The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday evening, 20 November 2012, at 6PM in City Hall. Among the issues discussed were the following.
The next commission meeting will occur on December 4, 2012, after the regularly scheduled Community Redevelopment Agency meeting.
EMERGENCY FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE VOTE
The Floodplain Ordinance #485 and the suspension by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of Cedar Key`s flood insurance were discussed. The ordinance was to be adopted before the effective date of November 4, 2012, in order to maintain coverage for the city. Because this had not been done, an "Emergency Ordinance-Floodplain" item appeared on the evening`s agenda. The commission voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance which should remove the suspension. City Attorney Norman Fugate stated that the city should be able to review any changes they would like to make to the ordinance and act on them at a later time.
SEAFOOD FESTIVAL A SUCCESS
The Lions" Club`s Lannie Cardona reported that $55,000 was collected at the festival. A huge 48% of those dollars was earned by the Cedar Key School.
LEVY COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR DAVID KNOWLES
Mr. Knowles reported on the merging of local fire departments with Levy County including Rosewood, Yankeetown, Fowlers Bluff, and Morriston. Commissioner Heath Davis inquired if Levy County`s current funding to Cedar Key would continue; Knowles reported no change in funding was planned. Davis requested that if a change in funding were to occur in the future that the City of Cedar Key be informed in advance to allow for discussion and budget changes. Knowles repeated that there is no directive or plans to change the funding at this time and his desire to continue to work with the city as he has in the past. Currently, the Cedar Key Fire Department receives $66,000 annually from Levy County for the specific purpose of providing services outside the city limits.
REQUEST TO VACATE LAND
Ronald McCabe requested to have an unimproved 40 foot wide right-of-way that is located at the rear of his property at Pine Street and State Road 24 vacated. The right-of-way in question is an unpaved section of Live Oak Street. McCabe spoke of the land in question as a right-of-way; the commission corrected him stating that the land is a dedicated, currently unpaved and unused, street. Davis asked that research be conducted to assure that this vacating would not restrict current owner access and future access to other properties. The commission directed Attorney Fugate to investigate the matter. Commissioner Sue Colson warned that vacating one small section of city property without understanding the larger geographical area would be unwise.
COMPENSATION TO CHIEF SANDLIN FOR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORSHIP
Compensation to Police Chief Virgil Sandlin for the assuming of public works director`s responsibilities was unanimously approved. The compensation will be for ten hours a week and will be retroactive to the time he assumed the responsibilities.
REPORT ON THE SIDEWALK ON STATE ROAD 24 BETWEEN NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FOUR BRIDGES
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for SR24 engineering services for a five-year term of service will be published this month. These services may be used for additional projects. An evaluation and selection committee consisting of Commissioner Scott Dennison, Chief Sandlin, and Fire Chief Robert Robinson was established.
The agreed upon 2012-2013 timeline follows:
* November 2012: commission voted to publish the RFQ in November 2012.this month
* January, 2013: commission will approve engineering firm
* February 2013: public hearing designed to input and comments from area residents
* March, 2013: submit design if approved to Florida Department of Transportation
* April 2013: city commission decides to proceed or not to proceed with project
* May 2013: project put out for bids
* June 2013: contract is signed with contractor
Commissioner Colson stated that the vote tonight is only for the publishing of the RFQ; it is not a vote of approval for the sidewalk. A public hearing to gather comments and input will occur before a vote on the sidewalk is taken.
GULFSIDE BOAT RAMP
The public opening of bids is scheduled for December 20, 2012. Contract will be awarded on December 28, 2012.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be posted on city website.
MARINA DREDGING PROJECT
Commissioner Scott Dennison reported that marina dredging options will be presented and discussed at the December 4, 2012.
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND BUILDING INSPECTIONS
Police Chief Sandlin will be responsible for scheduling community events. Fire Chief Robinson will be involved in overseeing building inspections.
