This Commission Meeting was conducted utilizing Communications Media Technology.  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

Tambra Varnadore, Vice Mayor, Commissioner, Ward 2

Sheldon Jones, Commissioner-at-Large 1

Tamara Cornwell, Commissioner-at-Large 2

Harold Smith, Commissioner, Ward 1

Brian Williams, Commissioner, Ward 3

 

Staff Present in chambers:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Director

Jim Burton, CRA Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Penny Johnston, Executive Assistant

Vanessa Cochran, Assistant City Clerk

 

Staff Present Electronically:

Todd Williams, Information Technology (IT) Consultant

 

   Mayor Bryant called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Pastor Kim Corbett gave tonight’s invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

 

1.         CITY COMMISSION AGENDA APPROVAL

 

                                Motion:              Commissioner Varnadore moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the                                                                                motion carried 5-0 to approve the January 4, 2021 Commission Agenda

 

2.         PUBLIC COMMENT

Rodney Jones gave his views on the injustice within the City’s government.

 

3.            CONSENT AGENDA

a.     Minutes: December 7, 2020

b.      Appointments To Outside Organizations

c.     Department Head Appointments

 

                        Motion:               Commissioner Jones moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion                                                                                 carried 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda as presented by staff with the removal                                                              of item 3.C for discussion.

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3.C DEPARTMENT HEAD APPOINTMENTS DISCUSSION

Commissioner Smith expressed his concerns regarding the high legal fee charges and staffs’ high salaries.  Whereas,

Commissioner Williams felt that the legal fees were reasonable because of the additional legal cases and   emphasized that the monthly retainer legal fee does not refer to the attorneys’ salaries. 

 

Commissioner Cornwell asserted that she does not agree with the 4 years extension appointments for the department heads because communication has been a problem within some departments.  And, Commissioner Jones questioned the staffs’ annual automatic pay increases with no documentations justifying the increases. 

 

Mayor Bryant stated that she reached out to the Commissioners, except Commissioner Jones since he was recently appointed to the Board, regarding the appointments, and only Commissioner Cornwell provided comments.  Also, if the Commissioners have concerns regarding department head appointments, a meeting can be arranged to speak with the department heads individually, and she agreed with Commissioner Williams about the legal fees.  Next, Commissioner Varnadore announced that the department heads are evaluated by the Mayor, and the Commissioners can vote and remove any department head. 

 

                                1ST Motion:       Commissioner Varnadore moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the                                                                                 motion failed 2-3 to appoint the department heads for 4 years as presented in the                                                                             agenda memo.  Commissioners Cornwell, Smith, and Jones voted nay.  

 

Discussion continued.

 

                                2nd Motion:      Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Smith seconded to appoint                                                                                   department heads for 1 year.  Commissioner Cornwell withdrew her motion. 

 

Discussion continued.

 

                                3rd Motion:       Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion                                                failed 3-2 for the department head appointments for 2 years and authorize the

                                                                Mayor to execute the letter with Blalock Waters.  Commissioners Smith and Jones                                                                    voted nay and super majority of 4 votes were required for multi-year                                                                                                 appointment.

 

                                4th Motion:       Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Smith seconded, and the motion                                                                                 carried 3-2 to confirm the department head appointments for 1 year and authorize                                            the Mayor to execute the letter with Blalock Walters.  Commissioners Varnadore                                                                                 and Williams voted nay.

 

Mayor Bryant advised that she will like to bring the reappointments of the department heads motion back and will meet with the Commissioners for further discussion.    

       

4.            SELECTION OF VICE MAYOR

 

                   Motion:             Commissioner Varnadore moved, Commissioner Cornwell seconded,

                                                   and the motion carried 5-0 to elect Commissioner Williams to Vice                                                                    Mayor.

 

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5.            DECEMBER CHECK REGISTER (Informational Only)

 

Mayor Bryant recessed the City Commission Meeting at 7:50 p.m. to open the January 4, 2021 CRA Board Meeting.

 

Mayor Bryant reconvened the City Commission Meeting at 9:03 p.m.

