City Council - Regular Meeting

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All righty. We ready? Like to call the uh regular Florence Council meeting to order for March 16th, 2026. Please rise for a pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Roll call, please. Councelor Van Hton, here. Councelor Stifel, here. Councelor Mglman, here. Councelor Gardner, here. Councelor Stone, here. Councelor McKinnon, here. Mayor Wolf

here. Um, there was no sign up for public comment, but I would like to just extend a welcome to a few people who said they just came here to to see how it how it goes and some have been watching it online, but just wanted to come and see one in person. So, welcome. Uh, consent agenda. We have um six items. Minutes from last meeting, city expenditures, special event permit for the Florence Pioneer Museum, uh the award for the ADA ramps, uh award for the chip and seal project, and an award for the Pioneer Park restroom uh facility. At this time, do any of the council members wish to pull any of these items? I want to pull C.

Okay. Um, I'd like to pull A and F. All right. Any others? Okay. At this time, do we have a motion to approve the remainder of the consent agenda? I'll make a motion that we approve item B, D, and E of tonight's consent agenda. We have a second. Second. Okay. All in favor?

Any opposed? Any abstain? All right. Motion passes. Um item A, considering approving the minutes. Um Tammy, okay. Wasn't here. Okay. Okay. Are there any other questions on that? Okay. Can we have a motion to approve item A? I move to approve the March 2nd minutes as presented. Okay. Do we have a second? I'll second that. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? Any abstain? Motion passes. Item C. Go ahead.

And I asked to pull C because I'm the one that's uh submitted the permit. Okay. and zone. Okay. At this time, does council have any other questions for this? Okay. Do we have a motion to approve item C? I'll make a motion to approve uh item C. Do we have a second? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Any abstain? Item F, consider awarding a contract for the Pioneer Park restroom facility construction. Um, see manager.

All right. All right. Thank you, council. Um, the item in front of you is the uh Pioneer Park bathroom, which we have uh I believe this is the second time we've went out for bid. Um, the first one was definitely outside of our um budget. So, we took it back to the drawing board um and did some reconfiguring on some of the things that uh maybe were not I hate to say not necessary, but um we kind of really pulled it down to get that cost down. Um so we are recommending that you award this contract for construction um uh for the Pioner Park restroom facility for the city of Florence to Spire Building Group in the amount of 591,100 plus a 10% uh contingency. On February 10th, 2026, the city of Florence released the uh request for bid for the Pioneer Park restroom construction in the city of Florence. The request was published in the daily record, the uh city's official website. Uh we had five qualified bids. Um and the lowest qualified bidder was determined in accordance with state law in the Florence Municipal Code. Upon city council approval and the full execution of the formal written agreement, the notice of award and notice to proceed will be given to spire uh building group. The project cost will be 591,000. The bid is more than budgeted amount for the project uh which will result in a budget amendment. The difference in the cost is uh closely related to inflation costs and then the materials. Um staff

is also requesting a 10% contingency in case any unforeseen issues arise while the work is occurring. Uh so the project uh can be completed without returning. Um that contingency will only be used in emergency or a have to. Um the problem is you just don't know sometimes until you start digging or things happen. Um, so trying to uh part of some of the costs that were associated in this, we took it from a block building to metal walls that brought some of the costs down. Um, this is on our master plan and it is your budget vision uh for this year. Um, what's exciting about this is this building well while the other building actually was built in the 50s where 60s so I was off a little um and has lasted this long. This building well taken care of should do the same. So, this is really an investment that could uh last for uh several generations down the road and fits right within the plan of the pool and the parks and uh what we're looking for. Um the budget the budgeted amount is the amount is much more than the budget. Um we would take those funds from fund balance this year and then reserves. So uh as you know in the budget we budget very conservatively on our investments. So we do see um quite a bit of return on that on our interest income. So we could use that and then secondly go into general fund

um reserves. So that would be where that extra income would go. Um, one other thing is we are looking um, we could all we have one project that we went out for bid that we're going to put a hold on. Um, which I'll talk about later, but the PD parking lot kind of is looking a little higher than what we thought. So that there could be one project that we can put on hold for future years. So, uh, we are asking for you to award a contract for the Pioneer Park restroom facility in the city of Florence to Spire Building Group in the amount of 591,100 plus the 10% contingency. Any questions?

Yes. What is the timeline,

Sam? What What is your timeline? from notice to proceed 120 days. So that is worst case scenario. Um it does put us after the 4th of July though. Um and unfortunately with some of the other projects in the park that's that's what we're that's what we're seeing. So, um, yeah.

Could you also remind us the size of it? How many toilets that are, um, in there and hand sinks and just general? Mhm. I can come up here. uh council. It also is a little different than what we're used to because the in the middle is uh what the mop closet

to where it can be cleaned easier uh with a hose. Um unfortunately that bathroom can get bad. So, um, that was something that we thought was important to make it, uh, easier to clean.

Yes. Yes. And like Doria is saying there in the center, you'll see three doors facing the west. I believe the women's will be toward the north. The men's will be on the south side of it. The center section will be the me mechanical room where we have the malt buckets, the hot water heaters, the heater, and uh cleaning supplies of that nature. There like like I was explaining earlier there on in the men's and women's there will be an ADA accessible stall in the rear and four more stalls coming out this way. Then two sinks, I believe it is, hand dryers and things like that. Motion detectors. People walk in there, lights turn on and off. There are some skylights come down in there to help conserve some of the some of the costs, some of the energy costs of that nature. Okay, any other questions? I had a question just about security. Are we going to have a a camera or something on the on the bathroom just from a security standpoint? Because, you know, I know the other one could get beat up a little bit. We

It sounds like the design is different, like there's not a place to go inside a cage and kind of hide out. Yes. And and that's what we want uh eliminated. We we talked to the chief because somebody could get blocked in that back corner over there because it's fence all the way around and we don't want that and chief didn't want that. So your officers, nobody gets hurt back in that back corner over there and there is a camera pointed from the pool toward the bathrooms on the north side of it. On the north side. Okay. Yes. Unfortunately, we've had to use that in the past for vandalism and Yes. stuff like that. I mean, vandalism, it's it's a thing.

It unfortunately it's a public place and unfortunately, yes, it it may happen. So, with regard to security, will it be locked? It'll be locked at night. Yes. 10 to 7, I believe it is, because the park actually is closed at 10:00 and opens at 7. And then question number two, with the company coming from Littleton, are they subcontracting down here or workers driving back and forth or is is that a concern?

No, the first three you see up there is uh Arrowhead. I think it is the first two or three there, they're doing the actual. Yeah, Sam, they don't have that piece, but yes, mo most of them will. They do have subcontractors that Yes, that they use. Some local, some not. Um, and that's pretty normal, right? Yes, it is. Yep. Not everybody specializes in one thing. Yeah. Well, I know this was like number one on our capital improvement list and it's something that's needed. Yes. for that, you know, and not just for Florence citizens, but everybody that comes from

Exactly. all around. Um, fence. This isn't done. Then we got a a blue room jungle down there, which was bathrooms, you know, blue rooms down there, you know, constru. Yeah, I'm I'm sorry, but yeah, only way I could explain that. So, okay. What did he say? I was a little slow on that one. Me, too. Okay, go. Me. Okay. Any other questions? Someone like to make a motion. I can make a motion

award the contract for the Pioneer Park restroom facility in the city of Florence to Spiral Building Group in the amount of 500,91 and $100 plus 10% contingency. Do we have a second? I'll second that. Okay. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, councel. Ashley and I and Lori will get the ball rolling tomorrow. We are so excited to have doors on the bathroom. I know that was that was a big deal for me. Doors.

Please let him stay. Please. All right. Thank you, Sam.

Item five, old business, considering adopting a second reading of an ordinance amending the Florence Municipal Code concerning registered sex offender regulations. See measure. Thank you, council. Uh this is just housekeeping. This is the second reading uh of that uh ordinance. Uh this will uh is it cod codify codify codify the uh ordinance with the required time. Um just a recap of it. We were we uh updated the code uh to meet the standards for the state statute. Uh so we just recommend on the second reading uh ordinance 126 an ordinance amending Florence's municipal code title 8 by adding new chapter 8.64 sex offender sex offender registry restrictions prohibiting certain sexually violent predators and registered sex offenders from re residing near schools parks in child frequented locations and providing penalties. All right. Do we have any questions? I know we had good discussion on this last last meeting. Okay. All right. Hearing no questions. Roll call, please. Or have a motion, please. I'm ahead of myself.

I move to adopt the second reading of ordinance, 1226. Does he need to state the whole thing? No. Okay. I'll second. Do we have a second? Okay. Roll call, please. Councelor Stiflel, yes. Councelor Vanhton, yes. Councelor Mglleman, yes. Councelor Gardner, yes. Councelor Stone, yes. Councelor McKinnon, yes. Mayor Wolf, yes.

All right. Next item. Consider adopting a resolution amending the outside agency funding request program for the city of Florence. City manager. Thank you, mayor. Very excited and I know there's a lot of people that are very excited about uh this one. Um this is an update. This is adopting the resolution amending our outside agency funding request program uh for the city of Florence. Um we are asking you to amend the outside agency funding request program for the city. Um, the program documents the provided necessary guidelines for the establishment of a uniform and efficient personnel management system in order to ensure fair treatment and applicants and equitable consideration during the budgeting process. This program documents rules and procedures for allocating those funds based on the city of Florence's master plan and city council goals. The original program document was adopted by the Florence City Council on April 1st, 2024 with the adoption of the resolution 5 2024. The program document changes uh consistent of a variety of topics related to the efficient and equitable distribution of funds. Um and this is what we talked about in our committee um as to those changes. Um, Courtland is bringing up what uh for uh the for the public and for you guys the application. Um, so the application was revised to more clearly represent the intent of the funding request and provide additional clarity regarding how the requested funds will be utilized. These modifications were made to ensure the

application more accurately reflects the purpose and anticipated outcomes of the proposed program or service. The revision also allows for a more thorough evaluation of whether the program or service aligns with the priority categories and guiding principles outlined in the city of Florence master plan, helping to ensure that funding considerations remain consistent with the city's broader strategic goals and community priorities. So there's one um ineligibility request. The application has been updated to require organizations to provide documents verifying their 501c3 nonprofit along with current certification of good standing. The requirement helps ensure organizations are properly registered compliant with applicable regulations and in good standing. The selection process, the up the updated process provides a clear overview of the review procedures, including recent modifications to the composition and responsibilities of the review committee. Under the previous process, the city council appointed two members to score, compile, and organize. Um, under the revised process, all city council members will now review each application using a standardized matrix, ensuring consistent, fair, and transparent evaluation across all applicants. Following the scoring, the city staff will compile and average the scores along with all qual qualifying supporting documentations and provide the packet to city council in advance of the funding request. Um the approach enhances accountability, promotes inclusivity and review process and ensures that all applications are evaluated equitably in the spirit of continuous improvement and after completing the 2025 outside agency funding process in its entirety. Staff recommends considering these changes and improvements to the program. The adoption of this res resolution adopts

and amends the program documented by reference. So, um um sorry, go ahead. First, I'd like to ask this is a new budget item is if there's any public comment on this at all. Okay. Hearing none, go to staff questions from councel. Well, I think first uh the application, okay,

um goes to uh very specific questions, very timestamped, and it also shares uh I don't know, Courtland, if you could go to the uh go through it so we can look at it. So, really simple. Um it will not let you go any further if it's a required line. um really specific questions describing um you can upload the required documents. Um they'll go straight to the file to where nothing is left. It's all in one one spot. Okay. If you guys see anything on here as she's going through, let us know. Um, Courtland, if they're working on it, can they save it and go back later or is it You can. Okay. So, that that's good. So, I think people will appreciate that. Um, and then the master plan categories are in there. So you don't have to go and search for them. You just have to figure out where where your project falls within that. And if somebody has a question, well, we don't know. Reach out to myself or Courtland. Um we will be happy to help with that because that's new and uh we can uh help people with that. Council, we have any questions here?

