HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-30-2004 1225 Main Street [] Sebastian, Florida 32958
Telephone (772) 589-533013 Fax (772) 589-5570
City Council Information Letter
April 30, 2004
Stormwater Utility Master Plan Project Schedulin.q
As City Council recently granted authorization to proceed with engineering
design activities associated with implementation of citywide capital projects
as governed by the City of Sebastian Stormwater Utility Master Plan, please
be advised that both staff from the Department of Engineering and
representatives from Camp, Dresser, McKee and WCG NeeI-Shaffer are
currently working to develop an overall implementation schedule.
Respective outcomes will offer approximate timeframes associated with
specific design completion, permitting, contractor selection and actual
construction. City Engineer David Fisher was therefore directed yesterday
to compile a brief summary to this effect. This report will essentially serve
as a guide to offer clarification as to when each aspect of project
administration is to be accomplished. I therefore anticipate being able to
share this communication with City Council via an Information Letter to be
delivered within the next one to two weeks.
Response to Recent Concerns by Resident Henry Madsen
City Council members will recall a presentation as offered by Sebastian
resident and Tree and Landscape Advisory Board member Henry Madsen
during last week's meeting in which he expressed anxiety relative to a
perceived lack of full enforcement of landscaping requirements for both
newly constructed commercial and resident projects in our community. In
an effort to comprehensively respond to such concerns, Director of Growth
Management Tracy Hass and I met with Mr. Madsen here at City Hall earlier
this week. His issues were not related to the actual number of plants and
trees installed in new developments - instructions to adhere to respective
requirements are well accepted and practiced by the construction and
development community. However, his assessments are that vegetation in
City Council Information Letter
April 30, 2004
Page 2
some respective areas are initially not the exact required height, width,
canopy, circumference, etc. For quite sometime, staff in various
departments involved in the review process generally disagreed with this
sentiment, as certificates of occupancy have ultimately been issued
accordingly. In addition, as referenced in the attached memorandum from
Tracy Hass, the code specifically establishes an "intent" and then stipulates
certain minimum standards that are to be met respectively, which offers a
degree of flexibility regarding exact dimensions for vegetation. The City of
Sebastian therefore also enjoys some ability to negotiate with property
owners to insure diversification and ingenuity when designing landscaping
plans, so as to avoid monotony accordingly, notably at commercial sites.
The aforementioned meeting concluded with commentary that if Mr. Madsen
and/or any other resident feel that plantings do not meet code, they may
simply report such to City Hall so that appropriate staff members will be able
to offer a response, as well as initiate corrective measures if necessary. In
addition, these directives will also be stressed to the future Chief Building
Official once an appointment is made.
Annual Day of Prayer at Sebastian City Hall
The Indian River County Chapter of the American Family Association will
once again host a National Day of Prayer assembly here at Sebastian City
Hall. This year's event, scheduled to take place Thursday, May 6th from
12:20 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. will be preceded by Reverend Ron Barber of
Community Baptist Church. As referenced in the attached correspondence,
next week's event will mark the 14th consecutive year of hosting a National
Day of Prayer event in Sebastian. Please feel free to attend, schedules
permitting.
Out of Office
Please be advised that I will be away from the office beginning Monday
afternoon for a one-day trip to participate in this year's Florida Government
Officers Association Annual Conference being held in Tampa. As reported
earlier this year, I was invited to be a speaker and lecturer at this session,
specifically for a two-hour course titled "Capital Planning - A Necessary Tool
and Process" to begin Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. As such, I will return to
Sebastian later that evening, and therefore will report back to City Hall
Wednesday morning. Any of you may feel free to contact Police Chief Jim
City Council Information Letter
April 30, 2004
Page 3
Davis in the event of any emergencies during my brief absence. As usual,
City Clerk Sally Maio will be available to assist you with any information
and/or communication related matters that may arise during this time as
well. Of course, if any of your require speaking with me personally during
this time, I can be contacted via cellular telephone by calling 633-7693.
Enclosure(s):
Memorandum from Tracy Hass - Tree and Landscape Code Adherence
Memorandum from American Family Association - National Day of Prayer
My Documents/InfoLe[ter215
1225 MAIN STREET · SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA32958
TELEPHONE (561) 589-5518 · FAX (561) 589-2566
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
April 30, 2004
Terrence Moore, City Manager
Tracy E. Hass, Director of Growth Management
SUBJECT: Henry Madsen/Landscaping Issues.
Per our conversation earlier this week with Mr. Madsen in reference to citywide landscaping issues, I
am providing the following clarification concerning proper installation and code compliance at
commercial locations. Mr. Madsen has brought to our attention his disapproval of the manner of
enforcement concerning installation of trees and shrubs in accordance with landscaping regulations
contained in the land development code. I've explained to Mr. Madsen on multiple occasions that we
perform landscaping plan reviews during site plan review and follow up with an inspection after all
material has been installed on-site. There has been an occasion where a hedgerow may be planted at
32" or so when the code requires 36', but stafftypically permits this activity with the understanding that
if the hedge does not mature to 36", and is maintained at such a height, all noncomplying material will
be required to be replaced. Trees are typically minimum size or greater on all commercial sites, and
when compliance is not met, we require replacement immediately and perform follow up inspections to
verify compliance.
One point of clarification is the code specifically establishes an "intent" and then stipulates certain
minimum standards that shall be met. Staff fully understands the intent of the code and therefore offers
flexibility to developers concerning meeting the black at white regulations, so long as the overall intent
is satisfied. Staff continually negotiates with property owners to insure diversification and ingenuity
when designing their landscaping plans so as to avoid sterilization and monotony within the commercial
corridors.
Mr. Madsen also raised issue with enforcement after a business is open and operating. I will agree with
Mr. Madsen in that we have lacked the resources and ability to effectively enforce landscaping
regulations past initial inspection. Granted there are limited cases of noncompliance, but we need to
perform inspections on a more regular basis. To that end, we have coordinated efforts with the Code
Enforcement Division, resulting in additional training for one of our code enforcement officers, who will
the be qualified to perform these inspection on a regular basis. We certainly feel this initiative will
afford the city the ability to more proactively enforce commercial landscaping regulations.
FF~OM :CRRIG ~ .TO~N MCG~UEY F~X NO.
American Family Association
P.O. Box 65~6S4 Indian River County Vero Beach, FL
To: Mr. Terrance
From: loan McOarvcy, American Family Assoc/ation
Re: 1Mle~-~ at City Hall: National Day of Prayer
Dear Mr,
Thank you for allowing citizens to ~s~ble on thc si~ps of CiW Hall in Seba~iz~
for prayer on May 6m, 2004 from ! 2:20-12:40 P.M. The short service is planned to allow
thoae who work to attead on their lunch time, Rev. Ron Barber, Community
Baptist Church, w/ll lead the ceremony. Thc theme ofthis year's prayer day is "Let
Fwcdom Ring": Leviticus 25:10, ~'...proclalm liberty throup, hout the land to all it~
inhab/tants,' Pmy~ wilt be offered for C, ovomment, Media, Education, ~he Church,
/md the Family,
This is the 53ra annual prayer day, w/th Amexic~n FamJJy As,~:~..Jatjun of l~m
River County having partldpated in Seh~iar~ Veto Beach, and Fellsmere for the p~ 13
yemm. We appreeiate your attendance and your notifying City Council members who
may wish to attend.
If you need further in£ormation ple~ contact me at 569-2921.
Sincerely, .~,