Loading...
CCMtg08-28-06SMMinLONGWOOD C:[TY COMIVIISSION ~~,, Longwood City Cornm.ission Chairnbers 175 West Warren Avenue Longwood, l~ lorida SPECIAL ME:E7CIl`1G MINUTES AiTGUST 2l3, 2006 . 7:00 P.rVl. Present: Mayor John C. Maingot Commissioner Mike Holt Commissioner H.G. "Butch" Bundy, Jr. Commissioner Brian D. Sacketit John J. Drago, City Administrator Sarah M. Mirus, City Clerk Chris M. Traber, Special Counsel, Nabors Giblin & Nickerson, P.A. Tom Smith, Division Manager •of Streets/Fleet Richard Kornbluh, Division Manager of Utilities Carol Rogers, Director of Financial Services Debbie Renfro, Property :Mainitenance Supervisor Ryan Spinella, Executive Assis~:ant Absent: Deputy Mayor Dan Anderson (Excused) Richard S. Taylor, Jr., City Atl:orney (Excused) 1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Maingot called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. PUBLtC HEARING, A. Finance Division of the Financial Services Department recommends the City Commission read by tiitle only, hold a public hearing, and adopt Resolution No. 06-]_148, which confirms a Paving assessment for the 2006 Magnolia Avenue/Oak Street Road Paving Assessment Area, establishes the assessment roll and provides for the collection of the assessment on the property tax bills. Mr. Traber announced having proof of publication for this item and all public hearings listed.on the agenda. He then read Resolution No. 06-1148 by title only. Mayor Maingot opened the; public hearing. No one spoke in favor or in opposition to the Resolution. Commissioner Holt: moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Btmdy and carried by a unanimous voice vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. CC 08-28-06/251 Commissioner Holt moved to adopt Resolution No: 06-1148, as _ presented, Item 2 A. Seconded by Commissioner Sackett and carried by a unanimous roll call vote: with Deputy Mayor Anderson ~ absent. B. Finance Division of the Financial Services Department recommends the City Commission read by title only, hold a public hearing, and .adopt Resolution No. 06-1149, which confirms a wastewater assessment for the 2006 Wastewater Assessment Area, establishes the assessment roll and provides for the collection of the assessment on the property tax bills. Mr. Traber read Resolution No. 06-1149 by title only. Mayor Maingot opened the public hearing. No one spoke. in favor to the Resolution. The following spoke in opposition to the Resolution: Merrill Schrimscher, owner of Precision Automotive, 268 East Palmetto Avenue, said he received notice in the mail regarding the assessment. He said over a year ago their assessments were doubled. He stated the stormwater drainage was currently on his monthly bill and inquired if this was in addition to the monthly charges. Ms. Rogers advised that stormwater was a totally separate issue. She said this was for the wastewater connection. Commissioner Holt moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Bundy and carried by a unanimous voice vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. Commissioner Holt moved to adopt Resolution No. 06-1149, as presented, Item 2 B. Seconded by Commissioner Sackett and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. C. Finance Division of the Financial Services Department recommends the City Commission read by title only, hold a public hearing, and adopt Resolution No. 06-1150, which confirms a Neighborhood Improvement assessment for the 2006 Markham Hills Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Area, establishes the assessment roll and provides for the collection of the assessment on the property tax bills. Mr. Traber read Resolution No. 06-1150 by title only. Mayor Maingot opened the public. hearing. No one spoke in favor to the ~ Resolution. CC 08-28-0.6/.252 The following spoke in oppostior.~_ to the Resolution: Kristen Backus, 1403 Arbor:house Court, said her complaint was that over a year ago the City assessed. over `i300 for this improvement. A year later it is not done and they were already asking for more money. She said there was nothing to maintain other that- a pile of dirt. She stated it was ludicrous to ask for more money vJhen the City :has not utilized the money collected a year ago. Mr. Drago explained the initial. assessment last year was for the capital component. He said the Commission, at that time, decided to delay the maintenance component assessment to this year. He stated the wall was in place and they were in the process of finishing the irrigation, ordering the sod and the rest of the plantings. F[e explained the capital component was good for ten (10) years and the maintenance component is continued beyond the ten (10) years. Ms. Backus stated she. was still opposed and she felt the amount was excessive. She inquired if she would have the opportunity to see the breakdown of how the money was spent.. Ms. Rogers responded in the affirmative. John M. Koval, 1415 Arborhouse Court,. stated his concern was regarding the construction of the wall. Following completion, he came to the City and gave his comments regarding the construction. He said if you compare the two walls, the wall on