Bradenton City Council Agenda Results: May 28, 2014

BRADENTON - At Wednesday's regular meeting, the Bradenton City Council voted to approve two ordinances that revise parts of the retirement system for participating city police officers. In other business, regulations for the disposal of grease from businesses and food service facilities, as well as an interlocal agreement between the city and four other government entities on the issuance of revenue bonds for the benefit of Presbyterian Retirement Communities, Inc. and affiliated corporations, both passed.

INVOCATION & PLEDGE (The City does not endorse the religious beliefs of any speaker.)
- Invocation by Pastor Jared Olson of Redeemer Lutheran Church

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER                     Mayor Wayne Poston

2. PROCLAMATIONS
- Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, May 2014

- National Garden Week, June 1-7, 2014

- Code Enforcement Officers’ Appreciation Week, June 2-6, 2014

3. PRESENTATIONS

Florida House Rep. Jim Boyd gave a presentation on a low-THC medicinal marijuana bill recently passed in the state House and Senate. He advised the council that the legislation restricts the marijuana to a non-smokeable oil form called "Charlotte's Web." The Charlotte's Web strain has THC levels of no more than 0.8 percent, compared to the average 15 percent level of most marijuana, and would be limited by the state of Florida to being prescribed for a handful of medical conditions, including epilepsy and Lou Gehrig's Disease.

On the ballot to be voted on in November, Boyd expressed his opposition to it, saying the language allows for marijuana to be obtained easily by those who may not necessarily need it. He acknowledged polls forecasting that it will pass, but said that he hoped that people would give the measure more consideration before casting their vote.

4. ADMINISTERING THE OATH 

5. CITIZEN COMMENTS

6. CONSENT AGENDA (No consent agenda to pass)

7. BUSINESS/ADVERTISING, PETITIONS, HEARINGS & COMMUNICATIONS

ORDINANCE 2962          SECOND READING & PUBLIC HEARING (Passed uanimously)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, AMENDING PART 1, CHARTER AND RELATED LAWS, SUBPART B, RELATED LAWS, ARTICLE IV, POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA; AMENDING SECTION 6, BENEFIT AMOUNTS AND ELIGIBILITY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

During the meeting, City Clerk Carl Callahan explained that ordinances 2962 and 2963 were related to the pension plan negotiated during the city's last collective bargaining sessions with the Bradenton Police Department. The ordinance amends Part 2 of Section 1, removing previous language for monthly retirement benefits and  adding, "Prior to April 1, 2014, the monthly retirement benefit for members shall be equal" to the minimum designated monthly salaries given in Chapter 185 of the Florida Statues.

Ordinance 2963 changes the amounts that members of the retirement benefits system would be required to make, beginning with six percent and going up to nine percent in October 2014.

ORDINANCE 2963          SECOND READING & PUBLIC HEARING (Passed uanimously)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, AMENDING PART 1, CHARTER AND RELATED LAWS, SUBPART B, RELATED LAWS, ARTICLE IV, POLICE OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA; AMENDING SECTION 1, DEFINITIONS BY AMENDING THE DEFINITIONS OF “AVERAGE FINAL COMPENSATIONS; AMENDING SECTION 6, BENEFIT AMOUNTS AND ELIGIBILITY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE 2964          SECOND READING & PUBLIC HEARING (Passed uanimously)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 70 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON BY PROVIDING A NEW SECTION 70-120; PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION OF GREASE DISPOSED OF BY ANY BUSINESS OR FOOD SERVICE FACILITY; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR PENALITIES; PROVIDING FOR FEES; PROVIDING FOR PERMITTING; PROVIDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT REMEDIES; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 14-23                 PUBLIC HEARING (Passed uanimously)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA, ST. JOHNS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO WHICH THE ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ITS REVENUE BONDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESBYTERIAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, INC. AND CERTAIN OTHER CORPORATIONS AFFILIATED WITH IT; GRANTING HOST COMMUNITY APPROVAL PURSUANT TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

Michael Radzilowski, Chief of Police
PUBLIC HEARING: 2014-15 Justice Assistance Grant Proposed Use of Funds and Grant Application

9. BUSINESS BY APPOINTMENT 

10. COUNCIL REPORTS 

Gene Gallo: "A president of a local condo association wote a very nice letter about our public utility employees and how respectful they have been in dealing with people in the association."

Gene Brown: "I would like to extend a thank you to Claude Tankersley and Public Works in trying to get some beautification along Manatee Avenue and the Ware's Creek area. Also, congratulations and good luck to our graduating seniors this year."

Patrick Roff: "We received an email giving kudos from citizens of the Village of the Arts, who had some abandoned properties in their area; they were very appreciative of public works coming in and cleaning up the properties."

Bemis Smith: "I just want to ask the Chief (Radzilowski) to encouage the Florida Highway Patrol to use a little common sense when blocking off major roadways." Smith cited the blocking of roads leading to Anna Maria Island which caused major traffic flow disruptions, calling it "an example of overzealous policiing." 

Harold Byrd: "Nothing to report."

Mayor Wayne Poston: Noted Governor Rick Scott's recent recognization of the Village of the Arts' Arts & Eats Restaurant as one of the only 28 restaurants with no safety or sanitary violations within the past year.

11. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS