City Commission Meeting Summary - April 23, 2008
The City Commission met in regular session and took the following action (with Commissioner Katz participating by telephone and Commissioner Gillum absent):
Mayor Marks welcomed Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, of the City of Gainesville, Florida, and announced a half-time report on the Mayor's Energy Conservation Challenge, indicating that Gainesville would be the losers when the final results of the competition are announced prior to the 2008 FSU/UF football game on November 29th.
Item 1 - Mayor Marks presented a proclamation to Water Utilities proclaiming the week of May 4-10, 2008, as Drinking Water Week in the City of Tallahassee in honor of National Drinking Water Week
Items 2-11, 13, 15-16 and 18-19 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz voting telephonically and Commissioner Gillum absent) to approve the staff's recommendations presented in Consent Agenda Items 2-11, 13, 15-16 and 18-19, taking the following action:
Item 2 - Approved the proposed bylaws for the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, as presented, contingent upon the City Commission's adoption of Ordinance No. 08-O-15 (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 3 - Adopted Resolution No. 08-R-23, updating City Code violations enforceable by citations from Code Enforcement Officers, with an effective date of June 1, 2008 (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 4 - Authorized staff to award a task assignment/enter into an agreement with RS&H, Inc., an Airport General Engineering Consultant, to provide design services for the Airport's In-Line Baggage Screen System (COT Project No. 07130) for $450,500 (Option 1 as recommended by Aviation)
Item 5 - Authorized staff to award a task assignment/enter into an agreement with Kimley Horn Associates, Inc., an Airport General Engineering Consultant, to provide design services for taxiway improvements (COT Project Nos. 07128, 08123 and 08126) for $424,631, which includes $50,000 of Airport RR&I funds to Project 07128 (Option 1 as recommended by Aviation)
Item 6 - Approved the award of contract for printing the City's utility bill Insight newsletter (Bid #0098-08-KR-BC) to Durra-Print, low bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $150,274.08 for a three-year period, with an option to extend the contract for two additional years (Option 1 as recommended by the Assistant to the City Manager)
Item 7 - Approved/authorized staff to execute a one-year extension of the General Service Agreement (GSA) with Mead & Hunt for hydro electric consulting, engineering and related services (Contract 1055) (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 8 - Approved/authorized staff to execute a one-year extension of the GSA with Sargent & Lundy for Production Division engineering services (Contract 1056) (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 9 - Approved the award of contract for the Purdom Generating Station elevated water tank repairs, cleaning and painting (Bid #0039-08-08-RM-BC) to Utility Service Co., Inc., low bidder meeting specifications, in an amount not to exceed $92,000 (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 10 - Approved the award of contract for the purchase of caustic soda used in the City's electric generating boiler feedwater systems (IFB #0073-08-RM-BC) to Brenntag Mid-South, Inc., low bidder meeting specifications, in the estimated amount of $225,000 over three years, and authorized staff to enter into a contract for a period of three years from the date the contract is fully executed (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 11 - Approved the purchase of the Hopkins Unit 2 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) replacement (RFQ #0099-08-RM-QP) from Ametek Solidstate Controls, low bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $63,437 (Option 1 as recommended by Electric Utility)
Item 12 - PULLED FROM CONSENT a recommendation to approve a negotiated settlement with Southern Wholesale Energy (Southern) for the partial reimbursement of a refund paid by Southern to the City for disputed reactive power charges included in a prior Unit Power Sale (UPS) Agreement (brought forward by Energy Services) - SEE BELOW
Item 13 - Approved the award of a construction purchase order for sealing of the City Hall north side façade to Berigan Painting Contractors Inc., low bidder meeting specifications under a City Annual Price Agreement Contract for Painting Contracting Services, in the amount of $68,980, to include the Base Bid and Alternates #1, #2, #3, #4, and approved a project contingency amount of $3,449 (5% of the contract) (Option 1 as recommended by the Assistant to the City Manager)
Item 14 - PULLED FROM CONSENT a recommendation to approve a retroactive two-year extension of the contract with Randy Wheeler d/b/a Georgia-Florida Bark & Mulch for the purchase of cypress mulch (brought forward by Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs) - SEE BELOW
Item 15 - Approved the Commerce Green Subdivision Plat containing 69.62 acres subdivided into three lots bounded on the north, east and west by unplatted land, and on the south by Capital Circle Southwest (State Road No. 263), planned for development as mixed use (residential and/or commercial lots) by Linderand, Inc., with Jack Green as its president (as recommended by Public Works/Engineering)
Item 16 - Approved the FY2008-2009 Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged Trip & Equipment Grant submittal, allowing the City, as designated Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Leon County to receive grant funding of $427,379 to provide non-sponsored transportation services to disabled, elderly or limited mobility citizens traveling within Leon County (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Item 17 - PULLED FROM CONSENT a recommendation to approve the ranking of proposals for construction management at risk services for the Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) upgrades at the City's two wastewater treatment plants (brought forward by Underground Utilities) - SEE BELOW
Item 18 - Authorized staff to purchase telecommunications systems software applications and hardware upgrades from Siemens Business Communications Systems, Inc. and Verint Systems Inc., under State Contract No. 740-650-99-1, totaling $362,460 (Option 1 as recommended by Utility Business & Customer Services [UBCS])
Item 19 - Approved the minutes of the March 26, 2008, Regular City Commission Meeting as distributed (as recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk/Records Management)
Item 12, pulled from Consent - Discussed and voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz voting telephonically and Commissioner Gillum absent) to authorize the City Manager to approve a negotiated settlement with Southern Wholesale Energy (Southern) for the partial reimbursement of a refund paid by Southern to the City for disputed reactive power charges included in a prior Unit Power Sale (UPS) Agreement, pay Southern $900,000 from the deferred revenue account established in 1999, and determine the disposition of the remaining $1.2 million in that account (Option 2 as recommended by Energy Services)
Requested a staff analysis of the required Electric Utility reserve levels
Item 14, pulled from Consent - Discussed and voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz participating telephonically and Commissioner Gillum absent) to approve a retroactive two-year extension of the contract with Randy Wheeler d/b/a Georgia-Florida Bark & Mulch (IFQ #0024-05-JAG-QP), for the purpose of purchasing mulch, directing the staff to further explore the option of using engineered wood fiber (EWF) mulch -- utilizing none of the melalucca mulch, while discontinuing the use of cypress mulch when cost feasible, and report back to the City Manager (brought forward by Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood)
Item 17, pulled from Consent - Received a Power Point presentation on the construction management at risk (CMAR) process and discussed the need to ensure that local firms had a chance to participate in the work, particularly in view of the economic downturn
Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz voting telephonically and Commissioner Gillum absent) to approve the ranking of CMAR proposals for the Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) upgrades at the City's two wastewater treatment plants (RFQ/P #0001-08-KR-RC and #0012-08-KR-RC), and authorize the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and enter into a contract with MWH Constructors, the first-ranked firm, at a combined fee not to exceed $795,000 for both projects; and, if agreement cannot be reached on a satisfactory contract with MWH, to authorize the City Manager or her designee to attempt contract negotiations with the second-ranked firm, Alberici Constructors (Option 1 as recommended by Underground Utilities)
Item 20 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz voting telephonically and Commissioner Gillum absent) to approve a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Service Development Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) for the Starmetro Vehicle Training Simulator Project, for FDOT funding in the amount of $271,000, with a local match and revenue in the amount of $400,600; and adopt Resolution No. 08-R-11, authorizing execution of the JPA (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Item 21 - Voted 4-0 (Commissioner Katz voting telephonically and Commissioner Gillum absent) to approve a FDOT Supplemental JPA for Service Development funds to supplement the operations of Route 80X, extending a bus route to Southwood, for FDOT funding in the amount of $125,000, with a local match of $125,000; adopt authorizing Resolution No. 08-R-21; and authorize the transfer of the remaining $75,000 from Project 07135 to Project 06093, to construct training space for the new vehicle simulator (Option 1 as recommended by StarMetro)
Item 22 - Held a public hearing on CNL Mixed Use PUD Rezoning Ordinance No. 07-Z-43, introduced on August 29, 2007, and continued from October 24, 2007, and January 23, 2008, which would rezone a 508-acre parcel in the eastern part of the Welaunee Toe property, located on the south side of Centerville Road, in the east 1/2 section of 15 and the west 1/2 section of 14 of the Welaunee Plantation (east of Fleischman Lane and north of Miccosukee Road), from Critical Planning Area (CPA) to the Canopy Planned Unit Development (PUD) (PRZ #070015) (applicant: CNL Tallahassee I, LLC; agent: Moore Bass Consulting, Inc.); and, by consensus, continued the public hearing to the June 25, 2008, Commission meeting (as recommended by Planning)
Item 23 - Held a public hearing and voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Gillum absent) to find the proposed Development Order (DO) for Substantial Deviation to the Capital Circle Office Complex (CCOC) Development of Regional Impact (DRI) (applicant: State of Florida Department of Management Services) consistent with the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan and approve the DO, as revised by staff to add section 16c and to correct scrivener's errors, with the following condition of approval (Option 1 as recommended by Planning):
Modify the language of the Transit Oriented Design section to address transit funding.
8(c). By the time Phases 3 and 4 are occupied, the City, via StarMetro, will work with CCOC to provide no fewer than two transit routes to the CCOC at least twice each work day, and will have a transit stop within 1,200 feet of a building on each Phase as measured via a walkable route, provided a funding mechanism can be identified.
Item 24 - Held a public hearing and voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Gillum absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-29AA, introduced on April 9, 2008, adopting Comprehensive Plan Amendments related to the Capital Center Office Complex (CCOC) Development of Regional Impact (DRI) as transmitted with modifications as noted in the agenda item (Option 1 as recommended by Planning)
Item 25 - Held a public hearing and voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Gillum absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-Z-14, introduced on April 9, 2008, modifying the Capital Circle Office Complex PUD and rezoning 149.93 acres from CPA (Critical Planning Area) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) (PRZ #06022), based on the findings and conditions of the DRC and the Planning Commission (applicant: Florida Department of Management Services; agent: Hatch Mott MacDonald) (Option 1 as recommended by Planning).
Item 26 - Held a public hearing and voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Gillum absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-15, introduced on February 13, 2008, and continued from February 27, 2008, revising the Board of Adjustment and Appeals hearing procedures to incorporate quasi-judicial procedures for review of variance applications into the Land Development Code (Option 1 as recommended by the City Attorney)
Item 27 - Held the second of two public hearings, having held the first public hearing on March 26, 2008, and voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Gillum absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-Z-17, introduced on March 12, 2008, rezoning properties presented as part of the Residential Preservation 1 Map Series from R-1 Single-Family Detached Residential, R-2 Single-Family Detached Residential, R-3 Single and Two-Family Residential, and C-1 Neighborhood Commercial to Residential Preservation 1, implementing Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment 2006-2-M-010 (Option 1 as recommended by the Mayor's Office/City Manager)
Item 28 - Held a public hearing on Ordinance No. 08-Z-21, introduced on April 9, 2008, which would rezone a site located on the south side of Ridge Road approximately 2,600 feet west of Crawfordville Highway from R-3 (Single and Two-Family Residential) to MR-1 (Medium Density Residential) (RZ #080004) (agent: Synergy Design and Engineering, Inc.); and, by consensus, closed the public hearing and deferred action on this ordinance to the May 28, 2008, Commission meeting (brought forward by Planning)
