Town Council - public_hearing

I have a question. I thought we had gotten rid of the STR fees for workforce housing.

Carolyn, I think you need to move the slide one more. Oh, thank you. Perfect. Appreciate it.

where from the general fund where possible thank you and it also puts the true cost where it belongs correct you turn your mic on correct and it also shows the true cost where it belongs so you know what does this service cost us or what does this it does it does help us track the true cost of those services yes counselor link thank you very much okay moving on to expense reductions that aren't in staffing

Carolyn, can you go back one slide on your screen? So there you go.

I'd like a few minutes, though, Carolyn. Absolutely. Just for us to look through these and see if we have any questions for you right now.

Carolyn, could you go back to the fee schedule? What is changing? I think that's important to summarize that. Thank you. Right there. Perfect. I'd like everyone to hear that.

I agree. I thought I over-donated last year.

Well, would you have considered or did you consider anywhere in this proposal seasonal rates so that when there are more people here, maybe it's higher, maybe it gets more people to be on a shuttle and come over, but maybe a lower rate so we can keep people coming to our businesses in the off season and not be

Do any of you remember if we did that, had lower rates in the off season to try to promote more visitors to restaurants? I remember some of that. There would be some free parking days.

Yeah, I would think we should really look at the Key West model. I mean, it's basic economics. I mean, when there's a surge in demand and there's a priority on where you park, you pay more. It's just like going to a football game. You know, if it's a credit concert, parking's $20. If it's Stones are playing, it's $100. And if you want to park next to the stadium, it's $150. So, I mean, Key West does it. You know, a lot of, in season, there are a lot of people that stay up in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, they come down for the day. I think we're getting most of the emails from the citizens that are

And try to entice the seasonal rate? Is that what you're suggesting?

I'm not not talking about the annual park. I'm just talking about just, you know, we we talk about raising it a dollar, but I think you could raise it to two or three dollars and in search search times in February, March, when it's high demand, people are going to pay it. The amount of revenue is incredible.

Yeah. And for every resident, if you look at the annual parking permit, depending on how often you come, that's going to save you a lot of money for those who come quite often.

The other thing, too, is the annual parking fee for off-island. I mean, Sanibel does it, and they sell out in what? Two weeks.

Getting back to the parking, The complete picture is we also heard from some businesses in the Times Square area that have concerns about the increase. My concern is when do we reach the tipping point? I'm not sure we know that. I drove by 7-Eleven today. Gas was $4.19. I haven't seen that since I don't remember when. So that concerns me. The thing that I think could be a plus is we don't have to revisit this just yearly. We can reassess on an ongoing basis and I think that would, if we decide to move that direction, I think that would be a smart way to go.

Does that mean they can only go down or could they go up? They can move in either direction at any time in the year.

I it's something I want to think about more and talk to others and unfortunately we don't have to make that decision tonight, but I understand what you're saying as well.

ticket within a certain amount of time. And what were you thinking the difference would be? That it would be cheaper than whatever it is or that it would go up the longer you waited?

I was in a community once for years, and there were a lot of parking tickets, and the town hall had a drive-up spot with a metal box. Ellen's got one of these in her old neighborhood. And if you paid it within 24 hours, it was like $5 less. Very few people did, but some did. They just stuck it in the box, drove through, and they were collecting it. So sometimes they're making it easy to drop in.

Yeah, well, not that I have a problem. I just would like to go through the rest of the presentation. So we may have some great levers ahead that we don't know of. So I'm going to make a note, and we come back to that parking.

There might be something really good four slides down.

That house has again, this be similar to, um, when you're renting a property, you know, the cleaning fee is not the same because. It costs more to have a three bedroom and the cleaning fee goes up.

Or how many calls, perhaps. Potentially how many calls for service.

What about for short-term rentals, 300, three rooms in the last 400, four rooms or more?

Right now, these four or five-bedroom houses, I know how much they make. They can handle $100, but some of the smaller... You know, one-bedroom condos and a monthly condo, you're charging them the same amount of money that another individual or company could make five times the money on. If you charge everybody $400, it's not fair for the smaller condos.

