City Council - Regular Meeting

May we bow our heads, please? Most holy and everlasting God, we bow before you right now, oh God, to tell you thank you. We thank you, oh God, for this appointed time, oh God. We thank you, oh God, for every person here this evening, oh God. We thank you for everyone behind this dais. At this time, oh God, we just ask you to just clear our minds, clear our thoughts, oh God. Help us, oh God, that we only what's inside of our heart, the kindness, the love. We just ask you that everyone in here, you just touch. Touch, oh God, have thine own way. We only want the spirit of love in here tonight. So, we depend on you at this time. We depend on you, God, because we know you're able. We know you have the power to do everything, oh God. So, we ask you, oh God, to just dispatch your angels right here and right now, oh God. Have your mighty way. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. All right. Ms. Exum, please call the roll. Council member Jernigan?

[clears throat]

Present. Mr. Harris? Present. Council member Young? Yes. Council member Carter? Here. Mayor Walker? Here. City Manager Rosenthal? Here. City Attorney Martin? Here. Chief Butler? All right. Ladies and gentlemen, the Lake City Council has opened its public meeting. And since 1968, the city code has prohibited any person from making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks or becoming boisterous while addressing the City Council. Yelling or making an audible comments from the audience constitutes boisterous conduct. Such conduct will not be tolerated. There's only one approved manner of addressing the City Council, and that's to be recognized and then to speak from the podium. Failure to abide by the rules of decorum will result in removal from the meeting. All right. We'll move on to approval of the agenda. Mr. Mayor, move to approve the agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. Thank all three of you. Um Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying yay. Yay. Any opposed, like sign? All right. Now, we'll move on to proclamations, awards, and recognitions. Uh we'll start with our awards and recognitions, and there's a list of very special people uh that we'd like to recognize from this dais uh who received awards uh from the city and and from HR here two Fridays ago uh at the employee luncheon um before Easter. And so, I will read those folks off right now. Uh the employee of the year was Police Detective Richard Poteet. Uh and he's had a uh very integral role in putting a lot of very bad folks behind bars this year, particularly in um child predator investigations. So, I'd like to appreciate him and and recognize him as the employee of the year. Uh supervisor of the year, we had Fire Chief Josh Weringer. So, congratulations to Mr. Weringer, who's here at the back of the the room. Uh we had achievement uh who was Mr. Keith Richardson from natural

gas. Uh he's the natural gas supervisor, so we appreciate him very much. And then we also had uh the dedication award and Mr. Luther Milton, who's a crew leader at Public Works and always has his hands in and setting up and cleaning up and and doing all the hard work that Public Works does. So, uh if we could give them a huge round of applause, and if any of any of our council members like to say anything along these lines. All right. Okay. We'll move on to our proclamation, which is National Student Week of April 2020 or April 24th through the 30th. I believe Mr. Bow, you guys will be uh receiving this one. All right. Proclamation. The National Student Leadership Week, April 24th [snorts] through the 30th of 2026. Whereas the annual celebration of National Student Leadership Week began on national on a national level in 1972 by presidential proclamation. And whereas students across the entire city of Lake City in schools that are public, private, and in-home settings demonstrate leadership in the classroom while soaring above academic expectations in leadership capacities within academic, social, athletic, and community groups. And whereas student leaders make significant contributions to the climate and culture of their schools and communities, and it is important to celebrate their individual and collective efforts. And whereas we believe students have earned their right to be recognized for the entire week of April 24th through the 30th, 2026. Now, therefore, I, Noah Walker, mayor of the City of Lake City, do hereby proclaim the week of April 24th through the 30th, 2026 as National Student Leadership Week, joining the celebration of youth leaders sponsored by Our Community Cares Coalition of Columbia County and community partners, and encourage citizens, businesses, organizations, and government agencies to join in acknowledging the success of youth leadership throughout the

community. Thank you. If you guys will meet me up front for a photo. If Council, if you guys would like to join in the photo. [clears throat] [clears throat and cough]

Mr. Mayor, thank you and members of the Council. I appreciate your uh proclamation for these National Youth Leadership Week. I just wanted to go over a couple of highlights on it on the main one of the main events that I'm uh that I really enjoy is next Saturday. We're going to have our big reveal for the 250-ft long mural that we've been working on since October. It's a little over 3,000 sq ft. And according to chat GPT, it's it's of significant importance. It's probably in the top five in the state. So, it's really something to take a gander at. And we're going to have the grand opening. And we're going to have uh competition between the three counties. And I'm hoping that that some of you council members or all of you will come out and participate or at least look at your your youth as being as representing Lake City. Uh we have a canoe race. It's going to be approximately 6 mi long. It takes about 2 hours for an average person. So, people that's going to be competing will probably do it in less than an hour. And we're going to have the the counties uh separated by teams. You're going to do canoeing if you'd like, hiking if you'd like, biking. We're going to have six mountain bikes out there for you to use if you'd like. We're going to have uh radio-controlled cars that you can actually use. We're going to have a race with those. We're actually going to get I believe we're getting three drones. And we're going to set up a drone obstacle course. So, this will be a good chance for people to learn a drone and and actually see what they can do. And some of them are pretty amazing. But uh and then we're going to have plenty of food, music, and uh we have bumper cars for the real little kids. And I'm hoping that you will come out and take a peek and see what's going on. That's on That's on Saturday. On Sunday at Darby Pavilion Park, we're having the uh uh the uh kids come out and they're going to be doing cooking. They're going to

cook a meal. We're going to have someone uh judge the menus and the taste of uh what they cook. We're going to have chess uh games, arts and crafts. It's going to be a good afternoon for everybody. And here again, you're all welcome to come out. And then on the 30th of April is the banquet where we're going to award these kids that are our ambassadors for what they've done during that particular week. And that's going to be at the Blanche Hotel. And you are all cordially invited. Bring a friend. And uh it starts at 6:00. We'd like for you to get there about 5:45. And we're going to have a nice meal, going to have entertainment, and then you'll be able to meet these kids that we're so proud about. And uh you'll see what we've been doing. And you can always go on our website, our our Community Cares Coalition, and see what we've been doing from day to day. And we also have a site called Wayside Park, which uh we update that every day showing you what we've been doing. We've had people come from actually out of state down to look at the wall. So, we're tickled to death about that. So, I hope to see you out there. And thanks again for the proclamation. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Now, we'll move on to uh public Yes, ma'am. Did you write down those dates? That he was just saying? Yes. Oh, okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I'll make sure you all get those. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Um that concludes our proclamation. So, we will move on to public participation. I have three people signed up tonight. So, we will begin with Ms. Olga Olguery. Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Olga Olguery, and I'm a veteran service officer with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs here in Lake City. I'm here tonight to briefly introduce our team and highlight the work we do for veterans in this community. At our office, we help veterans and their families navigate the VA system, filing disability claims, appealing

denials, and accessing the benefits they've earned through their service. These processes can become complex, and without proper guidance, many veterans don't just get delayed, they get denied. I'd also like to recognize the rest of our team, Dave Dishman, Brian Bowling, and Ms. Destiny Regard, who work alongside me to ensure veterans in this region receive the support and advocacy they deserve. Together, we serve a large population across North Florida and South Georgia, working every day to make sure no veteran falls through the cracks. We are here to make sure every veteran in this community is seen, heard, and properly served. We're out of the VA Medical Center in room 163. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Mayor, may I may I ask a question? Absolutely. Will you field the question? Yes, sir. Could you take a question? Yes, sir. Um you say you're here to help all veterans. Yes, sir. Um do do they have to come see you or do y'all make special trips to go out and and get them? Because the reason why I asked you that question, um I seen one veteran out here I don't know if he's homeless or he was just out there holding a sign or whatever. Uh do they have uh anybody to go out and um get the veteran and bring him where you are? Or do you go out? So, we can definitely make visits to um um people's homes, um nursing centers. We definitely make visits, and we do outreaches. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Uh well, I really appreciate your your services. Uh your services are really great for all the veterans. And we really really appreciate that. Uh I know Mr. Uh Rosenthal, uh he's a veteran as well. And he definitely needs to come out there and see you. So, Yes, sir.

[laughter] First We're 163. First chance you get, uh either give him a call or uh make sure he's seen because he's he he was telling me about a couple issues that he was having. So, Yes, sir. But thank you for making that public. Thank you. Any other questions? Well, we know you're going to go now for sure. [laughter] Thank you very much.

