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HomeMy WebLinkAbout_2003 05 08 City Commission Workshop Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MAY 8, 2003 CALL TO ORDER The Workshop of Thursday, May 8, 2003 of the City Commission was called to order by Mayor John F. Bush at 6:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers ofthe Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). Mayor John F. Bush, present Deputy Mayor Robert S. Miller, present Commissioner Michael S. Blake, present Commissioner Edward Martinez, Jr., present Commissioner Sally McGinnis, present Commissioner David W. McLeod, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, absent City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, arrived at 6:36 p.m. After a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. AGENDA 1. A. Office Of The City Manager Requesting The City Commission Review The Recommendations Of The Tree (Arbor) Ordinance Review Advisory Committee. Mr. Michael Mingea, City Forester/Environmental Inspector, Community Development Department introduced Ms. Marilyn Crotty (University of Central Florida, Florida Institute of Government); Ms. Yvonne Froscher (Environmental Consultant); and Members of the Tree (Arbor) Ordinance Review Advisory Committee. Mr. Mingea distributed a document entitled "City of Winter Springs Ordinance No. 2002- 08 -- Tree Ordinance Advisory Board And Yvonne I Froscher Recommendations. " Mr. Mingea referred to a page 2, Revision [Sec. 5-3 (s)] and stated that Members of the Tree (Arbor) Ordinance Review Advisory Committee suggested having up to a twenty- four inch (24") item for that to kick into effect. Since the time that this has occurred - I have had much more reservation against expanding that limit onto the Specimen Tree, but that was one ofthe recommendations." CITY OF WINTER SPRfNGS M fNUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MA Y 8, 2003 PAGE 2 OF I I Mr. Mingea then stated, "We missed a couple of items in the original document. And this is of real importance because the Laurel Oak and also the Sand Pine and the Cherry Laurel have great failure tendencies, even though they may be of twenty (20) or twenty- six (26) or whatever inch size, they may have a potential to literally just fall out unannounced. So we wanted to eliminate those three (3) from - the Specimen Tree." City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese arrived at 6:36 p.m. Discussion. Commissioner Edward Martinez, Jr. stated, "This document, does this relate to the existing Ordinance in any matter, shape, or form? It says here Advisory Board Recommendation 1 - Revision [Sec. 5-2(b)] - when I go to the Ordinance - [Sec. 5-2(b)] - it does not say anything about intent, it speaks about Scope of Authority. We need to know where we are at so we can follow the Ordinance and the changes in an orderly fashion. " [Sec. 5-2(b)] was further addressed next. Mr. Mingea stated, "Those underlining words, the last few in the sentence, that would be the changes recommended. And then add the word 'And to encourage proper removal of exotic, pest trees. ", Discussion ensued on Cabbage Palms. Brief discussion developed regarding [add Sec. 5-4(b)(9)). Attorney Garganese suggested adding the wording, "All trees originally planted" to that section. With discussion next on Advisory Board Recommendation 8, Deputy Mayor Robert S. Miller suggested, "I think we need to spend some time on that, just as an observation before it comes back for the First Reading." Members of the City Commission then spoke about what defines "Safety hazards." Commissioner Sally McGinnis spoke of there being a "Loophole" in the revision, and requested that Ms. Proscher "Draft something that would cover that." Ms. Yvonne Froscher, Environmental Consultant, Post Office Box 195305, Winter Springs, Florida: stated, "I think maybe having some very specific things listed and the value may be good - for that." Attorney Garganese spoke of Ordinance 2002-08 and stated, "It is broadly written to allow a little more discretion on that judgement call. But we can tighten it up a little bit when we bring back the revisions to the Arbor Ordinance." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8,2003 PAGE 3 OF II Commissioner Michael S. Blake next spoke of [Sec. 5-5(c)(12)] which addressed the establishment of the City Forester as a member of the Development Review Committee and asked, "Which one?" Attorney Garganese responded, "Staff - we will insert the words 'Staff Development Review Committee. ", Tape I/Side B In regards to the City Forester having the authority to educate City personnel responsible for tree removal, planting, and establishment, Commissioner Blake added, "While I do not disagree that perhaps the Arborist could spend some time educating the folks who are involved in these types of decisions, I think it should be clear that we are not making any budget decisions or any decisions to expand positions through the adoption of this Ordinance. " Discussion. Deputy Mayor Miller stated, "No matter what we do here, in the end they just come in and they look at a piece of property and they say I am going to put in 500 homes in there, or fifty (50) homes, or twenty-five (25) homes, or I am going to put in an office building - and then they just go ahead and do it." Furthermore, Deputy Mayor Miller added, "I would like to see - when I look at some of the communities in the Miami area, they are obviously a little bit more wealthy than we are and they may have a deeper pocket to offset lawsuits, but there seems to be a lot of construction going on down there - Developers come in and they take a look at the property and they say how can I put quality on this property and keep the tree count." Deputy Mayor Miller then said, "For me it is a real shame that we are not able to convince people to try and do this to make our City a better place. But then when I look at where they come from they really do not care about my City, they do not care about any of the people sitting here. They are here to do a job, make their profit, then leave. So the trees are really a pain - to them. They get rid of them and do what they have got to do and get out. But some way or another they were able to get their attention down in Miami. I have seen buildings built around trees down there. We have got a lot of land going down towards the Greenway which eventually is going to be developed. And if you walk in there it is just crawling with really beautiful trees, and I would like to think that we could put in some enhancements." Furthermore, Deputy Mayor Miller added, "So I think what we need to do is put some kind of enhancement, verbiage in there - incentives - some kind of incentives that would be financially worth our while." Mayor Bush then mentioned that the Attorney for the Villagio project had said something similar. Mayor Bush then added, "Maybe the Commission needs to make this clearer to the [City] Manager or whomever, that this is what the Commission wants to do." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8,2003 PAGE 4 OF 11 Commissioner Martinez. stated, "The educational part is very important. I believe in it." Additionally, Commissioner Martinez spoke about the Public Works Department and said, "On Greenbriar Lane they tore - the east side of Greenbriar Lane - for almost a half a mile - and. I think they do need an education to know how to handle that type of pruning. " Attorney Garganese suggested to the City Commission, "We can try to build in some sort of incentive section in the Ordinance. But with respect to the big majestic, Specimen Trees we have already put the City Commission in a legal position to protect those trees because you cannot remove a Specimen Tree without demonstrating to the Commission extraordinary circumstances or hardship." Ms. Proscher stated, "I agree that there needs to be an incentive." Mayor Bush again referenced the Villagio project and said that they asked "The Commission to reduce the requirement for parking if they could save more trees. I felt the Commission somehow was agreeable to that but it still did not happen. Now it still did not happen even though the Commission I think wanted it to happen and were willing to bend on the requirements for parking because as he had mentioned, parking lots are never full anyway. So what is it going to take to make it happen?" Attorney Garganese stated, "We will work on something and bring it back to the Commission." Discussion. Regarding [Sec. 5-6(b)(1) and (2)], Commissioner Martinez inquired, "How do you differentiate between those trees that cannot be removed without the permission of the Commission, and the other trees?" Mr. Mingea answered, "Maybe the word 'Staff - under 'Staff Development Review [Committee].'" Mayor Bush added, "Yes, I think it needs to be consistent." Discussion developed regarding the developmental review process in regards to applications for tree removals. Mayor Bush asked, "Will this slow down the process?" Mr. Mingea answered, "Absolutely." Mayor Bush asked further, "So how much will it slow it down?" Mr. Mingea answered, "I believe in reality it should not greatly hamper or slow down the process. It is just one of those we need' to at least look at it and see if there is something to notice on the front." Attorney Garganese stated, "They should not lose any time in the development process." Mayor Bush added, "We do not want to make it any slower than it already is." Commissioner Martinez asked, "Are we going to include 'Staff Review Development Committee' throughout, every time it comes up?" Mayor Bush stated, "Yes." In regards to [Sec. 5-6(b)(4)], Mayor Bush asked Mr. Mingea, "Who would your representative be?" Mr. Mingea answered, "I could only hope that what this means is in the absence of such as sick, disabled - I am going to guess we are just going to put in 'Or his designee.' I do not specifically remember that as a discussion item but I do not believe it was designed for me to sub the work out." Mayor Bush asked further, "So in CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8,2003 PAGE 5 OF 11 your education program you will educate somebody who can make these decisions?" Mr. Mingea said, "We have been - recently trying to look toward alternatives." Commissioner Blake stated, "My real question is about this one time only every ten (10) years. And I was not able to determine whether that really means one (1) tr~e, one (1) time, ten (10) years and no possible way, no matter what circumstances are, to do another tree until that (10) years is over..." Mr. Mingea stated, "...1 believe it is referring to without a fee." Mr. Mingea clarified, "Maybe we need to insert the words 'Without a fee. ", Commissioner Blake stated, "As I read through the actual language it seems to me like there are a lot of other things going on here." Furthermore, Commissioner Blake said, "What I would recommend is I think I understand where you are trying to go with it but I would want to circle that item as one to reword, rework, and come back." [Sec. 5-8(a)] was discussed next. Commissioner Blake suggested that the City Clerk should be the custodian for the Historical Tree designations, as opposed to the City Forester. Mr. Mingea added, "I believe 'Clerk' would be the right one here." Commissioner Martinez stated, "Here in the old Ordinance they have Historic Tree designation as [Sec. 5-8(a)(4)] and over here in this - revision you have [Sec. 5-8(a)] as Specimen and [Sec. 5-8(a)] again as Designation. One should be (a)(I)." Commissioner Blake stated, "My concern would be the new language, 'Based on the recommendation of the BOWS [Beautification of Winter Springs] Board.' What if the BOWS [Beautification of Winter Springs] Board recommends against it, we cannot do it?" Mr. Mingea responded, "I believe it refers to the BOWS [Beautification of Winter Springs] Board presenting it to the City Commission." Commissioner Blake stated, "It says that we can 'Designate a tree as a Historic Tree by Resolution based on the recommendation of the Beautification Board of Winter Springs." Mr. Mingea suggested, "You could change the word 'Based' and make it into..." Attorney Garganese said, ".. . We will change that to 'After.'" Discussion. The City Commission then addressed [Sec. 5-9(b)(5)]. Commissioner Blake asked Attorney Garganese, "Do we have to have this language in here in order to grant some sort of a waiver?" Attorney Garganese responded, "It is advisable because it sets a standard by which you can consider granting the waiver." Commissioner Blake added, "I do not think it sets a standard actually. I think it says that we can. The standard would be set by putting down some criteria, how hardship is defined." Attorney Garganese said, "We can add to the language." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MA Y 8, 2003 PAGE 6 OF II Commissioner Blake inquired how the City Commission would investigate an "Undue hardship" claim. Attorney Garganese explained that the "Burden is going to have to be on the person requesting the waiver, to present some evidence - to the Commission that they have an economic hardship. It is a case by case basis." Commissioner Blake added, "I think without having something spelled out it creates a potential problem, or certainly makes it so that we will probably never collect a fine." With additional discussion, Commissioner Blake asked how the Courts handle traffic fines. Commissioner McGinnis said, "I am comfortable that the burden of proof would be on the applicant and that this panel would make that judgement. I do not foresee many people who would come before this Commission and plea financial hardship that it would create such a burden on the City. I think it is a good thing to put in. As our Attorney said, it is kind of a catch phrase - I