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Tony's
Bethany Beach Newsletter |
| I. OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING | |||||||||||||||||||
| A. | Call to Order and Roll Call - All Council members and Town Manager were present | ||||||||||||||||||
| B. | Pledge of Allegiance | ||||||||||||||||||
| C. | Approval of the Agenda | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| D. | Approval of minutes of regular meeting held November 16, 2009 | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| E. | Approval of minutes of executive session held on November 16, 2009 | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| F. | Approval of minutes of special meeting/workshop held on November 16, 2009 | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| G. | Approval of minutes of special meeting/workshop held on December 17, 2009 | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| H. | Approval of minutes of special meeting held on December 22, 2009 | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| I. | Approval of minutes of executive session held on December 22, 2009 | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| J. | Approval of Financial Report | Approved | |||||||||||||||||
| K. | Announcements/Recognition of Visitors and Public Comment | ||||||||||||||||||
| On
December 18, 2009 our Town Manager, Vice Mayor Olmstead,
Councilmember Jerry Dorfman and I met with Senator Carper and Mr.
Tony Pratt, Program Administrator, Shoreline and Waterway Management
to view the damage to our beach and dune during the November storm.
On January 4, 2010 I
again met with Senator Carper to continue our conversation and
request for Federal Government financial assistance for the repair
of our beach and dune. On Monday, January 12,
2010 our entire Town Council met with Mr. Tony Pratt, Program
Administrator, Shoreline and Waterway Management to discuss plans
for the repair of the beach and dune. The State of Delaware
has begun making temporary repairs to the dune and will continue to
do so throughout late winter and spring with a goal of replacing
crossovers and the two missing sections of the dune while continuing
to attempt to obtain Federal financing for the U.S. Corps of
Engineers to restore the beach and dune. Town Council is very interested in removing the utility poles and utility lines from Garfield Parkway from Rt 1 to the Bandstand. We have obtained estimates from the utility companies and are moving toward a plan of action. We have met with the Chamber of Commerce and will do so again as we work toward enhancements for our downtown area. Now that NRG has acquired Bluewater Wind, we anticipate meeting with their representatives to discuss their request for our consideration of the possibility of their placing high power electrical lines through Bethany Beach. |
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| Public comment was requested on any subject that was not on the agenda. Comments regarding agenda items are requested during the discussion of old and/or new business. | |||||||||||||||||||
| II. REPORTS OF MEMBERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES | |||||||||||||||||||
| A. | Report from Audit Committee (Doyle) | ||||||||||||||||||
| B. | Report from Budget and Finance Committee Meeting (Gordon) | ||||||||||||||||||
| C. | Report from Charter and Ordinance Review Committee (Peterson) | ||||||||||||||||||
| D. |
Report from
Communications Committee (Hardiman) Due to a family emergency, Rosemary Hardiman was unable to attend this meeting, thus she provided a written report. |
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| E. | Report from Cultural and Historic Affairs Committee (Olmstead) | ||||||||||||||||||
| F. | Report from Non-Residential Design Guideline Committee (Killmer) | ||||||||||||||||||
| G. | Report from Planning Commission (Killmer) | ||||||||||||||||||
| H. | Report from Ad Hoc Recycling Committee (Dorfman) | ||||||||||||||||||
| I. | Report from Town Manager (Graviet) | ||||||||||||||||||
| AGENDA PUBLIC DISCUSSION - Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items is heard after each agenda item is introduced. | |||||||||||||||||||
| III. OLD BUSINESS | |||||||||||||||||||
| We have no old business this month | |||||||||||||||||||
| IV. NEW BUSINESS | |||||||||||||||||||
| A. |
(First Reading) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 227 (Vehicles and Traffic), Section 3 (Persons Entitled to Obtain Seasonal Parking Permits) (Dorfman) As this was a first reading, no vote was taken. The vote will be expected during our February meeting. | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Synopsis This ordinance changes the number of seasonal parking permits owners of improved residential property are entitled to from three to two per residence |
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| The purpose of this discussion and vote was to provide more of the available permit parking spaces for Bethany Beach residents. The Charter and Ordinance Review Committee previously reviewed the Town Code and recommended limiting residential parking permits to two per residence. The Town issues over 5,000 permits annually. There are less than 600 available permit parking spaces. Previously the Town has issued an average of 700 third permits each year. By eliminating the third permit, the Town will lose approximately $35,000 in revenue per year. Council previously discussed this issue during a workshop and this evening voted to accept the reduced revenue in order to provide better permit parking opportunities for our property owners. | |||||||||||||||||||
| B. |
Discussion and Possible Vote on Fund Balance Policy Statement for the Town of Bethany Beach (Gordon) Passed | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Title:
Fund Balance Policy Statement for the Town of Bethany
Beach
Approved by Town Council: [Date]
1.
