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CEDAR KEY CITY
COMMISSION MEETS
April 22, 2016
 
 
Meeting Specifics
The City of Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, April 1, 2016, 2016, at 6 pm at City Hall.   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, Administrative Assistant Crystal Sharp, and staffer Donna Risker.
 
Among those in the audience were: Nikki and Jim Mason, Vanessa Edmonds, Bob and Jeri Treat, Chris Topping, Michael Hancock, Janice Fugate, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
 
PUBLIC COMMENT
MEMORIAL DAY
American Veteran Ivan Chubb invited all in attendance to the Memorial Day service on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at 1 pm in City Park, not in the Cedar Key Cemetery where it has been conducted in the past.  Commissioner Sue Colson further encouraged the audience to attend the service; Mayor Heath Davis thanked Chubb for his continued attention to Cedar Key.
 
 
 
BILL DELAINO REQUEST
Delaino requested that the city support the five-year restoration project of the Cedar Key Canal.  Delaino reviewed past accomplishments, affirmed that sea grasses were now growing, thanked University of Florida staff’s assistance, and ultimately, requested that the city revisit its potential commitment of $12,000 to manage the beach area at the end of H Street.
 
Commissioners, largely in support of the issue, told Delaino that the funding for the restoration would be discussed and decided upon in the upcoming budget sessions.
 
Commissioner Royce Nelson advised the group that he is directly involved in the project, specifically dredging, and would not be voting on the issue.
 
TOM DEVERIN INFORMATION
Community Garden:
Resident Tom Deverin updated the commission on the Community Garden:  over 800 volunteer hours have been spent; over $8,000 has been raised from the community; thousands of visitors have happily experienced the Garden.  Visitors, Deverin reported, leave the green space smiling and saying that the Community Garden mirrors Cedar Key in its positive and friendly atmosphere.
 
Chickens:
Deverin requested that the city consider enacting policies to allow residents to keep chickens.  Such a policy would contain the following strictures:  no more than six chickens would be allowed, no roosters, chickens would be kept enclosed, and a distance from neighboring property, homes, etc would be specified.
 
Multiple benefits come with chickens, Deverin advised:  the eggs taste better; no fuel costs occur getting the eggs to thee user; the eggs are as fresh as possible; etc.  Deverin also noted that chickens are part of Cedar Key history; they have existed easily before.
 
Deverin also cited research that affirms that many cities are now reconsidering chickens, many have adopted chicken policies, and the latter are reporting positive results.
 
Mayor Davis responded that the commission would place the item on its list of items to discuss and upon which to decide.
 
Recycle Request:
Deverin requested approximately $250 - $300 to complete the recycling program by mailing the recycling informational panels to homes.  Deverin has personally delivered the information to businesses and condos about town.
A few commissioners voiced their appreciation for Deverin’s efforts and the mayor said that the commission would look into the additional expenditure to complete the program.
 
 
 
RESTORE ACT
Commissioner Royce Nelson reported that he attended a Levy County Restore Act meeting earlier in the day.  He reported that the county received $54,000 initially and $183,000 per year for five years.   He modified the City of Cedar Key’s marina dredging proposal to under $100,000.  He believes that $150,000 will be the cost of the project; $100,000 could come from RESTORE dollars.
 
Colson and Nelson agreed that some $500,00o of RESTORE Act money was “lost” in Levy County.  No explanation of this “loss” was offered.
ADMINISTRATION
QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING
Quasi-judicial Hearing 2016-10 petitioned a minor replat at 16297 Andrews Circle.  Thomas McLeod, William McLeod, and Dot Taylor requested that the current parcel at the address above be replatted into two nearly equal sized lots.  The reason for the replat, explained Taylor, is that this action will create one of the few waterfront buildable lots left in Cedar Key. 
Commissioners agreed with staff’s recommendation that the replat be approved; the vote was 5 to 0.
 
ORDINANCE 502
City of Cedar Key Ordinance 502 was unanimously approved on its second and final reading.  The ordinance amends Chapter Four of the Laws of Cedar Key, subtitled “Land Development Regulations,” to be consistent with Chapter Three, subtitled “Comprehensive Plan,” as it relates to future land use components. Colson requests that in the future an Aquaculture/Commercial designation is discussed to be included in the LDR.
 
