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HomeMy WebLinkAbout_2007 04 19 City Commission Workshop Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP APRIL 19,2007 CALL TO ORDER The Workshop of Thursday, April 19, 2007 of the City Commission was called to Order by Mayor John F. Bush at 5:15 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). Roll Call: Mayor John F. Bush, present Deputy Mayor Sally McGinnis, present Commissioner Robert S. Miller, present Commissioner Rick Brown, present Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore, present Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, present City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, absent City Clerk Andrea Lorenzo- Luaces spoke to the City Commission regarding a quorum for the Wednesday, May 30, 2007 WiFi Workshop. Mayor Bush stated, "I have got it down for 5:15 [p.m.]. Deputy Mayor Sally McGinnis commented, "That is fine." No objections were noted. Commissioner Robert S. Miller asked City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces to advise City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, City Manager regarding a WiFi system installed in downtown Sanford and said, "So, I would like Ron (McLemore) to get in touch with the City of Sanford and find out who would be the best person." Commissioner Miller suggested that they attend our Workshop, "And just give us some background on what they did." With continued discussion on WiFi, Mayor Bush stated, "I will just contact the Mayor of Sanford and ask for the information, Commissioner Miller, if that is okay with you?" Commissioner Miller replied, "No, I would rather have somebody come down and talk to us, Mayor." Mayor Bush commented, "I will ask if they will have someone to come and talk to us." Mayor Bush added "I will contact their Mayor and ask who made that presentation." Commissioner Miller noted, "I can get you his name." Regarding the upcoming Board and Committee Appreciation Dinner, City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces advised the City Commission that in lieu of musical entertainment this year, we would like to provide a different kind of entertainment for the Event which would cost a hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00). CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - APRIL 19,2007 PAGE20F7 Deputy Mayor Sally McGinnis commented, "Do it." Commissioner Rick Brown remarked, "I don't have a problem with it." Commissioner Brown continued, "I think it's something - since these are all citizens who volunteer for these Boards; I think it is well within our ability to do this." Mayor Bush asked, "Any objections from anybody? I don't see any objections." No objections were noted. Mayor Bush reiterated, "We have Consensus - a hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00)." Manager McLemore asked, "And we are going to pay this out of City's fund?" No objections were voiced. Continuing, City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces asked regarding the two (2) Meetings on Monday, April 23, 2007, "Do you want dinner brought in?" Deputy Mayor McGinnis said, "Yes." Commissioner Miller remarked, "Yes." Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs stated, "Yes." No objections were noted. Discussion. INFORMATIONAL INFORMATIONAL 100. Office Of The Mayor Requests That The City Commission Discuss Ways To Do A Better Job Of Communicating With The Citizens Through Various Activities Or Events. Discussion ensued on ways to better communicate with the citizens of Winter Springs, to which Deputy Mayor McGinnis suggested, "I would like to see our Newsletter expanded. " Further discussion. Commissioner Krebs commented, "I do think that there are issues coming back that we do need to be proactive about and that is water." Furthermore, Commissioner Krebs remarked, "I would like to have something to hand out to people - 'Did you know about Winter Springs'." Commissioner Krebs continued, "It would be a brochure or something that talks about 'Did you know' and hopefully answers some of their questions." Further discussion. Deputy Mayor McGinnis commented, "We might consider doing a - test on this and have a Town Hall Meeting in the Town Hall." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - APRIL 19,2007 PAGE30F7 Discussion ensued on Meetings with the Homeowner's Associations around the City. Mayor Bush commented, "I think Commissioner Krebs' idea about 'Did you know' about the City is a good idea. One that could be done relatively inexpensively; it could be one (1) sheet of paper; we could put it on the Web(site) - we could use it to have in our pockets and so forth. I think that is really a great idea." Mayor Bush continued, "Like the population of the City, the tax base, number of cops, number of firemen, number of City employees." Continuing, Mayor Bush asked, "What if we had Commission Meetings at different HOA's (Homeowner's Associations); what if we held one at Tuscawilla Country Club? What if we had an actual Commission Meeting, had it at The Highlands." Mayor Bush remarked, "That is one way of taking it to them, rather than them coming to us." Mayor Bush continued, "It could be - 'A Special Meeting' of some kind." Next, Mayor Bush said, "Maybe we need to survey the people and see what they want to know. What do they really - want to know and if so, what is the best way to let them know." Regarding the Seminole County Property Appraiser's Office, Mayor Bush said, "They have at their counter little response cards where a person can write down something and they can mail it in." Mayor Bush continued, "That would be very inexpensive to do," Commissioner Krebs noted, "Or send them to the Web(site)." Mayor Bush added, "Or have it on the Web(site)." With further discussion, Mayor Bush explained, "I would be interested - what do they really want to know and what is the best way to let them know." Further discussion. Tape 1/Side B Next, Commissioner Krebs commented on Mayor Bush's idea and said, "I do think your idea is unique and very interesting about having a Commission Meeting, periodically in different parts of the City. I do like that idea. I think we might have to invest a small amount of money - for microphones - or for the tools that we would need for that to happen, but it is really not that much." Deputy Mayor McGinnis remarked, "My thought on - a Commission Meeting in the community is that really still is not a vehicle for two (2) way communication. That is just providing an opportunity to look at us, see us, what we do." Mayor Bush replied, "There is no reason why we have to stick with the Public Input - the Commission can choose - to change that." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - APRIL 19,2007 PAGE40F7 Discussion ensued on Homeowner's Association's. Commissioner Krebs commented, "Maybe that is what we should go for; roundtable Meetings periodically in the City. Maybe four (4) times a year - one in each quadrant, whatever, or more, but I think we need to try that." Discussion followed. Commissioner Miller remarked, "I think the only way to do this in a sane manner would be to do it by, probably by District; and open it up to everybody in the District. Actually, - anybody who wants to show up, but it would be primarily for people in that area." Commissioner Miller added, "The best thing to do would be to have an open Meeting where there is no Agenda; it is come and meet your local Representatives, get it off your chests, tell them what you want to tell them and that is it." Commissioner Miller then noted, "And just move District to District over a period of a year maybe or sooner if everybody wants to do that; and just put the news out in the Newsletter. I think we could do it by area and then probably have a Notice in the newspaper if anyone in the City wanted to attend, they could also attend, city-wide I meant." Commissioner Krebs commented, "I like that idea." Commissioner Miller remarked, "The Seventh Day Adventist Church where I am, IS probably an ideal location." Mayor Bush said, "I made a list here. You have got Tusca Trails, you've got Hacienda Village; you could have a Meeting at the Highlands Elementary School. You could have one at the Metro Church; you could have one at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Moss [Road]. You could have one at Starlight [Baptist Church], which covers the Ranchlands. Tuscawilla Country Club, which would cover the majority of Tuscawilla and also it would be big enough. Parkstone and Stone Gable, like I say, they can meet at the Baptist Church - the Winter Springs Elementary School. There's places to do this." Furthermore, Mayor Bush remarked, "It is a Town Meeting; that is all we are calling it. And - the Commission may want to set a time limit that is reasonable. Maybe much longer than three (3) minutes, but you cannot let somebody talk on for an hour either - because other people would want to talk - so, we would have to have some rules to follow so it would be an orderly Meeting." Discussion continued. Continuing with the discussion of holding Town Hall Meetings, Deputy Mayor McGinnis commented, "Not go into this with any illusions and be aware that this is a two (2) way process, a two (2) way street here. And just try it out and move forward. I like it." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - APRIL 19,2007 PAGE50F7 Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore remarked, "I can support the Mayor's idea and I think it is a good idea. I think we also, before we go into those Meetings in a neighborhood, we need a fact sheet as to what the hot buttons are in that neighborhood." Commissioner Gilmore continued, "I think we need to know the issues in the community before we go there. We need to have discussed those issues or at least have some Executive Summaries of the issues and the potential solutions; and I think we have to recognize that there is going to take quite a bit of Staff involvement in this." Additionally, Commissioner Gilmore said, "So, you need to know what the issues are before going in and recognize that in all probability, you do not have a solution to those problems. We have to come back here to get the solution." Mayor Bush remarked, "I feel that the Commission knows what the big issues are; what will happen, there will be other issues come up that we have never heard, and that is why Staff has to be there." Manager McLemore commented, "You really do need your key Staff - people there. You need to have key Staff people there." Mayor Bush said, "The Police Chief needs to be there. The Fire Chief needs to be there." With further discussion, Mayor Bush commented, "I think that we have all come up with really an excellent solution to the communication problem. Not that it is going to solve all of it. But I think that it will, taking - it out into the Community, I think, is the real key and that is really what I think Commissioner Brown was talking about when you were campaigning. And I think that is a great idea." Mayor Bush continued, "I think though what we need to do next is maybe ask the Manager to possibly think about this, since he's had some experience with this - what is the Agenda going to be like at the Meeting; how much time we are going to let people talk - the logistics of recording things; because it will be a Meeting that we will have to advertise." Mayor Bush continued, "If it is a Meeting, of course we have to take Minutes; if it is not a Meeting, I guess you don't really need to take Minutes. It could be - videoed - there are a lot of different ways we could do this, but I think that is something that the Manager - and the Clerk needs to get together on and think about; and if we have to spend a little money to get some equipment that we can take around." Mayor Bush said, "Also, look at these different locations. See if it costs us anything to use the churches, the elementary schools and so, if the Commission has no objection, I think that, even though we cannot take a Vote on anything, that we ask the Manager to explore this and the Clerk; and to come back with an Agenda Item." Commissioner Krebs commented, "I agree." Deputy Mayor McGinnis noted, "I agree." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - APRIL 19,2007 PAGE 6 OF 7 Discussion. Mayor Bush remarked, "This will be something - after the Legislature has done their thing - we are going to have to cut. That is an excellent reason to go out and have these Meetings - to say, friends - there is no free lunch; something has got to go. And then let them vent." Commissioner Krebs commented, "Yes, we should be out there educating them." Mayor Bush continued, "Especially if they start changing the exemption or the way the assessments are done." Mayor Bush suggested, "The only other thing - that I came up that I - would like to get the Commission to move forward with and that is - Commissioner Krebs' 'Did you know'." Mayor Bush continued, "It is an information sheet about the City; and the Manager brought up a good point too, about new people in the City. We know when people hook up their water - meter, we know if they are new. Maybe we need to get something to hand to them when they come in and pay their first deposit. And - give them one of the State of the City brochures and give them one of our 'Did you know' brochures." Commissioner Krebs remarked, "Yes, Welcome to Winter Springs packet." Further discussion. Mayor Bush added, "So, we are going to move forward with the Town Hall Meetings out in the community with the Manager and the Clerk will be looking at how we can do this. And I guess Anthony (A. Garganese, City Attorney) probably needs to be in on it too." Mayor Bush added, "And the 'Did you know' - and make that 'Did you know' with the information packet for new people all kind of one thing, is that alright?" Deputy Mayor McGinnis remarked, "Look at what we have." In other city business, Commissioner Gilmore commented, "I happened to see an email from Florida League of Cities today that the Legislature looks like they are on the path of passing the legislation that requires governing bodies to hand out Social Security Numbers for any legitimate business purpose." Commissioner Gilmore continued, "And I think in some way, shape, or form, and I don't know if this is the form or not, but we had discussed this previously. Anthony (Garganese) came up with something, but I think we need, if it is this body's opinion that this should not be done, we need to tell the State Legislature immediately that we disagree with that." Mayor Bush noted, "Why don't you bring that up at our next Commission Meeting because that is something the Commission will have to Vote on. We could pass or do a Resolution, something to that effect. Bring it up under your Seat at your next Meeting." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - APRIL 19,2007 PAGE70F7 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Bush adjourned the Workshop at approximately 7:27 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: A LORENZO-LUACES, CMC CLERK APPROVED: 7:~ NOTE: These Minutes were approved at the May 14,2007 Regular City Commission Meeting.