In to order, this is our first budget hearing. Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024. The time is now 6.39 pm. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Council Member Imporos. Here. Council Member Faye Pinedo. Present. Council Member Mandigna Cabral. Present. Vice Mayor Escaupui Corve. Here. Mayor Christi Fren. Present. Mayor Havorn. Please rise with legend agents led by Vice Mayor Puig Corby. The legend of the life of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, Madam Clerk, any agenda items for our business at this time? No? Okay. We will now open to public comments. The public comments portion of this meeting is now open. Anyone who would like to speak on any item on this agenda or anything to remain to this council. Now would be the appropriate time. Please approach the podium. State your name and address for the record. And please speak in a respectful manner. I have no comment cards at this time. Being none, okay? Public comments is now closed. Madam Clerk, would you please read the instructions into the record? Yes, Madam Mayor. The order of the Council Action items during this meeting should be as follows. Open the discussion on the proposed military item, which is a resolution item 5A. Allow the administration to make its presentation and announcement and table the item. Then you will open the discussion on the tentative budget item, which is the ordinance item 5B. Discuss the budget and reach consensus on changes and then table the tentative budget item. Then you will take from the table item 5A the resolution, discuss it, have public hearing on the item and make your motion. Then you would take from the table the tentative budget item which is the ordinance item 5B, discuss the budget, have public hearing on the item and make your decision. Thank you Madam Clerk. Would you please read the first item into the record? Yes, Madam Mayor, item 5A. A resolution of the mayor and the City Council of the City of Dural 4 establishing and adopting a tentative military and levy of avalorant taxes for fiscal year 2425. In the amount of 1.7166 mils, which is 9.93% greater than the rollback rate to balance a general fund for fiscal year 2425. Establishing the rollback rate to be 1.5615 mills. Establishing and adopting the debt service military for fiscal year 2425 in the amount of 0.4810 mills for the general obligation bonds, parks and recreation projects. Series 2019 and 2021. Providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would the administration like to make a presentation at this time? Yes. good evening. Madam Mayor, City Councilmembers. On the July 29th, 2024 special council meeting, the proposed operating millage rate was set at 1.7166 mills with the rollback rate of 1.5615. The debt service millage rate is 0 .4810 for fiscal year 2425. At this time, if there are no questions for staff, the administration is requesting a motion to table this item. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Is there any questions for the administration at this time? Now would be the appropriate time to do so. As well, this is the open discussion. Being none, I need a motion to table. Motion to table the item by Councilman Pinedo, second by Vice Mayor Puy Corvay. Motion to table the item. If I cancel a video, second by Vice Mayor Puy Corvay, Councilman Pinedo. Yes. Vice Mayor Puy Corvay. Councilman Cabrera. Yes. Yes, Vice Mayor McCorvey. Yes, Councilman Cabrera. Yes, Councilman Boros. Mayor Fraga. Yes motion passes. Okay Madam Chair, please read the second item in steam next item item for five B ordinance number first reading 2024-26 adopting the budget for fiscal year 2425 and Ornus of the University Council the City of Garald Ford are finalizing and adopting the budgets for the general fund transportation fund people's Transportation Plan fund Parking and Fact fee fund police impact fee fund the developmental services technology fee fund the building for the general fund, transportation fund, people's transportation plan fund, Parking and Fact Free Fund, Police Impact Free Fund, the Developmental Services Technology Free Fund, the Building Fund, the Public Guards Program Fund, the American Rescue Plan Act Fund, the debt service fund, the Capital Improvement Fund, the Infrastructure Replacement Fund, the Parks General Obligation Bond Series 2019 Capital Project Fund, the Vehicle Replacement Fund, the Park General Obligation Bond Series 2021 Capital Project Fund, the Stormwater Fund, the other post-employment benefits fund, retitling the infrastructure replacement fund to capital as a reserve fund of the City of Draw for the fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2024 and any September 30, 2025. As reviewed, modified and adopted by the City Council at the meeting, held on September 3, 2024 and September 17, 2024. Authorizing the expenditure of funds that are being appropriated in the budget, authorizing the levy and collection of taxes on real and personal property, and other revenues necessary to meet the expenditures provided in the budget. Specifying the methods by which grants and gifts are addressed in the budget, providing for a transmittal by the city clerk, implementations, their ability conflicts, and an effective date. Take a breath. Okay. We'll now open it up to staff. Good evening, Mayor, Council Members. I am pleased to present the City of Dorales, updated proposed operating in capital budget for fiscal year 2025, beginning October 1st, 2024, and ending September 30th, 2025. The proposed fiscal year 2025 budget is guided by and is consistent with the vision, mission, core values, and goals and objectives of the city of Dorao. The overall budget is prepared to meet the criteria of the council's strategic priorities. It also reflects