Commission Meeting Minutes, Oct. 4, 2005

City of Cedar Key
City Commission Meeting
October 4, 2005

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Paul Oliver called the meeting to order at 6:59 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer by Vice Mayor Heath Davis. Mayor Oliver asked audience members to rise and state their names clearly when recognized to speak.

2. Roll Call. City Clerk Frances Hodges called the roll. Present: Commissioners Sue Colson, Heath Davis, Pat O'Neal, and Vanessa Edmunds and Mayor Paul Oliver; also present: City Attorney David Coffey.

3. Minutes of September 6, 7, 12, 13, and 26. MOTION BY VICE MAYOR DAVIS TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COLSON; MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE.

4. Dr. Earl Starnes, Proposed Hotel and Related Developments (follow-up of letter).
Dr. Earl Starnes read aloud a letter addressed to the Commission "In Re: Nash Property Proposed Hotel and Related Developments." Mayor Oliver asked if Commissioners wanted discussion or a motion. City Attorney Coffey said that when a development plan is submitted, the practice now is for it to be handled by [City Consultant] Ms. [Gail] Easley. Commissioner O'Neal asked if a development plan had been submitted; Mayor Oliver said not; City Attorney Coffey concurred. Ms Lucille Rogers said a plan had come before the Architectural and Historical Review on September 15, and they tabled it until further information was received. Mayor Oliver said no development plan has been submitted yet, just an application for a certificate of appropriateness to have elevations reviewed, but there's been no action taken on it.
Commissioner Colson said she had some concerns not addressed in the letter from Dr. Starnes. She would like the part of the design reviewed that involves Third Street; she's concerned about runoff and about the existing clam raceways there and suggested that an environmental impact for the aquaculture needs to be added to this review, as well as investigation of the effect on existing docks not related to aquaculture. She said the Aquaculture Association wants this reviewed. Mayor Oliver said he expected these concerns would be included as a matter of course. Commissioner Davis suggested holding off further discussion until a development plan is actually submitted.

5. Cedar Key Senior Class Requests Permission to Sponsor an Antique Show on November 12 and 13, 2005. Mayor Oliver asked if a representative from the senior class was present. Commissioner Colson said she had heard there was perhaps a need for the project to use the empty lot across from the market. Commissioner Davis pointed out that Commissioner O'Neal is the special projects coordinator and that he has faith in the Commissioner's good judgment. Commissioner O'Neal said the class's initial request was for the whole marina parking lot, which he told them probably wasn't feasible. He said the class wants to put on an antique car show. Mayor Oliver said project issues would be directed to Commissioner O'Neal.

