COUNCIL COMMITTEES
The Council Committees Meeting was held on June 23, 1992, at 7:00 p.m., with Councilman Levitt presiding in the absence of Council President Christiansen. Members of Council present were Mr. Salters, Mr. Daisey, Mr. Hare, Mr. Leary, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Tudor and Mr. Pitts.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Mr. Worley requested the addition of item #3 to the Utility Committee to consider North Street Improvements. Mr. Levitt requested that the City Manager's Report, item #4 on the Legislative and Finance Committee agenda, be deleted, and in its place, consideration of a letter received from Council President Christiansen relative to a full-time Mayor for the City of Dover.
Mr. Leary moved to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.
LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Legislative and Finance Committee met with Chairman Levitt presiding. Members present were Councilmen Salters and Leary and Mr. Hindman.
MISCELLANEOUS DELAYED RECEIVABLES
Mrs. Tieman, Administrative Services Director, advised members that prior to 1989, certain uncollectible accounts would be transferred to a delayed receivables account. Some of these accounts date back to 1978 and have had no activity for four (4) years. Mrs. Tieman stated that the City no longer utilizes a delayed receivables account since valuable billing information could not be retained on the computer once the account was transferred. The City's auditors have recommended that the following delayed receivable accounts be written off as uncollectible:
General Fund
110-000-116-01-00 Miscellaneous General $ 3,911.80
110-000-116-02-00 Paramedic 117,819.14
110-000-116-03-00 Trash 27,145.59
Water Fund
412-000-116-04-00 Water - Sewer 18,788.99
412-000-116-05-00 Miscellaneous Water 5,138.00
Electric Fund
480-000-116-06-00 Electric Service (58.46)
480-000-116-07-00 Miscellaneous Delayed 23,789.49
480-000-116-09-00 Inactive - 3 19,273.43
Staff recommended that the committee accept the recommendation of the City's auditors and write-off the above mentioned receivables as uncollectible.
Mr. Salters moved to recommend approval of staff's recommendation, seconded by Mr. Leary and unanimously carried.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
During the past year, several organizations have submitted requests for contributions from the City, as follows:
Central Dover Business Association $35,000
Dover Parenting Center 25,000
Tourism Corporation 10,000
Dover Parking Authority 40,000
Turnabout Counseling Center 42,131
Kent County Community Action Agency 17,628
Read Aloud Delaware N/A
Council directed staff to consider these requests during budget preparation. Mr. Worley advised members the City established a grants policy in the fall of 1990, which has never been funded since its adoption; however, for the past four (4) years, the City has budgeted $65,000 in Downtown Development Funds. Of the above agencies, only the Central Dover Business Association, Tourism Corporation and the Parking Authority service downtown. Staff recommended that the Downtown Development Funds, in the amount of $65,000, be distributed to the three agencies which service downtown.
Mr. Leary moved to recommend that the Downtown Development Funds be distributed as follows: 1) $40,000 to the Dover Parking Authority; 2) $20,000 to the Central Dover Business Association; and 3) $5,000 to the Tourism Corporation. The motion was seconded by Mr. Salters.
Noting that the request of the Central Dover Business Association is for the Main Street Program, Mr. Leary explained that his motion should not be interpreted to indicate a three year commitment from the City.
The City is obligated to pay for any deficit that the Dover Parking Authority realizes for the year. The $40,000 deficit is only an estimate by staff. Mr. Worley reminded the committee that the actual deficit may be less.
Mr. Leary moved to amend his motion to establish a cap on the contribution to the Dover Parking Authority in the amount of $40,000 and that any funds not needed to cover their deficit, be considered for distribution to other agencies. The amended motion was seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.
On a call for the question by Mr. Leary, the motion recommending that the Downtown Development Funds be distributed as follows: 1) an amount not to exceed $40,000 to the Dover Parking Authority; 2) $20,000 to the Central Dover Business Association; and 3) $5,000 to the Tourism Corporation, was unanimously carried.