Yes. I want to go back on that one about 501c3s. It's my understanding that we're you're not required to be a 501c3 to apply for funds. It gives you uh matrix. It might give you extra credit. It's on the matrix. We have a situation where matrix of you know. Okay. So it gives you m matrix points. So it could give you uh additional points because the two I'm concerned about one is pioneer day committee is not a 501c3 and the farmers market who partners with them for all that and fundraising is not a 501c3.

Right. But it's not saying required to have the 501c3. It's just required to answer yes or no. It's just to show if you do have one, you have to put in Yes. You filed a good stand question. Yes. I don't want somebody to say, "Well, we can't apply for funds because we're not a 501." Yeah. It kind of does appear to me that way because it says required. Yeah. But it's the document how the document's created. Yeah. It just it's a required field. And maybe that's what you need to change it to is required field, not or required answer. We could put Yeah. if applicable. Would that be better? Yeah. It's not a required yes answer to

Well, it's a required yes or no answer. It's not a required 501c3. Yeah. I think Rud's concern was it was a required yes to be eligible. And it's not so much the way it's picked right now, but I can see somebody looking at it saying, "Well, we could we're going to have a one-time thing for the celebration this summer for the and we don't want to go through that." I mean, it's best to get a 501c3. Sure. And it was a great project. I don't want them to feel like they can't apply for fun.

I think what's important is if they are, we want to know that they're in good standing because there is requirements to have a 501c3. So if they are, they need to have that good standing. If they're not, they're not. Then it's up to you guys to decide does it fit within what the structure and the points. And I think it's a verbiage thing or them understanding. It's a requirement for the document, not a requirement for

We do have we have a question out here and it might be a public's perception of this right here. So Sue, come on up. Is it green? There it is.

Green means go. Um, Sukenzer, 302 Wilson Avenue. Okay. My question is, first of all, is there a limit as to how much money you can ask for your project? That's one question. And the second one is, do we have a grant writer that we can maybe request some assistance from?

Question one, I know in last year's there was a limit of $5,000 that you could request for and nobody got that because we had so many requests. Yeah, there's a limit on the total funding that you put in there as the placeholder. So, it could depend on how many put in, how much you want to fund each project. So, no, as far as this, we did not put a limit on what each individual could have. So, that is that if you want that change, we could do that change. And as far as grant writer, no, we do not have a staff grant writer,

but I will tell you our staff is there. She is. Ashley has been very much training on grant writing and she'll be in Denver for two days at a grant writing class. Ashley's got several grants. Um so, and I'm getting my what is it? The heart the cart before the horse.

Yeah. Um my new finance manager has a ton of grant experience. Now she is not a grant writer but we're going to tradition and evolve evolve into using grants. Now with that said the question I would ask is are we writing grants for the city to have things because this is the grants would not be written I don't think to give to these projects. No. So I guess that I'm a little confused on that one. Yeah. So no, we have no but my question that this is a yes or no question. Um so no no no to both of them. Okay. All right. I think I did that right.

Thank you. Because this whole process is a little bit a little bit um confusing. It it's a it's a process. Um and it has evolved. I will tell you from the days of getting a letter and just putting it in the budget to where it is now. It you're right. It's it's definitely evolved. Okay, thank you so much. Yeah, I'm turning the microphone off if anybody else has to come up. I think you were right about the 5,000, but yeah, you know, I I think we should just leave it where they're asking for what they need

and want the project to be because um I think in the past years it was we're asking for this much and they just said, "Well, we want it all." Right? They didn't have a specific project or or line items of what they wanted. So, yeah, I think it's better if if they ask for what they need. Yeah. And our line item placeholder is $20,000. 20,000. Yep. Yep. Okay. Any other questions? All right. Do we have the applicable changes for that? You mean for the motion?

Yeah. Do just captured in notes. Okay. Yeah. And uh Courtland uh if approved and passed your go live is the 23rd.

So she'll be able to make those changes. We'll be able to get it out. Um and we're always here to answer questions. So, I I want everybody to know if there is questions, you know, CL Courtland is more than happy, I'm more than happy to sit with our um outside agency funy applicants to go over this because this is new and hopefully if this works through the website, this is a great way to to do it and to capture it and keep it organized. Um, so we'll continue that. So, we're always open to help and do that. All right. Do we have a motion uh to adopt resolution number three to 2026? I'll make a motion. Adopt resolution number three-2026, a resolution providing for the adoption of the amended outside agency funding request program for the city of Florence, Colorado.

I'll second that. Okay. And that's with the noted changes. Okay. Okay. Roll call, please. Councelor Stone, yes. Councelor Mgleman, yes. Councelor Van Hton, yes. Councelor Stifel, yes. Councelor Gardner, yes. Councelor McKinnon, I am recusing myself for obvious reasons. I am associated with the Florence Pioneer Museum and feel comfortable in that role. Mayor Wolf. Yes. Okay. Motion passes. All right. All right. Council reports. All right. Um, James, we're just glad to have you back here and I'm glad you're feeling better.

Thank you. Okay. I imagine you don't have any any report. I do not have Okay, Matt. No report. Okay. Rud, I attended the mayor's round table last week and our council meeting. Nothing too exciting. Nothing too exciting. Yes, Ren. Nothing to report. All right, Tammy. And nothing from Sumatra, huh? All kinds. Okay. Ditto.

Ditto. All right. Mayor's reports really short this week. Also, I attended the FCTC, the tourism council. And what the request that we got was for I went into the the new regional visitor center in Canyon and got talking with Emmy Den Denah who is the director of community outreach. And so I'm looking through it and it's it's it's a nice facility, lots of information. I said, "Where's where's the Florence stuff?" And she goes she takes me over and there's like one pamphlet from Pioneer Museum and she goes, "But I get requests all the time. where are the antiques? Um, where's some information on Florence? So, I told her I would reach out to uh places like the chamber, the Merchants Association, the city, Pioneer Museum, um, Arts Council, and uh, the Rialto and see if they have some flyers information because they want to be able to promote what's going on here in Florence. All right. So, that's that's on my plate to to get that done. Are they looking for rack cards?

Yes, they're looking for for rack materials. Yes. Yes. All that sort of stuff right there. All right. Yeah. I mean, it's a senior center. Yeah. So, they're looking for stuff like like that from the Florence Senior Center.

All right. So, hopefully we can get that over there. And, you know, she really wanted to to help promote Florence. Um, I popped into the W three town hall. Uh the mayor's round table was in Rockville. Um a lot of discussion about the wildfire resiliency code and what that means to everybody and you know just the kind of like the the uncertainty of a lot of it. Um so I know you I know managers may be talking about that in her report. And then uh the Fremont County Emergency Management um director was there talking about the hazard mitigation plan. He was there mostly to talk to the coal towns because Florence Canyon, we were we're on top of it. We have all of our information into them. And uh so that was good. Um and the other thing that I noticed uh where is it here? The new signs up in Pioneer Museum. Are those the new ones? Are those the ones that are up?

Yes. Yes. Okay. Yeah. And they were Yeah, they were uh built by up at the high school did that.

Yes. Yeah. And and they got the and and the spelling was correct this time. Okay. Okay. I guess it would have been a little bit earlier, but I guess we had trouble with a spelling spelling one of the words. So, we wanted to make sure that was that was right. But again, you know how much I like getting the school district involved in with the city and city projects. So, all right, city manager. Okay, council, I have lots to report. We have had a busy busy couple of weeks. First of all, did you see the case update? Um, I thought that this was was important for you to see. Um, there's really no specific it. It's just printed right off of our system to kind of give you an update on what uh the officers are doing. Um, there is a a few more on there, but they are things that had to be pulled. So, this isn't all inclusive um just what we could put out. So, I thought it was kind of interesting to see um what's been going on. So, um if that's something that you want to continue and see um I'll keep putting it in. If not, um I'm not sure. Okay. Um All right. Just wanted to give you all I got all my papers an update on all of our projects. So, currently we have the pool project, which is, you know, we went out for bid. Unfortunately, we did not get uh any takers, so we're still working to get a bid. So, that led us to have to we're going to open the pool. Um, and I don't

want to take any of Courtland's hard work away from her. Uh, we're going to open the pool. We're hiring for the pool. Please, if somebody is listening and watching, which I hope all citizens are, we need lifeguards. Uh, please, it's a great summer job and a lot of us are where we are today because of that. So, uh, pool is hiring. Courtland wants to see it. Um, so we will hopefully start right after if we can get somebody to take that bid or we may have to look at little small ones up. We're we're going to look at all options, but right now that's where we're at. Um, water projects. Um, we are working on the rate survey. Um, we did find uh a vendor through uh Colorado Water Authority, but we also have um another idea. So, more to come on that um on the rate survey. So, we're not really ready to spend any money on it, but I do think that we will have an update on that next council. Um we have a rate survey that we did um 200 oh was when I first started, I think. and it was finished in 2020 2021. Um, so we're looking at if we could just use that survey and implement the new numbers and uh we could save some save quite a bit of money by just using that survey which we have all of the uh spreadsheets and all of the information to do it. So Tom, myself, Courtland and Brandon are going to work on that and I think that we can we can do that. So um I'm pretty excited about that. Um, Pioneer Park bathroom. Yay, y'all. That is that is on. Um, the street projects for infrastructure. We uh chip

seal. Yay. We're going to get that going. Um, and then we will get you what's left. We were going to do one major project. Um, are you I guess I'm looking for direction uh with what street you would like to do for that um project. Um, did you want us to take the next one in line on our street survey, our street assessment or if there was a specific street uh you guys had in idea?

Y how much are we talking about? Well, it's the difference between the 482 and uh the 182 would be what we have for that. So, we could do one major street. And I know Sam has an idea. He's been itching to tell you.

Like Lori was saying, the we budgeted 482 this year. The bid come in now for Chips Seal for 10 10 of our streets here in town for 162 lees roughly 320 to do this going by the assessment by the 10 highest there. West Front is on that list. Well, I spent a little time out there and got some numbers together and stuff like that. But I according to the assessment, we should follow that assessment. take care of the poor and move down the line. We we've done South Pikes Peak, we've done Macanalyst, we've done East Fourth and some of the the bigger ones that are on assessment at the top 10. West Front is on the top 10.

What does West Front run from Pikes Peak to to Santa Fe? To Santa Fe. Yes, sir. It's totally up to you guys. I just we in my thoughts, we need to follow the assessment, but it's up to you all. If we have ideas, should we just send them your way? Yep. Send it to me and we'll bring that to you or we'll go with the with an RFP and present that to you at the next council. Yep. Or once it's been out. Okay.

Um, we're still waiting on the P. Thank you, Sam. Thank you. Uh, PD vehicles and then the PD parking lot we're going to put on hold. We uh did go out for bid and we got some bids um with the fencing. It's it's going to go over budget. So, we're going to put a hold on that for now um and re-evaluate and relook at that. Um, so more to come on that at a later council once we've really evaluated what we want to do, if anything, and then we'll uh get your action on that. So, I'm pretty excited. 1.74 million um and that doesn't include the extra for uh for the bathroom. So, uh big project year and every single project is on its on its way. So, we're at a good a good momentum to be done with all of the projects with the exception of the ones we you know the pool. I'm hoping it doesn't linger. Um I feel really good about all the department heads and what they've been doing on that. So, I just wanted to share that with you. Um on my report, did you guys have any questions on anything on my report? uh sidewalk assessment will be brought to you next council meeting. It's all done and finalized with three rocks. Um we're very excited to get that to you and start that program. Um it is uh a very detailed u of every single sidewalk from poor to fair to good and uh was very eye opening. So you'll get that next council. Um I want to give a big thank

you to the water department. Uh I will tell you I have um been watching a lot of issues in water around the state of water breaks and water manes and communities being without water for um a week at a time. And I'm so proud of our water department and our public works and our distribution. um when we had our two in one week, we were down minimal time. So that's that's not the case everywhere. So I just wanted to say thank you and and be proud of of our team. Uh Steve, you talked about emergency prep with Michael Crawl. Courtland has done an excellent job of getting us every training we could do. Um and Michael Crawl is an excellent director for emergency management. Um, and we have some training with him on emergency prep for the city. Something we've never done as long as I've been here. And, uh, we are preparing, hoping nothing happens, but preparing for it. And, uh, we're doing that this week. So, that's, uh, I don't know if it's exciting or necessary.

Yeah. And if you've ever had a training with Michael Crawl, I'm sure he's got lots to say because he is he is on it. He is serious. Uh um I don't know if all of you know, but uh Lyn Ray, our court clerk, she uh she will be leaving us because uh her husband Doug is taking on um a new adventure over on the other side of the country. So Lynn, we tried to get her to stay, but she thought she had to go with Doug. So uh we have a new face in city hall and what's the most exciting about that is that we are have a training program something we have not really had in this city. We are going to have somebody leaving and somebody hired and they're training and what a concept. It's like wonderful. So Courtland did a great job. We hired her name is Mel. So, anybody when you come into City Hall, you'll see Mel and Lynn say hello. Lynn is getting ready to go on her adventure. And Mel and Kiana will be up at the front and we're super excited uh to have her. Um, and with that said, I'm super excited. Um, and I'm tired, but I'm super excited um to be less tired. Um, and I'm sure the department heads are excited about that. Um, I would like to introduce our new finance manager. Um, Brandy, come come up here. Get up here. Get up here. Um, Brandy Sheets is uh

coming to us with a very extensive background in government. She's been extremely successful in her um I can't say current because in her previous role she we uh and I am uh so excited to give somebody an opportunity that wants to grow and be a part of something special we have here in Florence and Brandy is going to add um to to that. Uh she comes to us with um from the finance in Canyon and urban development. I'm gonna say if I say this wrong, Brandy, tell me. Um grants. How many grants did you get for Canyon City, Brandy?

Well, I worked for Canyon City as their grant writer under economic development and finance for the last six years. And inside that six years, we received over 18 million in awards. So, we look very forward to um pushing forward into the future under the finance hat. as she said before, I am not your grant writer, but hopefully that morphs into that and with others willing to come in and do grants, we can help on so many different fronts. Um, before that, I come from the nonprofit world. So, I've done economic development, um, donor stewardship, and just really involved in the community everywhere from Colorado to DC. So, I really look forward to being a part of your team and watching it grow. And we're very excited to have Brandy. Um I'm very excited that how many people were interested to come work in Florence. Um it it was she had some great competition. Um but I'm very excited to bring Bry's experience um with me and to take that finance role and to morph it into gosh, it's just endless what we could do with this finance role. and myself coming from that I am very excited to pass it on to Brandy so she can take it to that next level. Um you'll see a lot of Brandy um at the meetings and um stepping in and um she's just hungry and she is a Florence High School graduate.

I am. So, we have here's here's what's what's exciting everybody is the opportunity in Florence. Myself, Florence High School graduate, Courtland High School, John Building, Brandy, Ashley, Sam, Martin, all of them. So, we're all Florence. We bleed uh blue and gold and uh I'm very excited. So we

I do I really do. Um it's because things are going in the right direction and I'm almost at my 100 days. This was like I was sweating. Oh, you got it in there. And I got it in there. Um, and it just shows that uh we are a preferred employer and that's I really wanted to strive to be that. So, thank you Brandy. She starts officially Monday. I told her, you know, but she's almost moved in. I I mean I nest so feel free to stop by. So, uh, thank you, Brandy. I look forward to it. Congratulations, Brandy. Congratulations.

Yeah. And I was just going to say I like about the you know being the Florence graduates but so many have gone out and gotten experience in other parts of the world you know in the country different jobs and then then come back and I think that really provides some strength to the to the city city hall

and I'll have to tell you I did tour emergent campus um and I had it was f it was eye opening I seen it from every level Brad took me everywhere and I got to be encompassed with all of the different businesses and all the things that they're doing over there and you know spending the the 80 what 86 to 1990 there and knowing that piece of it and then seeing what it is now. I'm very proud of that. It is a pretty it is a cool building that honors the high school where it was and where uh where it's going. But when I was going around, they had a sign that was going to the museum and I'm looking at it and I'm like, whoa, that's a 1990 championship sign.

We got it.

You did? And they said, "We're giving it to the museum." And I'm It just made me think and I looked where my locker was and uh it's so cool to just be so invested in um the history and the future in one bite. Um so that was super cool. Um, I don't want to ramble on much longer, but Ashley's going to a grant meeting. Um, uh, this grant training. Very excited to go to that. Um, there's an LED project on our upcoming. So, I'm working with uh, territory electron uh, electric uh, to change the lights out from to LED. there is potential for Black Hills to give us a rebate of half of that. Um, so look for that because these lights are terrible and we can have a $700 a month savings on our electricity bill, which is a big deal in this building when we pay so much for electricity. So that I'm excited about that project. And then code enforcement, I spent a lot of time with Matt and Pam. Um, we have one abatement that we approved today on on a property. Um, the problem is these abatements are very expensive. So, I'm working with Dan to bring an update to the uh purchasing policy to have a a special part in there about abatements. Um, so you will get that more to come because the the having to wait and how these abatements come in um could make them more by the time we get to them. I'll give you an example. I got abatement um

quotes on one property that range from wow 15,000 to 5,000. And that is a huge difference. And then one property or one area was one was 50,000 and I'm not joking you 50,000 to uh the 23,000. So we need to really get serious about these because the more we wait, the more expensive they are and we have to have a policy in place in how we want to handle these abatements. Um, and hopefully once we get a handle on some of them, then they're we don't have to go back to it. But that's the problem is how do you how where do how do we get there? So that will be uh I'll probably be asking y'all for a workshop on that one. Um, and I think that may be all of my my updates.

Thank you. Any questions? City manager, city attorney, anything? Nothing from me. Okay, city clerk. Uh, the registration for the civic academy is still open. Uh, as previously stated, we need a certain percentage of registrants to uh complete the program. So, please encourage your friends or your constituents to sign up. It's online. If they have any problems, they can always call me and I'd be happy to walk them through the application. All right. Thank you.

I have one thing I was a miss. Uh I attended the art meeting the other morning and they announced and to the circles involved, this is a very important thing, but uh Fremont Civic Theater asked for the bell tower to be their home theater. So, uh they're going to come in and do some lighting and put out some work on the stage. And so we're going to have uh now we've got an art area, shopping area, and a theater district. That's great. So, but they're we're going to have a full-time theater operating out of the bell tower. And I think they even have a performance coming up at the end of the month.

Very good. Anything else? Any need for executive session? Hearing none. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Do we have a second? I'll second. All in favor? Any opposed? All right. Meeting adjourned at 7:25.

Oh, yes. Yes. And I gave Good job.

Yeah. So, what is that? And you