City Commission Workshop Meeting

. ~ ; -: U.. • ~o••u,. 11 . L , , ..,- ~ - MINUTES City Commission Workshop APPROVED:5/6/2021 5:00 PM - Thursday, April 15, 2021 - City Hall CALL TO ORDER: 5:21 P.M. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE PRESENT: Commissioner Willie Hawkins, Commissioner Karen LeHeup-Smith, Vice Mayor Emily Lee, Commissioner Nan Cobb and Mayor Michael L. Holland 1. WORKSHOP ITEM WITH COMMISSION DISCUSSION, PUBLIC INPUT AND COMMISSION DIRECTION 1.1 Discussion and review of enclaves and related issues Lori Barnes, Development Services Director, reviewed the state statutes pertaining to enclaves and explained the City's options. She reviewed the definition of enclave. She presented a map of the enclaves within the City showing those areas that completely meet the definition of enclave in green. She cited the areas in red appear to be enclaves; however, they do not meet the definition. She stated the areas in green could be annexed either through an agreement with the County or through a referendum; however, the red areas could not. She then stated that some of the dark red areas could meet the definition if the City and County agreed to transfer public road responsibility to the City; however, some of the red areas would not meet that criteria either due to bordering multiple municipalities. Ms. Barnes discussed the advantages of annexing the enclaves and issues pertaining to them such as confusion regarding service providers, duplication of services and additional ad valorem revenue. She then commented on the disadvantages as follows: 1) deferred roadway maintenance; 2) drainage issues; 3) international property maintenance code and lack of maintenance under the County; 4) properties not being in conformance with City codes; 5) reduction in utility revenue; and 6) discord from residents who do not want to be annexed. Ms. Barnes then discussed other considerations including the City's voluntary annexation incentive program, Ordinance Number 08-09, existing unincorporated utility customers; and administration and construction costs. She noted the unincorporated customers that received City water prior to implementation of Ord. 08-09 have no incentive for them to annex. Commissioner Cobb confirmed that the areas in red could annex voluntarily. She then commented on the possibility of working out an agreement with the County to improve some of the roads. Ron Neibert, City Manager, asked if the ultimate goal would be to get the County to let the City annex those properties or as an incentive to get people to annex.  Commissioner Hawkins confirmed there is a 25% surcharge for unincorporated water customers . He asked about the fee waiver incentive with Ms. Barnes explaining that the City has had a program waiving the annexation fee which would be about $1200 for a residential property. Commissioner Hawkins asked about the provision of water with Ms. Barnes explaining that only the City provides water and prior to 2009 some of the enclave properties obtained City water without being required to execute an agreement to annex. Vice Mayor Lee asked if those properties pay a fire tax assessment with Ms . Barnes confirming that is why some properties would see a tax reduction because of no longer paying the County fire tax assessment. Mayor Holland emphasized that he would not be in favor of any forced annexation. Commissioner Hawkins expressed concern regarding the properties being right in the middle of the City and not being maintained properly by the County. He stated the City needs to hold the County accountable and the County code enforcement needs to be enforcing codes in those areas. Vice Mayor Lee stated her belief that not everyone realizes those areas are actually not in the City. Mayor Holland recommended that the Commissioners provide any comments to the City Manager and maybe it could be brought up with the County at their next joint meeting . 2. ADJOURNMENT: 5:21 P.M. *These minutes 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 vertJatim transcript of the meeting can be obtained from the office of the City Cieri< for a fee . MICHAEL L. HOLLAND -....., \ City Clerk Mayor/Commissioner