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03-17-2008 - Regular CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER REGULAR MEETING MARCH 17, 2008 7:00 P.M. COMMUNITY CENTER MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Thomas called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Michael Thomas Councilwoman Debra Rogers Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Councilwoman Harriet Rhodes Councilman Ted Cooper Acting City Manager Tracey Barlow City Clerk Bonnie Wenzel Assistant City Attorney Mike Ciocchetti Present Present Present Present Excused Present Present Present INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE There was a silent invocation and pledge of allegiance to the Flag. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no minutes to be approved at this time. 3. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/PLAQUES/CERTIFICATES/DON ATIONS . There were no Presentations at this time. 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS The following citizens spoke: Bill Glaser, 1703 Needle Palm Drive, questioned why the minutes were not up to date. John Miller, 2312 Willow Oak Drive, expressed concern regarding the City looking messy due to the newspapers that Page 1 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 are thrown out on people's driveways that are not picked up. He feels the people delivering the newspapers are wasting gas. He also commented on his driveway being torn up by the City. Councilwoman Rhodes asked if they could write an ordinance that stipulates the newspapers need to be picked up. Assistant City Attorney Ciocchetti informed her they could. Mayor Thomas stated if somebody was throwing something on his property and he didn't want it he would call those people and ask them not to throw it out anymore. Councilwoman Rhodes stated they could do that but it doesn't mean they are going to stop doing it. Councilwoman Rhodes felt in the ordinance it should be that if you have called and requested that this stuff not be thrown on your lawn and they are still throwing it there, there has to be some way to fine the newspaper. If they had an ordinance, the newspaper would then be the ones violating the City ordinance. Acting City Manager Barlow stated then it comes down to how did the newspaper get there and the evidence associated with. Who do you charge with that crime or that violation? Mayor Thomas asked how many residents of Edgewater do we have and how big of a problem is this? This is the first time it has come before him. There are 22,000 residents and they have one guy complaining. Councilwoman Rhodes stated even with that one guy complaining he is letting his papers pile up in his yard. He lives down the street from her and makes her house look bad. If everybody that doesn't want the newspapers is doing the same thing he is doing there has got to be some process to get rid of those newspapers. She asked if he was allowed to let those newspapers pile up until they cover his house. Acting City Manager Barlow stated that is neglected premises. He would eventually be fined. Mr. Miller denied the opportunity for a private contractor to clean up his private property. He wasn't sure they would find a resolution. Councilwoman Rhodes asked how many papers it takes before you get a citation. Acting City Manager Barlow stated neglected premises is obviously kind of subjective. If Page 2 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17,2008 everything else is clean and mowed and it is only newspapers neatly stacked up in a corner, that wouldn't necessarily qualify as a neglected premises. If the grass is grown up and there are multiple newspapers, that would get there. There is no clear-cut answer when it comes to neglected premises. Those are few and far between complaints. Most of the problems they have with newspapers piling up are going to be on abandoned properties verses properties that people reside in. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she is of the opinion if papers are thrown on your property you have enough pride in your property and you pick them up and throw them away. It's a nuisance, it. wastes trees. There just isn't a way to legislate it. If they would let the recycling people pick them up, at least the papers are being recycled and will do some good. If they do it at every other place where papers are laying around, that is a solution to the problem. If Mr. Miller isn't going to let them do that then the solution doesn't work. Mr. Miller commented on shredding his junk mail and taking it to the UPS Store and he reuses it. Councilwoman Rhodes informed him that was great. Mayor Thomas asked Mr. Miller if he contacted the people that are throwing out the unwanted newspapers and ask them to stop. Mr. Miller informed him no. He doesn't know whose they are. He used to pick them up every day and he got tired of it. He is sick, isn't able to bend over and has a broken back and he can't do very much. Councilwoman Bennington stated she suggested to Mr. Miller that he call. That is what her husband does because he doesn't like them in their yard either. Councilwoman Rogers commented on the Pennysaver, the Hometown News and the Edge being the newspapers that are thrown out. She suggested they create a generic letter, have it signed by Councilwoman