City Council - Regular Meeting

That's good. On that side. That's good. Thank you. On that side.

Good evening. Our third city council for August the 25th, 2026 is called to order. Remind you to salt your phones, please. And I remain standing for the opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

First, I'd like to apologize. Because we do not have a courtroom still, everyone, we're just here for discussion only. With that said, Minister Phillip, do you need us in prayer?

Yes, sir. And we're going to bow our heads, please. Eternal God, our Father, we thank you for allowing us just to be alive yet another day. We also thank you for this opportunity to meet and to discuss our views of one another, Father God. We pray that you allow us to have this meeting in peace at the end of the night. And we'll give you all the honor, the glory, and the praise. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you. To the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Don't bear with me, I don't do this very often. I do welcome all of you here, glad to see this crowd tonight. This time is set aside for our citizens and the general public to address the council on any matter that is not on the agenda. This is not a question or answer time. It's not a political forum, nor is it a time for personal accusations or derogatory remarks to or about the council or city personnel. If you would like to address the council, please come to the podium when you are called. Speak into the microphone and state your name and address for the record. Please also limit your comments to not more than five minutes for individuals and 10 minutes for groups or delegations. Mr. Jackson, you're standing on Sunday. Yes, I will voice.

Yes, I'll be brief. I'm Andy Jackson. I live at 411 Plantation Road. I saw in the paper that there's a discussion about budget for travel for the city council. And it was most distressing to hear that there was No budget at all for travel at all proposed for the council. You know, this is, as some folks would say, a vacation for the city council to get out. Traveling outside for being exposed to these other city council people from around the state, certainly in our North Florida area, this is an investment. And I think that we should pay more attention to this investment The only thing that I would recommend is, it's like we do our capital budget, that we actually make a budget for travel with the sole purpose of doing development for the city and for representing our city and things that they participate in. One of which is the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Now, the planning council needs help. They're one of the least staffed planning councils in the region, or in the area. If you take a look at some of the other planning councils, they've got an adequate budget and adequate staff to take on zoning and land development issues in this more part area. But we don't seem to be able to do that. The other thing I've noticed is, is when I go to economic development, it's like I've been going for the last several years, I see representatives from city councils and county commissions, from certainly Live Oak, Lake City, and even Cross City. And, you know, Putnam County as well. They're from all over the region. They're there participating and discussing what it takes to improve their city and to basically, basically, they have a plan. They're working together as a team. Now, we've been very generous in letting John Hart go. But quite frankly, as a businessman, this is like sending the hire to do the owner's job. So I propose that you increase your budget. You certainly have a plan about how you're going to use the money. You have a focus as to how you're going to spend the money. And just off of a number that I've kind of come up with off the top of my head, that number ought to be somewhere around $25,000. But you ought to have a plan to support it. If you don't have a plan, that's why you don't need a budget. So that's what I have to say. And I wish the rest of the council was here to say this. And in the next meeting, I'll come back and say it again. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else thought on the agenda would like to speak? We'll move on through this. Are there any bids or FQs? No. Okay, so under general business, Mr. Coons was here from the North Florida Regional Planning Council to discuss a matter, but because we don't have a forum, he informed us that he would come back at the next meeting when we have a forum. Item 60. Council to discuss task order for Ardura to start design on wastewater project and council to take any actions being necessary.

I can give you an update if you want and then we'll have to come back to it. So the task order is actually, you know, the funds we are getting now, it was to start The design work, we approved water one last time. This one will be the baseline. So that will start the design work for all your sources. The other piece of great news, so you remember last meeting when I was here, we said we have applied for some grants or some water control and some other projects. So the good news is we got out. So we applied for about 12.7. As of now, you have $12.7 in the park. Thank you so much. And it's all through a big, small community building.

I'm just going to let them out there. The auto control is for the one avenue project. So maybe we won't have that smell over there anymore. We're like everything else.

Once we put it on, we have to maintain. So that we don't carry on. That's in charge now. You will not see the funds coming because we have to go for applications and everything else. So the funds will be available somewhere around December, January. December, January.

With that, I'll see you next meeting. Thank you very much. Okay.

Item 6C is the voice to Kings and girls to Queens to address the council and Tom Hill to take any action. The council to take any action if necessary.

How are you all doing today? We're great. I want to hand these to you all. And Oh, yes, it will also have these guys. My name is Marvin murder. What's here?

Okay, all right.

So good afternoon, everyone. It is my honor to be here. And I promise to be brief, so I wrote everything down. I have learned, if I don't write it down, people say, man, you're gonna be a preacher one day. And when I started talking, I seemed to believe that. So I wrote everything down. And I'm going to go verbatim for what I have here. And I have a page that I share with everyone so we can all be on the same page. Okay, so my name is Coach Merv Mater. I'm from Madison, Florida. And I have with me, okay, and I'll explain their role in a little bit. I've done so much in my life, but I focus on two things, or three things now. Being a husband, a father, and a grandfather. Yeah. I told my granddaddy, don't call me anything other than granddaddy, because I don't earn that. So I'm all about family, and I know for a fact that strong families can create better and stronger communities. So with that being said, as CEO of the grassroots and family mentor organization, Boys of Kings and Girls of Queens, a four-time back-to-back best of four and family service winning serving Madison, Leon, Taylor, and Hamilton counties, that was established in 2009 in my 10 by 20 backyard man cave. We are a 501C3 Dropback Prevention Mentoring Organization serving youth ages five to 17. Although we serve over 200 youth, Taylor County has grown at a fast rate through their leadership, passion, and love for the youth, families, and this great county. Currently, Taylor is the only county outside of Madison who decided to take on a Girls to Queens branch in addition to the already five and Boys to Kings branch. Currently, they serve around 70 young people. And although they visit the schools weekly in partnership with the district to deliver professional mentoring services, they have delivered the after school study, study hall and group sessions in places that can't be called home yet. Our motto is not this one, not your child, not mine. So we refuse to lose youth on our watch. Our partnerships currently consist of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Mountain County Sheriff's Office, Taylor County School District, and many more. We currently have 21 team members across the four counties we serve who devote their time to empowering the youth and families. One of the highlights of our organization is the required parent engagement component parents how to attend a one-hour monthly parent huddle, which is a meeting where they learn what we are teaching the youth, updates, ways they can get involved, how they can be supported by the other parents, et cetera. The team members and Taylor are BTK and GTQ lead senior parent liaison and mentor, Mr. Kenneth Fuller. BTK's senior parent liaison and mentor, Mr. Greg Flowers. BTK mentor and liaison, Mr. Robert Murphy. Girls and Queens senior parent and liaison, Ms. Letitia Miller. And GTQ parent and liaison, Ms. Angela Woodall. Our purpose here today is to inquire about the possible, the possible permanent usage of your Loughridge Park building to give our youth of Taylor County a place to call home. The youth in Madison have a place to call home as well as the youth in Hamilton County. So as we work on establishing partnerships, we would like to be identified as a resource and asset to your county as at this potential new home. Because the youth will be taught in group fashion, life skills, social skills, anti-gun violence, fire safety, as well as 12 guiding principles such as respecting my elders, respecting self, honoring family, never giving up, and many more. The youth will and currently are being fed a meal or snack each night after group sessions. Parents will continue to be empowered and mentally at ease knowing that there is a safe place for their youth to grow and become productive adults. To put it once, what we offer, weekly tutoring, weekly school visits and individual and group mentor sessions, after school group sessions, monthly parent huddles, field trips to colleges, professional sports and events, et cetera. Scholarships when you complete services and walk the stage. Scholarships are presented publicly. $100 for any youth who make all A's on any report card. Mandatory goals and system forms completed every nine weeks to teach them how to live and not yet exist. A meal or snack after every group session, paid youth jobs such as president, vice president, et cetera, that they have to interview for. Automatic community service hours for attending our sessions and contributing to creating a healthy environment. Accountability through our creation forms to keep them accustomed to following rules and utilizing self-control. All of these services are free to every parent. We just desire to see the youth grow into a productive adult. So although it seems like hard work, really it's hard work. My last bullet, successes. Over the years, we have graduated roughly 17 young men who are now married, in the military, fathers, and zero are in prison or a menace to society. Currently we have two, one sixth grade youth who are bullied who joined BTK and now in their mid-20s as college graduates, both are back serving as mentors. I will yield there, and I'll give Mr. Kenney and Ms. Miller a chance to share their life. Then we'll have you say something, then we're going straight into the question and answer it, and we're out of your way, okay?

I'm Kenneth Fuller. My address is 104 South Baptist Street, Mary Floyd. One of the reasons why I do it is that it has to be kind of Someone has to give our kids a safe haven. Someone has to teach our kids about communication, behavior strategy, problem solving, conflict resolution. Someone has to teach our kids how to grow in the right direction. Someone has to show them that it has to be done. We can't just keep speaking about what has to be done in the community, what can't be done in the community. Someone actually has to put their foot down and show these kids that it is possible. With the mentorship that I had growing up, I know that it's possible. So that is my way of giving back to my community to show each kid that it is possible.

Letitia Miller, 108 El Paso Drive, Perryville. My why is because it takes a village. Parents can't do it by themselves. Things have changed so much. And if I know that I can help one make a change that the parent might have to tap out and I can tap in, then I want to be that person that taps in. We know it. We know we need it. It's much needed around here in every neighborhood, everything that we do. And I want to give them the life skills, the social skills that they need so they can be productive citizens.

