Starting at 6:00 p.m. December 7 the City Commission met, first in a joint workshop with the Local Planning Agency (LPA), and then for nearly four hours in regular session. At the joint meeting the LPA presented an updated list of recommended priorities for capital improvements using Community Redevelopment funds. Many of the Commission's eighteen agenda items were routine, however, under Administrative Issues, Mayor Paul Oliver announced that Mrs. "Mac" McCain has withdrawn from leadership of the Arts And Crafts Festival scheduled for April of 2005.
The Commission, and spokespersons for the Camber of Commerce and the Lions Club, addressed the need for preparation for the 2005 Arts and Crafts Festival. Dan Holland volunteered the Chamber of Commerce, citing the short time before the festival. Lucille Andrews pointed out that the Lions Club has long been involved with the festival and should be included in the planning. Commissioner Heath Davis made an ultimately successful motion that Mayor Oliver ask the President of the Cedar Key Arts Center to provide leadership in planning the 2005 event. However, Cedar Key News has since learned that the Arts Center Board of Directors at an earlier date had declined to assume leadership.
Another administrative issue, the previously tabled matter of using Cedar Key News for notice and archiving of City proceedings resurfaced. Following a brief discussion and helpful comments from the audience, the Commission voted to retain the services of Cedar Key News for the year 2005. Legal notices that must be published in weekly print media will published elsewhere as well as in Cedar Key News. The Commission gave recognition to the immediacy of online publication of notices in Cedar Key News.
Furthermore, the Commission decided to express reservations about the proposed Andrews family housing development adjacent to the Number Four Bridge. City Attorney David Coffey will prepare a letter to the Levy County Commission for the Mayor`s signature. At issue is whether wetlands can be used to justify increased housing density on true uplands.
The final agenda item, a quasi-judicial hearing of a variance request for a fence higher than four feet. Pending action by the Historic Preservation! Architectural Review Board, a six foot high fence was approved for a property in the 200 block of Second Street. | 