Purpose and Scope
The policy of the Town of Bethany Beach is to maintain appropriate
reserve funds in
order to manage
seasonal cashflows, fund upcoming capital projects, maintain
adequate infrastructure, and withstand economic downturns,
emergencies or natural
disasters. This fund balance policy applies to
all
spendable funds of the Town's general fund and enterprise funds. This policy will improve the town's financial stability by maintaining appropriate reserves, reducing the need to incur long-term debt, maintaining a high bond rating, and enhancing the value of property within town limits. This policy seeks to equalize the burden for capital assets between current and future property owners. With this policy, the Town will accomplish two important goals: • Avoid incurring new debt for the purchase of assets with a useful life of less than 8 years. • Seek to accumulate a substantial portion of the cost for longer-lived assets prior to incurring new debt. 2. The Town classifies its fund balances and net assets into three types:A. Specifically Committed Funds B. Capital Replacement Reserve Funds C. Operating Reserve Funds 3. Policy on Specifically Committed Funds The Town Council may commit funds to a specific purpose or to accumulate funding for a specific capital project. Specifically Committed Funds may be created and maintained by the Town Council through the budget process. 4. Policy on funds Committed for the Capital Replacement Reserve Fund The Town will maintain Committed Funds for the replacement of capital assets in General Fund, Sanitation Fund and Water Fund. When funding approaches the maximum level the Budget and Finance Committee will consider recommending a reduction in taxes and/or fees. When funding is less than the recommended minimum level the Budget and Finance Committee will consider recommending a delay of capital projects or increasing taxes and/or fees. This reserve replaces the current Beach and Boardwalk Reserve.
The total recommended minimum and
maximum
amounts to be
held in reserve shall be
calculated based on historical acquisition costs of assets currently in use by the Town
as follows:
The Budget and Finance Committee will recommend the amount to hold in the Capital Replacement Reserve Fund as part of the annual budget process. In preparing this recommendation, the Committee will consider the current amount in reserves, the amount of annual depreciation expense, the current economy, and upcoming capital projects and purchases.
5.
Policy on funds Committed for the Operating Reserve Fund The amount of the Operating Reserve shall be 15% to 30% of budgeted operating expenses, not including depreciation. During periods of unforeseen emergencies that trigger shortfalls, the minimum shall be lowered to 10%. Operating Reserve in excess of 15% may be committed for a specific purpose or transferred to the capital replacement fund. When funding approaches the maximum level, the Budget and Finance Committee will consider recommending a reduction in taxes and fees. |
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| C. |
Consider a motion to amend the current year’s budget allocating $37,000 in FY 2010 contingency funds. Increasing the General Fund Operating Budget by $25,000 for additional lifeguard staffing this past summer and increasing the General Fund Capital Budget by $12,000 for replacement of the Building Inspector’s work truck. (Gordon) Passed | ||||||||||||||||||
| D. |
Consider amendment to
the Town’s Schedule of Fees Regarding Building Permits to Actual
Construction Costs, but in an Amount
No Less than
the Cost Computed by the International Code Council (Killmer)
Passed |
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| ITEMS OF BUSINESS LISTED
ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING MAY
BE REFERRED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE.
THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL ITEMS INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS WHICH ARISE AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING. ADDITIONAL ITEMS MAY BE REFERRED TO THE COUNCIL FROM THE COMMITTEES THAT MEET BETWEEN THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA AND THE COUNCIL MEETING. |
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| Posted: | 01/06/2010 | |||