All right. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. All right. And next, we have Mr. Sylvester Warren. Uh Sylvester Warren, address the black community. Council and uh Noah, if we could address a few things if you would. One, I just highly think that it is very inappropriate for people who sit on the dices that took an oath uh to a high standard to be so ghetto and ratchet. Um and a particular councilwoman. Um aside from that, uh it's disappointing that you reach out to uh text, and you reach out to elected officials when this body made a suggestion about people being able to get permits and working with law enforcement, and that you send information uh showing that months and almost a year prior to that, they tried those methods, and those methods were rejected, and you get no feedback, and you get nothing from that. It just makes it feel like you're speaking on deaf ears. And then when people get up here and lash out, it's not that they're uh aggressive. It's not that they're angry black people. Uh they're just unheard, and that's sometimes how the cries of those individuals end up coming out because of a lack of attention to those uh particular issues that personally affect them. Well, they may not affect other people who may have a different skin color, some white privilege to go along with it, and other things. So, let me go on to lastly say this before I make my exit. Is that there is a saying that an old guy once told me that and he said with this was a wise saying that um when two people are arguing from a distance, right? No matter who the person is on one side or the other, no matter how intelligent one is and how ghetto and ratchet the other one is,

that you can't tell who the fool is. Um but I think that most people who watch the council meetings can tell who the fool really is on y'all's side of the dices. And there's something that is written kind of universal in the world the New World Translation Bible. Um it's written in the Holy Bible uh in every version uh cuz I think all of those versions come off the Maserati text. And then you also have a version that's written uh in Torah. And you also have a version that's written in also the Quran. And it says simply this, that there is a time and there is a place for everything. I ask that this moment in which I've been up here for almost 3 minutes, that you all take witness to this conversation that we're having in this day as the clock of that written statement now begins. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Warren. Up next, we have Renee Decker.

[laughter]

Good evening. Good evening. My name's Renee Decker, and I'm the general manager the new general manager of Lake City or Denny's here in Lake City. I'm here tonight because there is an ongoing situation right next to my restaurant that is impacting the my business, our employees, and our guests. When customers pull in off of the highways to eat, the first thing they see is an active encampment. That first impression matters. We rely heavily on travelers, families, and local residents who expect a clean, safe place to stop. Instead, many are choosing not to stop or come in at all. My employees are also affected. We operate early mornings and late nights, and staff have expressed concerns about safety and comfort coming to and from work. I want to be clear. This is not about criticizing individuals experiencing homelessness. I understand this is a complex situation, but it's also not reasonable for a local business to carry the impact of unmanaged conditions right next to their property. We have reached out through the channels available to us, including law enforcement, and we were told there is limited action that can be taken. That leaves us without a clear path forward. What I am asking is for a coordinated response to address this and consistent Excuse me. And consistently manage this situation, whether it is through code enforcement, outreach services, or regular regular monitoring, so it does not continue to impact nearby businesses and the public. We're proud to be a part of Lake City. We employ local residents. We serve travelers coming through this through this community, and we contribute to the local economy every day. I am simply

asking for this situation to be consistently addressed, so it doesn't continue to like negative negatively impact nearby businesses, employees, and the public. And I thank you guys for your consideration. I do apologize. I don't do public speaking, you know. It's taking a minute.

Well, I appreciate you very much. You did a great job. I have one question for you on cuz this is a I think a community-wide headache, and it's a growing concern for all of us, and we don't want to be in com- We don't want to be insensitive or or have no compassion for the homeless. However, it is a growing concern across our community and has been for a while. I would ask you, what what property So, is it uh to the uh from Denny's? Yes, sir.

Um cuz I believe all of that is there's no public There's no public property except for the interstate there. So, what which which direction is it from Denny's so that we can reach out to that property owner? Okay, so my company owns the open property that's from 90 to Denny's. My company owns that gas station, I do not know who owns. I was told the city, but I but and then I was told no today. Um so then I don't know who owns the retention pond in the back.

We'll look it up. Okay, and then So, then that spillway that's right in between that property behind the gas station, and then there's Waffle House. So, I don't know who owns the retention pond and that little piece. Cuz if it was my property, I could easily call the police and abandoned prop- It's the abandoned gas station is where where the where the issue is. Okay.

Yes, sir. And it's I have pictures and videos. It's They're not hiding, and they've got a whole Like I have pictures from the beginning to the end. They've It's now a masked. Like it's a bunch, and I It's just not Councilman Carter, you had a question? I did. Well, my first question was just going to be is it in fact the gas station property? And then um and then I had a question if if you don't mind, I I have a question for Mr. Thomason. I'll keep it super vague. I know you can't just like answers, but I I'm wondering because that property's been seemingly derelict for a long time. I'm wondering if we have in our code what what defines blighted and what what recourse do we have once a property reaches that state because if that thing's been empty and getting worse for years. Yes, sir, of course. Um we have quite a quite a few options, and what we'll do is send code enforcement out there. We'll get pictures, and we'll contact the owners. Um the owners can request that the people be trespassed, and we can go after them as far as cleaning up the property. Okay. That's recently happened here next to Dollar General right up the road from where we sit now. That happened here

Right like last week, I think. Yeah, we did something similar. Mr. Jernigan, did you do you have something? No, um just want to let you know that you you did reach out to me and and left me a voicemail. I did. And uh uh I I I want to say uh Miss Miss Harris is your council um liaison, am I correct? And Denny's? Uh but uh uh just just let her know that I did not know that. Ma'am, I didn't know that, but I I'll be I'll Yes, ma'am, I'll contact you from now on. I just know Mr. Jernigan cuz he comes in and eats all the time. [laughter]

Mr. Carter, you had something else, I'm sorry. Uh yes. Um sorry, I lost my train of thought there whenever I was My apologies. Um no, but I just I know that we have been getting better and better in the the code enforcement office is growing, and we've been able to tackle a few different issues. So, I don't think this is one that we we won't be able to have an effect on. But it does take a little bit of time when it comes to like you send a letter, and that's X amount of days, and then you know, so forth. But um I think we can probably work on getting that area cleaned up. Okay. I have a long list of various

I bet you do. I bet you do. I'm recent to um Lake City about 5 years, but I've seen it. I've seen it, so. But I love it here. Well, welcome. Thank you for speaking tonight. You did a great so much, and I greatly appreciate you. Good night. Thank you. All right. Um Well, that ends public participation. We have nobody else signed up uh currently, so we will move on to approval of the consent agenda. Mr. Mayor, move to approve the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Sykes, would you please call the roll? Mr. Carter? Yay. Ms. Harris? Yes. Ms. Young? Yes.

Mr. Jernigan? Yes. Mayor Walker? Yes. Okay. That brings us to presentations, and we have a presentation uh for the City Parks Improvement Plan that I will now call up Mr. Steve Brown to present. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um with your direction, we've been kind of moving together moving forward with this with this project. Um we put together a team. We got Ms. Brenda in and uh our procurement department. We got Billy Joe from a safety perspective, and we've been looking at all of these projects kind of holistically. Um obviously, we changed direction from where we originally started. We were looking at repairs, and we got some quotes on that. Um the council's interest was to maybe go in and do a bigger revamping of the park, which I think it's a great idea. Um anytime you change your expectations, you know, the costs have to align somewhere. Um so, we do have some updated cost, but what we've got so far is is is we've got a video from GameStop. GameStop is the company that works for that works with the county. Um they do all of their stuff. They're very well-known in the business. Um so, we had them put us together some information. Some of it's in your packet, and we have a video we'd like to play for you real quick. Please. Thank you. Can we Is there Is there any way to correct the resolution on that? Is there sound that goes with it? You might have to reload it. There we go. There we go. Is Is there Is there Is there audio? I don't believe there is audio. I think this is just visual conceptual walk-through. So, this would be the main main playground. Where Young's Park is currently located. Correct.

