Board of Commissioners Workshop Meeting

THE CITY OF MADEIRA BEACH1 FLORIDA PUBLIC NOTICE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOP AGENDA MARCH 4, 2014 The Board of Commissioners of the City of Madeira Beach, Florida will meet at City Hall, located at 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida to discuss the agenda items of City Business listed at the time indicated below. 5:00 P.M. MARCH 4, 2014 AUDITORIUM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Travis Palladeno, Mayor Terry Lister, Vice-Mayor Nancy Hodges, Commissioner District 2 Elaine Poe, Commissioner District 3 Pat Shontz, Commissioner District 4 STAFF PRESENT: Shane Crawford, City Manager (CM) Thomas Trask, City Attorney (CA) Aimee Servedio, City Clerk (CC) Dave Marsicano, Central Services Director (CSD) Vince Tenaglia, Finance Director (FD) Derry! O'Neal, Fire Chief (FC) 1. TOPICS: A. DISCUSSION ON "SOBER HOUSES" AND THEIR POTENTIAL AFFECT ON MADEIRA BEACH Commissioner, Elaine Poe Commissioner Poe: Explained that on her recent trip to Tallahassee, she was asked to do some research on sober houses. These are basically unregulated halfway houses in residential neighborhoods that are rented to people coming out of jail or rehab center for $200-300 a week depending on the size of the house. Property owners take the kitchens out and stack the house with bunk beds to house as many as possible. There have been many problems experienced with these houses in Delray, Daytona Beach, Miami, and in St. Petersburg. There are not any here in Madeira Beach, there is an office for a sober house but the actual facility itself is located elsewhere. These houses are being used by people who can't afford the mortgage and don't really care about how it affects the community. She wants to prevent such houses from springing up around before they become an issue. She proposes that the City reassess the definition of family that is covered in the code of ordinances. Commissioner Hodges: Who is paying the $200-300 a week to live in these facilities? Commissioner Poe: The government pays it. There is a bill in Tallahassee that tries to get the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to regulate the houses, DCF currenfly does not and we need to fight for that. As of now, basically any property owner can start putting multiple people in these houses. Commissioner Hodges: So the plan is to watch to make sure that remodeling, like kitchens being taken out, doesn't happen and that multiple people aren't being moved in? Commissioner Poe: No, we need to get this ordinance done proactively so this doesn't happen to begin with. We need to make it clear that we don't want these houses and the problems they create in our neighborhoods. - l I BOC Workshop 03/04/2014 Mayor Palladeno: Wanted to clarify that the office on Duhme Road is not a sober house itself but an office. CM: He agrees with Commissioner Poe's proactive approach on the matter. He suggests that the CA Trask draft some paperwork as a start. He also wants to go over what is currently stated in the City Code in regards to this to see what is already available in dealing with this issue. Commissioner Poe: There are a couple of things on the books that she wants to send the CA. We already have 'family' defined so that can be useful. CA: Agrees that he can look over the information that Commissioner Poe described and get briefed on what is already available and what can be added or changed. He'll be happy to work out some language to present to the next meeting and if the Commissioner has any new information from Tallahassee to forward it to him. V-M Lister: Explains that we need to be careful with who we do and do not allow in the City, we can't just close the doors to people. He understands that problems can arise from these houses but there are some really good people trying to better themselves through these facilities. He wants to make sure that the City proceeds with caution and does not want this to turn into a slippery slope of over-regulation. It is the responsibility of the City to ensure public safety and welfare and we will be diligent with that. If we could enforce everything we have on the books, there would be no problems. We need to make sure if this does continue, that it is feasible enforceable. He just doesn't want this to negatively reflect Madeira Beach as a place 'where we don't want certain people.' He'd rather address this with what is currently found in the codes instead of a new ordinance. Commissioner Poe: We'll have to agree to disagree on this issue. CM: Notes that both the V-M and Commissioner have valid points to make. There are different approaches, we could, as Commissioner Poe advocates, go ahead with a new ordinance and prevent these houses from being established in the first place. We could also focus on regulating the behavior and conduct of these facilities clearly when they do come. He thinks a lot of this can be worked out after getting some insight on the legal side of the issue with some feedback from the CA. Mayor Palladeno: There is a consensus among the Board that they will move forward and get some feedback from the CA. B. DISCUSSION REGARDING SPEC APPROVAL FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLES City Manager, Shane Crawford CM: In the 2014 budget, the Board approved a certain amount for a specific vehicle but as the year progresses, the needs can change. The Fire Chief has actually requested two vehicles: one is a beach-access type vehicle that he believes the City is in desperate need of and another vehicle that does not fit the specific type that was originally approved in the budget. The money has already been allocated and will not be changed or appropriated, but the specifics of the purchase criteria have and that needs to be approved by the Board before we can proceed. The next