01/30/2006
CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 30, 2006
Present: Frank V. Hibbard Mayor
William C. Jonson Vice-Mayor
Hoyt P. Hamilton Councilmember
Carlen A. Petersen Councilmember
John Doran Councilmember
Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager
Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager
Rod Irwin Assistant City Manager
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
Presentations
1. Service Award
One service award was presented to a City employee.
2. AWWA Safety Award
The AWWA (America Water Works Association) award for excellent safety operations
for 2004 was presented to the Water Utility Division.
The City Council recessed from 9:05 to 10:49 a.m. to meet as the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency).
Finance
Authorize payment of not to exceed $100,000 to settle the claim of Andrzej Rutkowski for
damage to his motel and its contents resulting from a City sewer backup.
On January 3, 2006, grease in a City sewer line allegedly caused the line to back-up and
flood with raw sewage the motel owned by Andrzej Rutkowski, 2431 Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard.
The raw sewage allegedly caused extensive damage to the motel structure and its contents.
Any liability the City may have for Mr. Rutkowski's damage is limited to $100,000 as provided
under Section 768.28. Fl. Statutes.
Mr. Rutkowski incurred approximately $64,854 in cleanup costs, and an estimated
$20,000 for damaged contents and loss of revenue. The motel rooms allegedly flooded by the
sewer were uninhabitable until they were cleaned and repaired.
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Although the City does not admit liability in the case, the City's Claim Committee and
Risk Management Division recommend payment of an amount not to exceed $100,000 to Mr.
Rutkowski for settlement of his liability claim for sewer damage to his property.
In response to questions, Risk Management Specialist Jon Marcin reviewed lost
business costs and repairs made to the motel as a result of the spill.
Engineering
Award a contract to Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc., (ATL) of West End, NC in the
amount of $104,483.75 in response to the City of Clearwater Water Pollution Control
Laboratory’s Request for Qualifications #31-05 including the purchase of one Sample Master
Pro Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and award a purchase order to McKim
& Creed (EOR) in the amount of $32,200 to provide LIMS software installation support and that
the appropriate officials be authorized to execute same.
The City of Clearwater’s Consolidated Laboratory is located adjacent to the Marshall
Street Advanced Water Pollution Control Facility on Harbor Drive in Clearwater. The Lab is
responsible for recording precise measurements in a wide variety of applications for reporting
compliance with permit constraints, local, state and federal regulations applicable to the City
owning and operating both potable water transmission and distribution systems, collecting,
treating and discharging treated wastewater, and operating a re-use system for irrigation uses
(reclaimed water).
To increase the level of accuracy and efficiency at the lab, it has been determined that a
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) should be purchased and installed. The
City advertised a Request for Qualifications (#31-05) to product vendors specializing in
Laboratory Information Management Systems July 25th, 2005 and received two responses
August 26th, 2005. A selection committee reviewed the submittals and recommends award to
Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. by virtue of a higher graded submittal. McKim &
Creed is one of the City’s Engineer-of-Record and will provide professional services assisting
staff and ATL with the LIMS installation on a new server. McKim & Creed will also be tasked
with assuring compatibility with the City’s existing system components and configured to
communicate with the City’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) server.
In response to a question, City Engineer Mike Quillen said money will be transferred out
of a different project into this project. Interim Engineering Manager Rob Fahey said as federal
standards increase, staff deemed this system necessary to handle data necessary to meet their
requirements.
Official Rec and Legislative Svc
1. Appoint two members to the Community Development Board with the term expiring on
February 28, 2010.
Consensus was to reappoint Member Coates and to continue the appointment for the
remaining seat to recruit an architect.
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Council Discussion Items
PMI/PSTA Joint Meeting on PMI - Jonson
Discussion ensued regarding the pros and cons of options to be considered by the PMI
(Pinellas Mobility Initiative) Committee and the PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) for
spending the $3 million available for transit studies. These options include completion of a
feasibility study on St. Petetersburg’s Central Avenue BRT project, follow-up on guideway
segment from Downtown Clearwater to beach and MPO’s (Metropolitan Planning Organization)
evaluation of BRT corridor alternatives.
Support was expressed for pursuing $1.5 million in funding for a guideway study
between Downtown Clearwater and the beach.
A question was raised if Council was in favor of providing the additional $500,000 if only
$1 million was obtained. Majority support was expressed for the City to provide the additional
funding.
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3. Charlie Siemon attendance at the February 27 CC/CDB Joint Work Session - Jonson
Discussion ensued regarding inviting Charlie Siemon to attend the February 27, 2006,
Joint Work Session with Council and the CDB (Community Development Board) and it was
determined his attendance was not necessary.
4. County Charter Review Commission Annexation Discussion - Jonson
Planning Director Michael Delk said the City is not an issue in the County Charter
Review Commission discussion regarding annexation as Clearwater’s boundaries are well
defined. He reviewed recommendations by the Charter Review Commission (CRC) which
inlcuded restricting annexation without the owner’s consent, requiring an informative mail notice
prior to all non-voluntary annexations, and restricting expenditure of public funds to entice
annexation, etc.
Discussion ensued and five years was recommended as the minimum time cities should
wait between referendum annexation attempts. In response to a CRC recommendation that all
affected property owners be contacted via certified mail, it was noted that process would be
quite expensive.
Mr. Delk said there are concerns where no voters are registered and properties are
annexed without a vote. He felt legitimate expenditure of public funds should be allowed and
recommended the word “paramount,” as it relates to “public purpose,” be better defined.
Staff to provide Councilmembers with talking points prior to today’s CRC meeting.
Other Council Action
– None.
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 12:43 p.m.
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