01/29/2007
CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 29, 2007
Present: Frank Hibbard Mayor
Carlen Petersen Vice-Mayor
William C. Jonson Councilmember
J.B. Johnson 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
Rosemarie Call Management Analyst
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order
.
Presentations
Florida on the Move – Pinellas County Challenge
City of Largo Vice-Mayor Harriott Crozier challenged the City Council to wear
pedometers for a week and monitor their results. A prize will be awarded to the municipality
with the most steps.
. motion
Councilmember Doran moved for the City Council to accept the challengeThe
carried
was duly seconded and unanimously.
Service Awards
Four service awards were presented to City employees.
The Employee of the Month Award for January 2007 was presented to Patricia Pride,
Marine Department.
Certificates for completion of Supervisory Training
Certificates for completion of Supervisory Training were presented to City employees
Lyle Adams, Holly Ausanio, Joelle Castelli, Laura Davis, Rebecca Davis, Tara Kievett, Patricia
Meri, Brad Purdy, and Michael Vacca.
The Council recessed from 1:50 to 2:52 p.m. to meet as the Community Redevelopment
Agency. Vice-Mayor Petersen left the meeting at 2:41 p.m.
Council Work Session 2007-01-29 1
Engineering
Award a Contract for $555,916.00 to Parsons Water and Infrastructure, Inc. and its
subcontractors SDI Environmental Services, Inc., and Missimer Groundwater Science, Inc., to
provide production and monitoring well investigation services leading to the design and
construction of a new 3.5 million gallon per day (mgd) reverse osmosis (RO) plant at Reservoir
No. 2, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Parsons completed the Water Supply Master Plan (WMP) in October 2004 for improving
the cost-effectiveness of the water services provided by the City. Recommended improvements
were those that enabled the City to locally produce potable water at a cost less than the
purchase price per unit volume from Pinellas County. There were three water supply projects
that were identified and described in the WMP. These projects are:1) the Well Field Expansion
Project for Reservoirs 1 and 3; 2) An addition of an RO (Reverse Osmosis) treatment plant to
Reservoir No. 2; and (3) The expansion of existing RO plant at Reservoir 1.
Reservoir 2 Reverse Osmosis Plant Project tasks have been divided into four phases: 1)
FY 2006/07 - Production and Monitoring Well Investigation; 2) FY 2007/09 - Preliminary
Engineering Services; 3) FY 2009/10 - Design Services; and 4) FY 2011/12 - Construction
Management Services. This project is estimated for full completion by FY 2012/13, when it is
estimated that the capital, operation and maintenance costs for the facility will become cost
competitive with wholesale rates charged to the City by Pinellas County.
The requested $555,916 authorization under this Work Order is only for Phase 1
corresponding to FY 2006/07 for the Production and Monitoring Well Investigation. Phase 1
involves investigating and locating where to place three test production wells, which will
consider hydrogeology, proximity to other existing Water Use Permits (WUPs), abandoned City
wells, environmental factors, existing wells and infrastructure, and land use. Preference at each
test production well site will be given to City-owned land that can also accommodate a monitor
well cluster (three wells) within 1,000 feet from the test production well. It is anticipated the
three test production wells will become permitted production wells and the monitoring well
clusters around the test production wells will be retained for water quality compliance
monitoring. The estimated time period for Phase 1 is 550 days to start in February 2007 and
finish in August 2008.
Resolution 06-53 was passed on October 15, 2006, establishing the City’s intent to
reimburse certain Water and Sewer Utility project costs incurred with future tax-exempt
financing. The projects identified with 2008 revenue bonds as a funding source were included
in the project list associated with Resolution 06-53.
In response to questions, Utilities Engineering Manager Robert Fahey said the Floridan
Aquifer would provide water for the reverse osmosis process, which will reduce City
dependence on the County water. Mr. Fahey said staff had factored construction cost increases
in the calculations.
Approve the applicant's request to vacate the East 10 feet of the 25-foot drainage and utility
easement lying along the West property lines of Lots 12 through 19, inclusive, Renaissance
Oaks, (a.k.a. 2231, 2237, 2243, 2249, 2255, 2261, 2267, and 2273 Steven Street), and approve
Ordinance 7788-07 on first reading, (VAC2007-01 Renaissance Oaks, LLC).
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The applicant is seeking vacation of the subject easement portion in order to increase
the buildable area of the lots. The original drainage plan for the subdivision required the
installation of a swale in the rear yard of the subject lots. Engineering staff has reviewed and
approved the installation of a storm pipe instead of the swale, which allows the reduction in the
size of the drainage and utility easement needed and eliminates a swale in the rear yards.