meeting will grant us permission to spend the money immediately without going out to RFP because the items are on state bids or advantageous pricing bids that we can directly purchase. Tonight, you will decide whether to approve the changes brought forward by the Fire Chief. Chief Derryl O'Neal: The amount of $40,000 was appropriated to replace the inspector vehicle. The oldest vehicle is going to be dropped from the City inventory. After looking into this and the money we had, he found that he could purchase the replacement vehicle and a beach acoessible ATV-type vehicle to help get patients off the beaches to an ambulance. It is hard to treat and transport patients through the soft sand. Mayor Palladeno: Understands that the Fire Department already takes measures to save, such as equipping vehicles by working with a local vendor and not getting things premade {which is more expensive). He also wants to get more money to fund BOC W'or shop 03!04/2014 2 beach and water safety equipment. Emergency calls coming from the beach are getting more frequent and he agrees that an ATV is important. Chief O'Neal: The Polaris vehicle was brought down to about $11,000 and the firefighters will do the work and labor to save the City about $4,000-5,000. It will be about $40,000 for the two vehicles. Mayor Palladeno: With the discussion on water equipment, he adds that he notices other cities are using jet skis and surfboards for water rescues. He can see that reducing response times for beach emergencies. Chief O'Neal: There is some surface water rescue equipment that was put together by Lt. Hutzler a few years ago. What the Mayor is talking about can certainly be useful for rescues when people are swept out near the pass where it is difficult to get with the fire truck. The ATV can help get firefighters on the scene before they get too far out and an eventual jet ski could further help. V-Mayor Lister: Has storage of these two vehicles in regards to space in the new fire building been considered? Chief O'Neal: Absolutely. The station has been planned well so that there should be no issue with storage for the next 50 to 75 years. Mayor Palladeno: Thanked the Fire Chief and found a consensus with Board to approve the spec changes. C. DISCUSSION REGARDING 41" OF JULY2014 City Manager, Shane Crawford Central Services Director, Dave Marsicano CM: There have been some instances of bad luck with weather at the Archibald Park for the last few years. He poses a change of venue with the City Hall building being under construction so they went to John's Pass. It was recenfly brought to his attention that John's Pass is unable to plan and put together the celebration there so it has now come back to the City. The CM thinks that they should go back to Archibald, now that it is completed and has a reliable contractor at the Snack Shack. Maybe some entertainment can be provided, something nice to attract some people. The Snack Shack can cater and beach goers also have access to Winn Dixie and it can be come and go, and watched to make sure the event doesn't get too rowdy. There is also the issue of fireworks. The first choice is to shoot off the Gulf but if there is any kind of weather or rough seas, it can be done elsewhere. A barge will be prepared and the bids for fireworks will be coming in - the usual donor may even donate more to the fireworks show. He thinks this is a nice way to get a good event at the park but will not be like last year with beer trucks and vendors. Mayor Palladeno: The vendor at the Snack Shack coming into Archibald will be fantastic. We have received permission from the National Park Service to proceed with the vendor; the only thing not approved was a full liquor bar on the back deck. It will be nice to use to the Fourth of July celebration event to showcase the park. Commissioner Shontz: Says we're on the right track. It's simpler and we're not dragging all these things to the beach and it'll be relaxed on the beach. CM: People will be able to come and bring their own coolers and picnics. There are no boundary fines or major regulations on where people can and can't set up. He thinks it will create a nice environment to enjoy the beach and park. He also wants to express that the City is not taking this away from John's Pass; it just wasn't working out at that location this year. V-M Lister: Is there a grand opening for the park? CM: The final renovations to the Snack Shack will need to be completed first. The timing could be close to the Fourth, we'll have to see how it goes. We had to wait for NPS approval after we already have vendors. It should be painted here in the next couple of weeks, so things are definitely moving forward. BOC Wmif.shop 03/04!2014 Mayor Palladeno: Duke Energy was pulling the rest of the poles so that's good to see. On Monday, it was packed to the rim. There were film crews out here yesterday from Visit St. Pete Clearwater with over 50 crew members filming. The free publicity is great for the City. CM: There have been a lot of compliments on the park. It's opened but there will still be some work being done for final touches, such as lighting and signs. We don't want the entire town ripped up and we'll need to figure out the phase two step of undergrounding and make sure its planned out and paid for as work progresses. Things are coming together and we'll be on top of this project. 2. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. :J._o_l_'tc.,.____ Date Approved:~0~4__._l_o_es. . ./_· Travis Palladeno, Mayor In accordance with the Americans with Disability Act and F.S. 286.26; any person with a disability requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participa1e in this meeting should call 727-391-9951 or fax a written request to 727-399-1131 THIS MEETING IS TELEVISED LIVE ON CHANNEL 615 Posted February 28, 2014 BOC W orkshop 03/04/2014