A full moon hung over City Hall as the Commission disinterred the bones of three ordinances passed just a few months ago. Therefore, the Meade-Sensenig-Buck Conservation Zone conflict will be debated again December 6. The twenty-three item November 15 agenda also included a proposal from the Lions Club, five ordinances, two petitions, Commissioner's reports, LPA business and two quasi-judicial hearings. Ruth Hernandez, representing the Cedar Key Lions Club, asked the Commission to consider opening negotiations regarding the Lions clubhouse as a site for a community center through the use of Community Redevelopment Agency funds. Suggesting a win-win for the City and Lions, Hernandez said that CRA funds could be used to fund the community center, thereby releasing Lions funds for sight and hearing aid to people in a three county area. Commissioner Heath Davis asked that CRA Director Jackie Gorman meet with Lions Club members and make a recommendation to the Commission. Mayor/Commissioner Paul Oliver suggested speedy but thorough action, noting that there are few sites suitable for a community center. Two ordinances were given final reading, and passed unanimously after very limited discussion. They were Ordinance 394, which exempts clammers from payment of fee in lieu of providing parking spaces for their vehicles and Ordinance 395 which requires golf cart drivers to be sixteen years old or older and carry picture ID. Commissioner Sue Colson expounded on the need for effective enforcement of the new golf cart ordinance. The first reading of Ordinance 397, which extends a moratorium on six zoning categories, passed unanimously and with a remarkable absence of stated opposition. The first reading of Ordinance 298, which addresses cemetery management, was deferred until the December 6 meeting. A petition to move a house from Third Street to Seventh Street was unanimously approved after the fact, with petitioner-Commissioner Vanessa Edmunds having temporarily left the meeting. Likewise, the petition to subdivide a Gulf Boulevard property into three lots was unanimously approved. Ordinance 398, annexation of a Piney Point property into Cedar Key, was unanimously denied because the property owners would not agree to forgo future plans to subdivide the property. Reports by Commissioners were unusually brief, with Commissioner Colson reporting dramatic fuel savings by the city maintenance crew. She met with resistance from Commission and audience members when she proposed acceptance of a grant to study beach restoration along First and H Streets. Commissioner Pat O'Neal announced that use of the Cedar Key Library for filming a movie would be delayed until the third week in January. The Commission reappointed Greg Lang to the Local Planning Agency. It also noted the need to fill the LPA seat that will be vacated by Kevin Flynn who has submitted his resignation, effective December 31, 2005.
Perhaps the most unusual item on the agenda was a brief discussion of whether to re-advertise and re-consider Ordinances 390, 391 and 392, which concern amendment of the Comprehensive Plan and Use Element Designation from Conservation to Low Density Residential zoning. These Ordinances address interpretation of maps that may or may not designate what is Conservation Zone, and passed on a split vote. Three property owners (Meade, Sensenig and Buck) have filed a law suit on the matter. City Attorney David Coffey said that the City's insurance company is defending the suit against the City, but that is legal to re-consider the ordinances. Commissioner Edmunds asked to have Building Official Robert Niffenegger give her a tour of the properties. On a motion by Commissioner Edmunds, and seconded by Commissioner O'Neal, to re-open the debate, the vote was three to two, with Commissioners Colson and Davis voting against. Jahn McCumbers` petition to replat a lot on Whiddon Avenue into two lots was granted after a determination of financial hardship, a decision allowed in the face of an existing moratorium on minor replats. Also, Edward and Beverly Pidacek were granted a certificate of appropriateness to build a forty-five foot high single family dwelling on Second Street in the Historic District opposite the Jiffy Store. Although two Commissioners expressed the view that the structure would be too high to fit in, approval was granted. | 