The City Council of the City of Monticello, Florida, met in regular session on
April 6, 2010 at 7:00 PM at City Hall.  The following members were present:

 

        John Jones, Mayor

        Idella Scott

        Linda Butler

        Tom Vogelgesang

        George Evans

 

Others present were:

 

        Fred Mosley, Chief of Police

        T. Buckingham Bird, Acting City Attorney

        Steve Wingate, City Manager

        Emily Anderson, City Clerk

 

Mayor John Jones called the meeting to order.  Council Member Tom Vogelgesang offered an invocation, and Mayor Jones led the Pledge of Allegiance.   

 

APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MINUTES – On motion of Linda Butler, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council unanimously approved meeting minutes of the March 2, 2010 meeting. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

*JAMES HOENSTINE requested assistance with an issue of obtaining electricity at 150 N. Jefferson St.  The Mayor referred the matter to the city attorney for response.

 

*LISA REASONER  Ms. Reasoner, Acting Opera House Executive Director, requested assistance in opposing legislative proposals to cease grant funding for Opera House programs.  On motion of Linda Butler, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council voted unanimously to authorize a letter to the area legislative delegation on behalf of the Opera House.

 

ORDINANCE FIRST READINGS:

ORDINANCE 2010 – 01 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FUTURE  LAND USE MAP OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF MONTI--CELLO, FLORIDA BY REDESIGNATING TWO PARCELS      OF LAND, BORDERED BY SOUTH JEFFERSON STREET ON THE EAST AND WEST SEMINOLE AVENUE ON THE SOUTH, COMPRISING 2.86 ACRES, FROM MIXED-USE B/R-BUSINESS/RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL;         PROVIDING FOR PURPOSE; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF THE SPECIFIED AMENDMENT TO            THE CITY OF MONTICELLO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; PROVIDING FOR LEGAL EFFECT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, SCRIVENER’S ERRORS, AND AN            EFFECTIVE DATE

 

ORDINANCE 2010 - 02 AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY BORDERED BY SOUTH JEFFERSON STREET ON THE EAST AND WEST SEMINOLE AVENUE ON THE SOUTH, COMPRISING 2.86 ACRES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MONTICELLO, FLORIDA FROM MIXED USE B/R-BUSINESS/RESIDENTIAL TO B-2 BUSINESS HIGHWAY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE

 

The Council set a workshop for presentation of the applications for small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning for April 19, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

 

2009/2010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CYCLE PUBLIC HEARINGS

*2009 Community Development Block Grant First Public Hearing to Discuss and Select a CDBG Grant Category  Consultant Dennis Dingman provided an overview of CDBG grant categories and objectives.  The Mayor opened the public hearing, at which time, questions were discussed regarding the various programs and specific requirements of the housing rehabilitation grant and scoring procedures.   At the close of the public hearing, on motion of Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by George Evans, the Council unanimously voted to apply for the 2009 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program. 

 

*2010 Community Development Block Grant First Public Hearing to Discuss and Select a CDBG Grant Category  The Mayor conducted the public hearing.  After discussion of the options and cycle schedules and closure of the public hearing, on motion of Linda Butler, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council unanimously voted to apply for the 2010 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program.

 

*Fair Housing Workshop for the Public and City Council   Mr. Dingman conducted the workshop to educate local officials and the general public concerning fair housing requirements under local, state and federal law.

 

*Adoption of Standard Housing Assistance Plan for CDBG Program  On motion of

Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council unanimously voted to adopt the Standard Housing Assistance Plan for CDBG Program.

 

*Appointment of CDBG Citizens’ Advisory Task Force Member  Mayor Jones announced the appointment of Nancy Benjamin to the CDBG Citizens Advisory Task Force.

 

JOE MILLER OF GEORGE AND ASSOCIATES

*Update on Citywide Sewer Rehabilitation Project/Approval of Change Order #3

Mr. Miller reported that additional work can be added to the Sewer Rehabilitation Project because of savings in project tasks.  On motion of Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by George Evans, the Council unanimously approved Change Order No. 3.

 

 

 

 

*Update on Reuse Project – Bid Results  Mr. Miller reported that all base bids for Phase II of the Reuse Project exceeded the project budget.  The engineers have recommended that several items be deleted from the project, and have calculated the low bidder based upon those eliminated project items, and recommend award of the bid, with changes.  Council members discussed the large disparity between line item bids.  A concern was also expressed about eliminating the contingency fund of $100,000.  Engineer Robert George guaranteed that there will be additional savings throughout the project, especially through direct purchase of equipment by the city and by relocation of a pond, and the city will not be obligated to spend additional monies on the project outside the grant award.  On motion of Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council unanimously voted to award the bid for Phase II of the Reuse Project to Allen’s Excavation, the low bidder after bid “line item” deductions.

 

Council Member George Evans asked that the inspectors check for debris piles that are being left during the current sewer rehabilitation work.

 

UPDATE ON PROPOSED CONSENT ORDER FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  City Manager Wingate reported that negotiations  are proceeding with state officials to reduce the amount of fines proposed on Consent Order File No. 09-4253.  It is anticipated that the city match funds used on the re-use project will be able to be applied to the fine proposed, as well as other city expenditures.

 

PROPOSED WATER/SEWER RATE STRUCTURE  Tom Love presented a recap of the workshop proposals for the new water/sewer rate structure.  City Clerk Anderson reported there are several non-metered or non-standard service locations which will have to be addressed in the ordinance, and she will work with Tom Love to develop those rate structures.

 

DISCUSSION OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR CONSULTANT FOR NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING FRANCHISE AGREEMENT RENEWAL WITH PROGRESS ENERGY   Clerk Anderson recommended that the Council engage a consultant to assist with negotiations regarding the renewal of the franchise agreement with Progress Energy for city electrical services.  On motion of Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by Linda Butler, the Council unanimously voted to issue a Request for Qualifications for consultant services.

 

RESOLUTION 2010-03 ESTABLISHING QUALIFYING DATES AND ELECTION DATES FOR THE 2010 MUNICIPAL ELECTION   On motion of Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by Linda Butler, the Council unanimously voted to adopt Resolution 2010-03.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS

Council Member Linda Butler reported she enjoyed participating in Legislative Day on March 24th.  Mayor Jones also reported a successful event.

 

Council Member Tom Vogelgesang asked for Council Members to consider the change in requirements for sign posting during rezoning procedures to require posting before the Local Planning Agency hearing instead of the final Council ordinance public hearing.

He also requested Council Members to study other cities’ sign ordinances to see if there are improvements in our ordinance which will eliminate blight. Mr. Vogelgesang also directed that the cemetery rate change be considered for the May meeting.  George Evans would like to see more data regarding man hours spent maintaining the cemetery.

Mr. Vogelgesang also requested that the city proceed with nuisance ordinance citations on the properties previously discussed.

 

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND DEPARTMENTS

*Police Chief Fred Mosley reported the city has received some rifles from stimulus funding.

 

*City Clerk Emily Anderson requested approval for travel expenses for the Summer Clerk’s Academy in Panama City.  On motion of Tom Vogelgesang, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council unanimously approved conference and travel expenditures.   

 

Clerk Anderson also reported a meeting of the Citizens’ Advisory Task Force on April 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. and an Historic Design Review Board meeting the same night at 7:00 p.m. 

 

Ms. Anderson also recognized Anne Holt, the new Executive Director of Mainstreet. 

 

Ms. Anderson also reported that the State Department of Transportation has declined to authorize a flashing signal for the intersection of Cherokee and South Jefferson Street.  The Council noted there are still several dangerous areas in town.

 

APRIL WORKSHOP

Topics for the Council workshop for April 19th at 6:00 will only include the two proposed ordinances for comprehensive plan change and rezoning. 

 

There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                    Emily Anderson

                                                            City Clerk/Treasurer

 

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John Jones

Mayor

 

NOTE:  These proceedings were mechanically recorded by cassette tapes (2 tapes)