AMENDMENTS TO GRASS AND WEED ORDINANCE
The Inspections Department has recently been actively enforcing the Weed Ordinance (Article II, Sections 21-17, 21-18, and 21-19 of the Dover Code). In order to clarify enforcement of the ordinance, staff recommended that the ordinance be amended as follows:
1) The first sentence of Section 21-19(a) should read "Any person convicted of a violation of Section 21-17 of this Code, regardless of corrective actions taken, shall be punished for that violation by a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $100. The phase "regardless of corrective actions taken" has been added to make it clear that the violation is not contingent on the 15 day period in which the grass must be cut before the City will have it cut.
2) The second sentence of Section 21-17 currently reads "The summons shall cite the violation of this Code and state what corrective action must be taken and shall state the consequences for the failure to take such corrective actions". This should be amended to read as follows: "The summons shall cite the Ordinance stating what corrective actions must be taken and shall state the consequences for the failure to take such corrective actions". The problem with the current reading is that there is not enough room to write corrective actions and consequences on the summons form.
Mr. Leary moved to recommend approval of the intent of the amendments to Section 21-19(a) and Section 21-17 of the Dover Code and that the City Solicitor prepare an ordinance to be presented to Council for a First Reading. The motion was seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.
FULL-TIME MAYOR - COUNCIL PRESIDENT CHRISTIANSEN
Mr. Levitt read into the record a letter submitted by Council President Christiansen suggesting that the City consider a full-time Mayor position for the City of Dover (Attachment #1). He reminded members that one of Council's goals is to review the organizational chart for the City of Dover, indicated as Item #B of Council's Goals Report.
Mr. Leary moved to recommend that Council President Christiansen's letter be accepted into the record, seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.
Mr. Worley stated that a schedule will be presented for Council to review their goals for this next year.
Noting that this suggestion was presented to the Press prior to his knowledge, Mr. Hare requested that Members of Council have the courtesy of following procedures by advising fellow Council Members of all matters prior to contacting the Press.
Mr. Leary moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Hindman and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:05 P.M.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
The Parks and Recreation Committee met with Chairman Pitts presiding. Members present were Councilman Hare, and Mrs. Malone. Mrs. Dean was absent.
WATER USE PLAN FOR SILVER LAKE
In accordance with the Diagnostic-Feasibility Study of Silver Lake Phase II Implementation Plan, a water use plan for Silver Lake was developed by the consultant, F.X. Browne Associates, Inc., and the City of Dover, as follows:
1) Establishes a 75 foot buffer around the lake from shore, docks, swimming area, and fish attractors for power boats and skiing;
2) Designates three locations around the lake for the installation of fish attractors;
3) Creates a "nature preserve" area to enhance the fish and wildlife value of the lake. The "nature preserve" area will be a no wake speed zone.
Mr. Knox, Community Services Director, noted that F.X. Browne Associates had originally recommended two possible locations for a water ski slalom course; however, due to the erosion that could be created, they recommended that the ski slalom course be eliminated. The Silver Lake Commission endorses the Water Use Plan, with the elimination of the ski slalom course. Staff recommended adoption of the Water Use Plan as presented, with the elimination of the ski slalom course as recommended by F.X. Browne Associates, Inc. and the Silver Lake Commission.
Mrs. Malone moved to recommend approval of staff's recommendation, seconded by Mr. Hare and unanimously carried.
Mr. Art Malinowski, District Manager of the Kent Conservation District, advised members that an informational community meeting will be held on August 11th at 3:00 p.m., behind the Blue Coat Inn. He stated that this is in an attempt to advise the community of the difference they can make in cleaning Silver Lake and requested that members of Council participate.
RE-APPROVAL OF WESTFIELD (WESTWOOD) PARKLAND DONATION
During their Annual Meeting of May 11, 1992, Council accepted from the Westwood Development a combination of land donation in the amount of 1.45+/- acres and $39,785 to meet the 10% land donation requirement under Article VI, Section F-2 of the Subdivision Regulations. As suggested by Mr. Salters, the name of the subdivision was changed to "Westfield" since the City already has a development known as "Westwood Place".
