City Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Madam Mayor, city council members, staff, most importantly, the citizens of Stuart, I'm again honored and pleased to be able to come before you and to invite the presence of the Lord into these proceedings. Before I get started, I'd like to, if we have any of our Jewish citizens present, to wish them a Shana Tova, Happy New Year. This past weekend was Rosh Hashanah, Friday and Saturday. And along those lines, there's been a very noticeable rise in anti-Semitism in our society, in our culture, online. And I'd like to address that a little bit. This nation isn't a Judeo-Christian nation. I hear people talking about a Christian nation. No, it's a Judeo-Christian nation. At the Battle of Yorktown... President well then general George Washington ran out of funds. He couldn't feed the army. He couldn't equip them he couldn't he couldn't do anything with him because he had no money and he called for a Citizen that was supportive of the revolution Chaim Solomon and he was a very strong businessman in the American society, and he came in and he donated most of his own personal fortune along with collecting from other Jewish merchants in order to facilitate the battle of Yorktown, the army at the battle of Yorktown. And if it had not been for that, right now, At 4 o'clock, we'd probably be having tea and crumpets, and all these fine folks up here on the dais would be wearing powdered wigs if it hadn't been for that Jewish businessman that came and saved this nation at that moment. And that's not even to speak of the Jewish citizens that fought in the Revolutionary Army. So we need to look carefully at this anti-Semitism sentiment we have and realize that we owe our Jewish friends and neighbors a great debt of gratitude for bringing this nation together. Let's go before the Lord. Our God and our Father, great creator of the universe, you made us such a diverse nation. You brought so many different cultures into this place for your purpose. We know that you had a plan for what this country is to do. It's not just a nationalist plan. It's a divine mission that we're on to be an example to this world. Give us the strength to be able to do that. Help us to stop the noise and listen to what you're saying. Lord, guide and direct us in all that we do. Draw us closer to you. And let's once more, Father, help us to let's once more make this one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All this we pray in your precious name, Lord. Amen. Amen. Please remain standing for the presentation of the colors. Color Guard, present the colors. Would you now join me as we pledge allegiance to our flag? 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. Please remain standing as we hear the national anthem.

Reverend Dr. Deborah C. Allen. Who is also a veteran.

Army. Oh, say can you see at the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the starlight's last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming And the rocket's red glare The bombs bursting in air He proved through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does this star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land

Thank you. Thank you. Remain in your places as we hear the proclamation from police chiefs and our fire chief. They'll come up and then it'll be read by our To the attorney.

Patriot Day and Day of Service Remembrance, September 11th, 2026. Whereas on September 11th, 2001, the United States suffered a devastating terrorist attack resulting in loss of nearly 3,000 innocent lives and forever changing our nation. And whereas we honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders, emergency personnel, and ordinary citizens who acted with extraordinary heroism in the face of unimaginable tragedy. And whereas Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance have been designated to commemorate the victims and to promote unity, reflection, and acts of service in their memory. And whereas the City of Stewart encourages all residents to pause in remembrance, reflect on the strength and resilience of our nation and engage in acts of kindness and community service and tribute to those we lost. Now, therefore, I, Eula R. Clark, Mayor of the City of Stewart, Florida, do hereby proclaim September 11th, 2026 as Patriot Day and Day of Service Remembrance.

And at this time, I'd ask all of our commissioners to come down so that I can present this proclamation to our police and fire first responders. And then we'll have a big speech from both of our chiefs. Staff and commissioners.

Chief?

We have our color guard still in place.

Color guard. Post the colors.

And we'd like to have one more with us

Thank you, Mayor, Commissioners.

Let's have a speech from our police chief and fire chief.

So we always hear throughout this time of year, you know, never forget. That's the mantra for 9-11, right? So just so all of us here never forgets, I'd like to say the numbers from 9-11. 343 firefighters were killed that day from the FDNY. 37 officers were killed from the Port Authority Police. 26 officers were killed from the NYPD. And we just acquired this poster in front of the dais here for everybody to come look at. But this poster shows the faces of all 343 firefighters that died that day. And it's very powerful to look at. So thank you.

Thank you so much. Chief Zanolovic?

Yes, thank you, Mayor. And I'll just be brief. I just wanted to say thank you for the proclamation. And to put it in perspective, 343 firemen alone, that's more firefighters were killed in one day on 9-11 than the entire city staff that works for the city of Stewart. So that's a telling number of the losses they suffered. And after 32 years of service, we honor what our fellow firefighters and first responders, police officers went through in New York City. Now it's a million miles away from here, or 1,200 or whatever the actual mileage is. But we serve with honor and distinction here in the Stewart Police Department. Stuart fire rescue and it's our honor to serve this community every day 24 7 the men and women of these agencies stand poised to to do anything we need to do to ensure the safety of this community and thank you for allowing us to serve thank you and to both of you could you please tell us about 9-11 over the roosevelt bridge uh... yes uh... operations chief honeycutt from the uh... fire department he organizes the event each year and he's certainly welcome to come up and speak on that but he does a great job unifying the police and fire response to that uh... nine eleven memorial walk on the roosevelt bridge it's been going on at least three and a half years that i've been here four years and john's been uh... organizing it on behalf of the fire chief in the fire department and i don't know the exact number of uh... participants from friday but several of our commissioners were there many members of the community were there in addition to the the overwhelming number of officers and firefighters paramedics and then community members we had people they were out for a walk on the bridge or on Flagler or Joan Jefferson and they said can we just join and they just jumped in line with us and walked over the bridge from Flagler Park to North River Shores and then back so three point four Three miles, you're at 3.43 miles there and back on a, you know, comfortable 85 degree Friday, you know, Friday morning. So, but we appreciate the community support and, you know, Operation Chief Honeycutt for organizing it and getting everyone together.

Thank you so much. And just please let's give a round of applause for all our first responders. Thank you so much. Our next item is Hunger Action Month. Each time in September, we all don our orange, or they bring us orange, and we have a wonderful, wonderful presentation and explanation on Hunger Action Month. This year, we have Titania Rosso, who will be presenting to us and talking to us about Hunger Action Month. and she's from the Treasure Coast Food Bank.

Good evening. Welcome. Hi, how are you Ms. Mary? Good morning, good evening, good evening everyone here. So on behalf of the Treasure Coast Food Bank, have some gifts for you guys we would like to say thank you for all the support the city of Stuart and the whole Treasure Coast to help us fight the hunger in September it's a bigger the largest We have the 5K run. We have several programs to help out our community. Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Stewart, and the Samoa, Kachobee area. So just on behalf of the Treasure Coast Food Bank, I'd like to say thank you to all of you, the community, and for you guys. Thank you for all your support. Thank you. Thank you.

We have a little something for you also. Okay, while you're giving that to us, we'll read the proclamation which I have a copy of

Whereas hunger and poverty remain issues of grave concern in the United States, the state of Florida, and on the Treasure Coast with 250,000 children, adults, seniors, and veterans experiencing food insecurity on a weekly basis. Whereas the City of Stewart is committed to taking steps to raise awareness about the need to end hunger in every part of our city and to provide additional resources that the citizens of Stewart need. And whereas the City of Stewart is committed to working with the Treasure Coast Food Bank in mobilizing people about the role and importance of food banks and other hunger relief organizations in addressing hunger and bringing attention to the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger issues. And whereas food banks and hunger relief organizations across the country, including the Treasure Coast Food Bank, coordinated Hunger Action Day on September 29th, 2026, and will continue to host numerous events throughout the month of September to shed light on this important issue and encourage involvement in efforts to end hunger in their local community. Now, therefore, I, Eula R. Clark, Mayor of the City of Stewart, Florida, do hereby proclaim September 2026 as Hunger Action Month.

and we have a proclamation that we'll give to you and we'll take a picture. Next we have Hispanic Heritage Month. And if you could please read the proclamation.

Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15th through October 15th to recognize the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans. And whereas Hispanic and Latino Americans have made lasting contributions to our nation through their leadership, service, innovation, entrepreneurship, arts, education, and dedication to their communities. And whereas the Hispanic and Latino community strengthens the cultural fabric of the City of Stewart and contributes greatly to its economic growth, diversity, and quality of life. And whereas Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to celebrate these contributions, honor the generations who came before us, and to encourage greater appreciation and understanding among all members of our community. Now, therefore, I, Eula R. Clark, Mayor of the City of Stewart, Florida, do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Thank you, Mr. Mercado, DLT Media. And he has a long speech about all the activities that they're going to do, but I'm going to give him his proclamation. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for this proclamation. I'm very surprised and honored to be here as a resident of the Treasure Coast for exactly 21 years. My first place of residency was Jensen Beach. And I'm looking forward to continue with the calendar of events that I've put together in downtown Stewart and in celebration of that. I've already done four events there, Fiesta Latina de Puerto Rico, de Cuba, de Colombia, and de Santo Domingo. It's a free admission event, no alcohol, and everyone is excited about it. I started it in the end of May, and I wanted it to lead up to the Hispanic Heritage event at the new theater, at the Amphitheater. Thanks to Jim that made that best recommendation for me. We will be attending that, God willing. You're all invited to attend. It's a very cultural event, live Latin music, Spanish food. I've invited residents from all the different countries to bring their big flag and free admission for everyone, including the people that would like to set up a banner and their flag. So I welcome everyone. I thank you for your support and consideration. The police department, the fire department, the administrative employees at the city of Stewart and of course the mayor's office. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ricardo. OUR NEXT ITEM IS OUR SERVICE AWARD. I HAVE A VERY HEAVY, I THOUGHT WE HAD SIX OR EIGHT PEOPLE IN HERE, BUT IT'S JUST ONE. 25 YEARS. ANGEL DELEON. AND I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO BE HERE TODAY. SO IS MILTON HERE? Peter Cunin? Okay. This is very heavy, Peter. A lot of work. Let's give a clap to Mr. Cunin. Please tell him that we appreciate all his time with the city of Stewart.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Alex, you want to give a speech, Mr. Cunin?

I'll leave that for others. Thank you.

Comments by city commissioners? Commissioner Matheson.

Thank you, Mayor. I had the opportunity, along with some of my other commissioners and many of the people, to walk the memorial service for 9-11. And frankly, it was an honor. And I think anyone probably over the age of 28, 30 even, probably remember exactly where they were when that happened. I know I do. And there's not too many things in my life that are etched that way. Birth of my daughters, marriage, that. And it makes you reflect and think when you think about that moment. And it made me reflect our reaction as a country and how we come together. You see that on a small scale when a hurricane's bearing down on us. But that was a worldwide scale. It makes you frightened when it did happen, but proud the way we came together. It also makes me reflect on all the differences and grievances we've seen locally here over the past year. And when you compare that to what happened on 9-11, they seem, I guess, paltry might be a good word. And the point is, we're all American. We're all in this together in the great American experiment. And it's because of every one of us and our differences of opinion. that makes us as so special as a country and how we react when someone attacks us that we all come together. So having reflected on all that, I look forward to working with city residents, with county residents, other agencies, elected officials, my fellow commissioners at coming together remembering that we are all American. And if I've done things in the past, over the past year or past few months, that have harmed people, I'd apologize. And I know each and every one of us have tough decisions to make. And I believe each and every one of us are doing the best we can with the facts we have and following our heart and following the advice we're given. And that's the job we signed up for. It's not easy. But at the end of the day, we're all doing it for our country. Other than those comments, I think there are a few people in the room here for agenda item number 14. And depending on the pleasure of the board, I'd support moving that item to prior to number eight, prior to commission action. So that those people don't have to leave or stay here throughout the entire meeting.

Commissioner Matheson, are you saying that the ordinance second reading on the backyard chicken be put as item number eight? Well, before item number eight, so that.

Yes, depending on the pleasure of the board, we can do that when we get to the approval of the agenda. But I would support it as a motion.

Is there a... Madam Mayor, can I say something?

Yes, sir.

I wanted to bring to your attention that the presenter, who was Jody from the Development Department, had an emergency today with her husband, so she is not here to present. There was a very, very serious incident with her husband in the hospital, so I wanted you to be aware of that before we move anything around.

Madam Mayor.

Okay, we have three things. Hold on. Thank you. Um, where there's a potential that we may have to move this item. Somebody's asking to move it earlier in the agenda. Somebody's saying that since we don't have staff and something is going on. What are you saying, Commissioner Rich?

I was going to bring this up because I was asked by the most ardent supporters of this, and because they were unable to be here, they asked that it be postponed indefinitely. And in light of the circumstances, that seems most appropriate at this time.

This is a time when you can make an adjustment in the agenda during your time. Is someone asking to put this to a time certain or put it indefinitely?

Well, I'll make a motion to postpone indefinitely.

There's a motion to postpone item number 14 backyard chickens in certain residential zoning districts that was tabled from June 22nd to today to postpone that indefinitely. There's a motion. Is there a second so that we can discuss this item? There's no second to postpone it indefinitely or is there a motion to postpone it to a certain date or?

I'd like to make a motion to postpone it to a date in the future. Indefinitely makes it sound it'll never make it way back to the agenda. We don't know what the development department, we just want to move it to a date.

There's no motion on the table now.

Okay, so she can make a motion.

But you hadn't said that that motion failed, so I don't want to make a motion.

I was just trying to verify. So there's no second on the motion to postpone it indefinitely. Can we have another motion, please?

I'd like to make a motion that ordinance 255 to 2026 be postponed to a date in the future to be determined when the development department can address it. Yes. Thank you.

I got a question for your motion then.

Is that okay if I ask?

I would do that for agenda item eight and nine then as well, because if our development department's not here, why are we gonna take action on those two agenda items, yet we're gonna postpone the chicken ordinance?

I agree. Any other? Okay, hold on. I'll second the motion. Well, I'm going to redo my motion.

Perfect. If you're doing anything on here, I would just add anything in here from our development department at this point.

Yeah, that's what I was just looking at.

Yeah, we have- Mayor, if I may be heard on a couple of- Yes.

What was that, sir?

May I be heard on a couple of them? Yes, yes. So number eight and number nine are gonna be done by our CRA director, Penal Satyagandhas, who is here. Okay. And in regards to backyard chickens, I would recommend picking a date.

Okay, so so could you pick a date sometime at least maybe more than 6 weeks from now so that if there's a health issue, maybe she'll have an opportunity to be able to do it with someone in the department could be directed to replace her for this particular item.

Yes.

Eight and nine have absolutely to do with our development department, though, in my opinion. I understand it's presented by the CRA, but if there's questions for our development department, which I foresee, I know I have questions for our development department because they're asking for relief with parking and zoning and land usage, and I don't believe our development director can answer those questions.

Well, let's deal with that item when we get to it. If we need to change it, we can. Okay.

Why don't we stick with the agenda while we have a motion and I think a second?

That's what we're working on. Wes, I'm going to redo my motion, okay? So I'd like to make a motion that agenda items eight, nine, and 14 be postponed to October 26th. That would be a later date when all departments should be available. If not, they would certainly then be prepared.

I'll second that.

There's a motion and a second for items eight, nine, and 14 to be postponed indefinitely.

No, postponed to October 22nd.

October 22nd.

Which at that point, I mean 26, sorry, thank you. At that point, if someone in the development department should be able to then handle that presentation.

And I heard the city manager say that items number eight and nine as prepared and presented today would not have needed the development director to be here. And you're still including those in your motion? Yes.

We have a public comment.

All right, is there any public comment on this motion? It's a motion to take three items off the agenda until October 26th. I'm not sure what the impact will be on the right-of-way persons.

Madam Mayor.

Okay, that's okay. You have a comment?

Yes, if we have no problem. I don't support the motion as it stands, but I guess, no, I... I've been the deciding vote, apparently, on the backyard chickens for a few months here, and, you know, spoiler alert, I have a few comments about it that probably don't firm up the decision. But I don't, frankly, I need the development department here. I'm comfortable with the ordinance. I have direction for staff, but I believe that could be relayed in my comments. For the chickens, personally, I don't have questions on item eight and nine for the development director either. So, I know there are a lot of people I believe in the room that have been waiting on item number 14. And I think my comments might help clear it up in the future on what decision the city of Stewart might make.

Thank you, Commissioner, and we're still in the process of trying to make a decision on this motion, but for members of the public who are with us for any particular item, you can always leave comments, even if an item will be coming up at a later date, you can always leave your comments today. So if you're here today and you want to leave your comment, if the item is taken off, they can still leave their comment legal.

If an item they're also free to email the commissioners can also at any time collectively or individually.

Okay, so Claire, could you please read this is commissioner Matheson is in his. The middle of his comments, he made a motion related to item. Well, he can't make 14 and then hold on and then that was. I'm conducting this meeting. And that did not go anywhere. And in response to that, Commissioner Jobe has now made a motion seconded by Commissioner Reid to remove items. 8, 9, and 14 to October 26. And the basis for item number 14 being removed was mostly because the staff person has had an emergency and couldn't be here. And the joinder of the other two were put in because Apparently they are related to the development department. So that's what the motion is. Is that the motion?