administration's commitment to sound financial and operational practices that realises our growing community's needs and expectations of exceptional services. The fiscal year 2025 updated proposed budget as presented here is based on the proposed millage rate of 1.7166 mills. The proposed budget remains a balanced budget with the use of reserves only for capital outlay and transferred out to capital improvement funds. On August 14th, 2024, City Council conducted a public workshop to discuss the proposed budget. The recommendations made at the workshop are included in the updated proposed budget and RS follows. Funding for adult day training programs subsidy for special needs residents. Additionally, the proposed budget has been updated for changes in revenue projections and expenditures detailed in exhibit A. As your city manager, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the city council for their continued guidance and support throughout the development of this proposed budget. At this time, I turn the presentation over to Michelle Guillen, Assistant Finance Director. Good evening mayor, City Council members, Madam Clerk, City Manager, and City Attorney. The fiscal year 2025 updated proposed budget remains a balanced budget with the use of reserves only for capital outlay and transfers out to capital improvement funds. The budget is balanced with an in-use of reserves in the amount of 13,038,656 dollars, which equals the total capital expenditures for fiscal year 2025. The total general fund proposed expenditures for fiscal year 2025 are 87,124,348 dollars. As the manager mentioned, on August 14, 2024, City Council conducted a public workshop to discuss the proposed budget. The recommendations made at the workshop are included in the updated proposed budget, and RS Follows, funding for adult day training program subsidy for special needs residents. Additionally, the proposed budget was updated for changes in revenue projections and expenditures, which are detailed in exhibit A. additional. Additionally, the proposed budget was updated for changes in revenue projections and expenditures, which are detailed in exhibit A. At this time, I would like to share with you how these budget dollars are being spent. It. In summary, for every dollar paid to the city in AdValorm taxes 41 cents goes towards funding police 20 cents towards parks 8 cents to public works 2 cents for debt service 2 cents for planning and zoning and code compliance, 25 cents for general government, which include all other departments. Thank you. Thank you very much. Does that conclude staff's presentation? Not conclusion, it's portion of the presentation. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. We will now open it up to discussion of the council. Any questions? Comments? If there are no questions or comments, we will need a motion to table the sensitive budget item. Motion to table by Councilman Pinedo, second by Vice Mayor Puig Corvay. Motion to table, ordinance number 202426 on first reading. May that Councilman Pinedo, second by Vice Mayor Puig Corvay, Councilman Pinedo. Yes. Vice Mayor Puig Corvay. Yes. Councilman Boras. Yes. Councilman Cabral. Yes. Mayor Fraga. Yes. Motion passed. Okay. We will now need a motion to take from the table the proposed military item. Motion. Motion to take from the table by Councilman Pinedo. Second by Vice Mayor Port Corvay. Madame clerk, do you need to read the resolution once again? Sure, Madame Mayor. Thank you. Item 5A. A resolution of the mayor and the City Council of the State of Doralford establishing an adopting a tentative military and levy of avalorum taxes for fiscal year 2425 in an amount of 1.7166 mils, which is 9.93% greater than the rollback rate to balance the general fund for fiscal year 2425 establishing the rollback rate to be 1.5615 mils establishing an adopting the debt service military for fiscal year 2425 in an amount of 0.481 zero mils for the and the proposed bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by the committee. The bill will be approved by time. Being no public comments on the proposed millage straight we will now close public comments and move on to the discussion. I believe the city manager has already made this presentation on this item. Is there any discussion? Otherwise I need a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo. Second. Second by Vice Mayor Point Corvey. If there's no discussion, Madame Clerk please call the roll. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second. Second motion to take to the table by Vice Mayor Puigloria second by Councilman Pinato. Madame Clerk please callable Motion to take from the table order in December 2020 426 on 1st reading my bad vice-morpura Corvice seconded by Council and Pinato vice-morpura Corvice Yes, Councilman Pinato. Yes Councilman Cabral. Yes, Councilman Porras. Mayor Fraga. Yes Motion passes. I will read the ordinance until the record one more time. Ordnance number 202426 adopting the budget for fiscal year 2425. An ordinance of the mayor and the City Council of City of Draldo, Florida, finalizing and adopting budgets for the general fund, the transportation fund, the people's transportation plan fund, the park impact fee fund, the police impact fee fund, the developmental services technology fee fund, the building fund, the public arts program fund, the American Rescue Plan Act fund, the debt service fund, the capital improvement fund, the infrastructure replacement fund, the Park General Obligation Bond Series 2019 Capital Project fund, the vehicle replacement fund, the Park General Obligation Bond Series 2021 Capital Project fund, the stormwater fund, the other post employment benefits fund, retitling the infrastructure replacement fund to capital asset reserve fund of the City of Dral. For the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025, has reviewed modified and approved by the City Council at the meeting held on September 3, 2024, and September 17, 2024. Authorizing the expenditure of funds propagated in the budget, authorizing the levy and collection of taxes on real and personal property, and other revenues necessary to meet the expenditures provided in the budget, specifying the methods by which grants and gifts are addressed in the budget, provided for transmission by the city clerk, implementations of ability conflicts, and it affected the date. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to open up the public comments for the budget item. Anyone who would like to speak on the budget, please approach the podium at this time. All right, being no public comments, public comments is now closed, and we will take up the discussion on the budget. All right. Being no public comments, public comments is now closed and we will take up the discussion on the budget. The city manager has made his presentation. That's all the staff. Is there any comments on the budget? Through the mayor. Council member Borras. Okay. So I'll start the discussion. Looking at the. Just studying the proposed budget, the evergreen study, and looking at the overall findings, I've just, I've made a couple of observations in the different departments, and I just want to put on the record a couple of those observations as per the Evergreen study. The study finds that the cost of the live index was pretty much the same across the board for comparable cities. In aggregate, the city's current salaries are above market average. The city's pay range exceeds the market average pay for certain positions. It lags in other positions, including police officers, laborers, custodians, what I call essential workers. What's being proposed to us is to provide a 7.5% Cola increase and a 3% merit increase across the board to all staff, right? That is correct. Which would be essentially a 10.5% race for all members of the city, for all staff members. Given the findings of the Evergreen studies, I mean, it does demonstrate that we are highly competitive in many of the positions, except for what I, again, would consider roles that are either hard to hire or mission-critical roles such as the ones that I mentioned. So for me, I think providing a 10.5% increase across the board is not something that is just really responsible. I think that, again, I would propose adding that 7.5 COLA percent plus 3% merit increased to specific departments and specific roles, which I can talk about in more detail if you all want to consider this again. And so that's the first thing. I think that a 10.5% is extremely high. We have a lot of salaries that are very high, specifically in some of the departments that I think we are extremely competitive in and that we have that our salaries are above way above the market average pay. And so that is the first observation that I'm making and the first thing that I would like to propose is choosing and looking at the different departments and adding the proposed 10.5 to specific departments again, Mission Critical and also essential workers and a 5% across the board, which can be either broken down in, you know, 3% cola, 2% merit. However, you know, the council wants to see fit. That's my first observation. I don't know if anyone has any comments on that, but that's tell the manager that employees that on the pay grade 316-113-113, I'm sorry, 13. That was what we discussed. 113 envelope. And below. Well, I think that they do need the cola 7%. Maybe adding that and your observation on critical essential or critical positions as far as looking for maybe we'll work for the city at this time. So that was my comment. Through the mayor. Yes, Mr. City Manager. Okay. The Evergreen study that was done and by the the way, I have Evergreen on hold, if you'd like to speak to the gentleman, he'll be available. But the Evergreen study placed around 8% below the top, 25% tile of the cities we compete with. When you consider the aggregate of all the cities, the smaller cities that we don't compete, that we're not losing employees to, that's where we're at 1% above the market. But when you compare us to the 25% of the top percentile, we're 8% below. Okay. I want to say something and I want to be very clear on this. This proposed raise of 7.5%, this is not a raise per se. This is a cost of living adjustment that is directly pegged to the consumer price index. During the last four years, the consumer price index has risen 21.1%. During that same time period, four years, Doral's collards have amounted to 11.8%. While I appreciate your concern for our police officers, our laborers, and such. I humbly submit to you my unsolicited opinion that the implementation of a COLA that is not leveled across all employees is going to result in disparity, which is going to result in low morale. It's through the effects, it's going to have an impact on compression of up-pay scales, specifically, may create situations where you have employees who earn more than their supervisors. It's also going to discourage employees from seeking supervisory positions. So like I said, when I met with you initially upon the beginning of my tenure, I would always tell you what I felt you needed to hear and not what you want to hear. Even though we made this agree on something, I will always follow direction from the council and I will implement whatever measures you tell me. But I needed to go on the record and save this that I don't feel that this is you know giving certain amounts to certain people and not to other people. I mean I try to envision myself being a supervisor in one of these departments where I have two