Joint Session on 2009-2 Comp Plan Amendments Summary - May 26, 2009
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action:
Recognized and thanked former City Commissioner Allan Katz for his dedicated service to the community during his tenure on the City Commission
Acknowledged the resignation of Police Captain Argatha Gilmore, who had accepted the Police Chief position in Lake City, Florida; also acknowledged that Police Chief John Proctor had already departed to assume the Police Chief position in Albany, Georgia; and thanked them for their service to the City of Tallahassee
Items 1-6 - Voted 4-0 to approve the staff's recommendations presented in Consent Agenda Items 1-6, taking the following action:
Item 1 - Approved amendment to Reverter for Tallahassee Road Prison (Option 1 recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 2 - Approved Resolution 09-R-31 Authorizing Property Conveyance to Either the Florida Department of Transportation or Leon County (Option 1 recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 3 - Approved supplemental appropriation, in the amount of $3,300,000, from Electric Undesignated RR&I for Project 08129 - Corn Hydro Spillway Modifications. Approve the Selection Committee's ranking and award the construction to PCL Civil Constructors, Inc., in the amount of $7,708,000Â (brought forward by Electric Utility)
Item 4 - Approved proposed revisions to City Commission Policy 106 related to permitting food vendor carts and approved Resolution 09-R-20 extending the area eligible for vendor permits to include Parks and Recreation facilities (brought forward by Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)
Item 5 - Adopted Resolution 09-R-29 supporting FDEP rulemaking to amend the classification system of Florida’s Waters (brought forward by Underground Utilities)
Item 6 - Approved minutes from the May 26, 2009 Joint City-County Commission Workshop, Cycle 09-2 Comp Plan Amendments and the July 1, 2009 Regular Commission Meeting (brought forward by the Treasure-Clerk’s Office)
Item 7 - Voted 4-0 to approve the selection committee ranking and authorize staff to negotiate a compromise contract for Program Design and Management Services to Support the City's Demand Side Management (DSM) Program Manager (RFP 0183-08-RM-RC) with both companies, Honeywell Utility Solutions, and with Nexant, Inc., in which expertise from both vendors would be used, and bring back the issue with additional information, i.e., a defined scope of services and amount of funds expended locally (brought forward by Energy Services)
Item 8 - Voted 4-0 to adopt Resolution 09-R-25, amending the terms of the assessment payments for the Habitat for Humanity Paving Assessment Project, assistant with the construction of affordable housing by extending the payment period from 10 to 20 years and lowering the interest rate from 5.375% to 4.90% (Option 1 recommended by Public Works/Engineering)
Item 9 - Received a staff overview of the City of Tallahassee's FY2010 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets (placed on the City's website and in the Office of the City Treasurer-Clerk); held the first public hearing on the Proposed FY2010 Budget, noting that the two statutorily-required public hearings on the Proposed FY2010 Budget were scheduled for September 10 and 23, 2009, at 6:00 p.m.
The following persons appeared before the Commission relative to this item:
- Ms. Anne Munroe Vinson, 601 Middlebrooks Circle (proponent of keeping the Palmer Munroe Community Center open
- Ms. Penny Herman, 1596 Marion Avenue (opponent of increasing the ad valorem millage rate)
- Mr. John Beeman, representing the Fraternal Order of Police (opposed to cutting any public safety positions)
- Mr. Erwin Jackson, 1341 Jackson Bluff, President of the Jackson Bluff Neighborhood Coalition (opponent of any increase in the ad valorem millage rate; proponent of keeping Palmer Munroe Neighborhood Community Center open and building a swimming pool at the Center)
- Ms. Kimberly Galban, Director of United Partners for Human Services, 317 E. Call Street (opponent of any budget cut for UPHS)
- Mr. Steven B. Slade, representing the Big Bend Police Benevolent Association, 300 E. Brevard Street (opponent of eliminating any Police positions)
- Mr. Evan Power, 2740 W. Tharpe Street #302 (opponent of asking taxpayers to pay more)
- Mr. Mike Bellamy, Vice President of Tallahassee Professional Firefighters (opponent of cutting any public safety positions)
- Mr. Herbert Roberts, representing ECHO, Inc., for UPHS (opponent of any cuts to not-for-profit-human service agencies)
- Mr. Leslie L. Harris, 2022 Hillsborough Street, representing Providence Neighborhood Association (proponent of moving forward with the high priority street improvements in Providence Neighborhood)
- Pastor Walter McDonald, 1901 Hillsborough Street, representing the providence Neighborhood Association (proponent of addressing safety concerns with the Providence neighborhood streets
- Ms. Laura Lee Corbett, 1422 Devil's Dip, and Mr. Mike Wing, 1416 Hilltop Drive, did not appear before the Commission, but indicated their availability to provide information regarding no cuts to the contribution to Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation.
Commissioner Lightsey requested that staff contact Mr. Harris and other Providence Neighborhood residents and make sure they understood which streets in that neighborhood were scheduled for improvements under the Neighborhood Infrastructure Enhancements Program (NIEP).