think we should leave it as is." Tape 2/Side A Pertaining to [Sec. 5-13(a) and (b) and (c)), Commissioner Blake asked, "Will this section supercede the [State Road] 434 New Development Corridor which has an Arbor Section in it, or the Town Center Zoning District, which also has planting requirements? I think we need some language in here that says this is other than those two (2) areas." Attorney Garganese stated, "Yes, we need to clarify that more." Commissioner Blake added, "I believe that is to the City limits isn't it, because the City limits have expanded east since that Ordinance was written. We may want to check that just as a side note to make sure it does not stop at the Beltway and it does continue on." Commissioner David W. McLeod spoke of enforcement of the protection zones and asked, "Would you also have - the enforcement done by the Police Department because aren't they out and around more than you and the City Manager, spotting these things?" Mr. Mingea responded, "This is kind of a grey area. We have discussed this previously. I believe the City Attorney could probably better approach this issue but I know Code Enforcement does some of this. And as far as any of the stop work type issues, that is with the City Manager." Attorney Garganese stated, "This is the first I have seen of the sign. I think it is a good job. But it probably does not need to state that it is enforced by the City Forester and City Manager, it is just enforced by the City." Discussion. Mayor Bush stated, "I agree with removing 'Enforcement of City Forester or City Manager.' I think that should be taken off - is there any advantage of actually putting on here, a reference to the Code?" Attorney Garganese stated, "I would simply say 'Pursuant to - City Code.'" Furthermore, Attorney Garganese pointed out, "I think the enforcement powers are in the Ordinance today. The City should be able to go out there and enforce the Code." Mayor Bush clarified, "The Commissioner is asking should it be Mr. Mingea or.. ." Attorney Garganese said, "...It is the City. It can be Mr. Mingea, it CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8,2003 PAGE 7 OF II could be Captain [Glen] Tolleson [Police Department] - and as you all will find out Monday night, maybe the City Commission." Related to Advisory Board Recommendation 33 regarding the $500.00 fee to go before the Board of Adjustment, Mayor Bush said, "To me that is excessive. You all set that fee - but I think that is just too much. I think pushing anybody before the Board of Adjustment is an economic hardship." Commissioner McGinnis stated, "I will agree with you" Mayor Bush. I think it is excessive." Deputy Mayor Miller added, "I agree with you." Attorney Garganese stated, "If you give the Board of Adjustment this duty, they will become a Quasi-Judicial Board for handling interpretation questions under the Arbor Ordinance. If somebody did not like the decision of the Board of Adjustment then they would appeal it to the Circuit Court because the Board of Adjustment would be the final decision maker on questions of interpretation of the Arbor Ordinance. You need to ask yourself whether you want to give that duty to the Board of Adjustment or retain that duty yourselves." Commissioner McGinnis said, "I would like to keep it with the Commission. " Commissioner Blake said, "I think this particular section is weighty enough that we ought to not decide that tonight. I would like to have a little bit of time to consider this. When he crafts the Ordinance he can have Option A, Option B. We could have a little checklist where we can choose which option we want at that time." Commissioner Martinez said, "I would like to keep this with the Commission." Additionally, Commissioner McLeod stated, "I am in agreement, this should stay with the Commission. If we are going to get the City in a lawsuit, let the Commission do it, let them be responsible for the people." Commissioner Blake added, "I agree." Discussion. Under Other Advisory Board Recommendations, specifically 4., Commissioner Blake spoke of his concern with this recommendation and explained that "One of the keys of the Town Center District is it is a higher intensive type development, multi-use, where you do not have buffers and barriers but you have everything happening together. Now in terms of the areas surrounding the perimeter of the Town Center District, then yes I think a buffer around the perimeter is absolutely appropriate, but not necessarily within the Town Center." Referencing [Sec. 5-17(b)], Commissioner McLeod stated, "We found that before it was important enough to spell out that the undesirable trees must be replaced with a desirable tree - you said take that out of there. If you read the whole thing it does not really tell you what you do with those, and I think it really should state that 'Undesirable trees need not be replaced.'" Commissioner Blake stated, "I agree." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8, 2003 PAGE 8 OF II Discussion. Ms. Crotty departed the Workshop at 8:34 p.m. Further discussion developed about [Sec. 5-6(a)(I)] regarding the inclusion of a tree inventory, which consists of a "Scaled drawing" or a "Sketch." Regarding this topic, Commissioner Blake asked, "What happens if the parcel sizes of a subdivision are going to be a half (~) acre?" Ms. Froscher stated, "If it is a half (~) acre then they need to provide a scaled drawing." Commissioner Blake asked, "Where do you see that?" Ms. Froscher said, "That would be assumed to be a site to be developed, and they would need to provide a scale drawing - one inch (1 ") equals fifty feet (50') or less." Commissioner Blake then stated, "So explain to me what the difference is, if it is less than one quarter (1;4) acre or more than one quarter (1;4) acre." Mr. Proscher said, "If it is less than one quarter (1;4) acre they only need to provide a sketch. That means the Surveyor does not need to precisely show the location of each tree. It means that it can just be a qualitative rendering rather than a specific rendering." Commissioner Blake clarified, "So the difference is if it is greater than one quarter (lf4) acre it is a scaled drawing; if it is less than one quarter (1;4) acre it is a sketch. So if my house - I have more than one quarter (1;4) acre, I am being held to a higher standard - I have to go out and get a scaled architectural landscape drawing that shows how I want to take down my..." Mr. Froscher said, ".. .But we also put language in this area before where if you were only developing a small portion of that one half (Y2) acre or improving a portion of it, you would only need to show that portion for which..." Commissioner Blake asked, "... What about an existing house, like my house has already been built." Ms. Fro scher said, "It would depend on the extent of your improvements." Commissioner Blake stated, "No improvements. I just need to take down a tree." Ms. Proscher responded, "Then you would probably be able to provide a sketch for that." Commissioner Blake asked, "Even though I have more than one quarter (1;4) acre?" Ms. Proscher further said, "Because you would be working in a very limited area." Commissioner Blake said, "Because where I am going to cut this tree down, and it is not in anybody's way, the tree covers less than one quarter (Y4) acre so a sketch would work for that? Is that basically what you are saying?" Ms. Froscher stated, "Yes." Next, Commissioner Blake said, '''I do not think it is clear Anthony [Garganese]. I think that is an area that we need to make sure we can understand. I am not sure if that is what it says or that is what it means." Commissioner McLeod agreed with Commissioner Blake and stated, "You will be required to go get an Architect to stamp and seal this - so I think if you are going to define something, you better make it very clear about what you intend to do." Mayor Bush stated, "I agree also." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8, 2003 PAGE90F 11 Ms. Froscher clarified that [Sec. 5-9(a)] "Was supposed to be underlined, or at least part of it." Commissioner Blake added, "This creates a conflict with some other sections. For instance, if you remove an invasive tree or an exotic tree - previously we have struck language that says you shall replace a tree. III here it is not..." Ms. Froscher said, "...Okay so there needs to be - 'Except undesirable trees.'" [Sec. 5-9(b)(6)(A)] was discussed next. Mayor Bush stated, "On the - Replacement Credit Table you said greater than - shouldn't it be twenty-four (24)? Ms. Froscher stated, "Right." Commissioner Blake said, "Along that same line, shouldn't we have an eight inch (8") spread for four (4) replacement tree credits? Or should we create a twenty (20) to up to twenty-four (24) range with five (5) replacement credits?" Ms. Froscher responded, "Sure we can do that. We can make one (1) more category." Commissioner Blake said, "If we used to consider half of those trees as Specimen Trees, I think it is only right that we do not designate a twenty-three inch (23") tree the same as a sixteen inch (16") tree. Same language - just one more cell." Ms. Froscher pointed out to the City Commission that [Sec. 5-9(b)(8)] and [Sec. 