Bennington who is the Councilwoman for his district, addressing it to the various publications and ask them to please not deliver to this address any longer. There is an individual living here who has a disability and isn't able to go out and maintain and pick them up. She would suggest they do that and if that doesn't do something, the Council can go into the whole Page 3 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17,2008 process of an ordinance. She thinks if they do a letter since this is an isolated incident they will get an answer. Mayor Thomas felt they should let him call first and he didn't understand his point of letting them pile up on his property. Councilwoman Rogers stated instead of going back and forth they could try to help the citizen and write a letter. It doesn't take very long. She offered to do the letter to give an attempt. Dominic Capri a , 606 Topside Circle, stated last month Council voted to take so much from the Enterprise Fund into the General Fund. He asked if the Finance Director could tell them by next meeting how much each Enterprise Fund is taking in, how much are the expenses and what percentage of dollars goes into the General Fund from each one. Acting City Manager Barlow explained he thought Mr. Capria misunderstood what actually occurred at the last meeting. What occurred is approval for cost allocation to determine exactly what he is asking. Currently today and he believed the last two years there were no transfers from the Enterprise Fund to the General Fund. Mr. Capria informed him that wasn't true. There was a million dollars transferred. Acting City Manager Barlow wanted to sit down with Mr. Capria. Councilwoman Rogers stated there were transfers from Stormwater. The auditors even made mention of it in the notes. Finance Director McKinney stated the last transfer that was done was for the FY 05-06. We have not received as yet nor has he presented to Council the FY 06-07 CAFR. The last CAFR they were presented it did show transfers from all the Enterprise Funds, but they have not seen the FY 06-07 CAFR where there were no transfers last year. Part of what that was was it was felt that for the FY 05-06 year the Enterprise Funds as a whole over contributed what they needed to. It was very staggered. That was the whole purpose behind the cost allocation study was to come up with what was the fair share, payment in lieu of taxes that the Enterprise Fund should contribute to the General Fund. Page 4 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Mr. Capria stated that isn't what he asked. He didn't feel it was fair that there was only three minutes to answer. It is going to take more than three minutes. That is not what he questioned, what he explained. Mayor Thomas didn't understand what he was asking. Councilwoman Rhodes thought that was the question he asked. Mr. Capria stated each individual one, not the total. How much in water, how much in sewer, how much in the retention, each individual one. Councilwoman Rhodes stated he said none. He said no money was transferred from the Enterprise Funds into the General Fund last year. Mr. Capria stated he didn't say last year. There has been a million dollars within the last couple of years. He is going to have to sit down with somebody and explain it thoroughly and then he wants an answer in a meeting, not just to himself. He asked if they would give him that privilege. Councilwoman Rhodes stated he could sit down with Mr. McKinney. Councilwoman Bennington pointed out Acting City Manager Barlow offered to sit down with him. Mr. Capri a wanted to be told when they could have the meeting. Acting City Manager Barlow instructed him to give him his telephone number and he would contact him tomorrow. Mr. Capria provided his phone number. Councilwoman Rhodes said and everybody should call him tomorrow to say hi. Mr. Capria told her not to be smart just like someone else being smart at the last meeting. That is bologna. He would be glad to sit down with anyone of them and go over it. Maybe he is wrong and if he is he will say so. He keeps his pledges; not like some people who were elected and didn't keep their pledges. Toby Rogerson, 1618 Victory Palm Drive, 603 Indian River Boulevard, commented on knowing the City is dealing with the issue of signs that are not in compliance with the Code. He has been in business six months and he has had three run ins with Code Enforcement. He met with Acting City Manager Barlow who informed him he would do what he wanted with his property but for him to keep his stuff out of the right-of-way. He complied with that. Two months after that she was back again. Then they come over with another guy when he wasn't there and they wanted to write Page 5 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 citations. He didn't understand where this was all coming from. He commented on the signs up and down u.s. #1 that fall right in where they were. They had a Code Compliance officer there three times in one week. Acting City Manager Barlow thought what he was referencing was he has received verbal notice of violations of some signs that were not in compliance. They have actually policed all of u.s. #1. He mentioned there being other individuals that are just as dissatisfied as Mr. Rogerson that own businesses. He commented on this