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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-04-99 Ii!f MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING HELD MAY 4, 1999 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Vandergrift called the regular meeting to order at 7:20 p.m. in the Commission Chambers and, after reading a poem entitled A Part of America Died, he asked for a moment of silent prayer for police officers who have fallen in the line of duty. Mrs. Frances Watts led in the pledge of allegiance. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Anderson, Howell, Johnson, and Parker. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, City Attorney Rosenthal, Building/Zoning Official Flippen, City Clerk Grafton, Finance Director Horton, Police Chief Mark, Human Resources Director Psaledakis, Community Relations/Projects Director Shira, City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira, Fire Chief Strosnider, Finance Supervisor Carter, and Budget Analyst Strickland. ABSENT: None PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS Mayor Vandergrift recognized Boy Scout Troop 198 and asked that they introduce themselves. He added that the troop, sponsored by the Lions Club, was working on their Citizenship in the Community merit badge. W.O.H.S. Grad Fest 99 - Request for Support for Project Graduation. Mardi Gabriel Mike Kleinfelt, a West Orange High School student member of Project Graduation, described Grad Fest 99 and asked for support. Mavor Vandergrift. seconded by the Entire Commission. moved to 2:rant $1.000 to Grad Fest 99. Motion carried unanimously. EMPLOYEE YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS: For these presentations Mayor Vandergrift read each employee's history with the City and the employee's department head presented the awards. 5 Years: Plaque, City Watch and $50.00 Gift Certificate Richard Parslow (not present), Paul Whitaker (not present), Timothy Hoover, and Donald Carter. 10 Years: Plaque, $100.00 Gift Certificate Amy Fulmer, Don Flippen, Ed White (not present) PROCLAMATIONS SHE Man Ron Willett Day - May 9, 1999. Elizabeth Wiles, executive director of Communities in School, spoke briefly about radio announcer Ron Willett and his contribution toward making the communities aware of needs. After Mayor Vandergrift read his proclamation, Mr. Willett expressed his appreciation for the recognition. Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting May 4, 1999 Mayor Vandergrift read the following proclamations: National Day of Prayer, May 6,1999. Community Action Month - May, 1999 National Police Week: May 9-15,1999 and National Peace Officers Memorial Day-May 6, 1999 CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda consisted of items A, B, and C. (See Minutes of the May 3 Work Session for several corrections to the minutes of the April 20, 1999 meeting which were made without objection. ) Commissioner HowelL seconded by Commissioner Parker, moved to approve and accept the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. A. Approval and Acceptance of Minutes of (1) City Commission Regular Meeting of April 20. 1999. (2) Work Session of April 20 and (3) Commissioner Anderson's called Work Session of March 15. 1999. B. Approval and Acceptance of Second Quarter Financial Report. . This is on Consent Agenda due to Mid-Year Budget data same as this report. C. Appointments/Reappointments to Boards. The following citizens have advised they would be willing to serve another term if you wish to reappoint them. 1. Code Enforcement Board - 3 year terms of Randy Chancey and Denise M. Lenko expire June 1999. 2. Planning and Zoning Commission - 3 year term of Tanya Miller McCallister expires June 1999. . In the past this Commission has routinely reappointed those citizens who were willing to serve additional terms when the membership represented all districts. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS/PUBLIC Former Mayor Lester Dabbs, 610 Caborca Court, speaking from a prepared statement, asked that the record show that he did not use the words lazy, ignorant, or dumb in relation to this commission as stated in a recent edition of The Orlando Sentinel. Mrs. Cindy Vees, 2807 Johio Shores Road, advised that she had received a notice that the Johio Shores well would be addressed at this meeting, but did not see it on the agenda. City Manager Shapiro said that the information needed was incomplete, so the issue had been delayed until the May 18 meeting, and that all of the information would be available for Commission to make a decision at that time. COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE Commissioner Howell congratulated Dave Stone in the Police Department on his upcoming marriage. Mayor Vander2:rift: 1) Read a card from Michael Reilly, 1335 Olympia Park Circle, expressing appreciation for the grant which helped to make his trip to California to receive his Pop Warner First Team Senior All American Scholar award possible. 2 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting May 4, 1999 2) Said he had received a letter from Donald J. Borut, Executive Director of National League of Cities, asking if Ocoee had a program for Kosovo relief efforts. 3) Noted receipt of a letter regarding membership in the United States Conference of Mayors. City Manager Shapiro directed City Clerk Grafton to research the cost of membership and respond in writing. 4) Read a letter from Dennis Smith, Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, reporting on the "School Choice" plan and the district's five-year construction plan. 5) Read a thank you note from the YMCA for the grant to its 1999 Youth Scholarship Campaign. 