6. P.U.D. Project, Cedar Key Villages Presentation (outside city limits)
Robert M. Gorlow, of Miami Lakes, Florida, said his group is interested in purchasing slightly over 3,000 acres from Mr. Thompson just outside Cedar Key; he distributed booklets to the Commissioners that describe other projects his group has done. Mr. Gorlow said the purpose of his presentation was to describe what his group does and what they would plan to do on this parcel, and see if Cedar Key would be interested in possibly annexing the PUD into the city.
Mr. Gorlow reviewed various projects the group is working on now in Redwood City, California; Easton in Columbus, Ohio; and Destin and Orlando, Florida. He gave details on the Oshara Village PUD in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which he said is something like what they want to do with Cedar Key Village: a development of clustered homes, open space, parks, a plaza that includes townhouses, patio homes, live/work units, and single-family and estate lots. It's a "sustainable village" that encourages solar energy, has a water reclamation plant that cuts water bills in half, is pedestrian oriented, and has a small retail component. He said he envisions a symbiotic relationship with Cedar Key: water taxis, a shuttle service for the elderly/infirm.
He said the site is about 3,000-some acres; about 1,000 are upland acres that are buildable; the county code is 1 per 20, and Mr. Thompson says you can put 170 homes there with septic tanks; Mr. Gorlow said this is not an environmentally healthy plan and that his group would like to put in 750 units and still have less impact on the environment than would Mr. Thompson's planned development. Mr. Gorlow's group does not yet have the property under contract but wanted to introduce themselves and want to be part of and work with the Cedar Key community.
Commissioner Davis said the Commission can't look at this as an annexation request without a letter. Mr. Gorlow said they first wanted to get a general feel for the Commission's reaction and gut-level feedback.
Commissioner Colson asked for clarification: 1 in 20 is 500 units; where are the other 120? Other Commissioners pointed out that 1 in 20 on 1,000 acres is 50 units.
Mr. Gorlow offered to send the Commission the document their engineer put together for 170. Commissioner Colson suggested that Mr. Gorman's group review the code regarding septic tanks. Mr. Gorman stressed that his group would do a water reclamation plant.
Commissioner Edmonds asked for clarification about exactly what land is being talked about. Commissioner O'Neal asked if Cedar Key would have to provide such services as police and fire coverage. Mr. Gorlow said they could work something out so this is not a financial burden. Commissioner Colson said she understood that Mr. Thompson does not yet have a P.U.D. Mr. Gorlow said he's working with the county to get his plan approved. Ms. Nancy Taylor asked who would run the sewage plant, and whether they would have a bond to take care of such things. Mr. Gorlow said the Village would run it, and that the state would require them to.
An audience member asked for clarification of where the land is. The answer was that it is on the right across the Number 4 Bridge. Mr. Jim Hoy asked where the water would come from. Mr. Gorlow said he gathered there's a water plant on site that they would expand. He asked if the Commissioners thought the water source was wells. Commissioner Davis said to check with the Water Board but his understanding is that they're in the upper part of high in capacity. Mr. Jim Hoy asked where the property was in relation to the Andrews property. Commissioner Edmonds said it is all around the Andrews property. Mr. George Sandora said he thinks this is the original Woods property where the Cedar Key Village was originally proposed. He asked how high the density would go. Mr. Gorlow said as high as the normal houses are here in Cedar Key; no condos or high-rises.

7. Open Bids for Sale of Police Cars
City Clerk Frances Hodges opened the bids, one for each car: for the Ford, $500, from Josephine Thompson; for the Chevy, $500, from Josephine Thompson. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PAT O'NEAL TO ACCEPT THOSE BIDS AND SELL THE CHAMPAGNE CRUISER & THE LUMINA TO JOSEPHINE THOMPSON; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HEATH DAVIS. No discussion. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE.

