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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-1993 Workshop• • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING APRIL 29, 1993 A Workshop Meeting of the Cape Canaveral City Council was held on April 29, 1993, at the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Mayor Salamone. ROLL CALL: Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember City Manager City Attorney Deputy City Clerk (Acting) BUSINESS: Joy Salamone John Porter Robert Abbott Joan Calvert Rocky Randels Bennett Boucher John Kancilia Sharon Hoover Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present 1. Discussion Re: Letter received from Helen Meyers dated April 20, 1993, regarding Councilman Abbott. Mayor Salamone read a letter from Helen Meyers in which Mrs. Meyers requested a cost accounting of the information received from the City by Mr. Abbott and if he planned to use the information to benefit the citizens of Cape Canaveral. Mayor Salamone presented information from the City Manager that reflected a total cost of $6,787.00 for the information supplied to Mr. Abbott. Mayor Salamone asked Mr. Abbott to respond to the questions regarding how the information would benefit citizens. Mr. Abbott asked Mrs. Myers if she was Helen Mae Myers or Helen Ward Myers. Mrs. Myers replied that she used both names, most recently changing her name to use her family name. Mr. Abbott produced two documents, one of which was Mr. John Porter's campaign report, and asked Mrs. Myers if she had signed such. Mrs. Meyers noted that she had signed the documents. Mr. Abbott stated that based on rulings by the Ethics Commission, he would not answer questions pertaining to his law suit against the City. Regarding the question about the records being researched, Mr. Abbott stated that the time frame would be approximately five years and not the ten to twelve years stated in Mrs. Myers' letter. Mayor Salamone asked Mr. Abbott to respond to the question regarding his plan being of benefit to the City. Mr. Abbott replied that it would benefit the City, but he would not discuss the plan at this time because he did not have all the answers he required. 2. Discussion Re: Councilman Abbott's letter dated April 22, 1993, regarding City Council Meeting of April 20, 1993. Mayor Salamone read the letter from Mr. Abbott concerning the method of conducting City Council meetings, accusations regarding his character and statements concerning the nepotism issue. Mayor Salamone played the portion of the tape referred to in Mr. Abbott's letter and asked him to point out any comments regarding nepotism. Mr. Abbott replied that he believed the issue of nepotism was clearly heard on the tape. Mayor Salamone stated that nepotism was not mentioned on the tape and would like the record to reflect that Mr. Abbott was given the opportunity to play the portion of the tape he felt discussed nepotism and that he refused to do so. Mr. Abbott disagreed that the subject of nepotism was not discussed. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Workshop Meeting April 29, 1993 Page 2 Mrs. Calvert asked Mr. Abbott where he had heard a tape of the meeting. Mr. Abbott would not comment. Mrs. Calvert questioned if Mr. Abbott was listening to the same tape that was being played. Mr. Abbott replied that the tape he had heard was the same tape that had been played at the meeting. Mrs. Calvert asked how many copies of the tape had been requested from the City Clerk's office. Sharon Hoover replied that a portion of the tape had been obtained by Mr. John Porter and a full copy of the tape had been obtained by Mr. George Hutchinson. Mr. Porter read a letter directed to Mr. Abbott concerning Mr. Abbott's letter of April 22 and Mr. Porter's opinion of Mr. Abbott's actions since becoming a member of the Council. Mr. Abbott stated that for the record he disagreed with the letter in its entirety. Mrs. Calvert asked permission to ask all Council members a series of questions relating to accusations and phone calls. Mrs. Calvert asked Council if they had stated to anyone or had any reason to believe that business people in Cape Canaveral were involved in laundering drug money. Councilmembers answered as follows: Mr. Abbott, no response; Mr. Porter, no; Mayor Salamone, no; Mr. Randels, no. Mr. Abbott declared a point of order. He asked Mr. Kancilia if the document Mrs. Calvert was reading would be public record. Mr. Kancilia replied that it would not. Mrs. Calvert asked Councilmembers if they had