MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 15, 2017 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SPECIAL MEETING CITY HALL, 116 FIRST STREET NEPTUNE BEACH, FLORIDA Pursuant to proper notice a Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Neptune Beach was held May 15, 2017 immediately following the special meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers, 116 First Street, Neptune Beach, Florida. Attendance Order Call/Roll Call IN ATTENDANCE: Mayor Elaine Brown Vice Mayor Wiley Councilor Rory Diamond Councilor Richard Arthur Councilor Fred Jones City Manager Andrew Hyatt City Attorney Patrick Krechowski Deputy City Manager/Acting City Clerk Amanda Askew Mayor Brown called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. STAFF: Chief of Police Rick Pike Director of Public Works Leon Smith Finance Director Steve Ramsey Building Official Don Ford Senior Activity Director Leslie Lyne IT Administrator David Hardgrove Commander Gary Snyder AWARDS / PRESENTATIONS / RECOGNITION OF GUESTS City Hall employee of the year Police Dept. employee of the year Public Works employee of the year Audit presentation ULI presentation City Manager Hyatt stated that he selected Steve Ramsey, Director of Finance, as the City Hall Employee of the year. Mr. Ramsey thanked everyone. Chief Pike explained that he selected Det. Christie Cotner as thr Police Department s Officer of the year. She has been with the City 6 years and is part of the outreach program. Leon Smith, Director of Public Works, selected Donald Bridges as the Public Work s Employee of the year. Mr. Bridges works in the stormwater division and is responsible for running the Menzi muck and keeping the drainage system clean. Audit Presentation was made by, Purvis Gray and Company. Purvis Gray is the outside firm that oversees the City s audit. Looks at controls and policies and test transactions. Watches for compliance on how the City spends their funds. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) made a presentation. Joe Loretta of Genesis Group and Carolyn Clark, Senior Director of ULI handed out information to the Council about ULI. One product they provide is a technical assistance panel to give land use advice. A two day intense workshop is available to answer the questions for the members and gives recommendations onsite.
May 15, 2017 COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING Page 2 CITY MANAGER REPORT/ACTION LIST City Manager Hyatt welcomed Councilor Jones. Neptune Beach has been included into the State budget for the first time for improvements to the culvert at the intersection of Florida Blvd and Fifth Street. Clerk interviews will take place next week. There is a dumpster on the Lemon Street right-of-way for the businesses at 200 First Street and the owners talks about removing it from the right-of-way. The owner of 200 First Street would like something in writing if for some reason he will need to use this space in the future for a dumpster then the City would agree to this. Mr. Krechowski will draft an agreement and will bring it back to Council for approval. The city will be adding parking on the north side of Lemon St. between Second and Third St. and a sidewalk will be installed on the south side of Lemon with ADA ramp. PUBLIC COMMENTS Bee Jay Lester, 907 Second St., has been here 76 years. Thanked all the Council and welcomes Mr. Jones. Glad to know we are in the black in budget. Doesn t understand the changes to Chapter 8. Michael Aston, 1523 Summer Sands Dr., concerned about the paving issue at Oakhurst and Poinciana. Opposes the opening of Oakhurst to make Summer Sands a pass through or add any additional traffic. PROPOSED ORDINANCES Chapter 8 Building Proposed Ordinance, Chapter 8 Building: An Ordinance Of The City Of Neptune Beach, Florida, Amending Chapter 8, Buildings And Building Regulations; Section 8-5 Firewall Required, Article II Building Code; Section 8-26 Florida Building Code, Section 8-27 Same Amended Exhibit A, Section 8-28 Fire Districts Established Section 8-29 Building Permit Fees, Section 8-30 Persons Exempt From Paying Fees, Section 8-31 Electrical Fees Imposed; Amount, Section 8-32 Same- Payment Prior To Permit Issuance; Section 8-33 House Meters, Section 8-34 Plumbing Fees Imposed Amount, 8-35 Mechanical Fee Imposed; Article III- Property Maintenance Code Section. 8-51-International Property Maintenance Code Adopted, Section 8-52 Same-Amended; Division 3-Beachfront Lighting To Protect Marine Turtles, Section 8-244 Definitions, Section 8-245-Standard For New Development; Article X Moving Of Structure, Division 2 Permit, Section 8-326 Required, Section 8-327 Application, Section 8-328 Fee, Section 8-329 Certificate Of Compliance, Section 8-333 Reserved; And Providing An Effective Date. Don Ford, Building Official, explained that this chapter has not been updated in ten years. Some of the items in the existing code do not exist anymore in the State of Florida building code. The fees in our codes have not been changed since 1995 except for mechanical permit fees. The fees in Chapter 8 are used to support the building department operating expenses. Vice-Mayor Wiley stated that the Finance committee has looked at the proposed ordinance. Neptune Beach has been and still will have the lowest building permit fees. This is a 10% across the board increase and still below everyone else. Will be the sponsor from the finance committee. Councilor Diamond thanked Mr. Ford for his hard work and cleaning up the code but is opposed to the increases of the fees but the rest of the ordinance is great. Councilor Jones stated it is important review your fees structure and to be in line with other cities.
