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Description |
Palatka City Commission |
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Date |
1/25/2007 |
Location |
Palatka City Commission |
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Time |
Speaker/Item |
Note |
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Test |
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PRESENT |
Mayor Flagg, Commissioners Mary Lawson Brown, Allegra Kitchens, James Norwood Jr., George Sanders. |
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ALSO PRESENT |
City Manager Allen R. Bush; City Attorney Donald E. Holmes; City Clerk Betsy Jordan Driggers; Assistant City Clerk Karen Venables; Finance Director Ruby M. Williams; Police Chief Gary Getchell; Planning Director Geoff Pappas. |
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CALL TO ORDER |
Mayor Flagg at 6:00 p.m. |
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INVOCATION |
Commissioner James Norwood Jr. |
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE |
As a group |
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES |
No minutes submitted for approval. |
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PUBLIC RECOGNITION - PROCLAMATION |
STEP UP! FLORIDA - Mayor Flagg read and presented a proclamation to David Kastenschmidt with the Putnam County Health Dept. proclaiming February 9, 2007 as Step Up, Florida! Day. Mr. Kastenschmidt stated the event will start at 9:00 a.m. at the river front amphitheater with events at the Ravine Gardens starting at 10:00 a.m. He also presented the Commissioners with 2007 Step Up, Florida! T-shirts. |
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PROCLAMATION |
ONE BOOK, ONE PUTNAM - Mayor Flagg read and presented a proclamation to Yvonne Parrish and Steve Crowley, representatives of One Book, One Putnam, proclaiming the month of February 2007, as Big Read Month. Mr. Crowley stated The Big Read is a new national program that encourages literary reading asking communities to come together to read and discuss one book. The kick off will be 6:00 p.m. on February 1st at Valhalla Hall on the St. Johns River Community College campus. One Book, One Putnam is encouraging all residents to read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Mrs. Parrish presented the Commissioners a packet, which included the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. |
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PROCLAMATION |
PALATKA PILOT CLUB 50TH ANNIVERSARY - Mayor Flagg read and presented a proclamation to representatives of the Palatka Pilot Club proclaiming January 30, 2007 as Pilot Club of Palatka's 50th Anniversary Celebration Day. Julie Prisner, President of the Palatka Pilot Club stated the Club approved to move forward on Project Lifesaver, which involves club members working with local law enforcement to obtain a tracking system for patients with Alzheimer's, autism and downs syndrome. |
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STUDENT OF THE MONTH |
January, 2007 – Mayor Flagg and Commissioner Sanders presented certificates for academic excellence, leadership, citizenship and attendance to the following students at their respective schools: Jesse Hart Raymond
Sapp Shazonte
Cohens Morgan
Rollo Farrellton Young Tori
Beatty Taylor
Michael Jacob
Pignato Kelley Smith Elementary School Payton
Welch Mellon Elementary School Sirena
Kriser Moseley
Elementary Megan
Decubellis Palatka High School Austin
Ravan Peniel Baptist Academy David
Ryan |
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PUBLIC COMMENTS |
Mary Kay Engleking, 107 Dinkla Lane, and Bo Meadows - Mr. Meadows said they are holding a Bar-B-Q cook-off as part of the Azalea Festival activities, and are looking for judges and teams to enter the contest. Prizes will be awarded. Ms. Engleking invited members of the Commission to participate in the Azalea Festival Parade on Saturday, March 3. It begins at 10:00 a.m.. She asked that members of the commission please fill out an application and turn it in to her if they intend to ride. Applications can be picked and returned to Gullett Title at 415 St. Johns Ave. or Graphics II at 623 St. Johns Ave. They can contact her at marykay@gbso.net or call her and she will be glad to bring an application. Mayor Flagg noted the City of Palatka has recently been designated as an Azalea City. |
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Ruth Burk, 510 Mulholland Park, stated this is the second request for the original rules and regulations of CRA that was set up in 1985, also include the 2007 goals. Ms. Burk wanted to know why the City can't operate a Main Street Program in this town that so desperately needs one, and why the February Main Street meeting has been cancelled. Ms. Burk stated Main Street’s 501(c)3 designation might be lost. The State is cracking down on 501(c)3’s. Ms. Burk also asked as to the status of the riverfront redevelopment; they were promised a hotel and convention center, and now condos are going in where the hotel is. She asked if Vestcor is still involved with that. They should inform the public about what is going on. Mayor Flagg thanked Ms. Burk and stated the City Manager would follow up on her requests. |
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Lynda Crabill, 609 S. 14th St., stated she was representing the Putnam Co. Historical Society and was given the opportunity to submit an application packet to nominate the 100 block buildings for designation as one of Americas 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. She was made aware of this Monday and had little time to prepare as professional packet as she would have liked, as the packets are due in Washington, DC tomorrow, but she did the best she could. She is hoping they will take a look at it and see how important the buildings are. She thanked Vice Mayor Brown for turning in stories for the Putnam County History Book. |
