BOOK 42 Page 15021 07/24/97 6:00 P.M. MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF JULY 24, 1997, AT 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Gene Pillot, Vice Mayor Jerome Dupree, Commissioners Mollie Cardamone, David Merrill and Nora Patterson, City Manager David Sollenberger, City Auditor and Clerk Billy Robinson, and City Attorney Richard Taylor ABSENT: None PRESIDING: Mayor Gene Pillot The meeting was called to order by City Auditor and Clerk Robinson in accordance with Article III, Section 9(b) of the Charter of the city of Sarasota at 6:00 p.m.; and adjourned until 6:45 p.m. for a lack of quorum. Mayor Pillot called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. City Auditor and Clerk Robinson gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. APPROVAL RE: PRELIMINARY MILLAGE LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997-98 - APPROVED (AGENDA ITEM I) City Manager Sollenberger stated that the millage for the City of Sarasota will be reduced for the fifth straight year; that a 36 percent reduction will be realized compared to the FY 1993/94 millage rate; that the proposed millage is 11.7 percent lower than the current year, primarily due to the consolidation of the Fire- Rescue Bureau and Public Safety Communications with Sarasota County. Gibson Mitchell, Director of Finance, came before the Commission and stated that authorization is requested for the City Manager to sign and forward to the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector the Certification of Taxable Value, which establishes the operating millage rate at 3.1949 mills and the debt service millage rate at 1.0388 mills for a total of 4.2337 mills for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997/98; that the Truth in Millage (TRIM) bill requires that the millage rate be stated in terms of the rolled-back rate before any significant discussion occurs on the proposed millage rates; that the rolled-back rate is the millage rate necessary to yield the same ad valorem tax revenue as generated for the prior year budget; that the roll-back rate is calculated by dividing the revenues generated by the prior year's ad valorem taxes by the new assessed valuation; that the rolled-back rate is 3.4796 mills and the Certification of Taxable Value in the City is $3,072,674,536; that the TRIM bill also requires that the proposed operating millage be stated in terms of the percentage change from the rolled-back rate, which is an 8.18 percent decrease. Mayor Pillot stated that assuming property values have remained constant, individual home owners can estimate the tax savings generated by the decrease in millage by multiplying a property value by 56 cents. Mr. Mitchell stated that is correct. On motion of Commissioner Cardamone and second of Vice Mayor Dupree, it was moved to approve operating millage at 3.1949 mills and debt service millage at 1.0388 mills for a total millage levy of 4.2337 mills for FY 1997-98. Motion carried unanimously (5 to 0): Cardamone, yes; Dupree, yes; Merrill, yes; Patterson, yes; Pillot, yes. Mayor Pillot commended the efforts, skill, and knowledge of the Administration, specifically Gibson Mitchell, Director of Finance, and Christopher Lyons, Deputy Finance Director, in preparing and presenting the budget. 2. APPROVAL RE: SETTLEMENT OF JAMES A. WOODS, SR. ET AL., V. CITY OF SARASOTA - APPROVED City Attorney Taylor stated that in conjunction with the consolidation of fire services with Sarasota County, the City of Sarasota passed an ordinance which addressed firefighters who may choose to retire from the City, draw a full pension, and work full time for the County; that a lawsuit was filed on behalf of five, firefighters with reference to the City's ordinance; that Sarasota County assumed responsibility for defending the City in the matter and paying any monetary amounts found to be due; that the trial court upheld the validity of the City's ordinance; that an appeal was filed by the plaintiffs; that the County negotiated a settlement which has the plaintiffs' dismissing the appeal for payment of attorney fees in the amount of $6,800; that the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners approved the settlement of $6,800; that the suit is filed against the City of Sarasota; therefore, affirmation of the approval by the City Commission is necessaryi that the City will assume no expense in approving the settlement. On motion of Commissioner Patterson and second of Commissioner Cardamone, it was moved to affirm the settlement of James A. Woods, et al., V. City of Sarasota negotiated by the Board of County Commissioners. Motion carried unanimously (5 to 0): : Cardamone, yes; Dupree, yes; Merrill, yes; Patterson, yes; Pillot, yes. BOOK 42 Page 15022 07/24/97 6:00 P.M. BOOK 42 Page 15023 07/24/97 6:00 P.M. 3. ADJOURN (AGENDA ITEM III) #1 (0600) There being no further business, Mayor Pillot adjourned the special meeting of July 24, 1997, at 6:59 p.m. - ib GÉNE PILLOT, MAYOR ATTESTAT4 a Y - 0 m Rebe ELLY. RO3INSON, CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK a