City Commission Meeting Summary - March 26, 2008
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action:
Mayor Marks recognized and welcomed students from a Florida A & M University Political Science class.
Item 1 - Mayor Marks presented a proclamation proclaiming the month of March to be Women's History Month in the City of Tallahassee, and County Commissioner Desloge, representing the Board of Leon County Commissioners, presented a similar proclamation. Ms. Shonda Knight, Anchor/Reporter for WCTC, introduced each of the following former and current City and County female Commissioners, who were recognized and honored with a reception:
- City Commissioners
- Joan Heggen (served 1972-1974)
- Carol Bellamy (in memoriam; served 1980-1986), represented by Dr. Ray Bellamy
- Betty Harley Barry (served 1985-1989)
- Dorothy Inman Johnson (served 1986-1994)
- Penny Herman (served 1992-1996)
- Commissioner Debbie Lightsey (served 1989-present
- County Commissioners
- Gayle Nelson (served 1978-1992)
- Marjorie Turnbull (served 1988-1994)
- Anita Davis (served 1990-1996)
- Carol Kio Green (served 1992-1996)
- Commissioner Jane Sauls (served 1996-present)
Item 2 - Voted 5-0 to formally accept for retention as a public record the "FY2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)" and the "Financial and Compliance Audit of Federally Assisted Programs", reporting on the annual financial audit of the records and accounts of the City of Tallahassee for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 (brought forward by the City Auditor/Department of Management and Administration)
Ms. Kathleen Brothers, Chairperson of the Audit Committee, appeared before the Commission and reported that the City's Audit Committee had given its unqualified acceptance of this report, noting that a few items for improvement had been reviewed with staff. She commended DMA Director Raoul Lavin and Manager of Accounting Services Rick Feldman, and their staff.
The Commission thanked members of the Audit Committee and the staff for their contribution to this report.
City Manager Thompson announced that Raoul Lavin's official appointment as Director of DMA was effective April 1, 2008.
Items 4-9 and 12-14 - Voted 5-0 to approve the staff's recommendations presented in Consent Agenda Items 4-9 and 12-14, taking the following action:
Item 3 - PULLED FROM CONSENT the proposed adoption of Condemnation Resolution No. 08-R-12, to acquire parcels needed to construct the Raymond Diehl P.A.S.S. Project -- SEE BELOW
Item 4 - Accepted the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency's (CRA) FY 2007 Annual Report (Option 1 as recommended by Economic Development)
Item 5 - Approved the award of rental of trailer-mounted demineralizer units needed for the Hopkins Unit 2 Repowering Project from Siemens, in an amount not to exceed $120,000, and authorized staff to enter into a contract with Siemens for an initial one-year term, with an automatic one-year renewal containing a 30-day termination notice provision (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 6 - Authorized the City Manager to accept a State Farm Insurance Community cash grant, in the amount of $1,173.67, for the City's Fire Prevention Program (Option 1 as recommended by the Tallahassee Fire Department [TFD])
Item 7 - Authorized the City Manager to accept the transfer of the following equipment from the Leon County Sheriff's Office, purchased from funding provided by the State Homeland Security Grant Program, to the City of Tallahassee Fire Department for utilization by the Urban Search and Rescue Team (Option 1 as recommended by TFD):
A Western Shelter portable HVAC system for use in a sheltering tent during team deployments (valued at $5,000)
A 16-foot Pace utility trailer for the transportation of equipment during deployment (valued at $7,500)
Item 8 - Approved the purchase of one 4-way Oracle Internet license, one 8-way Oracle Internet license, and 500 named user licenses from the Oracle Corporation in an amount not to exceed $495,816, which includes the first year's support for the product, upgrading the City's applications and database (Option 1 as recommended by Information Systems)
Item 9 - Approved the appropriation of $1,110,000 for intersection improvements at Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way, -- a requirement of the FAMU Campus Development Agreement (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Traffic Engineering)
Item 10 - DELETED FROM THE AGENDA a request to approve the award of a construction contract for the Bond Community Neighborhood Infrastructure Enhancement Project (NIEP), Phases II and III (Bid #0059-08-ER-BC) (an item brought forward by Public Works/Project Management) - RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9, 2008