the righi: hand side of the entrance was offset where they made the arch. I~:e statE;d the City said they were aware of this and it was going to be corrected. He said it has not been corrected and it did not look professional. He stated the plaques have been installed, but it was offset 2-3 bricks on the :right hand side versus the left side. He said he understood something was going to be done with the island when this was first proposed. He stated a couple of palm trees have been removed and lights were installed. He inquired if the City intended to correct the arch and would anything be done with t:he island. Mr. Drago advised the island would be landscaped. He said the lighting had been installed and the in~igation was being installed. He said, as far as the arch was concerned,. there was not much that could be done with it due to the size of the brick and its ability to be formed like the residents wanted. He said a different size brick might have better allowed the :radius. Mr. Koval sad.he spoke to Torn prior to the signs being placed and he was told they would look into the; matter. He said it was incompetent not to have explored this arch and make i:he corrections: He said the arch could have been. taken out to make it uniform. CC 08-28=06/253 Commissioner Bundy inquired if where the radius comes up at the top was different on one wall than the other. ~ Mr. Koval responded in the. affirmative. Commissioner Bundy stated that. could. probably be corrected by cutting the brick to fit the radius. Commissioner Sackett .said this was the first project and if there was anyway to make it right, they should. do that. He declared the landscaping needed to be completed. Mr. Drago said the City Engineer would be here on Wednesday and he would take him out to the area: Commissioner Bundy moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Holt and carried by a unanimous voice vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. Commissioner Holt moved to adopt Resolution No. 06-1150, as presented, Item 2 C. Seconded by Commissioner Sackett. Commissioner Holt inquired if the 2006 Maintenance Assessment was $'74.06 for the year per household. 1 Mr. Drago responded in the .affirmative. \.J Commissioner Holt asked Ms. Rogers what that would. equate to on a daily basis. Ms. Rogers advised it was $0.20 a day. Commissioner Sackett requested a time frame for the project to be completed. Mr. Smith advised the irrigation would be completed tomorrow then the landscaping. would be done. Motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. D. Finance Division of the Financial Services Department recommends the City Commission read by title only, hold a public hearing, and adopt Resolution No. 06-1151, which confirms a Neighborhood Improvement .assessment for the 2006 Longwood Groves Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Area, establishes the assessment roll and provides for the collection of the assessment on ~ the property tax bills. CC 08-28-06/254 Mr. Traber read Resolution No. 0~~-1151 by title only. Mayor Maingot opened the :public: hearing. No one spoke in favor or in opposition to the Resolution. Commissioner Sackett moved to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Holt and car"rigid by a unanimous voice vote with Deputy Mayor ~.nderson absent. Commissioner Holt moved to adopt Resolution No. 06-1151, as presented, Item 2 D. Seconded by Commissioner Sackett. Mr. Holt inquired to the daily expense. Ms. Rogers advised the cost equated to $0.06 a day. Commissioner Sackett inquired if this was a thirteen (13) year agreement with the maintenance continuing. Mr. Traber advised this was in the notice sent to each homeowner. He stated a clause could be added to this Resolution if the Commission desired. He said it was in Resolution No. 06-1146. Ms. Rogers read from Article 1V of Resolution No. 06-1146 where it referenced the thirteen (13) years. Mr. Traber explained that the Resolutions before the Commission restated each initial Resolution adopted la~;t year. Motion carried by a ~uianimous roll call vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson being absent. 3. REGULAR BUSINESS. A. Finance Division of the Financial Services Department recommends the City Commission read by title only, and adopt Resolution No. 06- 1152, which confirms a Neighborhood Improvement assessment for the 2006 Golden Grove Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Area, establishes the assessment roll and provides for the collection of the assessment. on the property tax bills. Mr. Traber read Resolution ]~to. 06-1152 by title only. Commissioner Holt moved. to adopt Resolution No. 06-1152, as presented, Item 3 A. Seconded by Commissioner Sackett and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. CC 08-28-06/255 B. Finance Division of the Financial Services Department recommends the City Commission read by title only, and adopt Resolution No. 06- J 1153, which confirms a Neighborhood Improvement assessment for the 2006 Tiberon Cove Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Area, establishes the assessment roll and provides for the collection of the assessment on the property tax bills. Mr. Traber read Resolution No. 06-1153 by title only. Commissioner Holt moved to adopt Resolution No. 06-1153, as presented, Regular Item 3 B. Seconded by Commissioner Sackett and carried by a unanimous roll call vote with Deputy Mayor Anderson absent. The City Commission recessed at 7:37 p.m. and reconvened at 8:03 p.m. 4. Presentations. A. Presentation of the Landscaping Plan for Barrington Subdivision.. Mayor Maingot said they would start with the proposal from Barrington. He stated Ms. Coad met with City staff. He reviewed the landscaping plan for plantings in the island and in front of the wall. He said it was being recommended the signage be repainted. He reviewed the City's landscaping proposal. He said some plants would be changed out depending on the season. He stated the Pigmy Date Palms would be left and trimmed. In addition, the Crape. Myrtles would be cut back. He compared the City's proposal to Barrington's proposal. He reviewed the costs for each plan stating Barrington's proposal will cost $22,394.40 and the City of Longwood's proposal will cost $11,870.55. He said the big difference was the removal of the palms and replacement of the wall. Judi Coad, 1695 Grange Circle, said she has been the liaison representing the neighbors of Barrington. She passed out a timeline of the project since they have been working with the City. She made note that the timeline has changed since it was printed and advised she was absent for the meeting of April 12th. She had to add August 28th having received a call at 4:30 p.m. from Ryan with the City of Longwood. She said he was returning her call from the 24th regarding her wanting to review the drawings being submitted tonight. She stated she had a call at 5:45 p.m. from Commissioner Bundy about the meeting. She had requested information from him regarding the road work 'for Lake Emma. She said she stood before the Commission for her third annual meeting concerning the partnership with the City of Longwood and the property owners within the subdivision of Barrington on the enhancement and maintenance of the Barrington subdivision front entrance on Lake Emma Road. She said joint effort between the two entities almost seemed like a dream. This project has been going on since August 2004 with absolutely nothing moving forward to resolve the situation and hopefully that will change tonight. She CC 08-28-06/256 said the Barrington owners have pursued trying to resolve and complete their front entrance beautificiat:ion. She said they received a letter from the ~~°' City Administration that they were .going to oversee the situation and inform the owners of meetings and landscape drawings; then they would hear absolutely nothing from the City. She said they have asked them to pay to maintain City property, which they have agreed to based on costs after the fact. She- said the owners have been left. in the dark. She stated. she was very much in favor of sharing the maintenance with the City of Longwood, but the exact cost and type of expenses should, be in writing so there would not to be any issues in the future. She stated they have been told there is a policy, but. one has ~.iever been presented. She said they were willing to pay for the upgrades they would like to see .and as owners; they should be able to choose the plan o be initiated. She stated it has taken seven. (7) months to get two (2) landscape designs and they have not been able to view them before this meeting. This has not given the owners any time to review them or make any changes. She stated, as for the installation of the landscape, it should be done by a professional landscaper with three (3) bids submitted for the work. She declared the progression of the Markham. Hills project would not be acceptable to her. She declared hiring a landscaper with a time frame would provide a professional job and be cost effective. She said there would be recourse if .the project was not completed on i;ime or properly. She stated the delay of two (2) years has added to their cost. She said the lawn maintenance company the City has contracted with should be pulling weeds and ~~ picking up debris at the Ban•ington subdivision rather than City workers. She suggested placing the City staff to work on the medians at 427 since these medians look neglected. She said the widening of Lake. Emma Road also. falls into consideration on wl-,.at and when the work should be done as it will create changes on how their entrance will be laid out. She stated it did not make sense to .spend money in those areas until the road work was completed. She addressed tl7.e green chain link fence the City installed replacing the original privacy fence on the back retention. area. She stated, as owners, they now must look at :homes in the new Ryland development the City approved and annexed in; and the massive overgrowth of plants around that area. She inquired if that was what the City called beautification. She .said they wouL~i like to see the City step up to the plate and right. the wrongs to help them to .move forward making Longwood and Barrington a place of pride where people would like to live. Mayor Maingot