City Commission Meeting (2025-05-20)

May 20,2025

6:15 PM

REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING

- CALL TO ORDER 6:16 PM

Mayor Johnson called the regular session to order at 6:15 PM in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. The invocation was led by Ages Hart, Ocoee Resident, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Brad Lomneck, Ocoee Resident. City Clerk Sibbitt called the roll and declared a quorum present.

Present: Mayor Johnson, Commissioner Wilsen, Commissioner Firstner, Commissioner Oliver

Also Present: City Manager Shadrix, City Attorney Geller, and City Clerk Sibbitt

Absent: Commissioner Kennedy

- PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS 6:17 PM

2025 Family Abduction Awareness Day Proclamation - proclaimed by Mayor Johnson.

Ocoee Youth Council (OYC) Program 2024/2025 Year in Review and Recognition of OYC High School Graduates - OYC Members and Municipal Records Coordinator Justice provided an overview of this year's many accomplishments, explained the Ocoee Youth Council Scholarship Program, and recognized their seven graduating seniors.

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Presentation on Understanding Soil and Water Conservation Districts - Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor Moyer provided a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the history, purpose, and mission of the Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors.

- STAFF REPORTS AND AGENDA REVIEW 6:55 PM

City Manager Shadrix stated that he has consulted the City Commission regarding their availability for the upcoming Budget Workshops and Hearings. This evening, the City Commission will need to choose between August 25th or August 27th for the first Budget Workshop. City staff will tentatively reserve September 3rd for a potential second Budget Workshop, if necessary. He also noted that the Tentative Budget Hearing is scheduled for September 10th, with the Final Budget Hearing set for September 17th. Consensus of the City Commission was that they did not have any issues with either of the dates presented for the first Budget Workshop. City Manager Shadrix stated that he would meet with the Finance staff to determine a date and will notify the City Commission once it is set. He also provided an update on the McCormick Road opening based on information received from Orange County. In addition, he clarified the operating hours of the Forest Lake Golf Course restaurant, which had been previously miscommunicated, and mentioned that the interim operator is currently seeking to hire a new cook. An update on the golf course from Down to Earth, Robert Utsey, and the Parks and Leisure Services Director will be provided at

- PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

- CONSENT AGENDA 7:00 PM

Consent Agenda Motion

Motion: Move to adopt Consent Agenda Items #1-3; Moved by Commissioner Firstner, seconded by Commissioner Oliver; Motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Kennedy absent.

1. Approval of Minutes from the Regular City Commission Meeting held May 6,2025. (City Clerk Sibbitt)

2. Approval of a Two-Year Warranty Surety and Maintenance, Materials,and Workmanship Agreement for Wynwood PUD Phase 3 & 4. (Development Engineer Keaton)

- SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE - PUBLIC HEARING 7:01 PM

3. Approval to Award Ocoee Neighborhood Matching Grant to Nine (9) Neighborhood Associations. (Parks and Leisure Services Deputy Director Gaines)

Planner I Belizaire presented a brief overview of the subject property. The property is considered logical and eligible for annexation, and the proposed rezoning aligns with the Joint Planning Area (JPA) and Future Land Use Map. The property owner is seeking annexation in order to connect to City water service.

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City Attorney Geller read the titles of the ordinances.

The public hearing was opened. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed.

Motion: Move to approve Ordinance 2025-06 for 283 10th Avenue - Cox Property Annexation; Project No. AX-02-25-01, as presented by staff; Moved by Commissioner Wilsen, seconded by Commissioner Firstner; Motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Kennedy absent.

Motion: Move to approve Ordinance 2025-07 for 283 10th Avenue - Cox Property Rezoning; Project No. RZ-25-02-01, as presented by staff; Moved by Commissioner Wilsen, seconded by Commissioner Firstner; Motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Kennedy absent.

\*PUBLIC HEARING 7:06 PM

5. Approval of Resolution for Partial Vacation of the 5-ft Utility Easements on Lots 1,12, 13,24,25,36,37,and 48 of the Magnolia Reserve Townhome Subdivision; Project No. VAC-25-037. (Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane)

Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane summarized the request for partial vacation of the 5-ft utility easements on lots 1,12,13,24,25,36,37,and 48 of the Magnolia Reserve Townhome Subdivision. At the builder's request,the abandonment and vacation request is for the vacation of the front 34-foot portions of the 5-foot utility easements located on the side yards of eight (8) corner lots.The purpose of the partial vacation is to resolve an issue resulting from the construction of walkways and front porch columns for these 8 lots within the 5-foot utility easement area.As part of the review process,staff sent letters to the standard list of utility providers for their determination of whether they had any concerns and would release their interests in the utility easements.No concerns or objections from the applicable utility providers were received. Concurrency & Commitment Coordinator McFarlane noted that these easements are not shown on the stamped final subdivision plans (approved October 2023) but are shown on the recorded plat (approved May 2024).

City Attorney Geller read the title of the resolution.

The public hearing was opened. As no one wished to speak, the public hearing was closed.

Motion: Move to approve Resolution 2025-04 for Partial Vacation of the 5-ft Utility Easements on Lots 1,12,13,24,25,36,37,and 48 of the Magnolia Reserve Townhome Subdivision; Project No. VAC-25-037, as presented by staff; Moved by Commissioner Wilsen, seconded by Commissioner Oliver; Motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Kennedy absent.

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Police Chief Ogburn stated that the Police Department is requesting the City Commission to reconsider the use of the Code Enforcement Board and instead have all code-related cases, both residential and commercial, handled by a Special Magistrate. He explained that the Code Enforcement Board has been unable to meet since October 2024 due to a lack of quorum. As a result, and in accordance with Chapter 7 of the City Code, the City Manager temporarily reassigned all residential code enforcement cases to the Special Magistrate. The backlog of cases was addressed in April and May without incident. He further expressed concerns regarding the ongoing quorum issues and presented alternative options for the City Commission to consider.

Commissioner Wilsen expressed concern over the Board's continued inability to reach a quorum and voiced her support for the proposal to have all Code cases heard by a Special Magistrate. Commissioner Firstner also agreed with utilizing a Special Magistrate, noting that it is becoming increasingly challenging to recruit volunteers to serve on Boards. Commissioner Oliver recommended dissolving the current Board and restructuring it for future effectiveness. Mayor Johnson agreed with restructuring and maintaining a Board with citizens. Commissioner Wilsen suggested having the Special Magistrate continue to review cases for six months before transitioning back to a Code Enforcement Board. Brief discussion ensued.

The following persons addressed the City Commission:

- Brad Lomneck, Ocoee Resident, opposed dissolving the Board and proposed reducing the number of members from seven (7) to five (5), suggesting this could help resolve quorum issues. He also recommended removing any members who miss more than two meetings.