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06-15-1999 Regular Meeting1 • MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING The regular meeting of the Village Council was held on Tuesday, June 15, 1999 in the Village Hall commencing at 7:30 PM with the following members present: PRESENT: Mayor Ulmer Robert Blum Al Davis Mary Ross Agosta Stephen Loffredo ALSO PRESENT: Tom Benton, Village Manager Barbara Fugazzi, Village Clerk Richard Sarafan, Village Attorney CONSIDERATIONS 1. VILLAGE CLERK Barbara Fugazzi • A. APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 1, 1999 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. • Mr. Davis moved to approve the June 1, 1999 Council Meeting Minutes. Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. B. AWARD OF BID TO CONSTRUCT A PRE -FABRICATED CONCRETE WALL IN THE O'DELL SECTION OF MIAMI SHORES TO COLD SPOT A/C IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,590. This item was tabled at the request of the Village Administration. Mr. Loffredo advised that Staff has tabled the item as the necessary easements had just been delivered to the property owners. Additionally, he asked for and received assurance that the item will come back before the Council at the July 6, 1999 Meeting. Mr. Davis confirmed that the easements are for the wall, not street lighting. C. APPEAL OF DECISIONS MADE BY THE VILLAGE'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD DENYING CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR A CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY AND A WOODEN DOOR WITH ORNAMENTAL IRON OUTSIDE DOOR The Clerk indicated that the applicants were not present at the meeting. Discussion regarding the Council's option ensued. Ms. Agosta moved to table the item. Mr. Davis seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. • Mayor Ulmer arrived at this time during the meeting. D. APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING & ZONING BOARD. Misters Abramitis, Colson, Crutchfield, Fernandez, Fitzgerald, Hegedus, Reynaldos, Riney, and Waldron, as well as Ms. Williamson were present and spoke on their own behalf and answered the question posed by Mayor Ulmer as to their opinion of the role of the Planning & Zoning Board in the Village. Each Council Member completed a ballot and the Clerk read the results into the record, which were as follows: Mayor Ulmer Bob Blum Al Davis Steve Loffredo Mary Ross Agosta Crutchfield, Fitzgerald Fernandez, Reynaldos Crutchfield, Fernandez Herrera, Reynaldos Crutchfield, Fernandez Per the results of the ballot, Mr. Tim Crutchfield and Mr. Richard Fernandez were appointed to the Planning & Zoning Board. E. APPOINTMENTS TO THE CITIZEN ADVISORY TASK FORCE (IN RELATION TO THE DESIGN CHARRETTE CONCEPTUAL PLAN). The Village Clerk reminded the Council how the appointments were to be made, based upon their consensus at the June 1, 1999 Council Meeting. It was determined that Mr. Benton would announce his appointments first. Those appointed by Mr. Benton and the Council Members are as follows: Tom Benton Al Davis Mary Ross Agosta Steve Loffredo Bob Blum Mark Ulmer Jay Stein, Herb Spahn Jr., Les Forney Susie Lawson, George Frix, Bill Fann Barbara Burton, Leon Newman, Doug Turkel Robin Pyke, Linda Comcowich, Cesar Sastre Steve Johnson, Javier Reynaldos, Sergio Vazquez Cliff Walters, Ron Martin, Doug Stokesberry Mayor Ulmer reiterated that the Village's Community Development Director, Rich Freeman, would serve as the Chairman of the Task Force. 2. VILLAGE COUNCIL A. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPLICATION FOR THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) PLANNING GRANT. Mayor Mark Ulmer Mayor Ulmer passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Blum and moved to direct the Village Administration to apply for a Grant from the MPO to conduct a comprehensive transportation study. Ms. Agosta seconded the motion. Page 2 • • Mayor Ulmer offered background information on the correspondence received from the County's MPO, and indicated that the dollar amount of the grant should be determined by the Manager pursuant to speaking with one or two traffic engineering firms and determining a scope of service. Ms. Agosta asked about a timeline for the grant application and it was confirmed that the deadline is July 14th for submittal. Mr. Davis ensured that the Village has staff that can complete the application without having to hire anyone for the task. Mr. Blum confirmed that the grant monies would be used to commission a consultant to conduct a traffic/transportation study. Vice Mayor Blum called for a vote which was unanimous in favor. B. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CREATION OF A CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR MIAMI SHORES. Councilman Stephen Loffredo Mr. Loffredo provided background information regarding the existing Charter School and the recent proposed changes to the Florida Statutes that, if signed into law, will impact the issuing of charters for additional schools. Mr. Loffredo further stated that the property where the current Middle School is located will not be expanded so cannot house a high school. Mr. Loffredo read into the record, the memorandum which he had submitted as backup to his agenda item. He stated that he would like to hear what the Council has to say regarding the possibility of the Village sponsoring a charter high school. Mayor Ulmer asked Mr. Loffredo to formulate a motion so that discussion can take place. Mr. Loffredo stated that the motion will have to be in terms of principle and commitment, because of the pending change to the Statutes. Mr. Loffredo subsequently moved that Miami Shores Village Council make the commitment to establish and apply for a charter high school for the Village of Miami Shores, municipally sponsored pursuant to HB 2147 providing that it becomes law, and that the Council empower staff to begin making preparations to submit an application pending further report back to the Council at the meeting of July 6, 1999. Mr. Blum seconded the motion. Council discussion centered upon the University's involvement with the Charter School, their lack of commitment to expanding the School to high school grades, and making land available for the continuation of the Middle School. Further discussions centered upon whether or not the Village would have to commit tax dollars to either start-up a high school or as an ongoing expense if a charter for a high school was applied for and granted. Based upon some of the voiced reservations and unknowns, Mayor Ulmer moved to amend Mr. Loffredo's motion to make a commitment to study the possibility of applying for a charter high school. Ms. Agosta seconded the motion. Mr. Loffredo expressed his concerns regarding the time element involved in studying the issue and losing out 011 the possibilities. Following further discussions surrounding the perceived costs to study the issue and applying for a charter, Mayor Ulmer withdrew his amendment to the motion and Ms. Agosta withdrew her second. Page 3 • Mr. Loffredo withdrew his original motion and Mr. Blum withdrew his second. Mr. Loffredo then presented a new motion: that the Council make the commitment to apply to establish a Charter High School for Miami Shores Village conditional upon the enactment of HB2147 into law, and directing the Administration to begin preparations for submitting an application for a charter, and reporting back to the Council on July 6th for further action. Mr. Blum seconded the motion. • Discussion ensued regarding the drawbacks of continuing the alliance with Barry University and continuing to annually contribute to the existing Charter School. A vote on Mr. Loffredo's second motion was called and was unanimous in favor. 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Clerk read the announcements. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS Prospero Herrera Mr. Herrera apologized for not being present earlier when the appointments to the Planning & Zoning Board were made. Ed Harrigan Mr. Harrigan spoke about the charter schools. Sergio Vazquez Mr. Vazquez spoke about transportation planners and the grant for a traffic study. Max Sturman Mr. Sturman stated that he looks forward to working with the new members of the Planning & Zoning Board. Susie Lawson Ms. Lawson spoke about the positive article in Saturday's Miami Herald. T.F. Chambers Mr. Chambers applauded the Council for voting to look into the possibility of a charter high school. 5. COUNCIL COMMENTS Steve Loffredo Mr. Loffredo thanked the Council for the opportunity to look at the high school possibility and clarified his concern regarding Barry's continued involvement. Bob Blum Mr. Blum thanked those applicants for the Planning & Zoning Board and Task Force. • Page 4 • Mary Ross Agosta Ms. Agosta spoke about the public schools and congratulated Mr. & Mrs. Dick Blum on their 50th wedding anniversary. Al Davis Mr. Davis asked when the pool issue would be on the agenda and thanked the volunteer applicants for the Planning & Zoning Board and Task Force. Mayor Ulmer Mayor Ulmer thanked the Council for filling in for him during his recent absence due to foot surgery. Mayor Ulmer also spoke about the charter schools and the Planning & Zoning Board. 6. ADJOURNMENT The June 15, 1999 Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:40 PM. . Barbara A. Fugazzi, CMC Village Clerk Page 5 • Mark S. Ulmer, Mayor