City Council - Regular Meeting

Call

to order? I call to order the city council meeting on 03/23/2026. Roll call.

Mayor DePue? Present. Councilwoman Gillis? Here. Councilwoman Thomas? Here. Councilwoman Dalbo? Here. Councilman Rainbird?

Here.

City manager ma Mahoney? Here. City attorney Here. Interim city clerk Tupin present.

Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. Item two, approval changes and modifications to the agenda. Is there any at this time, mister manager?

No, sir.

Item three, approval of the minutes. None at this time. Item four, presentation of proclamation, plaque certificates, and or donations. None at this time. Item five, city manager report.

Good evening, mayor and council. I have John Scott here. He's our new economic development manager. He's gonna come to the podium and introduce himself.

Good evening, everybody. As Joe said, I'm John Scott. I got the pleasure and the honor of serving as the new economic development manager for the city of Edgewater. I've been in economic development since about 2009, where I did a master's in economic development at the University of Southern Mississippi. Most of my time has been spent in Georgia since then.

I worked at the city of Brunswick and then also another city Northeast of Atlanta, where I landed a a $3,000,000,000 project with SK Battery. And we dealt with the average growth that came as a result. Most recently, worked in conjunction with SK Battery and Ford Motor Company, a joint venture that they had in Tennessee. Yeah, so over the next few months, my goal is pretty simple. I take time to listen and learn from all of you, from the community members, the business community, and just figure out what is important to the community and what they want to see with economic development. And look forward to working with all of you guys to make this even greater community than it is. Thank you.

Thank you. Happy to have you on our side. Thank you.

I have nothing for nothing further, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. Item six, citizen's comments. This is time for the public to come forward with any comments and concerns they may have. Citizen's comments related to any agenda matter may be made at the matter that it is before the council. Please state your name, address, and please limit your comments to three minutes or less.

Good evening, Stephanie Ford, 115 Canal Street, president and CEO of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce. Good evening, mayor and council member. Great to see you. I am here representing the Chamber of Commerce, which represents the cities of Edgewater, Oak Hill, and New Smyrna Beach. And we're here on behalf of the business community to support Insertec and their expansion We project in

really appreciate you having you being here, but I believe that's on the agenda at a later time.

Okay, great. I thought Okay. I thought we could comment on anything on the agenda. No. Okay. So wait till then

When the agenda item is before us, if you could wait and comment then, that would be amazing. It is item, I believe, 11 a. Thank you, miss Ford. We appreciate you being here and all that you do for Southeast Volusia.

Hello. Kim Long, 300312 Mango Tree. A couple of subjects I'd like to bring up. First of all, I don't know if you've ever recognized Bona Fide Thrift Store in Edgewater. They are such a great asset to our community.

At Christmas, they gave away toys to every kid that needed anything. Recently, they had a giveaway of wheelchairs. So if you haven't recognized them officially, I'd like you to ask them to maybe make a little platform or something because they've given so much to our community. Number two, I have been attending the charter committee, and there's gonna be a lot of charter amendments that are being written up. And they're gonna come before you, and I'm gonna ask that you let them all go ahead and go on the ballot so that we can all vote on them.

The one several of them were really big, I think, and one of them was the Florida Friendly Landscapes and the WaterWise fixtures. And then the one that's nearest and dearest to my heart is I believe they're writing a charter amendment that will put all of the public parks within the city of Edgewater into the charter so that it will take more than three person vote to sell or get rid of. I know you don't have any plans. But then there's the matter of the deed on this property right here. I'd like to think that the council's gonna vote to put that deed back the way it was, but I understand it might be difficult to do that.

So I'm coming before you today to say, add it to the charter. Adding the deed to this property right here into the charter along with the parks would protect it, and the citizens would have to vote to change that. So it'd be on the same thing as what the protections that used to be on the deed, the deed restrictions so you could never sell it or trade it. If you put it in the charter, it'll be forever in the citizens' hands unless they vote the same as Volusia forever, which as we know, they're trying to screw us out of. So please, I'm begging you.

Along with the Parks, please vote yes on the charter amendments. The charter committee has worked so very hard to get these on there, and I think, we've given enough examples of other cities that have done it. Some of you don't believe stuff like that should be in the charter, but there's numerous, numerous examples of other cities. So thank you for considering that.

Thank you, miss. One more thing.

Do I

have one more second?

You have forty five seconds remaining.

The elections that are coming up, I I would like to request that anyone that's running for election, please hold a town hall meeting so that we can see you face to face and ask you some questions whether you do it all at once or you do it individually. I know there's this Facebook page out there, mayor. I think you commented on it. Nobody else has seen it, I don't think, commented on it. It's hard for us to know what people are running running on if we can't see you and ask you some questions.

Thank you.

Oh my gosh. It's getting nasty. So please, let's have a nice election.

Run on Thank what you can you, miss Long, for your comments. We appreciate it. I think the chamber of commerce normally puts something on like that normally.

Good evening, counsel. Chuck Martin, Edgewater, Florida. Glad to be here tonight. And I just want to touch on a few things. I'm running for city council district one. So my goals are to stop the flooding. We need clean, affordable drinking water. We all know we have a problem with our drinking water. I understand it's being addressed, but I built water plants before. I think I can bring some good experience here and help with that.

There have been some fatalities out in front edge water landings. I think we need to lower the speed limit. I've heard that before. I have some ideas on how to do that. I want to bring my forty three years of experience in public works, solid waste, recycling, construction, flood control systems, along with a lot of other things that I've done in the past. You know, we're only about three months out from hurricane season, Okay? And our guys are out there doing the best we can. I know Mr. Mahoney and his crew and Mr. Larracy, and they're doing all they can right now, you know.

But these two major canals, they desperately need to be cleaned out. The LaGuardia Canal right there on 10th Street. The New Smyrna side is completely clogged up, and it's it's grown over. You can't even hardly see in there. I understand that's supposed to be kicking off. I thought it was January. I'm not sure. But 18th Street Canal here, basically, from Riverside to the river, it's clogged up really bad. I know we're working on that, but I just wanted to remind you. And if you have any updates on that, that would would really be nice.

Proud to say that I've constructed and built some flood control systems around the city and continue to do so free of charge. I have one that I would be able to show to people that want to know how to save their houses if and when the flood comes again, because we are going to flood again. You know, we're running through these cycles. Basically, it's constructing a berm around the house with pumps. But I'm Edgewater Chuck on Facebook. If anybody would want to know how to keep their home from flooding, just get with me. My services are free. I'm trying to help anybody that I can. And I'll stay late after the meeting. I have some information that I can hand out here.

Can I stop all the flooding? No, but I want to try. Can a police officer stop all the crimes? No, but they try. They try the best they can. That's my main goal. And I've been pulling tires and trash out of the canals for years. But I'd like some updates on these canals, if I could. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Martin, for your comments. I appreciate it.

Good evening. Greg Gembert from Daytona Beach. It's been about a year and a half since I first came and saw you folks. And I just wanted to come and share two things. One, tell you how bowled over I am by how much changes in which y'all went through. And I'm going to ask you to keep going and finish what we started. When I came here a year and a half ago, I asked you all to consider three things. You were in the height of your flooding. The people were freaking out. It was a mess. And I asked you to just consider three things as protections from the future. No more building on wetlands. No more fill and build construction. Those are two different things. And then to ban the poopy water, both direct to customer and aquifer injection.

Now the first two you may feel that the legislature has preempted you on. I'm so proud of you guys for joining the lawsuit against senate bill one eighty. You're trying to fight the government battle, the government way in a government court, and I'm afraid you're gonna get that government answer. But I applaud you for trying. And you called your moratorium. And you went through it. You did it correctly. You're under charter review. You're doing all the things right now you should. But we're at at the end. Now is the time you've built up to where you actually have the excuse and the standing to do something because you went through all the processes. You checked the boxes. So now we're at the time. And God bless the three of you all that already stepped up to support the Let Volusia Vote Amendment. The three of you all already know how critical it is that we outlaw this statewide.

This is just the start. So God bless you for leading the way on all the things you did. Three city managers, two attorneys, and everything else later. I hope we finally got the right staff in place so we won't be dragging feet on this anymore. So please have your city attorney take the direction to not only ban it direct to customer, but also aquifer injection, not to bake a big mess out of it. Follow the county's profile. They spent a lot of time in there. All you gotta do is change from Volusia County to city of Edgewater and Edgewater Public Supply. The county was very worried about what they were gonna call the entity that delivered the water. Just call it Edgewater Public Supply.

Keep it simple. You can do both things in three pages and be done. If you don't like the counties, try the city of Daytona Beach. What I'm getting at is you don't have to reinvent the wheel. A lot of legal horsepower went to both of those. So please, please direct the city of New York to solve both problems in one document. And the copy of the homework, it's already there. I hear Charter Review had a bump about STEM walls. And that's because they're trying to force a solution instead of address the problem. Stim walls, for anybody who doesn't know, is a little wall that that covers up.

There's air under the house. So whether you built on stilts or whether you built with stem walls or any other thing that anybody else can come up with, I think the reason it hit a block in charter review is because they were trying to force a single solution instead of just ban the problem. If we ban the fill and build, you leave all the solutions open from stem walls to stilts or anything else they can come up with. But to write it off wholesale, I'd I'd like you to consider that as well when you come back. And thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ginberg, for your comments. They're appreciated. Item seven, council reports. Councilwoman Gillis.

Councilman Thomas.

I would just like to take this time to thank all the board members. How many how many boards do we have, city clerk?

Oh. How many?

One, two. At least five. No.

We've got more than three.

No. Five or six. I think five or six. There's economic development, recreation and cultural services, planning and zoning, the three pension boards, six? I think six.

Six times six times five. That's 40 that's 40 people that give their time. The reason I'm bringing it up is I attended the last charter review. And I did I didn't stay for the whole meeting because they started at 04:00. I was here at four, and they went till six and my stomach was growing. I had to go get something to eat. And what what time did y'all end up? Oh, I think it was

like 06:15 or so.

06:15. Oh, okay. Well, but anyway, I mean, these citizens give their time and advice to us on their own time. And I I just wanna say thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart for doing that. You know, I'd and the city attorney was there because they asked him for advice numerous times. The city manager was there, asked his advice numerous times. And I'm proud that the citizens are involved and I just wanna take this time to say thank you very much. Awesome.

Councilwoman Doblin. I have nothing at this time. Councilwoman Rainberg.

Good evening, Edgewater. I don't have that much. It's been kind of slow. Thankfully, I sold my mother in law's house after a year so I could take a break. Believe it or not, it's I'm getting a lot of phone calls and conversations about remember how you said you would look into getting chickens in the city limit? So I guess it's getting good that I'm getting less phone calls about the canals and stuff. I'm starting to get phone calls about allowing chickens in the city limits. So I just wanted to put that out there. I don't know if any of you were getting asked about it.

I've been asked about it for three years.

You have? I didn't know it was that big of a topic here. But I guess if that's what we're listening to, I guess that's Okay. But just putting it out there that it's still out there. That's all I got. Thanks for coming out, All right.

Well, just a few things. And I think that this can be talked about when we receive a new city clerk. We haven't done an outstanding business award in quite some time. We were supposed to do that every corridor. And we had two or three different boards as well that we were going to establish that we never talked about again.

So just those two things. And then I enjoyed speaking with Congressman Mills, along with state representative Chase Traymont about appropriations to the cycle for the city of Edgewater that we could potentially receive and went through our stormwater master plan in-depth. Always great when we're talking about how we could bring funds back to the city. Item eight, consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and be acted upon by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless discussion is desired by a member of the council, in which case the mayor will remove that item from the Consent Agenda, and such item will be considered separately. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

I would like to pull item B for discussion.

Is there a motion to approve item A on the consent agenda?

Make a motion to approve consent agenda A.

Second, Rainberg. Roll call.

Mayor DePue? Yes. Councilwoman Gillis? Yes. Councilman Thomas? Yes. Councilwoman Dalbo? Yes. Councilman Rainberg?

Yes. 8 B, Florida Department of Transportation FDOT construction of the shared use non motorized sun train from Roberts Road to Dale Street.

Mister mayor, it's FDOT provided grant funding. The design of the shared use non motorized sun trail segment from 30th Street to Dale Street. The design project team of Stanley Consultants Incorporated did a presentation about the progress of the project. Postcards were mailed to residents along with the pro's route of the trail to inform residents of this project and a public meeting was conducted on 08/05/2024. FDOT is a warning, the City of Edgewater funding for the construction of the shared use non motorized Sun Trail segment from State Road 442 Dale Street.

