Special City Council Meeting - August 16, 2022

City Council 

Special Meeting

August 16, 2022

 

The Titusville City Council met in special session on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 555 South Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. Those present included Mayor Daniel E. Diesel, Vice-Mayor Jo Lynn Nelson, City Council Members Robert L. Jordan, Jr., Joe C. Robinson, and Dr. Sarah Stoeckel. Also in attendance were City Manager Scott Larese, City Attorney Richard Broome, City Clerk Wanda Wells, and the City’s Executive Leadership Team (department heads) or their designees. Assistant City Clerk Jolynn Donhoff completed the minutes. 

 

Mayor Diesel requested for a moment of silence and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. City Clerk Wanda Wells read the procedures for public comment and participation. 

 

The purpose of the special meeting was to hold a workshop on the pending Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget. 

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Staff Presentation – City Manager Larese gave a presentation on the following information:

 

  • Budget workshop agenda and format
  • City Manager’s responsibilities under Section 30(4) of the City Charter
  • The City’s vision and mission statements
  • The FY 2023 Strategic Plan Goals and Priorities 
  • FY 2023 Budget environment
  • FY 2023 Budget priorities
  • FY 2023 Budget highlights, all funds proposed revenues (histogram), and all funds expenditures (pie chart)
  • FY 2023 organization and staffing, proposed organizational chart for FY 2023, total staffing levels, and proposed full time employee (FTE) changes
  • Budget highlights by fund

 

General Fund

  1. General Fund and proposed budgeted revenues for FY 2023 (pie chart)
  2. Property tax values, operating millage rate, ad valorem revenues (line graphs)
  3. General Fund Millage Rate
  4. Developments since publishing the proposed FY2023 Budget, related to law(s) and ad valorem revenue 
  5. Millage Comparisons
  6. General Fund Revenues 
  7. FY 2023 General Fund Expenditures (pie chart)


Special Revenue Funds

  1. Forfeiture Fund
  2. Impact Fee Fund
  3. Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Revenues and Expenditures
  4. Building Inspection Fund

 

Debt Service Funds

  1. Capital Project Funds
  2. General Construction Fund
  3. Road and Streets Fund
  4. Road Resurfacing Program

 

Enterprise Funds

  1. Solid Waste: revenues and expenses
  2. Stormwater revenues, expenses, and Capital Fund
  3. Stormwater and Solid Waste Rate Proposals
  4. Stormwater rate comparison (single family)
  5. Solid Waste Rate Comparison for single family, residential, and commercial
  6. Marina revenues and expenses

 

Nick Smith of Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. (rate consultants) and Water Resources Director Sean Stauffer gave a joint presentation that updated the Council on the Water and Wastewater Business Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and the Financial Forecast Update. Mr. Raftelis reviewed the following information: 

 

  • Water and Wastewater Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Financial Forecast Update
  • Rate Study Tasks
  • Purpose and evaluation for the update to the Council for FY 2023 through FY 2027
  • Review adequacy of existing water and wastewater rates over the study period
  • Revenue requirements
  • Observations since the last update
  • Water Resources proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/2023

 

Water Resources Director Sean Stauffer reviewed the following information: 

 

  • The broad scope of services provided by the Water Resources Department
  • Strategic positioning and projects
  • Wastewater and water projects
  • Continued environmental focus and projects – health of the Indian River Lagoon
  • Viable utility projects
  • Capital outlay funding and projects under the scope of the funding
  • Staffing
  • Titusville-Farmton (TIFA) Area IV Wellfield (annual volume, costs, and revenues)
  • Mourning Dove Water Treatment Plant Improvements
  • Ospey Plant nutrient removal upgrade
  • Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring
  • Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

 

Mr. Raftelis (rate consultant) continued and reviewed the following information on water and wastewater:

 

  • Financing alternatives
  • Projected annual revenue adjustments
  • Reasons for rate adjustments
  • Typical residential and commercial monthly bills for ¾” meter at existing and proposed FY 2023 rates
  • Typical commercial bill for 1.5” meter at existing and proposed FY 2023 rates
  • Current rate comparison - FY2022 (histogram)
  • Conclusions and recommendations 

 

City Manager Larese continued and reviewed the following information from his presentation:

 

  • Water Resources revenues and expenses
  • Water Resources Capital Fund
  • Internal Service Funds
  • Health Care Trends
  • Capital Outlay
  • General Equipment
  • Information Technology
  • Vehicles
  • Unfunded priorities (Total of all $16,487,440)
  • FY 2023 budget considerations, including lowering the millage rate and making no changes to the proposed FY 2023 budget
  • Providing for public comment and Council discussion
  • The next steps were the public hearings and special City Council meetings on the FY 2023 budget that were scheduled for September 14, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. and September 22, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.

