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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWeekly Update - 09-02-16 Weekly Update Week Ending September 2, 2016 Cape Canaveral VISION Statement Administrative Services Community Engagement Community Development Economic Development Culture & Leisure Services Public Works Services Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Canaveral Fire Rescue – No Report 5-17-2016     Cape Canaveral Vision Statement We envision: A bikeable and walkable Cape Canaveral that retains and enhances its residential feel, characterized by low-rise buildings. This residential and business friendly atmosphere is a liveable, attractive, safe, inclusive and sustainable coastal community that embraces the seaside and riverside as the main amenities, and supports local culture, commerce and education. We envision: A1A as a “complete street” with a native-landscaped and tree-lined median with traffic calming elements and dark-sky street lighting. “Complete street” amenities include bicycle facilities, covered transit stops, and safe pedestrian crossings that invite pedestrians and bicyclists to access the beach, river, local neighborhoods and adjacent communities. Our improved “complete streets” will allow us to travel calmly to intimate waterfront destinations and a walk- able uptown core. Multi-use paths lined with shade trees should be wide enough for bikes and pedestrians and lighted so anyone can walk or bicycle safely anywhere in town, day or night. We envision: Welcoming community entrance features that create a sense of arrival and unique community identity. The “uptown” and other areas will contain an architecturally rich and unique mix of uses, with wide tree shaded sidewalks and umbrella covered café tables at restaurants and bistros where friends gather, interact, and enjoy drinks and dinner. We envision: A community that; removes or transforms blighted and unfinished buildings into attractive structures, offers city-wide green spaces, provides a pet-friendly park with ample shade, and actively recruits and supports businesses that enhance economic viability and serve our residents and visitors. We envision: Open shorelines and rivers accessible to the public including amenities that take advantage of the water, such as limited and quaint water-view establishments and intimate public gathering and entertainment places that may include pavilions, gazebos, or a performance stage.   Administrative Services Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 The City Manager’s Office is responsible for the day to day administration of all City departments in accordance with City Council’s established policies/direction, local ordinances, resolutions and State/Federal laws/rules and regulations. Telephone conferences, meetings with citizens, documents prepared/reviewed/approved and meetings/conferences held are numerous and may not be included in the Weekly Updates. Highlights:  Met with Department Directors regarding various projects/issues/initiatives.  EA provided assistance to City Council Members and select Department Directors. City Clerk’s Office Staff performed day to day duties/responsibilities and assisted various telephone/walk-in requests from the Public/Staff and provided assistance to City Council. Highlights:  Records Management – 20 pages of documents scanned; 223 pages of documents verified; continued preparing records for offsite scanning/disposition/destruction; performed records research regarding Engineering Consultant Contracts for Public Works Services and Utility Fees for Financial Services.  Council Meetings – prepared/distributed agenda/packet for 9-6-2016 Special Meeting and continued preparing for 9-20-2016 Regular Meeting.  Election Recap: o Qualifying Period is over. o City Council: 5 Packets released; 4 Candidates have qualified. o Go to http://www.cityofcapecanaveral.org/election for more information. o Go to www.votebrevard.com for information regarding State and Federal Elections.  Continued planning for City Government Week, October 16-22.  Met with City Manager regarding various items/issues. Financial Services Staff performed day to day duties/responsibilities and assisted various telephone/walk-in requests from the Public. Highlights:  Received Engagement Letter from James Moore Certified Public Accountants for upcoming audit for year ending September 30, 2016. It outlines the auditors’ responsibilities regarding the financial statement audit and planned scope/timing of the audit (Letter attached).  Proposed Budget Detail Fiscal Year 2016-17 and Capital Improvement Plan Fiscal Year 2020-21 was distributed to City Council. Human Resources/Risk Management Staff performed day to day duties/responsibilities. Highlights:  Legal Update Equal Opportunity Employment Commission Looking for Religious Discrimination Claims From Young Workers The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a one-page fact sheet which states the Commission will help young workers understand their rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and protections prohibiting religious discrimination. The EEOC has focused on religious discrimination for the last several years. In 2015, it received 3,502 charges alleging religious discrimination. Since 2010, the EEOC has filed 73 lawsuits involving claims of religious discrimination. Employers should be aware of the EEOC’s increased focus on religious harassment and discrimination and be especially diligent to follow EEOC guidance on avoiding harassment and discrimination and equally important, providing reasonable accommodations to employees who request consideration for religious reasons.  Negotiations continue with Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT), regarding the quote for the City’s FY2016/17 Property, General Liability, Automobile and Workers’ Compensation Risk Management insurance. While FMIT proposed a reduction of the original quote from 7% to 2.8%, efforts continue to achieve a comprehensive premiums rate at or below the current 2015/16 contract level.  Staff coordinated employee webinar attendance intended to provide information on how Cities are Growing Safe Walking and Biking, an initiative which is part of the 20th Annual International Walk to School Day. Walk to School Day 2016 is scheduled for October 5. There are many reasons to celebrate safer and more accessible streets such as healthier habits and cleaner air, to name just a few.  Along with City Manager, interviewed a qualified candidate for the Public Works Services Director vacancy.  Staff participated in Brevard Emergency Operations Management county-wide storm updates due to increased Atlantic and Gulf storm activity.  ZIKA UPDATE: The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Tuesday that federal funds to fight the Zika virus were nearly exhausted and unless Congress replenishes them soon, there would be no money to fight a new outbreak. The agency has sent about $35 million to This image cannot currently be displayed. Florida, much of which has already been spent, largely killing mosquitoes. At current funding levels, if Florida or another state has another cluster of Zika cases, the agency will not be able to send emergency funds. HIGHLIGHT OF ZIKA CASES Brevard …………………………………………….12 Broward…………………………………………… 98 Miami Date………………………………………. 165 Florida cases not involving pregnant women: ……508 (weekly increase of 50) Florida cases involving pregnant women: …………78 (weekly increase of 8) Community Engagement Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 Community Engagement is primarily responsible for implementation/evaluation of public programs, community meetings, public gatherings and more. Staff attended various meetings, performed day-to-day duties/responsibilities, website maintenance/improvements and performed content sourcing throughout the City for various digital/social media platforms. Other highlights include: Conversations with residents/pedestrians/business owners in regard to:  Cape Canaveral Community Garden  Bat boxes  Wayfinding signs  Lagoon information  Sustainability Plan  North Atlantic Streetscape Project  Tech talk/Computer ABC’s  Mobi-mats Twenty five (25) residents attended the second Cape Canaveral Community Brainstorm event held on Monday, August 29th. The casual/creative conversation included current City initiatives and short/long term City ideas, several of which were in line with the current Vision Statement: o Sustainability o Bikeable/walkable o Cape Canaveral Community Garden o All-encompassing City park  Skate park  Dog run  No smoking o Senior coffee meet ups o Litter pick-ups o Wayfinding signs o Bike/Walk/Run map  In different languages o Dog waste stations throughout City o Crossing flags for intersections The next scheduled Community Brainstorm event will be held Monday, October 10th at the Cape Canaveral Public Library. The theme is “Cape Canaveral: Paint with Your Imagination Brush!” The Cape Canaveral Community Garden boxes have been installed and the community is ready to start growing! The first City Garden will house ten (10) raised bed garden boxes of various sizes, twenty (20) window style boxes along the railing, rain barrels, compost area and a work table/storage desk. The Garden plots will be determined by a lottery on Friday, September 9, 2016. If you are interested in entering the lottery, please contact Staff at j.surprenant@cityofcapecanaveral.org. This project is funded in part by City Council member Brendan McMillian and with grant funds from the National Recreation and Park Association. The project will require both green thumbs (gardeners) and purple thumbs (volunteers) to succeed. Staff is designing concepts for wayfinding signs to be placed throughout the City. These signs would highlight local attractions, Government buildings/services and Parks. The sign concepts are themed beach, space and sea and are made up of vibrant eye catching colors. The idea for wayfinding signs builds on the Visioning statement which can be viewed by following this link: cityofcapecanaveral.org/visioning. Staff participated in webinars/meetings regarding:  Nixle – emergency mass communication technology  Cubix – performance floor coatings  Davanti – strategic plan/management/recording software  UNC Highway Safety Research Center – Walk to School Day and Vision Zero: How Cities Are Growing Safe Walking and Biking Options Staff has created its first public interactive map using Boondock Cities. The map is all City park locations and houses pictures and information about each. To view the map, please visit the following link: cityofcapecanaveral.org/parks. Going forward, Staff plans on using this software for planning/zoning, City events, sewer/stormwater mapping and future project presentations.     Connect with the City of Cape Canaveral on social media! Facebook – cityofcapecanaveral, 3,355 page likes, +21 Recent posts: Instagram – cityofcapecanaveral, 370 followers, +10 followers Recent post:           Twitter – capecanaveralfl, 394 followers, +37 followers Recent tweet: Pinterest – capecanaveralfl, 604 inspiring pins, +98 new pins Check out our new project inspiration board titled URBAN LANDSCAPE by following this link http://pin.it/wOSRbtC   Periscope – capecanaveralfl, 447 hearts (live stream likes) Snapchat – capecanaveralfl, 159 point score, +6 points, 26 followers, +2 followers MailChimp – 227 subscribers, +14 subscribers Social media bests! Tag the City in photos, tweets and posts to be considered.     Community Development Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 Staff performed day to day duties/responsibilities and assisted various telephone/walk-in requests from the public, including performing plan reviews, processing permits, conducting inspections, performing site visits, issuing Notices and conducting research. The Building Division conducted 28 inspections; processed 28 new building permit applications; 15 permits picked up and payments processed; processed 5 renewal Business Tax Receipts (BTR’s) fire/alarm payments; processed 7 new BTR applications.  Processed three (3) new contractor information packets (Contractor License, Liability Insurance and W/C Insurance) allowing them to pull permits in Cape Canaveral.  Provided assistance completing building permit applications as needed.  Processed one (1) payment for a lien reduction on property at 206 Pierce Avenue.  One (1) call to contractor regarding scheduling final inspections for building permits that are nearing expiration & permits recently expired.  Responded to 23 voicemails.  Responded to thirteen (13) emails, faxes and calls requesting permit information from realtors and home inspectors.  Assisted customers regarding fictitious names.  Scanned 8 pages of Certificates of Insurance.  Scanned/verified 312 pages of Building Department documents. Code Enforcement performed day-to-day duties/responsibilities, assisted with various requests from the Public and provided office coverage throughout the week. Highlights:  Received payment in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for a Code Enforcement lien reduction.  Issued four (4) compliance letters.  Received thirteen (13) new requests giving life-safety issues priority, followed closely by community appearance and property maintenance.  Obtained compliance in the field for two (2) violations.  Conducted sixteen (16) site inspections.  Removed sixteen (16) signs from the right-of-way and telephone poles within the City.  Responded to six (6) lien search requests.  Issued one (1) door tag for visible violation to be corrected.  Received two (2) tree removal applications.  Conducted seven (7) inspections for compliance with the tree replacement mitigation requirements.  Staff covered counter and assisted twelve (12) citizens with building and code enforcement requests.  Responded to thirty (30) voicemails regarding complaints and inquiries.      Resolved two (2) address assignment requests; prepared correspondence notifying property owner and other required agencies of the new addresses.  Code Enforcement Officers continue to conduct daily community sweeps for visible violations throughout the City.  Continued to gather/compile required documentation for the 2016 Annual National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System recertification packet due by October 1, 2016.  Completed and implemented new Business Tax Receipt (BTR) application. Planning performed day-to-day duties/responsibilities, assisted with various requests from the Public and provided office coverage throughout the week. Highlights:  Mr. Bernard Lennon who resides at 126 Oak Lane, has filed an appeal to the decision made by the Board of Adjustment at its August 23, 2016 meeting. The Board granted a side-yard setback variance for a single-family home. Staff has prepared an agenda item for the September 6, 2016 Special City Council meeting to request that an independent hearing officer be engaged to conduct the appeal hearing.  