Weren't you saying $100 a room? It's fair.

I'm just saying keep it $300 for three and under, and then $400 for anything four and above.

I just need some more information on it. What are we really, how much more money are we actually going to get?

Or the administration of our beach guys that are out there. Do they do anything? I mean, are our... beach patrol folks doing anything more or less.

The beach vendors contention is if you have a bad actor, get rid of them.

do we rake it or maintain it or sweep it? Is there anything that we're doing or they're maintaining their own?

Mayor, I'm with you too. I agree that we did in the past agree to the 3% annual on the licenses. I'm okay with that because that's a promise made, a promise kept. I do have issues with the umbrellas, the chairs, those kind of things. Town Manager, I guess I would ask you to just sit down with those vendors. And discuss this with them get their side of the story because you know Again, I'm hearing the bad actors are not being taken addressed that might bring in some revenue that way and Are these in line with what is actually costing us to do business? The concern I also have is about the beach

So does that mean a vendor who is allowed to rake? And how many do we have? Do we have any idea?

I guess my concern is we're talking private property here now. I realize that the state mandates these things, but we're still talking about people's private property.

Yeah, I understand that, but I don't hear that. I know in the past properties have been fined for not doing what they're doing. I'm not hearing that is an issue.

Believe me, I know my condo paid a fine before I got there, so...

We'll get it up there tomorrow sometime. Yeah. Okay. I don't have anything to do tomorrow.

No. I do. What is a FOB? Is it this thing?

So a replacement fee, it doesn't look like there would be any charge for a resident, but $15 for a non-resident, is that what I'm seeing, correct?

It says FOB replacement fee, membership slash service.

Mine is in my pocket a lot. It's pretty beaten up.

Now, if we're going to keyless entry, and I can see. That would require more staff.

Yeah, a portion of that goes back into the capital recovery. It's not additions. Yeah.

Can that be used for maintenance or just capital?

So we're not doing it out of the kindness of our heart.

YEAH, LET'S GET THE PUBLIC'S BEEN CUT ENOUGH TO BE HERE FOR TWO HOURS.

Sorry, I thought Ellen was going to get up and speak.

Well, I don't know if this is the place to ask my questions that I had or not. First off, where are we ending this fiscal year of 2026?

Well, don't we have an ending? What is the amount? Did we meet budget? Did we go over? Did we go under? You can't project? It's September.

Okay. Going over your what was called a Menu, I've got under strategic priorities, $550,000 conversion to FRS. What is FRS?

So we're moving what we have into this then? Is that the 550 or this is what it's going to cost us to move?

So when folks can see these documents tomorrow, this is an Excel spreadsheet that says future planning V7, correct? That's what we're looking at now. And we're looking at strategic priorities.

Okay, thank you for that explanation. Moving on to the column where it says additional cost control actions. $214,215 for elimination of performance-based pay and seniority pay. Is that just for a year? Is that what we're talking about here?

But the $45,000 is the cost of the study?

I guess I'm not following how we get 45,000 there.

I'm sorry, you're talking to $35,000 then? Yes. Thank you. Also, it was my suggestion at one of these meetings that town council for a year go ahead and forego their salaries for one year. I guess there's a dollar pay in there just to cover whatever for insurance benefits. Thank you. It's late and I'm early. But that's my suggestion. That's easy to do. I'm rotating off, but I have given up my pay in the past. To me, I'll quote somebody that I've quoted last year as well. I consider myself a soul man and a soul fan. And being willing to donate the taxpayers' money is not the same as being willi

Okay, would you say then that what we saw today in this slide presentation is the reduction, not necessarily the 10%, but the exercise that you had everyone go through?

That's what they called it, yeah. Okay, thank you. The hiring freeze is interesting to me because I kind of suggested something like that last year and it seemed like I got some pushback, so I'm wondering why this year instead of in previous years, why a hiring freeze?

Okay. Thank you. But you did say there were some carryovers. Is that just a year? Was that two years that we've carried these forward?

Because I'm just wondering, are we actually then saving money by doing that when positions weren't filled anyway?

