Loading...
06/03/2002CITY COMMISSION WORK SESSION CITY OF CLEARWATER June 3, 2002 Present: Brian J. Aungst Mayor/Commissioner Whitney Gray Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Hoyt P. Hamilton Commissioner William C. Jonson Commissioner Frank Hibbard Commissioner Also present: Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone Assistant City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Mary K. (Sue) Diana Assistant City Clerk Brenda Moses Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 9:07 a.m. at City Hall. PUR PURCHASING 1. Purchase job, Clearwater East/West Recreation Trail including Cliff Stephens Park, Dolphin Constructors, low bid, $269,890. PWA/Eng 2. Purchase 79 park signs during the contract period June 7, 2002 through June 30, 2003, Baron Sign Manufacturing, low bid, $85,000. PR 3. Purchase contract, front loading dumpsters during the contract period June 7, 2002 through June 19, 2003, Industrial Refuse Sales, piggyback, $100,000. SW 4. Purchase job, Cliff Stephens Park bridge installation, All American Concrete Inc, low bid, $55,500. PWA/Eng 5. Purchase two (2) playground playsets, Miracle Recreation Equipment, piggyback installation: Crest Lake Park & Allen's Creek Playground, $91,473.94. PR 6. Purchase to replace two (2) Toro 4000D Groundsmaster riding mowers, Wesco Turf Inc, piggyback lease purchase financing, $77,990. GSS/Fleet In response to a question regarding the Clearwater East/West Recreation Trail, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar said the section of the recreation trail from Carpenter Field to Cliff Stephen Park is being replaced. He noted this is a FRDAP (Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program) project from a year ago and the City has matching funds. In response to a question regarding the cost of replacing two Toro 4000D Groundsmaster riding mowers, Mr. Dunbar said these tractor mowers are used to mow large areas. In response to a question, Purchasing Manager George McKibben said the mowers purchased previously were smaller mowers. Mr. Dunbar said the City maintains 600 properties and outsources 215 of the smaller, hard to reach areas. In response to a question regarding the purchase of two playground playsets from Miracle Recreation Equipment for Crest Lake Park and Allen’s Creek Playground, Mr. Dunbar said the Crest Lake Park playground area is being relocated closer to the restroom facilities and is being replaced with a dog park. It was noted the existing playground equipment is 15 years old and quite worn. In response to a question regarding the purchase of 79 park signs from Baron Sign Manufacturing, Mr. Dunbar said approval of this item will allow the City to purchase the volume of signs it needs up to $85,000. It does not mean the City would spend the entire amount. FD FIRE Approve a Work Order to Tampa Bay Engineering, Inc for $225,000 to provide engineering and architectural design services, including CEI work, for the new Clearwater Mall Fire Station 49 In CY 2000, a Commission-appointed Fire Task Force confirmed the 5-year Strategic Plan, which included a recommendation to replace the existing facility on Sky Harbor Drive at Clearwater Mall. The Commission approved the project with funding to be provided via Penny for Pinellas. However, the redevelopment schedule of Clearwater Mall has accelerated the construction timeline for the new station, moving completion by the end of FY04 forward to the end of FY03. This Work Order request for Tampa Bay Engineering provides for survey, geo-technical, architectural, engineering, and permitting services to complete the design and bid phases of the project. The Q’Ante Group, Inc., an architectural firm with extensive fire station experience who designed the Sand Key station, is the sub-consultant providing the architectural services. The Commission recently approved a 1.27-acre land swap between the City and Sembler Corp. for the new fire station site. In exchange for the 1.27-acre parcel, the City provided a 1.27-acre segment of the existing fire station property contiguous with the existing Clearwater Mall property. The new station site is only a few hundred feet from the existing station, also on Sky Harbor Drive. Approval of a mid-year budget amendment will establish a new capital improvement project, 315-91243, in the amount of $225,000 to cover the Work Order and initiate construction of the station. On March 21, the Commission approved rezoning the new site from Residential Office/General to Institutional. The only obstacle to construction is final closing on the property. However, closing is scheduled for July 1, 2002, which is too late to begin design work and meet the Sep 03 completion date. Therefore, this agenda item is a recommendation to approve the Work Order to begin the Design and Engineering work as soon as possible in anticipation of the July 1st closing. The remaining $1.775M for project construction is expected to be allocated in the FY03 budget. The total project cost of $2 million was originally planned for funding in fiscal years 2002/03 (design) and 2003/04 (construction) from Penny for Pinellas funds. The implementation of this work order moves the planned funding forward by one year, with the total anticipated cost remaining at $2 million. In response to a question, Fire Chief Rowland Herald said the City is negotiating with a property owner for a piece of property closer to the community for a Northwest Fire Station site. Assistant City Manager Garry Brumback said the City hopes to have a resolution soon. Chief Herald said moving forward with this item would not financially impact the City. Finance Director Margie Simmons said unallocated Penny for Pinellas funds would be moved forward one year and would not affect funding for other projects. In response to a question regarding the Sky Harbor road closure and complaints received from residents in the Seville condominium complex, Engineering Director Mike