<span style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" data-pasted="true">Consideration and Approval FY 2025-2026 Budget Amendment.</span>

We propose to amend the FY2025-26 budget as follows: General Fund Administrative Assistant, Parks & Recreation – We are adding a part-time Administrative Assistant position in the Parks & Recreation Department. The cost for this position in FY26 will be covered by savings from existing vacancies within the department. We will request funding in the FY27 budget to convert the position to full-time. Debt Service – The General Fund’s debt service obligations come mainly from two borrowings: the Refunding Note (Series 2012) and the Refunding and Improvement Bonds (Series 2016). The adopted FY 2026 budget did not include sufficient funds to cover interest and other debt service costs. We propose a budget amendment of $109,000 to cover this shortfall. Govwell Public Works – At the March 12, 2026 meeting, the Council approved a three-year contract with Govwell to replace Bluebeam and Citizenserve. This single, integrated platform will support core operations, including building permits, inspections, code enforcement, planning and zoning, business licensing, contractor registration, and an online citizen portal. We are proposing an amendment to expand Govwell’s scope to manage two additional areas: Right-of-Way Permits: Public street cuts, utility excavations, driveway approaches, and temporary street closures. Special Event Permits: Festivals, parades, block parties, and other public events. This amendment funds the first-year operational costs ($13,000) and a one-time implementation fee ($4,000). Landscaping - We propose to increase the landscaping budget in the General Fund by $320,000 to fund the complete replacement of landscaping at the corners within residential areas. 4th of July Event – Elsewhere on tonight’s agenda is an item to consider a new special event celebrating Independence Day. Staff estimates a cost of $50,000 to host the celebration, which would include music, food, rides, giveaways, attractions, and decorations (note, fireworks are not included in this proposal). Accordingly, we propose increasing the special event budget by $50,000. Should the Council decide against hosting the event, these funds will remain unspent and will automatically revert to the General Fund balance at the end of the fiscal year. Park Irrigation Repairs - We are proposing to increase the Parks & Recreation budget by $10,000 to repair the irrigation systems in all the Town's park areas. General Capital Projects Fund Tennis Center Improvements: In March, the Town amended the budget to allocate $130,000 for renovations to Scott Winters Park and $8,500 for a windscreen featuring the Town Seal at the Tennis Center. Since the Scott Winters Park renovations will not proceed this year, we propose to reallocate $35,000 of the $130,000 to fund more extensive improvements at the Tennis Center. These improvements include court resurfacing, striping for two pickleball courts within one existing tennis court, a safety mesh / divider netting between the courts, new nets, new signage, garbage cans, a bike rack, and the previously budgeted windscreen. Passive Parks Renovation: Elsewhere on tonight’s agenda we have an item requesting authorization to move forward with renovations to 94th Street and 103rd Street Passive Parks. The proposed renovations include landscape installation, tree trimming/pruning, sod replacement, irrigation repairs, perimeter pathway construction, and entrance gate installation. This item funds the estimated $425,000 cost. Padel Court — Elsewhere on tonight's agenda is a request to allow extended work hours for the project at 10141 E. Bay Harbor Drive. In exchange, the developer has offered to contribute $200,000 to the Town for the construction of padel courts. If approved, the courts would be built at the northeast corner of 97th Street and W. Bay Harbor Drive. This item budgets the associated revenue and expenditure. The project is contingent on the approval of the extended work hours and the developer’s commitment to provide the funding. 96th Street Sidewalk – Elsewhere on tonight’s agenda there’s an item to install stamped concrete pavers on 96th Street and Kane Concourse. This item appropriates $500,000 to fund the project. Causeway Fund Emergency Repairs to the Broad Causeway Bridge (Pedestal #3 at Pier Cap #9) - Elsewhere on tonight’s agenda, there is an item to ratify the approval of emergency repairs to the Broad Causeway Bridge totaling $36,155. This item appropriates $46,155 for emergency repairs - $36,155 for the repairs mentioned above, plus an additional $10,000 to address a budgetary shortfall for other ongoing repairs to the bridge.