5- 9(b )(9)] are duplicates of each other. Commissioner Blake spoke of YVONNE I. FROSCHER RECOMMENDATIONS specifically [Sec. 5-17(b)] and stated, "Frankly 2) 'Planting four (4) Preferred Plants Native to Central Florida' - it does not discuss size or any other requirements. They could be four (4) Saplings." Mr. Mingea said, "That may need some more tweaking there." Commissioner Blake added, "The size of the four (4) trees would have to equal one hundred and fifty percent of the tree that was removed. You want it to be somewhat comparable to choice 1), which is to plant a comparable size tree. Well if someone takes down a sixteen incher (16"), I would rather plant four (4) small ones personally." Mr. Mingea said, "I agree." Tape 2/Side B Deputy Mayor Miller stated, "Give some thought to just making it the first one [1)], and then maybe they have to go to some Arbor Committee or the City Commission in the event we might consider 2) or 3). What I am thinking is you have got a mature band of trees out here to the east going towards the Greenway." Deputy Mayor Miller further said, "My suggestion would be to consider putting in just one first and then if everybody has no objection, then they would come to - the City Commission." Commissioner Martinez spoke of a case recently heard by the City's Code Enforcement Board in which the Defendant was fined $2,500.00. Attorney Garganese said to Commissioner Martinez, "We can talk about that later. Let me get the facts." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8, 2003 PAGE 10 OF 11 Mayor Bush commented on [Sec. 5-17(b)] and said, "That one needs to be worked on and I think outside of Commissioner Martinez, that the Commission is basically saying put more teeth in it." Related to [Sec. 5-18(b)(2)], Attorney Garganese stated, "On this section - it is something that I am going to rework just a little bit and present to the Commission." Mayor Bush asked, "Are you following the recommendation though that the penalties be large enough to be a deterrent?" Attorney Garganese stated, "They are currently large enough to be a deterrent. For each tree that is removed without a permit, in violation of this Ordinance, it is subject to a maximum penalty of $5,000.00 dollars per tree currently under the Arbor Ordinance - maximum allowed by law for an irreversible Code Enforcement Violation." Attorney Garganese further stated, "One issue that we are going to address is probably having more specific Code Enforcement Violation amounts for the times when the City issues Citations that go directly to County Court. Because right now, the way the Ordinance is drafted you have to apply six (6) factors to determine the amount of the fine. You look at the gravity of the situation or the Violation. For example, whether the person has taken remedial steps to correct the Violation before you actually impose the dollar amount. That is the Code Enforcement procedure. With respect to Citations, they go directly to Court." Attorney Garganese added, "But I am going to come back with something on that point." Mr. Byron Giltz, 1001 Troon Trace, Winter Springs, Florida: as a Member of the Tree (Arbor) Ordinance Review Advisory Committee, Mr. Giltz addressed the City Commission regarding the need to have residents educated on the Arbor Ordinance. Ms. Froscher suggested adding a "One liner in big letters on everybody's water bills. Do you want to take down a tree? Be sure to check out our new Ordinance." Ms. Darcy Meagher, 710 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida: as another Member of the Tree (Arbor) Ordinance Review Advisory Committee, Ms. Meagher spoke of the City of Altamonte Springs' process of verifying licensed contractors. In conclusion, Commissioner McLeod said, "I would like to thank the Advisory Board this evening for what has come forward. I would like to thank our Consultant - and our Attorney. And Mike [Mingea], I would like to thank you for a very good presentation this evening." Commissioner Martinez stated, "I, as Commissioner McLeod, would like to thank the Committee. They did a great job and it is seldom that people really put as much effort into something like this." Commissioner Blake agreed with Commissioner Martinez. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS M INurES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - MAY 8, 2003 PAGE II OF]1 ADJOURNMENT The Workshop was adjourned at 9:03 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ROLLY PIE~STORFF, ASStSTANT;TO,THE CITY CLERK; AND \ . 'f ";. .7,;~ :~:~. ~ ( \~}:. ~~- ~ ~_l! l1}'-, ~~ - - ~8t~O~~ZQ:LUACES, CMC Cr?~CLE~-''\' .' ~