Elected Officials Present:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Mayor

Tamara Cornwell, Vice Mayor, Commissioner-at-Large 2

Jonathan Davis, Commissioner-at-Large 1

Harold Smith, Commissioner, Ward 1

Tambra Varnadore, Commissioner, Ward 2

Brian Williams, Commissioner, Ward 3

 

Staff Present:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Deputy Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Amber LaRowe, Assistant City Clerk

 

Mayor Bryant called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

All persons intending to address the City Commission were duly sworn.

 

Chief Scott Tyler swore in the newly hired Officer Vincent Diorio.

 

 

1. CITY COMMISSION AGENDA APPROVAL

 

Motion:     Commissioner Williams moved, Commissioner Davis seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the January 27, 2020 Commission Agenda with the removal of Ordinance 2020-01 City Seal.

 

 

2. PUBLIC COMMENT

Lynn Meier, resident, commented on the continued spillage of sewer in her neighborhood. Would like to know when the next Town Hall meeting will be to discuss this topic.

 

Charles Smith, resident, opposed to the City adopting the proposed Ordinance 2020-01 City Seal.

 

 

3. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL

A. 2020 Board Appointments Outside Agencies

B. January 6, 2020 Minutes

C. Legal Invoices

D. River Regatta Market February 8, 2020 Special Function Permit

E. DeSoto Heritage Parade April 25, 2020 Special Function Permit

F. Traffic Regulation 4th Street West

 

Commissioner Smith requested removal of item F and Commissioner Cornwell requested the removal of item D.

 

Motion:     Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve items A, B, C, and E of the January 27, 2020 Consent Agenda as recommended by staff.

 

 

4.D. Regatta Market Crusader Discussion:

In regards to the question if this will be an annual event, it was discussed how the event went last year versus more vendors participating this year.

 

Motion:           Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the Special Function Permit for the Regatta Market.

 

 

4.F. 4^th Street Parking Discussion:

In regards to how the public will be informed, Mr. Rayan indicated that information will be placed on the City’s website as well as covered, hopefully, in the newspaper. Chief Tyler indicated that warnings will be issued first before any tickets are issued.

 

Commissioner Smith would like signs inside the CRA parking lot on 4^th first before the no parking signs are erected. Mr. Rayan will speak with Mr. Burton about the installation of signs in the lot identifying it for public use.

 

This item will be brought forward to next week’s meeting.

 

 

4. FIRST READ ORDINANCE 2020-01 CITY OF PALMETTO SEAL (M. Barnebey)

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALMETTO, FLORIDA, ADOPTING AN OFFICIAL CITY SEAL; ADOPTING AN OFFICIAL COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF PALMETTO SEAL; APPOINTING AN OFFICIAL CUSTODIAN OF THE SEALS; PROVIDING FOR USE AND PENALTIES FOR IMPROPER USE OF THE SEALS; MAKING RELATED FINDINGS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

This item was removed.

 

 

5. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AGREEMENT

This item was discussed, in length, at today’s Workshop meeting.

 

Motion:           Commissioner Varnadore moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement for construction manager at risk services between the City of Palmetto and HJ High Construction for the new Police Department Building Project Number 19-4101.

 

 

6. DECEMBER CHECK REGISTER (Informational Only)

 

 

7. TRAFFIC UPDATE

 

 

8. PALMETTO POOL UPDATE

This item was discussed at today’s Workshop meeting.

 

 

9. POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING UPDATE

 

 

10. DEPARTMENT HEADS COMMENTS

Mr. Rayan—gave an update on the various projects going on throughout the City; to include the EQ Basin update at the wastewater treatment plant. He commented that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project along 10^th Avenue West to 13^th Avenue West is approximately 90 percent complete.

 

Mr. Freeman—commented on the queuing system and asked for the continued patience from Commission as staff works on updating the system.

 

Chief Tyler—reported that according the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), crime is down 8 percent overall.

 

Attorney Barnebey—updated the Commission on the recent trial involving Amberwynd and the annexation agreement. The judge has ruled in the City’s favor.

 

 

11. MAYORS REPORT

Mayor complimented the project over at the Fairgrounds that created more parking; it is a vast improvement and has made a significant difference.

 

She complimented Geoff Seger, Keith Mitchell, Ken Green and Penny Johnston for their hard work on making the City’s fair booth a success.

 

 

12. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS

Commissioner Cornwell—thought the Manatee County Fair was the best by far.

 

She asked Mr. Rayan to check on the issues that Ms. Meier commented on earlier, especially in regards to the manholes being broken in her area. Also, she requested information on how the public is informed of cancelled meetings.

 

Mrs. Cornwell discussed naming of buildings and would like to talk about this further.

 

Commissioner Williams—would like to schedule another Town Hall meeting for residents to recap the November discussion.

 

He proposed that the CRA look at renaming the former Slicks property due to it no longer being Slicks. It was decided this topic could be placed on the next CRA Board meeting.

 

Mr. Williams complimented this year’s fair.

 

Commissioner Varnadore—complimented the new parking along 13^th Avenue.

 

Commissioner Davis—asked Public Works to take a look at the striping along 10^th Street and 5^th Avenue West; the south turn lane onto 5^th Avenue from 10^th Street.

 

Commissioner Smith—asked Mr. Rayan about the railroad tracks on 2^nd Avenue West. He explained this is a very hard area to traverse and opined it is hazardous.

 

Mr. Smith discussed emails he has received regarding the lack of the Chief to investigate alleged acts of fraud. Chief Tyler explained that he told the person alleging these acts to contact Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). When Commissioner Smith questioned the Chief why, the Chief explained that, in his opinion, it is better to have an independent agency investigate elected officials and/or municipalities than the Police Department that works for that City and/or official.

 

A motion to adjourn was made at 8:00 p.m.