Loading...
02-27-17 Minutes City Commission Meeting v MINUTES REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 27,2017- 6:30 PM CITY HALL,800 SEMINOLE ROAD IN ATTENDANCE: Mayor Mitchell E. Reeves City Attorney Brenna Durden Mayor Pro Tern John Stinson City Manager Kevin Hogencamp Commissioner Harding City Clerk Donna L. Bartle Commissioner Jimmy Hill Recording Secretary Joanie Bowman Commissioner M. Blythe Waters (Arrived 6:34 p.m.) Invocation and pledge to the flag Commissioner Stinson gave the Invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Call to Order: Mayor Reeves called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. City Clerk Bartle called the roll and Mayor Reeves noted that a quorum was present. 1. Approval of minutes A. Approve minutes of the Town Hall Meeting on January 21, 2017. B. Approve minutes of the Commission Workshop on January 27, 2017. C. Approve minutes of the Commission Meeting on January 23, 2017. Mayor Reeves asked if there were any corrections to the above minutes. There were no corrections, so Mayor Reeves stated the minutes stand as submitted. Mayor Reeves explained the process for public comments and opened the Courtesy of the Floor to Visitors. City Clerk Bartle called each speaker to the podium 2. Courtesy of Floor to Visitors Chris Jorgensen,92 W. 3" St.,mentioned the Beaches Watch meeting,commented on the excellent job Mayor Reeves did and thanked State Senator Aaron Bean, State Representative Cord Byrd and Interim City Manager Kevin Hogencamp for their attention at the meeting. He thanked Public Works for the work they do. He commented about the pier looking better and offered ideas for sea turtle education. Mr. Jorgensen thanked Mr. Hogencamp for addressing a sidewalk concern and hoped the Third Street Walkover issues were resolved. Linda Lanier, 1768 Park Terrace W.,explained that she was a Board Member of the Beaches Museum and History Park and informed everyone about the organization's history, events and exhibits. She mentioned that they will be opening an exhibit about the history of Atlantic Beach. She invited everyone to attend Friday night, March 3rd at 6:00 p.m. and thanked Mayor Reeves and Mr. Hogencamp for their support. No one else from the audience spoke so Mayor Reeves closed the Courtesy of the Floor to Visitors. February 27, 2017 Regular City Commission Meeting Page 2 of 7 3. Unfinished Business from Previous Meetings A. Public Hearing- Request for a Waiver from City Code Section 19-7 Driveway Limitations to Allow a Circular Driveway at 1661 Park Terrace East. Public Works Director Don Jacobovitz explained his staff report, the request for the Waiver and his recommendation to approve it. Mayor Reeves opened the Public Hearing. No one wished to speak, so Mayor Reeves closed Public Hearing. Motion: Approve the requested waiver from City Code Section 19-7 Application 17-ZVAR-289 for 1661 Park Terrace East. Moved by Stinson, Seconded by Harding Mayor Reeves commended the homeowner for building his home and saving three huge oak trees by building their house around them. Votes: Aye: 5 Harding, Hill, Stinson, Waters, Reeves Nay: 0 MOTION CARRIED B. Public Hearing- 16-SPPR-269 - Request for plat approval as required by Chapter 24, Article 4 of the Code of Ordinances at Selva Marina Unit 1, Parts of Lots 28 and 29 (aka 1251 Selva Marina Circle). Planner Derek Reeves presented slides as he explained his staff report and his recommendation which was slightly modified from the version in the agenda packet. He requested that the first condition be changed to read "by January 1, 2018", instead of "within 180 days of July 1, 2017". He explained this modification was made after consulting with the City Attorney. Mayor Reeves opened the Public Hearing. No one wished to speak, so Mayor Reeves closed the Public Hearing. Motion: Approve plat 16-SPPR-269 with the conditions 1.) That the home be demolished by January 1, 2018; and 2.) That the plat be recorded within 1 year of Commission approval. Moved by Stinson, Seconded by Harding Commissioner Waters spoke about densification, code review and growth management. Commissioner Hill spoke against splitting the lots. Commissioner Stinson commented on managing growth and development and spoke in support of the plat approval. Roll Call Votes: Aye: 3 Stinson, Harding, Reeves Nay: 2 Hill, Waters MOTION CARRIED February 27, 2017 Regular City Commission Meeting Page 3 of 7 4. Consent Agenda ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION IN THE FORM LISTED BELOW. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON THESE ITEMS. A. Acknowledge receipt of the Building Department Monthly Activity Report for January 2017 and Major Public Works Projects Status Report as of February 8, 2017. City Clerk Bartle read the consent agenda. Mayor Reeves asked if any Commissioner wanted to pull an item from the Consent Agenda for discussion. Mayor Reeves pulled 4A from the Consent Agenda. Mayor Reeves voiced concern about the timelines on the Seminole Road Improvements, Safe Routes to School Sidewalk and Paving Projects that have been delayed and would like to get a better handle on them. He requested a true timeline to share with the public. Discussion ensued about the project delays, the need to have firm and updated timelines, expectations for public input on major projects, and public perception. Mr. Jacobovitz answered questions and agreed to provide the Commission with updated timelines. Mr. Hogencamp apologized for the lack of communication on these projects and agreed to communicate them better. Mayor Reeves stated that he has full confidence that Mr. Hogencamp will take care of providing accurate timelines. Motion: Approve Consent Agenda Item 4A as written. Moved by Stinson, Seconded by Harding Votes: Aye: - 5 Nay: - 0 MOTION CARRIED 5. Committee Reports There were no Committee Reports. 6. Action on Resolutions There were no Resolutions. 7. Action on Ordinances A. Ordinance No. 20-17-143, Introduction and First Reading AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. February 27, 2017 Regular City Commission Meeting Page 4 of 7 City Clerk Bartle read the Ordinance by title only. Finance Director Russell Caffey explained his staff report. Motion: Approve Ordinance No. 20-17-143 as read. Moved by Harding, Seconded by Stinson Mayor Reeves recommended amending the motion to add an additional $40,000.00 stating that it would not increase the budget and would come out of the surplus. He explained his reason is to save time and have a cushion of funds available in the event that additional funds are needed for improvements. Commissioner Hill believed it would be more prudent to approve additional funds as the need arises and is identified. Interim Chief Vic Gualillo explained various needs in the police and fire building along with contingency items that would require additional funding. Commissioner Hill agreed there will be a need for an increase in funding but believes the number will be higher than what they are estimating. He stated he would like to get the full number before addressing the additional funds. Commissioner Harding spoke about the possibility of holding off on approving the funds while they look at the long-term needs, in order to avoid amending the budget multiple times. Mayor Reeves withdrew his request to amend the motion and stated they should move forward with the original motion. Interim Chief Gualillo answered questions and explained the importance of passing the ordinance right away. Mayor Reeves pointed out that the money could have been moved within the Police Department's budget without Commission approval. He commended Mr. Hogencamp for bringing it to the Commission and for being transparent. Roll Call Votes: Aye: 5 Stinson, Waters, Harding, Hill, Reeves Nay: 0 MOTION CARRIED 8. Miscellaneous Business (Discussion only) A. 17-UBEX-333- Request for a use -by -exception as permitted by Section 24-63, to allow a limited wholesale operation, not involving industrial products or processes or the manufacturing of products of any kind as listed in Section 24-111(c)(5) in the Commercial General zoning district at 1475 Main Street. February 27, 2017 Regular City Commission Meeting Page 5 of 7 Planner Derek Reeves presented a slide show as he explained the request and reported the Community Development Board's recommendation with conditions from the February 21, 2017 meeting. He requested consensus to move this item to a public hearing on March 13, 2017 and answered questions from the Commission. There was a lengthy discussion about the proposed business use, loading zones, traffic flow, elevation and the importance of limiting impact and burden to neighbors. Mayor Reeves commended Planner Reeves for doing a great job, stating that this week he received compliments from two residents about his outstanding work. 9. City Manager Reports A. City Manager's Report Interim City Manager Hogencamp referred to his written City Manager's Report. He reported that a group of business people on the Mayport Road Corridor is putting together a draft rewrite of the Code that they would like for the City to consider sometime in the future. He addressed the concerns regarding the project timelines, explaining it was due to inadequate communications from him more so than Mr. Jacobovitz's leadership as the Public Works Director. He believed that Mr. Jacobovitz leads well, and he updates him weekly. He believes those updates should have translated into communicating the status of the projects with the Commission, noting there is a bit of a learning curve when addressing reports. He explained it was more valuable to consider citizen input versus moving hastily into a project and thanked everyone for the discussion. He stated he will learn from it and communicate more going forward. Mayor Reeves complimented Mr. Hogencamp for doing a wonderful job. B. 90 -Day Calendar (March 2017 through May 2017) There was 110 discussion about the calendar. 