Commissioner Lightsey clarified for the benefit of the public that the half mill property tax increase was a maximum increase and it was the hope of the Commission that the full half mill increase would not be necessary.
Mayor Marks suggested that interested citizens read the City Manager's Budget Message, which had been published on the City's website.
Item 10 - Held the first of two public hearings on Ordinance 09-O-11AA, which would amend the Chapter 10 of the Land Development Code to implement Comprehensive Plan Reform Amendment 2006-2-T-09, and set the second and final public hearing for October 28, 2009 (Option 1 recommended by Planning)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 11 - Held a public hearing and voted 4-0 to adopt Resolution 09-R-16, with the amended terms for Habitat for Humanity's assessment payments, thus adopting and certifying the 2009 non-ad valorem assessment roll (Option 1 recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk/Tax and Revenue Division)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 12 - Held a public hearing and voted 3-0 (Commissioner Mustian abstained) to adopt Ordinance 09-O-20, amending the City's existing fire services fee ordinance to reflect the new interlocal agreement; approve and adopt the Fire Assessment Memorandum dated June 2009, and authorize the Mayor to execute an amendment to the interlocal agreement incorporating the Fire Assessment Memorandum as an exhibit to the agreement (Option 1 recommended by the Department of Management & Administration [DMA])
Commissioner Gillum, Commissioner Lightsey and Mayor Marks flagged for further discussion the issue of surplus revenues being held to cover a projected fifth year deficit in the Fire Fund.
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 13 - Held a public hearing and voted 4-0 to adopt Ordinance 09-Z-26AA, rezoning 0.73 acres at 2500 Springhill Road from M-1 (Light Industrial) to C-2 (General Commercial), based on the findings of fact and conclusions of law set forth in the agenda item and any evidence submitted at the hearing (Option 1 recommended by Planning)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 14 - Held the first of two public hearings on Ordinance 09-O-27AA, introduced on June 10, 2009, which would amend Chapter 10 of the Tallahassee Land Development Code to add Government Operational-1 and Government Operational-2 Zoning Districts, and set the second and final public hearing for October 28, 2009 (Option 1 recommended by Planning)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 15 - Held a public hearing on Ordinance 09-O-30, introduced on June 10, 2009, and continued from June 24 and August 26, 2009, amending Section 14 of the City Charter to eliminate the special election requirement to avoid the potential of incurring the added election costs, and voted 4-0 to adopt the ordinance as submitted (recommended by the City Attorney and the City Treasurer-Clerk)
The following persons appeared before the Commission relative to this item:
- Mr. Evan Power, 2740 W. Tharpe Street #307 (opponent)
- Mr. Bill Helmich, 303 Johns Drive (opponent)
- Mr. Larry Hendricks, 406 Alphee Avenue (opponent)
- Mr. T. J. Lewis, 2020 Continental Avenue #135 (proponent)
Item 16 - Held the first of two public hearings on Ordinance 09-O-31, introduced on August 19, 2009, which would amend the Tallahassee Land Development Code to clarify land use and environmental services glitch and minor policy clarifications, and set the second and final public hearing for October 28, 2009 (Option 1 recommended by Growth Management)
There were no speakers on this item.
Item 17 - Held a public hearing on Ordinance 09-O-32, introduced on July 1, 2009, which would include the incorporated area of the City within the Leon County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU), and voted 4-0 to adopt the ordinance (Option 1 recommended by the City Attorney)
There were no speakers on this item.
Unagendaed Speakers
Mr. Larry Hendricks reappeared before the Commission and expressed severe disappointment and anger at the extent of funds spent on Gaines Street, on the Tram Road Truck Route segment, on the traffic control red light system, when compared with cost of holding a special election to fill the vacancy on the City Commission created by the resignation of Commissioner Katz.
City Commissioner Sharing of Ideas
The Commission and Appointed Officials recognized Commissioner Katz with a standing ovation and, presenting him with a plaque, thanking him for more than seven (7) years of excellent service to the City of Tallahassee. Ms. Edwina Stephens also gave a special presentation to Commissioner Katz with the reading of a poem, "Bridge Builder", and the presentation of a bronze eagle from the Southside folks. Mr. Eugene Butler, President of Ms. Edwina Foundation on Southside, characterized Commissioner Katz as caring about the people. City Manager Thompson welcomed everyone to attend a special reception in honor of Commissioner Katz, on the fourth floor of City Hall.
Commissioner Gillum referenced a letter that he had received from the Leon County Justice Coordinating Council and indicated his intent to work with the Council in the next few days.
Mayor Marks referenced a telephone call from Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho regarding his suggestion to purchase the Circuit City facility on Apalachee Parkway, and he noted that the facility would remain available for use as a voting precinct.
The Commission thanked all of the individuals who had submitted applications for the vacant seat on the City Commission, which had been vacated with the resignation of former City Commissioner Katz.
City Treasurer-Clerk Herndon announced this was the last Commission Meeting that would be attended by Recording Secretary Eloise Connell-Gramling, as she had decided to retire from the City government. The Commission gave her a standing ovation and wished her well in her retirement.
CTC:RM:ecg:08-28-09