being the first time they have done a sign sweep to this degree since Mr. Rogerson has been in business. He didn't know if the complaint was selective enforcement or concern about the strength of the Code and some of the language in the Code that they are enforcing. The Code Enforcement Officers only enforce the Codes that are established at Council level. He has met with a couple other businesses that had the same concern. They feel they have been victimized and it is has been selective enforcement. He has assured them that is not the case. They are trying to be fair but they are merely enforcing the code established by Council. Mr. Rogerson asked who was in charge of Code Enforcement. Acting City Manager Barlow informed him it is under the Fire Department and that he is still the Fire Chief. Mr. Rogerson asked why his people are saying they are in charge. He was told that the other day. Acting City Manager Barlow informed him there are supervisors. He informed him of the staff below him, Captain Cousins and Robin Bell, who is the Acting Supervisor of Code Enforcement. She is empowered to a certain degree without a doubt. Mayor Thomas asked Mr. Rogerson if his complaint was that he has been singled out. Mr. Rogerson stated you can drive up and down u.S. #1 and all the' other convenience stores all still have their signs up. She was at their place three times last week. He asked if she didn't have anything better to do. Councilwoman Rhodes stated maybe she was at the other places three times too. Mr. Rogerson stated all of his signs are down. Acting City Manager Barlow stated that was something he could look at. Councilwoman Rhodes stated so he is in compliance and she shouldn't be back. Page 6 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Acting City Manager Barlow commented on the limited number of Code Officers and the numerous Code issues out there they also do areas where they go in and clean one area and then clean another area. He doesn't have the resources to hit every single business. Mayor Thomas asked if there were complaints made on his signs. Acting City Manager Barlow would have to research if there were complaints or if they were picked up on routine patrol. They try to do a combination of both. He spoke of being able to make an anonymous complaint on the website. They try to make it very simple to make a Code complaint. Mayor Thomas stated so Mr. Rogerson didn't think the Code was out of whack. He thinks he was selectively enforced. Mr. Rogerson stated Friday when she was there her major complaint was the sign that the State of Florida gives them for the lottery and that they are not in compliance. That is a little ridiculous. The State of Florida issues them to them. He has 2 X 12 signs on his banister out front. It looks like they are getting singled out. He didn't appreciate it. He is a new business trying to make a living. It seems like every time you turn a corner there is somebody telling you what you are doing wrong instead of asking what they can do to help. 5. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Councilman Cooper provided City Clerk Wenzel with his written report during the Workshop. (Attached) Councilwoman Rogers commented on the closure on the east and west end of Pine Avenue. She wasn't sure if this had been discussed at the last meeting. She commented on the e-mail they all received on February 27th. Mayor Thomas stated he remembered it and told Brenda Dewees to e-mail the complainant. Ms. Dewees stated which she did. Councilwoman Rogers asked if that was resolved. Ms. Dewees stated as far as she knew because that is private property. The property owner was the one who resolved those. When she e-mailed her she said okay. Page 7 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Councilwoman Rogers commented on an e-mail she received March 9th regarding Sandpiper Court at the addresses of 319 and 402 and it has to do with the wall that was constructed years ago that was dedicated to the City. It has now been knocked down. She asked if they were going to replace it and what was going on. Acting City Manager Barlow stated he has been out there to evaluate that. Their concern is during the 2004 hurricanes when a portion of the wall was blown down. It was removed at that time. He couldn't justify the hazard there that could dictate using public funds to reconstruct either chain link or a block wall or anything in that area. As far as the sloping condition, there is no difference between that and the 18th Street canal that is unprotected. Councilwoman Rogers stated their concern is what the neighborhood children are doing and safety. She asked if there was a possibility they could look into this. She heard he was saying they don't have the funding. When she sees anything that pertains to senior citizens or children they are on alert and maybe they could talk to Jack Corder. Acting City Manager Barlow cautioned the Council. Once they react to one person complaining they think it is a safety hazard and they put a fence up before they know it they are going to be fencing off every lake in Florida Shores. Councilwoman Rogers felt it should still be looked at because what would be worse, the time spent looking at it or having a suit against the City if there is a safety concern if something happens. Acting City