Cedar Key News - CITY COMMISSION MEETS

Meeting Specifics:

The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 6 pm, at Cedar Key City Hall. Present were Commissioners Heath Davis, Sue Colson, Royce Nelson, Nickie Rucker, and Susan Rosenthal.

Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson, Public Works Supervisor James Custer, City Clerk Nicole Gill, Assistant City Clerk Crystal Sharp, and Legal Assistant to Mr. Fugate Leslie Landress.

Among those in the audience were: Faye Sanders, Steve Rosenthal, Andrew Gude, Coach" William James Rogers, Jr, Karen Bruskin, John McPherson, Leslie Sturmer, Savanna Barry, Jim Wortham, Peggy Herrick, Beth Mizell, John Blouse, Mike and Mendy Allen, Tom Simpson, Esta Johnson, John Caddigan, Jeri and Bob Treat, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.

NELSON, ROSENTHAL SEATED

As a result of the recent city commission elections, Commissioner Royce Nelson was reseated in Seat Two and Susan Rosenthal was seated in Seat Four for two-year terms. Both read the “City Oath of Office” aloud and signed the oath after the meeting.

DAVIS SEATED AS MAYOR

City Clerk Nicole Gill called for nominations from commissioners for mayor. Sue Colson nominated Heath Davis. The motion was seconded; no other nominations were proffered. Davis accepted the gavel after a four-to-zero vote and thanked the commissioners, saying that he was honored.

COLSON SEATED AS VICE-MAYOR

Mayor Heath Davis called for nominations from commissioners for vice-mayor. Royce Nelson nominated Sue Colson; no other nominations were proffered. Colson accepted the position and thanked the commissioners.

STAFF REAPPOINTED

According to the city charter, after annual city elections, new commissioners must be officially seated or reseated, commissioners must elect a mayor and a vice-mayor, and staff and department heads must be rehired or relieved of duty.

This evening, Mayor Davis suggested two options for commissioners: they could vote on all those to be rehired at one time or they could vote on each person individually. Initially hearing no response and moving forward with the 21-item agenda, Davis asked for a motion and a vote upon the first person, Norm Fugate. Commissioners voted five-to-zero to rehire Fugate. Davis welcomed him back to the city.

Vice-Mayor Colson reminded her fellows that they had the option of voting for the remaining department heads en masse. Commissioners agreed to do so. Colson made the motion to reappoint all three staff members: Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson, and City Clerk and Planning and Development Director Nicole Gill. After a slight hesitation from Commissioner Nelson, the vote was five-to-zero to rehire the three department heads. Davis welcomed them. Some in the audience applauded.

COMMISSION COMPOSITION, SOME HISTORY

Mayor Davis pointed out that the city now has a commission comprised of three duly elected and appointed women. In the recent past, the commission had three women, but not all were elected. He also commented that in the 1860’s the Reconstruction Era, the commission, except for one member, was black and remained so for several decades.

PUBLIC COMMENT

EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE:

Savanna Barry, UF ISAS Nature Coast Biological Station, and Leslie Sturmer, UF IFAS Shellfish Aquaculture Extension, requested approval for placement of six educational signs commensurate with the Horseshoe Crab sign currently located on the east Marina parking lot walkway near Kayak Cedar Keys. The signs are part of a National Park Service’s Maritime Heritage Grant that highlights shellfish harvesting in the Big Bend area.

The initially proposed placement along the Marina railing was countered by Mayor Davis who suggested that the signs might be more effective if they could be scattered about the dock, perhaps geographically pointing in the direction of where the activity occurs, rather than all on one strip. Barry and Sturmer agreed with the concept. Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge Manager Andrew Gude offered help from the US Fish and Wildlife Commission as requested.

COAST GUARD AUXILIARY OFFERS SAFETY ASSISTANCE:

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Commander John Caddigan announced National Safe Boating Week, May 19 - 25. Caddigan said he and his Coast Guard Auxiliary team would be available on Sunday, May 26, at the Marina, offering safety information, suggestions, and feedback to boaters.

Furthering his message of boat safety, Caddigan announced that Friday May 18, is Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day.

