City Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to our regularly scheduled commission meeting. July 22, 2026. The time is now six or seven. Madam clerk roll call.

Commissioner Irvin. Here. Vice Mayor Kelly.

Present.

Commissioner Santiago.

Here.

Mayor Taylor.

Here. As we stand for our invocation, followed by a pledge of relief application led by our sister city manager, followed by our pledge of allegiance and we'll say that again. It's not released here today.

Father God, we glorify you today, Lord God, and we uplift you. We thank you, Lord God, for this opportunity for us to come together again, Lord God, to do the business of the city of Palaka. Pray for each and every one of us, Lord God, and ask that you continue to give us the wisdom and knowledge, Lord God, that you provide for us, Lord God, the ability to be able to stand and therefore stand. We thank you and we uplift you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. Our pleasure, leader. Our pleasure, leader. Through the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. So we're going into awards proclamations and acknowledgments, but we'll do that at another part of the meeting. I do want to say I am happy to announce that every single school in the city of Opelika is an A school this year. Every single school, Opelika, I was going to say Opelika Elementary, but Robert B. Ingram, Nathan B. Young, and Beacon Prep. So all of our two public schools and our one charter school is an A school this year. So shout out to our parents and our school system for teaching our kids. So moving on to the approval of the consent agenda, do we have any pulls, deferrals, or deletions at this time?

Mr. Mayor?

Commissioner Urban?

I would like to pull five and eight.

All right, five and eight.

Mr. May? Go ahead. Yeah, she pulled it out, but there's going to be a comment about that too. Five and eight.

All right, and I would like to pull number nine. All right, any other pools, referrals or deletions at this time?

Commissioner Bass, can you reiterate what was called please?

Okay, so what was pulled was item number five by Commissioner Irvin item number eight by Commissioner Irvin and item number nine by myself.

Okay, good. Thank you.

All right, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, ma'am.

I would like to defer agenda item 16 B one until the September 9 2026 regular commission meeting.

Got it. All right, so I'll go over it again. So I have item 5 and 8 pulled by a commission urban item. Number 9 was pulled by mayor Taylor and item 16 B. 1 was deferred to the next. To the to the September 9th, September 9th. All right.

And then maybe pull out from you. Yeah.

All right, so can I have a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda? Move it. Moved by Vice Mayor Kelly. Second. Second by Commissioner Santiago. Madam Clerk?

Commissioner Irvin? Yes. Vice Mayor Kelly? Yes. Commissioner Santiago? Yes. Commissioner Bass? Yes. Mayor Taylor? Yes. Motion passes 5-0.

All right, and we do have an add-on item. Madam clerk, can you please stay for the record? I'm sorry, Madam Attorney, can you read it in the record?

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, Florida, authorizing the cancellation of the City's regularly scheduled City Commission meeting set for August 12th, 2026 and August 26th, 2026, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for an effective date.

And I'll state the reason for this this item. I sponsored it. We know that August is our. I break mom. I see you. I see you. It's supposed to be our month of break, but normally we only have 1 schedule commission meeting and we were supposed to do this last week, but we forgot to have it on. So that's why this is here today and the only schedule commission meeting will be the emergency. I'm sorry. The. The special commission meeting for the benefit benefits, health and benefits for the benefits. So, can I have a motion to add this to the agenda on tonight? Moved by commissioner urban 2nd, 2nd, by commission, Santiago, madam clerk.

Vice Mayor Kelly. Yes. Commissioner Santiago. Yes. Commissioner Bass. Yes. Commissioner Irvin. Yes. Mayor Taylor. Yes.

Motion passes 5-0. So can I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda? Move it. Moved by Commissioner Santiago. Second. Second by Commissioner Irvin. Madam Clerk.

Commissioner Santiago? Yes. Commissioner Bass? Yes. Commissioner Irvin? Yes. Vice Mayor Kelly? Yes. Mayor Taylor?

Yes. Motion passes 5-0. All right, so we're moving on to the approval of minutes, which is I need a motion to approve the regular commission moving minutes July 8, 2020. Second. Y'all ain't going to let me get out. It was moved by Vice Mayor Kelly and seconded by Commissioner Santiago. Madam Clerk?

Commissioner Bass? Yes. Commissioner Irvin? Yes. Vice Mayor Kelly? Yes. Commissioner Santiago? Yes. Mayor Taylor?

Yes. Motion passes 5-0. Do we have any District 1, District 2 state reports? I see none. All right, so we're going to move to public presentations and I will yield to Dr. Bass. Dr. Bass, you have the floor.

