CITY COMMISSION MEETS
February 4, 2016
Meeting Specifics
The City of Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 6:30 pm at City Hall immediately after the Community Redevelopment Agency adjourned. Present were: Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Dale Register, and Commissioners Sue Colson, Royce Nelson, and Diana Topping.
Staff in attendance included: Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief Robert Robinson, Public Works Director Bill Crandley, City Clerk Nicole Gill, City Clerk Assistant Michael Hancock, and Receptionist Crystal Sharp.
Among those in the audience were: Allison Nelson, Janice Fugate, Chris Topping, Dennis Gill, Doug Maple, Bob and Jeri Treat, and Mandy and Frank Offerle, Bobby Witt, Frank Patillo, Doris Hellerman, Chris Reynolds, Linda Seyfert, Doug Telgen, Rosie Cantwell, Pat and Mrs. O’Neal,, Ed and Shari Butler, Ricky Cooke, and approximately ten others.
RESOLUTION 392 PASSED
Resolution 392 amended the 2015-2016 budget to increase the Police Department budget and decrease the City Clerk Department budget to purchase a police vehicle. The resolution was unanimously approved.
ORDINANCE 500 PASSED
Ordinance 500 required the utility companies collecting the new 4% Public Service Tax on Cedar Key residents’ gas and electricity bills to be paid to the City of Cedar Key before the tenth of each month. The motion was unanimously approved.
RESOLUTION 373 PASSED
Resolution 373 requested that the Levy County Road Department complete the Dock Street Bridge repair by providing sand and rock now blocking the channel beneath the bridge. The resolution was unanimously passed.
QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING
A quasi-judicial hearing awarded conditional use for an existing clam nursery structure at the residence of Christopher Reynolds and Linda Seyfert of 11871 Rye Key Drive.
After ex parte and conflict of interest declarations were made, Attorney Fugate swore in all affected parties. Not stated, but in fact is the nursery is already built and operational on the Reynolds/Seyfert residence.
Chris Reynolds testified that he believes that, as the town chooses to be a “working waterfront,” that his request is in keeping with that concept. He explained that the reason he did not ask for the conditional use permit earlier as “ignorance” and “impatience.”
Collin Date, accompanied by attorney Terry Tataru, next testified that the Rye Key Homeowners Association voted 17 to 4 in favor of upholding the land covenant that does not allow commercial ventures on Rye Key. Dale testified that Reynolds must have known about the Rye Key Association rules as he was an officer of the Association.
A Rye Key resident reported being at the Rye Key Homeowners’ Association to affirm the content of the covenant and the 17 – 4 vote. He affirmed that the rules of the Association are clear and the vote reflected that.
Commissioners deliberated on section 12.05.01 of the Laws of Cedar Key which cite parking, noise, lighting, signage, and utilities as elements of “conditional use.” Commissioners voted 5 to 0 to allow the conditional use of the nursery already in operation on Rye Key where it is not allowed by the Homeowners’ Association.
It was stated by the city attorney that the issue of land covenants/deed restrictions on the property was not within the authority of the city. The vote to allow the conditional use was based solely on the requirements in the city laws, which also states that the city may not abrogate land covenants.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEWS
Mayor Heath Davis suggested that staff, with the exception of Crystal Sharp, leave the room while commissioners discussed their personnel reviews. All department heads had conferenced with Davis regarding the reviews’ content before this meeting.
Vice-Mayor remarked that the performance appraisal process is a good one.
Davis explained that each conference was positive and constructive; he looks forward to even better performance in the upcoming year.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:05 pm.
