Bradenton City Council Agenda Results: January 9, 2013

BRADENTON – During Wednesday's meeting, the council approved a first reading of an ordinance that would provide new guidelines to law enforcement for how to deal with trespassing violators. In other business, an item from the consent agenda that would have taken almost $25,000 from the city's tree fund was removed after Councilman Gene Gallo expressed opposition to the item's purpose, which was for landscaping design and not for adding trees. Police Chief Mike Radzilowski remarked on the progress of the city's declining crime rate. Wednesday also marked Gene Brown's first official meeting as a Councilman. 

1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Invocation by Pastor Nick Manassa of First Assembly of God.

2. PROCLAMATION

- Human Trafficking Awareness Month – January 2013

3. PRESENTATION

4. ADMINISTERING THE OATH 

5. CITIZEN COMMENTS

6. CONSENT AGENDA (Passes 5-0, with the exception of item J, which was requested for removal by Councilman Gallo)

a) Public Event: New hotel groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 17. 
b) Public Event: Paws in Motion Walk-a-Thon on March 9 at Riverwalk. 
c) Public Event: United Coast Guard Band performance on March 9 at Riverwalk. 
d) Public Event: Big Brothers, Big Sisters Car Show on March 23 at Riverwalk. 
e) Resolution 13-01 appointing Tom Woods to Fire Pension Board. 
f) Resolution 13-02 reappointing Lawrence Covins II to Fire Pension Board. 
g) Resolution 13-03 appointing Councilman Patrick Roff, Ricardo Ramos, Jeffrey Lewis, Cheryl Landers, Rebecca Pilsbury and Kelly Beyerlein to Grievance Board. 
h) Resolution 13-04 reappointing Paul Chapin to Construction Board.
i) Resolution 13-05 reappointing Mary Runnells, Robert Alexander and Patrick Gallagher to Tree Board.
j) Tree & Land Preservation Board FY 2012-13 projected expenditures. (Item removed by a unanimous vote after discussion)

Vice Mayor and Ward 1 Councilman Gene Gallo requested item J be removed from the meeeting's agenda, due to concerns about the Tree Planting and Initial Care project for Cortez Road as listed on the memorandum for the item. Mr. Gallo explained that he was concerned about what the $24,834 for the project would be used for, and that, upon research of the project by Director of Planning and Community Development Tim Polk, it was found that the Cortez project would not be used for planting trees, but rather for landscape design.

"It's our feeling that $24,000 out of the city's tree fund should not be used for any design project," said Mr. Gallo. He added that if there was going to be a design for the city to plant trees, then the money for said design should come from the state instead of from the tree fund. Mr. Pope added that normally, such design projects are funded by programs such as Keep Manatee Beautiful, and stated his agreement that the money for the project should not come from the tree fund. 

k) Operators Permit: Application from Healthstream Transport to operate a service to transport individuals to and from medical appointments and facilities.

7. BUSINESS/ADVERTISING, PETITIONS, HEARINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS

8. NEW BUSINESS BY DEPARTMENT HEADS, CITY ATTORNEY AND COUNCIL

ORDINANCE 2945                   FIRST READING  (passes 5-0)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA CREATING A NEW SECTION 54-14 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES ESTABLISHING; A PROCESS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF TRESPASS WARNINGS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY; PROVIDING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRESPASS WARNINGS; ESTABLISHING AN APPEAL PROCESS FOR TRESPASS WARNINGS; PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE TO HEAR APPEALS FROM ISSUED TRESPASS WARNINGS; PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF PARTS HEREOF; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Ordinance 2945 was met with some concern from Councilmen Bemis Smith and Harold Byrd over how liberally penalties could be applied, and Mr. Byrd also expressed concern that the ordinance would be heavily applied to the homeless in public parks; however, the ordinance met its first reading with unanimous approval. A public hearing on the issue will take place on January 23 at 6 p.m. The full story can be viewed here.

9. BUSINESS BY APPOINTMENT 

10. COUNCIL REPORTS 

11. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS Police Chief Radzilowski commented on the city's progress in reducing crime, citing a 6.1% overall reduction for the year 2012. "It's something to behold," he said.