Received notification that the attorney representing Lenny Cassanelli has filed a motion to allow him to withdraw from the case due to “irreconcilable differences” with his client.  Distributed the September 7, 2016 Planning & Zoning Board Agenda Packet, to include:  Site Plan Approval for the Portside Plaza property (Kelsey’s Pizza) located at 8699 Astronaut Boulevard. Economic Development Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 Performed day to day duties/responsibilities, conducted various meetings with business stakeholders, potential investors, citizens, realtors and Staff. Performed site visits and conducted research as necessary.  City Hall status: o Workers are welding the second floor decking and bridging; majority of the decking is in place. o When complete, welded wire mesh and 4 inches of concrete will be placed on top of the decking to complete the structural elevated floor system. o The northeast stairwell was fitted with engineered steel pan stairs and landings to allow workers access to the top side of the elevated floor. The stair pans will be filled with concrete.  Along with Community Engagement/Interim Public Works Services Director, attended a web demo of Nixle 360, a mass communication system that competes with our current system, Blackboard Connect. This is a product offered by Everbridge, a company that recently began providing mass notification services to Brevard County. It offers competitive pricing, additional outreach mechanisms, including social media, emergency and/or non-emergency user opt-ins as well as an opt-in portal targeted to visitors who do not live here, but are interested in only receiving news related to specified topics. Staff has previously reviewed a third system as we evaluate alternatives that increase productivity/effectiveness while reducing expenses.  Along with City Manager, Community Development Director and City Attorney, reviewed submitted revised Development Agreement for the Port of Call Project. The developer has proposed revisions to incorporate additional properties immediately across the street at the Radisson property where the hotel component of the Agreement will be developed as part of the proposed revisions. The purpose of the revision is to repurpose the original property as a new home for Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) and attract additional jobs to the City. Staff is also evaluating/coordinating with the EDC regarding their ad-valorem tax abatement incentive program for which the tenant has applied.  N. Atlantic Ave. Streetscape Project Phase 2. o This phase will support the invigoration of the thoroughfare as a historic roadway boosting awareness of the City’s roots tied to America’s Space Pioneering days: o Renewed negotiations with Brad Smith Associates, Inc. regarding “Art in the Landscape” and place-making features to complement the theme. o An Entryway Feature is to be located in a temporary easement (tied to the term of the lease) at the recently approved Cumberland Farms redevelopment project at 8000 Astronaut Blvd. The easement is the result of negotiations between Developer and City Staff, with the condition that should the property come under the ownership of Cumberland Farms or Successors, the easement will become permanent. o Along with Senior City Attorney, continued work on the Temporary Easement documentation.  Coordinated efforts related to the upcoming Ribbon-Cutting Event with Community Engagement Director for the unveiling of the new Mobi-Mat – Beach Access Path.  Along with Community Development Director, coordinated preliminary Staff review of a conceptual pressurized remote sewer connection for a new hotel to be located on a parcel currently not served by City sewer. The sewer line and its associated easement(s) would be constructed/maintained by the owner of the hotel property for as long as they are in use by the hotel property. When a City gravity line is available to the property, it shall be connected and any other lines disconnected, with all connection/disconnection costs paid by owner. If the project moves forward, these conditions will appear on all approvals.  Please see attached Port Canaveral Beacon.  Cape Canaveral In the News: Please see attached article from Florida Today regarding the City’s 1st Community Garden Project. It is a product of the City’s sustainability focus and community brainstorming, and is located at Patriots Park, off of Long Point Rd. Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Fishlips Restaurant Opens at Jetty Park Pavilion Popular Cove restaurant Fishlips is the new operator of the Pavilion at Jetty Park. The beachside Pavilion is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and features a retail shop, snack bar and indoor and outdoor dining areas. The shop sells goods targeted to beachgoers, fishermen and campers, while the walk-up snack bar offers the basics plus special Fishlips menu items, coffee, drinks and smoothies. More information is available in the July/August Port magazine. Subscribe FREE. AutoPort Inc. Welcomes First Shipment of New Vehicles In August, spaces at auto processor AutoPort’s 16-acre Canaveral terminal filled with new vehicles as the first shipments by a major auto manufacturer began arriving at its docks bi- weekly. The first two shipments delivered 1000 cars. Reverse Trade Show Offers Local Businesses Access to Opportunities Port Canaveral’s popular annual Reverse Trade Show in August enabled local companies to explore potential business opportunities with 18 Port departments and 14 additional Brevard County agencies and city governments, all in one place. At this year’s event held in Cruise Terminal 1, local business representatives attended seminars on doing business with the Port and visited agency tables to exchange information and make valuable contacts. Port Works to Bring Families Fresher, More Affordable Produce Port Canaveral is awaiting final USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) approval for certification as a port of entry for cold treatment products — containerized fruit that is held in near-freezing temperatures to kill exotic fruit flies and prevent their introduction into the state. The certification program will enable produce such as fresh blueberries, apples, pears and grapes from South America to enter directly into Central Florida instead of being trucked south from entry ports in the Northeast. Using Port Canaveral as a gateway for locally consumed produce could lower prices for these fruits at the grocery store and increase shelf life. More information on this program and its benefits is available in the July/August Port magazine. Get Ready for November’s Cruise Excitement Two of the largest cruise ships in the world — Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas and Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic — join Port Canaveral’s homeported fleet in November and herald the next level of cruising options in Central Florida. Volunteers Help Keep Our Area Beautiful During an August cleanup event sponsored by Keep Brevard Beautiful, Florida Today and the Canaveral Port Authority, a team of about 60 volunteers removed nearly 3,000 pounds of trash from along State Road 528 between Kelly Park and the Port. The Port sponsored a cookout lunch for the volunteers at Jetty Park after the cleanup. photos courtesy of Florida Today First Call Period Opens for Community Sponsorships and Special Events Requests The Port Authority recently developed new policies for Community Sponsorships and Special Events that set two call periods each year during which requests in these categories may be submitted. The first call period will be Sept. 1-30, 2016. The second call is scheduled for March 1-31, 2017. Requests for sponsorships — through funding or services — in support of events and activities advertising the Port and its facilities should be submitted to sponsorships@portcanaveral.com and address criteria outlined in the new policy. Table Sponsorships requests can be submitted year-round. To submit a request for Special Events sponsorship, please download and complete the Event Proposal Form and email to specialevents@portcanaveral.com. More information about the new policies can be found on our website at Sponsorships or Special Events. Still attached to its landing barge, the SpaceX rocket returns to land through Port Canaveral, on its way to be prepared for its next flight. Get Connected Building Community. Creating Opportunity. Culture and Leisure Services Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 Staff performed day to day duties/responsibilities and assisted various telephone/walk-in requests from the public. Director Meetings  City Manager  Community Development Director  Human Resources Director  Administrative/Financial Services Director  Canaveral City Park Basketball Court Contractor  Canaveral City Park Dugout Contractor  Cocoa Beach High School Student – Take Stock in Children Mentorship Program Athletic Leagues - Monday morning mixed doubles league completed the season and will start back on Monday, September 12. Monday night advanced tennis finished make up matches before the playoffs begin on September 12. Wednesday night advanced racquetball and intermediate tennis were both cancelled due to inclement weather. Thursday night intermediate tennis ended regular season play and will start make up matches next week, weather permitting. Canaveral City Park Dugout – Contractor commenced work on home dugout construction; site was prepped and footers formed. Project is expected to be completed prior to September 30th. Canaveral City Park – Thanks to NRPA’s Out of School Program Grant, the City was able to purchase new basketball goals. They are made of high quality steel with fiberglass backboards. New lines were also painted making the facility look first class. Since installation, use has already increased and many positive comments have been received. Youth Center Indoor Gardening – Children who usually spend time at the Youth Center had the chance to learn the basics of hydroponic indoor gardening. The first step was seed germination. They picked the variety of organic, non GMO seeds they wanted to grow and inserted them in plugs that will allow fast germination. Within two weeks, they will see the seeds sprout at which point they will be transplanted into the grow towers for maturation. Friday Fest – Staff is closely monitoring the weather to ensure that the City can host a safe and enjoyable event. The final call for whether or not the event will take place will be made by early afternoon Friday. 