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08-02-1999 - Regular ....' .."", CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 2, 1999 7:00 P.M. COMMUNITY CENTER MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Mayor Allman called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Randy Allman Councilman James Gornto Councilman Myron Hammond Councilman Gary Roberts Councilwoman Judith Lichter City Attorney Nikki Clayton City Manager Kenneth Hooper City Clerk Susan Wadsworth Police Chief Lawrence Schumaker Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE There was a silent invocation and pledge of allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Reqular Meetinq of July 19. 1999 Councilman Hammond made a motion to approve the July 19, 1999 minutes, second by Councilman Gornto. The motion CARRIED 5-0. PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/PLAQUES There were no presentations at this time. CITIZEN COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS ONLY There were no citizen comments at this time. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Councilman Gornto stated after the last meeting someone mentioned to him that he was failing to bring the mike down when he talks and apologized for this. Councilman Hammond had nothing at this time. Councilman Roberts had nothing at this time. Councilwoman Lichter stated she has given Council a copy of the report from the Local Government Study Committee that she attends. This is from the Building Inspections Committee. It is proposing that the license contractors from the State and County not be individually licensed by 15 separate cities but have one County licensing track. This has been proposed by contractors but also the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. She further went over the process that is being proposed. If the County doesn't want to do this they are proposing VCOG take it over. Building Official Dennis Fischer has reviewed this and says he supports the concept. City Manager Hooper stated Councilwoman Lichter needs a consensus from Council that the City of Edgewater favors and endorses this. He further explained the contractor licensing process. Staff recommends the Council seriously consider this. '-" ,."., Councilwoman Lichter spoke about this being proposed by contractors and by some Chamber of Commerce's as making the process faster and also uniform. Councilman Roberts feels some of the concept is good as far as keeping track of who is licensed and where in the County. As far as permitting each individual construction project, he feels this needs to stay under local control so our Building Official has a better idea of what is going to happen on that project. He feels they should look into this. He spoke about exchanging inspectors between cities. He doesn't feel this is a bad idea. He feels they need to look into it deeper before they make a decision on it. City Manager Hooper stated it is not proposing changing the permitting. It is an agreement to supplement each other's staff. Councilwoman Lichter would like to hear from our own Chamber before Monday. Councilman Roberts suggested having Mr. Fischer address the issue with Council also. Mayor Allman had nothing at this time. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS A. First Public Hearinq. Joe Martin (East Volusia Enqineerinq. Inc.) requestinq on behalf of Oscar Zeller and Julian Greene an amendment to the Development Aqreement Mayor Allman opened the public hearing. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no further comments, Mayor Allman closed the public hearing. Councilman Roberts moved for approval, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0. B. First Reading. Ord. No. 99-0-16. Luis Geil. authorized aqent for Larry and Patricia Brinson. seeking annexation approval for 2.6 acres located at 3042 U.S. Hiqhway #1 Mayor Allman read Ord. 99-0-16 and opened the public hearing. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no further comments, Mayor Allman closed the public hearing. Councilman Roberts made a motion to approve Ord. 99-0-16, second by Councilwoman Lichter. The motion CARRIED 5-0. C. First Readinq. Ord. No. 99-0-18. Luis Geil. authorized aqent for Larry and Patricia Brinson. requestinq the rezoninq of 2.6 acres located at 3042 U.S. Hiqhway #1 Mayor Allman read Ord. 99-0-18 and opened the public hearing. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no further comments, Mayor Allman closed the public hearing. Councilman Roberts made a motion to approve Ord. 99-0-18, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0. Page -2- Council Regular Meeting August 2, 1999 ~ ...., D. First Readinq. Ord. No. 99-0-19. Modifvinq Chapter 10 (Health & Sanitation). Article V (Weeds. Grass & Brush): Standards for Property Maintenance by amendinq section 10-95 (Notice of Violation) & section 10-96 (Hearing before Code Enforcement Board) Mayor Allman read Ord. 99-0-19 and opened the public hearing. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no further comments, Mayor Allman closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Lichter made a motion to approve Ord. 99-0-19, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0. E. Res. No. 99-R-14. city Engineer Hans Wolfer recommendinq approval of variances from shoreline buffer at 8 Harris Circle and from impervious surfaces requirements Mayor Allman read Res. 99-R-14. city Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Councilwoman Lichter commented on two problems she has with this. City Attorney Clayton elaborated on Councilwoman Lichter's concerns. City Manager Hooper had additional comments. Councilman Hammond stated he thinks there are other homes on Riverside Drive that have had pools put in and had this variance set up. City Manager Hooper informed him that is correct. Ms. Plaskett stated there are six homes. Councilman Hammond made a motion to approve Res. 99-R-14, second by Councilman Gornto. The motion CARRIED 4-1. Mayor Allman voted NO. CONSENT AGENDA A. Animal Control Board Appointment - Councilman Hammond's appointment due to the expiration of term for Robert Schmitt who did not seek reappointment Councilman Hammond appointed Diane Corson to the Animal Control Board. Councilwoman Lichter made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business to discuss at this time. OFFICER REPORTS City Clerk Wadsworth had nothing at this time. City Attorney Clayton stated she is bringing before Council the Blaton purchase that the City authorized. They have the survey, title insurance commitment, the deed from the Blaton's and they are ready for the Mayor's signature. We will close today because the exchange of documents with the Mayor's signature will be complete. This is the wellfield area. Page -3- Council Regular Meeting August 2, 1999 ........ ...., city Manaqer 1) Authorize advertisement of millage rate: current rate of 6.29. current roll back rate of 6.25. or other rate city Manager Hooper explained the current rate is 6.29 mills, the ~oll back rate of 6.25 and other. Council requested he look at a humber along the 5.95 range to see if we could balance our budget to that. Yes we can. If council wishes, the 5.95 below roll back can be accomplished within our budgetary means this year. Councilman Roberts made a motion to approve 5.95 mills, second by Councilwoman Lichter. Mike Visconti, 316 pine Breeze Drive, spoke on the roll back rate. City Manager Hooper explained the current millage compared to roll back. He would rather put his $40.00 per year savings towards hiring more personnel to alleviate the burden from Parks and Recreation and Public Works. Dominic capria, 606 Topside Circle, asked about a 2.4% increase in the tax base and the 5.95, which he thinks is great. He spoke about the land that has been annexed into the city in the last year. will there be any building going on in this budget year? If so, were these figures calculated in the tax rate? City Manager Hooper spoke about the increase in property value being $10,000,000 for the whole City. There really hasn't been annexed new property. He thinks what Mr. Capria is asking is if there is money in the budget to accommodate the new growth that is occurring. He informed Mr. Capria yes. Ed Keenan, 1905 pine Tree Drive, complimented Council for coming down. He spoke about having five previous years of having taxes going up. He thinks our City Manager is very capable. The motion CARRIED 5-0. 2) Due to holidays. reschedule September 6th (Labor Dav) to the 13th and September 20th (Yom Kippur) to the 27th City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. He informed Council there are budget public hearings on the 13th and 27th and they do not conflict with the County or the School Board. city Manager Hooper spoke about a letter from the City of Oak Hill where they are requesting a joint planning area agreement similar to what the City of Edgewater has with the City of New Smyrna Beach. They would also like to have a joint City council meeting with their council relating to water and sewer in Southeast Volusia. He asked if council would have any objection to scheduling such. Council had no problem with this. City Manager Hooper will ask them to meet on either the 13th or 27th They will have the meeting at our City Hall. They will start at 5:30 p.m. city Manager Hooper presented Council with a report on the latest information of the water and wastewater. Volusia County has agreed to build their wastewater treatment facility and buy wholesale water capacity from the City of Edgewater. Compensating or trading of that amounts to the fact that the City of Edgewater will trade water for sewer capacity in some of the areas south of us. This is not finalized at this point. He is going to draft an interlocal agreement between the County and the city, which will come back before Council in the form of a public hearing. Page -4- Council Regular Meeting August 2, 1999 'W ......, Councilman Roberts spoke about water and sewer and expanding our infrastructure. He agrees we need to go south and work on the commercial corridor of u.s. #1. He feels they also need to look at people that are still not on the sewer system that are within our City limits. City Manager Hooper further elaborated. Councilwoman Lichter asked if there is a list that shows the unsewered areas. City Manager Hooper informed her we do. Councilman Roberts expressed concern regarding the vacant properties in Florida Shores eventually having homes with sewer and cutting ourselves short in the future. GENERAL CITIZEN COMMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE Doris Hill, 112 Lincoln Road, asked about the existing road improvement program. She spoke about money left over from the road paving being in a special fund for road improvement somewhere around $600,000. She asked if anything has been done to correct the problems with the roads in Florida Shores that are deplorable. City Manager Hooper explained the money left over was placed in the General Fund. Ms. Hill further explained the money she was talking about. If it wasn't spent on the roads, where did the money go. City Manager Hooper again stated it went to the General Fund. Ms. Hill stated it was her understanding from talking to Mr. Munoz that that money was earmarked for upkeep of the roads. city Manager Hooper informed her that is not true. Ms. Hill asked if anything is being done to replace Karen Rickelman. How can the City get a long without someone of her stature in that position. She is worried about that. City Manager Hooper informed Ms. Hill what they have done up to this point. Karen had a very good staff and she trained that staff so it is not like we don't have anybody. We have an Assistant Finance Director who effectively today is running the department. We are doing fine with that. Ms. Hill feels this City would have been better served if the City had kept her on. She has served this City well and she is very sorry to see her go. City Manager Hooper stated he is sorry to see her leave now. Bob Garthwaite, 10 Lee Drive, asked if the lower millage is going to effect any City employees and will any be let go. will any of the City services be privatized that we now have. city Manager Hooper stated no. There is nothing in the way of privatization whatsoever that we are not privatized right now. We have some additional positions in the budget. There is not a reduction or layoffs of anyone. Mike Visconti, 316 pine Breeze Drive, asked what flood zone Edgewater is in. Councilwoman Lichter stated different parts of Edgewater are in different flood zones. Mr. Visconti stated in today's paper there is an article about the flood zones and the insurance companies raising the rates depending on what flood zone you are in. City Manager Hooper explained throughout the City there are many different flood zones. He suggested Mr. Visconti meet with himself, Lynne or the Building Department and they would show him which flood zone he is in. Councilman Hammond stated your homeowner's insurance will tell you what zone you are in. Page -5- Council Regular Meeting August 2, 1999 '-' "WI Dick Jones, 1530 Sabal Palm Drive, feels Council is doing a good job. Mr. Jones feels the County is taking away the identities of every town they possibly can. He feels they are subtle and devious and hopes Council has enough stamina to stick with it. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Councilman Roberts made a motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Bloomer Page -6- Council Regular Meeting August 2, 1999