Item 11 - DELETED FROM THE AGENDA a request to approve a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the purchase and operation of a Vehicle Training Simulator (a StarMetro Renaissance project), and authorizing Resolution No. 08-R-11 (an item brought forward by StarMetro) - RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9, 2008
Item 12 - Approved a request to apply for, execute, and expend funding in the amount of $2,402,351 from a 2008 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 grant to support public transit (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Item 13 - Authorized the City Treasurer-Clerk to approve a negotiated contract for armored courier services with Loomis Fargo, the current provider, for a three-year period begin April 1, 2008, and authorized staff to extend the contract for up to three additional years on a year-by-year basis (Option 1 as recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk/Liability Management)
Item 14 - Approved the minutes of the following City Commission meetings as distributed (as recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk/Records Management):
- January 15, 2008 - Joint City-County Commission Workshop on USA/Urban Fringe Boundaries
- February 13, 2008 - Regular Meeting
- February 27, 2008 - Special Budget Meeting
- February 27, 2008 - Regular Meeting
Item 3 (pulled from Consent) - By consensus, deferred a request to adopt Resolution No. 08-R-12, which would authorize the use of condemnation proceedings to initiate an eminent domain lawsuit to acquire parcels needed to construct the Raymond Diehl P.A.S.S. Project, and directed staff to bring back a complete report on the Raymond Diehl PASS Project to include a review of the overall cost, the neighborhood's position and the Commission's last directive, some prioritization and status of the project (brought forward by the City Attorney)
Item 15 - Discussed the Neighborhood Infrastructure Enhancement Program (NIEP) allocation strategy and voted 5-0 to approve proceeding with a hybrid NIEP allocation, consisting of the following (brought forward by Public Works/Project Management):
| NIEP Allocation Strategy | Amount |
|---|---|
| Balance Available | $42.9M |
| Retired Funds | -5.0M |
| Reserved Funds | -2.5M |
| Balance Available | $35.4M |
| Site #9 Richmond StreetSite #26 Jackson Bluff RoadSite #44 Joe Louis Street | -0.4M |
| -4.0M | |
| -1.8M | |
| Providence (less Iamonia) | -10.7M |
| Lonnbladh Road (w/o bike lanes) | -5.1M |
| Balance Available for future allocation | $13.4M |
A prior motion failed on a vote of 1-4 (Commissioners Marks, Lightsey, Mustian and Gillum opposed), which would have set the retired funds amount at $5 M without the additional reserved fund of $2.5 M.
Item 16 - Voted 5-0 to approve the sale of Floridan Block properties to McKibbon Hotel Group and the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), including Options 1, 2, 3 and 4, as follows (brought forward by Economic Development):
- Option 1 - Approve the sale of the .83 acre Parcel B of the Floridan Block to McKibbon Hotel Group for $1,696,552
- Option 2 - Approve the execution of an Option Agreement for the sale of the .63 acre Parcel A of the Floridan Block for $1,303,448
- Option 3 - Approve the sale of the .98 acre Parcel C of the Floridan Block to the CRA for $2,100,000
- Option 4 - Direct staff to develop a funding agreement with the CRA that will provide for the funding for the construction of a parking garage
Item 17 - Voted 5-0 to approve a contract for the design of Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) improvements at the Lake Bradford Road (LBR) Plant with Carollo Engineers, for a total fee of not to exceed $3.43 million, and authorize the City Manager or designee to approve any contract amendments not to exceed 12% of the contract value, facilitating the timely completion of the LBR AWT design to meet the compliance schedule in the wastewater facility permit (Option 1 as recommended by Water Utility)
Item 18 - Received an update on the Capital Circle Office Complex (CCOC) negotiations (brought forward by the City Manager)
Recognized the attendance of Mr. Tom Berger, of the Florida Department of Management Services, and thanked him for his help on this issue.
Item 19 - Held a public hearing and voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-18, annexing into the City approximately 14 acres located on Capital Circle Southwest, adjacent on the west to the Airport Industrial Park, petitioned by Jack Green, of Linderand, planned for a mixed use development with office/commercial and residential units (Option 1 as recommended by the Mayor's Office/City Manager)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 20 - Held a public hearing and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution 08-R-02, converting a portion of Gaines Street and Bloxham Street from vehicular use to pedestrian use (for Cascades Park). The staff's recommendation was to adopt the resolution based on the findings of the Planning Commission (Option 1 as recommended by Planning).
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 21 - Held a public hearing on Ordinances Nos. 08-O-08, 08-O-09AA and 08-O-10, introduced on March 12, 2008, reflecting natural gas, water and sewer system rate increases, with Ordinance No. 08-O-09AA amended to clarify the manner in which the water rates apply to customers; voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-08; voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-09AA; voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-10; and requested more information on the portion going to increase transfers to the General Fund (Options 1, 2 and 3 recommended by Utility Business & Customer Services):
- Option 1: Adopted Ordinance No. 08-O-10, increasing base sewer revenues by 15% effective April 1, 2008; 14% effective January 1, 2009; and 14% effective April 1, 2010
- Option 2: Adopted Ordinance No. 08-O-09AA, creating a conservation rate structure for residential and irrigation customers, and a reuse water rate; increasing base water revenues by 12.9% effective January 1, 2009; and by an additional 11% effective October 1, 2010
- Option 3: Adopted Ordinance No. 08-O-08, increasing natural gas revenues by 4.1% effective April 1, 2008; by 2.2% effective October 1, 2009; and by the change in CPI each October thereafter
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 22 - Held the second and final public hearing on Ordinance No. 08-O-11, introduced on February 13, 2008, the first public hearing was held on February 27, 2008; voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance, amending the DI Institutional/Cultural/University Transition areas District, designating additional properties subject to design review by the Urban Design Commission (UDC) and establishing UDC procedures in the Land Development Code (Option 1 as recommended by Planning)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 23 - Held the first of two public hearings on Ordinance No. 08-Z-17, introduced on March 12, 2008, which would rezone properties presented as part of the Residential Preservation 1 Map Series from R-1 Single-Family Detached Residential, R-2 Single-Family Detached Residential, R-3 Single and Two-Family Residential, and C-1 Neighborhood Commercial to Residential Preservation 1, implementing Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment 2006-2-M-010. Announced the second public hearing on this ordinance, set for April 23, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the Mayor's Office/City Manager).
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 24 - Held a public hearing on Ordinance No. 08-O-25, introduced on March 12, 2008, and sponsored by Commissioner Lightsey; voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance, clarifying that right-of-way abandonments and closures of roads are legislative decisions by removing them from the portion of the rezoning process that authorizes quasi-judicial proceedings (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney)
There were no speakers on this item.
Unagendaed Speaker:
Mr. Michael Price, 501 Blairstone Road, Apt. 4104, appeared before the Commission and objected to the public towing policies at apartment complexes with inadequate visitor parking.
Mayor Marks suggested that Mr. Price discuss the City's Towing Ordinance with the City Attorney.
Commissioner Gillum clarified with City Attorney English that private lots had the right to contract with a tow truck company to remove vehicles that were not permitted, and he recommended that Mr. Price discuss the matter with the management of the apartment complexes, particularly those that did not provide adequate visitor parking. He suggested that the City's permitting process for new apartment complexes be reviewed to ensure that adequate visitor parking was provided.
City Commission Information and Sharing of Ideas:
Mayor Marks congratulated the Tallahassee Regional Airport administration on receiving approximately $408,000 as the first year installment of a total over five years of $2.4 million from the Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Commissioner Gillum requested a staff report on the timeline around converting Gaines Street from a state road to a City road and collecting on some of the state funds associated with that, as well as the timeline and some options for replacing the two lanes that were being removed from Gaines Street.
Commissioner Lightsey requested a report on when some of the Gaines Street projects, such as the ArtSpace Project and a mixed use project near the Marriott Hotel, would be brought to the Commission as well as the demolition schedule for anything coming down in that area.
City Manager Thompson advised that the ArtSpace Project was scheduled for the Commission Agenda of April 9, 2008.
Commissioner Katz advised that the CHSP Joint Planning Board had met and he anticipated that a proposal would be brought to the Commission for a needs assessment with financial participation by Leon County, Florida State University and the United Way. He opined that this information would help with the allocation of social service spending, noting that there had been no reassessment of the priority percentages of spending for social services in this community for 10 years.
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