While we're watching this, Mr. Brown, why don't you walk through some of the changes that we would have to make to So, currently, the first thing we're going to do is public works staff's going to go out and remove everything. So, that we're going to save some costs from the decommissioning of the current park. Um we're going to clean up the what we've got uh sawdust down there now. We're going to clean that area up, and we're going to basically prepare new substrate for the whole design. Um we're breaking this apart in two different pieces, so you can kind of see the difference in the park and what the splash pad, which would be a future piece to it. Um GameStop is going to come in and actually install all the equipment. So, everybody Everything will be ADA approved. Um and and the the whole footprint itself is going to be a little bigger, but it's going to be a little more together. Where we're kind of spread out out there now. And that's just the equipment so out of it. Um that's not counting the upgrades to the bathrooms. That's not counting the upgrades if we put the tall fence around it, so forth and so on. But this was the first rendering of what the park could look like depending on the actual cost associated with it. Um when we when we had a meet out there, they were they were pretty excited about the location. The We are talking about possibly removing some of the trees, but you can see we're putting some of the coverings over it. So, that the actual park itself right now we when we have a weather event, we have to go out and pick up limbs and so forth and so on. So, there are some oak trees there that we are looking at possibly removing as well. Uh the whole place um there's a good picture kind of a an overview of what it would look like. The whole place would really be revamped. Um bathrooms, we're going to repaint all the bathrooms, put a fresh coat of paint on them. We're talking about taking the cook stations down, the old antiquated equipment that's out there, and replacing some of that. Um bringing everything kind of up to speed to more of a more modern park. Um [snorts] which look like from the ones I've said I played there when we were all kids to to a whole brand new park. Everything we have currently is just in the Youngs Park area. We're going to do it all a cart so that we don't get them all mixed

up. But this is the oldest and and obviously the one in in the most need for repair. Talk to us about the fencing. You said you're going to change out the fencing. [snorts] So what we've done based on the conversations we had, we're trying to build that timeline and make everything kind of stay together. So all we've done so far is had GameStop come out and look at just the equipment, what it would take to build the new park. And then upon moving forward with that, that's when we wanted to come back and say, do we want to go with the new fence cuz we would actually have to get a price on that. If you if you're familiar with the area, which I know you are, our new basketball courts have the tall fence around them. I don't think it would really matter as far as the the look, the aesthetics of it. I think it would be fine. But to be able to secure the park if we're going to spend this kind of money to be able to secure this park. The park closes at dark. All of our parks close at dark and they're supposed to be emptied anyway. But we do we do have a an active problem just like the young lady just spoke about. They go up there and and what's really disheartening and and again I'm I'm not saying one thing either which way about it, but when you go by there during the day and the kids can't play because there's somebody sleeping on the table. Yeah. And that's that's what we're running into. So with that, let's talk about money. So we've we've kind of broke this down and I'd like to say that Brenda she's she's worked on this. The initial cost for the park equipment is $262,368. You're aware that that changed based on the fact because our expectations changed. The installation again $132,935 for a grand total of $395,303. That's the cost of a brand new park. Now as Brenda has has got she's actually used a piggyback contract, I believe. Have you has there been any conversations about the fencing and and um This is the this is the first park we

got, right? Um we also have a contract for fencing if we want to put up new fencing. I think it would be smart to do it all at once. All at once. We have a contract already established for fencing. Um for the park equipment, the quote that we got was off the Omni partners contract, which is a cooperative contract that many cities in the state of Florida have used such as Miami Springs, Homestead and City of Hollywood. Great. So what we're trying to do is put together the best bang for our buck and get the biggest piece of equipment out there. Um on the park without the fence, we have the approval to use the Mariah funds, which is right around $150,000. There's some money budgeted this year for the bathroom restoration at the football stadium, which they didn't use near as much this year as they have in the past. So we have about 200,000 of the original through of the the first 395,000. So we're about halfway there from being able to pull the trigger with you guys' approval, naturally on the park section of it. Okay. Um so so we've we've we've literally kind of put it into place so that it is something that's achievable. Any questions on the park? Can you show us the renderings of the splash pad? That wasn't in the video, but there's there we go. That looks awesome. Yes, so what's going to happen here is and again another reason why we're probably going to need to remove that tree because that tree is kind of where this thing is going to be at. When we go in and and build the corner of the park, off to the right of that in what would be the northwest corner of the fenced in area that's currently now, that's where the splash pad would be. The splash pad is going to be designed to the maximum size that we can get it to meet our Suwannee River Water Management District current permit. So they're going to do an amendment so we won't have to redo a permit. So this fits the box real well. Again, Miss Brenda's worked on pricing. I'll let her speak to that real

Um I would also like to say that we plan on having the city logo in the middle of that design also. Cool. Um and this is also on a national cooperative contract that other cities have used in the state of Florida. One thing that's really interesting about this and I'm just going to kind of throw it out there as as as a discussion point is due to the fact we know if if we pull the trigger on the park today, we know there's going to be a timeline here for us to go out and tear that apart. Mr. Rosenthal has us actively working on pulling numbers together for our current budget. So we would have the opportunity to put the splash pad in the 2026-2027 budget. So it wouldn't be something that we would have to come out if if we come up with the other 200,000 on the park equipment to get that ball rolling. By the time that's installed, we would be ready to roll into the budget approval process and then the funding for the splash pad would be there. At that point in time, we would obviously want to do the fence as well. What from approval at the council level to little feet running across that playground, what is the timeline? I don't know that date. I can get that for you. Again, we were we were trying to get it in front of you as quick as we could. So we were kind of pushing them to give us some information knowing that this is a time sensitive matter from a safety perspective. But I can get you that and update it. I'll look forward to Mr. Rosenthal and he can email it to you guys. Great. Miss

[clears throat] Miss Young. And also concerning time, it's very imperative that we get this done expeditiously because we know that prices arise.

That's right. So that is a very true statement. Everything that we are getting now quote wise is averaging about a 30-day quote. They're they're literally calling us back. So um the ball's kind of you know, we're we're ready. We're ready to pull the trigger if you guys Resolution May May 4th or May 2nd or whatever that date is. Mr. Carter. Yes. On the park equipment part there, first of all, this this looks awesome. Very excited to be able to get the ball rolling on something like this. The way and you said it in your presentation, the way that the new equipment for the park part would be a little bit more centrally located. Would that and I can't tell necessarily with this rendering how much of the total park space that takes up, but and I would say this would be an addendum perhaps [clears throat] for later, maybe next year or even the following budget cycle, but the the local governments have been promising and unpromising for a long time a skate park or some element of skate park to this. The way this is located, would there be potentially room on that property off to one side or the other to add in some ramps in a year or two as we as we kind of phase it out. So that's perfect. The reason why we're here. That's the reason why we have these. So I didn't think about that, but by taking those trees out, moving the swing sets up, if we go with taking the current um cook stations out, we can move those back towards the basketball court and buy us more room on that far end where the splash pad is going to be. So there's definitely the opportunity to go in the southwest corner there. Okay. Mr. Mr. Jernigan, you had something? Uh no, I no, I didn't have anything, but I'll say something anyway. Um So the equipment that we're getting is very futuristic. Am I correct? It's more or less like uh like the park that we have now. I think it's been out there uh for 50 years maybe. So this equipment that we're going to get now is for the future. Yes, sir. The the equipment we're

getting now is up to date. It is the it's the latest they can get. So for example, we've ordered the mulch for Sally Mae Jerry and it was when we built that park, it wasn't even something that we looked at, but it is a better alternative to just sand. So this would be the latest greatest. It's ADA approved and it comes with the safety stickers on it and everything. So yes, sir. Thank you for your research. Thank you. Miss Young. I would just like to say considering everything that we're looking to go into that park um the splash pad and the um skate park and all, I just want us to be very mindful that we don't want it congested. We want because that takes away the beautification number one and also safety. Of course, you know that. So I think we have another little park area that we can use for say the skate park. And then that's more of a um risky activity. So I don't know that it would be um a good idea to put that with the younger with the younger children. Yeah, and like I said, we can look at this. We we literally just wanted to bring before you guys after the concerns that were brought up by the citizens. We were really really aggressively looking at getting the equipment replaced. Um the mayor and I have spoke briefly about the cook stations and and the way they're positioned now. If we go to taking that out of there, we kind of have a blank footprint. We can put it we got a blank canvas. We can put it however we see to position it. If it does get congested, obviously we don't want to get our skateboards in our our our water park, but if if not, we're we're we're open to anything right now. We were just trying to get the equipment in front of you. So the cook stations, they would be removed completely or would they be replaced? Both. We're going to remove them and replace them and and then we would be able to relocate them.

They've they've they are temporary shelters currently.