sets of employees that are being treated differently simply because of the job classification that they have. This is what I said, I have some alternatives for you that I'd like for you to consider. If we give a 5% cola across the board, it's going to result in 2.459, basically 2.5 million dollars will save roughly $950,000. If we go with a 3% cola across the board, it's going to result in roughly $1.5 million, roughly about $1.8 million less. So these are alternatives. I'm willing to work with you. At the end of the day, like I said, I will implement whatever you tell me, whatever measure you tell me, I will go that route. But I have to say that I'm concerned about the impact that this is going to have on our workforce. And the disparity it could create. And frankly, some people may see it as unfair. And that's again that's my humble unsolicited opinion. I thank you for your time and listening to me. Thank you. Thank you Mr. City Manager. Any other comments from the council on this item? Councilman Benadol, sorry. Thank you Mayor. I just want to also share it and certainly I support the manager's position because listen, when we speak about what is happening in the route and staff and employees and retention and all that is based on salaries. And I heard from the manager, I heard from the directors, when you asked the manager about, or Mr. Fernando, I was gonna say Fernando. Why sticking soone to find a procurement person is because of salary. As building department, as the parks department, IT department, police department, each department is having a retention issue based on salaries. So when we sit here, I believe it's our responsibility to follow your recommendations regarding why we have to do and how we can adopt a budget that can help the city to move forward when we speak about retention. And at the end of the day, retention means services. The better services that we provide, the quicker services that we provide as a city comes down to our staff. So for me, certainly, I don't see any difference between the custodial worker or the director or the police department. Yes, of course safety is my priority and we'll continue to be a priority and that's why if you ask me probably the police department is served to have a 15% as some members actually suggested from from PVA and the people that know about load enforcement. But we're sitting here today, listening to your recommendations. And I went first of all, when I think so, the directors and all the staff, because you guys do a great job. Every day, despite and regardless, the retention issues and the staff issues that you all have in each department. So I think it's my responsibility to make sure that you guys have what you're needing order to move forward and for us to offer better services to our residents. So I wanna thank the manager and the administration as well. It's again, you guys are making sure that these budget actually, for the next fiscal year, starting in October, it's something that not only makes sense to the staff and the directors, but obviously that is a budget that will benefit all the residents of the city of the realm. Thank you. Thank you Councilman Benito. Need the comments at this time? I have more, I don't know if anyone wants to. I think it hasn't had a chance. If you don't mind if we could wrap up one item at a time just so we don't get. I have comments on this. Oh, okay. Yes. You can go ahead, Councilor Baudest. I just want to respond, you know, thank you, Mr. Manager, Councilman. So the first thing is that the Evergreen report states that the city asked Evergreen to do a proposal to place the salaries in the 75th percentile. Which again, for those of you that don't know, that means we would be at the top of the market. Currently where we are, again, the cost of living index is very similar to all the other cities. Our current salaries are above market average. And what I am proposing is actually going to reduce that disparity between the wages of a labor that's about how much $40,000, $45,000? $30,000. Okay, I'm going to give you an example. Someone that's making $150,000, which we have a lot of directors, a lot of other positions that are making way more than that. Giving them a 10.5% increase equals to $15,000, giving them $165,000, giving the laborer, and I put it at 40, because I honestly thought it was at 40 not lower Giving them a 10.5% increase or a 10% increase Put them at 44,000 dollars. So You are actually widening the disparity and the gap by applying a 10.5% Increase across the board. You would need a lot more than a 10.5% to bring them to even half, probably even a third of what some of our directors are making. So when I'm proposing increasing for essential workers, I'm not talking about those that are at a median average and again we can discuss that. I am referring to those that are making $30,000, $40,000 in our police officers who are an essential service for a community. And that is where what I'm proposing and also, and you know, the evergreen folks can correct me if I'm wrong. I think that the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the number of the through the mayor. Yes. If I could just add one thing, the 10 and a half is divided into 7 and a half for cola because the living adjustment and the 3 and a half is merit. Okay, the merit would be individually that's separate on the anniversary date of the individual. But the cola is what I humorly refer to as the gallon. The gallon increase because it's I pay the same thing for a gallon milk or a gallon of gas. That the councilman would do or that a laborer or that the police chief at the end of the day. We all pay the same thing for household goods that we depend for us and our families on an everyday basis. So it's not, I don't like to