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12-16-2002 - Regular u v 'f' · i CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER REGULAR MEE TING DECEMBER 16, 2002 7:00 P.M. COMMUNITY CENTER MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Mayor Schmidt called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Donald Schmidt Councilman James Brown Councilman Myron Hammond Councilwoman Harriet Rhodes Councilwoman Judith Lichter City Manager Kenneth Hooper City Clerk Susan Wadsworth Paralegal Robin Matusick Present Excused Arrived at 7:03 p.m. Present Present Present Present Present INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE There was a silent invocation and pledge of allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF MINUTE S A. Reqular Meetinq of November 4, 2002 Councilwoman Lichter moved to approve the November 4, 2002 minutes, second by Councilwoman Rhodes. The motion CARRIED 3-0. --- PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/PLAQUES/CERTIFlCATES/DONATIONS A. Recoqnition of appointed/reappointed Board/Committee members Mayor Schmidt read the names of the appointed/reappointed Board or Committee members. He thanked them for volunteering to serve on the boards. B. Certificates of Recoqnition presented to Jo and Ted Haqan for volunteerinq landscapinq services at Menard Mav Park. " u u ,'r ~ j. Councilwoman Lichter commented on waterwise plants the City would be receiving from the Volusian Water Alliance where the City donated $500 as well as the Water Alliance the st. John's River Water Management District. The plants were being delivered on a day that Parks and Recreation had not planned on them coming. When she got home she contacted the Hagan's who volunteered to help. They started weeding so they could get the park into a condition that now has waterless plants. She presented certificates to Jo and Ted Hagan. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mike Visconti, 316 Pine Breeze Drive, stated he is against privatization for garbage collection. He wants to keep the employees employed. Mayor Schmidt stated they are going to move Item 6F up on the agenda as the first item under Public Hearings, Ordinances and Resolutions. He reminded the citizens they are not talking about privatization, they are talking about a rate adjustment. Mr. Visconti further spoke about the City Hall location and Regions Bank offering to sell their building to the City. He feels this is a blessing in disguise. He feels they couldn't ask for a better location on u.S. #1. He commented on how much money it would save the taxpayers by purchasing this building. He encouraged the Mayor, Council and City Manager to look into it and come up with a solution to negotiate with them. Carol Ann Stoughton, 2305 Pine Tree Drive, stated she hopes it is considered to keep our garbage man. She volunteered on every garbage day to go in her car and pick up as many bags of garbage and organize other people to do it in order to keep the rates down to keep the men living in our town and working for us. She has heard the new recycling people want the people to put their recyclables on one side of the street instead of having to jump back and forth. She feels this is a start of what is to come. She spoke of the motor running the whole time the man is out of the truck and she feels this is a safety hazard. Noritta Harris, 2425 Orange Tree Drive, she spoke of the new recycling company coming in for four cents per month cheaper. They got rid of the men we had and didn't take the City employees with them. If they look for price before they need to look for price now. It did not bother this Council when they put Mr. Southard out of business for four cents a month cheaper. Now they are wanting $4 more per month to keep what we have now. Page -2- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u u ,,1' .. i Ms. Harris stated she doesn't feel this is right. She would hate to see the people lose their jobs but she feels the Council's first obligation is to the residents. They are here to help them save money and for the town to save money. Councilwoman Lichter questioned delaying the discussion until this item was moved up. Mayor Schmidt stated he did give the option if they want to wait but he isn't going to stop anyone if they want to discuss it now but he will limit it. Ben Fanselow, 321 Schooner Ave, asked why we need a new facility. He feels it would be around $1 million to renovate the current City Hall. He is not sure for a small town we need a bigger City Hall. The rationale has never been explained. John Cordeiro, 1515 Pine Tree Drive, stated he moved here from Ft. Lauderdale and he likes all the services the City provides. He complained about Massey Airport and their being inconsiderate pilots that do aerobatics over Florida Shores on the weekend. He feels this is dangerous to do over a populated City. Mayor Schmidt stated they have approached that and that is pretty much the Department of Transportation with regard to fly zones and all of their rules and regulations. Mr. Cordeiro feels it is illegal to do aerobatics. City Manager Hooper explained they have the rights to. The City has complained to the FAA. They have reviewed it and done some inspections and they have given them the authority to have the aerobatic box for that area. He agreed to give Mr. Cordeiro the phone number for the FAA to voice a complaint. Councilwoman Lichter stated it isn't only Florida Shores. For the past couple of weeks they have been coming over Edgewater Landing. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Mayor Schmidt stated Councilwoman Lichter can no longer serve as our primary Halifax Indian River Task Force representative. He appointed Councilman Brown as the new representative. Page -3- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 Q u "r ~ t Councilwoman Lichter spoke of being Vice Chair of the Water Alliance and also on the Transition Committee and having four water related meetings a month. The Tuesday that the Halifax Indian River Task Force meets she has to go up to South Daytona for an Executive Alliance meeting and then go up to the Coast Guard station by 2 p.m. She agreed to go with Councilman Brown to his first meeting and give him all of her material. Mayor Schmidt mentioned three of the Council going to a VLOC breakfast last week where they met with a lot of our legislative representatives. They came out with a copy of the Volusia Chambers of Commerce and VLOC legislative priorities. He highlighted a few of them which are topics that will be hot and heavy. There will be copies in the City Clerk's Office if anyone would like to look at it. Councilman Hammond had nothing at this time. Councilwoman Rhodes wished everyone a safe and happy holiday. Councilwoman Lichter stated on December 4th she went to one of the elementary schools and talked to the Cub Scouts about good citizenship. They were very interested in the Pet Society Inc. and want to do a car wash to help raise money and Mayor Schmidt said they could do it at Burger King. Councilwoman Lichter stated she is on the Water Transition Committee and they have met twice in Deltona. They are going to separate the financial aspect of it. City Manager Hooper has been asked to be one of the five that serve on that Committee. If any of the Council has any ideas they wish to give her in terms of the technical aspects, she asked that they give them to City Clerk Wadsworth and she would bring them to the next meeting. Councilwoman Lichter stated the Pet Society Inc. has been raising money for the past two and a half months and have collected around $2,500. They also have a donation of a roof and a well. Their next fund raiser is February 8th which is the Have a Heart Hoe Down which will be held at the SNPS Lodge in Samsula as well as a barbeque. The cost is a $25 donation per person that is tax deductible. Councilwoman Lichter spoke of the Senior Advisory Board planning an education program in March at our YMCA. Page -4- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 Q o ; ~ Councilwoman Lichter stated at the last meeting she gave City Clerk Wadsworth 935 signatures from the residents in Edgewater who want the City to keep the crew we have on board that are collectors of garbage, trash and refuse. She presented 952 more signatures to City Clerk Wadsworth, which totals 1,887 signatures. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS F. Res. No. 2002-R-34, provides a schedule of rates and charqes for the collection and disposal of qarbaqe, trash and recyclable materials in the City of Edqewater Mayor Schmidt moved this item up on the agenda. Paralegal Matusick read 2002-R-34 into the record. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. The last adopted rates were put in place for the pickup of garbage in 1996. This resolution adjusts the rates this year and every year through 2008. This is now divided into two categories, residential or commercial. He spoke of unlimited pickup of yard trash. He spoke of the burden cost associated with that and the charge in the resolution to pickup piles over four cubic yards. He spoke of this being done years ago. He further spoke about it costing more to pickup white goods so they have left that as is. The rates go in effect on January 1st. The total is $17.00, which is 31% over our current rate, which is $13.00. He then went over the commercial rates. Councilwoman Lichter asked if there are any rules about them having to have a dumpster. City Manager Hooper explained if you have more than three cans there will be an additional cost. He doesn't think this is an issue at this point. He asked Council for staff direction to take a fee in for that. He further commented on having an exclusive franchise compared to a single franchise. City Manager Hooper then went over why some things have changed with regard to personnel costs. He then spoke about operating expenditures. city Manager Hooper stated the only thing in front of Council on the agenda is the rate study for their consideration. He strongly recommended if they do raise the rates that the Council look at the built-in schedule that is an automatic increase for this time period. He further spoke about recycling and the increase in the County's rates to take trash to the landfill. Page -5- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u o , 0 There was a brief discussion regarding having more customers. Councilwoman Lichter spoke about projecting a fee so far in the future and this burdening other City Councils. City Manager Hooper assured her the fees would be revisited every year. Councilwoman Lichter made mention of seeing troubles with the new recycling company with regard to corrugated cardboard. City Manager Hooper spoke of this being placed in the newsletter. He feels it is a matter of continual education. Part of the issue is the boxes have to be torn apart, compressed and put together. There are rules on how you pick it up and that is part of the issue. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she has issue with the rates through January 2008. She thinks they make a budget every year and they need to be revisited every year in the budget. She feels if you make an automatic increase you have a tendency to put it in place and not pay attention to it. She doesn't like the idea of saying this is what it is going to be and she feels they need to wait and see what it is going to be. City Manager Hooper commented on the rationale of doing that. He feels this is one way to get rid of the subject of privatization. He would prefer Council to acknowledge these are the costs. If these don't become the costs, they have the same opportunity every year to not raise the rates. Councilwoman Lichter stated at first she felt the same as Councilwoman Rhodes but then she thought about the insecurity our guys are feeling and how many times this subject has come up. She feels this is nerve wracking to employees and you don't get the right morale when you do something like that. She second thought it and thought maybe this is a good idea but somehow they could word in there possible rate or rate to be re-examined yearly or suggested rate. Councilwoman Rhodes stated this isn't set in stone and she doesn't think this is going to make anybody feel more secure about privatization because that can happen at any time. She feels the only thing that can stop that specter is the confidence of the employees in their government and in this management of the City. She has personally never mentioned the word privatization so it was a complete surprise to her. She would have a hard time voting for this putting a burden like this for the next five years. Page -6- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 ~ u i Q Mayor Schmidt stated they aren't setting this so it is in place. in place seven years ago to look be doing this. At least this is them. putting a burden. They are If they would have had something ahead then maybe they wouldn't in place just as a tool for Councilman Hammond feels you have to have a guide somewhere. You have to layout a floor mat of where you are going and what things are going to cost. Councilwoman Lichter feels they need to hear from the audience. Mayor Schmidt opened the public hearing. Noritta Harris, 2425 Orange Tree Drive, asked if they put this in place for the next six or seven years, is the Council saying they are definitely not interested in privatization. Councilwoman Lichter stated that is correct. Ms. Harris feels that is wrong. Mayor Schmidt stated a comment was made earlier that privatization could happen at any time. None of the council are discussing it or wanting to discuss it. All this does is give them that one element they have in place so as years go on, they have some type of guideline from staff on what it may cost them to be in the trash business. Ms. Harris feels they need to look at this every year. She feels they are making a big mistake if they tie the City and the residents into something for six or seven years. Mike Visconti, 316 Pine Breeze Drive, stated he has done some research where he thinks the City could save some money. He lives in Meadow Lake where there are 80 homes and mostly senior citizens. Edgewater Landing has 454 homes, mostly senior citizens. Hacienda Del Rio has 680 homes. Mayor Schmidt stated Hacienda has nothing to do with the City. Mr. Visconti stated he doesn't believe the subdivisions that have mostly senior citizens accumulate that much garbage for two pickups a week. One pickup a week is enough for his family. Mr. Visconti would like the Council to look into it and he feels maybe the employees themselves might know how many pounds or how many tons they pickup when they pickup in these subdivisions. Page -7- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u o i a John Zino, 718 Navigators Way, stated he can understand the Council and City Manager's reluctance to fall into the same trap that they have fallen into in the past six years. He feels they need to be careful not to over compensate either to the extent they over plan, over schedule and propose through resolution spending that might or might not be necessary. He feels what has been done in the plan is a good profile and a good guide but he thinks the resolution to effect cost for a community should be a resolution that resolves around need and an annual review of that need and then the reflected cost to meet that need. He feels when you set numbers in place for a projection as long as they are looking at, sometimes the numbers dictate the program. He feels it would be a mistake to make resolutions that commit moneys for that duration with all the unknown issues between now and then but he feels it is a platform for learning and a platform for planning but not a platform for resolution and commitment of City money for needs in 2008 when no one knows what those needs will be. He feels the resolution and review should be annual. He doesn't think it is wise for this Council to commit that long in advance with so many unknowns. Mayor Schmidt asked if there is some way to add that this will be reviewed annually. City Manager Hooper agreed to do so. They can specify that it becomes part of the budget document. Charles Winn, 1276 Elizabeth Street, New Smyrna Beach, feels the future is in recycling and that they could all do a much better job if they participate in the recycling effort. It is made available to them and it is in everyone's best interest to use it. That will reduce the tonage that goes to the landfill. Councilwoman Lichter asked Mr. Winn if he is seeing less trash in a senior park. Mr. Winn stated he sees more garbage where there are more people living in a household. More people produce more garbage. He feels the key to the future is recycling which they have to do now or the landfill will fill up. Mayor Schmidt stated he is going to try and hold the time restraints as close as he can. He feels