City Commission - Regular Meeting

6:02 p.m. May we please stand for the invocation provided by Vice Mayor Ky Williams followed by the pledge of allegiance. Oh gracious God, we thank you for tonight. We thank you for as we gather to together as a commission. Father God, we thank you for how we're able to take care of the business of the city. Father God, we thank you for we putting the city first and Father God, we're not having any personal agendas. Father God, we just thank you for continuing to bless our city. And God, that we're able to make decisions where we can agree to disagree and to respect each other. And father God, we ask the same of the community. And Father God, we thank you for all these blessings in Jesus' name. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. M clerk. Mayor Bab. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams present. Commissioner McDonald present. Commissioner McFersonson present. Commissioner Scott present. Interimm city manager city attorney here. City clerk is present.

Thank you madam clerk. Thank you commissioners. Thank you staff. And most importantly thank our listening audience for being here today to participate and witness our deliberation of our commission meeting. At this time, entrance city manager, do we have any additions on emergency basis? Any deletions? Um, mayor, what I do have, not so much of an emergency, but there are two items that I would like to add um as far as the resolutions, and they're in reference to timelines that we're dealing with. Um I'm not sure if um our city attorney got the resolutions earlier um to review, but it's um one where we have um an opportunity to apply for some additional funds in the Mccur road reconstruction and the deadline to apply for these um um grants will be March 25th and that's the day after March 24th meeting. So, I was wanting to know if we can have a resol resolution done to approve those dates of that resolution because of the date that we're dealing with. And then the other one that I was asking to add was the vendor fee where we could set a vendor fee for our vendors when we have events. And being that this is being asked is that we have our I love for hokey day coming up on April the 4th and then our fourth on the marina and we're already having vendors reach out to us in reference to applying. So those are two things that I was asking if um we could have added um Miss Boule, she's running a little late, but she was coming in with the um items for you all to review uh the resolution and the um

okay memo. So those are that I wanted. Normally what would happen is they would be sent to me and then I would review them and then they would come to you if they are emergency issues. Um so I haven't seen them. I'm happy to, you know, take the time to look at them and comment during the meeting, but I just wanted to be clear, nobody sent anything to me um for my review.

Okay. And as I stated, maybe the mayor um the city attorney didn't get a chance to to look at them. I did send them. They were late, you know, earlier today. So if not, you know, that's understandable. And um again, the purpose is that we um when the community economic development director, you know, did the research and we were trying to get them to um the attorney earlier um in the week, but we were going um over and over about another particular resolution. So whatever you all decide.

Yeah. And I didn't even get a call that there was anything pending. So anyway, I'm happy. We've never done this before. I'm happy to review. If it is an emergency, you all are you all can there are some specific things that you can do um in terms of a vote. Um if it is truly an emergency and you deem it to be such, but um I didn't get a call. I haven't reviewed anything. I don't know what is being referred to. And just for comments, I think it's it's a needed item that need to be addressed if we can. Uh but even the entrance city manager indicated it's not classified as an emergency. So she's not using that term. So with that being said, are we still able to vote on addressing it with the understanding that during this meeting you take an a look at it as much as possible at least give a opinion that is meet sufficient so we don't vote on something that's maybe not legally uh upholding

and if I may I can read do we have a copy we can look add it. Uh, Miss Doule Washington, she's coming with it. But if I may, I can read a more, you know, clarifying uh, explanation of why I'm asking for these two things to be added, if I may. That's okay.

Okay. The first add-on that I'm requesting is um I'm asking for and adding the resolution to tonight's agenda authorizing the city to submit four applications to the FDOT small county outreach program and municipalities. There are three key reasons for this request. First, the program provides an important opportunity for the city to secure state funding for critical roadway improvements. Second, the identified streets are heavily used by residents are in need of resurfacing to improve driving conditions and accessibility. And third, authorizing applications tonight ensures the city does not miss the upcoming submission timeline. This item supports the components typically associated with emergency action because improving deterior deteriorating roadway conditions directly impacts the public safety, emergency vehicle access, and their overall life, health, and safety residents. The resolution simply authorizes staff to submit the applications and establishes the city's priority order. staff respectfully request approval and it's just only to add just asking approval to apply for the resol resol um for the um grants the funding. Okay, that's for the first one and the second one I'll read in and hopefully Miss be here shortly. Uh, I'm respectfully requesting that the commission add the prepared resolution to tonight's a agenda to establish a $50 event fender fee for city sponsor events. We have two major upcoming events, the I love Pokei Day and the fourth on the marina where vendors are already being contacted and having this fee in place now will provide a clear and fair process for them to register. The resolution allows me as the interc city manager to wave the fee when it

become when it benefits nonprofits, youth programs or other community groups. Acting tonight ensures we can ensure and secure vendors efficiently, avoid confusion, and maintain the high quality of these signature city events. And that's the um other. Okay, we're actually going to at least vote on our approval to have those two added uh with the uh condition that the city attorney can be able to towards some part of the meeting look at them and give her approval of it. But personally, I don't feel that that second one is a more urgent need to be approved at this meeting. I think the reason why we have uh on emergency basis is because we don't want to receive anything at the last minute without all the information. But applying for this grant is really important and I think that's something that's kind of cut and dry that we should be uh doing it. So

what date is I love the time that what's the date? April 4th. I love April 4th. But it's it's not even giving her the the authority to wave the fees and things like that. I just don't feel that's so important. I think at our next meeting we still should be able to approve that. Now I just think about the ones that's trying to apply that the vendors who's trying to come sometime they like to know ahead of time you know is can they uh should they could they come I think that's what that what that's what I'm getting out of it

that's I know in the past we've asked that that policy come because that is part of our rental policy and we've asked that that policy come because it needs some cleaning up and I think before that was one of the concerns in there. It says that at the discretion of the manager, they decide who pay and who don't pay. And the commission had a concern about that. And we've asked for a workshop on that policy, but we've never gotten it before because a lot of the commissions, we didn't agree with that that at their discretion. They decide who and all of that is part of the rental policy and that policy really needed to be cleaned up. And I know we voted on that policy to come before the commission before

question. because it's not a separate policy by itself. It's part of the rental policy. Question to make sure that I'm understanding. Uh the vendors are asking um one wanting to apply and we're trying to set the fees for that particular event. Yes, sir. what we trying to do. My next question, um, don't we have something already in the charter that addresses vendor fees and stuff? I'm asking I I'm not sure. We have a policy somewhere. We do have a policy in place already under the um under our rental policy, but it's not it's not clear. We wanted to clean it up.

We have a policy where um when someone's renting the different locations, the cafeteria, the marina, those areas, there are fees for that. But as far as what we charging vendors when you have an event, there's nothing there. So what we're trying to be is to be consistent with what we're going to charge someone. So there's no comments about you charge this person one thing, you charge that person another. Everyone will be charged the same. That that answer I was specifically talking about

the actual vendors, not the renting of the facilities, just the different vendors. I think I thought there was a policy already in place that address that because if there were there would be no need to even we can just go ahead and move forward and charge whatever that set rate is. But if there's not a set rate let's move to take a vote on the those two item and we're going to do them separately. Uh the first item that the interim city manager requesting to be added to the agenda is this list item. The item in reference to FDOT the F.COM that's on the um being able to apply for the funding and then the second is as far as you have to do the first one.

Okay. Are there a motion on that? Make a motion has been moved by Commissioner Scott and properly second by uh Commissioner Mike McDonald. Call for questions. Hearing none, are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Commissioner Scott, yes. Commissioner McDonald, yes. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Vice Mayor Cowin Williams, yes. Mayor Bab, yes. Thank you. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Now we'll move to the second request. Uh again just state the request uh interested me.

Okay. The request is to set a vendor fee for our vendors who are applying to use when we're having city events and the deadline for the uh the next event is April 4th. Are there a motion for that? I make a motion that we accept it. There's a second. Second. It's

been moved by Commissioner Scott and Prophet. Second by Commissioner Mike Fearson that item to be added to the agenda. Call for questions. My question is I think it's a worthwhile uh add on. However, I don't think it's at an emergency basis where it need to be voted on at this particular meeting. It's just my comments in addition to commenting. Well, just for the record, um you all do have as a part of 2-24 of your um code of ordinances, it does say that it is an addon emergency um basis. And so if you determine that it is an emergency, you can add it on to the agenda. So, as a part of your consideration, since you all have been having issues with what's an emergency and what's not, you may want to consider that um as a part of your vote.

Okay. Any additional comments? I would think because it's April the 4th and it's kind of close. You know, if I'm a business, I would want to know earlier, not wait two weeks or a week out whether or not I'm going be accepted to come up here or not. You know, cuz some people plan six months ahead of time and stuff like that. That's what it was. That's That's mine. Okay. Any additional comments? Hearing none. No. Go ahead. It's not an emergency. I mean, it's not It doesn't meet the criteria. Any additional questions? Hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? Roll call, Madam Clerk. Commissioner Scott,

yes. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner McDonald, no. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams. No. Mayor Bab, no. Motion denied. Now we'll move to presentation, proclamation, public service announcement, public comments, agenda items only. City clerk, at this time, do we have any public service or public comments card completed?

No sir, not for this section. Thank you. We do have one presentation and I'll have the entrance city manager introduce the presenter. Okay. Yes, mayor. Uh we have a Mr. Rob Beasley here. He's the area development director for the UNCF South Florida and he is here to do a presentation for the United Negro College Fund this evening. Mr. Beasley. Hello everyone.

