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01-20-2009 Regular Meeting• Barbara Estep, MMC VILLAGE CLERK MAMI SHORES VILLAGE Office of the Village Clerk 10050 N.E.2nd Avenue Miami Shores, Florida 33138 Tel: (305) 795.2207 Fax: (305) 756.8972 E-mail: EstepB@MiamiShoresVillage.com • • AMENDED MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009 VILLAGE HALL 7:30 PM The Miami Shores Village Council held their regularly scheduled Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 in the Council Chambers of Village Hall. The Meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM with the following individuals present: PRESENT: Herta Holly Steve Loffredo Hunt Davis Prospero Herrera JC Rodriguez ALSO PRESENT: Tom Benton, Village Manager Barbara Estep, Village Clerk Richard Sarafan, Village Attorney CONSIDERATIONS 1) VILLAGE CLERK Barbara A. Estep A) APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 6, 2009 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Mr. Rodriguez moved approval of the January 6, 2009 Council Meeting Minutes. Mr. Herrera seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. B) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE ROOFING MATERIALS ORDINANCE. • • Ms. Estep provided the Council with information relating to proposed amendments to the roofing materials ordinance supplied by David Dacquisto, the Village's Planning Director. Mr. Dacquisto confirmed that language was similar to that contained in the Coral Gables Code, as Coral Gables allows for metal roofs in certain circumstances. It was also confirmed that only metal roofs would be referred to the Planning & Zoning Board for review. Mr. Loffredo moved to approve the amendments recommended by Staff. Mr. Herrera seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. Ms. Estep indicated that the appropriate changes would be made and the Ordinance properly advertised and retuned to the Council for second and final reading. 2) DOCTORS CHARTER SCHOOL A) REPORT OF QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REQUEST FOR DRAW DOWN OF GRANT FUNDS. The School's Executive Director, Gary Meredith, offered information to the Council regarding the status of their budget, outlining the budget reductions necessitated from the State cuts. He indicated that the State has cut approximately $500,000 from the School's budget. Mr. Meredith stated that they cannot operate a "private" school on a public school budget and stated that the school has had a private school mentality. Mr. Meredith spoke of additional budget cuts that were anticipated in order to bring their budget more in line with their revenues. Mr. Meredith stated that even with the budget cuts that they have made, the School will be approximately $250,000 short for the current year. As a result, Mr. Meredith requested a draw from the Foundation Funds of $250,000. Council Members individually voiced their opinions on the School's budget status, aware that the State Legislature continues to reduce public school funding. The Council stated that it would be helpful to receive financial reports before the meetings rather than while they are already seated at the dais. Additionally, receiving end -of -the -year financials would help the Council in following the quarterly fmancial reports. Mr. Davis moved to give the School $250,000 from the Foundation's funds. Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. A brief discussion ensued regarding capital funding of which the School could not take advantage due to cash flow issues. The School is looking for a "bridge loan" in order to complete some capital projects. Capital funds are reimbursed by the County System. The consensus of the Council was to have the School come back at a future date to request such a loan. The Council indicated that appropriate information regarding a loan request will be required. 3) VILLAGE MANAGER Tom Benton A) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING INCLUDING THE SANITATION AND STORMWATER CHARGES ON THE COUNTY TAX BILL. Mr. Benton advised the Council that the Administration has been researching the possibility of have the Village's sanitation and stormwater charges on the County's tax bill. Mr. Benton spoke of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that are outstanding, a number that continues to increase with each quarterly garbage billing that is mailed. Mr. Benton outlined the advantages of having the County bill the Village charges, including the savings that could be realized. Council Members offered their opinions on the idea, citing their concern that people would view the change as a tax increase rather than a swap in how the charges were billed, as well as the possible burden on home owners who own their home and do not pay their taxes through an escrow account. Following these discussions, Mr. Rodriguez moved to take the steps to include the Village's utility billing in the County's tax bill. Mayor Holly seconded the motion. The vote was one to four in favor of the motion. The motion failed. • 4) VILLAGE COUNCIL Mayor Herta Holly A) A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL, REQUESTING THAT THE MIAMI SHORES HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD RESEARCH AND PROVIDE A • • RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL WITH RESPECT TO CO -DESIGNATING THAT PORTION OF BISCAYNE BOULEVARD WHICH LIES WITHIN THE VILLAGE BOUNDARIES AFTER AN HISTORIC FIGURE WHO PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF THE VILLAGE. Ms. Estep read the Caption of the Resolution into the record. Mayor Holly explained the purpose of the request, indicating that she would like to see the names of people that had something to do with the formation of the Village on co -designation signs, rather than people that are unfamiliar to the residents of the Village. Mayor Holly moved approval of the Resolution. Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. B) A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL, RECOGNIZING THE "BUILDING CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY: BACK TO BASICS" INITIATIVE OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC. AND PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR THE STATE- WIDE EFFORT. Ms. Estep read the Caption of the Resolution into the record. Mayor Holly stated that the Florida League of Cities Board of Directors has adopted the Building Citizenship in the Community as a project and is attempting to get support from the various municipalities throughout the State. Mayor Holly confirmed that the Village was not obligating any funding or resources towards this initiative. Mayor Holly moved to adopt the proposed Resolution. Mr. Herrera seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. 5) ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Estep read the announcements. 6) PUBLIC COMMENTS Alice Burch Ms. Burch spoke about the upcoming Mayor's Ball. 7) COUNCIL COMMENTS JC Rodriguez Mr. Rodriguez congratulated the winners of the Fine Arts Commission Photo Op contest. Prospero Herrera Mr. Herrera spoke of the Presidential Inauguration. Steve Loffredo Mr. Loffredo echoed the comments of his colleagues. In addition, he indicated that in reviewing general payback analysis data, the use of solar panels on the new motor pool building would probably not be fiscally prudent at this time. He did state that he would bring information relating to energy efficiency to the Council at a future date. Hunt Davis Mr. Davis spoke of the FPL tree trimming contractors. Herta Holly Mayor Holly spoke of the Mayor's Ball and urged people to support the benefit. Mayor Holly provided the following website for additional information: www.miamishoresmayorsball.com 8) ADJOURNMENT The January 20, 2009 Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:38 PM. Herta Holly, Mayor