CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES
REGULAR SESSION
224 S. Jefferson Street
Perry, Florida
June 26, 2001

MEMBERS PRESENT: Shirley Scott, Bill Alexander, Don Cook and Doug Everett

MEMBER ABSENT: Richard Frith

STAFF PRESENT: Wayne Putnal, Billy LaValle, George Stamos, Bill Blue, Annette Anderson

Vice Mayor/Councilmember Scott called the meeting to order. Councilmember Cook led those
attending the meeting in prayer. Vice Mayor/Councilmember Scott led the group in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag. The secretary then called the roll.
PRESENT ABSENT
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith X

Mayor Frith had called staff to inform the Council he would not be present due to illness.

AGENDA ITEM (3)…APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: June 12, 2001;Regular Session

After a brief review of the minutes, Councilmember Alexander made a motion to adopt the minutes of
June 12, 2001, Regular Session as written; seconded by Councilmember Cook and upon roll call vote
was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

AGENDA ITEM (4)…RECEIVING REQUESTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Mr. John Davies, principal of the Taylor County High School, addressed the Council to request
approval to have student parking in an area adjacent to the south end zone of the football field. Mr.
Davies explained that student parking has become critical at the high school and this would provide for
parking for all students who wish to drive to school. Mr. Davies suggested a crosswalk could be added
and a crossing guard stationed at the area.

Vice Mayor/Councilmember Scott asked Chief of Police Wayne Putnal to address this issue. Chief
Putnal told the Council this is a low area and holds (storm) water. Chief Putnal suggested the Council
table this item until Director of Public Works Barney Johnson could look at the area for any such
concerns. Chief Putnal told the Council his department had not budgeted for an additional crossing
guard. Councilmember Cook asked Mr. Davies if he felt the School Board would fund a school
crossing guard should the Council approve the parking area. Mr. Davies said there is that potential.
Councilmember Cook spoke of another consideration. Councilmember Cook said Council has been
Page 2, June 26, 2001, Council Meeting Minutes-Regular Session

informed this area is a grassy area. Councilmember Cook said, should the Council decide to approve
the parking in that area, Mr. Davies might prepare the School Board for an agreement that if the road
turns into a “sand bed” and the City is requested it be paved, the School Board should be prepared to
recover that road. Mr. Davies said he is more than willing to try and make this work out and would
approach the School Board.

Councilmember Everett said water retention could be done, but he would be more concerned with
student safety. Councilmember Alexander said he agreed with Chief Putnal’s suggestion that this item
be tabled until Mr. Johnson could look at the area for any concerns. The Council agreed. Vice
Mayor/Councilmember Scott directed this item be tabled to the July 10, 2001 Council meeting and
suggested Mr. Davies find out from the School Board how far they would go to help make this parking
a reality, including the funding for a crossing guard. Mr. Davies said he would do this and return to the
July 10, 2001 meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 5(A)…SOLICITATION PERMIT REQUEST FROM REPRESENTATIVE FOR

PARENT-SPONSORED SENIOR CLASS TRIP 2002.

After a brief discussion reminding the individual that participants must wear orange reflective vests,
Councilmember Alexander made a motion to approve the permit. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Everett and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

AGENDA ITEM 5(B)…CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PARTICIPATING PARTY

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PERRY AND UNITED WELDING SERVICES, INC.,
FOR FY01 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT).

Mr. Scott Koons, with the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council briefly reviewed this item
along with agenda items 5(C) and 5(D). Mr. Koons told the Council these items relate to the City’s
application to the Department of Community Affairs for a grant to expand sewer services to United
Welding.

Councilmember Cook made a motion to approve the participating party agreement between the City of
Perry and United Welding Services, Inc. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Alexander and
upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT
Page 3, June 26, 2001, City Council Minutes-Regular Session

AGENDA ITEM 5(C)…CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CONTRACT WITH THE

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE FY01 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)

Councilmember Everett made a motion to approve the contract with the Florida Department of
Community Affairs. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Alexander and upon roll call vote
was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

AGENDA ITEM 5(D)…CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL
FOR THE FY01 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT).

Councilmember Alexander made a motion to approve the Administrative Service Contract with the
North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Cook
and upon roll call vote was as follow:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

AGENDA ITEM 5(E)…INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING-ORDINANCE NO. 751

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PERRY, FLORIDA RELATING TO INCREASING THE

LOCAL COMMUNCIATIONS SERVICE TAX RATE; PROVIDING FOR INTENT; PROVIDING
FOR INCREASED LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TAX RATE; PROVIDING FOR
NOTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Councilmember Cook made a motion that Ordinance No. 751 be read by title only. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Alexander and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

The secretary read Ordinance No. 751 by title only.

Page 4, June 26, 2001, City Council Minutes-Regular Session

AGENDA ITEM 5(F)…INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING-ORDINANCE NO. 752

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PERRY, FLORIDA RELATING TO REQUIRING AND

COLLECTING PERMIT FEES FROM PROVIDERS OF COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND
INCREASING THE LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TAX; PROVIDING FOR INTENT;
PROVIDING FOR ELECTION NOT TO REQUIRE AND COLLECT PERMIT FEES; PROVIDING
FOR ELECTION TO INCREASE LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS TAX; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.

Councilmember Cook made a motion that Ordinance No. 752 be read by title only. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Everett and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

The secretary read Ordinance No. 752 by title only. Director of Finance Billy LaValle reviewed
Ordinance No. 751 and 752 with the Council. Mr. LaValle explained that adoption of one or the other
of the ordinances would determine how the City chooses to receive its communications tax revenue.
Mr. LaValle said efforts are being done to put the communications tax reporting directly to the State
rather than having each (communications) company send payment directly to the City. Mr. LaValle
said the telecommunications companies support this effort. Mr. LaValle told the Council there are
approximately 470 jurisdictions to which revenue is distributed. Mr. LaValle explained the
communications taxes could be consolidated and companies could report to the State and the State
would then return money to the jurisdictions (City) based on a certain formula. Councilmember
Everett asked what these revenue funds are used for. Mr. LaValle said funds go into the City’s general
revenue to be used by the various departments.

Councilmembers expressed concern as to whether there would be an increase to the

telecommunications companies and customers and expressed a need for additional information before
a decision is made. City Attorney Bill Blue noted the Council would take no action on the two
ordinances this meeting, but could do so at the July 10, 2001 Council meeting. Councilmember Cook
commented that the Governor has already approved the bill and it appears the only decision of the
Council can be whether the City will charge a permit fee or take the percentage of the rate. Mr.
LaValle said he would try to obtain additional information for the Council before the July 10, 2001
meeting.

AGENDA ITEM 5(G)…CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF CHANGING THE

DATES THAT CANDIDATES MUST QUALIFY FOR ELECTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND
THE DATE OF ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL.

City Attorney Bill Blue told the Council he had contacted Molly Hendry Lilliott, Supervisor of
Elections, regarding the cost of conducting an election under the dates and times recently discussed by
the Council. Mr. Blue said Ms. Lilliott told him there is no precedent to accurately gauge the cost
Page 5, June 26, 2001, City Council Minutes-Regular Session

because she does not know the cost to run an election with the new equipment. Mr. Blue said when
there was an election with a single issue (example: tax for the new hospital) the cost was $10,000. Mr.
Blue said Ms. Lilliott told him she honors the precedent set in the past and charges only the actual cost
to conduct the election. Mr. Blue said it is feasible to move the election from July to September.
Answering the question of there being a cost difference, Mr. Blue said one cannot be seen, and he has
not been told of one and the Supervisor of Elections cannot say what the cost of the election will be
whether it is held in July or in September.

Councilmember Scott expressed concern that voters in her district (and Councilmember Alexander’s
district) vote in one area for the July city election and in another place for the September elections.
Mr. Blue said voter education and advertising could be done to advise and inform voters of the
changes. Councilmember Cook said he had hoped to hear of financial savings for the City, but this
does not appear so. Mr. Blue said, in his opinion, a September election would seem to be less costly
than a July one because the (election) work has to be done in September anyway, with the exception of
printing ballots for the city.

Councilmember Everett asked about the changing of terms of Councilmembers. Mr. Blue explained
that if the date of election is changed to September, the terms of incumbents would be changed. Mr.
Blue reminded the Council that the Attorney General opinion states that cities under these
circumstances do have the power to change, by ordinance, to accommodate this. Councilmember
Everett suggested there be a means of notifying the public of the Council’s consideration of making
these changes. Mr. Blue said the public has been informed by way of the televised Council meetings
and the local newspaper reporting discussion of this issue. Mr. Blue said the Council would also have
to legally advertise and hold two public meetings on the ordinance. Mr. Blue said what the Council
could do this meeting, if it so wishes, is to agree to move forward and schedule a first reading of an
ordinance at the next meeting. Councilmember Cook said he would support proceeding with putting
the ordinance together to make these changes. Councilmember Everett made a motion to proceed with
the ordinance and have a first reading at the July 10, 2001, Council meeting. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Cook and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Cook X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

AGENDA ITEM 5(H)…CITY COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE ONE (1) MEMBER TO SERVE AS THE
CITY’S VOTING DELEGATE FOR THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES ANNUAL
CONFERENCE IN AUGUST.

Councilmember Alexander suggested Councilmember Everett serve as the City’s voting delegate. Vice
Mayor/Councilmember Scott commented that it has been customary that the Mayor serve as the City’s
delegate. Councilmember Everett said he would be glad to serve as the City’s delegate if Mayor Frith
chooses not to. Councilmembers agreed.
Page 6, July 26, 2001, City Council Minutes-Regular Session

AGENDA ITEM (6)…CITY MANAGER.

City Manager Bill Brynes was out of town at a Florida Municipal Natural Gas Association conference.

AGENDA ITEM (7)…DEPARTMENT HEADS.

Director of Public Works Barney Johnson was out of town at a Florida Municipal Natural Gas
Association conference. There was no discussion from other department heads.

AGENDA ITEM (8)…CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS.

Referring to discussion of possible renaming of some city street names, Councilmember Everett noted
residents on these streets have until the end of the month to submit suggestions for name changes.
Councilmember Everett said two streets on this listing (Landry Drive and Landry Street) are in his
district and he would ask the Council’s consideration of naming one of these streets in honor of the late
J. Tom Moore. Councilmember Everett said he had checked with City Hall to see if there were any
conflicts with county road names or if there had been other suggested names from residents.
Councilmember Everett said as of his discussion with City Hall the end of last week, there were no
conflicts. Councilmember Everett said if there are other suggestions from residents at the end of the
month these will be considered also. Councilmembers agreed to consider this name change with others
received.

AGENDA ITEM (9)…ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting was
adjourned at approximately 8:05 p. m.

ATTEST:

_______________________________ _________________________________
William E. Brynes, City Manager Richard D. Frith, Mayor

Recorded in Official Minute Book:

___________________________ _________________________________
Annette Anderson, Secretary Date