They are not being used for their purpose, to say the least. They are not being used for their purpose. And unfortunately, throughout the day, we're seeing that in the middle of the day when when a when a parent would typically take the a small kid to the park, they can't use them for cook stations anyway because they're they're housed by by other individuals at that point and that are not using them for that purpose. So we've talked about changing that up some, but keep in mind, this is very fluid. We're we're literally moving it as we see. So, if you come up with another idea you have another interest, this is the exact time we want to design it. The only thing we have so far is we had a representative come out and meet the team, Billy Joe and and Brendan myself. Uh I think D might even been there. Come out and meet the team and basically we said we got a need, we got a problem, and we want to fix them both at one time. And what would it take to do that? And um and that's where we are as of tonight. Quicker the better, Mr. Carter. Yes. Uh two things. First, I agree. Um I actually just was this past weekend at a family reunion at a park in Baldwin. It was very interesting and similar to how like this this is going to end up being. And they had a skate park, but it was significantly apart and fenced in separately. It was clearly big kids, little kids kind of thing. So, I agree whenever we get to that point. Again, this is going to serve the most people. So, that's the focus anyhow. I'm I was just kind of wondering about the the type of space there would be. And then second question, this particular picture that's on the screen at the moment, um this is literally a rendering of what we've gotten quoted, right? So, like what we see in this picture generally speaking is what Yes, sir. To my understanding, and I'm not a I'm I'm not an expert on this one. And one more two make two for me, but when we brought him out there, we said we want to show our council exactly what they're getting and a cost associated. I see a a lot of the ADA equipment stuff that's accessible to everybody. And that's It's not a lot of that around here. As a matter of fact, I know multiple people who have uh children with disabilities that drive to Jacksonville just to play at certain parks. So, that is great. I just wanted to make sure that is indeed And that was

actually specifically asked by Ms. Bobo. She specifically asked that we have those. The only thing that we're not 100% sure on is the sunshade that's over it. The Kiwanis Park has an actual structure built over there's, uh which would be a lot more durable during weather events and so forth and so on. But for the purpose of the discussion, that's what we got these for. And and exactly the way I understand it, uh Councilwoman Carter, is we told them we need to get it in front of them, show them what they're going to get for their money. And that's what This is the actual video we got. I apologize. Councilwoman Harris. Uh I'd like to say Steve, you and um Donna D, you understood this time and I thank y'all so much. I thank you for the um ADA equipment Mhm. that I asked for. Um as far as the coloring of the park, are these going to be the colors? I have no idea.

[laughter] I I I literally didn't pick the color. Again, I was trying to give it the splash pad and the um Brenda may know a little more about the color.

and stuff like I would like for it to look uniform. Yeah, so they um we can pick out the coloring of the equipment. Okay. And um they gave us a color code sheet to pick from. Okay. Another thing, um as far as the sawdust, you said you were changing that with the So, currently we are we It's got sawdust over it now. Mhm. We have to remove all of that in order to install it. The park on the north side of town, Sally Mae, we're replacing the sand up there. We ordered it. Uh we've got rubber

That hasn't been done yet? It We're waiting on the product to get here. Um it's coming out of Atlanta. Um and it's going to be blue um because we have some concerns about the color of the equipment in that park as well. Um so, we're going to be doing some changes up there, but uh we do have that material ordered. So, I would venture to say um it did go up in price as we were talking about everything has. When we done the budget, it was budgeted for $5,000 and it went up $2,500 before we could get it ordered. So, everything goes everything is is going up, but Okay. So, previously I spoke with D and I might have spoke with Don as far as the skate park. I think it was like a year ago when we talked about that. And I believe I said that um I would would like to utilize the area over there by um Memorial Park. W- Are we changing that or cuz I I really don't want everything all cluttered together. We need to These are children. They're going to need running space. They're going to be moving about and all of that. So, we want to Speak on that. Um it was the talked about before my time. Um I kind of just got it handed to me. I don't think it was any definitive spot that they chose. I think they were talking about tearing down a building in it there, but

Yes. If I If I may, Mayor. Go ahead.

Um so, we we have an area that we have not said we would or wouldn't, but just to the west of the racquetball court, there's the old building that the pool around that area. We we need to tear all of that down and clean all of that up. Um we've got a structure inside the football stadium. We've got two structures in there that need to come down that are no longer used. As a matter of fact, their roofs are caving in on them. So, we had already got those on the schedule. We had the power disconnected from them. Um that place where that If especially when we get the racquetball courts refurbished, [clears throat] that space just to the west of it would probably be a pretty good place as well. And it's just across the street from the park. It would be literally The splash pad, honestly, is the only one that really is is limited on location because of utilities. It needs water and a waste water cuz it's going to be a flow-through system on sensors. So, the water won't be just spraying all the time and it's not going to recirculate like we had in the issue with this one up here. So, if if something got in there or any type of contaminant got in there, then it recirculated over and over. This is going to be a flow-through. So, the water will come up and go right into the waste water system. Um which was one of the reasons why we looked at this setup because of the timers would limit the amount of water. You literally would have a kid playing in there would be the only time it would be used like that. So. All right. I love it. I think we can all say that we'd like to see this start tomorrow. So, quickly as staff can get it. Mr. Rosenthal, you had a you had a comment? Yes, this is a very preliminary plan. We're going to come back. Staff's going to come back with a complete plan and proposals for how we're going to finance it. All right. Thank you. Mr. Carter. My main question was just was just that if if the I know that we have effectively half the cash ready. Um so, I was wondering where where staff was looking at moving stuff around. So, you're going to bring that back to us. But it does seem like consensus that we're all ready to get it going. Yeah, I want to see it. And I we'll follow back up. Now that we know we're going to move forward with this, we'll follow up, have some some more serious questions about color, what colors this design makes sure the design

is exactly what we're looking at. Just Just like I said, that's the way it was ordered when we requested it. This is exactly what we told him we wanted. Ms. Young. And while we're waiting, we are um working on um Sally Mae Jerry Yes, ma'am. um changes here. So, what we're going to do there is when this when this blue mulch gets here, [laughter] we're going to see what color you want to put in there next. Yes, sir. Mr. Carter. One more quickly. When you guys do bring back the next step in this sort of thing, if you're able to get from the from the park product people some color options, I feel like it wouldn't be a bad idea to have them in the packet. Yes.

I really do not care what color they are. But I would hate it if we asked for colors and we didn't have any to look at. I I can tell you that some of the council is very interested in color. want to hold it up. [laughter] We don't want anything to hold this up. We want this to get quick and smooth and look great. Now, I can say because we looked at Live Oaks and it looks good then the entire park and their splash park has the same colors and it really looks good. We we we definitely told them the team and that we were all out there bright colors. We talked about bright colors, the city logo. Um so, we we hadn't looked at any more browns. We learned our lesson on brown parks.

No pink. [laughter] Well, thank you Mr. Brown. We appreciate you. We're very excited to see that come to fruition and have something to vote on the next couple of meetings. We'll leave that forward. Definitely. All right. Uh on to old business of item number 10, uh we'll have an open public hearing. So, this is a city council ordinance number 2026-2367 on the final reading. Mr. Martin, I'll turn it over to you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council members, you have before you on second reading ordinance number 2026-2367, an ordinance of the city of Lake City, Florida pursuant to petition number ANX 2603 submitted by Elizabeth Steeley relating to voluntary annexation annexing certain real property located in Columbia County, Florida, which is reasonably compact and contiguous to the boundaries of the city of Lake City, Florida into the boundaries of the city of Lake City, Florida, making certain findings of fact in support thereof, providing severability, repealing all ordinances in conflict, and providing an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Martin. All right. Um We There's nobody uh signed up for public comment on this. So, we will move straight to council comments, questions, and entertaining a motion to adopt city council ordinance number 2026-2367 unless you have something you'd like to add, Mr. Angel. Mr. Mayor, move to approve city council ordinance 2026-2367. Second. Motion and second. Thank you both. Uh do we have any final questions, comments? Hearing none, Ms. Lexie, please call the roll. Mr. Carter. Yay. Ms. Harris. Yes.

Ms. Young. Yes. Mr. Jernigan. Yes. Mayor Walker. Yes. All right. Uh now we'll move on from item number 10 to item number 11. This is under new businesses and ordinances. Uh city council discussion and possible first reading of item number 11, city council ordinance number 2026-2369. Mr. Martin, will you please read this by title? Uh certainly, Mr. Mayor. Uh if Mr. Mayor, if you'd allow me, uh this is uh here at uh the direction of Councilwoman Young. And I'd like She'd like to introduce the matter before we go through the formality of reading it by title or if she would like me to read it by title if the Mayor

That's fine. Thank you so much for that. Um hearing the con- um some concerns and some desires of um of the citizens of of Lake City concerning recreational events outside. Um I think it's it's worth listening to. It's worth what we're asking that um we really take this serious. Take it into consideration that in the city of Lake City we really don't have a lot of properties when it comes to residents. Now, when you're talking about out in the county, you know, they don't they don't have the issue that we have um about the the closeness. So, um I have had some and it didn't just happen for the record. Um this has been a concern, but it just have in the last week or so it has um um aroused my concern and um

[clears throat]

to look at this. And and if we can just take a look at it here what the um attorney has to say concerning these um and I don't like to call them roadblocks. Um and I just think it it is necessary if you'll go if you'll go ahead attorney and I may come in behind behind him. But and if I can say this, I did reach out to other um cities other counties to see what are they doing um when it comes to recreational outdoor um activities and and um closing off certain roads. And of course, I looked at Jacksonville and Orlando was pulled and I maybe Miami. I know I looked at Orlando. But what I would like for us to do is is kind of take a look at both of them. And then um fine tune it to what will work best for us Lake City. If you would do that if you would. Thank you Councilwoman Mr. Mayor. So, uh this was uh brought to the attention of the city attorney's office. Uh the uh initial and most straightforward model for closing a street for recreational purposes was the Jacksonville ordinance. Uh that's the one that there's a proposed ordinance in front of you uh concerning or uh the proposed ordinance is almost verbatim from Jacksonville with the uh uh changes of a couple of our position titles uh to adapt it over to our organizational structure, but otherwise it's generally the same. Uh it's very simple. It requires an application. It requires uh signatures from occupants of property who would uh be subject to the effects of the street closing uh and sets forth hours and uh allows the the city manager to act following input from the public works director. Uh

Uh that being said, uh it is straightforward. It is also extremely lean uh and does not address a lot of uh things that would be of concern I [clears throat] think both to council members and and certainly uh to the city attorney's office. Given that, uh just did a survey of how other communities in Florida have addressed this. Um I really was kind of pulled toward Miami had a fairly robust ordinance. Tampa had a fairly robust ordinance. Orlando had a fairly robust ordinance. Orlando's uh was one that really drew my attention because it was very recently adopted in 2025. Uh and takes great pains to go through the process of not only recognizing uh circumstances where you would want to close streets or permit other gatherings for special events. But it also goes through an analysis of uh avoiding any kind of interference with the First Amendment to the US Constitution. And uh and it it goes through and lays out four criteria that the city would would take into account in waving certain provisions of uh the special events ordinance if the particular event is uh to uh for a group to exercise their uh First Amendment rights on a matter of public policy. And so, uh you know, the the kind of the the summary of it is is you can't do things that uh restrain that by placing uh exorbitant fees on it or other types of restrictions that would be a restraint on their ability to publicly exercise their First Amendment right. Uh but uh in terms of kind of checking all of the boxes in terms of uh an analysis to use uh in determining whether they're eligible for a permit uh

allowing input from public safety officials for the city, allowing for an appeals procedure if an application is denied uh allowing an applicant to appeal that decision uh providing notice to public officials um laying out the duties of the uh the individual applying for the permit uh addressing public comment I mean I'm sorry public conduct uh requiring insurance and indemnification of the city uh those kinds of things that it really seem to be the most thorough. I I can't say that I would suggest that we just change the name on it and change everywhere it says Orlando to Lake City and adopt it, but it it creates a framework for discussion that uh if the council so desired to to uh direct the city manager to put together a working group uh on the city manager side to to work with me after hearing some concerns from the council of what they'd like to see addressed or see avoided uh that we couldn't come together and and put something together for the council to consider on first reading at a later date. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Uh we'll come to council comments. Does does administration have anything else they'd like to add into that? No, ma'am. We we agree with the attorney. All right. Mr. Carter. Um in general I like the idea of of uh finding ways to be a little easier on citizenry in their ability to uh uh gather in all kinds of ways. Obviously, we've had some issues recently that uh if something different was in our ordinances we may have been able to it may have gone differently. But I think the first thing I'd like to ask and obviously as you're saying, so I I wouldn't have any interest in passing this right now, but I do like the idea of like you said putting together a team and getting together and kind of like working through this uh and figuring out what works best for us. But I'd really like the opinion of our chief safety officer as in the police chief and and also as mentioned in here the public works director if they have any thoughts on

this. And they'd probably be great members of the put together team as well. Um so Would you guys like to put to Not to put you on the spot, but if you have thoughts you'd like to share I'd I'd love to know them. First I heard about the ordinances is when I spoke to the city attorney this morning. So, I've not a lot of time to get up to speed. Uh my big concerns would obviously be the public safety side of it. Uh roads that aren't going to impact police or fire EMS response. Uh barriers. Who's going to put the barriers up? Who's going to take them down? Uh is alcohol going to be allowed on the street? They're going to have to hire police officers. What happens if you know in this day and age they going to do a block party and it goes out on social media and we have another situation where 1,500 people show up. I don't want to put the city or anybody in that position again. So, again, I just heard about that this this morning. I'm not completely adverse to the idea, but I think we need to do this correctly. Sure. Yes, ma'am. You said you just heard about it. Well, as far as the ordinances Orlando and the one the city attorney sent me the links and I I briefly went over them this morning. And I don't want I don't want us to get in the space of looking at everything as to what happened on Easter Sunday.

[snorts] We can't we can't hold the city in in in um lockup because of what happened on Easter Sunday. No, I'm just looking My thing is to prevent a reoccurrence. I understand people want to gather, the neighborhoods want to do things. I completely understand that. But I want to make sure it's done. Can never guarantee 100% safety. I understand that.

Nowhere. But I think the city can take steps to put things in place like if you're going to have so many people then you have to do this. Part of it and again, I'm working off a memory here. Uh it's one block long. It's not 15 blocks. They can't have vendors selling things on the you know, different things like that to put into place is what I'm what I'm talking about.

Okay. And if you um check the ordinance, all all of that is in there. And we have the special um people who are experienced in this, who are licensed in this, who are trained in this to make sure that these areas are taken care of. We are Lake City. We great Lake City. We can handle it. Mr. Carter. Yes, I I just I want to make clear too that I agree with you, Ms. Young. Um I don't As a matter of fact, I I think a lot of things went right on Easter Sunday. I think the the the big event at the park seems to have gone off without a hitch. Um and I think that the things that went wrong honestly, I think that they were handled about as well as could be expected. No one was hurt. I think there were almost no arrests. You know, I mean no one was injured. So, and I think the parts that went right went right because our safety uh team was involved with it. So, so I think this is generally speaking a good direction to go. I just want to make sure that they have a part in how it's shaped. Oh, no. And Annie Maddox, the event at Annie Maddox, I got full cooperation from the board and I can't really think of a better way it could have went much better than it did. Uh and if we do this and go with permitting and have procedures in place to so we can get with them, I would expect the same outcomes. It's just I just want to make sure like if we're going to go with Orlando, I would contact Orlando PD and see if there's any thing they would like to change in their ordinance to maybe it could be just a streamline it. Hey, we did this and we don't see a need to do that. So, it could work either way. But again, I understand, you know, the concern from the council and the citizens and you know, want to work with everybody here. Mr. Treenan? No. Okay. Mr. Harris? I I I I see where you're going and the reason why you would want this, but um

