The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About01-03-89 WS II. --=-- . .' MINUTES OF CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP HELD JANUARY 3, 1989 The workshop was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Mayor Ison in the commission chambers. PRESENT: Mayor Ison, Commissioners Combs, Dabbs, Hager, City Manager Bateman, City Engineer Finch, Public Works Brenner, Planning Director Behrens, Assistant Planner Water Supervisor Cockrell, City Clerk Grafton Johnson, Director Claman, ABSENT: None DISCUSSION REGARDING DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE City Engineer Finch advised the Commissioners that the idea of a Development Review Committee was excellent, but that there has been a lack of continuity in reviewing plans. He felt that it was partly because of change in personnel and lack of paper chain. Mr. Finch further stated that, as the Florida Statutes ~equire plans to be reviewed by a professional engineer, the hiring process for his replacement should not be delayed. Mr. Finch pointed out that the DRC meetings should be chaired by the City Engineer rather than the City Planner, noting that the City Code would need to be changed to accommodate that provision. The suggested schedule would be to have staff review plans first and then invite the developer. by appointment, to review staff requirements and work out problems in the DRC meetings rather than in Commission meetings. In response to Mayor Ison's question regarding the advisability of Commissioners attending DRC meetings, Mr. Finch remarked that a Commissioner meeting with staff only would be all right. However, a Commissioner present at a meeting with developers might complicate the process, as their words, no matter how softly spoken, carried much weight with staff and developers. Mayor Ison mentioned a proposed districting of the City regarding engineering consultants and suggested district DRC meetings. Mr. Finch responded that staff already is pressed to keep up with the paper work for one company and three companies would add to the difficulty. Tom Kelly, Professional Engineering Consultants, explained that some of the problems encountered by developers have been the result of lack of communication but that the biggest problem has been staff turnover. City Manager Bateman concurred with Mr. Finch's recommendation regarding the DRC meeting process and added that the secretary should follow up with a letter to the developer stating the decisions for the record. Dave Outlaw, Professional Engineering Consultants, said that it is very important for decisions to be documented and presented to developers in a timely manner. Mayor Ison summed up the discussion stating that from now on DRC meetings will consist of two types: the first session with staff only and the second session with the developers who will be agendaed in 20-30 minute increments. Mayor Ison noted that verbatim minutes will not be necessary, but a check list is. Mr. Finch recommended that, rather than have developers be contacted by individual supervisors during the whole process, one contact person should be project manager after the project is permitted and Public Works Directer .. . . . Page 2 City Commission Workshop January 3, 1989 Ray Brenner would be the the appropriate person for that. DISCUSSION REGARDING DIVIDING THE CITY INTO CONSULTING SERVICES SECTIONS FOR Commissioner Dabbs stated that he did not construe the proposal from Mayor Ison to mean that PEC would not continue handling the transportation, water and sewer projects, etc. and that he would go along with dividing the City into three general sections for consulting services as Mayor Ison has recommended. Mayor Ison pointed out that after the list of firms has been determined, it would be up to the Commission to assign the projects as they see fit. The proposal divides the City into three sections: Clark Road corridor, the beltway coming through the north side of town, and the south side of town around Maguire Road. The consensus was that staff should be directed to draw up a one paragraph RFP for consulting engineers, advertise, and produce the results to Commission. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. ~~2~ Thomas R. Ison, Mayor Attest: