City Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you all very much. If the clerk could please call the roll.

Thank you very much. If you could all please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. Agenda approval. Is there any item on the agenda? Lynn, you talked about pulling something from the agenda.

We'll make that 7AA. Are there any other? Yes. Okay.

6i should this be an item for a regular agenda as well because wait is 6i the auditor it's the auditor yeah she can make that as a yes you're pulling that yes so so that will be 7bb okay that will be the fiscal year of the internal audit plan and is there anything else i'm going to pull 6k uh which is the parking license agreement for valet parking um That'll be 7CC. And are there any other item that anyone wishes to have as a discussion item and off consent? Yes. Okay. Okay, wait, there's more? It's like a Ginzu knife commercial?

Well, I just wanted to get an explanation, so I guess that's pulling it as well. 6M, the Medicaid reimbursement? That's a different one.

6M. Sure, we'll add that to 6DD. We'll make that 7DD. And that will be Chief Martin will be doing that one, so I know he's around somewhere.

7M. That was 6M. Is it Michael? Yeah, 7DD.

That would be 7DD. Great. Then if there's nothing else, I need a motion to approve the agenda as amended. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Great. We are now into presentations. We have the – I didn't see Ms. – Whitfield here.

All right. Well, thank you very much. Hope it's all as well. Second is the proclamation, the Suicide Preservation Awareness Month. I will read the proclamation. This is Elizabeth Burrow. There she is.

Whereas suicide remains a significant public health concern that affects individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and communities across our nation and throughout Florida. And whereas every conversation has the power to change a life and increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging people to seek help are essential to preventing suicide and promoting mental wellness. And whereas last year alone, the compassionate and highly trained specialists at 211 Palm Beach Excuse me, 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast responded to more than 125,000 requests for help across Palm Beach, Martin,

Thank you all very much. I now have the honor to present the Palm Beach County Tourism Review Board, considering the Tourism Roadshow. Vice Mayor Burns, you're going to be presenting this one? I am.

No, it says Vice Mayor Burns will present. Oh, you're 4D. I'm sorry. We have here the, well, I'm going to let them speak for themselves, from the Tourist Development Council and...

Can I just ask a question on the data? So you showed the number of tourist visits. Does that also take into account people that are coming here on business and are doing business in Delray? They're not here to have fun. They're here to conduct business, and they're staying in a hotel. Is that counted in that number?

Thank you very much. And let me just say, this is a very short presentation he made, but it's remarkable every month when I get to go to these meetings and sit around the table with some really, really smart people, the people that run the convention center, the people who do all this, that work closely with your group, just how much you really do in bringing in You bring in film crews. You bring in all these people to come into Palm Beach County, which people don't even realize, and the amount of revenues that this thing has generated. So I just want to compliment the work that you do for the

Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Now, Vice Mayor Burns, the recognition of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Okay, yes, well, they are not here this evening. However, I presented on Thursday evening the 17th at their statewide organization. So we joined the city of West Palm Beach and some other neighboring municipalities to welcome and honor the brothers of Omega Sapphire. And so we recognize their long and distinguished history of service in our community with scholarship, mentorship, leadership. uplift and so there they were welcoming at their 25th Royal King the second who is the Florida State Representative and And they were very appreciative of our recognition of the service that they provide t

Great. Thank you very much. So noted for the record. Okay. Missy Barletta, we have a presentation. You all were given prior to you have an old school square needs assessment in front of you. I do. So we are going to be having a discussion on the needs assessment and market study for the old school square. Yes? Yes. Are you?

thank you very much you have nothing anything to add let me see i have nothing to add nothing to add very nice um did any members of the commission would comment commissioner casale sure i'll start um i thought we were here to get to that second part you know we each did an hour-long interview i did an hour-long interview i think everybody did an hour-long interview and i was waiting you know a lot of this information we know we have the residents know it as you said you're just repeating what we know but what should we expect from you because what I want what was discussed during our joint me

So you're going to give us a report that speaks to each individual component of the campus and the operation of it as a whole?

Well, I don't see a vision beyond what we've already all discussed I almost was expecting you to give us something we didn't have and what what I'm getting is what we all sort of know Already and I was hoping for something bigger I feel like this is well beyond my skill set or ability to understand what this can be and That's what I need from you um there was one other thing I wanted to ask what is it though holy moly I hate when that happens mayor um so it'll take you three months did you look at our tourism plan we have a tourism plan and how did that factor into this

question thank you very much Commissioner Burns yes thank you for your presentation and as Commissioner Cassell said like one of the things I agree within your recommendations is that these are not new ideas and these are things that we've already known and and the next step is moving forward which I too thought that we were in a position to move forward some other items that I like in here is the partnering with the arts garage I know that we have received a proposal from Marjorie the arts garage and I think we need to give it some serious consideration however the second phase is that includ

Thank you very much. Commissioner Marker.

Yeah, just real quick. First of all, thank you for all the work that you did. I'm very appreciative of it. And I view this, where we are right now, as you set the table for us. I think it was really valuable to get all the facts in a concise deck, and I appreciate that. And it sounds like we've got pretty good agreement on the baseline of facts, and that's where you have to start. And now, for me, the tough part is the next step, which I am in favor of you continuing the work, because we need to then see what our options are and what your recommendations would be. It is a complex campus. There

Thank you very much for your presentation. And as Commissioner Cassell and Commissioner Burns, we know. We knew all this. The only thing I would say is I would resist any kind of festival. We do not want Renaissance festivals or something like that going on in our city. And then one other thing, when you were talking about different components, the five different components we're all aware of, and it would be an impossibility to have five different operators coordinating the campus, in my humble opinion. But thank you. Look forward to that business plan, maybe depending on how much.

