City Commission Meeting Summary - October 28, 2009
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action:
Items 1 - 3 - Voted 5-0 to approve staff's recommendations presented in Consent Agenda Items 1-3, taking the following action:
Item 1 - Appointed Bradford Wayne Roberts to Tallahassee-Leon County Architectural Review Board to replace J. Terry Peterson - TLH Trust for Historic Preservation representative. (Recommended by Mayor Marks)
Item 2 - Approved the acceptance of the Florida Animal Friend (FAF) Spay/Neuter grant in the amount of $15,000 and appropriated the funds through an Accounts Receivable Work Order. (Recommended by Dee Crumpler, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs)
Item 3 - Approved the proposed amended bylaws for the Tallahassee-Leon County Local Mitigation Strategy Steering Committee. (Recommended by Wayne Tedder, Planning)
Item 4 - Voted 5-0 to approve a supplemental appropriation of $5 million to Project Number 0900483 (CCNE 36-inch Force Main Rehabilitation) from Sewer Fund - Series 2007 CUS Bond Proceeds to complete the replacement of the 36-inch force main under Capital Circle Northeast damaged by Tropical Storm Fay (Recommended by Mike Tadros, Underground Utilities)
Mayor Marks added that he had spoken with FEMA representatives and believes that the City will be reimbursed by FEMA.
Item 5 - Discussed the Proposed Revisions to the Concurrency Management System Policy and Procedures Manual (Concurrency Manual) and voted 5-0 to approve recommended changes to the manual (Recommended by Bob Herman, Growth Management)
Item 6 - Received an update on Think About Personal Pollution (TAPP) Program. Cynthia Barber, Environmental Policy & Energy Resources, and Nancy Miller reported the long-term environmental education component of the program, and the success of the spring 2009 TAPP media campaign
Item 7 - Voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 09-R-39 to establish boundaries for the Tallahassee Recovery Zone; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created a number of new programs to provide bond financing for local governments to stimulate development and reinvestment. The City is eligible to apply for $4,142,000 in Economic Development Bonds for public improvement projects (Recommended by Thomas H. Lewis, Economic and Community Development)
Item 8 - Voted 5-0 to approve modification of the City Policies for Domestic Partner Benefits and Expansion of Protected Classes (Brought forward by Travis Parsons, Human Resources)
Staff recommended the following options:
- Include sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class for the purposes of the City's Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policies and Procedures.
- Approve the extension of City offered benefits to domestic partners with Blue Cross/Blue Shield being the sole provider for health care.
- Amend the cities personnel policies related to leave policies to include domestic partners and the children of domestic partners.
Item 8.1 - Voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 09-R-38 for Eminent Domain Action for Phase I of the Frenchtown Stormwater Improvement Project (Brought forward by Attorney English)
Item 9 - Held the second and final Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-O-11AA; Proposed Amendment to the Land Development Code to Amend the Appropriate Sections of Chapter 10 to Implement Comprehensive Plan Reform and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-11AA (Recommended by Wayne Tedder)
There were no speakers relative to this item.
Item 10 - Held the second and final Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-O-27AA; Proposed Amendment to Chapter 10 of the Tallahassee Land Development Code to add Government Operational-1 Office/Light Infrastructure District and Government Operational-2 Heavy Infrastructure District (Recommended by Wayne Tedder)
Commissioner Lightsey offered an amendment to Ordinance No. 09-O-27AA, suggesting that Government Operation–2 Heavy Infrastructure District site plans be put through a type D review and come before the City Commission. The Commission also initiated the rezoning of the Department of Agriculture property on Capital Circle from R-1 to GO-1. The commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-27AA as amended.
Item 11 - Held the second and final Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-O-31AA; Land Use and Environmental Services Glitch and Minor Policy Clarification ordinance and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-31AA. (Recommended by Bob Herman)
There were no speakers relative to this item.Â
Item 12 - Held the first and only Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-O-39, Amending the Land Development Code to provide for two alternate members of the Tallahassee-Leon County Board of Adjustment and Appeals and attendance requirements, and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-39 (Recommended by Legal)
There were no speakers relative to this item.
Item 13 - Held the first and only Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-O-40, Amendment to Land Development Code Criteria for Site Plan Deviations and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-40 (Recommended by Legal)
There were no speakers relative to this item.