Thank you so much. And I'm going to make it quick. I'm going to make it quick. I'm going to ask IT to run a PowerPoint presentation for me. It is a synopsis of our Turning Pages with Art initiative in the park. We had six sessions. We utilize three of our parks we had a total of um some recurrent um about 200 250 participants along with guest readers and artists and i would like to honor those readers and artists tonight uh immediately after the quick slideshow of uh what occurred Turning pages through art. We're not going to read all of it. This is at Shabandi. Our guest reader was Ms. Dorsett. She's in the audience. She's a teacher at our school. Keep turning. This is just a little bit more information. You guys, I'm sorry, you all have a packet of what's on the slideshow so you could look at your earliest convenience. I don't want to take up too much time. Next slide, please. Community engagement. That was also really nice. The kids really enjoyed the artwork. Next. Um, the easels and, um, all of that just in place. So you can see what it looked like at Ingram park. That's actually Shabandi. Yes.

Next.

Yes. He was one of our readers just highlights again of our children showing off their artwork. Next. One of our teachers, Ms. Davis, I believe. Yeah, I spoke to her earlier. She's a teacher as well. She was very, very good. Next. Highlights again of our students. And there you go. One of our baby readers. He's an artist. He's a writer. He wrote his own book, his first book. He's with us today. And I believe he's 10 years old. He was reading to some of our children. Is that the last one? No, there we go. Children at work. Keep going. Reading and painting sessions, just different sessions that we were doing. Next. In addition to turning pages with art in the park, we also have this initiative called Reading by Commissioner Bass. That's my jump out. If I see a reading, I jump out and take a picture and I put it on social media. Next. And just special thank you to every one of you who made this a success. The manager's office are Nova. Thank you. I know I drove you crazy. Thank you so much to all of my colleagues who came in support. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So right now I'm going to ask my colleagues to come up front and we're going to do it in two halves because we have readers and we have artists. So we're going to do the readers first and then the artists. Thank you.

Everybody. Yeah.

So this is basically what all of them says. But if you are a reader, instead of saying artist, it would say reader. But these are all the readers. It says, Deceitful Palaka Building a Brighter Future Certificate of Appreciation presented to Ms. Dixon. and sincere appreciation for your partnering as a reader in the pages in the park through our event. Thank you for inspiring our young minds encouraging a love of reading and helping it to cultivate creative community through the power of books and art. Miss Dixon.

The next one is being presented to Ms. Davis. I just love this name because it's a strong name. Mr. Glinton Samuels III. Our reader. Ms. Dorsett.

You got more? I don't want to mess. Okay. Oh, yeah.

And the next one is going to be presenting to one of the most famous colleagues that we have here in the great city of Opelika, Vice Mayor Joseph L. Kelly. And certainly an appreciation for you, finally, and reader.

Let's go. You're welcome. Valentine White.

One of our business owners, one of our local business owners here in the great city of Opelika. Thank you so much. Stay here. We need to get a photo.

Why are you sitting with my phone?

Hippolyte.

Hippolyte.

Mr. Hippolyte. FIU. Oh, from FIU. Thank you for the partnership. And last but not least, Ms. Tiana Williams. also from print house y'all show a lot of print house

Thank you all so much. Thank you.

So Dr. Bass, we thank you for this great initiative and how you are pushing education in the city of Opelika. And before you got here, we announced, you were aware of this already, that every single school in the city of Opelika is an A school this year.

Yes.

Every single school. So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Yes. And I'm a little biased because I love young people that are doing great things. So all y'all, we know y'all can read and we're so happy for you. But Glenton Samuels III was the youngest reader. And not only was he a reader, but he's also an author. So shout out to young King Glenton Samuels III. So thank you for that. All right, so we're moving on in our agenda. Item number 11, which is our Citizens Forum. Madam Clerk, can you please state for the record how to participate in Citizens Forum?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The City of Opelika Commission meetings are held in person at the Opelika Government Center, City Commission Chambers, 780 Fisherman Street, 3rd Floor, Opelika, Florida. Members of the public wishing to address the Commission may do so in person or virtually. Those persons wishing to participate virtually should register prior to the scheduled meeting time on the City's website at www.opelikafl.gov. When speaking before the Commission, please make sure to give your full name and address for the record. There is a three-minute time limit for public comments. Please adhere to the decorum policy, which is a part of the Commission meeting agenda. City Commission meetings are aired through Livestream at www.youtube.com forward slash user forward slash City of Opa-locka.

Madam Clerk, do we have any virtual participants?

Mr. Mayor, at this time, we do not have any virtual public comments.

So citizens forum is open for those of you that are in the chamber.

