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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-26-1999 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1999 AS LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Switzer at 7:40 p.m. A moment of silent meditation was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. A quorum was declared present. PRESENT: Chairman Switzer, Members Christoefl, Landefeld, McKey, McNeil and Miller. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, Planning Director Wagner, Assistant City Attorney Formella, Community Relations /Projects Director Shira, Finance Supervisor Carter, Budget Analyst Strickland, and Deputy City Clerk Green. ABSENT: Vice Chairman Bond, Members Hopkins and Rhodus. CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda consisted of approval of item A: A. Minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting held on Tuesday, May 11, 1999. Member Landefeld, seconded by Member McKey, moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried 6 -0. NEW BUSINESS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM - FIVE YEAR PROJECTION- FISCAL YEARS 2000 -2004 Chairman Switzer explained for the benefit of the new members of the board that the City Manager would present a synopsis of the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and then members would have the opportunity to ask questions on a page by page basis. City Manager Shapiro pointed out, and Chairman Switzer asked that it be noted for the record, that the board was meeting as the Local Planning Agency to consider the CIP. Mr. Shapiro explained the numbering system used to rate the individual projects /items in the program: "0" on- going, already funded, "1" something needed, carefully considered, "2" something needed, probably cannot afford, and "3" - wish list. He explained the funding sources noted at the bottom of each page. Discussion included the items as noted below: Pages 1 - 8, Capital Projects Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting „, May 26, 1999 Item 3 - Chairman Switzer asked why the City was having to re -roof the Maguire House. Mr. Shapiro responded that it was not necessary now but was projected for 2001 -2002. He explained the complexity /expense involved in maintaining a historical building. Item 2 - Awnings at CH /PD municipal complex - Member Landefeld asked why spend $50,000 on something that will be torn down. Mr. Shapiro explained that the Police Department building would not be torn down, but would be used as part of City Hall as it needs to be expanded. He explained the awnings would be bricks and mortar to protect from weather. Item 7 - Fire Station #1 Admin Bldg - $1,600,000 - In response to Chairman Switzer's questions about this item, Mr. Shapiro said the current station is inadequate for the number of trucks, has no space for administration, and is not a good location for a fire station. He said the site under consideration is across the street from Orlando Avenue, and said it needs to be within 1 1/2 miles of the mall. He explained the significance of the ISO rating (now 4 for Ocoee and 6 or 7 for Orange County) That rating affects the average tax payer's insurance costs about $50 to $60 per year, but would have a dramatic affect on industrial and commercial sites and therefore impacts the economic development package and the effort to bring more businesses and jobs to the City. Items 9 - 12 - Fire Station #2 Mr. Shapiro explained that the City will need land near the Beltway in order to provide for expected growth. He said that land is not available now, but will be in two or three years when the Authority has determined if they have need for the land they have left before they sell it. Member McKey asked how much of the cost would be paid from impact fees, and Mr. Shapiro said a good deal of it would be from impact fees, that it would be paid from growth dollars, not tax dollars. Item 14 - Griffin Land Purchase - Mr. Shapiro explained this item is rated "0” because the City has an agreement to pay Mr. Griffin $300,000.00 over three years for the property located across from the Maguire House. He said the City would eventually like to buy out the entire block for inclusion in the municipal campus. Items 15 - Master Plan for Starke Lake /Municipal Complex - . Mr. Shapiro said the City Commission wants to do something about Starke Lake and this whole campus, and explained the need for a comprehensive study and a master plan. Member Landefeld asked about the condition of the lake. He said he thought run -off had caused it to be much worse than five years ago. Mr. Shapiro said recent reports from the Lake Watch Program indicated that water quality has remained the same and the fish population is good. He suggested that information from water quality reports should be provided to Planning and Zoning Commission members. Chairman Switzer asked if there were any future plans to prevent run- off into Starke Lake. Mr. Shapiro said he did not see the underdrains happening within the next five to ten years, as that fund has run out of