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COMMISSION MEETS
CLEAR, CONCISE and SHORT
July 22, 2015
Meeting Specifics:
The Cedar Key City Commission met at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at City Hall.
Mayor Heath Davis, Vice Mayor Dale Register, and Commissioners Royce Nelson and Diana Topping were in attendance; Commissioner Sue Colson was absent.
City Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief Robert Robinson, City Clerk Teresa George, Public Works Director Bill Crandley, Planning and Development Administrator Nicole Gill, and Clerk’s Assistant Michael Hancock were in attendance.
In the audience were: John McPherson, George Oakley, Police Officer Adams, Chris Topping, Tina Ryan, Linda Dale, Jeri and Bob Treat, Dennis Gill, Buddy Scruggs, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 pm.
COMMISION MEETING
PUBLIC COMMENT
Waste Pro Dock Street Concern:
Bryan’s Big Deck owner Bryan Skarupski was on the agenda but not in attendance. Mayor Heath Davis reported that the recent issue with Waste Pro had been resolved to Skarupski’s satisfaction. Vice-Mayor Dale Register further reported that Waste Pro has built and put into operation at Bryan’s Big Desk Restaurant a large blue plastic bin designed and constructed to hold only cardboard. With it working so well, as Skarupski reported, Waste Pro will construct others to be placed along Dock Street where trash pickup has been problematic. The new bins will be available to commercial businesses for cardboard only. The cost for each new container will be $75 per month.
Departmental Activity Reports:
Davis explained the following note he had written earlier to the commissioners:
Some of the department heads have provided activity reports. These are meant to keep you aware of what we are up to. If you have a question please contact that department head, the meeting is just address concerns. As we go through the meeting I don’t plan to discuss them just make reference to them and move on…if there are no concerns.
Commissioners readily agreed to the new process. Accordingly, the commissioners acknowledged the City Clerk’s, Fire Department’s, the mayor’s, and Public Works’ quarterly reports with no comment. The Police Department’s report will be presented at the next meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Berzon Annexation:
Commissioners directed Attorney Norm Fugate to prepare the necessary documents for the annexation of the Kaye L. Berzon property, parcel number 0042400200, at 16616 SW Airport Road. Fugate will return to the commission with two readings to accomplish the annexation.
CLERK’S OFFICE
Minutes Approved:
Commissioners unanimously approved the June 16, 2015, Commission Meeting and the July 7, 2015, Commission Workshop minutes.
Audit Engagement:
City Clerk Teresa George reported having received a letter of engagement from past city auditor Purvis and Gray requesting that, for efficient planning purposes, the city consider using Purvis and Gray’s services for the next audit. The engagement letter included no raise in the hourly rate of $125, not to exceed $13,000.
Commissioner Topping brought up the issue of looking for a new auditor. George suggested that if commissioners wished to get other quotes, now would be the time to do so. The motion was made and the vote taken: Commissioners Royce Nelson and Diana Topping and Mayor Davis voted to view other quotes, Dale Register voted no.
By law, requesting additional quotes necessitates establishing the Audit Committee which must consist of three individuals. Commissioners approved committee members Teresa George, Royce Nelson, and Diana Topping. Vice-Mayor Register “respectfully declined” committee membership. Committee members will report their progress at the next commission meeting.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
LPA:
Mayor Davis reminded those in attendance that the Land/Local Planning Agency will meet again Tuesday, July 28, 2015. The five-member group has begun the arduous process of discerning the incongruities between and among the Cedar Key Comprehensive Plan and the Land Development Code, Chapters Three and Four of the Laws of Cedar Key, which is available on the City of Cedar Key website, www.cityofcedarkey.org.
Budget Workshop Schedule:
Mayor Davis proposed the following budget meeting dates:
- August 4 to set initial millage rate
- September 10 for the first hearing of the to-be-adopted budget
- September 21 for the final hearing and adopt the budget
Davis suggested that a process in which he would present to the commission a separate budget for each department, one at a time. Each department’s budget would be the same or less than the prior year’s budget. The only way to get an increase in a department’s budget would be for the department head to speak to commissioners separately and get at least one to present the proposed budget to the other commissioners. Commissioners did not reject the idea.
Vice-Mayor Register expressed concern that setting the dates for the workshops should be done as early as possible as it has been problematic in the past to gather all commissioners together for a series of meetings. Davis responded that he “hoped not to have any workshops.”
Commissioners directed Clerk George to send calendars to all commissioners asking them to note unavailable days and return the calendars to her; George has done this in the past. From that information, George and Mayor Davis will attempt to schedule tentative workshops.
FRDAP Grants and Basketball Court:
Diana Topping attempted to update the commission on the July 14, 2015, meeting with Sue Colson, the subject of which was the two $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grants awarded to the city for Cemetery Point Park and City Park improvements.
Somehow that task morphed into a discussion the two commissioners had about the refurbishing of City Park’s basketball court, which has not been part of the grant discussion/proposal/money spending.
It is Colson’s and Police Chief Virgil Sandlin’s understanding that Cedar Key Police Officer Adams, who works with the Cedar Key School students regularly, would solicit donations for the refurbishing of the basketball court. They further understood that the older students would be part of the labor in the project; they would work on non-dangerous portions of the project always under the supervision of Adams or a responsible adult.
The rationale of having students work with police is obvious and multifold: students become invested in the project, are less likely to suffer vandalism from others, gainfully spend time with officers, build pride and ownership in their accomplishment. With those understandings, Adams was recently able to raise approximately $1,700.
Topping reported that that understanding was, indeed, not so, that “children” should not work on the project, only adult “professionals” should do so. Topping took it upon herself to contact the five donors. “Four out of five said they preferred professionals do it,” said Topping.
At the direction of Topping, the basketball hoops and backboards had already been removed before the commission meeting.
Topping reported that Scott Bullard from Gainesville will do all the work for free.
Davis asked if they should wait for Colson to return before moving forward on the project. Topping responded that she “has taken care of everything” and the commission ought not to wait. “I’ve covered that,” said Topping.
Commissioners directed Public Works Department Director Bill Crandley to work with Officer Adams, assure that Bullard is insured and has the proper credentials, and move forward on the basketball court. Davis again reiterated that the movement had nothing to do with the grant.
CAMERAS IN THE PARK
One of the two $50,000 FRDAP grants’ plans, that had previously been approved, included security cameras in City Park. The logic was, of course, safety for visitors to the park, particularly children who are often not attended by any adult. Further logic was that the city of Cedar Key taxpayers would not have to pay for such a basic security device; the grant would pay for it.
The camera idea originated and was unanimously affirmed at a required advertised citizens’ public meeting called to seek public input about what they wanted the funds used in their public park. “Funds have been rescinded for cameras in City Park,” announced Police Chief Virgil Sandlin. The request to remove the security cameras from the plans came from the Land and Recreation Grants Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. FRDAP funds may not be used for security cameras but will be allowed for Security Lighting.
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