City Commission Meeting Summary - March 12, 2008
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action:
Item 1 – Presented a proclamation proclaiming the week of March 16-22, 2008, to be Florida Surveyors and Mappers Week in the City of Tallahassee
Mr. W. Lamar Evers, PLS, representing the Bureau of Survey & Mapping, Division of State Lands, appeared before the Commission and accepted the proclamation on behalf of the State and National Society of Surveyors.
Item 2 – Presented a proclamation proclaiming March 2008 as Purchasing Month in the City of Tallahassee
Ms. Janice Pursley, President of the Tallahassee Area Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, appeared before the Commission and accepted the proclamation.
Items 3-11 and 13 – Voted 5-0 to approve the staff’s recommendations presented in Consent Agenda Items 3-11 and 13, taking the following action:
Item 3 – Approved the Historic Property Grant and Revolving Loan program (HPGLP) Finance Committee recommendation of a HPGLP grant/loan award of $11,355 ($5,677.50 grant and $5,677.50 loan) to John Rawlings for the remaining repair of 27 original windows and replacement of six (6) aluminum windows at 1320 Golf Terrace Drive (Option 1 as recommended by Economic Development)
Item 4 – Authorized the establishment of a FY2008 work order with an appropriation of $2,800 from the Animal Control Training Reserve Account #272249 (Option 1 as recommended by Neighborhood & Community Services [NCS])
Item 5 – Approved the award of a construction contract for the Conradi Street Stormwater Improvements Project (IFB #0031-08-ER-BC) to Dixie Paving & Grading, Inc., second low bidder meeting specifications, based on the City’s MBE Policy, in the amount of $119,970 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Stormwater)
Item 6 – Approved a Tri-Party Agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the City of Tallahassee to effectuate the transfer of the operation and maintenance responsibility and the stormwater permit for the Weems Pond Stormwater Facility from the FDOT to the City, and authorized the City Manager to execute the Agreement (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Stormwater)
Item 7 – Approved an engineering services task order for the final design and permitting of the East Georgia at Meridian Flood Mitigation Project with Capital Engineering & Surveying, Inc., under Continuing Services Contract No. 862, in the amount of $102,813.25 (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Stormwater)
Item 8 – Approved a purchase order for the construction of two test water wells – one on Old St. Augustine Road north of the Southwood development and the second on Kerry Forest Parkway near Ox Bottom Road – to Rowe Well Drilling, pursuant to Annual Price Agreement #0111-02-RM-TC/Contract No. 1078 for Water Well Maintenance and Repair, for a total price of $267,500 (Option 1 as recommended by Water Utility)
Item 9 – Approved the award of a contract for the roof replacement and other facility repairs needed at Water Wells 6 and 7 (IFB #0066-08-ER-BC) to Council Contracting, Inc., Florida, low bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $110,586 (Option 1 as recommended by Water Utility)
Item 10 – Approved a task order for design services to replace Pumping Station #53 and a 10-inch diameter gravity sewer outfall (from the intersection of Aksarben Drive and Sutor Road to Old Plantation Loop in Piney Z) to effectively abolish Pumping Station #101, to Capital Engineering & Surveying, Inc. (CES), under Contract No. 1050-A, in the amount of $125,577 (Option 1 as recommended by Water Utility)
Item 11 – Approved the purchase of a portable building to provide new office space for the (AWT) Program Management and Design staff (City and consultant staff) at the T. P. Smith Water Reclamation facility to Williams Scotsman, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida, pursuant to School District of Osceola County, Florida Bid #SDOC 07-005NM, at a cost not to exceed $157,102.50 (Option 1 as recommended by Water Utility)
Item 12 – PULLED FROM CONSENT the adoption of a bond issuance resolution for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, Inc. – Sleep Lab, Series 2008 – SEE BELOW
Item 13 – Approved the minutes of the following City Commission meetings as distributed (as recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk/Records Management):
- January 10, 2008 City Commission Retreat
- February 13, 2008 Regular Meeting
- February 20, 2008 Regular Target Issue Workshop
Item 12 – Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Mustian abstained) to adopt Resolution No. 08-R-09, authorizing the issuance of $1 million in Healthcare Facilities Subordinated Revenue Bonds for Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, Inc. – Sleep Lab, Series 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney and the City Treasurer-Clerk)
Mr. Randy Hanna, the City’s Bond Counsel, appeared before the Commission relative to this item.
Items 14-15 and 17.1 – By consensus, introduced Ordinances Nos. 08-O-18, 08-Z-17 and 08-O-25, and set the ordinances for public hearings as recommended:
Item 14 – The staff’s recommendation was to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-18, which would annex into the City approximately 14 acres located on Capital Circle Southwest, adjacent on the west to the Airport Industrial Park, petitioned by Jack Green, of Linderand, planned for a mixed use development with office/commercial and residential units, and set the ordinance for public hearing on March 26, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the Mayor’s Office/City Manager).
Item 15 – The staff’s recommendation was to introduce Ordinance No. 08-Z-17, which would rezone properties presented as part of the Residential Preservation 1 Map Series from R-1 Single-Family Detached Residential, R-2 Single-Family Detached Residential, R-3 Single and Two-Family Residential, and C-1 Neighborhood Commercial to Residential Preservation 1, implementing Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment 2006-2-M-010, and set the ordinance for public hearings on March 26 and April 23, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the Mayor’s Office/City Manager).