Correct.

Okay. So is there any public comment at all on this motion to change this agenda, these three agenda items? Clerk, could you, and no other comments? You do have a comment? Okay.

I'd just like to ask Mr. Baggett, does this create any problems with regard to these two items?

Right, the dedication. Are you referring to numbers eight and nine? Correct. Ms. Ghani Savkas could probably, give more of a response to that to the aye. There are resolutions. I don't know if it's gonna hold up something else that she's trying to accomplish. But I would say that I'm aware of the emergency situation. I don't know that it's gonna be six weeks before our development director is available. It's a family member, not her. So maybe those two can be brought back earlier than the chicken ordinance, but that's up to y'all again.

Thank you. Penal Gandhi, Savda CRA director for the record. As I had mentioned in my CRA meeting, that this is part of the Dixie Highway Improvements Project, and it's a two-phase project. And the first phase does require right-of-way dedication in order for us to go out for bid and go into construction. And we need to do that prior to our lab grant funding, which We have to start that construction early next year. So the goal was to acquire the right-of-way dedication from the property owners in the next month or so, and then finish up the design, go off for a bid, get that started with construction. Delaying it to October 26th delays the whole process. Now it puts me behind with the grant funding.

How about two weeks? Would two weeks create an undue burden?

Two weeks would be okay.

Okay.

I will not be here.

I mean, I will be back for the October 12th meeting. I'll be out of the country, so I'm not here.

Okay, thank you. With regard to item number... Nine, it's a similar situation? Correct. So Commissioner Reid, would you like to, after listening to staff, would you like to still include those two, realizing that the reason why staff is doing this, and we've had full explanation in our packets, and she's willing to be here. This is the staff person that's willing to provide the information tonight.

I'd rather hear from our development director just because it talks about parking relief and zoning and land use calculations. And I don't believe that has anything to do necessarily with the CRA. That comes directly from our development department. Correct me if I'm wrong, Pinal.

I did coordinate with her regarding that language, so she is aware that the property along Dixie Highway will need some flexibility with parking and additional items that's listed on their setbacks and things like that, just because we can't get these properties to redevelop or even have the existing properties, we can't lease it out because there's just not enough parking. So this area just remains slum and blight. And if we're spending money on streetscape, we want to be able to get these properties redeveloped or at least occupied.

Well, if we're tabling agenda item 14 due to our development director not being here, my opinion still stands that agenda item 8 and 9 still has to do with our development department as well as the CRA. So I think they should be tabled still. Because agenda item 14 is being tabled for political purposes only. So if we're tabling something for development, we're going to include two other agenda items that have to do with our development department.

That's up to the board for direction for staff. But I'm here to present the items number eight and nine. And I have coordinated with development department. There is another project along Dixie Highway, the auto shop, that does require the development department.

Are they going to get parking relief as well?

They are.

Will that come at a later date?

They are planning to bring that item in October next month. Gotcha. It just kept getting delayed. Angel is here.

I will amend the motion to be set for October 12th. That would be the next time we have a full commission on the dais.

I'll second that motion.

Okay. Any comments on that motion from the public or from the commissioners? I have three commissioners who have their lights on. So I think that Commissioner Rich has his light on first.

Ms. Gandhi's office, would that create an undue burden, that date?

I think it helps staff to move forward with the design. So if we need to modify anything based on the direction from the board, we can start making those modifications right now. Any further delay just delays the going out for bid and construction.

Thank you. Commissioner Reed. No, nothing?

I flipped my light switch off.

Okay, I saw that. Commissioner Matheson?

I don't need item number 14 to be tabled. I don't need our development director here. I have more direction for city staff and I'm happy to discuss it now.

You just wanted to have it up front.

Yes, my initial comments were that I think people were waiting. The city commission over the past few meetings has had feedback that some of our agenda items that the most people in the room were waiting for were at the end of the agenda. I'm perfectly fine with having agenda item number 14 on the agenda today and discussing and sharing my thoughts about it.

Okay, the agenda we have a motion still on the on the Unless there's no withdrawal, but there's a change in the motion. Could you please?

Say the motion that's been changed and the amendment has been agreed to The amended motion is agenda items 8 9 and 14 postponed to October 12 Okay

Any comments from the public on this motion? Okay, we have two lights on, Commissioner Reed.

Yeah, I was just gonna say, maybe if they're tabled for action to be taken, but maybe still allow discussion to go on. Because we already know one board member doesn't support agenda item 14 regardless, because they're trying to table it indefinitely. Those are my thoughts for the motion though.

All right, so are you wanting me to give an opinion on Commissioner Reed's comments? You could have a presentation, but I think the resolutions for subject matter eight and nine need to be postponed till you're going to vote. As far as the backyard chickens, the majority of the board can say we can have a discussion item on it, change it from, still motion to table it to the date certain, but have a discussion on it tonight. I mean, that's up to you guys if you wanna do that. but I think you're adding something, you're postponing something, but also adding something to the agenda, so I think you ought to have a majority vote on that.

Commissioner Reed, what are you requesting?

I would like to see eight and nine tabled, and then 14 just stay on the agenda and move it up front for discussion purposes, so Commissioner Matheson can give direction to our development department on what he's looking for.

And is that tabling for item eight and nine until October 12th?

Correct.

Yes.

And as well as agenda item 14, but allow D&D this evening.

The only problem with agenda item 14 is we will not have a presentation because the presenter is fucked up.

Which is fine. I think this board majority feels how they feel already on this agenda item.

There were questions and a presentation was in response to what were questions at the last meeting. So again, you guys can have a discussion on it. There's just not going to be a presentation because of Ms. Coogler is not going to be here. And I'd like to allow public comment during that as well.

Okay.

Thank you.

I'll second. All right, so I'll amend the motion once again. Agenda 8 and 9 to be tabled. October 12th. No, tabled to not a certain date. Yeah, it's date certain. Okay, so it will be tabled to a date certain, which would be October 12th, the commission meeting. And agenda item 14 be brought to the first head of under commission action. Okay.

And to allow public comment and also for agenda item 14 to be on October 12th as well for action.

Okay, so it will be agenda item 14 going to the top of the commission action for discussion for participation from the community and then tabled until October 12th for a vote.

I'll second that motion.

So motion and second. Is there any public comment on that amended motion and second? Claire, could you read that motion?

Table to a date certain of 10, 12, items 8 and 9, and item 14 be brought back for discussion. Or I'm sorry, be brought before discussion for tonight and make it before commission action. And the vote will be on October 12th. I can say that over again if you'd like.

I think we've changed it several times. Thank you very much.

Okay, are you ready, clerk? Okay. Commissioner Giobbe. Yes. Commissioner Matheson. Yes. Commissioner Reed. Yes. Commissioner Rich. Yes. Mayor Clark.

I don't like item eight and nine being changed, but I'll go along with it, yes. Okay, Commissioner Reed. Oh, sorry, Commissioner Matheson, do you have anything else?

Those are all my comments.

Thank you. Commissioner Reed.

I'll save mine for action items.

I have no comments, Madam Mayor.

I have no comments.

Okay, you have no comments. I have a few comments. This week is Constitution Week, and on the 17th, Jessica Thorpe, or the entire Community Services Department, has arranged for the reading of the Constitution at 3 p.m. on Thursday the 17th at the at the Blake Library, so please come out as a community member and participate in the reading of the Constitution. For Constitution Week, I will be at J.D. Parker on that same day on the 17th to speak to the fifth grade with regard to the Constitution. And many persons have been going into our schools this week, especially attorneys, have been going to the schools to talk about the Constitution this week. On the 16th of September, there is a celebration at 10 a.m. at the Port Mayaka Cemetery on Canter Highway West. at the border of Martin and Palm Beach County. And that will be to celebrate the storm of 1928. Everyone, the public is invited to come out on that day. They have the students from Palm Beach County schools that come in buses. They have seniors from many senior centers and many groups and churches that come out to that event. So please come out to that event on, September 16th to remember the storm of 1928 that destroyed the Glades area and many people were placed in unmarked graves and one of the memorial burial sites is out there at the Port Myakka Cemetery. On Tuesday, September 22nd at 5.30 p.m., the Martin County Fear Association will finally, after many, many years, be having a groundbreaking at 1900 Southwest Citrus Boulevard for the new fairgrounds. So this is September 22nd, 2026, 5.30 p.m. 19100 Southwest Citrus Boulevard and the Martin County Fear Association and others would like for the public to come out to that event and to participate with them. My other announcement is that I have two more, but I think Mr. De Leon is here now. Angel? Yes, just 25 years. Let's give you a hand. Peter Cunin has something. Peter, you can come up, and Misty, you can take a picture with him, and Peter. You want me down there?

