Madison City Commission Meeting Minutes – April 12, 2016

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MINUTES OF CITY COMMISSION MEETING
MADISON, FLORIDA
APRIL 12, 2016

The City Commission met in a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. Commissioner Rayne Cooks (District 1), Commissioner Ina Thompson (District 2), Mayor/Commissioner Jim Catron (District 3), Commissioner Marcus Hawkins (District 4), and Commissioner Judy Townsend (District 5) were present.

City staff present were: Tim Bennett-City Manager, Lee Anne Hall-City Clerk, Clay Schnitker-City Attorney, Bruce Jordan-Fire Chief, Ken Moore-Police Chief, Efrem Edwards-Police Captain, Reginald Alexander-Police Lieutenant, and Johnny Webb-Water Department Supervisor. The Mayor called the meeting to order.

No one wished to speak during Citizen’s Participation.

Commissioner Townsend moved to adopt the agenda. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cooks and passed 5-0.

Commissioner Cooks moved to adopt the consent agenda:

(a) Minutes of March 8, 2016, (b) Minutes of March 22, 2016, (c) Pedestrian Safety on Pinckney Street at Youth Center/First Baptist Church, (d) Evaluation and Prioritization of City Streets/Maintenance, (e) Resolution 2016-6 Supporting Restoration of Passenger Rail Service between New Orleans, Louisiana and Orlando, Florida (f) Resolution 2016-7
Autism Awareness Month, (g) Madison County Local Mitigation Strategy Plan, (h) Intent to Re-Appoint Members to City Boards, (i) Appointment of Walter Copeland to Police Pension Board, (j) Fire/Rescue Department Report, and (k) Police Department Report. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hawkins and passed 5-0.

 

Commissioner Townsend moved to allow the Senior Citizens Council of Madison County to grow vegetables on nearby city-owned property for meals provided by the council to its senior citizen constituents and authorized City Attorney Schnitker to prepare an Interlocal Agreement between the city and the council. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cooks and passed 5-0.

 

Commissioner Townsend moved to enforce the existing provision in the Land Development Regulations prohibiting the parking of commercial and industrial vehicles in excess of one ton in residential zoning districts. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hawkins. The following citizens spoke concerning the subject: Pat Lightcap, Geraldine Thompkins, Ernest Raines, Barry Barnhart, Donnell Davis, and Jackie Johnson. After discussion by the Commission, motion passed 3-2. (Commissioners Catron, Thompkins and Townsend voted in favor of the motion; Commissioners Cooks and Hawkins voted not in favor of the motion.)

City staff was directed to explore other options during the next 30 days where tractor-trailers possibly could park and bring back recommendations at the May 10, 2016 meeting. Commissioner Cooks moved to prequalify the following three engineering firms: North Florida Professional Services, Inc., of Lake City; David H. Melvin, Inc., Consulting Engineers of Marianna; and Mittauer & Associates, Inc. of Orange Park and directed City Attorney Schnitker to prepare continuing professional services contracts for commission review at the May 10, 2016 meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Townsend and passed 5-0.

Commissioner Cooks moved to award the bid to install the new playground equipment for Sumpter James Park to Play Space Services for $18,000.00. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hawkins and passed 5-0. (It was noted that the City would be reimbursed by the Health Department for the expenditure.)

Commissioner Cooks moved to approve city staff installing, inspecting, maintaining and repairing residential and commercial backflow prevention devices, and also giving property owners the options to hire a certified plumber to repair the devices instead of the city repairing them. The motion also included upgrading the city’s rates for labor and materials to be charged by the city when it repairs the backflow prevention devices. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Townsend and passed 5-0. It was noted that the costs incurred by the city in repairing the devices would be passed on to the customer through their monthly utility bill.

Police Chief Ken Moore and Police Lieutenant Reggie Alexander requested the commission consider leasing additional police cars. It was the consensus that Chief Moore explore financial options concerning leasing and/or purchasing new or used vehicles and bring these option back before the commission to review and possibly approve.

City Attorney Clay Schnitker discussed correspondence from Attorney Bruce A. Leinback, on behalf of The District Board of Trustees of North Florida Community College, concerning the lift station at North Florida Community College. Commissioner Townsend moved to authorize City Attorney Schnitker to prepare a response back to Attorney Leinback stating the city does not believe that it is the city’s lift station, and therefore it is not the city’s responsibility to maintain it. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cooks and passed 5-0.

It was the consensus of the commission to postpone discussion of FY 17-18 Projects / Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program until the May 10, 2016 meeting.

City Manager Bennett provided budget actuals through five months of the fiscal year. He also reported the city and county continue to work to cap annual Superfund payments at an amount to be determined, possibly at $150,000 a year each from the city and county. He also said the city is researching why it is having to pay such a large amount toward the Fire Pension Fund.

During the City Manager’s Report, City Manager Bennett advised that smoke testing of the sewer system in the TIF area would be conducted April 22, 2016.

Commissioner Cooks moved to adjourn; seconded by Commissioner Townsend. Motion passed 5-0.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

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ATTEST: Jim Catron, Mayor/Commissioner
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Lee Anne Hall, City Clerk

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