CITY COMMISSION MET,
PONDERS RESIGNATIONS
19 DECEMBER 2023
MEETING SPECIFICS
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 5 pm, at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station Third Floor Classroom on First Street, a temporary move because of as City Hall’s hurricane damage and the Cedar Key Community Center’s reconstruction into office space. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioners Sue Colson, Jim Wortham by telephone, and Susan Rosenthal.
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 5 pm, at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station Third Floor Classroom on First Street, a temporary move because of as City Hall’s hurricane damage and the Cedar Key Community Center’s reconstruction into office space. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioners Sue Colson, Jim Wortham by telephone, and Susan Rosenthal.
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Department Chief Edwin Jenkins, Interim City Clerk and Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, Deputy City Clerk Telicia Winfield, , Clerk Heather Lang, and Legal Assistant to Norm Fugate Lee LeeAnne E. Rohrer.
The room was filled to capacity. Approximately twenty visited on Zoom. Among those in the audience were: Vanessa and Ken Edmonds, Kathy Salkaln, Esta Johnson, Tabitha Lauer, Nita Cox, Eileen Senecal Doris Hellerman, Michael Bobbitt, Jeff and Jennifer Webb, Greg Lang, Ann Morgan, Phil and Mary Prescott, Ms. Fradella, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
PRE-MEETING BUSINESS
Mayor Heath Davis addressed the issue of his intention to resign his position on the commission. He explained the differences between the required State of Florida Financial Disclosure Forms 1 and 6, noting that the latter, new this upcoming year, is infinitely more onerous than Form 1. Davis then asked if there were any comments from the commissioners.
Commissioner Susan Rosenthal stated that she had, “talked to a lot of people,” and decided that the required information on Form 6 was “no one else’s business.” She affirmed her resignation, effective this night.
Davis then asked for any public comment and recogonized resident Michael Bobbitt who then spoke regarding Form-6 and the resignation of Mayor Davis from the commission, Mayor Davis then asked if there were any other public comments. Commissioner Sera at then announced that she didn’t think that she would remain as a commissioner either and would like to set her resignation forward. After more disscussion, Commissioner Sera said she would stay on until the end of the year.
Davis tabled the matter of commission resignations until the meeting’s end, after all other agenda business was completed.
For more Form-6 information, click here for the Florida League of Cities comparison of the two forms: https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/2023-ac-ppts/form-6-presentation.pdf?sfvrsn=1c71d1d5_0
PUBLIC COMMENT
TREE CITY ASSISTANCE
Resident and Tree City coordinator Mary Prescott reported that post Hurricane Idalia assistance is on the way from the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City office. Between April 1-4, the Arbor Day Foundation will send a United States Forestry Strike Force to Cedar Key to assess Hurricane Idalia’s damage and suggest future actions.
Resident and Tree City coordinator Mary Prescott reported that post Hurricane Idalia assistance is on the way from the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City office. Between April 1-4, the Arbor Day Foundation will send a United States Forestry Strike Force to Cedar Key to assess Hurricane Idalia’s damage and suggest future actions.
GOLDEN CLAM AWARD
Davis honored Michael Bobbitt for his fund raising for the City and presented him with a rope with a golden clam to hold up his often-beltless pants.
Davis honored Michael Bobbitt for his fund raising for the City and presented him with a rope with a golden clam to hold up his often-beltless pants.
ACTION ITEMS
BUDGET AMENDMENTS
City Attorney Norm Fugate introduced two budget resolutions because, when originally submitted, they were in error in the amount of $3,800 in ad valorem taxes. The record was corrected; no changes in residents’ taxes will occur. Commissioners unanimously approved the resolutions.
City Attorney Norm Fugate introduced two budget resolutions because, when originally submitted, they were in error in the amount of $3,800 in ad valorem taxes. The record was corrected; no changes in residents’ taxes will occur. Commissioners unanimously approved the resolutions.
Resolution 475 adopted the final millage rate of ad valorem taxes or the City of Cedar Key for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Resolution 476 adopted the final budget for the City of Cedar Key for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
W3C CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO BOARD
Commissioners unanimously selected Commissioner Sue Colson as their representative to the Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the group orchestrating a water and wastewater pipeline from Bronson, through Otter Creek, to Cedar Key.
Commissioners unanimously selected Commissioner Sue Colson as their representative to the Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the group orchestrating a water and wastewater pipeline from Bronson, through Otter Creek, to Cedar Key.