Come on down.

I don't blame you. There you go. Thank you. Thank you so much. I just wanted to give a note, and I don't know if the clerk has done anything or put any new notes outside, but when we have the public come up to give comments, I want to make sure that everybody's respectful. We're not trying to... Average anybody's rights or any free speech, but we can also regulate the time and place and manner of how people behave in these chambers. So we'd like to make sure that. people watch their language and try to use their time in front of the commission expeditiously and judiciously use it for the items that are on the agenda and we want to make sure that we don't have to give a signal to our police department to remove anyone we want to have everybody actively participating and providing good input because that's why we're here is to make sure that we listen and that we follow up on the items that you you bring to us. So thank you so much for that. That's it for the Commissioner's comments. Comments by the City Manager.

Thank you, Mayor Clark. I'm so glad that you were able to recognize Angel. Staff noticed him in the audience and I was going to make sure that you were recognized. We're so glad that you're here.

I've known this gentleman forever.

I've been here as an interim for the past couple of weeks, and I just wanted to thank each and every one of you. I'm looking at each and every one of you, and thank you for your support in this interim role. It's a big job, and I certainly have gotten my taste of it and realized how big it really is. And if it weren't for the staff members that are here, my colleagues, I wouldn't even be able to kind of see straight. So I just wanted to reach out and thank each and every one of them for all their help on this last couple of weeks that I'm here. That's it.

Thank you. And thank you for being . Thank you. Thank you.

We have the agenda and we've changed some items in the agenda. So we know what the changes are. Can we have a motion regarding approval of the agenda with the changes that we just voted on?

So moved.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

Okay.

But Madam Mayor, may I add something to the end of the agenda?

Okay.

So the city is... planning to go before the ELOC board to share in the acquisition of the Avonlea property. And at the last meeting, there was a sensible suggestion made from the dais that we rank and or prioritize our CIP projects. I think we should apply that same concern to the possible properties that the city can purchase. This Avonlea property could take all of the money for the first two years. There's no rush here, and the very sensible suggestion has been made by Commissioner Matheson that we create, in essence, our own city ELOC. And I would just ask that we delay going before the ELOC board until we have come up with our own priorities for which properties in our city we feel are the most important to acquire at this point. So I would just like that motion added at the end of the agenda.

Are you adding this to discussion and deliberation?

No, it would be a motion because they're planning on going before the ELOC board this Thursday.

Okay, so you're adding an item. The item number 15. Is there a second to that motion? You asked for the agenda to be approved, is that correct? Or you agreed with his?

Addition. I agree and I'll second.

Okay, thank you. Any comments from our commissioners? Any comments from the public on the approval of the agenda with the change?

Well, we can wait.

Madam Clerk.

I had a comment.

Oh, you have a comment?

Yeah, I'm glad this board majority can follow their own ordinances, because on the August 24, 2026 meeting, they violated their own city ordinance by taking action after the agenda was already approved. So thank you, Commissioner Rich, with that one.

Thank you, Commissioner Reed. Madam Clerk, do you just want to all in favor, or do you need a vote? All in favor is fine. All in favor? Aye. Okay. Thank you. So we'll go with the agenda as approved. Comments from the public, and I don't know if legal or the clerk, I've already said my notes on comments from the public and that we need to keep order and decorum here. So these are non-agended items. If you don't have an agenda, get an agenda outside, check and make sure that you want to comment on an agended item. If this is a non-agended item, you'll have your three minutes We do have to stop you when the light goes red, and I know you want to continue, so maybe you might have to come up and first say whether you agree or disagree with something, then go forward so that we know that what your main point is registered with us at the beginning, and you don't feel like you've lost something at the end when the light goes forward. So please make sure that you give yourself every opportunity to express yourself as judiciously as possible.

Madam Mayor, I also wanted to... We have lights manager. Yes, I would like to bring to your attention that we have our budget meeting scheduled promptly at 5.15. 5.15. So we'll keep our eye on the clock. I just didn't want any, yes.

Yes, we'll have to break.

We'll be breaking for that. I just wanted to make sure it didn't interfere with any kind of public comments, if we could just wrap them up and then pick up where we left off.

So if we have a public comment on a non-agended item, it would come now and it would give us full three minutes before 5.15.

Mayor, I do only have two public comments, so it's up to you if you want to do it.

Non-agended item, we'll have him.

I have Albert Brinkley.

Mr. Brinkley.

Once again, my name is Albert Brinkley, East Stewart Residence. I just wanted to go back and reiterate on commission methods and commission geography. When I spoke about the parking aspect, it's the owners. vehicles that's parking in front of the building. It's the workers, the big white truck is parked on the east side of Citra Avenue, and in front of the gutter is the owners parking their trucks and van, which create a problem with the eyesight, along with the planters that need to be taken. When I say we need... Parking Commissioner Matthews this here you have the boys and girls clubs there When they're there that entire street is basically taken up by them. I don't have no problem with that But it leaves little parking space for the residents. And that's why I say on East Avenue and Martin Luther King, those planters with the palm trees, we don't need to be looking like a jungle in Eastwood. Those planters need to be taken up where parking space can be put there. We need parking space. We don't need parking space eliminated in that community. We need parking space. So that's why I want to reiterate, the problem is you have the owner's parking in front of the building. So now you pull it out there in the road, and your base is going to get T-boned. So between the planners and the owners parking their vehicles on both sides of Central, on the west side of Central and on the east side of Central, that's creating a problem with people that's coming off of Central you can't see. And I'd like to reiterate again, we don't need no four-way because that will create a problem. You got buses, you got traffic on that. We don't need that. What we need... It's the people that start speaking on 10th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard. And we have an issue, but I already done spoke with the chief on the issue that's created now. But we need to be heard in this community. Listen to us in the Eastern community, because you all have a responsibility from God. To carry out the law of the land. Listen to the people. If people in here now want to be heard on their situation, listen to us. Because you got dictatorship in D.C. You got dictatorship in Tallahassee. We don't need it here. Listen to the people. That's your responsibility from God. And I keep telling you all, for the last three years, look at Romans chapter 13. Read that. Because God instituted civil government. Read Romans chapter 13 and read Matthew chapter 21. You have a responsibility from God. Listen to the people.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Brinkley. We're at 515. Thank you. Can I speak?

Oh, we're at 515. Okay. I'll speak when we come back.

We're at 5.15 p.m. and we have a special item set for a special commission meeting of the Stewart City Commission, final millage and final budget. It is September 14th at 5.15 p.m. We're in the Commission Chambers 121 Southwest Flagler Avenue and all of our commissioners are duly present. At this time, I'll go to our staff.

Madam Mayor.

Okay, let's just do the full agenda. We're at 515, so we'll just go ahead and we'll go into the meeting in a few minutes, in just one minute. We'll recess. And we are now back in, we are now in the 515 meeting with regard to the millage. Could you give us a roll call so that we can know that we're duly assembled for this 515 specially advertised meeting? Mayor Clark? Yes.

Commissioner Giobbe? Here. Commissioner Matheson? Here. Commissioner Reed?

Here.

Commissioner Rich?

Here.

Can we forego the Pledge of Allegiance since we're already in a meeting? And any comments by commissioners on the specific 515 agenda item, anything related to it?

Yeah, I don't support raising taxes on our constituents.

Okay, thank you. And then we are going to, I'd like to, before I go to the city manager, I'd like to have an approval of this agenda for the 515 meeting.

Move approval of the agenda.

Second. Is there a second? Commissioner Reed, is that you?

No, it was Commissioner Matheson.

Commissioner Matheson, thank you. There's a motion and a second. All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Okay. We'll have City Manager present, and then if we have comments from the public, we'll have that at the time. So City Manager, could you present, and then we'll have legal go through the two items.

Thank you, Mayor Clark. The purpose of this meeting is by Florida law, two public hearings must be held to ultimately adopt the final millage rates and final budget for the city of Stuart, Florida. The first or tentative hearing was held on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. The purpose of tonight's second public hearing or final is to hear public comments regarding the proposed millage rates and budget, amend the budget if necessary, and to adopt the final millage rate and city budget for fiscal year 2027. The final public hearing has been advertised by way of public notice in a newspaper of common circulation. Final millage number one, the city of Stuart, Florida rollback rate for fiscal year 2027 is 4.7499 mills. The city is proposing a millage rate for fiscal year 2027, which exceeds the rollback rate by 5.27%. The city is proposing a millage rate of 5.0 mils. The purpose of the increase is to fund current operations and accommodate normal increases in the cost of those operations. And with that, Mayor, I will hand it back to you.

Thank you. We have comments from the public, but I'd like to take the items and then ask for public comment. So if the city attorney could please read the final millage for FY2027, ordinance number 682026.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Stuart, Florida, of Martin County, Florida, adopting the final levying of ad valorem taxes for the City of Stuart and Martin County for fiscal year 2027, providing an effective date and for other purposes.

Thank you. Are there any comments from the public with regard to resolution number 68-2026?

Madam Mayor, I move approval of resolution number 68-2026. Final millage.

Is there any second to that motion?

Second.

And you read the title. Is Mr. Kuhling here or anybody will mention again the actual millage?

Mr. Kuhling, could you come forward, please?

budget book in case you guys have any questions anthony cooling budget manager so this is the final levy of the ad valorem taxes could you just state the amount of the um Tax being levied.

The amount of the five mills. Yes. And the total levy would be $20,072,642. And, or sorry, $20,112,867. And we're required to budget at 95% of that. That comes out to $19,000. $1,107,224. Thank you. Does Mr. Madison, do you have a question?

Commissioner Madison?

Yes, I'd just like to say we've had two budget workshops. The four sitting commissioners have had months to talk with staff, and we've had one millage rate meeting. I've heard no one make motions to reduce the budget. So it's easy to sit up here and say you don't support staff's recommendation for the millage. It's a little harder to sit there and look at staff and say, reduce the budget here, here, here. We don't need these employees. We don't need this or this. But that hasn't happened. So I do support the millage as proposed. Thank you.

And just with that, Mr. Kulin, and you don't have to give the exact numbers, but when we did change the millage to the 4.9, we lost about 13 employees and we also hired four new firefighters. So we tried to do a balance at that time with less, is that correct?

There was a number of frozen and defunded positions to make up for the reduction in the property tax levy, and then it was adjusted again upward to an even 4.9 in order to get the three additional firefighters. Yeah, that's the short version.

Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Is there any commissioners, other commissioners? We've had Commissioner Reed, Commissioner Matheson. Any other commissioners with any comments? Thank you, Mr. Kulin. Our main purpose for today is to give this final millage for FY2027 to the public. Does the public have any comments?

Mayor, the city manager.

Oh, city manager.

I also wanted to bring to your attention that it's been the legal opinion that Florida Statute 200.065 will require a two-thirds vote, which will mean four members of our commission.

Okay. So we need 4 members of our commission to pass the final millage rate for 2027 at 5 mills for the city of Stuart and Mr. could you come up again? Please? We've had budget workshop and not everybody was at the budget workshop, but in essence. It will, on average, property of about 250,000 will pay about anywhere from $5.20 to up to $31 or so more on their property for the annual, for the year.

The example that was given at the budget workshops and at the tentative hearing were for the average person, middle class person with a $250,000 house. The assessed value of properties in the city of Stewart increased roughly 3%. Your particular house might go up more than 3%, somebody's might be assessed less, so this is kind of an estimate. So you would be paying an additional amount for the value of the property being going up about 3%. And then if the millage stayed at 4.9 and the difference between 4.9 and 5.0 per month for somebody whose property was $250,000 and increased 3%, comes out to $5.21 a month. And the example comparative to a to a Starbucks frou-frou drink, I don't go to Starbucks, comes out to like $5.68, so the cost per month for a Starbucks drink per month is more than the difference between 4.9 and 5.0 mils for an average middle-class home.

And the absolute amount, I think it's $319,000, that was the increase, the increase between The .1 millage rate.

The difference in property taxes that we would get between 4.9 and 5.0 is something like $382,144 less CRA. Yes. Thank you.

And also, Mr. Cooling, since this is the final hearing and people may not have been here for the public hearings and the workshops, we had increases in health insurance. We had increases in union rates and other things that are absolutely standard. And those are things that had to be put in fixed into the budget.

If your question is related to things that were outside of this city of stewards control that led to an increase in expenses, the primary ones were the FRS rate going up 5% for our public safety employees, the healthcare costs going up 8.8% because we are self-insured. And those were the two primary drivers, as well as the roughly $1.2 million for police and fire salaries for the third year of their contract. And police and fire are our largest departments with the most number of employees.

Thank you, Mr. Kulin. City Manager, do you have anything else?

No, ma'am, not at this time. I think that, no, nothing at this time.

We have a motion and a second. Members of the public, we are here on resolution number 68, 2026. Are there any members of the public who have either put in a green card or would now like to say something before we vote on the final millage for fiscal year 2027?

Mayor Clark, I had my light on.

Oh, Commissioner Reed. That was Madison.

Interim City Manager Jim Trolski, could you confirm the two-thirds vote?

Certainly. Two-thirds vote would be... Two-thirds vote would represent 3.33 out of five, and that would necessitate us to being able to have a required number of four people who vote in favor of the millage rate.

So if this motion didn't get four yeas, the motion would fail, would it roll the millage back to 4.9 then? Is that a state statute thing?

you would need to be able to vote on either item, 5.0 or 4.9.

Or it would be the rollback to the last fiscal years.

Right. The rate of not more than 110% of the rollback rate may be adopted if approved by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the governing body of the county, municipality, or independent district.

Okay, thanks.

Thank you. Mr. Cooley, do you have anything to highlight on that? Legal?

I have nothing, ma'am.

Thank you.

City Clerk? I have no comments. Would you like me to call the roll? Yes. Commissioner Giobbe? No. Commissioner Reed?

No.

Commissioner Rich?

Yes.

Commissioner Matheson? Yes. Mayor Clark? Yes.

So we have a 3-2 vote on the millage rate for the City of Stewart at 5%. for the total budget and for potential growth in the millage of about $380,000, what the millage reflects in dollar amount for the budget. And based on the statute, legal and city manager, could you please list that out again so that it's very clear that if this doesn't pass in a certain manner with the state that what happens with our millage rate and what is our next motion after this?

It's my opinion that the rollback rate would still need to be vote by majority vote, but to go anything higher. I know 4.9 was considered and 5.0. Both of those would require four votes. So there could still be a motion for 4.9. There could be a motion for 4.95. But we need a vote tonight.

Yes.

What was the millage? Was it 4.9 or was it less than 4.9?

It was proposed today as 5.0. The last year was 4.9. Got you. But if you go to 4.9, we still need a 4-0 vote. If you go to any other number above the rollback millage, we need a four commissioner vote, positive vote.

What is the rollback rate?

The rollback rate is 4.7499.

So why don't some of the commissioners propose some cuts to the budget in a motion?

That's what will happen. More people will lose their jobs. It's about $5.60 per month for each homeowner. That's why we have the public here to give us input as to how they want the monies that are put forward to meet the budget requirements for the City of Stewart. And this is one source is our property millage rate. Mr., Mr., I think I had Mr., Mr. Reid, are you finished?

Yeah, my line was off.

Okay, so we have Mr. Rich and, okay.

So the reason we find ourselves in this situation is because of a mistake that was made because we did not in our first budget meeting when we failed to reach a consensus. So we're dealing with dramatic cuts to our budget real jobs, real livelihoods, real families because of a mistake that was made. Otherwise, we could pass this higher millage with a simple majority. I just find that discouraging that this is not the result of a deliberate decision, but we're trying to deal with an error, and thus we find ourselves in this position.

Thank you, Ms. Jobe.

Okay, was the error at that budget meeting or was the error after the election when this board would not put a fifth person on in a temporary situation where you could have a valid vote rather than two and two? So I don't know where you want to lie, where you want that error to lie. Thank you.

Commissioner Jobe, thank you. Commissioner Reed. Commissioner Rich.

Yeah, many commissions find themselves with only four people and it has happened in the past. And it is the requirement simply that the meeting continue until someone concedes and allows, it doesn't say you have to have a 3-2 vote, it says you have to have three affirmative votes. And we only needed to be made aware of that. And someone said, okay, the millage is not to exceed five or whatever it was. But no one seemed, no one was aware of that at that time. And thus the error was made and we find ourselves in this situation.

Thank you, Commissioner. Rich, any other commissioners have any comments on the Final millage rate for fiscal year 2027 that has now, we have it at five mills and we've heard the increase, we've heard the vote and we have to adopt a millage rate today. so because of our advertisement requirements and other things. So we need from our commission board proposal with regard to the millage.

Madam Mayor?

Yes, sir?

We also have to make sure that our budget is balanced as well.

Yes, sir. And if we have a lesser Millage of 4.7 versus 4.9 or 5.0 in the mill. That will also, and we've had budget workshops and we've discussed this and apparently we're at some type of filibuster today.

Madam Mayor.

Yes sir.

I don't actually eat cake, but I guess some of us want to have our cake and eat it too. The point of this process is to have those workshops and for us to sit up here and list stuff that we'd like to cut and say in a majority vote, whether there are two of us sitting up here or five of us, how we'd like to change and direct staff We've had one meeting where there was a four to zero, four to one vote on a mills rate of 5.0. We've had two other budget workshops where not one of us made a motion to reduce the budget. We have in the budget as balanced three new firefighters and the proposal for six new city employees. And we as a commission have agreed to analyze our capital improvements projects in the upcoming fiscal year and prioritize them. We have a requirement by the state to pass a balanced budget for October 1st. And we're the second of two meetings scheduled and advertised to approve this. We have to come to some sort of an agreement. And having your cake and eating it too is sitting up here and saying, I agree with all the things proposed in the budget, but I want to have it cut. And I don't think we can have our cake and eat it too sitting up here.

Thank you, Commissioner Matheson. Commissioner Rich.

So Mr. City Manager, would we have to agree to specific cuts or just say take $400,000 out? Well, I mean, if we go to rollback, We're closer to 900,000. We would just say slash the budget.

We need to be able, if we're gonna go to 4.9, if that was where you guys are gonna go with this thing, then we need to be able to cut the budget by $382,144 less the CRA. Do we have to be specific or just? Yes, you need to be able to identify some things. Anthony, could you come up please? anticipating that this could be an issue. The finance department has identified a few things for your consideration.

The way the CRA transfer is calculated as the increase in the increment and so that's going to be a trivially amount and just for ease and simplicity the .1 difference of the increment that the CRA property increased is a smaller amount and I would suggest if we're gonna line item and amend things on here, we don't try to calculate out on the fly that CRA amount and just we would reduce it by the 382,144. Because the CRA basically is funded by a transfer from the general fund to the CRA for the property tax amount. So we would just, We just reduced that transfer by a certain amount.

And that would balance the budget?

That would leave us just deciding the $382,144 without trying to calculate on the fly a small reduction for the transfer to the CRA.

And that would still keep the three new firefighters and the six new positions?

The estimate for the firefighters is about $320,000 for the pay and benefits for those costs. The other three positions, $98,000 for the code enforcement officer, this is pay and benefits, $85,000 for the maintenance mechanic, and about $78,000 for the groundskeeper. The three other positions, the stormwater team leader and the water plant operator trainees, those are in the enterprise funds, the business funds. And so any reduction in the property tax levy would not affect those three positions. So it would be just basically the three firefighters and three other general fund positions if you were going to go there to balance the budget. As for the suggestion to balance the budget basically by spending down our operating fund balance, that would be your decision to make. We already, in developing the budget at 5 mils, plan to do that by roughly 400,000. 800,000 total, 400,000 because we had the money already for one of the ambulances, but just due a delay in the manufacturer, they're not gonna deliver it till October 1st. And then we had planned, rather than getting a bank loan for that second ambulance that would be delivered at the same time by the manufacturer, to get out another 400,000. So the budget already requires the use of $800,000 in fund reserve. $400,000, you know, new money taking it from the back pocket, and then $400,000 that, you know, we've already got it, right, because we got the loan money and we would be just spending that. So right now, there's probably roughly, we don't know the 2026 amounts, but there's roughly $6 million in unallocated fund reserve in the general fund and another $2.5 million in ready cash investments. The budget policies that were passed in 2026 require a 90-day operating reserve. That's roughly roughly eight million dollars in twenty twenty six dollars in twenty twenty eight The budget policies reduce that 90-day fund reserve down to 60 days based upon the government Finance Officers Association of America guidance so That would be about the same, roughly $6 to $8 million. And I would have to calculate that out. But we would allocate out any reduction in fund balance to fix that over the next fiscal year or two. Bottom line is we would just start out fiscal year 28 deeper in the hole. Health care and costs are going to go up. Employees are going to request a cost of living increase, things like that. So we would just start out with deeper headwinds.

Thank you. Are you putting your light on, Commissioner Giobbe?

Yes. Yes. Well, thank you, Anthony. Thank you. You know, at the beginning of the budget workshops, Commissioner Rich indicated reminded all of us that we were going to be in dire straits because we don't know what's going to happen in the November election, which is very true. So this budget will have to be amended depending on that election anyway. So that's really all I have to say.

Thank you. Any other commissioners with any? Actually, we're at a standstill right now. This is our status. We had a motion, and that motion was a three to vote and we need four persons to vote for the current resolution number 6826 so that that is the vote but it is not the vote that's sufficient to be sent to the to be submitted for the approval of a millage rate for the City of Stuart. So we do need to have another motion on the approval of a millage rate. And before we hear that motion, I just wanted to ask Mr. Kulin to just respond to this. May it just be a confirmation. You mentioned something about $98,000 for code enforcement. And if we did something like approve the... This is just one example. If we approved the chicken ordinance and we had to have more code enforcement, which is why we're having code enforcement and other things in the budget, then those kind of things would be not available and we wouldn't have as much code enforcement because that's probably one of the ones that may get changed or cut depending on how we slide things one way towards CRA or depending on how we're sliding, but I'm just bringing this up, that all of these things have consequences. All of our votes have consequences. We've seen that with the votes that have happened, the votes that changed our city manager, the votes that's probably bringing back another city manager. All of those cost the city of Stewart money, and so everything has consequences, and when we vote on this, millage rate today, it has consequences for each taxpayer and especially for those who are employed by the city of Stuart and who are currently included in the budget. They've had, how many have we had? Three or four at least from April until now we've had budget workshops.

Two budget workshops and an tentative budget hearing.

And we have these two today. Okay.

Just to clarify that $98,000 is the pay and benefits cost for the code enforcement officer position that is built into the current budget.

Do we have a motion for the City of Stewart regarding Ms. Giobbe? Commissioner Giobbe?

Thank you. We're looking for places to cut. The City leases out quite a bit of property for ridiculous amounts and we should be looking at that list and at least having our city property be profitable. I mean, it's just, there's a list and the amounts that correlate to rents that we are getting is just not, especially in downtown, Stewart, where rent is so high, we're leasing out property for way below market value and we should be looking at that. That would be a great way to enhance profit into the city and monies. Thank you.

Thanks, that's not here at this time, okay.

Just to speak to that point, the revenues that we do get in from the leased properties are sufficient to cover the maintenance and improvements and ongoing care of the properties that are leased. To determine whether we're leasing it out at market value would be a consultant who would look at comparables rather than something I think city staff would have the expertise to handle.

Right, and thank you very much. And I think that we should do that because certainly, I don't know anyone who owns property and rents it out just to cover the cost.

Thank you. I have a comment with regard to this item, legal. This item is set, special is set for 515. If we table this item until after item number 12. I hear that Commissioner Richards says that we had an issue with the budget when we had our previous city manager. Is there any way legal that this item could probably be table and let's hear something from our potential.

No.

No, we have to have this here and have it through.

We need a vote. Yes. We need a motion. Thank you. Whether it's a different number, that number with four votes. Just wanna bring it up, thanks. Okay, Madam Mayor.

Yes, sir.

I'm gonna try to split the difference here. Because obviously no thought has gone into how this budget is gonna get balanced up here on the dais. I propose a millage rate of 4.95.

There's a motion for millage rate of 4.95, so we had increased from 4.9 to 5.0. 4.95, is there a second?

I mean, I'm just a little. Can we have it seconded for discussion? I'll second for discussion.

So there's a motion for 4.95 and a second. I would not even try to ask Mr. Kulin if he had done a potential for numbers.

Actually, we were prepared for that.

Actually, I'd like to thank Mr. William Perez, who has a table where we got it out by tenths and hundreds.

So 4.95 would be a reduction of $201,120.

that we'd have to either spend from our unallocated fund reserve or reduce positions or take a gamble with our insurance that there's not gonna be big claims. There's all sorts of ways we could balance the budget, but it's programmatic decisions, but there's a wall between staff and the political decisions from this commission.

Thank you. So there's a motion, a second, and there's discussion. Thank you for the information.

So no one will make a motion of saying something to cut. You've got three commissioners up here. this far into the budget process.

There's a motion to have the millage rate at 4.95. It's been seconded by Commissioner Matheson for discussion. I'm asking for comments from Commissioner Jobe, Clark, Reed. Rich Matheson. And we have Mr. Rich and Mr. Matheson. Commissioner Matheson.