think of it as a raise per se. It's an adjustment to basically allow us to live decently taking into account the cost of living, which is, if we know here in South Florida, it's ridiculous. It's gone up in the stratosphere. If I may. If I may. So I'm hearing the conversation and I have a suggestion, but also I understand the disparity that we're facing. And I don't disagree with you, Mr. City Manager, on the morale concerns in picking and choosing the COLA adjustments. However, I do understand the councilwoman's concern as well, and I have it in certain cases in the sense that, you know, the city's overall revenue has grown about 14% yet our budget's grown 26%. And so this is a concern that we have to start looking at. We're looking at that we have a very healthy financial standing as a city. This has been a year where we're adding a lot of new, a lot of firsts because draw central park is online. We're also planning for the second phase of draw central park coming online. So, you know, this is something I'm going to look at very seriously and next year. Also, we anticipate that there will be certain revenues that will come in. With this new project coming online, there's projects that will come into the pipeline as well that should increase revenues in certain departments that I know are accounted for, but we're very conservative in projections. I think that the councilwoman's concern and it it's not one that that that that forgoes me, is the disparity between how long it'll take that foreman or that labor worker to bridge the gap that it takes for someone in a higher executive paying position. And in today's world where everything seems to be much more expensive and inflation has affected everyone, there is a concern that that that laborer is struggling more than the executive. And so I understand that concern from the perspective that's being placed today. So my proposal or my observation in how we can possibly find a resolution because I do agree. I don't necessarily think that we my proposal or my observation in how we can possibly find a resolution because I do agree. I don't necessarily think that we disparage some over any because at the end of the day, that executive position are the one who's been here for 20 years and has worked their way to that salary should not be penalized because of that labor worker. The issue here that we see too is that the state of Florida also a couple years ago and year over year has increased the minimum wage. So now you have people who can choose to go and work I'm a Donald's, you know, with all due respect, very honorable job, but they're making $15 an hour, $16 an hour, $18 an hour, and they go home and they don't take their work home necessarily with them, and then you have an office job or a secretary job that makes about the same. And so it's hard to kind of equate those disparities that can happen. So my recommendation would be that we leave the coal of the way it is, okay, at where it is right now so that we come up with the index that has been set for the cost of living. However, that we look at those positions that are making below what the averages in other areas such as the ones that were pointed out in the overgreen study, the laborers, you know, the maintenance individuals that are having to work two jobs because they can't afford, you know, to live off one salary of $30,000. And that we come back with a one-time adjustment to possibly bring them up so that they are making a more decent wage for what they are doing. And then our cost of living adjustments will continue to be steady across the board as we move forward in different years. But that we bridge that gap sooner for those individuals and those labors and those employees that are making very little out. I'll tell you an experience I had recently. I was driving down 41st Street. I tend to when I see our public works employees picking up trash or working on the set of street, I stop. And I thank them and I say, thank you for what you do. I very much appreciate it. And one of them asked me straight out, you know, when are we gonna get a raise? We make very little. Can I have your number, please? I, you know, I have to work two jobs. And I understand that. And so I can sympathize very much so with that worker. I sympathize and understand the councilwoman's concerns. I have a hard time reconciling the different much so with that worker, I sympathize and understand the councilwoman's concerns. I have a hard time reconciling the difference in COLA, but we did this once, and I can't remember the year, the first year, I think we did an evergreen study where we did that. We bridged the gap of disparity by just raising salaries so that they were more equalized versus saying this is a COLA. Just when everybody got the same COLA, merits were merits based on their job performance. And then there was an increase to certain salaries that were just found to be way under the standard. So I don't know that's something that we can all agree to. Maybe we can come back during second reading and take a look at that. We can also amend and do that at another point. But I think that that's something that needs to be looked at very carefully. Also understanding the economic conditions of the economic climate of our economy today. And where we are as a community. That's something that I'm very sensitive to and I understand because you know our residents also even though we did not increase our tax rate are still paying more because the values of properties have gone up and so they are impacted too. So you know also taking all of that into consideration and understanding that every department and every position has a value added to our community and provides a service and that cannot go unnoticed and unrecognized. Through the Mayor. Yes, Councilor M. Poros. Last thing. I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree, Edel. I'm not gonna support a 7.5. I'm not going to support as it stands right now. And to to propose keeping it this way and then increasing it just for the laborers and all the essential workers is actually adding more to our budget. What was last year's COLA? 3%? 