Looking forward to seeing phase two, because I think we've been at this for a while. I hope that it's done very expeditiously because, I mean, it has been laying there for, I mean, we've got great work going on there now and the different components of redoing the crest and, you know, the Cornell's been doing great and everyone's saying everything's doing great, but the concept of having the campus operate as a unified or even, you know, parceled out to different entities is good, but we need to get there, so I look forward to seeing something, you know, a plan that we can actually adopt and m

Mr. Moore, could I ask? Mayor, may I ask? Mr. Moore, what are the costs? What do we pay for phase one, and what are we paying for phase two?

And I also, if I might make a suggestion to you, depending on how you're looking at this whole campus, it's either a fundraising facility, right, or it's money making, and it should be two parts, parts of both, right? We don't charge for the museum, but in the past, a nonprofit ran it, and it has a fundraising component that can be successful. The DDA was running it, and I think they were doing fundraising. There is that option that needs to be considered about what, when you're looking at this, is it going to be something that is going to be, are you looking for it to generate revenue? Econom

I want you to come back with what the viable models are. And maybe there's two. Maybe there's one. I don't know. But that's what I think we need next is what are the viable options and what do they each look like? And they potentially could be very different. Then I think we can move.

Thank you very much for the presentation and for all the hard work.

Ah, comments and inquiries on agenda and non-agenda items. We're entering into the portion where there's going to be public comment, but first we've got the city manager's response to inquiries and highlights.

If I may, I think it was USDOT, right? U.S. Department of Transportation. Can I add to that?

Thank you. I have a question. I heard you, but could you repeat so that at this point we cannot reduce that fine? No. No, ma'am.

I'm sorry not to belabor this, but in my neighborhood, people have little tiny driveways. and many multiple cars but they're going to get code violated if they park on the grass too right they're going to get code violated if they park on a sidewalk so are we going to allow for a little more flexibility and where additional cars in a household are allowed to park

I don't really think we can answer that question, because we've set a guidelines to the Department of Transportation.

Because they get ticketed in the street, too. Just saying.

Is there a problem with people extending their driveways? For instance, widening or extending it, making it curve around, is there?

Many driveways traverse the public right-of-way, as you know. They go through swales and stuff, which is public rights-of-way. So extending it would require the city to get involved.

Well, I mean extending it further up into your yard. I don't mean extending it out. Extending further up into your yard.

Thank you very much. I will say that I have had a neighbor got two tickets on one day. Actually, I think there are two of the ones on George Bush Boulevard. And they called and they said, well, the lights weren't flashing until 1 o'clock in the afternoon. I said, well, if it doesn't pick you up until after you're doing 11 miles over, how fast are you going? Well, they were not doing 11 miles over. They were probably 15 or 20 miles over. and so you know i'm not going to defend that but i guess their point was for your neighbor when they when they no it's just it's not particularly a friend it w

Again, I have no problem during the hours for the school. And it may come as a surprise to my children, but there are people out there that actually don't do social media and watch TV. So I'm not positive. I just want to make sure that everyone has fair warning.

Because I do think it will, the people who get one ticket are not going to get, well, except my friend who got it, you know, this was on the same day, twice, so, but, you know. He's not your friend anymore. Well, he's not my friend anymore because I can't do anything about it. I can't.

Can you speak to what the mayor is referring to, speeding even after the school zone?

The way it works is that the cameras are live from whatever it is, a half an hour before the school zone to a half an hour after school. During the port period, half an hour before in the morning and half an hour after, they're limited to 20 miles an hour, and their cameras are set to catch people who exceed 20 miles an hour.

they they'd have to be doing 30 that's still 11 miles over at that point and the rest of the time in between it's still being monitored 11 miles over except the speed limit would that have to be doing 41 or depending on your speed limit in this case george i think it's 30. so the lights are not flashing but the lights are not that's the key the lights are not flashing but the cameras are still live but the signs are posted with the time okay but wait one more sec the lights are not flashing the children are still in school

right the the speed zone is the same even when it's not flashing right when the kids are in school it's still but people are getting tickets on that basis they have to be doing 11 miles over the other speed but the 30 miles an hour right it's 11 miles over regardless but the point is when it is not flashing it's It's the regular speed limit, not the lower speed limit. Okay, because people are getting tickets, not flashing. Understood. So we've rectified the situation, is what you're saying?

Right. The flashing part has been rectified. And refunds are being made.

Okay, cool. Correct. They're not flashing for the rest of the time, even though the cameras are locked. Right.

We know the cameras are on. Right. It's not.

Was the Abandoned Creek area the only area that had the issue with the flashing light? Yes, ma'am. Okay.

Do you do the one in Southeast 23rd and Federal Highway? Because then I have a conversation about that. Anyway. So I have not received a ticket. Who here up here has? My car did. I actually wasn't even in the car.

Any other questions? I got pulled on Saturday morning. I'm sorry.

