HomeMy WebLinkAbout052320031225 Main Street [] Sebastian, Florida 32958
Telephone (772) 589-5330 [] Fax (772) 589-5570
City Council Information Letter
Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend!
May 23, 2003
Process for No Lar.qe Truck Thorou.qhfare DesiRnation
Louisiana Avenue
Per discussions offered during last week's meeting relative to Louisiana
Avenue and the prospect of designating the thoroughfare a 'no large truck
zone', please be advised that both the Sebastian Police Department and the
Department of Engineering have initiated the necessary evaluation process
to confirm the appropriateness of this arrangement. The review involves
conducting a count to determine the number of large vehicles traveling the
corridor. Once figures have been compiled respectively, a report will be
drafted that will outline requirements and justifications for the desired
designation. I will update you with the results in the next couple of weeks or
so, as well as inform you of specific locations as far as signage.
Riverview Park Twin Pier Construction Schedule
As final construction drawings and formal permit extensions were recently
delivered to the City of Sebastian by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and the Army Corp of Engineers governing the
twin recreation pier/shoreline restoration project at the former Good Guys
Inc. parcel, please be advised that the formal bid solicitation process will
begin early next week. As our commitment via the grant agreement with the
Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) is to have these improvements
substantially completed by September 30th, the current administrative time
frame is to offer recommendations to commission a contractor during your
June 25th meeting. As much of the aforementioned property will be utilize
for staging efforts to help facilitate Independence Day celebration activities,
construction would actually not begin until circa middle July. Engineers and
City Council Information Letter
May 23, 2003
Page 2
staff from both the Department of Engineering and Kimley-Horn anticipate
construction to take approximately sixty (60) days.
Recommendations Regarding Partnership with St. John's
River Water Management District
As referenced in a report offered via the May 9th information letter, the City
of Sebastian recently hosted numerous productive discussions with officials
from the St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD) relative to
partnership opportunities to finance and implement canal related
improvements in our community. Wednesday evening's session will include
a presentation by City Engineer Dave Fisher and Camp, Dresser and
McKee Project Engineer Eric Grotke to publicly communicate efforts about
such dynamics, as well as specific recommendations to pursue funding
opportunities from both SJRWMD and the Environmental Protection
Agency. The attached letter as compiled by Stormwater Utility Engineer
Ken Jones and delivered to SJRWMD Palm Bay Service Center Manager
Troy Rice succinctly summarizes goals of the proposed partnership, notably
the desire to enhance canals and provide mechanisms to greatly improve
the water quality of our storm water runoff before discharge. You may
therefore feel free to prepare to address any questions and/or concerns
accordingly.
Comcast Cable Amnesty Program
In an effort to combat cable theft activities throughout the Treasure Coast
region of Florida, Comcast Cable Communications will launch a cable
amnesty program that will run from June 3, 2003 to June 17, 2003. As
referenced in the attached letter from Treasure Coast Regional Vice
President Joni Kinsley, this program is being established to provide an
opportunity for anyone who is receiving cable services without paying for it
the opportunity to turn themselves in with no questions asked. Although
there has not recently been numerous reports offered about such criminal
activity in Sebastian, cable scrambling is considered to be an act that is
simple to commit. The City of Sebastian will therefore offer as much
support, assistance and cooperation possible to assist efforts accordingly.
City Council Information Letter
May 23, 2003
Page 3
Director of Finance Mark Mason
It is with regret that I must inform you that Director of Finance Mark Mason
recently submitted his letter of resignation to my office in order to accept a
career advancement opportunity in another community. Earlier this week,
Mark officially accepted an offer to serve as Director of Financial Services
for the City of Cape Coral, Florida. As some of you may realize, Cape Coral
is a larger, rapidly growing community located on the west coast of the state,
near the City of Fort Myers. Like Sebastian, the community was originally
planned by the former General Development Corporation. As such (and
needless to say), the municipal organization is faced with numerous
challenges. Mark's numerous accomplishments and contributions to the
City of Sebastian afforded his ability for such advancement. Such a positive
move is therefore not at all a surprise, as I am very happy for him
professionally. His final day of employment will be Friday, June 13th. The
Department of Human Resources is therefore currently working with my
office to initiate recruitment efforts for Mark's replacement. We anticipate a
selection process to take approximately two to three months. During the
transition period, Assistant Finance Director Debbie Krueger will serve in an
acting director capacity. Debbie is well versed in the field of municipal
finance and public budgeting, having served the City since August 1999.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from
Adelphi University (Long Island, New York). Last year, she was designated
a Certified Government Finance Officer by the Florida Government Finance
Officers Association. I am therefore confident that operations in the
Department of Finance will remain sound and progressive, despite Mark's
departure.
Enclosure(s):
Letter from Ken Jones to Troy Rice - SJRWMD
Letter from Joni Kinsley, Comcast Cable - Cable Amnesty Program
Letter of Resignation from Mark Mason
My Documents/I nfoLetter176
HOJ~ OF' PELICAN ISL&~4D
May20,2003
Mr. Troy Rice
St. John's Water Management District
Palm Bay Service Center
525 Community College Parkway SE
Palm Bay, FL 32909
Dear Troy:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit Sebastian last
week. I hope your first hand view of our canals provides a better understanding of our desire to enhance the canals
and provide a mechanism to greatly improve the water quality of our stormwater runoff before being discharged.
We feel that it will be a tremendous benefit to the Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon.
As you requested, I am forwarding a copy of the videotape we took of the canal North of County Road 512 to
Hardee Park. I hope it will provide the visual information you need for your upcoming budgeting process. I feel
that the enhancement of the canals to improve the water quality will be a model project for others to follow in the
future.
We will be submitting a letter in the near future outlining the additional information you indicated you needed to
evaluate the benefits of the project for funding consideration.
I look forward to hearing fi:om you should you need any additional information.
Sincerely,
gineer
cc: David Fisher, City Engineer
Terrance Moore, City Manager
( omcast
May 16, 2003
Terrence Moore
City Manager
City of Sebastian
1225 Main Street
Sebastian Florida 32958
Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.
940 12th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Tel: 772.567.3473
Fax: 772.778.9635
www.comcast.com
Dear City Manager Moore:
Cable theft is a serious problem throughout the Treasure Coast that costs our collective
local governments and franchise authorities millions of dollars each year in revenue
through the loss of franchise communication services revenues and taxes. Comcast is
committed to doing everything within its power to combat cable theft. In fact we are
excited to announce that in partnership with local State's Attorneys' offices, we will launch
a cable amnesty program that will run from June 3, 2003, to June 17, 2003.
During the cable an~nesty period, anyone who is receiving Comcast cable service without
paying tbr it will have the opportunity to turn themselves in with no questions asked.
Citizens who take advantage of the amnesty program can choose to become paying
customers or simply have their illegal service disconnected. If a resident is receiving cable
through an illegal cable descran~bler, then he or she can simply turn the illegal descrambler
in to Comcast in exchange for a new descramblcr.
It is our hope that the amnesty program will raise the level of awareness in the Treasure
Coast that cable theft is a crime accompanied by strict State and Federal penalties. 3myone
stealing cable is not just stealing ii'om Comcast, but also local governments as well.
So, we thank you in advance tbr all the cooperation that you may offer to support our
eftbrts.
General Manager
MARK C. MASON, CPA
3681 Rio Vista Way
321-752-6530
Melbourne, Florida 32935
mcmcpa@msn.com
Terrence R. Moore
City Manager
City of Sebastian
1225 Main Street
Sebastian, FL 32958
Dear Terrence,
With great reluctance, I am submitting my resignation from the City of Sebastian, effective, June 13, 2003.
Although my tenure with the City of Sebastian as Director of Finance has been enjoyable and provided a
great deal of personal and professional growth, I have accepted a new position as Financial Services
Director with the City of Cape Coral, Florida. This position provides for exceptional growth in my chosen
field and is an excellent opportunity, one that is too good to pass up.
It is a truly difficult decision to leave this position and this City, one in which I have had a wonderful time
in putting in place progressive budgeting and financial policies, as well as working with and supporting a
very gifted staff.
I appreciate the opportunity to work with you over the past four years; it's been a great run. I will, of
course, continue to provide my best efforts in completing the tasks assigned prior to my final date.
Sincerely,
Mark C. Mason, CPA