Manager Barlow agreed to look at it again. Councilwoman Bennington stated they have gone out for bid on the Maintenance Building so they can start on the Shelter. They made a change that Jack Corder is now in charge of the Animal Shelter. There have been changes and upgrades made so far. While they are still working on the design they are taking internally and doing some things. She thought they got rid of the temporary help. Acting City Manager Barlow informed her we still have one. Councilwoman Rhodes stated the General Employees Pension Board met last week and they reviewed the ordinance concerning the General Employees Pension Board and they are trustees, they are not an advisory board. That changes Page 8 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17,2008 things in respect that they can manage their own funds so to speak. It was decided to go out for RFP's for an attorney, a money manager, an actuary and a custodian. They have another meeting on Friday at 9:00 a.m. and they will meet with the attorney and the consultant at that meeting and get some questions answered that they have through the attorney, mostly to do with the IRS and their new regulation concerning retirement. Councilwoman Rhodes stated last weekend she went to the Pension Summit in Jacksonville with Acting City Manager Barlow, Jim Jollie, Julie Christine and Donna Looney. She spoke of it being boring but she learned a lot. A lot of it had to do with choosing money managers and deciding that process. Hopefully that will come in handy as that will be the next thing they will be doing. Mayor Thomas commented on attending the WAV meeting. They hired a new Executive Director, which he thought they were very fortunate to get. She has so much experience. He was overwhelmed by her resume. She lives and breathes water. They got her because she lives in Mims and she dreaded having to drive to Orlando. Mayor Thomas reported that he attended the Mayors meeting today. Mayor Thomas commented on some complaints they had at the last meeting regarding an alleged drug house. He met with the Police Chief the next day. He went there and visited himself. Mr. Cooper went by there and he has recruited some volunteers, a motorcycle crew to go by there. Mayor Thomas stated he has lived here since 1972. He has never seen an Edgewater Christmas parade because he is always out in the woods. They invited him to ride in a parade in the Eastern Shores Mobile Village a week ago. He commented on there being a physically and mentally challenged guy that came out and our firefighters put him in the fire truck and rode him around in Eastern Shores and he got to wave to everybody and then they lined him up and took photographs with him with the firemen. That is why he moved to Edgewater, that is why he lives in Edgewater and that is why he is here today fighting for his quality of life in Edgewater. He informed Acting City Manager Barlow he should be very proud of his firefighters. He was proud to ride in that parade. Page 9 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Mayor Thomas stated his mom went in the hospital on February 27th in Orlando and he got her out last Thursday and he was making the commute to Orlando every day or every other day. If they don't think they don't have a quality of life in Edgewater, then they need to do it. The visiting hours were over at 5:30 p.m. and he would sit there from 5:30 p.m. and wait until 7:00 p.m. to get on I- 4. He tried other routes and all of them are four lanes this way and four lanes that way. At 5:30 p.m. it is nothing but a parking lot. If you turn on your television in the morning, they shoot one over there every day. If they don't shoot one they stab one. If they don't stab one they run over one. He was so glad to get back to Edgewater. He didn't disagree with the public trying to fine tune things but we've got the quality of life in Edgewater. 6. CONSENT AGENDA There were no items on the Consent Age~da to be discussed at this time. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS There were no Public Hearings, Ordinances and Resolutions to be discussed at this time. 8. BOARD APPOINTMENTS A. Police Pension Board of Trustees - Councilwoman Bennington to affirm the election of Gary Conroy and Larry Leaf, who seek reappointment Councilwoman Bennington moved to accept the Police Pension Board of Trustee's election of Gary Conroy and Larry Leaf, second by Councilwoman Rogers. The MOTION CARRIED 4 - 0 . B. Firefighters Pension Fund Board - Councilman Cooper to appoint Jim Jollie and Ron Hayward, who seek reappointment This item was postponed until the next meeting when Councilman Cooper was present. Page 10 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 C. Citizen Code Enforcement Board - Councilwoman Rhodes to appoint Ben DelNigro, who seeks reappointment Councilwoman Rhodes moved to reappoint Ben DelNigro, second by Councilwoman Rogers. The MOTION CARRIED 4 - 0 . 9. OTHER BUSINESS A. Utility Service Agreement for Marbella Oaks Town Homes - The proposed project is for 48 town home units located at the corner of Eslinger Road and Mission Oaks Drive. The project is within the City's Utility Service Area. Interim Director of Environmental Services Brenda Dewees made a staff presentation. Mayor Thomas entertained a motion. Councilwoman Bennington moved to accept staff's recommendation and approve the utility service agreement, second by Councilwoman Rhodes. The MOTION CARRIED 4 -0. 