City Commission Workshop Meeting

APPROVED: 02/06/2014 City Hall City of Eustis, Florida 10 North Grove Street Post Office Drawer 68 Eustis, FL 32727-0068 Meeting Minutes - Final* City Commission Workshop Thursday, January 16, 2014 9:23PM City Hall CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bob - 9:23 p.m. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE Present: 5- Linda Bob; Albert Eckian; Michael Holland; Karen LeHeup-Smith; and Kress Muenzmay I. Workshop Item 14037 Code Evaluation of City's Main Corridors Dianne Kramer, Acting City Manager, introduced Code Enforcement Supervisor Eric Martin to provide a review of code enforcement issues particularly along the City's corridors. She commented on the number of properties that have been improved. She also noted there may be issues they observe in the slides that are not addressed under the City's codes and reminded the Commission that, previously, Code Enforcement had been directed to be reactive rather than proactive. Mr. Martin provided a slide presentation of the City's main corridors with before and after pictures of a number of properties and citing various issues including the following: 1) maintenance of awnings; 2) signs in the right-of-way; 3) vacant commercial properties needing maintenance; 4) maintenance of the Lake Community Action Agency with a tentative agreement with the County for them to paint the building if the City will pressure wash it; 5) changeable copy signs; and 6) unused pole signs. The Commission commented on the issue of tires collecting water and attracting mosquitoes. Mr. Martin stated he was informed by one auto repair owner that the tire businesses are inspected by the state frequently for those types of issues. He cited an unused pole sign on one property noting the City does not have a mechanism for requiring the removal of those signs. Ms. Kramer suggested the City consider implementing an incentive program for removal of the unused pole signs. Mr. Martin suggested not allowing the changeable copy signs then businesses would be required to use the pole signs. He continued the review noting various other issues: 1) required landscaping not being maintained such as perimeter hedge rows; and 2) multi-tenant commercial complexes placing signs in the right-of-way. The Commission discussed the use of banners, signs placed in the right-of-way and unused pole signs and how to address the issue while still allowing the small businesses to advertise. Mr. Martin continued the slide presentation citing the following: 1) code requirements pertaining to vacant commercial property; 2) building maintenance issues; 3) the cost of removing a pole sign; 4) problems with unsightly properties that are not code violations; 5) various improvements to certain properties within the corridors; 6) colored flags extending into sidewalk area; 7) on-street sales of boats and other items; 8) number of flags on car lots; 9) nonconforming signs; 10) issues with outdoor merchandise; 11) signs in the right-of-way; 12) a new business coming to the City- O'Reilly Auto Parts; 13) use of the property maintenance code to enact improvements to a multi-family building; 14) various properties that have been improved; 15) temporary signs left in place for an extended period; 16) offsite signs; 17) overgrown vacant properties; 18) properties scheduled for demolition; 19) foreclosed properties; and 20) grass growing over the street gutter particularly along County- maintained Orange Avenue. City of Eustis, Florida Page 1 Printed on 112412014 City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes - Final January 16, 2014 II. Commission Discussion The Commission discussed what are the biggest problems including the following: 1) vacant buildings not being maintained; 2) landscaping issues; 3) empty pole signs; 4) commercial tenants not using the pole signs but the property owner wanting to retain the sign for future use; 5) benefit of improved sign age; and 6) lack of property owner funds to perform building maintenance. III. Public Input Terry Ross, 801 N. Grove Street, informed the Commission the City of Mount Dora currently has a matching program to assist with renovations. The Commission discussed how that type of program is set up and administered. IV. Commission Direction The Commission commented on the number of leaning light and power poles and requested that staff contact Duke Energy to get them repaired. John Futch, Public Services Director, reported he had previously contacted Progress Energy and asked for assistance. The Commission discussed working on simple codes to enforce such as the number of allowed signs or visual effects and creating a matching exterior maintenance assistance program. Mr. Futch suggested the City contact an organization such as Habitat to provide volunteer assistance to the property owners with the City providing funding for materials such as paint. Ms. Kramer indicated she would draft a facade improvement matching program with a maximum funding amount and recommended sending applications to target property owners. The Commission asked about a property on Grove Street where plane parts have been sold in the past. Mr. Martin reported that he previously spoke with the property owner who informed him they have a tenant that salvages plane parts. He stated he informed the property owner that the sale of the plane parts was not compatible with their residential use and the plane parts were removed. He noted that the boat for sale is also a violation. He stated he would take a closer look at the property and make sure the owner is conscious of the appearance of the property. Mr. Martin commented on how the code enforcement division operates and how they try to give property owners the opportunity to remedy problems. V. Adjournment- 10:16 p.m. c;tJ___;w--L. ~ &J_ LINDA DURHAM BOB City Clerk Mayor/Commissioner *These m inutes reflect the actions taken and portions of the discussion during the meeting. To review the entire discussion concerning any agenda item, go to www.eustis.org and click on the video for the meeting in question . A DVD of the entire meeting or CD of the entire audio recording or verbatim transcript of the meeting can be obtained from the office of the City Clerk for a fee . City of Eustis, Florida Page2 Printed on 112412014