 

6.               RFP RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD - 715 10TH AVE WEST(CITY) AND 1009 8TH STREET WEST          

          (CRA, J. BURTON)

 

                        Motion:              Commissioner Varnadore moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the                                                        motion carried 5-0 to approve ranking committee recommendations and                                                                 award R-Cubed Engineering as the first ranked and authorize CRA/City                                                                    Attorney to draft and offer contract of sale and CRA Presiding Officer/Mayor                                                                                to sign contract.                           

 

7.        RFP RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD - 712 5TH AVE WEST (J. BURTON)

 

                   Motion:             Commissioner Jones moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and                                                         the motion carried 5-0 to approve ranking committee                                                                           recommendations and award Cadena Construction LLC as first                                                                         ranked and authorize the CRA Attorney to draft and offer contract                                                                for sale and CRA Presiding Officer to sign contract.

 

STANDING AGENDA ITEMS:

 

8.        TRAFFIC UPDATE

Mr. Rayan, Public Works Director (PWD), stated that the County is designing a 4 lane roadway at the north end of Canal Road and is installing a temporary light signal on 17th Street.

 

9.        PALMETTO POOL UPDATE

                 None

 

10.        POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING UPDATE

Chief Tyler discussed the ongoing work regarding the design details of the new Police Building.  Mr. Rayan, PWD, reported that they are working on cost savings, and breaking ground probably around the 3rd quarter.  Mr. Freeman, City Clerk, summarized the financing arrangements of the project.  Explained budget of 9.3 million for construction and other costs.  Funding includes, 8 million 1/2 sales tax down payment/loan, and other sources such as impact fees, interfund loan, and sale of surplus property.      

 

 

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COMMENTS:

 

 

11.        DEPARTMENT HEADS’ COMMENTS

Mr. Freeman reminded the Board of the next Commission Meeting scheduled January 25, 2021, and thanked the

Board for the opportunity to continue to serve.

 

Chief Tyler thanked the Commission for their continued confidence in him to serve and invited Commissioner Jones to visit the Police Department.

 

Mr. Rayan thanked the Board for his reappointment and gave an update on the below projects.

·    7^th Street Crossing ongoing.

·    Chloramine House ongoing.

·    MLK Restrooms ongoing.

·    EQ tank completed.

 

Attorney Barnebey thanked the Board for his reappointment and addressed some of the items that were discussed during Mr. Iboni’s, Realtor, presentation on December 21, 2020 at the Workshop Meeting.

 

12.       MAYOR'S REPORT

Mayor Bryant reminded the Board that the Manatee County Fair is scheduled January 14th through the 24th and an alternate for the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Committee is open.  Commissioner Jones responded that he will send Penny Johnston, Executive Administrative Assistant, the dates that he will be able to attend the meetings, and the alternate can attend the open dates.  Commissioner Williams volunteered that he would check his schedule and see if he will be able to cover the open dates.

 

Mayor Bryant requested that the Commissioners make sure that their contact information is correct on file.  And, Mr. Freeman discussed the IT Department Security Awareness Training KnowBe4 and advised the Board that the training helps to identify potential scams and possible hacking of the City’s system.  Mayor Bryant added that the training is mandatory, and if not taken, it may prevent access to the City’s system.  Then, Mayor Bryant discussed the Keep Manatee Beautiful Project and asked support from everyone to help with the trash problem to keep the City looking good.

 

13.        COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS

Commissioner Jones commented that the Board has gotten off to a good start and hopefully continue to move forward.

 

Commissioner Varnadore wished everyone a happy and prosperous year.

 

Commissioner Williams asked for clarification regarding the amount for the City’s monthly contract services, and Mr. Freeman replied that it was phrased inadequately, but it is an annualized number.  Also, Commissioner Williams reminded the Board about the Manatee County Fair VIP Luncheon and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

 

Commissioner Cornwell wished everyone a Happy New Year and commented that the newly opened business, Pelican Snoballs, is excellent.  She also asked if the burrito sign on top of the 7-11 business can be removed. 

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Attorney Barnebey replied that it is a temporary sign, and the business is allowed to do this for 45 days.  Commissioner Cornwell addressed the Shell Gas Station vacant property and stated that when the property is sold she did not want a storage facility, or a convenient store, or someone selling something because she wants a flag ship facility there. 

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 9:37 p.m.