I would be real curious if you could let us know in a month from now whether or not you're – you know your conjecture that the it's going to bring the speed limits down and bring people down i'd be really curious to see some stats on that that is that it's working that the whole purpose of it isn't to really penalize people is to have people comply with the speed laws and i'd like to if you come back in a month and show us what those statistics are that would be great so we will we have talked about that along with red speed and being able to collect all that analytic and that data to be able

The only thing I would ask Mr. Moore and Gina is that we keep up our education efforts right now, particularly when the snowbirds are coming back. I don't want them to get tickets, but they're coming back. They haven't been as aware of this. And I even think some of our everyday residents aren't as aware of it. And I just think it would behoove us to just keep up the communication effort for a little bit longer so that everybody's aware of it.

Thank you very much. I look forward to getting the results next month to show that we're working. I'm trying to put you out of business so that nobody speeds. I know you do. OK. Are there anything? I yield at this time. Thank you. You yield at this time. OK.

Wait. Can I make a point of order since the room is clearing out? Mr. Moore, point of order. Mr. Moore, we had said that the agenda should not be changing. But if it does, we need to get a notice. Because sometimes I look at the agenda and then I look at it a second time and it's totally changed. And if I come in here and there's one agenda on this dais and I have another one that I've been working off of, it's not good for the residents. So we used to send out notifications to say this agenda item changed and maybe a little note as to what the change was. Could you please do that again because...

We are now to the portion of the meeting for public comment. Let me read the, I don't see anybody here for public comment, so we can just move right on. The meeting is now open to the public. Any members of the public wishing to comment on any topic on the agenda item other than a quasi-judicial item or public hearing item should come forward. Members of the public will have the opportunity to speak on the quasi-judicial or public hearing items later in the meeting as those items are called. For public comment, please sign in, state your name and zip code for the record, and you will each have

Yeah, if anybody is here for the car wash item on North Federal Highway, that is a quasi-judicial. I'm sure there's a few people. We'll call you.

if you're here to discuss the mid the millage or the budget you will have that opportunity to speak when those items are called and the car wash and the car wash correct mr. Katz

No, you don't. If you submit it, it's in the record.

Can I interrupt you? I didn't get an email to my city server, Price. Hi. Did you...

It's okay. It's okay. You got it? Okay. I just want to make sure. I'm sorry.

No, Gulfstream is north of George Bush Boulevard.

Can I just ask a clarification question? On a leash or not on a leash?

I'm sure they weren't there for you, but, I mean, you just happened to get your collateral down.

Well, we're not answering questions from here, but we will take under advisement. Well, yes. Okay, well, if I wanted to happen. It's a public poll. Okay, thank you.

We should get there around 1 o'clock in the morning. Don't worry, Mr. Dorough. Wake me up when it's my turn. I'll wake you up. I'll wake you up. I get it.

The staff is saying you're too close to the mic.

I saw it and I read your email. Thank you. Are there any other members of the public wishing to address the commission? And I'm sorry, what? We are going to, I'm going to address to the commission, we're going to take a A five-minute break. I don't do two. I can't even get out of it. It takes me that long to get out of my chair. A five-minute break. We'll restart at 20 after 7. Good evening, everyone. We are recommencing here at 724. I need a motion. The next item, we need a motion to approve the consent agenda. So moved.

amended second right all in favor aye any opposed fine they're just good it's gone all right now we have the 7aa is former consent agenda item 6e which is the approval of the resolution authorizing the appointment of an external audit firm selection committee mr. docowitz please thank you we are looking to do an RFP for a new

The resolution reads that way, but we weren't prepared for that.

I'm not prepared to appoint anybody. I mean, I would be delighted. Something you'd be interested in?

You're Deputy Vice Mayor? I mean, you should pick up. I would help, absolutely. Okay, so we got consent? Yeah, that's fine with me.

Does anyone mind if Commissioner Marford does it? Okay, I got you to do that. Okay, so what do we need?

A motion to approve? Whatever you say, if you get 10%. Guys, we got to move this along.

So this is something we should do every five years anyway. I mean, I'm used to be every, for like municipalities, like every five, seven, ten years, you've

I need a motion to approve resolution 150.

Oh, blanks. OK. Well, let's second. We got all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? He may have voted. All right. So now can we approve 156-26? No. 7BB.

That was all we've done? We're done with that now? Okay. So that's former 6K, right? Is that the second one? 6I. 6I. Oh, I forgot. I'm out of order. It's the audit plan. Fiscal year audit plan. That's you, Ms. Georgiev. And I pulled this because I just want the public to know that we have an audit plan, and we're going to describe what the audit plan is.

And I pulled it. Well, I was going to pull it. And I pulled it for a different reason. I pulled it because I thought that the commission gets to decide the priorities of the audit plan and so that we are aware of what that is. Right. But anyway, publicly. It's Georgia.

So we are expected tonight to approve the plan?

I think it's important to point out that this is a draft. Should the commission come up with a different direction for the internal auditor at any time, we can direct her in that fashion. which I hope we do because she's kind of without us directing her sometimes. So I just think it's important to understand that this is a draft. But we're accepting or whatever, voting to accept a draft audit plan. Am I right?

Okay, then I need a motion to approve item 7BB, which is the fiscal year 2017 internal audit plan.

