CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council indicated it wants to rest discussion on a proposed ordinance that would regulate yard sales.

Council members expressed hesitation for a proposed itinerate vendor ordinance that city planner Eric Davis presented during a work session Monday.

The proposal prohibits residents from opening home-based businesses without certification; requires that the home occupation take no more than 25 percent of the home’s floor space; prohibits storing business materials; and excludes mobile food vending from being considered at home occupations.

Davis drafted the document following complaints of excessive traffic and parking in residential yards that ruined sprinkler systems. Such problems associated with recurring yard sales have increased following the economic downtown, the workshop packet notes.

City officials raised concerns about the proposal.

Several residents sell items on websites like eBay; many of them store merchandise inside their home or in a nearby shed, Crestview Fire Chief Joseph Traylor said, adding he was concerned about inspecting structures annually.

"The enforcement of inspecting annually commercial office space in residential areas is so overwhelming," he said. "We have enough trouble keeping up with existing (businesses)."

Councilman Thomas Gordon said current laws cover the concerns.

"I'm cautious about setting rules that we cannot and should not enforce,"he said. "… If they are conducting a business, we have laws in place for that; if they are blocking traffic we have laws against that.”

Davis presented options for dealing with homeowners who purportedly have ongoing yard sales. Limiting the number of yard sales a resident can have within 30 or 90 days could help, he said.  

"Often it is hard for us to control (yard sales) happening on Saturday and Sunday. Typically we don't have planning or code enforcement staff available on those days,” Davis said.

Council president Robyn Helt favored limiting yard sales between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on three consecutive days.

City officials said they just want to ensure yard sales do not become a public nuisance or create unsafe conditions.

"If you are going to address it at all, I would like for it to be somewhat vague," Helt said. "I certainly do not want to prevent people from conducting yard sales; it’s part of being an American."

 Council members Shannon Hayes, Joe Blocker and Mickey Rytman agreed and suggested resting discussion of such an ordinance until larger problems develop.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview City Council mulls options for garage sale regulation

CRESTVIEW — The Hub City may have representation at this year’s Florida League of Cities annual conference, despite council members’ absence from last year’s event.

City leaders decided not to attend the 2012 conference due to budgeting concerns, but council president Robyn Helt said the Aug. 15-17 Orlando event is too important to miss.

"I feel that (league conferences) are a very vital part of city representation … municipal leaders have opportunities to meet with vendors and service providers and learn about different issues affecting municipalities," she said.

Helt said she has shared energy-saving and cost-cutting tips with Public Services director Wayne Steele following past conferences.

Councilman Shannon Hayes said he would like to learn other cities’ tips from the conference, but raised concerns about funding. Council members Mickey Rytman and Joe Blocker shared his concerns.

City clerk Betsy Roy offered to present the council with a listing of travel approximation, hotel costs and registration fees during the council’s July 8 meeting,6 p.m. at city hall.

If city leaders attend the conference, Helt said the council should consider taxpayers when traveling.

"It made sense to me that you would carpool to drive down there, and that mileage (reimbursement) would be paid to one person," she said. "That would be better stewardship over the taxpayer's dollar and resources."

In the past, council members drove separately to avoid the appearance of violating state open meetings laws.

"The council and the public (have) been briefed by the First Amendment Association … that two or more council members can breathe the same air, attend the same functions … and not break the Sunshine Law," Helt said.    

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council mulls attending Florida League of Cities conference

CRESTVIEW — Mayor David Cadle presented three service awards to city employees during Monday’s regular business meeting.

Two awards went to Crestview Police officers Donald Howe and Pierre Batiste for their five years of service. Batiste was present to accept the award at the meeting.

The third was presented to Crestview Fire Chief Joe Traylor for his 20 years of service.

Asked how many firefighters the department had in 1993, counting him, Traylor said there were 14. The department currently has 50 firefighters.

Twenty years ago, Crestview had one fire station near city hall; now the city has two other stations to better cover the expanding city, he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Three City of Crestview workers receive awards

CRESTVIEW — The City Council has voted unanimously to present former Mayor George Whitehurst with the Mae R. Coleman Citizen of the Year award during a special meeting.

Whitehurst, 87, the city’s longest-serving mayor, is credited with securing land, at no cost, for the present-day Crestview Public Library and Crestview Community Center. He also helped found the Crestview Chamber of Commerce in 1956. 

"I will see that he gets this award," Coleman said. "After talking to his family twice, they are very happy to be receiving this award, and I am happy to give it to them."  

Coleman asked the council to award Whitehurst, with his family present, following a future council meeting.

Rather than scheduling time after a council meeting, council president Robyn Helt suggested setting a special meeting.

Coleman had a request for the occasion.