Item 16 – DELETED FROM THE AGENDA the proposed introduction of Ordinance No. 08-O-19, which would implement the Providence Neighborhood Overlay (PNO) to properties zoned Central Urban within the Providence Neighborhood and limit allowed uses within the PNO (brought forward by Planning)
Item 17 – DELETED FROM THE AGENDA the proposed introduction of Ordinance No. 08-Z-20, which would implement the zoning classifications as designated on the Providence Neighborhood Site Specific Zoning Map (brought forward by Planning)
Item 17.1 – The staff’s recommendation was to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-25, which clarifies that right-of-way abandonments and closures of roads are legislative decisions by removing them from the portion of the rezoning process that authorizes quasi-judicial proceedings, and set the ordinance for public hearing on March 26, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney).
Item 18 – Voted 5-0 to approve a task order to provide engineering services for improvements to the Southeast Spray Field irrigation system, in accordance with the City’s wastewater operating permit, to Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan (PBS&J), of Tallahassee, Florida, under the current Continuing Services Agreement for Engineering Consulting Services, City Contract #1949, in the amount of $79,800 (Option 1 as recommended by Water Utility)
Item 19 – Received Power Point presentations on the results of rate studies conducted by R. W. Beck Consultants, and the resulting proposed rate increases for the Water and Sewer System, and Natural Gas System
Mr. Ted Symankiewicz and Mr. Craig Shepherd, of R. W. Beck Consultants, appeared before the Commission and gave the presentations.
By consensus, introduced Ordinances Nos. 08-O-08, 08-O-09 and 08-O-10, and set the ordinances for public hearing on March 26, 2008, as recommended (Options 1, 2 and 3 by Utility Business & Customer Services):
- Option 1: The staff’s recommendation was to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-10, which would increase base sewer revenues by 15% effective April 1, 2008; 14% effective January 1, 2009; and 14% effective April 1, 2010; and set the ordinance for public hearing on March 26, 2008.
- Option 2: The staff’s recommendation was to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-09, which would create a conservation rate structure for residential and irrigation customers, and a reuse water rate; increase base water revenues by 12.9% effective January 1, 2009; and by an additional 11% effective October 1, 2010; and set the ordinance for public hearing on March 26, 2008.
- Option 3: The staff’s recommendation was to introduce Ordinance No. 08-O-08, which would increase natural gas revenues by 4.1% effective April 1, 2008; by 2.2% effective October 1, 2009; and by the change in CPI each October thereafter; and set the ordinance for public hearing on March 26, 2008.
Commissioner Katz requested that the staff provide more information on the impacts of these proposed rate adjustments on future utility transfers to the General Fund.
Item 20 – Voted 5-0 to approve the use of up to $76,990 in funding available in the Think About Personal Pollution Campaign (TAPP) (Project No. 1000782) until a grant contract with the FDEP is executed, and authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute the grant contract once it is received from FDEP (Option 1 as recommended by Public Works/Stormwater)
Item 21 – Held a Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) public hearing on the issuance of Children’s Home Society Bonds by Palm Beach County to refinance a Children’s Home Society facility located in Tallahassee, as well as finance or refinance the acquisition, construction and equipping of certain social service centers in Palm Beach County, Jacksonville, Indian River County, and Collier County, Florida (collectively the Project)
Voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Mustian abstained) to adopt Resolution No. 08-R-10, approving the issuance of the Bonds for the purposes of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and authorizing the execution of an Interlocal Agreement with Palm Beach County to authorize the issuance of the Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $17 million and to loan the proceeds to The Children’s Home Society of Florida to finance the Project (as recommended by the City Attorney and the City Treasurer-Clerk)
There were no speakers on this item.
Unagended Speaker: Ms. Ann Bidlingmaier, 1920 Harriet Drive, appeared before the Commission and urged modification of the City’s Environmental Management Ordinance (EMO) to provide better protections for the community’s trees. She distributed copies of her written concerns.
Mayor Marks requested that the staff bring back information on potential revisions to the EMO and at the suggestion of Commissioner Lightsey, directed staff to take the issue to the Environmental and Energy Target Issue Committee before bringing it to the full Commission.
City Commission Information and Sharing of Ideas:
Commissioner Mustian requested a status report on the Capitol Office Complex development project by the next Commission meeting.
Commissioner Lightsey stressed the importance of having a full-fledged public information campaign on the water and sewer rate adjustments.
Mayor Marks announced that he was replacing Commissioner Mustian as a City representative on the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA) and Commissioners Lightsey and Gillum would remain on the CRTPA while Commissioner Katz would rotate with him onto the CRTPA during the next rotation cycle, not to occur less than a year after the last effective rotation date.
Mayor Marks also thanked everyone involved and the business community sponsors of the Legislative Reception held on March 4th, and he clarified that this had not been a City-funded event.
Commissioner Katz referenced a recent news article regarding Progress Energy filing for two new nuclear energy plants in Levy County and he observed that about 5 million tons of CO2 had been saved by not going forward with the Taylor Energy Center in Perry, Florida.
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