everyone in this room will agree that recycling is one of the best ways to handle part of this. He also believes education on recycling is the way to go. Page -8- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 o u ~ Ben Fanselow, 321 Schooner Avenue, spoke of pictures he had showing green boxes turned over and lots of cardboard left. What this does for their benefit is void the recycler's contract. Why would they want to do that? Mr. Fanselow turned the pictures over to city Clerk Wadsworth. He spoke of 90% of the trash in Maine being recycled. He feels they have hired a recycler without knowing what is recyclable. Mr. Fanselow showed the Council items that he feels are recyclable. He feels by recycling these items it reduces the items going to the landfill by 15%. He then questioned items that can be recycled and why the City doesn't have recyclers recycling it. He feels this should have been looked into before they got a recycler. He feels they haven't received any complaints because the City guys are picking it up and keeping our streets clean. He feels it is a matter of education. Mr. Fanselow feels the Council has a grand opportunity by having a void contract and he feels the Council has to think about the people who own property in Edgewater 75 years from now. He stated the recyclers are bringing the cardboard to the landfill and dumping it there. He suggested their contract be voided and find out specifically what is being produced and what numbers so they can approach recyclers who will handle the items that are not being recycled that can be. Dominic Capria, 606 Topside Circle, feels Mr. Fanselow was right and if they follow through with his suggestions they might be able to lower our rate instead of raise it. He then spoke of the firm that was hired to figure out what is what. He asked what was paid to the firm for the rate study. City Manager Hooper agreed to get that figure for him. Mr. Capria spoke of the budget review that is done every year and couldn't understand why this did not come up then. He feels because of the economy they had to put so much money into the pension funds. He feels it is not just the workers, there are other factors that are raising the rates. Mr. Capria then questioned how many homes we have in Edgewater. Councilwoman Rhodes stated we have roughly 8,600 customers. Mr. Capria asked for a breakdown between homes and businesses. City Manager Hooper stated there are probably less than 700 businesses, the balance are homes. Mr. Capria feels $4 is quite an increase but if they have to pay it they will. Page -9- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u Q ~ Councilwoman Lichter asked Mr. Wadsworth about the recycling trucks have a definite refined size that they can put the recycling in. It doesn't seem to her that the big piece of cardboard would fit in there. Mr. Wadsworth spoke about it being compacted to a certain size. Some of the boxes not being picked up may have other debris in them. The recyclers will not go through them, sort everything out and crush the boxes. He further commented on grants we used to receive with regard to recycling education. City Manager Hooper asked Mr. Wadsworth to speak about what can be recycled and if anything has been changed, added or deleted. Mr. Wadsworth stated from the old to the new there is really nothing substantial. Recycling is driven by the markets out there. If there is no market for #6 plastic, no one will want to pick it up. Not everything has a value out there to be recycled and that is where part of the problem is. Councilwoman Rhodes asked if the City at one time required them to recycle a certain percentage of all of our trash. She contacted Southard's after having them for many years and they were picking up our recycling which we paid them for and they were taking it to the landfill. City Manager Hooper stated and that is not uncommon. Duke Southard disagreed with that 100% and stated he has never taken anything to the landfill. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she got that from whoever answered the phone. Councilwoman Lichter asked how long the contract is with Florida Recycling. City Manager Hooper stated three years. Mr. Southard stated five years. Carol Ann Stoughton, 2503 Pine Tree Drive, feels Mr. Fanselow brought up very good points that they should all follow. She feels a good way to promote this is through the realtors who sell the homes. She would like someone to spy on the current garbage management corporations and see how much money they are making on a #5, #6 recyclable or styrofoam because they aren't in the business to lose money. She spoke about the weather conditions our garbage workers work in and having to pick up the trash that other people leave go. Mike Visconti, 316 Pine Breeze Drive, stated he received two phone calls stating that the recycling bins have to be put on one side of the street. City Manager Hooper stated he has never heard that. Page -10- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 Q u ~ Mr. Visconti stated the people picking up the recycling have told the homeowners to put them on the opposite side of the street. City Manager Hooper stated the contract calls for the exact same service we have had. He agreed to check on this. Mayor Schmidt informed Mr. Visconti if he gets another call like that to get a name. Terry Bolton, 1850 Coco Palm Drive, mentioned being on a fixed income. If he wants a raise he has to go the Federal Government. They are going to give me a raise whenever they want to. When the City hits him with a $4 increase and the City, County and Government goes up on his taxes every year, he