Opposed? It is passed. The next is the parking license agreement, am I correct? 6K now? Yes. 6K, which I did. Which you did. I would have done that one, but I went after you. Anyway. Missy Barletto. You are up.

Well, I mean, I'm wondering why it's two years. I mean, we've had a number of times we've had discussions about whether or not the city should not take this over or do it and all different kinds of plans. And I thought during the process as we discussed this, a two-year is kind of... I don't think we revisited the question in a while, but there is... That's also a profit center for the city.

I'm not interested in that right now. Let's do the two-year, and then if we really want to talk about that, that's going to take long-term planning. I mean, us taking over valet would be a tremendous liability, or we'd have to work with one of the companies. But really, the whole Central Valley thing, I talked to some people in the know. I don't know that it necessarily works in our downtown area. In fact, I think it doesn't. If you're dropped off here, then you're getting picked up there. There's so many different parking spaces. Let's just for tonight approve this. I think two years is not u

And it's two years with that out. So to me, that's fine.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, we're finally, the last one is, I know it's 6M. 6M is 70D. 6M. Oh, yes, this is also Commissioner Burns. Yes.

Yeah, I just wanted some explanation about the Medicaid reimbursement.

What are you getting reimbursed? What was that figure?

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? It is approved. All right. Regular agenda item 7A, resolution 133-26.

It's the $500,000, right, to neighborhood services?

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Then it's fine. Great, great, great presentation. Thank you.

Take less is more to a new meaning. Anyway, 7B is the approval of the 2027 through 2030 capital improvement program budget. That is Missy Barletto.

Does the commission have any questions, or do they want to hear the presentation again?

I do not, but that was great reading the other night.

That's great. Then I need a motion to approve.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That's fine. Okay. This is item 7C, which is resolution 13626. Do you want to read that in? Because this is quasi-judicial, and then I'll read the...

Thank you very much. This is the quasi-judicial hearing. Anybody who wishes to speak on this item, if you could please stand and be sworn by the clerk.

Thank you very much. If you could please enter the project file into the record.

Thank you very much. Has there been any ex parte communication on this, Adam? Ms. Casale?

No, I just spoke to Mr. Costello as he walked in.

Well, I spoke to Mr. Costello, too. So there you go. That's all I have. And I don't know if there's anything on the server. If it does, I incorporate it into my remarks.

We want to get to the vote. This is a quasi-judicial hearing, which means the public can weigh on this. If there's any members of the public wishing to discuss this, please come to the lectern, give your name and address for the record, and you will each have three minutes. Seeing none, is there any rebuttal?

Motion to approve resolution number 136-26. Second.

All right. Okay, good. We're moving right along here.

We'll be discussing millage rates. So those of you who have been waiting to speak about millage rates, you will have your opportunity to speak.

Not yet, but stand by. I'm sure there will be. We're opening this meeting up to the public. Any members of the public wishing to address the commission on this item, now's your chance. So please come to the lectern, give your name and zip code for the record, and you will each have three minutes.

Thank you very much. I did get your email, by the way. Thank you. I did get your email. By the way, you had some good facts. I wish I'd had them before I could have included some of your stuff in what I wrote, by the way. Well, no, I understand that. You spent a lot of time analyzing it, and I appreciate it. Anyway, sir.

That property is located in 33444, just to help you out.

I appreciate it, sir. Thank you very much for your input. Okay. Are there any other members of the public wishing to speak? Seeing or hearing none. Public comment is closed. It's to us now, correct? Correct. All right. I'm going to start by, I mean, everyone saw that I wrote emails and all this other kind of stuff. So talk about what I believe. I'm not talking about what anybody else, but what I believe. Because the common theme, as we all, because, I mean, we are in a hot political season at the moment, reading everything, everybody running. The common theme about every single political campa

Who would like to go next? I'll do it. Commissioner Casale.

Mayor, could you speak to those two statements, excuse me, Mr. Moore, that the mayor said about going to 6.1 would be fine?

Is that your recommendation? That's what I'm asking. Okay, would you specify what that is verbally, please?

I would like to know what your recommendation is. The mayor just said your recommendation is 6.1.

So you're not recommending that when he said you said it's okay. You're not saying that that's doable. You're just giving them the math options of how that would look. And essentially what you're saying is in order to get there, we have to take additional money from our reserves.

Going from the 6.3 to 6.1 on a $500,000 value gives a home with $500,000, $7.84 a month. Right, but we can go into our reserves down to 18%?

Okay, we had a study, you had a study done by our staff that suggested it be 21%. This is where I'm...

Our auditor produced something for the city.

Our auditor quoted what the policy is. No, no.

She didn't quote the policy. She did. I saw the study.

I asked the auditor that very question Monday.

I saw it. So I'm just telling you I saw it. Now, so as we sit here, here's my biggest concern, because I feel like people need to understand how we come to a number in the budget. We vote on things. And that creates a cost. And then we take those costs, tally them together, and say, this is how much millage we need. Tonight, we voted in $10 million of expenses right here. And no one even knew it on our consent agenda. It's affordability is a giant issue. But when you're talking about being fiscally responsible, you have to do it every day. Billy, you come here a couple times a year. Come every

And I lost last year because you said we had to make up for it the year before.

No, you didn't lose because of me. You lost because it wasn't a good idea. But when you put out these documents, start putting out the facts accurately. Our staffing level is up 17.28% according to... HR.

