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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-08-98 MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP HELD DECEMBER 8, 1998 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Vandergrift called the workshop to order at 6: 12 p.m. in the Commission Chambers, and announced that the first part of the meeting concerning Impact Fees would be followed by discussion regarding the increase in members for the Planning and Zoning Commission. The clerk called the roll and all were present. PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Anderson, Glass, Howell, and Parker. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, City Attorney Rosenthal, City Clerk Grafton and consultants Whit Blanton and Kevin Tilburry. ABSENT: None. Mayor Vandergrift turned the meeting over to Mr. Whit Blanton, of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Mr. Blanton gave a presentation and pointed out, with the increasing growth of the City of Ocoee, the necessity to increase the impact fees for future transportation demands. Mr. Kevin Tilbury, also of SAIC, explained how the impact fee worked and talked about the costs that would be incurred for the next 20 years based on the Transportation Master Plan for Ocoee. Mr. Blanton and Mr. Tilbury recommended the Commission adopt an updated fee schedule by land use categories. City Manager Shapiro stated for the record, concerning the bond issue recently passed, the projection was based on the old impact fee rates. Mayor Vandergrift and Commissioners Anderson and Howell had questions concerning how the trip counts were done for certain businesses and the increase in impact fees for single family homes. There was lengthy discussion. Mayor Vandergrift polled the Commissioners for their reactions. Commissioner Parker said she understood the need but was not happy about the increase in the price of houses that would be caused by the new impact fees. Commissioner Glass was not happy with the increased cost of houses and roads but was happy with the analysis. He said better roads would increase property values and make life easier so it would be worth paying the extra fee. Mayor Vandergrift said that increased fees may slow growth and that he saw a possible benefit to balance the community adding more commercial property. He said he is not happy with the increase in fees to single family houses but also could see a benefit with the reduction in certain business impact fees to attract more of these types of businesses to the City. Mayor Vandergrift also questioned if it would be possible to consider a category concerning affordable housing, with a reduction in impact fees. Ocoee City Commission Workshop December 8,1998 Commissioner Anderson said he was unhappy and wanted to gIve less of a reduction to commercial properties and had questions concerning exemptions. City Attorney Rosenthal said this type of study was done in order to get a legally supportable position. After a short discussion the polling continued. Commissioner Howell said he was never happy with raising costs but saw the need for it to be done. Mayor Vandergrift said he counted three "Happys" (marginally so), two "almost Happys" and gave staff direction to draft an ordinance. Commissioner Howell questioned how the City could charge impact fees repeatedly for the same property as in mobile homes. Director of Planning Wagner said the City needed to take a look at the ordinance and how the impact fee is administered. City Attorney Rosenthal explained that an impact fee was generated by the pulling of a building permit or whatever the equivalent is for placing a mobile home on a lot. City Manager Shapiro asked Commissioner Howell to bring the information pertaining to this particular situation and he would check into it. At this time the discussion concerning Impact Fees was ended and the workshop continued with discussion about increasing the number of regular members of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Glass said he had suggested increasing the size of the Planning and Zoning Commission, since reviewing minutes from their meetings he noticed repeatedly 4-0 or 4-1 votes on issues and felt that the small number did not adequately represent the citizens. He said he also noticed that the board was made up of citizens living in the older part of the city and would encourage broadening the board geographically, at this time, as well. He commended the present members for doing a tremendous job in bringing the City of Ocoee from its past to the present. Chairman Switzer responded that he had given it thought and agreed that 9 members would be a good number and recommended doing away with the alternate positions. Member Bond said she had asked that they be advised what districts they live in but had not received that information. It was pointed out to Member Bond that this information had been previously provided to all the Board Members. 2 Ocoee City Commission Workshop December 8,1998 Mayor Vandergrift suggested extending the terms to 3 years and also continuing to have the alternates for training purposes. Member Landefeld talked about the rules concerning how alternates voted on the board. Mayor Vandergrift stated he would like the board to increase to 9 members with 2 alternates, who would be allowed to vote when seated on the board, and increase their terms to 3 years. He polled the Commission for their opinions. Commissioner Parker said she agreed with the Mayor's proposal. Commissioner Glass agreed, but said that it would be hard to find people who would commit to serve for that length of time. Commissioner Anderson concurred with Commissioner Glass and added that the 3 year term could scare away a potential member. Commissioner Howell also agreed with Commissioner Glass. Mayor Vandergrift said based on what was discussed at this meeting he would direct Staff to draft an ordinance with 9 regular members and 2 alternates for 3 years, to debate the length of the term at the time of voting. He also cautioned the Commissioners to be looking for more board members in their districts. City Attorney Rosenthal asked how the Commission wanted to address the geographical distribution. Mayor Vandergrift asked him to bring back a recommendation. Commissioner Glass suggested drawing lines to divide the City into geographic districts rather than political districts. Alternate Member McKey said he supported Chairman Switzer's posItion for 9 regular members with no alternate members and said, concerning the geographic areas, he did not think people could be forced to serve on a board. Chairman Switzer restated that he thought the alternates should be skipped and have 9 permanent members. City Attorney Rosenthal advised this would be an amendment to the Land Development Code (LDC) and he would take direction from the Commission, prepare an Ordinance which would then, due to procedure in dealing with amendments to the LDC, be sent to the Planning and Zoning Commission, they in turn would forward the amendment to the Commission with their recommendations. 3 Ocoee City Commission Workshop December 8,1998 ADJOURNMENT The workshop was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Attest: APPROVED: City of Ocoee C) lA :;s d~ tla I 4