Town of Cutler Bay Meeting Minutes

Town Council Meeting

-
Town Hall
10720 Caribbean Blvd
Cutler Bay, FL 33189
Council Chambers
COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
  • Mayor Tim Meerbott, 
  • Vice Mayor Michael P. Callahan, 
  • Council Member Robert "BJ" Duncan, 
  • Council Member Suzy Lord, 
  • and Council Member Roger Coriat

Mayor Tim Meerbott called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.  Town Clerk Mauricio Melinu called the roll.  Mayor Meerbott led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Meerbott opened Public Comments.

Town Clerk Melinu read the announcements and instructions for participation in Virtual Public Comments.

Town Attorney Mitchell Bierman suggested that the Town Clerk read the titles of Resolution items 11a and 11b, allowing for Public Comments to be heard for both items simultaneously.  Town Clerk Melinu read the titles of Resolution items 11a and 11b.

There being no one wishing to speak in person or virtually, Mayor Meerbott closed Public Comments.

There were no Town Council Announcements, Board & Committee Reports.

There were no additional reports.

There was no Town Manager Report.

There was no Town Attorney Report.

There was no Town Clerk Report.

There were no items on the Consent Agenda.

There were no Quasi-Judicial Hearings.

There were no Ordinances for First Reading, No Public Hearing Required.

There were no Ordinances for First Reading, Public Hearing Required.

There were no Ordinances for Second Reading, Public Hearing Required.

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 PURSUANT TO SECTION 200.065, FLORIDA STATUTES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Finance Director Robert Daddario read the Truth in Millage (TRIM) Statement as follows:

The tentative millage rate of the Town of Cutler Bay for FY 2022-23 of 2.8332 mils per $1,000 of assessed property value within the Town of Cutler Bay is 12.55% greater than the rolled-back rate of 2.5173 mils per $1,000 of assessed property value. 

Ad valorem taxes are being increased primarily to help provide for operating expenditures required to maintain current levels of resident services, including police services, reflecting the increases in those costs due to current economic conditions and inflationary trends that are anticipated to continue in the upcoming fiscal year, and for police services reflecting negotiated union contract costs.  

Town Manager Rafael Casals provided a brief recap of the three Town Council Budget Workshops held on July 20, 2022, July 27, 2022, and September 1, 2022, as well as the First Budget Hearing held on September 14, 2022.  Town Manager Casals informed the Town Council that the item was published in the local section of the Miami Herald on September 25, 2022, and that outreach increased this year compared to previous years in which the budget workshops and hearings were advertised in the Town E-Newsletter, Town Website and Community News center pages.

Town Attorney Bierman reminded the Town Council that Florida State Law requires that a vote must be taken to pass Resolution Item 11a before a vote is taken to pass Resolution Item 11b.

Mayor Meerbott asked for comments from the Town Council and there were none.

A motion was made by Council Member Roger Coriat, seconded by Council Member Suzy Lord, to adopt the Resolution with a millage rate of 2.8332.

Finance Director read Section 2 of the Resolution with the proposed millage rate of 2.8332 as follows:

The Town’s Final Millage Rate for the Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, is hereby fixed at the rate of 2.8332 mills per $1,000.00 of assessed property value within the Town, which is 12.55 percent greater than the rolled-back rate of 2.5173 mills per $1,000.00 of assessed property value.

  • A motion was made byCouncil Member Roger Coriat
    Seconded byCouncil Member Suzy Lord

    Motion to Approve

    Yes (5)Mayor Tim Meerbott, Council Member Robert "BJ" Duncan, Vice Mayor Michael P. Callahan, Council Member Roger Coriat, and Council Member Suzy Lord
    Passed (5 to 0)

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FINAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2022, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, PURSUANT TO SECTION 200.065, FLORIDA STATUTES; AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO MAKE EXPENDITURES CONSISTENT THEREWITH AND AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO MAKE CERTAIN BUDGET AMENDMENTS WITHIN A DEPARTMENT PROVIDED THAT THE TOTAL OF THE APPROPRIATIONS IS NOT CHANGED; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Town Clerk Melinu read the title of the Resolution.

Finance Director Robert Daddario announced the total budget amount being $76,620,400.00.

  • A motion was made byCouncil Member Roger Coriat
    Seconded byCouncil Member Robert "BJ" Duncan

    Motion to Approve

    Yes (5)Mayor Tim Meerbott, Council Member Robert "BJ" Duncan, Vice Mayor Michael P. Callahan, Council Member Roger Coriat, and Council Member Suzy Lord
    Passed (5 to 0)

Mayor Meerbott thanked Council Member Coriat for his service on the budgetary process over his eight years on the Town Council.

Council Member Coriat thanked Town Staff and the Town Attorneys for their efforts over his eight years on the Town Council.

Mayor Meerbott also thanked Town Staff for their efforts and for being recognized as the most efficient municipality budget-wise.

The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m.