Quillen said the developer would close the road until after the new Clearwater Mall construction is completed. He said once completed, there would be a connection from Sky Harbor Drive to Seville. He said Tampa Bay Engineering is the engineer of record and responsible for costs associated with the subconsultant. They elected to consult with an architectural firm due to the firm’s extensive experience in fire station design. SW/GS SOLID WASTE/GENERAL SERVICES Approve an addendum to the existing license agreement with Cingular Wireless (formerly BellSouth Mobility) to allow the placement of six additional antennas on the radio tower in Countryside (McMullen Booth Road and 580) and one 10'x12' building at the base of the tower increasing rent by $25,000 per year for a total of $50,268 per year. Adequate space is available at the base of the tower to accommodate the building. The antennas will be located at the 65-foot level on the southwest leg of the tower. Bell South will strengthen the tower prior to installation to maintain current wind rating. The addition of antennas will not cause any aesthetic degradation to the tower as viewed from the surrounding area. These are whip antennas, not the dish type that is visible from long distances. Bell South currently has equipment on this tower plus a building at the base. Solid Waste/General Services Director Bob Brumback said this addendum would generate additional revenue. In response to a question Mr. Brumback said the tower is adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant and is hardly visible from the road. PW PUBLIC WORKS Approve Change Order No. 2 to Contract No. 00-0029-UT, 2000 Reclaimed Utility Improvements, with A & L Underground, Inc, for an increase in the amount of $1,022,850 for a new total of $5,531,103. A & L Underground is currently installing utility pipelines across Clearwater Harbor to replace existing facilities that will be displaced for the new Memorial Causeway Bridge and to replace aged water transmission mains. This change order provides for this Contractor to perform additional directional drill pipeline installation from Clearwater Beach to the Memorial Causeway. A & L Underground is highly experienced to perform this difficult construction work. This change order includes 2,500 lineal feet of 16” HDPE sanitary force main directionally drilled from the end of Baymont Street to the Memorial Causeway. This force main serves Pump Station 11 located at the Clearwater Beach Hotel. This change order also includes 1,100 lineal feet of 16” PVC sanitary force main installed by open trench method as well as the associated upland tie-ins on the beach and on the causeway. Sufficient budget and revenue are available to fund this change order in the Capital Improvement Program project WWC Force Main Replacements, 315-96693. This project will be constructed as per the plans and specifications for project #02-0003-UT prepared by TBE Group, Inc. In response to a question, Public Services Director Gary Johnson said this pipeline installation would help to improve odor issues in the surrounding area. It is a precursor to rebuilding the entire lift station at the Clearwater Beach Hotel and will eventually eliminate the lift station outside City Hall. In response to a question, Mr. Johnson said the increase is within the engineer’s estimate and the City received a good price for very expensive drilling work to be done under the harbor. This item was already budgeted. The City will save approximately $100,000 by modifying the existing contract rather than soliciting new bids. Mr. Johnson said there would be no interruptions in utility services. In response to a question, Mr. Quillen said the new pump station would be more efficient and provide for future development. PLD PLANNING Public Hearing & First Reading Ord #6972-02, 6973-02 - Approve Land Use Plan Amendment from Commercial General to Residential High and Zoning Atlas Amendment from Commercial to Medium High Density Residential consisting of property at 2551 Harn Boulevard. (Long Bow Corporation; James G and Anastasia S Nichols) LUZ 02-02-01 The subject site is 36,590 square feet in area or 0.84 acres and currently vacant. It is on the south side of Harn Boulevard, approximately 420 feet west of US19N. This land use plan amendment and rezoning is requested by the owners in order to develop the site with multi-family residential dwellings. The current Commercial (C) District does not permit residential uses outside of a mixed-use development. The Planning Department determined that the proposed land use plan amendment and rezoning applications are consistent with the following standards specified in the Community Development Code: The proposed is not in conflict with Clearwater Comprehensive Plan Goals, Objectives or Policies, and is consistent with the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan. The proposed Residential High (RH) designation is considered a less intensive category than the current Commercial General (CG) designation. The potential range of uses and the specific proposed use are compatible with the surrounding area. Sufficient public facilities are available to serve the property. The application will not have an adverse impact on the natural environment. The location of the proposed Medium High Density Residential (MHDR) zoning district boundaries are logical and an appropriate classification in this area. Land zoned MHDR is to the west and HDR zoned property is to the north. The proposed MHDR District is an appropriate buffer to the Commercial (C) District located to the east. The district boundaries are appropriately drawn in regard to location and classifications of streets, ownership lines and existing improvements. In accordance with the Countywide Plan Rules, the land use plan amendment is subject to the approval of the Pinellas Planning Council and the Board of County Commissioners acting as the Countywide Planning Authority. Due