10. Reports and/or requests from City Commissioners and City Attorney City Attorney Durden • Informed the Commission that there are no updates on the judicial orders on the Beach Diner or The Cloister. • Reminded everyone about the Ethics Training on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. in the Commission Chamber. She explained the elected officials are the only ones required to have Ethics Training sometime before July 1St and she thanked Donna Bartle for sending out the invites to all Board and Committee members as well as the alternates. • Mentioned that the League of Cities dinner is Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Green Cove Springs and Lewis Longman & Walker will be one of the sponsors. She hopes the Commissioners can attend. Commissioner Waters • Encouraged citizens to reach out to the City so that they have a list of things to consider as they look at code review. She stated that she spoke with several Community Development Board (CDB) members as well as Planner Derek Reeves regarding code and code revision and will present some information, possibly at the next Commission meeting about Form -based Code. • Congratulated the DIG Market on their success. February 27, 2017 Regular City Commission Meeting Page 6 of 7 Commissioner Stinson • Reported that on the 25th of January at approximately 11:00 p.m., he was driving back home from a business meeting and observed our street sweeping contractor driving down Mayport Road sweeping the roads without using water. He explained that he reported it to City Manager Hogencamp and that Public Works Director Don Jacobovitz was then informed. They did confirm that they were sweeping Mayport Road that evening but they claimed that they were using water. Commissioner Stinson stated that he watched them for three blocks and were not using water and said that the next time he observes this, he will bring pictures and will be asking the Commission to cancel their contract. • Informed everyone that the Board Member Review Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 to discuss our part in the process, improvements to recruit and retain board members and how that will interface with all the other boards and their recommendations, and will then meet again in April with a combined group. He hopes they will have a recommendation back to the Commission shortly thereafter. • Commented that he was on the beach Sunday evening at dark and observed five fires in Atlantic Beach that he wanted the Commission to be aware of. He stated he did not know if they were permitted or not but thought it was worthy of checking into. • Informed the Commission that a business owner on the west side of Mayport Road has drafted some suggested changes to the code and will send a copy to City Attorney Durden. The business owner requested that he, Mr. Harding, and Mr. Hogencamp walk with him and look at some of the things that he believes need to happen on that side of Mayport Road. He stated that he will coordinate this through the City Clerk's office but will make the invitation open to everyone with a public notice. He requested that they let Ms. Bartle know if anyone has a day they prefer. Commissioner Hill • Explained that any comment made about code absolutely has no reflection on staff. Staff has struggled with this code just like we have and said that staff has done an amazing job. He further explained his enthusiasm for getting it fixed is not disgruntled feelings towards anyone on our staff and he looks forward to fixing it. • Referred to a comment he made at the Third Street Walkover meeting about the "waves being double overhead" and wanted everyone to know that the comment was in no way a reflection that he did not want to be there. • Thanked the Commission, stating that this Commission disagrees regularly, civilly and produces results out of our disagreements and agreements. He stated it has been a pleasure and he hoped the citizens feel that they are more productive for them. • Commented that he would like to be a part of the West Mayport Road meeting, if possible. Mayor Reeves • Encouraged the Commission and staff to attend the Beaches Museum and History Park exhibit opening Friday, March 3, 2017. He explained that it is another extension of the 90th Anniversary of Atlantic Beach and is a great opportunity for our City to shine. The Bull family has released a lot of new information and should be very interesting. • Shared with the Commission that he and Mr. Hogencamp met with the City Council Member Mr. Gulliford and the developers about the possibility of purchasing Johnston Island as an investment and wants it on a future agenda to discuss. • Mentioned that the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is another item that needs to go on an Agenda. February 27, 2017 R gular City Commission Meeting_ Page 7 of 7 • Commended Mr. Hogencamp for guiding the City in the right direction. • Apologized to Commissioner Waters for misunderstanding her. • Thanked Commissioner Stinson for the time he is spending to help improve board and committee processes. • Thanked Interim Chief Gualillo for attending the 20th Anniversary of the Mission House. Adjournment There being no further discussion, Mayor Reeves declared the meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m. ATTEST: Mitchell E. Reeves Mayor/Presiding Officer de -n-714 V'Ja4, Donna L. Bartle, CMC City Clerk