MINUTES

City of Holmes Beach

City Commission Regular Meeting

Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Following 5:01 PM Special Budget Hearing

Patricia A. Geyer Commission Chambers

5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach FL 34217

Present:

• Commissioner Diggins, 
• Commissioner Kerchner, 
• Commissioner Morton, 
• Commissioner Soustek, 
• and Chair Schaefer 

Staff Present:

• Mayor Titsworth, 
• City Attorney Augello, 
• City Clerk Johnston, 
• Chief Tokajer, 
• Director of Development Services Minor, 
• and Superintendent of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya 

Also Present:

• Building Official Schwartz

   

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1.

Call to Order; Welcome; Pledge of Allegiance; Moment of Silence

Chair Schaefer called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.

2.

Roll Call

3.

Commission Comments and Ex-Parte Communication

Commissioner Soustek

Attended the September 12, 2024, Stormwater Forum. She hopes there will be additional forums in the future.  

Commissioner Morton

Attended the September 12, 2024, Stormwater Forum. 

Met with Code Compliance and Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya earlier that morning. Their discussions included the street sweeper and trying to reduce the sand. He noted that Waste Pro is not making any money to remove the debris picked up on the Island.  

Waste Pro's tonnage for the past month went up - Commercial went up to 330 tons and Residential up 243.36 tons.

An e-scrap and hazardous waste pickup event will be held in Holmes Beach from September 30th thru October 4. Items collected will include electronics, paints, and household chemicals. 

Mayor Titsworth reported that the event will be announced on the City's social media and a banner will be made. The plans are to have two of these events per year - Spring and Fall.

Chair Schaefer

   Abandoned Boats

Chair Schaefer asked for the status of the two abandoned boats off Sunbow Bay.

Chief Tokajer has been addressing the issue. He stated that a six-month notice to the boat owners is required. The Florida Wildlife Conservation has filed a criminal case on the boatowner due to their giving law enforcement falsified information. They hope everything is taken care of in short order.

The other boat is 30-days out for Final Notice.  It will then be put out for bid for a demolition company to remove it. 

Mayor Titsworth stated there are numerous abandoned boats especially in the Naples area because of the storm. There are also boats south of the Cortez Bridge. Holmes Beach is very fortunate to only have two to address.  

   T-End Boat Docks

Chair Schaefer received a phone call from a neighbor stating there was a large boat parked in his T-End boat dock rental space. Chair Schaefer spoke to Mayor Titsworth and had read the T-End Boat Dock User Lease Agreement. Code Compliance was then asked to inventory the docks and found there were three individuals utilizing the City boat slips that were not registered. One of the boats was a charter operation which is disallowed.

Code Compliance will inventory the boat slips periodically and Chair Schaefer stated that Director of Development Services Director Minor will be working on rewriting the procedures and lease agreement. City Clerk Johnston advised that the User Lease Agreement is connected to the existing Ordinance which will need to be reviewed if the Agreement were to be updated.

   Legislative Priorities

The ManaSota League of Cities will be reviewing their Legislative priorities. Chair Schaefer asked that any Legislative Priority suggestions for the upcoming year be forwarded to City Clerk Johnston. The priorities will then be discussed at a future City Commission meeting.

4.

Mayor's Comments

4.a

Proclamation - Constitution Week

Read by Mayor Titsworth.

4.b

2025 Holiday Schedule

Mayor Titsworth referred to Human Resources Manager Gluff's staff report informing that Manatee County will be observing an additional Holiday during Christmas 2025.  She recommended the City Commission consider doing the same thing.

Action:  Unanimous consensus that the City observes December 24, 25, and 26, for the 2025 Christmas Holidays. Total holidays in 2024 will be 14.

5.

Minutes

5.a

Regular Meeting - August 27, 2024

• Moved by Commissioner Soustek
  Seconded by Commissioner Morton

  Minutes were approved with two amendments. 

  Motion Approved

6.

Comments By The Public

None.

7.

Unfinished Business

None.

8.

New Business

8.a

Resolution 24-07 Renewal of Waste Pro Franchise Agreement

Director of Development Services Minor announced the proposed five-year extension will not include any fee increases. It does specify there will be City staff and Waste Pro bi-monthly meetings to identify any needs such as the e-scrap and household chemicals pickup. He acknowledged that Waste Pro works well with the Holmes Beach staff.

Chair Schaefer stated he had proposed asking Waste Pro for the possibility to combine services with the other two Cities, and if there would be any potential savings for Island-wide pickups. 

Bob Tenhaaf, Waste Pro, 152167 Las Olas Pl, Bradenton, had reviewed the request with City staff. He explained that each of the Island Cities have contract anniversaries ending in different years. He noted that the Holmes Beach costs for Waste Pro is lower than the Town of Longboat Key's agreement - which was recently extended.

Mr. Tenhaaf did not feel combining services would result in a better rate for the property owners. He mentioned that a piggy-back agreement with another City could be added at any time.

City Attorney Augello stated a Franchise Agreement was a separate legal document and she was not sure another community could piggyback off another agreement.   

