The City Council of the City of Monticello, Florida, met in regular session on
July 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.  The following members were present:

 

        Tom Vogelgesang, Mayor

        Idella Scott

        Linda Butler

        John Jones

        George Evans

 

Others present were:

 

        Fred Mosley, Chief of Police

        Bruce Leinback, City Attorney

        Emily Anderson, City Clerk

 

Mayor Tom Vogelgesang called the meeting to order.  George Evans offered the invocation, and Mayor Vogelgesang led the Pledge of Allegiance.  

 

CONSENT AGENDA:

*APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MINUTES OF JUNE 2, 2009 AND JUNE 4, 2009

*RESOLUTION 2009-06 AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM LIGHTING, MAINTENANCE AND COMPENSATION AGREEMENT    

*RESOLUTION 2009-07 AMENDING 2008/2009 BUDGET TO CORRECT FUND BALANCES

*PROCLAMATION PROMOTING CENSUS 2010 

On motion of John Jones, seconded by Idella Scott, the Council approved consent items, with a name correction noted to minutes of the June 4, 2009 meeting.

 

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

 

JULIE CONLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – JEFFERSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN RE:  EDC ACTIVITIES AND BUDGET REQUEST   Ms. Conley updated the Council on current EDC projects and noted that cooperation between the county and city will continue to enhance the economic situation locally.  She also discussed the current broadband network initiative project.  She requested that the city continue to fund the Economic Development Council and noted that the budget and financial statements will be available during the budget process.  Council Member Evans noted the importance of continuing to work on broadband expansion, and Mayor Vogelgesang offered to provide input of the city’s experience as in internet provider.  On motion of John Jones, seconded by George Evans, the Council unanimously voted to include funding for EDC in the upcoming budget in the same amount as last year. 

 

JUDY HALL IN RE:  RECOMMENDATION FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES  Ms. Hall did not appear.

 

UPDATE ON CITYWIDE SEWER REHABILITATION BID RESULTS/CONSIDERATION OF ACTION  Mayor Vogelgesang noted that the city engineers have suggested that the Council reject recent sewer rehabilitation bids and  authorize re-issuance of a new bid request.  Joe Miller of George and Associates discussed a bid protest received regarding conformance with MBE/WBE requirements and also noted a few discrepancies in bid responses to certain line items, indicating possible confusion on the part of the bidders.  The Council discussed the particulars of the bidding process, compliance with state and federal MBE/WBE regulations and items possibly needing clarification.  Linda Butler made a motion to reject all bids and to re-bid the sewer rehabilitation project.  Tom Vogelgesang noted he would like to see the MBE/WBE submission requirements be submitted with the bid proposals.  He also offered suggestions regarding t-liners versus pipe-bursting and asked for review of the requirement for tank cleaning.  He also noted that the city manager should review the bid specifications and the bid documents to ensure there are no unclear instructions.   Mr. Timmy Lowman of Southeast Pipe, the apparent previous low bidder for the project, addressed the Council regarding the qualifications of the company and bid specifications and processes for pricing.  City Attorney Leinback also suggested that the Council adopt bid protest procedures and a protest timetable, and he noted he would have that information for the Council next month.

 

At Mr. Vogelgesang’s request, Ms. Butler amended her motion to adopt Mr. Vogelgesang’s suggestions, and, upon agreement also by Ms. Scott, who seconded the motion, the Council voted unanimously to reject all bids and re-bid the sewer rehabilitation project, with instructions that t-liner alternatives be considered if grant provisions allow; the city manager should review the project specs; the project specifications regarding tank cleaning should be reviewed; bid specifications should be free of ambiguities; and MBE/WBE submissions should be included in the bid process.

 

Attorney Leinback also discussed the status of the treatment plant wall repairs.  Mr. Leinback reported that the City Manager has said he would speak to the engineers and review the status of the situation.

 

DESIGNATION OF VOTING MEMBER FOR FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES’ AUGUST CONFERENCE/ REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CONFERENCE AND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR JOHN JONES   On motion of Linda Butler, seconded by George Evans, the Council unanimously approved travel expenses for Council Members Jones and Scott in the approximate amount of $2,400 to $2,500 dollars.

On motion of George Evans, seconded by Linda Butler, the Council unanimously appointed Idella Scott to act a voting delegate for the City of Monticello.

 

APPROVAL FOR CITY ATTORNEY TRAVEL AND CONFERENCE EXPENSES FOR JULY CITY ATTORNEY CONFERENCE  On motion of John Jones, seconded by Linda Butler, the Council authorized travel expenses for Attorney  Leinback’s travel expenses in the approximate amount of $900 to attend the upcoming municipal attorneys’ conference in Bonita Springs.

 

UPDATE ON REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINING FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM ELECTED MEMBERS CLASS  Clerk Anderson reported that the state is reviewing the city’s charter to ascertain if the city can join the Florida Retirement System Elected Members Class. 

 

INTRODUCTION OF CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT  Clerk Anderson introduced the draft Evaluation and Appraisal Report and discussed the process used by the city’s consultant and the Local Planning Agency.  The Council chose to discuss the report further at the August workshop, as well as discuss the capital improvement schedule.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER IDELLA SCOTT IN RE:  UPDATE ON MONTICELLO PARK DEVELOPMENT PLANNING  Council Member Scott presented minutes of a park planning committee meeting.  She announced a town hall meeting at Care Charter School on July 21st at 7:00 p.m.  The Clerk will advertise the meeting, since two or more Council Members may attend and discuss park planning.  Ms. Scott also noted the committee intends to develop an application for FRDAP funding for Council approval at the September meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

REVIEW OF FEDERAL CODE CITES IN PROPOSED PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE   Attorney Leinback noted code cites will be addressed in the procurement policy next month at the same time the bid protest provisions are adopted.  Mr. Leinback suggested that the procurement policy be adopted by resolution instead of by ordinance.

 

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENTS

*Police Chief Fred Mosley noted an additional Byrne grant is available and he will be working with the Sheriff’s Department on the application.  Chief Mosley also noted a request for parade procession has been received for the March for Jesus on August 9th.  The procession requires no additional staff or road closures.  On motion of John Jones, seconded by George Evans, the Council unanimously approved the procession application filed by the Holy Ghost Revival Center’s march on August 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

 

*Treatment Plant Supervisor Jim Milicic reported that the treatment plant, lift station, and well areas are being cleaned.  The Department is looking at a mower attachment for the tractor which costs approximately $1,900.  The Council noted that the city manager is in control of such spending decisions. 

 

Mr. Milicic also asked that when future beautification projects are performed, he should be consulted during irrigation design.  The newly installed landscape project at the Courthouse contains an unnecessarily complicated irrigation system.  Mayor Vogelgesang noted that the city manager should make sure an “as built” document is received by the city.

 

NEW BUSINESS

*REVISION OF NOISE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE RESTRICTIONS ON GENERATOR USE   A problem exists in the city of residents using generators instead of being connected to the electric utility, and the generator noise is disturbing to the neighborhood at night.   Attorney Leinback notes that the code needs to be modified to clarify unacceptable generator use.  The Council expressed the desire to modify the city’s code to outlaw generator use as a primary source of electrical power. 

 

*Council Member Linda Butler requested that the sign ordinance be fully enforced with regard to signs put in the rights-of-way.  She also asked that the advertising benches be removed.  Clerk Anderson noted a new bench purchased by the Health Department is scheduled to be installed, and the city has ordered two additional benches. 

 

Ms. Butler also requested clarification of when the ten percent penalty for late utility payments will be applied if the tenth of the month falls on a weekend or holiday.  The ordinance should be revised to clarify the process.

 

JULY WORKSHOP  Clerk Anderson requested that a budget workshop be conducted in July.  The Council set the workshop for July 28th at 6:00 p.m.

 

Mayor Vogelgesang requested that the golf cart signs and application process be finalized.

 

There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:39 p.m.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Emily Anderson

                                                            City Clerk/Treasurer

 

_____________________________

Tom Vogelgesang

Mayor

 

NOTE:  These proceedings were mechanically recorded. See CD 2009-07