to the allowable density of the Residential High (RH) Future Land Use Plan category, review and approval by the Department of Community Affairs is required. The Community Development Board reviewed these applications at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 21, 2002, and unanimously recommended approval. Long Range Planning Manager Gina Clayton said in February 2002, the City Commission approved a land use change for a parcel of property located behind Denny’s Restaurant on US19N. She said the applicant is combining that parcel with this one at 2551 Harn Boulevard. In response to a question, she said the site does not comply with the 150-foot lot width requirement at the 25-foot front setback line, which is 115 feet in width. The applicant has submitted an application to reduce the lot width requirement. Public Hearing & First Reading Ord #6974-02, 6975-02, 6976-02 - Approve Annexation, Land Use Plan Amendment to Residential/Office/Retail and Zoning Atlas Amendment to Commercial for 25633 US19 N (Section 32-28-16) (Lawrence H Dimmitt, III) ANX 02-02-03. The subject property is on the northeast corner of US19N and First Avenue. The site is approximately 1.04 acres in area and is currently occupied by a vehicle service use and parking. The property is served by City water and no sewer service is required at this time. A Future Land Use Plan designation of Residential/Office/Retail is proposed along with a zoning category of Commercial (C). The Planning Department determined the proposed annexation is consistent with the following standards specified in the Community Development Code: The proposed annexation will not have an adverse impact on public facilities and their level of service. The proposed annexation is consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan, the Countywide Plan and the Community Development Code. The proposed annexation is contiguous to existing municipal boundaries, represents a logical extension of the boundaries and does not create an enclave. This annexation has been reviewed by the Pinellas Planning Council (PPC) and Pinellas County staff according to the provisions of the County Ordinance No. 00-63, Section 7(1-3), and no objections have been received from these offices. Ms. Clayton noted the annexation would result in a non-conforming use as vehicle service is not allowed in the Commercial zoning district. The Planning Department determined that the proposed land use plan amendment and rezoning applications are consistent with the following standards specified in the Community Development Code: The proposed land use plan amendment and rezoning application are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The potential range of uses and the specific proposed use are compatible with the surrounding area. Sufficient public facilities are available to serve the property. The applications will not have an adverse impact on the natural environment. Please refer to the attached report for the complete staff analysis. The Community Development Board reviewed these applications at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 21, 2002 and unanimously recommended approval. In response to a question, Ms. Clayton said County Commercial Parkway (CP-1) is one of the County’s commercial zoning districts. She will research if it is a special exception use. Ms. Clayton said the City only permits vehicle service in industrial areas. There are many nonconforming uses throughout commercial areas. This particular use involves a stand-alone structure on a separate parcel for vehicle service only. Public Hearing & First Reading Ord #6977-02, 6978-02, 6979-02 - Approve Annexation, Land Use Plan Amendment from County Residential Suburban and Preservation to City Residential Urban and Preservation and Zoning Atlas Amendment from County Zoning Rural Residential to City Low Medium Density Residential and Preservation of properties at 2301 Chautauqua Avenue (M&B 24/03, 24/04, 31/01 and Lot 4, Block 38, Unit 1, Section A Chautauqua "On the Lake" Section 32-28S-16E) (Lawrence H Dimmitt III & Larry H Dimmitt Jr., Trustee) ANX 02-02-04, LUZ 02-02-03 This development site is comprised of four parcels of land owned by two different property owners on the east side of Chautauqua Avenue, west of Lake Chautauqua, approximately 700 feet east of US19 North. The property is 23 acres in area and includes 2.56 acres of wetlands. Two single-family dwellings, tennis courts and other accessory structures currently occupy the property. This annexation, land use plan amendment and rezoning is requested in order to construct townhomes. Water and sewer service will be required at the time of development and the applicant is aware of the costs associated with extending and connecting water and sanitary sewer lines to this site. The Planning Department determined the proposed annexation is consistent with the following standards specified in the Community Development Code: The proposed annexation will not have an adverse impact on public facilities and their level of service. The proposed annexation is consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the Countywide Plan and the Community Development Code. The proposed annexation is contiguous to existing municipal boundaries, represents a logical extension of the boundaries and does not create an enclave. The Pinellas Planning Council (PPC) and Pinellas County staff have reviewed the annexation of the subject properties pursuant to the Pinellas County charter amendment approved by referendum on November 7, 2000 and no objections were raised. The applicant is requesting to amend the Future Land Use Plan Map designation of these parcels from the County’s Residential Suburban (RS) and Preservation (P) categories to the City’s Residential Urban (RU) and Preservation (P) categories. Additionally a zoning atlas amendment is requested to rezone the parcels from the County’s Rural Residential (R-R) District to the