declared to remove the palms would tear the wall down. He said her points have beers well made. Mr. Drago told Ms. Coact. she was welcome to take the board displaying the. plans with her. He reviewed th.e cost difference between the two (2) plans. ~ Ms. Coact inquired who would be doing the work. and reiterated that with a contractor they would have control over the cost. CC 08-28-06/257 Commissioner Bundy said he had made several calls regarding the Lake Emma Road project. He stated he did speak with Commissioner Morris today and he said they probably would. be starting construction late September or October of next year. Jean Hoffman, 1505 Ridgecrest Lane, said she would like to first of all thank the Commission for the wonderful things she has seen accomplished throughout the City. She statedthere were areas that were being worked on, but it was important to make note of the things that have been accomplished. She said the Markham Hills entrance was absolutely beautiful and perhaps. Barrington could end up with something similar. She stated she was sorry to have to say she didn't know who Ms. Coad was speaking for in the Barrington subdivision because she had never been contacted or notified about a meeting. She said neighbors around her have said they have not heard anything and she would like to be contacted when they have meetings so she can be actively involved. Mayor Maingot advised that 60% of the current property owners would have to approve the improvements. Cindy Fulcher, 1781 Grange Circle, said she would like to clarify a statement made previously. She said they have handed out information to each house notifying of meetings to discuss future plans of this beautification process. '~ Frank Scheraldi, 1643 Grange, Circle, said he moved. into the neighborhood a few months ago, so he did not know all of the history. He said he was a real estate agent and appraiser and had. not received any information. He inquired what the timeline was on the two (2) proposals presented. Mayor Maingot advised the residents of Barrington would decide which plan they desired to have along with the. cost, and then a timeline would be developed. based on the implementation of the plan. Ms. Coad advised they have not had a meeting since last. year. She said at the last Commission meeting they brought in 60% plus approval of the current homeowners at that time. She inquired, since the Commission tabled this last year, if they would be required to go through the process again of obtaining 60% approval..She said the property they were going to beautify was City property .and they would like clarification sent to them in, written form by the City as to where they stand. She stated this would make the process more progressive and to have a completion. Commissioner Bundy said he did not. know if that would be required legally, but the Commission would prefer obtaining the 60% approval at ~., this time. `--J CC 08-28-06/258 Commissioner Holt left the. meeting at 8:48 p.m. and returned at 8:49 p.m. Commissioner Bundy suggested they first should have a distribution of the plans to provide everyone the opporninity to review. He said Barrington could then hold a community meeting in the Chambers to discuss the plans and come up with what they desire;. At that time, the City could proceed with a re-vote from the property ovvriers and the City can provide a timeline on the project. He said anyone who ~Tould buy a home after that, the assessment goes with the property. Mayor,Maingot said he wou:~d be more than willing to offer his help. Commissioner Sackett said there vas a third plan in that they could do nothing and the area would ~;o back to grass. Ms. Coad said she had asked previously in 2'004 if the City had an insurance policy to maintain the brick wall and 1VIr. Drago informed her that the City was self-insured. She said when the hurricanes came through that year they lost a wall and it took more than a year for the City to repair it. She reiterated her concern that everything is very clearly spelled out on what the City will and will not do. Mayor Maingot said they were approaching a fresh start. I`~ Commissioner Holt said it needed to be explained to the citizens of Barrington what the City of Longv~iood was proposing as a beautification project. He stated everyone needed. to understand the residents puts this together and the City then.works v<7th them on the design. He said it was not up to the Commission to do this. Their. job was to listen to everything, make arrangements and move forv~Tard. He declared communication needed to occur to get the ward out. He encouraged them to talk to their neighbors and the neighborhood came up with the plan they desire. Mayor Maingot said it was good they met this evening and the Commission has listened to their concerns. He said they would double the efforts to make sure commtu~.ication does not break down. He stated the Commission was responsive and wanted to see this project move forward. 5. ADJOURN. Mayor Maingot adjourned the meeting at 9:09 p.m. ATTEST: ~~ ~lt~r '~ Sarah 1VI. Mirus, CMC, City Clerk or CC 08-28-06/:259 i This Page Left Blank Intentionally. CC 08-28-06/260