It was raining so hard last night that I missed attending this meeting, one of the few in recent memory. Instead, I watched on-line. You always miss things when you stay at home. Some Highlights of last night's meeting:
INVOCATION:
Given by Elisa Stewart of the Religious Society of Friends...not a prayer but a short speech giving a message to the dais and to the people to listen to the opposition. "We must get out of our safe forums and our seminars...sit down face to face with our opposition...We must listen to the truth in our opponent and we must acknowledge it....then we must listen; we must listen and listen and listen."
I thought this an excellent message and one that is very necessary at the moment. This is two invocations in a row that had powerful messages. However, the mayor lashed out at Christopher McVoy for not appointing a board member quickly enough and John Szerdi wanted the question called on Ordinance 2014-32 on LDR's as McVoy was giving his opinion that did not coincide with his. Elisa Stewart's profound message was short-lived.
CONSENT AGENDA:
B
The roll-back millage rate was corrected from $5.0197 mils per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 5.0731 which is 8.307% more.
F
Sam Goodstein was re-appointed to the Library Board by commissioner Amoroso--a very good thing. Also, Amoroso appointed Jason Robinson to the Finance Advisory Board.
NEW BUSINESS:
1)
Germaine English, Human Resource Director, is re-organizing her department and has requested adding one new employee to her department, an assistant human resource director. The creation of the Assistant Human Resource Director will provide various functions currently not or under addressed within the Department. This change is within the current budgeted amounts and will not exceed the current departmental budget. 5/0 vote.
2)
Code Enforcement Compliance Program was discussed in length (nearly 2 hours). About 14% of the properties are either abandoned or in foreclosure. The city has 1,700 code cases with seven code officers. They are close to being over-whelmed. The Code Department's objectives and goals are (a) being efficient (b) being effective (c) being expeditious and (d) equitable. The Code Compliance Division through the Community Sustainability Department undertook an exhaustive study of the City's current codes and initiated a series of changes including more than 40 ordinance changes. New or revamped programs include Nuisance Abatement, Chronic Nuisance and Vacant Property Registration. This is to let people know the process. There is nothing in Florida law that will make people take care of their property but the city can eventually seize non-homesteaded property. The city is divided into 7 zones and each code officer is assigned to one zone to work. 5/0 vote.
3)
The property owner of 2269 2nd Avenue North wants to voluntarily annex a 2.301 acre parcel of land. The request for annexation falls within the scope of a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment. The City’s Industrial (I) Future Land Use designation is compatible with the County’s existing Land Use designation of Industrial (IND). The City’s Industrial – Park of Commerce (I-POC) zoning category is the appropriate zoning category to implement the proposed underlying Land Use category of Industrial. 5/0 vote
4)
In 2013, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2013-21 which created a new board appointment process to allow vacancies and appointments to be filled on an as needed basis throughout the year. The former process only allowed for appointments to be made during the month of June. Since that time, staff has had an opportunity to monitor the process and is suggesting the proposed ordinance be adopted. This Ordinance clarifies the appointment order hierarchy for elected officials, establishes a time-frame to appoint members within 30 days of notice from the City Clerk or her designee, and adds a provision to allow other elected officials to make appointments (if an elected official fails to timely appoint). McVoy stated for the record that he was against the current process and that it lacked transparency. Szerdi said it was as transparent as you wanted it to be. Motion passed on a 4/1 vote. I agree with Commissioner McVoy and Loretta Sharpe...go back to the old appointment process where everything was out in the open with the public invited to observe and all commissioners got to weigh in on the appointments.
5)
Ordinance 2014-34--This ordinance provides for a definition of panhandling and specifies the locations where panhandling is prohibited, which are primarily places where a person cannot readily escape from the unwanted solicitation, such as sidewalk cafes, ATMs, entrances/exits to buildings and parking areas. The ordinance also provides a definition of aggressive panhandling, which is primarily soliciting money in a threatening manner or after a negative response to an initial act of solicitation. This type of panhandling is banned throughout the city. If it is non-aggressive, panhandlers have first amendment rights per the city attorney. Commissioner Amoroso admits that panhandlers have become very aggressive and asks about the penalties and what PBSO will be able to do. They will able to issue a notice to appear, fine of $500 or possible jail time of 60 days. 5/0 vote. Several business owners spoke out about this deplorable situation. As far as I am concerned, any stranger who approaches me is "aggressive" by the very nature of his actions. They may have rights, as commissioner Amoroso stated, but I don't believe they have rights to hassle me for money or be in my face.
A few of the interesting comments from last night:
