CEDAR KEY
COMMISSION MEETS
September 18, 2018
Meeting Specifics: The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at 6 pm, at Cedar Key City Hall. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-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, City Clerk Nicole Gill, Assistant City Clerk Crystal Sharp, and Legal Assistant to Mr. Fugate Leslie Landress. Public Works Supervisor James Custer was absent and attending fire department training.
Among those in the audience were: Wayne Watson, Mary Ellen Szper, Allison Nelson, Suzie Horner, Pat Bonish, Brian Skarupski, Savanna Barry, Jim Wortham, Dell Weible, Sean Ruddy, Danielle Zoerhof, Beth Mizell, Buddy Scruggs, Jeri and Bob Treat, Mandy and Frank Offerle, and more.
PUBLIC COMMENT
BARRY RESEARCH
Dr. Savanna Barry, from UF IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, reported that the $24,000 Living Shorelines grant, previously agreed to by the city, was ready for signatures. The grant requires no matching funds from the city. Instead, the city pays four installments and is reimbursed upon its submission of four reports.
HALLOWEEN, OCTOBER 30
Resident Wayne Watson, creator of the Second Street Haunted House, announced that Halloween will be celebrated in Cedar Key on Tuesday, October 30, 2018. Watson has completed the permitting requirements. He requested that the commission waive the permit fee. As the Halloween event involves vendors on the entire street, not simply Watson, commissioners unanimously voted to grant his request.
NEW BUSINESS
FENCE LICENSE REQUEST ELIMINATES PUBLIC ACCESS
Resident Sean Ruddy requested that the city grant him a license to build a fence enclosing approximately 1,200 square feet of public Right of Way property adjoining his house at 6010 F Street. Ruddy cited no need nor reason for the enclosure of public property.
Mayor Davis suggested that Ruddy think carefully about parking his cars within his fence and gate as parking on the street contiguous with his address is already difficult. Ruddy’s parking on his own property would, Davis explained, make traffic flow more easily.
Resident Mandy Offerle urged the commission not to approve the request as the property is public; fencing it in negates public access. She noted that this licensing has occurred in the past and wondered how much more public land would be licensed to private individuals for personal use.
After a motion was made there was more discussion by the commissioners involving the need for the owners to park their vehicles on their property. The parking of their vehicles on the narrow street could be an obstruction to the City’s emergency vehicles and an obstacle to local traffic. It was asked that the petitioners, at this time, look into providing onsite parking space. Commissioners voted in a three-to-two vote to grant Ruddy’s request. Commissioner Rosenthal and Vice-Mayor Colson voted no.
ALCOHOL AFTER MIDNIGHT IN CEDAR KEY
In the wake of the 1:30 am Dock Street incident in which two Cedar Key police officers were injured, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin requested that commissioners consider an ordinance stopping liquor sales at midnight in Cedar Key. The Laws of Cedar Key, 2.02.02, currently prohibits liquor sales from 2 am to 7 am daily, seven days per week. Florida Statutes limit sales from midnight to 7 am if a municipality does not have it’s own ordinance.
Discussion ensued including owners of the Big Deck, 84 West, and others. None wanted to see the city laws altered but understood the need to regulate excessive public drinking. Vice-Mayor Colson spoke to such episodes as “jeopardizing our reputation”; Commissioner Nelson spoke to “overserving.”
Big Deck and The Market owner Brian Skarupski offered to take the responsibility to gather those owners of establishments that served liquor and seek a solution or an understanding and to return with that information to the commission. Commissioners and Sandlin agreed to that.
ISLAND RESIDENTS, NOT IN CITY LIMITS, UNDERGO WASTE PRO CHANGES
In the second reading of Ordinance 524, commissioners approved the city’s solid waste collection and service utility. Further they eliminated the “Optional Services Area” section of the contract which reads: Residences and Commercial Establishments outside of the City limits may subscribe for solid waste collection and removal services provided by the City.”