money. He said the City is in discussions with the 2 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting May 26, 1999 County about a special act of the legislature to allow the City to take over all of the enclaves in the City. One of the City's demands would be to require many of them to be improved prior to the City taking them over. He said a project under consideration that should benefit the lake is a retaining ditch on Center Street. He said staff would like to do joint projects with the County. Items 16/17/18 - Public Works Facility - Mr. Shapiro explained the need for the new facility. Items 20/21/22 - New Police Station - Mr. Shapiro explained the need and the criteria considered in selection of a site. He said the City will not have money to build the station for several years but need to have a plan and acquire property. Member McKey asked if $500,000 was a realistic amount for the architect plans. Mr. Shapiro said he thought it would be. Chairman Switzer commented that the sidewalks that were built on Orlando Avenue were used every day by many people. Items 70 - 76 - Brick Street Restorations - Chairman Switzer said he was bothered about the brick restorations. Item 80 - Fishing Dock with Canopy at Starke Lake - Member Christoeflasked why this was rated "3 ". Mr. Shapiro explained that it was a "pie -in -the sky" item. Discussion ensued in Noir which members supported having a comprehensive master plan for the Municipal Complex /Starke Lake area before proceeding with individual projects. Item 81 - Land Purchase for South Park - Member Christoefl said she supported having the park, but that so much construction was occurring in the area it would be difficult for residents to get to it in the near future, and there were other areas which could suffice in the interim. Mr. Shapiro pointed out that the City needed to be providing more services south of Highway 50. Member Christoefl asked about the partnership with the school board for the park, and Mr. Shapiro explained that the school board is willing to allow the City to use 25 acres free for the five years before the school is built and they will let us use five acres of their campus as part of our park after school if we agree to provide at the City's cost a soccer field and baseball field in that area. Member McNeil asked, in general terms, if there are funds set aside to purchase a significant amount of land for parks. Mr. Shapiro said there is not significant land. He said the City was broke when the land was not valuable. He said plans include a few more parks, especially one in the northwest section and a 11 to 12 acre park off of Hackney Prairie Road. He said a soccer field will be ready by September 1 s1. Item 91 Beech Recreation Center /Pool /Gym Mr. Shapiro explained all the features planned for the Center. 3 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting May 26, 1999 Now- Mr. Shapiro said the City is about to partner with the County to finish Old Winter Garden Road from Hemple Avenue. He expressed his gratitude to the new Chairman and his staff as he has seen a 180 degree turn- around in the relationship between the City and County. Item 125 - Road Improvements - Ocoee Middle School- Mr. Shapiro pointed out that the project will require significant costs to be borne by the City not only for major improvements to roads, but also for lights, hook up of water and sewer lines, drainage ditches, etc. Items 147/148 - Member McKey asked why it cost so much to decommission the wells, and Mr. Shapiro explained it was labor intensive. Pages 9 -13 - Vehicles Members had several questions about the uses and the need for various vehicles and Mr. Shapiro explained in detail. Pages 14 - 19 Equipment Item 2 - Work Station for Citizen Research in Mall - Member McKey asked about this and Mr. Shapiro responded that the City would like to eventually have a kiosk in the Mall. Member Christoefl suggested that the City have an information board at the Mall. Item 29 - Commission Chambers Overhead Projector - Chairman Switzer suggested "no low bidder. " Item 35 - K -9 Dogs - Member Christoefl strongly supported having both gun and drug dogs. Mr. Shapiro said a gun dog could be available from the County when needed, and it was a value judgment whether the resource could be spent to greater benefit citizens. Pages 20 - 23 Computers Item 13 - Lap Top Computers for Engines - Member Christoefl asked why this was not ranked "1" and Mr. Shapiro explained that Information Systems was not yet ready for them. Members commended staff for a fine job in preparation of the CIP. Member Landefeld, seconded by Member Christoefl, moved to recommend ranking of items in the CIP for Fiscal Years 2000 -2004 as they had been ranked by staff. Motion carried 6 -Q COMMENTS Planning Director Wagner reported that construction of the school at Clarke and Silver Star 4 Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting May 26, 1999 Roads was to begin on Tuesday, June 1. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. k JA of Marian Green, Deputy City Clerk 1 1 ; Switzer, hairm i 5