Item 14 - Held the first and only Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-Z-41; Proposed addition of property located at 418 East Virginia Street approximately 85 feet west of intersection of North Meridian and East Virginia Street to the Local Register of Historic Places and amendment of the official Zoning Map to Change the Zoning Classification from the SCD (Special Character) Zoning District to the SCD (Special Character District) Zoning District with Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-Z-41 (Recommended by Wayne Tedder, Planning)
There were no speakers relative to this item.
Item 15 - Held the first and only Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-Z-44; Proposed Amendment to the Official Zoning Map to Change the Zoning Classification from the PUD (Planned Unit Development) Zoning District to the CU-26 (Central Urban-26) and CU-45 (Central Urban-45) Zoning Districts and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-Z-44 (Recommended by Wayne Tedder, Planning)
Wade Pitt was available to answer questions, but did not speak.
Item 16 - Held the first and only Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-O-48; Revisions to Flood Damage Protection Regulations (Chapter 6, Land Development Code) and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-48 (Recommended By Bob Herman)
There were no speakers relative to this item.
Item 17 - Held the first and only Public Hearing on Ordinance 09-Z-49 Amending the Chabad House PUD Ordinance to waive payment of sidewalk fee-in-Lieu (Brought forward by Attorney English)
The following persons appeared before the commission relative to this item:
- Sue Dick, 412 Plantation Road, representing Plantation heights Neighborhood Association (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Tonya Chavis, 2661 N. Meridian Road, representing Chabad House (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49) (did not speak)
- Rabbi Larry Reinhold, 2093 Greenwood Dr., representing Chabad House (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Steve Uhlfelden, 519 E. Park Avenue, representing Chabad House (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Juvi Winn, 1001 Ocala Road #230, representing Chabad House (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Rabbi Shalom Loeub 2601 N. Meridian Road, representing Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Felicia Lilien U-Box 60231, representing Chabad of Tallahassee (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Meredith Mercer, 412 W. Jefferson Street Apt. 301, representing Chabad - Lubavitch of the Panhandle (proponent of Ordinance No. 09-Z-49)
- Rabbi Schnevr Olrechman, 2093 Greenwood Drive, representing Chabad House (proponent of Ordinance No 09-Z-49)
Voted 2-3 (Commissioners Marks, Mustian, and Lightsey opposed) to approve Ordinance 09-Z-49 Amending the Chabad House PUD Ordinance to waive payment of sidewalk fee-in-Lieu. This motion failed due to lack of support.
Voted 4-1 (Commissioner Gillum opposed) to allow the Chabad House to make phased payments over a 5-year period, but to waive fees associated with the Plantation Road portion of the sidewalk.
Item 18 - Held a Public Hearing of Pension Ordinance No. 09-O-52, Proposed Amendment to the General Employees' Pension Plan and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 09-O-52 (Recommended by Gary Herndon, Treasurer-Clerk & Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager)
There were no speakers relative to this item.
Unagendaed Speakers
Tom Jacobs, 4944 Crooked Road, representing Crooked Road Home Owners (opposed to the City of Tallahassee Jackson Bluff Dam Modification Project)
Kanani Johnson, 5004 Crooked Road (opposed to the City of Tallahassee Jackson Bluff Dam Modification Project)
The Commission directed staff to meet with property owners to discuss the scope of the project, and the potential impacts and to provide a report to the City Commission.Â
Erwin Jackson, P.O. Box 4008 (opposed to the FY2010 Budget/Benefit Package)
Bill Milford, 3025 Huntington Drive (proponent of agenda Item 8 Modification of City Policies for Domestic Partner Benefits and Expansion of Protected Classes)
City Commission Information and Sharing of Ideas
Commissioner Mustian stated that he had met with a group from the Shelter along with city staff to discuss the long-standing issues with the Shelter in regards to funding. He stated that he would like to encourage the shelter to provide the necessary data so that the city can apply for and receive more federal funding for the Shelter. It was with consensus that the Commission agreed to pursue the necessary data needed to apply for federal funding for the shelter. A brief discussion continued in this regard.
Mayor Marks commented on the Smart Grid program and noted that it was working very well.