10. OFFICER REPORTS A. City Clerk City Clerk Wenzel had nothing at this time. B. City Attorney Assistant City Attorney Ciocchetti had nothing at this time. C. City Manager 1) 2007-2008 Budget Calendar Acting City Manager Barlow asked Finance Director McKinney to make a presentation regarding this year's budget. He also asked him to enlighten them on what they know about Page 11 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17,2008 the effects from Amendment #1 and portability and what that does to Edgewater. Finance Director McKinney made a staff presentation. He then highlighted the status of the funds on a high level by fund with regard to the General Fund, the Special Revenue Funds, the Water & Sewer Fund, the Refuse Fund, the Stormwater Fund. He then commented on the State Revenue with regard to shared revenue and sales tax. Finance Director McKinney also mentioned the final payment of the ParkTowne land purchase occurring in August. Finance Director McKinney also elaborated on the money from the other Enterprise Funds. They didn't do it in 2007-2008 due to using the sale of land to offset the money that would have been generated from the Water, Refuse or Stormwater Funds. Finance Director McKinney then commented on the voter referendum that was put on the ballot for January 29th to discuss property tax reform. He reported on the information he received last Friday from the Property Appraiser's office on what the City's impact was, which was based on the 2007 tax roll. Based on our 2007 tax roll, we are looking to take a total decrease in ad valorem revenue of $770,000. Next year we have a General Fund reduction of $1,957,943. Finance Director McKinney also commented on the cost allocation study. Finance Director McKinney stated he has put out on the budget a list of objectives, monetarily for the General Fund Departments and he is getting ready for the planning of the FY 2008 and Acting City Manager Barlow ill be presenting the 2008-2009 calendar for the budget. Councilwoman Rogers commented on being relieved looking at the 2008-2009 Department Budget calendar and the organization. She is impressed. She said applause to Mr. McKinney and that she hadn't met him yet but she would after the meeting. Councilwoman Rhodes asked why the sale of ParkTowne did not go to reduce that debt. Why did that go into the General Fund? Finance Director McKinney stated good question. He Page 12 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 spoke of there still being on-going expenditures for ParkTowne in Fund 331. Councilwoman Rhodes stated so the money was taking in and asked if the improvements were paid for in the 2007-2008 budget cycle. Finance Director McKinney commented on Fund 331 currently being over budget $911,000. That money in there really is for ParkTowne. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she wasn't happy with the way that was done. It shouldn't have been done that way. Finance Director McKinney agreed. He has been in the position for five weeks and he has gone in and asked numerous questions and been told this is the way they did it. He didn't agree with it and asked for an opportunity to straighten it out and things like this won't be brought to them after the fact. The money should have been budgeted in Fund 331, plain and simple, not in the General Fund. He doesn't need the money from ParkTowne and the General Fund to balance the budget in the current year. He will make it on where we are in the current year. The money due in August will cover the expenditures 100%. Councilwoman Rhodes asked about the $1.9 million he is telling them they need to reduce their budget for next year. She asked about the Reserve Fund and if there is money in there. Finance Director McKinney stated currently there is $570,000 in future year appropriations. He has not gotten the final information on the auditors on where we stand at 9/30/07. He is patiently waiting for them to wrap that up. Until he gets those numbers from the auditors, he cannot tell them our final numbers at 9/30/07. In the current year he has $570,000 set aside. Finance Director McKinney stated from a revenue and expenditure side so far 42% into the year; we are at 44% of the budget citywide. That is not taking out the encumbrances. That includes encumbrances. With encumbrances, he believes what staff did before his time were the steps necessary to trim the budget. Where they are right now, they are looking good. Councilwoman Rhodes commented on having union issues that may incur some retro salaries that is going to pull a big chunk of that. She asked if he was including that number in his encumbrances. Finance Director McKinney informed her he was not. Page 13 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Acting City Manager Barlow stated they couldn't turn back time. They can learn from history and make improvements going forward. They are making some pretty significant strides there. Acting City Manager Barlow commented on having on the April 7th agenda a request from Mission Oaks where they want the Council to consider waiving their connection fee and their deposit. Staff's recommendation may be for Council to consider waiving the