City’s Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR) and Preservation (P) Districts. The Planning Department determined that the proposed land use plan amendment and rezoning applications are consistent with the following standards specified in the Community Development Code: The proposed land use plan amendment and rezoning application are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The potential range of uses and the specific proposed use are compatible with the surrounding area. Sufficient public facilities are available to serve the property. The applications will not have an adverse impact on the natural environment. In accordance with the Countywide Plan Rules, the land use plan amendment is subject to the approval of the Pinellas Planning Council and the Board of County Commissioners acting as the Countywide Planning Authority. Due to the size of the plan amendment site, review and approval by Florida Department of Community Affairs is required. The Community Development Board reviewed these applications at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 21, 2002 and recommended approval with a 4-3 vote. Ms. Clayton said this request would result in a net increase of 89 units on the site and generate an additional 99 peak trips. Commissioner Jonson submitted a list of questions to which Ms. Clayton will respond in writing before the City Commission meeting on June 6, 2002. In response to a question, Ms. Clayton said City staff, SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District), the Wildlife and Fish Commission review and determine if an application impacts the natural environment. The City reviews the impacts on wetlands and the application’s consistency with the zoning district. Staff also reviews the standards for annexations including if the application would create an enclave. In response to questions, Ms. Clayton said there has been no site plan filed for this application. The current zoning designation allows 2.5 units per acre. The Residential Low category allows 5 units per acre. She said the exact location of the water feature and the Preservation District boundary would be looked at during the site plan review. She said staff feels the Low Medium Density Residential designation is the most applicable for this application as clustering units such as townhouses typically saves trees, reduces pavement area, and conserves environmentally sensitive land. The LMDR designation is compatible with the Residential Low District and would allow attached dwellings. In response to a question, Mr. Quillen said Chautauqua Avenue could be extended north to Enterprise Road if wetlands issues to the north are mitigated appropriately. Staff is requesting some improvements for the southern portion of the property such as road widening which would be addressed during site plan review. CLK CITY CLERK Municipal Code Enforcement Board - one (1) vacancy Assistant City Clerk Sue Diana said one vacancy exists on the MCEB (Municipal Code Enforcement Board). Discussion ensued in regard to seeking additional applicants representing areas of the City not currently represented. Consensus was to continue the appointment to the meeting of June 20, 2002 Preliminary Budget Review Session Discussion ensued regarding scheduling a budget work session prior to setting the millage rate. Budget Director Tina Wilson said the budget is scheduled for release on June 14, 2002. The preliminary millage must be set no later than July 18, 2002. Consensus was to schedule a budget work session at 8:15 a.m. on July 2, 2002 at City Hall. Commission Discussion Items Letter to Governor supporting funding for US 19 in State Budget Consensus was to send the letter requesting support of funding proposed 2002-2003 budget appropriations for upgrades to US19 in Pinellas County to Governor Jeb Bush. Other Commission Action Discussion ensued regarding a letter written by Commissioner Jonson to Ms. Rhea F. Law, Esquire, President of Fowler White Boggs Banker in Tampa. The letter expressed his appreciation of her dedication to the Tampa Bay Partnership and his desire for the partnership to stop recruiting efforts and concentrate solely on assisting the existing businesses and residents. Concern was expressed unless the Mayor or a Commissioner states they are writing on behalf of the Commission, any letters written and signed by the individual is only the opinion of that individual, not the entire Commission. It was felt to avoid confusion regarding whether or not such letters are the opinion of the City Commission as a whole, or just of the individual writer, stationery be used with individual Commissioner’s names. Commissioner Jonson reported he attended the Suncoast League of Municipalities mini-conference. He said the League appreciated Commissioner Hamilton’s attendance. Commissioner Jonson said he spoke with the City Manager regarding the Beach Walk design and boundaries. He was told it would extend from the Adams Mark Hotel to Pier 60. He expressed concern changing the traffic pattern in those areas would create traffic problems at Hamden and Gulfview. He requested further discussion regarding the matter to clarify the plans for that area. Commissioner Jonson said he was asked about business signs and addresses as well as street signs on US19. It was believed this issue was part of County Commissioner Karen Seel’s program and a suggestion was made to contact her. Commissioner Jonson commented that Commissioner Seel is advocating freestanding signs in public rights-of-way. Commissioner Jonson said after receiving the information from the latest Commission Visioning Meeting, he had some other ideas to add and would copy them to the Commission. City Attorney Pam Akin said the Commissioners should send comments to the City Manager for distribution. Commissioner Jonson said the County will be voting on two of their billboard agreements tomorrow. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:47 a.m.