CITY COMMISSION
PONDERS ARRAY OF ISSUES
August 19, 2014
The Cedar Key City Commission met in Cedar Key City Hall Tuesday, August 19, 2014, at 6pm. In attendance were Mayor Dale Register, Vice Mayor Sue Colson, and Commissioner Royce Nelson. Absent were Commissioners Tina Ryan and Nettie Hodges. Three commissioners are required for a quorum; hence the three proceeded with business.
Staff in attendance included City Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief / Public Works Director Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief / Building Department Manager Robert Robinson, City Clerk Teresa George, and Staffer Lisa Fine.
In the audience were Galina and David Binkley, Doug Maple, Connie and Mike O’Dell, John Blouse and wife, Ronald McCabe, Allison Nelson, Bob and Jeri Treat, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Resident George Oakley thanked the commission for the placement of the Chamber of Commerce Labor Day Auction sign. He also requested that the commission create a new, or alter an extant, ordinance to diminish the number of election signs found around town. Commissioners told Oakley that they would look into the matter after the budget workshops were completed and planned to review the entire sign ordinance as well. They invited Oakley to return in several months to remind them of the issue if necessary.
Commissioner Sue Colson offered to work with the city attorney on the election signs section of the larger sign ordinance and return to the commission with some suggestions. Commissioners welcomed her offer.
RESTORE ACT PROJECTS
Rory Causseaux, of Causseaux, Hewett, and Walpole, Inc., CHW Engineering, presented a series of slides overviewing: the RESOTRE Act funding, Cedar Key’s eight submitted projects, and the evaluation schema. He reported having recently met with the Levy County RESTORE Act Advisory Board when they suggested possible project changes. As a result of that meeting, Causseaux suggested that the commission combine some items and eliminate others. Commissioners directed Causseaux to complete the following actions.
- Because the Palmetto Canal dredging project may have some private funding that could accelerate the project to begin and finish well in advance of any RESTORE Act money becoming available, eliminate the Palmetto Canal project from the RESTORE Act request.
- Eliminate the beach sand project.
- Combine the three inside marina projects into one larger project. Mark it first priority.
- Combine and rewrite the two projects focused on storm water drainage and G Street; require the new verbiage capture the complete reworking of G Street and its underground infrastructure, so that the street’s approaching erosion is reversed. Mark it second priority.
- As the picnic shelters in City Park are expensive, approximately $20,000 each, according to Colson, retain the project because it would be most difficult for the City to amass enough dollars to complete the construction itself. Mark that third priority.
- Investigate any other grants available to supplement these monies thereby enhancing the viability of the projects.
In September, RESTORE Act applicants have an opportunity to revise their requests.
CLERK’S OFFICE
City Clerk Teresa George presented correspondence from Ronald McCabe stating his intent to pay the garbage bill but in an adjusted amount that recognizes the difference in the size and consequent monthly cost of the garbage can; the adjustment amounts to approximately $100 in an approximately $900 bill. Commissioners rejected the adjustment and reminded McCabe that if he did not pay the bill in full, a lien would be placed against the property.
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Tobacco Ordinance:
Commissioners unanimously passed the second reading of Ordinance 488 which prohibits placement of tobacco or nicotine products in self-service displays accessible to minors. The ordinance includes e-cigarettes.
Mittauer’s “As-Built” Plans:
After conferencing with Mayor Register, both Public Works Director Virgil Sandlin and Building Department Manager Robert Robinson recently met with Mittauer’s Vice-President of Community Development, Greg Lang, and Contractor Pat Berry of Cabot Construction Inc., the two firms responsible for the design and construction of the recently completed FWC Boat Ramp. The plans were examined and items were that still were not marked out were discussed and explained to the two firms why the City thought they should not be included in the plans. Additional items were then marked out.
Robinson stated that “we finally got them (Mittauer Engineering) to admit that we didn’t have any drawings, whatsoever, showing the re-bar, it’s attachment to the steel pilings, the thickening of the sides when we poured the concrete, and the thickening of the beams in a couple areas.” The contractor said they will provide the missing details and drawing to Mittauer and they will be included with the plans when delivered to the City.
Greg Lang said that Mittauer will, at no additional cost to the City, compile all submittals to the City (plans, shop drawings, and details), package them in a file and deliver them to the City along with the revised drawings. We will then have everything that has been documented, as far as the building of the ramp is concerned, stated Robinson. Cedar Key Building Inspector Walt Brown and engineer Joe Mittauer did not attend the meetings.
All agreed that the as-builts-to-be will not include the “articulated end,” the very bottom of the ramp. The railing will still need to be altered to meet the Florida Building Code specifications.
Sunshine Law/Ethics Training:
Attorney Fugate has corresponded with commissioners and Cedar Key Water and Sewer Board members to set a date for the previously postponed Sunshine Law/ethics training. Friday, September 12, 2014 is the tentative date.
Laws of Cedar Key Update:
Fire Chief asked when the Laws of Cedar Key might be updated from its last publication in 2011. Commissioners committed to looking into the best way to accomplish the update.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Robinson submitted the Cedar Key Volunteer Fire and Rescue Quarterly Report, April through June 2014. The report contained 48 incidents:
- 34 in the City of Cedar Key;
- two in the Cedar Key District but in the county on island;
- seven in the Cedar Key District but in the county off island;
- three in Rosewood District with a response from Rosewood Volunteer Fire;
Incidents involved fires, medical assistance, flammable liquid spills, distressed persons; the vast majority involved dispatching EMS personnel to individuals needing medical assistance.
PUBLIC WORKS
Library Roof:
CHW’s Causseaux reported that his firm is currently inspecting the Library roof plans and will report to the commission on Setember22, 2014, the state of affairs.
Tom Liebert’s Lease:
This item was postponed until the September 2 meeting.
FWC Boat Ramp and Launch Passes:
FWC’s Patricia Harrell recently met staff at the new boat ramp and cited that the parking area may include boat parking but not car parking and questioned the launch fees. Attorney Fugate will research the two items.
COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Insurance:
Commissioner Nelson noted that some $170,000 is currently budgeted for insurance, suggested that the commission “shop around,” and offered to call the person he uses. Which specific kind of insurance he would investigate remained elusive; building insurance may have been one.
At 7:45pm the meeting was adjourned.
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