February 16, 2021, City Council Meeting Brief

Published on February 17, 2021

February 17, 2021 –

Awards & Recognitions

1. Recognition – CEB Spelling Bee Winner

City Council recognizes William Michael Spires, a 5^th grader, for winning first place in the Charles E. Bennett Elementary Spelling Bee and competing in the County Spelling Bee.

Public Hearings

2. Second and Final Reading of Ordinance No. O-16-2020, amending Section 101-5 to add new definitions and revise definitions for lot widths and setbacks, establishing Section 101-160 concerning flag lot requirements, and amending Sections 113-131 and 113-132 to revise access requirements.

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

3. City Council approval of payment 2/4 of Law Enforcement Basic Recruitment Program for J. Mares.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

4. City Council approval of Change Order #1 in the amount of $31,000.00 to Jax Utilities Management for Bid Award LC 2020-07, US 17/SR 16 Force Main Modifications in the amount of $412,915.00, increasing the total award to $443, 000.00.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

5. City Council approval of the FY 2021 Revenues and Expenditures Report and the Quarterly Investment Report for the period ending December 31, 2020.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

6. City Council approval of an increase in funding of $4,870.24 due to inoperative valves resulting in a “wet tap,” and approval of Contractors Pay Request #1/Final Invoice in the amount of $57,742.64 to Jax Utilities Management for water main installation on Washington Lane.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

7. City Council approval to surplus the Public Safety Vehicles/Equipment listed on Attachment “A.”

Passed 5-0 by City Council

8. City Council approval the purchase of a prefabricated concrete restroom building for the Augusta Savage Friendship Park (Tot Lot) from Leesburg Concrete Company, Inc. piggybacking on Lake County, FL Contract Number 16-02129 in the amount of $79,129.

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

9. City Council approval of the Engineer’s Recommendation of Award to Williams Industrial Services, LLC, in the amount of $15,426,644.33, for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), State Revolving Fund (SRF), Harbor Road Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Expansion, Phase 2, SRF Agreement No. WW1000420.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

10. City Council approval to surplus diesel backup generator at the Harbor Road WWTF.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

11. City Council approval to issue a Purchase Order to Heart Utilities in the amount of $215,000 to construct electric system improvements along Green Cove Ave. and Roberts St.

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

12. City Council approval to issue a Purchase Order to Heart Utilities in the amount of $262,000 to construct electric system improvements along Houston St.

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

13. Award of Bid LC 2021-01 for GIS Design Consultant to develop a comprehensive online mapping system pursuant to the City’s contract with the Department of Economic Opportunity for the Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant.

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

14. City Council approval of Core I and III – Executive/Administrative Assistant Training in Orlando, FL.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

15. City Council approval of a PO not to exceed the amount of $133,376 to Play Power LT Farmington, Inc. for a handicap playground.

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

16. City Council authorization to purchase a bucket truck from Altec industries, Inc. under the GSA bid in an amount not to exceed $230,000.

Passed 5-0 by City Council

Council Business

17. City Council discussion and direction on the installation of security lights for electric customers.

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.

18. Award of Bid LC 2020-20 for an Urban Planning or Interdisciplinary Firm to complete the 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update.

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

19. City Council approval for the City of Green Cove Springs to become a Monarch City USA.

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

20. City Council approval of the applications submitted for the Citizen’s Advisory Committee.

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

21. City Manager and City Attorney Reports and/or Correspondence/Executive Summary Reports.

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.  

22. City Council Reports and/or Correspondence.