Because this document produced by our HR department. That's why.

I don't know what HR said. I got them off the city. I got it off the audit. No, you're not.

You should get it from the source that works. Last year you put out inaccurate information. Here's what's incorrect. You keep interrupting me, and I'd appreciate if you would stop.

You're absolutely correct. The problem is, here's the problem in a nutshell. You've called three meetings and said, we need to cut. You've given no cuts whatsoever. Not one cut. I put forth how much, Mr. Moore? $4.4 million worth of cuts. $1.4 came out of overtime. $1.45 million on that whole list of things I gave you the other day. And the other day, $1.55 million. $4.4 million of cuts. I'm working for the residents, but here's the problem. If you stay right where you are today with your employees currently in place, the cost of pay increases that have already been contractually obligated to

Well, where are the cuts coming from? No, it's true. People can go watch the meetings.

You have cut nothing, and you've spent more than anyone up here. If we want to talk about your spending, just for a second, OK, these are the two last police contracts. Total of $16.4 million over three years. This fiscal year alone, $7.7 million is necessary. In addition to what was already being paid the year before, an additional $7.7 million. That's a commission vote. Bless you. You voted for that.

Excuse me. Excuse me. You voted. I'm not going to let you get away with lying again. You didn't vote for the police contract. I'm not going to let you get away. You voted. It's in the minutes. First of all, I voted against it.

No, you didn't. You voted for the pay raise. No, no, no.

I voted to ratify the contract as per the law. Lie. The city attorney.

You voted for that, and now you're telling the people you didn't? Excuse me.

You're out of order now because I just ruled you out of order. Would you please explain what the law is? Explain the vote. Would you please explain what the law was? It's in the minutes, Mayor.

You can't get away with that. September 15th.

You're used to making decisions that get through city lawsuits. Oh, please. Which one? Would you please rendition what the vote was to ratify the contract?

And when we got to the day of gratifying the contract, what was the vote that day? 4-1 with the mayor voting for it.

Would you explain to her what we voted on? Because she clearly doesn't understand. I know what we voted on. You voted on the contract. You really should go to law school. It's in the minutes. I know you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, so you probably don't have to.

That's charming. Mayor, I need to finish my public comments.

Would you please explain to her what we voted on?

But he was just going along with the rest. But he voted yes.

We were required to vote for it. OK, you voted for it, and it's a $7 million contract this year. OK, here's something else you voted on.

If we had followed you, we would have had a lawsuit.

It's called unfair labor practice. It's like, yes, it is.

Here's a $15 million contract that cost us over a million this year. The bottom line point of all of this is when these things are voted in, you're paying for them. That's the bottom line. And there are hundreds and thousands of dollars, okay? The police contract, the fire COLA was additional $2 million this year. So there's a $7 million for the police contract, $2 million for the fire cola, $1 million in equipment. You wanted croquet for $400,000. Thank God that didn't happen. Visioning was what? $150,000 we paid this year for visioning that went nowhere. You're spending money is the point. Y

Moscow Lighting, $732,000. No, it wasn't coming up. We didn't vote for it. But look, I agree. We have to scrutinize our spending. No, I'm finishing my time. Because you can't spend every day, vote yes on everything, and then at the end of the year look around and say, I can't understand why these costs are increasing. I don't understand. 23% pay increase to the police. And I'm not saying they don't deserve it. But who's paying for it? Taxpayers in the budget. Take responsibility for your votes. You voted on union contracts, professional services, consultants, maintenance, technology, COLA incr

You mean the one-time COLA increase for the employees who hadn't had a COLA increase in 10 years?

We just voted on a 3.5% COLA increase. Excuse me. I'm not saying I dispute the mayor. I don't dispute. I voted on that. I think it's a good thing to vote on. We voted on a COLA increase for the fire department tonight, $2 million. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. But I'm not up here saying, I don't understand how the costs have increased. That's what you're saying. No, you don't, because you're sitting here saying we have to cut them.

You can't keep asking residents why the costs have increased and not be transparent about why. And it's all the votes up here every day, including the 10 million won today. I identified real cuts in our meeting. And I identified them after.

And I applaud you for that. Thank you. We all had the same kind of thought.

But at the end of the day, well, oh, stop. I asked you what yours were, and you couldn't answer three times. Oh, my god. Stop. So you're talking about giving people a reduction from 6.1, from 6.3 to 6.1, and giving $7.88 a month, but going through our reserves. I think I'm going to ask Mr. Dakowitz to use the remainder of my time Our job is to make sure Delray Beach can be fiscally stable, not just this year, but in the future. And this vote's going to be a problem. Mr. Dakowitz, can you explain why we need the reserves because we're going out on funding for four big projects? Can you also exp

Not my job. But where are we? I have to tell you, unless you do the millers right and you force people to make cuts, they don't make them here. We've proven that time and time again.

It took $25 million out of the budget. Are you willing to do that?

Well, the Carney Consult document shows it's going to stay down because there's three more commissioners that need to speak.

Okay, Commissioner Mulliken, would you like to be recognized?

Certainly I will. So I'm feeling like our peeps are at their wit's end. So I'm thinking it's coming down to two things. The recommended millage rate of 6.3501. Does that include the debt? No. Okay, thank you. Does the 6.1611 include the debt?