May 15, 2017 COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING Page 3 Made by Wiley, seconded by Jones. MOTION: MOVE TO THE JUNE AGENDA FOR FIRST READ. Councilor Diamond opposed. CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS / NONE ISSUE DEVELOPMENT Demolition 237-239 Oleander Street (South East Corner of Oleander and Third St) demolition. Don Ford, Building Official, explained that the City has been monitoring this property for over two years. The property has been sold four times and the city has been notifying the owners about the code enforcement notices of condemnation. There was a fire last year and the property has been posted since January 2017. They have went beyond the 120 days given to come into compliance and there is still no confirmation if it will be torn down or rebuilt. It an attractive nuisance and are asking for the funds to demolish the structure. We have received three estimates to take it down. The lowest one will be awarded the contract and then a lieu will be placed on the property for the cost to the City. Mayor Brown stated this is an eyesore and nuisance to the neighborhood. Councilor Diamond in an agreement to move this forward. Councilor Arthur stated the property is under contract but they also know it must made into a single family. Will be happy to help to reach out to the agent. Vice-Mayor Wiley it needs to be done and give get the ball rolling to push some action from the property owner. Moved by Diamond, seconded by Wiley. CONSENSUS: MOVE TO THE JUNE AGENDA FOR VOTE. Paving Kings Circle and Bay Rd. Kings Circle and Bay Road paving Poinciana paving proposal Deputy City Manager Mrs. Askew stated that the on-april 3rd Council on April 3 rd had approved the money to improve the paving on Kings Circle and Bay Road from Florida Blvd easterly to Poinciana Road with a cap of $282,000. Mr. Atlee is seeking to develop a portion of the property off Poinciana Road closest to Oakhurst. Staff has met with Mr. Atlee in May and discussed options for the unpaved road. Mr. Atlee s portion is wooded and would have to adhere to all the drainage requirement from St. John s Water Management district. While Bay and Kings Circle are currently dirt roads the requirements are lessened. Mr. Atlee and Staff had looked at coming off Florida Blvd. at Oakhurst and go north of Poinciana without connecting to the existing Oakhurst where the bollards are. Staff is concerned about the stormwater and different ways to handle the storm runoff. One idea would be to use pervious pavement and storing the water under the roof. It would cost additional money which Council has not approved. The motion was for Kings Circle and Bay Road for $228,000. We need a consensus from Council to
May 15, 2017 COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING Page 4 proceed with getting the hard cost of the additional work to be done. Mayor Brown would like to go ahead with the paving of Kings Circle, Bay Road and Poinciana Road up to the first lot and letting the developer pick up from there to Oakhurst ending in a cul-de-sac. Paved roads will bring more interest into the area. Would be in favor of leaving Kings Circle if we are afraid of the cost and pave Bay Road and taking care of the drainage. It would need to be done to develop all of Poinciana Road anyway. Vice-Mayor Wiley asked why we need to change from coming off Bay Road when we have already approved the money for this. Why would we come in from off of Oakhurst or even come through Summer Sands? The water would be there either way. Councilor Jones agrees with paving the roads for redevelopment. Councilor Arthur stated that this is half of the paving budget and we must be wise about how we spend the money. Does not support paving Poinciana at the expense of the City for four lots for private development. We will be taking on the expense for crossing Bay and Poinciana to go south to link to the 4 private lots and spending 25% of the City s paving budget for a private development. Need to stick with the plan to pave Kings and Bay and leave it up to the developer where they plan to come south on Poinciana at their expense or if they would prefer to come through Oakhurst. Does not support going south on Poinciana and absorbing that expense at 25% of the City s budget at the gain of the 4 lots at the end of the street. Can go further and impact a lot more that needs to be done with that budget. Looking for a maximum return on the City s money. Mr. Atlee was invited to address the council. Mr. Atlee stated the four lots have been tested and the drainage is quite good, a low water table and the site has been engineered to take the water from the paving and retain it on the lots. Water will be treated on the rear of the lots in a dry pond with swells. Asking staff to keep Oakhurst as a dead-end and to move forward to get some numbers with options as quickly as possible. Will have a morning meeting to discuss this at a special morning meeting with Mr. Atlee in attendance. PUBLIC COMMENTS Carolyn Wagner, Summer Sands, has the council addressed the water runoff from the development. Michael Aston, 1523 Summer Sands Dr., appreciates the time council has spent on this as it s a hard issue and does have impact on traffic. Council Comments Councilor Diamond stated that the Better Jacksonville money will go away soon and we need to look at in the future and discuss paid parking. Also, the animal ordinance is more than 90 days old and when need to readdress dogs on the beach. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
May 15, 2017 COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING Page 5 ATTEST: Elaine Brown, Mayor Amanda Askew, Acting City Clerk/Deputy City Manager Approved: