Regular City Commission Meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF DECEMBER 6, 2004, AT 2:30 P.M.

PRESENT: Mayor Richard F. Martin, Vice Mayor Mary Anne Servian, Commissioners Fredd "Glossie" Atkins, and Lou Ann R. Palmer, City Auditor and Clerk Billy E. Robinson, City Manager Michael A. McNees, and City Attorney Robert M. Fournier.

ABSENT: Commissioner Danny Bilyeu due to attendance at the National League of Cities Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

PRESIDING: Mayor Martin

The meeting was called to order in accordance with Article III, Section 9(a) of the City of Sarasota Charter at 2:30 p.m.

City Auditor and Clerk Robinson gave the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. ITEMS ON CONSENT AGENDA NOS. 1 AND 2

Mayor Martin asked if any Commissioner wishes to remove an item from Consent Agenda No. 1 or 2 and hearing no requests for removal, stated that Consent Agenda Nos. 1 and 2 will be heard as presented.

2. CITIZENS' INPUT CONCERNING CITY TOPICS (AGENDA ITEM I)

Carolyn Fishel, President, Arlington Park Neighborhood Association, 2490 Waldemere Street (34239), representing Arlington Park Neighborhood Association, and Sherri Leman, 2144 Hyde Park Circle (34239), came before the Commission.

Ms. Fishel stated that she came before the Commission at the March 22, 2004, Special meeting to request assistance with completion of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Improvement Project; that the pathways were in poor condition with areas of pedestrian safety issues; that after working with the Commission and Staff, especially Duane Mountain, Supervisor of Maintenance and Service, Public Works Department, the pathways have been replaced with 8 foot wide asphalt without drop offs; that bollards on side street park entrances and protective railings will be installed soon; that the City and the neighborhood can be proud once the quality project is completed; that the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (CCNA) recognized the project as the "2004 Best Neighborhood Project" at its awards banquet on December 4, 2004; that recently, the level of the pond in Arlington Park was dropped 18 inches as part of a Sarasota County flood project in the neighborhood, which had an extremely negative impact on the appearance to the area; that through working with the Commission and City and County Staff a resolution to the problem was found; that the water level in the pond was raised to near original levels; that park visitors and ducks are extremely happy with the restored water level; and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Commission on behalf of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association.

Ms. Fishel continued that the Commission and Staff are commended for their initiative, efforts, and support for improving the safety and appearance of Arlington Park; that the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association appreciates the continued assistance in making Arlington Park a better place in which to live; that the Arlington Park neighborhood has more improvements planned for the future; that the Neighborhood Action Strategy (NAS) process has begun for the Arlington Park Neighborhood and the School Avenue Multi-use Recreational Trail Project will begin after January 2005; that the improvements are possible due to the combined efforts of the City Commission, Staff and neighborhood residents; that working with everyone under the leadership of the new 2005 Arlington Park Neighborhood Association President, Rhonda Moraca is favorably anticipated; that working with the Commission and Staff as President of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association for the past two years has been a pleasure; that she will serve as a Board member and will continue to remain involved with the efforts to improve the Arlington Park neighborhood; that wishes for a wonderful holiday season as well as an excellent 2005 are extended to all; that the neighborhood is looking forward to the future improvements.

Ms. Leman stated that having the opportunity to spend time with each of the Commissioners is appreciated; that the Commissioners are always willing to provide comments, help and guidance, which is extremely appreciated.

Mayor Martin stated that the Certificate of Appreciation will be proudly hung in the Commission office.

Vice Mayor Servian stated that the Commission does not normally receive Certificates of Appreciation; that receiving the Certificate of Appreciation is pleasing.

Mayor Martin agreed.

Ms. Fishel stated that the Commission is invited to walk through the park and enjoy the new pathways; and extended thanks for everyone's efforts.

3. APPROVAL RE: MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2004, APPROVED; MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 15, 2004 - APPROVED WITH CHANGES (AGENDA ITEM II-1 AND-2)

Mayor Martin asked if the Commission had any changes to the minutes?

Vice Mayor Servian referred to Agenda Item XV, Commission Board and Committee Reports of the minutes of the November 15, 2004, Regular Commission meeting as follows:

VICE MAYOR SERVIAN: ... stated that the Economic Development Corporation taped "Development Rocks" ... Commissioner Palmer stated that the "Development Rocks" program ...

Vice Mayor Servian stated that the name of the tape should be changed to "Economic Development Rocks."

Mayor Martin stated that hearing no other changes, the minutes of the Regular City Commission meeting of November 1, 2004, are approved by unanimous consent and the minutes of the Regular City Commission meeting of November 15, 2004, are approved by unanimous consent with the change indicated.

4. CONSENT AGENDA NO. 1: ITEM NOS. 1, 2, AND 3 - APPROVED (AGENDA ITEM IV-A)

1. Approval Re: Authorize the Mayor and City Auditor and Clerk to execute the First Amendment to Agreement for Traffic Signalization Services between the City of Sarasota and Mastec North America, Inc., for the period of October 14, 2004, until October 13, 2005, on an "as needed" basis. 2. Approval Re: Authorize the Mayor and City Auditor and Clerk to execute the Municipal Services and Pre-Annexation Agreement between the City of Sarasota and Marian H. Gable for water and sewer services for a developed site located at 3800 Flamingo Avenue. 3. Approval Re: Owner-Occupied Housing Program Changes.

MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda No. 1, Item Nos. 1 through 3, inclusive. OUTCOME: passed VOTE: Ayes 4 / Nays 0 / Absent 1 / Abstain 0 AYES: Atkins, Palmer, Servian, Martin ABSENT/ABSTAIN: Bilyeu

5. CONSENT AGENDA NO. 2: ITEM 1 (RESOLUTION NO. 05R-1814) - ADOPTED; ITEM 2 (ORDINANCE NO. 04-4555) - ADOPTED; ITEM 3 (ORDINANCE NO. 05-4590) - ADOPTED; ITEM 4 (ORDINANCE NO. 05-4592) - ADOPTED (AGENDA ITEM IV-B)

1. Adoption Re: Proposed Resolution No. 05R-1814, affirming the current practice of offering post-retirement single medical/dental coverage, at no cost to the retiree, so long as the retiree was hired as an employee of the City of Sarasota prior to October 1, 1993; etc. (Title Only). 2. Adoption Re: Second reading of proposed Ordinance No. 04-4555, to rezone property located at 1115 and 1117 South Tuttle Avenue from the Single Family Residential-4 and Office Professional Business (RSF-4 and OPB) Zone Districts to the Office Neighborhood District (OND) Zone District to allow a proposed office development; said development is proposed to be located on property directly to the north of the northeast corner of the intersection of South Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street; approving Site Plan Application No. 04-SP-23 which has been proffered as a condition of this rezoning; providing for conditions of this rezoning; etc. (Title Only) (Application Nos. 04-RE-09 and 04-SP-23, Applicant William W. Loker, of Loker Construction, Inc., as agent representing Dr. Q. H. Shao and Jennifer F. Shao, as owners of the China Healing Center, Inc.). 3. Adoption Re: Second reading of proposed Ordinance No. 05-4590, rezoning approximately 2.18 acres of land in four separate parcels from the Office Professional Business (OPB) and Residential Multiple Family 4 (RMF-4) Zone Districts to the Commercial Central Business District (C-CBD); described generally by parcel, the zone changes are: 1750 Ringling Boulevard (OPB to C-CBD); 1753 Morrill Street (RMF-4 to C-CBD); and 1759 Morrill Street (RMF-4 to C-CBD); each parcel being described with more particularly herein; making findings; approving a proffered site plan for a mixed use development consisting of retail space, professional office space and residential units in a 180 foot building; a parking structure; seven townhouse residential units and four residential units in an existing apartment building; providing that the rezoning and site plan approval shall be subject to proffered conditions including a requirement that the parking structure be architecturally masked; providing for the severability of the parts hereof; etc. (Title Only) (Application Nos. 03-RE-15 and 03-SP-26, Applicant Joel J. Freedman, AICP, Freedman Consulting Development, LLC, as agent representing the 1750 Company, as owner). 4. Adoption Re: Second reading of proposed Ordinance No. 05-4592, to amend Ordinance No. 00-4231 which rezoned property located at 1226 North Tamiami Trail to the Commercial General (CG) Zone District, a/k/a Center for Arts and Humanity Building; said amendment consists of revising the conditions of approval so as to expand the range of permitted uses in the Center for Arts and Humanity; a condition in Ordinance No. 00-4231 regarding parking spaces is deleted; providing for amended conditions of approval; repealing ordinances in conflict; etc. (Title Only) (Application No. 04-ROA-01, Applicant Charles D. Bailey, Jr., Esq., as agent representing Center-APC, LLC, as owner).

