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08/18/1998 (2) , .. '," ',: ~ ~ '. ,.'. ~".' " 'I' ".~t": .' . '"..' ",:.'~':'.' "...' ~,,:".': .: "':,~".~ .".':'..,::..,:, ~< '., "., ,:~ " "; ,';....,., ',.' .,:'1:, "',':,,',,u~, "\'-t:': : r '." .'. '... COMMISSION : , , City Commission Minutes Date ~iLI Mtel,. , ()555 I ".'. '.j., l ", 0'., " .', ' ;', . I' '"c', ' ,~ " ' . C > j , + L 'v " , ~ '~"1 t,:,.,/ 1[... " ",,,~.I1 ...;; CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING PENNY FOR PINELLAS CITY OF CLEARWATER August 18, 1998 Present: Rita Garvey Ed Hooper ' J. B. Johnson Robert Clark Karen Seel Mayor/Commissioner Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Also Present: Michael J. Roberto Richard L. Hedrick Bob Keller Pamela K. Akin Rich Baier Tina Wilson Cynthia E; Goudeau Gwen Legters City Manager Deputy City Manager Assistant City Manager City Attorney Public Works Administrator Budget Director City Clerk Board Reporter The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. for the purpose of discussing prioritization of the Penny for Pinellas projects. City Manager Michael Roberto requested direction from the Commission regarding whether additional information is needed, whether staff is heading in the right direction for the next 10 years of projects, and confirmation that earlier projects are in the right time frame. Deputy City Manager Rick Hedrick said the figures brought forward today reflect staff's best estimates for total project costs. Budget Director Tina Wilson provided a new list of all Capital Improvement Program (CIPl projects and Penny for Pinellas projects, including life cycle costs. Anticipated funds from "Penny 2" and remaining "Penny 1" dollars were incorporated into the estimates. A formal public hearing will be held September 3, 1998. In response to questions, Ms. Wilson said a Penny priority list was not previously approved as a whole, but projects were approved individually in the budget process. She clarified that $4.9 million has already been anocated for design of the bridge project. Public Works Administrator Rich Baier reviewed projects "below the line," or those not recommended for Penny funding, noting which will be funded from other sources. Staff was cautioned not to rely on the $ 5 million contingency reserve for any of the unfunded projects, due to probable changes in scope of funded projects. Discussion ensued regarding how staff arrived at the total recommended funding figures. Concern was expressed with paying $10 million in debt service cost for bonding bridge replacement when those funds could be used for some of the 18 projects that had baen pushed J1below the line. /I Staff responded to questions regarding rationale for bonding the bridge, main library, and civic center replacements. Ms. Wilson stated most of the msp08c98 1 08/18/98 . " i ~ ' ~ funds needed for previous large projects was already allocated in the CIP budget. No unallocated dollars exist in the current CIP or General Fund budgets. Discussion ensued regarding Civic Center relocation. No conclusions have been reached regarding potential revenue stream from retail establishments in a beach parking garage. Concerns were expressed and discussion ensued regarding the critical need to improve traffic flow through intersections at both ends of the bridge prior to bridge construction, time frames, and the impacts of road construction on the beach community. Commissioner Hooper moved to rate Memorial Causeway Bridge replacement and related intersection improvements as # 1 priority on the Penny for Pinellas list, and to bond the bridge as recommended by staff. The motion was duly seconded. Commissioners Hooper and Seel and Mayor Garvey voted "Aye"~ Commissioners Johnson and Clark voted "Nay." Motion carried. (;~J.- :~l~J Discussion ensued regarding how pushing new Main library construction to an out year to avoid bonding will affect other projects. Commissioners expressed concerns with trying to set priorities without having firm project costs in place. Staff related the difficulty of determining exact project costs without direction regarding timing and priority. It was indicated staff has tried to give the best, most conservative cost estimates. Today the Commission is being asked to set priorities, not approve bonding. If the library is not bonded, the architect's contract will not be brought forward. Bonding would require referendum approval. If the decision is made not to bond, referendum could still be required, depending on site selection. Discussion ensued regarding the difficulty of moving projects or reallocating funding when all projects are integral parts of a whole. Commissioner Hooper moved to rate Main Library replacement as priority #2 on the Penny for Pinellas list, as recommended by staff. The motion was duly seconded. While preferring not to borrow money, it was felt $10 million debt service spread over 10 to 1 5 years should not stand in the way of City progress. Concern was expressed with a $645,000 increase in the original $12 million estimate for library construction. It was indicated the increase was not due to a change in scope, but was a closer reflection of the actual costs, based on staff's best estimate. The exact figure cannot be determined until the architect's contract comes forward and the location is determined. Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously. The meeting recessed from 11 :05 to 11: 19 a.m. Discussion ensued regarding the Commission's desire to replace the Memorial Civic Center, and whether it should be included in the bridge and related intersections project. .,.J Discussion ensued regarding East Library branch expansion. Concern was expressed with increasing the cost from $1.5 million to $3.5 million. Discussion ensued regarding need to increase children's space, heavy use of meeting rooms, opposition to City funding for non~resjdent library use, and the proposal for a cooperative East library facility on the St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) campus. It was indicated cost of the library expansion did not Increase; the new figure reflects the cost without factoring in mspOBc98 2 08/18/98 ~ revenue from sale of the current library. Concerns were expressed with the shortage of parking available to library patron~ if the East branch library is bujlt on the SPJC campus. Commissioner Seel moved to keep the cost of Item #22, East Library Branch Expansion, at $1.5 million and far the branch to remain on the current site. The motion was duly seconded. The City Manager cited logistical issues with keeping the East branch library at the current location due to the restricted growth capacity of the site. Commissioner Seel amended the motion, by deleting the requirement the library remain on the current site. The seconder agreed to the amendment. Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Seel moved not to go forward with putting the East branch library on the SPJC campus. The motion was duly seconded. Commissioners expressed a desire to see the SPJC proposal before deciding against a joint project, because an alternative to the overcrowded East library is needed. Commissioner Seel withdrew the motion, but requested a definite proposal prior to the joint project being included in the City's legislative package. The seconder agreed. ."t:t:) \,,;~:~, Quality of Life Administrator Dr. Arlita Hallam recommended Commission support of SPJC's application for State money to fund a joint project. She related educational opportunities and other benefits to the City, and members of the public, resulting from a shared facility. Concern was expressed that, if the City pays for construction, the school should pay operating costs. Dr. Hallam responded a contract would need to be negotiated. Some concern was expressed with having too many library branches concentrated in the western area of the City. In response to a question, the Public Works Administrator said Druid Road improvements would include replacing a bridge at the golf course behind Clearwater High School, and improvements to sidewalks, mast arms, turning radii, and signal assemblies. Some of the other components will be scaled back. It was understood road expansion was not wanted. No use of storm water utility fees is proposed for this project. Concern was expressed that Item # 11, Traffic Pedestrian Improvements, should be standard CIP projects. It was felt the allocated $ 2 million in Penny funds would be better used as a cushion far bridge intersection improvements. Commissioner Clark moved to pull Item #11, Traffic Pedestrian Improvements, from the Penny for Pinellas priority list and designate that $2 million as r. contingency fund for improvements to the east and west Memorial Causeway bridge approaches. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ) It was suggested, since additional fishing piers will be provided by leaving portions of the old Memorial Causeway Bridge, that # 17 be removed from the funding recommendations. msp08c98 3 08/18/98 In response to a question regarding the bond issue for State Road 60, it was indicated a presentation will be agendaed for the September meeting before the vote on the budget. ~ Commissioner Seel moved to remove Item #17, Fishing Piers, with the understanding the old bridge will remain for public access. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Staff will come back with a recommendation for reallocation of those funds. , In response to a question, Mr. Baier said Item #13, Economic Redevelopment & Environmental Assessment, relates to contamination removal from certain downtown properties. Part of the recommendation is for remediation of the town pond area. Consensus was to leave Item # 13 where it is. Consensus was to leave Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Long Center in their recommended funding time frames. Mr. Hedrick said private investment funding is being sought, due to concerns the beach entranceway and related traffic improvements to Coronado and Gulfview Boulevards will exceed the $8.8 million allocated for the Memorial Civic Center area. Consensus was to separate the civic center replacement as a separate project and allocate the $8.8 million for traffic access, distribution, and parking. In response to a question, it was indicated Item #14, Ft. Harrison Avenue/Myrtle Avenue widening is not an endorsement of one-way, or asymmetrical pairs. Attention will be given to effects of traffic flow on downtown redevelopment potential. ~) Discussion ensued regarding referendum issues associated with bonding of the Harborbluff Waterfront Plan., More detail will come forward in the next 1 2 months. Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the Penny for Pinellas priority list as amended. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Regret was expressed that some items could not be funded and it was hoped funding can be found during the next ten years. The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m. ATTEST:r:ll(~,; { 11 Q. ~ CitY,'Clerk msp08c98 4 08/18/98 ! I I I 1 , ! , I:J