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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWinterVolume 1 • Issue 3 Winter 2016 CITY MANAGER'S BRIEF BY: JOE GRIFFIN, CITY MANAGER Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a safe and hap- py Holiday Season. This is the third edition of the City's Pelican News. This publication is obviously meant to keep you informed about City issues and, perhaps more impor- tantly, to provide the connection between City Hall and the people we work for, YOU. Please remember it is our collective responsibility to be re- sponsive to your needs to the greatest extent possible. I al- ways cite our Citizen Request Line (581-0111) as a way we citizens can connect with City Hall with a complaint, request, or compliment. Recently, we went 'on-line' with that service. You may utilize your computer to file any request. Please go to the City's 'home page' www.cityofsebastian.org find the prompt "Submit a Citizens Request Online" and follow the in- structions. It is very easy. In addition to the Citizens Request, the site also allows on-line application for permits, building in- spection requests, Contractor Registration, and Business Tax Receipts. Our Building Official, Wayne Eseltine, has spear- headed the installation of this service. It is our hope that this addition will make the above services more user friendly. Also, Wayne has included in this issue some suggestions on hiring unlicensed contractors. There are Florida Building Codes in place for a reason—to protect citizens. Help us help you. Speaking of 'user friendly; this edition has a very good re- port on Golf Course activities. The City's PGA Director of Golf, Greg Gardner, has been the Project Manager on nu- merous projects at the Golf Course. The Cart Barn, Starter 'Shack; Clubhouse and Restrooms are all getting a much needed facelift. Other convenience amenities have been added also. The biggest challenge for Greg is the new ir- rigation system that is being installed. Paradoxically, that system is being installed in one of the wettest winters I can remember in Florida. Nevertheless, once completed it will be a great addition to the overall maintenance of the course. I would be remiss if I did not discuss Waste Management and some recent service 'bumps' that we have experienced. For the most part, Waste Management has performed up to expectations. There have been some service mistakes—es- pecially around the holidays. They were few but if you were on the receiving end of the mistake, it is bothersome and we understand that. Please note Waste Management's Custom- er Service number: 772-569-1776. As always, if you wish to register a complaint, please call the Citizen Request Line: 772-581-0111. Also, in this issue is information regarding application for Handicap/Disability Carry -out Collection Ser- vice. If proper eligibility is met, this is an excellent service provided by Waste Management for our disabled residents. Frank Watanabe, P.E., the City Engineer, has an update on our ditch cleaning efforts in this issue. Drainage, ditch cleaning, VAC truck work, and moving debris all have a huge effect on the City's stormwater drainage system. It is a 24/7 responsibility that we take very seriously and it is a 'moving target.' Once one area seems to be fixed there is a new problem a few blocks over. Citizens can help by taking proper care of swales and lateral ditches. Thank you. Also in this issue, our Police Chief, Michelle Morris, speaks to unattended firearms in vehicles. We want to keep Sebas- tian as safe as possible, so let's heed the Chief's advice. MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU; JOE GRIFFIN CITY MANAGER FAM CORNER BY: SALLY A. MAIO, MMC U10 YOU Know? CITY CLERK Sebastian City Hall has been in five different locations since the City's 1924 incorporation. Please visit the City Hall Council Chambers to see photos on the wall behind the Council dais. 1) House at 1125 US 1 built in 1913 by Woodman of the World was used as a Town Hall, movie theater/opera house and for community activities. It is now the Beyond Useless Boutique, art gallery and shop. 2) Former Bank of Sebastian built in 1924 which faced south in the area where US 1 intersects with Main Street, and was torn down in 1956 to make way for the new four lane US 1. Continued on back page V STTLINE (772)581-0111 2015-2016 CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS The November 3, 2015 General Election resulted in the City Council maintaining the status quo. All three incumbent candidates (Adams, Coy and Gillmor) were re-elected to two year terms to November 2017, and Council offices also remained the same. Your City Council for 2015-2016 is: Mayor Richard Gillmor Vice Mayor Jerome Adams Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Jim Hill Nov 2015 to Nov 2017 rgillmor@cityofsebastian.org Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 jadams@cityofsebastian.org Nov 2015 to Nov 2017 acoy@cityofsebastian.org Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 jhill@cityofsebastian.org Council Member Bob McPartlan Nov 2015 to Nov 2017 — - — _ rmcpartlan@cityofsebastian.org Visit www.cityofsebastian.org/boards-a-committees-1/city- council to learn more about each member of City Council. The next City of Sebastian General Election will take place on November 8, 2016 for two City Council seats. CITIZEN REQUEST ON LINE The City of Sebastian has enhanced its Citizen Request Line Service. In addition to calling 581-0111, residents can now submit a Citizen Request on line at www.cityofsebastian.org to report issues such as complaints involving flooding, streets, drainage, debris, vegetation, sidewalks, city property, environmental issues or other concerns. Your request will be logged and responded to within a twenty- four our period. - - 1tl/ASTE MANAGEMENT BACK DOOR SERVICE Waste Management offers Back Door Service to subscribers who are disabled and living alone. On your scheduled pick up day, back -door service will allow you to leave trash and recycle bins outside of garage door, in view of driver. To apply for back -door service, contact Waste Management Customer Service at 772-569-1776 to request an application to be completed and signed by your physician. Once the application is completed and return to Waste Management at 4310 77th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32967 or fax to 321-984- 8170 arrangements will be made for service. SEBASTIAN GOLF CLUB NEWS www.sebastiangolfcourse.org 100 Brush Foot — Sebastian, FL 32958 — (772) 589-6801 BY: GREG GARDNER, PGAPRo, DIRECTOR OF GOLF Annual Membership Drive By eliminating the Initiation Fee for new annual members, which is a $500 savings, over 30 new annual members have taken advantage of Sebastian Golf Clubs Membership Drive. It's not too late to join for this Fiscal Year, which is October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. First time annual members will have their first year prorated, depending on the month joined. Please call the golf shop (@ 772-589-6801) or stop by to get more details and rates about this incredible and money -saving offer. SOUTH SIDC OF CLUBHOUSE, FRONT ENTRANCE Projects Update Several projects are moving forward at the golf course. Renovations of the cart barn and Starter's House have now been completed. Patrons who pull up to the golf course for the first time this winter are pleased to see those improvements, along with new bag racks at the bag drop and new individual bag holders spread across the large driving range tee. The Clubhouse has also received a fresh coat of paint, perfectly matching the renovated cart barn and Starter's House. On - course restmoms renovatinns arP-nearing completian—Each. restroom is receiving a major over -haul which entails new tin roofs, stucco, fixtures, tile, plumbing, water fountain installation and additional concrete cart paths leading up to the restrooms. Last but certainly not least, the golf course irrigation project continues to barrel ahead. The back nine is near completion, complete with installation of all new pipe and irrigation Continued on next page NORTH SIDE OF CART BARN, ICEIWATER STATION, LOCKER ROOM DOOR SOUTH SIDE OF CART BARN STARTER SHACK sprinklers. In total, once the irrigation project is completed, 930 new irrigation sprinklers will help enhance the turf quality of the golf course, while saving thousands of gallons of precious water and electricity, with the new system being 100% more efficient than the original golf course irrigation system. Improvements and projects will not stop with all the above. The golf course is on a complete mission to continue to enhance the overall quality of the entire facility. Once the irrigation project is completed, staff will begin preparations in regards to putting green and tee turf replacement. Patrons have been very supportive in dealing with all the renovations; many have commented how wonderful it is to see improvements being made to their "home away from home". Upcoming Special Events and Tournaments February 20, 2016 Sebastian River High School Baseball Boosters Fundraiser March 12, 2016 5th Annual Michael Nichols Memorial Golf Tournament, one of the most popular annual golfing events each and every year. March 19, 2016 Sebastian Elks Lodge Golf Tournament April 2, 2016 3rd Annual Donald O'Connor / Friendship Community Church Golf Tournament April 16, 2016 Sebastian Rotary Golf Tournament May 7, 2016 Sebastian Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE BY: FRANK WATANABE, CITY ENGINEER/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR Photo shows public works crew responding to drainage request with the City's new VAC truck. The Public Works Department recently completed twenty-six miles of rear and side ditch clearing of vegetation. City Crews continue to clean ditches south of CR 512 and are responding to daily citizen requests in a timely manner. Residents are encouraged to call the citizen Request Line at 581-0111 regarding road and maintenance or stormwater issues. HIRING UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS IS A RISKY BUSINESS BY: WAYNE ESELTINE, BUILDING OFFICIAL Home improvements can be exciting when you are looking forward to that new and improved look or not so exciting when something breaks or gets damaged and needs repair. In either case, it usually ends up costing you more than you hoped. It is very tempting to find someone who says they can help you at a very low cost and promises to do a professional job. Be smart, you need to protect yourself and your investment from fast -talking unlicensed contractors who say they are fully qualified to perform the work. Unlicensed contractors are usually uninsured and this could end up making you liable for any personal or financial injuries to others. Being uninsured also means they have no way to pay you back for any property damage. And oh, by the way, your homeowner's policy will not help you because most policies require work to be done by licensed contractors and provide no coverage for work that is not. Unlicensed contractors typically disappear after taking your money and that makes it nearly impossible for authorities to track them down. The only solution is usually an expensive and often times unsuccessful civil suit. Unlicensed contractors have not proven that they have the expertise or qualifications required and this puts you at a high risk. They may also have a criminal background that could include fraud, theft, violent crime, sexual offenders and so on. Unlicensed contractors typically prey on vulnerable people or when someone is in urgent need for repairs such as after a hurricane. Don't be a victim, hiring a licensed contractor is not just a good idea it is the law. Before entering into a contract or working with a contractor; verify the person you are dealing with is properly licensed by contacting the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com the unlicensed activity hotline is 1-866-532-1440. You can also contact the City of Sebastian Building Department to verify