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Sam Deputy, 917 Carr St., Tree Committee Chairman, thanked Jeff Norton and his crew for a great Arbor Day. He thanked the Tree Committee members and Commissioners Sanders and Kitchens for attending. 200 dogwoods 300 oak trees were given away. As to Downtown Palatka Inc. they are planning the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and a community Easter Egg hunt on the Courthouse lawn. They are currently working to make the Azalea Festival something they will all be proud of. They are working on the Christmas Parade and have invited former President Jimmy Carter to be the Parade Marshall. They have extended invitations to all the high school bands within 50 miles and the Bethune-Cookman marching band to participate. As to Murals, they look to dedicate two new murals within the next two months. One is “The Cattle Drive” and they’d like to mark this occasion by driving cattle from the River down St. Johns Avenue to the mural. He has contacted the Navy to see if they can send ships to dock at the City Dock and give tours to mark the dedication of the Battle of Horse Landing mural. Lynda Crabill thanked Ruth Burk for allowing them to paint the Battle of Horse Landing mural on her building. Commissioner Brown stated her college roommate worked for Jimmy Carter when he was governor of Georgia. If Mr. Deputy would like some help, she may be able to lend a hand. |
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CONSENT AGENDA |
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Motion |
Commissioner Sanders moved to accept the consent agenda as read. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion, which passed unopposed. |
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BOARD/COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS - INTERVIEWS |
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD - members serve at pleasure of Commission - The Clerk referred the Commission to her memorandum in their agenda packet (filed) noting there were two applicants, Melissa Miller and Kenneth Johnson, for this at-large position. Both are excellent candidates and both would make valuable contributions to this committee. Although there is only one opening, this is a committee and positions can be created or abolished as the Commission sees fit. Another member of this Committee will be leaving soon due to a retirement. In the interest of continuity, Staff recommends the Commission establish an additional temporary at-large position and appoint both Melissa Miller and Kenneth Johnson as At Large members to the Airport Advisory Board and waive 2nd meeting requirement. |
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Motion |
Commissioner Sanders moved to create an additional, temporary “at large” position, waive the “2nd meeting” requirement and appoint Melissa Miller and Kenneth M. Johnson to the Airport Advisory Board to serve at the pleasure of the Commission. Commissioner Kitchens seconded the motion, which passed unopposed. |
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ORDINANCE NO. 07-05 |
196 CR 309-C - Repeal and Re-adoption of ordinance to Rezone from County A (agricultural) to City R-1 (single-family residential) Ben Bates, Jr. and Marc Spalding, owners - 2nd Reading. The Clerk read an ordinance entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALATKA, FLORIDA PROVIDING THAT THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF PALATKA, FLORIDA BE AMENDED AS TO THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY IN SECTION 09, TOWNSHIP 10 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST; REPEALING ANY ORDINANCE IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. |
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Motion |
Commissioner Norwood moved to adopt Ordinance No. 07-05 as read. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. |
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Roll Call Vote |
Commissioners Brown, Kitchens, Norwood, Sanders and Mayor Flagg; yes. Nays, none. |
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ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS |
Mr. Bush stated GSG, the consultants on the Impact Fee project, has notified him that all five studies are complete. The earliest they can make a presentation to the Commission in March 8; if the Commission concurs on that date, he will set it up with GSG. He has provided the Commission with the draft copies of the Fire, Police and Parks studies; if they need another copy, he can provide them with one. |
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The Clerk stated Mr. Pappas has provide her with a list of anticipated meeting dates on the Comp Plan amendments; the first meeting is scheduled to coincide with the February 22 Commission meeting. They anticipate high interest in this and the March 8 meeting due to the Impact Fee study presentation. Staff suggests moving both the February 22 and March 8 meetings to the Price Martin Center. |
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Geoff Pappas, Planning Director, stated he has the schedule for the Comp Plan amendment meetings, and also a new fee schedule. |
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Mayor Flagg stated meeting advertisement is crucial, and deadlines need to be met. They want to curtail any misunderstanding or misinformation from City Hall. They have been talking about new ways to get information out to the public, and need to take advantage of public service announcement venues. |
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COMMISSIONER COMMENTS |
Commissioner Sanders said the traffic situation at Moody Rd. and St. Johns Avenue is bad. The traffic bottlenecks at the light, and it needs a left turn signal. Mayor Flagg stated the entire intersection needs to be addressed. Mr. Bush stated he has been in contact with the County on this, per the Commission’s request, and they have indicated they intend to look at the situation as part of their work plan. As the question keeps coming up, he may invite a Putnam County Public Works Dept. representative to come speak directly to the Commission on the subject. |
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Commissioner Norwood requested an update from the State on the installation of turn signals at 19th and Reid Streets. Mr. Bush said he will request it. |
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Mayor Flagg asked inquired as to the Madison St. drainage project status, and asked for a report. Mr. Bush stated the Public Works Director, who is not present tonight, has been working with Ayres & Associates, the project engineers, and can provide that for the Commission. He will follow up on this. |
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ADJOURN |
At 7:08 p.m. upon a motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Kitchens. |
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