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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04-2025 MinutesIs"I'Vill Ocoee Commission Chambers I K Bluford Avenue Ocoee, Florida March 4, 2025 MINUTES 6:15 PM -CALL TO ORDER 6A 5 PM Mayor Johnson called the regular session to order at 615 PM in the Commission Chambers City Hall. The invocation was led by Ages Hart, Ocoee Resident, followed by the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag led by Mayor Johnson. Deputy City Clerk Parks called the roll an declared a quorum present. lie Present- Mayor Johnson, Commissioner Kennedy, Commissioner 71111sen, Commissioner Firstner, Commissioner Oliver Also Present: City Manager Shadrix, City Attorney Geller, City Clerk Sibbitt, Deputy City Clerk Parks 2025 National MS Awareness Week Proclamation read and proclaimed by Mayor Johnson and accepted by Therese "Tess" 0' Hara, Vice -Chair to the Orlando Community Council for the National MS Society. Black History Month Essay Contest Winners— Community Event Aide Ochoa recognized the first -place winners and the overall winner from the participating schools, and the overall winner read their essay. The City Commission each thanked the essay writers and City staff for this contest. City Manager Shadrix mentioned the new monitors on the it stating that there is a 30-day return policy if the City Commission is not satisfied with them. He also provided an update on Fire Station 38, noting that the review committee is set to evaluate the new architectural designs in about a week and a half, with a report to follow for the City Commission. He gave an update on the Law Enforcement Training Center, announcing that the final contract will be presented at the March 18th City Commission Meeting, with the date and time for the groundbreaking to be confirmed afterward. Additionally, he updated the Commission on the Wholesale Reclaim Agreement with Orange County, highlighting new terms the City must meet before October 1st. Staff will present options to the City Commission at a later meeting. I MS' - Dakara Murphy, Ocoee High School Girls 8asketball Team Captain, stated that this team made school history this year, by being the first Ocoee High School Girls Basketball Team to make it to the Basketball State Championship Tournament, The team requested funds from 1 1 P a g e M�_rch 4, 2i25 the City Commission to help with travel expenses for their game this Friday. Mayor Johnson asked for a motion to donate $2,000 from Contingency Funds to the Ocoee Girls Basketball team, for their trip to compete in the State Championship Tournament. * 4 N Ii11 • A 111111 .1 n- loon, Commission Oliver; Motion carried unanimously. - Chris Adkins, Ocoee Resident, addressed the reclaimed water update. He also spoke on the Ocoee Sports Complex and suggested that the developers take on the responsibility of compensating the first responders, due to the potentially significant increase in the need for police and fire. Mr. Adkins asked for an update on the golf course and the specific process moving forward. Lastly, he expressed his disappointment in Mayor Johnson's announcement to run for re-election at the end of the last Commission Meeting, stating that the dais is not a place for campaigning. Mayor Johnson addressed Mr. Adkin's comments and mentioned an article he read urging residents not to vote 'yes' on the charter amendments on the upcoming election ballot. He encouraged residents to research and get out and vote on the charter ,2--iii-eitidments. - Doug Gomber, Ocoee Resident, expressed his happiness with the completion of Clarke Road. He also spoke on the golf course and urged the City Commission to think about the affordability for the citizens of Ocoee to play golf at Forest Lake Golf Course. Moyer, Ocoee Resident, spoke on issues with the Arden Park HOA and asked the City to look into Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Kennedy addressed the Commissioner's Comments portion of the minute stating that Commissioners have broken the rules and regulations regarding the length of ti a they are speaking. He requested that, moving forward, the minutes show the specific times ea] member of the City Commission speaks. Commissioner Wilsen stated that she does not believe the minutes need to include the times, as the meetings are recorded and taped. She also mentioned that this item did not need to be pulled, as no corrections were necessary. 