6) Announced the groundbreaking of the Ocoee Middle School (State Demonstration School) May 11, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE No. 99-21, MID YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT City Attorney Rosenthal read the title only of Ordinance No. 99-21. Finance Director Horton was present to respond to questions. The public hearing was opened. Mr. R. P. Mohnacky, 1820 Prairie Lake Boulevard, asked several questions, to which Mr. Shapiro responded. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Parker, seconded by Commissioner HowelL moved to adopt Ordinance No. 99-21 amending the budget as presented. Motion carried 5-0. RECESS 8:21 P.M. - 8:33 P.M. OTHER BUSINESS RESOLUTION No. 99-12, ACQUISITION BY EMINENT DOMAIN OF PROPERTY BETWEEN ORLANDO AVENUE AND COLUMBUS STREET FOR FIRE STATION No.1 RELOCATION Fire Chief Strosnider advised that this was one of several possible locations, but that this best suited the needs of his department for service to the community and West Oaks Mall and would bring the insurance rating down to the much desired rating of 2. Discussion regarding the value of the land, appraisals, and exercising the process of eminent domain ensued. Mr. Richard Doss, 576 Kissimmee Avenue, expressed his objection to the acquisition of property by eminent domain and also to the proposed traffic patterns. He asked for special consideration for a land use change for his property as he will be boxed in by industrial zoning on the west and south and the fire station on the east if this goes through. Mrs. Cathy Doss Starn, 408 Kailla Court, stated her objection to this relocation and to tearing down the existing fire station and expressed her concern that the public was not advised about this relocation and other issues that should have been matters of public interest and concern. 3 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting May 4, 1999 Later in the discussion when Mrs. Starns expressed further her concern about the taking of property and whether sometime in the future the City would take her father's property as well, City Manager Shapiro stated for the record that the City had already looked at his property and was not interested in purchasing it. Commissioner Johnson said that tearing down the fire station was a part of the original plan when this municipal complex was started. He announced for the record that he had received a letter from Mary Humphrey, 1 E. Columbus Street, in favor ofthe proposed location of the fire station. Mayor Vandergrift directed staff to publish in The West Orange Times any agenda items that were expected to be ready for upcoming commission meetings with a disclaimer in case they were not ready. Mr. Jim Powers, 495 S. Bluford Avenue, asked how far commercial property will come into his residential area, if Washington Street will be abandoned, and how high the sound barrier wall would be. Mr. Shapiro advised that he could petition to have Washington Street right-of-way abandoned and that the firefighters/engineers no longer use sirens when they can control the lights with Opticom. Former Mayor Lester Dabbs empathized with the commission. City Manager Shapiro asked that the record reflect that he had received a letter from Vasant G. Patel, owner of 530 S. Bluford Avenue, who stated he had no objection when he found that it was not his property in which the City was interested. City Attorney Rosenthal said that if the Commission decides to go forward with the acquisition the fire station is a permitted use in all zonings but an advertised public hearing would be required. He noted also the procedures necessary. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the suitability of the parcel vs other parcels, procedures, property ownership, and timing, and Commissioner Anderson proposed both negotiating with the land owners for the best price possible and looking for other sites. Neither proposal received support. Commissioner HowelL seconded by Commissioner Parker, moved to gO with the Staff recommendation: i.e., approve Resolution No. 99-12 authorizing execution thereof by the Mayor and City Clerk and further authorizing the City Attorney to file the necessary condemnation action and proceed to acquire the properties by quick-take proceeding. Motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Anderson voting no. Without objection, Mayor Vandergrift directed Staff to look at the Roper property as a possible site and report back in writing before the next meeting. 4 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting May 4, 1999 BIDS FOR DRIVEWAY AT FIRE STATION No. 4 In his staff report, City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira advised that bids had been solicited for the reconstruction of the failed driveway on the south side of Fire Station No.4. Prime Construction, Inc. submitted a bid of $86,300, Wharton-Smith bid $97,000, and Georgetown Enterprises submitted a "no bid." Mr. Shira was present to respond to any questions. Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, moved to go with Staff recommendation: i.e.. authorize Prime Construction Group, Inc. to proceed with reconstruction of this drive way in accordance with their bid, for a not-to-exceed fee of $86.300. Motion carried 5-0. OCOEE/WINTER GARDEN RECLAIMED WATER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira advised that the Interlocal Agreement approved and executed by this Commission and the City of Winter Garden dated July 7, 1998 was required to be modified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Winter Garden had requested a further clarification to the modified agreement approved by this Commission February 2, 1999. The agreement presented at this time has been executed by the City of Winter Garden and provides an increase in the amount of reclaimed water provided by Winter Garden (from .25 MGD to .75 MGD over an eighteen month period). Mayor V ander~rift. seconded by Commissioner Howell, moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement as presented and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute. Motion carried 5- O. DESIGN FEE PROPOSAL FOR RECLAIMED WATER RETROFIT PROJECT FROM HARTMAN & ASSOCIATES FOR SILVER GLEN AND WATERSIDE In his staff report, City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira presented a proposal from Hartman & Associates for the complete surveying, permitting, design and construction of a reclaimed water system in Silver Glen and Waterside subdivisions. This project would tap into the soon to be constructed reclaimed water transmission line from the plant to the mall. Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, moved to authorize Hartman & Associates to proceed with design and associated services for a reclaimed water system in Silver Glen and Waterside subdivisions in accordance with their proposal dated April 23, 1999, for a not-to-exceed fee of $82,980.00. Motion carried 5-0. STAFF REPORT - None COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Parker: 1) Announced that she will receive the Employee Survey results Wednesday and would like to set up a meeting so that all can review the report at the same time. Mr. Shapiro said that his secretary could coordinate the meeting time with Mr. Pelligrino and the Commission. 5 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting May 4, 1999 Commissioner Johnson: 1) Said the Kissimmee Street water tower area should be landscaped. Mr. Shira advised that bids are out now to plug the well itself and the bid also includes cleaning UP the site and taking everything above the ground out. 2) Stated for the record: "I, and Ellis knows before I got out of office before I talked to him about different areas I didn't like certain things, but since I've been back and during election time about the property up here, I did not particularly want it put there. I live near there, but in the long run what is best for the City, and I've been told by the Fire Chief, which I think is the expert for the Fire Department and what they need. That's the reason I voted for it, because of the area there is more residential where it's at now than there is down there on that corner. Ifwe do the access to the roads I think it will work out but I didn't particularly like... Mr. Doss called me about a week ago one night and I talked to him for quite a while and I told him I didn't really want to do that, but I would never let anything happen without making sure the landscaping and any kind of a buffer zone, anything else to go there. And I think, I hadn't ever thought of it but the City Manager made a good point a while ago -these road systems we have and you build a house on a major road you ought to know full well what is coming. I mean there's just things going to be there." 3) Said, as a Commissioner for eleven years, he watched the county do certain things and get away with it. The Johio Shores well was not the City's well. If the City was trying to help citizens regarding that, the City should not have to take grief as a result. Commissioner Howell: 1) Asked when the Prime Construction Group was going to finish the Kimball Street project. Mr. Shira described the problem encountered with the storm pipes crushed where they intersected the water pipes, necessitating re-engineering and reordering pipes. He anticipated finishing the proiect in 30 days. 2) Asked for the results of Community Relations/Projects Director Shira's trip to Tallahassee for the Main Street grant last year. Commissioner Anderson: 1) Said that since the Johio Shores citizens had been advised something would be done on a specific date, something should be done as soon as possible. 2) Expressed his opinion that exercising the eminent domain process will cost the City more. 3) Said a citizen had sent him a message that as City Commissioners using money, they should treat the money as they would their own. 4) Advised that he would have his laptop at the next meeting to receive e-mail messages from citizens during the meeting. Mavor Vander2:rift: 1) Expressed appreciation for the volunteers at the Big Orange Games last Saturday. 2) Asked for the date of the surplus sale and suggested that the utility counter clerks take care of a surplus store. 3) Wants to see the computer system set up to accept utility payments by transfer from citizens' checking accounts. Commissioner Anderson added that payment with credit cards or automatic deduction from accounts and billing bye-mail should be implemented as well. 6 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting May 4, 1999 4) Said he and his wife had spent nine hours correcting the sexual bias of the Tri-County League of Cities Charter and By-Laws and had received an e-mail message of appreciation from Marilyn Crotty, Executive Director. 5) Memo from Public Works Director Smith that was requested by Finance Director Carter regarding landscaping was a step in the right direction for providing information and he commended them both. 6) Asked when the municipal complex would be mowed again. 7) Wants flyers created similar to Orange County's for volunteer advisory boards. 8) State Legislature has approved the reorganizing of the Tri City Airport Authority and the City will have one appointment to that board. 9) Announced the RSVP line - 656-2218. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 11:08 p.m. Attest: APPROVED: City of Ocoee ~.-' ~-'(' 0 . ~c~ 'C'- ~ 'V\) 7