CITY OF CEDAR KEY
COMMISSION MET IN MAY
16 MAY 2023
COMMISSION MET IN MAY
16 MAY 2023
MEETING SPECIFICS
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday 16, 2023, at 5 pm, at the Cedar Key City Hall. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioners Sue Colson and Susan Rosenthal. Commissioner Jim Wortham was not in attendance.
Staff in attendance included: Sitting in for City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate was Blake Fugate, Police Department Chief Edwin Jenkins, Fire Chief/Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, Clerk Heather Lang, and Interim City Clerk and Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester.
Among those in the audience were: Jeri Treat, Rick Privette, B.J. Johnson, Tabitha Lauer, Buddy Scruggs, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The meeting was Zoomed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
TREE ORDINANCE CONCERN
Mayor Davis addressed resident Rick Privette’s concern voiced at the last commission meeting, saying that he and staff were considering modifying the currently codified language regarding the city’s tree ordinance and regulations.
Mayor Davis addressed resident Rick Privette’s concern voiced at the last commission meeting, saying that he and staff were considering modifying the currently codified language regarding the city’s tree ordinance and regulations.
ACTION ITEMS - HEARINGS
SAFE BOATING WEEK
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary’s John Caddigan announced National Safe Boating Week, May 20 through 26. Caddigan invited Mayor Heath Davis to sign a Safe Boating Week in Cedar Key proclamation, which Davis agreed to do.
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary’s John Caddigan announced National Safe Boating Week, May 20 through 26. Caddigan invited Mayor Heath Davis to sign a Safe Boating Week in Cedar Key proclamation, which Davis agreed to do.
MEMORIAL DAY
Caddigan also invited all to attend the Memorial Day Remembrance scheduled for 11 am on Monday, May 29, at the Cedar Key Cemetery. Caddigan asked that the city provide several pop-up tents for shade. Caddigan plans to hand out poppies commemorating those lost, with the proceeds gong to the Bridge 4 Vets of Inverness, Florida.
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS / HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY
Commissioner Sue Colson reminded everyone of Hurricane Preparedness / Hazardous Waste Day scheduled for June 1, Thursday, from 9 am until noon. Colson stressed the importance of scouring homes for hazardous waste that could easily spread into our waters when flooding occurs.
In addition to much interesting information, many knowledgeable individuals, and a chance to clear your home of hazardous waste and have it discarded properly, hot dogs and dessert will be offered.
FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTER HIRED
Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson introduced the new full-time firefighter to work with him daily. The new hire is a National Guardsman from Yankeetown who grew up in Clearwater.
Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson introduced the new full-time firefighter to work with him daily. The new hire is a National Guardsman from Yankeetown who grew up in Clearwater.
HOME OCCUPATION CONCERN
Dr. Marguerite VanLandingham’s home occupation concern was withdrawn from the agenda. Her complaint, registered with city’s Building Department, was supported with a list of questions to be answered, multiple city and county documents, a host of demonstrative pictures, and was answered by Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester in February 2023.
Earlier in the day of May 16, 2023, VanLandingham withdrew the item with the following note: “This is to notify you that until we are able to get the full complement of materials bearing on this matter to the full City Commission in a timely manner, I am withdrawing my appeal of City staff decision on the home occupation violations scheduled for tonight's meeting.”
Mayor Davis reported that commissioners received full complement of materials, but that the packet emailed to the public was edited because of individuals’ names therein and the inability of staff to verify some other content. He offered her the paperwork to appeal the code enforcement officer’s decision.
CEDAR KEY AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION
Cedar Key Aquaculture Association Advisor Tom Fatolli abbreviated the May 11 CKAA Annual Membership Meeting, themed “Focused on the Future of Clam Farming in Cedar Key.”
An impressive list of attendees focused on a series of questions integral to the industry here, including: limiting clam mortality, future industry visioning, subsidized funding access, and more. Among the attendees were representatives from: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture / Farm Service Agency, University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Services, Marine Debris, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Network, and the Cedar Key Resilience Initiative.
CLERK’S OFFICE
MINUTES APPROVED
Minutes from the April 18, 2023, Cedar Key City Commission Meeting were unanimously approved.
Minutes from the April 18, 2023, Cedar Key City Commission Meeting were unanimously approved.
PUBLIC WORKS
LIBRARY ROOF
Cedar Key Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain requested approval of a contract
to repair the leaking Library roof to Trenton-based Keeler Roofing for $16,000. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Cedar Key Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain requested approval of a contract
to repair the leaking Library roof to Trenton-based Keeler Roofing for $16,000. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
BUDGET AMENDMENT
Commissioners unanimously approved a budget amendment of $10,000 to be moved from the Streets Capital Outlay line to the Streets Right of Way Maintenance line.
Commissioners unanimously approved a budget amendment of $10,000 to be moved from the Streets Capital Outlay line to the Streets Right of Way Maintenance line.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
TASER USE
Having presented commissioners with the Cedar Key Police Department Standard Operating Procedure regarding electronic control devices, Police Chief Edwin Jenkins requested approval of his officers’ use of a taser, assuring commissioners of the safety, use, and care of the electronic device. Chief Jenkins is a qualified instructor, and the officers will be certified and have refresher courses during the year. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
Having presented commissioners with the Cedar Key Police Department Standard Operating Procedure regarding electronic control devices, Police Chief Edwin Jenkins requested approval of his officers’ use of a taser, assuring commissioners of the safety, use, and care of the electronic device. Chief Jenkins is a qualified instructor, and the officers will be certified and have refresher courses during the year. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Commissioners unanimously approved Fire Chief Robert Robinson’s request to amend the Fire Department budget to adjust for donations and grants.
COMMISSIONER CONCERNS
COOKE REMEMBERED
Commissioner Sue Colson remarked that the passing of Ricky Cooke, and others, was a large loss to the community.
Commissioner Sue Colson remarked that the passing of Ricky Cooke, and others, was a large loss to the community.
POSSIBLE WORKSHOP
Commissioner Susan Rosenthal announced that there may or may not be a May 6 workshop.
PARING
Mayor Davis announced that the issue of parking in Cedar Key is finished. The four-way stop at Second Street and State Road 24 is no longer planned because the initial design fee, payable to the commission-selected engineer, was above the amount approved by the commission; the final cost which included drone work was $3,200.
Mayor Davis announced that the issue of parking in Cedar Key is finished. The four-way stop at Second Street and State Road 24 is no longer planned because the initial design fee, payable to the commission-selected engineer, was above the amount approved by the commission; the final cost which included drone work was $3,200.
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting adjourned at 6 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 6 pm.
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