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09-22-2015 Regular MeetingMiami Shores Village Office of the Village Clerk 10050 N.E.2nd Avenue Miami Shores, Florida 33138 Barbara Estep, MMC Village, Clerk REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 The Miami Shores Village Council held their regularly scheduled Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at the C. Lawton McCall Community Center. The meeting was called to order at 6:37 PM immediately following the conclusion of the second and final budget hearing. The following members of the Council were present for the meeting. PRESENT: Alice Burch ABSENT: Steven Zelkowitz Herta Holly Ivonne Ledesma Jesse Walters ALSO PRESENT: Tom Benton, Village Manager Barbara Estep, Village Clerk Richard Sarafan, Village Attorney PRESENTATION Report from the Code Enforcement Board Chair, Robert Vickers. Mr. Vickers was unavailable to attend the meeting due to illness. CONSIDERATIONS 1) VILLAGE CLERK Barbara A. Estep A) APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER e, 2015 BUDGET HEARING AND COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Councilwoman Holly moved to approve both the September 8 Budget Hearing and Council Meeting minutes as presented. Councilman Walters seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. 2) VILLAGE COUNCIL A) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A VILLAGE WIDE TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY. Alice Burch Mayor Burch introduced the item and provided information as to her purpose in recommending that a traffic study be performed. Mayor Burch spoke of the recent mobility study with was conducted and that a traffic study is the next logical step in improving mobility throughout the Village. Mayor Burch suggested that in order to equitably review traffic patterns and trends in the Village, an outside firm be hired to conduct the study. No one from the audience wished to comment on this item. • • • Councilwoman Holly moved to approve conducting a Village wide traffic study. Councilwoman Ledesma seconded the motion. Individual Council Members expressed their views on the idea of a traffic study, sharing that when a study was suggested a couple of years ago the Council decided it was too costly; that traffic has increased over the past years and more cut -through traffic is seen; the fact that a study is required in order to substantiate the numbers and enlisting the support of the County in developing an overall approach to traffic is needed. Mr. Benton clarified that an RFQ would be solicited in order to engage a firm to conduct a traffic study and that a recommendation regarding a proposed firm and cost would be presented to the Council for approval following the RFQ process. Mayor Burch called for a vote on the motion which was unanimous in favor of the motion. B) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON UPDATING THE VILLAGE LANDSCAPING CODE TO PROMOTE FLORIDA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING AND TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM LANDSCAPE STANDARDS THAT REFLECT THE COUNTY AND STATE REGULATIONS. Ivonne Ledesma Councilwoman Ledesma introduced the item, indicating that she is raising the issue on behalf of residents believing that the Village Code should be amended to fully embrace Florida Friendly landscaping regulations. Councilwoman Ledesma stated some of the Florida Friendly principles. She stressed that the intent is not to require any certain type of planting but to provide residents with more flexibility regarding their landscaping plans. Mayor Burch opened the floor for public comment. Residents Jeffrey Lee, George Fishman, Douglas Barnes, Gwen Burzycki, Jean Lee and Mary Benton all spoke in favor of adopting legislation that would closely mirror the County Code and Florida Statutes relating to Florida Friendly landscaping. Residents read excerpts from Chapter 18A of the County Code and text from the Florida Statutes into the record. Mr. Sarafan indicated that if the Council chooses to review the landscaping code, the issue should be referred to the Planning & Zoning Board for review and a recommendation as the landscaping code is contained within the Zoning Appendix. Mayor Burch indicated that a number of references in the Village's Code that are also in the County Code and State Statutes. Mr. Sarafan read a number of the code provisions currently contained in the Village's landscaping plan which are in harmony with the Florida Friendly principles. Councilwoman Ledesma moved to have the Planning & Zoning Board review and provide a recommendation for an amendment to promote a more Florida Friendly landscaping code. Additional discussion ensued regarding Council's thoughts on the landscaping code and how it is viewed and interpreted by the Village staff. Councilman Walters seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. 3) ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Estep read the announcements. 4) PUBLIC COMMENTS William Wells changes. Mr. Welts expressed his opinion that the entire code needs to be reviewed for • • Steve Mumby meeting. Susan Ackley Mr. Mumby spoke of the Jewish holiday and the conflict with the scheduled Ms. Ackley made a number of announcements regarding upcoming events. 5) COUNCIL COMMENTS Herta Holly Councilwoman Holly thanked the staff for arranging for flu shots at the Community Center. Ivonne Ledesma Councilwoman Ledesma thanked the residents in attendance and thanked her well-wishers following the birth of her baby girl. Jesse Walters Councilman Walters congratulated Councilwoman Ledesma and her husband on their new baby and spoke of the Charter School Board. Alice Burch Mayor Burch spoke of a number of events within the Village, thanked the Administration for their work on the budget and also addressed the meeting schedule conflict with the Jewish holiday. 6) ADJOURNMENT The September 22, 2015 Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM. Barbara A. Estep, MMC Village Clerk Alice Burch, Mayor