Just so Taylor County know, we do intentionally sponsor. Is Casey here? Is Casey? See, partnership with the schools. We sponsor a lot. We sponsor the football team. We sponsor the, what's the, golf team. We sponsor the, um, soccer team. You know, we do all we can to make sure we give them back because this community is important. I'm going to tell you all this. I have an 18-year-old son that's in the family right now. But he was premature and he almost lost his life. And I rushed to the hospital for the woman. I'm going off the charts here, but keep that with me. In Madison, rushed to the hospital and he was in a life mistake. I couldn't do anything. And a man grabbed my son, took him in the back, And in three minutes, my son was breathing again. That man lived in Perry. In fact, H.B. Pemberton, one of his sisters was not working for the city or somewhere, but that man saved my son. I have a soft spot in my heart for Taylor County because they came through for me, okay? Now, we have a young guy up here, and one thing that we do, we teach our youth to quit speaking negativity over your life and speak life, son. You got this. So he's going to recite the voice of his principles. And he's not going to mess up, because he got this, right? It's he. So you take the podium. You want him to give his name and address? You want him to do all that, too? Get up here, son. Do what everybody else did. And then you want us to back you up? Okay, so what we do is the youth at every session, they say it, and the whole group back them up, because we want to succeed. Name, address.

Let's go. Let's go. My name is Cameron Hall. I live in 214 Major John. I'm here to say I'm a Boyz II King Marshal. Hey, y'all everybody in the back? Okay. I am Boyz II King. I am Boyz II King. I am in control of my choices. I am in control of my choices. I refuse to blame mothers.

I refuse to blame mothers. I am brave.

I am a leader.

I am a leader. And I am royalty. I take pride in treating others.

I take pride in treating others. Just how I desire to be treated.

Just how I desire to be treated.

Respecting females is not an option.

Respecting females is not an option. It's a requirement. It's a requirement. Valuing my family. Valuing my family.

Being respectful.

Being respectful. Being responsible. Makes me a king.

Makes me a king. I will not settle for the problems of life.

I will not settle for the problems of life. I will not waste one life that I have. I will listen. I will learn. And I will self-disclose. Then I'll try the content. When you look at me now, you should see great. When you see me in the future, you will see great. Give him a hand, please, Donald. That's all we have. Are there any questions for me or my team? Don't stay right here on this side.

So we don't have to pull a pull. That's fine.

I got to run this thing again.

I got to run this thing again. Is it Christian?

Yeah. So God, he asked, is it Christian based? What one of our principles speaks about that? Who knows what it is?

Oh, I see all outside.

Praying internally. Praying internally. So man, listen. Everything that we do, this is a faith walk. It came to me in a vision, 4.30 a.m. You know, that pillow talking to wife. I gave her the vision and she supported it. And it's here now. It's a reality. So yeah, everything we do is about serving God. We don't need nobody's money. We want to save these youth. That's what we have. So what we want is, so currently, There's a building we're utilizing. Okay. Now, of course, we have funds coming in. We don't have tons of funds coming in. So as a 501c3, we need a place where the youth can call home. If there's a spot here and we had an island off of Lockridge Park, if that's even up for option, we could maintain it. Anything we got to do, We want our youth to be able to go somewhere where they know I'm meeting here. I'm not meeting there this week, here this week. No, they know where they're coming at, and that's their spot. And the parents know that atmosphere inside. But Kenny's a praying man. He's going to bless it. He's going to bless every place he goes to. I've got to get something and lock it in. And I know for a fact it would be an asset to Taylor County because we're not losing our youth. Now, a lot of folks talk, but we're walking this thing out. And kudos to our principal, Casey, for allowing us to come in that school and mentor these youth, man. Listen, I gotta say this, some schools you can't get into. They don't want you in, but she understand the value of partnerships. So to answer your question, that's what we want. We want to be able to, with your permission, take that over, if at all possible, And we will take care of that for you all. How would that look?

Are you talking about getting the building set up for the whole park?

Can I go out in the lawn with my brother? I've been out there. That's a lot there. But listen, I will say this. There's a big God, right? I'm not going to think small. If in your mind you think the whole park, take the park, baby. Take the park.

would take whatever okay i'm just saying she said that's too much but i'm here hey i'll start to pick up so but yeah but definitely that's that would be the plan right now now okay i appreciate the support i do want to add that we actually have a waiting list for uh girls and queens there's over 30 girls waiting to get into the program and for boys and kings that's over 40 for you I've always had to wait to get into the program. Oh, no, it's good.

If you ever want to come out, come check us out. They just had a brunch. As a matter of fact, there are some parents here. Sometimes we can be talking, trying to sell something, but parents will tell the truth, and they have to be. There's a parent right here on the second row here, Ms. Murphy. She don't miss.

I'm sorry.

Oh, do you? On my behalf?

Oh, sure.

Thank you. To the council. My name is Pat Addison. My address is 333 First Street. I am very grateful. You don't know me. And I don't know you. But I know, and I know my sister here as well. But I was serious. I was serious in the right place. Meaning that you care. Not only care, you show love. And love is an action bird. You have to put it in action. What you're doing, you're putting it in action. You're not talking. you're walking to the council. I want to ask you, ask you as a citizen, as a grandmother, as a minister in the city, as a past county commissioner, I ask you to allow them, to allow them to have Lockridge building. And while they're there, he told you what they're going to do. They're going to do it. They say they're going to do it. They will take care of the building. And while they're on the ground, they get to play basketball, football, whatever ball they're going to play out there, they will clean the ground and put it back in order. When they leave the building, it will be in order. And they will take care of it. They're not just talking to be talking. They mean what they say. And I back them 100%. I know some young men. I know some young men that need their help. I witnessed it firsthand in my own presence. I saw. He didn't know I was watching, but I saw him in action. A young man, I don't know if you remember, the young man stepped to me. The young man's on my heart. He's not my blood, but he's my spirit. And I'm very concerned about him and other young men as well. But you stepped to him with a disciplined tone and a serious look in your eye. And that showed respect for him. And he showed respect to you. And you were talking to him because he did something out of order. And you were putting him in order. And he needed to be corrected. And I want to thank you for that. Again, I don't know you, but I thank you. I thank you for Madison. to help us put this on target. I appreciate you. Thank you, Council. Please, allow them to have life. And if we need more people to come up here, let me know, brother. I'll ring them. I'll ring them.

I mean, surely, I don't want to come in here to speak. I don't. I want to be honest. Okay. Looking back, I want you all to know something. I spoke about Taylor County and the guy that saved my son's life. But when I started Boys and Kings in my man cave, it said 10 by 20. It's pretty small. It was big to me because that's all we had. And I remember needing someone to come and speak to my youth for the first time. I had three to four youth. And another Taylor County resident, Tonya Bell, was the first speaker to ever come to my 10 by 20 man cave. And she spoke to the young guys about why it's important to respect women. You know, so if y'all don't know Tanya Bell, she's a legend. And we thank God for her. So I want to do this, and I will be done. I promise you. I promise you. A parent. These parents do not miss their parenthood. You know, sometimes people be like, ah, parents don't want, they don't show up. They don't do. But when they're about you, they will show up. If we value you, then there's no big I'm gonna do you. We all gonna die, man. But right now, we're here. We're gonna serve. We're gonna God save after you. Well, if you're gonna love God, you gotta love your sisters and brothers. So could you stand up for one second, man? I'm gonna just share. One second. I'm gonna tell you what. Say whatever's on your mind.

Megan Murphy.

I'm at 4480 here at school.

It's awkward for me to speak because my husband doesn't have a father. So seeing him be a mentor to young men and young women, because he has to attend those suits, it touches me. As a mother of four, we both have four children, seeing him reach out to the community and be an inspiration to children, it just touches my heart. And I, the wife of my husband, ask, you know, whatever is possible. If it's not Lotheridge, possibly someone else may have an idea, can point us in the right direction to be able to have a place for these 100 youth.

We're just going to look at it like that.

Because the children need the discipline. They need the mentorship. It's like they said before, it's not easy. It takes a village. But if you don't have the heart... It's not there, but seeing the young ladies and the young men come in and be respectful and have a want to continue to coming back to the mentorship program. It just touches me as a mother, um, because area is so small, but at the same time, there isn't any resources here for young men or young women to go and have the leadership or that accountability. And that's all.

Thank you. Thank you. If I have any questions. Thank you all for your time.

We're looking forward to some other place. Have you all looked at any other locations?

No, ma'am. I'm sorry. It's on Law Ridge. It is. I'm sorry. It's on Law Ridge.

I understand that. I just wanted to see if you looked at any other Possibilities.

May I answer your question? Sure. I was approached, as a matter of fact, by a child. They didn't have a place. And we have someone in our area who's able and willing to save our children. And it should always be yes. And I'm saying yes.

My only concern is that I know that the community uses that park a lot. And if you all are using it, then they can't use it. So that's my only concern.

Yeah, I think that that can be worked out, though. If it's even something that could be entertained, I'm quite sure we can sit down and have a discussion about that because our services are not every single day. You know, we have times that we meet with our youth in the evenings, and we don't do a thing on weekends either. It's mainly throughout the week. But that would be something that we can have a discussion about. If you all want to entertain it, will not come back and sit down and talking about it.

I don't know if I didn't get to read the email from Attorney Demps, but she has a pretty good memorandum on it and a lot of the safeguards we want to include in a contract. I think that's what we ought to do, put a lease contract together for y'all to look at and approve and make sure we have these. I can read them in your emails, what's the safeguards you want to include, but you can talk about it now if you want. Is her right here? Yeah.

Oh, yes. So, excuse. Actually, I didn't put that in the memo. I'm in trouble. All right. I did not put that in the memo. No. First of all, I want to say to you guys, I think this is a wonderful proposal and as a person who worked with having Boys and Girls Club be established in Mayo, Florida as a part of a community development center that had already been through a lot of programs that were day-to-day funded at first, I understand there's an interesting balance when you have A primary renter that also needs to give way to community renters. So I'm very curious to see how we can work that out, being that this is much different because it is property owned by the city. I don't think that is something that can't be overcome. So I don't know who will be the agent to work those type of terms out. But I did provide a list of just safeguards that we could consider? So things that I don't know if we've had to in the homes, you mentioned Hamilton County and Leon County, your organization has a home. Is it like typically a government property or when you said?

Well, so at Madison, it was just through a church and, you know, they never were doing this in our backyards. So they just say, y'all take it over. The city is supposed to be like a dollar. And they just, they've had us, you know, for like five, six years to add it on to the back of it for more space. And it happens, it's in J.R. Lee, it's an old school that they utilize, it's out there, J.R. Lee building. And that people, they love it, and they let us utilize it. And we have given donations. They don't want rent. They just want to make sure your children are safe.

And then, yeah. And I look forward to speaking more thoroughly with you and the Taylor County representatives. I know that it has a really good reputation, although it hasn't been in Perry a long time. So just by this way of information, things that we're going to be looking for, I would think of the council is liability insurance. Good. I love the fact that you said that very quickly because we deal with people's children. All hands need to be on those grounds. Also looking at potentially some type of liaison or advisory role with a broad basis in Perry, Florida residents being that there's no, and maybe there is, but there's no direct connection between whatever your metrics are to fulfill for CJJ or even maybe for Madison or Leon, I don't know, but something that where there could be some assistance also, because that's a lot to take on the building, even just the building. So maybe I'm speaking around the circle, but maybe some type of community board to assist with particularly those non-BTK, G2Q issues like renting out to other people, right? Because we do have a particular state and all those things can be worked on. Again, my biggest concern was liability insurance. So you saying yes was like, yes, because we definitely need to make sure that those things are taken care of. But yeah, something that connects to a community toward accountability that both the city invest in and you all can invest in as you work on what that means to run a community group and potentially be over a public space that other people rent. And, you know, that is a little bit different than even what Women's Club does or Girls and Boys Club does. But I think it's a really great effort to try to maybe have a more equitable treatment of groups that were not a part of the 100-year history, the 60-year history where City of Perry was given leases for adults. So I'm glad to see you all here. I'm so excited about Girls to Queens. I look forward to talking more about what that can look like. And, you know, I know city manager, John Hart and council member, Shirley Hampton are very gung ho about this. So I hate the more people not here to hear it. If you could come back, I would suggest come back because I think people should hear it. And the more people understand that you're investing in the community, And if they're renting from Lockridge, they're not only now renting from the city, but they have opportunity to show that we can take pride in our own community and keep up with the facility. Because no longer you're going to just come up here and blame the city. If you guys are potentially the primary renters, I want everybody to be ready to take on that and not over promise and under deliver. Let's do it the opposite. Let's under promise and over deliver for these kids and for what you're trying to do. So. I mean, that was my comment, and again, I was like, do they have insurance? Because insurance is a big deal, and it's not cheap. So, yeah, so those type of things I look forward to having conversations with and determining what kind of agreement. And I'm particularly looking at my Perry people, because you may know some people who could be, in this case, people of the world or other partners, like Tiny Bell, who are invested in this city and understands, like, the standards that we would want to uphold. regardless of what the organization is making. And I'm sure that your organization is excellent, but I'm just saying those type of connections would be, I think, very important regarding a public benefit to peer-reported services.

So that's the question of that tape coming back to how that discussion with you. No, no. Do we have that? Just to see, because I'm not sure. We also can look down. I can't read it, but could we discuss that? Are they illegal? We'll discuss that.

No, it's not illegal. The council has not voted on anything yet. So that's why I was suggesting, I have no power as to that. I'm just a lawyer. I would suggest, because you're going to have to convince five people, if you could do another presentation and be open to it, do that. But the idea of what contract terms are, we can definitely talk about that. They just can't discuss it amongst themselves because the sunshine locks. So, yeah. I look forward to sharing public. Go ahead. I said along with John Harper. Yes, yes. I was just saying whoever. Well, let me say non-elected officials like Mr. Hart and myself and talk about potential threats.

Let's try to get a lease contract together to bring the next meeting.

You know, the next meeting is the Miller's meeting. So you mean the meeting after that? Okay. What do y'all want to start? We could do it the next meeting.

What do y'all want to start? Yesterday. Let's start. The other way. It's up right now. Don't you think?

You know, when we're talking about peace and all that, it's not good. But if we look into all the aspects of, you know, and now I have a boy, Gerald, that I do at the church, responsible. There's a lot of other stuff. We have to make sure it's understood. And then, you know, go on to the people. Go on to the city council. Go on to the city manager. If somebody thought that, that's funny. And so we need to, I don't say you shouldn't, because it sounds good, but there's a lot of stuff we need to work out. to get to that point. To say one thing and do something else, to just say I'm willing to do it, I'm willing to do that, it's more than just no.

I've been in jail 10 years. I've been in jail.

The boys and girls love banging me over that church.

I spoke to a lot of our senior community members, and I know it probably takes more than that, but they were all happy about it, and in support of what they're trying to do.

Well, you know, sometimes... No, you know, sometimes when I was raising kids, If you have a hundred happy, then you have five happy. And it makes a hundred unhappy. And I think it's a good thing. We need more mentorship. I came up with this direction. And I had to spell it out. It's clear. You start talking about these for a hundred years or what have you. We have to do some things to make sure that things work out. And I think if I can, this is my father, but I'm not speaking to him as my father. I think also what

I mentioned liability insurance and depending on the type of insurance you have, it could really be upwards to $23,000 a year. So sometimes it's cost prohibitive. People use the same words, but when you get into the Myers from everything to God forbid, well, there's certain things I won't say because we have mixed company, but you know, leaders get in trouble with children having that kind of insurance. So there's like, I would just use the word the Geico insurance and then like the Cadillac insurance. So when I mentioned insurance, I was just saying, I look forward to talking about what kind of insurance and what kind of things that can be done. Because today, unfortunately, it's just a harder road. But I think at least just knowing from previous conversations, just the idea that it's more than a notion, the idea that it can be very expensive. But I'm glad you all are funded. So that's just a matter of life. That's your father? Yes.

I sort of claim him, but not right now. I respect what he's saying because I've been doing it since 2009. It ain't easy. And, you know, you've got to almost not care what folks think of. There's always pushback when you're doing positive things. But if I listen to this and that, we'll be here today. So I'm ready for all that, brother. But we could not own them.

on the bond relative, but it is no change. But we kind of said this year, and the situation was the church had to raise $2,000 a month just to pay us up for the insurance, for the bill.

So it's all about the difference. But it worked out. Both of us were due for the visa transfer, the placement, the job. Thank you, sir.

We appreciate you coming and look forward to you coming back. All right. Thank you all.

I know we have information.

Next item on the agenda is 60, the council to discuss the proposed budget for fiscal year 26.7 and the council to take any actions being necessary.

We're not going to take any action because we don't have a forum, Andrew.

I don't take action anyway until September. I'm sorry. You don't take action anyhow until September.

Some of our state's numbers came back a lot lower than we anticipated. So we had to make some more cuts to a few areas.

Good. That's good news.

Bad news. They came back lower, our revenue sharing. Yeah.

We're gonna see that a lot of frames and years ahead. But we will deal with it as it comes. Okay, item 60, ordinance 1062, introduction to first reading ordinance. An ordinance of the city council of the city of Perry, Florida amending the city of Perry code of ordinances, chapter 50, utilities, article two, water division two, Rates and charges, section 50-624, rates and water rates and other charges by adding subsection J, private fire hydrant inspection, flushing and testing fees for codification, providing for severability, providing for conflicts, and providing for an effective date. You can bring all of this back in the next meeting.

Can't have a first reading without a quorum.

I was going to say, like, it's a first reading, but it won't count. Yeah. Which, definitely can.

But that's, I told y'all about this one last meeting. This is the one for when the fire department can finally get the documentation they need for the private hydrants.

We'll get it if you need that.

From the business. the rate set by ordinance before we send it out, that letter out. You don't have to set rates. I don't want to send that letter out without a rate on there.

We can't do anything today.

The next item is 6F, ordinance number 1063, introduction and first reading ordinance. An ordinance of the city of Perry, Florida amending the city code to create a citywide permit process for the service, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages within designated enclosed area of the public right-of-way adjacent to qualifying businesses. Providing definitions, providing application, review and operational standards, requiring approval of the license premises by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beerages and Tobacco. Requiring insurance and dignification and revocable right-of-way use agreement. Providing force suspension, revocation, enforcement, severability, codification, conflicts, and effective date. This has come about Last week, we were presented with a proposal for the, what's the back of it? The new business is opening.

Tap house.

The tap house. And they wanted to lease a portion of a sidewalk with a recover over it and then and fix it in and use it for serving. And we needed an ordinance to be able to do that because there are the other entities that might want to do the same thing. So we felt like it was proven on our part to develop an ordinance. We can't vote on it tonight, but I'm just putting it out there so the DMC knows what it's all about.

I'm pretty interested to give you all points to consider?

I emailed it to you. Most of it is pretty simple. I mean, and it also is reflected in the application that may not have gone into the ordinance. Just making it clear that the term could be a year like many of our permits are, and they have to renew it every year. and also allow for inspection.

We didn't like that internally because there's going to be more work on us. That's why I had it in there originally and took it out, that it would only change if you had like a change in ownership or something like that. We can do it anyway.