Knology, Verizon, Brighthouse, and Progress Energy have no objections to the vacation
request. Public Works administration has no objections to the vacation request.
Discussion ensued. It was suggested the vacation be contingent upon the installation of
the storm pipe.
Planning
Approve Amendments to Beach by Design: A Preliminary Design for Clearwater Beach and
Design Guidelines, revising the Marina Residential District provisions and Pass Ordinance
7721-07 on first reading.
In 2001, the Clearwater City Council adopted Beach by Design: A Preliminary Design for
Clearwater Beach. This special area plan sets forth a series of strategies to revitalize
Clearwater Beach and establishes eight character districts that regulate land uses and the scale
of development. In August 2006, City Council imposed a six-month building moratorium for the
14-acre Marina Residential character district so the Planning Department could create a
redevelopment framework that better balances development incentives with the provision of
public amenities, allows greater flexibility with regard to uses and supports public access to the
waterfront. Ordinance 7721-07 replaces the current Marina Residential District in its entirety
and proposes the following:
A new vision supporting the redevelopment of the Marina District into a pedestrian and
boater friendly destination with a variety of uses including overnight accommodations,
restaurants, commercial, mixed-use, redevelopment and water-oriented uses: 1) An activity
center at the intersection of East Shore Drive and Papaya Street that only allows overnight
accommodations, commercial and mixed-use development. Stand-alone residential is not
permitted in this particular location; 2) Height incentives for redevelopment projects of various
sizes and uses if a public boardwalk and/or streetscape improvements are constructed; 3)
Parking incentives for docks and preferred uses; 4) Vacating East Shore Drive if traffic
circulation, relocation of utilities and emergency access issues can be mitigated; and 5) Site and
architectural design criteria in addition to the provisions of the Community Development Code
and Beach by Design design guidelines.
The Planning Department has determined that the proposed amendment is consistent
with the provisions of the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan and the Community Development
Code. The Community Development Board reviewed the proposed amendments to Beach by
Design: A Preliminary Design for Clearwater Beach in its capacity as the Local Planning Agency
(LPA) at its regularly scheduled meeting on December 22, 2006 and recommended approval by
a vote of 4:3.
Assistant Planning Director Gina Clayton reviewed changes. At Council’s request, the
staff met last Friday with East Shore Drive property owners. The meeting’s focus was on public
policy implementation. Developer paid improvements were mentioned but not discussed at
length.
Council Work Session 2007-01-29 3
It was suggested that the moratorium not be extended an additional six moths, as
defensible moratoriums in Florida do not exceed twelve months, and that the ordinance include
incentives that expire at the end of the moratorium.
Discussion ensued. Traffic Operations Manager Paul Bertels said if East Shore Drive is
vacated, the construction of a slip lane would be part of the development review process.
Expected activities between now and March election
City Clerk Cyndie Goudeau said following the Charter Review Committee’s
organizational meeting on January 30, 2007, a meeting schedule will be distributed.
Ms. Goudeau reviewed the new State uniform ballot rule which separates candidate
races from ballot questions.
Council Discussion Items
Direction to EAB (Environmental Advisory Board) – Jonson
Item continued to a date uncertain to allow the EAB Chair to be present.
Other Council Action
Councilmembers reported on events in which they recently participated and reviewed
upcoming events.
Councilmember Doran requested that discussion on Thursday consider the
establishment of travel budgets for incoming Councilmembers.
Mayor Hibbard requested that discussion on Thursday consider a special meeting on
March 19, 2007, to swear in newly elected officials.
Councilmember Johnson said it is important that property owners understand what is
expected of them once they are annexed into the City. Mr. Brumback said owners of newly
annexed property are sent welcome letters outlining their responsibilities.
Councilmember Jonson spoke in support of the boat slips. He reported that PSTA
(Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority) declined the Triangle proposal. Assistant City Manager
Rod Irwin said tomorrow the County plans to act on an amendment to its contract with Equis
Corporation to move forward with a study regarding a joint downtown facility for PSTA, Pinellas
County and Clearwater.
In response to a question, Mayor Hibbard said the MPO (Metropolitan Planning
Organization) had not addressed legislative bills regarding transportation but did express
concerns regarding priorities and money allocation.
Councilmember Jonson suggested another Councilmember attend Tampa Bay
Partnership meetings when the Mayor cannot.
Council Work Session 2007-01-29 4
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:33 p.m.
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