City Commission - Special Meeting

All right, let's all please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Well, thank you and good evening. We're now going to kick it off to our city attorney.

Thank you so much. Usually at special meetings, we do not have non-agenda item public comment, but we do have somebody here who would like to talk, and she'll be granted three minutes. Tammy Letary, please come on up for your three minutes of public comment. Thank you.

Moved by Commissioner Welch. Seconded by Commissioner Raley. This is the first public hearing on two separate ordinances. First is the City of Coconut Creek's 2026 ad valorem tax rate for the 2027 fiscal year. And second, the 2027 fiscal year budget. The public may address the City Commission and staff on the tax rate. or any portion of the proposed budget. Prior to the public being given the opportunity to speak, we will, though, hear from Peter Gay Lake, Finance and Administrative Services Director, for a brief statement. Thank you.

I now declare the public hearing to be open. When you come forward to speak, please unmute the microphone. State your name and address clearly for the record. Unmute the microphone when you're done speaking. City Clerk, how are you? Wonderful. Mayor, how are you? Excellent. Is there anyone who is signed in to speak today? Not at this time, Mayor.

If you'd like to speak on this item, you can, but you signed up for the other item, Ms. Schumann. It's up to you. You want to wait? Okay. Is there anybody who would like to address the City Commission on the ad valorem tax rate or budget? Okay. Peter Gay?

Thank you. Being that there's no further comments or questions, public hearing is declared closed. Are there any questions or comments from the city commission on item number one?

Yes. Mayor Wasserman. Yes. Thank you. We'll now transition to Ordinance 2026-034. City Attorney.

Move it. Second. Moved by Commissioner Rydell, seconded by Commissioner Welch. I'll now open the public hearing. When you come forward to speak, please unmute the microphone, state your name and address clearly for the record, and mute the microphone when you're done speaking. City Clerk, please.

Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to speak? Okay. Well, if there's no further comments from the public, we will close the public hearing. We're not there yet. No problem. Are there any questions or comments from the City Commission? Okay.

Thank you. Resolution 2026-125, a resolution relating to the funds and provision of fire rescue protection services, facilities, and programs in the city of Coconut Creek, Florida, establishing the rate of assessment for fiscal year 2027, imposing fire protection services assessment against assessed property located within the city, and approving the assessment roll. Motion to second?

Moved by Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Raley. Peter Gay, please.

you peter gay are there any questions or comments from the city commission okay i will now open the public hearing for this item when you come forward to speak please unmute the microphone state your name and address clearly for the record and mute the microphone when you're done speaking city clerk has anybody signed on to speak on this specific item none of this time there thank you is there anybody in the public who would like to speak on this specific item

Public hearing is now closed. Please call the roll. commissioner rydell yes commissioner welch yes commissioner railey yes vice mayor brody yes mayor wasserman yes and our final resolution resolution 2026-126 a resolution relating to the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling the city of coconut creek establishing the rate of assessment for fiscal year 2027 reimposing solid waste services assessment against assessed property located within the city and approving the assessment roll. Is there a motion to second?

Approved by Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Rydell. Peter Gay, please.

Any questions or comments from the City Commission? I'll now open the public hearing. When you come forward to speak, please unmute the microphone, state your name and address clearly for the record, and mute the microphone. When you're done speaking, City Clerk, has anybody signed up to speak on this specific item? Not at this time, Mayor. All right. Is there anybody in the crowd? Oh, Ms. Schumann, you're jumping the gun. I got you. Is there anybody in the crowd who'd like to speak on this item? Come on down, Ms. Schumann. You got it.

present a full cost breakdown so residents understand exactly why the increase occurred thank you thank you is there anybody else in the public who'd like to speak on this item okay public hearing is now closed any questions or comments from the city commission oh yes commissioner rayleigh

Just that I don't want it to appear that we're just voting on this, that we've had extensive Commission meetings and workshops. And this has, we have spent hours and days discussing and trying to find alternative measures for our residents. And this was the best solution that we could come up with. So we're not just up here voting. We have already discussed this and torn it apart in all aspects.

Thank you. Fair statement. Oh, yeah. Commissioner Welch.

Well, I mean, not only that those were public meetings, but the behind-the-scenes investigations and meetings with all of the staff and the city manager. But anything that we do here to increase, it doesn't just affect others of those 58,000 residents. It affects us as well. So, I mean, we don't take lightly any increase passed on to any of our residents. This one in particular that you just commented on would have had almost a $70 increase if we didn't change the services for waste at all. The additional was to add the curbside recycling, which we had always promised our residents we would do

Thank you, Commissioner Welch. And I'll just say we have commission meetings here second and fourth Thursday of every month where we dive deep into all the issues that come towards us. We have workshops. We go through the motions. And like you said, this affects our bottom dollar as well as individuals in this city. But let's move along. If there's no further questions or comments from the city commission, please call the roll.

This will conclude today's special meeting. Is there somebody wants to move to adjourn? Adjourned.