MARK SCHUMANN

In a meeting that began at 9:30 and ended at 3:00, the Vero Beach City Council set in motion an initiative that could lead to a proposed Charter amendment, tentatively agreeing to change the way Utility Commission members are appointed, and approved pay increases for many police officers.

After hearing from citizens concerned about protecting the off-leash dog exercise area near Bob Summers Field from sale or lease without voter approval, the Council approved as an interim measure changing the zoning of the land from Marina to Park.

Former Councilman Ken Daige asked the Council to go several steps further and consider drafting a Charter amendment that would give voters a say in including Crestlawn Cemetery, Jacoby Park, Piece of Pie Park and nearly a dozen additional parks as public lands to be protected from sale or lease by a simple majority of the City Council.

“The discussion of selling or leasing perceived city surplus lands has caused concern. Anything not specifically named in the charter is not protected. While it is not necessary to open a charter review to protect these properties and lands within the charter, a park and public land referendum listing these properties will need to be included the next city election cycle,” Daige told the Council.

Daige said questions need to be answered about exactly what land is protected in the Charter.  For example, is the Community Center considered part of Pocahontas Park?  Is the dog exercise area part of Bob Summers field?

At the request of the Council, Daige is to work with Councilwoman Amelia Graves to develop a list of proposed parks to be included in a Charter amendment the Council hopes to consider in January.  If approved by the Council, a Charter revision setting aside additional parks will go before voters next November.

Councilwoman Pilar Turner suggested opening the Charter for further revision, to address issues such as Council compensation.  Turner’s proposal did not receive a second.  The four remaining Council members all said they believe the city already has too much on its priority list to also undertake a full Charter revision.

Turner’s proposal to allow leashed dogs in city parks was supported, and is to be followed up on in January.  Concerns about the potential danger of large dogs and small children together in parks that are primarily playgrounds led Mayor Richard Winger to ask Graves to review which parks might best accommodate leashed dogs.  Graves is to report to the Council in January.

Vice Mayor Jay Kramer proposed that appointments to the Utility Commission be made in the same way members of the Finance Commission are appointed, with each Council member having one appointment.  Kramer was critical of the way Turner, Fletcher and former Councilwoman Tracy Carroll, in January of 2012, summarily removed from the Utility Commission members who were not seen as fully supportive of the sale of Vero Electric.

Changing the way Utility Commission members are appointed will require an amendment to the City Code.  City Attorney Wayne Coment was asked to draft a Code amendment to be considered in January.

Kramer also told his fellow Councilmembers he wants to revisit the decision made last September to increase electric rates.  Wholesale power cost trends do not justify the rate increase, he said.  Mayor Winger agreed, and said he would also like to reconsider electric rates once the numbers for the first three months of the fiscal year are available.

Vero Electric’s rates were increased Oct. 1 by 1.9 percent at the request of City Manager Jim O’Connor, who said he based his recommendation on wholesale power costs.  “I think the power rate increase was unjustified and I would rather go back down,” Winger said.

In other business, the Council gave final approval to an agreement between the city and the union representing police officers that will allow for raises now and limited step increases later this month.

The usual cast of characters also came before the Council and the cameras, possibly to position themselves for a Council run in 2014 and/or to urge the Council’s compliance with the purchase and sale agreement between the city and Florida Power & Light.