City Commission Meeting Summary - June 18, 2008
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action (with Commissioner Katz absent):
Recognized and commended City Auditor Sam McCall on receiving the highest award of the Association of Government Accountants, the Robert W. King Memorial Award for Distinguished Service as a member of the Association
Item 1 - Received the presentation of 2008 Tallahassee Leon Historic Preservation Awards recognizing the rehabilitation of the Old City Waterworks Building and the Los Robles Gate, presented by Mr. Mike Wing, Executive Director of the Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, and Ms. Ann Bidlingmaier, President of the Florida Heritage Foundation; and the 2008 Annual Statewide Preservation Award for Meritorious Achievement recognizing the Old City Waterworks Building, presented by Mr. Mark Tarmey, Board President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
Also appearing before the Commission relative to this item were Mr. Randy Lewis, the architect, and Ms. Debra Jean Bass, the contractor, for the Waterworks project; Mr. James Rogers, the contractor, for the Los Robles Gate project; Mr. David Ferro, historical consultant for both projects; Ms. Alissa Slade, Grant Coordinator for the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources; representatives of the Los Robles Neighborhood Association; and members of City staff who were responsible for the management, design and implementation of these projects, including Michael Parker, Gabe Menendez, Tim Lefstead, David Elsperman, Rick McCraw, Tony Murray, Jane Clark and Eve Williams.
Mayor Marks recognized and thanked the staff and consultants involved with the projects; and, on behalf of the City, accepted the awards with appreciation.
Item 2 - Received the presentation of an award, presented by United Way Director Ken Armstrong, to the City Commission in recognition of the City of Tallahassee's 2008 support of the United Way (brought forward by the Office of the Mayor)
Item 3 - Mayor Marks presented a proclamation recognizing and expressing appreciation to the volunteers participating in the Neighborhood Scout Program in partnership with the Code Enforcement Division of the Department of Economic and Community Development
Items 4-5 and 7-19 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to approve the staff's recommendations presented in Consent Agenda Items 4-5 and 7-19, taking the following action:
Item 4 - Adopted Resolution No. 08-R-16, approving execution of a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for FDOT Project #40586519401, and approved amendment of City Airport Entrance/Access Road Improvements Project #0100171 to add $30,000 of FDOT funds and the City's match of $30,000 from Airport RR&I funds (Option 1 as recommended by Aviation)
Item 5 - Authorized staff to negotiate and execute a second amendment to the Airport T-Hangar Agreement with Flightline Development Corporation to complete Phase II T-hangar build-out and provide $600,000 of FDOT matching funds, subject to FDOT's approval of the Amendment - allowing Flightline and the Airport to fulfill Phase II obligations under the Agreement to meet the demand for additional T-hangars (Option 1 as recommended by Aviation)
Item 6 - PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR DISCUSSION was a recommendation on the management and operation of parking services at the Airport (brought forward by Aviation) - SEE BELOW
Item 7 - Approved the award of a four-year term contract for Testing, Maintenance and Design/Build Fire Suppression Systems (sprinkler systems) for the City Electric Utility's power plants (IFB #0122-08-RM-TC) to Simplex Grinnell, low bidder meeting specifications, for an estimated cost of $160,000 over the four years of the contract (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 8 - Approved the award of a four-year term contract for Contract Labor Maintenance Services for the City's electric generating stations (IFB #0112-08-RM-TC) to BIS Frucon Industrial Services, Inc., low bidder meeting specifications, and authorized staff to enter into a contract for a period of four years from the date of contract execution, for an estimated cost of $1,250,000 over the four years (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 9 - Approved the award of a three-year term contract for Inspection and Maintenance of Overhead Cranes utilized on various equipment at the City's power plants (IFB #0109-08-RM-TC) to National Crane Services, Inc., low bidder meeting specifications, and authorized staff to enter into a contract for a period of three years from the date of contract execution, for an estimated cost of $300,000 over the three years (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 10 - Approved the award of a three-year term contract for Insulation Contractor Services at the electric generating stations (IFB #0110-08-RM-TC) to Unitherm, Inc. and Capital Insulation, Inc., and authorized staff to enter into a contract with both companies for a period of three years from the date of contract execution, for an estimated cost of $300,000 over the three years (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 11 - Ratified the City Manager's emergency authorization to process a change order, in the amount of $30,000, to Purchase Order #0001027730 with Technical Diagnostic Services, to cover additional Instrument and Controls Technical Field Support needed for the commissioning and start-up activities of the Hopkins Unit 2 Repowering Project, for a revised total purchase order amount of $78,000 (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 12 - Approved Task Order #07-152-1 to Ampirical Solutions for engineering services for the proposed 230 kV transmission line from Line #31 to Substation BP5, in an amount not to exceed $275,000 (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 13 - Approved the recommended ranking of the Selection Committee and authorized staff to negotiate contracts for consulting engineering/architecture services with all three of the vendors -- Mactec, TLC Engineering, and Med-HVAC, Inc. -- to support the City's Commercial Energy Efficiency Programs for the duration of the five-year Demand-Side Management (DSM) Plan (through FY2012), with options for two one-year extensions, at an estimated cost of $400,000 over the contract terms through FY2012 (Option 1 as recommended by Energy Services)
Item 14 - Approved the award of a contract for the completion of Direct Digital Control (DDC) conversion on the first floor of City Hall to Honeywell International, Inc., sole-source provider, in the amount of $84,757; authorized the transfer of $54,757 from Building Services Project #08028 to Honeywell Project #03005 (Option 1 as recommended by the Assistant to the City Manager)
Item 15 - Approved the award of a construction contract for the Traffic Signal Upgrade for Hi Lo Way/Mahan Drive Project (Bid #0125-08-ER-BC) to Ingram Signalization, Inc. sole bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $125,000 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Engineering)
Item 16 - Approved the Piney Z Phase 12 subdivision plat, located on 6.69 acres, subdivided into 20 lots, bounded on the north by Piney Village Loop, on the south by Conner Boulevard and Heritage Park Boulevard, on the east by Piney Z Phase 1, and on the west by Piney Z Phase 7-B, planned for development as single-family residential by Piney-Z Land Company, LLC, with Gary Zins as a Managing Member (as recommended by Public Works/Engineering)
Item 17 - Approved the award of contract for the supply of traffic signal poles to Graybar Electric Supply Inc. of Pensacola, low bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $87,405 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works)
Item 17.1 - PULLED FROM CONSENT an item relating to a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to upgrade the State's traffic signals within the City limits (brought forward by Public Works/Traffic Engineering) - MOVED TO POLICY FORMATION AND DIRECTION
Item 18 - Approved the 2009 Transit Development Plan Minor Update, which allows the City's transit system to continue providing service and offsets the use of City funds (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Item 19 - Approved the minutes of the April 23, 2008, Regular City Commission Meeting, as distributed (as recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk/Records Management)
Item 6 (pulled from Consent) - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to approve the Selection Committee ranking and authorized staff to negotiate and enter into an agreement with Republic Parking, the number one ranked parking firm, for the management and operation of parking services at the Airport - for a five-year term with one five-year extension option, with the renewel to be brought back to the Commission (Option 1 as recommended by Aviation as amended).
Items 20-24 - By consensus, introduced Ordinances Nos. 08-O-47, 08-O-48, 08-O-49, 08-O-50 and an ordinance modification to Land Development Code Section 5-56 Environmental Management Permit and Section 5-57 General Permit Agreement, as recommended:
Item 20 was a staff recommendation to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-47, which would adopt Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment PCM 0080106, changing the future land use map designation on 4.44 acres located near the intersection of Orange Avenue and Springhill Road from Central Urban to Recreation/Open Space; and set the ordinance for public hearing on July 2, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by Planning).
Item 21 was a staff recommendation to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-48, which would adopt Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment PCM 0080109, changing the future land use map designation on 5.51 acres located in the Villas Court Subdivision, west of the north end of Dellwood Drive and including properties on Villas Court North and Villas Court South, from Residential Preservation to urban Residential maintaining the current Residence 3 zoning; and set the ordinance for public hearing on July 2, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by Planning).
Item 22 was a staff recommendation to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-49, which would increase fees for trespass and rotation wrecker towing of vehicles, and set the ordinance for public hearing on July 9, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 23 was a staff recommendation to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-50, which would increase taxi cab maximum rates, and set public hearing on the ordinance for July 9, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 24 was a staff recommendation to introduce an ordinance modification to Land Development Code (Article III. Review and Inspection Process) Section 5-56 Environmental Management Permit and Section 5-57 General Permit, as presented, and set the first and only public hearing for July 9, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Streets & Drainage)
Requested that the staff bring back information on the methodology for setting annual increases in the towing ordinance
Item 17.1 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to authorize the City Manager to execute a Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to upgrade the State's traffic signals within the City limits on a cost reimbursable basis, up to $400,000 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Traffic Engineering)
Item 25 - Voted 3-1 (Commissioner Lightsey opposed and Commissioner Katz absent) to authorize the City Manager to execute a JPA with FDOT to administer the design and construction of the Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC), the telecommunication infrastructure component of the Freeway (I-10) Incident Management System (FMS), and the interface of FDOT's License Plate Reader (LPR) project with the RTMC, and a subsequent Maintenance and Compensation Agreement for the FMS, as presented - for an estimated total capital investment for the RTMC construction of $8,347,080 reimbursable over a five-year period from FY2009 to FY2013 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Traffic Engineering)
Mr. Bert Johnson, a Project Manager with FDOT, appeared before the Commission relative to this item.
