Mural Ordinance Gets Nod on First Reading, Commissioner Puts City Attorney on Hot Seat

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission has approved a municipal mural ordinance on first pubic reading. The controversial issue has dogged the commission

as various citizens and groups lobbied the commission to either approve or reject details related to the official ordinance.

Although the Planning and Zoning Board make several recommendations for modifications to the proposed ordinance regulating murals at an earlier meeting, Commissioners on Nov. 29 passed Ordinance 2022-13 on first reading with only one minor modification.

Section 7.12, which originally specified that murals would not be allowed 50 feet from residential properties, was eliminated. Newly elected Commissioner Tristan Grunder, who made the motion to approve the ordinance, pointed out that any mural that was 20 feet tall would be seen fairly far away. He said that a 50-foot distance would not make much difference. Commissioner Byran Williams agreed and seconded Grunder’s motion.

As has been the case at several meetings, this item took up most of the City Commission meeting and resulted in a 4-1 decision with Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the dissenting vote. This item will be heard on second and final reading at the Dec. 8 City Commission meeting.

City Attorney Invoice Questioned

In other business, Weitz expressed concern that the city attorney’s bill for development of the mural ordinance was $18,426, which she considered excessive. The city attorney pointed out that the City has been dealing with this issue for nearly a year. No action was taken on this issue.

In a separate action, Weitz made a motion that the attorney’s contract should be revised and a request for proposal should be advertised to seek a new attorney. However, that motion died for lack of a second.

The city manager said staff would research the cost of an in-house attorney as the topic has been brought up several times.

Impact Fees

The Commission held the second required workshop prior to considering implementation of new impact fees for transportation, parks and general government impacts. On Nov. 29, City Manager Ashley Stathatos explained that general government includes impacts related to police, fire and facilities.

Impact fees are a one-time fee assessed on new residential and commercial development to pay for the costs associated with growth.

As part of the process, Duncan & Associates was hired to produce a technical report that establishes the need and appropriate amount to assess in impact fees to serve new development.

Stathatos reviewed the study’s findings during the workshop and said that the fees for new construction of single-family detached dwellings would be $4,989 and multi-family dwellings would be $3,130.

The assessed rate depends on the construction type is would be assessed at a rate based on each 1,000 square feet. Rates include retail/commercial construction assessed at $4,502, office construction at $3,242, industrial construction at $1,448, warehouse construction at $549 and public/institutional construction assessed at $1,498.

Stathatos said the Commission could lower those amounts after the water and sewer impact fees have been determined, but that increasing fees would require additional effort. She suggested the Commission consider approving the proposed impact fees at the discussed rates. The Commission unanimously approved upon first reading of Ordinance 2022-17 at the City Commission meeting held after the workshop.

Other Business

In other City business, a site plan was approved for an 8 ft. x 10 ft. shed for Chomper’s Diner, located at 23508 N.W. 185^th Road, behind their existing drive-through diner. The shed is not air conditioned and will be used for additional storage. “The shed will be constructed of Hardie board siding with an aluminum roof and will be painted to match the existing building,” said Stathatos. Bushes will also be planted on the rear and the side facing Northwest 235^th Street.

Commissioner Williams was appointed to be the City’s representative to the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. At times when he is unable to attend due to Commission meeting conflicts, Kristy Adkins will act as his delegate.

Commissioners unanimously approved the final amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget, which required approval by Nov. 30, in accordance with state statute. ARPA funding and expenditures were not included at the time of the FY22 budget development and were the only revisions in the amendment.

The next City Commission meeting will be held Dec. 8 at the Civic Center as construction on the City Hall elevators are to begin this week, with completion anticipated by the first of the year.

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