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Description |
Called Meeting - Palatka City Commission - 4-9-07; 12:00 noon |
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Date |
4/9/2007 |
Location |
Palatka City Commission |
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Time |
Speaker/Item |
Note |
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Test System |
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Call to Order |
1:06 p.m. by Mayor Karl N. Flagg |
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Present |
Mayor Karl N. Flagg; Commissioners Mary Lawson Brown, Allegra G. Kitchens, James Norwood, Jr. and George Sanders |
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Also Present |
City Manager Allen R. Bush, City Attorney Donald E. Holmes; City Clerk Betsy Jordan Driggers, Police Chief Gary Getchell, Water & Sewer Distribution Supt. Rhett McCamey, Planner's Assistant Debbie Banks, General Services Director Ken Venables, Water Treatment Plant Supt. Melvin Register; Airport Manager Glenn Ball |
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Reading of Call |
Mayor Flagg read the following Call of Special Meeting, dated April 4, 2007: TO MESSRS: MARY LAWSON BROWN, JAMES NORWOOD, GEORGE SANDERS AND ALLEGRA KITCHENS: You are hereby notified that a special meeting of the Palatka City Commission is called to be held on April 9, 2007, at the regular meeting place of the Palatka City Commission at City Hall, 201 N. 2nd Street, Palatka, Florida, to commence at 12:00 noon. The purpose of the meeting is to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of commitment to Jennings Development Group d/b/a Randolph Station for a $40,000 in-kind grant for the purpose of providing upgrades to infrastructure for the development of affordable housing. /s/ Karl N. Flagg, Mayor The following Commissioners acknowledged receipt of the above special meeting call on the 4th day of April, 2007: /s/ Mary Lawson Brown /s/ George Sanders /s/ James Norwood, Jr. /s/ Allegra Kitchens |
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Invocation |
The Reverend Tom Diamond |
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Pledge of Allegiance |
Terrill Hill, Esquire |
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City Manager Allen Bush read his memorandum into the record (filed) noting Mr. Jennings and his development corporation are requesting a contribution in order to qualify for tax credits for their Affordable Housing project, Randolph Station Apartments, which will make this project financially feasible. This proposed complex, located on two sites at Bronson Street & N. 14th & N. 13th Streets, across the street from the Calvary Baptist Family Life Center, is a joint effort between Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and Jennings Development Group. A separate memorandum from Public Works Director Woody Boynton (filed) is attached, summarizing the infrastructure improvements required for this proposal, and stating the estimated cost for these improvements is between $80 - 90 thousand for water line, valve and hydrant upgrades, and $20 - 30 thousand for sidewalks. In his memorandum, Mr. Boynton noted that the sanitary sewer collection and roadway improvements are capable of handling the proposed capacity of this project. He also notes the cost of the project includes the extension of a new line from Reid Street to Bronson Street in order to reconnect a water line that was disconnected years ago, which will improve fire protection and water service to the entire area. |
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Recuse |
Commissioner Norwood recused himself from discussion and vote, stating he is a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and on its Board of Deacons. He filed Form 8B, Memorandum of Voting Conflict, with the Clerk, stepped down from the dais and joined the audience. |
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Jennings Development Group Proposal |
Ed Jennings, Jr., President, Jennings Development Group, said his company has developed over 316,000 units of affordable housing in North Florida in areas similar to Palatka's Northside. They expect to break ground on this project in early Spring of 2008. He provided examples of other projects they've done similar to Randolph Court, his proposed development, varying from 94 - 104 units, all with built-in computer access. They have been in discussion with representatives from Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and the Palatka Housing Authority, and have struck a partnership to a total of bring 72 housing units to two locations on Bronson Street. Sixty units will be 3br/2ba and twelve will be 2br/2ba units. All units will have full modern amenities. These will be funded by tax credits. Each community has a requirement of a local contribution. For Putnam County, the local required contribution is $40,000. The Palatka City Commission passed similar resolutions for Woodland Point Apartments, built by Picerne Corp in 2002. Their request is to commit $40,000 in improvements to this project. Site 1 is on Bronson Street at N. 14th Street, and Site 2 is Bronson St at N. 13th Street. Both sites are across the street from the Family Life Center. This grant will allow them to put in an application for these tax credits; this is a very competitive process. This application must be submitted tomorrow, which is the reason for this called meeting. |
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Public Comments |
Mayor Flagg opened the floor for public comments. |
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Barbara Smothers, 110 Mulberry Road, E. Palatka, asked for an idea of configuration of the units. Mr. Jennings said there will be three 3-story 24-unit buildings; Two on the block directly across from the Family Life Center and one 24-unit building on the site next door. There will be 60 3br/2ba and 12 2br/2ba units. There are 8 units on each floor. |
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Mayor Flagg noted this does not preclude any of the normal development processes Mr. Jennings will need to complete as a normal part of the development and building process. |
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Staff Reports |
Per Mayor Flagg's request, the Clerk read Public Works Director Woody Boynton's memorandum into the record (filed). Mr. Bush noted that half of the $80 - 90 thousand in required improvements is already budgeted for the area north of the old Central States Diversified site. The Additional $40,000 in improvements will carry these improvements on over to the Bronson Street/N.14th Street area, and will provide much needed water system improvements to the entire community by improving the water volume. |
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Commissioner Brown said she is happy to see this project going forward, as this is a good partnership that will help the City to not only upgrade the infrastructure for all residents, but to bring needed housing to the area. |
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Commissioner Kitchens asked if this will alleviate the drop in pressure to the hydrants in the Northside? |
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Rhett McCamey, Superintendent, Water Distribution & Sewer Collection, said the problems with the hydrants were on the South side of Reid Street, but it will definitely help on the North side, also. Mr. Bush said there have been complaints of static pressure problems, which these improvements will help to alleviate. |
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Mr. Jennings clarified that these buildings will be three stories in height. Commissioner Kitchens said she prefers to see single-family homes, but this is OK. She assumes it will go through the normal review process as far as the school needs and other concurrencies are concerned. Mayor Flagg said it would. |
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Motion |
Commissioner Brown moved to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of commitment of $40,000 in grant improvements for the Randolph Station project at Bronson & N. 14th/N13th Streets Commissioner Sanders seconded the motion. |
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Roll Call Vote |
A roll-call vote was requested, with the following results: Commissioners Brown, Kitchens, Sanders and Mayor Flagg, Yes. Nays, none; Commissioner Norwood, recused. |
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Adjourn |
At 1:30 p.m. upon a motion by Commissioner Kitchens, seconded by Commissioner Brown. |
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