"Let him, if he will, sit in the mayor's seat," she said.

Mayor David Cadle had no problem with Whitehurst taking his seat at the special meeting. 

The family has offered to provide cake and punch for the event, Coleman said.  

Want to go?

What: Mae R. Coleman Citizen of the Year award presentation to George Whitehurst

When: 5 p.m. Aug. 13

Where:  Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City to honor Citizen of the Year with special meeting

CRESTVIEW — The City Council will not pursue a settlement to end dispute of a downtown alley's ownership.

City leaders tonight voted 3-2 to not settle with the late Purl G. Adams' family who claim ownership of property near Florida A&M University's Pharmacy School.

The topic was discussed at length after city attorney Jerry Miller gave each council member a copy of the proposed settlement he had reached with Barbara S. Adams and family.

"There is a settlement in the financial amount of $55,000 to Mrs. (Barbara) Adams," Miller said, adding the proposed agreement would ensure the city's property ownership.

Council members Mickey Rytman and Shannon Hayes wanted to settle. However, Council President Robyn Helt and Councilman Thomas Gordon opposed the notion.

"I don't think I can support paying for something that we already had access to," Gordon said.

 Helt agreed, stating she wouldn't use taxpayer funds to purchase the alley, which the city believes it owns.

Initially, Councilman Joe Blocker motioned to approve the settlement agreement, with a second motion by Hayes.

When Gordon asked what would happen if the council voted against the settlement, Miller said the alley claim would remain unsettled.

"A party could bring a civil action to obtain a judicial result," Miller said.

After much discussion, Helt requested a five-minute recess so that city clerk Betsy Roy could provide a copy of the November 1942 deed.

A warranty deed from Purl G. Adams, his wife Edna and W.R. Taylor gave the alley to the city in exchange for $10 and future considerations.

"I'm holding an official document on file with the city clerk's office … it says this city owns that property," Helt said. 

Hayes changed his stance on the issue.

"With this right here and what I am seeing, I am going to think another way," he said.  "Based on what I am holding in my hand, I say fight it. If we lose, we lose."

In a role call vote, Hayes, Helt and Gordon voted against the settlement, while Rytman and Blocker voted in favor.

The alley in dispute serves Main Street businesses that occupy buildings originally owned by Adams. Some are still owned by his daughter-in-law, Barbara, and his grandson, Purl Adams III, who claim the alley is part of their property, noting the former Alatex Building didn’t have a door to the alley until FAMU refurbished the structure.

The alley has since been renovated by FAMU, which believed it had acquired the right-of-way when the city turned over the Alatex Building to the university. Today, a new paved walk runs the alley’s length, sodded on either side, and new walkways have been laid to the rear doors of the block’s Main Street businesses.

A phone call to the Adams family was not immediately returned by press deadline.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council votes against settlement agreement on alley

CRESTVIEW — The next city council meeting is 6 p. m. June 24 at City Hall, Wilson St. , Crestview.

The regular agenda is as follows:

1. Approval of Consent Agenda.

a. Approval of $898.38 invoice for professional services. Requested by Allen, Norton & Blue, P. A.

b. Acceptance of low bid for breathing air compressor – City Clerk.

c. School Evacuation Emergency Shelter Agreement – Public Services.

2. Service Awards – Mayor Cadle.

3. Public Hearing: Ordinance 1495 – Military Compatibility Provisions Within Comprehensive Plan 2020.

4. Citizen Business: Discuss city code Utility Billing section 90-139, as it relates to utilities being shut off for non-payment –Khortense Dortch.

5. New Business:

a. Solid waste proposal timeline – City Clerk.

b. Florida League of  Cities Annual Conference – City Clerk.

c. Appointment of TIF Representative (Supporting Documents are in workshop packet) – City Clerk.

d. TPO Apportionment – Eric Davis.

e. Appointment of a member to the Façade Improvement Grant Review Board Committee.  This is a city council appointment.

6. Mayoral report.

7. Business from the floor:

a. yellow card submissions.

b. Impromptu yellow card discussions.

8. Adjournment.

Note: Citizen Business is business that was submitted by a citizen or group of citizens no later than the Wednesday prior to the meeting to the clerk's office for approval.  Supporting documents must be submitted at this time to be on the regular agenda.  

All New Business is for staff and elected officials only, and must be submitted for approval no later than the Friday one week prior to the meeting.  Those not listed on the regular agenda who wish to address the council should fill out a yellow card.  The card must be submitted to the city clerk.  Speaking time should be five minutes or less. Large groups may designate a spokesperson.

All remarks should be addressed to the council as a whole and not to individual members.  All meeting procedures are outlined in the Meeting Rules and Procedures brochure available outside the chambers.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview city council meeting agenda announced