CC06-03-13MinLONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION
Longwood City Commission Chambers
175 West Warren Avenue
Longwood, Florida
MINUTES
JUKE 39 2013
7:00 P.M.
Present: Mayor Brian D. Sackett
Deputy Mayor John C. Maingot
Commissioner Joe Durso
Commissioner Bob Cortes
Commissioner H.G. `Butch" Bundy
Dan Langley, City Attorney
Jon C. Williams, City Administrator
Sarah M. Mirus, City Clerk
Bill Gulbrandsen, Fire Chief
Troy Hickson, Police Chief
Pam Barclay, Director of Financial Services
Wanda Broadway, Human Resources Manager
Chris Capizzi, Acting Leisure Services Director
Michelle Longo, Executive Assistant to the City Administrator
1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Sackett called the meeting to order at 7:01
p.m.
2. A moment of SILENT MEDITATION was followed by the PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE.
Deputy Mayor Maingot advised everyone present that Mr. Lenny
Arcardi's wife, Glorianne Michelle Arcardi, passed away suddenly. Mr.
Arcardi is the Front Office Manager for Winn Dixie and has worked
closely with them on many projects. He said there was a Service for Mrs.
Arcardi at Nativity Catholic Church and the burial will be tomorrow
morning, June 01, at 11:00 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church.
3. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS. Ms. Mirus read the following
announcements:
A. The Longwood Fire Department will be celebrating their 90tn
Anniversary on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until
3:00 p.m., Reiter Park, 301 West Warren Avenue.
B. The "Downtown Longwood Cruise -In" Car Show will be held
on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the
Historic District of Longwood located off of Church Avenue.
CC 06-03-13/177
C. The 6th Annual Father and Daughter Dance will be held on
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.,
Longwood Community Building, 200 West Warren Avenue.
The cost is $5 per couple and $2.50 for each additional person.
4. RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS. None.
5. BOARD APPOINTMENTS. None.
6. PUBLIC INPUT.
A. Public Participation. None.
7. MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
District #2. Commissioner Durso said he attended The Florida Green,
Energy & Climate Conference/Expo in West Palm Beach, Florida, a few
weeks ago. He brought back a significant amount of information, and he
said he has to talk with Mr. Williams about a lot of programs he found.
He noted he was given a scholarship to attend and offered him this
opportunity to attend for a second year. He explained that some of the
smaller cities that were similar to Longwood were doing unbelievably
remarkable things with energy conservation in conjunction with their local
energy companies. He said one of the things he wants to talk with Mr.
Williams about and come back to the Commission with was that there has
been a huge increase in the number of businesses that were moving to
Florida because of economic incentives, not only provided by the local
governments, but provided by the State government. He explained what
local governments were doing was figuring out how best to manipulate
those State programs and then luring those businesses down here. He
advised he was not talking about old school technology. He was talking
about high tech, development, manufacturing, and technology for homes
in air conditioning units, water heaters, windows and doors, all different
types of things. He said he would get with Mr. Williams in the very near
future about all of this and bring it back, and also revisit the
Environmental Green Energy Program that they have been so gracious in
approving in the past, and maybe adding and expanding it a little bit. He
noted there were a few cities that have really done some remarkable
things, and it was at no cost to the cities. They were taking advantage of
existing programs and bringing in people. Commissioner Durso said there
has been a huge increase in this. It was a half a trillion dollar industry
now nationwide. He does not see any reason why, with all their
manufacturing areas in the southern part of the City, that they could not
take more advantage of it. In the near future, Commissioner Durso said he
really wants to bring something back to the City.
Mayor Sackett said that makes the Program they have even better.
District #3. Commissioner Cortes announced there was a Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) Graduation last week. He said there
CC 06-03-13/178
were fourteen (14) members who graduated from CERT. He thanked all
the sponsors that paid for the event and said he looks forward to many
more classes because they all saw what happened in Oklahoma and the
`— importance of having volunteers to help protect the community. He noted
hurricane season started two (2) days ago and they were predicting an
active one, but Longwood will be ready.
Commissioner Cortes also advised the Car Show will be in conjunction
with the 9& Anniversary of the Longwood Fire Department, and he was
anticipating a great day -long event. He said he passed on to Mr. Williams
something he found from Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam
Putnam's Office on a grant relating to energy efficiency of public
buildings and parks. It was a grant that they only have until the 14 of this
month to submit the paperwork, but it was an excellent grant. He said
they may be able to use it for the lighting, especially in Reiter Park or in
Candyland Park. He noted they were moving quickly with that, and it was
quite sizable.
Mayor Sackett asked who would be the "they".
