07-07-2014 - Town Hall City of Edgewater Ed N.Edgewater,
FL Drive
Edgewater,FL 32132
-,DGEWATER Meeting Minutes
City Council
Michael Ignasiak,Mayor
Christine Power,District 1
Gigi Bennington,District 2
Dan Blazi,District 3
Gary T. Conroy,District 4
Monday,July 7,2014 5:00 PM Council Chambers
Town Hall Meeting
Mayor Thomas called the Town Hall meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.in the Council Chambers.
There was a pledge to the flag.
Present: Councilman Mike Ignasiak, Councilman Gene Emter, and Mayor Michael Thomas
Absent: Councilwoman Gigi Bennington, and Councilwoman Christine Power
Also Present: City Manager Tracey Barlow, City Clerk Bonnie Wenzel, Leisure Services Director
Jack Corder, Edgewater Police Department Chief Dave Arcieri, Resident and Small Business Owner
Tony Grasley, Resident and Code Enforcement Board Member Alice Haldeman, Resident M. Roberts,
Resident and Edgewater Lakes HOA Member Dale Tahner, Resident and Edgewater Lakes HOA
Member Bob Andrejkovics, Resident Mary Circarrelo, and District Representative for Congressman
DeSantis, Naomi Weiss
Mayor Thomas opened the meeting for public comment.
Ms. Roberts stated that the tennis courts at Whistle Stop Park were closed about three months ago;
asked when they would be reopened; discussed vandalism at the tennis courts; ad lights being out at
the courts. Mr. Corder replied that after a lawsuit for an injury at one of the tennis courts, the courts
had to be closed for resurfacing due to cracks and discussed the hold up in resurfacing due to
material shortages and weather. City Manager Barlow discussed possibly opening two of the tennis
courts by making some temporary repairs; plans to try to alleviate vandalism at City parks; and
stated he would have the lighting at the tennis courts checked.
Mr. Grasley stated that the New Smyrna Beach July 4th celebration events have really grown; that
Edgewater used to have more events for the July 4th celebration; and volunteered to organize
volunteers and events that would be held throughout the day.
The Council, staff and residents discussed previous events held on July 4th; the possibility of
increasing Edgewater's July 4th celebration events; not being able to use Kennedy Park due to the
fireworks fallout area; that Menard Park could possibly be used but with some difficulties; finding
volunteers; types of events that could be held, possibly holding a game day full of events on a
different day than July 4th; and finding sponsors for holding an event.
City Manager Tracey Barlow discussed the history of the Edgewater July 4th celebration; that the
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City Council Meeting Minutes July 7, 2014
all-volunteer Fire Department previously coordinated all of the July 4th activities and food on an
annual basis; types of events that were held; transitioning to a full-time fire department; and
discussed individuals at the Fire Department that Mr. Grasley should contact.
Also discussed was Current City sponsored events; the possibility of holding an Edgewater SK
during one of the events; getting back to a traditional July 4th celebration; providing Mr. Grasley an
event introduction letter from the City to use for obtaining volunteers; event funding and sponsors;
changing event information and event advertising; and event marketing methods such as banners,
Facebook, the City's upcoming new web page; free radio air time and public announcements; and
possibly satellite radio for advertising.
City Manager Barlow made a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) update presentation; stated
that the County has received Edgewaters CRA submission; and that the County has 60 days to get the
CRA request on their meeting agenda or to ask for more information.
He also stated that the City is in their budget season; the next budget workshop is scheduled for July
21, 2014 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. where the Council will set the
maximum millage rate; with an additional budget workshop scheduled for August 4, 2014; and
August 18, 2014, if needed. He stated that the first Public Hearing for the budget is scheduled for
September 8, 2014, and also discussed favorable budget indicators for the upcoming budget year.
Ms. Circarrelo discussed negative advertisement concerning the City of Edgewater in the Hometown
News; that she has not seen any news rebuttals other than Councilman Emters; and asked if a
rebuttal would be coming out.
Mayor Thomas commended Councilman Emter on his rebuttal; discussed crime in other cities;
feeling very good about the Edgewater community; not minding to pay a little bit more in taxes to
enjoy living in such a safe and pleasurable bedroom community; and not bothering to respond to
people that are always negative.
Councilman Emter stated that there is also plenty of room for economic growth in Edgewater;
discussed maintaining the small town atmosphere that the City currently has but at the same time
growing economically to take some of the tax burden off of the residents; and that the key is the
economic development planning that takes place at City Hall.
Mr. Tahner asked if there was a projected finish date to the bike trail, and City Manager Tracey
replied that the bids have been opened, they know the contractor to be awarded the contract; he
believes the award of the contract is on the Volusia County Council&;s next meeting agenda; that the
build in the contract is a little over a 300 days; and discussed everything being connected by trails in
2019.
The Council, staff, and residents discussed the County being responsible for trails maintenance; and
bicycling being a growing recreation with promise for future economic development.
Mayor Thomas asked Mr. Corder how many parks there are in Edgewater and Mr. Corder replied
that the number of parks has been reduced due to consolidating a few of the parks to make the Hawks
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Park Recreation Complex and that Edgewater now has 13 parks.
Mayor Thomas asked Chief Arcieri for a brief status on the Edgewater Police Department and Chief
Arcieri replied that things are going well and are very stable crime rate; discussed pill mills as one
of the leading criminal activities in the area; Edgewater having 33 police officers including the Chief
of Police; the organization of the police department staff and officers having to do two jobs; and the
starting hourly rate for an Edgewater police officer of a little over $1 S dollars being very
competitive.
The Council, staff and residents discussed Edgewaters population being a little over 21,00; the ratio
of police officer to resident being a little lower than the national average per 1,000 residents; and a
brief history of past police officers salary.
Mr. Andrejkovics asked what area the Edgewater CRA covers, and City Manager Barlow first
discussed what a CRA is; CRA definitions; meeting CRA requirements; then discussed the proposed
Edgewater CRA development area; the CRA tax not being a new tax; an analogy of how a CRA tax
works; the funds in the CRA savings account only being used for improvements in the CRA district;
reviewed some other city's CRA success stories; CRA funds being for long term future planning; and
the Edgewater CRA plan being available on-line.
City Manager Barlow discussed unincorporated property in Volusia County; privately owned
enclave property in Edgewater; an inter-local service boundary agreement between Volusia County
and Edgewater to allow Edgewater to annex in property that is not contiguous with Edgewater; the
Council bringing the millage rate down over the years to be competitive with living in the
unincorporated areas of Volusia County; Edgewater now being close and may get below Volusia
Countys millage rate in the upcoming year; New Smyrna Beach's success in annexations; and
property owners and businessman now considering to annex into Edgewater, pay lower or around
the same millage rate, and enhance the level of services received by becoming a part of the City of
Edgewater.
There being no further business to discuss the meeting adjourned at 6:01 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Mitch Honaker, Deputy City Clerk
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