Good evening, Mayor Commissioner Audrey Dominguez 1147 Jen Avenue. At this time, I'm giving each and every one of you the 2025 adopted millage rates. I want you to see that Biscayne Park is at number 1 and Opelika is at number 2. We're the highest in Miami-Dade County. I know that this is already going to go through, but I just wanted to thank at least the mayor for always trying to lower the millage rate. I've always been an advocate for that myself, but we keep on saying if we don't get the money, we're not going to be able to move forward. But I just want the commission to always remember everything you hear and they tell you is not always true. Because I saw the budget committee meeting and some of the commissions were stating, oh, they told us that we're going to It's going to be really strict. We can't even buy maybe a roll of toilet paper, whatever the case may be. Yet the mayor stated, we're not broke. So who's telling the truth? Where is the truth? I mean, I don't believe that we're broke. But anyways, that's on another topic. Another thing I wanted to speak on regarding resolution number three, which is The rupture, Cairo Lane and Northwest 127th Street drainage and roadway improvement projects is sustainable, complete, and has provided significant roadway. During an underground utility installation activities being performed within the vicinity of the project by a contractor working on behalf of Florida FPNL, the main water The water main occurred beneath the recently constructed intersection at Cairo Lane and 127th Street. Now my question is, if they broke it, why are we paying for it? Do we have an MOU, which is an agreement saying that, hey, we're going to pay you back? I mean, to be honest with you, $186,500 we could have used to give the raise to the employees, the 2%, that are not in the union. So I just hope that you guys look this over. Another thing I want to address, I requested public record request July 9th. I haven't received it. um i also had a meeting with the manager and the chief of police april 21st i'm still waiting on my documents they know what it's about i just want you to look through and and remember um residents should come first thank you all right citizens farm is still open citizens farmers still

hello hello how you doing how you doing how everybody doing hi um this is my first time here um my name is fendell henry uh i was raised in opelika can you state your ad your address my address is twelve zero one jan avenue oh that's how it goes yes sir january january been um living there for since 88 since i was eight years old and um Beautiful city. I love the city. I have a great neighbor right there, Louis Santiago. How you doing? My guy. That's a familiar face. I grew up seeing Mr. Kelly's face. How are you? You don't know me, but I've seen you do a lot of work in the community. And I just came here because I'm a licensed financial professional. And I've been learning some things and I have a nonprofit, which is Tower Rising Initiative. And I wanted to see who can I talk to to have a meeting as far as creating the collaboration. I want to give back to the city and I want to help people. I want to help everyone here. My motto is no family left behind, and we have to just elevate, protect, and empower. My mission is to just empower individuals, family entrepreneurs, and future generations through education, collaborations, and community partnerships that create long-term financial stability and opportunity. There's some things that I've been learning as far as with this financial world, where most of the people that I grew up with don't know anything about index accounts, don't know anything about long-term planning. And it's a void in our community. And God is telling me to come out here and do this work. I just want to help people. the whole vision is to make open lock a model for financial literacy entrepreneurship wealth preservation and generational legacy so that's what i'm here for i don't know who i need to talk to but i have a proposal right here and that's what it is all right thank you thank you give me a minute and we'll address it all right give me a second all right citizens farm is still open

Citizens Farm is still open.

Good afternoon. Good evening to the commission. Thank you. This is my first time here and hopefully you'll be the last, but in better terms.

So my comment, I know the city celebrated 100 years. Can you state your name and address for the record?

I'm sorry. Javier Sosa and 12042 Northwest 38th Avenue. I'm a business owners, I have eight properties and within those eight properties, I have an issue with the water liens on my property and I have a contact this since November. November, and I have made requests letters contact contacts with Mr Santiago, the commissioner I had met. I have spoken with John. She replied. I was able to get a meeting with Ashley. Ms. Lawson, and my problem is still not resolved, eight months. And basically what it is, is they're going back from 2017 liens that I haven't even owned. And basically I keep on getting the runaround. I have meetings already for two months, basically with one-on-one with Mr. Santiago, Ms. Lawson, and yet I have not resolved this issue that is in my business. So if the city is going to progress, if the city is what it is 100 years, we gotta forget about the past with the water issues that we've had. and make a resolution to the owners that drive the drive on this business right we want business we want to be able to progress the city not leave it lame and so what happens to me if i want to say hey i want to buy another property or do something with the city it doesn't happen because i see the inadequacy of the people who work here and yeah some people we're not going to generalize because that's not life but at the same time i think there should be some kind of respect to people who want to solve problems. I have tried doing six lean searches, eight lean searches, which is out of my pocket, and yet no one has the authority or the resolution. I got in five different excuses, sick, rivermen, sick, city of Apalaca 100 years. It's like, really? November? Would any of you accept anything? is not seven months in the making to resolve and it's very easy we have had all the paperwork and the city has never come back to say let me see if this is true which i have i have done and i have everything vividly given and proven and emailed and gotten notes and yet nothing how are we going to progress If nobody here cares, and excuse me, I guess I'm generalizing. That's not the intent. But this gives us something to respect to the business owners. We have the residents, but let's call it the business owners. Hey, one day I might want to come and live here. I have an aviation background. I love what Mr. Curtis did, and here we are. Beautiful, great. But Apalaca gets a bad rap. Why? Exactly this scenario that I'm at. Something that I've proven, something that I've met with people, And yet, nobody responds. Nobody answers to what we're asking. And it's nothing made up. Everything is in black and white. That's what we want in America, right? Black and white. Paper. And yet, my time is up. So I thank you. I know that I'm a little bit agitated, but I respect all of you, and I appreciate what you do for your time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Sosa. Citizens Forum is still open. Citizens form is closed. So, um, commissioner Dominguez, you talked about the military. We we're here on that. Um, and the, but what stood out is the public records request from July 9th. I don't know where that is. You want to speak to a matter manager?