Commissioner Cortes answered, Mr. Capizzi, and he was running with it.
District #4. Commissioner Bundy said he attended the Citizen Awareness
and Participation Program (CAPP) Meeting for the Weston Park
Development, the apartment project at the Commuter Rail Station. He
said he mostly observed and had some constituents there who were
concerned about the traffic and some other things. He noted Orange
Crown Companies, LLC has had some issues with the adjacent property
owners and the closing of Jessup Avenue. They were at the Meeting and
confronted him about those issues. Commissioner Bundy said the son and
the father were there, and the father was angry because with Jessup
Avenue being closed off, he cannot build houses on the four (4) lots. The
son was angry because with Jessup Avenue being closed off, he cannot
access the back of the properties on Church Avenue to pump out his septic
tanks. He said first, he was not going to try to solve a problem that was
not before him. He told them he had enough issues he had to deal with
coming up and was not going to take a "what if." He asked them which
problem they would like solved, access to the rear of the Church Avenue
properties for septic tank evacuation or be able to build with them,
because if they let his father build on the four (4) lots on Jessup Avenue,
they will not have access to the backs of the properties on Church Avenue
anyway. He said after some conversation, they understood that the City
has done nothing negative about it, and then they were really happy when
he told them they were extending sewer lines. He does not know if they
[ will be so happy when it was time to pay the connection fees and hook up.
He .advised it was a pretty favorable meeting, and people were curious and
wanting to see what was going on. He said there "were a couple of people
who were disappointed with what they were doing, but overall, it was a
CC 06-03-13/179
good meeting with a lot of questions answered. He said the other thing
was in conjunction with the Car Show. He was at Sam's Club yesterday,
and the same people that help them produce the Car Show here were doing
one that afternoon, and they were promoting their event for Saturday, so
they got more promotion than they normally would do.
Mayor Sackett said regarding the CAPP meetings, they started so many
years ago, it seems everybody was using them and they were being used
effectively to find out the communication between the neighbor and the
developer. That was a positive message.
District #5. Mayor Sackett said there were 780 trophies to give out at
Longwood Babe Ruth, and the rain came. He said he only gave out about
seventy (70) of them before the rain came, and the coaches quickly picked
up all their trophies and gave them out in the parking lot. He said they do
have a problem at the Park every time it rains and Babe Ruth announces
over the speakers saying they must go to their cars in the parking lot. The
people do not do it. They go under the pavilion or to the playground.
Mayor Sackett asked who assumes liability once someone stays under the
pavilion and gets hurt or stays on the playground.
Commissioner Bundy said, or runs through a dugout that was surrounded
by a chain link fence.
Mayor Sackett said when next year's season starts, he would like to make
sure it was posted and says they must go, but people were not going. He
then asked Mr. Williams how they were doing on cleanouts, because they
were to get four (4) to six (6) hurricanes this season. He asked if they
were ready.
Mr. Williams said they were as ready as they can be. He said they know
there were certain areas prone to flooding after severe downpours of three
(Y) inches or more within an hour. They have certain areas they inspect
after every rain, and were constantly doing the necessary maintenance.
Mayor Sackett said he felt they were being more proactive than they have
ever been before when they saw grass growing out of those things, and
now they see that they have been maintained.
Mr. Williams said they were very cognizant of the system and were being
very proactive in maintaining it to the best of their abilities.
Mayor Sackett said the CERT presentations went very well. There were a
lot of community people who care about the Police and Fire Departments,
and that was wonderful to see. They sit in workshops and train and set
things on fire and create scenes at Longwood Elementary School. He said
the citizens were doing a bang-up job of wonderful things for this
community, and accolades to them every time this happens. He said he
CC 06-03-13/180
was proud of what goes on here. Mayor Sackett asked if they remembered
last season when they had alcohol at the Park. There was one (1) person
who was drinking at the Park. He did it again, and he said he does not
remember being told that alcohol was a no -no there. Babe Ruth was
meeting with the person, and they would like them to meet with them and
do a No Trespass of the Park for ninety (90) days. That was requested
yesterday. Mayor Sackett said he went to Lyman Crew/Rowing Dinner a
couple nights ago, and they went from twenty (20) to forty (40) members,
with next year's goal being seventy five (75) members. They placed
eighth in the men's and seventh in the women's in the national
competition. He said their slogan used to be "you can only lose at
Lyman." It was not that any more. Lyman was full of winners. He said
regarding the women and gentlemen who were promoting all the good
about that sport, he was very proud of them. One of the girls even won
number one (1) in the smaller boats. Lyman Crew was becoming an elite
thing. Mayor Sackett mentioned the 90'' Anniversary of the Longwood
Fire Department coming up this weekend and was hoping it will be a
wonderful turnout.
