Village Council - Regular Meeting

All right, good evening again. Today is Monday, July 20th, 2026. We're starting a little bit late, 7.14 p.m. This is our budget workshop. Madam Clerk, can you call the roll?

Thank you. And we had invocation just a short time ago, so we'll let that roll over into our budget workshop. If everybody could please stand. And Director Carmona, can you lead us in the pledge?

Wonderful. At this time, we'll take requests, petitions, and public comments. And this will be the only time for requests, petitions, and public comments. So if you're going to speak, that would be awesome to do it now.

Thank you so much. With that, do we have any comments by form? Okay. With that, I'll go ahead and close the budget. I'm so sorry, the public comments. And I'll turn it over to the village manager.

Any comments on the survey itself? My only comment would be if you could, thank you for the information, and you'll be reopening the survey. I did a quick video today inviting people to take the survey. Several people reached out and said, but it closed.

Okay. It will be reopened tomorrow. How's that? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anything else? Are we ready for, all right. I think we're ready for your presentation.

Wonderful. Let's start questions. Vice Mayor?

Yeah, I saw that our only capital project for the following fiscal year is going to be the replacement fence at Coral Reef Park. My understanding is that we have over $600,000 in park impact fees available. Is that correct?

And is that park fence project being funded by our fund balance or the park impact space?

Got it. I guess one of the questions I'd pose to council is given that we have about $250,000 worth of park impact fees available, I personally walk through Coral Reef Park quite a bit. Maybe one of the projects that we consider as a capital project from that park impact fee to get an estimate on would be to redo some of the bathrooms that we have especially over by the baseball field those are quite old and I think could use some updating and then also some of the other areas as well if I believe we have two bathrooms that are along the pads and then we have the one at the cafe and then we ha

Got it. What about being able to use it for, I guess the other thing I would use it for then is the woods. Are we able to use the park impact fees for woods improvements then? It's new. Anything that's new. I mean, by definition, I feel like it would probably be a new improvement if we're working on the woods, so. um i i'm wondering then i'd pose this to the council then perhaps allocating some of that money i know some residents want to go a little bit slower with the woods perhaps we can allocate a portion of that for some additional work this coming year um into the woods from that park imp

I don't want to call it a cooling off period, but a growing period, because we just did a lot of planting, so then what's next?

I'm not debunking your wanting to add additional funds to it, but it sounds like that would be for maybe the year after.

Thank you. I see a lot of notes over here. Do you have a lot of questions? You have some questions? Okay, comments. Anyone else with questions?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. In addition to the woods, Mr. Manager, so the path, is that for next year or is that for this year? No, that'll be this year. The path is still for this year. Yes, sir. Thank you. That's all I have.

Thank you. Quick question. One of the things I learned a long time ago in this capacity was if I didn't make sure it was in the budget, it may not be in the budget. So just a couple of thoughts here. And I don't know where my colleagues are. But first, a quick question. Our AAA bond rating... You know, there's 411 cities in the state of Florida. I think, is it 12 or 15 of them? 12. And proudly, we are one of those cities that holds a AAA bond rating, which I don't think we talk about that enough because that really speaks to fiscal responsibility. How is that AAA bond rating, if at all, going

That's good news, and I don't believe that you can't predict because you have predicted for the last five years, every time we've done a budget, you actually have predicted in some ways what the future holds. So I don't know if you've got some kind of crystal ball going on, but I appreciate that. So just a couple of things, and this is really just seeing if, if my colleagues are interested in making sure of what direction we want to take. The first was in speaking with the PTA presidents from all five of our schools that are associated with our compact, and then also speaking with our educatio

To set aside in the budget $12,500 for the public schools that are a part of our Education Advisory Board compact and allow the Education Advisory Board to come up with a process for dispensing the funds.

Thanks for that. All right. Yeah, sorry. Well, I would like to do that. Okay. I got two others, I think. I don't think Councilman Matson was known. And Councilman McFarland. So, thank you. And then the IBUS, I don't know how you want to approach that, Mr. Manager. I mean, at some point we have to have discussion.

Is there a presentation that's going to, I know it's not happening tonight, but are we doing a separate presentation coming up?

Yeah, I'll just say, um, I haven't seen the freebie offer, but my preference would be that if we were to contract out that service, given the budget situation that we're in, I'd like to potentially see us do a full on open RFP to see if anyone would come back. Um, and essentially we just compare what the proposals that we get are. Um, my understanding is that freebies more specialized with point to point service. i do know that they have operated in the past the fixed route but i know that there's a lot of other companies out there that can do fixed route i know there's especially in miami-dad

But is that a mm-hmm, like mm-hmm, mm-hmm, or mm, mm?

It's really just that we can't, since we can't do motions, the manager's just looking for some direction, so I hear you saying yes, okay, and you're saying mm-hmm, yes. Yes.

