is? Have your office call, and we'll schedule the next. That's the assumption, because that's the way everybody works. Now, you want to keep operating like we're six blocks with a $5 million budget once upon a time? We are not that anymore. I can't tell you how many phone calls, how many emails that people are waiting for me. I get it all day long. I have my friends calling me up. This and this person has been trying to rea

Okay, so question, would that be possible?

On the one hand, you're telling me I don't need it. On the other hand, you want your own. I support it. If you're telling me you want that, 100%, because I know what it's like.

Yeah, well, that's the budget, though. No, it's just that the problem is the budget. I mean, obviously, yeah, I would benefit from it. That's why you're coming with, like, three interns. Yeah, but they're all, I mean, I'm teaching them more than... But anyway, because I'm thinking if this can be solved by reshuffling how we do assign the duties inside the tunnel. Like, you know, sometimes I know that Anna was... helping me with the things on, like, I don't know, I'm trying to reach this person, like, to your point, right? So would, and that would be something, like a kind of resource that we a

Four, because according to Gerardo, we don't need it. So, so far, just four.

Okay. I think that it'd be, I mean, I'm not saying, like, you know, as usual, I try to understand the problem and see what the solution is. I think that it'd be nice if there could be a job description. And then, because quite frankly, it is true, yeah, you know, we could use that as a resource to make things happen. Would it be one, two, zero, use the stuff that we have and reshuffle the roles and responsibilities? I don't know, but...

Listen, maybe you start an internship program if that's what it is, see how it goes, and if you're having trouble, then turn it into a paid position. But I know there's nobody that's going to want to intern and do the work that I'm asking them for without compensation.

Right now you're voting to keep it as in the budgetary item. Well, I know you don't want it. So why am I going to spend the next 30 minutes explaining it to you? It doesn't matter. You've already stated no, and that's without knowing what it is. Mr. Mayor, I want to know what it is so that I know what we're putting in the budget. You've already said no.

No, it's not. Right now, it's the money. It's a monetary thing.

If you guys are happy with the projects moving forward, I think we have a good list. I would love to... Again, you know, I've tried to answer it. I try to have the conversation. This is a budget meeting. I don't want to have an hour conversation about what it is, right? You know what it is.

Well, my first objective is to get it approved. After that, I will look at the other cities. I'll see how they structure it and how they do it and what the normal is. I've already had conversations with Mario back then, who has worked for multiple cities and proposed three, four different ways. Let me bring that back. But why would I do all that research before I even get it on the agenda?

Okay, and so the, and the social media, what do we think? Do we want to try to aim for, again, I'm just trying to see if there's something, because I, so on the lobbyist, okay, I mean, it's a fair point. Maybe what we can, I mean, we've had this increase in lobbying, and then we'll see after a year what comes back from that, and then we'll reassess, I guess, if we don't get back enough, right? But, so what does it look like now in terms of, because ideally it'd be great if we can go back to the rollback rate. Which is what? It was like 3.5, it was like the 1.9 million. You have to cut for that

Yeah, so 1.9. The reserves would, instead of putting 2.9, we would put 1 million in the reserves, right?

So we're at 2.7 roughly for capital projects.

But in the past, so then segue to this. In the past, how much did we, let's say in the past to budget, how much did we contribute to the reserves?

Let's see if we can. Did that money go back into reserves again?

So the 11 million is including the 10 that was allocated for those projects?

Okay, so and before I forget, how's the Water Main doing? because now we put it off to next year. I'm really worried that that pipe is gonna burst, and then we're gonna be in a, you know what? So do we have a report, an assessment? Because now we're just talking about numbers on a piece of paper, but if this is gonna cause an actual issue, and we have a problem with that water main, then I don't want to be in the situation. So does anybody have an answer to this?

Anything? Other than saying it's 40 years old and we have to fix it, has there been a problem that's been isolated? Are we having challenges with it? Nothing years every new development they've been doing the surface of their building so we've been upgrading that slowly. Yes, but is there like a critical have we reached a critical mass essentially.

Okay. I mean, we've asked Christina essentially go out and see what grants and what money is available for a project like that. So if we had to budget, you know, six and a half, nine million dollars, how much of that is coming back to us? And, you know, that wasn't asked when it was thrown into the expense. Or it was and it wasn't given either. So let's, I think the direction at our last meeting to kind of the manager was, and my first question was, where's the money coming from? And we couldn't even get that answer. It's coming from the general fund, great. How much money is there in appropri

This has to be driven by an actual need. So I'm trying to establish the need first. So I don't know if there's, when was the last inspection that was done that created the concern?

We also have more sections being replaced with those developments.

