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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-97 MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 18, 1997 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Vandergrift called the regular meeting to order at 7: 15 p.m. in the Commission Chambers. David Hartbarger, Minister, Ocoee Church of Christ, led in the prayer and Hilda Ems led in the pledge of allegiance. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Anderson, Glass, Howell and Parker. Also present were City Manager Shapiro, City Attorney Rosenthal, City EngineerlUtilities Director Shira, Assistant City Engineer Wheeler, Director of Community Relations/Projects Resnik, Planning Director Wagner, Fire Chief Strosnider, Police Chief Mark, Public Works Director Smith and City Clerk Grafton. ABSENT: None. PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATIONS PROCLAMATIONS NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK - NOVEMBER 16-22, 1997. Mayor Vandergrift read the proclamation proclaiming November 16-22, 1997, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and presented it to Mr. Herb Aguirresaenz, Executive Director of the Anthony House. Mr. Aguirresaenz spoke of the services provided by the Anthony House, and introduced current residents, Mrs. Marlene Helms and Jonathan & Angel Thompson. He also gave their phone number to call for further information - (352) 383-5577. PRESENT A T ATIONS PRESENT A TION OF EMPLOYEE AWARDS FOR YEARS OF SERVICE 5 YEARS - MARK A. BOUSQUET, CHARLES J. BROWN AND JONATHAN D. MIERAS 10 YEARS - DENNIS McDANIEL 15 YEARS - WILLIAM G. LEDFORD 20 YEARS - ROBERT E. HOWELL Mayor Vandergrift invited Jonathan Mieras, William Ledford, and Robert Howell individually to the lectern and gave a brief history of their years of service to the City before handing them their awards. Their department heads then spoke highly of their achievements. Mark Bousquet, Charles Brown and Dennis McDaniel were not present to receive their awards. REPORT ON A WW A TAPPING CONTEST - CITY ENGINEERlUTILITIES DIRECTOR SHIRA AND ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER WHEELER. City EngineerlUtilities Director Shira explained that, for the first time, the City of Ocoee participated in the A WW A (American Water Works Association) Conference held in Clearwater, Florida and had an active role in some of the competitions. He introduced Assistant City Engineer Wheeler, who was responsible for getting the City involved in the conference and in getting the employees to enter the competitions. Mr. Wheeler introduced the four members of Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting November 18, 1997 the Tapping team: John Cockrell, Bob Clark, David Robert and Jimmy Butler; and the Meter Madness contestants: Glen Brimer and Randy Dunn. The team finished first in "fun" Tap competition and the Meter Madness participants finished 4th and 5th. CONSENT AGENDA The consent agenda consisted of items A, B, C and D. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Howell. moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0. A. Approval and Acceptance of Minutes of City Commission Re!!ular Meeting of November 4.1997. Town Meetin!! for Schools of October 30.1997. and Joint Special Meeting with Apopka and Winter Garden held November 10.1997. B. Appointment of Police Officers'IFirefighters' Retirement Fund Fifth Trustee. . Police/Fire Retirement Trustees have chosen to reappoint Chief-Strosnider as their fifth member. C. Approval and Authorization for Mayor and City Clerk to execute documents associated with The Reserve Unit One - Final Plat. and Developer and Homeowners Association Agreement for Upgraded Street Lightin!!. . This is an 89 lot single family residential subdivision located at the southeast corner of Clarke Road and A.D. Mims Road. D. Approval and Authorization for Mayor and City Clerk to execute Worsham Subdivision Final Plat. . This is a 3 lot commercial subdivision along Clarke Road adjacent to West Oaks Mall. A performance Bond has been posted so the plat can be approved and recorded prior to the completion of all site work improvements. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS/PUBLIC Mrs. Marianne Wilburn, representative of the Pee Wee and Senior Midget Cheerleaders, read a prepared statement requesting funds to help them go to the regional competition. Ms. Shirley Walls, member of the Ocoee Bulldogs Senior Midget Cheerleading Squad, expressed appreciation for the new Ocoee Bulldogs Football Field, as well as all the support throughout the years, and asked the City to support their November 28, 1997, cheerleading competition. The cheerleaders then did a cheerleading routine for Commission, and announced that those wishing to donate may contact Sherry De Weese at 292-8786. Commissioner Howell, seconded by Commissioner Parker, moved to donate $1000 to the Pee Wee and Senior Midget Cheerleaders with funds to come from the Community Relations Fund. Commissioner Glass. seconded by Commissioner Anderson. moved to amend the motion to donate $1200 to the Pee Wee and Senior Midget Cheerleaders to come from the Community Relations Fund. Motion carried 5-0. Former Commissioner Gleason, Director of Community Relations, Health Central, said that a group of businesses and land owners have revived the State Road 50 Corridor Plan as they are 2 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting November 18, 1997 interested in affecting the direction development is taking along Colonial Drive. They hoped to form a coalition with the City and developers to further develop that Plan. Mr. Gleason distributed a letter that had been mailed to land owners and businesses regarding this issue and reported their responses. He thanked City Manager Shapiro, Planning Director Wagner and Senior Planner Horne for their help. ANNOUNCEMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE BY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Parker announced the RSVP No. 656-2218. Mayor Vandergrift reported that 62 tons of garbage were picked up in the City's Fall cleanup, and he thanked those who were involved in helping. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None. OTHER BUSINESS FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE No. 97-33, RELATING TO THE SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICES. SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED DECEMBER 2,1997 AT 7:15 P.M. City Attorney Rosenthal read this Ordinance by title only. City EngineerlUtilities Director Shira explained that, when the City received its most recent consumptive use permit, the St. John's River Water Management District mandated that the City revise the rate structure which had been used since 1989. The proposed change would not be meant to raise the City's revenue, but to encourage people to conserve water. The proposed change would cause a decrease in current water bills if only up to 8000 gallons of water are used, but would increase if consumption is over that. Mayor Vandergrift asked for a copy of the mandate and directed staff to research what other cities do for conservation. Mr. Ken Hooper, Vice President of PEC, responded that when the City's permit was renewed last November, the directive was issued. Mayor Vandergrift directed Mr. Shira to contact SJR WMD and request that a representative from SJR WMD be present at the second reading of the Ordinance Mayor Vandergrift announced the second reading and public hearing to be December 2, 1997, at 7:15 p.m. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: MOST VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP (MVP) AWARDS - OCOEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING GRANTS PROGRAM. (TABLED FROM NOVEMBER 4 MEETING) Director of Community Relations/Projects Resnik presented the staff report and explained that this program was developed as a means to carry out the City Commission's desire to empower neighborhood groups to take advantage and take responsibility for planning and implementing projects that address their specific needs. The MVP Awards Program encourages people to get to know their neighbors, to form neighborhood groups, and to partner with local businesses, churches, and other community agencies and civic organizations on these projects. 3 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting November 18, 1997 Mr. R.P. Mohnacky, 1820 Prairie Lake Boulevard, asked for an example of this program in action. Mayor Vandergrift said the Rock Lake subdivision in Orlando is involved in this program. Former Commissioner Gleason, 856 Hammocks Drive, asked if there was a provision to protect against seven neighbors joining together and improving their own property. Ms. Resnik said those seven people would have to draw their own neighborhood boundaries and then go out and get petitions signed in support of the application before they could come forward and apply for the grant. Mavor Vandere:rift. seconded by Commissioner Glass. moved to approve the program as outlined. along with the accompanying application and schedule. Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/AcTION RE: STANDARDIZED FILING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Director of Community Relations/Projects Resnik presented the staff report, and advised that, in preparing for the new records retrieval system, it was determined that a comprehensive records management plan should be implemented. Toward that end a committee with representatives from each department was put together to research, study, and create a standardized filing system. Those members are Carolyn Alexander, Michelle Boisbert, Teresa Braddy, Fran Gosnell, Marian Green, Judy Henry, Carmen McClellan, Sherry Seaver, Jeanne Washington, Ella Wisecup and Cherri Toms. During the committee's research, it was learned that there were no cities with a plan to emulate. Ms. Resnik said that Mr. Steve Lewis, Florida Data Bank, was available to provide the City with a comprehensive records management plan that will address proper retention and disposition of records in accordance with state and federal requirements, and she requested approval of $3,000 from contingency fund for such services as listed in his letter dated October 2, 1997. Executive Secretary Braddy gave a brief synopsis of Mr. Lewis's experience, and Mr. Lewis responded to several questions raised by the Commission. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Parker. moved to approve the $3000 fee for services as outlined in the October 2. 1997 letter from Mr. Lewis. Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: CLARKE ROAD MAINTENANCE CONTRACT. Public Works Director Smith presented the staff report, advising that the three low bidders had been contacted for further details regarding staffing and equipment. Mr. Smith recommended accepting the bid of MetroScape Corporation in the amount of $24,240 for the maintenance of Clarke Road from SR50 to Ocoee-Clarcona Road. He explained further that the maintenance contract would be a performance contract, with the result that, if the company allowed the grass to get too high before cutting, they would not be paid for that period of time. Commissioner Howell expressed reservations about contracting with a low bidder, as they may not be equiped to do the job and not be aware of it. Mr. R.P. Mohnacky, 1820 Prairie Lake Boulevard, spoke of changing the type of grass. 4 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting November 18,1997 Mr. Jim Blackwelder, 2009 Nancy Ann Terrace, representing Strike-3 Lawn Care, distributed a handout of a spreadsheet showing costs in support of his bid and explained how he came up with each price. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Glass. moved to award MetroScape Corporation the Clarke Road Lawn Maintenance contract for the amount of $24.240 and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute any necessary documents. Motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Howell voting no. RECESS - 9:20 p.m. - 9:29 p.m. DISCUSSION/AcTION RE: ELECTION DATE FOR CHARTER REFERENDUM. City Attorney Rosenthal noted that when the City Commission considered the report of the Charter Review Commission a date had not been set for the scheduling of a referendum. He asked for such direction at this time so that an ordinance for the proposed Charter Amendments could be prepared. Commissioner Glass. seconded by Commissioner Parker. moved to direct staff to proceed with scheduling the referendum for the March 1999 General Municipal Election which will include a City-wide mayoral race. Motion carried 4-1. with Commissioner Anderson voting no. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: CONTRACT WITH SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR MARCH 1998 ELECTION WITH ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. City Clerk Grafton explained that this was the standard agreement entered into each election and that on the Vote Processing Equipment Use Agreement and Election Contract, Bill Cowles, Supervisor of Elections, had made one non-substantial change to Section 7, by removing the location of voting machines. Commissioner Glass. seconded by Commissioner Parker. moved to approve the contract for the March 1998 election with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute. Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD PHASE 1 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GROUP 2 HORIZONTAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. Assistant City Engineer Wheeler presented the staff report and explained that bids were received for CIP No. 23 Sullivan Ditch on Silver Star Road, and two small drainage improvement projects, Bay Street Cross Culvert Replacement and Little Spring Hill Drive. Staff concurred with PEC's recommendation to award the projects to Prime Construction Group, Inc., for the total bid price of $87,522.50. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Glass. moved to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a contract with Prime Construction Group. Inc. for CIP Project No. 23 in accordance with their bid of $69,347.50. further an additional city project on Bay Street for the sum of $3.605.00 and additional city project on Little Spring Hill and Springfoot Street for the sum of$14.570.00. with a total amount of$87.522.50. Motion carried 5-0. 