February 17, 2021 –
Awards & Recognitions
City Council recognizes William Michael Spires, a 5th grader, for winning first place in the Charles E. Bennett Elementary Spelling Bee and competing in the County Spelling Bee.
Public Hearings
Planning and Zoning Director Michael Daniels presented these amendments to City Council after discussions during the Nov. 10, 2020, City Council meeting highlighted several issues with an existing flag lot within City Limits unable to meet many Land Development Code requirements. These proposed amendments include specifications for flag lots in the Land Development Code and allow development of one single family home on existing flag lots in R-1, R-2, and R-3 Zoning Categories. City Council passed the First Reading of Ordinance No. O-16-2020 on February 2, 2021.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Consent Agenda
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
A restroom building for the Augusta Savage Friendship Park was originally submitted with the City’s list of CARES Act projects in October 2020 but was tabled due to changes in CARES Act funding rules from the state. The project was then added to the list again in December 2020 by City Council. It’s estimated to cost $80,000 for the restroom building which will contain one women’s restroom stall and one men’s restroom stall.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Materials for this project are purchased through the DEO Grant awarded to the City in 2020 to install electric service to the industrial area north of city limits on CR 315. This project will move the power to the Reynolds Industrial park from Chapman Circuit #1 to Chapman Circuit #2, freeing Circuit #1 to connect to the industrial area on CR 315. This project is also part of a larger plan to extend Circuit #2 north of Governors Creek, providing electric backup, capacity, and redundancy for all customers north of Governors Creek.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
These electric improvements are also part of the improvements discussed in Consent Agenda item #11 above and will also help to extend Circuit #2 north of Governors Creek, providing electric backup, capacity and redundancy for all customers north of Governors Creek.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Bid for selecting the GIS Design Consultant was opened on February 4, 2021, and five qualified bidders responded to the project. Through a selection committee, staff ranked all five qualified bidders and selected Geographic Technologies Group (GTG) as the recipient of the bid.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
This accessible playground is designed for children ages 5-12 with a disability to comfortably enjoy playground equipment. This playground will be located by the volleyball court in Spring Park, under two oak trees next to Spring St. This playground is part of a matching grant with The Land and Water Conservation Fund program for improvements to Spring Park.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Council Business
City Electric Department has received several requests by customers to restart its program of installing security lights for businesses and residential homes. The department looked over the costs of the program and presented three different monthly fee systems to pay for the installation and electricity use of new security lights. These monthly fees are $10, $15, and $20 a month, with the $10 a month seeing the longest return on investment and the $20 a month with the shortest return on investment.
After some discussion, City Council agreed to recommend the $10 a month option to City Staff. Staff will present the ordinance to restart this service with the $10 a month payment option at the March 2, 2021, City Council meeting.
Bid for selecting a firm opened on December 17, 2020, and five firms applied. A City Selection Committee narrowed the bids to three, and after hearing a presentation from each of the three top selected firms selected S&ME as their recommendation to City Council.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
Garden Club of Green Cove Springs President Connie Gladding proposed to City Manager Steve Kennedy, Assistant City Manager Mike Null, and Planning and Zoning Director Michael Daniels for the City of Green Cove Springs to become a Monarch City USA in addition to being a Tree City USA. A Monarch City USA supports the current population and future growth of the Monarch Butterfly through education and planting nectar plants that attract these butterflies. If passed by City Council, staff will start the process of becoming a Monarch City USA.
Passed 5-0 by City Council
City Manager Steve Kennedy presented a list of 33 selected applicants for the Citizens Advisory Committee to the City Council. All 33 applicants will be receiving acceptance letters to begin the process of being sworn in if they accept the invitation to be a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Passed 5- 0 by City Council
City Manager Reports and/or Correspondence:
For 2021 Food Truck Friday events, City Manager Steve Kennedy reported the following changes: Bands will be playing music in the gazebo in Spring Park, there will be two locations in Spring Park for food trucks, and there will be a tent to promote Cove Care to Share program. Council Member Connie Butler expresses worry about potential crowds, but City Council is overall supportive of the event and the changes moving forward.
Council approves the changes in an emergency motion with a 3-0 vote, with Mayor Van Royal and Vice Mayor Ed Gaw abstaining for the vote due to their involvement in the events.
City Manager Kennedy also reported interest by the AMIKids organization in the unused classroom space at the Augusta savage Complex. This area would be remodeled, and the cost amortized by monthly lease payments from the AMIKids organization. More information to follow.
Kennedy also reported that he has put together a small group to help spearhead programming and activities for the new Mentoring Center at the same complex. This group includes Henrietta Francis, Felecia Hampshire, and Green Cove Springs Junior High Principal Jennifer Halter.
City Manager Kennedy reported to the Council that the Green Cove Springs Wrestling Club wants to rent the gym on a month-by-month basis instead of a long-term basis due to being in the process of developing property gifted to the club for a dedicated practice facility.