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07/31/2006 CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER July 31, 2006 Present: Frank Hibbard Mayor Carlen Petersen Vice-Mayor Hoyt P. Hamilton Councilmember William C. Jonson 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 Brenda Moses Board Reporter 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 Service Awards The August 2006 Team of the Month Award was presented to James “Jimmy” Schaus and William “Spike” Fry of the Fire Rescue Team Fire Department. Police Recruit Swearing In The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to 13 Police Recruits. NACWA (National Association of Clean Water Agencies) Gold Peak Performance Awards to Water Pollution Control Division Superintendent John Milligan and Water Pollution Control Division employees of the Public Utilities Department were congratulated for receipt of Gold Peak Performance Awards, presented by the NACWA. Neighborhood Grants Program Neighborhood Services Manager Becky Melendez reviewed the City’s current Neighborhood Grant Program and the proposed Clearwater Awards for Neighbors Program. In response to a question, Ms. Melendez said the Neighborhood Coalition has not reviewed program changes. She emphasized the goal is to obtain involvement of entire neighborhoods rather than a few individuals. Discussion ensued. Requests were made for Neighborhood Coalition input and an analysis regarding participation. Council Work Session 2006-07-31 1 Bike/Ped Master Plan Parks & Recreation Administrative Support Manager Felicia Leonard reviewed Shift Gears, the 2006 bicycle and pedestrian master plan. In response to questions, Ms. Leonard said staff is discussing with the County a conceptual design of renovations for the Pinellas Trail and aggressively pursuing grant opportunities. Sidewalk repairs are prioritized based on a benefit cost index, level of service for each segment, and demand. Water Demand Management / Reclaimed Metering Public Utilities Water Superintendent Glenn Daniel reviewed water demand management and reclaimed metering. In response to questions, he said the current rate includes availability and usage fees. Once reclaimed water is metered, all residences with access to reclaimed water will be charged an availability fee. Public Utilities Director Andy Neff said SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) supported 50% funding of distribution under current method but anticipates an increase for reclaimed service with time. Staff proposes to increase fixed costs to reduce City subsidies. Discussion ensued. Concern was expressed that residents originally were told that reclaimed water would be unlimited and un-metered, and now are told otherwise. It was stated that a time will come when demand is greater than supply and metering will reduce use. Economic Development and Housing Approve the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Consolidated Action Plan to carry forward the goals and objectives set forth in the five year Consolidated Plan created and approved in 2005 as required by HUD, and authorize the City to enter into agreements with organizations that have been recommended for funding in the FY06-07 Consolidated Action Plan HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) requires communities that receive entitlement funding to prepare an annual plan on how they will expend the funds that they receive. This annual plan, referred to as a Consolidated Action Plan, provides HUD with the City’s housing, community and economic development budgets and proposed expenditures based on the entitlement funds and estimated program income that the City will receive. Funds are to be used to develop viable communities and sustain existing ones. In addition, the funds will be used to provide safe, decent and affordable housing, and expand economic opportunities for very low to moderate income households. This year’s Action Plan allocates federal and state funds to provide housing opportunities for very low to moderate income households for new and existing homes, homebuyer education, construction and/or renovation of public facilities, and to fund programs that assist the homeless, single parent households, the elderly, the physically challenged and children, to name a few. In Fiscal Year 2006-2007, the City is estimated to receive federal funds in the amount of $969,479 through the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant), $543,851 through the HOME Investment Partnership Program, and $1,041,268 from the State of Florida through the SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) Program. Funds provided through the HOME and SHIP Programs are limited to housing activities and administration. Council Work Session 2006-07-31 2 Funds provided through the CDBG program may be used for housing, community and economic development, public services and facilities, acquisition, demolition, and administration. Additional funding for the FY2006-2007 budget will come from estimated program income funds (loan repayments, loan payoffs, recaptured funds, etc). The City received a total of 34 applications from 21 different organizations. Only three applications did not receive funding. The rest of the applications will be receiving an allocation or will be participating in the City’s Housing Pool. A review committee comprised of professionals in the social service and grants community and one member of the City’s NAHAB (Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board) reviewed the applications, scored them, and set forth a strategy to maximize the number applicants that will receive a portion of allocated funds. City of Clearwater staff reviewed each application to ensure it met HUD’s and the State’s baseline requirements. At their meeting on May 9, 2006, the NAHAB unanimously approved the recommended allocations contained in the FY06-07 Consolidated Action Plan and approved the full Action Plan at their July 11, 2006 meeting. Each year, the City may allocate up to 15% of its CDBG allocation for Public Services organizations. Under the Public Services category, agencies compete for approximately $145,521 in CDBG funds. The City’s Housing Division received requests for Public Service funding in excess of $429,482. For the FY06-07 CAP, the City is proposing to fund $165,521 in Public Service funds, because the HRC (Willa Carson Health Resource Center) is classified as a CBDO (Community Based Development Organization) and they are operating in the NRSA (North Greenwood Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area). HUD allows entitlement communities to exceed their Public Services cap, if they provide funding to the CBDO, operating in an NRSA. Since the NAHAB and Council have endorsed a sliding scale funding system for Public Service applicants that allows the top two scorers to receive 60% of their request; the second two receive 50% of their request, and others receive 40% of their request until all of the allowable funds are allocated. This allowed all Public Service applicants to receive