3%. So going from 3% to 7.5%. Correct. Okay, and how do we compare to the counties proposed COLA on their employees? the county's proposed COLA on their employees. I believe the county is 4% for non-barkening employees, so the general non-barkening employees is 4%. Okay, so I mean, again. It's what's being proposed. Right, I think seven and a half is more than double. It's more than we really should be. Again, I am proposing taking a look at this and adding that 10 and a half percent to the positions and the departments that are essential. All of our departments are essential, but we have people that keep the city going, that are cleaning, that are keeping our streets paved, that are really doing the work that needs to be done for us to continue doing what we need to do here. So, again, that's just my respectful descent and I'm not going to be supportive of this. Councillor Mncabral. Last year I did not support the other budget because I saw there was many discrepancy and different departments and increases in positions that were not really married. And I do agree with Councilwoman Poros. We should really look into it. I know the A.F. Green what he explained was a view of overall and there are many areas that really need attention. So I definitely wanted to still have a conversation with UCD manager. We all respect. I understand what you're explaining, and all of that, but I really think that there are many areas that we have to sit down, we really have to evaluate much more deeper than just something general. And I still have many things that I need to address with you. So, and especially, I know that there were some changes and you know that I like to see line item by line item. Also other positions that I don't think that should exist. So I still need to sit down with you and go over a few other things. Very well. Okay. Is there any other comments on another item? Yes. How to open for us. Well, given that I don't think we're moving forward on a consensus with this, I think that. I mean, I do have two other pages. Perhaps it's best for us to meet, address this individually. I don't know if that's how you guys want to move forward, but I mean if we can't agree even on the first item, I don't think I want to go ahead and propose these other things. I think I would rather speak to each department managers and come back. I agree with that. I also, that's something that I wanted to do. Because like I said, there's many other areas that I need to address for our city manager. Is there any other comments at this time? So here, I'm going to make one comment. This is, we've been working on, or the staff has been working on this budget how long since July. Several months when I got here June, it was already, the process was already underway. So the budget has been moving along. I think we each had several opportunities to meet with staff. I believe the manager put out several emails asking to meet with us individually. We had a workshop where we had the opportunity to bring some of these items forward. You know, I think that it's a little disrespectful to our residents and to our staff that we are sitting here today with a budget in front of us that we all had an opportunity to meet individually as well as in a workshop to discuss items that were particularly important to us. The staff does the job of putting together the budget and then we have the obligation to sit down and talk about what we would like to see changed adjusted. We had a workshop to do that. We've had individual meetings to do that. You know, the fact that we want to do that again, you know, we have a requirement to the city to get this done and to pass a budget. It's our fiduciary responsibility to this city. So I am happy to sit here and find a solution to how we move forward if we want to come to an agreement on a lower cost of living adjustment across the board. We can bifurcate parts of the budget and come to agreements on what we agree with and what we don't agree with. But at the end of the day, each of us going back and trying to negotiate with the manager on what we want, I think, is it's really unproductive to the staff and really to our residents. So I can tell you I've been doing this for 13 years. I've sat through eight city budgets, I'm sorry, nine city budgets, two school board budgets, $7 billion and it shouldn't be this difficult. And I can tell you quite frankly, I didn't vote for the manager. Not my manager. So this was put together by the people you all asked to be here and put this together. So I'm really quite concerned over what we're actually discussing here. I don't think that it's something that we can't come to an agreement for because at the end of the day it's a benefit to our community. I think that in our strategic plan we very eloquently discussed the strategic initiatives that our budget needed to meet which were a level of service. And quite frankly, I think this budget does that in a very conservative way. We could have our disagreements about certain increases and we're happy to discuss that and come to some type of terms, but I don't think that not making a decision is going to fix that necessarily. And I can sit here and pick up things, line item by line item, but I don't think that's necessarily healthy for our city, for the employee morale and for the work effort that's been put in. So if there's no consensus or if there's not a majority that would like to move forward and allow for there to be discussion from first first to second reading then so be it but I can tell you that out of all the years doing this this is the first time I've seen something extremely ridiculous. I mean, I think your Outrage is a little exaggerated. I just received This much Of the budget last week, right? When did you guys drop this off last week? Last week and this morning. That I have to Update and so it's September 3rd. We have time and I want to do this correctly. We're not going to do this at your pace. We're going to do this at the council's pace and it does warrant a very close look because this is the budget. We're talking about money. Your taxpayer dollars. We have to make sure that they're being spent correctly, that they're going to the right departments to the right services so that you have a voice in the zoo. It is literally the third day of September. We have until September 30th. So personally, I'm not going to be rushed into making a decision about this that's super important. And I have another job, by the way. So we can throw that in the mix. And I'm doing the best that I can with that. And I really hope that the departments are going to be flexible about that and understand that it is a very important decision that we're making. And I'm not going to make it lightly nor at anyone's pace. We're going to get a budget done in past before we need to, but this is not the way bullying and pressuring us to do this right now. So I will propose again, if we couldn't even agree on the first item that's very important, so I'm going to propose that we again sit individually. I'm not going to have anything else to discuss today because I do want to sit individually, go through my proposed changes and see if it's something that you're going to adopt or not and then we'll come back. I have a question for the city manager. Was there any changes in the overall budget detrimental to because that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. and the other patients are current scope of business. With some additional maybe five or six items that were pulled from the one on ones with the the, each the elected officials. But the overall for example in the in the salaries percentage changes that was not changed from our workshop to today. That is correct. All the changes that that were made are summarized in the attachment, which is about a six, eight page document, I believe. Okay, would you think available please the emails that were sent to each council member for an opportunity to meet and who responded? That's an official public records request. Yes, ma'am. I will look into that. Great. Thank you. If I may, first of all, it's really disrespectful when you're calling. That is not my manager. He is the manager of all of us, even if you voted against it. I mean, because he is the one that is representing here by majority and things are voted by majority. But going again, the same thing, I don't need to be pressure for this. I mean, we are being responsible by taking our time and going through this. If you're ready, great that you are. But there are many different details that have to be taken consideration. And things are really going to be affecting a group of people, not another group. So we really have to look into it. So I think that all the comments that you did saw this respectful here for your council members are here. They're trying to do the best So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. So I think that's really good. I would like to call upon our assistant city manager and chief financial officer Fernando Casa Mayor. He has something very important that he needs to explain regarding timelines. I think that is until the end of the month that we have. There's public notices that go out and your tax. If you would allow me, and I'm going to also defer to our city attorney because again, he is the legal stored. The state of Florida has certain requirements of every municipal government, particularly with setting millages and adopting and passing budgets. The reason why we have two budget hearings, the reason why they have to be after five o'clock. The reason why they're set on particular dates where we can't meet on the same day Miami-Dade County has their budget meeting and we can't meet on the same dates that the school board. Part of the requirements of the State of Florida is that we pass a balanced budget and we pass a millage rate. You've already done the first part for the first time. Whatever we decide to do this evening, we need to pass a balanced budget, whether it includes cost of living or zero's out cost of living or whatever that is. My suggestion is that we pass, I know it's difficult and I'm sorry, but I hate to be the guy who has to talk about the rules, right? But we have to pass a budget this evening per state statute, per requirements. It can be back to the base budget that we had and we can put the balance into reserves. There's a variety of options that we can do to pass this evening and you can amend it at the second hearing once you've had more information and more time. What is not flexible, they're the dates of the hearings, they've been published, they're part of the Truth and Millage Notice that was sent out by the property appraiser last month. And again, those are the rules of the state of Florida regarding the responsibilities of the municipal government. Go ahead and ask to what Mr. Casamoy or said and he is correct. Some of this information has already been sent out and has already been distributed to all the residents and under Florida law, we do need to have these meetings published and we need to have them after 5 p.m. and they can't conflict also another part of his day. They can't conflict with