MINUTES
TOWN OF SHALIMAR
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 12, 1999
Mayor Gary Combs called the regular meeting of the Shalimar Town Commission to order on October 12, 1999 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall Chambers. He led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD:
Mayor Gary Combs - present
Mayor Pro Tem Tom Callen - present
Commissioner Gene Brown - absent
Commissioner John Henderson - present
Commissioner Elaine Tucker - present
Others present were Abner Sauer Jr., Kevin Reeves, Brad Davis, Steve Kotowske, Rudy Sutton, Nell Webb and Ursel Behnken.
P & Z RECOMMENDATIONS:
I. REVIEW RESULT OF SEP 29, 1999 P & Z MEETING – Bonezzi – Live Oak Commons – change parking spaces from 19 to 20 ft. – Mayor Combs said that he had not seen the plans and was not ready to ask for a vote. Brad Davis, architect for Mr. Bonezzi, said that all changes had been made to the documents and the drawings had been delivered to Town Hall more than a month ago. He said that nothing will change, the landscape and lighting will coincide with the cottages in back. It will be a one story building, he said, and we don’t build what we cannot be proud of. They plan to put several offices in there, maybe an office supply store to serve the other offices. Rudy Sutton said the clock tower complies with the code, parking is plenty and they have to put little islands in every 15 spaces. Comm. John Henderson moved to approve the plans pending BCM review in several days. It was seconded by Comm. Elaine Tucker and passed unanimously. II. VARIANCE REQUEST by Town of Shalimar for property in back of Town Hall tabled until next P & Z Meeting so neighbors can be properly notified of request. III. ORDINANCE & CODE REVIEW FOR P & Z – Rudy Sutton will present a formal request within the next two meetings. The Board discussed only having final approval on residential requests, not commercial.OLD BUSINESS:
I. APPROVE MINUTES OF SEP 14, 1999 PUBLIC HEARING – FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES 2000-01 & 2000-02 – Comm. Callen moved to approve the Sept. 14, 1999 Public Hearing minutes as written. It was seconded by Comm. Tucker and approved unanimously. II. APPROVE MINUTES OF SEP 14, 1999 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – The minutes were amended on Page 3, New Business VI. To read: the Chief will research the ordinance and make recommendations for the next meeting. Comm. Callen moved to approve the minutes as amended. It was seconded by Comm. Tucker and passed unanimously. III. APPROVE MINUTES OF SEP 29, 1999 FINAL BUDGET REVIEW – (ORDINANCES 2000-01 AND 2000-02) PUBLIC MEETING – Comm. Tucker moved to approve the minutes as written. It was seconded by Comm. Callen and passed unanimously. IV. STATUS OF LAW SUITS – Attorney Chesser said that Racetrac conformed to his letter by taking most of the signs out. There is still one item unresolved for which he will do an order and prepare a response. Since we are trying to enforce the rules with Racetrac, a letter should also be written to Fred’s Showcase about their banners. Mr. Chesser also wrote a letter to Walt Smith, attorney for Shalimar Yacht Basin, regarding COMO Marina. Mr. Chesser will draw up a settlement agreement concerning their willingness to pay $6,500 and the Town’s willingness to accept these $6,500. If they do not respond to that, Mr. Chesser will take them to Court sometime next year. The Mayor asked to give them another deadline. The development order asked them to pave the road which they did not do, the Town did. But they made an effort to comply with many of the other orders. Mayor Combs requested a copy of a letter that Mr. Chesser wrote to COMO. V. ATTORNEY FEES – CONTRACT – Mayor Combs asked whether the Town Commission can just write a contract or should it go out for bids. Attorney Chesser said most cities go out and solicit for resumes, some cities have retainers; but Chesser said in some years the Town would have paid more for the retainer than he worked. Comm. Henderson said we could go back and check the hours Mr. Chesser worked. Maybe we could give him a retainer for 200 hours and after that pay additional cost. Mr. Chesser said there were some years that nothing was going on. Elaine Tucker was asked to come back with a proposal, either to stay with Mr. Chesser, come up with a bid, and research what other towns do. VI. OPENING OF BIDS FOR POLICE CAR – There were four bids: Abner Sauer Jr. bid $502; Andy Wilkinson, $780; Jeff Dowda, $825; and the winner, Joe Urquhart bid $2,400. Comm. Callen said to call the winner and give him 48 hours to have the check at Town Hall. VII. STATUS OF CDBG STORM WATER MANAGEMENT GRANT – It is now