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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20-2009 MinutesCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY HALL ANNEX 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida TUESDAY October 20, 2009 7:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL: Council Members Present: Mayor Pro Tem Bob Hoog Council Member Buzz Petsos Mayor Rocky Randels Council Member Shannon Roberts Council Member Betty Walsh Others Present: sw City Manager Bennett Boucher City Attorney Anthony Garganese City Treasurer Andrea Bowers Recreation Director Robert Lefever Assistant Public Works Director Jeff Ratliff Planning and Development Director Barry Brown Brevard County Sheriff Sargeant Joann Ross City Clerk Angela M. Apperson PRESENTATION: Brevard Museum Update — JaNeen Smith, Assistant Director: Ms. Smith expressed gratitude for the support the City has provided to the Museum over the past five years. She explained many of the exhibits and noted most of them are possible because of donated items. The Museum tells the story of all of Brevard County and is located at 2201 Michigan Avenue, Cocoa; operating hours are Tuesday through Friday from Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ms. Smith also explained the help provided to non-profit organizations to allow underprivileged individuals to visit the Museum. She explained the loss of funding from other sources. A discussion ensued and included ways the City could help to get them more visibility; the limited possibility to have exhibits at festivals; a link to the Museum on the City's Web site under visitor information, noting the Museum in any City newsletter; the placement of brochures at City facilities; possibly City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting October 20, 2009 Page 2 of 7 havinga Cape Canaveral Da at the Museum; possibly creating a tour of the Museum Y Y 9 as a part of the International Sand Carving Festival; the displays that were used for the Cape Canaveral Anniversary; the possibility of Ms. Smith making a presentation to the Space Coast League of Cities; the desire for Council Members to visit the Museum so they will be able to be a better advocate for the Museum and the fact individuals can walk from the planetarium to the Museum. Mayor Randels presented Ms. Smith with a City coin. REPORTS: City Manager • Mr. Boucher indicated the Ridgewood Avenue Project is out to bid. The notice to proceed from Florida Department Of Transportation has been received and noted the City will receive $181,563.00 in Stimulus funding for the project. The bid award will be on the November 17th City Council Meeting Agenda. Discussion ensued as to whether the Towne Realty Development Agreement included landscaping along Ridgewood Avenue. The desire to have a workshop on the Towne Realty Development Agreement prior to the draft being sent to the developer was expressed by Council, to which Mr. Boucher responded notices will be sent to adjoining property owners and two public hearings will be held to further discuss the development agreement. There was further discussion of the details from the development agreement and the tree mitigation that is necessary. Mr. Boucher is to report back to the Council on the landscaping for the Ridgewood Avenue Project, the funding of such and the draft development agreement. • Mr. Boucher noted receipt of a letter indicating the property owner of the IBM building, a vacant office building just west of the BP station, is going to proceed with demolition. He noted the difference between the asking price for the property and appraised value assigned by the Brevard County Property Appraiser. • Mr. Boucher reported on the Space Coast League of Cities Scholarship Program for someone pursuing a Public Administration degree. A brief discussion included clarification of the submission deadline, the person to complete the application and what college programs qualify. • Mr. Boucher noted the draft amendments to the Tree Protection Code were e-mailed. He indicated the amendments address the problems of the small parcels and will be sent to the Planning and Zoning Board for a recommendation to City Council. • He reminded everyone the last Visioning Session is Thursday, October 22nd at 6 p.m. He encouraged everyone to invite their friends and neighbors to attend. • Mr. Boucher indicated the Economic Development Council (EDC) has established a Business Process Mapping Course, which will be offered on December 16th for all the Brevard City Managers. He stated he will be comparing the EDC session with the session he just attended at the Florida Benchmarking Consortium. He indicated he and Andrea Bowers are working on ways to introduce these concepts to the City. Im City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting October 20, 2009 Page 3 of 7 • Mr. Boucher announced he and Barry Brown have signed confidentiality agreements with the EDC to work with a business that may relocate to the City and provide 40 new jobs. He noted the company is also looking at other locations in Brevard County. • Mr. Boucher indicated the quarterly reports are in the agenda packets and encouraged reading of them. Council requested all the quarterly reports be distributed in one package rather than piece meal. • Mr. Boucher asked for clarification of whether the November 3rd meeting is canceled. A motion was made by Ms. Roberts and seconded by Ms. Walsh, to cancel the meeting on the 3`d and only have the meeting on the 5th that is already moved, approved and scheduled. The motion carried 5-0 with voting as follows: Mayor Pro Tem Hoog, For; Mr. Petsos, For; Mayor Randels, For; Ms. Roberts, For and Ms. Walsh, For. Community Development • Mr. Brown noted the final