will draw up a spreadsheet on what he will be getting and what the City will be getting and the City will be making out better than he will. Ruben Hartman, 1727 Sabal Palm Drive, stated he is living on a budgeted income and he is handicapped and a dollar only goes so far. He came down here in September and the Council voted a raise on the taxes and they told them it covered the insurance. He questioned having to pay it again and why it wasn't brought up back in September. He came here from Orange County and they had a private pickup over there and they did a swell job. They had to put the leaves and yard trash in a small pile and bundle it up. His pickup over there was only $11 a month. Councilwoman Lichter asked if he had twice a week pickup. Mr. Hartman stated he had twice a week pickup for garbage, recyclables once a week and yard trash once a week. On Fridays they picked up anything that was out there including appliances. He has yard trash on his street that has laid there for three weeks before they moved it. When he came over here in June and July and he built a house everything was fine but since then he has gotten two raises. Vince Champion, President, Coastal Florida Public Employees Association, commended City Manager Hooper and staff on the recommendation they have put before the Council. He spoke of it being the City employees that will be carrying out their direction and he thanked them. Ferd Heeb, 115 N. Riverside Drive, feels the Council is on the right track and that the rates should be ratified annually. The only issue he has and he thinks one of the things that galvanized a lot of the citizens in the City is the level of service, which they are very proud of so he kind of takes exception to the 4 X 4 rule. He spoke of this being a retirement area and for a lot of the elderly people the idea of having to bundle yard trash is a mistake. He feels they should take out the 4 X 4 rule. Page -11- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 Q Q ~ John Cordeiro, 1515 Pine Tree Drive, spoke about how the garbage men must feel about not having the security of a job. He went through the same thing and wound of having health issues because of it. He spoke of it doing a head game on you and wrecking your body worrying about it. He feels any group can work together to solve problems. He spoke of one person jumping out of the recycling truck 500 times a day and the truck is running putting the residents in danger. Councilwoman Rhodes agreed. Duke Southard, 1604 Sabal Palm Drive, stated everything that has gone to the landfill has went through a dumpster that he has at his place and stuff that is not recyclable. Councilwoman Rhodes stated she said that it was not recyclable. Mr. Southard stated the recyclers today take it to Gelco, which is at the landfill and sort it there. The glass, 25% of all the recycling is winding up in the landfill. Nobody knew that when they bid the new contract that they were going to sort it two ways. The glass can't be sorted like that and winds up in the landfill anyway. That is why they bid it where the glass would not be lost. He asked City Manager Hooper if when they bid for the contract if it had to be done the same way it always had been done and he said yes. These other people bid to do it different. They put one person on a truck instead of two and they sort it two ways instead of six. Mr. Southard informed Mr. Fanselow most of the stuff he had would cost more to recycle than it is worth. We are not recycling near what the City could recycle. He spoke of cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles he has seen in the garbage. They went to a mandated recycling of 25%. They reached 29% in thirteen years. We had one of the few cities in Florida that had that kind of recycling. He feels they could go another 10% if people wanted to do it. If they ever privatize, he intends to bid on that contract. Right now he could bid on that contract for $13 per house and do the recycling and the garbage. He feels there is something wrong. He bid the contract at $1.49 many years ago. The cost of living was up to $1.60. Two years ago when they renewed the last two years, the man from Public Works asked Mr. Southard if he could take a cut in pay to meet New Smyrna. He took a nickel cut. He bid it less this time than he did thirteen years ago because they have become more efficient at what they are doing. He is still paying more wages. The City can do it theirself with the right management for a lot less than $16. Page -12- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u u ~ Mr. Southard stated they said at that meeting they were going to hire his people. They never hired one and wouldn't even interview them. When they come to do the privatization they will tell the Council they will hire the city's people like they did in Port Orange. Within one year there was one person left and he was gone in a year and a half out of thirty employees. He further spoke about it costing him a little more to sort the recyclables in-house but it is all getting recycled. He further commented on the welcoming committee in the city informing the new residents to fold up the cardboard. These people don't have room in the truck for it. He bought two pickups and they went out every night and followed their trucks every night and picked it up. The City employees are so efficient half the time they had already picked it up. He feels they need to get a pickup and pick this stuff up before the City has to do it. He used to have to tell the City to quit picking up his cardboard because it was worth $45 per ton and the City is picking it up and throwing it away