The city is absolutely certain that the Bond Initiative will pass. Members of the commission have no patience with anyone who disagrees with what they want to do. It even has lobbied and convinced some members of the press. On May 6th, the city voted to pay itself back for any capital costs for the city's road infrastructure plan, resolution 20-2014. No details. Does this go back to 2001 when they first even mentioned the Park of Commerce? This was placed on the Consent Agenda along with ten other items that the commission did not feel warranted any discussion one of which was the purchase of two trucks for nearly one-half mil. Did we need to spend this money at this time?
SECTION 6. The City will, upon receipt of the proceeds of the bonds (or within 30 days thereof), allocate in writing the amount of proceeds of the bonds (i.e., the reimbursement bond issue) used to reimburse the prior capital expenditures incurred in connection with the Projects (herein, the “Prior Expenditures”). Such allocation will be accomplished within the later of 18 months from the earliest date such Prior Expenditures were incurred or the date the Projects are placed in service (but in no event later than 3 years after the first Prior Expenditure was made).
They don't, however, mention WHAT THEY (expenditures) WERE OR HOW MUCH THEY WERE or what they are even projected to be. Will they be reimbursing themselves $1 mil, 5 mil, 12 mil, more?...the free lunch? This is a real clever way to replenish the funds from which they "borrowed." So how much will really go into the roads, sidewalks and lighting?
There was also a resolution, 25-2014, on the Consent Agenda for a second amendment to the 2014 budget:
1. Water Fund: Revision to capital projects anticipated for master infrastructure plan--$5,341,297
2. Sewer Fund: Revision to capital projects anticipated for master infrastructure plan--$3,941,913
Robert's Rules says: The consent agenda allows members to vote on a group of items en bloc (as a group) without discussion. This is a good way to dispose of business that is noncontroversial. Approving the minutes, paying the bills, and approving customary donations are examples of noncontroversial business. For an organization to use a consent agenda, it needs to adopt a special rule of order.
Nothing should be put on consent Agenda unless it is an innocuous piece of legislation that does not affect the taxpayers. Consent Agenda Creep has afflicted agendas ever since we hired a new city manager and elected a new commission whose goal is to end all meetings early. More and more items that deserve public discussion and review or even just a brief explanation are relegated to the silent zone. State law has now changed where they have to give us time to speak on them. If there were no laws in place, everything would be on the Consent Agenda in Lake Worth. We are relegated to two minutes for the entire Consent items.
Also, nothing should, however, be placed on the Consent Agenda, that costs a substantial amount of money or policy that affects us all. A consent agenda should be designated to the routine, procedural, informational and self-explanatory non-controversial items together for a single affirmative vote. When it isn't, it's just a way of sneaking in an item under the radar...another reason why we don't fully trust the city and another reason why they will have some difficulty convincing the voters to 30 years of more debt.
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