District #1. Deputy Mayor Maingot said he wanted to follow-up the
comments regarding preparations for the coming hurricane season. This
was based on past experience. He noted they have a certain number of
generators, backed up with diesel equipment at some of the various large
retention areas. He would like to suggest that staff who were associated
with running that equipment make sure it was fully operational; and to
also make sure the diesel fuel in those tanks was up to scratch, so when
they were running it, it does not shut down. That was the only thing that
was going to save them from flooding, was getting those pumps running.
It has happened twice already, so he was just being proactive. Deputy
Mayor Maingot said on May 23`d at 8:30 a.m., Pat Gleason, who was
Special Counsel for Open Government for the Attorney General, Pam
Bondi, did a presentation here. He said he apologized for the absence of
the Mayor and fellow Commissioners, and said her presentation was
absolutely tremendous. The City Administrator and City Attorney were
there, along with the City Clerk and senior staffers. Her presentation was
the very best he had heard on the subject. He noted he had been hearing
some rumbling about the Transit Oriented Development (TOD). They
recently had a meeting about the development with the folks, which was
the CAPP Program. He said he understands every time they meet with the
County, they seem to be always changing what they want. The same thing
applies to what they want from the City. He said they have too much at
stake to sit back and take it for granted that they will deliver a product that
will meet what they were looking for. He said he would like, with the
concurrence of his fellow Commissioners, that they ask those folks to
come before them and give them an update as to where they were and
also, give them an outline of whatever changes they have made in the
interim, so they know before they go down the road that they still have an
opportunity of requesting certain changes to what they were going forward
CC 06-03-13/181
with. They have one opportunity to do it right. He explained it was their
responsibility to ensure that whatever goes up there was the best that they
can see and the best that they can accomplish for them.
Commissioner Durso asked if that was a motion.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said he was just giving his thoughts on it. They
have been waiting so long to get something done, so let's go with it. He
said his view on it was this. They need not be first to be best, and that
investment was there and was going to be there $25 million plus. If it was
really a great product, it will attract additional businesses into the
development around. He said they need to sit back and rethink exactly
what they were looking for. Those of them who have been here for some
time know for the last five (5) or more years about all the background and
the research and the recommendations of what our focus was with
Associated Consulting International (AO), Inc. the whole nine (9) yards,
and the visualization and concept of the tie-in of the Historic District Area
into what they want to cross there. Nothing of that was being replicated.
Not one bit of it. He said he was really concerned from what he was
hearing that things were moving forward without them really seeing and
participating in the decision making process as to exactly what they want
for the people and the City. Not for tomorrow, but for many years of
tomorrows because they will no longer be here ourselves, and they want
something here that will stand out and that they will be proud of, rather
than going forward with a rush. He said he was requesting to his fellow
Commissioners that they request those people to come before them and
give them an update and show them exactly what their latest outline of
their plans were, and that they have an opportunity of making
contributions and discussing and asking questions that will satisfy them.
Mayor Sackett said he recognized that as a motion.
Seconded by Commissioner Durso.
Mayor Sackett asked Mr. Williams about having done a CAPP Meeting,
which gets the "yes"' and "no's" in responses; and have they received
anything from that CAPP Meeting.
Mr. Williams said they were just advised about some of the concerns that
were expressed.
Mayor Sackett asked if he had received anything in writing from them.
Mr. Williams said he has not received anything.
Mayor Sackett said within the process of the CAPP Meeting, they have to
do a written response to them, and he said he does not think it was time
specific.
CC 06-03-13/182
Commissioner Bundy said that has to be at the time no later than the time
that they submit their site plans for review. It can be no later than that.
Mayor Sackett said they were within their rights to ask for clarifications of
that CAPP Meeting.
Mr. Williams said to keep in mind that they have officially submitted, and
the review process has somewhat begun, although there have been some
changes that will require an update, and then an official review from staff,
which they will ultimately receive. He said if it was their desire to hold a
work shop in advance of finalizing a submittal and a site plan for
development review and comments that the City Attorney and their utility
folks, engineering, etc. were going to be doing, they can facilitate.
Mayor Sackett said personally, he would like to see it all written out to see
how it has evolved and see where the changes were almost date specific as
to what was going on. He said he felt that CAPP Meeting was important
to get all of that.
