Planning Commission - workshop

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I'll play it back. Good.

Good evening, can you hear us?

Good evening, my manager. Yes, I can.

Okay, we are ready for it to begin and call it to order once you are as the clerk is. We also have the chief for the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay, that's okay.

Is the clerk on? So we'll call this meeting into order. It's approximately 5.39 on Thursday. It is July 16th and we will go to the Pledge of Allegiance by our Chief, Chief Goss. Here. Here. Thank you so much, Madam Manager.

The floor is all yours. Would you like to do the start of the pledge?

Yes, I'm sorry. Join me in the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and security at all times.

Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry that she's not a manager. I think you and your team, Mr. Attorney, Ms. Reyes, and everyone, it's all yours.

Good afternoon, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Audible Council members. Thank you for joining us for today's fiscal year 2027 budget workshop, and welcome to all of the residents who are watching. Today's workshop is an important step in the development of the next year's budget. We will review our preliminary budget assumptions, discuss the city's financial outlook, and most importantly, hear your feedback to ensure that the full fiscal 2027 budget reflects your vision and priorities for the city of North Miami. The administration's focus is to present a balanced budget that aligns with the council's priority on maintaining the city's long-term financial stability. Over the past year, we have continued to make meaningful progress across our organization. We have continued to invest in our community services to continue to make a measurable difference. From our twice monthly food distribution programs, to the hot meals that we provided, to rehabilitating over 21 homes using federal and state funding, and providing rental security to 42 households. We have supported residents through home-buyer education, workforce training, counseling, tutoring, and other essential community services. Economic development also remains strong. During the past year, the city approved six new development projects representing approximately 213 new residential units to assist us in developing housing here in the city of North Miami. We are committed to continuing to expand our residential base and strengthening our future tax base and providing housing and affordable options for our residents.

Infrastructure continues to be one of our highest priorities.

We have begun construction of the Northeast 131st Street pedestrian bridge, completed the Northeast 121st Street drainage project, and have additional drainage improvement projects that are moving forward. During this past year, we also adopted the city's stormwater master plan to guide future flood mitigation efforts. We have also invested in technology and critical infrastructure by upgrading pump stations and replacing essential equipment While we are proud of this progress, we also recognize that fiscal year 2027 presents different new challenges, recent changes in state law, and also at the same time, we continue facing rising personnel costs, healthcare expenses, inflation, and increasing operational costs. Despite these pressures, the administration remains committed to presenting a balanced budget without increasing the military while maintaining the high level of service that our residents expect. For our residents, The proposed budget will prioritize public safety, infrastructure, parks, housing assistance, and neighborhood services. For our business community, we continue modernizing city operations through expanded services to improve efficiency and reduce wait times. For our employees, the proposed budget maintains merit and cost of living adjustments that recognize their dedication and help us recruit and maintain a talented workforce. Additionally, we are continuing to negotiate with our recertified IDPA bargaining list, and those are ongoing. Although property values continue to increase, the pace of growth has slowed significantly compared to previous years. Approximately one-third of the increase in asset loan revenue will be allocated to the Community Redevelopment Agency, limiting the amount available to support general fund operations.

We have also made necessary decisions regarding our enterprise funds,

Based on the recommendations of our water rate studies, the proposed budget includes the water rate adjustments needed to maintain our utility infrastructure and ensure long-term financial sustainability. A new rate study will also be initiated to guide further planning. In addition, several important capital projects remain priorities, including playground replacements, the county park improvements, styles of pool repairs, forest name replacements, drainage improvements, and plans for future water plant Based on our current assumptions, the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget is approximately $244 million. More importantly, we anticipate a balanced budget while adding to the city's reserves. Today's workshop is intended to continue the conversation that we had with our residents during our town hall and with you. Staff will present the preliminary financial assumptions discuss the proposed budget, and receive your directions before we return with the recommended budget for the public hearing of September. I also look forward to meeting individually with each of the council members over the coming weeks to further discuss your priorities and ensure they are reflected where appropriate in the proposed budget. With that, I will turn the presentation over to our Chief Financial Officer, Angela Reyes-Santana. We will welcome your questions and discussion following the presentation.

Thank you. Good evening everyone and welcome to the virtual budget workshop for fiscal year 27. My name is Angela Reyes-Nastana and I am the Chief Financial Officer. topics for your discussion tonight will be the fiscal year 2017 budget development timeline the historical operating military the general fund revenues and expenditures overview the city-wide revenues and expenses overview our capital improvement project service numbers for fiscal year 27 key areas addressed in the budget proposal on the fiscal year 27 budget impact The budget development timeline. Our budget development timeline began in the beginning of the fiscal year and the budget preparation starts in November to January. During the months of February and March, we have our budget kickoff and our departmental submissions. From April to May, we have department meetings with the City of Virginia. budget department, and the city manager's office. In June, as we all experienced, we have our budget town hall meeting. And then now from July to August, we have the mayor and council retreat and our virtual workshop, which we're doing right now. Two notices are released in August. In September, you'll have your first public budget hearing September 4th, and then the final public budget hearing September 15th. Our historical operating village range. In the past years, you can see that we have sustained a $7.4 million rate since fiscal year 2023. Our fiscal year 27 general fund revenues and expenses are about $108 million. 42% in revenues from taxes and 7% from license and permits, 9% from intergovernmental revenues, 9% from charges and services, 1% from fines and forfeiture, and 30% come from other sources of revenue. In our expenses, we do have 51% of personnel cost, 25% of operating expenses, and 14% of other expenses. Our overall funds, revenues, and expenses make up the $244 million. We're taxed with 58% of our revenue. License and insurance now become 10%. Intergovernmental is 9%, charges for services are 40%, 1% is made up of fines and forfeitures, and 55% are miscellaneous revenues. On the expense side, our general fund is 44%, our special revenue fund is 22%, and the enterprise fund is 30%. 4% is attributed to internal service funds.

