This Commission Meeting was conducted utilizing Communications Media Technology.  Some 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

Brian Williams, Vice Mayor, Commissioner, Ward 3

Sheldon Jones, Commissioner-at-Large 1

Tamara Cornwell, Commissioner-at-Large 2

Harold Smith, Commissioner, Ward 1

Tambra Varnadore, Commissioner, Ward 2

 

Staff Present in chambers:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Jeff Burton, CRA Director

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 Fidel Diaz, Manatee County Sheriff Chaplain, gave the invocation, followed by a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

 

 

  RECOGNITION:  Penny Johnston, City of Palmetto Employee, recognized the countless volunteers                                                 who keep the City of Palmetto Beautiful.

 

  RECOGNITION:  Chief Scott Tyler recognized the following officers:

                                    Officer of the Year - Chris Metzger  

                                    Employee of the Year - Mike Johnston

                                    Officers of the Quarter - Matt Wilson, Michael Kelly, Chris Metzger, Harold Baez                                 Employees of the Quarter - Casey Odell, Mike Johnston

                                    Mike Kelly – 20 years

                                    Cindy Spitler, Lorna White – 15 Years

                                    Micah Mathews – 10 Years

                                    Matt Wilson, Ben Schlabach, Ashley Blocker, Casey Odell, Kim Corbett – 5 Years

 

 

City Commission Meeting

March 22, 2021

Page 2 of 4                            

 

   PROCLAMATION:  Commissioner Cornwell presented the Water Conservation Month Proclamation to                                             Moe Rayan, Public Works Director.

 

  PROCLAMATION:  Commissioner Varnadore presented the Donate Life Month Proclamation to                                              Penny Johnston, Executive Administrative Assistant.

 

1.      CITY COMMISSION AGENDA APPROVAL

                            

Motion:  Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the motion carried 3-2 to approve the March 22, 2021 City Commission Agenda that was presented by staff with the addition item 3.L the First Baptist Church Parking Property.  Commissioners Smith and Jones voted nay.

 

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

          Betty Rhodes, City resident, gave her opinion on an incident that occurred at the Race Trac Gas Station

         concerning a customer.

 

3.         CONSENT AGENDA

a.   MINUTES

b.   LEGAL BILLS

c.   SPECIAL FUNCTION PERMIT - EASTER SUNDAY OUTDOOR SERVICE

d.   SPECIAL FUNCTION PERMIT- SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS DAY

e.   VEOLIA NAME CHANGE (M. Rayan)

f.   TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT (M. Rayan)

g.   SURPLUS AMMUNITION AND HOLSTERS (S. Tyler)

h.    SURPLUS RADIOS (S. Tyler)

i.   SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE -RTU TO CONTROL AND/OR MONITOR PROCESS (M.   Rayan)

j.   SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE - CHLORAMINE BOOSTING STATION AND RESOLUTION 2021-09 (M. Rayan)

k.   ORANGE LIEN DATA CONTRACT - LIEN SEARCHES (J. Freeman)

 

                           Motion:  Commissioner Williams moved, Commissioner Cornwell                                                     seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve the consent                                               agenda as presented by staff and with the removal of item 3H                                                and 3L for discussion.

 

3.H   SURPLUS RADIOS DISCUSSION

Commissioner Cornwell asked why the radios were not donated to Public Works.  Chief Tyler replied that the radios are on a different radio frequency.

 

 

City Commission Meeting

March 22, 2021

Page 3 of 4

 

                     Motion:  Commissioner Cornwell moved, Commissioner Jones                                                           seconded, and the motion carried 5-0 to approve Consent                                               Agenda item 3H as presented by staff.

 

3.L  FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PARKING PROPERTY DISCUSSION

This item was previously discussed at a Workshop in January.   Mayor Bryant informed the Board that the item was added to the agenda because she was contacted by First Baptist Church and was asked if the City was still interested in the accepting a donation of property for public parking.  Mr. Bill Robey, contractor for the First Baptist lot improvement, was present to address the Board’s questions.  He explained that the church is moving forward with making improvements to their parking lot regardless of whether the City is interested in accepting the property donation for public street parking.  The church is indifferent, but presented this opportunity based on the City’s prior comments regarding a need to develop public street parking.  The church is willing to donate a portion of their land to the City and the City or CRA would develop the street parking that will be public parking (approx. 35-50 spaces).  Either way, the church does not care, but just needs a decision from the City at this time so they can move forward with their parking lot improvement.  Discussion continued with the Commission regarding construction costs and lighting for the public parking spaces. 