deposit, due to it being refunded back to them after 13 consecutive months of never being late and maybe charging them the $31.25, which would be a split. Councilwoman Rhodes mentioned them getting the $50 deposit back from New Smyrna. Acting City Manager Barlow stated some of those got $50 back from New Smyrna. Councilwoman Rhodes thought there were only three that didn't. Acting City Manager Barlow stated there are 48 customers and he thought only 17 got it. Acting City Manager Barlow asked Ms. Dewees if they were in the testing phase for Mission Oaks waiting on DEP. Ms. Dewees stated they have already tested. They are just waiting for DEP to provide approval. Acting City Manager Barlow commented on the City Manager's position. Councilwoman Rhodes and Councilwoman Bennington stated they didn't want to talk about that right now. He spoke to two of the other interim directors and they were amenable to leaving things status quo for a couple of months. He has agreed to do the same as well until they get deeper into the budget. He commented on this being over a $300,000 savings a year right now. Councilwoman Rhodes questioned him saying they were comfortable until they get into the budget. She asked him what he meant by that. Acting City Manager Barlow stated they are probably looking at mid-summer or the first part of October when they may consider readdressing this issue. He will probably come back to Council after they ratify contracts to request such as everybody else that has been working out of class that 5% bump. That is all he is asking. It has cost him more to be in this position than not based on some additional expenditures that have come along out of his pocket with this. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she tried to get him to take that a long time ago. Page 14 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Acting City Manager Barlow stated he didn't think he was going to be there that long. Mayor Thomas commented on talking at the Mayors meeting about all of the interims we currently have. Frank Bruno offered the County's help. He said thank you very much and informed him they have very qualified people in those positions. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she doesn't think the City has run better in her tenure here as it has since they have all these acting and interims. Acting City Manager Barlow expressed his appreciation. They have a very dedicated staff and they think they have the right people in place. Acting City Manager Barlow commented on union negotiations continuing wit the Police Department. He has had discussions with the General Employees. He wanted to set up an Executive Session on the 24th or 25th. It was the consensus of Council to hold it on the 25th during the daytime. Acting City Manager Barlow reported on the paving issue on North Flagler. He and Darren had a conference call with all the right players and he is currently negotiating, which Ms. Dewees has been a part of as well, with partnering with Tarmac in order to pave that entire section of North Flagler. It is creating hazardous conditions on Park Avenue. They are making headway there. He felt confident by April 7th he could have a resolution back to Council. Acting City Manager Barlow then reported on the Meadow Lake Subdivision sidewalk issue. It will cost about $2,750. They will work on those as staff time allows. They have discovered and are doing more research on whether there may be some responsibility of the homeowners association to maintain that. Councilwoman Rhodes stated it was her understanding that it was the homeowners association's responsibility. Acting City Manager Barlow stated if it is our responsibility we are ready to mobilize and start to address that. If it isn't their responsibility, they will share that with Meadow Lakes. Page 15 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 Acting City Manager Barlow informed Council Jack Corder has assumed to take over the administrative responsibilities and overseeing of the Animal Shelter itself. Since he has taken over, they have paired down their day laborers to help out some of those duties. They have hired a part time, no benefits, vet tech to help out down there, an opportunity to extract some savings with doing that as well. He commented on the Pet Society and all of the volunteers being very excited with the direction of that. Acting City Manager Barlow commented on the School Board presentation being scheduled for April 7th. They do the vote prior to the Council meeting but they will be able to come in and talk about what occurred with the vote and the impacts it mayor may not have on Edgewater and how they are addressing those impacts. Mayor Thomas stated the School Board really doesn't have a choice. They have so much money in their budget. He has had some people call him and say certain cities were supporting the School Board not to close the schools. Since Amendment 1 he doesn't think they have a choice. 