I'm going to be 100%. I don't like it. And the reason why I say that because I'm going to use District 12 as a as an example. Um let's say for instance somebody have a party on Jefferson Street one weekend and then the next weekend somebody want to get a permit down the road the next weekend. I just I've been in that space where as cars are everywhere. People like everywhere. It does not feel safe. It does not look safe. It seems chaotic. And the only reason I'm talking about my district is because that's the that's where I live and I've seen it happen. So, when you when you when you're getting ready to put these things together, I just I can't with a clear conscience say, "Yeah, go for it." Because we all know things can easily spin out of control. And I don't I don't I don't care for it. And safety is my biggest thing. And I want us to not keep saying parties. This can [clears throat] be family reunions. It can be um church events. It can be We don't have to keep saying party Everything is not parties. As a matter of fact, two of the people, it was not even concerning parties. So, but it's it's the it's the it's [clears throat] the um whatever the council decides, but I think it's a win-win. I would just want to hear more about how and I'm looking at the size of our police department. Um then I'm looking at the money we'll have to spend if somebody got to stay overtime. Then I'm looking at if the sheriff them have to come in and help us because it has gotten out of control. There are so many things that could possibly go wrong and we all know

certain things could or could not happen. We know that, but to look at it as a safety issue and then you have um older people living in a lot of these congested areas. You have a lot of older people and then you have um maybe one or two youngsters that live in that neighborhood and they're throwing this big party and gathering for the lack of a better word. Thank you. This these gatherings and it it just I I prefer us to if you want to have a party of a certain magnitude or whatever, rent your venue. That's what venues are here for. I don't like I don't like it. Mr. Treenan? Um so we we we we don't have anything in place right now if somebody wanted to gather? They have to rent one of the parks and they go to one of the city parks and they go through Terry and go through the permitting process. And then based on there's a formula for how many people if they have to hire police, if there's alcohol, then they have to hire and do other things. So, the parks is the venues that they get steered to to have events. Okay. But but so we do have something in place right now like a ordinance? Correct. Terry does a lot of that. Ordinance to do what? To have a gathering, right? When people want to rent the parks, the venues, the permits, the application process, they have to get insurance. That that's already in place. And that's what they do. I didn't want to say party or anything like that. So, um It it could be anything from like a baby shower to a uh sweet 16 to the Derby Pavilion that gets rented out all the time for different venues. Okay. Hey, um yes yes, sir. Mr. Martin. Mr. Mayor, I was just going to add on to

that. So, th- there is an established way that we go about doing it. However, I don't know that that way that is established was established by necessarily this council adopting any kind of procedure or or process. I think it's just something that's evolved over time based on the prudence of and good judgment of staff, fortunately. And I I don't think that any of this is also been reduced to an ordinance. So, uh this would give a more definite structure to something that right now is is really somewhat loose, I guess, maybe the best way to

Already happening without this. Yeah. Uh my thoughts are um you know, I would like to to see people be able to have neighborhood barbecues or have a a street gathering that is good and contained and good for all of the neighbors. I Looking through this ordinance, this ordinance didn't quite fit what I would put in place just because I think the threshold is too low for neighbors signing off. I think that if you're going to do it, you should get 100% sign off on the street that you're going to close down cuz everybody needs to understand the ambient environment that they're walking into um and that they're going to have in in their front yard. Everybody needs to understand who owns the liability of any property that's destroyed or damaged during that that procedure or fanfare. And um they need to understand the public safety implications. If a street's blocked off, you know, let's just put my parents in for perspective. If if my street was blocked off and let's say one of my parents had a heart attack and and I had a lot of things in the way, it might take an extra 10 or 5 minutes to get there to to get them out of there and get them to the hospital, which, you know, time is muscle on some of those things. So, you don't want to play those games not knowing. But if you had 100% sign off on a street, then it would keep people with the power to keep from being bullied in on their street or in their neighborhood and knowing what was going on and be able to object to it if it was going to be a a major issue for them, if that makes sense. So, that would that would be one of one of the things. But I think a working group would be important. Um if I may. You finished?

Yeah. Okay. I think I I just think a working group would be good to come back with something a a little stronger. Okay. And and actually that that's what I'm asking anyway that we look over it and like I said, tweak it or refine it that it will fit Lake City. But for instance, right now, um loud music. There is a few complaints that I received because the next door neighbor plays music till in the way in the middle of the morning, if I can say, 2:00, 3:00 in the morning. But with these with this ordinance, it has a time set that these can happen. So, if they're having a recreational event, then it's it's it's from just say from 3:00 to 10:00 and then 10:00, you know, they've they've had their fun and the ordinance says shut it down. They have to hire their own security. They're hire off-duty law enforcement. That's why I say just take a look at it and once you look at it and see how other cities are doing it and it'll make more sense. Yeah, the liability. A lot of that stuff was addressed by this, but I I really would like to see that threshold come up. But I think we're on consensus that administration and legal should have a working group to come bring something back to us. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Rosenthal and I'll get together on it. Sir? Mr. Rosenthal and I'll get together on it. Absolutely. Perfect. All right. Okay. That was item number 11. Um now we're moving on to our next open public hearing. Uh item number 12, City Council Resolution number 2026-036. Mr. Martin, can you please read this by title? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Council members, you have before you Resolution number 2026-036, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Lake City, Florida, authorizing the city to participate in the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program provided for in provided for in and authorized by the Brownfields

Redevelopment Act created under the provisions of sections 376.77 through 376.85, Florida Statutes, as amended, designating certain lands within the city located at 2932 North US Highway 441, Lake City, Florida, and identified as Property Appraiser's Parcel number 17-3S- 17-05000-003 as a brownfield area for the purpose of environmental remediation, rehabilitation, and economic development as provided for in the act. Providing for notification to the Department of Environmental Protection of the city's decision to designate a brownfield area for rehabilitation and providing for an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Martin. We don't have anybody signed up for for public comment on item number 12, City Council Resolution number 2026, so I don't see anybody who's who wanting to speak to that. So, we'll move straight into Council questions, comments, or um I'll entertain a motion to adopt City Council Resolution number 2026-036. I'll make a motion to Oh, we have a question. Yes, ma'am. Where Where is this parcel located? Is it um North [clears throat] of town, the old S&S across from Target warehouse.

Okay. North 441, yes, ma'am. All right. I'll make a motion that we adopt City Council Resolution number 2026-036. I second. Perfect. Thank you both. Do we have any further discussion? Hearing none, Ms. Ivey, please call the roll. Ms. Young? Yes.

Ms. Harris? Yes. Mr. Jernigan? Yes. Mr. Carter? Yay. Mayor Walker? Yes. All right. We will now uh move on to item number 13, City Council Resolution number 2026-043. Mr. Martin, will you please read this by title? Uh yes, Mr. Mayor. Uh Mr. Mayor, if you will indulge me before we go into the uh reading of the title, I would like to to introduce some background and statutory Sure. uh elements that describe why we're here tonight. Uh so, as the Council is well aware, uh the city has uh been operating the uh wastewater treatment facility at the Mega Industrial Park uh for roughly the last year. Uh the city was approached by the county to do that. Uh there was an interlocal agreement entered into, and and the uh as a result of that, the city's been operating it. Uh the county came to us with the idea of actually uh acquiring that plant. Uh conversations uh ensued uh between management uh and uh legal staff uh resulting in the uh contract that is before you tonight. The contract before you tonight uh was approved by the uh County Commission last Thursday evening following uh a hearing very similar to the one that uh the city will engage in tonight. Uh when it uh the Florida statute uh lays out certain criteria to be uh considered by the Council uh and by the County Commission uh when either is either considering the the sale or the purchase of a uh a certain utilities. In this case, it would be a wastewater treatment plant. Uh what I'd like to do is uh to lay the foundation for uh tonight's hearing uh and lay the foundation for what should be considered by the Council and and and give some additional background before we actually read the resolution by title. Um So, we're looking at uh Florida statute uh 180.301. Uh and uh that statute says that no

municipality may purchase or sell a water, sewer, or wastewater reuse utility that provides service to the public for compensation or enter into a wastewater facility privatization contract for a wastewater facility until the governing body of the body of the municipality has held a public hearing on the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract and made a determination that the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract is in the public interest. In determining if the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract is in the public interest, the municipality shall consider at a minimum, and the items I'm getting ready to read, there are uh 10 of them. Most of them are applicable, and they are in the memorandum that was prepared by the city manager and is part of your packets tonight uh for consideration. So, the uh municipality shall consider at a minimum the following. One, the most recent available income and expense statement for the utility. Two, the most recent available balance sheet for the utility listing assets and liabilities and clearly showing the amount of contributions in aid of construction and the accumulated depreciation thereon.