In the past, it was changed from 12 to 8.

When was the last section that was upgraded because of the new construction we have?

It hasn't been commissioned yet, but yes, okay so when they replaced it how was that the pipe that they replace was still in normal working condition you remember. I have to look at it. Can you maybe just. Yeah, I can get information. Okay.

Yes. Thank you. Yeah, I mean, I don't think we've reached critical mass.

No, I don't know. We can take a look and then see what it is. That's all I'm saying. Yep.

All right. All right. So like you, I would love to be able to come back down, you know, but we also want to do something here. And that's been the challenge. We kind of came in and the entire budget was allocated for us without any capital projects. Our job is to, you know, obviously keep the town moving, but also improve on it. I think we have some numbers here that make sense. There's projects that we just can't touch this year, and hopefully next year, but.

So communications still 300? Communications, you think 300 is the right number?

We can do everything we want here. No, no, I'm just asking. But if people don't hear about it, it's not helpful. So I don't think it's a lot. We have a couple of quotes coming in. And I think we'll be seeing those before we approve the final budget. Yeah, yeah. I mean, this, I think, was the high end or whatever we were putting in as an estimate for Mario. But we'll get some more specific numbers soon.

I think those were your words. It was a general comment to the commissioner. But it's important for us to improve our communications. I think we have the methods that we have and we've been using, but we want to enhance it. And that's one of the enhancements, one of the projects that the commission had discussed and prioritized was enhancing our communications.

But there will be something that it's up on the next week's agenda. Because at that time, we're going to have the chance to discuss the scope and maybe trim it down or see, you know, and then revise the number before the following week budget.

And while, before the window of opportunity closes, I know we're looking for places to cut, but I do want to find room to fit in the launch, at least a soft launch and a small-scale rollout of the water taxi. I'm working with Miami Beach, and there will be an invite for the commission to have a tour where they're going to show us how the program works. They're actually operating during the week and closed on the weekend, and I think for our town it would actually be beneficial to offer it on weekends where people could utilize Saturday and Sunday as our soft rollout, and as we see usage there

They're expanding a few more stops real soon.

Connect in, and we'd be able to piggyback off there.

I'm meeting actually with Steve Minor and his chief of staff.

They're excited that we're expressing interest in tying into it and connecting. It provides alternate mode of transportation. It's utilizing an amenity, a natural resource that we have. Switzerland, and there was a water taxi cutting across the lake in Geneva. It was beautiful, and I used it. I got videos there as well for the experience, but it was a nice way to use a natural resource and alternate mode of transportation, and I think it very much ties into tourism, so I intend on sharing more with our tourism board. Yeah, Phil.

Because it comes from tourism, CITT, it wouldn't necessarily affect the millage rate, but we can add that in there as, I mean, it would be helpful for you.

They're just ballpark figures, and we'd be much lower than this, obviously, especially for a small scale. Miami Beach has two water taxis, two actual water vessels and staffing for that. And I believe it's five days a week right now. Their budget, they're running, it was about 1.2 for the city of Miami Beach. So we would be a fraction of that, tying and piggybacking. So we would save off all the study, all the research they did. They're ready to share all that. And their operator is ready to expand. So we would be able to benefit from not starting from the ground up and being able to have some

All right. Let's grab it. Let's grab it under $400,000 from tourism. There you go. It's $250,000 for water taxi, $150,000 for tennis center coverage for now.

Well, there may be some money from the CITT that we can.

Hold on. What's re-applicable? Reducing what exactly?

The tennis, the coverage for it. So we've gotten different pricing. So we're looking at the lower end as opposed to a higher end. We're going to look at rebuilding that whole area anyways.

But don't worry. I get yelled at by everybody who plays tennis too. but they could only play two hours a day.

The water taxi for next year, maybe, I mean, if that's an option, if we're going to have it, maybe we can cut down on the, I mean, it could be, I don't know, it's an idea I'm throwing. It could be very beneficial to take the kids from Bay Harbor to sources with a water taxi. It's like a small, you know, a very small, short trip. on the water taxi, it would be very beneficial, maybe just throwing an idea. Less traffic, less, like a school bus, you know, bringing the kids from Surfside to Bay Harbor, we can bring them with the water taxi.

Perhaps from one of the street end parks.

Yes, exactly. It would create less traffic, less traffic for the kids. Sometimes it gets backed up. The traffic gets insane in high seasons. In November, December time, it gets crazy. Even just to go from Bay Harbor to Surset to Bay Harbor and back and forth, It could take maybe 30 minutes. With a water taxi, we can remove that expense of the school bus next year and use the water taxi option. It's $100,000 that we can, you know.

