Commission to discuss COVID-19 assistance again
By 
The Safety Harbor City Commission will be back at City Hall for the first time during the COVID-19 crisis on Monday, when it will continue the lengthy discussions it has had over the past several meetings on ideas to provide financial relief to residents and businesses and also set goals for the coming years.
Monday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Here is the link to the agenda, with additional material, known as “backup,” available via the hyperlink on each item: https://safetyharbor.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=6&event_id=1798. The meeting will be preceded by a Goal-Setting Workshop at 6 p.m. Here is the backup material link for that workshop: https://safetyharbor.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=6&event_id=2018&meta_id=146822
Commission has been discussing a number of options to provide financial assistance, from utility bill credits, to vouchers to be used at businesses to cash grants, but has been unable to forge a consensus on how to proceed. Those ideas and others are expected to be discussed Monday, as well as a request from the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce for a grant of $15,000 for a “Reopen, Recover & Reimagine” marketing campaign to attract visitors to the city.
GOAL-SETTING WORKSHOP
Every two years, Commission holds a Goal-Setting Workshop to review progress on previous goals and set new ones. Among the topics expected to be discussed are implementation of the city’s Ready for 100 environmental initiative, creating of an African-American Advisory Board-Diversity Council, Bishop Creek and Mullet Creek erosion, a Baranoff Park conservation easement, recycling contamination study and updating the Downtown Master Plan.
QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS
“Quasi-judicial” hearings mimic aspects of a courtroom process, including the applicant, city staff and anyone who proves they have “affected party” status will be sworn in, provide evidence and be able to cross-examine, if desired. A court reporter may be present. While the public will have the opportunity to speak on the agenda item, Commission is bound to make its decision based solely on “competent substantial evidence” presented at the meeting.
Conditional use request for tourist home at 85 7th St. N: Florida Flats Realty Group LLC is requesting permission to operate a tourist home at this address. City staff says the application meets the standards for review. The Planning & Zoning Board voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the request, with modifications including a maximum of six guests and two vehicles with vehicles parked in paved areas, posting of the city’s noise ordinance and management company contact information and annual notice given to neighbors with the management company’s contact information.
ALSO ON THE AGENDA …
2019 Volunteer of the Year: William Schumacher of the Board of Trustees for Firefighters Pension Trust Fund will be honored as the top volunteer from among those who serve on city advisory boards.
Mayor’s Award of Excellence: Allison and Dan Thompson will be honored for improvements they made to their home at 1305 Roxbury Drive, which included landscape pavers, a seating area, landscaping and lighting.
Consent agenda: Items expected to have little debate, such as approval of the last meeting’s minutes and most contracts, are included en masse in the consent agenda, though any Commissioner can ask for any item to be considered separately. This meeting’s consent agenda includes approval to buy a new chassis and side loader for $311,220.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Attend the meeting: Meetings typically run from 1.5 to three hours. Residents are given the opportunity to speak on all agenda items, except for presentations and consent agenda items. Come forward when asked by the mayor, state your name and address, and you’ll be given three minutes to address the Commission. For any issues not on the agenda, or any item that is on the consent agenda, residents get three minutes to speak at the beginning of the meeting during “Audience to be Heard.”
Contact your Commissioners in advance by emailing them. (City Hall is currently closed because of the coronavirus):
Mayor Joe Ayoub – jayoub@cityofsafetyharbor.com
Vice Mayor Cliff Merz – cmerz@cityofsafetyharbor.com
Commissioner Carlos Diaz – cdiaz@cityofsafetyharbor.com
Commissioner Andy Zodrow – azodrow@cityofsafetyharbor.com
Commissioner Nancy Besore – nbesore@cityofsafetyharbor.com
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced Thursday that she is mandating that all Tampa employees and customers wear face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Castor made the announcement during Thursday’s Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group meeting.
“If we wear masks, we can put an end to this spread. That is the bottom line,” Castor said.
The order will take effect at 5 p.m. Friday and apply to all indoor locations outside the home when residents can’t maintain a six-foot separation from others said Castor in a Facebook announcement.
Those violating the order could receive a civil citation. Children under 2 are exempt.