Understood, understood. Just to clarify.

Thank you. So the 6.3501 with a 20.27% reserve or stay at the same rate we were last year at 6.1611, which would reduce our reserves to 18.9. Are those the two scenarios? Am I understanding that accurately?

Let's stick with these two. Let's just stick with these two. And I know there was a little money found from last meeting, right, because of reclaimed water at the... Cemetery. Correct?

I'm going to keep that a secret then. Too late. Got it. So what is the difference in the 18.9% reserve and the 20.27% reserve with regard to our ability to borrow money? With or without amendment 3 that which hasn't passed if it did were we already know we're not looking good But let's just say everything's just like it is what's the difference between eighteen point nine percent and two and don't give me the math and twenty point two seven percent with regard to what rate our Loan would be or our bond would be is do you think? Any distinguishable rate that you can think of?

This sounds so fiscally irresponsible, the way that you're answering this question concerns me. Both of the rating agencies, and Judy, I have the letters, S&P and Moody's, rated us at the time because we had 30% reserves.

It was only a couple years ago, Judy. We're blowing through them. This is really concerning. I sat up here in 2023, they were at 35%. that is why I feel very passionately and strongly about protecting our reserves we have a policy in this city it used to be 25% in order to make the rollback rate work the policy had to be changed to be flexible 21 to 25% because at that time it was going down to 21% because we needed that money from the reserves and to make the budget work. We also, that year, did not. We decided to forego a $2 million paving program for over two years. And we didn't hire staff

I actually asked that question and cut the analysis. You're basing a reserve on a different taxable value. The taxable values have gone up so much in the last four years.

Could Mr. Dakowitz answer this? As the financial professional, I think we should be referring financial questions to the financial professional.

It's a triple staring one you're saying it's one percent point one. It's not it's it's it's we're comparing a time when we had 30% to attempt to the time now, so what's our millage if we have a retainer 30%?

I'd like to ask that Angela and I be heard. We're sitting here. We've not put our opinions on the table. I don't think that's fair. And I think we should all try to be more respectful about this.

I don't like the NG up here right now. I don't like it at all. Are you finished, Commissioner Mullins? Yes, thank you.

Commissioner Burns? Yeah. The Vice Mayor Burns would like to be recognized.

Yeah. so when we had our previous meeting um and we discussed the budget i was prepared to uh to support the adjusted miller's rate of the 6.350 um and that was brought forward by the city manager staff because that was based on information that was before us at the time however since that time i think that there's two points of information that has been added which um helps me support holding at a 6.1, and one of them is the fact that Mr. Moore said that we could operate, did not change his recommendation, but we could operate the city with the same millage rate, and that would take the reser

I apologize. No disrespect. I am talking to the Senator. I apologize. I found the money, so I thought I could answer it.

Thank you, and that is with the 6.3501? Yes, so 6.3501, fund balance position of 20.27%.

From what I'm hearing tonight, I understand the residents and the city, we're all feeling the impact of the economy. And it is costing our residents a whole lot. And we realize that the city is also under the same pressure. However, If we are able to operate the city with the same millage rate, I'm willing to use this additional information so that we don't cause additional burden to our residents. And if the city can operate with that same millage rate and not cut sources and not cut services, then I will support Holding at six point one six one one If that's if that's the scenario I like to

First of all, for those of you that don't know me, during my corporate career, I managed billion-dollar budgets for a couple of America's biggest corporations. And I want to apologize, Henry. I know the job you have tonight is a very difficult one, and you've done a miraculous job pulling all the numbers together, and I'm eternally thankful for that. I've had a chance to sit with Mr. Moore and Mr. Dakowitz and others to plow through the budgets over the past couple of weeks, and I think there's a few things that, and some of these have been said, but I think they bear reinforcement. Our police

Did you just dangle a carrot? No, I'm kidding. So I'm not going to talk econometrics. I'm going to talk, like, my understanding of something. And that is with regard to the vote for this millage. Is there, attorney, you can perhaps help me out with this. Isn't there a certain amount required to agree, or we end up back at a rollback rate? And what is that rollback rate?

So if four people don't agree on one of these numbers... We got the devil coming after us.

Look, I acknowledge, you know, my point is, you know, there's honest disagreement about reserves, and I completely understand, having been on both sides of that question. But, you know, when you talk about getting to reserves, it really is, could all these things happen and we're going to eat into the $39 million or $47 million or whatever the number we choose to be the additional thing, after including all of the other factors that we have All I'm saying is you can take this for what it's worth, but under prior experience, when we did have Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Francis in the same year

I'm not talking about reimbursables. I'm talking about getting our city reopened, getting our restaurants reopened.