[snorts]

Three, a statement of the existing rate base of the utility for regulatory purposes. Four, the physical condition of the utility facilities being purchased, sold, or subject to a wastewater facility privatization contract. Five, the reasonableness of the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract price and terms. Six, the impacts of the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract on utility customers, both negative or both positive and negative. Seven A, any additional investment required and the ability and willingness of the purchaser or the private firm under a wastewater facility privatization contract to make that investment, whether the purchaser is the municipality or the entity purchasing the utility from the municipality. Seven B, in the case of a wastewater facility privatization contract, the terms and conditions on which the private firm will provide capital investment and financing or combination thereof for contemplated capital replacements, additions, expansions, and repairs, the municipality shall give significant weight to this criterion. I'll note this criterion does not apply to this transaction because this is not a wastewater facility privatization contract before you. Number eight, the alternatives to the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract and the potential impact on utility customers if the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract is not made. Nine A, the ability of the purchaser or the private firm under a wastewater facility privatization contract to provide and maintain high-quality and cost-effective utility service, whether the purchaser is the municipality or the entity purchasing the utility from the municipality. Nine B, in the case of a wastewater facility privatization contract, the municipality shall give significant weight to the technical expertise and experience of the private firm in

carrying out the obligation specified in the wastewater facility privatization contract, and similarly, I will note that nine B is not applicable in this case. And item 10, all monies paid by private firm to a municipality pursuant to a wastewater facility privatization contract shall be used for the purpose of reducing or offsetting property taxes, wastewater service rates, debt reduction, or making infrastructure improvements or capital asset expenditures or other public purpose, provided, however, nothing herein shall preclude the municipality from using all or part of the monies for the purpose of the municipality's qualification for relief from the repayment of federal grant awards associated with the wastewater system as may be required by federal law or regulation. And again, number 10 is not applicable because it is not a uh wastewater facility privatization contract at hand. The municipality shall prepare a statement showing that the purchase, sale, or wastewater facility privatization contract is in the public interest, including a summary of the purchasers or private firms' experience in water, sewer, or wastewater reuse utility operation and showing of financial ability to provide the service, whether the purchaser is the municipality or the entity purchasing the utility from the municipality. Uh that required statement is the aggregate of the uh recitals in the resolution coupled with the the uh memorandum uh uh concerning chapter 180 that I just mentioned earlier that's attached to the um to your packets tonight.

[snorts]

So, with with that being said and those considerations laid out and pointing out uh the staff analysis uh that's in the memorandum, uh Mr. Mayor and Council members, you have before you for consideration Resolution number 2026-043, a resolution of the City of Lake City, Florida approving that certain agreement between the city and the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners for the acquisition of the wastewater treatment plant generally identified as the North Florida Mega Industrial Park Wastewater Treatment Plant, making certain findings of fact in support of the city approving said agreement, recognizing the authority of the Mayor to execute and bind the city to said agreement, directing the Mayor to execute and bind the city to said agreement, repealing all prior resolutions in conflict, and providing an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Take a deep breath. Yeah.

[laughter]

Take a deep breath. Um we didn't have anybody sign up for public comment on this. Uh so, we will move straight into Council questions, comments, and uh Mr. Carter signaled, and then Um Anybody else? First of all, not a single sip of water. That was impressive. Yeah. That was something. Um Well, just on this topic, I I really want to give a huge shout-out to Steve Brown. If anybody watched the meeting uh with the county the other night, Steve did an outstanding job providing articulate reasoning, understanding, and making clear the purpose behind this, and uh and I think he really represented the city well, and very much appreciate that. We're lucky to have him. And I have And I and

[cheering] and Mr. Brown. I would say in in hopes that we would move forward with this, I I have high hopes that Steve, and of course our wastewater director, Cody Bridgen, are going to do an excellent job with this, and in that spirit, I would say um I don't have this this is written down so that I get it all correct here, but I move to approve Resolution 2026-0

We discuss after a motion and a second is made. Yeah, he's making a motion. I'm making the motion. We'll make a motion, have a second, then we'll have a conversation. I can't But that's not Finish he's he's mid-motion, so please start over. I move to approve Resolution 2026-043 and incorporate into the resolution for the approval the required section 180-301 analysis memorandum dated April 15th, 2026 from the city manager uh to the city council state a statement showing how uh the city's acquisition of the wastewater treatment plant is in the public interest. Second. We have a motion and a second. Thank you. Mr. Jernigan. Uh [laughter]

I almost forgot what I needed to say. But I wanted to second that because I wanted to discuss something. Uh I I totally forgot what I was going to say, sir. All right. We'll we'll come back to you. Miss Vice Mayor Young. I just wanted to give him a kudos to Mr. Brown. I actually um attended a few of those meetings and he was outstanding. I felt like I needed to go out there. I went the first time. I He should have been sweating and he wasn't sweating. [laughter]

So, I thought I would go and give him a little support, but he did outstanding and I didn't get to I didn't get to um attend the last meeting, but I'm sure you did even better on that one. Thank you so very much. Such a great asset to the city. He's not prone to hyperhidrosis, that's for sure. Miss Miss Harris. Mr. Jernigan, did it come back? I Well, I I can I can say uh Mr. Brown there, he's been hard at it for a number of um number of months now, so uh special shout out to you and your team. I mean, you're you're you got a great uh team uh of leaders that work for you, work with you, so and uh thank you very much for what you do. Um Mr. Carter. Cody Cody also is awesome on that team. An- another thing too, I was very excited to to say nice things about Steve, but I also really want to if any of them are watching or watch it later, uh I really want to thank the county commission as it stands right now. We have been the relationship has been improving by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. We've been able to work on a lot of great projects together um and I look forward to the ability that this will allow us to have in, you know, serious economic development in the near future and I think Steve said it best when he said I'm all in as far as that's concerned. Um it feels like we're all all in. I'm very excited for uh what's to come from this and I think this is something that'll be it'll be hard to tell how important this is for many years, but I think that it will be monumental. Yeah, it'll be huge. We need to give a shout out to our city manager as well.

I was I was just about to say the working group of I was about to do that. Mr. Rosenthal and [laughter] and actually Mr. Rosenthal's been very uh instrumental with that relationship with the county. That whole team has, Mr. Brown, Mr. Rosenthal. Yes, Steve did all the heavy lifting on it. It's It was a great working group, so I appreciate all of you as well. Do we have any final comments from the dais? Hearing none, Miss Sykes, please call the roll. Mr. Carter. Yay. Mr. Jernigan. Yes. Miss Young. Yes. Miss Harris. Yes.

Mayor Walker. Yes. All right. Moving on to item number 14, city council resolution number 2026-038. Uh this is a MOU on work-based learning for local kids. Uh before we hit um Clay, I'm going to have you read this by title and then ask Miss Billy Joe to introduce it. Thank you. [clears throat]

Mr. Mayor, council members, you have before you resolution number 2026-038, a resolution of the city of Lake City, Florida approving that certain memorandum of the of understanding between the city of Lake City and the school board of Columbia County making certain findings of fact in support of the city approving said memorandum of understanding, recognizing the authority of the mayor to execute and bind the city to said memorandum of understanding directing the mayor to execute and bind the city to said memorandum of understanding, repealing all prior resolutions in conflict and providing an effective date. And I said I would have Miss Billy Joe, but is that Do you want to Do you want to say anything about this? Sir. Or Mr. Rosenthal. One of you. Mr. Rosenthal asked me to. So, um last year we started this process with the school district and um we've finally got to this point where we're going to um enter into this agreement with them to provide work-based learning experiences for high school students and the adult education students and they will come um work with our staff at the city in in different departments and get hands-on learning experiences. Some of these will be paid and then some of them will not, depending on what their needs are and um what our budgets allow for. But um yeah, did any of you have any questions? Any questions for Miss Billy Joe? Yes, it's pretty straightforward. I think it's awesome. Uh good workforce development. Kudos. Kudos to everyone.

students lined up ready to ready to go. Thank you very much. same thing um Chief Josh, will you be working with them? Oh, good. Yeah. Great. All departments. Great. Mhm. All departments. All right, great. Um We have no public comment, so I will uh close public comment on this one and we'll move straight into council questions, comments or if anyone would like to make a motion to adopt city council resolution number 2026-038. Mr. Mayor, move to approve city council resolution 2026-038. Second. We have a motion and a second. Thank you both. [clears throat]

Uh any final questions, comments on the dais? Hearing none, Miss Sykes, please call the roll. Mr. Carter. Yay. Miss Harris. Yes.

