Town Council Budget Hearings - September 9, 2024 5:01 PM (2024-09-09)

Fort Myers Beach Town Council Town Hall Council Chambers 2731 Oak Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 Minutes Monday, September 9, 2024 5:01 PM ORDER OF BUSINESS FINAL I. CALL TO ORDER Members present: Mayor Allers, Vice Mayor Atterholt, Council Member King, Council Member Safford and Council Member Woodson. Town Manager Hyatt received a consensus to move the elections to Bay Oaks Recreation Center on November 5, 2024. II. APPROVAL OF FINAL AGENDA No recording. III. PUBLIC COMMENT No recording. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Resolution 24-174; FY25 Proposed Millage Rate A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH, ADOPTING THE PROPOSED AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR THE GENERAL FUND; SETTING THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 AT 5:01 P.M. TO ADOPT THE FINAL OPERATING AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mayor Allers read the title of the resolution. Council Member Woodson moved to table the resolution, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Council Member King moved to reopen the resolution, seconded by Council

Regular Meeting Monday, September 9, 2024 5:01 PM 2 | P a g e Member Woodson. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Director Onzick reported that the ad valorem millage rate for FY24 and FY25 is proposed to be set at 0.99 mills, which is 0.99 for each $1,000.00 of assessed valuation. The current year rollback rate is 0.6561 mills. The proposed operating millage rate is 50.867% greater than the rollback rate. No public comment. Council Member Woodson moved to approve the resolution, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. B. Resolution 24-175; FY25 Tentative Budget A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH, ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; SETTING THE SECOND AND FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION PUBLIC HEARING FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 AT 5:01 P.M. AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE Mayor Allers read the title of the resolution. Council Member King moved to table the resolution, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Council Member Woodson moved to reopen the resolution, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Director Onzick presented the Overview, Guiding Principles, Structurally Balanced Zero Based Budget, Maintaining Millage Rate, Roll Back Rate, Fort Myers Beach Share of Property Tax Bill, Surrounding Millage Rates, Tentative General Fund Budget Basic Component Comparison, Bridge Loan Calculation, Changes in Position Count by Department since F24, FY25 Tentative Budget, General Fund Revenue by Source, General Fund Expense by Category, General Fund Expenses by Department, Expense Budgets of All Funds, All Funds Expense by Category, Capital Budget Items, FDEM FEMA Project Loan, All Funds Revenue by Source, Use of Reserves, Grant Revenue, Other Revenue Detail, $10 MM Capital Improvement Note, DEO Bridge Loan, FDEM FEMA Project Loan, Florida State Revolving Fund and Correction Needed for Debt Service Budget. Council Member King moved to table the resolution, seconded by Council Member Woodson. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Council Member King moved to reopen the resolution, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Regular Meeting Monday, September 9, 2024 5:01 PM 3 | P a g e No public comment. Council Member Safford moved to approve the resolution, seconded by Council Member King. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. C. Resolution 24-176; FY25 Tentative Fee Schedule A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH, ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE FEE SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE Mayor Allers read the title of the resolution. Finance Director Joe Onzick included slides in his presentation: Summary of Fee Schedule Changes, New Mound House Fee Schedule and Fee Refund Policy. Council Member Safford did not think a 100% refund for the Mooring Field made fiscal sense unless it was because of a hurricane or unforeseen circumstance. He suggested that a fee of $50.00 be charged for any cancelation outside 30 days; cancelations within 30 days would receive credit for one calendar year but no refund, and if they left early, they did not receive anything unless it was a hurricane or unforeseen circumstance. Town Attorney Stuparich clarified that people who requested permit refunds would be denied because the permit fees covered administrative costs. Director Onzick reviewed the Allocation of Short-Term Rental Fees to Workforce Development After Expenses. Council Member Woodson questioned the workforce housing allocation. Town Attorney Stuparich stated that the fees could be allocated to a different category by resolution. She indicated she would review the interlocal agreement with the school regarding allocating funds. Vice Mayor Atterholt described the firewall to prevent subsidizing stormwater fees and a new rate study. Director Onzick replied that there was no need to subsidize the stormwater fees. A consulting firm was collecting information for a rate study, which included a full cost-of-service study. The study aimed to stabilize the rate and avoid rate increases. Increasing fees for the Mooring Field was discussed, but no action was taken. Mayor Allers questioned whether the cost of items like special exceptions or replacing an existing fence could be lowered across the board. Director Onzick replied that the departments were discussing fees. The impact fee discussions were close to wrapping up. Mayor Allers questioned whether resident passes could be decreased. Town Manager Hyatt will research administrative fees and bring it back at the next hearing. No public comment. Council Member King moved to approve the resolution, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Regular Meeting Monday, September 9, 2024 5:01 PM 4 | P a g e V. FINAL PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. VI. ADJOURNMENT Council Member King moved to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Safford. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Minutes adopted as presented, September 23, 2024. Motion by Council Member King and seconded by Council Member Woodson. Passed 5-0. Amy Baker, Town Clerk