Visioning Workshop is Thursday, October 22nd at 6 p.m. and explained the final Visioning Mission Statement will be unveiled as well as six possible development scenarios. He explained the timeline as follows: within 21 days of the meeting, a final report will be prepared by Regional Planning. The Citizens Visioning Committee and Phil Laurien will meet to go over the final report; the Committee will present the final report to the Council. Finally the Council will hold a workshop to discuss implementation, establish priorities, timelines and provide direction to staff. Mr. Brown indicated the Committee members will receive the report as soon has he can get it to them so they have time to review and the Council will also have the opportunity to meet with Mr. Laurien. It was suggested the Committee elect a vice or co-chair. Sheriffs Precinct • Sgt. Ross provided an update which included: working with the Recreation Center/ Youth Center, participation in the chili cook off, attendance at the Jazz Festival, extra patrol in Cape Canaveral due to the Cocoa Beach Air Show, the Walk to School Day at Cape View Elementary School, and the Health Fair. She explained how the motor unit recognized problems in school zones and has proactively handed out flyers and will give warnings before issuing citations. She shared the philosophy of Community Policing is to work together to solve the problems in the community. She noted she will attend the 2nd meeting of the month to provide an update to the Council and encouraged individuals to contact her with their concerns. Compliments were given to her related to the increased visibility and a presentation at the Kiwanis Club. It was noted all Precinct Officers are now trained in Community Policing. The use of the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance was discussed and she was encouraged to included statistics related to the use of this ordinance in her reporting to show Council whether the Ordinance is working. Public Works Department City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting October 20, 2009 Page 4 of 7 • Platt Loftus, Waste Pro, provided an update on the delivery of the 64 gallon carts p p rY which continues tomorrow. He responded to comments related to the use of the EZ Track System and the desire for a one page report. He noted the excellent communication between the City and the driver for the commercial collection route, to ensure proper billing. Mr. Loftus indicated negotiations continue for the office location on Range Road in Cocoa. He also noted their participation at the Fall Festival. Mr. Loftus complimented the work of the yard waste crews to ensure all debris is being cleaned up. He indicated "Support your Local Police" is stenciled on their trucks and noted workers are told to be aware of any suspicious activities. He offered to schedule a training session with the Sheriff's Precinct to provide more education to his staff. Mr. Loftus referred to his staff as ambassadors of the City and thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve the City. Council Members and a citizen provided positive compliments to Mr. Loftus for their work. Recreation Department • Mr. Lefever noted the positive relationship with Sgt. Ross and the Community Policing Officers and explained how the interaction between the residents and children has improved. He thanked Mr. Loftus and Waste Pro for their sponsorship of the upcoming 2009 Reindeer Run. Mr. Lefever thanked all involved in the chili cook off and the Fall Festival. He reported on the success of the Jazz Festival. Council Member Roberts complimented Mr. Lefever on his hard work. • Ray Osborne reported on the history presentation for Government Week and encouraged Council members and the public to stop by the Library and view the exhibit. BUSINESS & CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD REPORT • Joanne Muncey shared the Board's desire to help businesses get their information available on the Web. She read a memo into the record, which recommended the City Council instruct the City Manager to develop a "one-stop" model by assigning one person to be the point of contact for questions related to establishing businesses in the Community. Mr. Boucher indicated he is working on a plan consistent with the City's Vision for the future, to deploy existing personnel and resources to implement the vision; to keep the community engaged in the process as we move forward and change the corporate culture to embrace the new community vision. • Ms. Muncey noted the next scheduled meeting would have been November 11, 2009, which is a holiday. She stated Kim McIntire is searching for an alternate meeting date. AUDIENCE TO BE HEARD: • John Johansen commented on the City Manager's self-evaluation. He noted several areas where he felt Mr. Boucher could have performed better. He encouraged the Council to open a requisition for a new City Manager and expressed his feelings City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting October 20, 2009 Page 5 of 7 related to employees who are not being utilized to their full potential. He suggested Y 9 p 99 the Council take the evaluation process seriously. Mr. Johansen was asked to share his concerns related to life safety issues at the Farmers Market with the Building Department. Mr. Johansen indicated Mr. Morley has already reviewed and resolved the issues. CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Randels inquired if any Council Member, Staff person, or interested party desired to remove an item from the Consent Agenda for discussion. Motion to Approve: Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2009. 