SUPPORT LETTERS
NOAA LETTER
At the request of Commissioner Colson, the City of Cedar key will compose and forward a letter of support to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for it Effects of Sea Level Rise grant.
NOAA LETTER
At the request of Commissioner Colson, the City of Cedar key will compose and forward a letter of support to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for it Effects of Sea Level Rise grant.
DOCK STREET LETTER
Also, at the request of Commissioner Colson, the City of Cedar Key will compose and forward a letter supporting the Levy County grant studying Dock Street deterioration.
Also, at the request of Commissioner Colson, the City of Cedar Key will compose and forward a letter supporting the Levy County grant studying Dock Street deterioration.
COLSON REPORTS / CITY CONCERNS
$500,000 GRANT RECEIVED
Commissioner Colson announced the acquisition of the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront grant of $500,000 for the purpose of purchasing property on the north side of Third Street that may provide a buffer to Second Street, and more importantly, keep access to thee boat ramps in times of rising seas and increased storm activity.
$500,000 GRANT RECEIVED
Commissioner Colson announced the acquisition of the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront grant of $500,000 for the purpose of purchasing property on the north side of Third Street that may provide a buffer to Second Street, and more importantly, keep access to thee boat ramps in times of rising seas and increased storm activity.
Commissioners unanimously endorsed her request for support. The Florida Communities Trust, Division of State Lands, Florida Department of Environmental Protection will award the grant at its December 23, 2023, board meeting.
$300,000 GRANT RECEIVED
Commissioner Colson announced that the State of Florida granted $300,000 to the Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, furthering its planning efforts to provide a water and wastewater pipeline from Bronson, through Otter Creek, to Cedar Key. Click here for more information: cedarkeynews.com/index.php/conservation/8198-2023-12-21-18-37-09
Commissioner Colson announced that the State of Florida granted $300,000 to the Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, furthering its planning efforts to provide a water and wastewater pipeline from Bronson, through Otter Creek, to Cedar Key. Click here for more information: cedarkeynews.com/index.php/conservation/8198-2023-12-21-18-37-09
RECENT STORM IMPACT
Commissioner Colson provided a handout measuring and describing the impact of the recent weekend December 16, 17, 2023, storm, which was not a hurricane, but labeled simply an “event.” The handout noted the following.
• This December event recorded levels of 6.69 feet whereas Hurricane Idalia measured 10.7 feet. NOAA data is the source of these numbers.
• Third Street did flood; Second Street did not.
• The NAPA garage had water intrusion; the Market did not, barely, noted Colson.
Commissioner Colson provided a handout measuring and describing the impact of the recent weekend December 16, 17, 2023, storm, which was not a hurricane, but labeled simply an “event.” The handout noted the following.
• This December event recorded levels of 6.69 feet whereas Hurricane Idalia measured 10.7 feet. NOAA data is the source of these numbers.
• Third Street did flood; Second Street did not.
• The NAPA garage had water intrusion; the Market did not, barely, noted Colson.
Colson remarked that these events will not stop coming; frequency is expected to increase. The City of Cedar Key’s work on resiliency is critical to the island’s survival and needs everyone’s support and assistance.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce Chair Doug Lindhout reminded all of the upcoming Golf Cart Parade on December 23 and announced that the Chamber board met and elected Ben Iverson as Vice Chair and Lindhout himself as Chair.
Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce Chair Doug Lindhout reminded all of the upcoming Golf Cart Parade on December 23 and announced that the Chamber board met and elected Ben Iverson as Vice Chair and Lindhout himself as Chair.
Lindhout also shared multiple illuminating graphs of the Welcome Center visitors, articulating their numbers and years and months they were in Cedar Key. Years included 2017 through 2023. The graphs note the Covid shut down, Hurricane Idalia, and other events, highlighting their impact on visitor numbers. For the graphs and an article by Doug Lindhout, see the Cedar Key News front page.
MINUTES APPROVED
Commissioners unanimously approved minutes from the August 15, 2023, Budget Workshop and the September 5, 2023, Hurricane Idalia Recovery Meeting.
Commissioners unanimously approved minutes from the August 15, 2023, Budget Workshop and the September 5, 2023, Hurricane Idalia Recovery Meeting.
BREAK / RESIGNATIONS
Commissioners recessed for approximately ten minutes. When they returned, they dealt with the potential resignations.
Commissioners recessed for approximately ten minutes. When they returned, they dealt with the potential resignations.
Click here for details of this session.
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting adjourned after 6:08 pm.
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