COMMISSION MEETS
May 17, 2016
Meeting Specifics
The City of Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 6 pm at City Hall. Present were: Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Dale Register, and Commissioners Sue Colson, Royce Nelson, and Diana Topping.
Staff in attendance included: Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Public Works Director Bill Crandley, and City Clerk Nicole Gill, and her staff. Fire Chief Robert Robinson was absent.
Among those in the audience were: FDOT representatives Bill Henderson and Leanne Bennett, Doug Maple, Maurice Hendrix, Linda Dale, Joe Catalano, Joan Selby, Susan and Steve Rosenthal, Eileen Senecal, Thelma McCain, George Sresovich, Mike and Anna Hodges, Amy Gernhardt, Faye Sanders, Terry Kite, Lily Rooks, Bob and Jeri Treat, Michael Hancock, Chris Topping, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BRIDGE PRESENTATION
FDOT representatives Bill Henderson and Leanne Bennet, based in the FDOT’s Lake City office, made a brief PowerPoint presentation and answered questions. Henderson reviewed the history of the Cedar Key’s three-bridge projects: Daughtry Bayou Bridge, Lewis Pass Bridge (both to the airport), and the C Street (to Dock Street) Bridge. The C Street Bridge was built in 1964. Henderson explained that the Daughtry and Lewis Pass bridges were on schedule to begin construction in 2017.
Henderson’s plan for the C Street Bridge has distinct advantages for Dock Street businesses, residents, and boaters. The plan: keeps traffic flowing during construction and increase the height of the bridge by three feet. The opening will also increase to approximately 22 feet. The entire construction could take up to three years because a temporary bridge must be built alongside the current bridge in order to keep the traffic flowing and FDOT will have time to acquire some properties necessary to the construction process.
The finished bridge would have two six-foot sidewalks, two eight-foot parking lanes, and one 17-foot lane for one-way traffic.
FESTIVAL FEE DISCUSSION
Mayor Heath Davis opened the discussion about charging fees to the Cedar Key Arts Center and the Lions Club, $2,250 and $500 respectively, at the Seafood Festival and the Arts Festival. Davis abbreviated the events’ histories, their growth, and mentioned what services the city paid for in the past.
Davis explained that staff’s recommendation of $2,250 and $500 resulted from Public Works, Police, and City Clerk personnel estimates of time spent on this past festival. He explained that he wanted the “discussion to start” and “specific roles to evolve.”
Cedar Key Arts Center Board Vice-President Joan Selby: expressed her disappointment with the city’s proposal to charge for use of city property; explained that many of her CKAC group wishing to speak were not in town for the summer; detailed the 80 to 90 volunteers who work many hours to make the event a success; cited the recognition the city receives as an art and festival destination; reminded all that the local non-profits and depend heavily on the festival dollars they garner.
Resident Steve Rosenthal, “speaking as a taxpayer,” commented that: staff’s recommendation of dollars is faulty as it includes fixed costs and ought not; that the recommendation amounts to 0.5 percent of an approximately million-dollar annual budget; and, that if the city is trying to save dollars, this is the wrong place for a multitude of reasons. Rosenthal’s reasons included: some 60,000 people come to town filling every hotel, condo, RV park, and motel room in town for at least four nights; restaurants and shops are filled; and for a 0.5 percent of the city budget, he couldn’t imagine a better return on the investment.
CKAC Past President Amy Gernhardt reminded the commission that the CKAC has many expenses associated with the festivals, that it pays the City Park bathroom attendant, and that the city earns dollars from the festival participants who park in the parking lots overnight. Additional residents spoke against the recommended fees.
Commissioner Sue Colson suggested that the city look carefully at other sources during the budget process rather than charging new fees to the CKAC and the Lions Club.
Davis said and commissioners unanimously agreed: that the discussion about roles should continue; that the October festival should proceed as the last one did with no fees; and that in November of 2016 some resolution of the issue should occur.
PURVIS AND GRAY AUDIT REPORT:
Purvis and Gray representative Terry Kite overviewed the audit of the city for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015.
Noteworthy is the Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency’s long-term debt. Purvis and Gray acknowledge that “During the last five fiscal years, the CKCRA increment revenues received have been less than the annual debt service on the Series 2007 Redevelopment Revenue Note. This has resulted in a reduction in the CKCRA balance.” The auditors recommend “that the CKCRA Board monitor its fund balance and take steps to ensure that sufficient resources are available to pay the future debt service requirements.”
The city’s response to the issue is contained in its Management Response Letter dated May 6, 2016. “The City of Cedar Key CRA Board is aware of the continuing reduction in revenue and the effect the reduction is having on making payments on its debt service. The CRA Board Chairperson and the City Attorney have spoken with the note Holder (SunTrust Bank) and will follow all required requirements up to and including notification to the State of Florida when full payments are not made to SunTrust Bank. The April 2016 available funds were sent to SunTrust Bank on April 7, 2016 in the amount of $424,444.56.”
In effect, the CRA has done what is required: paid to SunTrust Bank all the dollars received in Tax Increment Funds.
Commissioner Colson registered her concern that the audit of the city should not include comments on the CRA as they are two distinct separate bodies.
FLORIDA MUNICIPAL SERVICES CONTRACT (BUILDING DEPARTMENT) CHANGES:
Staff’s recommendation to commissioners to adopt a fee-based structure instead on of the current $70 per hour rate. Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation.
In general, the new fee schedule: increases residential permits by $10; increases commercial permits a minimum of $110; transfers 50% of the “Billing Clerk’s” salary, FICA, retirement, dental and health insurance to Florida Municipal Services.
MARINA FEE STRUCTURE CHANGES:
Commissioners unanimously approved changes in the Marina fees. Changes include charging a fee for a given service and adding tax to that amount; currently, some fees include the tax and others do not. Consistency is the result.
FINAL APPROVAL NATURE COAST BIOLOGICAL STATION:
Commissioners unanimously approved the Final Order for development of the Nature Coast Biological Station construction.
MINUTES APPROVED:
Minutes from the May 3 2016, Commission Meeting were unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:20 pm.
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