The question was, could an event create an immediate liquidity requirement exceeding whatever number we have? After considering continuing revenues, existing city personnel and equipment, expenditure flexibility, new taxable property, continuing appreciation, impact fees, insurance, and government reimbursements. So the question is, there's a lot you've got to get to before you hit your reserves. We are not a pizza store. We still have our revenues, and I'm saying that we can get by with the 6.16. It's going to be his job to figure out how we want to staff stuff, and he can do it. When we had

Delayed capital projects. We did. Delayed capital projects. We did. Which every municipality is doing. When you are, and I'm going to use a corporate thing here, but if you're running a company, And you're having a problem with your costs and your budgets and stuff. You know, your marketing people don't go, well, I can solve the problem. We're going to raise our prices. No, that's not the answer. You cut expenditures. You cut expenditures, which is what we're trying to do here. Everyone says, well, we should run government like a business. Okay, let's do that. You cut costs because our custome

I'm not saying, you know. The only I disagree with, Mayor, you can't cut costs by 1,000 cuts. So we can't go back to Mr. Moore and say, well, you know, reduce this department by 1%, reduce this one by $8. I'm not suggesting he's not going to have a lot of massage. What you've got to do, having done billion-dollar budgets, you've got to go after big, chunky things, and you've got to eliminate big, chunky things. That's the way real budgeting works. Anything else is... It doesn't work. It doesn't work. So if you want to get to where you want to get to, then let's talk about what we're going to s

Should I make a motion and see where we're at?

But in the real world, the city manager will be given a millage, and he'll operate within that millage.

I think everybody's kind of said where they are. Okay, all right.

I didn't hear where you were. Should I make a motion? We need four votes on something. Oh, I'm sorry.

Let me make a motion, and we'll see where we stand.

Angela asked a question. We have a motion.

Because I'm also not for allowing the process to dictate this thing for us. So I've heard everybody. I know where everybody is. I was just wondering because I did not hear where you landed.

Oh, I was saying that the process, are you saying you don't want the process to dictate? The process is that if we don't have four votes, that it is a rule. So you don't want that. Oh, I haven't made my decision yet.

Okay, that's what I wanted to know. Would you like me to make a motion and we'll see? Okay, I'm going to go with the city's recommended.

But if you make this motion and we vote, then it's done. No, we can have a second motion.

But I'm confident we're going to get a military tonight. I'm going to make a motion for the city's recommended operating millage rate of 6.3501 and a debt service of 0.0289 with a total millage of 6.3790. I second that.

I mean, the DDA... It should be fast. The DDA should be fast. There's no presentation.

public hearing any members of the public wishing to speak on this matter please come to the lectern you will each have three minutes give your name and zip code for the record here's I've been in this city for 79 years and I've seen other cities and

You don't give reasons to cut. Is that it? Anyone else? There's a public hearing on the DDA, so has anyone else got anything they want to say? I think we're good.

Should we make a motion? Yes. Are we ready? Yes, you can make a motion. Motion to approve resolution number 158-26.

The question being added, okay, from the prior presentation, that's fine. As long as we open it up for public comment. Then this is a public hearing. Any members of the public wishing to speak to the Commission regarding the budget, please come to the lectern, give your name and zip code again for the record.

It's the same budget. I'll just make a motion to approve resolution number 159-26. Second. Thank you.

Great. OK. 7G, the approval of the collective bargaining agreement with the city of Delray Beach and professional firefighters.

Good night, Carmen. Hope you feel better. Feel better, Carmen.

So we just need a motion here? Motion to approve. Motion to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the city of Delray Beach and the professional firefighters of Delray Beach. I-A-F-F. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? It's unanimous. Go ahead. Next one. Unanimous.

Same concept. It's the approval of what we've already promised. One-year deal.

Motion to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Delray Beach and the professional firefighters of Delray Beach for the rank-and-file bargaining unit.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? It is adopted.

Great. Okay. 8B, this is Lynn Jelen, authorizing the transfer of property via quit claim deed in favor of Palm Trail Plaza. You've been sitting here all day for this?

And when they develop the properties, they just lift the alley. So it's obviously an alley to nowhere. So the city's got liability for a property they shouldn't have liability for.

I'm sorry, as applicant, did you have anything to say or do you want to just move along?

Well, geez, that's good. How much of a bargain do we have up here? Our shortfall was how much did we say in the budget? We can't charge. Are there any other commission comments? Otherwise, I need a motion to approve Resolution 151.26. Second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Thank you, sir. Tell Madame Stevens that she's got it. Done.

We have no first readings. Comments on inquiries on non-agenda items. Mr. City Manager.

Right. Thank you. To the city attorney, any comments? No, sir. Okay. To the city commission. Commissioner Mott. Thank you. I know it's late. Oh, look, you should raise your hand.

I know. Thank you. At the mayor's education roundtable held at the chamber's education breakfast, my table discussed bringing back the education board. But we discussed specifically, instead of making a board, to form a task force for Instead of a board to allow more flexibility and get an action items to recommend to the Commission I'm seeking consensus to direct staff for a resolution to form an education task force in place for two years I guess we have to name an ending point with the goal of updating the education component of our comprehensive plan to bring before the Commission and then

I'd like to see the composition of what it's going to be, but...

The commission will... will name the people on that task force.

Did I say that right, Lynn? Subject to us, you know, that's fine. In theory, it's a great idea.

Okay, one last quickie. United Against Hate Week 2026 takes place from October 18th to October 24th, 2026. Palm Beach County is making a proclamation at their October 6th meeting. Lake Worth Beach is doing theirs October 6th as well. And Mr. Coppola, yeah, had sort of brought it to my attention. So I'm seeking consensus that Delray Beach follows our cities and our county in making a proclamation at our October 12th commission meeting.

But you could be here Monday the 12th. Yeah, I'll be here a different day than the rest. Yeah. Do you have any questions about what that is?