 

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Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Workshop - Mayor Diesel commented on the difficulty of wanting to complete unfunded priorities, which would require removing or not completing items in the proposed budget. Member Stoeckel, City Manager Larese, staff, and the water rate consultant discussed her questions on the following:

 

  • Whether any costs had decreased, if or how federal funding received by the City via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) helped the City overcome prior financial constraints
  • Road resurfacing schedule
  • The quality, functioning, monitoring, and accuracy of electronic water meters
  • Software to detect water leaks
  • $20,000 in funding for Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemical sampling (water) in next year’s budget, which included 10-15 sampling events
  • State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan was the major or sole financing source of some Water Resources projects
  • The rationale for a 5% increase in water and waste water, whereas previous years was 3%

 

Member Nelson and Public Works Director Kevin Cook discussed her questions on a street lighting replacement program along U.S. Highway 1, starting from State Road 50 and going several miles north to the hospital.

 

Vice-Mayor Jordan, City Manager Larese, and staff discussed his questions on the following:

 

  • Pay for staff positions that were involved with the Community Redevelopment Area
  • Laws that discussed local municipalities could not exceed 10% above the rolled back millage rate, which caused the City to reduce its proposed budget
  • Staffing levels and funding for various departments
  • Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing, requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and changing legislation 
  • Electronic water meter technology and operations
  • Water rates and typical bill for 1 1/2 “ water meter for commercial properties (an average)
  • Six firefighters were budgeted in the proposed budget and funding to support these costs

 

Member Robinson and staff discussed his questions regarding a decrease in the proposed budget for intergovernmental projects, to which was answered by Public Works Director Cook. The difference was related to revenue from grants, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, etc. Member Robinson and Finance Director Teri Butler discussed additional questions on the proposed budget. 

 

Mayor Diesel and staff discussed the Public Works budget for road improvements.  

 

Member Nelson and City Manager Larese discussed the funding sources for six additional firefighters and awaiting the award of funding. 

 

Member Stoeckel and staff discussed her questions on the Solid Waste budget, rates, and capital. She and staff also discussed her questions on a turn lane near a local church, infrastructure improvement projects, limited funding, and her appreciation for the City Manager and staff being proactive with preparing a plan on the use of ARPA funds, whereas other cities may not be as far along in planning.  

 

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Petitions from the Public Present – 

 

Laurilee Thompson, a member of the Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC), read from a prepared statement that reviewed the City’s Codes that described the TEC’s responsibilities and scope. Annual activities related to many facets to promote and protect trees was outlined in this scope. The City was also a leader in efforts to maintain the title or standing of Tree City USA. 

 

Additionally, Ms. Thompson advised that the City had received a $17,000 grant to complete an urban tree canopy assessment; however, additional funding was needed to match this grant award, in order to complete the tree canopy assessment. For this reason, Ms. Thompson’s petition was for Council to identify and allocate additional funding to complete a tree canopy assessment. 

 

Mayor Diesel and Member Nelson commented on Ms. Thompson’s request. It was noted that if the City was able to complete the tree canopy assessment, this could make the City eligible to receive additional grant funding. 

 

Toni Shifalo commented on advisory boards receiving funding for various projects that were coming forward. Second, she appreciated staff’s efforts to give additional attention to Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Third, Ms. Shifalo requested the City address her concerns on water outfalls into the Indian River Lagoon. 

 

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City Manager Larese advised and verified that the Council had acknowledged the City was now working with a reduced proposed millage rate of $6.9812 mils for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. 

 

Mayor Diesel and City Manager Larese briefly reviewed the next steps. The next steps were the public hearings and special City Council meetings on the FY 2023 budget that were scheduled for September 14, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. and September 22, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. 

 

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With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.