MINUTES
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
JANUARY 15, 2013
6:30PM
A. CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Surrency
1. Invocation- Commissioner Roberts
2. Pledge of Allegiance- Vice Mayor Howard
B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved to approve with additions
Motion- Commissioner Roberts Second- Vice Mayor Howard
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Not Present |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 4-0
Commissioner Randall arrived at this time.
C. RECOGNITIONS & GUESTS
1. Citizen of the Month- Hawthorne Chamber Christmas Parade Committee & Mr. Larry Tilbury
Mayor Surrency presented the Hawthorne Chamber Christmas Parade Committee with certificates to show appreciation for the wonderful job they did on the 2012 Christmas Festival. The Committee consisted of: Susan Finely, Donna Boyles, Memree Stewart, Candi Davis, Vicky Logan, Gilbert Randall, and Tim Webb.
Mayor Surrency presented Mr. Larry Tilbury with a certificate to show appreciation for his continued dedication and support to the City of Hawthorne and his continued contribution for helping keep the City of Hawthorne clean.
2. Ms. Dana Miller- Waste Pro Update
Ms. Miller gave an update on the things Waste Pro did in the year 2012. Waste Pro did reconciling and auditing with the City of Hawthorne. The corrections were made and everything is matching up. They had very limited citizen complaints in 2012. Waste Pro helped sponsor Hawthorne Homecoming, Great American Cleanup, Hawthorne Chamber Bowling Tournament, and gave Donations for the Hawthorne Christmas Parade.
D. COMMITTEE REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS- None
E. CITIZEN COMMENTS- None
F. AGENDA ITEMS
1. City Commission Minutes (December 11, 2012)
Moved to approve the minutes for December 11, 2012
Motion- Commissioner Randall Second- Commissioner Roberts
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
2. Rescinding the previously imposed spending freeze
City Manager Vause- Staff recommends that the City Commission rescinds the spending freeze and restore the spending procedures to reflect the City Charter Article III, Section 3.01; that the City Manager is the Chief Administrative officer of the City. The City Manager may authorize expenditures up to $5K provided they are budgeted items. Expenditures over $5K shall be approved by the Commission.
Brief Discussion by City Commission
City Attorney Harris read the Resolution by title only.
Moved to approve the Resolution rescinding the spending freeze.
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard Second- Commissioner Randall
Commissioner Carlton |
No |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
No |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 3-2
3. Elected Official Member for School Concurrency Board
City Manager Vause- School Concurrency Board asks the City of Hawthorne to Nominate an Elected Official to represent the City of Hawthorne on the School Concurrency Board.
Moved to nominate Commissioner Roberts to serve as the City of Hawthorne representative for the School Concurrency Board.
Commissioner Roberts accepted the nomination.
Motion- Commissioner Carlton Second- Commissioner Randall
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
4. Move playground equipment from Lindsey Phillips Part to City Hall
Commissioner Carlton- Based on the evidence presented from the Alachua County Sheriff Dept he believes it would be safer if the park was relocated behind City Hall.
City Manager Vause- Staff recommends that we do not move the playground equipment because the current playground equipment was purchased with a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FRDAP Grant). Moving the equipment would trigger a repayment process to the FDEP for the amount of improvements to the Lindsey Phillips Park. Other reasons include: City Hall property has a discounted well and concrete footers for the old water tower that may be a safety issue. Bathroom facilities would only be accessible during business hours inside City Hall.
Moved to accept staff recommendation to keep the playground equipment at Lindsey Phillips Park and seek grant funding when available to improve conditions.
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard Second- Commissioner Randall
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
5. Supporting the FLC Police & Firefighter Pension & Disability Presumption Reforms
Mayor Surrency- One of the top 2013 Legislative Priorities for the Florida League of Cities is Pension Reform for Local Police/Firefighter Plans. The City of Hawthorne can support their efforts by adopting the resolution and contacting the members of the Florida Legislature.
Moved to approve the Resolution on Police/Firefighter pension reform.
City Attorney Harris read the Resolution by title only.
Motion- Commissioner Carlton Second- Commissioner Randall
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
6. Supporting the FLC opposing unfunded State mandates on Cities
Mayor Surrency- Unfunded mandates on Cities from the State impose a financial burden on the already critical budget and infrastructure of the City. Unfunded mandates generally defined as a state law required a city to spend funds or to take an action requiring the expenditure of funds without the state providing an adequate funding source; which in turn would require the City to meet the financial demand by raising taxes or fees for services.
Moved to approve the Resolution opposing unfunded mandates.
City Attorney Harris read the Resolution by title only.
Motion- Commissioner Randall Second- Vice Mayor Howard
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
G. PUBLIC HEARING
1. SECOND READING
A. Ordinance 2013- Water Rates
City Manager Vause- Staff recommends changing the cutoff date to the 16th of each month.
Moved to approve the revision in Ordinance 2011-14 to reflect the recommendation by staff on 2nd reading.
City Attorney read the Ordinance by title only
Motion- Commissioner Roberts Second- Vice Mayor Howard
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
2. FIRST READING- None
H. DISCUSSION
1. Mittauer & Associates Visioning Workshop
City Manager Vause- Mittauer & Associates, Inc would like to conduct a visioning workshop with the City of Hawthorne to discuss the City’s potential infrastructure needs, potential funding opportunities, and also potential ways to reduce your operating costs. The City Commission would make a wish list based on our needs. Mittauer & Associates would then prepare cost estimates and funding scenarios for the City’s selected projects and present them at the workshop. There is no charge for this workshop.
City Commission asked the City Manager to get dates available and bring them back before the City Commission.
2. Joint City/County Meeting
City Manager Vause- The City Clerk was contacted to schedule a Joint Meeting with Alachua County BOCC. The proposed date is May 21, 2013 at 6:30PM.
The City Commission agreed on May 21, 2013 at 6:30PM for the Joint Meeting.
3. Forgiveness of Loan from City Enterprise Fund to City General Fund
Mayor Surrency- still working on gathering information and will update the City Commission when his report is complete.
I. CITZEN COMMENTS- None
J. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/INFORMATION
City Manager Vause- gave an update on Heritage Day January 19th, pump replacements, WWTP, Lift Stations, Park & Recreation Dept, & Music in the Park.
City Attorney Harris- None
Commissioner Roberts- Would like to see the CRA money used to fix the concrete where the Ice House is and where Whistle Stop store is located.
Commissioner Carlton- None
Commissioner Randall- Help with restoration of rights and expunging records will be done at the MLK Center on January 16 from 6PM-8PM.
Vice Mayor Howard- None
Mayor Surrency- Music in the Park had a great turn out.
K. ADJOURN
Moved to adjourn
Motion- Commissioner Roberts Second- Commissioner Randall
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Randall |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Howard |
Yes |
Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Vote- 5-0
These minutes are submitted for approval.
LaKesha H. McGruder, CMC Matthew Surrency, Mayor
City Clerk
| 
