Meeting Specifics:

The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 6:20 pm, at Cedar Key City Hall, immediately after the Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency adjourned.   Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vic-Mayor Sue Colson, and Commissioners Royce Nelson, Nickie Rucker, and Susan Rosenthal.

Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson, Public Works Supervisor James Custer, City Clerk Nicole Gill, Assistant City Clerk Crystal Sharp, and Legal Assistant to Mr. Fugate Leslie Landress.

Among those in the audience were: Buddy Scruggs, George Oakley, Barbara Maple, Dennis Gill, Peggy Herrick, Beth Mizell, Tina Ryan, Joy Parker, North Central Florida Regional Planning Council Sandra Joseph, Bill Rucker, Mark Clark, Jeri and Bob Treat, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.

PUBLIC COMMENT

MARGARITAS AND MERMAIDS AND ANOTHER FESTIVAL:

Joy Parker of Chiefland has filed applications to hold two events at the City Park in Cedar Key. The Margaritas & Mermaids event on September 21 & 22, according to the application, could bring 1000 to 2000 visitors, 500+ cars and will have 50 - 60 vendors, two water slides, and five bounce houses. The Summer Bash event scheduled for July 21st would be smaller and for only one day. This event will have only two food booths and two bounce houses and two water slides and up to 35 vendors.

Parker stated that at least one of these events, which was unclear, is to “help people, sick, with cancer.” Parker stated that she has not produced such an event previously but has worked with festivals in Chiefland and through her church. She said she would have one adult at each water slide and bounce house to monitor children.

Some concerns voiced by the commission were regarding clean up, damage to the park and additional workload and responsibility required of city employees. Parker was told by commissioners that she may conduct her festivals, pending adequate insurance, proper food requirements, clean up, etc. She was denied her request to close the streets and occupy the beach. The vote was four to one with Colson dissenting.

Some of the questions / comments from the audience and dais included:

• If someone is coming to use city property to make money, perhaps the city ought to expect some portion of the profits.
• How can the city be assured that the food vendor meets licensing, safety, etc. requirements?
• How is the city reimbursed for City Park overuse of grass, bathrooms, personnel needed to oversee entire event, etc.?
• How is the city reimbursed for use of water with the water slides?
• What does an event like this do to the regular visitor to Cedar Key who simply wants a restful day in the park?
• Is Cedar Key becoming a “festival” destination? Is that good?

This event will be a closely watched and used to help determine if the city needs to revise its policy when allowing or permitting additional festivals.

FLORIDA HUMANITIES COUNCIL, MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET, CROSSROADS:

At the March 20, city commission meeting, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson requested a letter of support and the use of some city facilities for the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street, Crossroads grant from the Florida Humanities Council. At that time, commissioners unanimously approved her request. The exhibition should be in Cedar Key between September 8 and October 20, 2018.

This evening, Colson requested the fee be waived for the use of the Cedar Key Community Center for the Levy County HIstorical Society's "Railroads and Riverboats" exhibit for September 28 through 30, 2018. Commissioners unanimously granted the request.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION:

Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce representative Dennis Gill requested the use of the city’s metal floating dock from which to ignite fireworks for the 9:15 pm show off Dock Street on July 4, 2018. Click here for more information: http://cedarkey.org/ Commissioners unanimously approved the request.

ORDINANCE 518 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Attorney Norm Fugate introduced the second and final reading of Ordinance 518 which amends the text and future land use maps of the City of Cedar Key Comprehensive Plan found in the Laws of Cedar Key, Chapter Three. Prior to this evening’s consideration, the Comprehensive Plan changes have been processed through the Cedar Key Local Planning Agency, the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, and submitted to various state agencies for compliance and comments. Approval of the ordinance tonight falls within the 180 time-limit process.

Fugate went on to explain that the Local Planning Agency met earlier in the day, Tuesday, June 19, 2018, and approved the document/ordinance with the condition that the maps within be corrected and that further study and actions be considered with its floodplain and the Federal Emergency Management Agency sections. Fugate advised postponing the ordinance’s approval.

North Central Florida Planning Council Senior Planner Sandra Joseph explained that the amended Comprehensive Plan document is now synchronized with state requirements and that the city may alter the Plan whenever it chooses. Joseph recommended approval of the Ordinance 518.

Mayor Davis and Vice-Mayor Colson, expressly desirous of further study of the Ordinance’s FEMA and flood content, voted against approving Ordinance 518. Commissioners Nelson, Rucker, and Rosenthal voted to approve it. The Ordinance was approved.

INSIDE MARINA DREDGE

The inside Marina dredging discussion was presented by Public Works Supervisor James Custer and University of Florida ‘s Dr. Mark Clark who, among other academic and practical responsibilities, manages the restoration of Rains Beach. The discussion centered disposal of the sand taken from the Marina dredge.

Options for the disposal of the dredged sand include: transfer to an upland, preferably nearby to reduce transfer costs, transfer to the eroding G Street to create part of a living shoreline; or transfer to the eroding Island Place beach.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection representatives recently visited the site with Custer and Commissioner Colson, from which they learned that geo-tubes, which contain the sand and can be left in the water require permits that may take a year or more to process. The FDEP personnel strongly suggest sand transfer nearby uplands.

Custer and Clark will return to the commission with recommendations, each coupled with necessary permits and possible prices. Custer will also contact the one bidder who returned a quote to negotiate prices.

GOLF CARTS IN CEDAR KEY

Police Chief Virgil Sandlin advised commissioners that he has become aware of two state attorney general decisions impacting Cedar Key’s golf cart management that will require the city to review its golf cart expectations currently set forth in the Laws of Cedar Key. For further reading, these attorney-general decisions are available in the attached agenda packet; simply click and scroll through the agenda items to find them: http://www.cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city-news/15-announcements/4001-city-commission-agenda-may-19-2018

Sandlin’s first concern is that the minimum age required by the state to drive a golf cart is 14, not 16, as the Laws of Cedar Key currently state. His second concern is that the golf cart driver need not have or carry a driver’s license.

Commissioners decided to remove the Golf Cart section of the Laws of Cedar Key and simply insert that the city follows the state statutes. Mayor Davis further directed Chief Sandlin to put into memo form the definition of a golf cart, so that all would have a common understanding.

LPA APPLICATION

The City of Cedar Key Local Planning Agency currently has one vacant seat for which resident Bill Rucker has applied. Commissioners unanimously accepted the application and thanked Rucker for his willingness to serve on the agency.

COMMISSIONERS’ DESK

Public Works Supervisor James Custer presented to the commissioners: desk diagrams; a detailed materials list that included the item description, number, source, unit price, expended price; table layout; and bracing and cladding detail.

Commissioners voted to put the desk on hold for now, perhaps until the budget cycle occurs.   Commissioners Rosenthal and Nelson voted to move forward to construct the desk; Mayor Davis, Vice-Mayor Colson, and Commissioner Rucker voted to put it in abeyance.

BUDGET WORKSHOP AND HEARINGS SCHEDULE

The city budget schedule is available; please click here.

MINUTES APPROVED

Minutes from the May 15, 2018, city commission meeting were unanimously approved. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:44 pm.