Town of Cutler Bay Meeting Minutes

Town Council Meeting

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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

1.
CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, & MOMENT OF SILENCE

 

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 held a moment of silence in honor of Mitchell Friedman, father of Town Attorney Chad Friedman, who passed away on Monday, September 12, 2022.  Town Attorney Mitchell Bierman spoke on Mr. Friedman's career in Miami-Dade County government working on projects such as the Government Center, Metrorail, the redevelopment of Rickenbacker Causeway, and his private sector work in affordable housing.

2.
PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Mayor Meerbott opened Public Comments.

Council Member-Elect Richard Ramirez congratulated Council Member Duncan on his re-election and thanked the Town Manager and the Town Clerk's Office staff for their efforts in getting him up to speed on the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget and other Town related issues.

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

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

3.
TOWN COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS, BOARD & COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

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

4.
REPORTS

 

a.
Town Manager Report

 

There was no Town Manager Report.

b.
Town Attorney Report

 

There was no Town Attorney Report.

c.
Town Clerk Report

 

There was no Town Clerk Report.

5.
CONSENT AGENDA

 

There were no items on the Consent Agenda.

6.
QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS (PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED)

 

There were no Quasi-Judicial Hearings.

7.
PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

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

8.
ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING (NO PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED)

 

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

9.
ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING (PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED)

 

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

10.
ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING (PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED)

 

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

11.
RESOLUTIONS

 

Town Manager Rafael Casals spoke on the difference between the First Budget Hearing and the Budget Workshops, the detailed budget report prepared by Town Staff, and the challenge posed by the Town Council to bring down the proposed ceiling millage rate of 2.9388 to the current adopted millage rate of 2.8332 for the Fiscal year 2022-23 Budget.

a.
Proposed Millage Rate-First Budget Hearing FY22-23

This item has attachments. 
1.Manager Memo-Proposed Millage Rate-First Budget Hearing FY22-23.pdf
2.Manager Memo-Attachment A-Proposed Budget FY 2022-23 Executive Summary.pdf
3.Manager Memo-Attachment B-Proposed Budget FY22-23-Fund Summary and Department Expenditures.pdf
4.Manager Memo-Attachment C-Fund Balance Reserve Cert-First Budget Hearing FY22-23.pdf
5.Manager Memo-Attachment D-Millage Costs of Departments.pdf
6.Resolution-Proposed Millage Rate-First Budget Hearing FY22-23.pdf

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE PROPOSED 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.

Town Clerk Melinu read the titles of Resolutions 11A and 11B.

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

The proposed millage rate of the Town of Cutler Bay for FY 2022-23 of 2.9388 mils per $1,000 of assessed property value within the Town of Cutler Bay is 16.74% 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 Casals explained that residents had trim notices mailed to their houses with the proposed 2.9388 ceiling millage, and that the First Budget Hearing Meeting information had been posted on the town website, along with a short video for social media.

Town Attorney Bierman reminded the Town Council that the process under Florida Law required the adoption of the millage rate first, then the adoption of the Town Budget.  He also explained that with both Resolutions 11A and 11B having been read into the record, the Public Hearing for both items could be opened, followed by separate votes being taken on the millage followed by the budget.

There was discussion on specifically earmarking $10,000.00 in the Town's Budget for the Economic Development Council.  After discussion, there was Town Council Consensus to do so.

Mayor Meerbott opened the Public Hearing.

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

A motion was made by Council Member Roger Coriat, seconded by Council Member Suzy Lord to approve the item.

Finance Director Daddario read the revised Truth in Millage (TRIM) Statement with the new millage rate as follows:

The proposed 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.

Council Member Coriat made a revised motion, seconded by Council Member Lord, to approve the item with the revised millage rate of 2.8332.

There was a roll call vote, and the motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Tim Meerbott joined the meeting at 6:23 PM.
Vice Mayor Michael P. Callahan joined the meeting at 6:23 PM.
Council Member Robert "BJ" Duncan joined the meeting at 6:23 PM.
Council Member Suzy Lord joined the meeting at 6:23 PM.
Council Member Roger Coriat joined the meeting at 6:23 PM.
  • 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)

b.
Tentative Budget-First Hearing FY22-23

This item has attachments. 
1.Manager Memo-Tentative Budget-First Budget Hearing FY22-23.pdf
2.Manager Memo-Attachment A-Proposed Budget FY 2022-23 Executive Summary(1).pdf
3.Manager Memo-Attachment B-Proposed Budget FY22-23-Fund Summary and Department Expenditures(1).pdf
4.Manager Memo-Attachment C-Fund Balance Reserve Cert-First Budget Hearing FY22-23(1).pdf
5.Manager Memo-Attachment D-Millage Costs of Departments(1).pdf
6.Resolution-Tentative Budget-First Hearing FY22-23.pdf

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE 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.

Finance Director Daddario announced the tentative budget number as $76,620,400.00.

A motion was made by Council Member Coriat, seconded by Council Member Robert "BJ" Duncan to approve the item.

There was a roll call vote, and the motion passed unanimously.

  • 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)

12.
ADJOURNMENT

 

Mayor Meerbott thanked the Town Council Members and Town Staff for their efforts on the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget.

Town Manager Casals announced the Second Budget Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.

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