No, I was going to bring it up, so I'm glad you did. So are we all in agreement on that?

yeah I had brought it up about a month ago and then Kelly did a report on it because we were talking about what could we do like could we do an event or something and I think it was deemed that it may be questionable with respect to spending money so I think a proclamation is great recognition you have consensus so you'll come back with it brought the proclamation in accordance with you know what we're doing yes yeah okay that is all I have okay Commissioner marker nothing further Commissioner Burns

Yes, just two things. Well, not two things. The renter's policy or the status of that, where are we with that? Okay.

Okay, so the gentleman that spoke keeps talking about a 13%, but the tax that's charged for room tax for short-term rentals does not go to the city. So whether a city would stand to gain exactly a business tax license, correct, a VTR?

Yeah, we do not get any percentage of the loan tax that goes to the county.

I don't think most people are aware that we don't get the money.

i know we i wish we did but we don't but however the people from discover the palm beach are gonna be real happy with the room tax so i know they get it that's right that's right okay so you'll see it october 6th october 6th for first reading thank you and then um the the status okay so mr patton gave us a resolution and then i mentioned earlier that um i wanted the would like for the city to move forward with the uh cemetery designation for historic And I know that we talked about waiting until the analysis is done or the investigation, whatever. Do we have to wait for that or?

I'm real curious to know. I mean, obviously, I'm in favor of it. I've raised the issue several times. But it's the old part of the cemetery. It's not the whole cemetery. It's the old part that you and I were talking about when I was walking the cemetery.

Oh, yeah, and I was walking the cemetery with my thing, and I had Angela on the other end.

All right. Thank you. You'll bring it back.

All right. Thank you. And then lastly, I wanted to recognize two city employees. Andrew Haynes and Curtis Wise and this is for an act of kindness in my opinion and service that made a difference in the life of the young lady that came to commission to report that she wanted to place a headstone on her grandparents grave, one of her grandparents grave and that the information from the city was that they didn't know where it was But they would put the stone out there somewhere. Mr. Wise, who has been employed with the city for, I'm not sure, 20 plus years and assigned to the cemetery, knows the

His name is Curtis Wise and then also Mr. Andrew Haynes. Thank you. I know them both very well.

So three days ago was thank a police officer so thank you chief and to all the officers creative art school is having a faculty exhibit on October 2nd from 6 to 9 I'll be there hopefully we'll have great attendance mr. Moore I spoke to you about the agenda changes when it changes We need to get a notice and a line item specific to the change. Thank you for that. Where is our tourism master plan, and what have we – we've done nothing with that. I mean, I sat in that group, and it was a very exciting process to create that plan, but can you distribute it to the group so we can look at it? It was a while ago. It was probably back in 23.

And just so we can see it, as we're looking at Old School Square and different things in the city, it would be good to reflect on that plan. We paid for it. And thank you, Missy, Cynthia, Jason, and Juan. They did the presentation, Barwick Road North presentation, and the residents were very happy. And, you know, when we were talking about designations, back in May, I got a consensus of three for before this commission for a final determination whether it's going to be in the Code of Ordinances.

We are in control of that public part. We are in control of it.

No, we are not. We couldn't change the paper. We are us.

We're not going to the historic part. But we also just came off a massively horrible budget session where we don't have any money. So we have no money to fix that part, but if we declare it historic, then we are eligible for grants that we can get from the state and the feds. And all I care about is I think we should, I've heard it from a lot of people, I think we should look at it. We've got a consensus already to start the process.

And I think that's what the consensus was, to look at it.

If it's good, great. If it's not, then we say no.

Is this the same staff that's short-staffed that has to look at that? Yeah. Is that who does the research?

Well, maybe not. I think the preservation trust offered to do the research for us, Judy. I think they offered to do it.

They want to incur the expense. Come on.

We can't do Frog Alley, though, I thought, because of the potential litigation that we kind of held up.

I think one of the main things we— How do you define the part of the structure, the building?

We can have this discussion about why shut it down before it even starts.

In their proposal that I read, they include the building as part of the historic structure because it was built 50 years ago. So they say, now there was a lot of good things. I mean, it's a block building. But now they don't want to make any changes to the building.

It's a horrible building. I don't know. It's a horrible building. How could you say they don't want to make any changes sitting here? Because he told me. Well, then, Mayor, calm down.

No, I'm just tired of being railroaded. You're not railroaded. Three people said yes.

Ten people. No, no, no. You're not being railroaded by anybody. I asked for a consensus in May, and I got it. I think we should start the process and see what it looks like. You can certainly object. Anybody can. But don't say you're being railroaded by anybody. No one's railroading you.

There was a consensus. I know, but this is for the preservation trust to submit the application.

Yes, that would be fine. And it takes it from staff. Good stuff. Good stuff.

Look at, but maybe you do a section of the park, not necessarily the whole thing. Read what they've done. I'm sure what they presented to you is what they want doesn't necessarily mean that's going to be the end result. You can't make your determination on that.

That's just the threshold. That's just the threshold. That means I'm historic come January. So good. So we have that. Yes.

Are we finished now? I think we can gavel out. Can we gavel out? I just made my comment. I was responding to the other comment. I mean, I had no comments, but then, you know, a comment was triggered.

Oh, I forgot one more comment. Thank you for the lovely pizza. Wow. She knew it was a joke.