ever implied or if they believed any Councilmember was aware of drug money being laundered in Cape Canaveral. Councilmembers answered as follows: Mr. Abbott, no comment; Mr. Porter, no; Mayor Salamone, no; Mr. Randels, no. Mrs. Calvert asked whether or not during the last six months anyone had requested the FBI to do a check or to investigate anyone. Councilmembers answered as follows: Mr. Abbott, no response; Mr. Porter, no; Mayor Salamone, no; Mr. Randels, no. Mrs. Calvert asked that if any Councilmember had knowledge of criminal activity in Cape Canaveral would they turn it over to the proper authorities and sign a complaint. Councilmembers answered as follows: Mr. Abbott, I would do my civic duty, yes; Mr. Porter, yes; Mayor Salamone, yes; Mr. Randels, yes. Mrs. Calvert asked if any Councilmember had ever signed such a complaint. Councilmembers replied as follows: Mr. Abbott, no; Mr. Porter, no; Mayor Salamone, no; Rocky Randels, no. Mr. Abbott stated that he would like the record to reflect that he considered Mrs. Calvert's questions outrageous. Mrs. Calvert replied that when rumors were reported by citizens she felt it was Councilmembers duty' to address those issues. 3. Discussion Re: Council's Records Policy. Mr. Kancilia read his letter of April 22, 1993, explaining the City's policy with respect to city records and information. He explained that his intent was to ensure that all Councilmembers understood the policy and asked if there were questions concerning same. Mr. Boucher stated that all staff members had received a copy of the letter advising the policy on obtaining information. • • City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Regular Meeting April 29, 1993 Page 3 The meeting reconvened after a ten minute break. Mayor Salamone requested that the order of the Agenda be revised due to the length of the presentation for Business item No. 4. 6. Presentation of Beautification Board's Spring Beautification Awards (May 4, 1993). Agenda this item for Tuesday. 7. Discussion Re: Ordinance No. 04 -93, Amending City's Code of Ordinances by Repealing Chapter 723, entitled "Special Occupational; Permits" and Renaming Chapter 723 as "Solicitors, Peddlers and Itinerant Merchants ". Mr. Boucher stated that the Ordinance had been revised to state that the City Manager would process the permit and final approval would have to be obtained from the City Council. Mayor Salamone requested that the Ordinance state that the badge would require a photograph. A discussion was held regarding the fees for the permits. Mr. Randels asked if the City would be responsible for the actions of the solicitors or the products they sold. Mr. Kancilia replied that the City would be authorizing the merchant to engage in business and would not be guaranteeing their product. Agenda this item for Tuesday. 8. Discussion Re: Ordinance No. 09 -93, Amending City's Code of Ordinances by Repealing and Reenacting Chapter 205, Purchasing. Mr. Kancilia explained that as a part of the City's recodification process, information that was not required to be a part of the City Charter would be removed from the Charter. Purchasing procedures would be included in Chapter 205. Mr. Kancilia reviewed the changes that had been made to the purchasing policy. Mayor Salamone advised that she would like to have the City Bidder's List procedures completed before adoption of the Ordinance. Agenda this item for Tuesday. 9. Discussion Re: Resolution No. 93 -08, Establishing a New Schedule of Sewer Impact Assessment Fees. Mr. Boucher advised that this resolution was to incorporate the annual cost of living upgrade. Agenda this item for Tuesday. 10. Discussion Re: Salary survey results and recommendations. Mr. Boucher advised that the salary survey had been conducted through the Florida League of Cities, using a comparison of communities with approximately the same population of Cape Canaveral. Mr. Randels asked what provisions would be made for those employees who would be above their proposed salary range. Ms. Haggerty explained that those employees would not be eligible for an hourly increase in rate but perhaps would be eligible for a lump sum or bonus in lieu of an hourly increase. Mr. Boucher emphasized that no employee would receive an increase or decrease in pay as a result of the proposed changes. Agenda this item for Tuesday. 11. Discussion Re: Proposed Five -Cent Gas Tax. Mr. Boucher stated that the Brevard County Traffic Engineering Department advised that new legislation by the State enabled the County to impose a five cent gas tax effective July 1, 1993. The County polling all Cities in the County for a consensus on the increased tax. • • City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Workshop Meeting April 29, 1993 Page 4 Mr. Leo Nicholas requested clarification on whether the City would receive a portion of tax collected on the five cent increase or only on the fifth cent collected. Council requested that Mr. Boucher research the figures and report back to Council. Mayor Salamone stated that she would not support an additional tax at this time. 4. Discussion Re: Hartman & Associates, Inc. regardinq Preliminary Design Report for Wastewater /Wetlands Project. Mr. Hal Schmidt, Hartman & Associates, Inc., presented Council with four (4) options regarding preliminary project cost estimates for the wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Schmidt discussed the Ultraviolet Radiation method of treating wastewater which had not yet been implemented in the State of Florida. He reported that it is a very cost effective method for treatment and since no chemical would be added it would essentially eliminate the eventuality of violating future regulations. Council felt that it would be essential to get the Florida Department of Environment Regulation's determination on the UV process before a decision would be made regarding such. Mr. Schmidt discussed the lime stabilization method of sludge processing which would result in a product that could be used on some farmlands but not on private lawns. He reported that also under study was the method of using heat during the lime stabilization which would produce Class A sludge. Mr. Schmidt stated that it would be necessary to find a market for the product and that storage and disposal could become a problem. Mr. Arabian suggested that samples of the Class A sludge be obtained and local homeowners could try it on their lawns and report the success of the product. Mayor Salamone requested anyone interested in participating in this experiment and receiving samples of the sludge advise the City Clerk. Mr. Abbott excused himself from the meeting at this time. After a fifteen minute break, the meeting reconvened. Mr. Schmidt discussed the construction of an operations building which would contain the laboratory, operator room, meter room, lunch /training room and offices and would cost approximately $300,000. Mrs. Calvert asked if the construction of the building was absolutely essential. Mr. Schmidt replied that it was not. He felt that the lab should be upgraded and this could possibly be done without the construction of a new building. Council requested that Mr. Schmidt tour the lab and determine exactly what needed to be done to accomplish the upgrade. Mr. Randels recapped the decision that would have to be made including whether to treat wastewater with chemicals or with ultraviolet, and secondly, what grade of sludge treatment should be produced. 5. Discussion Re: Engineer's Report for Sewer System Revenue Bonds. Agenda this item for Tuesday. C City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Workshop Meeting April 29, 1993 Page 5 DISCUSSION: Mr. Kancilia spoke to Council regarding Mr. Milliken's lawsuit against the City. He advised that since the insurance company had not been informed when the lawsuit was declared that they would not be responsible for any damages which might result from the case. Council stated that it would be important to uphold the Ordinance and instructed Mr. Kancilia to proceed with the lawsuit. Dr. Charles Pindziak asked Councilmembers if they had heard statements regarding his being involved in drug operations or the laundering of drug money and who they had heard such from. Mrs. Calvert advised that she had heard the statements, but would not be allowed to divulge the name of the person who had made the statement. Dr. Pindziak asked Mayor Salamone if she had heard any statements regarding Mr. Abbott having said that Dr. Pindziak had bodies buried under the slabs of some of his buildings. Mayor Salamone stated that the statement was made to her but she also could not reveal the source. Dr. Pindziak repeated the questions to Mr. Porter and Mr. Randels. Mr. Porter stated that he had heard the statements and that he would reveal the source if permission could be obtained from the person who had heard the statements. Mr. Randels replied that he had heard no such statements. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10: 20 P.M. Sharon A. Hoo er `'� Deputy City:Clerk (Acting) 4