2 1 P a g e March 4, 2025 11p I! � 11 11 1 41111��11 i !112141 I U VA 1071 "n Mw REM r ?i MW I W �Tpmmkd-=Llus unanimously. I Approval of Minutes from the Regular City Commission Meeting held February 18, 2025 (City Clerk Sibbitt) 2Approval of Resolution and the Florida Department of Transportation Highway Maintenance Memorandum of Agreement. (City Engineer Womack) 1 Approval of Renewal of Service Agreement for Software and Hardware Maintenance and Repair for the Fire Department's Fire Station Alerting System. (Deputy Fire Chief Van Camp) 4. Approval of TEAM Equipment Inc' as a Sole Source Provider for Paratech Technical Rescue Equlpment� (Deputy Fire Chief Van Camp) 5. Approval of Reserve at Lake Meadows Plat; Project No. LS-2024-003. (Development Engineer Keaton) i, Approval of the West Orange Narcotics Task Force Agreement for 2025 2026. (Police Chief 09burn) 7. Approval of the Retirement of Police Canine "Reno". (Police Chief Ogburn) 8i Approval for Declaration of City Surplus Property. (Procurement Manager Tolbert) 9Approval to Replace Fuel Dispensers City -Wide and Surplus of Old Equipment. (Assistant Public Works Director Gajadhar) 10. Approval of Rush Truck Centers of Florida, Inc., as Single Source Vendor, (Public Work - Director Krug) 11. Approval of Resolution of Pending Legislation to Provide for New Governing Poli Framework and Land Development Regulations. (Zoning Manager Whitfield) I 311 t4l a a 91-1 Q I z Lem*] are] V-011ky-Irk 150]-milk 12. Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Chapter 51, Building Code, Code of Ordinances, Relative to Updated and New Permit Application and Inspection Fees. (Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane) Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane presented an overview of the Ordinance Amending Chapter 51, Building Code, of the Code of Ordinances, regarding the updated and new permit application and inspection fees. In 2002, the City adopted an ordinance establishing Chapter 51 of the Code of Ordinances, which set the current fee schedule for building and inspection fees. Since then, there has been no significant update to these fees. He advised that the proposed fees have slightly decreased from the first to the second reading, based on information received from other municipalities, Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane gave a brief overview of Item #13, a resolution to adopt an updated fee schedule for Regular City Commission March 4, 2025 fire permits and related fees. He noted that this will ensure fire permitting fees are aligned with building permitting fees. City Attorney Geller read the title of the ordinance. The public hearing was opened. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Motion: Move to approve Ordinance 2025-04 for Chapter 51, Buildinc Amending - i Code, i Code of Ordinances, Relative to Updated and New Permit Application and Inspection Fee Moved by Commissioner Wilsen, Seconded by Commissioner Kennedy: Motion carried unanimously . -PUBLIC HEARING - None -REGULAR AGENDA 7:24, PNI 13. Approval of Resolution Adopting an Updated Fee Schedule for Fire Permits an e ate Fees. (Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane) Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane presented this item in conjunction with Item #12. City Attorney Geller read the title of the resolution. The public hearing was opened. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Motion: Move to adopt Resolution 2025-03 for Adopting an Updated Fee Schedule for Fire PI I I I 1 Commissioner Firstner; Motion carried unanimously. 14. City Attorney Discussion Regarding the Contract for Purchase of 17.96 acres of City Owned Property by GPK OET LLC Mayor Johnson read a brief background summary of the GPK OET LLC contract and expressed his desire to either remove the apartment use from the contract or, if possible, cancel the contract entirely. City Attorney Geller explained that this issue was initially presented in the summer of 2024, and he and City staff have been reviewing the funds received in relation to the contract. He -9i aye *ezff i agent. Additionally, GPK OET was required to provide evidence of insurance naming the City of Ocoee as an additional insured, but the City has no record of receiving any insurance certificates. According to the contract, the governmental approval deadline should not have extended beyond June 17, 2022. If the City Commission decides to terminate the contract, there is a 1 0-day cure period that must be given to GPK OET. Due to conflicting language regarding the deposit, if the contract is terminated, the City should anticipate a claim for the return of the deposit. 4 1 P a g e Assistant City Manager Rumer provided the history of the contract with GPK OET LLC, explaining that in 2019, the City released an RFP for the property, and GPK was selected, GPK the idea to the City Commission, which approved it. Since the original development plan, several changes have taken place, Assistant City Manager Rumer emphasized that staff never intended or anticipated an apartment community being developed on this property. City Attorney Geller stated that one option is to declare the buyer in default and terminate the contract, allowing them 10-days to cure. Another option is to rescind the previously approved use of the property, the developer to address; however, there should be controls in place to prevent developers from proceeding past certain points. He reiterated that this was commercial property, and the place with respect to approval of uses in a planned development, first reading of an ordinance, and second reading of an ordinance, Assistant City Manager Rumer responded that at the time there was room in the planned development without adding new usages or density, so it was not required, City Attorney Geller stated that there are clear instances of non-compliance with the contract and expressed that termination is the best option to consider. Commissioner Kennedy noted that at the time, approval for the use was not required, but questioned whether that would change if the project were proposed today. Assistant City Manager Rumer responded, explaining that the total density would be assessed. 10 day-q to cure the defaults; Moved bV Comm issioner Keme6, Seconded b Commissioner Firstner; Motion carried unanimously. I Commissioner Oliver — Commented on the following- 7:48 1) Announced that Clarke Road is complete and open. 2) Commented on the Civility Code and addressed a remark that was made by the Mayor toward his spouse that he felt warranted an apology as misinformation was shared. 7:52 PM ­ 753 PM Mayor Johnson addressed the request for an apology and shared information he received from a member of the Ocoee Woman's Club. He also commented on Regular City Commissio March 4, 2025 1 the defamatory remarks directed at the City Commission as published in a local article. *Clock was stopped for one minute at 7:54 PM at the Mayor's request* Commissioner Wilsen — Commented • the following: 1) Announced the Shred to Protect event being hosted by the Ocoee Police Department, Ocoee Lions Club, and Ocoee • Club. 2) Commented on the success of the Spring into Conservation event that was held this past weekend. 3) Asked to defer her remaining time to the City Attorney to explain the three Charter Amendment questions on the current ballot. 7:68 PM � 8:03 R. City Attorney Geller read and clarified the three City Charter Amendmen that will appear on the upcoming election ballot. I Commissioner Kennedy — Commented on the following- 8,-03 PM -v 8,08" P-M-1 1) Commented • the adoption • the City Commission Rules and Regulations, noting that they are not being properly followed. He thanked the City Attorney for providing the Charter section that states the City Commission is responsible for determining the eligibility of its •` He mentioned that when the Mayor stated during last • comments that the Charter had changed and that he had been informed he could run for a urth term, t e ayor initially said this information came from the City Clerk and City Manager but later clarified it was from the City Attorney. He emphasized that this matter should have been brought before the City Commission. He also referenced a memorandum from the City Attorney r• an article announcing the Mayor's intention to run again in 2027. He further explained that he ha requested the charter amendments as a purpose to clarify the rules so that any questions are addressed in a public forum before the City Commission, rather than through staff. Mayor Johnson — Commented on the following- 8-08 IPMAI-- 8,13 1 RY I 1) Asked the City Manager to explain how he was made aware of the Charter section regarding term limits. City Manager Shadrix shared that he did not make any determination on election law • did • the Mayor • the discussion that was .• with the City Attorney on the request from • Commissioner r!• their final term, He voiced that neither himself nor the City Clerk ever made an interpretation regarding the Charter. City Attorney Geller read the language from C-26 of the Charter which allows him to make an opinion on any question of law affecting the City and he was asked to interpret C-1 I • the Charter. Commissioner Kennedy asked for a point of order and asked the City Attorney if C-26 is to advise the City Commission. City Attorney Geller answered in the affirmative and explained that he can advise the City Commission by way of public forum or by way of memorandum which he did * Commissioner Wilsen affirmed that any member of the City Commission can approach him privately for interpretation. She further voiced the unprofessionalism of the City Commission this evening and apologized to the members of the public. Melanie Sibbitt, City Clerk 7|Page