Board of Commissioners Workshop Meeting

MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOP MEETING JANUARY 27,2021 4:00 P.M. A regukir workshop meeting of the City of Madeira Beach Board of Commissioners was held at 4:00 p.m. on January 27. 2021 in the Patricia Shontz Commission Chambers at City Hall, located at 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach. Florida. MEMBERS PRESENT: John B. Hendricks. Mayor Doug Andrews. Vice Mayor/Cotnmissioner District 3 Helen “Happy" Price, Commissioner District 1 Nancy Hodges, Commissioner District 2 John Douthirt. Commissioner District 4 (via teleconference) MEMBERS ABSENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Robert Daniels. City Manager Clara VanBlargan, City Clerk Patty Kordis, Deputy Clerk Thomas Trask. City Attorney 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hendricks called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL City Clerk Clara VanBlargan called the roll. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Steve Kochick. 15301 2”^' Street E.. asked the Board to move Agenda Item O.. Transient Docks, to the first item of the agenda. The Board consented. 4. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION Mayor John Hendricks moved Agenda item O.. Transient Docks, to the Ursl order of business. January 27. 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page I of 11 Public Works Director Jamie Ahrens reviewed the item and asked if the Board would like to discuss it during the upcoming budget process and include it in the FY 2022 capital improvements projects budget. Commissioner Price was in favor of the transient docks project. The sand issue would need to be resolved before more docks could be installed in John’s Pass. Mayor Hendricks agreed with Commissioner Price that John’s Pass area would not be in the plans because of the sand issue. The project could be in phases. After the first phase, they could see if there would be enough need for more docks. Following discussion, the Board consented to including the project in the FY 2022 budget and to do it in phases. They would revisit the need for more docks after the first phase. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Steve Kochick, 15301 2"^^ Street E., was in favor of the transient docks project. He suggested the City schedule a Town Hall meeting to allow the residents to share their thoughts on the project. Dave Hutson, 15308 Harbor Drive, said the water flow was very slow in the canal behind his house. With the additional boat traffic in the channel, there would be more garbage. The City will need to pay close attention to the water quality if additional transient docks are constructed. A. Review resignation of former Deputy Clerk Andrea Gamble (documents to be provided before the meeting)- Vice Mayor Andrew’s Vice Mayor Andrews said Ms. Gamble submitted a statement to be read into the record. He had the City Clerk read the statement into the record. Vice Mayor Andrews referred to the timeline of the actions taken against Ms. Gamble in October 2019. Ms. Gamble received a disciplinary letter on October 9, 2019 to attend a pre-disciplinary meeting at 9:00 a.m., on October 10, 2019 with the City Manager and HR Coordinator Karen Paulson. The employees policy handbook requires that a disciplinary letter be provided to an employee seventy-two hours before the pre-disciplinary meeting. According to the City Charter, the Deputy Clerk is supervised the City Clerk and the City Clerk was not asked to attend the pre- disciplinary hearing. The City Manager mishandled the process by not following the City Charter. Commissioner Douthirt said he spoke to Ms. Gamble by phone three times the day of the meeting regarding the City Clerk in early July 2019. Ms. Gamble asked how he would be voting and suggested he not attend the meeting so there would be a tied vote. He said the letter from Ms. Gamble was not an accurate description of what happened the day ofthe meeting. Vice Mayor Andrews asked Commissioner Douthirt why he waited three months to report Ms. Gamble's actions. Commissioner Douthirt said he reported the incident to the City Manager a week or two after the occurrence. January 27,2021, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 2 of 11 City Manager Robert Daniels said Commissioner Douthirt contacted him about Ms. Gamble's actions around July 1. 2019. He contacted the HR Director and Labor Attorney Gonzales about the chain of command under the Deputy Clerk's position. Mr. Daniel’s went off the legal advice he was given. The letter to Ms. Gamble was a nolillcation letter referencing the alleged violations from the City of Madeira Beach personnel policy handbook. He was transparent about the complaint filed against her through his office. He did not have an opportunity to investigation because Ms. Gamble resigned, which he tried talking her out ot. Mayor Hendricks asked Interim Human Resources Director Karen Paulson's recollection of the meeting between the City Manager and Ms. Gamble. Ms. Paulson validated what Mr. Daniels said. She admitted they did not abide by the 72-hour notification requirement. They had made the City Clerk aware ofthe incident but did not have her to attend the prc-disciplinary meeting. Ms. Paulson said she did not agree with the statement from Ms. Gamble for she had already planned to leave her position with the City. Commissioner Price said the tone of the letter Ms. Gamble received on October 9. 2019 was threatening and veered on the side of termination with seven threatening violations. She had a conversation with Ms. Gamble and was told she was terriHed about the accused violations and was terrified that she would not be able to get a job because of them. She resigned to keep the letter from going into her personnel file. Commissioner Price said it was accusatory and she would have resigned too. It looks to be a constructive termination. She did not know all that went on, but based on all the documentation she received and read, the City has a liability in it. Because Mr. Daniels relied on the attorney's advise and the attorney reviewed the letter. She would recommend putting a documented verbal warning in Mr. Daniels file. It is was the tone of the letter and the 72-hour thing that got her. Mayor Hendricks agreed with Commissioner Price and said he would like the City to move forward and use the incident as a learning experience. City Manager Daniels sort of got caught in the middle of all that was going on with previous commissioners trying to get rid oftheir city clerk and a lot of other things going on back then amongst the previous city commission. This is a new city commission and they do not do business they way it was done in taking out revengeful vendettas on people. He would like to see a lot the damage repaired and a lot of wrong done in the marina audit corrected. They have got to move the City forward. In the past people were doing things for their own revengeful reasons. He would like to sec them move on from this point. The City Manager asked the city attorney’s position on the deputy clerk. City Attorney Tom Trask said the city charter allows the city clerk to deputise the deputy clerk in the office and do the things that the city clerk does. It is his opinion that any employee other than a charter official is under the direction of the city manager and not their department director. The city manager would have control over the deputy clerk and not the city clerk. The city clerk does not supervise the deputy clerk. The City Clerk said the city clerk, as a charter officer and appointed charter official, must have control over the deputy clerk they appoint because they are doing charter duties of the city clerk January 27. 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 3 of II and not the charier duties of the city manager. The Board of Commissioners supervise the city clerk and not the city manager. There cannot be any dual office holding among charter officers. She would like to request an attorney general opinion on the issue. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Steve Kochick. 15301 2"^* Street E.. asked the City's final outcome to Ms. Gamble would be and the llnal decision in writing. Ms. Gamble should be expunged so she is not hurt in the situation. He said he remembers what Clara [City Clerk Clara VanBlargan) had to go through with the last Board, which was hell. If employees have to go through something like that because of an elected official, it is up to the citizens that elected the officials to step up to the plate and do something about it and say. enough is enough. The citizens will protect the employees before protecting the elected officials. The City Manager said his plan is to write a letter of apology to Ms. Gamble if she misconstrued it. He does not want that for any employee or former employee, and would like the treat them all fairly. If Ms. Gamble feels she would treated unfairly, he would like to apologize to her for having that feeling because it was not his intention. B. Letter to ICMA to reinstate the membership offormer city manager Shane Crawford - Mayor Hendricks Mayor Hendricks said former city manager Shane Crawford had the City on a path moving forward when he was terminated. Mr. Crawford was doing what he was directed to do by the Commissioners. He was in favor of the City writing a letter to the ICMA to reinstate Mr. Crawford’s membership. Commissioner Price and Commissioner Hodges agreed with Mayor Hendricks. Attorney Trask said it would have more of an impact for the City to adopt a resolution and attach a cover letter to the ICMA to reinstate Mr. Crawford back into the organization. Mayor Hendricks asked the City Attorney to draft a resolution and bring it to the regular Board of Commissioners meeting on February 10, 2021. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Deby Weinstein,441 129''^ Avenue,asked how the City could justify spending time writing a letter for Mr. Crawford after all his wrongdoing. Terry Lister. 338 Boca Ciega Drive, was in favor of helping Shane Crawford gel reinstated into the ICMA. For the record. Mr. Crawford was one of the best things that ever happened to Madeira Beach. Robert Preston. 425 S. Bayshorc Drive, was in favor of the City helping Mr. Crawford get .lanuary 27, 2021, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 4 of 11 reinstated into the IMCA. Steve Kochick. 13501 2”^ Street E.. was in favor of the City trying to get Mr. Crawford reinstated into the ICMA. Janet MeliaJ5403 2"^ Street E., opposed the City writing a resolution to reinstate Mr. Crawford into the ICMA. The City Manager said he received two public comments submitted electronically from Mr. William Gay [no address given]. He was opposed to the City sending a letter to help Mr. Crawford be reinstated into the ICMA. Shane Crawford,[no address given], recapped when he was the City Manager and his involvement in the City's progression and development. He wanted the chance to be reinstated into the ICMA and move forward in his career. Mayor Hendricks asked the City Attorney to write a draft resolution to reinstate Shane Crawford into the ICMA. Mayor Hendricks called a recess at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Hendricks called the meeting to order at 5:57 p.m. C. Proposed ordinance allowing back yard hens in the City of Madeira Beach - Mayor Hendricks Community Development Director Linda Portal reviewed the item and answered questions and comments made by the Board. Commissioner Hodges asked if chickens could be raised for profit and would a permit be required to have the chickens. Director Portal said chickens could not be raised for profit, and a permit would be required. Mayor Hendricks suggested regulations for the proposed ordinance: ● Hens only, no Roosters ● No more than five hens ● Banded, registered, and permitted ● Chicken coops in compliance with FEMA regulations ● Registration fees ● Hens contained to the backyard ● Hens secured in the coops at night ● Fines for breaking ordinance ● Sunsetting after a specific amount of years if there arc issues with the ordinance ● Hens are allowed in R-1 zoning only, except not waterfront homes January 27, 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 5 of 11  ● A certain number of complaints and the permit would be revoked Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Steve Kochick. 13501 2"*^ street E. was opposed to allowing chickens in the city. D. Discussion on maintenance of old docks ordinance - Mayor Hendricks Mayor Hendricks reviewed the item and answered questions and comments made by the Board. The City Manager said the City adopted the International Property Maintenance Codes as part of the ordinance. Within the regulations, it stated maintenance of an ancillary structure, which included docks. He would check with the Community Development Director and the City Attorney to ensure that the code was sufficient. At which lime, he would assign the Sherriff Marine Patrol to enforce the code. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Robert Preston, 425 S. Bayshore Drive, asked how the City could rely on the Marine Patrol when they are not patrolling the anchored boats in the Intercoastal Waterway. Chuck Dillion. 529 Lillian Drive, said if a new ordinance is written for dilapidated docks, it should be enforced. E. Parking rate Increase - Tom and Kitty Stuart Park- increase to $5.00 an hour; other parking meters-increase to $3.00 an hour - Mayor Hendricks Mayor Hendricks reviewed the parking rates from surrounding cities. Commissioner Hodges and Vice Mayor Andrews were opposed to raising the parking fee at Tom and Kitty Stuart Park. Commissioner Price was opposed to any parking rate increases throughout the City. ● Discussion on the possibility of purchasing property on Palm Street for the purpose of putting a parking lot there to ease some of the burden for lack of parking in the Cit>' and to create some revenue - Vice Mayor Andrews Vice Mayor Andrews reviewed the item and suggested if the City purchases the parcel and makes it into a parking lot. the renovations should mirror the parking lots at Gulf Boulevard and 14P‘ Street and the 1'om and Kitty Stuart Park. I le offered to undertake the project and present a proposal to the Board at the February 10‘'' meeting. The Board consented. Commissioner Price asked how many parking spaces would be available in the new parking lot. Vice Mayor Andrews asked Bill Karns. a member of the audience if he had the approximate .lanuary 27, 2021, BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 6 of 11 number of parking spaces. He said roughly llftccn spaces. The City Manager said the parcel was currently zoned residential. The property would have to have a land-use and a zoning change. Director Portal said if the City purchased the property, the Zoning Code allows a public facility in that Zoning District. It would take a limited rezoning process. Following discussion, the Board was in favor of Vice Mayor Andrews moving forward with negotiations to purchase and renovate the parcel. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Bill Karns, 1 1055 Street E.. was opposed to increasing the parking rate at Tom & Kitty Stuart Park. Chuck Dillion. 529 Lillian Drive, said the new parking lot has eleven spots. The restaurant has a double-parking stall for valet parking. Adding extra parking could increase the restaurant's capacity to include beach access. Robert Preston. 425 S. Bayshore Drive, would like the City to hold off on raising the parking rates and see if there would be a need for it. He suggested adding parking meters along the south side of 14H' Street. l ie said the Commission ran on not depending on parking revenue and finding new ways to create revenue. F. Change the name of Madeira Beach Causeway Park to 9-11 Memorial - Mayor Hendricks Mayor Hendricks reviewed the item and answered questions and comments made by the Board. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Steve Kochick. 13501 2”^ Street E.. suggested installing a flag burning ceremony firepit at the park. He is a member of the 9-1 1 Committee and said the Committee would be honored and in favor of changing the park’s name. He would like the community to be involved with choosing a new name. Commissioner Price suggested asking residents and Madeira Beach Middle school for suggestions to rename the park. The City Manager said the name change could be added to the March 10*'’ agenda. G. Planting a hedge in front of Marina to hide the boats stored at the Marina and Public Works - Mayor Hendricks January 27, 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 7 of 11 Marina Manager Brian Ran reviewed a printout of a PowerPoint presentation, which was distributed before the meeting. The PowerPoint included ideas to beautify the boat storage at the Marina. He answered questions and comments made by the Board. Commissioner Price asked Marina Manager Rue to get quotes on the cost for vinyl fencing, mesh screens, and the longevity of both. Mayor Hendrick opened to public comment. Robert Preston. 425 S. Bayshore Drive, said he would like to see some beautillcation fencing and not installing the fence until the new camera systems are installed. H. Coordination of traffic lights on Gulf Blvd. from the North to Tom Stuart Causeway - Commissioner Price Commissioner Price said she received an email about the congested traffic on 150“’ Avenue. The City Manager said the timing of traffic lights on Gulf Boulevard are set to protect the pedestrians crossing the streets. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. Robert Preston, 425 S. Bayshore Drive, said it took four red light cycles to turn left off Gulf Boulevard onto 140“’ Avenue. There was something wrong with the timing of the left turn arrow on the traffic light. The City Manager said he would contact the FOOT and get it fi.xed. I. Update on Purchasing Procedures Manual - Andrew Laflin, Financial Consultant Financial Consultant Andrew Lafiin reviewed the item and answered que.slions and comments made by the Board. Mayor Hendricks was concerned that the spending limit increased from $15,000 to $30,000. and the City Manager could approve the new amount. I le would like anything over $15.000 to be still approved by the Board. Recreation Director Jay Hatch said, looking from a timeline standpoint, the gap between $15.000 and $30,000 lengthens the process on some of the smaller projects. If the amount were to change, staff would still get three bids and do their due diligence. Mayor Hendricks opened to public coininent. fhere were no comments received in person or electronically. J. Fund & Department Financial Summary - Andrew Lafiin, Financial Consultant January 27, 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 8 of 11 Financial Consultant Andrew Latlin reviewed the item and answered questions and comments made by the Board. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. There were no comments received in person or electronically. K. Draft Gulf Beaches Public Library Interlocal Agreement - Mayor Hendricks Mayor Hendricks asked City Attorney Trask to give an update on the draft agreement. The City Attorney reviewed the draft and answered questions and comments made by the Board. Mayor Hendricks said the five cities involved would like to implement the agreement as soon as possible. The City Attorney said the agreement could start now. The llnancial part of the agreement would not begin until October Hk Community Development Director Portal said the Library building improvements needed to comply with the 50% FEMA regulations. Mayor Flendricks opened to public comment. There were no comments received in person or electronieally. L. Prohibiting sales and rental of Electric Bicycles and Electric Scooters - Mayor Hendricks Community Development Director Linda Portal introduced Planner/GlS Technician Andrew Morris, who presented on the item. He explained the Florida Statutes associated with electric bicycles and electric scooters. He answered questions and comments made by the Board. Mayor Flendricks asked if the electric bicycle and electric scooter businesses have applied for their Business Tax License through the City. Director Portal said Code Enforcement was getting the locations and phone numbers of the rental businesses. Code Enforcement would alert the companies that they need to come into compliance. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. There were no comments received in person or electronically. M. Seawall KssqsswxqwX - Jamie Ahrens, Public Works Director Public Works Director .lamie Ahrens reviewed the item and answered questions and comments made by the Board. January 27. 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 9 of II The City Manager said it might be beneficial to have an up-to-date report on the seawalls throughout the City for any catastrophic event in the future. Mayor Hendricks asked if Director Ahrens could remove newer seawalls from the proposal to reduce the cost. Director Ahrens said he would remove part 4 and Island drive. Staff will assess the seawall in the City and determine where the newer seawalls are located. Mayor Hendricks opened to public comment. There were no comments received in person or electronically. N. Parking Garage - Jamie Ahrens Public Works Director Public Works Director Jamie Ahrens reviewed the item and answered questions and comments made by the Board. The Board was opposed to a parking garage building at South Beach. Possibly a better location would be the public lot at 130“’ Avenue. O. Transient Docks - Jamie Ahrens This item was moved to the first order of business. P. 4tli of July Fireworks - Jay Hatch, Recreation Director Recreation Director Jay Hatch received two quotes for the 4^’’ of July Fireworks event. One was for $20,000 and the other for $30,000. Staff is also working on securing a barge for the launch location. Commissioner Price asked what large-scale events arc coming up that could be restricted for COVID by the County. Director Hatch said King of the Beach. Rotary Carnival, and the Grunt Hunt. Ill The City Manager reminded the Board that the City would be was planning for the 75 Anniversary Celebration. 1 le reported that he llllcd the I !R Director’s posision. The person would start working on February 8. 2021. Mayor Hendricks asked the City Clerk to move workshop agenda items that require the attendance of Directors at meetings to the first part of the agenda so they would not have to wait very long to speak. The City Clerk agreed. Q. LED lighting RFP - Jay Hatch, Recreation Director This item was removed from the agenda. 7. ADJOURNMENT January 27, 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 10 of 11 Mayor Hendricks adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m. B. Hendricks, Mayor ATTEST: . MMC. MSM.'^[ity*cierk January 27, 2021. BOC Regular Workshop Meeting Page 11 of 11