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Temple Terrace council approves appointment, budget amendments and two ordinances; minutes and consent items passed
Summary
On Nov. 21 the City of Temple Terrace Council appointed a member to the school support committee, approved final FY 2022–23 budget adjustments, and adopted ordinances changing firefighter DROP calculations and updating travel expense rules. Votes were taken by voice and carried.
The City of Temple Terrace City Council on Nov. 21 took several routine and policy votes, approving an appointment, final budget adjustments for fiscal year 2022–23 and two ordinances affecting firefighter deferred retirement and travel reimbursement.
Council appointed Mike Seegrest to the city’s school support committee. Seegrest had served the prior three-year term and received the council’s approval without public opposition; the motion to appoint carried on a voice vote.
Finance Director Jim Ingram presented final adjustments to the fiscal year 2022–23 budget to record expenditures and matching unbudgeted revenues received after adoption. Staff summarized multiple line items and revenue matches: FEMA reimbursements tied to Hurricane Idalia and Ian for various funds, a $18,270 match for Fourth of July parade sponsorships, a $20,000 wellness revenue match, $10,000 in Boys & Girls Club support funded from police forfeiture restricted funds, and other adjustments across the Community Investment Trust (CIT), water and sewer, sanitation and fleet funds. Ingram said the city recorded about $412,242 of CIT revenues not budgeted and that total CIT receipts were higher than originally projected. A council member clarified the net impact: the unbudgeted revenues match the unbudgeted expenditures and "the net impact is actually 0," and Jim Ingram confirmed that characterization. The council adopted a resolution approving the final budget adjustments.
On pension policy, Fire Chief Ian Kemp presented a second-reading public hearing on Ordinance No. 1556, amending Chapter 2 of the city code pertaining to firefighter pension and retirement. Staff and the pension board recommended restoring omitted language in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) that had been left out during prior codification. The amendment extends the DROP period from five years to eight years and specifies that the first 60 months of DROP will compound quarterly at 6.5% and amounts beyond 60 months will compound quarterly at 3%, as presented to council. The council adopted Ordinance No. 1556 on second reading.
Council also adopted Ordinance No. 1557 on second reading, updating the city’s travel and per diem policy. Finance Director Ingram told council the ordinance ties mileage reimbursement to the IRS standard mileage rate and uses the U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates for the Tampa Bay area so the city can apply updated federal rates without changing the code every year.
Other routine business: the council approved minutes from the Nov. 7 meeting, approved the consent agenda, and received an informational presentation from the Southwest Florida Water Management District on a recent water‑shortage order affecting area counties. The council also received ARPA project quarterly reporting materials and heard staff reports about city events and holiday schedules.
Votes at a glance - Appointment: Mike Seegrest, School Support Committee — motion carried (voice vote). - Resolution: Final adjustments to FY 2022–23 budget — adopted (voice vote). Key items included FEMA reimbursements for Hurricane Idalia and Ian and $412,242 of unbudgeted CIT receipts moved to reserves as described in staff exhibits. - Ordinance 1556: Amendments to firefighter pension and DROP funding — adopted on second reading (voice vote). Change restores omitted DROP language and adjusts DROP term and compounding rates as presented. - Ordinance 1557: Travel expenses and per diem update — adopted on second reading (voice vote). Mileage to follow IRS rate; per diem tied to GSA Tampa Bay rates.
All items passed by voice vote. The council did not request roll‑call tallies for the items presented.
