March 1, 2005
Minutes General Meeting
Present: Kären Nady, President , Frank Lamb, Vice-President, Glenn Robinson, Treasurer, Cathy Barnette, Governmental Affairs, Louie Nady, Finance, Lon Johnson, Utility, Donald Terry SEEDS, Ernie Berger, Membership
51 members and residents attended the meeting.
Kären Nady called the meeting to order at 7:01 and welcomed Mayor Small as the speaker and thanked members and guests for attending.
Minutes for the December 7, 2004 General meeting were approved, motion by Frank Lamb and 2nd by Lon Johnston.
Treasurer’s Report: Glenn Robinson reported 3 memberships renewed. . Balance is the account is $1,212.72 and balance in the Trust account is $1,496.25.
Committee Reports:
Village Point: Cathy Barnette reported that Cyprus trees had been planted at the park and the annual meeting was held on the 15th. The Paul (P.J.) Bueche Pavilian will be dedicated on the 4th at 10:00 am.
McMillan Bluff Project/Pending litigation: Kären reported that the Court granted sanctions against the plaintiffs. OTDWA and the City of Daphne will each receive a $1,000. A status hearing will be scheduled for June, as the law suit is still active. Plans are underway for completing the project. Fundraising will be necessary for legal fees.
Council Report: Cathy prefaced her remarks by noting that she is a non-voting member of the OTDWA Board. She reported there was less interest in selling the Jubilee Courtyard and a potential compromise may to reorient the courtyard so that it was parallel to the street. Bayside Academy representatives and Belrose residents have had two meetings and a compromise seems possible. Traffic and preservation of archeological materials remain. There will be a hearing regarding the Aranov project (Lowe’s). She presented an overview of the financing. She reported that the Planning Commission vote was 4/4 on the variance request for the Chunchula Energy project and it was sent to the Council with a recommendation to take great care in the decision. The City Council will vote March 7th on the variance request.
Finance: Louie Nady yielded the time for his report to the Mayor
Utility: Lon Johnston yielded the time for his report to the Mayor
Old Business: Kären introduced the new 2005 Board: Glenn Robinson to continue as Treasurer, Cathy Barnette to continue as Governmental Affairs and Louie Nady to continue as Finance. She welcomed Frank Lamb, Vice-President, Ernie Berger as Membership, Lon Johnston as Utility Board, and Donald and Fran Terry as SEEDS representatives. She thanked the Board for serving and stated that she will fill an interim position of President for the remainder of the year.
New Business: Kären showed a graphic illustrating the height variance requested by Chunchula Energy Corp. and comparing it to the current height limit and existing buildings. She read the text of a petition asking the City to review the comprehensive plan before granting a height variance. Anyone interested in circulating the petition should pick up one after the meeting. OTDWA will provide signed petitions to the City Monday morning, March 7th. (A copy of the petition and graph are attached to the permanent record of these minutes)
Announcements: Jean Marie McDonnell stated that she had a petition for a public hearing regarding the stream at Bayside and would have it available after the meeting.
Program: Kären introduced Mayor Small who made the following opening remarks: The City finances are good so far this year. Cleanup and repairs after Hurricane Ivan helped increase both sales tax and lodging tax income. We were prepared for Ivan and had the contract ready for cleanup. Daphne was a model for other communities. Utility department is in good shape. He commented that we need a strategic plan, to slow down high density growth, traffic and control how we lay out subdivisions. Mayor Small concluded his prepared comments by saying he was there to answer questions and looked forward to doing so.
The following summarizes questions and comments made during 50 minutes of conversation with Mayor Small:
Planning, Growth and variance:
The vote in the planning commission was only for a variance for greater than 50’. He commented that 2 structures might be better than 1 high one and he felt a height variance would appropriate in that area..
Suggestion was made that land use be changed, so that there is no need for a variance.
Are sewer plants sufficient to handle condo and growth? We are at 40-45% use to date, although some problems with older pipes that need replacing.
What will city liability be for fire at the proposed condo? Larger buildings are equipped with sprinkler systems.
Comment that it seemed this project was being rushed.
Comment that the project says stage I, there will be a stage II, will they need another variance?
Suggestion condos are okay, but proposal for this project was too high.
What controls does the city have to not become another Orange Beach? They will need to ask for variances.
Will the parking be sufficient for the condo, does not look like it on the plan.
Comment to revisit the Master Plan before granting this or any other variances.
Comment that once your experience growth you can’t go back. Need to be very careful with rezoning and variances.
Suggestion to table the vote at Council on March 7th and okay a height similar to the Hampton Inn or Hilton Gardens. Assume they are okay and had proper variances, why not go to that height.
Take a look at entire community out to 181 for planning and growth.
Overlay districts were defined. Olde Towne and Bayfront Park are overlay districts.
Mayor Small commented that erosion control is a concern, need to have city employee to handle it.
Traffic
Mayor Small suggested the need for an east /west corridor for traffic and need to annex before subdividing east of the city, so that we have control on the structures constructed and can move traffic..
Transit meeting is in Mobile, concerned Daphne is in the middle of a corridor for areas growing south on 98. A few years ago 9,000 cars a day on Greeno Rd., now 21,000
What can be done at the state, county or local level to study traffic?
Many current developments, sometimes over 100 homes, have one road in and out. Not good planning as all must drive out onto the connecting road.
Budget/Capital improvement:
Comment that the past 8 years the city had no plans for large capital improvement projects and they need to be projected for the next 10 years. What are plans regarding capital improvements in the near future? The Mayor suggested that they will be paving projects that are pay as you go.
The Eastern Shore Center does not tie into Daphne utilities.
Suggestion to increase impact fees for new construction.
Suggestion was made to trade the Lake Forest Marina for the Lake.
The Mayor agreed to stay after the meeting to answer questions.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35p.m.