HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 01-19-2016CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CAPE CANAVERAL LIBRARY MEETING ROOM
201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida
TUESDAY
January 19, 2016
6:00 PM
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: The Chair called the Meeting to Order at 6:00 P.M. and requested Council
Member McMillin lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Council Members Present:
Council Member John Bond
Council Member Mike Brown
Mayor Bob Hoog
Council Member Brendan McMillin
Mayor Pro Tem Betty Walsh
Others Present:
City Manager David L. Greene
City Attorney Anthony Garganese
Deputy City Clerk Mia Goforth
Administrative/Financial Services Director John DeLeo
Community Development Director David Dickey
Economic Development Director Todd Morley
Leisure Services Director Gustavo Vergara
Public Works Services Deputy Director Jeff Ratliff
Brevard County Sheriff Major Paul Ring
Cape Canaveral Volunteer Fire Dept. Assistant Chief John Cunningham
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:Dr.Ross McCluney introduced himself as representing Ray Osborne;
provided a short, personal biography; thanked the City for the storm drainage system, solar powered
lights along Ridgewood Avenue, new electrical poles and the report the City Manager spearheaded
for a Solar Energy Amendment. He stated the Solar Energy Seminar held on January 9, 2016 was
well attended;that Mr. Osborne is planning another seminar in April and the City will be invited. Dr.
McCluney requested Council bring forth an Agenda Item for discussion on promoting clean energy
in Cape Canaveral; he offered to put together a citizens group to come up with suggestions on ways
the City could move towards clean energy; mentioned Earth Day is Friday, April 22 and offered to
give a talk if City Council is interested.
City of Cape Canaveral, Florida
City Council Regular Meeting
January 19, 2016
Page 2 of 4
ITEM FOR ACTION:
1. Approve Minutes for Regular City Council Meeting of December 15,2015: A motion was
made by Mayor Pro Tem Walsh, seconded by Council Member Bond, to approve the Item.
The motion carried 5-0 with voting as follows: Council Member Bond,For; Council Member
Brown, For; Mayor Hoog, For; Council Member McMillin, For; and Mayor Pro Tem Walsh,
For.
REPORTS:
Council Member McMillin stated he spoke with City Manager Greene about the need for moving
forward with a strategic plan and that Mr. Greene has some ideas on the issue. He requested the
City Manager come up with a funding plan and what can be done in the near future. City Manager
Greene's response included: holding the event at the Radisson; reaching out to consultants to
discuss price and availability; a ballpark estimate would be around $5,000; a full day Council/Staff
retreat with food, beverages as well as consulting services and reports; how it is appropriate with
two new Council Members; dollars are in the budget and Staff will reach out to Council with
potential dates/times in April if not sooner; the successful implementation of the community
Vision, the need to get beyond low-hanging fruit to meaty issues from a funding and financial
perspective to gauge where the community wants to go and where Council wants to lead Staff in
a policy direction; the City's hands are full with projects/priorities such as N. Atlantic Avenue
Streetscape, New City Hall, Wastewater and Stormwater initiatives which should be wrapped up
towards the end of fiscal year 2017; how the next few months would be the time to have the
conversation about what we do next;an explanation of how City Council's current millage rollback
philosophy does not provide a great deal of extra money within operating/debt costs to fund major
new initiatives; how the City has brought in close to four million dollars in grant funds in the last
eighteen months for capital projects which may be sustainable in the quarter to half million dollar
range. However,the key is projects that kick off State initiatives which provide the possibility of
obtaining greater amounts of match grant funds.
Council Member McMillin stated he was joined by three community members for "Coffee with a
Councilman". Discussion included navigation of the City website and a recommendation that
people read the Weekly Updates on the City homepage. He attended the solar energy workshop
and inquired if the City had looked into possible renewable energy initiatives related to the New
City Hall. City Manager Greene responded it is on the list; the City is going through the bidding
process and is moving in that direction, within reason, from a cost benefit analysis. Council
Member McMillin announced he will be a Board Member of Keep Brevard Beautiful; he attended
the Transit Meeting recently at Florida Today; he inquired about whether the City was going to do
anything to recognize the former Mayor such as street or building naming. City Manager Greene
suggested they discuss the item after the meeting.
Council Member Brown thanked the City Council for giving him the opportunity to serve the
Space Coast League of Cities as a voting delegate. He stated Cape View Elementary is dear to his
heart; he serves on the Parent Teacher Organization and the School Advisory Council. He urged
City of Cape Canaveral, Florida
City Council Regular Meeting
January 19, 2016
Page 3 of 4
that if there are additional monies, the playground has some issues and the Kindergarten needs a
sun shade.
Council Member Bond wished everyone a Happy New Year. He asked everyone to say a prayer
for Mayor Bob Hoog who recently lost a son.
Mayor Pro Tem Walsh stated residents are complimentary of the Beach Rake activities and she
thanked Staff for their efforts.
Mayor Hoog read a letter addressed to Cape Canaveral Volunteer Fire Department Station 60. He
stated the letter was forwarded to him by John Thomas Emmick for Commissioner Robin Fisher
regarding his father, Kurt Emmick, and the great appreciation for his care by the Department.
Mayor Hoog thanked the Fire Department and the Sheriffs Department for all they do. Mayor
Hoog inquired about a light on Ridgewood at Jefferson that was knocked down. City Manager
Greene stated he believed it has been ordered and it was now a matter of delivery.
City Manager Greene requested people look at the State of the City Report. He specified, with
respect to the solar question,the citizen led group is re-grouping and the matter may not be placed
on the ballot until the 2018 Election; there appears to be a dispute between the citizens' group and
the firm hired to obtain signatures to help meet the Constitutional requirements to land on the
ballot; the City is concerned and will address the issue at the appropriate time. He pointed out the
City's student intern in the audience who is working on a Sustainability Plan for the City as part
of the Master's Program at the University of Florida; additionally, a number of pages in the State
of the City are dedicated to sustainability issues/initiatives that are already in action.
Mayor Hoog asked if anyone had anything they wanted to say prior to adjournment. Canaveral
Beach Boulevard residents Linda Meeuwenberg and Charles Hazelaar expressed frustration about
two properties that appear to have illegal activities on going for two years; however, no law
enforcement activity has been observed. Ms. Meeuwenberg indicated they want to know how to
work with the City to resolve the issues. Discussion ensued and included: the perception that law
enforcement and/or code enforcement are not doing their jobs, how there are much bigger
investigations underway to get beyond the street seller and user; how the City cares and there are
investigations going on all around the City; how the Sheriffs Department would be glad to see a
Neighborhood Watch established there; how the Sheriffs Office and City Staff are handling the
issue; the former Mayor's efforts; suspicious activity witnessed by a resident; the plan to improve
the area by the residents and the City; funding issues and how Staff is pursuing the owner of the
properties to work on redevelopment; the possibility of condemning the property and the cost of
that including legal fees and consulting costs; how there is an underlying density problem on the
property and that taking of the property is a challenge because the owner is generally in
compliance; how that property was built to Codes of the sixties or seventies and is expensive to
solve. Mayor Hoog suggested the residents speak with Canaveral Precinct Major Paul Ring before
leaving the Meeting.
City of Cape Canaveral, Florida
City Council Regular Meeting
January 19, 2016
Page 4 of 4
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the Meeting adjourned at 6:42 P.M.
Bob Hoog, Mayor
Mia Goforth, Deputy City Clerk
SEAL of Cape Canaveral, Florida