Commissioner. Mr. Baggett, you say we have to balance it. So item number two is the budget, actually. So do we have to budget it? before we agree on the millage, or can we balance it after we agree on the millage and then look at, consider the budget?

I think it makes sense to combine, but you can't. I think you need to vote on the millage, but you gotta consider what you're gonna have to cut in the budget. On the budget item, I don't think it's as crucial, and also, you only need a 3-2 vote on the budget, whereas this, under the statute, you need a four-person vote.

I mean, the only suggested cut was increasing the revenue from the leasing, so. It's a predicament.

Commissioner Matheson.

So, yeah, we have one suggestion of cutting, which is changing leasing, our leased property. Mr. Bagot? Are properties that are leased currently under existing leases that go through October 1st at least? Can you say that with confidence? Yes. So would changing any of those leases between now and October 1st be legal?

I'm not aware of any of them coming up for a lease other than the Flagler Center with the Main Street. Did we already vote on that one? Yeah, we might have already voted on that one. I know that one's on an annual basis. A lot of the other leases, you know, around the peninsula here, they're long-term leases with the restaurants and the marina is like probably like 70 or 80 years left on that one. But a lot of the restaurants, they're in long, because these restaurant owners put in significant capital improvements to the restaurant, like a million dollars in improvements, so they want to get their return so they have long-term leases.

And in those improvements, then that increases the value of the land and all the property that the city leases out is triple net lease. So then they go back with those improvements and the properties go back on the tax roll at a higher rate, which brings in more money to the city on the tax roll, not to mention just the price of the lease that they're paying. And when you do a long-term lease, typically you're at market value, say you do a lease for 10 years, and typically the lessor has the advantage in the beginning of that 10 years. And on years eight and nine, the leasee has the advantage until the lease is renegotiated. But the city is in even more of an advantage because we do triple net leases and the lessor is paying the taxes on property that they've improved. Nonetheless, The city commission has to decide something right now. And having an appraiser come in and evaluate our leased property is not gonna change that decision. From what I heard, it sounds like the recommendation is to look at the proposal for the new hirees. And we have three commissioners up here that support staff's recommended budget of five mills to move forward with the proposed new hirees. and two commissioners who do not. And the three firefighters are the number Mr. Cooling said, 320,000 plus or so. And we're trying to come up with 290 or now, prior to that was 380 if we go back to 4.9 mils. And again, we have three commissioners up here and we had four last meeting. who supported the staff's recommendation. But we don't have any commissioners up here at the entire budget process who have one time made a motion to cut the proposed budget. Let them all eat cake.

Thank you, Commissioner Matheson. Any other comments from commissioners on the motion to have the millage rate for the City of Stewart be 4.95? Let's go to the public. Any public comments?

Yes, I have Althea Wiley. Ms. Wiley, please come forward.

Good evening. Althea Wiley, Stewart Residence. Could you speak up for us? Althea Wiley, Stewart Residence. Congratulations. But just sitting here, there's a web that's been created here. You know, when I was running the campaign, my campaign was behind every issue There are people. There are people. So whatever's happening up here, you gotta figure it out. Because there's people behind every decision. And you gotta ask yourself why you wanna move forward and why you wanna hold back. This is not about you because all of you up there are probably pretty well okay. But there are people behind these decisions. And you really have to sit with yourself and ask yourself, why am I holding out?

Is it personal? Is it a get back? I'm just going to be real. Is it a get back? We got people out here that will become casualties of this decision. Don't do it for any personal gain. reason other than what's right. When you have to make a decision, you look at how is it going to affect the community as a whole. It's not about you. It's about the community as a whole. Is it going to be good or is it going to be bad? We have people coming here, we have people getting sick, we have people that are gonna need responders, and we got people that need to be employed. So what are we really doing here? Don't make it about you. There are plenty of things that could be made about us individual, but how is it going to affect the people? And that's what you're sitting here representing. Please think about the people other than your feelings and other than yourself.

Thank you, Ms. Wiley. Mr. Matheson, did you have your light on? No. No?

Sorry. No.

Any other members of the public?

Yes, I have one, Mayor. Austin Levy?

Thank you.

Good evening, Commission.

And let me first say thank you for your service to our country. Yes, ma'am.

Austin Levi, Legislative Vice President, Local 2411. I just want to make sure the voting requirement is clear. Florida Statute 200.065 establishes specific voting thresholds for adopting a millage rate above the rollback rate. The rollback rate is approximately 4.74 mills, and the proposed rate is 5.0 mills, which is about 5.5% above the rollback rate. If there's another attempt to adopt the 5.0 mills, the city needs to follow the voting requirements established under Florida Statute 200. I would ask the City Attorney to clarify and state on the record what vote is legally required based on the rollback rate and the applicable applicable maximum millage calculation before another vote is taken. It is my understanding that it takes a 4 out of 5 vote to approve an increase at 110% and a 5 out of 5 vote to increase anything greater than 110%. Thank you, sir.

I'll allow the city attorney to respond if he's able to.

You must have missed it. We already addressed it. It's a four out of five vote for a 5-0 Mills, which was the first vote. 4.95, same. We need a four out of five vote.

Thank you.

Next, I have David Kelman. Mr. Kelman.

I just have a quick question here. A few weeks ago when this budget was discussed, okay, and this whole Michael Mortel was being brought back, Okay, and now all of a sudden, three firemen are going to be cut out of a budget, from what I'm listening to. I don't know, maybe I just got here, I just came up from the South. Okay, where you're not going to hire three new firemen. Is that because Mr. Mortel dislikes the fire department? Because that's a known fact. That's not fiction. I'm not sitting here trying to belittle anybody or do anything wrong. But there are ways to fix this budget other than eat your cake and eat it too nonsense comments. That's ridiculous. There's ways that you could go over this budget where things could still be done without jeopardizing fire rescue or police department or any other thing. I mean, there's a lot of ways you could do it. I mean, you all want to spend $500,000 to put up new signs over in Confusion Corner. For what reason? What reason is that? What fund it comes from? It's $500,000 going for signage. You spend money everywhere that you want to spend. But all of a sudden, we can't get, you know, raise the taxes. What's the problem? You can't go up a little bit on the taxes? What's the problem? You spend $20 a month extra? If it gets the firemen, it gets our budget back to where it's supposed to be? You guys are commissioners. And like I told you at the last meeting, we're being mocked here. It's embarrassing. And I don't have a problem with none of this. But to sit up here and nobody could come to a compromise? Commissioner Rich, first time I've seen him smirking up there right now, which is actually fantastic. You know? You guys got to do something. I mean, you got an attorney here, you got a sit-in city manager temporarily, and then you have our future city manager coming back whenever you're doing that, okay? So was this budget discussed with him at some point? I would love to know that. Was it discussed with him, and then he saw three new fires, fire rescue on the budget for hire? Or what did you say, code enforcement? Or the other hires? You guys got to do something, man. I mean, it's getting to the point it's ridiculous.

Thank you, Mr. Kelman. Clerk? I have no further public comment, Mayor.

We have one commissioner who has a comment. Commissioner Giobbe?

Could I have Anthony address that? Because I think when you looked at the budget at the 4.95, you were able to keep the firemen, if I remember correctly, when you... Your money's coming from the CRA.

Yeah, so the CRA, the gentleman wasn't at the CRA board. They're only spending a couple hundred thousand for Confusion Corner. That was just kind of a miscommunication over time for 500,000 to be in the CIP plan for Confusion Corner. So it's just 200,000 just for some signage and stuff, not 500,000. As for 4.95, that would reduce our levy by $200,000 and some change at 95% of that would be $191,000. We could spend down our fund reserves. There's a myriad of ways that we could reduce this, some of which would seem in the background and wouldn't be visible to the public. Like I said, we were told by our consultants to get to $6 million as self-funded for our health insurance, and we could do $5 million uh... eight hundred thousand and we could hope uh... that we don't have uh... you know about a bad year with their health insurance and that would be invisible to the public and it would be until this time next year that i would be reporting back to you guys what what happened with our health insurance uh... we could reduce the uh... well actually we already voted on the cost of living increase uh... at three percent but uh... we could supersede that There's there's a myriad of ways if I would just respectfully make the recommendation, I think, because we don't have all the revenues and expenses in for fiscal year 2026. Right? Departments are not going to spend 100% of their budget. And our revenues have come in pretty well. So we have sufficient fund balance for $200,000. It just means that when we come to the table for fiscal year 28, all these headwinds are gonna be even worse and we're gonna be $200,000 further in the hole, but it's something that if you direct us, we could do it. Sorry, I don't mean to be, you know.