2. Motion to Approve: Outdoor Entertainment Permit for the Monster Mash Halloween Party at Xeriscape Park; Friday, October 30, 2009 and waive any and all fees. 3. Motion to Approve: Proclamation declaring October 24, 2009 as "Take Back the Night" in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. rw Council Member Roberts requested to remove Item #1 from the Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Mr. Petsos and seconded by Ms. Walsh, to approve items two and three. Council Member Roberts noted a discussion with Amy Moody at the Sheriff's Precinct and indicated there have been 89 incidents of domestic violence in the City so far this year. She indicated she will be attending the "Take Back the Night" event in Melbourne and will report back to the Council with any information. The motion carried 5-0 with voting as follows: Mayor Pro Tem Hoog, For; Mr. Petsos, For; Mayor Randels, For; Ms. Roberts, For and Ms. Walsh, For. Item # 1 — The discussion included Council Member Roberts' suggested changes; the City Clerk's objection to some of the proposed changes; how corrections to the minutes will be handled; the need to have audible and clear consensus for the item to be included in the minutes; and the way corrections to the minutes will be made. A motion was made by Ms. Roberts and seconded by Ms. Walsh, to postpone the review of the October 6th minutes until we get Angie's input that we will review in November so that once we make an agreement on the October 6th it would be final. It was decided the Clerk will prepare draft minutes using the summary format, including actions and consensus where audible, and verbatim motions. The Clerk will send them to the Council for review/comments, which will be returned to the Clerk as soon as possible, so she will have time to listen to the audio and verify any necessary items. The Clerk will amend the grammatical, typographical or other verified errors which the AdrkCouncil has noted, and with regard to any items the Clerk may have audio to the contrary or where Council Members comments conflict, she will make notations and the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting October 20, 2009 Page 6 of 7 Council will decide the language for the final minutes. Once the decisions are made by the Council, the written minutes for the meeting in question will be changed prior to signing. The motion carried unanimously with voting as follows: Mayor Pro Tem Hoog, For; Mr. Petsos, For; Mayor Randels, For; Ms. Roberts, For and Ms. Walsh, For. CONSIDERATION: 4. Employee Health Insurance for FY 2009/10: Andrea Bowers and Dean Brombacher, President of Brombacher Insurance, LLC, explained the steps that were taken to receive proposals and the dual options policies that are being proposed, as well as the use of the Health Savings Account. The discussion included: the proposals, the satisfaction among the employees with the Health First system, the changes in the current plan, the impact changes in the prescription drug plan could have on the employees; the difference in the way the Florida League of Cities calculates maximum out of pocket expenses vs. how other companies calculate the maximum expenses; the difference in premiums from the traditional plan and the high deductible plan and the difference would be placed in a Health Savings Account, the increased exposure to the employees who choose the high deductible plan between December 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, and the need to remain in the Health Savings Account for two years. A motion was made by Ms. Roberts that we go with the renewal option along with option 9 to provide a dual option plan and the City contribute $100.00 a month, which is the differential, for those employees who choose it for one year to help them with the transition. The discussion continued and included the desire of Council to have employees share in the cost of their health insurance; the Health First Value Plan; the amount of money that was budgeted for premiums; and using the Health Savings Account as a way to transition to the High Deductible Plan. Mr. Hoog seconded the motion. The discussion continued and included the proposals, the need to encourage a healthy life style, how Mr. Brombacher is paid, the prohibition for employees over the age of 65 to participate in the Health Savings Account, that employees should not get a say in the type of health insurance they are offered, concern over just going with the high deductible health plan because it could be discriminatory to the employees over age 65; and for how next year renewal quotes are to be obtained from all companies. The motion carried unanimously with voting as follows: Mayor Pro Tem Hoog, For; Mr. Petsos, For; Mayor Randels, For; Ms. Roberts, For and Ms. Walsh, For. The discussion turned to the renewal of the Dental Plan. Mr. Brombacher reviewed the options for renewals; the savings to the City of approximately $600.00; the potential savings to the employees and the larger list of participating dentists. A motion was made by Mr. Randels and seconded by Ms. Roberts, to accept the proposal from Delta Dental. Council Member Walsh inquired if the entire premium is paid by the City and an affirmative response was received. She renewed her desire for employees to share the costs of the premium. The motion carried unanimously with voting as follows: Mayor Pro Tem Hoog, For; Mr. Petsos, For; Mayor Randels, For; Ms. Roberts, For and Ms. Walsh, For. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting October 20, 2009 Page 7 of 7 REPORTS: 5. Council Council Member Roberts • Ms. Roberts reminded Council of the requirement for the City Manager's Performance Review discussion to be completed by this Friday, October 23rd ADJOURNMENT: There being -no further business, the Meeting adjourned at 9:56 P.M. Rocky Randels, MAYOR Angel ' M, Apperso C, City Clerk 11