Okay. And I guess I'll just close with this because I'm not sure where to go and when I can bring it up, so I'll do it now since I have the floor. In early March, we talked about turning 2525 Estero Boulevard into a parking lot. The price of that was supposed to have been $138,053.13. As of last month, the total had risen to $218,279.65, if I can read my writing correctly. That's an overrun of $80,225 and maybe $226.52. That can still go up again, correct?

I guess I'm disappointed it's taken us six months and we're still not anywhere near where we should be on this. I'm not sure how much longer it's going to take us. According to the property appraiser for Lee County, that property has a market value of $6.9 million, and that's down from $10.4 million last year. I think it would behoove us in this situation when we're asking people to make sacrifices that we look at all options on the table and then we put that property up for sale. And I think it's just imperative that we do that. I don't know why we continue to hold on to it. I mean, I've in t

You can't you can't do John, you can't do a budget on a property for sale. I understand where you're coming. I understand your frustration. First couple of things you said, I mean, we're we're dumping money and not getting anything in return for it. But I, I think at this point, Echoing what the mayor said. Well, number one, you can't do a budget for 27 or 28 based on the property being for sale. That's not what I asked. I know, but down market, I don't know, again, who's going to buy it. I don't think the town should give up an asset that they could eventually use that property to swap for so

Thank you. I just think what I'm hearing is it's an asset but it's an asset that keeps losing money and how much longer do we want to hang on to it that it's going to continue to lose money?

It needs to become whatever it's going to become. It needs to generate some revenue. But it's not happening. It needs to happen.

What it's costing us real dollars in $218,000, it's cost us to not generate anything yet. Fair point.

No, I would never sell it in a down market. Just against my nature. You've got to turn your mic. I need to actually sit up and speak into it. It would be a no for me to sell it. I understand as well your sentiment, John, and I agree with it. That would be a last resort for me. I think it's got too much other potential for us.

I have a question, I have a couple questions for you. I hope you can answer these, and if you can't answer them, I'd sure like an answer in two weeks. Number one, what exactly is our emergency fund number? Where are we sitting for our emergency fund? 2.1 million. 2.1. Do we have any other reserves?

Do we have any other reserves? No, we do not. Okay. I've got just a basic question. Is there a way that we can have a reserve account and then an emergency fund account where the emergency fund doesn't get touched for any reason? It's not bouncing back from the general fund. where we actually have some reserves. And I think piggybacking on what his question was, if we end up with some reserves left, if we have stuff left over from last year, where does it go?

Well, if we have money left over, where's it going?

So that's kind of where I'm going. If we have a reserve account and an emergency fund account, wouldn't that be cleaner accounting-wise? I believe so. Okay. So what would it take for us to – to get that in place? Would that be an ordinance? Would that be a resolution? Would that be something you'd?

And I think Jeffrey's leaning that way in discussions we've had, because I think that's confusing. We've had this conversation many times. I think that cleans up a lot of things. There's the true emergency, and then there's reserves. And in that, reserves could be cash flow for us for grants or all kinds of other things. When we start saying the emergency fund is reduced, it frees you up.

that we have reserves and that those reserves can be used for studies. Those reserves can be used for grant matching. Those reserves can be used. I don't want to go down this path of we're using reserves to maintain stuff, but It's different than an emergency. That's scary that we only have $2 million in emergency reserves. I know we went through a massive hurricane and all that, but we've got to build that up.

Right, but that should be coming out of reserves, right, not general fund?

Okay. I think that was where the confusion was last year because we were talking about it like it was one big emergency fund and where did all the money go? Well, it went as cash flow to front things we're going to eventually get back. So that started to get me digging and saying where did it go when it didn't go anywhere. It was utilized as it was intended. But we were calling them both emergency. And so when you'd say emergency fund, it was like, which emergency fund? So I think in talking to Jeffrey, and it was even some of Joe before he left, was talking about splitting that. So when you'r

Do you want to go ahead? No, it doesn't matter.