CITY 2017 FINANCIAL AUDIT APPROVED

Commissioners unanimously approved the 2017 Financial Statements and Independent Auditors’ Reports for the City of Cedar Key dated September 30, 2017, produced by the Purvis and Gray Company. Click here to view the document: http://www.cedarkeynews.com/images/PIX_2018/CITY_2018/AGENDAS/MAY_2018/CityAudit_2016-17xe.pdf.pdf

Referencing the document’s “Management Letter” found on pages 41 and 43 of the report, Attorney Norm Fugate suggested to the commission that he construct correspondence to Purvis and Gray to be included in the audit materials clarifying the distinction and separation between the City of Cedar Key and the Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency and articulating the interactions the Agency has had with the State of Florida affirming its competent handling of the Agency’s loan. Commissioner Nelson suggested that Fugate include a timeline of events; Fugate responded that he intended to do that.

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR CROSSING GUARD

Commissioners unanimously approved the “Extension and Amendment to Interlocal Agreement Crossing Guard” document by which the Levy County pays $8.25 for each hour the crossing guard works at the Cedar Key School.

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH WATER SEWER DISTRICT

Because changes must be made in the four-page “Interlocal Agreement between the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District and the City of Cedar Key…,” commissioners set aside the discussion on this Interlocal Agreement until the next commission meeting.

MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT, US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Commissioners unanimously approved the “Mutual Aid Agreement” with the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refugees, and the City of Cedar Key, Florida. The agreement formalizes the process by which the agencies and the city assist one another in times of “disaster, civil emergency, and all hazards incidents.”

CITY HALL ROOF

One bid from FNF Enterprises, Inc., of Ocala, was received in City Hall for the reroofing of the building in the amount of $48,500. Because of the amount, commissioners unanimously voted to deny the bid and advertise again in the future when staff decides.

MARINA SOIL SAMPLES

Inner Marina soil samples were returned from Jacksonville’s Advanced Environmental Laboratories, Inc. Public Works Supervisor James Custer explained that he has a telephone call scheduled with Florida Department Environmental Protection’s Janice Price on Wednesday, May 17, to further his understanding of the nine pages of data. He will report on the call at the next meeting.

APPROVAL OF WHIDDON AQUACULTURE VARIANCE

Commissioners unanimously reviewed and approved the requested aquaculture variance 2018-03 at 1250 Whiddon Avenue for Joe Allen.

APPROVAL OF STATE ROAD 24 AQUACULTURE VARIANCE

Commissioners unanimously reviewed and approved the requested aquaculture variance 2018-06 at 12418 State Road 24 for Gary and Sheila Hathcox.

APPROVAL OF STATE ROAD 24 AQUACULTURE VARIANCE

Commissioners unanimously reviewed and approved the requested aquaculture variance 2018-07 at 12911 State Road 24 for Chris Topping-owned C&M Seafood.

HURRICANE, HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

Hurricane, Hazardous Waste Day 2018 is Thursday, May 31, at the Cedar Key Community Center. Mayor Davis encouraged residents to use the day to rid themselves of the hazardous wastes about their homes. “After Hermine you could see that a little gas goes a long way” he said alluding to the fact that gasoline atop water can spread and become a real hazard.

The Mayor emphasized that this year Hazardous Waste Day participation will be for Cedar Key residences only. Davis further reminded all to pick up their Reentry Passes, the documents needed to return to the island in case of emergencies.

There will be Levy County Community Services Hurricane information available to all area residents.

Emergency Management Director Robert Robinson reminded all that Cedar Key has no emergency shelter. Should evacuation be required, residents must evacuate; nothing will open here.

Vice-Mayor Colson reminded all that the Cedar Key Woman’s Club will be at the Community Center with hot dogs and drinks for visitors. She urged all to come as contributors always bring new hurricane and safety information and one can always learn something new.

ETHICS TRAINING

Attorney Fugate’s law office will provide the state-mandated ethics training to the newly seated commissioner, new LPA members and other interested individuals on May 21, 2018, in City Hall at 9am.

MINUTES APPROVED

Minutes from the April 17, 2018, city commission meeting were unanimously approved.

MEETING ADJOURNED

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:44 pm.

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CITY COMMISSION MEETS - 15 MAY 2018