This Commission Meeting was conducted utilizing Communications Media Technology in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order. Some Elected Officials and Staff members were present in the Commission Chambers while others were present via the Zoom application to respect the social distancing guidelines.

 

Elected Officials Present in Chambers:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Mayor

Harold Smith, Commissioner, Ward 1

 

Elected Officials Present Electronically:

Tambra Varnadore, Vice Mayor, Commissioner, Ward 2

Tamara Cornwell, Commissioner-at-Large 2

Jonathan Davis, Commissioner-at-Large 1

Brian Williams, Commissioner, Ward 3

 

Staff Present in chambers:

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Deputy Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

 

Staff Present Electronically:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Allen Tusing, Public Works Director

Amber LaRowe, Assistant City Clerk

Todd Williams, Information Technology (IT) Consultant

 

Mayor Bryant called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. followed by a moment of silence.

 

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

 

1. CITY COMMISSION AGENDA APPROVAL

 

 Motion:    Commissioner Davis moved, Commissioner Varnadore seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the May 18, 2020 Commission Agenda.

 

 

2. PUBLIC COMMENT

No comments.

 

 

3. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL

A. February 24 and May 4, 2020 Minutes

B. Resolution 2020-06 Authorization to sign FDOT Traffic Lighting Agreement

C. Legal Invoices

D. Florida Incident Based Crime Reporting (FIBRS) Program Grant

E. CS&L Audit Engagement Letter

 

Motion:     Commissioner Varnadore moved, Commissioner Smith seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the May 18, 2020 Consent Agenda as recommended by staff with the removal of item C for discussion.

 

3. C. Legal Invoices Discussion:

Attorney Barnebey reviewed the individual legal invoices as attached to the Agenda. Discussion ensued with a request made by Commissioner Smith that a list of all open liens be made available to the Commission.

 

Motion:           Commissioner Smith moved, Commissioner Davis seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the Legal Invoices as attached to the Agenda.

 

4. VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AGREEMENT--REINHART/MORELAND

Attorney Barnebey presented the item to the Commission. He stated that the property owners would like to annex into the City of Palmetto when their property becomes contiguous; the application is for sewer services. This is a legally binding agreement that will be recorded with the Manatee County Clerk Official Records. The applicants will be responsible for the payment of all fees associated with this application.

 

Commissioner Smith agrees with this application, but expressed opinions regarding all agreements, if more are to come. If that is the case, he would prefer to have workshops on each of these applications before they come to the Commission for a formal vote.

 

Motion:     Commissioner Davis moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the Voluntary Annexation Agreement and Petition to Annex for Richard Reinhart and Diana Moreland, and authorize the Mayor's execution of same.

 

 

5. RESOLUTION 2020-09 HALF CENT SALES TAX PROJECT LIST UPDATE

Discussion: topics discussed were the previous Resolutions for the Half-Cent Sales Tax Project List; in 2018, the first Resolution was adopted with an allocation of approximately $6M for the new Police Department Building.

 

MLK Park restrooms were discussed; this is a budgeted item and has been. Commissioner Smith would like to know why this item has been discussed and budgeted over the years with little to no movement. Staff will bring this to the next CRA Board Meeting on June 1.

 

Motion:           Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Smith seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to adopt Resolution 2020-09 amending the One-Half Cent Sales Tax Infrastructure Funding List.

 

5. A. RESOLUTION 2020-10 HALF CENT INFRASTRUCTURE PAVING

 

Motion:     Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Varnadore seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to adopt Resolution 2020-10.

 

 

6. APRIL CHECK REGISTER (Informational Only)

 

 

7. TRAFFIC UPDATE

 

 

8. PALMETTO POOL UPDATE

Attorney Barnebey is continuing to work with Manatee County on an interlocal agreement. He stated that there has been a revised agreement distributed to his office that he is reviewing and is hopeful it will come to the Commission this summer.

 

 

9. POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING UPDATE

Chief Tyler indicated that GeoTech civil has begun their work; a workshop on the progress and the schematics will be forthcoming.

 

 

10. DEPARTMENT HEADS COMMENTS  

Mr. Freeman—staff is preparing the budget for the next fiscal year.

 

His office is monitoring the COVID pandemic and the economic impacts. He believes there will a potential decline in revenue sharing and will provide more information as it comes in.

 

The Commission asked Mr. Freeman to reach out to other municipalities that may know what type of economic impact this has made to their coming budget. Mr. Davis indicated that the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) has prepared and is continuing to make changes to their economic impact study report as it relates to this pandemic and the Tampa Bay region.

 

Mr. Rayan—thanked the Commission for adopting the Resolution to fund the paving project.

 

The cost estimate and preliminary funding will be brought forward to a workshop as soon as can be coordinated and done appropriately.

 

Mr. Tusing—discussed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects and will bring forward as soon as possible as he works with the grant consultant.

 

He discussed the paving and projected a timeline of mid-June.

 

Chief Tyler—updated the Commission on the registration of the new boat; two of three officers have completed the captain’s school. Also, the three officers completed the training flying drones and they are now certified.

 

Attorney Barnebey—discussed the renewal of the Governor’s Executive Order that suspends an in person quorum for public meetings; it has been extended to July 7^th. This does not mean the City has to conduct meetings this way until then; however, it provides for the City to do so if necessary. He and staff are continuing to monitor the situation and will bring updates to the Commission as needed.

 

Commissioner Davis requested an amendment to the Charter to suspend in person quorum for emergency situations like hurricanes; Mr. Barnebey will prepare and bring that to the Commission in June.

 

He discussed the negotiations with Bel Mare for the roundabout on 7^th Street; the City needs some of the right-of-way to do that. This agreement will be on the June 1 CRA Board meeting. Commissioner Williams requested a workshop with the Commission to discuss this roundabout.

 

 

11. MAYORS REPORT

Mayor Bryant indicated that a discussion and more information on the pool will be forthcoming in the next month or two. She discussed the July 4^th event and the fireworks; she has been in contact with the County and the City of Bradenton who cooperate with the City to put on the fireworks every year. She stated that it appears to be the consensus of all entities involved that to have that event in July is not appropriate considering the pandemic. Mayor Bryant will bring more information to the next meeting.

 

12. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS

Commissioner Smith—encouraged everyone to continue being safe during this time and respect the guidelines.

 

Commissioner Varnadore—is excited to see the paving moving forward soon.

 

Commissioner Cornwell—echoed Commissioner Varnadore’s comments.

 

Commissioner Davis—echoed Commissioner Varnadore’s comments.

 

Discussed the TBRPC economy report on the pandemic. As previously stated, TBRPC will continue to compile the data and submit to the communities in the Tampa Bay region.

 

He thanked all employees for their hard work during this difficult time.

 

Commissioner Williams—would like information provided to the Commission when streets will be blocked due to any utility projects.

 

He discussed the stormwater basins/car traps on 5^th Street between 8^th Avenue and 10^th Avenue; what is happening with these? Staff indicated this is a CRA issue and needs to be brought up at the next CRA Board meeting in June.

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m.