some funding rather than some agencies not receiving any funding. The same methodology also was used this year for the Public Facility applications. All organizations that will be receiving an allocation, or participating in the City’s Housing or Housing Education Pools, will have agreements prepared and executed by October 1, 2006. The City Manager reported the Turning Point (Westcare of Florida) is slated to receive $30,000 during the next fiscal year and expressed concern with reporting method, as it is unclear if the organization supports Clearwater clients. In response to questions, Assistant Director of Housing Howie Carroll said the agency had requested $60,000 and that current ranking process does not award points for assisting Clearwater residents. It is difficult for homeless individuals to prove residency. Discussion ensued with comments that funding for Turning Point should not be terminated at this point and the agency’s reporting methods need to be reviewed. Approve an “Interlocal Agreement between Pinellas County and the City of Clearwater for Schematic Level Design Service of the Gulf Boulevard Improvement Program.” In response to questions, County representative Joe DeMoss said the schematic design will update the 2002 study. More information and data is needed to determine if request to extend route to Acacia can be brought to the Board of County Commissioners. Council Work Session 2006-07-31 3 It was recommended that reimbursement should be placed in a special account for Sand Key projects. City Manager Approve the Florida League of Cities 2006 Award Nominations. Approve Florida League of Cities 2006 award nominations: 1) Bill Horne - City Manager of the Year; 2) Margie Simmons - City Finance Official of the Year; 3) Pam Akin - City Attorney of the Year; and 4) Duke Tieman - Citizen of the Year. Recommendations were made to list the City Manager’s intergovernmental involvement, involvement with his church, staff stability. Consensus was for staff to make recommended changes. Legal Pass Ordinance 7672-06 on first reading, amending the Charter to allow for boat slips to be built and operated at the Clearwater bay front; setting out the form of the ballot question to go to referendum; and setting the date of November 7, 2006 for a special election for the referendum vote. The City of Clearwater has experienced a loss of wetslips and drystacks due to private redevelopment. The Pinellas County Boating Access Task Force documented a loss of 341 wetslips and 960 drystack racks in Pinellas County from 1996 to 2005. The City Marina waiting list has been capped and demand for boat slips continues to grow. The Downtown Plan contemplates and encourages boat slips, docks and promenades on the waterfront, and provision for such facilities is consistent with said Plan as well as the City of Clearwater's Comprehensive Plan. Pursuant to direction from the City Council, a feasibility study was conducted and the results were presented at the July 18, 2006 Council meeting. A referendum election is necessary to amend the Charter to allow for the building and maintenance of such amenities. Discussion ensued. It was recommended that ballot language indicate that City residents have priority to rent boat slips, that use of docks, boardwalks, and promenades be limited to daylight hours, that the word “public” precede restrooms, that public access be emphasized, and that the legal description be clarified. It was suggested that adding a sentence regarding “renovating the existing surface parking” would clarify that no structure or parking garage would be built. It was suggested that the term “launch ramps” is more specific than “boat ramps.” Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin said a visual representation should be completed within three weeks and that a public education effort is planned. The City will ask the DDB (Downtown Development Board) for a funding commitment. Council Discussion Items Council Work Session 2006-07-31 4 Budget Issues - Funding for Jolley Trolley and Ruth Eckerd Hall; possible increase in Senior Homestead Exemption Senior Homestead Exemption Discussion ensued regarding a proposal to increase the homestead exemption for low- income senior residents to $25,000. In response to a question, Budget Director Tina Wilson estimated the change would impact next year’s budget by approximately $150,000. Consensus was to support a $25,000 homestead exemption for low-income senior residents. Ruth Eckerd Hall The City plans to provide Ruth Eckerd Hall with an operating subsidy. It was suggested that those funds could be used for sidewalk improvements or capitol improvement projects. Discussion ensued. The majority supported providing Ruth Eckerd Hall with an operating subsidy. Jolley Trolley Discussion ensued regarding the service provided and the increased subsidy being requested. Concerns were expressed regarding Jolley Trolley assets not being distributed to the City should Jolley Trolley cease to exist. Directive was given to modify the Jolley Trolley agreement for next year’s budget, after conversations with stakeholders determine the type of public transportation product that is needed. Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar said that staff is scheduled to meet with Jolley Trolley management and will bring a new agreement to Council in September. He will request ridership reports. Florida League of Cities Resolution supporting an amendment to the Florida Constitution providing for limited portability of the benefits afforded by "Save Our Homes." Discussion ensued regarding the FLC (Florida League of Cities) resolution, which would provide limited portability of benefits afforded by “Save Our Homes.” It was stated that commercial property owners are not protected against tax increases. Additional information was requested. Concern was expressed that the amendment may have unintended consequences. Other Council Action Mayor Hibbard reported Save the Bayfront opposes any boat slips north of the causeway. Discussion ensued with concerns that this would eliminate the most public portion of Council Work Session 2006-07-31 5 the project. It was noted a public education effort would be done and the citizens should be allowed to make an informed decision. Councilmember Jonson expressed concern regarding a newspaper report that the City did not help Safety Harbor Fire Department with efforts to transport an elderly patient during a 2004 storm. Human Resources Director Joe Roseto said the referenced incident occurred when the weather deteriorated and a decision was made to stand down emergency response to protect personnel. Clearwater does not provide transport unless there are unusual circumstances. Councilmember Jonson requested guidance regarding the PSTA as cities, that do not pay ad valorem taxes to PSTA, are requesting PSTA services; reported he met with the Mayor regarding transportation issues, and will share photographs from his trips to Denver and Seattle. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m. Council Work Session 2006-07-31 6