City Commission Meeting Summary - November 10, 2009
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action:
Item 1 - Mayor Marks presented a proclamation to the Department of Children and Families recognizing November as National Adoption Month. Tom Abrahamawitz accepted the proclamation on half of the Department of Children and Families.
Item 2 - Mayor Marks, joined by Sandra Manning, Utilities Marketing, presented a check in the amount of $32,850.00 to the Capital Area Community Action Agency on behalf of the Project Share Charity Golf Tournament. Dorothy Inman-Johnson accepted the check on behalf of the Capital Area Community Action Agency.
Item 3 - Voted 5-0 to approve staff's recommendations present in Consent Agenda Item 3, taking the following action:
Item 3 - Approved the 2010 Audit Work Plan as presented (Recommended by Sam McCall, City Auditor)
Item 4 - Voted 5-0 to elect Commissioner Mustian to serve as the Mayor Pro Tem to perform the duties of the Mayor in cases of absence or inability of the Mayor to perform such duties. The Mayor Pro Tem will serve until November 2010 (Brought forward by Gary Herndon, City Treasurer-Clerk)
Item 5 - Deleted from the agenda the approval of State and Federal Lobbying Services Contracts (Recommended by Carrie Blanchard, Office of the Mayor)
Item 5.1 - Voted 5-0 to allow staff to bring back an appropriate funding source that would expeditiously provide the money to the Homeless Shelter (Brought forward by Commissioner Ziffer)
Item 6 - Did not introduce Ordinance No. 09-Z-42, proposed amendment to the Thomasville Road/ I-10 Planned Unit Development (PUD) and directed staff to bring back information on Commission options related to the ordinance (Recommended by Wayne Tedder, Planning)
Item 7 - Introduced Ordinance No. 09-Z-47, proposed addition of property to the Local Register of Historic Places and amendment of the Official Zoning Map to change the zoning classification from the RP-2 (Residential Preservation-2) zoning district to the RP-2 (Residential Preservation-2) zoning district with HPO (Historic Preservation Overlay), and set the first and only public hearing date for November 24, 2009 (Recommended by Wayne Tedder, Planning)
Item 8 - Introduced Ordinance No. 09-O-50, proposed abandonment of an unpaved 60-foot right-of-way located approximately 145 feet north of Whittaker Road and set November 24, 2009, as the first and only public hearing for this item (Recommended by Wayne Tedder, Planning)
Item 9 - Voted 4-1 (Commissioner Mustian abstained from voting) to approve an extension to the Professional Services Agreement with Real Estate InSync, LLC for Welaunee Development Representative Services for an additional term of one year in an amount not to exceed $84,000 plus costs, fees and expenses incurred to render the services to the City, and approve a supplemental appropriation of $650,000 from available RR & I Fund Balance for project #06119 to support this extension and the other third party services required to support the ongoing development requirements (Recommended by Kevin Wailes, General Manger, Electric Utility)
Item 10 - Discussed the K2 Urbancorp's request for an extension to the Evening Rose Inclusionary Housing Unit Letter of Credit and voted 5-0 to approve a two (2) year extension to the Evening Rose Letter of Credit with outlined conditions (Recommended by Bob Herman, Growth Management)
Item 11 - Received a status report on Fast Tracked Public Works Department Projects in response to the City Commission's direction to develop a local economic emergency fast tracking program for public sector projects. Directed staff to verify the funding sources for the Weems Road project (Brought forward by Gabe Menendez)
Item 12 - Deleted from the agenda the request to extend the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Loan provided to the Frenchtown CDC to Acquire and Restore Ashmore's Antiques (Recommended by Tom Lewis, Economic and Community Development)
Item 13 - Received a status report on the Corn Hydro Dam Spillway Modification (Brought forward by Rob McGarrah, Electric)
Target Issue Updates
- Long Range Planning - Commissioner Mustian gave an update on the comprehensive plan reform, provided an update on community code and downtown boundary, gave an update on sign ordinance-bus bench and shelter advertising, also provided an update on Nova2010 decentralization plan.
- Economic Development - Mayor Marks gave an update on results of a survey conducted by Collegia on the retention of college graduates in Tallahassee. Also provided an update on priority topics for 2010 which are as follows:
- Development at the airport
- Gaines Street development
- Convention center hotel
- Recovery zone program
- Smart grid development
- Environmental & Energy Resources - Commissioner Ziffer gave an update on goals and priorities, advanced wastewater treatment project update and the Smart Grid project.
- Financial Viability - Commissioner Gillum gave an update on work plan discussion, DSM goals and financial impacts, also general fund transfers and reserve levels, and social services funding policy.
Commissioner Gillum reported on the teen center (Palmer Munroe) and stated that he plans to bring back a comprehensive plan report and recommendations to the commission at the December 2, 2009 regular meeting.
Unagendaed Speakers
Erwin Jackson, 1341 Jackson Bluff, spoke relative to the Deferred Compensation received by the Commission and requested that the Commission refer this issue to the Attorney General for an independent review.
Sharing of Ideas
Commissioner Mustian requested that Commissioners come up with specific goals and methods to reach those goals that they would like to see within a one (1) year period and a four (4) year period to discuss at the upcoming retreat.
Commissioner Ziffer requested reconsideration of the Chabad House Sidwalk Ordinance No. 09-Z-49, wherein the commission voted 4-1 (Commissioner Gillum opposed) to allow Chabad House to make phased payments over a 5-year period, and waived the fees associated with the Plantation Road portion of the sidewalk at the October 28, 2009 regular commission meeting. The Commission voted 3-2 (Commissioners Lightsey and Mustian opposed) to reconsider this issue, and directed staff to bring back policy information on this issue.