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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_07/01/2013 MINUTES VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA WORKSHOP, JULY 1, 2013 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were: Mayor Abby Brennan, Vice Mayor Vince Arena, Council Member Steve Okun and Council Member Frank D'Ambra. Council Member Tom Paterno was absent. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION Council Member Okun moved approval of the agenda, seconded by Vice Mayor Arena, and unanimously carried 4 -0. 1. Presentation of Current Year 2012/2013 Budget Status Update Ms. JoAnn Forsythe, Finance Director, noted the budget looked good and explained that annexation had not been funded. She added that the Ad Valorem was approximately $35,000 off. 2. Annexation Update and Community Outreach Council Member Okun suggested that a letter be sent to inform residents of the planned Community Outreach and Council visit neighborhoods with annexation reports in lieu of meeting at Village Hall. Council Member D'Ambra recommended in home discussions and /or informal meetings at Village Hall and did not feel going house to house would be efficient. Nilsa C. Zacarias, Director of Community Development noted that she had reached out to Sandpointe Bay regarding meeting with them regarding annexation and was informed it may be difficult to get a visit approved through their board. Council discussed combinations of letters, Smoke Signals notification, home visits and meetings and Manager Couzzo noted he would look into options. 3. Sign Ordinance Implementation Mayor Brennan noted recent meetings with management and options discussed regarding sign regulations. Council Member Okun felt some enforcement techniques may not come across as business friendly and suggested identifying signage that appeared out of place. Council Member D'Ambra felt the Village should encourage equality toward businesses and felt enforcement of the Village Code was essential. He suggested doing a sweep on violations to solicit compliance. Vice Mayor Arena voiced his opinion that sweeps were not conducive and felt targeting one area at a time may work best. Council Member D'Ambra felt respectful communication offered to business owners was more favored than aggressive police enforcement. Attorney Davis suggested Council choose Village Council Workshop Minutes July 1, 2013 Page 2 code language as not to feel defensive to the business community and alert the business community that they would be addressing the code. Manager Couzzo felt section 78 -745 (e) should be addressed to be more stringent. Consensus of Council was to obtain a list of existing issues and address them individually. Mayor Brennan recapped addressing the following: • Inventory of issues • No enforcement of ordinance until new language was developed • Attorney to provide new language for Council consideration • Possible letter in the future 4. Discussion on New Signs Mayor Brennan questioned having a standardized sign requirement. 5. Kiwanis Update Council Member Okun commented that there was a plaque at the Park on County Line Road notarizing Kiwanis and the contractual obligation between Kiwanis and Tequesta. Vice Mayor Arena suggested adding fine print noting the park founders (including year) to the sign. Mayor Brennan pointed out that signage existed with that information. Consensus of Council was to place a sign of recognition for Kiwanis as the founders, and the year founded at Tequesta Park's Pavilion. Council Member Okun stated he would be responsible for the sign. 6. Overview of 2013/2014 Budget Mayor Brennan commented on budget projections and how departments had adhered to direction to keep under their budgets. Vice Mayor Arena questioned the recent reduction regarding part time hours and savings associated to which Manager Couzzo responded the Village saved $50,000. Vice Mayor Arena inquired on additional insurance costs for CWA (Communication Workers of America) employees. Manager Couzzo noted the new health care would add approximately $50,000 to the Village budget. Vice Mayor Arena noted that Tequesta would have summer camp next year but not Tequesta Fest. He voiced his feeling that if taxes were raised events should not be stopped. Council Member D'Ambra explained the revenue would be impacted for several years due to annexation. Vice Mayor Arena questioned the use of the Village reserves. Manager Couzzo noted the reserves would come from capital improvements of approximately $200,000. Council Member D'Ambra noted police had asked about savings from the pension plan changes. Manager Couzzo responded that the budget had been significantly impacted with a reduction in expenses. Village Council Workshop Minutes July 1, 2013 Page 3 Mayor Brennan noted a five percent increase was proposed for the Village Millage rate. Ms. JoAnn Forsythe, Finance Director, explained that Council could decrease the millage, but not increase above the proposed figure approved in July. Manager Couzzo explained revenue generating opportunities through Verizon which were in the works. Brad Gomberg, IT Manager, noted departmental cell phone usage and that costs were down. Manager Couzzo stated Community Development would have improved revenue with the planned changes and explained dynamics associated. ANY OTHER MATTERS Manager Couzzo stated that he believed Jupiter Inlet Colony (JIC) had received a number from the County regarding Fire Rescue Service. He noted that the number was higher than what Tequesta had offered JIC and he hoped to hear from them this week regarding the ongoing issue. Manager Couzzo explained alternate municipalities and fire rescue dynamics and that there were many variables associated with the venture. Manager Couzzo mentioned the possibility of JIC's liability to update sewer in the near future and costs associated. ADJOURNMENT MOTION Council Member Okun moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Vice Mayor Vince Arena, and unanimously carried 4 -0. Therefore the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P. M. Respectfully submitted, U 1 11t (y) &0ce ti 4m Lori McWilliams, MMC Village Clerk Note These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the Village Clerk. All referenced attachments are on file in the Village Clerk's office.