City Auditor and Clerk Robinson read proposed Resolution No. 05R-1814 and proposed Ordinance Nos. 04-4555, 05-4590 and 05-4592 by title only.

MOTION: Adopt Consent Agenda No. 2, Item Nos. 1 through 4, inclusive. OUTCOME: passed VOTE: Ayes 4 / Nays 0 / Absent 1 / Abstain 0 AYES: Atkins, Martin, Palmer, Servian ABSENT/ABSTAIN: Bilyeu

Mayor Martin stated that Commission Bilyeu is not present due to attendance at a National League of Cities Conference.

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RE: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE PROCUREMENT FOR THE CITY'S FLEET - APPROVED ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION TO: 1) CONTINUE RESEARCH AND REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AS THE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES; 2) AUTHORIZE VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM WITH INITIAL PURCHASE OF TWO HYBRID VEHICLES; AND 3) AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PURSUE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND/OR PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (AGENDA ITEM VI)

Mayor Martin stated that the item is to hear a presentation and discuss Alternative Fuel Vehicles for possible future procurement for the City's fleet and requested that Staff come forward.

Nancy Carolan, Director, and Pamela Hayes, Manager, Purchasing, General Services, came before the Commission.

Ms. Carolan stated that a report regarding Alternative Fuel Vehicles which is also included in the Agenda backup material, will be provided; that the report discusses the various alternative fuels currently available, types of vehicles, advantages and disadvantages of each type of vehicle, regional efforts underway, cost considerations and the start of a pilot program; that options will be presented for discussion and direction after the report is provided; that thanks are extended to Public Works and the Sarasota Police Department (SPD) which provided assistance regarding the project.

Vice Mayor Servian left Chambers at 2:44 p.m.

Ms. Hayes referred to computer-generated slides of the report regarding Alternative Fuel Vehicles displayed on the Chamber monitors; and stated that the following are types of alternative fuels and associated fuel compositions: Hybrid: Gas and Electric Bio-Diesel: Diesel fuel mixed with soybean oil Flex Fuel: Ethanol 85 - 85% ethanol and 15% gas Natural Gas: Natural gas/gasoline mix Propane: Propane gas Fuel Cells: Hydrogen liquid or gas

Ms. Hayes continued that a hybrid vehicle is not a true Alternative Fuel Vehicle unless operating completely on alternative fuels; that bio-diesel can be a blend of additives such as vegetable or soybean oil at 20 percent or 5 percent; that one Alternative Fuel Vehicle operating in Sarasota uses chicken oil from a fast food restaurant; that the flex fuel vehicles are generally powered by additives such as ethanol or methanol; that methanol is not used too frequently; that the flex fuel vehicle must operate off 85 percent of additives such as ethanol or methanol to be considered as an Alternative Fuel Vehicle; that anything less would not be considered an Alternative Fuel Vehicle by the US Department of Energy; that natural gas vehicles can be bi-fuel vehicles; that bi-fuel vehicles have two tanks; that having two tanks provides better fuel economy; that some of the natural gas vehicles cannot travel far so the bi-fuel vehicle has two separate fueling systems, one for natural gas and one for conventional gasoline; that propane gas is another type of alternative fuel; that years ago, the Public Works Department as well as General Services/Central Stores had some propane vehicles.

