08-01-2022 - Regular104 N. Riverside Drive
Edgewater, FL 32132City of Edgewater
Meeting Minutes
City Council
6:00 PM Council ChambersMonday, August 1, 2022
Immediately following the CRA meeting
1. CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, INVOCATION
Mayor Thomas called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
Mayor Mike Thomas, Councilwoman Christine Power, Councilwoman Gigi Bennington,
Councilwoman Debbie Dolbow, and Councilman Jonah Powers
Present:5 -
City Attorney Aaron Wolfe, City Manager Glenn Irby, and City Clerk Bonnie ZlotnikAlso Present:3 -
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None at this time
3. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/PLAQUES/CERTIFICATES/DONATIONS
None at this time
4. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Leo Towsley, 2832 Unity Tree Drive, expressed concerns over a mayoral candidate.
5. APPROVAL OR CHANGES/MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA
None at this time.
6. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilwoman Power reported that she planned to attend the upcoming TPO Executive Committee
meeting.
Councilwoman Bennington reminded Council of the candidates forum taking place on Thursday
night.
Councilwoman Dolbow reminded everyone of the upcoming backpack drive at Whistle Stop park on
Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Councilman Powers had nothing at this time.
Mayor Thomas presented a picture of a tree near his house to express his concern over tree permits
that have been granted to residents.
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7. CONSENT AGENDA
a.Renewal of Residential Recycling Services contract with Southard Enterprises, Inc.
Councilwoman Dolbow asked how much the recycling trucks pick up per year and how much of what
they pick up goes to the landfills.
Tanya Pecoroni, owner of Southard's Recycling, answered that they send a tonnage report every
month to the City. She advised that they do not haul anything to the landfill; when it is picked up
curbside it goes back to their facility in New Smyrna Beach. Once there, everything is hand sorted
and sent from there to surrounding mills. There is a dumpster that Southard's keeps on site but that is
for anything non recyclable that residents put in their bins.
Councilwoman Dolbow wanted clarification that the bottles and the glass were being recycled, Ms.
Pecoroni confirmed that they were sent out to different facilities for that and broke the process down
further.
Councilwoman Dolbow stated that she understood the cost increase; she was just curious about the
details pertaining to the recyclable items. Councilman Powers pointed out that a lot of cities aren't
picking up glass anymore so the City is not losing a service.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Power, second by Councilwoman Bennington, to
approve the Consent Agenda. The MOTION was APPROVED by the following vote:
Yes:Mayor Thomas, Councilwoman Power, Councilwoman Bennington, Councilwoman Dolbow
and Councilman Powers
5 -
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
a.2nd Reading - Ordinance No. 2022-O-17: Amending the General Employees’
Retirement Plan by modifying Article VI (When Benefits Start and Distribution of
Benefits), Section 6.04(c).
City Attorney Wolfe read the Ordinance into the record.
City Manager Irby provided a staff report and recommendation.
Mayor Thomas opened and closed the public hearing.
A motion was made by Councilman Powers, second by Councilwoman Power, to approve
Ordinance No. 2022-O-17. The MOTION was APPROVED by the following vote:
Yes:Mayor Thomas, Councilwoman Power, Councilwoman Bennington, Councilwoman Dolbow
and Councilman Powers
5 -
b.2nd Reading - Ordinance No. 2022-O-18: Amending the Police Officers’ Pension
Plan; providing for the purchase of an Enhanced Multiplier
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City Attorney Wolfe read the Ordinance into the record.
City Manager Irby provided a staff report and recommendation.
Mayor Thomas opened the public hearing.
City Clerk Zlotnik advised that it was the second whereas clause being removed.
Mayor Thomas asked Mr. Irby to explain the Police Officer Contribution; Mr. Irby summarized that
the Police Officers will be able to buy time with cash. Mayor Thomas asked for further clarification;
Police Chief Joe Mahoney explained that it's actually not buying time, it's buying increased multiplier
of the five (5) years of service. Therefore at 20 years of service, you get 60% of your highest paid last
three (3) years. This would give the officer the ability to buy five (5) more years of multipliers; they
would retire with 60% of 20 but would have the option to buy up to 75%.
Councilwoman Power inquired if this had come from negotiations; Mr. Irby replied that it had been
asked for via the police officers on the Pension Board, the attorney had then made it work and the
actuaries had also looked at it. City Attorney Wolfe added that there was no impact.
Mayor Thomas closed the public hearing.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Dolbow, second by Councilwoman Power, to approve
Ordinance No. 2022-O-18. The MOTION was APPROVED by the following vote:
Yes:Mayor Thomas, Councilwoman Power, Councilwoman Bennington, Councilwoman Dolbow
and Councilman Powers
5 -
c.Resolution No. 2022-R-24: Modifying the Schedule of Fees/Rates
City Attorney Wolfe read the Resolution into the record.
City Manager Irby provided a staff report and recommendation.
Mayor Thomas opened the public hearing.
Councilman Powers referenced the Development Services fees located on page 20 of the Resolution;
he had done a study of all the cities in Southeast Volusia and while he believes this Resolution is a
good start, he doesn't feel that it's where it should end. Upon comparison, for a Small Comp Plan
Amendment, the City is looking to increase from $200 to $500; whereas two (2) cities to the North of
Edgewater charge $2,500. Similarly, Large Comp Plans are going from $300 to $1000; whereas two
(2) cities to the North charge $5,100 and $3,000 respectively.
Councilman Powers had also noticed a fee being added however City Clerk Zlotnik made note that
there was a scriveners error of said added fee amount. It says $100 but should be $1,000.
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Councilman Powers noted that the biggest thing is the PUD cost as PUD's take years to develop.
Additionally, upon checking, he had discovered that Edgewater falls behind neighboring Cities fee
schedules. He specified that they want development to pay for itself but when looking at the
administrative cost of development, he doesn't want the General Fund to float what it costs to
develop those documents. Councilman Powers added that other Cities utilize evaluations to
determine single-family home permit costs but he feels those results can be fluffed.
Upon Councilwoman Bennington's prompting, Mr. Irby asked Mr. Lear if anything had to be done by
October 1; Mr. Lear said no.
City Clerk Zlotnik suggested Council approve the Resolution excluding the Development Services
fees because the recycling fees did have to be approved by October 1st. Mr. Irby expressed concern
that doing so would muddy the waters and urged Council to adopt the Resolution, assuring them that
they would follow up in 90 days to make adjustments.
Council proceeded to discuss the possible ramifications of approving the Resolution.
Councilwoman Power asked when the last time this was looked at; Mr. Irby answered that it had
been a year ago. Councilman Powers asked if they had done an equation of the time that goes into
processing the different things in Development Services, Mr. Irby said not to his knowledge.
Mayor Thomas asked how soon they could get the improved Resolution brought back to Council; Mr.
Irby said 60 days.
Bridgette Vaissiere, Finance Director, told Council that the recycling needed to be approved before
October 1st so it would have to be done presently or at the September meeting. She added that prior
utility rate studies showed increases and that they had adopted with those increases going into effect
for future years; the chart does have recommended increases that would be held flat so they want to
approve before October 1st to prevent the old fees from going into effect.
Councilwoman Power felt that if they were going to take the time to critically analyze the fees and
there is nothing that says it has to be done once a year, she would be in favor of adopting the new
ones which would still be increasing the fees in the meantime.
Councilwoman Dolbow asked when the last time other rates for the City services had been increased;
Councilwoman Power said she knew they had gone up before but was unable to provide specifics.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Power, second by Councilwoman Dolbow, to approve
Resolution No. 2022-R-24. The MOTION was APPROVED by the following vote:
Yes:Councilwoman Power, Councilwoman Dolbow and Councilman Powers3 -
No:Mayor Thomas and Councilwoman Bennington2 -
9. BOARD APPOINTMENTS
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None at this time
10. OTHER BUSINESS
None at this time
11. OFFICER REPORTS
a.City Clerk
City Clerk Zlotnik reminded Council that there is a budget workshop on Wednesday, August 24th at
4:30 p.m.
b.City Attorney
City Attorney Wolfe provided an update on the Deborah Richards vs. the City of Edgewater case and
the John Ingles vs. the City of Edgewater case.
c.City Manager
City Manager Irby provided an update on a piece of property that the City had been attempting to
purchase for the new City Hall; one of the owners had unexpectedly passed away, leaving things in
limbo. He informed Council that the upcoming workshop may encompass a special meeting to vote
on whether or not to put a contract forth that would keep the City in the running for said property
until the end of the year.
City Attorney Wolfe advised that the deadlines pertaining to the property would be extended; the
City had a back up contract that had a date of July 13th, if the City had been told by that deadline
that the first contract had not been closed by then, they would have been in first position and the due
diligence period would have started but the property owner had not. Currently they are discussing
dates for a new back up contract.
Councilwoman Dolbow asked about short term rentals and wanted to know if any progress had been
made on putting together a committee for it. Mr. Irby said it was called an Equity Study Committee
and there is no current timeline as it's still in the beginning stages.
Mayor Thomas received a complaint from a resident about rising rent costs; he asked if there was
any way for the City to regulate the amount landlords can charge; Mr. Irby stated he thinks that is a
property rights issue but would look into it. Councilman Powers touched on affordable housing and
how it's often misconstrued. City Attorney Wolfe said he will have to research the matter further.
12. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Leo Towsley, 2832 Unity Tree Drive, expressed disapproval over a former Council decision.
13. ADJOURN
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
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Minutes submitted by:
Monique Toupin, Assistant to the City Clerk
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