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.

 

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:

Shirley Groover Bryant, Mayor

Sheldon Jones, Vice-Mayor, Commissioner-at-Large 1

Tamara Cornwell, Commissioner-at-Large 2 (left the meeting at 5:27 pm and returned at 5:29 pm)

Sunshine Mathews, Commissioner, Ward 2

Harold Smith, Commissioner, Ward 1

Brian Williams, Commissioner, Ward 3

 

STAFF PRESENT IN CHAMBERS:

Mark Barnebey, City Attorney (Entered the meeting at 4:31 pm)

Jim Freeman, City Clerk

Edward Johnson, Interim CRA Director

Mohammed Rayan, Public Works Director

Scott Tyler, Chief of Police (Left the meeting at 5:17 pm and returned at 5:20 pm)

Cassi Bailey, Assistant City Clerk

Penny Johnston, Executive Assistant

Kera Hill, Development Services Supervisor

 

STAFF PRESENT ELECTRONICALLY:

Todd Williams, Information Technology (IT) Consultant

 

 

   Mayor Bryant opened the meeting at 4:30 pm.

 

 

 

1.               EMPLOYEE OF THE 4^TH QUARTER (4:30PM-4:35PM)

 

Mayor Bryant presented Robert Schofield, Accountant, as the Employee of the 4^th Quarter.

 

 

 Mr. Freeman shared that the Finance Department received their Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the GFOA, Government Finance Officers Association. This was for their ACFR, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report which is peer reviewed. It is the 18^th consecutive year receiving this award.    Cheryl Miller, Finance Director, spoke regarding this accomplishment.

 

 

2.               WWTP EXPANSION STUDY PRESENTED BY WADE TRIM (4:35PM-5:10PM)

 

Mr. Rayan mentioned an additional page that is being added to the presentation. It was made part of the minutes. Mr. Rayan gave an introduction for Wade Trim and provided a brief history of the work that Wade Trim has provided to the City. Travis Parsons, Engineer with Wade Trim, gave a presentation through PowerPoint,

 

City Commission/CRA Workshop

December 4, 2023

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which was included in the Agenda. The presentation showed the process they went through to evaluate the wastewater treatment plant and make their recommendations. By April of 2027 they will need to have additional capacity available for treatment. He highlighted the immediate needs and next steps, which were also included as part of the presentation. Mr. Rayan mentioned the upcoming proposed Ordinance requiring pre-treatment of industrial wastewater. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, FDEP, requirements for expansion were also discussed. The Facility expansion schedule was reviewed.

 

 Commissioner Williams questioned the smoke testing program and stated that they never got a copy of the report. Mr. Rayan responded that they have the report that was performed. He will send them a copy. Commissioner Williams expressed the ongoing concern with I&I. Surface water discharge was questioned and answered that it is within their permitted volumes. The preferred option is to go to the ASR or the reclaim system. The surface water discharge is there as an emergency backup. Commissioner Williams asked what role Veolia will play in this.    Mr. Parsons noted that they will play an important role as the operators on the site. They are vital to developing these plans. Commissioner Williams went on to ask what procedures they have in place with this new laundry facility coming to Palmetto. He asked if they could require them to treat their discharged water. Mr. Rayan responded that they are working on an Ordinance to that effect. Mr. Parsons also noted that the EQ basin that they constructed will help attenuate the laundry facility discharge as well. Commissioner Williams went on to ask what the time frame is for this project.  Mr. Rayan responded that they’re looking at different types of design built, or they will do something similar to the new Police Department which will help the contractor and engineers work concurrently during the design to maximize the timeframe. Commissioner Williams asked to be kept informed on this process. 

 

 Commissioner Cornwell questioned the timeframe of the expansion. She asked if they are going to give them various designs to include the years each design would take them through. Mr. Parsons explained that they would pick a planning horizon and they would look at different process options that could get them to that point. Commissioner Cornwell wants to be presented with multiple options detailing the cost and how far each take them ex. 2040 vs. 2060. Mr. Rayan noted that a feasibility study will be forthcoming as well.

 

 Commissioner Smith reiterated that they need to have a plan brought back to them that details what needs to be done, so they can budget appropriately.

 

 Commissioner Jones appreciated the presentation. He mentioned the current issues with the EQ basin. He asked if the expansion would solve these increasing concerns. He also asked if this expansion would increase the odors coming from the plant. Mr. Parsons answered that the odors are most likely coming from the headworks. The odor control system was down for a period, but they believe it is working again.  He also explained how the increase in the plant capacity will help the overall process. Commissioner Jones echoed his fellow Commissioners concern with expanding this plant to last as long as possible.

 

 Commissioner Williams asked how far beyond 2040 are they looking. Mr. Parsons answered that it depends on the growth potential in the City. Commissioner Williams suggested looking further beyond 2040.

 

 

3.              ORDINANCE 2023-05 ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS (B.CORNELIUS/K.HILL/M.BARNEBEY) (5:10pm-5:35pm)

 

 

This item was postponed to a future workshop due to time constraints.

 

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December 4, 2023

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4.               ORDINANCE 2023-15 BOAT SALES-CODE CHANGES (B.CORNELIUS/K.HILL/M.BARNEBEY) (5:35pm-6:00pm)

 

Brad Cornelius, contracted City Planner with Wade Trim, gave a recap of the reason for this Ordinance being brought forward. A Conditional Use permit came forward which asked to allow the sale of used boats and maintenance. This permit was tabled to allow for staff to look at potentially amending the code to allow for additional uses. He highlighted the changes being proposed to the code, which were included in the Agenda point paper and packet.

 

 Commissioner Cornwell explained her concerns with what the facility would look like, specifically the age/condition of the boats that would be visible. She expressed that she didn’t want to see old boats or rentals off the main road. She didn’t have a concern with allowing boat rentals. Mr. Cornelius mentioned the increased landscape buffer that would help mitigate these issues.  She would prefer something be added to specify that only new boats or boats older than ex. 5 years can be seen from the road. Mr. Cornelius suggested potential language they could add to only allow new boats on the front of the property.

 

 Commissioner Williams stated that he liked this but believed they had a way to go. He expressed concerns with noise buffers, barb wire fencing vs. fencing consistent with the downtown core, repairs needing to be done indoors with the doors closed, chemical odors, washing of the boats, hours of operation, and who will be reviewing these plans. Mr. Cornelius expressed that it is still a conditional use permit, which would require the permit going before the Planning and Zoning Board for recommendation and then to the City Commission for final approval. It was reiterated that this would only apply to conditional use permits. Individual businesses were questioned and discussed.

 

 Commissioner Smith agreed that they need to do more work on this ordinance. He didn’t believe they can go strictly by the age of the boats. He questioned who else helped with this ordinance. Mr. Cornelius and Mr. Barnebey answered that they modeled it after other jurisdictions and sent a draft to Old Salt Marine’s attorney and didn’t receive any comments back. Commissioner Smith reiterated that they have a long way to go with this. 

 

 Mr. Barnebey explained that these provisions only apply in the commercial core zoning category. Some of these uses are permitted uses without a conditional use in several of the commercial zoning categories already. He questioned if some of these requirements should apply to other categories. He also reminded the Commission that Old Salt Marine does have an application they are trying to move forward with. It cannot be considered under the current code.

 

 Commissioner Jones thought this process was to clean up the code to help a business out. He believed this proposed Ordinance is asking more than it should. He stated that they don’t want to run businesses out. They want to attract businesses while also cleaning up the City.

 

Mayor Bryant adjourned the meeting at 5:58 pm.