Commissioner Bundy said he would also like to have an opportunity to
have some input into it, but his concern was it was going to end up like the
last one because this was going to be coming before them as a site plan
approval process, and let's make no mistake about it. That site plan was
coming before them with approval. He said that was not one they were
going to let staff do and not have input. The problem with having another
work session was he does not want to do anything that was going to
jeopardize what they did, because the Attorney was very specific about
what they could and could not address. He said he was scared to ask a.
question because it was really an opinion disguised as a question and
questioning what they were doing, so he did not ask a lot of questions. He
said since it is quasi-judicial and he did not want to fill out those onerous
forms, he did not take the step of calling to meet and talk with them. He
has not even talked with the Founding and Managing Partner, Mr. Larry
Adams or anybody at AO. He said he would also like to see more things
in writing, the submittals, etc. as the process goes on, and maybe they can
work through staff in getting input into it on an individual basis. He stated
he does not want them coming in here if he was not going to be able to
interact with them and let them know what he likes and does not like, and
what he would approve and would not approve, and they cannot do that
until the site plan approval.
Mr. Langley said in a quasi-judicial process, each individual, individually
and collectively, was considered a judge. They have to make their final
decision based on the evidence in the record when that site plan, he thinks
it was going to be a Plan Development (PD), and a Development
Agreement come before them. He said they can have another work shop
and ask questions. What he would ask them to do was to not make a
statement that they will vote for the project or they won't vote for the
CC 06-03-13/183
project, or what conditions they will require to get their approval. He told
them they can ask all the questions they like.
Commissioner Bundy said they have to understand it was difficult because
if he asks a question, he was going to ask why did they promise them
vertical mixed -use, and now they were saying it cannot be financed. He
said he was not feeling as assured and relaxed in asking the questions,
because he said he did not want to cross the line.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said they know that what was said to them here
was not the same thing that applies in Maitland or Lake Mary. In. their
own interests, what was better; for them to go ahead and develop a site
plan and all the costs involved for it and to come here and it be turned
down through the process here, or to give them an opportunity to receive
some additional commentary from them. We have invested a lot of money
in infrastructure, and they continue to do that to facilitate their product.
He said they want to make sure the end result was something they can all
be proud of, nothing second class.
Mr. Langley said it would be beneficial to have a workshop. He said he
thinks it would be more preferable to have the entire Commission in an
open meeting, rather than try to work through staff one-on-one. He does
not think that was the best way.
Commissioner Bundy said that puts staff in a very tough position.
Mr. Langley said the best way to address concerns was if they see what
they were presenting to them and they have a concern about something,
they can say they have a concern about this topic, and hope it was
addressed before it comes before them. As a judge, not yet hearing all the
evidence at the workshop, do not make their mind up yet and say they
were going to come to a certain conclusion. But, it was fair to say they
have concerns, and they hoped they were addressed. That was also
beneficial to the staff, so that was something they could focus on.
Commissioner Bundy said he agreed completely with Mr. Langley on this,
and said he does not want them waiting until the last minute in presenting
something to them and saying if they do not do it now, they were not
going to be able to do it. He thinks it was clear evidence the way the
Public Works Facility came about, that they should never have rushed into
it. Poor planning on someone else's part does not constitute an emergency
on his part. But, when people ask what right do they have to dictate to a
developer on his private land, he said, when they came to them and asked
them for $2 million worth of infrastructure and concessions, he became a
stakeholder, not just a provider of services. He said no project was better
than a bad project.
Motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
CC 06-03-13/184
8. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA. None.
9. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Approve the Minutes of the May 6, 2013 Regular Meeting.
B. Approve the Monthly Expenditures for May 2013.
C. Approve the Police Department's Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS) 2013 Hiring Grant Application and
authorize the City Administrator to sign all required Grant
paperwork and disperse funds if awarded.
D. Approve and accept an offer from Bladinsville Hire Fire
Protection District, Illinois in the amount of $48,000 to
purchase the Fire Department's Unit 707, a 2007 Chevrolet
Excellence Ambulance.
E. Approve an increase to Purchase Order #015088 in the amount
of $27,250 to Advanced Data Processing, Inc. (Intermedix
Corporation) for ambulance billing and collection services
from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.
F. Accept and approve the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
(AFG) Fiscal Year 2012 for the Longwood Fire Department
Health and Wellness Initiative.
Commissioner Durso moved to approve the Consent Agenda.
Seconded by Commissioner Bundy and carried by a
unanimous roll call vote.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS.
A. Read by title only and adopt Ordinance No.13-2007, amending
the City of Longwood Police Officers' and Firefighters'
Pension Trust Fund, which was adopted by Ordinance No. 11-
1980; amending Section 1, Definitions; amending Section 4,
Finances and Fund Management; amending Section 15,
Maximum Pension; amending Section 29, Defined Retirement
Accumulation Group Obligation (DRAGO) Fund.
Mr. Langley announced having proof of publication for this and all
Items listed under Public Hearings. He then read Ordinance
No. 13-2007 by title only.
Mayor Sackett opened the public hearing. No one spoke in favor
or in opposition to the Ordinance.
CC 06-03-13/185
Deputy Mayor Maingot moved to close the public hearing.
Seconded by Commissioner Cortes and carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
Deputy Mayor Maingot moved to adopt Ordinance No. 13-
2007 as presented Item 10 A. Seconded by Commissioner
Cortes and carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
B. Read by title only and adopt Ordinance No.13-2008, repealing
and replacing Section 62-36, Exemptions of Chapter 62,
Purchasing, Article II, Organization of the Longwood City
Code of Ordinances; providing for additional exemptions and
clarifying existing exemptions to competitive procurement
procedure, piggybacking on contracts of other government
agencies, waiver of competitive procurement procedure if
deemed in the best interest of the City and exemptions by
amendment to City's Purchasing Policy and Procedures
Manual.
Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 13-2008 by title only.
Mayor Sackett opened the public hearing. No one spoke in favor
or in opposition to the Ordinance.
Deputy Mayor Maingot moved to close the public hearing.
Seconded by Commissioner Durso and carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
Commissioner Cortes moved to accept the reading of
Ordinance No.13-2008 as presented Item 10 B. Seconded
by Commissioner Bundy.
Mr. Langley said for clarification, the motion was to adopt.
Commissioner Cortes restated the . motion to adopt
Ordinance No. 13-2008. Seconded by Commissioner
Bundy still stood and carried by a four -to -one (4-1) roll call
vote with Commissioner Durso voting nay.
11. REGULAR BUSINESS.
A. Approve an Agreement between the City and Advanced Data
Processing, Inc., a subsidiary of Intermedix Corporation for
ambulance billing and related professional services and
authorize the City Administrator to execute all documents
associated with the Agreement.
Commissioner Bundy moved to approve the Agreement as
presented Item 11 A. Seconded by Commissioner Durso.
CC 06-03-13/186
Deputy Mayor Maingot said he would like to congratulate him on
reducing it from seven (7%) percent to six (6%) percent.
Mr. Williams said that should be directed to Chief Gulbrandsen.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said in other words, the seven (7%)
percent was $45,500 they paid to them, and the six (6%) percent
was $39,000, which was a savings of $6,500. He said thank you
for that.
Motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
12. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
Mr. Williams said the first item on his report was discussion relating to
the Barrington Subdivision, specifically, the Neighborhood Improvement
Assessment. He said back in November, he advised them of a
conversation he had with Ms. Judith Coad regarding the replacement of
the grass at the Barrington entrance. He had some pictures of the grass
taken today. Basically, what the request was to remove the grass that was
installed last year with the assistance of Deputy Mayor Maingot, and to
replace the grass with a Flora -Tam St. Augustine in the amount of $4,780.
He said he understands through his conversations that they originally
requested Empire Zoysia, which he said he has no knowledge of grass.
The Argentine Bahia was put in, and now they were requesting to move to
the Flora -Tam.
Commissioner Durso said, so Deputy Mayor Maingot will be out there
pulling up the grass.
Mr. Williams said he does not believe so.
Mayor Sackett asked if that grass was approved and pulled out, can it go
anywhere or be used anywhere after being scraped out, like the Dog Park.
Mr. Williams said until they were able to determine the quality after
coming out, he thinks there were some other concerns of the sprinkler
system.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said after their meeting, he invited anyone to go
across to the swale they have at the back of their building that the former
Public Works Director, Mr. John Peters put down. That was Argentine
Bahia grass that was there, and they can see how it looks. There was some
dollar weed in it, and that was not a failure of the grass. It was a failure of
the proper maintenance or lack thereof. He said he has seeded it instead of
laying it, and it was extremely drought tolerant. He explained the
Department of Agriculture wanted to check this out, and was now
downplaying the use or future use of any type of the St. Augustine grasses
CC 06-03-13/187
because they used to be a preventative for chinch bugs. That has since
disappeared. There was an increasing amount of problems in the
maintenance of it, and most of the sod farms were now producing two (2)
things. One (1) was Empire Zoysia, which was a beautiful grass, but it
was for a cultured lawn in front of someone's home where maybe the
grandkids will play on it, but cannot take commercial traffic and kids
playing back and forth on it every day. Also, it requires a lot of
maintenance, like being aerated once a year and it builds up a lot of thatch.
He explained a lot of people like it because it was so nice looking, but they
have to cut it four and one-half (4Y2") inches with a very sharp blade, and
it was a constant maintenance. Also, it was $175 a pallet, whereas, the
Argentine Bahia was between $75 to $86 a pallet. He said if that grass
was well maintained, it will be just as good as what was out back that they
can look at first hand. He said it was not the quality of the grass, but it
was a lack of the proper maintenance, and he has said so in the past. He
also said that there was a wonderful lady there, but it was almost
impossible for anyone to try to please her. Whatever pleases her today,
there was a change of mind tomorrow. He experienced that first hand
when he spent three (3) days there, at no cost to the City, making sure they
had a first class irrigation system. A commercialgrade irrigation system
was put in there, and also the sprinkler heads were the right type to cover
it. He said with the selection of the material, he backed away from that
because he knew what was going to happen there, other than some of the
basic stuff. Deputy Mayor Maingot said there was no homeowners
association (HOA) there, but there was that good lady who has always
wanted to speak for the entire community. If she wants to have that
replaced, by all means, but they pay for it. They also pay for any damage
to the irrigation system, which will surely happen. He said if they do that,
they have spent $25,000 on that entrance already of taxpayer money. He
said he was not about to support spending one ($1) additional dollar. If
they want it, let them pay for it. He offered to show them how to
safeguard the irrigation system and the sprinkler heads so they do not take
it out with their front end loaders, which they would have to do to move
that sod out. That was no easy job. They have to really cut it out of there.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said if they want it, let them pay for it. And, he
said to let them get three (3) signatures on any agreement with the City -
one (1) of the good lady, and two (2) of other people in the subdivision
that live there, who actually represent the community.
Commissioner Bundy said he does not know where to start. He asked was
what they want St. Augustine grass.
Mr. Williams responded in the affirmative.
Commissioner Bundy said if they had given them what they wanted to
start with, he could understand them saying that they wanted to change it
because they do not like it. Then let them pay for it. But, they did not.
Herein lies the problem. They have subdivisions in the Assessment
CC 06-03-13/188
Program that comes up with what they want, and they do not deliver it. If
they deliver what they want and they do not like it, it was on them. He
said when they step outside of that, then they have a responsibility. Plus,
the reason they spent the money on it to start with was because the County
destroyed their entrance when they four (4) laned Lake Emma Road. If
they have not gotten reimbursed by the County for that, it was not the fault
of the people in Barrington.
Mr. Williams said they have gotten reimbursement from the County.
Commissioner Bundy said that was what he thought. He said they were
not involved in this. The City was not involved in it. They were
facilitators for this Program. The people decide what they want, they
select it, they get pricing from contractors and the initial set-up. They put
it in, and they facilitate. He said he would not know the best grass and
defer what it would be to someone with more knowledge than his. He said
he also knows that as a business owner, he knows that some products may
be better than others, but he also knows it was his job to deliver what his
customer wants. We did not do that, so now they were on the hook for it.
He said they agreed to do this six (6) or seven (7) months ago, and they
were just getting to it now.
Mayor Sackett said this was somewhat similar to Shadow Hill. The
Agreement with the City was $38,000, so whatever that $38,000 buys
IL them, they have basically contracted with the City, so that was what it will
be. When they came in with $65,000 worth of what they want, they had
the meeting that said $38,000 was what their voters approved.
Mr. Williams said it was somewhat different in the fact that the residents
there cannot agree on what they want.
Commissioner Cortes asked if they compiled the data base of how much
was being spent on irrigation prior, during the Bahia, and what was going
to increase with the change to St. Augustine.
Mr. Williams said they could go back and look at the consumption of the
utility records prior to the installation of the Bahia and while the Bahia
was being installed to be able to determine that. He said he does not have
that information here right now to be able to give that to them.
Commissioner Cortes asked if they were paying for the water.
Mr. Williams said they pay for the irrigation through the Assessment
Program.
Commissioner Cortes asked if they were adjusting for the lower or higher
amount as it comes about. Because for St. Augustine, it was going to
CC 06-03-13/189
require more water, and were they aware their assessment was probably
going to go up because of that.
Mr. Williams said they were on the annual renewal process, and that was
the time they do that evaluation. If there were any adjustments, they
would propose those adjustments. He said they have implemented
a blank page for the Neighborhood Assessment Programs for those
residents of those programs. When they want these changes, then they
can go out and get a clear quote on what they want, and they can also
identify to them that as a result of these additional costs, there may be an
impact to their annual assessment.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said it his understanding that there were certain
folks that visited that site today, and among the people who were visiting
the site were some people who live in that subdivision. He asked if he was
right or wrong.
Mr. Williams said today he is not sure of it. During the last week, there
were some folks there.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said he understands there were some comments
made about what was wrong with what they have.
Mr. Williams said that was the report that he has received, but he was not
physically on site.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said secondly, he was not aware and has never
seen anything in writing that the specific requirement for that area was St.
Augustine grass. If that was so, he would like to see that in writing. He
said there was no HOA there, and that good lady was speaking on behalf
of the residents who live in that Subdivision. He would like to find out
more about the likes and dislikes of the other people in that Subdivision,
rather than that particular individual. He said they have had to be dealing
with her for many years, and they have never ever been able to satisfy her
needs.
Commissioner Bundy said he thinks that was out of line.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said that was a fact.
Commissioner Bundy again said that was out of line.
Mayor Sackett said she was not here to defend herself, and she should not
have to defend herself in that. He said that was a good statement about St.
Augustine in the original plan.
Commissioner Bundy said Zoysia was in the original plan.
CC 06-03-13/190
Mr. Williams said his understanding was when they had the community
meeting, and he believes Commissioner Bundy may have been in
attendance back when Mr. Peters was here, that the request for the changes
at the entrance was to include Empire Zoysia. The decision was made to
install Argentine Bahia. They do not want the Empire Zoysia, and they do
not want the Argentine Bahia, they want the Flora -Tam St. Augustine
now, which was quoted at fifty (50¢) cents per square foot, roughly
nineteen (19) pallets of sod at $4,780.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said plus the cost of removal and grading.
Commissioner Cortes asked when the neighborhood assessment was first
done years ago, what was installed there prior to the construction.
Commissioner Bundy said it was St. Augustine.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said it was St. Augustine and weeds — more weeds
than anything else.
Commissioner Cortes said it was St. Augustine prior, so was it the same
amount or less or more.
Mayor Sackett said he thought it was the same.
Commissioner Bundy said he thought it was probably a little more
originally because there was less area in there now because of the
widening of the road.
Mayor Sackett said it was narrower now.
Mr. Williams said for the record, the quote of $4,780 includes all removal
of existing sod, the installation and delivery of the new sod.
Mayor Sackett said when everything was. done and someone signs -off on
this one, it was done, right?
Mr. Williams responded in the affirmative.
Commissioner Bundy moved to approve moving forward
on this as presented by the City Administrator. Seconded
by Mayor Sackett.
Commissioner Durso asked Mr. Williams to clarify something that
Commissioner Bundy said. It refers to the Agreement they agreed to, up
j to what amount on this Project and was there a cap put on it.
`— Mr. Williams said he would have to go back and research the record.
CC 06-03-13/191
Commissioner Durso asked how much have they spent so far.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said it was over $25,000.
Mr. Williams said it was around $28,000. They committed City staff and
resources, and they went to the County. The County had some concerns
of the costing of City staff, and they worked with the County in reducing
that number, and they received $20,000 in that reimbursement from the
County.
Commissioner Durso said, so they spent $8,000.
Mr. Williams responded in the affirmative. He stated they had City
resources and equipment that they used.
Commissioner Durso said as a point of clarification because within the
discussion, he said he has been listening, but has not been able to get a
definitive answer. He asked did they or did they not reject their desire for
what they currently want. They wanted St. Augustine, and they said "no".
Commissioner Bundy said they wanted Zoysia, and they said "no".
Commissioner Durso said just so he was clear, they said "no" and put in
what was there now. So, the argument was not really about what they
wanted originally, it was about what they want now.
Mr. Williams said that was right. They wanted Empire Zoysia, Argentine
was installed, and now they want the Flora -Tam St. Augustine.
Motion failed to carry by a three -to -two (3-2) roll call vote
with Deputy Mayor Maingot, Commissioner Durso and
Commissioner Cortes voting nay.
Mr. Williams said there were two (2) additional items assessment related.
One was referencing the form as an informational item for the
Commission. As they were out and present in all these Neighborhood
Assessment Programs, they were getting a lot of additional requests for the
installation of new materials, and as they discussed, there may be a need to
adjust the annual assessments at renewal time, and they were utilizing this
form to make sure they have a clear understanding of what the citizens
were requesting or the spokesperson for that program was requesting for
getting quotes based upon that exact information. He said they were
requesting that they get some additional witness signatures, and they will
actually probably go back and modify the form to include a statement that
it was a requirement of the witnesses to be a member of the community in
which was the Neighborhood Assessment Program. He said the third item
was they did a mail -out petition to the residents and homeowners of
Tiberon. As they know, that entryway has for some time lacked
CC 06-03-13/192
maintenance. There was a desire to start a Neighborhood Assessment
Program, so they did that mail -out back in March. There was a
requirement for them to return it by mid -April. They have tallied the
votes, and there were 136 mail -outs sent, and they had thirty-seven (37%)
percent of the mail -outs respond, and of that amount they had sixty (60) in
favor. So they had a total of fifty (50) responses. He noted it was within
the Assessment Program of sixty (60%) percent, and with a lack of sixty
(60%) percent response, he can re -petition if so desired.