Item 26 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to approve a five-year sunset review of the City's "Local Option Relocation Policy" -- City Commission Policy 1100 Permanent Relocation and City Commission policy 1101 Temporary Relocation -- addressing the needs of low to moderate income residents displaced as the result of a natural disaster or emergency situations, and continuing the policies for another five-year period, with proposed changes to save program funds by extending time limits for temporary lodging to help avoid longer-term costs for rental housing (Option 1 as recommended by Economic & Community Development)
Item 27 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to approve the application, execution and administration of funding from a 2006 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 grant in the amount of $198,034, allowing the City and StarMetro to apply for and administer this federal program as the designated recipient for Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom Program (NFP) funding, and to take advantage of federal funding already allocated and listed on the Federal Register for the purpose of supporting public transit in the region -- an opportunity for 2006 FTA funding that was scheduled to expire on June 20, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Gadsden County Commissioner Brenda Hogg appeared before the Commission and expressed appreciation for a favorable decision on this item. She also thanked the Director and staff of StarMetro for the help this item would provide the citizens.
Item 28 - Voted 3-1 (Commissioner Mustian opposed and Commissioner Katz absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-23AA, introduced on April 9, 2008, with the public hearing held on April 23, 2008, at which time the public hearing was closed and action on the ordinance was continued, providing protection of water quality by requiring the removal and proper disposal of animal fecal matter in public places, as further amended to be imposed in all public parks and public recreation areas; a prior vote on a motion to adopt the ordinance without the additional amendment had failed on a 2-2 vote (Commissioners Marks and Mustian opposed, and Commissioner Katz absent) (brought forward by the City Attorney)
Item 29 - Received a Power Point presentation and voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to approve the selection committee's recommendation on vendor proposals to provide third-party remote in-person utility payment services (RFP #0093-08-KR-RC), and authorize the City Treasurer-Clerk to enter into a contract with IPP of America, the top-ranked vendor, for an annual cost of approximately $60,000 to $80,000 for a fully implemented remote payment option, with annual savings of $70,000 projected beginning in FY2010, and with annual savings ultimately expected to exceed $298,000 upon closure of the drive-in payment center
Item 30 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz absent) to approve a reduction of the administration fee from $2.10 per trip to $1.38 per trip for a one-year period (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009), providing $31,003 needed to continue using Sessaly Rose Transit, the current contractor providing APD (medwaiver) services and StarMetro's ability to continue including that program in the coordination of all transportation for Leon County's transportation disadvantaged population as the Community Transportation program Agency for persons with disabilities - this will cause a corresponding loss in revenue to the City but would allow the City time to work with APD to increase the reimbursement rate or develop a plan for the loss of this program to the total system (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Target Issue Committee Updates
Long Range Planning
Commissioner Gillum provided updates on StarMetro, including service agreements with Florida A & M University and Florida State University, the vehicle simulator project, solar panel upgrades, new shelters and a Regional Mobility Plan/Transit Development Plan; the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which would be brought back for a report in two weeks; the failure of The Shelter to collect data to meet federal guidelines and be included in HUD's Fourth Year Annual Action Plan for FY2008-09; discussions with FDOT regarding the safety of pedestrians crossing West Tennessee Street; and the Committee's rejection of a Code Enforcement Rehabilitation Fund based on the current budget situation.
Financial Viability
Commissioner Mustian reported the likelihood of needing to make another adjustment to customers' utilities billing in the fall to cover undercharges for fuel costs; and he reported that he and Commissioner Katz had been impressed with the Fleet Operation in that a large portion of that operation was already outsourced and a number of vendors had people working in the City's facility. He also reported that after studying three months of data, they were pleased to find relatively substantial travel and training reductions.
City Commission Information and Sharing of Ideas
Mayor Marks reported that he had attended a groundbreaking for the Capital Circle Office Complex (CCOC), a $100 million project anticipated to be an impressive green building.
Unagendaed Speaker - Mr. Mike M. Caffelt, 4832 Jackson Cove Road, representing taxi cab drivers, appeared before the Commission and urged some controls on the rate increases that were allowed to ensure the increases went towards fuel costs.
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