Subsequent to Council's approval, the Planning Commission had requested a revision to the development that would provide access to a neighboring development. As a result of these roadway changes, Mr. DePrima explained that the revision to the Westfield Subdivision has affected the configuration, but not the amount of land to be donated to the City for parkland. He presented members with a diagram depicting the proposed revision to the subdivision and assured members that the 1.45 acres to be dedicated as open space has been retained. The Planning Commission recommended that the City accept the revised plan for the dedication of open space for the Westfield Subdivision.
Mr. Hare moved to recommend approval of the revision from the Westfield Subdivision that has affected the configuration, but not the amount of land to be donated to the City for parkland, as recommended by the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Mr. Tudor and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
UTILITY COMMITTEE
The Utility Committee met with Chairman Daisey presiding. Members present were Councilmen Pitts and Lambert and Mr. Carey.
ANNEXATION POLICY FOR SINGLE LOTS
Mr. DePrima, Director of Planning and Inspections, submitted a proposal that would allow annexation requests for individual residential lots to be presented directly to the Utility Committee without going through the Planning Commission review process. The present annexation policy requires the review of the Development Advisory Committee and Planning Commission for a zoning recommendation prior to being presented to the Utility Committee. Noting that the procedures for annexation requests are extensive, it was Mr. DePrima's feeling that the process for those requests of individual residential lots could be handled more efficiently if the City Planner was authorized to formulate a recommendation to be presented directly to the Utility Committee. He assured members that the Planning Commission and Development Advisory Committee will continue to be apprised of all annexation requests.
Responding to Mr. Carey's request, Mr. DePrima assured members that the Planning Commission and Development Advisory Committee will be notified of the proposed change for annexation requests.
Mr. Lambert moved to recommend that annexation requests for individual residential lots be presented directly to the Utility Committee without going through the Planning Commission review process, as recommended by staff. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
JUNE QUARTERLY FUEL ADJUSTMENT REVIEW
The city reviews its fuel adjustment projections every quarter and modifies it in December on a levelized basis for the next calendar year. The current fuel adjustment is set at -$0.004 per KWH. Fuel revenue is $0.03 per KWH which is part of the base rate that represents fuel. The current cost for 3% sulfur oil is $14.90/barrel ($0.35/gallon). The current cost for 1% sulfur oil is $16.90/barrel ($0.40/gallon).
Mr. Worley advised members that the current conditions in the fuel oil market indicate a continued escalation in price over the next six months. The existing fuel adjustment is based on a small increase in the price each month to a projected cost of $19.66/barrel by December 1992. Staff recommended that the fuel adjustment remain at -$0.004 (negative four tenths of one cent per KWH) for calendar year 1992.
Mr. Carey moved to recommend acceptance of staff's recommendation, seconded by Mr. Lambert and unanimously carried.
NORTH STREET IMPROVEMENTS
In conjunction with the Sewell-Biggs Museum Project, staff has been working with the State of Delaware to complete a series of improvements to North Street. The water and sewer mains were replaced last fall. Additional improvements include removal and replacement of all curb, sidewalk and driveway aprons on North Street from Federal Street to the beginning of the Constitution Place Project. The project also includes removal of the concrete roadway in this block and the placement of an asphalt roadway. Since a contractor is already on site with similar work scheduled, and to avoid the delays and additional costs associated with bidding the work separately, the City has negotiated a proposal for the work from the Museum's general contractor, Bancroft Construction Company. The total cost of the work to be completed will be $89,358.00 under this proposal. Mr. Worley advised members that the necessary funds have been received from the State of Delaware to pay for this work.
Staff recommended acceptance of the proposal in the amount of $89,358.00 from Bancroft Construction Company.
Mr. Lambert moved to recommend approval of staff's recommendation, seconded by Mr. Carey and unanimously carried.
Mr. Lambert moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 8:56 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Irving S. Levitt
Acting Chairman
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