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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWinterNEW COUNCIL SEATED At the 19 November 2014 City Council meeting, Council Members Jim Hill and Jerome Adams were sworn in to an additional two-year term. They were re-elected to their positions on 4 November 2014. Councilmember Richard Gillmor was appointed by the City Council as Mayor. Councilmember Jerome Adams was appointed Vice -Mayor. Congratulations to all. Left to Right: Mayor Richard Gillmor, Councilmember Jim Hill, Councilmember Andrea Coy, Vice Mayor Jerome Adams and Councilmember Bob McPartlan EA5� CrNER BY: SALLY A. MAIO, MMC c nOW? CITY CLERK ull That on December 8, 2014, the City of Sebastian turned 90. On December 8, 1924 a meeting was held at the Town Hall of the Town of Sebastian, then a part of St. Lucie County, at 7:30 pm for the purpose of organizing a municipal government. There were 105 registered voters and 82 of them were present at the meeting. Motion to organize a municipal corporation, name the corporation Town of Sebastian, approve a seal, approve governance by five alderman, and appointment of a Mayor, five alderman, a clerk and a marshall were all approved by secret ballot. Mayor -T.B. Hicks Alderman - M.M. Miller, A.G. Roberts, C.L. Beugnot, Charles W. Sembler, H.M. Sallee Clerk - L.O. Baughman Marshal - G.F. Vickers J CITY MANAGER'S BRIEF BY: JOE GRIFFIN, CITY MANAGER PELICAN BRIEF/NEWS REINSTATED As most City residents know, the City of Sebastian had previously published the "City of Sebastian Pelican Brief." That publication was delivered quarterly to your home and was offered to our citizens to keep our residents informed on important City issues. That publication was discontinued in 2008 because of budget constraints. It has been my desire to revive the connection between residents and the City through a "home delivery" publication. A few changes are necessary: first, the name will change to Pelican News; second, the delivery will be twice a year, rather than quarterly; third, we will endeavor to keep the content easy to read and timely. Obviously, some things are seasonally pertinent ---for example; the budget in the Winter edition and drainage/stormwater in the Summer edition. We will try to hit the important topics ---something you can use. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING: 1. All Aboard Florida - The City recently submitted, to the Federal Rail Administration, its response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Please consult the City's website for updates. 2.Drainage Complaints - It is obvious that the City must improve its Stormwater drainage capabilities. Toward that end, the City is delaying, for a brief time, installation of additional "quarter round" in order to concentrate on ditch maintenance/cleaning. 3.Fishermans' Landing Exhibits - The "museum" at Fishermans' Landing is nearing completion and construction on the Fish House will be starting soon. 4.Citizen Request Line - If you have a complaint, request, or a compliment, please call the City's request line at 772-581-0111. kkov� 4UrEST LINE (772) 581 - 0111 THIS YEAR'S CITY BUDGET ISSUES BY: KEN KILLGORE, (THIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER As the City began the budget process this year, the negotiated 3% pay increase for the employees had to be covered and it was important to allocate funds to street resurfacing needs. The City has fallen behind on street resurfacing and this can result in additional costs to completely rebuild roadways in the future. It was possible to fund several large road reconstruction projects from discretionary sales surtax revenues but normal maintenance like street resurfacing is not permitted from those funds. Local option gas tax revenues should be the primary source of funds for these cost but those revenues are not sufficient. Therefore, there was a need to consider supplementing monies from General Fund sources of revenue, which is largely derived from property taxes. The City Council appointed Citizen's Budget Review Advisory Committee conducted several meetings to review and discuss this and they also identified some other issues they felt were important to address. They determined that most of the concerns could be only be afforded with a millage of 3.8556 and proposed the following allocation of the added revenues: • $15,000 for matching funds for a possible COPS grant. • $50,000 for All Aboard Florida expenditures regarding passenger rail service. THE SEBASTIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT Safety and Awareness Tips BY: MICHELLE MORRIS, CHIEF OF POLICE As our Community Newsletter is published once again, it is the desire of the Sebastian Police Department to continue to educate and remind all residents of their responsibilities within the community. The City of Sebastian Police Department takes on the responsibility of overseeing the safety and importance of awareness, in order to eliminate the opportunity to be victimized and to keep each other safe. The Sebastian Police Officers patrol the streets of our community, searching for the negative element that shatters our sense of peace and security and what is observed most often is the haste by some motorists in their daily efforts to reach a destination. In a recent survey, motorists have been observed holding cell phone conversations, texting, eating, attending to children, or passengers, applying make-up, shaving, and mostly, verbal conversations causing the operator not to be 100% focused on their driving or awareness of their surroundings. Many times, these diversions result in crashes or near crashes. I would encourage every driver to review the Florida Driver's Handbook as a refresher and be reminded of all current and new laws, along with the responsibilities and privileges entrusted to them as licensed drivers. You can obtain a copy of The Florida Driver's Handbook from the local tax / driver's license office or view the book on line at www.flhsmv.gov/handbooks/ e ngl ish d riverh a n dbo o k. pdf • $100,000 for addressing improvements related to the Indian River Lagoon. • $100,000 for street resurfacing work. As a result of successful negotiations on the contracts for employee health insurance, an additional $57,000 became available for appropriation. There was agreement that these funds would be added to amounts being budgeted for street resurfacing. The City Council appointed Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee also played a role in formulating the budget for the Recreation Impact Fee Fund. At a series of meetings, the Committee worked with staff to develop a priority project list which was recommended to City Council and memorialized in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Also, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and recommended to City Council that the CIP for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 be adopted. In the end, the City Council voted to follow the Citizen's Budget Review Advisory Committee's recommendations to increase the matching, the $50,000 for All Aboard Florida expenditures, the $100,000 for the Indian River Lagoon improvements and the $157,000 for street resurfacing. This millage is about 3.7% higher than last year's rate of 3.7166 but taxpayers are affected differently, dependent on homestead exemptions and taxable values set by the Property Appraisers Office. Exercising awareness cannot be stressed enough. All citizens and communities are encouraged to band together, form neighborhood watch programs, watch out for each other, and make note of the neighborhood norms; what belongs and what does not. Always report suspicious behavior, people, and vehicles. Many times, citizens dispel the suspicious activity only to learn later that their intuition was correct. You can contact the police department to report any activity, if you think it's improper. You may contact the Sebastian Police Department Non -emergency telephone at 772- 589-5233, Ext. 0 at the automated answer. You do not have to leave your name or any other information, if you choose not to. Always be vigilant while shopping. Do not leave tempting packages or expensive electronics in plain view in your vehicle. Lock items in your trunk and make certain your vehicle is locked at all times. Do not overload yourself with bags, where your arms are too full to defend yourself. Keep purses and wallets secure and with you at all times, do not set them down. And last, do not carry more cash than you will need and always be vigilant of your credit cards. Have a Safe and Happy New Year. BUILDING DEPARTMENT UPDATE! BY: WAYNE ESELTINE, BUILDING OFFICIAL 19 The latest version of the Florida Building Code will be called the Fifth Edition. The state is expected to make the new code effective on June 1, 2015. Although there are always some changes, it is not anticipated that there will be many significant changes to this code edition. Building permits are required by state law. The cost of a building permit is cheap insurance to protect the owner's investment. Our inspectors are highly qualified and their job is to ensure the work on the property meets all of the latest building codes. The Building Department issues building permits for the construction of new buildings and structures and for additions, alterations and repairs including mechanical, VALUABLE INFORMATION FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THE BENEFITS OF FLOOD INSURANCE VERsus DISASTER ASSISTANCE Flood Insurance • You are in control. Flood insurance claims are paid even if a disaster is not declared by the President. • More than 20 percent of NFIP claims come from outside of mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas. • There is no payback requirement. • Flood insurance policies are continuous, and are not non - renewed or canceled for repeat losses. • Flood insurance reimburses you for all covered building losses up to $250,000 for residential occupancies and up to $500,000 for businesses. Contents coverage is also available up to $100,000 for residential occupancies and up to $500,000 for businesses. • The average cost of a flood insurance policy is about $600 annually. The cost of a preferred risk policy is less than $200 annually, if you live in a moderate -to -low-risk area. Disaster Assistance • Most forms of Federal disaster assistance require a Presidential declaration. • Federal disaster assistance declarations are not awarded in all flooding incidents. • The most typical form of disaster assistance is a loan that must be repaid with interest. • The duration of a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster home loan could extend up to 30 years. • The average Individuals and Households Program award for Presidential disaster declarations related to flooding in 2008 was less than $4,000. • Repayment on a $50,000 SBA disaster home loan is $240 a month or $2,880 annually at 4% interest. To determine if your property is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, contact the Community Development Department at 772-589- 5518. For more information about the NFIP and flood insurance, call 1-800-427-4661, or contact your insurance company or agent. For an agent referral, call 1-888-435-6637. — http://www.floodsmart.gov http://www:fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program. electrical and plumbing systems for both residential and commercial properties. If there are any questions about whether a project needs a permit or if anyone needs advice about a project, please contact the building department at 772-589-5537 and we will be happy to provide a speedy response to any questions or concerns. Homeowner's are reminded to protect themselves by always hiring a licensed contractor. Costly repairs due to sub- standard work, personal liability and lawsuits can largely be avoided by making sure the contractors you hire are properly licensed. To check if a contractor is licensed and insured please contact the building department and we can verify that the contractor has the proper credentials. One should never just take someone's word that they are licensed without actually checking their credentials. Contractors who are licensed and insured should be happy to show you that they are properly certified. CITY WEBSITES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS For the benefit of anyone seeking information on the City of Sebastian, the City provides a multitude of websites and within the main City of Sebastian site, provides access to City records, as well as contact information for City staff and a monthly meeting calendar of City committee meetings and special events in City parks. CITY OF SEBASTIAN MAIN WEBSITE— www.cityofsebastian.org ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - sebastianbusiness.com — SEBASTIAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT - sebastianalrport.org SEBASTIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT - sebastianpd.org — COMMUNITY CENTER - commctr.cityofsebastian.com SEBASTIAN MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE - sebastiangolfcourse.org PARKS AND RECREATION - parks.cityofsebastian.com NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD - sebastiannrb.com RETIRE TO SEBASTIAN - sebastianretirement.com Accessing public records via the Main City Website using Laserfiche weblink: http://www.cityofsebastian.org/public-records-search The link above brings you to the instructions page for stored city records. View Your Government At Work COSty VIEWING OPTIONS The City of Sebastian provides several ways for everyone to enjoy our programming, whether it is via our website, Comcast Channel 25, or by our On -Demands services. There is a way for you to access our programming wherever you happen to be. go We provide 24/7 broadcasting on both Comcast Channel 25 and our website. The website streaming services are provided thru UStream and there is a UStream App available for both IOS and Android. You can also go to www.cityofsebastian.org/live at anytime to see what's on. On -Demand services are also available for all meetings that have been broadcast. All meetings remain posted for two months and they're usually available to view five days after the live airing. Just visit www.cityof sebastian.org/ondemand to view any of our available archived meetings. For more information or questions, please feel free to contact the City of Sebastian at 772.388-8226 or by emailing us at broadcast@ cityofs ebasti a n. o rg. SEBASTIAN GOLF CLUB NEWS 100 Brush Foot — Sebastian, FL 32958 - (772) 589-6801 BY: GREG GARDNER, PGAPRo, DIRECTOR OF GOLF What we call winter, golfers call absolutely perfect golfing weather, evident by all of our golfing residents and northern visitors that support our beautiful golf course. Cool nights followed by stunning sunny days have produced wonderful golf conditions. Typically during the winter, the cool nights produce an extremely playable golf course, complete with fast greens and just the right amount of rough to catch errant shots off the perfectly mown fairways. As golfers meander around the 180 acre property, "entertainment" is provided by our next door neighbors "Skydive Sebastian" as well as all the different species of wildlife including sand hill cranes, eagles, hawks, ospreys, egrets and even a - few alligators (don't worry, they're small!). After golf, golfers and non - golfers alike can relax in the Eaeles lunch, dinner and cocktails 7 days a wee sporting events on large -screen televisions. There are several weekly leagues and other events that golfers can take advantage of. These include Wojo's Monday League, The Sebastian Men's & Women's Golf Association, Saturday Couples League & early morning "Blitz" leagues on both weekend days. Other events golfers can play, support and have a fun time, include: February 28 –The Saint Sebastian Church Golf Tournament March 14 – The 4th Annual Michael Nichols Memorial March 21 – The Sebastian Elks Golf Tournament March 28 – The Sebastian Rotary Golf Tournament April 11 – 2nd Annual Donald O'Connor Memorial April 18 – Sebastian River Middle School International Baccalaureate Golf Tournament May 2 – Sebastian Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament For information regarding any league, special event, rates and specials, annual membership information, etc., please call the golf shop at 772-589-6801 or go to our website sebastiangolfcourse.org YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS IMPORTANT TO US COMMUNITY + COMMITTEE = QUALITY Gatherings of like-minded citizens can be traced back to ancient history. Groups have long gathered to develop a common understanding of goals desired for a community. And of course, groups have much more power than the voice of one! Are you interested in the growth and development of Sebastian? Are you interested in how the City spends ad valorem taxes? Are you interested in teaching others how to preserve our natural resources? Are you interested in the regulations of the construction industry? If so, please think about serving as a volunteer on one of the City's committees or boards. The City of Sebastian is fortunate to have many positions already filled with experienced, caring residents who hold true the common goal of improving the quality of life for each other. However, as our lives inevitably change, positions open up and vacancies occur. Would you be willing to share your knowledge or expertise? The City's committees include: Citizens Budget Review Advisory Board, Construction Board, —Natural Resources Board, Parks & Recreation Advisory, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Police Pension Board. Please call the Board Coordinator at 388.8215 if you are interested in serving. Do you have a complaint regarding any city services? Have a compliment? Want to make a request? Give us a call and let us know o 43liJfS 0„T LINE (772) 581- 0111 POSTAL PATRON Sebastian, Florida 32958 PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID VERO BEACH, FL PERMIT NO. 218