Yes, it's a public records request for text messages, which we had to retrieve. I did speak to Ms. Walker about it, too, just today. That public records request will be released to Commissioner Dominguez. We had to retrieve text messages. We don't keep text messages. Got it. I'm sorry.

Well, that's the one I'm aware of. Can you get Ms. Walker to get exactly what she needs so that you all can respond accordingly? And we had the resident, I said you sent the social services director to get his number because for the financial planning guy and Ms. Sosa on the water lanes. Can you all set up a meeting?

I met with Mr. Sosa for the first time in Commissioner Santiago's office on June 23rd. On that day, I did send him and his assistant an email letting them know that because his staff sent him one letter saying that he did not owe anything, then sent another one saying he did. So I told him in the email that we were going to honor the letter that he did not owe the liens. And I did send it to the finance director to draft that lien release up. Of course, I was out. They sent another email to me on July 7th. When I was out, I responded on the same day telling them that I was out of the office on bereavement. They sent the email today asking when I will be back to the office. I responded immediately and said, I am back in the office.

okay so can you all set up a meeting with um mr sosa um the chief of staff is here miss ashley so that you all can mitigate that issue so that we can close that out um miss ashley to mr sauce as well and that'll it yeah i'm sorry mr mary what i understand though what our managers uh say now is everything is be you know done that has been restored

It has not been signed off. It has not been signed off, but I did send them an email acknowledging our mistake and that it was going to be addressed. Okay.

Exactly. That's what I wanted. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Manager. And I told you about the item that Commissioner Audrey was talking about. It's number four. But if we don't want to pull it out to saving time, I can say to the public, what did I think about or you want me to pull it out for?

You want to do it during your report?

I'd like to pull it out. All right.

So we have to reopen the agenda, the consent agenda.

Are you going to? vote against it or something are you no no sir no no no sir so that comes to give you time now to go ahead and put it on the record okay i want to put it in the record the concern is that we already be talking in the um uh agenda brady on monday and for the commissioner address she's outside right now i make it loud and clear that i'm going to supporting okay that item but okay that morning it had to be returned to the city because we are not the one broken that pipe That's what I believe that we'll be discussing in that meeting. The money is going to be refunding for the company creating that situation in Caroline and 127. Okay.

I think we're all on the same page with that. So, Madam Manager, you can have an offline conversation with Commissioner Santiago. Vice Mayor?

Thank you. I'm currently working on legislation with the manager and the seat attorney regarding that very issue because we've had three or four hit pipes over the last month or so, but we really don't have a real mechanism how to Go after the money other than just kind of asking them. So the legislation that I'm working on will address just that to make sure we do get money back and not just for what is happening there, but also for the staff costs is incurred as a part of anything that is taking place. of the remediation so i'm working legislation regarding that because that is a lot of money but it's not the first time keeps happening over and over again and so we need to put something in place i'm working with the manager and the city attorney on to bring something back to the commission thank you mr mayor thank you all right so we're moving on to our um consent agenda item 13 was it five

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Opelika, Florida, directing the City Manager to provide Spanish interpretation services at all City Commission meetings and special magistrate hearings, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for direction to the City Manager, providing for scriveness errors, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by Commissioner Santiago.

All right. Can I get a motion? Move it. Moved by Commissioner Santiago. All right, no motion on this item this item does for lack of a second moving on to item number 13. 13, 8.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, Florida, directing the City Manager to provide Spanish interpretation services at all special magistrate hearings, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for direction to the City Manager, providing for scriveness errors, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by Vice Mayor Kelly.

All right, can I get a motion? Move it. Move by Vice Mayor Kelly. Can I get a second on this item? Hearing none, this item dies for lack of a second. All right, moving on to the last item on the consent, which is 13-9.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, Florida, approving a budget transfer in the amount of $12,000 from the non-department, non-contracted services budget line item to the special events budget line item to provide funding for the city's Labor Day celebration, providing for implementation and providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by Commissioner Santiago.

Can I get a motion?

move it move by commissioner santiago and i'll put this item so i'll go ahead and second the item um for a discussion commissioner santiago uh thank you mr mayor i be uh talking uh through my manager uh for the last seven months i think about that morning they be assigning to me for uh the opalaka community newspaper That's, you know, one of the things that we've been talking. Nowhere and anywhere we can get through, okay, with that project because a lot of things happen. We don't found, as they say, no company that want to take over. Another thing is, you know, we be having, you know, trouble with the amount of money that we have and anything. But they are... Nothing else. They told me about, okay, my, my, the community, no, my, the community newspaper for the city, that it be bordered and accepting and approve, uh, last year in October for, uh, the commissioner and also for Tallahassee, that are the more, the more important people for us to approve whatever we, we sending out there. Now, What I ask in the manager, Madame Chameca, is to see if it's a possibility to move out of that morning for that budget that is not going to be used in it, OK, because it's already July. By the end of July, they promised me that probably next month, probably next month, we're going to have an addition for the edition for the community newspaper and to move. part of the money to another event that we have for the city, and that's a national event, the Labor Day in Opa-locka. And that's the only reason that I say if it is possible to move, that's funding. It is already there to not loosen it, because if we don't use it, we're going to loosen it. And we're not going to use it for anything else. And that all. Mr. Manager, Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. All right. I pulled it. That's the reason why that I that I do that.