I love it. I think that's great for those at home are watching. I can see a few things that. that I'm very comfortable with, and I would like to talk about them with my peers here. And one is the merchant credit card fee recovery under the general fund revenue options. So $107,950. Am I right to believe that we have not been passing on credit card fees that we all are so used to paying? When I pay a bill online, it says if you want to pay this convenience, there's going to be a $3 charge or whatever.

This one seems like a no-brainer, and why we wouldn't have done that before, I don't know, but that's an easy question. an easy give.

Yeah, exactly. So I don't have any problem with that one. Is there anything you'd like to add about that specific thing, Caroline?

Yeah, that one's like, thank goodness that one was, that's what happens when you look at every line. You find things. So I like that one. I also like the $150,000 for non-resident parking passes. If we go up to maybe 150 of them to let people who are in the 33931, who are basically our neighbors and friends, that's an easy. I mean, right there, we're almost closing the gap. While we're on that, do you mind if I just jump in and ask? Yes, please do.

So those ones seem like no brainers to me. Um, Let's see. Modification of beach rental rates. That one wasn't much. So I'm looking at the big ones. Short-term rental. Is that $50,000, Carolyn? Can you tell me, is that at the $400 rate?

Or is that the $100 per room? I mean, there was a lot of discussion about. Or a combination of both. Yeah. I'm going to have to look up my. But I'm going to make a mark there because. Um, the 50,000 for the mountain house parking. I mean, right now we aren't charging for those 28 spots. And when we're saying that if you're a museum visitor, you would go in and, you know, you'd get your free hours. So I'm not sure why we wouldn't consider that. I mean, some of these are money. I think we've been leaving on the table, whether we needed to close the gap or not. I'm not sure what others think, but

I just didn't know if we had to all agree on which items we were going to select today.

No, so today we're... So for the next two weeks, we're going to get a lot of feedback from residents, from business owners. People have to digest these numbers and look at them.

So OK. Yeah. So I'm stepping to I'm stepping ahead.

Okay. So if we were looking at the $50,000, we'd be agreeing to the $100 per. Correct. So we might have to tweak that later.

I'M THERE, TOO. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE 10655, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THESE REVENUE OPTIONS, AND I THINK WE CAN ADD SOME MORE TO THE BUDGET.

I'll make a motion that we adopt the 1.0655 millage rate for fiscal year 27.

Yeah. I'll just let author Larry Niven speak for me when he said, hopeless causes are the only ones worth fighting for. The fight for the taxpayer is the most hopeless of them all, and I can't support it.

Right, there's some fees, but... So I'll tell you right now, so, and again, we're going to hear from folks, right? Are we choosing these today or just discussing?

OK, so I'm going to say on implementing the $7 pricing model, I feel like I can hold off on that one for now. I'm totally comfortable with the $150 that we can gain from, especially it's a benefit to allow our non-residents to take part in the parking pass. And the parking ticket increase, that one, I don't have a problem with the parking increase either. You don't get a parking fine, you don't have to worry about it. That's only for those who get a parking ticket. $157,000, that's not a bad deal. Even with that, we could pass on the parking permit increase. The credit card fee, that's a no-br

I'm talking about the $50,000, the 28 spots.

Whatever that would be. Either it's 28 or 26. And I'm also okay with the special event reservation fee for weddings and things like that. So some of these are not going to cost our residents, but... They are one-time things.

Well, you know, I don't remember what they are on the top of my head. So I'm going to ask someone else to either go back and see what they are. There's a fair amount of money here without raising the fee on people as we start to get the interest.

Yeah, let's save it. I think there's a fair amount of money here that isn't really going to be passed on to our residents. That's the part I like about it. That's all I have.

As far as the budget, I'm good with the budget as it was presented. As far as I'd like to talk about the fees in the next one.

Mr. Mayor, if you can indulge me for a second, just the category you're in. brought to attention is something that Kathy had asked earlier. I see the termination of TDC agreement is on there. I don't think I'm obviously not in favor of that, but I'm not sure we got an answer for her as to why

mount house uh things we're not going to be oh yeah well i think it's two different things i think yeah i understand but it just no you're right did you you're right maybe scott you you're on the tdc maybe you can help i can find out tomorrow i'm going to be with pamela and i'm going to be with the entire tdc crew um i it was my understanding i'm I'm not going to answer that question until I know the for sure answer, but I'll find out.