any other of it is that they can't conflict with any other Miami-D County meeting or budget hearing. So there's some scheduling involved. An idea could be if there is some disagreement and you want to have more time to be able to have a public meeting, that's fine. You can pass something tonight in first reading. You can also schedule, I think, when we're in proper workshop in between first and second reading to have a public meeting and flush all these ideas out. That way it gives you time to between now and the second reading to meet with a manager, to have a public workshop where you can up here on the days, have all these discussions in this public, and then come back on second reading and wrap it up. It's a suggestion. To clarify, I don't think anyone's requesting a meeting outside of the parameters that were set, right? What I want is to meet individually and talk about this, But yeah, we do have to come back and have a hearing under the requirements of Florida statutes and everything. So if what you're suggesting is, what you're telling me is that we have to pass a budget right now, then I think we can do that, but know that between now and second reading, unless this gets resolved, we're going to be back in the same boat. So I'm happy to approve and vote on this, knowing with the understanding that we need to talk about this as well. And through the mayor, I am actually disposal to meet any day this week. I mean, we still have three days this week. I'll be more than happy to meet. Yeah. And I want to I'm in the date and I will be there. And I will I'll make something clear. I am going to meet with the manager when I can and when I need to. So yes, I just got through reviewing all of the budget just to add what I was given this morning and whether some consider it Something small or not. I don't I'm gonna review it all I'm gonna take every time moment that I need to review and go through pages because I want to do that so Yes, and that is what I'm saying. I will be meeting with you to do this So I am on board with passing this as it is. I don't know if everybody else is. Again, with the understanding that there's a lot to talk through. Me based only because you're saying that we must to do it today because of the day. That will be the only reason that I will be supported as well. But if we have all their time, then I will go for it. But if you're saying that we must do it tonight, because we cannot move for another date, then I agree too. Councilwoman, the point that director, sorry, Assistant Manager Casamayura brings up is a very important one. There are some procedural things you could do, but at the end the cleanest way to be able to handle it would be to vote on the budget as is if you wish, no? And you have time between now and second reading to meet with the manager if you want to have an open workshop and discuss this again and on the days you can do that as well. And then nothing gets finalized until second reading. Yes, Councilor Binalo. Thank you, Mayor. I just want to leave something for the record as well. I, we were here for the workshop. I was back in June. July. June. June. July. July. August. Oh, last one. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I or concerns that I might have. So I believe that I mean these processes, the process that takes weeks takes a lot of work. And I don't think that we're rushing any decision. I mean, we're doing what we're supposed to do. What has been taking place in the city of the Ralph for 21 years. Nothing, nothing difference. As, as just as a business and we have to move forward is a budget. So, and I went through the budget. And again, I had the chance that I want to thank the administration to allow me to have the time to review it and the time with Mr. Casamayor and the finance finance department to go over my questions and my concerns. I'm okay with the 7.5 call. I want to stay that clear. And I'm going to change my position today or second reading or we have another meeting in between is going to be the same. So I just want to stay that for the writer. And having said that and obviously because we have to move forward and if we're legislating and we're council members we should know that we have to move forward today is not as a price so I placed a motion to approve the budget the way that it is. The motion to approve by Councilman Pinedo is there a second? So we have the ability to make changes from here to the second reading. I'm going to propose amending your motion to reduce the, to pass the budget with a reduced reduce COLA of 3.5%. And then we can talk about changing it between now and second reading. All right. There's an amendment to the motion. Do you accept the amendment? Okay. There's no acceptance. Do you still second the motion with the current budget the way it is. Okay, so there's a withdrawal of the second, so the motion dies. I'm gonna make a motion to pass the budget with a reducus cola of 3.5% second. Okay, there's a motion on the table by Councilwoman Poras, seconded by Councilwoman Cabral. Any discussion? Okay, Madam Clerk, please call roll. I have a motion to approve ordinance number 2020-20-20 on first reading as amended to reduce the cola to 3.5%. Is that correct? Councilman Poras? Correct. May be by Councilman Poras, seconded by Councilman Cabral. Councilman Poras? Yes. Councilman Cabral? Yes. Council Corvus? Correct. May I be by Councilwoman Corvus, seconded by Councilman Corvus? Councilman Corvus? Yes. Councilman Corvus? Yes. Councilman Pinado? No. Vice Mayor Puig Corvus? Yes. Mayor Fraga? No. Motion passes. Okay. We will now need a motion to adjourn by and vice mayor Pui Corvus second by Councilman Pnato madam clerk Well actually on favor say aye. Sorry On favor say aye meeting is adjourned. Thank you