This meeting was attended by some fifty audience members.  Among them were:  Doug Lindhout, Clay and Jan Childers, Buddy Scruggs, Jennifer Webb, Susan Rosenthal, Eileen Senecal, Kathy Salkaln,  Claudette Nelson, Janice Fugate, Marc Hensel, Savanna Barry, Vanessa Edmonds, Ben Iverson, Paty Jett, Mike Borelli, Esta Johnston, Sandy Witcher, John Rittenhouse, Mike Allen, Mendy Allen, Jeri Treat, Denise Ferris, Mike Hostetler, Johnny Hiers, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.

COMMISSIONERS SWORN IN
Recently re-seated Nancy Sera and newly seated Jolie Davis and Jeff Webb were sworn in; the Oath of Office was administered by Levy Judge Luis Bustamante.

REORGANIZATION

Annually, after elections, reorganization occurs.   Reorganization includes the seating of new members, election of a mayor and vice-mayor, and the rehiring of department heads.

The initial agenda published by city staff did not include reorganization.  A second agenda, published on April 16, did include reorganization.

Newly seated commissioner Jolie Davis stated her discomfort in voting for department heads when she had not spoken/interviewed them all as yet and was surprised that reorganization would occur this evening.  Discussion was furthered with questions and concerns:

• Should commissioners vote for department heads this evening?
• Should commissioners vote for mayor and vice-mayor this evening?
• Should they vote for either of the above?
• Should they vote for none of the above this evening and vote instead at the May meeting?
• Commissioner Wortham clearly stated twice he would prefer to vote for the mayor and vice mayor this evening, as he would be out of town at the Maay meeting.

After some discussion, Attorney Fugate interrupted the discussion and asked Davis if he heard a motion from her to delay full reorganization until May, a motion that she had not made.  Instead, her concern, she stated, was voting for department heads this evening.    Nonetheless, Davis responded “yes.”

Commissioners voted three to two to delay the entire action until the May Meeting.  Sera, Davis, and Webb voted yes; Wortham and Colson voted “no.”

PUBLIC COMMENT

Resident Paty Jett thanked Commissioner Wortham for his Short-Term Rentals Workshop and stated, quoting statute language, that, indeed, commissioners’ jobs involved regulating and imposing fines as appropriate, in response to newly seated Jeff Webb remark at the workshop.

Webb responded saying that what he meant was that the city should have fewer regulations.

Another audience member and resident, Mandy Offerle, remarked that as Webb operates a short term rental property,  he should recuse himself from the conversation entirely.

Attorney Fugate cited some part of what he said was Chapter 122 of  the Florida code, cited some examples that would expiate Webb from recusal, but ended with more research ought to be done on the subject  Fugate failed to offer that research and its return to the commission.

CONSENT AGENDA

MINUTES:

Minutes from the following commission meetings were unanimously approved: 12/05/23, 12/19/23, 01/16/24, 03/05/24,  and 03/21/24.

DEBRIS REMOVAL

Fire Chief / Emergency Management Director Robert Robinson requested approval for  the Request for Proposals response from the company that completed the cleanup after Hurricane Idalia.   Commissioners unanimously approved the request.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce President Doug Lindhout noted the following items, among others.  In January, the Chamber Board of Directors adopted a mission statement, with stress on serving the entire community.  Lindhout cited examples of the Chamber using its offices to afford residents private conversations with FEMA representatives and the like.

Additionally, Lindhout, in a follow up meeting with FEMA and the Economic Development Administration representatives, identified areas that jointly they may be able to affect, such as  a dislocated worker program  and  a working waterfront concept that might procure grants. 

NATURE COAST BIOLOGICAL STATION UPDATE

NCBS Director Dr. Mike Allen informed the audience that his staff is working on reestablishing the ground floor aquarium.  Completion is scheduled for June. 

He also introduced a new Cedar Key resident and NCBS instructor Dr. Marc Hensel.

CEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT UPDATE

CKWSD General Manager John Rittenhouse  submitted his report, designed  to be placed in the agenda packet for audience convenience.   Among other myriad items, his office continues:

• working with FEMA to inspect lift stations;
• organizing opening bids for lift stations;
• investigating grant opportunities with Kat Cammak’s office representatives;
• organizing water tower inspection;
• scheduling outside CKWSD building repair;
• processing Hurricane Idalia engineering services;
• setting up computer stations for the CKWSD administration building.

CLERK’S OFFICE

Two applications were submitted for a seat on the Cedar Key Historic Preservation Board:  Michael Hostetler and Susan Rosenthal.  Rosenthal cited “6 years as Cedar Key City Commissioner” as qualification; Hostetler cited several paragraphs, noting his Cedar Key Historical Society secretary and Cedar Key Historical Museum docent volunteer positions as qualifications. 

As not all commissioners had an opportunity to meet Hostetler before the meeting, they  tabled the appointment until next month.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

TAKE-HOME CAR POLICY

Cedar Key Police Chief Edwin Jenkins presented his revamped policy, to be added to the Cedar Key Police Manual, relating to  an officer taking a Cedar Key Police Department car home with him/her.  Commissioners unanimously approved the policy.

COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY LAUDED

Community policing and, in particular, an officer on a golf cart, was lauded by Jolie Davis and applauded by all.

COUNTY COMMISSION APPLICANT

Johnny Hiers, an applicant for Levy County Commissioner District Five, Mat Brooks’ seat, urged the audience to vote for him as he stood for “less government overreach,” and much more “clean industry.”

He spoke of Cedar Key having 2,000 clammers, apparently not well informed on the island’s aquaculture issue.   When asked what he thought of toll roads in rural Levy County, he replied that they are coming, and the county needs to plan for it.

ADJOURNMENT