8. Commissioner Sue Colson: Dock Street/Parking Project update. Commissioner Colson said she had no update.

9. Administrative Issues, City Clerk.
a. Free Flu Shots: Mayor Oliver said the County Health Department will be at the Cedar Key Library giving free flu shots to people 65 and older most of the day on Tuesday, October 11, and asked everyone to please pass the word.
b. Library Temporary Closing: Commissioner O'Neal reported that the library will be closed for 5 days in November so a movie company can film.
c. New Police Cars: Commissioner O'Neal reported he had a communication from Larry Williams, at Bobby Jones Ford, Augusta, Georgia, for 2 Crown Victorias for $28,254 each and a Ford Explorer for$28,246.55, all fully equipped for police work; MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PAT O'NEAL THAT THE CITY EXPEND THOSE MONIES; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SUE COLSON.
Commissioner Edmonds asked if this should be an item on the agenda rather than an administrative issue; Mayor Oliver said they already had discussed it and asked Commissioner O'Neal to follow up. Commissioner Davis said he had been against having the police dog since before the city got it and now hated to buy a vehicle [the Explorer] for the dog, because he doesn't know if the dog is being used effectively or if John McMullen is certified for the dog. Mayor Oliver said he would favor getting 3 such vehicles rather than the Crown Victorias because of the high-water situation.
Ms. Nancy Taylor suggested that if John McMullen isn't certified, he should go to school for it. Officer John McMullen said he had earlier been told this wasn't logistically or financially feasible but that with the new chief in place, it may be. Commissioner Davis asked how effective the dog is at the school with the kids. Mr. John McMullen said that due to scheduling mixups they had wound up checking bookbags instead of lockers. He pointed out that police aren't allowed to stop a vehicle for longer than it would take to issue a citation, so one officer could not also walk the dog around the vehicle at the same time; now with 2 officers on shift, one can write the ticket and the other can walk the dog, which should get better results.
Mr. Roland asked how many police cars we will have. Commissioner O'Neal said we have 3 right now that he would drive on the road, plus the chief's car, and that we probably would be getting rid of all of those. Commissioner Davis wondered if the city had to spend all this money now; he would rather send Officer McMullen to school. He agreed the city is due to buy a car but he wants to slow down, maybe just buy one car now. Commissioner Colson said there had been no clear police budget request for some years, and that the new chief has an extensive background in management. She said the police need to have what they need to do the job correctly; if they and our citizens would be safer, she was for setting this department on its feet correctly; she supported the chief and buying the 3 cars. Commissioner Davis asked for a price on a larger vehicle, the Expedition. Commissioner O'Neal said the cost is probably $30,000-$31,000. Commissioner Colson said she wanted to defer to the chief in his choice; to get one already fully decked out is a bargain; and it would fit on the very narrow streets we have now created.
Commissioner Edmonds asked if there is a deadline for getting this deal. Commissioner O'Neal said if we don't get new cars, we are going to have to put shocks, new tires, etc., on the cars we have, which will cost several thousand dollars a car. Nancy Taylor asked if the cars could have larger wheels because of flooding. Mayor Oliver said he believes these cars are set up for safety. Officer John McMullen said the new policy is not to run the cars through saltwater. Commissioner Edmonds asked if the chief wants these 2 cruisers and 1 Explorer; Commissioner O'Neal said yes. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYE – COMMISSIONERS VANESSA EDMONDS, PAT O'NEAL, SUE COLSON, HEATH DAVIS, AND MAYOR PAUL OLIVER.
d. Pressure-Cleaning Courthouse: Commissioner Colson said the building will be pressure cleaned before the Seafood Festival, but there are some boards that need replacing soon.
e. Surplus Equipment: Commissioner Colson said there may be some surplus equipment from the compound and that she'll be doing an inventory; one person is interested in a chipper in rough shape that she may want to get rid of. They can rent the same equipment and won't have to store it.
f. Barricade Systems: Commissioner Colson said the city needs to buy new barricades for festivals and parades. She will give a booklet to Mayor Oliver to go over with the chief.
g. No. 4 Bridge Boat Ramp: Repair is about to start, and there will be small docks on each side of the ramp for boats to tie up while they wait to load. The fishing dock will be reengineered this winter to make it safe.
h. Big Cedar Key Dock: Commissioner Colson said FEMA is driving the repair process; Commissioner Edmonds said the FEMA mitigation person says the dock will be concrete and 4-5 feet higher. The changes mean it needs to go in for more congressional approval and it's going to have to be rebid. The time for its completion is unclear. Commissioner Colson suggested that as this project goes further, the city be considered a stakeholder and partner; we may be able to request changes.
i. G Street Stormwater Drain and Road Stabilization: Commissioner Colson said that after problems with the NRCS grant, the work is now approved.
j. Proposed Bill to Protect Waterfront Access for Commercial Fishing: Mayor Oliver said this bill gives grants to municipalities, with a 25% local match. He asked for the Commission's permission to support this bill.
k. Sending Officer McMullen to Dog School: Commissioner Davis asked the Commission to work as hard on getting Officer McMullen to school as they have on buying the cars. The Commissioners assured him they will.
l. Golf Carts: Lucille Rogers said she thinks the city needs a new ordinance regarding golf carts that is stiffer than the state law. City Attorney Coffey said the existing city ordinance requires you to be 18 to drive a golf cart; he recommended the city ordinance require a driver's license instead. Commissioner Davis said a young citizen asked him to raise the possibility of requiring only a learner's permit. Ms. Doris Hellerman said she understood that originally the golf-cart law was to help people who were less mobile, and that was why a license wasn't required. Following more discussion, MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PAT O'NEAL THAT A DRIVER'S LICENSE BE REQUIRED TO DRIVE A GOLF CART ON THE STREETS OF CEDAR KEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HEATH DAVIS; MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE.

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.