Summer may be in full swing but that doesn’t mean the city commission takes a vacation. It held its regularly scheduled city commission meeting Monday night.
A commission meeting wouldn’t be complete without a proclamation, which was presented to the 2023 Little Miss Plant City Queen and Court, which included: Queen Layla Jones, First Maid Ainslee Elizabeth Creel and court members Molly Jewel Terrell, Saylor Porter and Genasys Tinsley.
During public comments, resident Carrie Rutter requested a city ordinance be established to remediate mold-related problems for tenants of low-income housing units. The City’s current Code Enforcement rules state that renters must first inform their landlord before contacting code enforcement but “if your landlord isn’t properly responding or fails to address the cause of the mold in a timely manner, code enforcement may be able to intervene on your behalf.” Inspectors won’t issue notices of violation for mold growth- only the property maintenance issue causing the mold, if visible.
The Commission approved a number of items all together in the consent agenda. One of the items was to authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with GeoPoint Surveying for as-needed utility locate services. This request is due in part to the rapid development and installation of fiber optics near the City’s utility lines and a yet-to-be-filled Engineering Technician II position. The fiscal impact is expected to be an average of $5,000 per month.
Following the annual election of mayor, selection of vice-mayor and other organizational assignments, City Manager Bill McDaniel shared details about the ARPA-funded splash park which will be constructed on Young Street. Overwhelming community feedback at a public engagement meeting showed Plan B as the favorite design, which included picnic structures, restrooms, a skate park, outdoor fitness area, a playground, a splash pad, two parking lots and retention pond. The project will be completed in several phases.
“I think it’s going to be a great amenity for the community,” said Commissioner Mathis.
Legislative and quasi-judicial public hearings included:
A legislative public hearing to adopt an ordinance approving PC/CPA 22-13, an amendment to the comprehensive plan and the comprehensive plan land use map for a 5.92 acre parcel of property located on Son Keen Road from Hillsborough County Residential-1 to Plant City Residential-4. A quasi-judicial public hearing was also held on an ordinance to rezone the parcel from Hillsborough County Agricultural Single Family Conventional 1 to Plant City R-1, Single Family Zoning District to allow the construction of a single-family home. The ordinances were unanimously approved.
A quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance modifying the 20.05 acre Pointe Grand Planned Development District located on the east side of James L. Redman Parkway to increase the allowable units from 256 to 300 and eliminate the requirement for parks as a second use with a specific request to reduce the required parking for two-bedroom units. The ordinance was unanimously approved.
A legislative pubic hearing on an ordinance amending sections 102-657, 102-661 and 102-771, Plant City Code, regarding the M-1 and M-2 zoning districts. The proposed text amendment would establish restrictions on height and other requirements regarding open storage and office buildings for the M-1 and M-1A zoning districts. The ordinance was unanimously approved.
A legislative public hearing on an ordinance amending the duties and powers of the city manager. The ordinance would remove language that the City Manager is required to report at the next city commission meeting all terminations of employment. The ordinance was unanimously approved.
The next commission meeting will be held Monday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
