CITY COMMISSION MEETS
CITY COMMISSION RESPONDS TO NON-PROFIT LOBBYISTS,
REVAMPS ELECTION PROCESSES
February 5, 2015
The Cedar Key City Commission met at 6”10pm immediately after the CRA meeting adjourned. Commissioners in attendance were: Mayor Dale Register, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson, and Commissioners Tina Ryan and Royce Nelson. Commissioner Nettie Hodges was absent.
Staff in attendance included: City Attorney Norm Fugate, Fire Chief / Building Department Manager Robert Robinson, City Clerk Teresa George, and Staffer Lisa Fine. Police Chief / Public Works Director Virgil Sandlin was not in attendance.
The audience consisted of some forty individuals. The meeting adjourned at 8pm.
CITY FACILITIES USAGE FEES REVAMPED
After much lengthy and intense discussion, the commission decided to delete the wording on the “City of Cedar Key Facilities Use and Event Form” to allow Cedar Key-based non-profit groups to rent facilities at the lowest rate available and still be able to use a donation jar but there would not be a charge for admission.
Speaking in favor of this change was a group of consummately responsible individuals representing local non-profits. Each understood and many articulated that, indeed, some fee must be paid, they understood overhead. Susan Rosenthal, David Binkley, Friends of the Library’s Nita Cox, Lion Judy Duval, Cedar Key Historical Society’s Galina Binkley, Maurice Hendrix, Woman’s Club’s Jan Hendrix, and others spoke to the issue.
CHANGES IN CEDAR KEY ELECTION PROCEDURE
CAN BE CONFUSING
In collaboration with Levy County Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones, City Clerk Teresa George and City Attorney Norm Fugate presented the need for Ordinance 494: part of its substance is clearly contrary to Florida state law and other changes were dictated by recent past experiences in Cedar Key elections. The first reading of Ordinance 494, the subject of which is elections, was approved.
Among the changes were the following abbreviated items. Cedar Key News suggests that the reader carefully read Ordinance 494 for a full understanding of the changes; the piece is available at City Hall.
A qualified elector is a Florida state resident and one who claims to be a resident of Cedar Key.
The city clerk, instead of the mayor, appoints poll workers.
The canvassing board is composed of three persons appointed ny the city commission.
If a person believes an absentee ballot to be illegal, he must, before the envelope is opened, to file a protest.
Any person wishing to challenge any procedure or decision relating to a city election, must file the concern with the city clerk, whose decision may be appealed to the canvassing board.
If, due to death, withdrawal, or removal the ballot of a qualified candidate (s) for city commission following the end of the qualifying period, results in fewer than two candidates, a special election will take place.
The ordinance’s second reading is scheduled for February 17, 2015.
PURCHASING POLICY, UP FOR ITS FIFTH OR SIXTH DISCUSSION, WILL RECUR
Commissioner Royce Nelson presented his 27-page City of Cedar Key Purchasing Policy, explaining again that the policy emanates from Chiefland’s purchasing policy and many of its pages are statements of state statute. Vice-Mayor Colson suggested that commissioners consider the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District’s three-page purchasing policy
Commissioner Ryan asked if staff has had the opportunity to internalize the document as it is they who will implement it. Staff’s suggestion that threshold dollar amounts should be exclusive of one another and definitions such as “small purchase” might be used consistently were met with, “Don’t make mountains out of molehills,” and “Let’s not nitpick,” from Commissioner Nelson.
Commissioners agreed to read the Water District’s policy and revisit the issue at the next meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Colson Thanks Well-wishers:
Commissioner Colson thanked the commission and the public for their prayers, cards, and good wishes that she received during her recent hospital stay. She reported her after-surgical condition of pulmonary embolism that causes her difficulty in breathing and necessitates her stay at the evening’s meeting for two hours, two hours longer than her doctor preferred.
Visitors Laud City Personnel:
Mayor Register reported receiving correspondence from Canadian visitor Linda Bresler that lauded the part-time Public Works employee who meticulously cleans City Park and the courteous police persons.
Public Comment Is Limited; Presentations Are Not:
Register again reminded the audience that the Public Comment section of the City Commission agenda are limited to four minutes as dictated in Resolution 352 approved on January 7, 2014. Should anyone wish to speak longer, they are requested to be placed on the agenda as a separate item and therefore be given more time to speak
Speaker Identification for the Record:
Commissioner Ryan suggested that individuals in the audience who wish to speak identify themselves as a matter of protocol and for the record. Name, address, and if he or she is a resident would be helpful. Register said that he would manage meetings accordingly.
Resident Jeri Treat asked for an update on the Library repairs and the termite inspection. Commissioners replied that the termite extermination was completed, and that they needed Public Works Director Virgil Sandlin, who was absent, to respond to the general repairs. Mayor Register will place the item on the next agenda to provide an answer.
Commission Raves:
Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce Leslie Valen presented the commission with a certificate of appreciation from the Army’s January 23, 2015, visit to Cedar Key. She also presented each commissioner with a horseshoe, which when held upside down is fabled to catch all the good luck; the horseshoe was from Farm Tours of America.
FDOT TO APPEAR LATER
Mayor Register reported speaking to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Project Manager Leigh Ann Bennett who said that the group was not yet ready to present its designs. They are scheduled to appear on February 17, 2015.
FUTURE BUDGET HEARINGS
Mayor Register requested that each missioner give him a prioritized list of three items that they want researched before the upcoming budget hearings.
PUBLIC WORKS AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RESUMES
Register reported having received, happily, nine applications for the two positions that were due January 31. He asked commissioners to review them and be ready to discuss them in depth at the next meeting.
MINUTES APPROVED
Minutes were amended and approved for the December 16, 2014, and the January 6, 2015 meetings.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Robert Robison requested and received permission to apply for a grant to purchase a Lucas II, equipment that performs cardio-pulmonary compressions automatically. Robinson explained that the grant was a 90/10 grant and that he believed that he would be able to raise the 10% of the cost himself through local donations. The full cost of the equipment is approximately $20,000 for three years of service and consumable goods. Robinson believes that the Lucas II provides more consistent compressions than humans who can tire and often must wait long lengths of time for Levy County Rescue unit’s arrival. Ultimately, Robinson said, “It gives the patient a better chance."
Next City Commission meeting will be on 17 February 2015
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