ORDINANCE 503
City of Cedar Key Ordinance 503 was unanimously approved on its second and final reading.  The ordinance amends Chapter Four of the Laws of Cedar Key, subtitled “Land Development Regulations,” to be consistent with Chapter Three, subtitled “Comprehensive Plan,” as it relates to infrastructure.
 
ORDINANCE 504
City of Cedar Key Ordinance 504 was unanimously approved on its second and final reading.  The ordinance amends Chapter Four of the Laws of Cedar Key, subtitled “Land Development Regulations,” to provide board procedures and regulations to meet requirements in order to be designated as a certified local government and finding it consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.
 
VODA APPROVAL
In the Final Order Review of Hearing 2016-7, commissioners unanimously approved the petition for conditional use by applicant Jan Voda to establish a medical facility t 742 Second Street. 
 
KRAUJALIS DENIED
In the Final Order Review of Hearing 2016-08, commissioners denied the petition for a minor replat of Parcel 0862100000 by applicant Walter Kraujalis because of parking and conformity issues; four commissioners voted to deny, while Sue Colson voted to approve the request.
 
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
LOCAL OPTION TAX ON FUEL
In a March 8, 2016, memorandum from the Levy County Board of County Commissioners to cities in the county, the question was posed of interest in forming and/or participating in a group to discuss and possibly alter the distribution formula for the Local Option Tax which levies the $0.06 per gallon on every gallon of motor fuel and diesel fuel sold in the county.   Last year, the percentage of dollars returned to Cedar Key decreased considerably.  Commissioners appointed Diana Topping as their representative to the group possibly to be formed. 
 
CLERK’S OFFICE
MINUTES APPROVED
Minutes from the February 16, March 1, and April 5, 2016, commission meetings were unanimously approved.
 
GRANT UPDATE: FRDAP
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, in its March 23, 2016, correspondence, cited its approval of the “list of project elements” for both Cemetery Point Park and City Park.  “Project elements” are the specific improvements, including equipment, requested in the grants.     The memorandum reminded the city of the April 30, 2018, project completion date, the time which “all grant related development must be completed and grant related expenses paid. 
 
City Clerk Nicole Gill announced an 11 am meeting regarding the two FRDAP grants on 02 May, 2016. This will be an open meeting and the public is welcome. Two projects will proceed concurrently.
 
GRANT UPDATE: RBEG
The property appraisal has been received and the city is now able to proceed with the project.
 
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
LAWN MOWER REPLACEMENT
After requesting and considering five bids, Public Works Director Bill Crandley requested approval of $8,300 funding for a replacement lawn mower.  Crandley presented the commissioners with a break-down showing where the money was found for the purchase. The commission approved the purchase.
 
TREE ORDINANCE UPDDATE
City Clerk Gill and Code Enforcement and Police Chief Virgil Sandlin presented their “Suggested A for Enforcement and Collection” regarding the current tree ordinance.   Suggestions included a proposed permitting procedure and fees.
  • Requiring a letter from an insurance company stating the tree must be removed before they will issue a policy. Minimum fee required.
  • Special $25 “dead tree fee” for removal of trees dead due to natural causes. If not permitted before removal, the basic fee rate is used and doubled.
  • Basic fee of $125 for all trees with an 8” diameter at 54” above the grade.
  • An additional charge of $11 for each inch above eight inches.
  • Maximum fee of approximately $255.
  • Trimming and maintenance of mangroves will be referred to Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
  • Failure to get tree permits will result in a double fee.
  • Sabal palms will be included in the tree ordinance.
ALCOHOL DISTANCE CALCULATIION
Current city law dictates that alcohol cannot be sold or consumed within 500 feet of a school or a church.  Annie’s has been exempted because of an approval letter submitted by the nearby Episcopal church.  The Market sells alcohol.  Commissioners unanimously approved eliminating the word “sold” from the current law.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15 pm
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