Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Today is Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Willis City Council Chambers. We will have a call to order. Roll call. Miss Right. Mayor Goodman. I am here. President Hines here. Vice President Cox here. Council member Jones here. Council member Martin here. Council member Rikio, she is absent. Chief city manager Rose.

Chief co-intent city clerk Latricia Wright. I am here. Thank you, Attorney Kirstston Belaloo and all other staff. Thank you.

At this time, we'll have the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag by Mayor Charles Goodman. Join me if you choose. Lord, we come to you today. We're a city and Lord, we're trying to do the business of that city. And I ask that you give each one of these people the wisdom that they need to do the best that they can for our citizens. Lord, it is a great privilege to be able to serve and I ask that you help each one of these wonderful people to learn just how honorable it is to be able to serve their fellow citizens. And I ask you to be with our police department, Lord. Lord, that every day that they would have a hedge of protection around them, that their wisdom would be enough that they would not get into a situation that might cause a loss of life. And Lord, I ask you to be with this council as they make the decisions for this entire city. I ask this all in your 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.

Thank you very much. Item number one, administration of oath of office to Mayor Charles Goodman, Council Member Deborah Jones, and Council Member Shaina Church. Sher Church by Judge Luis Gustante. We did it too. Everybody listens.

I guess you can tell who's been to the courthouse. I say you give him a little power and this is what happens.

Thank you so much uh city of Williston for inviting me to do this. This is one of uh I think that there's a lot of different kinds of tasks I get to do on a day-to-day basis, on a weekly basis, monthto month. And this is one of my favorite ones because it is a moment of celebration. It is we went through an election or lack thereof. Uh which is something that I even I cannot say. Uh you guys are so confident that there's nobody actually put up against you all. uh and so you should be uh congratulated because a lot of times this type of work is hard work and sometimes there you there's a lot of rewards but sometimes it's thankless as you know that there's always sometimes you know conflicts and that can be difficult to take but you know you take your punches because it's for the good of the people of real estate and I that's something that's so appreciated. Uh we do have one uh new person, Sha Shaina Shana Church, come on up here so I can do the uh the oath. And I'm going to do these individually. Well, wherever the pictures are, do you have somebody who taking pictures of you? All right, let's go ahead and do it here. Or maybe what we'll do it is up front. Uh but I just want to sit a couple of things from you. Um, you're the newest member, right? But you come with a lifetime of service. One of the things that I see in your background, and again, if I get this wrong, it's because the internet got it wrong. And the internet never gets it wrong. Everybody knows that. But apparently, you are at some point the Navy League military spouse of the year.

You wish. I was a military spouse.

All right. I mean, according to the internet, you'd won that. So, take take ownership of that. All right. Um, but also, you know, it from when I looked at it, it is a lifetime of not only giving back, give back to the community, being involved in all of the aspects because you know that by being involved, you make things better. And one of the things that I learned because I am married to a very um strong woman and you know, and and I always tell everybody I'm the trophy husband, you know, because she's the one who gets things done. is that strong women get things done and you're one of those. All right. I want to congratulate you uh for putting forth uh and essentially you're going to have a seat right up there, but it's going to be a lot of hard work. And so with that, let's go ahead and I am going to do the the oath, please. And as we do, you would you like to do it up there with how's the Let me ask the reporter and which is the best way for the best picture

right there by the stand the mayor's microphone. So it will be recorded.

It is yours. Hold it until it comes on. Hold the button down till it was on. Oh, somebody turned it off then. I turned it on. Okay. Sorry. All right. What I'm going to do is I'm gonna talk real loud and I'm doing that. Yeah. All right. Let's go ahead and do this. Start again. Please raise. Check. Check. Check. One, two. Some of our record. Okay. Oh, even better. All right. Please raise your right hand. I state your name. I do solemnly swear doly swear

that I will support I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and government of the United States. and of the state of Florida and that I am duly qualified to hold office under the constitution of the state and that I will well and faith perform the duties of council member for the beautiful city of Williston I added that beautiful because I think it is on which I'm about to enter so Help me God. CONGRATULATIONS.

Take your seat. Oh, you have to get your seat. Either one you won't. All right. Deborah Jones. I was going to try to do a dossier on Deborah Jones. Um, but her list of accomplishments are so long that I would take here hours to get that done.

And one of the things that I know about her because I have known her since I became judge almost going into my third year. She is a fearless advocate for this city. You may agree with her most of the time. You may disagree with her most of the time, but you know that she loves the city. This is a place in which she grew up. She went to actually you were a red devil, right? And I think that you also went to Red Yes. She's a younger Red Devil. Not much younger. A little bit younger. But I think you also went to undergrad at Auburn, right? And so she has something that I also have in common. We probably do not like the University of Alabama. Absolutely.

Yeah. All right. And uh but also her tile's advocacy for women and also uh you for years you have been in the uh Williston Women's Club and leadership positions. And I will say again this about strong women. They do run the world. All right. I think that's a song from uh Beyonce or something like that. All right. Uh oh. that I am woman. Yeah. But it is to me an honor to uh do this. And so could you please come over and I can swear you in. And Mr. President, I just going to ask you to

Okay. Please raise your uh right hand. I state your name. Do solemnly swear. that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and government of the United States and of the state of Florida. and that I am duly qualified that I am duly qualified to hold office under the constitution of the state of the state and that I will well I well and faithfully perform the duties of council member for the beautiful city of Willist beautiful city warts and all

on which I'm about to enter so help me God congratulations Mayor Goodman, come on up. I'll be gentle. I promise. I am a law-abiding citizen, so I do not fear judge. That's a good statement. watch for tickets,

mayor. Uh I've also known you since I, you know, came into town and uh I'm a big fan also. I think that somebody who has given a lifetime of service to this country and to this community uh and I there's not a higher enough praise uh that I can say that I admire you. I am a big big big fan and uh I want to thank you for all that you do for the citizens of this country and for the citizens of this community. I can tell you all the list of accomplishments he has done, but I would be here too long, just like with Miss Jones. Uh, and uh, but I can tell you this since I came into this town and became judge almost three years ago, I've always felt that you have my back and I appreciate you deeply. uh and uh it is my honor uh to go ahead and swear you in and I hope that uh you continue doing the good service you do the people of this community as you have served this state and this country. All right, please come on out this way. Notice the nice suit that he has on. All right, please raise your right hand. I state your name. I, Charles Goodman,

do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, protect that I will support and protect and defend the Constitution defend the Constitution and government of the United States and the government of the United States and the state of Florida and the State of Florida. that I am duly qualified that I am duly qualified to hold office hold office under the constitution of the state under the constitution of the state and that I will well and that I will well and faithfully perform and faithfully perform the duties of duties of council member mayor mayor for the city of Willist

good for the city of the beautiful city of Willist. Beautiful. Beautiful. See, do you all see how she he took me out of my stride? Mayor on on which I'm about to enter. Which I am about to enter. So help me God. So help me God,

mayor. Congratulations. And with that, I'm going to go ahead and stop stealing from your time. I will tell you that this is very special for me because I am uh I live in Willist, at least the suburbs of Williston. And when I was asked to do this, I of course I said yes. Then the city of English, I also had their swearing in and it was at six o'clock. And I said to them, I already said yes to Williston and I will do Willist.

Uh so they had an option either move it to seven or five o'clock. They chose five o'clock and so I went there, swore them in. Wonderful people there. Uh but this is home. All right. Thank you everybody for uh for uh indulging me and you all have a wonderful evening. Thank you. Thank you.

Now at this time we will have item number two. We will not have we will bypass that. We're going to edit that one. Um so at this time the um mayor will take over as presiding. You know, it is not often that a president gives up power. Thank you, Madam President. You're welcome.

Our next item is to choose a new council president or the same council president. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to open up the floor for nominations. If we get a nomination, I will again say are there any other nominations and we will continue on from there. So now I would like to open up the floor for any nominations for president of the council of Willist and nominate Deborah Jones. Who? Deborah Jones. Councelor Cox has nominated Deborah Jones. Are there any other nominations?

I nominate Darth. I'm sorry. Say it again. I nominate Darth Hines.

Councelor President Darth Hines has been nominated also. Are there any other nominations? Seeing none, we have two people who are on the nomination list. We will now proceed to a vote. All those who are in favor of Deborah Jones to be the next president of the city of council. Please signify by saying I and raise your hands. I I

we have two. All those that would like President Hines to continue for her second term, please signify by saying I and raising your hands. I I We have three. Congratulations, President Hines. I now seed the floor back to your honor. Thank you, sir. Thank you. At this time we will have item number four, election of our council vice president. Do I have any nominations? I nominate Deborah Jones.

Deborah Jones is nominated. Any other nominations? I have microphone, please. Oh, sorry. The first time. Thank you. Um, that was a hard choice. Um, I'd like to do both, but I'd like to also see uh Councelor Martin nominated.

So, we have Councelor Martin as a nominee as well. Any other nominations? Seeing none, um, we will move to vote. Any all those who vote for council um member Miss Deborah Jones to be the vice president, please say I and raise your hand. I I. So that's three. All right. Any one for Miss Merida? Say I and raise your hand. I

I vote is Miss Jones. Three votes and Miss Jones is now our vice president for the city council. Item number five will be announcements. Do I have any announcements from staff? Yes. Um, I just want to announce to the council that the next council meeting on May the 19th, we will be honoring the girls basketball team.

Awesome. Thank you. Is there a dress code that you would like us for photos to wear? Your red shirt. Okay, please. The red shirt for the Red Devils. Not a red devil shirt, but a red city shirt. I have one of each. Any other announcements from staff? Any announcements from the council?

Just to say that I leave in the morning to go to a National League of Cities uh Florida Municipal Insurance Trust. There are 18 people from Florida in attendance. uh be in Savannah from May the 13th to the 17th.

Any other announcements? I would like to um recognize Miss Trisha Wright for being recognized with the Florida Black Caucus of Locally Elected Officials. And it reads, "Latricia Wright, city clerk for the city of Wllist, is a dedicated public servant who plays a vital role in connecting residents with her local government through her work supporting city council meetings, maintaining official records, and ensuring public access to information. She helps strengthen transparency, trust, and civ civic engagement within Bullist community. A valuable and dedicated member of both Florida Black Caucus, locally elected officials, and the Florida Association of City Clerks, Miss Wright is celebrated for her commitment to service, professionalism, and the community she proudly serves. Thank you, Miss Wright.

Mr. Mayor, any announcement from you, sir? just that I will be leaving town on the 14th to go to a leadership conference in Orlando. That's all. Thank you. I will be leaving as well on the 14th to go to a leadership conference in Orlando. All right. Aren't we? Item number six, adjournment. Move we adjourn. I have a motion and I have a second. Any comment from the public? Yes. On a German.

A good conflict. Good conflict. Although Oh, Mr. Right. I'm I'm sorry. Uh, we have cake and drinks in the community room to celebrate everybody being sworn in. See, that's why she's so good. Thank you, Miss Wright. All right, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. All those oppos. Motion passes.