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 CITY COMMISSION MEETS
CKNews 15April 2014
 
CityComm2014
  
NEXT MEETING MAY 20, 2014 WITH
NEW OR RE-ELECTED COMMISSIONERS
 
The Cedar Key City Commission met Tuesday evening, April 15, 2014, at 6pm in City Hall. Mayor Gene Hodges, Vice-mayor Dale Register, and Commissioners Tina Ryan, Scott Dennison, and Sue Colson were in attendance.
 
PUBLIC COMMENT
Restoration Project:
Residents Bill Delaino and Jeff Schleede and the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension Agent Marl Clark, Ph.D. reported through a PowerPoint presentation that Joe Rains Beach currently is eroding and its sand is being pushed into a spit that blocks the Tyre Creek entrance.  The presentation included a financial page, that when projected on the wall, appeared small and difficult to be read by the majority of the audience; many unspecific numbers were verbalized.  The speakers asked for the City of Cedar Key to pay between $11,000 and $12,000, which represents the cost to restore the 70 feet of beach the City owns at the foot of Eighth Street; the speakers remarks led the audience to believe that the “12 or 13” residents and commercial ventures along the canal would pay for the remainder of the approximately $50,000 project. 
Schleede said that he had “never been in a place where the ‘Powers that be’ would ever let a commercial canal get in this condition in the first place.”  With no budgetary detail before them, the Commissioners agreed to support the project and search for the money. Commissioner Sue Colson made the motion; it was seconded.  Shortly after the presentation, just before 7pm, the Restoration Project group, Delaino, Schleede, Mike Hodges, and Clark left the meeting. 
 
CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
Budget:
City Clerk Teresa George reported the bank account balances as of March 2014.  Additionally, detailed profit and loss statements were reported for the following areas: Clerk’s Office, Administrative, Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works, Garbage, Marina/Park, and Building Department.  All departments are functioning within the allocated budgets.
 
Audit:
George further reported that she is in receipt of the final audit balances from the last fiscal year.  Commissioner Scott Dennison suggested that the Commission conduct a June budget meeting because of these audit numbers.   
Minutes:
Commissioners approved minutes from the March 4 and 18 and April 1, 2014, meetings.
 
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Dock Lease Transfer:
Commissioners approved Attorney Norm Fugate’s suggestion that the transfer of the outside Marina Dock Number Three from Bruce Wilson to Robinson Seafood mature this year on July 31, 2014, instead of two years from now. It was also discussed and the commission agreed that the dock was not to be used as an offsite advertisement for Robinson’s Restaurant on SR24. The outside dock space could only be used for as specified in the lease.
Non-Profit Groups Use of Facilities:
Commissioners approved new language allowing a discount for non-profit groups’ use City spaces.   The language reads:
“Discount for Community-Based Status:  Any event meeting all of the following requirements: (i) no admission is charged or any other type of compensation is realized, including donations; (ii) the event must be open to the public with no restrictions on attendance.  Any groups dealing with political parties or causes, elections or religious activities are not eligible for community-based status.  A full deposit will still be required.”
 
RESTORE Act Supplemental Agreement:
Commissioners approved the Supplemental Agreement with CHW, the engineering firm currently under continuing contract with the City for RESTORE Act projects.  The agreement contains the special provision that “Consultation services for the preparation and administration of the grant funding will be provided at risk by the consultant recognizing fund for projects and payment of consultant services would be part of an award from the Restore Act Pot 1 funds.” 
 
 
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Library Roof:
Public Works Department Director Virgil Sandlin will provide an estimate for an engineered hip roof at the next commission meeting.
 
Mittauer Invoice:
Sandlin presented Mittauer’s invoice for $18,000 with a request that Mayor Hodges sign and forward it to USDA Rural Development Area Specialist Stephanie Hodges.  Commissioners directed Sandlin to communicate with Mittauer the fact that Hodges states that the funds will become available when the construction portion of the project goes out for bids.
Commissioners further directed Sandlin to communicate to Mittauer that the City must have copies of the “Study and Report Phase,” “Topographic Surveying and Field Measurements” and “permitting” documents specified in the invoice before any invoices are paid.
 
Gillies Annexation:
Building Department Manager Robert Robinson asked commissioners if he might move forward on the annexation of the Robin Gillies home at 16481 Hodges Avenue in Cedar Key.  Robinson was told he may move forward after:  Dennison advised that, considering our recent problems with FEMA compliance, Levy County building officials should affirm that the house is located and properly constructed to comply with flood plain restrictions; Commissioner Dale Register stated that he / the City “wants the money”; and Mayor Hodges declared “that’s another greenback.”
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Quarterly Report:
Fire Chief Robert Robinson presented his three-month Cedar Key Fire Rescue Quarterly Report which contains all incidents to which his department responded in the City, in the county on Cedar Key, in the county off the island, in Rosewood.  Incident details included:  date, time, and the incident type, such as medical assistance, fire, vehicle fire, motor vehicle accident.
 
Interlocal Agreement with Williston:
Commissioners approved Robinson’s Interlocal Agreement to provide fire protection and fire services by and between City of Williston and the City of Cedar Key in cases when Chief Robinson and / or his volunteer pool are unavailable.  The agreement stays within the Fire Department’s allocated budget.
 
COMMISSIONERS’ ITEMS
Fireworks:
Commissioners agreed to have Mayor Hodges speak to Chamber of Commerce President Bill Heckler about raising dollars for and housing the dollars for the annual display of fireworks.  Hodges agreed to speak to Heckler and possibly attend the Chamber’s monthly meeting.
 
Quitman Hodges Scholarship:
Commissioner Colson reminded commissioners that annually the City collects funds for the prior Commissioner Quitman Hodges scholarship to be awarded to the Cedar Key School student exhibiting exceptional citizenship.  Colson invited the audience to donate, as well.
 
FWC Marine Educator Position Support:
The FWC is considering moving the Marine Educator position formerly held by Jennifer Saranzak to a more urban area, such as Saint Augustine, reported Colson.  Commissioners agreed to forward a letter of support requesting that the position remain in Cedar Key.  Colson requested that the audience write letters of support, as well.
 
Waste Pro:
Prompted by resident Tom Deverin’s request to the Commission in a recent meeting, Commissioner Dennison reported his communication with waste Pro.  The communication resulted in Waste Pro, in the next thirty to sixty days:  funding a mailing designed to reeducate residents about recycling; and working closer with businesses so that they might save additional dollars recycling. 
 
Storm Water Run-Off:
Colson described the storm water run-off on State Road 24 and Park Street where state road crews have recently created tailings that direct storm water into the Gulf waters that the City works to mitigate because the first inch of storm water runoff contains dramatically more pollutants than the following run off.  Commissioners, at Dennison’s suggestion, directed staff to contact Jordan Green’s office at the Florida Department of Transportation about the matter.
 
CITY CLERK’S BACK PAY:
Register reported that the former city clerk, if required to take back pay, would prefer to have that salary paid in two increments:  $8,000 in the calendar year 2014; the second $12,000 paid in the 2015 calendar year.  Colson and Dennison expressed the need to pay the full salary now.  Attorney Fugate offered a solution that would allow the prior clerk’s wishes to be granted while not leaving the city with an outstanding debt to deal with until and through the next budget cycle.
  
The meeting was adjourned at about 8:25pm.
The next meeting will be held on 20 May 2014
 
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