Vice Mayor Servian returned to the Chambers at 2:47 p.m.

Ms. Hayes further stated that Ford Motor Company recently stopped its production of natural gas vehicles due to the desire to move toward fuel cells technology; that Ford believes fuel cells are the technology of the future; that the applications of the types of alternative fuel and the typical uses have been tailored to the City; that Staff's recommendation is to utilize the hybrid vehicle type; that the following applications would apply to the City: Hybrids: Customer Service Representatives, Inspectors/In City Driving Bio-Diesel: Heavy Equipment/Solid Waste Flex Fuel: Light Driving Propane Gas: Most Driving Types Fuel Cells: Not Determined

Regular City Commission Meeting

AGENDA

REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING

DECEMBER 6, 2004

CITY HALL

1565 First Street

Sarasota, FL 34236

City Commission Chambers

2:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

INVOCATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

1.

ITEMS ON CONSENT AGENDA NOS. 1 AND 2

2.

CITIZENS’ INPUT CONCERNING CITY TOPICS (AGENDA ITEM I)

Note to the Public:

At this time, citizens may address the Commission on topics concerning the City. (3 minutes per person time limit)

Citizens' Input is to allow citizens the opportunity to present their view on matters concerning City topics but not on items scheduled elsewhere on the Agenda Questions and answers shall not be permitted; however, matters presented to the Commission may be referred by the Mayor, with consensus of the Commission, to the Administration for action and possible follow-up at a future Commission meeting.

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3.

APPROVAL RE: MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2004, APPROVED; MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 15, 2004 - APPROVED WITH CHANGES (AGENDA ITEM II-1 AND-2)

4.

CONSENT AGENDA NO. 1: ITEM NOS. 1, 2, AND 3 - APPROVED (AGENDA ITEM IV-A)

5.

CONSENT AGENDA NO. 2: ITEM 1 (RESOLUTION NO. 05R-1814) - ADOPTED; ITEM 2 (ORDINANCE NO. 04-4555) – ADOPTED; ITEM 3 (ORDINANCE NO. 05-4590) – ADOPTED; ITEM 4 (ORDINANCE NO. 05-4592) – ADOPTED (AGENDA ITEM IV-B)

6.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RE: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE PROCUREMENT FOR THE CITY’S FLEET – APPROVED ADMINISTRATION’S RECOMMENDATION TO: 1) CONTINUE RESEARCH AND REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AS THE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES; 2) AUTHORIZE VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM WITH INITIAL PURCHASE OF TWO HYBRID VEHICLES; AND 3) AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PURSUE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND/OR PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (AGENDA ITEM VI)

7.

ADDITIONAL CITIZENS’ INPUT CONCERNING CITY TOPICS (AGENDA ITEM VIII)

8.

COMMISSION BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS (AGENDA ITEM XV)

9.

REMARKS OF COMMISSIONERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA – ADMINISTRATION TO CONTACT THE COUNTY REGARDING THE SUNKEN VESSEL AT LIDO KEY (AGENDA ITEM XVI)

10.

OTHER MATTERS/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS (AGENDA ITEM XVII)

11.

COMMISSION PRESENTATION RE: PROCLAMATION FOR ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 50TH ANNIVERSARY (AGENDA ITEM XII-2)

12.

COMMISSION PRESENTATION RE: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER 2004, JERRY DAWSON, UTILITIES MECHANIC I, UTILITIES DIVISION (AGENDA ITEM XII-1)