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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-1994 Combined Workshop and Regular MeetingF • CITY COUNCIL COMBINED WORKSHOP AND REGULAR MEETING December 20, 1994 A Combined Workshop and Regular Meeting of the Cape Canaveral City Council was held on December 20, 1994, at the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 P.M. by Mayor Porter. ROLL CALL: Mayor John Porter Present Mayor Pro Tem Rocky Randels Present Councilmember Arthur Berger Absent Councilmember Leo Nicholas Present Councilmember Buzz Petsos Present City Manager Bennett Boucher Absent City Attorney Kohn Bennett Present City Clerk Faith Miller Present ADOPTION OF MINUTES: 1. Regular City Council Meeting of December 6. 1994. Motion by Mr. Nicholas, seconded by Mr. Randels to approve the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of December 6, 1994, as presented. Motion carried with members voting as follows: Mayor Porter, For; Mayor Pro Tem Randels, For; , For; its Councilmember Nicholas, For; Councilmember Petsos, For. dd ��` NEW BUSINESS: 1. Interview of prospective Board members. Mr. Kohn Bennett, City Attorney, directed questions to the following individuals who were interested in appointments to City Boards: Donna Boone, Tony Hernandez, III, and Nancy Young. Mayor Porter directed the City Clerk to prepare two (2) resolutions for the next Council meeting, one to appoint Ms. Boone and Mr. Hernandez as alternate members of the Code Enforcement Board and one to appoint Mrs. Young as an alternate member of the Beautification Board. 2. Resolution No. 94-71, Reappointing a regular member to the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals. Mayor Porter read the title of the Resolution. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA; REAPPOINTING A REGULAR MEMBER TO THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD • OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD BUILDING CODE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. • City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting December 20, 1994 Page 2 Motion by Mr. Randels, seconded by Mr. Petsos to approve Resolution No. 94 -71 for the reappointment of Walter Bowman to the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals with a term to expire on December 15, 1996. Motion carried with members voting as follows: Mayor Porter, For; Mayor Pro Tem Randels, For; For; Councilmember 44441-17111//3/0" �ee Nicholas, For; Councilmember Petsos, For. 3. Discussion & Motion Re: Short list of consultant engineering firms who responded to RFP No. 94 -06,. and scheduling of consultant presentations before City Council. Mayor Porter stated that each Council member had been asked to list five (5) top choices from the 13 firms who submitted proposals for consultant engineering services. He stated that the City Manager, Building Official and the Public Works Director had each submitted their top five (5) choices as well. He suggested that staff's recommendations also be considered when selecting the top five (5) choices. Mayor Porter asked the City Clerk to tabulate Council and staff's top five (5) choices while Council moved on to the next agenda item. 4. Discussion Re: City Goals, Action Plan and Mission Statement. Mayor Porter stated that he hoped to accomplish an agreement among Council for the items included on the City Goals and Action Plan and then hand the Plan to the City staff to determine timelines, whether or not there where expenses associated with implementation of each item, the potential return on any investments, and impacts /benefits of new or enhanced services. He hoped to get an agreement in principal that evening and then turn the Plan over to staff to complete proposed timelines, amount of funds involved, and the return on each investment to enable Council to decide whether or not to carry out a particular program. Mayor Porter suggested reviewing each item included in the Plan. He further explained to the audience that the action items included in the Plan were a compilation of the following: items from each member of Council and the City Manager; items identified during citizen participation process of a special Council meeting held on 3/31/94; suggestions for items for potential grant funding submitted by department heads in early 1994; and communications /City image suggestions submitted by City Clerk. The Plan was divided into seven (7) themes including: 1) City Enhancement & Beautification; 2) Planning /Economic Development/Redevelopment; 3) Public Safety; 4) Infrastructure; 5) Parks & Recreation/Culture; 6) Communications /City Image; and 7) Grant Writing /Volunteer Programs. There was general discussion regarding the potential for burying of utility lines, the large quantity of vacant office buildings within the City, and the possible need for additional code enforcement activities. • Mrs. Martha Seymour presented a petition signed by residents of East Central Blvd. to the City Clerk for distribution to the City Council which requested that the Council do something to improve their neighborhood and to see "all partially constructed projects finished within a timely City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting • December 20, 1994 Page 3 • fashion, absolutely, no later than one year from now. The situation has devalued our property and the City has let this go on for too long." Mrs. Seymour stated that they had approached 19 of their neighbors and of the 19, 17 signed the petition. Mayor Porter stated that Goal No. 1.3 of the Action Plan provided for "code enforcement activities throughout City on a proactive and cooperative basis, rather than reactive" and No. 1.3g which read "consider passage of an ordinance to limit the amount of time buildings can be under construction without substantial progress". Mayor Porter stated that he had received numerous complaints regarding the same situation during his recent election campaign. Council concurred that the buildings needed to be finished. Mayor Porter asked, with Council's permission, for the City Attorney to work with staff to develop an ordinance to require substantial completion of building projects within a certain time frame. He stated that the ordinance was not intended to impact an individual who was building their own primary residence. He also asked that Mrs. Seymour be contacted when the matter was placed on an upcoming Council agenda. Mr. Tom Quinn stated that when some of the permits were originally pulled the SBCCI Code read differently than it presently did and prior Codes may have only allowed building permits to be effective for one (1) year. Mayor Porter stated that the proposed ordinance would need to take into consideration all future building or be adopted on a retroactive basis. He asked that the matter be scheduled as a workshop item for the Council meeting scheduled for January 12, 1995. Mayor Porter stated that the ordinance was not to address any particular properties, but was to used on a City-wide basis. Discussion continued regarding the City Goals and Action Plan beginning with Theme No. 1 City Enhancement and Beautification as follows: 1.1a - 1.1b -c 1.1d - 1.1e - 1.1f - Mayor Porter addressed his concept of "regreening Cape Canaveral" through the use of volunteers and his overall plan for a volunteer coordinator to establish a volunteer database based on input received from residents on volunteer application forms; item to be given to Beautification Board for development for residential areas and Commercial Development Board for commercial areas. No change. Mr. Nicholas stated that he would like to see the City construct a bicycle path along Astronaut Boulevard to continue the bikepaths within the City to tie in with the bicycle path at the Port which would then provide a loop which would run up North Atlantic, around the Port, and back down again. He stated that the City needed to present the bikepath plans to the MPO to obtain their permission and potential funding for the additional bikepaths. Research availability of funds through Brevard County MPO for the enhancement/upgrading of A1A. To be addressed by Beautification Board. Mayor Porter spoke regarding a possible program whereby plants would be planted in residents' yards City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting • December 20, 1994 Page 4 • to be maintained by the residents and the plants would be purchased through the City at a wholesale rate. He stated that the City would be in a leadership role to motivate people to plants trees and bushes in their yards to enhance their property. 1. lg - Council asked that the Public Works Department research and report back on the feasibility of a City nursery. Mr. Nicholas referenced a subscription to a market bulletin he received from the State of Florida which listed used nursery equipment for sale. 1.1h - Mayor Porter suggested that possibly the Port could incorporate landscaping into its interchange project and the entrance to the City and the City could possibly in turn supply reuse water for the project. Council asked that Mayor Porter discuss the idea of reuse water in exchange for heavy planting/landscaping at the next Local Government Cooperative committee meeting. Mr. Nicholas proposed that on the west side of A1A, where the IITF property was located, that the City allocate funds to place a new entrance sign on the subject property. There was general discussion regarding whether or not providing street sweeping services four (4) times per year was adequate. Council asked the Streets Division to address the problem and provide feedback to Council. Mr. Randels suggested scheduling one section of the City Goals and Action Plan for each subsequent Council workshop to allow further discussion and exchange of ideas. Mayor Porter felt that the Council needed to provide direction to staff, the volunteer boards, and the community as a whole in order to move forward quickly while there was momentum. 3. Discussion & Motion Re: Short list of consultant engineering firms who responded to RFP No. 94 -06, and scheduling of consultant presentations before City Council (Continued). Ms. Miller reported the tabulations of the short list of consultant engineering firms as follows: Based on Council & Staff's recommendations: AJT & Associates, Inc. Allen Engineering, Inc. Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt, Inc. Hartman & Associates, Inc. Stottler Stagg & Associates, Inc. • • City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting December 20, 1994 Page 5 Based on Council only recommendations: AJT & Associates, Inc. Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt, Inc. Hartman & Associates, Inc. Pan American Design Services, Inc. Stottler Stagg & Associates, Inc. Mayor Porter stated that he was prepared to proceed with the aggregate total recommendations including staff's input. Mr. Nicholas stated that Pan American was one of his choices and he explained his reasons for same. Motion by Mr. Randels, seconded by Mr. Nicholas to include the following six (6) firms in the short list of engineering firms to be interviewed by Council: AJT & Associates, Inc. Allen Engineering, Inc. Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt, Inc. Hartman & Associates, Inc. Pan American Design Services, Inc. Stottler Stagg & Associates, Inc. Motion carried with members voting as follows: Mayor Porter, For; Mayor Pro Tem Randels, For; Councilmember Berger, For; Councilmember Nicholas, For; Councilmember Randels, For. ettatlj 5. Discussion Re: Quarterly meetings with constituents. Mayor Porter suggested that each Council member try to attend one condo association meeting and report back to Council on whether or not they wished to continue meeting on a regularly scheduled quarterly basis with the condo /homeowners associations throughout the City. He asked that the City Clerk's office begin scheduling Council members' attendance at the subject meetings on the basis of each Council member attending one meeting every three (3) months beginning in January 1995. Council asked that the list contain only associations which actually meet in Cape Canaveral and contain Cape Canaveral residents. Mayor Porter also mentioned that several condo associations were not included on the list and the list would be revised as needed. Mr. Randels stated that he had three (3) meetings scheduled in January with condo associations to explain the sand transfer project which would be beginning in January as well. Mayor Porter Council concurred to schedule a special Council workshop meeting for Saturday, January 14, 1995, at 9:00 a.m. and to allocate 15 minutes for each presentation, 10 minutes for questions of each firm, and 5 minutes in between presentations. r • City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting December 20, 1994 Page 6 stated that he had asked Ms. Miller to provide a written notice to all the affected homeowners along the beachfront due to the heavy equipment involved and the noise and lights 24 hours a day during the extent of the project. 6. Monthly Activity Reports. No comments. 4. Discussion Re: City Goals, Action Plan and Mission Statement. Discussion continued regarding the Action Plan: 1.1j - 1.1k - 1.2a - 1.2b - 1.2c -d No change. There was general discussion regarding the feasibility of burying power lines. Mr. Randels expressed that possibly there was an option available to the City when the reuse lines were run to Cocoa Beach and the trenches were dug that then would be an appropriate time to go ahead and bury the power lines. Mayor Porter stated that FPL had suggested that PVC pipe be laid all along the trench for the reuse lines for future use to bury power lines. He advocated studying the feasibility of laying the PVC pipe as soon as possible. Mr. Nicholas asked that the City Manager send a letter to FPL advising them that the City wished to obtain technical inputs, etc. regarding the feasibility of burying the lines and laying the PVC pipe and ask for a written response. Mayor Porter asked that the City Clerk add the action items as discussed by Council to the City Goals and Action Plan document. He also stated that Council would want to see timelines and return on investments for the action items as well. Gazebos and shelters along beach ends - Council concurred to delete this item. Ongoing project. Mayor Porter asked that City staff put together a request to the TDC's Beach Improvement Committee for funds to extend beach crossovers out to where the new beach will be will the addition of the sand from the sand transfer plant and revegetation of the dunes. Mr. Randels stated that the Port had also obtain federal funds for the renourishment and replanting of the beach dunes as well. • Theme No. 5, Parks & Recreation/Culture: 5.la - Recreation Dept. /Grant writer currently working on this item. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting • December 20, 1994 Page 7 • • 5.1b - 5.1c - 5.1d - 5.1e - 5.1f - 5.1g - 5.1h - 5.1i - Mayor Porter referenced his idea for establishing a volunteer database. No change. Obtain input from Public Works Director regarding the potential for a manatee education/observation area with a riverside boardwalk in the vicinity of the wastewater treatment plant. Mayor Porter spoke in favor of providing programs to address the needs of young adults ages 12 -17. Mrs. Nancy Hanson, Recreation Director, stated that she was looking into the potential- for a drop -in youth center with morning activities for seniors. Mayor Porter stated that the City should look into the purchase of the United Agencies building (Master Plan concept) to be used for either City Hall expansion and /or drop -in youth center, volunteer program/grant