You could, I mean, here's one of the challenges because it is work, but if you have particularly an alcohol service area, I would think in order for safety concerns that we would need to have Maybe not every year, every 18 months, some type of opportunity, because you also have a right to inspect. But I get what you're saying. It's administratively. Anytime you have to do it annually. But I would suggest that we consider doing it as a loan. But I get what you're saying. So what the proposed additions have not been approved by anything. They're just suggestions. And I apologize. I wasn't here last week when it came up. So I sent the memo. It's really not as long as it sounds. Um, but I was just noting, I was noting there to be an annual, um, one, one where we, um, just for a broad base have where maybe the service area, if they use it right away, it has to, it has a limit as to how much it can take up 50%, maybe a little bit too much. In other words, you're taking sidewalks and roads possibly. So having it clear, whatever that description is, how much can be taken up over right away for the alcohol service area. I was suggesting that we do include a provision regarding minors, clarify when minors may be present in the service area, consistent with indoor premises like any other restaurant that also may serve alcohol. Noting when there's a decision that would be expected to be given by whatever the designee is, I put city manager regarding someone asking or applying for that permit. And if it's denied, just an opportunity for appeal So really, it's not that many changes. It's just the idea of like, how do we stay on top of it, particularly given that this will be the first ordinance of its kind in our city. So that's just a short memo. But as you can tell, it doesn't change the heart of what it is, just more administrative.

I got a question. If you don't permission to make Well, I think we have to make some restrictions about that particular sidewalk. It's wider.

than the normal sidewalk.

Well, part of what you all would be looking at, I guess at the next meeting, that Mr. Hart put forth the divinity

identity language for an agreement where the owner asking for a permit would have to have liability insurance to cover if there's any incident and identify the city. And this particular exception is focusing mostly on alcohol service areas. It's not sort of, you know, a full broad permission, but I understand you're saying, well, why not everybody be able to have it? But this particular thing would be sort of rewriting the way the zones are. So when we come back in session with the quorum, you all will be looking at an ordinance. You'll be looking at a potential leasing agreement regarding indemnity and insurance. And there was a third thing you had. Oh, the application process for businesses. And that was in your packet. And I emailed you the memo.

Okay. Did y'all want to speak to this?

I was just going to answer his question about the lease state. So it becomes a land lease from the city to the restaurant owner or business owner. So they assume all the liability. So it lifts the liability from the city based on land lease. So just like you would lease right away with DOT or other city properties or county properties, based on a lease. So that just answered my question.

Thank you. Okay, we'll take another look at this another day.

You're welcome.

Item 6G. Okay. on Introduction to Ordinance Number 1064, Introduction and First Reading, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Perry, Florida, amending Charter Chapter 40, Article 3, Parks and Recreation Areas of the City of Perry Code of Ordinances, amending Section 40-53.

You don't have to read it all, because it's not the first reading. What? You don't have to read it all, because it's not the actual first reading. You don't have to have the first reading. That's the next one we're going to have.

Just so that I know what it's about. I don't care. John, would you speak to the reading of the trespassing? I mean, within your needs. Thanks, everybody.

Well, we can't put it on this tonight, anyway, so we're going to put it on.

I have something. What? Everything to do with this. This ordinance. The ordinance. What? What our police officers do. Why can't we patrol the area and remove these people from bathing and the splash pads?

We don't have anything written down saying they can't do that. That's what I'm trying to say in this document.

That's what I read.

That's what we've got to pass the ordinance. That's not in there now.

Right.

So once we do pass that, we'll probably give them more than a third.

We need to discuss it before. Is the chief out for surgery?

So right now the parks are patrolled. Anybody violating park rules is pretty much warned for that and or trespassed, depending on the rule. Of course, you have park hours. Those have to be adhered to as well, and people are warned about that in trespass as well. The problem is, whenever our children get out of school and their parents want to take them to the parks, and you have people out there lounging around on the table and actually sleeping on picnic tables, or as they say, relaxing on picnic tables, we know what they're doing, but with this ordinance, it would make it a lot more clear as to what we could do in regards to having those people exit the park. So they're actually allowing our children to play at the park and not be a sleepover. So.

So as it stands, there's nothing you can do now?

We can ask them to, you know, get them off the table, but I mean, unless they're really egregiously doing something wrong, there's not a whole lot. I mean, it's, It's not illegal to be homeless and hang out in the park right now.

Don't have a lauder in...

In a city park?

Yeah.

Kind of hard to lauder in a city park.

Yeah, if they're taking a bath at the splash pad.

If they're taking a bath at the splash pad, you know, hopefully this ordinance will kind of define what a bath is.

But what can we do now?

We can ask them not to take a bath at the splash pad, but it's a splash pad. People get under it and Wash all of them. So what is a bath? I mean.

It's normally the adults that's doing it, right? So it's meant for you to do it.

If they're violating park rules, yes, ma'am, there's something we can do. It's not against the rules right now to get under there and wash yourself off.

All right.

I mean, let's be honest, if they break out the shampoo and the soap, they would probably do something about that, which we discussed in our leadership meeting, but this would definitely help us actually be able to use the parks for what they're intended for, for our kids to play and have a good time.