The following persons appeared before the Commission relative to this item:
- Mr. Marc C. Phelps, 2811-E Industrial Plaza, representing Synergy Design and Engineering, Inc. (proponent)
- Mr. Scott Seckinger, representing Southport Financial Services, Inc., 2430 Estencia Blvd., Suite 101, Clearwater, FL 33761 (proponent)
- Ms. Sheila Williams, 4153 Ridge Haven Road, Vice President of the Villages of Wilson Greene (opponent)
- Mr. Horace Edwards, 4154 Ridge Haven Road, representing Villages of Wilson Greene (opponent)
- Mr. John Morris, 4282 Ridge Haven Road, representing Villages of Wilson Greene (opponent)
- Mr. Keith Griffin, 4270 Ridge Haven Road, representing Villages of Wilson Greene (opponent)
- Mr. Mark Taul, 2912 Ivanhoe Road (proponent/owner)
Item 29 - Held a public hearing on Ordinance No. 08-Z-22, introduced on April 9, 2008, which would rezone 1.21 acres at the northwest corner of East Park Avenue and Magnolia Drive from OR-3 (Office Residential) to C-2 (General Commercial) (RZ #080005) (applicants/owners: PESCO Inc., Public Employees SC, and Ben F. Betts, Jr.; agent: Canter Group Planning and Design); and, by consensus, continued+ the public hearing on this ordinance to the May 28, 2008, Commission meeting, at the request of the applicant (Option 1 as recommended by Planning)
Item 30 - Held a public hearing on Ordinance No. 08-O-23, introduced on April 9, 2008, which would require animal owners to remove and properly dispose of animal fecal matter in all places other than the premises of the owner of the animal; and, by consensus, closed the public hearing and deferred action on the ordinance to the June 11, 2008, Commission meeting (brought forward by the City Attorney)
The following persons appeared before the Commission relative to this item:
- Ms. Katharine Moulton, 1416 Crestview Avenue (proponent)
- Mr. Gerald Jaski, 901 Hillcrest Court (opponent)
- Ms. Glenda Sears, 2022 Seminole Drive (proponent)
Item 26 - Held a public hearing and voted 3-0 (Commissioners Katz and Gillum absent) to adopt Ordinance No. 08-O-26, introduced on April 9, 2008, amending the City Code to provide for some clean-up/housekeeping and compliance issues, and provide for Police Officer's Pension Plan enhancements and the establishment of a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) plan pursuant to bargaining unit contract agreement (Option 1 as recommended by the City Treasurer-Clerk)
City Commission Information and Sharing of Ideas:
Mayor Marks and Commissioner Lightsey suggested that staff investigate the extent of bottled water being purchased by City government and whether those purchases ought to be discontinued since Tallahassee had the best tasting water in the state
Commissioner Katz announced that the Village Square would be hosting a couple of speakers on nuclear energy on Tuesday evening, April 29th, with details available on the Village Square website
Mayor Marks gave a favorable report on the recent joint meeting with Wakulla County and Leon County on Wakulla Springs, indicating that there was agreement on the need for some consistent standards and to also obtain some involvement of Jefferson and Gadsden Counties as well.
Commissioner Lightsey commended the Planning staff on their intergovernmental coordination and good relationship with the Wakulla County staff, and announced that she was working through Assistant to the City Manager Michelle Bono and 1000 Friends of Florida, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to reconvene the Wakulla Springs Symposium, which appeared to be the appropriate next step.
Commissioner Lightsey confirmed with Assistant City Manager Coe that Cypress Systems Inc. was no longer interested in relocating their biotechnology center to Florida.
Commissioner Katz suggested that consideration be given to using the funds borrowed to build the Turbocor building, which would no longer be needed for financial support of the Cypress Systems relocation project, to defease some of the City's debt; and Assistant City Manager Coe indicated the staff would bring that issue back with some options.
Commissioner Mustian announced that the City had two representatives at the final table of the Alliance Club Charity Poker Tournament, his Aide, Kevin Carey, and Commissioner Katz, and on behalf of the Commission, Mayor Marks congratulated them on their showing.
Mayor Marks recognized Mr. Phillip Wong-Kuon, WCOT student intern, who was graduating and leaving the City. He also announced that Ms. Andrea Candrian, the Channel 6 WCTV reporter assigned to cover City government, had accepted another position in Washington, D.C. On behalf of the Commission, Mayor Marks thanked them for their work and wished them well.
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