writer offices, etc. He stated that federal or private foundation funds may be available for crime prevention and youth programs. Mayor Porter stated that Mr. Nicholas may be interested in researching the Master Plan concept for City facilities. No change. Mayor Porter suggested ways to include Cape Canaveral children in Cocoa Beach programs such as use of their olympic -size swimming pool. There was discussion regarding other partnership possibilities for recreation programs. Item being addressed FRDAP grant. No change. Mayor Porter stated that the City Attorney may not need to remain through the remainder of the meeting during Council's discussion of its goals. Mr. Bennett stated that he felt it was time to start doing workshops with each of the City Boards relative to land planning issues, procedures, etc. He stated that he planned to attend a Board of Adjustment meeting prior to scheduling workshops with the City Boards. Mrs. Marilyn Rigerman stated that she had attended a seminar at BCC whereby participants had watched a video presentation regarding role playing of special exception and variance hearings and she had asked that the City purchase the video. She stated that she had asked the Board of Adjustment secretary, Susan Chapman, to make arrangements to procure the video for the City. Mr. Petsos stated that Mr. Bennett had sent the Planning & Zoning Board the Attorney General's reading of the Snyder and Jennings cases (Brevard County had requested an interpretation from the Attorney General) and he asked that Mr. Bennett interpret the Attorney General's opinion. Mr. Bennett left the meeting at this time. 5. lj -k 5.11 - 5.1m - No change. Change "evaluate the need for a community center /gymnasium" to a heading with items 5.1e-f as sub - headings. Mayor Porter stated that the item also applied to the Communications City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting • December 20, 1994 Page 8 • 5.1n - theme as well. No change. There was general discussion regarding marketing strategies and communications ideas including locator maps and welcome books. Mrs. Hanson stated that Council may wish to include an item relative to researching the potential for a neighborhood community park on the east side of A1A near the north end of the City and Council concurred. Council continued discussion under Theme No. 1, City Enhancement and Beautification: 1.3a -e 1.3f 1.3g - 1.4a -b 1.4c - 1.4d - 1.4e - 1.4f - No changes. Mr. Petsos stated that review of the City's sign ordinance was the next project for the Planning & Zoning Board. Mr. Randels stated that the ordinance was on the books, but was not being enforced. Mayor Porter advocated working together with the business community to promote compliance with the City's sign ordinance and he suggested inviting all individuals with non - complying signs to an evening meeting to discuss ways to bring their signs into compliance. Mr. Nicholas stated that Council needed a definitive list of violations. Mayor Porter expressed that as a group, Council and business owners, could work together to resolve the sign issue. Mr. Nicholas also asked that Code Enforcement go out and take photographs of the signs and provide a written account of the extent of each violation. Mayor Porter supported approaching the business community and explaining why the City was promoting sign compliance as an overall means of cleaning -up and improving the City's appearance. This item was discussed earlier in the meeting. No changes. Architectural Review Board Ad Hoc Committee to recommend to Council the formation of an Architectural Review Board. The Architectural Review Board in conjunction with the Beautification Board and the Commercial Development Board would work together to develop a City theme. No change. Separate this item into two (2) separate items - "Research annexation possibilities for Avon -by- the -Sea area" and "Aggressively seek County /City partnership for clean-up of Avon -by- the -Sea area". Delete item. 1111 Theme No. 2, Planning /Economic Development/Redevelopment: 2.1a -c No changes. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting • December 20, 1994 Page 9 • • 2.1d - 2.1e - 2.1f - 2.1g - 2.1h - 2.2a - 2.2b - 2.2c - 2.2d -f Mr. Nicholas agreed to research whether or not the owner of the United Agencies facilities was even interested in selling his property. Address this item through the Comprehensive Plan update process through the Local Planning Agency. No changes. Delete item. No changes. Address through Commercial Development Board and Communications theme. Commercial Development Board. Commercial Development Board. Mayor Porter spoke briefly regarding the use of interns, volunteers as business liaisons to visit and provide information packets to area businesses, and the Small Business and Industry Council for an incubation center to serve as a resource center to small businesses. No changes. Mayor Porter suggested that Council may want to assign areas of interest based on the themes included in the City Goals and Action Plan. Theme No. 3. Public Safety: 3. la -b 3.1c - 3.1d -e 3.1f - 3.1g - 3. lh -i 3.1j - 3.1k -o No changes. Mayor Porter explained that this item was meant to address more police visibility through the