finalized, although there are still problems with the fountain. Gulf Power had turned off the electricity, plus the fountain does not spray high enough. All the checks have been written. The final payment is $3,750. The dedication plaque for former Mayor Montague will be small by his request (2 ½ x 3 ½ ft. sign). VIII. STATUS OF PARK GRANTS – Mr. Sutton said that Cherokee Park will get a 25-ft. flagpole. A light will illuminate the flag, so it does not have to come down at night. Another light will be at the other end of the park. A pad will be poured for a port-a-potty. $7,200 is remaining for a sprinkler system and $3,000 for landscaping. On Meigs Park Mr. Sutton is going out for bids on a walkway, a gazebo and a dock. Building will start with the dock. Two tree stumps have to come out first. The gazebo is second and the walkway is third. The last item will be a fence. IX. STATUS OF IN WORK GRANT REQUESTS – Mr. Sutton said that the West Florida Planning Commission is the clearinghouse for the hazard mitigation funds. Additionally, $1.8 million have been made available to the County and the Town can tag on to that. X. TOWN HALL RENOVATION – Kevin Reeves of Marble Works has donated the marble for the bathroom. A letter of thanks needs to be written. The next project is the dismantling of the chimney in the hallway. XI. ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT – The Town license/permit data base is Y2K Compliant. When the Police Department or Jeff Dowda encounter a contractor or a new business in town, they are asked to check with the administration to make sure these people are licensed.NEW BUSINESS:
I. TOWN RESIDENTS’ TIME – Mayor Combs welcomed Connie Gluvna as a new employee and said that Ursel Behnken will leave on Nov. 1, 1999. She will keep on recording the minutes, writing the Tid Bits and other items needed. Kevin Reeves handed out a request form for the Shalimar Little League. He needed help to maintain the ball fields and asked if Jeff Dowda could mow the lawn there. It would only cost the gas and Jeff’s time. Jeff was asked to look at it. Nell Webb pointed out that if Jeff would donate his time and gas to them, would other groups come in and want that too. Comm. Callen said he would talk to Jeff and draft up a letter. This item should also be put in the Newsletter maybe some of the residents would donate their time. Comm. Brown suggested to use scholarship students who need to prove community service for grants. II. RESOLUTION NO. 2000-01 PROCLAIMING OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH – Comm. Callen moved to proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It was seconded by Comm. Tucker and passed unanimously. III. SIGNING OF FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES CONTRACT – to assist Town of Shalimar with the collection of past due Occupational License taxes owed by insurance companies. Comm. Callen moved to sign the contract. It was seconded by Comm. Tucker and passed unanimously. MAYOR’S REPORT:COMMISSIONER BROWN’S REPORT:
I. CRESTVIEW 2000 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION – Comm. Brown was absent.
II. TOWN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY - This item needs to be brought up soon.
COMMISSIONER CALLEN’S REPORT:
Comm. Callen said that the maintenance truck has been painted and a new caution light has been ordered.
COMMISSIONER HENDERSON’S REPORT:
I. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AREA – This item should be included in the Newsletter and it depends on the interest of the residents whether something comes of it or not.
II. NO WAKE ZONE – Comm. Henderson requested an extension.
ADMIN. REPORT: no report
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT: as attached
Chief Blackburn said he is getting a printer for $139 which is in the budget. Comm. Tucker said that she is in total support of the Police Department but cannot understand why not any more tickets are written. She suggests the Police should enforce speed limits on residential streets.ANNOUNCEMENTS:
I. OCTOBER 14, 1999 – Business After Hours – 5:30 PM TIL 7:30 PM –(The Carousel Beach Resort Stowaway Lounge 4th Floor – 571 Santa Rosa Boulevard)
II. OCTOBER 15, 1999 - TOWN EMPLOYEE PARTY/BOAT RIDE –1:00 PM TIL
III. OCTOBER 20, 1999 - SPECIAL CALLED MEETING – 5:00 (Opening bids for Meigs Park Project) The Mayor needs an agenda for the meeting.
IV. OCTOBER 27, 1999 - P & Z MEETING– 6:30 PM
V. NOVEMBER 4,1999- NW FL League of Cities Annual Fall Dinner & Membership Mtg.
ADJOURNMENT: Comm. Henderson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m. It was seconded by Comm. Callen and passed unanimously.
Gary Combs, Mayor
ATTEST:
Nell Webb, Town Clerk