Unfortunately, we'll be gone, but we've got to make a decision on whether the buses, the trains are going to run on time or not. That's fine. Okay, so there you go. And then last, if I could, so I did have the opportunity to meet with each one of the directors, and thank you all. It was my last time in this capacity meeting with you all to discuss budget, and I hope you heard my heartfelt message, which was thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you do for the village. What always is apparent to me is how much each one of you actually loves, even if you don't live here, loves the village

I would like to do that. Thank you. All right. I know you've got comments. Are there other comments? All right. Why don't you kick us off?

Okay. All right. I feel like I'm in an alternative reality here in terms of what's coming down the pike with this reduction, property tax reduction. But before I get into that, let me just say that on a really, really common sense level, like a family, the families had a pretty good run It's spent pretty much what it's wanted to. We had a tremendous gift, what I call almost like if we were a family, it would be like an inheritance or winning the lottery. We got $12.4 million from the federal government, and that bought a lot of stuff, paid for a lot of stuff, including hiring staff and giving

We can settle the Luxcom lawsuit. That's taking up half a million a year. Councilwoman?

I don't think we should be discussing matters of litigation and settling.

We can negotiate the police contract. I mean, again, on a really simple level, when I need work done and I go out for estimates, and if the contract is presented to me, well, I negotiate the contract. So why not negotiate it? I mean, it's like everything is fixed. That's what it reminds me of. It's like an alternative reality. Our spending is fixed. The police budget's fixed, park's fixed, so then we have to figure out how to pay for it. But I don't look at it like that. I mean, a budget can be negotiated. Can our user fees be adjusted? That would be some way. Well, can we stop, can we look at

Do you want to correct? I was going to correct some of the comments that were made.

Okay. To zero out litigation is not realistic because we are increasing our litigation expenses every year to zero them out in the budget.

This is a huge expense, and it's zero in the budget? I looked at your chart. I thought, well, maybe you know something I don't know, like we're not going to have any more lawsuits or we're going to settle. But to zero out doesn't make any sense.

yeah so a couple things um actually a question um and then followed by i guess some more comments um the question that i have is i see that the i guess deficit or fund balance withdrawal was 800 000 this coming fiscal year it seems like we're going to be ending up with a under execution of about a million ish i mean i don't want to hold you to it but that's the ballpark in the event next year we under execute and we're at that same i guess area would that essentially cover that 800 000 if we under execute yes that was okay that's my only that's one question the other question i have is taking

Thank you. Other comments? Council Member Cody?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I am surprised that I witnessed this evening from the councilwoman a road to Damascus moment from her. She tells us that, and my colleague knows what that means, that we need to cut back on spending money. Well, over the years that I've been on the council with you, Councilwoman, you have put forward a number of projects, not through the budget process, but just because you thought that they were a good thing to do. Like, we'll reimburse you for adopting a pet. We'll reimburse you for emergency pet expenses. Wasn't in the budget, but you thought it was a good idea. Thin

So, thank you, Madam Mayor. One moment, Vice Mayor. Mr. Durney?

That's great. Is everyone open to that? I see a thumbs up, then yes, and okay, and yeah.

Could I respond to the council's, Councilman Cody's comments?

Please, let me just do it before I forget. Okay, so just in terms of what I propose, I'm very proud of it. They're such tiny amounts of money, it makes fee waivers look tiny, truly. So far, from what I can calculate that's been on the manager's checkbook, you've cost the village about $54,000 in your lawsuits or ethics complaint, the ethics complaint you filed against me. My programs are no more than $5,000 each, and they haven't even begun to be spent. I don't know, just a handful of people have adopted a pet. I mean, it's a pittance compared to what bill you're running up.

The other thing I'd like to say is that I accept, and all the other council members accept council decisions, but you file lawsuits when you disagree with a council decision. When you do something stupid and illegal, yeah. Point of order.

Yeah, thank you. That's all I have to say. Just accept council decisions. It's our legislative process. We're done with the back and forth. Go ahead, Vice Mayor.

yeah I was just gonna say I mean I came prepared tonight with some ideas and suggestions and I just shared some of them but I would just say to the folks watching at home I feel like this is part of the underlying challenge that we have with the village of Palmetto Bay's council which is that instead of having productive conversations everything has to be personal in your face called stupid and I just think that we're better than this and I would just hope that as the night goes on instead of just pointing fingers look and i agree this a lot of the decisions that we made i disagree with i mean

Okay. Well, that's the way a couple people roll, so that's all we can do. They have the right to speak. They do have the right to speak. Okay. Council Member Fiore, you've been awful quiet.

