Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 03-21-2017CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CAPE CANAVERAL LIBRARY MEETING ROOM 201 Polk Avenue,Cape Canaveral, Florida TUESDAY March 21, 2017 6:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: The Chair called the Meeting to Order at 5:57 P.M. Mayor Pro Tem McMillin led the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Council Member Mike Brown Mayor Bob Hoog Mayor Pro Tem Brendan McMillin Council Member Rocky Randels Council Member Betty Walsh Others Present: City Manager David Greene City Attorney Anthony Garganese City Clerk Mia Goforth Administrative/Financial Services Director John DeLeo Capital Projects Director Jeff Ratliff Community Development Director David Dickey Culture and Leisure Services Director Gustavo Vergara Economic Development Director Todd Morley Public Works Services Director Ralph Lotspeich Community Engagement/Deputy Public Works Services Director Joshua Surprenant Brevard County Sheriffs Office Lieutenant Don Barker Cape Canaveral Volunteer Fire Dept. Assistant Chief John Cunningham PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Al Abbasse, 200 International Drive, inquired about the new Cumberland Farms layout,traffic and pedestrian issues at the intersection of International Drive,State Road A 1 A and North Atlantic Avenue. City Manager Greene explained Al A is under the State of Florida's jurisdiction and the City has advocated to reduce speed limits and make improvements to intersections, particularly at AlA and North Atlantic Avenue, over many years. He stated there is money in the State Five Year Plan through the Transportation Planning Organization(TPO) to study that intersection with a possible realignment; the City has adopted multiple resolutions that bring the pedestrian issues to Florida Department of Transportation's attention. Mayor Pro Tem McMillin offered to meet with anyone regarding these issues as he serves on the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting March 21, 2017 Page 2 of 4 CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Hoog inquired if any items were to be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.No items were removed. 1. Approve Minutes for February 21, 2017 Regular City Council Meeting. 2. Resolution No. 2017-04; authorizing an additional extension of time for the property owners (Baugher and Lagges) to deliver to the City the Unity of Title Agreements in executed and recordable form in accordance with Resolution No. 2016-03; providing for repeal of prior inconsistent resolutions, severability and an effective date. 3. Approve Interlocal Agreement with Brevard County Property Appraiser (BCPA) and Brevard County Tax Collector (BCTC), to contract with a third party vendor, Tax Management Associates, Inc. (TMA), for the review of the validity of all residency-based property tax exemptions; the City agrees to have 28% of the proceeds of the collections paid to the vendor. A motion was made by Council Member Walsh, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McMillin, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried 5-0 with voting as follows: Council Member Brown, For; Mayor Hoog, For; Mayor Pro Tem McMillin, For; Council Member Randels,For and Council Member Walsh, For. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 4. Ordinance No. 04-2017; establishing minimum dimensions for automobile parking spaces within the City; providing for the repeal of prior inconsistent ordinances and resolutions, severability, incorporation into the City Code and an effective date, first reading.: City Attorney Garganese read the title into the record and reviewed the item. Discussion ensued and included Planning and Zoning Board and Staff recommendations, various dimensions of parking spaces in the City, ambiguities in the Code, land values in Cape Canaveral and environmental impact of parking spaces on the City. City Attorney Garganese explained his reasoning for recommendation of the proposed Ordinance, how the Code, as it stands, allows too much flexibility and having minimum standards helps avoid gamesmanship. Discussion continued and included various examples of retail store parking in and beyond the City, various potential parking dimensions allowed under both the City Code and proposed Ordinance, various other municipalities' parking dimensions, environmental impact to the Indian River Lagoon, need to establish minimums, condominium parking issues and parking space needs of various types of vehicles. The Public Hearing was opened. Charles Pindziak, 112 E. Central Boulevard, shared a personal story and urged consideration of medical emergency responder situations in regards to reducing parking space size. He inquired as to who requested the reduction in size and why. Bob Baugher, 118 Sunset Drive, Cocoa Beach, spoke of the trend toward smaller parking lots and provided several examples of issues surrounding parking spaces and design. City Manager Greene clarified that any parking designs as part of a project are reviewed by the City Development Review Committee, engineers on both sides review plans. He advised Staff should be given the benefit of the doubt and understand that Staff recommendations are based on professional experience and thoughtful review. Mr. Baugher stated he supports smaller parking lots. The Public Hearing was closed. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting March 21,2017 Page 3 of 4 Discussion ensued and included each Council Members' preferred parking space dimensions and angled parking. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem McMillin,seconded by Mayor Hoog, for approval of Ordinance No. 04-2017, with recommendation of nine(9) feet x eighteen (18) feet minimum parking space. Discussion ensued between City Attorney Garganese and Council regarding the minimum paved area. City Attorney Garganese advised discussion had not taken place on the proposal of nine(9) feet in width. Mayor Pro Tem McMillin amended the motion, seconded by Mayor Hoog,for approval of Ordinance No.04-2017,for nine (9) feet x eighteen (18) feet with a grand total of one hundred and sixty two (162) square feet. City Attorney Garganese stated the amended motion fully addresses the City Code Section 110-494 change. The motion failed 2-3 with voting as follows: Council Member Brown, Against; Mayor Hoog, For; Mayor Pro Tem McMillin, For; Council Member Randels, Against and Council Member Walsh, Against. Mayor Hoog stated the item goes back to the floor. A motion was made by Council Member Brown, seconded by Council Member Randels, for approval of Ordinance No. 04-2017, as proposed, at first reading. The motion carried 5-0 with voting as follows: Council Member Brown, For; Mayor Hoog, For; Mayor Pro Tem McMillin, For; Council Member Randels, For and Council Member Walsh, For. ITEM FOR DISCUSSION: 5. PACE Program Membership Discussion.: City Attorney Garganese provided a detailed overview of the Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) Program. Discussion ensued and included how the City would have no administrative responsibility in the Program and the City would act as a facilitator,how assessments stay with the properties when sold,what happens When participant taxes are not paid which banks do not like, the City of Satellite Beach is the only City in Brevard County participating in the Program and the need to be mindful of carrying costs. Kate Wesner, Government Relations Manager with Ygrene Energy Fund, explained the Program financing, the City's minimal role in the process,the Program takes priority over mortgages except those federally insured, how local contractors can be used and placed in the contract, the recommendation to use multiple providers is good public policy, no cost to City beyond adopting a resolution, the similarities to a home equity loan with a program fee and locked interest rates based on the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) rate, energy and insurance savings, those interested in the Program should call their insurance companies to find out all the credits they would get and are applicable under the PACE statute and most improvements have been for hurricane protection in Florida. Discussion ensued and included cost benefits being zero money down and not credit based,requirements include owners to be current on property taxes,mortgages and have no liens against the property and longer terms as opposed to a home equity loan. Mayor Hoog suggested those who have further questions speak with Community Development Director Dickey. Council Member Walsh indicated she has spoken with Mr. Dickey, Satellite Beach Council Members and City Manager having followed the topic for the last year and a half. A motion was made by Council Member Walsh, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McMillin, to have Staff continue conducting due diligence regarding adopting a PACE Program in the City of Cape Canaveral and present a recommendation at a future City Council Meeting for consideration. Discussion ensued and included how the Program does not apply to public properties, PACE providers notify mortgage lenders on behalf of the property owners, providers work with local realtor groups, assessments can be transferred and in some cases the loan has to City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting March 21, 2017 Page 4 of 4 be paid off. Speakers Ross McCluney, 219 Johnson Avenue and Bill Young, 612 Indian River Drive,Titusville, voiced support for the Program,provided information regarding solar energy and how property improvements help homeowners. The motion carried 5-0 with voting as follows: Council Member Brown, For; Mayor Hoog, For; Mayor Pro Tem McMillin, For; Council Member Randels, For and Council Member Walsh, For. REPORTS: Council Member Brown reported the Space Coast League of Cities adopted a resolution on March 19,2017 opposing House Bill 17 and Senate Bill 1158 which take away a city's ability to regulate businesses. Mayor Pro Tem McMillin announced a Makers Space Meeting will be held on April 6, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nancy Hanson Recreation Complex Center, to see if there would be any interest for people to utilize large pieces of equipment related to woodworking, 3D printing or sewing. Council Member Randels recognized Mr. Young for his assistance in helping the City obtain an electric vehicle years ago; thanked Public Work Services Staff for quick response to an accident report he turned into City Manager Greene regarding a person who fell on a sidewalk and the prompt action to repair it. He stated his understanding and concerns related to a recent Board of Adjustment Meeting item and, had he known about the Meeting, he would have spoken against it and explained why. City Manager Greene responded that Council Member Randels should check and would find that the Agenda was emailed to him, which has been City Policy for a number of years. City Attorney Garganese asserted that a Notice of Appeal has been filed by a resident regarding the matter, that Council will likely be hearing the item and advised there be no further discussion on the matter. Council Member Walsh reminded everyone the City of Cape Canaveral Trash Bash April 1, 2017 starts at 8 a.m. in Cherie Down Park and Founders Day Spring Festival starts at 10 a.m.in Manatee Sanctuary Park. She urged for volunteer participation because Cape Canaveral will be in competition with other cities for the most trash picked up. Mayor Hoog reported he attended the Brevard County Sheriffs Award Ceremony where Canaveral Fire Rescue and BCSO Canaveral Precinct members were given a number of awards for life-saving efforts, including former Council Member Buzz Petsos' daughter who is a Deputy and a merit award to BCSO Commander Alan Moros. ADJOURNMENT: There being-no further busine9s the Meeting adjourned at 6:51 P.M. Mia Goforth, CMC, City Clerk Bob Hoog, Mayor SEAL of Cape Canaveral, Florida