The city is responsible for the approval of state contract for the construction of this project. Public works and utilities department will be responsible for relocating any utilities determined to be in conflict during construction. We're seeking a motion to approve the FDOT agreement and authorize the city manager to execute the agreement and initiate the bid solicitation process for a contractor for the construction of the Sun Trail segment from State Road 442 to Dale Street. Staff recommends approval.

I just had concerns with this one because there was at the last meeting, you had a lot of resident input about the way in which it was going, and I don't know if any of those were addressed. And this was just kind of this was kind of put on the agenda towards the last minute of this one. And I just I don't know if there's there's people out here that I don't recognize. I don't know if there's people coming to speak on this today. But I just the fact that this was kinda added to the agenda at the last minute and there was quite a few people that that the trail was going to directly affect that were unhappy about it last time, I just wasn't I don't know. I just don't feel right about the amount of time that they had to find out about this and come to speak on it.

Are you making a motion to table? Or do you want to continue with this since you're saying that on the right time, Mr. Manager, is there a certain timeline that this has to be

completed? If I could have Mr. Solstice, could you speak on the are you looking for, like, where the exact route is?

Well, I know where the route was, but there was a lot of residents who had reached out with concerns. And I thought we were going to work with them to see if there was anything we could do to kind of meet in the middle. And I don't have an update on that as far as they were met with and

Okay.

Picked the wrong record.

If I could have Mr. Laracy speak on that, and then if we can table it, we can table it.

So I wouldn't recommend tabling it because we are we are have been moving at a time crunch because there was a lot of discussion on what route it will take. Pick any road in Florida shores. I don't think you're gonna find a resident that may or may not be happy with the path going through their right of way in front of their house. So there is really no way of getting around that. Path will go through a Florida Shores Street.

So there's really no way around that. This is on a tight schedule. And I do believe that if we do not pass this, there's a likelihood that we will not be able to move forward with this project with the state. This the state has only funded the portion that goes from 442 to Dale Street that has been funded for the construction. We have not received approval for construction between Roberts Road and 442. This project you're voting on tonight includes the lights for the crossing of 442, very similar to what you see in Daytona State College or between Cookman up there in Daytona.

Do we have a map of where it's gonna go?

Not for this presentation.

I think when this was discussed, mister Thomas and Is it in there? Mister Rainbird along with our city manager was not on the current councilor in manage just for the record.

He's already seen them.

I believe This is Matt. I believe Gus, I think, almost two years ago. There

is in the attachment, there is some mapping if

And we only have funding for half of the map. Is that correct? We have funding for half of this map

from one side from the 2nd 442 to Dale Street.

Do we know what page of the document?

So what's your your complaint?

I mean, my concerns I mean, was just this was a hot button topic when it was brought up last time and when we had the discussions about it. And just for this to get thrown on, like, a short meeting, the second meeting of the month with not very much I mean, this was just added, like, within the last week. And I just have concerns that the citizens don't have time to gather their input to get to come to show up for this.

So it added last Friday, I believe. So about ten days ago. And I could have I could have mister Solstice speak about the the future of Edgewater with the trail system briefly to kinda give you an overall, if you'd like.

So we're in danger of losing the funds if we don't do it immediately?

There is a tight schedule on this project. Every the project that we're looking at from 442 to Dale Street, they have offered the construction cost to cover the construction. Engineering has been done for the whole project. But we do not have the funds for Roberts Road to 442. But this project is the state wants to move quickly with this. Their I think budget starts renews, what, in July, July 1. So we have to approve this on their timeline.

And what was the citizen's complaint you received?

There was multiple citizen complaints at the meeting based on the route and the way in which it was going.

Now okay. The route. What is what is is it like a bicycle trail or

It's the can we are we trying to pull it up?

Think on page one, it had a beginning and end, a smaller map, but it was it showed the beginning point and then the end point on just page one of the attachment. This portion.

She gots it. Yeah.

So they the citizens are complaining they don't want it in front of their house or in rear of their house or

Some of them, yes.

But also, I mean, if we were going to like, I just wanted an update as if we did we meet with them at all to try to see if there was something that we could do to alleviate or change any of the route or do if there was different ways? Or is this the exact same route that was proposed last time?

I believe it's the exact same route. I know that we did mailings. Mr. Larracy, do we have any other meetings besides the legal required mailings?

So let me ask you this question.

We're in

jeopardy because we have a council meeting on the sixth. So we're in jeopardy of losing this funding of a period of just a little over twelve days or so? April 4. April 4 is the deadline. Yes.

Did they let it get this close? I mean, the quiet part that makes me nervous is that the state is in a hurry to do something. That makes me think, what?

Think it's They want

to see this in trills. Several years.

Yeah, this is a trills system from what is it called? The from Titusville, SunTrust. So I think they really wanna push for this connectivity

all the way through Edgewater.

I mean, the biggest complaint I hear from the citizens is there's not enough walkways and trails and da da da. So while we're turning it down. You know?

Yeah. It could be cool. Put it through San Remo. I don't care. Put it right through my backyard. I got a nice little canal that they could put the trail right through by my house.

I think there's approximately about four or five people that were at the meeting that were just unsure of what was going on and needed some more information. I think that they did have answers that night, but still had some concerns to address. But I just this was talked about nearly two years ago. So I'm glad we're continuing the topic. Well, it's going go

somebody's backyard. It's going to go No. Down in front, you know.

It's along the roadway throughout the shores. And then like Mr. Larris, he mentioned, it's going to have flashing crossing signals for 04:40 very busy road. So if you're coming from the south side of the shores and you want to continue on the trail, you cross the road and it'll basically flash where cars have to stop or should stop by law. And it's something Mr. Solstice has been working on throughout the entire city with connecting trails. And we ultimately want to be designated as a trail city in the future. So it's a I think it's a positive thing. It's it's safe for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. And right now, the shores has zero sidewalks. So I think this is a positive thing.

No. Don't get me wrong. I support the trail. It's just I just want to make sure that those residents, they were informed of all of this coming up, that it was coming back and that this isn't just going to be a surprise that it got greenlit?

Well, when the city goes through and does work on the utilities, I can make it sure that we overcommunicate that to the affected customers.

Is there a motion to approve? I

move to approve 8A 8B, I'm sorry.

I second. Roll call.

Mayor DePue?

Yes.

Councilwoman Gillis? Yes. Councilman Thomas? Yes. Councilwoman Dalbo? Yes. Councilman Rainberg?

Yes. Item nine, public hearing, ordinance resolution. Seeing none at this time. Item 10, board appointments for item 10 a, firefighters pension board. Recommendation for ratification of fifth trustee stake seat, David Blair on the Edgewater firefighters pension board. Staff report. We are seeking a motion to accept the Firefighters Pension Board, a recommendation to appoint David Blair as their board appointment. Thank you. Council comments? Is there a motion to approve?

I make a motion to approve oh, dear. I went back. 10A, Firefighters Pension Board recommendation for ratification of the Fifth Trustee David Blair on the Edgewater Firefighters Pension Board.

Second. Seconded by Councilman Thomas. Roll call.

Clair DePue? Yes. Councilwoman Gillis? Yes. Councilman Rainberg?

Yes. Item 11, other business. Item 11, SP2602 request to approve a major site plan for 55, four seventy nine square foot addition for a new business, Insertec, at 4100 South Ridgewood Avenue. Staff report presentation.

Thank you, council members and Mr. Mayor. The request before you tonight is to approve the major site plan for Insertec for their addition of 55,476 square feet expansion over the existing concrete parking that was once used by the old factory direct business. The applicant has met the requirements of the land development code and the city's comprehensive plan, installing the required landscape buffers, additional employee parking, necessary utilities, and further storm water retention. There is no net new impervious being added to the site as the existing addition is being built over the expansive large concrete parking area that was once used by Factory Direct.

City staff would support motion to approve for SB 2,602.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Citizens comments.

Stephanie Ford, 115 Canal Street, Southeast Volusia Chamber Of Commerce. As the president and CEO of the chamber, I am here on behalf of the business community and support of InstaTech and their expansion project in Edgewater. The chamber supports projects that bring quality jobs, targeted industry growth, and long term investment into our region, and Insertec represents exactly that type of project. Insertec is an advanced manufacturing company specializing in metal finishing, plating, heat treating, and engineering solutions for industries like aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and communications. And these are not just industrial jobs.

These are skilled, high value jobs that support some of the most important industries in our country and in Florida's economy. What makes this project particularly important is that there are very few facilities in Florida that provide the level of aerospace certified metal finishing that Intertek provides. Their expansion will allow them to take on additional work connected to aerospace industry and strengthen Florida's space and manufacturing supply chain right here in Edgewater. From an economic impact, this project represents a significant investment in our community. And it's exactly the type of project identified in the regional strategic plan adopted by the city of Edgewater in 2022.

Insertec plans to bring 50 jobs initially, another 50 jobs with the expansion, and by 2027, expect to employ at least a 150 full time employees. These include professional positions such as engineers, chemists, and managers with salaries starting around 55,000 and increasing along with hourly positions. In total, the company will have invested more than 15,000,000 into this facility and in this community. The Volusia County Council has awarded their support to Insertec with a $750,000 reimbursement through the water quality infrastructure grant program. The community wide benefit of Insertec's investment in Edgewater is clearly evident.

This is the type of project communities compete for, high wage jobs, skilled workforce opportunities, and major private investment. We understand there have been some challenges and timing issues related to the development order process, and we appreciate the city working with Insertec to move this project forward. Project like this are significant not just for one company, but for long term economic future of our region. So behalf on the chamber and the business community, we support the expansion and their continued investment in Edgewater. We appreciate your partnership with the city and that they are choosing to grow, invest, and create jobs here in the community. Thank you all for your time and your leadership and support of economic development in Edgewater.

Thank you, Ms. Ford, for your comment and support. We appreciate it. Council comments?

Ahead.

Was just going to say I toured the facility. It's on existing concrete. They've been in contact with each council member, I believe, at least on an email thread I've seen where we did not all respond together for the record. But I I don't see any issues with this. It's I think it's gonna be a great addition to the community, and at least it's not a building just sitting there vacant, a large space.

I I just want is there a representative here from the company? What's the average salary gonna be?

My name is Rob Clark. I'm the president of Insertec. Answer your question, salaries will range in the fifties of six digits higher, but the average is going to be a requirement around 55,000 to $57,000

How much?

$55,000 to $57,000

Okay. Thank you, sir.

I just wanted to add that I forgot to disclose in my report that I did receive a phone call because I couldn't make the tour. But I've been in there before when I was looking to buy a pontoon boat. They used to have plenty of pontoon boats down there. It's a great facility. I'm all about what they're doing. And they asked me what I would like to see, and I just said, no runoff, please. So it's great that we're gonna be entering the space age with George Jetson.

I've toured it as well. And I like that they are where they are building it, they are not pouring new concrete. They are going over where the existing pad was. So there's going to be less impact.

I also toured it for the second time this past week. And Mr. Clark, thank you for your time. I'm impressed with the project and the investment in Edgewater. There is a net reduction of impervious, which is wonderful. They are adding a dry pond that they don't have to. They already go with one hundred year storm water, but they're still adding another dry pond just for icing on the cake. As far as employees go, 60 are coming from Titusville. And once the expansion is done, we understand it will be another 80 employees. Within two to three years, it could be up to 180 employees. So I'm thankful that you've invested in Edgewater and thank you for your patience as we move through this process and I look forward to reporting the third time once it's done. Thank you.

Is there a motion to approve?

I move to approve it.

I second.

I 11 a. There is

a motion on the floor and a second carried by councilor Logavo. Roll call.

Mayor DePue?

Yes.

Councilwoman Gillis? Yes. Councilman Thomas?

Yes.

Councilwoman Dahlbo? Yes. Councilman Rainberg?

Yes. Item 11 b, consideration of appointment of the city clerk. Staff report presentation.

As you know, our mayor and council, our city clerk resigned. Human resources contacted the applicants who made it to the second round of the last recruitment process. The only candidate remaining that still wishes to explore the possibility of the job is Cassandra Kilgore. So I'm looking for some direction either to negotiate with her and enter into an employment contract or to re advertise a position and seek new applicants.

Thank you, sir. Citizens comments.

Good evening, mayor and counsel. I'm Cassandra Kilgore. Pull the mic. Good evening, mayor and counsel. I'm Cassandra Kilgore. I'm happy to see everybody again. I just wanted to come up here and reiterate my interest in this position because I would really love to serve your community as a fellow Volusia County resident. I noticed that on my resume from August, it did not have that I am currently a municipal clerk. And, yeah, thank you again for your time and consideration.