2) Tentative Agenda Items Councilwoman Rhodes questioned the Tentative Workshop scheduled for March regarding Election issues and the Restorations Presentation. She asked if that was going to occur and if they had a date. Acting City Manager Barlow stated he and City Clerk Wenzel were going to meet tomorrow to talk about where they are going with the Election issues. They are trying to determine what the other cities are doing and kind of follow suit there. There was no definite date. Mayor Thomas stated there were 11 Mayors out of 16 Mayors present at the meting today. There were pros and cons on the election. Some like it the way it is and some thought they would lose things by going to even numbered years. They need to do what they want to do. Acting City Manager Barlow felt that was where they would land with a workshop to see what Council does want to do. They can layout all the pros and cons each way and go from there. 11. CITIZEN COMMENTS Page 16 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17,2008 The following citizens spoke: Mike Visconti, 316 Pine Breeze Drive, thanked Acting City Manager Barlow for his comments on the sidewalks in Meadow Lakes. Mr. Visconti feels we have one of the best cities. He further commented on what Leisure Services does. They couldn't get a better man than Jack Corder to take over the Animal Shelter. He spoke of Leisure Services having a surprise Christmas present for Edgewater. Dominic Capri a , 606 Topside Circle, stated he didn't need the meeting now. He stated Finance Director McKinney explained everything. He did a great job. Everything he was asking he explained. He was a little disturbed. Hopefully at the end of the year we will come out even or ahead. Right now we are taking in less than we are expending from what he understands. Mr. Capria stated out of the $557,000 in the reserve, what is the actual percentage? Councilwoman Rhodes and Councilwoman Bennington informed him it was under the Charter requirement. Finance Director McKinney stated it is supposed to be $1.3 million. Councilwoman Rogers stated seven and a half percent. Bill Glaser, 1703 Needle Palm Drive, stated you folks being the CEO's of Edgewater's largest and most expensive commercial venture up to this point, he was wondering what it would take for the investors in ParkTowne to get an actual reading of what was the goes into and what is the comes out of ParkTowne. They weren't asked if they wanted to do this. It was done. They weren't given the opportunity to determine if the guy running it is qualified to do it. They have heard all these numbers. People have been asking for years how much ParkTowne is costing them. He keeps hearing different numbers. They borrowed $4.95 million or something like that to be paid off in 10 years. He thought they paid it off last year. Now they hear another $1.2 million. They went out and borrowed $4.5 million to put in infrastructure. Then they borrowed another $2.7 million for infrastructure. A while back they borrowed another $300 million for infrastructure based on a meeting that never occurred and a memo that doesn't exist and a promise made by only two people, nobody else knows Page 17 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 anything about it and they put them in hock for $3 million for whatever it was, 15 years. He would like to find out if there is some way and asked if he had to write a letter or e-mail or whatever to the City requesting this information so they actually know how much did they invest in ParkTowne and what are they getting out of it. Councilwoman Bennington informed him he could always make a public record request. Mr. Glaser stated he has made public record requests before. Councilwoman Bennington asked about this. Mr. Glaser informed her yes and stated he got a book about that thick and it was go through there and see what you can find, which he started going through it but he hasn't finished yet. Mayor Thomas stated maybe he could tell them when he is done. Mr. Glaser stated all right. Mayor Thomas thanked him. 12 . ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Councilwoman Rhodes moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Bloomer Page 18 of 18 Council Regular Meeting March 17, 2008 COUNCIL MEETING REPORT 3/17/2008 3/12/08 Meeting with Jack Corder from Leisure Services, Company Representatives Gary Roberts, and Sandy Bailey, from CCI (Commercial Construction Inc.) receiving proposed pricing for the Amphitheater roof. Jack is taking their proposal under advisement. 3/14/08 Attended MPO Seminar on transportation projects for the following Priority Project Lists. xu Traffic Operations/ITS/Safety Projects Enhancement (Bicycle/Pedestrian) Projects, and Enhancement (other) Projects pertaining to transportation needs. Meeting tomorrow with Tracy Barlow and Daren Lear to talk about Edgewater possibilities for this Priority Project Lists. Hoping to include the traffic light request from petitioners this past week. Met with Police Chief Bill Bennett about the request from concerned citizens this past meeting. I know myself and the Mayor have included this property on our drive by list. I also want to offer thanks to the Booze Fighters Motorcycle Club for their help in also driving by this property during the Bike Week event. The Chief may have more to offer on this subject tonight. I want to again offer special Thanks to the Brenda and her team for taking care of the Pot Hole problem on Pine Tree Drive, and her help with the county on fixing the entrance way to North Flagler Ave., off of Park Ave. I believe Tracy Barlow may have more information regarding the total solution to this ongoing problem.