City Council Meeting Summary for Oct. 8, 2007

At their Oct. 8 meeting, the Port St. Lucie City Council:

1) Listened to several citizens who urged changes to improve safety for kids who walk to school bus stops before sunrise. Ideas discussed included adding sidewalks and lighted bus stops throughout the city, adding gravel pathways alongside roads, encouraging the School District to start school days later, increasing enforcement against drivers, and a creating a countywide promotional campaign to educate children and motorists about pedestrian safety. Vice Mayor Jack Kelly suggested the Council consider bringing the issue to voters in a referendum. The Council agreed to set a meeting with School District board members to discuss the issue further and to address it at their annual two-day planning session in February.

2) Denied a request from the St. Lucie County School District for the city to sell 17 acres of acres of property on Torino Parkway to the District for future use as a school site. The property is worth an estimated $2 million, and plans call for the city to develop the property into a regional park. Councilwoman Michelle Berger voted against the denial.

3) Gave preliminary approval to a plan to limit litter problems caused by the distribution of printed advertising materials and newspapers. If given final approval, the plan would make it unlawful for advertisers to leave flyers in front yards, and property owners would be required to alert newspaper distributors to stop newspaper delivery. Councilman Chris Cooper voted against the plan as written.

4) Approved a plan to accept a court-ordered settlement to allow billboards on 27 acres scattered throughout the city.

5) Gave preliminary approval to a plan that will allow the city to initiate public nuisance claims against properties with habitually uncorrected litter or trash accumulation. If given final approval on Oct. 22, the plan would also allow the city to declare a nuisance of houses with stagnant water standing in swimming pools.

6) Declared a nuisance of the houses at 221 S.W. Voltair Terrace and 2616 S.W. Harem Circle, setting Oct. 22 as a hearing date for the owners to demonstrate improvements have been made on the property. The declaration gives the city legal authority to correct hazardous conditions at the houses.

7) Rezoned half an acre on the southeast corner of Port St. Lucie Boulevard from residential to professional, allowing the property owner to use the land for office-based businesses.

8) Rezoned an acre of property at the northeast corner of Port St. Lucie and Del Rio boulevards to allow for development of a one-story office and retail building.

9) Rezoned two acres on the west side of Port St. Lucie Boulevard between Alcantarra Boulevard and South Globe Avenue from residential to mixed use, allowing the development of a one-story office and retail building.

For more information, contact:
Ed Cunningham
Interim Communications Director
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5219