1948-12-21 MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MTG1V12NUT S OP `.P IE RIE UL;,R LIEETING OF TI3, CITY
COUNCIL OF SOUTH MIAK'I HELD TUESDAY EVENING
DECEI BER 211 a.11._ 1948 AT T HE CITY HALL �0
8.o0 r. vf.
The meeting was called to order by Vice- Tres. Bryant, with Mayor Barrow,
(�ounc'ilmen Bennett, chafer, Pressley, kiaples and Dryant responding to
roll call.` 'There was also a large delegation of residents present.
u!inutcs
of the regular meeting of liecember 7 were approved as read:
Regular order of business was suspended at this time to take up the re-
quests of those present.
Ralph Helms made oral application for a beer and wine license for his
Drive -in Barbecue he is building on S. State i igh,,tay at S 8th 5t. Fo.1 -
lowing discussion, Councilman Pressley, seconded by Councilman Maples, moved
that the license be granted after l:r -. Helms has put in a written request
for same.' Notion carried:
Harry Prebish, of 709 N. lst Rd., attorney, representing residents of
UNIVER31TY PARK SUBD., protested the rates charged by the Consumers
Water Company, stating that most of them in the project had bought their
homes. for less than X300.00 down payment;, and were veterans with not much
money, and gave comparative figures of rates charged in Miami and South
luiami. He also presented a petition with 51 signatures protesting the
Oity's Ordinance ,'178 "which permits the Consumers ;later Co. to furnish
water to the said project on the ground that said Company charges rate
that are unfair and unreasonable ", and stated they would like the repre-
sentative of the Consumers ''later Company to present its side._ Councilman
Pressley replied that he'had talked with Atty. 4ard who was unable to be
present on account of illness, who had advised that the franchise will
not be in effect until water from the ledami mains or thru Coral Gables is
available, and that for the time being the consumers °' #later Co. had merely
bought the water plant from Babcock- Lamont and the City has nothing to do
with it at this time,
H. E. xeating, of Consumers 'later Co., attempted to explain that the
Babcock- Lamont Co., original developers of the ,project, had installed
meters and intended reading and billing accordingly, using the same ,rate
schedule as in UNIVJERa TY 'I:1llTCR and that the reading taken at the time
the Consumers , vater Co. took over merely indicated the amount of water
consumed from the beginning to that date, and that for the period of approxi-
mately three months during which the I3abco'ck Lamont Co. operated the plant
they had billed them a flat X2.00 per month regardless of the meter read-
ings.. He stated that the meters had been changed after the first month be-
cause of two reasons, namely, corrosion of the original meters, and the
need to change from a gallon basis to a cubic foot basis to conform to
their bookkeeping set -up.
r'oliowing further discussion and a phone conversation between Atty.'iard
and usr. Yreblish in which 1ttyi yard repeated that the City has no Juris-
diction until the Consumer s .later Co. gets regular v aterg I'rr. Prebish `
advised his group that they may have to bring suit against the Consumers
-later Co. and the delegation withdrew from the :meeting.
Y ;mot rz. G. Comings raised the question of occupational license tax onforcernent,
stating that he had no objection to fair competition but wants his com-
pCtitors to pay in prorport:1= he spocl:NLcally raised the question of a
license for Ted Crockett for his used furniture business, stating he should
either be granted a license or be made to discontinue his business. -He
-.
also raised the question of the shack put up- by Harry 'sliedcr ;next to his
place of business in a location in which hlr. Cummings had been refused a
similar permit. Fle.que'stioned the amount for a peddler's license as corn-
pared to a merchant's who also pays a personal tax and overhead expenses.
his final complaint was a parking problem and he asked that a "loading
Gone" sign be painted at his,place'of business to enable him to get his
truck in and out.,
un the Crockett matter he was told that ;heretofore no formal complaint
had been received and a promise . given that something would be done about
it now. Ch the VTieder case , it was pointed out that they did have a,
license to sell the toys, and that the shack had been put up without a
pershit and must be removed upon complaint. it was generally agreed that
peddler's licenses should be raised to give fair competition$ and the
parking problem was turned over to Police Chairman Pressley for attention.
Councilman Shafer urged that the young business men, of the community get
together and re- vitalize the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr;. Cummings
agreed that this was a good project.
0. bl. Frank$ Crew Manager for a magazine subscription soliciting outfit'
known as NATIiNTAL LIT 111IZY 1,iS88CCIATION of Terra haute) Ind.9 appeared
before the Council for permission to have his crew work South n.iami
stating that they come under interstate 'Commerce regulations. There was
quite a discussion which ended in Police Chairman Pressley stating that
the Council is guided by the wishes of the residents and the police will
pickup the solicitors on nuisance charges, and Frank'a >: threat of an in-
junction.
I'. V1. Cutler `eras .present to complain about the nuisances created by the
Greyhound bus making it's South Miami southbound stop,in front of his
propertyg including the blorging of their 'horns all the ,ray from Red 11d
ins and the lack of sanitary facilities at the bus station of the Uoach
.idne. he questioned the possibility of re- routing the buses around
the Coach Line 'building, and it was agreed to ask -itty. "ard to take the
matter up with the Florida Motor Lines.
In connection with the Ted Zell request for the transfer of his beer and
wine liceise, the following recommendation from the Advisory Zoning and
Planning Board was read:
"On November 24th at the regularly scheduled meeting of
the Advisory Coning and Planning Board L.r. Tod Zell presented plans for
the construction of a building on the follOvIi»g located property:
of �. 325' of S. 125' Tr. 1� FIWf%100J)9 riII 35 -72•
"This property is zoned C -2 and as such permits the opera-
tion of an establishment serving beer and wine,
"This Board recorurend : the aPplioVal of the plans as sub-
mitted with the following provisions which should ba made a part of the
.toning Ordinance as it pertains to this type buainens:
'That- the buoine,ss, must be Imi -tullY Mallitaitled aild con-
ducted in an orderly ,manner Lind no facili,tigo madd for bogie tc,14 dabding
s,
and shall not operate between the hours of midnight and 7 A.N?. except
as otherwise may be provided by the City Council.•'
"The applicant is also to present a letter showing that
ample of['- street ,parking; is being provided on the east side of the
proposed building.'
Councilman z3haferl seconded by Councilman Pressley, moved that the
Council accept the Zoning Board's recommendation. r?otion carried.
Councilman Pressley, seconded by Councilman iv >aplesj moved that the
Clerk be authorized to write a letter to the County Occupational
License Dept. giving the City's approval, to the transfer of this
license to the new location. !Notion carried
A letter of appreciation from a delegation of tenants of the Babcock
Lamont apartments, of the Council's prompt action in correcting
their parking problem was read.
Reports of standing; committees were as follows
Sanitation: Under control. Chairman Bennett reported that they had
stopped service for non - payment, which has brought in about 18 - 20
delinquents.
Police: O.n
Fire: Chairman Tiaples stated he had received two bids for painting
the fire truck, as follows:
C. C. Turner 115.00 (this did not include any signs or
striping)
So.Iv:iami Atlantic
Service 6: Garage 138.00 (this included striping "as was ")
Chairman Maples stated that he would 'like to take the bid of the South
Miami Atlantic service at X138.00 and while the truck is out, the men
will paint the fire station. They have made arrangements with Coral
Gables and the County to take care of calls and the pumper will be
hooked up and ready to go. It was decided to wait until after Christ-
mas so as not to tie up the truck during the holidays
Building- Chairman Shafer stated that 14r. Segal had contacted him about
the possibility of various uses for his new stores other than those specified
in the zoning board recoamendationse he also reported his inability to
contact Ctrs. Daino over the phone and it was agreed to have the Clerk
write a letter advising her to have her attorney contact Atty. Ward re-
garding a set -back waiver,
Vinance PChal.M..A...:trUNQQrsuggested that the City Hall offices be closed
at noon on Vviday, December 24. Councilman t�ennettj seconded' Council-
man Shafert moved that all offices be closed at noon r`riday and issue the
vocember 31 pay checks to those who desire them.
Councilman onnett brouj;ht up the question of the Uhristmas bonus, and
- after discussion, Cowie 111han ,L.aplos, seconded by Councilman Pressley,
moved that a t hristmag bonus be awarddd on point of service, 45.00 to
each emp oyco who has worked over 5 years for the City, X10.00 to each
who worked one to five years, and X5.00 to those who have corked loss than
one ;year. Lotion carried by poll, as follovis
Be ulett yes Shafer yes rressley yes _Maples yes Bryant yes
There was no report as yet from the Oafety Committee.
F Following the suggestion of 'Harold born that the City pay rent for the
c .-a
use of hisOproperty across the street from the City mall, the Clerk, was
instructed to notify all City employees to stay off that property and
notify Mir. Dorn to that effect.
Councilman Yressley� seconded by Councilman INTaples;? moved that a letter
be sent to Ted Crockett stating that competition requires the enforcement
of the ordinance on zoning and occupational licenses and that he cannot
operate at his present location either as a junk yard or an ice house
that he be given 30 days to take care of this. Motion carried -.
Councilman Shafer, seconded by Councilman rressley� moved that �=tty.
Ward be asked to ;dictate a letter for the signature of the "resident
of the Council` "on the Greyhound bus route. Motion carried.
It was generally conceded that the peddler's license should, be raised
to .00-
It was also decided to ask Atty. 'Jard to try to get the zoning ordinance
cleared up.
in connection with the swimming pool to be built by the t'olice Association
on city - :owned property it was decided to name it the South Dliami ;'tar
t:emorial Pool. ra
The following ;bills were presented for approval and payment:
Y
Cecil carter 45.00 <1land clearing '& street mtnce
r'la. rower & Light Co. 200 }36 street lights
N!ami Bearing Scrvi;ce 3-09w , bearings
5tambler- :dams - Frazer 10.00 �� deputy sheriff's bond
Burroughs Adding Mach.Co. 11.30,kmaintenance
]roster Printing Co � at otali ng 34.0 payable out of GEMMAL and RESERVE
FMIDS,. Y
Councilman rressley2 seconded by Councilman 1v1aplasq moved that the bills
be paid as read. Iufotion carried by poll, as follows;
Bennett yes Shafer yes Pressley yes jdiaples yes Bryant yes
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned in regular
order at approximately 11:30 PM.
Y
V -- eresidentq ity Council
Uity ,U1erk