use of bicycle /walking patrols. No changes. Community policing programs through the use of citizen volunteers. Council advocated more proactive, higher visibility of police through the use of bicycle and walking patrols. Mayor Porter stated that Councilmember Petsos appeared to be very interested in the public safety concerns and he may want this area to be his area of interest. No changes. Mr. Petsos stated that if citizens called the after hours police number it was not answered. He stated that the outside phone by the Sheriff's department and signs along the beach ends listed the after hours phone number to call for a non - emergency. He felt that the calls needed to be forwarded to the central dispatch number or answered through some other type of system. Mayor Porter stated that the deputies could possibly use cellular phones to handle non - emergency calls. No changes. Council concurred to address Council members' areas of interest at the next Council workshop r City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting • December 20, 1994 Page 10 • • meeting scheduled for January 12, 1995. Theme No. 4, Infrastructure: 4.1a -d No changes. 4.1e -g Mr. Randels would like to see the City's budgeting process include appropriated amounts in each years' budget to fund future capital purchases. Mayor Porter suggested looking at long -term capital purchases when placing funds into reserves and earmark the funds for specific future purchases. Mr. Nicholas stated that the City could take any surplus funds, carry the funds forward and allocate the funds for specific future purchases. Mr. Randels suggested that funds be allocated from the current year's budget to also fund future purchases. Mayor Porter asked that these items be addressed during the upcoming budget process for the FY 95/96 budget. There was general discussion regarding allowing City departments to carry over excess funds if the department were able to come in below budget to fund capital purchases for the following year. Discussion continued regarding ways to encourage departments to save funds. 4.1h -k No changes. 4.2a -f No changes. Theme No. 6, Communications /City Image and Theme No. 7, Grant Writing /Volunteer Programs: Mayor Porter stated that most of the items included in these themes would not cost money, but if there was an expenditure that was not in line with the budget then it would be presented to Council as a whole. He felt that the City needed an overall Communications Plan which could be prepared by the City Clerk's office. Mayor Porter asked if Council members had any concerns /problems with any of the items included in the last two themes and none were noted. Mayor Porter stated that he would like to be the first contact person for media questions or information and if a particular subject was under another Council member's area of interest that the specific Council member be the point of contact for any media related items on that subject. DISCUSSION: 1. Ms. Miller advised that Bid No. 94 -07, Tower Boulevard Paving and Drainage had been opened that day and three (3) responses were received. Staff would review same and the matter would be scheduled for January 3rd's combined Council meeting. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Combined Workshop & Regular Council Meeting December 20, 1994 Page 11 2. Ms. Miller stated that the wastewater treatment plant was supposed to have been bilthat, week, but as part of the State Revolving Loan agreement it was required that the City submit the bid specifications to FDEP for approval prior to advertising the bid. The bid would probably not be advertised until later in January, 1995. 3. Ms. Miller mentioned that the following statement "This meeting may include the attendance of one (1) or more members of the Cape Canaveral City Council who may or may not participate in Board discussions held at this public meeting" would be added to all City Board meeting agendas which was recommended by an Attorney General's opinion (AGO 91- 95). 4. Mrs. Rigerman stated that Council was well aware from the election results that the referendum on nepotism had overwhelmingly passed and she was glad to be back as an alternate member of the Board of Adjustment. 5. Mr. Petsos stated that the sand bypass project would be operating on a 24 -hour a day basis and he felt that something should be put in the local newspapers regarding the project. Mayor Porter stated that he had given the matter to Ms. Miller earlier that day and Mr. Randels would be attending various condo association meetings to provide information relative to the project as well. 6. Mr. Petsos stated that he would be sending Council a copy of House Bill No. 5 entitled "Citizens Access to Public Officials" and he suggested that the City prepare a resolution to support this legislation. Council asked that this item be included on the next meeting agenda. 7. Mr. Nicholas mentioned that some of the nameplates for Board members were of a smaller typeset and size and he asked that the nameplates be replaced to provide consistency in size, etc. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:58 P.M. Approved this 3rd day of January , 1994. AT I EST: Faith Q.eck 3L.,J.32; 2 c2 Rocky Randels, MAYOR PRO TEM