Mayor Sackett said he wants guidance on it. He said they have that
threshold of sixty (60%) percent, but they have thirty-seven (37%) percent
of the voters responding. He asked if he knew what percentage within that
community were renters.
Mr. Williams said he was not sure, but was sure it was very high.
Commissioner Bundy said it was not at sixty (60%) percent. It was sixty
(60%) percent of the respondents, but the requirement was sixty (60%)
percent of the property owners have to be in favor of it, not the ones who
respond.
Mayor Sackett said what he would like to do was send the fact around to
all of them one time that this was where it was, and they were not doing
j anything until they want to organize. He said he noticed that once the
�-- mailing went out in March, some people must have gone out and cleaned
up the intersection. He would not like to walk the neighborhood, but he
would like to mail the neighborhood. This has been four (4) years, and it
was time to get off the fence. Right now, they should not be doing
anything and cannot be doing anything because the numbers were not
there, and it was sad. He asked if they would support a mailing to them,
or were they done with this.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said he honestly feels that that place really
detracts very much from the City, and he wished they could get some
people on board so they can do something. He said something that was
worse than that was that old building that was in unincorporated Seminole
County, so he said there were maybe a majority of people in there who
might be renters, and maybe the mailings did not get to the owners of the
property. They were not sure.
Mr. Williams said they had one (1) returned, but as a matter of policy,
they used the Property Appraisers data base, and they noticed the property
owners.
Mayor Sackett said his idea would be to hit those thirty (30) people who
voted "yes" to rally them to do something. It was their neighborhood.
CC 06-03-13/193
Commissioner Cortes said he had mentioned he would not walk, but he
said he would walk it because it was important. He would get a list of
homeowners and he would take a Saturday and he would walk it, and
invited anybody else who wanted to do it to join him.
Mr. Williams asked if the Commission would like him to develop a new
petition.
Commissioner Cortes advised him to re -mail, and if he will submit a list to
him of those who have not yet responded, he would make it a personal
agenda to knock on their doors.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said he would be happy to join in as well.
Commissioner Bundy said the property owners in the subdivision were the
ones responsible for this. Once again, they were the facilitators. He said
he has had multiple conversations with them and attended meetings where
they told him the previous Administrator said they were going to do it, and
he said he did not think so. If the property owners want to do it, they will
vote for it, if they do not, they won't. They were here to facilitate it and
not impose it on them. They did not get responses from half of the
property owners in there. It takes sixty (60%) percent of the property
owners, which would be seventy-one (71) or seventy-two (72) to say "yes"
just to do it, and they did not get that many responses to say "yes" or "no".
He said send a mailing out to them and let them know it has failed to meet
the criteria.
Mr. Williams said not necessarily for tonight, but he thinks it begs the
greater discussion that ultimately if there was not an interest in
maintaining the entrance via a Neighborhood Assessment Program, then
what was the long-term solution. They did give them a Right -of -Way
Utilization Permit to install that island and those signs within the City
right-of-way.
Commissioner Bundy said they will do what they threatened to do at
Barrington. If they did not join the Assessment, they said they would
remove the island and pave it.
Mayor Sackett said to Mr. Williams, if he could craft a letter and send it to
all of them, they will give input with that.
Deputy Mayor Maingot said he honestly feels that them reaching out once
more and walking and asking the people and mentioning to them if they
do not participate, what was going to happen.
Mayor Sackett said he would rather send the letter and then see if they
want to do it.
CC 06-03-13/194
Deputy Mayor Maingot said at least they have done more than their share
to try to help them out.
Mayor Sackett said he does not know of any other community that we
have done that for.
Mr. Williams said he had two (2) additional items, but there was nothing
more on assessments. He said he would like to request time off for June
12'' through June 14t'. His daughter has submitted a Supervised
Agricultural Experience Project to the State FFA Convention, and her
Project was selected as a finalist. She will be attending that program at the
Caribe Royal Hotel. He noted he would be available by telephone, and
down in Orlando at the Convention Center. He said they won't meet again
before Father's Day and wished each of them a Happy Father's Day.
13. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT. No report.
14. CITY CLERK'S REPORT. No report.
15. ADJOURN. Mayor Sackett adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Brian D. Sackett, M or
ATTEST:
Sarah M. Mirus, MMC, MBA, City Clerk
CC 06-03-13/195
This Page Left Blank Intentionally.
CC 06-03-13/196