Nothing in the bland three-item agenda for the combined Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)/City Commission meeting Tuesday night, May 10, predicted a forty-minute discussion of the new curb along 2nd Street in front of the post office. Had the public known that the controversial barrier to free access to the post office parking lot would be up for discussion and action, Tuesday night`s debate might have taken hours. As it was, the only public in attendance for the post office parking lot debate were the reporters for the Cedar Key Beacon and Cedar Key News. The issue arose during former CRA director Greg Lang`s report to the commissioners on the CRA-funded utilities upgrade and resultant street repair throughout the city. Commissioner Scott Dennison asked what options may be available to the approved design for that portion of 2nd Street, which he judges makes access to the post office "unnecessarily complicated." Commissioner Gene Hodges, speaking on behalf of citizens who have complained to him about the narrowed access to the post office parking lot, asked what it would cost to remove the new curb. Lang responded that there would be minimal cost involved to knock down the new curb, which cost would be offset by savings resulting from not building a new sidewalk and planting four new trees. In explanation, Lang noted that the new design was intended to meet prior city commission goals to increase on-street parking, provide safer pedestrian crossings and increase shade trees. Commissioner Hodges, commenting that "It worked better the way it was," made a motion that the new curb be removed and that access to the post office be restored to its pre-street improvement state. Hodges` motion failed when the four commissioners present voted two for and two against. In the end, Commissioner Pat O`Neal introduced a compromise motion to knock down a good part of the new curb but to provide a portion of the improvements in the present design plan. O`Neal`s motion was adopted unanimously. In other business, the commissioners agreed to advertise for a short-term replacement for Greg Lang, to manage CRA projects through the end of the city`s fiscal year September 30. The position of city attorney also is open, and the commissioners agreed to a formal application process for that position as well. | 