You're welcome. Thank you for your comments. K. Back to counsel comments. No disrespect. I I that you were a great candidate, and you made it to the final round. But I'd like to open up for a period of seven days. Think last time it was open for a long period. I think we got sidetracked. We had over 100 applicants, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong.

There are several.

But this is a very tremendous decision that we're making here. And I'd like to weigh all options.

I would just suggest having it open for two weeks to give staff a little bit time to advertise and get the job announcement out there. That's my suggestion.

Long time. I don't know why it has to be be that long. But sure, give it two weeks then, two working weeks or day weeks. Is there any comments on that? Suggestions?

We've had quite a few people apply with plenty of time to apply. And we're going to go longer now without a city clerk. This poor girl over here is doing a great job. And we're going to ask you to please do more if they decide to, like, go through this all again.

But

On that same note, I guess we're paying her a city clerk's salary now. I hope Yes, Okay. While she's doing the job. Okay.

I'm okay with opening it back up for two weeks. Just a search if if you

I'm fine with that.

You're comfortable with that. Awesome.

I'm fine with that.

I'll go with the pleasure of the counsel. I'm I am comfortable with Cassandra. But if you

guys want to open back up, I would I'll go with

Perfect. The

consensus of opening back up. I hope that

A few weeks of

she would roll over in two.

Are we gonna try to do it at April 6 meeting then? Or

We have to select the applicants and then interview each of them.

Oh, yeah.

So Would you would you like staff to interview the first round and then bring the second round to to you all to interview?

Top five, again. That's fine.

Top five. Don't worry, Mike. I'll take a vacation It's all right. How you want to go about this, I'm all good. There's five of us up here.

GREGORY I know you've said about the two week timeline. But where Mayor Dupuis said about the seven day timeline, is there a way if we open it up for a certain amount of time and then could call in for the interviews the next week and then address it at the April 6 meeting just so

we would have a clerk

and get going if we open it up for the shorter period of time and could try to schedule an interview the following week?

I think you'd be pushing it.

Yeah. It's a little

too Yeah. Think that, you know, it's a decimal. Sorry.

I mean, I think I know we need one, but

I think I mean, that's a detrimental position. And, you know, it is almost a week away.

Very, very important. You know?

I would anticipate I agree

that you had already made the seven day suggestion.

I am. Am. I two weeks is quite a long time to open But it I'm fine with the two weeks if that's what staff needs. But I think that it would be pushing it again on the sixth agenda.

Yeah. Depending on your schedules, we should be able to have it completed and brought before you at the May meeting. Meeting.

Well, we can make it a priority just like we did digging the ditches.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So I'll pass the gavel and make the motion that we open our period looking for a city clerk for a period of two weeks. Is there a second?

A second.

Roll call.

Mayor DePue? Yes. Councilwoman Gillis?

Yes.

Councilman Thomas? Yes. Councilwoman Dabo? Yes. Councilman Rainburg?

Yes.

Item 12, officer reports, city clerk. If you'd only stay permanently, but city clerk.

I'm sorry. I have nothing at this time right now. Thank

you, though.

Thank you. Item 12 b, city attorney.

Just briefly, you guys, I know, are tracking the legislature. Unfortunately, updates to Senate Bill 180 did not pass, but they are going into session in April. So there's a hope that maybe some of those updates will pass at that time, and our litigation is continues on.

Thank you so

If have any questions for me, I'm always available.

Can we ask a question now? Sure. So the only thing that they're still considering in SB 180 is the fact that it burdens us with unfunded mandates, correct? Like you've got to form three websites within a week and have space for people to evacuate within like three days or something. Like that's the only thing that's still

That's the main thrust of the litigation, the lawsuit, right now. But the legislature, it's my understanding, is still contemplating some changes to it in their special session in April. But, yeah, in terms of litigation, the main focus of the litigation effort is the unfunded mandate part of it, because the judge kept part of it and dismissed part of it. So the strategy is to shift towards the part that the judge wanted to focus wanted the that seems the most viable path to getting it struck down, which is the unfunded mandate. And some cities have including you guys have submitted, but if there's additional that staff has, ways that this has cost cities money, then we can submit additional affidavits for that litigation.

But right now, they have, I think, a couple million dollars worth already on the record as a part of the lawsuit as how this is an unfunded mandate.

You. Item 13, citizen's comments. We are adjourned.