All right. I pulled this item for simply what you're talking about. We. Last meeting, we had a 45 minute conversation about spending $7000 on paper in that same meeting. We talked about we debated about giving our employees a 2% raise. So this event is already budgeted for. So just because we're not using it, we shouldn't reallocate it to something else. It should go in the general fund to help with what we need it for. So I don't feel comfortable spending 12 plus three, which is already allocated. That's $15,000 on a Labor Day event. Now, if you need more, then we can sign a meeting in the middle, maybe give you an extra $2,000, make it five or something. But a whole $12,000 when again, 45 minute conversation on paper. And then the other conversation was another 45-minute conversation, a debate about giving our employees a raise. And then we're here.

Yes. Mr. Mayor, hey, it sounds beautiful what you're bringing to us. Sounds perfect. Okay. Yeah. Is any complaint. But the other day we have a workshop and we'll be talking about to spend half a million dollars next year. Money that we already don't have. But we're talking about something that is there. And for some reason, and I want to find the reason. I want to find the reason why the newspaper not started in January. Why the newspaper don't started in February. There's a lot of things going on. And you're talking about the $7,200 that we've been talking about the other day to ending, ending the fiscal year that we are right now. Because like some people from the community say, okay, somebody say that we broke and somebody else say that we not broke. Well, we are. We need so much money, you know something? Okay, you can leave that and I'm gonna defer that item. Okay, because I don't really need to bother with that. I'm gonna celebrate Labor Day and I'm gonna get the funding for whatever I get. But I'm never gonna send him to Tallahassee for the next year to spend half a million dollars in a deviant night. Thank you. I defer that item. I want to defer that item. Don't worry, my colleague. Everything is okay with that. I don't need the $2,000, my mayor. Thank you.

Item has been deferred. Moving on to the next item, which is item number 14-1. Madam, that's the hat on it, yeah.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Opelika, Florida, authorizing the cancellation of the City's regular scheduled City Commission meetings set for August 12, 2026 and August 26, 2026, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for an effective date.

All right, can I get a motion on this item? Move by Commissioner Irvin, second by Vice Mayor. Simply put, you know, August is our vacation month, and we, except for that one year, Irvin, we have like six years. But we want to make sure that we give our employees and our manager time to recoup and get ready for the new year. So the only meeting I'm suggesting that we have is that special meeting, which we usually do, I believe, in the daytime, like around 9 o'clock, to go over the benefits package. Okay, sure.

all right so that's that's it simply put so do I have any questions concerned on this item all right Madam Clerk Commissioner Bass yes Commissioner Irvin yes Vice Mayor Kelly yes Commissioner Santiago okay yes Mayor Taylor yes motion passes 5-0 all right moving on to 16 a1

An ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Opelika, Florida, renaming the Opelika Government Center in honor of Mayor Myra L. Taylor, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for authorization, providing for implementation, providing for conflict and repealer, providing for severability, providing for scriveness errors, and providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by Commissioner Santiago.

All right, can I get a motion?

Mr. Mayor?

Santiago?

Um, I'm going to defer the item to, uh, to, uh, next, uh, commissioner meeting in September, because I'm going to make a story, uh, you know, and found out, you know, uh, more history of Opelika.

Got it. So this item is deferred, um, moving on to the last item of the night, which is 16 B two.

An ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Opelika, Florida, amending the annual adopted general proprietary and special revenue funds budgets for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Adjusting revenues and expenditures as reflected in Exhibit A, providing for expenditure of funds established by the budget, authorizing the city manager to take certain actions. providing for appropriation of all budgets and expenditures providing for fees consistent with the appropriations and amendment providing for incorporation of recitals providing for conflict and repealer providing for severability providing for an effective date this first reading and public hearing was held on july the 8th and this is sponsored by the city manager

All right, this is a public hearing item. I get to let you, I'm sorry, can I get a motion? I'm sorry. Moved by Vice McKinley. Second. Second by Commissioner Irvin. This is a public hearing item. Madam Manager, go ahead and present, and then we'll open up a public hearing.

This is the second reading of the fiscal year 26 budget to align the funding. There were some minor changes, or I'm not going to say minor, there were some changes between first and second reading, and our budget administrator will go over those changes.

All right, this is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. Hearing non, seeing non, public hearing is closed. All right. I'm at a manager. You want to go ahead and highlight those changes between 1st and 2nd reading.

