HomeMy WebLinkAbout06272001WorkshopSI[lU IIAN
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SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2001 - 6:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA
WORKSHOP MINUTES
Mayor Barnes called the workshop to order at 6:00 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited,
ROLL CALL
City Council Present:
Mayor Walter Barnes
Vice Mayor Ben A. Bishop
Mr. Joe Barczyk
Mr. James Hill
City Council Absent:
Mr. Edward J. Majcher, Jr.
(Excused)
Staff Present:
City Manager, Terrence Moore
City Attorney, Rich Stringer
City Clerk, Sally Maio
Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams
City Engineer, Ralph Brescia
Public Works Director, Terry Hill
Also Present:
Eric Grotke, Camp, Dresser & McKee, Inc.
t~ity Council Workshop
une 27, 2001
Page Two
4. WORK~,,I-IOP ITEMS
01,141 A.
Vacation of Easement Discussion- R~presentative~) ff0m. Camp, Dresser, McKee, lnc~
Willbe Present{No B~.~kup)
The Public Works Director responded to questions from Council relative to whether or not
property along rear easements should be vacated. He said vacation requests should be
addressed on an individual basis, and if it is found that property should be retained they are not
signed off on.
The City Manager noted that Eric Grotke of Camp, Dresser and McKee, Inc. was present to
address this issue.
Mr. Grotke stated that the whole SJRWMD plan was to cut down on water flowing into the
rivers, St. Sebastian and Indian River Lagoon, with retention areas so that water backs up into
those areas. The master plan that CDM is preparing could be used to assist the City in
determining whether easements should be kept.
Mayor Barnes inquired whether CDM would be willing to look at vacation requests and be part
of the process and Mr. Grotke said he thought they could.
Vice Mayor Bishop requested that certain areas in which Public Works deems that easements
should not be vacated, be mapped and provided to Growth Management. The Public Works
Director said it would be hard to map out due to the fact there are some problems in every area.
Mr. Bishop suggested it be a policy of Council that rear easement vacations are not automatic
so there are no misunderstandings with builders and applicants.
The City Manager said with the direction of Council, that policy can be established at the City
staff meeting tomorrow. He said he could conduct a meeting with developers' representatives
within the next week or two to advise them of the policy.
Discussion continued on people overbuilding on lots and giving up property which may be
needed in the future; the fact that rear easement vacations are not all given because
engineering staff is looking at each one now; and allowing staff to make the decision to set
some policy and utilizing the services of Mr. Grotke.
The City Engineer noted that there is presently a procedure; that CDM will be looking at the
whole area and once evaluated, it will be clear what areas will need to be retained.
The City Attorney recommended that the need to move water in the future in conjunction with
the proposed stormwater master plan needs to be looked at now. He said there are a lot of
rear easements that are ditches, that new law is requiring the flow of water be slowed down and
this will take land.
2
Council Workshop
June 27, 2001
Page Three
It was the consensus of City Council that staff have a dialogue with builders and utilitize Mr.
Grotke's input.
Mayor Barnes asked for a time frame in which the City will know how water needs to flow. Mr.
Grotke replied that major canals can be readily identified, the difficulty will be siting, positioning
and accessing the retention ponds which will be completed in no more than a year and a half
working with SJRWMD models.
The City Attorney reminded Council that they will still have the final approval on alt vacation of
easement requests.
Herb Sturm, Sebastian, said he has tried for ten years to have drainage fixed and cited a code
that prohibits the restriction of the flow of water.
5. Mayor Barnes adjourned the Workshop at 7:40 p.m.
Approved at the July 11, 2001 Regular Council Meeting.
Mayor