Discussion continued relating to the cameras placed at the beach ends. Director of Development Services Minor stated the City has identified that many housekeepers and cleaning services were using the beach access cans located at the beach ends for their refuse. Many citations have been issued and the City is getting a handle on the situation. 

Mr. Tenhaaf felt Waste Pro is seeing a big difference since the cameras were installed. He noted they also are addressing the trash issues on a holiday weekend.

Commissioner Morton said he has worked with Waste Pro for approximately 10 years, and they have provided the best cooperation he has seen. He recently went on a ride-along with Waste Pro.

• Moved by Commissioner Soustek
  Seconded by Commissioner Diggins

  Resolution 24-07 was approved for adoption.

8.b

Resolution 24-08 Amending Comprehensive Emergency Plan to be Emergency Operations Plan

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya explained that the City Commission had approved the agreement in June 2024. It has been determined a more accurate name should be given to the plan. Resolution 24-08will provide for the name to be "Emergency Operations Plan".  There have also been edits to the Organizational charts to include City titles, as well as Emergency Management Titles.

It was noted the spelling of 'main' will be corrected in the Whereas clause. 

Chair Schaefer suggested the Plan be shared with the other two Island Cities. He felt it would make sense to have a common Island-wide plan. Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya agreed to pursue.

• Moved by Commissioner Morton
  Seconded by Commissioner Kerchner

  Resolution 24-08 was approved for adoption.

  Motion Approved

8.c

Authorize the Mayor to Execute an Agreement between Newson Construction and Consulting, LLC, and the City of Holmes Beach regarding Seaside Gardens Drainage Improvement 

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya provided a history noting there has been a lot of conversation relating to Stormwater and flooding concerns. Discussions have also been held with the Seaside Garden's homeowner's attorney. Because of those discussions, the entire Seaside Gardens is being investigated.

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya explained that it was hard to get a tide valve installed at the boat ramp in that area. He reached out to their engineering firm and the design was to move the pipe easterly and then abandon the pipe at the ramp, then connect to the existing location in middle of road. He noted that it will not solve the 200-year storm event problem but will fix the everyday rain events with high tide.

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya said the City has not worked with Newson Construction  prior. Newson Construction has had projects in the City of Tampa and in Hillsborough County areas and the price range is what might be expected for this type project. Costs will be taken out of the City's next year's budget with the Stormwater Assessments that will roll over. Their agreement includes a 250-day time for completion after issuance of the Notice to Proceed. 

The City has held off on repairing the asphalt in front of ramp pending this project, but paving has been included in the agreement. Shell will be placed in front of the ramp. Superior Asphalt will serve as the sub-contractor for the paving.

Commissioner Diggins pointed out that Newson is a company based out of Cape Coral. He felt there will be a lot of travel time for them. He asked where they will be staged during construction.

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya noted there are three companies located off Island that are working in the City. As far as a staging area, they will use the barn near the Fire Department and can also utilize the roadway on the north side of the City Hall.

Action: There was a unanimous consensus to authorize the Mayor to execute an Agreement between Newson Construction and Consulting, LLC, and the City of Holmes Beach regarding Seaside Gardens Drainage Improvement.

Stormwater Forum Discussion

Discussion followed relating to the recent City Stormwater Forum. Staff compiled a list of everyone that attended the forum and will reach out to all persons sending emails or leaving phone messages by the end of the week.  

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya stated there were approximately 20 individuals that reached out with questions or concerns after the storms. Those concerns have been mapped out and placed on a GIS map. Further explanation followed. 

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya said if there are any permitting requirements then consultant assistance will be sought. 

An upcoming Workshop will be held to discuss the 6th Avenue Sidewalk project. The consultant has been asked to look at the Benderson Plaza itself. 

Holmes Blvd. Project

Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya announced that he and Manatee County had a final (5th) walk-through of the Holmes Blvd. project. He provided comments but has not heard back. 

9.

Announcements

• Thursday, September 12, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. - ManaSota League of Cities - Longboat Key
• Thursday, September 12, 2024 - 2:00 p.m. - Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Public Workshop
• Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Special Magistrate Hearing 
• Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 5:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting
• Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - 5:01 p.m. - City Commission Special Final Budget Hearing w/Regular Meeting and Work Session to follow
• Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Parks & Beautification Committee Meeting
• Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 5:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting
• Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - 2:00 p.m. - City Commission Regular Meeting w/Work Session to follow
• Wednesday, October 9, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. - Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee Meeting 

10.

Questions and Comments

10.a

Questions and Comments from Mayor and City Commission

Mayor Titsworth reported she has asked Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya to reach out to the Suncoast Waterkeepers to do additional water testing in the City since the rains. The City will have to pay a nominal fee for the water testing.

Chair Schaefer questioned what is causing the Wastewater breaches.

Mayor Titsworth responded that the City of Bradenton is working on capacity and supposed to be done next year.  Manatee County is also working on their system.

10.b

Questions and Comments from City Attorney

None.

10.c

Questions and Comments from Staff

E-scrap Event

Development Services Director Minor reminded that the e-scrap event will be held September 30 through October 4. Additional information will be posted on the City's Website and on Social Media.

10.d

Questions and Comments from The Public and Press

None.

11.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.