Thank you, madam mayor. Yeah, I would say, you know, with all, I joke about that, but I really think it is incumbent upon this council. Basically we have one job between now and November and that's to keep the ship of state afloat as best we can in the best interests of the residents and turn it over to three new people. Um, I listened to a lot of what was said. I could say this about the lawsuits. If it's in the best interests of the village to settle these before we're done in November, depending on what our legal advice is from all sides on everything, that's one big way of eliminating a lo

that's all i have madam mayor thank you thank you all right is there more yep i mean i propose the consultant i'm just wondering if there's appetite for on council for that not for me no thank you for the recommendation um okay sir we have another presentation is that right yes And you guys have sat there so patiently. Are you enjoying yourselves? I want you to be happy. Can they come up to present? Great.

And with that, We can take any questions. Thank you. Vice Mayor, then Council Member Cody.

Thank you. So I remember at the Committee of the Whole presentation, there was also a urban forestry program that was also presented. I was wondering if you also have those rates available tonight.

Makes sense. The next question I have is with the vac truck, why is it recommended to have the vac truck in fiscal year 31 instead of earlier in the process?

My next question is about the capital assumptions. I see a couple projects on there. I'm assuming those are currently in our current plan for our master plan. I'm assuming once Kimley Horn completes their plan, will there be new projects identified as well? Likely.

Thank you. On the second item on the summary slide, it said consider SRF funding for capital plan. What does SRF stand for?

I also know that the EPA has some clean water funds as well. Is that a separate program from the EPA's grant program, or is it combined?

Thank you. Anything else? All right. Comments? Councilman? No? Yep. Go ahead.

Yeah, I mean, I mentioned this during the Committee of the Whole workshop. This is a program I'm incredibly passionate about, mainly because the investments that we make in this program are going to directly impact my generation and the generations to come in Palmetto Bay. Cost of infrastructure is not getting any cheaper. It only goes up in cost. So as we're having the conversation about the stormwater rate, I would like to at least have some discussion about our urban tree canopy program. I mean, I don't know if you all have been outside today. It's not very pleasant to be outside at this ti

I have a question. When we set the rate for this program, Is there any supermajority requirement, or can we do that based on a simple majority?

Yeah, thank you, Madam Mayor. You know, usually in years past, I would tell my colleagues here to be very pragmatic. Yeah, how about $7? Don't ask where it comes from. But I try to find a consensus. But I agree with the Vice Mayor in this case. I think we have, as what I just stated earlier, We kind of have a duty. It's a infrastructure. I know when the job is done and Dio can say this, the residents are very happy when it's finished. So I would, if that's the rate, that's fine with me. Thank you, Madam Mayor. That's all I have.

Thank you. And as I mentioned to you, Mr. Manager, and to my colleagues at the Committee of the Whole, my goal is to make sure the rate is set. How, what programming goes into it is important. whether we're doing premium, I don't remember if that's what you called it, or basic or parts of premium, all the basic stuff and parts of premium, I would actually be so bold as to make a recommendation of taking the maximum of what you all have brought, which is $13. That would be something that I would support. I think this is, we kind of, And I was on the council when we raised it from three to five.

Well, don't get excited. I just said the rate of 850 was okay. So I'm good with the 850. Is that what you recommended? For the first year, 850. Okay. Well, there's only one year. There's no year for me.

100 days. 100 days. 100 days. That's it.

So, no, I'm good with that number, 850. Thanks.

You know, there's this thing when you get elected, everyone writes about what they're going to do in the first 100 days. Well, we're going to act what we're going to do in the last 100 days, and hopefully it'll be good stuff. I think you've got three individuals at the very least. I don't know what Councilwoman Mattson... Okay.

Well, I supported the last stormwater fee increase. I think there's infrastructure... controlling flooding, protecting residents' property and homes. I've always been for that. I mean, I'm all into the environmental aspects of our village, and this is a stormwater tax that will protect every home. So, yes. And I would also like to include the tree aspect of it as well, because That's such an important aspect of stormwater and flooding. It really is. And you came up with a terrific program, and I'm ready to support it. So yeah, to me, this is one of those things like police services, infrastruc

so if I heard you correctly you didn't mention the number 13 but I could feel the vibe of 13 is that okay so you've got four individuals that have said they would support 13 uh just let it just reminding you of that that's all thank you for the presentation thank you deal okay is there uh is there anything else Um, vice mayor question.

Yeah. I mean, with the 13 specifically, I mean, are we going to do the program or are we just going to go straight to 13? Cause I think specifically with trees, I mean, the earlier plant them, the better. Um, so if there's willingness on the council to go to 13, I'm more than willing, as long as the trees are in there. And I think it's a critically important thing. And I would just point out that our stormwater ordinance would just need a small update, um, to authorize the expenditure for trees. If the council is willing to do that, I'll bring that on the same meeting as well. And for the full

Why December, Mark? Why? Why December? Why?

For the program itself, that's the new council. I'm kidding.

I'm kidding. Yeah. So I think that's a yes. All right. Anything else? Okay. Is there a motion to adjourn? Or are there more comments? There's a motion to adjourn. Is there a second? All those in favor? Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. Good night, Palmetto Bay. Directors, thank you so much.