        

                                    Motion:  Commissioner Williams moved, Commissioner Varnadore                                                                         seconded, and the motion carried 4-1 to accept the donation                                                            of the property with the concept of looking at parking along                                                               11^th Ave. West.  Commissioner Smith voted nay.

 

4.            FEBRUARY CHECK REGISTER (Informational Only)

 

 

STANDING AGENDA ITEMS:

 

5.            TRAFFIC UPDATE

Mr. Rayan, PWD, gave an update on the traffic light on US 301 and Canal Road which should be active by the end of the month. He added that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is moving forward with initial work on 23rd Street and construction of the temporary solution will begin sometime in September 2021.   

 

6.           POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING UPDATE

Chief Tyler commented that he met with the Architectural Design Group (ADG) on the cost for the fixtures and finishes, and the information will be received soon.  

 

7.       DEPARTMENT HEADS COMMENTS

 

Mr. Freeman, City Clerk, reported that the Police Building financing plan will be coming forward in the next couple months.  Also, Manatee County received 100 million in stimulus money that will be disbursed to local cities and jurisdictions.  The City is projected to receive about 5.2 million and will work closely with Manatee County to seek what projects are permitted.   Then, the Board will instruct how the funds will be spent.

 

 

City Commission Meeting

March 22, 2021

Page 4 of 4

 

Mr. Rayan, PWD, announced that the City’s portion regarding the MLK Restrooms Project is completed.  And,

the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the building construction will go out by the end of April 2021. 

 

Attorney Barnebey informed the Board about Florida Statute 163.405 regarding a preemption on tree trimming and the other legislation states that anonymous code enforcement complaints cannot enforced.  Mayor Bryant stated that she would like to send a letter to the Legislators opposing the code enforcement legislation and supporting the trim trimming legislation if the Board agrees.  The Board agreed with Mayor Bryant’s suggestion.    

 

8.      MAYORS REPORT

Mayor Bryant congratulated the City’s staff on a good job.  She also mentioned that Manatee County requested that Lincoln Park’s name be changed to Coach Eddie Shannon, and a resolution will be forwarded.  Once it is received, the Board will make a decision.  Mayor Bryant addressed the derelict boats concerns and stated that she sent a letter to the State Legislators requesting that the current bill that is associated with the operation and safety of motor vehicles and vessels be amended to include Palmetto’s concerns.

 

 

COMMENTS:

 

9.           COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS

Commissioner Jones asked for an updates on Lamb Park, Sutton Park, Women Club, and Celebration Center.  Mr. Freeman stated that Mrs. Owens, Development Services Director, is working on the Celebration Center, which will be on the April 5th Workshop Agenda.  Commissioner Jones inquired about the City’s waste contract versus self-performing in-house.  Commissioner Jones made a motion, Commissioner Smith seconded, and the motion failed 2-3 to explore obtaining cost data for in-house waste services.  Commissioner Williams, Varnadore and Cornwell voted no.  Questions were asked about the CARES Act funding and what the City has received in regards to funding.    

 

 

      Commissioner Cornwell inquired about the July 4th event, and Mr. Burton replied that plans are in the works and it will be coming back to the Board.      

 

 

  Commissioner Williams inquired about the responsibility for various meeting minutes and the new microphones in the chambers.  Mr. Freeman explained the responsibility for the minutes varies by Board and he explained the new microphones are an improvement. 

 

 

  Commissioner Varnadore commented that she could not wait for the City to get back to its regular routines, and the Pandemic coming to an end.

 

 

  Commissioner Smith commented on the First Baptist Church Parking Lot Project and inquired about the Pocket Neighborhoods Project, the Connor Park public meeting on the 24th and the Lincoln Park name change and suggested we seek community feedback and the Mayor agreed.      

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m.