Miss Young. Yes. Mr. Jernigan. Yes. Mayor Walker. Yes. All right, great. That uh concludes all of our agenda items, so we will move straight to departmental um and administrative comments uh and we will begin with you, Mr. Rosenthal. I don't have any comments tonight, Mayor. Thank you. Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Rosenthal. Second, we'll have you, Mr. Martin. Uh nothing from the city attorney's office. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Uh Miss Sykes. Nothing from the city clerk's office. Thank you, Miss Sykes. Um uh Vice Mayor Young. I think I'm good other than I think it's kind of disheartening. Might be a little embarrassing. When we have somebody from administration that stand up and say they didn't read the background information. That makes me feel a certain kind of way. Um we should The background information is important. I You know who I'm talking about. The background information is important and especially when we have an item dealing with safety and the background information is not read. I just had to say that. I'll I'll deal with it later. Is Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um up next, Councilman Jernigan. Um a couple things. Uh the barbecue turnout this this this past weekend was so good. Uh uh a lot of um venues from all over uh the state of Florida. Uh a special shout out to the um the chiefs and uh what they what they got going on, but on the 22nd, I think they have the law enforcement um uh memorial service at the The 21st. That'll be tomorrow. Yes. So, um I just want to give a shout out to those guys there for what they have done. Um they they give their time and sacrifice, so um

that's about it, boss. Thank you. Mr. Jernigan. Uh up next, Councilman Carter. [clears throat]

Yes. Um well, you guys know I like to talk, but I will try to make a couple of quick points. Not a long not a long time. We're listening We're This has been such a smooth and fast meeting. I don't want to talk too much about how well the meeting's gone, but um no, uh I'm really excited for the direction a lot of things are going. Um I think that uh I heard I heard This is something I've heard a few times and it really clicked in my head the other day and I would just encourage citizens, people who are paying attention, people who are engaged and involved, um it's not enough to be against something. It really helps if you can be for something. Um it's easy to go, oh, that's bad. Um it's a lot harder to come up with solutions to issues. I think there've been a lot of issues that have kind of piled up and with multiple city managers and kind of there was it was it was a rough few years, I think, for the city. So much has been coalescing. I look very very forward to seeing the parks revitalized. Um I look forward to looking into our ordinances and our city code and finding places that it can better serve the citizens, putting together working groups, finding ways that it can be more refined and make more sense and more um usable for the city so that it doesn't feel restrictive, but it feels like something that guides you to a place where everybody can be happy and can work together. Um I think that the work we've been doing I touched on it a minute ago with the county um out at 47, I think that's going to bear fruit. That's going to be huge economic impact for our community. I'm very excited about it. I think the work that that the whole team and Mr. Steve here did the other night and that we've done with the county over the last few weeks, months and in in some ways years uh and what's happening with the wastewater treatment facility is going to be a huge tree that's going to bear a lot of fruit and it's going to make it easier to do things like 47 and so on and so forth. Um and I just I have a lot of hope for the future. I think this has been a meaningful couple of years and I think

we have some of our most meaningful years in the in the not-too-distant future uh as far as uh change and and and I'm just very excited about it. So, again, I would just say to citizens who who are out there, you know, don't be against things, be for things. You know, if you if if there's a solution and you see that no one is providing it, come up here and and tell us. Fill these rooms. Uh we got a lot of empty seats sometimes. So, uh um yeah, I just I love Lake City. I want to see it keep growing and getting better. I feel like we're heading in the right direction. I feel like we've got talented leadership. I'm very excited for where we're going and I appreciate the opportunity to get to sit up here for a little while and be a part of it. Thank you, Councilman Carter. Uh Mayor.

Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. Um and I know Miss Tear is not here. Um I did not make the barbecue. Um I did have a family emergency and um where family was called into the hospital. So, and y'all who know the words of prayer, please pray for me. But I did want to be there. I I I know it was huge. But I just kind of want to um let you all know that. We missed you and we will keep your family in our prayers. Councilman Harris. Well, being that Mr. Carter has used all the adjectives I wanted to use, I'm just going to say I am so elated that I am a part of this council. There have been things that have been moving along I say quickly. I say quickly. Just looking at from where we come from. We have a lot of great things in store for Lake City. I am just so proud to be up under the mayor, Mr. Noah Walker, sitting next to Mr. Jernigan, Mr. Carter, and Vice Mayor Young. We have the best I mean, I feel like we have the best utility guy in the world, Mr. Steve Brown. And I threw that in cuz I know that aggravates D a little bit. But we also have the best city manager who is a workaholic at heart. He is getting a lot of stuff done. And I can't I'd be remiss if I do not mention Mr. Clay. Um he came in with the mess and I feel like he's doing his very best to get us up to par on the things that we need. Um I'm sure you know, we haven't been the easiest bunch of people because we have pressure up under us. But I would like to tell you guys along with the city manager um we appreciate y'all. We appreciate everything you do. You're making

We love this city. That's one of the reasons we ran. Um but we thank y'all for doing what you all are doing. Because y'all y'all making us look good. Even James. [laughter]

I love James. All right, thank you, Councilwoman Harris. Um I too uh so a couple things uh and I'll be as brief as possible. Um the barbecue festival was awesome. Uh we really enjoyed that. Enjoyed having the the pie competition again in in conjunction with that. Pies were 10 times better than they've been um in years past. Uh a lot of great local pies. A lot of great cook team pies. So, those were great. Um and our events team did a great job. Public Works did a great job. The police were out there doing a great job. The the whole the whole team came through. Um this month we've had a ton of proclamations and and Audrey sits here next to me very quietly in these meetings and works diligently. I'd have arthritis just after how much she takes notes in in one meeting. So, I want to thank her and her staff for keeping us straight on the proclamations and straight on all the events that we've got going on. Speaking of events we've got breakfast with the chief coming up April 25th at 9:00 a.m. If you're interested in that, that is going to be at New Mount Pisgah AME Church at 345 Northeast Washington Street. It's going to be hosted by the Imagine Church. So, it'll be there on Washington Street if you're interested in going to that. Um

[clears throat]

Again, that's April 25th, 9:00 a.m. Also, Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is the National DEA Drug Take Back. You can turn in prescription drugs anonymously. That'll be at the police station. You can drop that off at any time. Drop that off, get it out of the cabinet so that kids can't wander into it so that it's not used appropriately and that it cleans up our community. It's just a very smart thing to do. Next Tuesday, April 28th at 9:00 a.m. Uh there will be the Prevent Child Abuse Prevent Child Abuse and Protect Childhood Walk with Another Way. This is going to be starting at Darby Pavilion. You can register at 8:00 a.m. Walk at 9:00 a.m. Um other than that, we do have a lot of momentum. We've we've got a lot of great momentum for a seemed like a decade there was a fire hose worth of things that needed to be done. Um and right now we we've got our parks moving. Hopefully that'll that all dirt will start moving next week on that. That's what I'd love to see and and have happy little feet in that splash pad in about 6 months or so. That would be an absolute win for me. Economic development is moving. We're doing great. Everything's going great. So, excited to watch this net fall off city hall and have that restored downtown. And I don't have anything else to say, but I think that Mhm? Oh, the fires, yes. There's a lot of smoke in our community. Thank you, Vice Mayor Young. There's a lot of smoke in our community. Please stay attuned to the the Facebook pages of our our police and our fire department as well as county police and and fire. There's a a lot of information out there about that. I know that there was a fire as close as the gun range on Gum Swamp or right off Gum Swamp Road. So, be careful. Make sure that you're paying attention that you have the emergency alerts on your phone so that

heaven forbid if somebody needs to evacuate, you get the orders and and and you're able to get out quickly. So, thank you, Vice Mayor Young for that that Yes, sir, Mr. Carter.

I apologize. Uh just one quick thing I meant to ask before um the as we're as we're working on the park improvements and things like that, obviously Young's Park being the major focus. But I would like if if if it needs to be approved or how it does, uh if if Don can let Steve or his team go ahead and at the park next to First Federal, there's currently a swing set with no swings on it. I feel like that's a fairly inexpensive fix to get the swing swinging again if we can go ahead and get some swings on that. Um that would be great. Then obviously as we build out and work on stuff, more things can be addressed with that park. All the parks. That's Thank you. Make them great. All right. Thank you, Lake City. Thank you, guys. Have a good night.