Bradenton City Council Agenda Results: March 13, 2013

BRADENTON – At Wednesday's Bradenton City Council meeting, board members approved first readings of two ordinances: one that would add to the city's regulations involving disposal of public-safety hazard material and another that added to regulations pertaining to the construction of private roads. Approval was also given for requests of operation and alcohol licensing of a prospective piano bar on Old Main Street. All agenda items were passed unanimously, with no public comment or board discussion.

1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

- Invocation by Pastor Tony Miller of First Church of the Nazarene.

 
2. PROCLAMATION

- Water Conservation Month – April 2013 City Clerk Carl Callahan (speaking for Mayor Wayne Poston) gave a proclamation that honored April as Water Conservation Month. The proclamation ended by Callahan calling upon "each citizen and business to help protect our precious resource by practicing water saving measures and becoming more aware of the need to save water."

Claude Tankersley, Director of Public Works and Utilities, spoke after the proclamation was given, saying, "We often forget that draughts and water issues are not long-term goals but short-term goals." Mr. Tankersley noted that the city was in "the 8th or 9th year of a long-term draught," and urged citizens to help conserve water.

3. PRESENTATION 

4. ADMINISTERING THE OATH 

5. CITIZEN COMMENTS

6. CONSENT AGENDA (Approved unanimously)

a) Public Event: Lucky Ducky race for PACE on May 11 at Riverwalk.

7. BUSINESS/ADVERTISING, PETITIONS, HEARINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS

SU.13.00100  WARD 2  NEIGHBORHOOD 1.01         PUBLIC HEARING (approved unanimously)
Request of Matt Coates, agent for John DeLesline, owner, for special use approval of a lounge located at 436 12th Street West (zoned T5).

AB.13.00024  WARD 2  NEIGHBORHOOD 1.01         PUBLIC HEARING (approved unanimously)
Request of Matt Coates, agent for John DeLesline, owner, for a 4-COP alcohol beverage license to be used in conjunction with a lounge located at 436 12th Street West (zoned T5).

Mr. Coates was requesting approval for his client John DeLesline to open a piano lounge bar (unnamed at time of this writing) in the building formerly known as Fisheman Joe's, at 436 12th Street West.

Tim Polk, Director of Planning and Community Development, recommended approval of SU.13.00100, with the following stipulations: "Hours of operation would be 11am-2am; no commercial cooking would be allowed on the premises of the business; outdoor seating area be maintained weekly; all Life Safety codes be met, and that 6 feet of clear access between building and outdoor tables on right of way be maintained." 

Mr. Polk also recommended approval of AB.13.00024 with the following stipulations: "Series 4-COP (Consumption on Premises) license to allow for on-premise consumption of beer, wine and liquor, (and that) no more than 4 tables be permitted on right of way."

Councilman Patrick Roff clarified that the lounge, contrary to the evaluation and report documentation, was located in Ward 3, not Ward 4.

Both requests were unanimously approved by the council, with no public or council discussion. After the vote, Mr. Roff said that he was "really excited to see a piano bar show up...I think it's a nice addition to our venue on 12th," and reminisced about the time that Billy Joe's album "Piano Man" was released. "(During that time), we were lucky enough to have an old-fashioned honky tonk with a piano player...that was very entertaining. I think (Mr. DeLesline) will be bringing another classy clientele to 12th Street that we would welcome." 

ORDINANCE 2946              FIRST READING (Approved unanimously)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, ADDING A SECTION 18-243 TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON BY PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE CLEAN UP AND ABATEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARDS RESULTING FROM CLANDESTINE DRUG LAB SITES OR ASSOCIATED DUMPSITE; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR ADMINISTRATION; PROVIDING FOR OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY AND COLLECTION OF COSTS; PROVIDING FOR CLEANUP STANDARDS; PROVIDING FOR CERTIFIED LABARATORY TESTING; PROVIDING FOR RECOVERY OF CITY COSTS; PROVIDING FOR DISCLOSURE; PROVIDING FOR APPEALS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

(Motion to accept first reading of ordinance approved with no council or public dicussion. A second hearing is scheduled for March 27.)

ORDINANCE 2947              FIRST READING (Approved unanimously)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, CREATING A NEW SECTION 62-80, OF CHAPTER 62 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE LOCATION AND DESIGN OF PRIVATE ROADS; ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO CONSTRUCT PRIVATE ROADS; ESTABLISHING REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES FOR PRIVATE ROADS; ESTABLISHING POLICIES FOR THE DEDICATION OF PRIVATE ROADS TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR PROCEDURES; PROVIDING FOR VARIANCES; PROVIDING FOR PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

(Motion to accept first reading of ordinance approved with no council or public dicussion. A second hearing is scheduled for March 27.)

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

9. BUSINESS BY APPOINTMENT 

10. COUNCIL REPORTS

Councilmen expressed their condolences to the grieving families of Robert Molter, and of City Fire Department Capt. Tim Geer, both recently passed.

Councilman Roff spoke about the Washington, D.C. League of Cities meeting he attended last month. "Our two main objectives were figuring out how they're going to do the (coming) sequestration, (and if) they leave tax-free municipal bonds alone, which we use for things like bridges and roadways, as well as for not-for-profits. These are very useful items to local governments, and this is a nationwide request from the National League of Cities. I think we were well-heard, and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) said that that will never happen." "The other thing we were pushing for - as the state is looking at online sales tax that is already in place but not being collected, in order for this to be accurately enforced, there has to be some type of nationwide set up that the league has been requesting for years now, which is getting closer to (realization)."

Councilman Bemis Smith thanked Mr. Roff for his "efforts in D.C."

During his comment, Councilman Harold Byrd acknowleged the efforts of the neighborhood watch in the 12th Avenue West area. "They've been looking at some problems over there, and they wanted to get some assistance from law enforcement on solving some of the crime issues in that area. I just wanted to report that I've been in touch with several of the residents that are pleased with the operations that are going on, and I wanted to publicly (thank them and the Police Department)." 

Mayor Wayne Poston followed up on Mr. Byrd's comment, saying that the people in the mentioned neighborhood "are very happy with (the changes) that have happened." Mr. Poston also touched upon recent major changes to the city, from the renovation of McKechnie Field to the opening of the Riverwalk. "We've got a lot of good things happening in Bradenton...(we've done) a lot of good work at a time when the economy is limping along."

11. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS

City Department heads also expressed their condolences to the two named families in mourning. Also, Claude Tankersley reminded people that the Ware Creek bridge will be down for 5-6 months.