licensure and registration OR to report any suspected unlicensed contractor activity at 772-589-5537 or 772-388-8234. CITY OF SEBASTIAN TECH BYTES BY ROB MESSERSMITH, MIS NETWORK MANAGER The City's MIS divisionofthe City Manager's office changed the voice for the City's phone system this past quarter. Instead of having several different voices for different parts of the City's telephone auto attendant (the telephone menu) one voice is used. Voicemail greetings were not changed during this transition. One of the advantages of this change is that now MIS staff has the ability to make changes to the system faster than before. There were also some additions made to the system which allow for weather information to be made available via the City's telephone system during hurricane season. The MIS division also replaced the City's aging backup system this past quarter. Now instead of taking the better part of three days to backup all of the City's critical information servers it only takes a couple of hours to complete a backup cycle. The previous backup system lasted 11 years before being retired. The new system is expected to be able to accommodate the City's growing backup needs for the next five to seven years. Two projects that are expected to be completed in the coming weeks are the implementation of smartphones for some City departments and an upgraded e-mail server that can better accommodate both the increasing demands on e-mail as well as the added smartphone and mobile device infrastructure. Continued from front page 3) Building built in 1957 on the southeast corner of US 1 and Main Street to be City Hall and a fire station. In 1983, when City Hall moved out of the building, it was leased to Indian River County as a North County library, later was a Teen Center, City Utilities Department, Sebastian Historical Society Museum and is now leased to the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce as their headquarters. They are adding a new Pelican Porch for visi- tors to sit and enjoy the view of the Indian River Lagoon. 4) The old schoolhouse on Main Street was built in 1927 and deed- ed in 1983 to the City of Sebastian by Indian River County for use as our City Hall. City Hall remained at that location until 2004. The building is now leased by the City to Indian River State Col- lege, the Sebastian River Historical Society as a museum, and the Indian River Lagoon Council National Estuary Program. Old City Hall annex buildings west and north of the old schoolhouse are now leased to the Sebastian River Art Club, Sebastian Se- nior Center, and the old Council Chambers is used by quilters, and other groups for meetings. During the City's stay in the old schoolhouse, a new police department building was built to the —east -of City HalLin 1996 5) The existing City Hall was built in 2004 on the site of an old vol- unteer ambulance squad building and Little League baseball field and the Police station was renovated and enlarged. The remainder of the municipal complex is home to the old 1927 schoolhouse, the Boys and Girls Club built soon after the opening of City Hall, four clay tennis courts, playgrounds, walking trails and pavilions, and a sports field, all aptly named Friendship Park. 911, USE IT ... DONJ ABUSE IT! BY: MICHELLE MORRIS, CHIEF OF POLICE Reasons to Call 911 • Crash/accident that just occurred with Any type of major crime that is inprog- injuries and/or roadblocks ress or just occurred (burglary, robbery, • Disturbance or fight that is in progress bank robbery, theft, rape, shooting, • Fire stabbing, missing child, missing el- • Someone is injured, in pain, bleeding, derly, missing special needs person, or needs an ambulance abduction, etc.) Do not Call 9-1-1: • When the power is out • For information • To report a broken fire hydrant • For crimes that occurred days ago • To get a ride to a doctor's appointment • Forloudmusic • For paying tickets • To speak with the Chief • Asa prank PLEASE CALL THE NON EMERGENCY NUMBER (772) 388-4435 or (772)589-5233 If you dial 911 by accidentjust stay on the line and answer the operator's questions. UNATTENDED FIREARMS! BY: MICHELLE MORRIS, CHIEF OF POLICE The Sebastian Police Department strongly encourages you to never leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle whether it is locked or not. Even though the holiday season is over criminals are still prowling around looking for free "gifts"! The best way to protect yourself and your property is crime prevention. Waking up to find your vehicle has been rummaged through can leave you feeling violated. The majority of the car burglaries reported in Sebastian —Kave been perpetrated on vehicTes�iafwere simplyleeTt unlockerf.— Making sure you locked your vehicle is the first and easiest way to protect yourself. Furthermore, you should be sure not to leave valuables or the keys to the car within the vehicle and especially not in plain sight. Four vehicles were stolen from within the city of Sebastian during the last week of November and first week of De- cember, 2015. All four of these vehicles were stolen with the use of the car key that was left in the vehicle by the owners. Two of the four stolen cars were subsequently used in shootings before being recovered. Leaving valuables in an unattended car is risky with the doors locked and leaving them unlocked increases the chances exponentially of having your possessions stolen. Fifteen firearms were stolen out of cars from citizens of the City of Se- bastian during the year 2015. These firearms are now in the pos- session of the criminal element in Indian River County and may be used to commit additional crimes. Additionally, we encourage you to be vigilant in your neighborhoods and please call the non- emergency phone line, at 772-589-5233 Or 772-3884435 to report any suspicious individuals or activity you see. Together we can continue to keep Sebastian a safer community! POSTAL PATRON Sebastian, Florida 32958 PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID VERO BEACH, FL PERMIT NO. 218