06-18-2007 - Joint Workshop w/Planning & Zoning Board
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CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER
JOINT WORKSHOP WITH PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
JUNE 18, 2007
6:00 P.M.
COMMUNITY CENTER
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Vincenzi called the workshop to order at 6:06 p.m. in the
Community Center.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Michael Thomas
Councilwoman Debra Rogers
Councilman Dennis Vincenzi
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Councilwoman Harriet Rhodes
Councilwoman Judith Lichter
City Manager Jon Williams
Edwin Vopelak
Charlene Zeese
William Miller
David Ross
Pat Card
John Weiss
David Leonard
Development Services Director Darren Lear
Planning Technician Bonnie Wenzel
INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Absent
Present
Present
Absent
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
There was a silent invocation and pledge of allegiance to the Flag.
MEETING PURPOSE
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming Evaluation and
Appraisal Report (EAR) for the Comprehensive Plan as required by the
Florida Department of Community Affairs.
Vice Mayor Vincenzi turned the meeting over to Mr. Lear to do a
presentation.
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June 18,2007
Mr. Lear thanked everyone for coming to the workshop to discuss the
EAR. He stated this was required to be done every seven years by
State Statute, to monitor and evaluate how we have accomplished our
goals within the Comprehensive Plan. He stated that Janet Shira from
B&H consultants was present and she would be assisting the City with
this process. Mr. Lear then turned the meeting over to Ms. Shira for
a presentation.
Ms. Shira discussed the EAR process and Comprehensive Planning. She
then did a powerPoint presentation (attached) on the EAR process and
the timeframe for completion. Ms. Shira discussed the changes made
by the Legislation pertaining to the EAR.
Councilwoman Lichter stated she served on a Planning and Zoning Board
up north that was not just advisory. She does not want a conflict
and she wants this work. The Planning and Zoning Board has a
tremendous job but the Council has a responsibility to really listen
to them and understand the whys. Traditionally the Planning and
Zoning Board has not gone into the financial aspect of things.
That's been the City Council's business but now this is a new
dimension to their work and she really doesn't envy them. She thinks
they have a tremendous job to do. How does the legislative body fit
into the process or how? Where does our role take place?
Ms. Shira stated in the schedule there are work sessions at the
Planning & Zoning level and when they get to the point where they
have something to bring back, they will bring it to Council for their
approval or direction, input and final vote. The Council is where
the buck stops, not the Planning and Zoning Board. If you look at
the schedule they have three meetings, two in July and one in August
at which point they will finalize, after taking public input and
talking amongst themselves and with staff, what they consider the
major issues. At the Council meeting on August 20th, they will make
a presentation to the Council to get approval on those major issues.
They will have August 20th to hear about them and then on September
17th they will have a joint meeting to discuss them to maybe make
changes. Then the Council will make their final decision on
September 17th after that joint meeting with them and provide
direction back to them. These are the major issues to take into the
scoping meeting. This is their workgroup. They'll be bringing those
things back before the Council and then they will expect Council to
vote on them after a couple meetings of discussion and will put that
into it.
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June 18,2007
Mr. Card stated the meeting dates appear to be regular meeting dates.
He asked if they expect to have Other Business on those dates also.
Mr. Lear stated there would be Other Business also but they will look
other dates.
Mr. Card stated this would be long process but a necessary one.
Mr. Lear stated it was very involved and thanked everyone for
attending the workshop to discuss this.
City Manager Williams pointed out to everyone that he provided a memo
to review, identifying a basic four-step process to develop a
Strategic Plan, not to conflict with the EAR, hopefully to work in
conjunction with. He has talked in the past about creating a vision
statement and brought forward a suggestion to Council during a goal
update and identified a basic four-step process. This is just a
format to get juices flowing, including a draft vision statement. He
would like everyone to review this and provide feedback.
Councilwoman Rogers stated it was mentioned that this would be
limited in that they will begin with three meetings before it is
presented back to Council, is what is considered to be important to
the City of Edgewater. This was discussed at the Strategic Session,
and she would like that summarized and provided to the Planning and
Zoning Board to use as a possible starting point. City Manager
Williams agreed they would do that. He also pointed out that the
Planning and Zoning Board has had some vision workshops and he thinks
they've done a wonderful job taking the initiative.
Councilwoman Lichter stated that a vision is a dream. We are in
unusual times with the tax situation and sometimes dreams cannot be
accomplished. She asked who was checking Tallahassee's Comprehensive
plan?
Ms. Shira stated that the State does have a plan, but it is basically
that our plan has to be consistent with theirs, not the other way
around.
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there would be audience participation.
Vice Mayor Vincenzi stated typically not for a workshop and that they
would hold off on that. This is good because they finally get a
chance to really sit down and think things through. This is
something they have to do and come to agreements and common visions
soon.
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June 18, 2007
Councilwoman Rogers stated the first meeting on the 11th was in the
morning as the usual Planning and Zoning Board meetings and she
wondered if any of the meetings would be held in the evening.
Mr. Lear stated the first meeting is the regular meeting for the
Planning and Zoning Board and that some will be in the morning and
afternoon.
Mr. Card stated the Planning and Zoning Board meetings are in the
evening.
Mr. Lear stated that they talked about moving some of the meetings
away from the regular Board meetings.
Vice Mayor Vincenzi stated he only sees one conflict and that is a
vacation scheduled for the first presentation to City Council. If
this can worked around, that's great. If not he will just have to
miss it.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at
6:45 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Bonnie Wenzel, Planning Technician
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