2016 Beach & Kite Fest – Get ready for a super fun event at Cherie Down Park. If you enjoyed the 2015 event, this year’s will blow it out of the water! Frisbee Golf Fridays – Have you ever tried Frisbee Golf? Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned veteran, everyone is welcome to join us at Manatee Sanctuary Park the third Friday of every month starting on September 16th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Each month, a nine hole course will be set up throughout the Park for players at all skill levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own discs, but a limited number of disc sets are available for public use. This free, healthy, outdoor activity is sure to get the whole family up and moving. Public Works Services Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 Staff performed day to day duties/responsibilities and assisted various telephone/walk-in requests from the public. Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)/Sanitary Sewer System  Oxidation Ditch Rehabilitation Project. At its August meeting, City Council approved Staff’s Contractor recommendation. Pre-construction meeting scheduled for October 6; initial State Revolving Fund (SRF) documentation submitted. This is one of the projects funded through the City’s SRF Loan. Stormwater  Canaveral City Park Ex-filtration Project. Construction for the Project was initiated on August 3. Both the softball and Little League fields will be closed until Project completion in approximately six months; work is also being performed in the adjacent City streets. Sandpiper Park (playground), Youth Center and basketball courts will remain open. Contractor is currently performing excavations in outfield area of softball field and connecting stormwater lines in surrounding streets. Project is being funded with two grants from (1) Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and (2) State Legislature funds as well as funds from the City. Excavation activities in outfield area of softball field – looking southwest.  Annual FEMA Report. Staff submitted sections of the FEMA Community Rating System Annual Recertification Program Report to the Community Development Department. Submittal included details on (1) drainage system maintenance, (2) Blue Life Program, (3) Stormwater Utility Program, (4) field inspection reports and (5) other stormwater-related information. Infrastructure Maintenance (IM)  North Atlantic Avenue Streetscape Project. Pedway construction on western side of street continues along North Atlantic Avenue. Contractor currently (1) performing directional drill borings for irrigation system, (2) grading stormwater swales and (3) installing traffic signs. Paving overbuilds and landscaping to begin week of September 5. Maintenance of traffic (MOT) includes closure of one lane on North Atlantic Avenue during working hours; flagmen are utilized to direct traffic. All roads will be open after working hours. Estimated project completion – late October 2016. NOTE: All businesses in the North Atlantic Avenue corridor will remain open during construction activities. Miscellaneous  Bus Shelter Improvements. Staff ordered new trash cans for the six bus shelters located throughout the City. Existing ones are corroded and unsightly. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Cape Canaveral Precinct Update for Week Ending September 2, 2016 Page 1 of 1 With the upcoming Labor Day Weekend, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office will provide an additional 2 deputies for each day. These deputies will focus on traffic and parking on the beach end streets. These additional deputies will also conduct ATV beach patrols in an effort to make everyone’s Labor Day a happy and safe one. Beginning the week of September 6th, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office will begin a traffic initiative regarding the enforcement of vehicles passing stopped school buses. Patrol Division Weekly Statistics August 25 thru August 31, 2016 Type Weekly Total Case Reports Written 33 Case Reports Closed 22 Arrests Made 13 Front Desk Weekly Statistics August 25 thru August 31, 2016 Type Weekly Total Phone Calls Answered 49 Walk-ups Assisted 31 Fingerprint Cards Completed 5 Notary Assistance for Citizens 0 Citizen On Patrol Weekly Statistics August 25 thru August 31, 2016 Type Weekly Total Patrol Hours Completed 23 Office/Training/Meeting Hours 1 Miles Driven 63 Total Volunteer Hours 24