Thank you, Kent. All right. All right, moving on. Item 6H, council to appoint one citizen to serve on the Perry Fire Pension Board, trustees and council to take any actions deemed necessary. Nobody's come forward. We do ask, we do need people to serve on this board. So if you all know someone that would be interested and would be willing, then give their name to us. So we're going to ask.

We've already sent her in, though. So the department is and does have somebody in attendance. So we're going to ask.

to me yes they they are going to talk to somebody this week about potentially being a critical right right okay um item 6i the approval of the units so last week's meeting but we can't do that we don't have enough people here to vote city manager do you have something to report or okay City Attorney, do you have something to report?

I do. I'll make it brief. I just wanted to, again, apologize for not making it to last week's or last meeting. I was trying my best to get down here. And I did watch on Zoom and saw the porn situation. And I was like accusing my new husband of doing things. And it was like, there was the Zoom. That was supposed to be funny. I guess it didn't come out by the way before I said it. But I wanted to just share with counsel that many would may not know. In June, I attended the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association Conference in someplace close to Naples, Florida. And it was a really great opportunity to meet with other experts and longstanding municipal attorneys throughout the state. And I just really look forward to building those relationships. And I'm noting that also because every year that I've been city attorney, I've attended the Florida Legal Cities Conference. And this year, because I guess I blew the budget by going to the attorneys association, I was able to get the city to pay for the conference fee, but I did pay for a hotel And without even having my transportation, that costs easily $1,500. So I was sitting here standing in total agreement with Mr. Jackson as he was saying, I think that we need more money budgeted for training, not less, to go to Florida League of Cities this year. And no other city council representative was there. And although I was city attorney, I kept saying, I'm here for my council. Is there any good ideas? because there are cities that are similarly situated that are doing really great things. So if you're not able to go to the conference, which I know now the budget has been eliminated for the most part, reading those newsletters they send digitally, I just think it would be really inspiring. I would like to submit, he doesn't know this, John Hart for one of the awards before the end of the year, because I think that, I didn't ask your permission or tell you, but I think that to be able to, to tell other people in semi-situated cities that our freshly new city manager was able to garner over $100,000 in grants. That's enough. $100 million. What did I say? $100,000? Yeah, I'm sorry. $100 million. And even our city council, I just think we've been doing a really great job. So I think with the training opportunities, more than training, but connecting to other places may give us and give the council some encouragement as well as some ideas for what new steps we have to take. This conference, they were really pushing and had extra security fighting the proposed amendment three regarding the property taxes. And it's interesting because sort of being here in Perry, you just think like there's a done deal, but there's a lot of recommendations going strongly against this property tax amendment. because it's going to gut out a lot of budgets. And so also this year, if the council would like, I would love to see possibly of us joining in in the October or November Florida League of Cities, like rep your city type thing, because one of the things that we definitely see tonight and see what particularly youth programming is coming here, whether it's from the acting group or something, our city needs an infusion of hope. And so I think that even though that's not policy related, I think it's public care related. So I just, when he, when Mr. Jackson was talking, I was like, yes, yes, we need more people going, not less. So I just wanted to note that, but I know for most people, I mean, including myself as a new little way, $1,500 is nothing that's needs that. And also, and this will be probably for the next, not the next meeting, the meeting after next, A lot was also shared about cities re-looking at things that they've ignored that could possibly be generating income, like lien enforcements. So now the cities are losing out potentially on a bulk of other ways of income. They're starting to look back at other things, almost like when your money is funny, you start thinking about who owes you money. And we have millions, according to our documents, of people who owe us. That may not be the cure. but I look forward to like, again, exploring those types of possibilities. But also, just in follow up for the last, I think it was two meetings ago, or maybe it was the last meeting, I did complete interviews with all parties concerned and other review of evidence regarding the situation that happened at Jerkins and our city manager. And I'll be placing a report and writing to all the council but by the next meeting. So if there's any outstanding information or concerns, please let me know. But I thought I would have it done by this meeting, but I wasn't able to.

I promise.

I promise. It could be a one-page memo, but I will have a report.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm sorry. Do you have something to say? Nothing really. I don't know what happened. I came on in August. It makes four years, it was August.

And then all of a sudden,

It's no good.

That's something that Ray interpreted in the charter. But Ms. Sibbes wants to look at the charter and interpret it a different way.

Yeah, it's starting.

I don't think it depends on what the state sent to your office.

I took my first term, I took the office in August 2. Yeah.

OK, I didn't know there was an issue.

OK. I will look into that.

They didn't have to go to the election in November. They go ahead and take the seat after the primary.

Oh, after the primary, since there was no general election to be had.

But then Ray and Taylor Brown interpreted the charter to me until after the general election.

Ms. Farley, did you have anything?

Just reminding that the next meeting will be on a Thursday, September 10th, because of having to move around the school board and the county's budget schedules. Thank you for that reminder.

Anybody else have anything to bring before this council tonight?

I'll give you a start. The name of the report, please.