As you can see, we have several capital improvement projects that are ongoing through our general fund. They include Arch Creek Preserve for others, City Hall Repairs, stormwater drain construction and repairs, restaurants at MOCA. And in Parks and Recreation, we have several projects that include the Sugarman Tennis Center, Hurricane Shutters, Park Operations Center, Park Security Camera System, playground replacements, and plan to build LED conversion parts. In our other funds, we have the building department's facility interior build-out, sidewalk and right-of-way improvements, as well as roadway servicing capital projects. We also plan to take on utility operations center improvements, some pump rehabilitation, lift stations, structures and improvements, water main improvements and sanitary sewer rehabilitation. Additionally, our Stonewater master plan project implementation and swell maintenance. The fiscal year 2027 budget includes expanded operating hours, staffing for the new park opening during the fiscal year and state mandated program adjustment. Staffing for Cagney North will be opening on FY 2027. we will have the utility wholesale rate. There will be an 8.5% utility rate adjustment to support the financial sustainability of utility operations. We also have noticed an increase in the wholesale water consumer rate increase that has passed from the time. Some of the key areas that are addressed in the budget proposal as we are today is to fund the mandated obligations, strengthen our general fund reserves, staffing and programming for our new amenities and extended park operating hours, and enhancing existing facilities to optimize operations. There are several key pressures that are influencing the 2027 budget, and it requires strategic allocation of available resources to address operational needs. We will be putting online brand new car full operation we also will be having an adjustment for cola merit health frs and cycle all that have come at an increase and we also have impacts from collective bargaining between our property valuation growth rate has slowed down however we still are seeing we are still seeing an increase however it is more slowly and we will be reducing future revenue growth Our utility and hold rates, as stated before, are also increasing. With respect to staffing and positioning, currently based on additional staff for public safety, parks, building, and public works, we expect 22 additional part-time and 14 additional full-time positions. That concludes our presentation. And we are opening for discussion. And any questions?

Thank you, Madam Manager, for the budget. I do want the public to know that we have a couple of folks on here. This is our first time as council members looking at this as well. And we're going to work with administration, our respective offices, to come up before we have the actual balance and before we have the actual course. official budget here, which I think it's September, I'm sorry, is it? September 4th. September 4th, oh yeah. So it will be on a Friday. The county, because we have to wait after the county's budget for us to do ours in this year, it is on a Friday. So that will be the first opportunity. I will have some questions by the manager, but we will go into, once we get a chance to meet up in person, we'll go into some of these recommendations and what you have to move on. So I know that if any of my other colleagues don't come here, have any other questions, or any members from the community have any other questions before us, anything? Okay, hearing none. Yes, guys. Yes, please.

Yes, good evening all, Madam Manager, city administration. Thank you so much for the presentation. I look forward to discussing the budget to make sure that the city is full, but in particular, the residents of District 3 are getting the services and the requests that they want. So I look forward to discussing that with you.

Thank you. All right, thank you so much, Councilwoman. Um, I think that's, I have not actually screen poked right there, but.

Yes, can you pull the last one back up so that we can listen to it?

Yeah, I want to look at that. I'm just saying.

It's the last slide that you guys showed that showed that we can listen and talk to you about it. So this is the total of 22 positions that you're asking for in the budget?

Yeah, those are part-time. So if you see, there's about 18, there's about 18 part-time lifeguard positions for the Academy pool. And there's four part-time positions as recreation aides for the Gallatin Center increased operation hours.

Madam Manager, what's the total cost for all of, I guess this is 22 plus 14, so about 36, if I may have this correct, but I know Charles is here. What's the total cost to this? I believe it was 1.5 million additional from these positions. That's it? Is that it?

Yes, because remember, the bulk of them are part-time. Okay. And then... The Academy Park opening is about $900,000. The remaining are the other $500,000. Okay. So what date are we saying that the Academy Park is going to be open?

I know you're budgeting them in this year. Are you budgeting the positions all throughout the year?

Yeah, these are positions for once it opens up. And that's the whole deal.

Okay, thank you. Any other questions? Yeah, you're someone I can't see. I think Councilman Charles.

Oh, Councilman Charles. Yes, sir. I'm trying to check in and see. Good afternoon. Very nice presentation. So nice to see what's going on. As the mayor said, I have a few questions on my side, but I'll just wait until we get everything down and I'll sit with the manager and go over my questions. But so far,

happy to um hear that we are moving in the right direction just want to say thank you and uh that i'm just waiting for the big thing september 4th thank you thank you thank you all i think um councilman burns are you on um anything good i think he's good i don't see him but i think he's good Thank you, Madam Manager and the team, and you will come along with us, and we'll go over it more than that. Thank you. Thank you all. That was wonderful. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Okay.