I think we can all suppose, but thank you.

I've got some suppositions, but let me find out.

I don't want to be misquoted. I 100% do not know, but I will find out.

Will, may I ask that before we publish this or get it out, and especially before we meet, if we could know each of these items on the revenue options, if they have buckets that they would go into, or is it already obvious because they are under general fund that they would all be able to go straight to the general fund? Like if it was short-term rental, Did that go to the general fund, or must it go to some other bucket?

Because I think it would be good for people to know, because they may think, oh, you made that money, and then why can't I have a staff? Because it's required to go here or here. So if you could give us the options for each of those, that would be great.

Mr. Mayor, I propose we approve resolution 26 dash one 82, uh, for a proposed budget for fiscal year 26, 27 commencing October 1st, 26, and set the second and final budget adoption public hearing for Wednesday, September 23rd at 20, 20, 26 at 5 0 1 PM.

And I'm a soul man too, but I'm an aye. Councilor Link?

I see your point on the surge model. wavering between $6 and $7. That's probably the only one I'm kind of struggling with. Like you said, when we went from 3 to 5, we thought the world was going to end. I'd like to just get some more information from our residents and from our businesses in the area just to make to make a decision that makes sense for us and for everyone, especially in the Times Square area. The one thing that a million dollars will go a long way, an extra million dollars in revenue will go a long way for building our reserves, paying off our bridge loan, doing some other thin

OK. Councillor King? I think I already addressed a lot of these. I guess I'm going to agree with you, Scott. My concern about the parking is, like I said earlier, what's the tipping point? Do we find out what really will cause people not to be there? But one of the saving graces, I think, is that it can be quickly, hopefully, addressed if that becomes an issue.

Yeah, just to add to that, I think I've gotten the most pushback the last week or so are from the people that visit our island regularly. and it's usually the guys just over the bridge, the guys live up by, you know, off Winkler. People that used to live here, they love to come down here. So I think that non-resident pass will alleviate a lot of that pain that's the extra dollar or two dollars.

I understand and again I'll talk about the businesses in Times Square that have concerns about this. Obviously then the data hasn't from the past backed up the concerns but It can still be a concern. I have an issue with the beach raking increase. I need more information on that. And, again, the 3% is what we agreed to with the vendors. I'm good with that. But nitpicking about umbrellas and those kind of things, that bothers me.

I agree, because then we'll be hearing from people saying, you know, how many chairs did they have? Well, they said they had eight. Yeah. I would just say it would be great if when we come back or at some point between now and the next meeting, we could have a few more columns that would give us these scenarios that we were looking for. So if we're talking about 400 or 350 on the short-term rentals, we can see what that relates to in dollars so that when we're making our decisions, we know what that means. As best you can. I'm sure you couldn't for all of them. But on the parking, Scott, you'r

That would be helpful. That's all I have.

Yeah, go ahead. I have one other question, if you will. We haven't addressed the mooring field. Obviously, the goal of that operation is to break even, and Um, I would like the, I it's too, too late, or we just had too short a time to change fee schedules there, but I would really like the Anchorage advisory committee to look at the morning field and run, run that morning field. Like, like a business. Um, it's, it's crazy that we're charging the same exact rate right now as, as we do in March, there there's gotta be some dynamic pricing tools available. There's got to be other mooring fields t

Did I not just hear, though, in the latest Anchorage Advisory Committee, Curtis say they are close to breaking even?

I believe that's what I understand, but I don't know how accurate that is. We did raise the fees last year. That caused us to lose some customers, but we've increased the revenue because of the fee increase.

That's good. We're closing the gap, but I really think that we should take a look at some revenue management tools to maximize revenue. Revenue. Yes, sir.

He's protecting himself from mosquitoes. What are you talking about?

It's been a long night, so I'll skip everything. Thank you, everybody, for all your hard work, for being here tonight. And with that, I'll move to adjourn.