5 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting November 18, 1997 DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: CONTINUANCE OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT RE: PALM DRIVE. City Attorney Rosenthal, referring to his memorandum dated November 13, 1997, explained that as of yet, the Expressway Authority had not been able to sign the Joint Participation Agreement due to the continued need to finalize certain agreements between the Expressway Authority and Britt Farms. He recommended extending from November 20, 1997, to January 23, 1998, the contingency associated with Resolution No. 97-05 for Expressway Authority approval of the Joint Participation Agreement in order to avoid the automatic termination of the previous approvals. Commissioner Howell. seconded by Commissioner Glass. moved to further modify the approval made on June 17. 1997. of Resolution No. 97-05. as modified by action taken on September 16. 1997. so that such approval is made subiect to the Expressway Authority signing the Joint Participation Agreement on or before January 23. 1998. Motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Anderson voting no. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: RESOLUTION No. 97-12, SUPPORTING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VIII SECTION 2 (A) AND (C) OF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION (AS DIRECTED AT THE NOVEMBER 4 REGULAR SESSION). City Attorney Rosenthal read this Resolution by title only. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Howell. moved to approve Resolution No. 97-12. supporting an amendment to Article VIII Section 2 (a) and (c) of the Florida Constitution in order to preserve the fundamental concepts of home rule. Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: RESOLUTION No. 97-13, OPPOSING THE DESIGNATION OF "URBAN PRESERVATION DISTRICTS." City Attorney Rosenthal read this Resolution by title only. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner HowelL moved to approve Resolution No. 97-13. opposing the designation of "Urban Preservation Districts." Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: RESOLUTION No. 97-14, SUPPORTING THE "TAXPAYER PROTECTION ACT." City Attorney Rosenthal read this Resolution by title only. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner HowelL moved to approve Resolution No. 97-14. supporting the "Taxpayer Protection Act." Motion carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/ACTION RE: RESOLUTION No. 97-15, OPPOSING PROPOSED HOUSE BILL 3095 REQUIRING ALL LOCAL LAW PENSION PLANS TO MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS OF STATE PENSION PLANS. City Attorney Rosenthal read this Resolution by title only. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Parker. moved to approve Resolution No. 97-15. opposing proposed House Bill 3095 requiring all local law pension plans to meet all requirements of state pension plans. Motion carried 5-0. STAFF REPORTS - None. 6 Ocoee City Commission Regular Meeting November 18,1997 COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Howell: No comments at this time. Commissioner Anderson: 1) Wished all a Happy Thanksgiving holiday. 2) Thanked the Police Department for the neighborhood watch report. Mayor Vandergrift asked if there could be a third category for the Mall. Mr. Shapiro said he would check with Chief Mark. Commissioner Glass: 1) Asked for the curfew report. Mr. Shapiro said it would be ready for the next meeting. Commissioner Parker: 1) Thanked the Building/Engineering/Protective Inspection Departments for the meeting regarding construction concerns held last week., and she announced that there would be another one in February or March next year. 2) Thanked all who participated in the Veterans' Day program, especially the Ocoee Middle School chorus and band. Mayor Vandergrift: 1) Said he has a friend who makes snow who has offered to make snow for Santa at the Christmas parade for approximately $300. Commissioner Glass. seconded by Commissioner Howell. moved to authorize the expenditure of $300 from Community Promotions Account for snow for the parade. and to direct staff to be sure it is safe. Motion carried 5-0. 2) Reported that our departments leave litter along the roadside and asked that they clean it up. 3) Apologized for his wife's report at the last meeting regarding the status ofthe tax bill, as she had passed on erroneous information broadcast by one of the anchors on TV. 4) Announced a meeting with Rep. Dan Webster in the Mayor's office on Monday from 1-3 p.m. and said he would be showing the Coca Cola property to him as a possible site for a learning center. City Attorney Rosenthal advised that, if Commissioners anticipate attending, there should be a notice posted to that effect. 5) Called attention to an article in the National Cities Weekly regarding the Police Department training citizens to assist in traffic and other areas, as Chief Firstner has done in the Fire Department with his CER TS program. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 p.m. Attest: APPROVED: City of Ocoee ~ S. Scott Vandergrift, Mayor 7