Title
A Resolution of the City of Coral Gables, Florida, relating to security services assessments within the Cocoplum Phase I Security Guard Special Taxing District; providing authority and definitions; approving the updated Security Services Assessment Roll; providing for the reimposition of the assessments; providing for collection of the assessments pursuant to the Uniform Assessment Collection Act; providing for the effect of this Resolution; providing for a severability clause and providing for an effective date.
Body
In accordance with the Dade County Home Rule Charter and Chapter 18 of the Code of Metropolitan Dade County, in 1995 Dade County (the "County") enacted Ordinance No. 95-214 to create the Cocoplum, Phase I Security Guard Special Taxing District to provide enhanced security services to properties within the District. Pursuant to Section 18-3.1 of the Code of Metropolitan Dade County, after approval by referendum and a joint resolution of the County and City of Coral Gables, governance and control of the District was transferred from the County to the City effective on October 1, 2018. Pursuant to the interlocal agreement between the County and the City outlining the transfer of governance, the City is responsible for establishing assessment rates and collecting assessments for the Special Taxing District. Pursuant to this agreement, the City adopted the Initial Assessment Resolution (Resolution Number 2018-194) on July 10, 2018, and the Final Assessment Resolution (Resolution Number 2018-245) was adopted on September 13, 2018.
Pursuant to the Master Assessment Ordinance (No. 2015-09), the annual reimposition of assessments requires the adoption of a Preliminary Assessment Resolution (Resolution No. 2019-216), which was adopted on July 9, 2019, and adoption of this Annual Assessment Resolution. This Annual Assessment Resolution confirms the assignment of Assessment Units and computation of the Assessments as established in the Preliminary Assessment Resolution. It imposes the Assessments in the manner provided in the Ordinance for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2019 to fund ongoing Security Services within the District, and approves the Assessment Roll for the District.
There is no change in the proposed methodology. There is an increase in this year’s assessment to $3,360.00 per improved lot/unit and $1,680.00 per vacant lot/unit to properly adjust the budget to account for off-duty rates for police services and allows the build-up of a proper operational reserve over the next few years. Additionally, the adjustment to the assessment rate allows for an increase in services from 16 hours a day to 24 hours a day. This change was approved by greater than 66.66% of the property owners (103 properties or 69.13%). These amendments were approved by the City Commission on August 27, 2019.