City Commission Regular Meeting 1/17/12

Click here for back-up.  Click here for live stream.  A,B,D,E,L are moved from the consent agenda to new business.  Maxwell points out that these are all utility related and suggests they have a separate meeting on those in the future.  He suggests putting together a utility only meeting on a regular basis - like once a month.  The Mayor suggests other topical meetings with other departments.  Mulvehill asks if any of them are immediate _"We're running a city.  And we can't keep delaying."  Mattey came in the room but hasn't spoken yet.  She says that SFWMD needs an answer on the modeling to prevent them from setting the limit too low - we are past deadline now.  The permit process is extended.  If the modeling is not done, our permit would be 3.0 MGD limit instead of a little over 5 MGD.  The Mayor says that it is important and should not be on consent - items are placed on consent by the clerk's and city manager's office.  McVoy says that if we are concerned about having a higher limit and don't want to move up the RO plant, then we have to do the modeling.  Maxwell makes a motion for another meeting on utility related items.  Second by Amoroso.  McVoy suggests that we deal with E tonight.  Amoroso includes E as discussion for tonight.  Maxwell agrees.  Mayor says that we need to plan better on these topics.  Mulvehill is concerned that we are backing up and we are not addressing these items.  The Mayor doesn't like things that have been hanging around for years and now appearing on our agenda.  Maxwell points out that if Commissioners were present at recent meetings, eh hem, that they could have taken care of business faster.  There seems to be agreement that this is a heavy agenda.  Motion passes with Mulvehill dissenting.  I didn't catch the date for the special meeting on these items.  Agenda approved unanimously.
Vete
Presentations.  This one by Commissioner Mulvehill regarding Stalking Awareness Month.  Palm Beach County declared January 2012 Stalking Awareness Month as well.  Update from Planning and Zoning Board by Lynda Mahoney, Chair.  Much emphasis placed on the backgrounds and experiences of those on the board.  Bryant Park presentation, Herman Robinson.  Public comment.  Amoroso admits outsourcing is not getting the work done in many ways - downtown, the Cultural Plaza - looking at bringing people that care back.  He is for a Veteran's Day parade - need volunteers, he is talking to the downtown people to bring it back.  There is too much on this agenda and not for extending Mattey's contract.  Mulvehill - outsourcing was a 1.2 million savings, can go back and hire but it will cost money.  $4.5 million in inventory just in the utility department, 1.2 million in surplus, need a good way to manage inventory.  McVoy reminds us that the Commissioner's responsibility is not in hiring other than the city manager, stripping 12th Avenue, can find out whose responsibility it is.  Heard that an increase in staff in Sustainability Department and he agrees.  He wants public comment in the minutes by name.  Says that many people think that the city is not looking as good as it used to and point to the public work departments.  Nobody wanted to raise taxes, we are feeling the effects.  We have to pay for it.  Maxwell commented about the smoking resolution and if Lynn Anderson wanted it brought back.  She said yes.  He asked how much a parade costs in this city - Veteran's Day will be in the next fiscal year's money.  Regarding the audio, there are changes that were a bandaid sort of approach.  There is a request out to bid, according to the Mayor - she personally asked for this.  She wants us to hear everything.  Maxwell also asks that Pam bring back something regarding how to better document these meetings with some sort of indexed audio for easier searching.  He did not feel it appropriate to compensate someone beyond their contract.  The Mayor is also uncomfortable about the compensation beyond the contract for employment.  Likes the Green Fences idea.  She has also almost tripped on pavers in the downtown.  Clean-up is important and points out about the additional traffic through the downtown due to the closing of the Lantana bridge.  She wants us to be the shining jewel that we are.  According to the city attorney, the city cannot regulate smoking.  McVoy says he was on P&Z longer than 14 days, more like three or four months.

Consent agenda, what is left, is approved unanimously.

Public hearings:  Annexation 2002 Lake Worth Road (NE corner Boutwell and Lake Worth Road.)  All yeas.  And then the zoning and land use designation for that property.  All yeas.  Same on next item.  And the last item in public hearings.

Unfinished business:  Maxwell's item.  He is talking about commitments made as part of the beach project and the unanticipated costs that are about to be passed on to the utility customers.  He asks that the overage be rolled into a loan and he wonders if there is any interest in discussing this possibility.  Mulvehill wants to have Mr. Carr to discuss what the implications are with an additional $2 million in loan funds.  MANY VIDEOS HERE  - WILL BE POSTED TOMORROW.  Had to leave at 8:30 p.m.