Thank you. Thank you, sir. Uh, good evening everyone. My name is Rob J. Beasley. Um, I'm with UNCF. I'm pleased to be here today. And, um, see here. Okay. All right. Uh, pleased to be here today. My name is Rob J. Beasley. I'm the area development director with UNCCF, uh, South Florida. Um, I've been with the organization for 6 months now. Um, you're looking at a product of someone who's from a small town. My parents were, uh, factory workers. They had less than a high school diploma. And, uh, I grew up in a little small town, familiar. Well, this town is very familiar to where I grew up. uh as an agriculture state, grew up in Delaware, and either you were going to be a warehouse worker or you were going to be a pastor, or you were going to go all on to college. So, I'm very pleased to be here with you today as a product of someone who grew up in a small town. I'm a first generation college graduate student. Um and I'm really pleased to be in this position to serve in the capacity of helping our young, our next generation, uh go to college. Uh so um let's get started. Um I just want to give a a big shout out and a thank you to our mayor, our vice mayor, our commissioners, um to the city uh manager. Uh you know uh when I reached out to you initially uh you received me and UNCCF uh with open arms and I'm really pleased and thankful and grateful for this opportunity uh to the community uh here is very pleased to be here with you today. Uh UNCF and the city of Poki

are no strangers. Um, I serve along with our development director. Her name is Roxanna Blet. She's been with the organization for 20 years. She said, "Ral, before you go in there talking about UNCCF, you need to know we have a history with the city of Pokei. So, don't throw them the kitchen sink because they have history." So, um, after doing research and talking to Roxanna, she sends her regards everyone. Um, the city of POI has had students, families who received support from UNCCF and also attended historically black colleges and universities. Uh, and they've gone on to do really great things. Um, for decades, students from communities like Pokei, Belgade, and throughout the Glades region have attended H.B.CU with support from UNCCF. And for more than 80 years, UNCCF has worked to ensure that talented students, particularly those from underserved communities, first uh college students, first generation college students, and students from low to moderate income, uh receive support so that they're not left behind. Our motto for the past 80 years has been a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but it's a wonderful thing to invest in. Well, we understand that we're surrounded by talent. You look close enough, you'll see that there's talent everywhere. We have students who have the resilience uh they have the grades they have the determination but one thing they don't always have is financial support right so that's where we come in so that no students are left behind students that have put in the work and but yet they just lack the financial resources so we really help to support them throughout their college journey from start to finish we ad we are advocates and we help to make sure that no child is left behind and that they don't fall between the cracks. So, in a nutshell, I I'm here uh because I I would like to share with you three

things and I'll be out of your way. um the impact UNCCF is UNCCF is making here in Palm Beach County and South Florida and how students from communities like poi can benefit from these opportunities and how we can partner with you throughout the course of the year to really expand educational opportunity for the young people who call this city home. Um as you can see um thank you we have the local impact stats listed. So, uh, for those of you who are thinking just because we are the United Negro College Fund, we only support black people. Think again. We don't. We support anyone who's a first generation student from low to moderate household incomes also facing barriers uh uh that would uh prevent them from going to college from all cultural faiths and all communities. And um the impact stacks the impact stats here in uh local uh in Palm Beach uh 51 scholarships are awarded annually. Um right now we support about 40 students. Um and which totals about $26,71854. Um how we make an impact is through scholarships. Um scholarships really help students to get through college. uh we not just provide scholarships but we provide educational programs, resources, advocacy. Um also we have what is called um emergency funding. So let's say for example if your son or daughter has received a scholarship and uh they're in need of uh food, books, and housing, we have funding for them. Also the average scholarship with for UNCF right here in uh Palm Beach County is about $4,000. Um uh right now the population served is about 50,000 people who we ser who we serve and support. I would like to see

that number expand. Um there's some partnership opportunities here. There's some folks who are really advocates for education right here in this room and with the right type of help I'm certain that we can help to to increase those numbers. Uh next slide please. So in communities like Glades region, uh many students are first generation college students. Um families may not have financial resources to support college tuition such as mine. They didn't have the resources and students may not always know where to find scholarships and college support programs. This is where UNCCF comes in. As I stated, you know, our our mission is simple. It's to ensure that every student with the talent and determination to attend college has the opportunity to do so. Um, we not only support students and families, but we support our 37 uh member institution, H.B.CU, and you can see them right there on the flat screens. Um, Florida Memorial University is right there in Miami Dade, and um, we have a great relationship with our member institutions. Next slide, please. Um, in Palm Beach County, as I stated, approximately 40 students are supported annually. Over $200,000 in scholarships and also an aid are provided each year. Uh, more than 10 schools and community organizations um organizations partner with UNCCF locally right here. Um these students often return to serve communities just like POI as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and community leaders. Um some of the ways that we can really help to support the city of Pokei would include um FASA workshops, scholarship awareness, college representatives,

career panels, and this could be hosted at city hall, local schools, um community centers, and also a local churches. Um right here in the city of of Pokei, our future leaders uh scholarship um we could create a local scholarship fund specifically for students from POI. Possible partners could be local businesses, faith organizations, agriculture, industry partners, and city leaders. Um, and also, um, I was I was thinking, um, a great way that we could really help to, uh, to really raise money was working with our local faith leaders. Uh, we have some very resilient, impactful leaders right here in our community. Um, and we're always working with our local churches to talk about the importance, the value of education. uh many times, you know, our faith leaders right here are are advocates and they're also uh are very open to to doing a a fundraiser, a local fundraiser to support education and scholarship. So that would be great if we could connect with some of our faith leaders, maybe talk about, you know, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, some of our initiatives and also hand out material uh with some scholarship opportunities uh with UNCCF right the churches and also um uh uh also thank our local leaders for helping us and partnering with us throughout the course of the year. Um right here on your screen is some of our H.B.CU graduates. uh some of our local well some of our celebrities who've graduated from H.B.CU. Uh some pastors, faith leaders, athletes, uh media, music and um lawyers, political leaders have graduated from H.B.CU. Uh next slide, please. All right. So, for those of you who are here, you have a son son or daughter

who's in high school, maybe they're a junior or senior. um some ways that they can get involved. Even if they're a freshman or a sophomore, um if you uh have your phone, you can go ahead and scan the QR code right there. Um, I always encourage those because our main focus is to really talk to a lot of juniors and seniors who are really prep who are really ready uh right now to go to college and to make sure that they get some exposure maybe bringing them um on onto a college campus so that they can meet some of the uh the cap advisors, some of the students and some of the teachers right at the local university. So, um ways that they can get involved. Um next slide, please. All right. All right. You can go to the next. I just want to really quick hit on some of our scholarship programs that we have available. Um some of our scholarship programs, uh the starting or the the minimum GPA starts at a 2.5 and it's a full ride. We have uh great partnership relationships with organizations like Fidelity. they offer uh a a $100,000 four-year uh full ride scholarship and the GPA is 2.5 which is a C plus. So there's a lot of opportunities. In fact, there's so many opportunities where there's a lot of money that's being left on the table because many organizations and community leaders are unaware about UNCCF where the we're the nation's largest private provider of scholarships to students in minority communities. So, we've been around for 81 years and uh we have a track record of of really working to raise money because we understand that for this next generation, they don't always have the finances to go to college. It's not like high school, right? So, it costs money to go to college and we're here to support their endeavors. Next slide, please.

All right. And I'm I'm almost done. I just want to make sure that for those of you who are parents, you have some students who are here. How can they go and learn about scholarship opportunities? Uh at at the screen here, they can go to uncf.org and create a an account for absolutely free and learn about scholarship opportunities. Also, if they're interested in internship programs, we have those available as well. Next slide, please. All right. So, we have our STEM scholars program. And um if you can just scroll up a little bit higher. Okay. Gotcha. So there's a QR code there. I know it's really small. So the deadline is coming up April 15th of U. So for those of you and those are some of the requirements here but we have a robust scholar uh uh STEM uh program for those of uh who are interested in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics uh program at a university. Minimum GPA is a 3.0 and those are the criteras right there. You can go to the next slide please. Okay. Um All right. So, as you can see, you can go to the next. The minimum GPA for this particular, it's called the Foot Locker Foundation. The scholarship, the criteria is right here. Award up to 5,000 need-based 2.5 GPA. All right.

Can I get Can I go back one more time?

Yeah. So, as I stated, we have over 500 uh programs uh scholarships that we manage right here at UNCCF. God bless you. And uh we would like to be here to support the city of Pokei year round. Uh you can go to the next one and I'm I'm about ready to wrap it up here. Um there's there's one here's one, but there's another one. Um minimum GPA is a 3.0, ladies and gentlemen. And these are the criterias right here. Um okay. Thank you. Okay. Okay. So, here's the Fidelity Scholar program. It's just not a scholarship, but this particular scholarship, the the GPA unweighted is a 2.5 to a 3.5. This particular scholarship is a life-changing opportunity that would change the course. Not only would the student be able to go to uh an H.B.CU, but they can go to any college in the state of Florida. a full ride for your scholarship. Starting GPA is a 2.5. All right. And and the next slide, please. Okay. All right. You can go to the next one. And the next one, please.

All right. Okay. So, here we go. So, year round partnership opportunities. You know, I'm I'm all about partnership and uh ensuring that we're able to set our students up for success. In other words, to do that, there's a awareness component and also there's a fundraising component. So, I've been with UNCCF for six years prior to that. I've done some work as a ESL teacher, also worked in the uh the performing arts as a musician. Um, communities like Pahokei have tremendous talent and potential. Many students here are first generation college students, as I said earlier, who simply need financial and mentorship support and to succeed. uh UNCCF mission is to ensure that those students have the resources that they need to pursue their dreams. Um in my finale is that we would love to partner with you. The city of Pokei reminds me of my hometown and the three things that were important was faith, family, and football. So I I mean when I came here I was like oh my god it's like being back in Milford, Delaware, agriculture state. You have all the components, but there is some talent here. And I know that there are some advocates who want the next generation to be set up for success. So my my last request is that we would love to partner with you uh and work with you, get to know you, build an organic relationship. if you want us to come out and do a talk. Um I assure you the PowerPoint will be prepared a little earlier next time and that then I have some uh some u some other staff members with UNCCF with me. So uh that's uh all that I have for you. Any questions anyone?

All right. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. The partnership what does that uh entail? that

okay so um if you can go to the the last slide back to the last slide that's a very good question um so as I see it the partnership would entail um I I would say okay so annual UNC education scholarship day maybe hosting a FASA workshop just talking with students about the importance of completing the FASA application some juniors and seniors, I mean, I'm talking about seniors haven't they don't always know to complete that. Um, also, uh, maybe having a scholarship awareness night where we can just go and talk to the, uh, families and students about scholarships that are available before the deadline passes. Um, college presentations, uh, we work with, uh, UNCCF scholars and also with, uh, folks who work at FMU. We have a great relationship with H.B.CU. We can have them to also talk about that as well. Um, I'm not sure if many of you are aware, but UNCCF was started from a local church. And so, uh, the church is a lifeline of our organization. So, we we are we do believe in faith. I know I do. Uh, so how about a faith and education community walk helping to raise dollars for students and families right here. Um, how about a Pokei future leader scholarship fund? Um, also a mentorship program. So, what I love about UNCCF is that anyone who has received a UNCCF scholarship, they go back and they pay it forward to a student and talk about their career. And what's great is that we're able to connect students who are interested in going into a STEM field with another UNCCF scholar who was a ST field major and they graduated. So, it's important that they have that one-on-one uh relationship with other professionals after they've graduated who've also received support from UNCCF. Um, but good question. Any other questions?

Yes. Okay. For the students that graduated last year, is that pertaining to those students also?

Oh, yes. Yes. Y So, our focus is u ensuring that our juniors and seniors uh are aware of the scholarships and that they've completed the FASA. Um but also uh any other anyone who's graduated um they can still apply for scholarships. My recommendation is that they go to uncf.org create an account and look for scholarships and if they need assistance my contact information is right there on the screen. I mean I'm only here because of students and I'm here to serve you. So I just want you to know I I I'm an advocate for students. I'm a first generation college graduate and it completely changed my life. I never looked back after I graduated. All right. Any other questions?

So, oh, where are you going to be set up at? Anywhere you want me to. But our office, what I'm saying we're partnering with them. So, what you trying to tell them is really what are you trying to tell them? So, all we need is just is just a place to present to just kind of talk about our scholarships, our educational programs. I'll go wherever you want me to go. Right. AC. I'm there.

That was the question that I had because uh listening to you, it sounds like you're looking to be um pretty visible in our community. And so um we want to make sure that, you know, we set things up correctly and that, you know, we don't after a few days start wondering where you are. Um if you're going to be here as a partner, we really want you to be here to service our kids. and um give them what they need with regards to preparing to enter college,

right? Uh so I I just want you to know that I I'm in this for the long game. This there's no short game here, helping students uh and not just students uh to receive those educational programs, but for them to get to college and through college. Life happens. And I'm in this for the long haul. Now, I would like to say something because you brought up a good question. So it's me and my colleague Roxanna Bet. we cover all of South Florida

and also uh down to the Keys and now I just received uh information that we now have Southwest Florida. So, it's only two of us. So, when I come here, I want to make sure it's very fruitful and that we're able to really able to to uh have a good impact and just talk about what what we do here. So, it would have to be someday I would I would go through you, but I I wouldn't always have time to come here, but I would love to. So, now now you got me thinking because you say you got all of South Florida. Now they added Southwest Florida and it's only two of you. Yes. And um I do remember hearing about the UNCF uh some time ago. Yes.

And so I'm wondering what happened, you know, why they became, you know, inexistent. Oh yeah. So non-existent rather. Good question. And so now you're back and you know what I mean? What what's going to convince us to enter this partnership? Sure. If you're not going to have you only got two people and you know you letting us know, you know, y'all going to be spread pretty thin cuz it's only two of you.

So that's a very good question. Uh for me, Florida's home. Um that's the one place. Well, I could say Florida's home in the sense that uh I'm a a eight-year cancer survivor diagnosed with cancer here. So, my doctors and and I want to tell you I received so much support from people who are not blood related to me that it really made me feel like this is home. So, I want to tell you I'm a first generation college graduate student and Florida for me is home. When I came here today, this is my first time coming to this town. So this was almost like a culture shock to me, but it resonated in the sense that this is like home. So I'm in this for the long game. This is like a dream job that I've always wanted. The impact and the purpose is is huge. And just for me to be in this position to pay it forward for a young man. And I would I grew up poor, y'all. I grew up eating hot dogs and potatoes. So I know what it's like to be in poverty, but because of family and faith and sports, of course, you feel the love. So, you know, my community has have helped me. So, I want to pay it forward for a student here in Poki and if you give me an opportunity, I would love to work with you and I'm just asking for a chance. That's it.

All right. Thank you. That's that's it from the um that's it for the public for his comments. Business cards. Yes. And I would like to say to Mr. Beasley. Um you're here doing your presentation, but he's also down on the agenda later under um new business. Um I wasn't aware he was doing another presentation today. Um but but you're here for new business because um you were not here before and we had mentioned about bringing you u back, but it's on the agenda further down. So, I guess, you know, I don't know if we need to sell anything here or not, but I'll be reaching out to you to see how we can partner and then I'll share with the commission to make sure that we're all on board and just see and how we can get started from there.

Absolutely. And I just want to say that there's more more than one way. Um, for example, we we can meet virtually. We can set up a webinar. So, on the national level, UNCCF does have a lot of webinars where we talk about scholarships. So we we have more than one way that we can help to share the scholarships, the opportunities that we have available. All we're all we're we're providing we're trying to provide access and opportunity for our young students and that's it. And support you as well. So thank you. Thank you, Mr.

Next, we entertain our consent agenda. We have five items on the consent agenda consisting of various uh commission meeting minutes. Can I say something before we get started with that?

It's just about the quality of this document. Yeah. If we can do better, that would be good. That's all. I mean, it's all faded and stuff. Okay. I'll entertain a motion for the adoption of the consent agenda if that's the desire of the commission. Mayor Bev, I move that we um adopt a consent agenda with the one add-on. Are there a second? Second.

It is moved by Vice Mayor Williams and properly second by Commissioner Mike Pearson for adoption of the consent agent item that's listed. Call for questions. Hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams. Yes. Commissioner McFerson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott? Yes. Mayor Bab? Yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Next, we'll have old business, discussion of existing activities of previously held events, if any. In city manager, do we have anything listed that you want to mention?

Yes, there under old business. The only thing that I have is something that previously happened. Um on February the 15th, our Crimestoppers 15th annual cruising for Crimestoppers motorcycle bike riders came through the marina and they sent a letter of thanks to the city of Pokei that he asked that I read out to the commission. And so it says um to Tammy Busty C for Hoki to 207 Bonia Drive. De Miss Busty on February the 15th 2026 Crimestoppers of Palm Beach County Inc. held our 15th annual Cruising for Crimestoppers motorcycle ride. This fundraiser helps us raise money to pay out rewards for anonymous tips leading to an arrest and our recovery of narcotics or stolen property. The profits from this event also help us support law enforcement efforts to reduce and solve crimes as well as continue to remove weapons and drugs from our schools in Palm Beach County through our student crimes stoppers program. This fund raiser would not be possible without our supporters. We would like to take time to thank you and the city for hosting our riders in your city with a warm welcome, rest stop amenities and refreshments. We look forward to a continued partnership next year. Sherry Cole, president and she said thanks to the city of Oki.

And that's all I have under old business. Matter of fact, we didn't do the minutes. The approval of the minutes was first of all the minutes was first before that. We didn't do the approval of the minutes of the consent. Yeah, we didn't do that. No. Okay. I'm sorry. Uh let's go back to the consent agenda. We need to take a vote on that. We have a the minutes. We didn't approve the minutes. That's was the first item. Yeah, that was the consent. The minutes. And mayor, if I can ask clarity regarding the document. Yes. Go ahead. So, I'm just trying to get further to clarity. What's um been

I think you're talking about the fading of the writing. Some of the writing was not legible was kind of faded printed. That could be the printer. So, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Whatever it is, you put these together and put them in our box. I had someone to print it for me and it could be something that was the cause of the printer. Okay. I'm not making a case of it. I just said,

"Yeah, I just wanted to understand what the, you know, what the matter was." Okay. Thank you. We don't have any public hearings and or ordinances. We do have a resolution next resolution 2026-07. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Bohoki, Florida, ratifying the city manager's execution of a state funded grant agreement, small county outreach program scoop contract number G-2129 for the purpose of a time extension extending the project completion deadline with the state of Florida Department of Transportation until December 30th, 2027 as more specifically set forth in exhibit A. providing for adoption of representations, providing for an effective date.

Thank you, city attorney. City interim manager, could you give us a brief explanation?

Uh, yes, sir. Uh, the city of Pokei enter into a state funded grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation on the financial project number 448100-154-01 for the McCclure Road construction project. McCclure Road from Palm Road to South Lake Drive. The previous agreement set a project completion deadline of June 30th, 2026 due to a series of administrative transitions and financial challenges that the city has experienced over the past 28 months, which have profoundly impacted the project timeline. The city has requested an extension of the project deadline to ensure adequate time for construction completion, closeout, and submission of the final invoice package. As indicated in exhibit A, FOT has agreed to grant the requested extension time extension number two to SFGA which reflects this change. There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with the extension of the project timeline. The extension will provide adequate time for completion, close out and submission of the final invoice package. All costs associated with the project are covered under original SFGA with FOT and the uh letter showing the approval is attached the documents I mean. So staff recommends approval of this item is simply extending the time from June 2026 to December uh 2027. City Commission having heard resolution 2026-07 properly read into the minutes by city attorney properly explained by city manager. What is your preference?

I move that we accept resolution 202607. Second. It has been moved by Commissioner Mike Fearson and properly second by Commissioner Macdonald for the adoption of resolution 20267. Call for questions.

Yes. Will there be a completion date? Uh are we not at that stage? And my second question would be um will that be enough time to make to get that project done the extension to December 20. Yeah. Okay. December 27. Okay. That's good time. In our conversation with them, they're stating that December 2027 give plenty of time to complete it. And then once they're completed, then I'll keep you all updated as they keep us updated each meeting and but they're saying December 2027 should give them enough time.

I have a question, M. Is this the same resolution that Boule was talking about last week that she uh at last meeting? This is just us ratifying it where she said that she was sure they was going to give us the extension for 2026 and we're just ratifying it today. This is a resolution that you're being asked to approve. I'm saying is it for the same thing that she talked about two weeks ago? I guess that's my question that I'm asking. It may be cuz I I have it signed 2020 uh February 26. So yes, that's the same one. Any additional questions? Hearing none, are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes.

Commissioner Scott. Yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams? Yes. Mayor B? Yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Now, at this time, I don't know, uh, Senator Attorney, have you had an opportunity to kind of look at the resolution? I did and um Miss Ble did give me the backup and um I think generally it's fine.

Okay. Next we'll move to add-on resolution that the inter city manager wanted to have add on as a measured receive basis and that resolution if we could just read it into the minutes. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Pokei, Florida, authorizing the submission of four grant four applications to the Florida Department of Transportation FDOT small county outreach program municipalities scope-m for establishing project priorities referencing exhibit A location map roadways to be resurfaced scoop- authorizing the interim city manager to designate to execute and submit all requires applications material and providing for an effective date.

Thank you. City attorney, city manager, could you give us a brief explanation?

Yes. Uh the report is the Florida Department of Transportation provides funding opportunities through the small county outreach program to assist eligible municipalities with roadway construction and improvement projects. Participation in this program allows the city of Pokei to compete for state funding to address critical roadway infrastructure needs while minimizing the financial burden on local resources. City staff has identified several road segments that require reconstruction and resurfacing to improve safety, accessibility, and overall weight roadway conditions. In order to maximize funding opportunities, staff recommends that the city commission authorize the submission of four SCP M application and establish the following priority ranking. Priority one is West Third Street from South Lake Avenue to Carissa Drive. Priority two, West Second Street. Priority three, West Fifth Terrace. And priority four, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. There there is no immediate fiscal impact associated with the submission of these applications. If awarded, the projects will be funded primarily through the F. Scoutm program funds with any required local match or additional project cost to be identified and considered by the city commission during the project implementation phase.

Thank you, city attorney. City Commission having heard resolution properly read into the minutes by city attorney properly explained by city manager. What is your preference? Could you repeat the resolution date for me? I mean uh number for me 2026-08. I move that we accept resolution 2026-08.

Second. It has been moved by Commissioner Mike Fson and probably second by Commissioner Mike Donna for the passage of resolution 2026-08. Call for questions hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Commissioner McFerson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott. Yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams. Yes. Mayor B.

Yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Now we'll move to new business. Presentation by the city manager of activities of upcoming events if any. And there at least two listed here. City manager. Okay. Is that one was with the UNCCF uh presentation? So, uh that one has been taken care of. I uh I assume for that one time. Okay. The next one is the funding allocation for the financial consultant contract. Um, you all were provided a memo in your agenda packet and I'll read it to you as printed. Here's a general summary and background. Pursuant to the commission's request during the February 24th meeting, this memo clarifies the funding structure for the financial consultant contract. The total contract cost of 85,000 will be covered using existing funds within the current approved budget. Therefore, no budget amendment or interdep departmental transfers are required. The funding source breakdown is below and the following accounts have been identified to provide direct coverage for the professional services. Okay. If you look the first account number 51301310-310 is our financial and general accounting line item professional services. The amount for the finance consultant currently is 42,600. That's the current amount available, current account balance. And then account 5900000000-310.

It's the non-EP departmental professional services. Uh the amount from that account is 20,000 and that will current amount balance in there is 20,000. If you go to 5900000000-919, that's a non-dep departmental contingency line item. The current amount for the financial consultant is 22,400 and the current balance in that account is 60,000. So if you look at the amount for the finance consultant is 85,000 over in the accounts where the funds will be coming from will be used from is $122,600. And so there's no real budget impact because no um changes are being made to the bottom line.

So did you we're taking you said the $122,000 is left or that's what we're taking $122,000. No, the amounts that are in those accounts equals to $122,600. Those are the current amount. That's the current amount that's in those accounts right now. And when I take the 20,000 from the one account and 60 22400 out of the 60,000, that gives us the 84,000. So for the non I guess I'm trying to get an understanding for the non-EP departmental professional services, how much was in there? cuz we didn't have we don't have the budget in front of us. How much was originally in there?

Okay, the current balance. Okay, look at the second column. The current balance in each account is in the second column is $42,600 in the first account. There's 20,000 in the second account. There's 60,000 in the third account. From each account, it shows out of the 42600, I'm going to use 42600. Out of the one with 20,000, I'm going to use 20,000. Out of the one with 60,000, I'm gonna only use 22,400 of that. And that totals are 85,000. And all these accounts come out of general funds. So all of these are general funds. So we're not going to have anything left for non-EP departmental professional services.

No, we won't. We won't have anything left for that. Okay. And I don't remember. Does anybody does does anybody remember? Did we have that already allocated for any services? Do do you know? Cuz I was just wondering how are we going to pay for those services? There's it's non-EP departmental so nothing's allocated.

Nothing was allocated. Okay. So I guess my next question is so the budget need to be the budget doesn't need to be amended because we are using funds for um we're taking it from one department one department and using it for finance. So, do we have to amend the budget um Mayor Bab to do that or No, that could

No, I can I can answer that question. No, you don't have to. What it is is that all these funds that we're talking about, they come out of general funds. They're not coming from different funds. And as long as your bottom line isn't affected, there's no budget amendment needed because I'm not transferring. I'm not adding or decreasing. As long as I'm not adding a decreasing to the budget, there's no abudment budget amendment needed.

Just for clarification, just want to make sure that

correct. We'll refer to city attorney just for information. I did discuss this with Miss Busy and um what I recommended because the vote was for a budget amendment. Um and I asked her whether there were other things that could use amendment right now since that was the vote and then she could align this showing where the money is coming from rather than you know kind of looking to balance it. I did um ask that she speak with the new um budget consultant and I understand I think that just got signed just recently. So, um, so that's a question. I'm not sure if that's the advice she gave you or if you if you talk with her about that. But what is common that you see is whenever there's a budget amendment, it is also aligning where the funds came from in addition to um, you know, in addition to changes, adds ads and subtractions. So if this is what the um budget um I mean the finance person told her um I will defer to that. But um if on the other hand the the you know like I said I did discuss with her this issue and I did also advise her that if there are things because there's fireworks and other things that you all have been talking about and been doing and now might be an appropriate time to do an amendment because you're you know several months into the fiscal year. So you could, you know, this is the advice that she got and you may want to ask her that because that's the advice I gave her to check with that person. Um, but it would not be unusual to have um um a budget amendment that would show the actual sources and places where you're taking the funds.

Okay. And for as a commission too, we can request that the uh city manager bring forth a budget amendment. Although it may not be a requirement, that could be our request if that was a desire of us to have that done. And I'm not saying that's what McFersonson did at that was that's what the motion that's what he asked for.

Exactly. And as a making an administrative decision, a budget amendment should be shouldn't be done just because you request it. It should be done if it's needed. And I spoke with the financial person. I spoke with the new financial consultant and I look from my understanding of a budget. Here's how the budget works. As long as you're not decreasing or increasing or changing anything, you don't have to do a budget amendment. Maybe that's what your understanding may be. And I'm I'm explaining you all from experience, from speaking to the people who have been doing the finance. This isn't a legal obligation because no one's being sued. It's not adjusting. It's not taking money that you can't identify. Let me finish. So, what you're going to do is this. When you have funds, the funds when the invoice comes in, you take the invoice and you take the money and you pay it from that particular line item. Yes, you can take the 22,000 and the 20,000 and put it over into the one account. That would require budget amendment, mayor, but we're going to be have to do a budget amendment soon because we're coming into the year, the middle of the year, budget time. Our new financial consultant consultant is there and she's going to see some things that we know we're going to have to adjust. So, why not wait and do one adjustment all at once versus doing something for this one thing that doesn't require budget amendment. I I respect what uh Commissioner McFersonson recommended and it makes sense if it has to be done. So, I'm not being insubordinate. I'm just saying being the administrator, the manager that you are asking to do this dayto-day task, it shouldn't be doing things because it's it you think it should be done. If it needed to be done, absolutely. If he was going to protect the city, absolutely. But it's not necessary if everything is covered.

I understand all of that and I I certainly agree with the good majority of it. However, if this commission desire and want a budget amendment done, I believe that's what the the commission is. So whether it's required or not, you need to follow through on the uh request of the commission. And my question is for the budget amendment. One of how many I guess I have a question then. So are you able I guess I want to make sure I'm understanding. Uh excuse me.

She didn't stop. Do business. Do business. Um, so I guess I'm asking are we so if money is allocated for one thing, are you saying that long as the budget balance you can take and move the money around and use it as needed? Is that what you I guess that's my understanding what I'm saying? That's what you're saying because the money is

when I I got with our assistant finance director who's still there, Miss Glenny, and we I asked her for a record because as you all well should realize that I came into a budget that you all had already approved. So, I'm incorporating and working from what was already there, which all of you should have a copy of your budget and access to it. So in speaking to Miss Glenny asking her for the things that are designated, there are a lot of areas that are not specifically have that does not have anything specifically designated for it. I think

as long as we can be clear where the funds are coming from,

I think to me that should be the bottom line. And if you are going to amend the record or the budget going forward when it's going to be necessary, I I mean I I don't see a problem. And I think I made the motion. There were two items. One of them was dealing with the um with the finance consultant and the person that took over with the grant writing uh thing. and I did that for clarification. But however, um if the commission requests that, that's what needs to come back to the commission. Um I know you have a lot of authority to do and liberty to do things, but if the commission requests something and vote on it, it has to come back as a future agenda, you

know, and I respect that. But my question still is I'm trying to see what I need to amend. I'm just asking what is it that you want me to amend? Well, one of the things I think was my concern was even the person that we're paying for the um that we moved that's taking where we moving the grant writer money. The money is there. However, I like information detail. So when you look at a budget, if someone from the outside come and they look at that money that's designated for a grant writer and we don't have a grand writer,

then you trying to explain you you what I'm trying to do is eliminate unnecessary questions that may come up in the future. And if we if it's for a grant writer and we change that position, we need to show the money going to that specifically to that position. That was that was my motion from uh the last

and I understand that Commissioner Fear and I agree with you, but let me just let me just make sure that I'm understood. What we have is we have a grant writer position being paid $60,000. The only thing that I did as a interim city manager is I changed the grant writer to strategic planner with the 60,000. So nothing changed but the title that has been done by other city managers. I did that and and what I was going to do, what I need to do is when the budget amendment is done with all the other things that need to be done but doesn't need to be done on the financial consultant position, when the amendment is done, I can see where I go in to the budget on the budget sheet where it says grant writer and just remove that and put strategic planner. the numbers are still not changing and the location is still in the same department and the same line item. So, I'm just trying to make sure because I want to do what you as the commissioners asked me to do. I'm trying to, you know, not make any extra work if we don't have to and cause any other confusion because the auditors are coming and the more time they see you make budget amendments, the more their eyebrows are going to raise.

So, I'm just saying the the bottom line isn't changing. The funds are staying the same. If the invoice coming in, I'm going to be able to pay it out that line item without increasing or decreasing anything. Would you make an amendments to clarify what they're looking at in the um in the budget? If they look at that and say grant writing to approve that, the money is gone. We use that money for another position, but the money is the grant writer. When they look at that budget, they going to see line item grant writing.

Okay? So what I do is at the next meeting I do a budget amendment showing the grant writers and our strategic planner same amount of money no ups no down and then um I will again this memo shows where the money is coming from and there's not an overage so yeah that's that's that's okay. Yes ma'am. All right I'll do your budget amendment for you. Okay, thank you. Um, next we Okay, that's all I have.

Next, we have the report of the mayor. I'd like to acknowledge our former city commissioner, Ally Biggs, who was our first African-American female uh commissioner in the city of Pokei. Uh, thank you for your attendance. Uh, Commissioner Bigs, she stepped in at one point. I'm not sure. Okay.

Okay. I also want to uh congratulate uh Commissioner Mike Fearson and Vice Mayor Williams for their second year in office. Uh congratulations. Thank you for your service. Job well done. I'd like to acknowledge and congratulate uh Commissioner James Scott for his oneyear uh service to the uh commission and also Commissioner Mike Donna I think has served uh notably for about four years. I have been here as mayor as elected official for 10 years a congratulations.

I think we have done a great job during my tenure as mayor and a lot of people ask me and I'm not sure why but they continue to ask you know what have you done for the city of Pokei and I just jotted just a few things down. And I'm going to list a few because I want to list that and do that. Also want to acknowledge prior to that uh Chandler Williamson who I think was our best or one of our best city manager that we ever had. Uh channel had some issues. He's not a perfect servant, but he was a public servant. So, I want to thank him for his time in office and I know that uh he had some issues even with the IG and I even reported him on one or two occasions for things that I thought wasn't appropriate. Um but going back to just a few things that uh I just want to mention this live streaming that we're doing uh and I don't want to brag on myself but I just want to show some of the things that I have initiated during the time I've been here for 10 years. This live streaming that we're doing now I initiated that. I made sure that we was able to have the funding through again the city manager that we needed live streaming to let our resident know what was going on in our community. So if they wasn't able to attend city commission meeting, they're able to attend through live streaming and that's been going on for 10 years. Ever since I've been here, I've done some major uh recommendation for boards that uh we have that's pretty acted or was acted

the community relation board and things of those uh issues. Uh we demolated demolated uh demolished the old house pillar that's now having construction for a town home project

and that's the first housing project that we had in about 30 years and I'm proud of that. I'm proud that I was a part of that and everything on the list and not point at anybody on here because these are new commissioners but I'm telling you what progress for Hokei have done during the 10 years or some of the things we have done during the 10 years that I've been a uh mayor and again I'm not running for a reelection at this time anyway because that's only two years about to uh occur when it does occur. If it does occur, we did $4.5 million for Barfield Highway, a total reconstruction. That project is totally completed. We did $750,000 at Glade Citizen Village. We did the storm water improvement. We did the repavement of the roads and streets out there. Every single one of them We was awarded a million dollars for Mccclure project which would soon hopefully soon come on board. That's been a time that we had some delays in it but hopefully now with our entrance city manager and our staff that we have now is moving forward. Uh we did 550,000 at Commissioner Park. We did a splash park for our kids, splash pad. We did new equipment there at that park. We did a $1 million new state-of-the-art football field for our youth. We did $2 million to renovate the old gymnasium, a gym that was closed for

over 12 years. During 10 years period of time, we had 60% of our streets either redone or repaved 60%. We have some issues now and that's as always a challenge to keep streets updated. But I'm just saying during a 10-year period, we had at least 60% of the streets repaved. We hosted one of the largest meeting in western Palm Beach County. It was dealing with Senate Bill 10. The Senate President Joe Negron came and participated in that town hall meeting along with M uh former county commissioner McKinley and myself who was a panelist. That was one of the largest meeting ever held in the Glades. I have had the rare opportunity as an elected official, as a mayor of the city, to be invited to Tallahassee to have a one- on-one meeting with our current governor of the state of Florida in his office. Oneonone. Not one staff other than myself was in there. And that's a rare distinction, a rare opportunity that we had as a city to have your mayor meet with the governor oneonone. And I don't know of any other elected officials, whether Republican or Democrat, that had that opportunity to meet with him oneonone without any other person in there. Senator Marco Rubio have attended a town

hall meeting and was a panelist on our town hall meeting here at the city of Pahoke. The past governor have been here the current governor have been to Pokei press conference during the pandemic. I've heard that someone say I don't even have a telephone number for two people in Tallahassee. I don't been in office for 30 years.

I have a lot of contact in Tallahassee. I have a lot of phone numbers in Tallahassee. The last governor personally gave me his sale number personally and asked me and the director that I called him at any time that we needed any type of assistant in the city of Hton. We celebrated our 100year anniversary 2022. Some people thought that this city would be dissolved. It wasn't. we f uh flourish. Not only did we celebrate our centennia, we had a year-long celebration including a ga a galla. We had a committee of residents who put on different programs and assisted with celebrating our 100y year anniversary during the pandemic. I traveled to West Palm Beach at least 60 days during the pandemic, seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, seven days a week to pick up food for our residents. I distributed them to various churches and other community groups who wanted to help distribute it out during the pandemic. Not only that, during the pandemic again, the governor came down to make sure that we had vaccine for our resident. Presley came down to the city of Poki during the blue green algae outbreak, one of the worst we had in the city of Pok at our marina. I was there firsthand

working with Florida, South Florida Water Management uh district. So, those are just a few things that people may not know or may not give us credit for doing and I know we have an opportunity to move this city forward and that's what we're doing with this current commissioner. We are moving it forward. But there have been a lot of past movement and I'm talking about just recently in 10 years and I and I and I would challenge anyone that find a 10year period that that much have been done in 10 years. I was calling myself at one time the $15 million may merit and that was because we sed and was able to successfully bring home over $15 million during that time.

Someone say you don't need to speak and you don't need to interrupt me. This is a mer report. Okay. Some people say that Palm Beach County don't support us. Palm Beach County put $2 million in our gymnasium. Palm Beach County built a $5 million renovation facility for the homeless and that's right here in Pokei. So we have a great relationship. We always had a great relationship and we will continue to have a great relationship. That's include my mayor report. And next we have the report of the city manager.

Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um my report just um includes things that I've been doing as your interim city manager to try to um continue progress here in Pokei. And I read my memo so that way I don't forget vital things that you may need to know. Um but one of the things that I want to report is give an update on Blue Ops, the company that came did a presentation. Um at the direction of you all once the gentleman did the presentation, the Florida Department of Environment Environmental Protection was contacted to confirm whether the city could enter into a rental agreement with Blue Ops, a division of the Red Cap Holdings for the use of the city marina facilities in addition to their use of waterways. I spoke with Brad Richardson, division of state land bureau chief, who confirmed that the city may rent marina assets to blue ops, including boat slips and available campsites as long as the use remains consistent with the city's existing lease and management requirements, which was affirmed. Um, additionally, Blue Ops has confirmed to the city that their operations will not disrupt the city's waterways. The compass also indicated that as part of their technology department, they may utilize the lake to test their V7 vessels and their GCS systems, which involves boats and drones technology used to test and refine their operational capa uh capabilities. And so um in a nutshell, we did uh reach out to the um state and they were saying it was okay to do the lease. They could not tell us who to lease to as long as it wasn't environmental danger.

So that's the one. Um then also um Blue Cycle Technologies. This was something that we wanted to highlight as far as the marina. They've awarded Florida for D grant to remove harmful algae and improve the water quality right here in our marina. This is a critical step in protecting Lake Okachobee as we all know. And so if all our respected areas of concern are addressed, the project is is set to start May and June of this year. Okay. So is operating a 1 million gallon per day algae harvesting system for an initial three years with the potential to extend. Okay. With your guidance, we have reached out and they requested we've requested a meeting with all parties and they've accepted to ensure we are fully aligned on our next steps and maintaining due diligence and currently waiting a set date. So we'll meet with them again to give you all the update. But this is an opportunity for us to lead in environmental innovation, public education, and community proud. So, um, we are proud to just support Blue Cycle and just look for the immediate assistance that and the benefits it'll give to the city. Okay. And so, that's on those. And just um, as you all know, we're just continuing to um, work on the infrastructure. Um, I've been here now 5 months and and four days. And um as you you know most of you can see some don't but most of you can see is that you know doing things to bring the city forward. Um you know have I fixed roads? No not yet. There's no money. Have we done anything with the marina? We're working on that now. You know at at your request of blue op moving forward with them moving forward with the water algae. Um we're in contact with our lobbyists. Just um FYI, I did speak to Latoya Shields the other day and our proposals are going through the legislature right now. She said it's going extremely slow for some reason. Funds are being, you

know, held back, but she's going to keep us updated on that. Um and also we are meeting with Everglaze Prep as you all know. We have tour with them. uh Commissioner McDonald and myself and Miss Boule, we were with them doing a tour of the um school and they're going to have more investors coming out. We'll give you all the dates to look at moving forward what they were talking about. And so just making, you know, as much of an attempt as I can to to move us forward and uh also just address addressing department issues across the city, you know, going out to the various departments that we're responsible for checking on these employees. uh very much underst staffed as we look at the budget. They're very much underst staffed on what we all expect them to do with the city of Pokei and those other areas. But we're going to address those. I'm out checking on the residents, their concerns, the homelessness, a meeting with the residents. They come up to city hall. We, you know, stopping the roadway to speak with them. And so those are things that I'm trying to get out to do. Attending meetings, gathering information to better serve our cities. We're going to the Palm Beach County League of Cities, Florida League of Cities, meeting with state representatives, local representatives, you know, getting our audit on track. You know, now we're entering the budget season. So, getting to work on that, looking through those things. So, it's enough to deal with, you know, am I only five months and four days? But on top of that, the public records request that we're getting, we almost need a a part-time person for that. Um, and that's taken away, you know, tasking our clerk, our HR, our IT, and even myself, uh, with these public records requests. Um, you know, it's just astonishing. And the thing about it is that those public records requests are not just coming from our residents. They're coming from officials. And I'll read a few to you because it's time consuming. You know, I'm trying to work, not be micromanaged and handle the

business of the city and serve the people that we have made an oath to serve. So, I get emails and requests like this. Good afternoon, Miss Busy. I'm emailer to request a copy of all email communications you have had with any state officials and entities regarding the city of Poka since your appointment as interim city manager. Also documentation for the position changed from grant writer that was approved by the commission to a strategic planner that was not approved by the commission. The position, the salary, the do job description and work hours for the strategic planner. Documentation of your advertisement for the strategic planner. All documentation including emails that has taken place with the present strategic planner since your appointment as interim city manager. Good afternoon, Miss Busty. I'm emailing to request that starting February 2026 that you forge your monthly city of Pokei calendar affiliate appointments to me by the 3rd of each month. If there are any other changes in your schedule, please update accordingly. Thank you for your attention.

Good evening, Miss Busty. I'm requesting a sal of each individual position on the attached organizational chart. Thanks for your attention to this matter. I would look forward to receiving this in a timely manner. you know, all these emails that I'm getting from a commissioner when I can be doing other things for the city. And so, um, vice mayor, I'm busy and these things are just so unnecessary. And I hope you're not just reading mine cuz I'm sure and I will do a record request to make sure I'm not the only one that's sending one. But yes, I did. Yeah, I'm sure I I I'll be doing a records request for that. I will. you along with David.

I will be doing a records request because I think that's so I think that's so inappropriate for you to do here in a commissioner meeting with um emails that I'm sending to you that you wants to read them in the um public as that. So I think that's so unprofessional, inappropriate. You it's a public records press. Everybody knows anyway. David Ruez know cuz he acts the same thing. And my last thing is this. Um, also, um, my sorority had an event on Sunday at the marina and they did pay. They went through the with I'll be requesting everyone that has to have had one up there to make sure they paid. I know that. That's why I make sure that they are. That's all I have.

Next, we have the report of the city attorney.

Uh, yes. Um, Mr. Mayor, vice mayor, city commissioners. Um, I wanted to bring your attention to the fact that there are a lot of um, interesting bills floating through the legislature right now and some that will affect municipalities in a in a very negative way, particularly um, municipalities that are diverse um, like um, like the city of Pokei for instance. There's a house pill bill bill that passed a senate I mean Senate bill passed um, it's 11:34 and I believe it passed this afternoon. I was driving here so but I believe it would have passed and the bill if signed into law will have a chilling effect on our municipalities. The bill prohibits um counties and municipalities from funding, promoting or taking any official action relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. Um this it also includes policies, programs, ordinance resolutions, programs and policies and questions were asked of the sponsor about um translation services. And it should be noted that during the debate on the House floor, the bill sponsor said that limiting translation services was not necessarily his intent. But this is an important statement because any person who decides to sue our city um intent it will matter in litigation. And so uh there is language throughout this particular bill that is very vague and the observations of holidays um that you're allowed to observe are going to be limited to those that are outlined in the Senate bill analysis. And so these are things that we probably want to um get with our lobbyists on and make sure that we're clear about it um once it does pass. Some of the bills have an expedited um um time period. It's not July 1st, but it might be something earlier than that. And so these are things that we want to certainly stay on top of. And there are just a lot of questions looming about um different things that are just so bad. I mean,

speech issues, all kinds of things that um are just um laws that will negatively, I think, impact the city of Pokei. So, um just keep that in mind and um be careful about, you know, some of the things that we may be even discussing. And so I want to just tee it off for you all so you can um talk to it with your colleagues outside of the city of Hoki and and you know we'll collectively see what we need to do to make sure that the city is protected. Also I also want to um just acknowledge and say um to the mayor uh I am so appreciative of your going over highlights of great things that the city has been doing and has engaged in. And I think often times um good things get drowned out and it takes it's going to take a whole community and really not only yourself but all of you to uplift and talk positively about the city to make people feel a different way because it really does start from leadership at the top. And I just want to personally acknowledge your statements that were um accurate and um and you know heartfelt at least for me because I do want to feel that the city is moving in the right direction. I believe that it is. Thank you. That's all I have.

Next we have uh future agenda items of the commission if any. and I'll start with uh Commissioner McFersonson. Okay. I'll just like to request and I think we did it previously that we are able to receive at least some type of uh itemized listing of our lobbyist activities especially during this lobbying season. Uh we're paying I'm be honest seven

$7500 and just like an attorney normally when they uh bill you they give you a listen of what they're doing who have they spoken to what are they doing during this time and I'll be honest and this is not the right time to bring it up but we do that year round uh 12 months a year even out of season out of driving season. So, I just want to make sure that they're working really hard and I believe they are, but I can at least see what they're doing and who they spoken to and what they're doing up there on our behalf. I'll get a report from the mayor

and I'll city manager say we won't vote on it. She's going to add that to the agenda future agenda item. Let's do it. We've been doing it anyway. Can I get a second on that? idea to bring it up. Second. Second. Second. Call for questions. Hearing none. Ready for a vote. Roll call. Madam clerk. Mayor Bab. Yes. Commissioner Scott. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams. Yes. And now move to Commissioner McDonald. If you have any future agenda you'd like to to

Yes. Um, I want to um address the fact that we need to consider uh evaluations for our city manager and our city clerk. Um, if we can um do I need to do two different motions for that or I think the clerks is in October. Hers is in October. She was hired in October. Okay. Second. It been moved and second that we do evaluation for our entrance city manager and our city uh clerk.

Um the vice mayor was just saying that um she was hired in the clerk was hired in October. Did we do an evaluation in October? November was one of them. I know it's she was hired. It was either October or November she was hired. So we passed we passed due on that. No, that was this. No, we not passed due on hers yet. She hasn't been a year in that position, I don't think. Won't be a year until October. We didn't do an evaluation of her this past. It won't be a year until It won't be a year yet. She hasn't been in the position in a year. I've been here a year. So, she been already employed before I got here. It was July. It been more than She was hired in October and it's not been a year yet. Who was hired? I don't know how we count.

This is This would be the second year. You're right. You're right. You're right. Yeah, it's we passed due. Y'all was doing the evaluation thing when I first came on about her and the other city manager. Remember y'all was debating about the questions and stuff when I first came on. But we never did. I don't think we ever did. She know when she was hired questions. Right. Okay. We still need you. Ready for a vote? Broken clerk. Commissioner McDonald, yes. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams, yes. Mayor Bab, yes. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Um, I don't know if I need to get it involved or what, but um I have several emails that are unanswered in my inbox. Um, I'm just putting that out there that I've been waiting for responses on. So, um, from it. Who you waiting on response from? It No. Okay.

All right. I think that um I'll leave. That'll be all. I'll just have some comments I want to make. Okay. Later, Vice Mayor Williams. Um, yes. Um, I know we were supposed to close our opera in December and there was an email that came out where they was just saying if, um, we needed any help with it and making sure that it's closed out and that it's done properly, if that can just be a future agenda item that we can discuss to make sure that we got all our documents and got everything in so that we're in compliance. What? What's your motion? He said with ARPA

with ARPA. Mhm. There was an email came out and they said if it was any assistance we need. So just if we can bring it back to make sure that we have all our documents and we're in compliance with ARPA with the state. They're supposed to be in in December. Second. Okay, it's been moved and second. Call for questions. Hearing none, you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk, Vice Mayor Cowin Williams, yes. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner McDonald, yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Mayor Batman,

yes. Motion passed by unanimous vote. That's it. Commissioner Scott, no. Thank you, sir. Next we have general public comments. Don't have to be an item on the agenda. Non-aggenda items. City clerk, do we have any public service comments, please? Yes, sir. We have a total of four. The first one is Ariana.

Good evening everyone. Put your back down. I'm just here because I sit and listen to YouTube with my family. And the last time I watched this, I didn't agree what a leader, Mr. B said to a leader that I admire. Say it again.

I didn't agree with the leader Mr. Baz said to a leader that I admire. She have given me motivational encouragement to stand here and ask that you respect her and the youth. I'm looking and I know more future and I know more future leaders are too. She may not be your first, second or third chest, but she is my first. Thank you.

Next person is Robert Love. You heard about you little girl? Your time started.

What about that? I got three minutes and you going to get some of us. You going to get some. You start up there name. All them things that you done done. So head butt. I ain't going to say had she going to say our c that had butt junk. What you done? The gym ain't finished worth nothing. The gym ain't finished. You got bleaches that y'all took out of there. You going to talk about them apartments over there. They might not never get finished. When y'all sold that property, when you talking about Chandler Williams over here and you file, you went to the OIG owner for stealing taking $150,000. Yeah. You done been so good at giving away everything you can here in this f in fog. Everything what you name there is half but it ain't working right now. Whatever you talk about you done done is not working. The roads not working. Everything done. And then another thing I want to get to this before I get too far off. I done sign him up for I don't know how long since this lady been here. And I done heard you say and her say all the time. Oh, you can't make a motion. Do y'all know what it is to make a motion? Do you know you can make a motion anytime? I'm asking you now, Keith. Do you know you? I ain't going to ask her because she don't tell a lie. Say she don't know. I guess because I can Google it. And when I Google it, say when can you make a motion, commissioners? Don't y'all keep getting hooked when the last time you was in him like and you say I want to make a motion. He like to jump DOWN YOUR THROAT. WHAT YOU MAKING A motion for? You don't have to tell him until you say till you get a stop. That's how you need a stop. She can't tell you you can't make a motion. At this time, you can make a motion any time during the commencement meeting. I don't know how y'all been getting how I've been getting hoodw with that. But I kept on looking and I said, "Here's something wrong with this picture. Every time it's something that and then when you make a motion, do you know you supposed to pass the gabble to the vice mayor? Do you know that?" Y'all better read the robber rules or

I know the robber rules and raw. I don't have to.

You don't know it cuz you s make motions and don't pass the g. You you sat up there and say, "Oh, you can't make a motion." And you can. So, you don't know something. But y'all sit around here act like y'all know. AND THEN I'M GOING TELL y'all both y'all may and vice mayor. Y'all ain't showing up for nothing in this community. I seen you sitting up there the other day to the park. Somebody told you got three people that you supposed to be doing something for. You ain't told commissioner. You ain't had nail sheriff officer there. You ain't had nobody in this community but you and somebody else standing there behind the camera. I want to know what y'all y'all campaigning. Is y'all campaigning? And don't sit there like you on like you done lost it. Cuz like I'm telling you this is nothing that you have done in this community. I'm telling you. I hope the YouTube looking at me. It's nothing he have done that he can stand up there sat up there and act like he done the past 10 years talking about you been the mayor. You've been up there 32 years. You was a commissioner. You can't name nothing 22 years before you became a mayor. No. for 32 years. I can more I have done in this town than you and there ain't no failures. Do you understand that? And like I still say y'all had the nerve to talk to Miss Buster like she was a little puppy last.

Thank you, sir. Your time. Next person is to Marcus Porter. I didn't get to that part. You should be ashamed how you talk to that lady.

Sir, your time is up. You interrupted seed in there. Um, first thing I would like to do is actually thank the city attorney for actually giving us some legal advice at the beginning of the uh the report today. Um, second thing I would like to do is I'm going to take a little move out the mayor's book. I'm not pointing the finger at anybody. I'm not blaming anybody, but um, like my boy just said, the stuff that you talk about got done in the last 10 years is half but right. And then the second thing is if it didn't come out your pocket, if you didn't pick up a hammer and go build them things yourself, don't say I did that because all the commissioners are up there together. Y'all have the same authority. You don't have any more authority than them. You you sign something. You put your name on it, but you didn't build anything. The second thing is I didn't hear anything about the population rate, the poverty rate. I didn't hear anything from the homeless. I didn't hear anything about the graduation rate or the the pe the amount of people we send to college. I don't hear anything about businesses that have been brought here the last 10 years. I mean, anything that's really ground work for a mayor to do. That's what that's what a mayor like you were supposed to be the face. You supposed to be down there and bring this stuff here. That's what I didn't even say anything, but you talking about what the county did and what the city did. That's not you, brother. But I'm not I'm not pointing the finger anybody like like you said like you do, man. Go crazy on my mom. But um yeah, so that's what you need to do. Put your foot down. Get go get some work done, Squa. Like stop over here just slowing stuff up, but work together. If y'all going to be who y'all going to be, at least go be adamant about making the city better, not just just doing stuff to to look like you smart and you making yourself look dumb just to be real. Like y like you trying to sit here and nitpick and then you get shut down and it's terrible, man. Just work together. That's it. Like like if y'all going to be here, do the right thing. That's all I'm asking. Like stop this rig where all this different man y just do the right thing, man. That's it. That's it. Just do the right thing. It's easy. It's

easy. Read the Bible. Last comment is Lolita Soers.

Lolita kind. They know me as kind with her last name. So by marriage, aka scratch scratch. But um I haven't been scratching lately. I just been sitting back watching, looking, listening, and it's ridiculous the way some of y'all officials leaders up here is acting towards Miss Button. It's ridiculous. The same thing you just said, I got up here to say the same thing. If you up here for the city, be for the city. I am sick AND TIRED OF 61. ABRAHAM, I've been here born and raised on 61 years. the city looking like it's looking. To have a male to sit up here and holl about what he did for our city out of 32 years, you ain't did nothing. For a vice mayor to sit up here and act the way she act, the way you act towards Miss Busy. We have several city managers to come through our city and THEY HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING for this city but stone it dry. Our city look like a third world country and it's sad the way our roads are looking, the way the city looking, the business building. Some of them need painting and we have coldest enforcement running around here nitpicking with people that THEY DON'T LIKE AND NOT DOING THEIR JOBS. It's sad. We need to get together as citizens, as city leaders, and bring our city back to life. It's dead. We We live IN A THIRD. IT'S LIKE A THIRD of what country. This city is run down. It's torn down. It's ragged. You can't ride down a good road in this city and it don't make no sense for we have city officials that step here this MANY YEARS AND DOING NOT NOTHING. Nothing telling people they can't make MOTIONS WHEN Y'ALL KNOW they can. Miss weeks bam. It's sad.

Y'all need to keep put your personal feelings aside when I come down to our city cuz everybody that KNOW ME KNOW I'M DYING FOR MY CITY. I'm dying for this city. I rock and roll with it. But I'm not down for the way y'all up here acting towards Miss Busy. This lady up here trying to make something happen for our city. Y'all see it just like I said, but y'all don't want to see it. Y'all need to do better in order for our city to move forward. Please, I'M JUST I'M BEGGING YOU. Y'ALL JUST GET TOGETHER and work together. Stop having animosity and being mad about this and mad about that. Come on. We got somebody up here that want to see our city move forward. This lady doing all she can with the little bitty little money that Chamber left us to work with. The bill our city up. She can't BUILD IT UP. THIS LADY CAME UP IN here with no file cabinets in the dang old office. The man even had a fire cabinet in there. Sad, pitiful, and I am I'm Lord Jesus, give me strength.

But I'm I'm I'm staying calm and I'm staying cool. Y'all need to do better. Miss Blessy, I applaud you for the things that you are doing in our city. You have people that's willing to work with you to bring funding to our city to make it work. Y'all have a great day. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, ma'am.

Yeah. I um want to, as I said, I would do at the last meeting, I want to just correct things just for the record. There was a statement that um motions can be made at any time. Under your rules, motions cannot be made at any time. You do have something specifically called future agenda items on your agenda. At the last meeting, it was not my intent, and I don't think it was yours. I can't speak for you, to um stop um Commissioner McDonald from speaking. She said uh at about uh the when I looked at this earlier today about the 41 minute mark, you asked her if she had if it was a future agenda item and if it was about a future agenda item. She said no. And after that um there was discussion about whether a motion could be made. A motion could not have been made then. Robert's rules does um uh is superseded when you have your own rules of procedure and that's what cities are allowed to do pursuant to Florida statutes and pursuant to your own um your own charter. And so there is this this statement that was made from a couple of residents that motions could be made at any time is absolutely inaccurate u when you have your own rules that are s that supersede Robert's rules. So, I just want to put that on the record for whatever it's worth. So, um if anybody's watching, I don't want people to be left with thinking that we were doing something improper. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss um mayor. May I ask the attorney a question, please? Um for my record, uh Miss Weeks, um when the public speaks, are any of us allowed or supposed to uh respond to their uh comments? I think I wrote that in or I told you there there is a it's not on any of us but I think I told you and there is a provision in the code at the last meeting and I cited it where I am allowed to speak with the requ at the request at the um um pleasure of the mayor um during the meeting. So that is this is during the meeting and yes I can speak. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Love you out of order. Sir, it's not your time to talk anymore. We'll now move to comments of the comments concerning for the good of the order of the city commission. I'm Yeah. And I'll start this time with Mr. Scott, Commissioner Scott, if he had anything. Well, I just like to thank everyone for coming out and see like we had a nice meeting. Move on. I'm done. Thank you. Thanks, Mayor.

Good evening, everyone. I would just like to say that um on yesterday um Florida League of Cities sent out a lot of different workshops that um we can go to and I attended the one yesterday and I attended one today as well. Um the but the one I found really interesting was the one on the environmental funding strategies and opportunities for um Florida cities and they had a lot of good information. Um I lost my notes but um they were talking about the um different grants that are out there that's available um that municipalities can apply for. And one of the um big points that they had, they were talking about the resilience grant. And they were saying like if there are some big um projects that you want to do, the resilience grant will help you organize to get ready before you um can submit that grant for the um big dollars. And so um also they were talking about um the governor, the senate and the house. They have passed their budget but they don't have specifics on exactly um where their priorities are. They gave us a draft of one on a um on a sheet but it just they just haven't put it out yet. Um it was Chris Holly uh Leslie on there and um Mr. Van Ho who were the former agricultures. And so she's and so they let us look to see the comparison of where they see where they want the funding to go for this year. And um what was interesting also they were saying there were some environmental funds in there like if you want to tie in like he they were talking about like a soccer park they use that for example if you wanted a soccer park they were talking about how you can use those fundings and tie it in to environmental um to get a soccer park for your community. So, I just thought that would be something good if um you know, we can look into and go back and watch the video um and look at some of that funding and maybe that may be some of the funding that um

you know, we can maybe look at to get some of our projects done. And so, um and I just want to thank everyone for um coming out tonight and um thanks for great meeting. Thank you, Commissioner McDunn. I um I had one item that I omitted um for a future agenda item. Can I um add it at this time?

It's pertaining to the um issues the recessions that we had with regards to the uh garbage pickup. Um comment time. Did we still have um quite a few? I don't know if you had the public works uh department to um do a survey of um the town to see how many are still in need of uh filling. Okay, I'll take Also, I wanted to say you want to vote on that? Like you'll need a a second and then you vote on it for the future agenda item you said. Did you want to put that on? Yeah, we can. Yeah, we can do the vote. Yeah.

To um follow up regarding the um recessions that were created by the uh sanitation department to ensure that they have all been filled. Second. It's been moved and second. Call for questions. Hearing none. You ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam Cler, Commissioner McDonald, yes. Commissioner Scott, I'm sorry. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams, yes. Mayor B,

yes. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Um, Miss Boule and I went on a field trip um last week and um we were looking at a project that was done and I believe that it would be a good thing to transplant that here in Pokei. Uh, I'm going to let her um give a little bit more background on it, but I also wanted to um mention that uh for those of you that are voters, um make sure that your driver's licenses and your um voter registration cards are up to date so that and do it now so that you can avoid any issues that might arise with regards to your ability to vote in the coming election. And please don't stay home uh in the midterm election. We need you all to um get out and vote um during that election as well. And also uh being that this is women history uh month um I was working with the preparatory academy to uh get a couple of students to come up and do some presentations on women in history and um we're still working on it. So we'll um pass that to the next meeting. Um, and also we want to identify some individuals from the community as well that can be recognized. I think Mayor Bap said um, Miss Biggs um, was one of the ones that we could recognize. So, uh, just to let you all know if you have any suggestions, we'll be happy to um, entertain your input as well uh, with regards to that. So, we're um, definitely of the mind that we want to uh, progress for Hokei. Uh some of the things that we're doing too is to look at uh what we can do to get a marina manager to come in and uh revive that

area and to also uh stir up the revenue that we know that that place can generate. Uh so at this time I'm going to ask Miss Boule if she will come forward and give us some um information on the um transplant project that we have been looking at. Good evening everyone. Good evening,

mayor and commission, community members. Uh so again, my name is Peggy Boule Washington. I'm the director of community and economic development for the city. Uh through the direction of my city manager, um my interim city manager, I was able to uh take a field trip to the city of Boon. We met with the uh city of Boon CRA um grant manager um uh at the site of um one of their developments that we were looking at transplanting and bringing a smaller scale development into our city. uh we have some some would say we're landlocked but I think if we look at some creative middle housing we may be able to achieve uh many of our endeavors for housing in the city and so I wanted us to take a look physically look at these projects and see that these projects are possible and that they can come to life here in the city um I've created concepts for these projects uh through other initiatives along with um other cities that I've worked with along with uh this city. Um then the project that Commissioner McDonald is uh referring to is called the heart of Boon. And so uh we were looking at creating the heart of Pokei uh here. And this project has about three parcels or so. It's a mixeduse project. There's there's a housing component to it. Um and then the mixeduse portion of it, the commercial portion of it is uh community related uh commercial um businesses. And so um just a couple of the businesses that we could name uh were showcased to us were uh doctor's offices, urgent cares, um law

offices, and then there's two restaurant components to it that were required within the uh the project scope. And so, uh, two of the, uh, the restaurants are big community-based restaurants, things that we know our community would, uh, would frequent as well as, uh, visitors and tourists alike. Now, with these projects, we and we've also spoken with um their staff and ask several questions in terms of how did they achieve these projects, right? Most of us, we think that these projects can only be achieved through what's in your budget. And we all know that we are fiscally constrained. We have a tight budget. We are considered a small city, a rural city. However, the city of Boon is far far bigger, has a larger budget. However, they were able to accomplish this project through p funding initiatives with part and uh to include partnerships. Uh those partnerships were uh county related, state related, public, private, you name it. Um they put out the RFPs, RFIs, they put out all those those different uh requests for information, requests for funding, requests for vendors, contractors, you name it. and they were able to accomplish this uh this endeavor. I think we as a city, if we put our heads together and we approach development in a creative and um cohesive manner, I believe we can accomplish this project here in the city of Poki as well as many more projects like it um uh here in the Glades.

Any questions? Were you able to um speak with them regarding the um marina?

So, we are supposed to be getting some information uh from them and what Commissioner McDonald is referring to. We've been exploring some possibilities with um marina management uh as well as um well, marina management from both from two aspects of looking at it. one, managing the marina as a whole, and two, the restaurant management component of it. And so, we've been exploring what options are there for the city, cost-effective options of course, but effective options overall that we could manage the marina and start kicking in some revenue into the city. Um, and I also wanted to note that the county is aware through our city manager the endeavors that we are trying to accomplish here in the city in terms of infrastructure in terms of development in all of the critical needs that the city has and the county has been more than accommodating and amunable to us. So this project is a project that we will be discussing with them at length so that we can explore other funding opportunities as well.

Okay. We also what part of that is too we're looking at um hopefully going ahead and establishing our own our very own CRA. So we're going to be um definitely taking some steps to try to see how we can progress with that. And to Commissioner McDonald's um uh point, I know that that has been a conversation um even prior to my previous tenure here with the city that the city has explored uh bringing a CRA uh into the city. However, during that time um I believe legislation prevented us from starting a new CRA. Uh we were informed by a um a CRA director who is also an instructor um for CRA certification courses that there is some legislation that will that will allow us to start a new CRA. However, it will sunset when all CRAAS sunset which is about 20 years or so from now.

Thank you. Thank you so much Miss Boule. You're welcome. Thanks. Lastly, um that reminded me that um great job with regards to the Parker building. Um city manager, can you um give us an update on that?

Yes. Um I didn't bring my notes from speaking with uh Mr. Ren the other day, but um I did have a meeting with our Palm Beach County Housing Economic Development Group. um Miss Tammy Fields and her group with Jonathan Brown. As far as our first I'll do our Adams Place residents, the ones that were displaced and placed in shelters and everything. Um still working with those who are receptive to service. Some of them are refusing um but most of them are at you know accepting the assistance. Um but what we've done with that is the building has been red tagged because it is unsafe. Um it has a no trespassing on that sign and we've asked that when people see the um loyers or squatters or I won't say residents because shouldn't be living there um that they can call PBSO if needed. We have sent a notice to the owner to notify him that, you know, he needs to respond and and and move forward on taking care of the leans. And if not, um we, you know, with the building inspector and um we had a meeting with the attorney um on on the phone with us. And so we're just trying to move forward with the foreclosure, you know, on that on on those properties owned by him. Um and then the the with the uh Parker building ones, um he's it's the same owner. So, we're looking to move forward with that as well. And and just, you know, with you bringing that up, um I have been having several Zoom calls with different opportunities and uh with county organizations who want to come in and they're they have asked me to provide them with a list of the deplorable buildings, all of them, and they want to help us find funding to start demolishing these buildings and

and holding these owners accountable. So, we're working on that and not backing down because they've gotten away with it too long to do our residents like they're doing them um to charge them and and they don't even have power or water. So, we are on the move with that and we have um the um building enforcer. He's um you know working closely with us as well. So, we're on the move with those things. So, I just want to comment for the record. I don't know about moving on foreclosures. So, I was on a call with um the manager and on a specific issue, but it had nothing to do with foreclosure. So, I just I just want to be clear.

You love to correct when I say something. Let me just say this. When we talked about the process with Miss Palanka, she said once the once the steps are made with notifying the owner and they don't respond and the building is ignored and unsafe, we can move with foreclosure proceedings. I didn't say we were in foreclosure yet. She said that that's the process. when when it gets there and hopefully our attorney will proceed whatever needs to be done. But that's all I know is where we are now and is speaking to Miss Palanka. She stated the next whether it can eventually get to foreclosure. So is a step

and I'm and and that could be correct. But I just want to let you all know that any um litigation that would be pursued would be brought to by me to the city commission to approve that. So there will will I am not moving on any foreclosures because people get real nervous about that when you hear that and so I just wanted to and I'm not trying to you know um I just want to make you know make that point clear. No I I understand that and that's I was just trying to do it maybe know a little bit too much but respectfully yes I got you. So yeah just explain that we are moving forward whatever steps we have to hold the owners uh responsible and to get the building safe or torn down. So that's that's

it is such an eyesore when you ride past that. So you know we just definitely need to um stay on top of it and make sure that we're making some progress in that regard. Yes, I am certainly going to

m I forgot to um mention since um Commissioner McDonald talk about housing on April 25th. Um Delta is having a housing event over at the Edly Rose Gym from 10 to 3. And so there will be a lot of um different organizations there. There's also going to be um talking with the residents and the city in regards to different partnerships I guess that can be done that have been done in other cities and residents that's wanting to maybe they have some property and want to develop their property. So there are going to be a lot of vendors there on April 25th from 10 to 3 at the Edly Rose Gym. Um, and it's a housing and it is a housing event.

Great. my comments. I would like to thank all our residents for being here today for our city commission meeting. And I would like to just emphasize I believe that Poki will and continue to be a city of progress and those items that I listed I think I was part of every single one of them. Also, I believe in the last 10 years, I'm one of the best, if not the best, mayor for this city. I was elected in 2016. Reelected again in 2019, re-elected again in 2000. You You're out of order, sir.

You talking to me? No, I'm not talking to you. You looking at me talking to her and tell me I'm not talking to you. You're out of order. I'm out of order. And again in 2025. So we're city building a city and community of choice for living, working, and business development. My goals hopefully during these next two years working with this commission. Just a few that I have that I hope we pursue and continue to pursue is building a community swimming pool for our youth.

We sit right on the lake and our children don't have a pool within our city to swim in. We continue to have during the summer kids coming up to the campground swimming pool illegally. So, we want to get them something to be able to do. Also, I'd like to see us build a new city hall. This building here is a historic building. That's the site that we have planned at some point in the future to have a new city hall. Also, I'd like to see our roads and streets, our infrastructure improve. I mentioned the fact that during the 10-year period, at one point, we did complete at least 60%. But we do have a lot of work to do, and I believe that if we work together, we can get it done. Secondly, I would like to see us pursue again a hotel and a luxury spa here in Poki. And lastly, to include a parking garage, not only for the hotel, but for community residents to be able to park their cars if needed. That's my goal. That's my desire. I think I'm the best and that's my story and I'm going to stick with it and to it.

Commissioner Mike.

Yes. Good evening, fellow citizens and commission. And I just want to give you a update on our parks and wreck advisory board. Um uh their next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April the 7th, 2026 at 4 p.m. As a matter of fact, they went ahead the that particular board decide and talk in order to get the project that the commission had assigned and wish that project is that uh the commissioner requested that the board develop a plan for improvements and repairs at MLK Park. Uh they did their last meeting was on March the 3rd and again their next meeting is scheduled for April the 7th and they agreed to meet the first Tuesday of every month at 400 pm. uh just to give you some updates of what they had uh talked about. Uh and this project includes MLK Park and Glade Citizen Village Park improvements. In accordance to section 2.162 of the city of Pokei code of ordinance, the city commission requested that the board develop a plan for improvement and repass at MLK and Gl Citizen Village Park. The board last meeting they discussed beautifification efforts including stripping, painting and repairs and identification of funding for any necessary civil work. When I say civil work, one of the biggest problems that we have out there is the um flooding when it rains. um we got to try to find a way to to address that and that's up for discussion and they're going to be pursuing different things that could and the plan has not been developed but we would encourage you to come out to those meetings but once they develop the plan the committee the commission had directed them to get a plan together and once they get their plan together then it'll come back before the commission for us to try to implement that plan and find the necessary funding to do the necessary improvements

And again, I want to thank everybody for just coming out and I encourage all the citizens to come out and participate in the meeting. Um, one last thing I think um just want to get a followup with the city commission, I mean with the city manager about the uh I think we had interviews for the finance director and uh the contract, not the contract, but the RFP for the IT position. Where are we? Okay.

Okay. Um, as far as the contract with the RFP uh on it, um, Miss Driver is currently working on that and I'll get an update from her on that. Um, I know she's working on it. She's been, you know, dealing with various obstacles, but I'll have to get an update from her on that. Um, I wasn't prepared to answer that tonight. You want me to answer? Yes. So the RFP will be advertised for March 13th, okay,

and March 20th. So that will be going online this Friday. Um it has already been sent to the news um Palm Beach Post and it's going to be uh posted on Demand Star and so there will be a link on the website for them to click and then review the details. Okay. And finance director. Okay. Okay. And for the finance director position, uh, it was advertised. It was placed out on the website, Miss Clark, and as well as the other. So, there's a link on the website. Um, Miss Prince, um, handles the free resource through the Florida League of Cities. It's Florida City jobs. So, all the jobs are posted on that website. Okay. So, I'm not sure that's that's the only information that I have.

Okay. So, no, that's fine. I just want to make sure that, you know, it was noted that it was posted. Um, we had two applicants to apply for them. We had the interviews um last week and of the two applicants or we did I did select someone and uh she'll be starting on March 30th and I'm you know happy to announce out of the two applicants that applied uh she'll be coming before the commission but the person for the finance director position is position is to do

and briefly if you could do you have any update on the marina restaurant vendor of RFP and having any conversation with Brad Pitt to see if Brad Richardson, I'm sorry, to see if he have any input in how we can go about putting that out because we really that's a a a money resource for the city if we can get a vendor. Not only is a money resource, it provide a service for the community. So that's something I know your hands are really feels.

No, that I appreciate that, mayor. No, you're absolutely right. Um, and that's why it's important to hire a great team to work with you because I want to manage. I don't want to do it all. So, I have a great community economic development person that I put on that. And so, we'll have her come back up because I definitely gave her the list of things and she's definitely on it. So, she had the we had the conversation, but she kept the the notes.

Yes. Hi. Hello everyone. Everyone again. Um we did have a great conversation with Mr. Brad Richardson who is the bureau chief um for that division um of land and per the direction of uh the commission and advice through our uh city attorney. We did seek guidance um from from uh Mr. Richardson and his uh uh department slashdivision and he did share that uh the three things that we requested permission for and I believe um our manager did expound on that earlier in her report uh which was the uh use of the marina for the restaurant to uh the use of the marina for the algae blue cycle uh grant which is through FP by the way and the third was the use of the marina for blue a red cap company. Um all of which he did say that he did not see an issue with us um leasing or using the marina for for those services. And in terms of your RFP um comment or question um as long as the city follows whatever procurement guidelines are set forth uh by our city, we should not have any issues. And when in doubt, uh, the door is open and we are we were encouraged to, um, to speak with him.

Thank you. City commission, having all business brought before us taken care of, I would entertain a motion for the journment of this meeting. I have one more thing, man. I I also had a citizen to reach out to me about um I guess they were trying to start a T-ball and they requested permission to use the field out of MLK Park and I guess they were told that the field was unusable. Um and I don't know I may have to wait till the next meeting to put it out cuz we need to find out you know what's the issues and try to do uh necessary repairs to sew the field. they can just they just want to practice t-ball,

right? And and I'm and I can address that for you, Mr. McFersonson, because I I I would definitely want to, you know, have you all involved. We have had a nonprofit organization reach out about T-ball. Um met with the parks and recreation directors and they were a little concerned about the field, you know, being unsafe. So, um I did express that they were not trying to play game. They only want to to to um practice. Uh they would play, you know, at the county field. So, I got with Mr. Williams and and and he stated his concern, but we um went out to have PBSO come and PBSO, you know, said as far as they're concerned, it's not really um much for them to do as long as we're looking at the insurance uh that the nonprofit would have which would protect the city. And then also had the fire department come out. So th those um it is being discussed but um nothing final has uh come out uh because I am all for having something in Pokei um and but we just want to make sure that you know we're protected. So um she has the the nonprofit has the insurance for the organization which has would have the city as a second insured and then also the parents they would do a release of liability as well.

Okay. So I think that the nonprofit has the proper paperwork work. We just have to make sure that we get the signatures to protect the city. Okay. Concern on that issue. You're saying that the field was unsafe. I just want to make sure that we do everything that that we need to do to make sure that that's covered. And that's why we have a move in the sense of reach out to me. I went out myself and took a look in the field. They are some lumps and lumps. Yes. Yeah. Some lumps and I went and took a personal walk myself. Right. So, yes, that's why we have a move forward because they did approach uh the parks and recreation as well.

And I have a question on that. If we're saying that it's unsafe, I mean, we're saying it here live. If the residents are out there and if something happens, will we be liable for that? Since we're saying that it's that's why we want to address it and fix. No, I'm asking now cuz we don't have anything out there now. I'm just talking about with the residents just going out there in general. Mr. Mayor, yes. May I?

What I what I propose um is done is that there is a field usage agreement which the city has used before. So if you decide that and the manager once she does her due diligence about the safety of it and has you know the proper persons go out whether they're professionals that might um have technical skills engineers or whatever have them go out take a look at it and make sure it is suitable then bring it before the commission as a resolution which has attached to it a fill use agreement. So it might limit the hours or the days or the tell you when you can play or what parts or whether concessions can be used or what bathrooms are are usable or do they have to get their own potter porta polish you know you you will have all of those things outlined in the field use agreement and so that's what um you know you want to do and also um it sounds like you've already spoken with your insurance carrier. No. Um, no. The nonprofit said she has her insurance. It hasn't gotten that far for us yet.

Okay. So, we we definitely want to speak with our own insurance carrier and they may want to do their own due diligence to make sure that they will cover the city in the event something happens. Okay. Yeah, we have and I and I guess my goal all of our parks are considered public parks. So if somebody just want to go out there and have a sandlock game, I mean,

they should be usable as far as I mean, the condition of them. So my concern is just to make sure that we get everything whatever needs to be done to get the field leveled and stuff. I'm sorry. Uh, you want to address that? Uh, Miss Boule, I see you keep raising your hand. Can I ask her to address it?

I don't think she was she was just I was signaling you signaling the manager. My apologies. I was just saying um that the commissioner Calvin Williams made reference to the environmental fund. So looking forward that can be an opportunity where uh through my manager we can collaborate on um seeking some funding uh to to go ahead and level those fields. We've also been seeking funding to um redevelop that field and that's also a legislative priority as well and has been a legislative priority as well. So hopefully we have some funding mechanisms to get those together.

Thank you. Thank you. Are there a motion to adjourn? I move that we um I move that we end the meeting. Second. It has been moved and second. Call for questions. Hearing none. Roll call. Madam clerk. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams. Yes. Commissioner McFerson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott. Yes. Mayor Bab. Yes. Motion adjourn 8:27 p.m.