Loading...
11/16/1993 - 6:30 PM - Town Meeting TOWN MEETING November 16, 1993 The City Commission of the City of Clearwater met at the Morningside Recreation Center with the following members present: Arthur X. Deegan, II Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Richard Fitzgerald Commissioner Sue A. Berfield Commissioner Fred A. Thomas Commissioner Absent: Rita Garvey Mayor/Commissioner Also present: Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk The meeting was opened at 7:30 p.m. by Vice Mayor Deegan. Bill Zinzow questioned the City Hall issue and said he favored constructing the new City Hall on the Annex property. He felt Clearwater needs a new City Hall. Commissioner Thomas questioned where Mr. Zinzow would suggest locating City Hall if an opportunity arose to develop the Annex property and create 1,000 new jobs in Clearwater. Mr. Zinzow said he would have to evaluate the alternatives then. Commissioner Thomas pressed Mr. Zinzow, who then indicated his second choice would probably be the Chick Smith property. Commissioner Thomas said that property is on the tax rolls and is capable of being kept there. He noted the bluff property is not currently on the tax rolls. Mr. Zinzow suggested the bluff property could be returned to the tax rolls. Commissioner Thomas disagreed because the Baptist Church owns the surrounding property which cannot be converted to commercial property. Mr. Zinzow suggested relocating the main library. Commissioner Thomas indicated negotiations were occurring regarding the purchase of the Annex property. Jim Thornton questioned what type of business had expressed interest. Commissioner Thomas said he could not say. Mr. Thornton noted the Annex parcel is large. Commissioner Deegan indicated the City hoped a mixed use could occur on that site. Mr. Thornton saw no reason why the property could not support a mixed use and a City Hall. Mrs. Thornton questioned Commissioner Thomas' recommendation for the Annex property. Commissioner Thomas said a business was negotiating for the property. Mr. Thornton agreed nothing should be added to the bluff. Commissioner Thomas said he did not want to do anything that would harm the church. Mr. Zinzow questioned why there was a hurry to do anything. Commissioner Deegan indicated City employees work in a building that has been declared unfit and noted the project has been delayed for 15 months. Commissioner Thomas said needed ADA improvements will result in a massive expense. The ADA problem will be addressed once something is under construction. Commissioner Deegan stated a master plan has been requested for the whole area. Mr. Thornton said he was not aware of a master plan but has seen proposals come and go. Commissioner Fitzgerald expressed concern that he was not well informed regarding negotiations referred to by Commissioner Thomas. Commissioner Berfield referred to a recent meeting broadcast by Vision Cable and noted 11, of the 15 people that spoke, favored the Annex site. Three individuals changed their mind based on the estimated high cost of the project. She said she has not changed her mind regarding City Hall and noted she cannot speak with other Commissioners regarding their opinions. She said not all newspaper articles are accurate. Mrs. Thornton said she has watched this process for 21 years and felt no one is doing anything but spending a lot of money. Mr. Thornton questioned moving "Citizens to be Heard" to later in the meeting. Commissioner Berfield responded that people who had paid application fees and had been scheduled early in the meeting were not being heard until 60 or 90 minutes later. Commissioner Thomas indicated opportunities for citizens to the heard has increased from once every two weeks to twice every two weeks as "Citizens to be Heard" was added to Monday meetings. David Campbell recommended setting aside an hour at the beginning of the meeting for "Citizens to be Heard." Commissioner Deegan questioned why people with unagendaed items should take precedence over those who have paid their fees and waited weeks to have their applications heard. He said “Citizens to be Heard” has been abused by three or four individuals who appeared repeatedly regarding the same item. He said if individuals wish to have an item on the agenda, they need to call and have it placed there. Commissioner Thomas said the City has been very lax in discipline regarding “Citizens to be Heard.” He felt it should be as open as possible. He stated, however, he was looking at being very tight on the clock as the time allotted for groups had also been abused. He suggested setting aside 30 minutes at the beginning of meetings for individuals, who first complete cards, to speak for three minutes each. Commissioner Deegan said moving “Citizens to be Heard” and abiding by a tight time frame will limit the time spent in meetings. Mr. Thornton expressed concern that ticklish subjects will be addressed during the day now that Work Sessions have been changed to official meetings. Commissioner Deegan pointed out issues addressed during Monday meetings are usually contracts and things that do not need to be aired again. He felt the new schedule will eliminate duplication. He stated Public Hearings are always held on Thursday night. He said the public can speak on any item at either meeting. Commissioners Thomas and Deegan expressed