Essentially, those living on the island but not in the city will have to manage their own waste collection and removal services separately from the city.
In a three to two vote, Mayor Davis, Commissioner Susan Rosenthal, and Vice-Mayor Colson voted to eliminate the Optional Services. Commissioners Royce Nelson and Nickie Rucker voted not to remove the Optional Services.
CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS, SECOND READING ORDINANCE 525
Commissioners unanimously approved the second reading of Ordinance 525 which amends Chapter 4 of the Laws of Cedar Key, Land Development Regulations, (historic preservation components) to offer an alternative to appearing before the Historic Preservation Board by acquiring an administratively-granted certificate of appropriateness for windows, roofs, and fences.
CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS, RESOLUTION 415
Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 415 which adopts a set of photographs which represent period-appropriate criteria for administrative certificates of appropriateness.
BUDGET AMENDMENT, RESOLUTION 421
Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 421.
PUBLIC SERVICE TAX INCREASED, ORDINANCE 526
In a four-to-one vote, commissioners approved the first reading of Ordinance 526 which increases the Public Service Tax from 4% to 8%, effective April 2019. Commissioner Nelson voted no.
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AGREEMENT
The seven-page DEO Agreement Number F 1319 was presented to the commissioners who decided that they needed more clarification. Staff will pursue and report back to commissioners.
BEAUCHAMP AND EDWARDS CONTRACT SIGNED
Commissioners unanimously approved the Beauchamp and Edwards, CPAs July 23 contract listing accounting services for $9,300.
NOTICE OF BOARD OPENINGS, LPA AND HISTORIC BOARD
Mayor Davis again announced the following openings and encouraged residents to apply if the feel qualified or interested.
Land Planning Agency:
Seat 1 is open and applied for by Bill Rucker.
Seat 2 is open and currently held by Jim Mason.
Both seat terms are November 1, 2018, to October 31, 2021.
Historic Preservation Board:
Seat 5 is open and currently held by Niki Mason.
The seat term is November 1, 2018, to October 31, 2021.
CITY OF CEDAR KEY GALA
Mayor Davis encouraged all in attendance to take part in the Gala on November 5th, reminding all that the profits go to children’s programs.
Click here for more information: https://www.cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city-news/4184-2018-city-gala
MINUTES APPROVED
Minutes from the August 21, 2018, Commission Meeting and Budget Workshop and minutes from the September 5, 2018, Tentative Budget Hearing were unanimously approved.
CONTINUING BUSINESS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHED UPDATES
Police Chief Virgil Sandlin reported that 15 storage sheds on the island are not in compliance with the FEMA Flood Plain map expectations. He will see that notices are sent requiring the owners to apply for permits for the existing sheds.
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
POLICE MANUAL
Attorney Fugate reported that Commissioner Rosenthal, Chief Sandlin, and he continue to work their way through the police manual, which is nearly two-thirds complete.
CEDAR KEY WATER SEWER DISTRICT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
Attorney Fugate met with CKWSD General Manager John McPherson regarding the latter’s modified agreement. Commissioners agreed to take no action.
ELECTION COMMISSION FINAL ORDER
The Florida Elections Commission’s final decision of “no probable cause,” brings closure to Case No. FEC 17-237, according to Tallahassee lawyer Ronald Labasky, of Brewton Plante P.A. .
SPECIAL EVENTS INSURANCE
Fungate reported that city paperwork, permits, and forms, now include the “no selling of liquor” language required by the city’s insurance agency.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
DREDGING UPDATE
Mayor Davis, in Custer’s absence, reported that the dredging project was moving forward.
BEACH SAND UPDATE
Vice-Mayor Colson reported that she is working with SRWMD to control the shifting of sand on the City Park’s beach. Colson is also working with UF/IFAS to determine different types of plants that can be used to control the movement of sand.
CONCRETE DOCK UPDATE
Options regarding the outside dock situation will come before the next commission meeting.
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
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