for $30 a ton. For thirteen years it said in the contract that they could send somebody to his shop at any time to look at his records and not once did anybody ever come to his shop. If he was on the Council he would have been down there wanting to know what is and is not getting thrown away and what could be done to improve it. Councilwoman Lichter asked if they still have that clause with the new guy. She was informed they do. Mayor Schmidt closed the citizen comments. There was a ten-minute recess at this time. Councilwoman Lichter asked if it is feasible to put out cardboard boxes only on recycling day. City Manager Hooper stated from a legal point you could say it, but from a practical point he doesn't feel it would do any good. Mayor Schmidt suggested to get the education going in the next newsletter. He asked to put a separate one piece flyer in a different color in the middle of the newsletter and put recycling days, recycling times, the numbers and symbols, and that cardboard must be flattened. Councilwoman Lichter stated she isn't adverse to their thinking about a recycling committee. It worked when they did the anti- litter committee. She feels that is something they could think about. Councilwoman Lichter suggested including in the resolution suggested schedule of future rates to be examined yearly. Page -13- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u u ~ . Mayor Schmidt stated he suggested adding the line to be reviewed yearly and put it on there that it is part of the budget process and part of the documents Mr. Wadsworth brings. Councilwoman Lichter made a motion to accept Res. 2002-R-34 as amended by Mayor Schmidt in terms of the rates with the suggested verbiage that he used, second by Councilwoman Rhodes. The motion CARRIED 4-0. A. City Hall Sitinq - review three (3) potential sites and direct staff to complete due diliqence on preferred site City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation regarding three potential sites for City Hall. He first commented on the Regions Bank site. He then commented on Mr. May's site off of Air Park Road. He then spoke of the site at the south end of the City in the Edgewater Lakes area. None of this has been negotiated. He feels these are three potential sites that are viable and different. He suggested Council give him direction on which one they are interested in doing. He further commented on the process. Councilman Hammond feels Regions Bank seems like the ideal spot but expressed concern with being landlocked. City Manager Hooper further spoke on the Regions Bank site and what the bank is proposing. He then spoke of having a public safety building further south to accompany the Police and Fire. Councilwoman Lichter stated she visited the site and feels it seems fine for offices but she can not envision a Chamber/Council area like she had originally planned. She also worried if they don't get the land to the south about a community center. There is still nothing in the City even with the YMCA to hold a ball or a dance which she hoped would be fitted into the new City Hall. She feels that building is an office building. She has to step back from the disappointment she feels when she sees the plans on what the city was going to build. She further commented on the Council/Chamber room in Deltona being beautifully laid out and adequate for a lot of things. She would have to see some type of preliminary plans to prove to her that it could be more than just offices. She would like to seriously think about the option of land south or behind it west. City Manager Hooper stated and that land is there. He informed Council that Dana Smith is present. Mr. Smith further spoke about the west side of the building having training rooms that were subdivided and changed that could be expanded where they could make a fairly good size Chamber out of it. He feels the building is in great shape and has been well taken care of. Page -14- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 Q o l ~ . city Manager Hooper stated this is permanent seating and once it is there it is permanent. There will be an AV system so everyone can hear and see. Mr. Smith spoke of the facility they designed earlier. Councilwoman Lichter spoke of having a community center in the future. She would like to see about the land around the bank as an option in the future. Councilwoman Rhodes stated maybe at some point this complex here could be turned into a community center. Mr. Smith spoke of community centers being fairly easy and cheap space because they are wide open and they are cheaper to build than office space. Councilwoman Rhodes asked what kind of square footage they bank would provide for Council Chambers. Mr. Smith stated the original program was about 3,500 square feet but he feels they could do it for quite a bit less than that and seat fewer people. He suggested 2,000 square feet and further spoke of ways to accommodate for a Council Chambers. Councilwoman Lichter spoke of the site to the south not really being in good proximity to the rest of the City. She feels the site on SR 442 would not be seen from the street due to being behind the school. She would like to see how the bank could be laid out. City Manager Hooper stated tonight the Council is being asked to pick a site and tell him that they are willing to spend some money to layout some preliminary plans, get the appraisal done, and authorize our Attorney to draft a purchase sale agreement. Mayor Schmidt opened the public hearing. Ben Fanselow, 321 Schooner Avenue, stated he would like to see what has to be increased, what we really have, has it been surveyed to see if is it doing what it should be doing and a proposal of upfitting this place and look at the cost. Councilwoman Rhodes stated they have already done that. City Manager Hooper stated they have found this building is not capable of being repaired. To do anything here, you would have to tear it down and start over. Mr. Fanselow stated it is grandfathered in as far as meeting Codes go. City Manager Hooper stated that is not true when you do municipalities and bring people in you have to meet current Codes. There is no benefit or value with trying to renovate the current site. He spoke of the local resistance to this site remaining a City Hall. Page -15- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 ~ u o ~ . Mr. Fanselow stated he doesn't know if these three sites they are looking at are all the options. He feels when you look at the plan for the whole community he sees other sites that could be looked at. He spoke of the cost to renovate the bank building. He feels the city is looking at $4 million. Chris Balmer, past Chairman, City Hall Siting Committee, stated they had a committee that went through this process. He feels if there is one thing the committee agreed on it was the site where the middle school is going is not a good location to have a municipality. There were many concerns about traffic flow and other issues. He believes the Regions Bank site offers the City a viable and possible cost effective option to consolidating current City departments into one citizen friendly location. He feels they should move forward with the due diligence on the Regions Bank site. Mayor Schmidt closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Rhodes agreed. She never felt the site by the Middle School was a good option. She feels if the south location saved them a significant amount of money she would go for it. If it doesn't, personally she thinks the Regions Bank offer is the most efficient and cost effective way to get what we need. She feels what is on the table right now, she sees that as the only option. Mayor Schmidt stated not only what is on the table, but this is probably sites eight, nine and ten that they have looked at. Mayor Schmidt personally likes the site behind the Middle School but at all the proposed savings and the real feeling that people really want u.S. #1, he feels this is an opportunity they can't pass up. He spoke of tying it into the recreational complex. Councilwoman Lichter feels that is a bad corner in terms of accidents and they will have to address this in terms of a light. She feels the location is pretty good. She isn't nuts on the architecture of the building. She feels it is functional and would like Mr. Smith to show them where the Council could meet. She would also like to look at the option of land next door or behind. She feels the south site is too far away. She is also worried about our facility behind a school or that close and the traffic situations there. Councilman Hammond feels we lost the good site by Winn Dixie. He feels that was a nice piece of property. He agreed with Regions Bank. He keeps looking at ten years from now and acquiring as much property around there as they can because we are going to expand. He also felt the south site is too far to the south. Page -16- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u ~ 6 C c Councilman Hammond stated he feels if SR 442 was reversed where City Hall was in the front, he would be considering that. He would have to go with Regions Bank and acquiring as much land around there as possible. Councilwoman Lichter moved to approve Regions Bank as the preferred site, authorize due diligence and some negotiations and bring all costs back to Council, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 4-0. Mayor Schmidt asked about the south site being a possible site for the public safety building. City Manager Hooper stated it is across the street. There is a vacant parcel across from Hacienda that the County owns that Chief Barlow is discussing with them. B. 2nd Readinq, Ord. No. 2002-0-20, amendinq Chapter 17 (Traffic) bv enactinq Article V (Non-Movinq Violation; Parkinq) of the Code of Ordinances Paralegal Matusick read Ord. 2002-0-20 into the record. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no comments, Mayor Schmidt opened and closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Lichter moved to approve Ord. 2002-0-20, second by Councilwoman Rhodes. The motion CARRIED 4-0. Mayor Schmidt stated Res. 2002-R-34 is listed as 2202-R-34 on the agenda and asked that this be corrected. Paralegal Matusick informed him it does say 2002-R-34 on the resolution. C. 2nd Readinq, Ord. No. 2002-0-21, amendinq Chapter 5 (Animal Control) Sections 5-2 (Definitions), 5-6 (Animal Control Board), 5-11 (Wildlife Hvbrids Prohibited) and 5-14 (Runninq at Larqe Prohibited) of the Code of Ordinances Paralegal Assistant Matusick read Ord. 2002-0-21 into the record. City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no comments, Mayor Schmidt opened and closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Rhodes moved to approve Ord. 2002-0-21, second by Councilwoman Lichter. The motion CARRIED 4-0. Page -17- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u ~ i ~ . D. 1st Readinq, Ord. No. 2002-0-22, Mary D. Hansen, Esquire, aqent for owners Rick and Sheila Rosen, is requestinq annexation of approximately 23.5 acres of property located at 3149 W. Indian River Boulevard into the City of Edqewater City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Paralegal Matusick read Ord. 2002-0-22 into the record. Due to there being no comments, Mayor Schmidt opened and closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Lichter moved to approve Ord. 2002-0-22, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 4-0. E. Res. No. 2002-R-33, qrantinq abandonment/vacation of a portion of a six (6) foot plantinq buffer abuttinq the Maiestic Oaks Subdivision City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Paralegal Matusick read Res. 2002-R-33 into the record. Councilwoman Lichter spoke of there only being one entrance. City Manager Hooper stated there are two and pointed them out. The road was approved as part of the development plan when they submitted it but what was not done was to vacate the easement or buffer that surrounds Florida Shores. City Manager Hooper stated he would like to bring that back and eventually abandon the whole planting buffer around. It serves no purpose anymore and does nothing for drainage. Due to there being no comments, Mayor Schmidt opened and closed the public hearing. Councilman Hammond moved to approve Res. 2002-R-33, second by Councilwoman Lichter. The motion CARRIED 4-0. F. Res. No. 2002-R-34, provides a schedule of rates and charqes for the collection and disposal of qarbaqe, trash and recyclable materials in the City of Edqewater This item was moved up on the agenda. G. Res. No. 2002-R-35, acceptinq and approvinq Edqewater's portion of Volusia 2020, The Local Mitiqation Strateqy Paralegal Matusick read Res. 2002-R-35 into the record. Page -18- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 u o . ~ . city Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Due to there being no comments, Mayor Schmidt opened and closed the public hearing. Councilwoman Lichter moved to approve Res. 2002-R-35, second by Councilwoman Rhodes. The motion CARRIED 4-0. BOARD APPOINTMENTS There were no board appointments at this time. CONSENT AGENDA A. Use of Law Enforcement Trust Funds - staff recommendinq approval to use Trust Funds in the amount of $890.00 to cover the costs of School Resource Officer (SRO) traininq for RandY Mumpower B. Continuinq Professional Enqineerinq Services - staff recommendinq approval of contracts with Gierok Enqineerinq, CPH Enqineers, and Weldon Land Development after successfully completinq neqotiations. (October 7, 2002, Item 9A) C. Donation of Gear - staff recommendinq approval of donatinq 17 sets of surplus firefiqhtinq suits to the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department Councilwoman Lichter moved to accept the Consent Agenda, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 4-0. OTHER BUSINESS A. Survey 6f 15th/16th Street Pavinq & Sewer Assessment - Discuss the results of a questionnaire sent to property owners October 18, 2002 City Manager Hooper went over the results of the questionnaire sent to property owners of 15th/16th Street with regard to paving and sewer. Mayor Schmidt would like them to still work with these people and try and find something. He doesn't want to see them neglect the roads in that area. He feels they lost out when Florida Shores was done. Councilwoman Rhodes agreed. Page -19- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 " u <J . Ill. . B. Waiver of Land Development Code - staff recommendinq approval of an Administrative General Waiver for Section 21-71 (Non- Conforminq Uses) for a ninety (90) day period effective as of December 16, 2002 with termination on March 16, 2003 City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Staff recommends approval. Councilwoman Rhodes moved to approve the Administrative General Waiver, second by Councilwoman Lichter. The motion CARRIED 4-0. C. Property Exchanqe (Land Swap) - staff recommendinq authorization of Purchase Sale Aqreement concerninq three (3) acre sites between the City of Edqewater and Oscar Zeller/Julian Green and authorize the Mayor to execute the Purchase Sale Aqreement and Closinq Documents City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Councilwoman Lichter moved to authorize Mayor Schmidt to execute the Purchase Sale Agreement and Closing Documents, second by Councilwoman Rhodes. The motion CARRIED 4-0. OFFICER REPORTS city Clerk Wadsworth wished everyone a Happy Holiday. Paralegal Matusick also wished everyone a Happy Holiday. City Manager Hooper 1) Reschedule/cancel meetinq of January 20, 2003 (Martin Luther Kinq Jr. Day) City Manager Hooper suggested the January 20th meeting be canceled and rescheduled for January 27th. Councilwoman Rhodes asked if they can cancel altogether and have one meeting in January. City Manager Hooper informed her they can. Councilwoman Lichter stated she prefers two meetings with less hours spent in them. The Council agreed to hold one meeting on January 6th. 2) City of Edqewater offerinq support of the Volusia County Inteqrated Water Resources Proiect Page -20- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002 , \) Q .,.-......... ,~ city Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Councilwoman Rhodes moved to authorize a letter to be put together offering support of the Volusia County Integrated Water Resources Project, second by Councilwoman Lichter. The motion CARRIED 4-0. CITIZEN COMMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE Ferd Heeb, 115 N. Riverside Drive, wished the Council and City Staff a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. He also thanked the Council and staff for their work and making this a great place to live. Mayor Schmidt also wished everyone a joyous and happy Christmas and New Year's. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Councilwoman Rhodes moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Bloomer Page -21- Council Regular Meeting December 16, 2002