concern regarding the newspaper slanting the reasons for changing the meeting schedule. Commissioner Berfield referred to the reviews of the City Manager and City Attorney and questioned if anyone would like to have their evaluations presented in public. Commissioner Deegan concurred saying the Commission had decided to have private individual sessions to evaluate these two individuals and that a public report would be provided. He said the Charter allows the City Commission to choose the manner of evaluation. Commissioner Fitzgerald felt the public had been cut off from participation by the change in the rules and pointed out that most of the Commission rules were changed. Commissioner Deegan requested specifics. Commissioner Fitzgerald said he was not in agreement with discontinuing Work Sessions as he felt they represented a valuable process and allowed Commission members to obtain input prior to being in the decision making mode. Commissioner Deegan said Commissioners can still do that as they receive information two weeks ahead of time. Commissioner Fitzgerald said that is different from having a group discussion. Commissioner Deegan felt this approach was preferable than having the Commission sit around and ask questions. Commissioner Fitzgerald noted the purpose of the Work Session was to hear all other questions and to discuss philosophical differences. He said, for example, one Commission member has additional information regarding the Annex property that he does not have. Commissioner Thomas said based on his experience in business, he knows one has to ask questions which is why he has information Commissioner Fitzgerald does not. Commissioner Berfield expressed concern that her request to continue the Sun Bank building decision had been denied even though the Commission’s policy is to continue an item upon a Commissioner’s request. David Campbell said he has seen Commissioner Thomas go onto other things after ideas he brought up were shot down. Commissioner Thomas said he does his own work, including research. Commissioner Fitzgerald said he recognized majority rule. Urith Fitzgerald noted questions were allowed at Work Sessions. Commissioner Deegan said he questions staff all the time. Mrs. Fitzgerald pointed out that Commissioner Thomas has his own staff. Commissioner Thomas said they work with City staff. Mrs. Thornton felt it was unbalanced when the rest of the Commissioners do not have extra help available. Commissioner Thomas said he does things in writing and distributes a copy to all Commissioners. He cited as an example, his memorandum regarding the traffic light issue. Commissioner Fitzgerald expressed concerns regarding receiving hundreds of pieces of paper and then having items appear on the agenda for a decision. Mrs. Fitzgerald said having a paid staff is like having ones own attorney. She said the staff member always will support the employer’s point of view. She felt that was true for Commissioner Thomas’ staff who backs what he brings forward. Commissioner Thomas felt people working for him are objective on issues and their research is factual. Mrs. Thornton expressed concern regarding the traffic signal at the intersection of North Greenwood Avenue and Drew Street. Commissioner Berfield said she brought the list forward because the proposed elimination of the traffic signal on Belcher Road in front of Publix was questioned. Commissioner Thomas said that was the reason he issued the traffic light list. He said he is trying to have a traffic signal installed at the intersection of Marlo Boulevard and McMullen-Booth Road and has requested the City Attorney research if Clearwater and Safety Harbor can install a signal at there. Mr. Campbell felt if an issue is brought forward and subsequently shot down, it should be dead. Commissioner Deegan said all Commissioners should use all information sources available to them. Mrs. Thornton expressed concern that Commissioners are unable to discuss issues like they did at Work Sessions. Mr. Thornton expressed concern that the Work Session process that allowed exchange has been eliminated. Commissioner Deegan disagreed and stated the Commissioners still have an opportunity to exchange information. Commissioner Thomas said at least one item has been continued at every meeting. He stated no one wins every issue. He said the Sun Bank issue was shoved down his throat and felt the voters had been taken. Mrs. Fitzgerald pointed out that Commissioner Thomas’ supporters say 70% of the people voted for him. She noted he received 70% of the votes cast by the small percentage of citizens who voted. Commissioner Deegan said the Mayor only received 45%. Mrs. Thornton pointed out that was a different type of race. Mr. Thornton questioned the size of the Annex property. Commissioner Thomas said the Annex site comprises 18.6 acres. He said the company that is negotiating wants more land. Commissioner Deegan noted the City had not received a valid offer for the land previously. Commissioner Thomas said no offer is on the table at this time. He said it is a problem when churches and governments take property off the tax rolls. He noted a recently adopted State amendment caps property taxes. He said the City must find the most viable project for the Annex property and include a deed restriction that will prevent it from being removed from the tax roll in the future. Mr. Campbell questioned where City Hall would go if the Annex property is sold. He questioned why the Campbell property was not considered as it is located in the center of town. Commissioner Deegan said the Commission is trying to keep City Hall in the downtown area. Mr. Campbell suggested splitting the administrative and legislative areas of the organization. Commissioner Deegan said that would result in additional costs. Mr. Campbell suggested the Bilgore property. Commissioner Thomas said that was not large enough. Commissioner Deegan indicated a desire to return that property to the tax roll. Commissioner Thomas indicated the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) wants much of the concrete downtown removed. He proposed constructing residential townhouses around a lake. He felt the area should be called “Old Clearwater,” not downtown. He noted the City has migrated and felt improvements should replicate original development. Mr. Thornton agreed property should be placed back on the tax rolls but felt that would be difficult because of depressed property values. He felt the City Commission is responsible for these lowered values. Commissioner Deegan said a catalyst is needed for redevelopment. Commissioner Thomas said owners on the beach are unable to redevelop their property since the Commission downzoned the area 12 years ago. He indicated much needs to be done and said the City has been "stuck in the mud" for a long time. He said the City has to take the bad things that have happened and change them. Mr. Campbell said the City has come a long way with Vision Cable in the past year and questioned why Monday meetings are not broadcast. It was indicated this would be checked. Mr. Campbell requested the Commission make every effort not to postpone a meeting to a non regular day unless the schedule change is coordinated with Vision Cable. Commissioner Thomas said the policy was for all Commission meetings to be taped. Mr. Campbell referred to a roofing job done on his house last fall. The work began October 4, 1992, and the building inspector signed off on a partial roof. Work was completed October 22, 1992. He said he had not seen a City inspector and was unfamiliar with the process. Commissioner Deegan said the contractor is responsible for scheduling the inspections. Mr. Campbell said he spoke with Vic Chodora, the building official, and indicated an inspection had not occurred. Mr. Chodora advised him a Notice of Commencement had to be filed before an inspection would occur. Mr. Campbell questioned what would happen if no inspection occurred. He was advised an inspector would review the project and, if all appeared OK, would close the case with no penalty charged to the roofer. Commissioner Thomas said Florida laws are skewed in favor of contractors. They must be given notification of cure and the owner has no standing unless they do. Mr. Campbell said Mr. Chodora was very helpful and knowledgeable but he felt he had been cheated out of the services of building inspection and that contractors are mocking the City of Clearwater. He said a roof is a major investment and requires protection. He said in the permitting process, the owner should be provided an easily understandable single sheet listing what needs to be done. He felt this information should be mailed to the owner, not the contractor. Commissioner Deegan said in principal, ignorance is no excuse. Mr. Campbell reiterated that information should be mailed to the homeowner when the permit is pulled. Commissioner Deegan thanked the audience for their frank discussion. He again said the public should not take the newspaper at its word. Mrs. Fitzgerald questioned if Commissioner Berfield had made up her mind regarding City Hall. Commissioner Berfield indicated she had not. She stated she has requested information from Betty Deptula regarding projected savings and reported staff is trying to complete a spread sheet by Thursday night. Commissioner Deegan said only one reporter requested his opinion. He indicated he would consider the options carefully. Commissioner Thomas said he would be getting something out this evening. Mr. Zinzow said he thought the City Commission was an open and intelligent group of people, moral and honest. Commissioner Thomas said he holds all Commission members in high regard although they are often split on their opinions. He said Clearwater is fortunate to have elected people who are morally and ethically sound. He said this is not easy work and it is easier to run your own business. Mr. Campbell referred to the Community Consensus process and praised it. It was indicated the next session of questionnaires would be demographically balanced for input and the results would guide next year's budget process. Commissioner Deegan indicated the results would affect decisions even further in the future. Mr. Thornton questioned the status of the Boy Scout camp, noting its value and how its loss could not be replaced. Commissioner Deegan said this issue had been brought up and the board has not given up on it. Commissioner Thomas indicated the organization is split. He is working with attorneys to develop a way to sell small pieces as fund raising to keep it. Monies from the sales would be invested in a permanent endowment to keep the camp. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.