Yes, Mr. good evening.

I'm your commissioners. So the changes spoken about by the manager include. We spoke about the last time of 5,500 dollars going to the commissioner's office supplies. We have reduced that to 3,000 dollars to capture any outstanding invoices that may be out there. So that's kept there. There is also. 35,000 dollars included, which includes. The roof in for Ingram park and. Turn my treatment at. Also included was the 12,000 dollars on item number 9, but that has since been a rule. So that will be taken out.

Okay, Madam manager briefly. Can you explain the roofing on Ingram Park?

Yes, Ingram Park senior citizens building the building in the front that that staff occupies. That's the only building that's functional. There is a need for roof repairs.

All right. I didn't get that part. And I got excited because I thought she was going to talk about the team.

That's for the senior building in the front. Kari was excited too.

No, he's aware of that. And then the other one was, okay, I'm glad you're doing that because we just, it was over. Thank you for that one. All right. And so those are the only highlights. yes those are only changes sorry any questions to the manager or the um our budget administration budget administrator mr floyd yes sir thank you uh that's um the one that we had to send into tallahassee to be approved no this is the um this is from last week yeah the moment yeah no no we already voted on the one to go to tallahassee for approval all right all right um madam clerk

Vice Mayor Kelly. Commissioner Santiago. No. Commissioner Bass. Yes. Commissioner Irvin. Yes. Mayor Taylor. Yes. Motion passes 4-1.

All right. So we're moving on to the city manager's report.

Good evening, Mayor and Commission. I have been out for quite some time. I am back and playing catch up. There's a lot happening. to be caught up on. I did submit my report to you all in writing very briefly. Segal Park, I did send an email regarding Segal Park drainage improvements that will take place this week. and also the staging of the equipment that will also be in that area. Notifications were disseminated to the residents in that area. We've also posted it to make the community aware of what's going to go on on Segal Park. Also, Parks and Recreation will host its summer showcase on Thursday, August 6th. In addition, parks will be taking their end of the year summer trip to SeaWorld on August 7th. And I don't have anything else. Unless you have any questions or concerns, I'll take them at this time.

All right. So any questions for the manager? We'll start from left to right. Dr. Bass, any questions for the manager? No questions. Commissioner Santiago, any questions for the manager on our report?

Yes. Go ahead. Madam Manager, I come into you something regarded about owner They have a situation out there by the site, okay, about something that is belong to the city that in his property. We already take care of that situation where we are, that we're going to respond to them?

Yes, it's also included in the report and Ms. Gross can elaborate on it.

Good evening. I'm Major and Commissioner Adelina Gross, CIP Division Manager. I think you're referring to pump station 16, 43rd Avenue, 131st 61. And that's the address of the of the property. And yes, the city is trying to remediate. There was a manhole that is installed in private property. We are remediating and sewer lateral is being installed. To remediate that and eliminate that manhole in the private property. So it does not affect the property owner when he wants to do any type of development in the area. Also, the area will be restored to better conditions than what it was when we put the equipment there.

Okay, yeah, that's what I heard that is not going to affecting the property owner to have any operation right now. We're not going to do anything. I have to, you know, we decide what to do with that.

We're not going to, we're not going to disrupt the property owner operations at all, but we will be removing that and putting it in another area. So he's not affected.

Okay. When the time coming, you know, the city going to let him know him, you know, to give him the space to working on and the property. Okay.

The property owner has been, has been notified and we spoke to him earlier today and yesterday as well.

thank you and mother manager now that she is here i want to make also something clear okay regarded about uh what we're talking about before for that item number four okay yes be sure Like the way that we talk, that the people that they're responsible to do any damage anywhere, alleyways, any part of the city, you know, people that they destroy a fence for our public property, you know, to make them to pay. to the city. That's the only reason that I say, yeah, let's go through because we had to fix that section there. You say that's very important to doing it. If not, we're going to destroy the rest of the work that we do there when sacrifice. Yes. But I want that company to be, you know, responsible and respond to us right away when whatever we're spending out there. That works, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. All right. Vice President?

Yes, not a question. I just want to say thank you for the hard work that you've been putting in trying to get that pool up and running for our kids before the summer is over. I really appreciate it. Thank you.

And with regards to the pool, I came back on last Monday. We fast-tracked, did what we were supposed to do. We did our inspections. We were waiting on the health department to come today. They sent an email late this afternoon saying they apologize they were not able to make it today, but they're shooting for tomorrow at 10 a.m. We put the pool company on notice that they're coming at 10 a.m. and our building official as well, so they can all be on site. They were there today waiting, but they didn't show up. And I've also made contact with PSWAP as well to inform them.

And what's the estimated? What did they just say?

We're waiting. They said tomorrow tomorrow.

Yes, I'm excited. That's my time. Did they give you a time?

10 a.m.

Okay. Yes. I was looking down in here. All right. The only thing I have for you, Madam Manager, is the the TPO item. The Miami-Dade Transport Planning Organization. What's the scope of work? Is that how we're still funding freebies with that program? Because that's our scope of work.

No, that that's a grant that is that has been received by the city with city apply last year for the bicycle and transportation and grant assessment to add additional cycles or waste of transportation. So we were awarded 75,000.

All right and it's the bicycle lanes and yes, and for all right. Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't. But I thought this was also no. Got it. All right. I think that's all. And the only thing I will say this, Madam Manager, so I had the opportunity to hang out with the people that were cleaning the canals on the other day. Of course, they didn't let me ride the boat, but it's all right because that show was out there. But it looks good. The only critique that I do have is I know that it's a one-man operation and he drives the boat, but can you ask them what borders the seawalls to take that remaining excess trash? Mayor Mrakas, Because it doesn't always get sucked up in the I didn't know what you thought alright so that's it that's only thing I have, but thank you all so we're moving on to moving on to our. Mayor Mrakas, Commission reports. Mayor Mrakas, Well, official board reports on the Senate board shares here so Commission board reports, and we can start this time. Mayor Mrakas, Okay, this is what it looks like yes.

Thank you, Mr mayor. I just want to say, first of all, to Commissioner Santiago, thank you for making Dummy Nails and Chess a success. With your efforts, it's becoming more lively, so thank you for that. I also want to plug the initiative, another initiative that I was working on over the summer with, again, with Nova. I'm driving her crazy every day, but thank you for not being upset because I know I get on her a lot because I'm always calling, asking for something. But anyways, I mentioned it before. It's a little libraries in the city of Opelika. I don't know if you all seen it, the little libraries that already have been installed within our parks. The ribbon cutting for that is going to be on Tuesday at 10 o'clock, but we're only going to do one because for, so we're trying to navigate how we're going to put this, um, slideshow together where we can showcase all of them at once. And the ribbon cutting, we're going to do the one at Siegel. And that will represent all of them. But I want to give a shout out in advance to those who made it possible. Certainly, I would like to give a shout out to Miss Kathy Sandoval, the parent. who brought the idea to me and I ran with it. Secondly, I would like to give a shout out to our city attorney, Ms. Brendan at North Suites for a contribution. Thank you so very much. And also to NAACP Miami Day Branch. They adopted one of the libraries as well. And I adopted one in honor of my mom and also House of Hope. adopted one and the libraries that have been adopted by persons are going to be maintaining those libraries. So it would be at no cost, no whatever to the city. But however, the manager did allow her staff to install them for me or for us. And I'm so grateful. And with that being said, I believe that I see additional little libraries coming. um because truth be told some of our parts can hold more than one because they are relatively small and if anyone who's listening my colleagues would like to adopt the library to shout at me and we'll make it happen i just want to put that out there and i want to say thank you all so so very much for your support and may god forever bless our city dr baz and i was gonna i'm glad you brought up the little library and i saw the location but i was wondering why didn't you have one here city hall I'm sorry, it just didn't cross my mind.

Is it possible that you can maybe put one in the lobby of City Hall, right in the corner by the elevator?

We can talk about that. Yeah.

Okay. All right. Mr. Mayor, one question. I went to my calendar. That's Tuesday, the 28th?

Yeah. But what time? I see that it's my calendar.

At 11. Because the police department have a bicycle ride that day. At 11? I don't know what time.

It's at night, no? Afternoon?

No, I think it's at 8. I don't know what time.

Oh, this is going to be about 34 or 5 minutes tops and we're done.

You can ride the bikes right over to the Segal Park and join us at the library. Right. We can do a two-for-one event. Amen. Not the best, as you already know. We still have the donation from the book that I am on. Yes.

Please take them.

Of course. Thank you so much. Thank you. Commissioner Santiago. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, in my report, And that too, you know, made two points to the manager in my college. And I have a note here that they are putting here in my folder and say, do not forget to mention it. The first edition of the community newspaper in August 26, that I don't know anything about it. I don't know what's going on. I don't have any information. But Madam Mayor, if it is nothing in place, don't worry about it. Let it go. let him go and put the money back to the general fund okay because i don't have anything you know regarded about that now

Okay, Commissioner Santiago.

Yeah. Sir, that's my report.

Because that's not right. Because they called each and every one of us to ask us what we want in that newspaper. So we can't do that to the manager. Could you ask for this newspaper? The newspaper is here. We ask for your editorials. And everybody has submitted, I believe.

I received something from everyone.

Everybody has submitted. So we're going to cut the next ribbon for the inaugural newspaper on what is it? August 28th. That was sponsored by Commissioner Santiago. Thank you, Madam Manager, for all your hard work and bringing this forth. Commissioner Santiago, you want to finish your report?

You finished for me.

But I just wasn't, I can't allow you.

I can't explain myself here.

Yeah, but that's not right.

That's not right. No, it's me that knows that I receive. Okay. But I receive everything, you know, by the last minute. Okay. And we'll be discussing that for a long time now. Okay. Let's keep it going. Um, I'm going to keep celebrating, uh, the block Patty, um, in 22nd Avenue by the low, uh, grocery store is going to be, um, uh, uh, the 7th of the next month. That's the first Friday of the month. And I'm going to celebrate it in big out there. We're going to make that community to look better and better every day. And I also have my event for September 7th, Labor Day. And it's going to be, it's going to be. I'm going to celebrate Labor Day. And I'm going to get the best that I can to make the city and the workers here for Opa-locka, all the employment to participate in that event with no cost, with no cost to the city. Thank you. And I'm going to celebrate in that event. I change the address and it's going to be allow Alibaba Avenue from 22nd Avenue to the low grocery 1731 Alibaba Avenue. That's going to be the celebration of Labor Day there. Thank you.

I'll go next. I don't have a long report. I know we have financial oversight under my report. Anything from the efficiency audit? I don't see the, I see the supplier, but I don't see the...

The finance director is out. The last correspondence that was relayed to me by the finance director with regards to the efficiency audit, that they're going over the 99 findings now.

Got it. All right. Which we all, we've cured already. So I'm excited about that. All right. So the other thing on my thing is our book bag, annual book bag giveaway and health fair that we have every year is August 8th. That's a Saturday from 11 to 3. book bags, school supplies, free health screenings. We're going to have an advocacy workshop. We have free food and family fun and more. Between myself and Commissioner Irver, we're trying to get the people to come back to do the haircuts and the braids. And so we're waiting on a response from them. So we're inviting everybody out to that. That will be at Shibundi Village, Saturday, August 8th from 11 to 3. And that ends my report. Vice Mayor Kelly. No report. Commissioner Irvin.

Okay. Thank you. Yesterday, I had the privilege of having a pop-up pizza party with the summer camp had a ball. They enjoyed it, but that was only at Sherbundy. Tomorrow, I'm going to do another pop-up pizza party over at Ingram for the summer camp participants. Our RV in the park was a great success on last Saturday. We literally hosted about 300 plus at Chibundi. Had a great time. September 5th is our next RV in the park, but it's the Opelika Reunion Edition. Okay. those that attended last year know that we literally closed down Ingram Park big time. So it'll be at Sherbundy this year. The time is the same. I think it's 5 to 11. also um bingo was really great this week uh they we missed our bingo caller uh we all filled in of course uh to make it happen mary is a godsend thank you so much for her and um It was last Wednesday. I had the privilege of, um, hanging out with the kids. I love the kids. Kids are very, it's the adults that sometimes have problems with, but the children, I love them. We went to the water. I went to the water park with them. We had a really great time last week. Um, great time. And, uh, I can't understand my own writing. But anyway, unfortunately, this month I did make the last one, Commissioner Santiago. I'm going to be at SeaWorld with the children on the 7th. So I'm going to miss your party that night. But I'll be there September for Labor Day party. I'll be there.

You can make a video and we'll show it out there.

Thank you so much.

All right, I do apologize. We got one more thing we need to do. So the Florida League of Cities is having most of the week we go every year, their annual meeting, which takes place on August 13 through the 15th. But we need to select one designated elected official to be a voting delegate, which is that Saturday, August 15.

I won't be able to make it but

Does anybody anybody you're going? Yes. All right. So you want to be what? Can I submit your name as a voting delegate?

Don't sound like I have a choice.

So, Madam Clerk, there's your answer on that. And I'm sorry, two other things. We want to shout out Mrs. Javaris Brownlee. Thank you, Kari. They called yesterday and said that they wanted to do something nice for the city of Opelika's football team. So they came in today. They brought footballs and posters and book bags for our football players and our cheerleaders. He stayed out there and played ball with the kids and ran. And so it was a good, good vibe at Shibandi Village. And he's homegrown from the city of Opelika. He plays for the Jets now as a cornerback. So he came back to the city of Opelika to give back. So thank you. Madam Manager for the support, Chief of Police, and Kari for that, and to all of my colleagues. Thank you all. And last but not least, y'all know I love my Explorers, and not only do I love my Explorers, I love my Reserve Officers. Don't they look nice tonight, Jo? They do, all of these. So thank you, Chief. Thank you, Chief. We see you all. Y'all look good in your uniforms. We appreciate you all because we know we don't really pay y'all. Y'all get that dollar, that dollar a year, but y'all come and still support the city of Opelika when it is needed. So shout out to the reserve, the Opelika reserves. And you all hardly ever get recognition and you never really ask for it. But from the bottom of my heart, I want to tell you all, thank you. Thank you. So other than that, we will, we can close to dismiss, but we ask you to keep the Seabrooks family. in your prayers as they will be utilizing one of our residents on this friday at helen helen miller helen miller so those of you that can let's support our residents she's a long time resident of the city of blanca so we want to make sure that we are supporting so can i get a motion to adjourn second commissioner santiago second by commissioner irving this meeting is adjourned