Regular City Council - September 27, 2022 at 5:30 PM

City Council 

Regular Meeting

September 27, 2022

 

The City of Titusville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Titusville City Hall, second floor, Council Chamber, 555 South Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida 32796. Mayor Diesel called the City Council meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 

 

Those present in the Council Chamber included Mayor Daniel E. Diesel, Vice-Mayor Robert L. Jordan, Jr., and City Council Members Joe C. Robinson and Dr. Sarah Stoeckel. Council Member Jo Lynn Nelson was absent. City Manager Scott Larese, City Attorney Richard Broome, and City Clerk Wanda Wells were also present. Assistant City Clerk Jolynn Donhoff completed the minutes of the meeting. 

 

Mayor Diesel requested a moment of silence. He then led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. City Clerk Wanda Wells read the procedures for public comment and participation. 

 

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SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS & PRESENTATIONS 

 

Employee of the Month for August 2022 and September 2022 – No action was requested.  

 

Police Chief John Lau recognized Police Department Forensic Science Manager Amanda Wright as the Employee of the Month for August 2022. He highlighted her nomination and presented her with a plaque and a gift.

 

Water Resources Deputy Director Andrew Jantzer recognized Lab Services Division, Environmental Chemist Rakchanok (Took) Conley as the Employee of the Month for August 2022. He highlighted her nomination. Due to Ms. Conleyas was unavailable to attend the City Council meeting, Deputy Director Jantzer would present her with a plaque and a gift in a subsequent presentation given in the department. 

 

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Titusville Police Department - Technology Demonstration - No action was requested. Police Chief John Lau, Police Lieutenant Tyler J. Wright, and other Police Department personnel gave a demonstration to Council on new technology and equipment that would enhance the safety for both police officers and individuals taken into custody that may become combative. Police Chief Lau indicated the technology was approved by the Council approximately one year ago and it was purchased using forfeiture funds. The technology and equipment were called The Wrap. Training on proper use of the equipment was a requirement for police officers. The Wrap was also endorsed by medical and safety experts, per staff. 


Council discussed the importance of the new equipment and the design for safe use. Council also commended the Police Department for their continued efforts to stay abreast and implement the best and latest practices in the law enforcement profession. 

 

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AECOM Presentation - City Hall and Public Safety Complex - No action was requested.  Jennifer Lyons, P.E., of the infrastructure consulting firm of AECOM and other firm representatives gave a presentation on the concept of building a new City Hall and Public Safety Complex Project and the following information:

 

  • Design concepts for a new public safety campus and new City Hall 
  • Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate 
  • Funding opportunities, some which included: 

 

  1. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
  2. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 
  3. State Appropriations via House Bill 5001 and Item 2286A
  4. State Appropriations via House Bill 5001 and Item 1253A
  5. Justice 40 Initiative

 

  • Recommendations, some including the City should applying for grant funding now, etc. 
  • Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Screening Tool and the Federal government evaluating grant funding to disadvantaged or marginalized communities
  • Next steps

 

During the presentation, Council and the AECOM representatives discussed cost estimates, current building costs, Titusville’s significance as the County seat, the Titusville City Hall was the oldest in the County, the current growth, the community was deserving of new public infrastructure, funding sources and careful selection and the timing of consideration of the type of funds that might be used to support the proposed infrastructure, applying for funds as many times as desired, spreading out application for available funding from outside sources, finding grant funding for building a City Hall, having State representatives champion these matters, problems with aging infrastructure (examples – mold, leaks, etc.), leveraging the Federal incentive for funding for disadvantaged areas, delaying action was an enemy, building material costs for materials sourced from the United States, creating funding options, leases, bonding, etc.

 

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Sand Point Park Storm Water Treatment - No action was requested. Deputy Water Resources Director and Water Environment Process Engineer Andrew Jantzer, P.E. gave a presentation on the Sand Point Park storm water treatment, storm water model nutrient loading data, and the following three areas of information:

  

 

  1. Storm water treatment systems at park (ponds and beemats or floating wetlands) 
  2. Treatment biochemistry (storm basin runoff and pollution, phosphorus and nitrogen removal, floating wetland foliage and root mass) 
  3. Findings and recommendations

 

Mayor Diesel and staff discussion ensued on the inception or history of stormwater at the park (c. 1998), dredging and any implications for not dredging the ponds, pond chemistry and biological balancing goals, pond depth and variables, historical heavy rain events and subsequent meaning for the environment, improvements like floating wetlands and baffle boxes, there were some in the public that would always criticize the City for not doing enough, dredging alone did not mean a pond could handle more water capacity, weirs helped to keep water from entering parking lots and other areas, drainage outfall to the river, pond design was for a 25-year storm event, not a 100-year or 500-year storm, etc. 

 

Member Stoeckel and staff discussed water chemistry and changes that occurred when water levels both dipped below and rose, it was not possible to completely control biology, chemistry, and nutrients in the stormwater ponds, due to it was cost prohibitive. The discussion also included getting rid of duckweed, addressing citizens’ concerns, etc. 

 

Vice-Mayor Jordan complimented staff’s presentation. He asked staff if they could have anything they wished on these matters, what would this include, to which Water Resources Deputy Director Jantzer replied and advised he liked the design of the stormwater ponds at Sand Point Park. He felt the stormwater improvements at the park were well designed. Deputy Director Jantzer also supported low chemical use and low energy demand requirements to maintain stormwater ponds. 

 

Vice-Mayor Jordan commented on efforts taken by the City to maintain capacity, even during a prior sewer spill at the park, and the stormwater ponds were not contaminating the Indian River Lagoon. Water Resources Deputy Director Jantzer provided additional information on annually measuring nitrogen-phosphorus levels of the stormwater ponds or the beemats at the ponds, and using the data to continually stay on top of any concerns. 

 

Dredging could also have negative environmental impacts. Flux and muck could return and it may build up quickly. Storms could create the same effects in some instances, but at a different level. 

 

Member Robinson and staff discussed the cost-benefit of removing muck. Even if doing so, it did not eliminate other issues or requirements.  

 

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PETITIONS AND REQUESTS FROM THE PUBLIC PRESENT

 

Stan Johnston commented on his concerns for public safety and a prior sewer spill and signage he created to warn persons of his concerns at the park’s stormwater ponds. He commented on a Consent Order and concerns he had on these matters, not feeling well at the time he was near the stormwater ponds following the sewer spill, etc. 

 

Laurilee Thompson desired the City pursue grants for environmental projects. She also commented on sea grass growing in the Mosquito Lagoon, but none in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). She did not feel beemats were enough to address harmful nutrients in the IRL. For these reasons, she recommended redirecting stormwater to other areas away from the IRL. 

 

Bill Klein felt that there were no studies or tools to measure the chemical nutrient composition of stormwater that made its way into the IRL. His concerns began in 2013. Mr. Klein also read articles that questioned how effective stormwater ponds or ones with beemats were at removing nutrients. For these reasons, he recommended regularly measuring the nutrient load of retention ponds that drained into the IRL. Mr. Klein also felt the IRL had been getting worse since 2010. 

 

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With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.