March 2nd City Commission Meeting Agenda at-a-Glance
LAKELAND, FL (February 27, 2020) | The Agenda at-a-Glance includes highlights for the upcoming March 2nd City Commission Meeting Agenda. The full agenda and backup materials are available to view and download on our Agendas Page. The Lakeland City Commission will discuss agenda items in detail at the Agenda Study session on Friday, February 28th starting at 8:30 a.m. The public can watch Agenda Study Sessions, City Commission Meetings as well as Committee Meetings live on Spectrum 643, FiOS 43 and streamed on LakelandGov TV.
Public Hearings – Ordinances for 2nd Reading
This is when the public is invited to share opinions and concerns about agenda items. Second Reading of an ordinance includes a chance for public testimony and requires a vote. There are no ordinances for second reading on the March 2nd City Commission Agenda.
Resolutions do not require a first and second reading. Resolutions are typically voted on when they are brought before the City Commission. There is one resolution on the agenda that authorizes and provides issuance of a Taxable Pension Liability Note in an amount not to exceed $82M. This note is required as a tool to fund a portion of the unfunded pension obligations for the City’s various pension plans. The City is replacing debt at over 7% with a much more manageable 2.45% debt. There will be recognized savings to the City over the next 20 years.
City Manager
There are five agenda items under the City Manager’s portion of the agenda.
Items One is a Task Authorization with Environmental Science Associates for a feasibility study for the Lake Parker Tributary Swamp hydrological restoration project. The proposed hydrologic restoration of the Lake Parker tributary swamp, located west of Lake Parker between US Highway 98 North and Providence Road, will be undertaken to rehabilitate the natural hydrology of this highly altered and degraded wetland system. The benefits of this restoration project will include increased stormwater management capacity as well as improved surface water quality in Lake Parker. This study is budgeted at $59,560.
Item Two is a Task Authorization is with Environmental Science Associates for bathymetric and submerged aquatic vegetation mapping for priority lakes including Lakes Beulah, Bonnet, Bonny, Crystal, Gibson, Hollingsworth, Hunter, Mirror, Morton, Parker, and Wire. The bathymetric maps produced by this effort will provide a measurement of the depths of the lakes through topographic mapping of the lake bottoms. Additionally, the volume and extent of submerged aquatic vegetation will be mapped and plotted. This information will be used by Lakes & Stormwater staff to better understand water volumes in each lake and the interaction of aquatic vegetation with water quality and water level management. The cost is budgeted at $67,240.
Item Three is a Task Authorization is with Environmental Science Associates for a surface water circulation feasibility study of Lake Mirror and Lake Morton to evaluate the potential benefits of artificial circulation on water quality in the two lakes. Artificial circulation is accomplished by utilizing underwater systems that enhance circulation and mixing of the water column, thereby increasing dissolved oxygen content and reducing the abundance of algae and nutrients. Both Lake Mirror and Lake Morton are considered impaired surface water bodies based on elevated nutrient concentrations that do not currently meet criteria outlined in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Surface Water Quality Standards. The cost of feasibility study is $91,405.
Item Four is a mitigation credit purchase and sale agreement for the South Wabash Extension Project. The Public Works Department requests that the Lakeland City Commission approve a Mitigation Credit Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) between the Two Rivers Ranch Mitigation Bank and the City of Lakeland for the purchase of mitigation credits in the amount of $686,700. The South Wabash Avenue Extension project consists of constructing a new two-lane roadway commencing at Ariana Street and extending south to Harden Boulevard and terminating south of the Polk Parkway. The City has applied for permits from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers. This purchase is budgeted for in the FY20 Transportation Fund.
Item Five is the ratification of an agreement with the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), Local 604. For the past few months, the City’s Human Resources Department, Lakeland Electric Energy Production Management and representatives from the UWUA Local 604 bargaining unit have been actively negotiating a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) related to the proposed shuttering of coal fired Unit 3 at McIntosh Power Plant in the fall of 2024. Both parties mutually recognize the shuttering could occur prior to that date. The mutually negotiated MOA covers operational aspects leading up to shuttering as well as economic factors that will be provided to affected employees.
City Attorney – Ordinances 1st Reading
This portion of the agenda includes items for first reading. This is the initial introduction of an ordinance to the City Commission. Ordinances must be read once during a City Commission meeting before the meeting at which the ordinances will be voted on. During the first reading of an ordinance there is no testimony and no votes are taken. There are three items for first reading.
Item One is a small-scale amendment to the Future Land Use Map to change land use from Residential Medium to Community Activity Center to allow a self-storage facility on approximately 2.8 acres at 3500 Lakeland Highlands Road. The Planning and Zoning Board approved and recommended the change at their February 18th meeting.
Item Two is in regard the same-self storage unit at 3500 Lakeland Highlands Road that changes the zoning to allow the facility.
Item Three is an amendment to the City Code regarding art in public spaces. There are language changes to the current code that created a public art fund. The public art fund will be funded by contributing 1% of construction costs from municipal building projects, up to a maximum of $100,000.00 per fiscal year for all municipal building projects.
Utility
The City Commission will establish a fuel charge for Lakeland Electric customers that will be effective April 1, 2020. The Utility Committee will hear from staff and make a recommendation to the City Commission to determine the projected system average fuel costs, projected power purchases and projected energy generated in order to establish the quarterly fuel charge.
Reminders
During the February 28th Agenda Study session, the City Commission will discuss each agenda item in detail for the upcoming Monday, March 2nd City Commission Meeting. This public meeting takes place in the City Commission Conference Room located on the third floor of City Hall (228 South Massachusetts Avenue) starting at 8:30 a.m.
There is a Policy Workshop on Friday, February 28th at 9:30 a.m., or immediately following Agenda Study in the City Commission Conference Room. The purpose for this workshop is for the City Commission to discuss the growing issue of illegal dumping. The commission will discuss the issue and address enforcement, penalties and prevention strategies.
At 10:30 a.m. or immediately following the Illegal Dumping Workshop, the City Commission will have a follow-up workshop on the Broadband Request for Proposal (RFP). Staff has worked on a draft RFP regarding broadband services following direction provided at the January 31st Policy Workshop. Commission will provide further input before the RFP is distributed.
Contact
About Lakeland
The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population over 100,000, Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third-largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State over 110 years ago.
For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore lakelandgov.net.
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