Definitely could explore the feasibility.

I mean, I don't know. I'm just throwing ideas. Yeah, a question that I had. I'm sorry, a question that I had. Nothing to do with the water taxi. The financial director, is that in the budget?

Yes. Okay. And this company that we're paying until X amount of months, it's not going to be in the budget for next month, right? For next year.

I mean, we approved $292,000 for 11 weeks. I have no idea where we're up to.

Of where it's holding? All right, we'll have to review it and see where it's holding, but yeah. I mean, any major expenses need to come before us anyway, so we would see that. But yeah, the assumption is with the onboarding of a CFO or a financial director, again, that takes care of that. I mean, this was brought in to provide, was it a triage? What?

You. The CFO, you. The posting is out there, no?

When you act as town manager, let's pretend, you know, act better.

And I think it's important to be mindful when we're hiring.

Okay. For example, with the planner, right now we're using an outsourced service. So that will be cut, and then we're replacing it with a salary. Just to be clear. Meaning there's a spend for our outsourced service right now.

There'll be some offset later. So even, I mean, to the point, even if we don't get to lower, I guess, the rate, we get to throw some money back hopefully at the end of the year that we don't spend. But we'll see. We'll try to tighten it up before the next meeting. All right, so I guess I'll follow up. I'll send you the list that we put together so we have that that we're discussing.

Okay. Question. Is it in the budget an increase for Sandra?

I'm assuming there's and I guess that's a good question we have a one of the items that we have on with the HR administration is that town-wide study to ensure that we are within market rate and we're paying and compensating our people is that is there is there an assumption of compensation raises you know is that being allocated for for this year Not just Sandra.

But I think Mario did raise Sandra's salary or proposed to or, I remember, Mario. I think he was...

No, no, as far as I know, because I asked, sorry, I asked Mario, and no, there is no, she didn't get any raise, and she really deserves a raise. And I think it should be in the budget.

I think everybody, all directors, everybody that we're looking to bring back up need to have that. So is that in there?

No, not at all. I mean, I don't think the town has done an assessment or a study on what the current rates are for the roles that we have. Non-union don't get to, you know, they get to renegotiate that periodically. But as far as our directors, if we want to take care of the staff that we have, we should be looking for that.

Yeah, so two things. One is the budgeting, how much is the salary for a town manager, and one is the town clerk. Even as a town clerk, Sandra's salary is much less than than, for example, what Bay Harbor or other municipalities pay. Because I did my research, because Sandra is, I really appreciate Sandra. She is a lot of, has a lot of value. She is the one and only, really, has a lot of value for the town. And I did the research. I think Bay Harbor, if I'm not mistaken, they're paying town clerk? 220, and if I'm not mistaken, Sandra, correct me, your salary is 160? 165. Correct. So there's a b

I wish you were sitting here so you could see what color her face is right now.

I mean, I'm just talking out of, you know, I value her knowledge, her expertise, the amount of years and the work she's done. I mean, the other night, she couldn't sleep because her head was spinning. She woke up at 4.30 and she came to town. Who does that? She came to town early in the morning at 5, 5 something in the morning. She was already working. Who does that? And she does it quietly, very humble. So that, to me, has a lot of worth. She should be the town manager, honestly.

By the way, you're taking away all our negotiating power. I'm just telling you. Again, I think to bring it back into today's meeting, which is to make sure that we have, and I think the answer was that we have money, because I think not just Sandra, but a lot of directors here there was something lacking in the last few years. That study wasn't done. We wanna make sure that everybody working here doesn't wanna be looking at the next city to see if they could be making a little bit more. So we wanna make sure that we are paying market rate at the very least and everyone is compensated for their

I thought you said you had 250,000 allocated. No, 220 is for non-union employees.

So what happens when it comes back and everybody's getting $20,000 more?

I vote we take away street ends. All right. Yeah, I think, I mean, technically there's about $150,000, a little bit more, $200,000 still without moving anything. So let's see...

Yes, but we definitely need to be competitive and we need to be in line with surrounding municipalities.

In theory, yeah, there's 250 left roughly from the 2.9 that we pulled out.

So maybe to keep everybody from leaving, we should throw something in the budget since we have some of the numbers in there.

Yeah, because we want to keep our employees happy and keep them.

All right. Yeah, I think, again, Senator, if you can sit with Andrea, we'll put this together. You'll have some money to play with. We've got a budget for it. I'd rather budget ahead of time than keep getting caught off guard. Again, we don't know what that number is, but let's make some assumptions, I guess.

All right, okay. I think that was, yeah, that was production. Thank you. Thank you.