HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-1993 Special CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
September 13 , 1993
A Special Meeting of the Cape Canaveral City Council was held on
September 13 , 1993 , at the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape
Canaveral, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 6 : 30 P.M.
by Mayor Salamone.
ROLL CALL:
Mayor Joy Salamone Present
Mayor Pro Tem John Porter Present (Late)
Councilmember Arthur Berger Present
Councilmember Joan Calvert Absent
Councilmember Rocky Randels Present.
City Manager Bennett Boucher Present
City Attorney John Kancilia Present
City Clerk Faith Miller Present
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Resolution No. 93-28, Adopting the Tentative Millacge Rate for
1993 .
Mayor Salamone read the title of the Resolution and the sections of
the Resolution pertaining to the millage rates for 1993 .
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE LEVY OF AD
VALOREM TAXES FOR 1993 ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE
CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Motion by Mr. Randels, seconded by Mr. Berger to adopt Resolution
No. 93-28 . Mr. Randels explained that the valuation of assessed
property had decreased by approximately one million dollars and he
commended the Finance Department staff for its efforts in preparing
the budget. There were no public comments. Motion carried with
members voting as follows: Mayor Salamone, For; Councilman Berger,
For; Councilman Randels, For.
2 . Resolution No. 93-29 , Adopting the Tentative Annual Budget for
FY 93/94 .
Mayor Salamone read the title of the Resolution.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY,
FLORIDA; ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE ANNUAL GENERAL FUND, SEWER
ENTERPRISE FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE FUND,
EXPENDABLE TRUST FUNDS, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGETS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1993 , AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
1994 ; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Motion by Mr. Randels, seconded by Mr. Berger to adopt Resolution
No. 93-29 . Mayor Salamone stated that based on all changes made to
the budget during the workshop sessions, she understood that
Council was taking approximately $11, 000 out of reserves for
capital expenditures.
Mr. Randels addressed his concerns regarding various sections of
the budget. He stated that he had serious concerns regarding
deleting the City's animal control services and that he was not
comfortable with completely depending on Brevard County for animal
control. Mayor Salamone stated that perhaps the City could utilize
its Code Enforcement Officers in emergency situations to help set
traps and assist with animal control services. Mro Berger stated
that the individual who had provided animal control services would
remain on City staff in his full-time position at the wastewater
treatment plant and Mr. Boucher stated that in specific situations
the City could pay the individual overtime to assist with animal
control as needed.
City of Cape Canaveral, Florida
City Council Special Meeting
September 13 , 1993
Page 2
Mr. Porter arrived at the meeting at this time. Mr. Randels stated
that the City would be utilizing some of the carryover money that
had been in the Beautification Contingency Fund to purchase two
pieces of property for a passive park.
Mayor Salamone reminded Council that the City would be entering FY
93/94 with a very low contingency of $4 , 763 and she was still
looking for ways to increase the contingency amount. She stated
that before adoption of the final budget she would be looking for
ways to increase the contingency including how important the extra
people proposed to be hired were to the requesting City
departments. There were no public comments. Motion carried with
members voting as follows: Mayor Salamone, For; Mayor Pro Tem
Porter, For; Councilman Berger, For; Councilman Randels, For.
3 . Discussion & Motion Re: Option contract for the purchase of
two (2) additional acres of land within the City of Cape Canaveral
lying north of the existing wastewater treatment plant for the
wastewater wetland prosect.
Mr. Boucher stated that Council had received a new option contract
that was all inclusive of the property that was needed for the
wetlands including 27 . 95 acres of the interior portion and 12 . 42
acres along the riverfront.
Mr. Kancilia stated that since the August 24th hearing, the option
exercise date had been changed from February 1, 1994 , to April 1,
1994 . He stated that the substantive changes to the contract had
been agreed to by Cevesco and the City. He stated that the signing
of the option contract would enable the City to purchase all 41
acres. He explained that the signature page of the addendum had
been changed to include two witnesses rather than a secretary of
Cevesco, Inc. to attest Mr. Firkins' signature as Vice President of
the firm. He also explained several minor changes to Exhibits 1
and 2 of the option contract which pertained to the legal
description of the subject properties.
Mr. John Starling, Attorney for Cevesco, stated that he and Mr.
Firkins had reviewed the substance and the form of the option
contract as presented to the Council and the contract was
acceptable to the firm and Mr. Firkins was prepared to execute the
contract that evening upon Council approval.
Mr. Kancilia stated that the price per acre remained the same as
previously discussed. He explained certain matters that would not
be insured under a title policy which were listed as Item No. 8 (A
- D) on page two of the Addendum to the option contract. Mayor
Salamone stated that originally the option contract had provided
for Parcels A, B and C and now Parcel B included previously
designated Parcels B and C. She stated that Parcel A was $55, 145
per acre for approximately 27 . 95 acres and Parcel B was $87, 310 per
acre for approximately 12 . 42 acres. Mr. Kancilia stated that the
exact acreage would be determined by a survey prior to closing on
the property.
Mr. Randels questioned if an environmental hazard test of the land
could be completed prior to exercising the option contract. Mr.
Kancilia stated that the most the City had at risk would be
$25, 000. He stated that the City could ask for a condition that if
there was an environmental hazard that the City would not have to
exercise the option contract and would retain the $25, 000. Mr.
Firkins stated that in 1959 the subject land was filled in and that
there was no contamination on the property. Mr. Kancilia stated
that the question was whether or not the City wanted an
environmental audit to be a condition for the option price. He
City of Cape Canaveral, Florida
City Council Special Meeting
September 13 , 1993
Page 3
stated that the City could do an environmental audit and if the
City found that there was a problem with the land the City could
walk away from the contract, but the penalty to the City would be
the loss of the $25, 000. He stated that if the City found that an
environmental audit disclosed some potential liability for the
City, he questioned if the City wanted the ability to cancel the
contract and have the option money refunded. Mr. Firkins advised
that the City would not be refunded the $25, 000 if an environmental
audit revealed some type of problem with the land. Mr. Starling
stated that Cevesco had actually had the property off the market
for the past year or two and the option contract provided that the
property would remain off the market for an additional seven (7)
months and the $25, 000 was a small return on the $2 . 5 million
dollar investment for Cevesco,
Mr. Randels stated that his question may have been better worded
had he waited until the City was negotiating the purchase of the
property. Mayor Salamone stated that she felt the City would not
be remiss to obtain the environmental hazards insurance that was
currently available. Mr. Kancilia stated that if the City
proceeded with the purchase and had an environmental audit that it
would be a worthwhile investment to purchase the insurance.
Council concurred unanimously to execute the option contract as
presented with the changes outlined by Mr. Kancilia. There were no
public comments. Members voted as follows regarding the execution
of the option contract: Mayor Salamone, For; Mayor Pro Tem Porter,
For; Councilman Berger, For; Councilman Randels, For.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6: 58 P.M.
Approved this 21st day of September , 1993 ,
z,- �- . ' . �ct
r ;�`� ,, Jo • . Salamone, MAYOR
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ATTEST: \ �.
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Faith G. Mille ,L CITYCLERK