Commissioner Jobe has a question.

Okay, not a question. Yes, ma'am. What I'm saying is that 4.95 is a compromise, and we're able to do it without slashing across the board. And as I've said several times, we're now talking about what will happen in 2028. We don't know what's going to happen in November. I mean, we need to look at that, and I do agree in that sense, not in the dire straits that Commissioner Rich does. But we do need to be cognizant of the fact that we don't know how that vote will go. And if that vote goes yes or no, that's going to determine us back at the table anyway, redoing the budget.

But I think 4.95 is a good compromise.

City Manager?

Commissioner Giobbe, in the greatest respect, I did some research on Amendment 3, and those revenues are done in advance, so that wouldn't have no impact on this next fiscal year.

Oh, so if it's 2028?

Correct.

So then we'll be dealing with 2028 then?

Mayor, I have an additional public comment. Ms. Stoudemire, or is it her?

No, it's Michael Mortel. Oh, okay, all right, sorry, I thought Ms. Stoudemire. Mr. Mortel, please come forward.

Thank you, Michael Mortel, Riverside Drive, Stewart. I felt compelled to respond because I in fact have taken a view of the upcoming budget and I am aware of the Amendment 3 that is going to take place on November 4th and it happens to be polling at 63% right now with a 3.5% margin of error. My proposal has remained consistent for the last few weeks to anybody that's talked to me. I think there are going to be some needs to come back for some budget amendments because I believe that there's some errors that we're going to need to correct. But my recommendation and my discussion with Mr. Tarolsky as recently as this afternoon was that I think the best bet for the city is to pass the budget at the five mills that are currently been proposed and that has gone through the entire budget process, continue hiring the staff, including the firefighters that you don't think I like, move forward and that is I think what the city's best chance of having the financial resources necessary to balance itself because you don't look at this year you got to look at three four or five years out as Anthony was mentioning if we drop the budget to four point nine five to make this political compromise, it's still a $201,000 deficit that's being created out of thin air. And you're going to reach into reserves. But then next year when we get to this same budget meeting, we've already mentioned there's eight hundred thousand already in it so it's going to go from eight hundred thousand to a million dollar deficit so next year when we face the budget will be looking at a million dollar deficit that we have to overcome before we get to zero and start paying salaries and contractual obligations and insurance increases and other costs and the money's not going to be there next year because next year will be after november fourth and next year the homestead is going to go from seventy five thousand dollars to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars and then the following year it's going to go to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars but you know what's not going to go away that million dollars because that million dollars is going to be there the third year and the fourth year and the fifth year because the budget's expenses as commissioner Matheson was pointing out aren't being cut the city's obligated to pay the expenses You have to have revenue to meet those expenses. Nobody wants to assess taxes on somebody else but if you have the expenses you have to meet those obligations and if you point to debt and you say we'll just borrow it to pay those expenses a day of reckoning will come and it will not be curable my recommendation would be to do the 5.0 mills By the way, the difference, there's 10,000 parcels in the city of Stewart, roughly. $201,000 is the amount between 4.95 and 5.0. If you divide that by the 10,000 parcels, that's $20 per parcel.

Thank you.

For the whole year.

Thank you, sir. Any other comments? Yes, I have Lucille Smith. Oh, Ms. Smith, okay.

Good evening, Commissioner.

Good evening.

I'm not here to talk about the budget. I'm here to talk about the city coming out at East 2, cleaning up the lots that leading off of Church Street into Toppon Avenue. I don't know who owns them, but I know in some neighborhoods that I get around and ride in, lots of people's not living there, but you're keeping them clean. And when you ride out in each stood, you see all these lots of them growing up, nobody keeping them up. Then it's make a shame on all of us. And all of us are not like that one person. All right, thank you. So, no, wait. I had something else to say. And you made me forget, you know, we're getting old, but the memory goes and comes. But I say, anyway, that needs to be cleaned up. And oh, I know what it was. We've been asking for houses out in Easter for the longest. The city can sell land, they can rent out land, they can do everything, but nobody seems to want to rent out land for each steward or put something up there where we can live. All of our peoples, which I get, you don't care whether they leave steward or not, they're not putting money in your pocket, but they're all leaving steward, going to Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, and other places, because there's nowhere around here for them to live. We need houses out there in Eastwood. And we know you got land somewhere out there. And these people that are not taking care of these lands, you can have them to clean them up or sell them so they can be bought and put some houses out there in Eastwood. Because we really need it. And the third thing. Our people don't have no recreation place to go. Every time we turn around, they have something. We got to come to y'all. Every penny we get is going to y'all. They had funeral setting this week. They had no place to even go in here. They repaid dentists. The club from Stuart Mill, they charge you, but they don't charge you like the Civic Center charges you. And that's why they went there, because everything around here is only for one color. We have no place to go. Our men were sitting on the side of the road playing dominoes and checkers because they have no place to go. We had a civic center. Y'all took the civic center away from us. Kids could go out there and play inside pools and things. Now they have no place to go. Everything is being taken away from us. And we just do not like it. We pay tax. I pay my tax every year. Yes, but I want to get that over.

Thank you for your comments. I just, Ms. Smith has given me a chance to say this. We are asking for comments on the budget only. We're gonna stick to that. If you do have general comments, if the time has passed for that, We are going to come back to general comments in the regular agenda, and we could have done that, but in deference to the fact that you're here and you're waiting, I let that go, but we are asking only for comments on this budget item. We're still in the middle of comments in the regular agenda, but we're on a special meeting, and I appreciate that. Thank you so much.

Well, you have time to think about it. I have one more comment. Yes. Dane Oldenburg. Mr. Oldenburg.

Mr. Oldenburg, you weren't here earlier. We did give some guidelines about place and manner of comments, and I know that you weren't here, but we want to make sure that all our comments, this comment that you give now has to be with regard to the motion on the budget. If it's a general comment, you'll have to wait until we go back to the regular agenda.

Okay.

It has to be on the item that's on hand. Okay.

Right, thank you.

Are you good? Are you good?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay, yes, sir.

They say the budget is off by, I thought I heard it was off by 300 and something thousand dollars. And I just want to make it very clear that if firefighters get not hired or fired or however that goes, it's not because the budget's off balance. It's really because we fired our manager and we're spending a fortune to hire Mike Mortel. So... That's definitely throwing the budget off. This guy just came back up here and said, oh, it wasn't $500,000. It's a couple hundred thousand dollars for new signs. for confusion corner why would we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on confusion corner doesn't make any sense while we've not have more firefighters to put signs that we don't need at a confusion corner that's been there for fifty years nothing's gonna change no sign that you could put up there that's gonna do anything in regards to the leases on yeah if you have restaurants and stuff like that can improve the property over time but We're renting out Toby Overdorf on the river for $1,500. That doesn't make any sense. Brian Mast on the river. They're paying pennies on the dollar. So you say that these things have consequences, but all these consequences are due to what you guys have done. And we would try to correct. So again, I just want to reiterate that if firefighters don't get fired, it's not because of the millage rate. It's because of what your actions were. We don't have to raise the taxes for anything. You guys made bad decisions, and you're trying to rectify those. So thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

Do we have any other public comments? I have no further public comment.

On the motion. Can you please reiterate the motion? Okay, Commissioner Jobe before we do that.

Anthony, I just want to confirm something. It's my understanding, excuse me, that annually we get in like $4 million in interest.

Well, the interest budgeted for next year is $4.1 million based upon the amount of investments that we have. Our consultants from Florida Class that manages our investments, we ran that number by them. They were in the office that day. And based upon the perspective of interest rates going up and how much we had in our investments, in our fund balance at the time, that 4.1 million was a reasonable estimate for interest income for next year.

I just wanted to confirm that. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner.

Madam Clerk, could you please state the motion again? Yes, to approve the millage rate of 4.95.

Thank you. And is there any specific language that would need to be changed in resolution number 68-2026 or just that one thing? Or are there some other numbers that would be affected? Let's see if the language, if we approve the, if this is being put up. Oh, my thing has taken a long time.

I think section one will have to be amended. It has 5.0 mils, so it had to be adjusted to 4.95.

And that's the only thing?

Well, it would not be 5.27% of the millage rate, of the rollback rate. It would be a lower number. I'm not very good at math, so I couldn't tell.

THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 5.27 AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, THAT'S CALCULATED SEPARATELY FROM THE PERCENTS. SO THE ROLLBACK RATE WOULD STAY THE SAME EVEN IF WE WENT, BECAUSE IT'S CALCULATED BASED ON THE ASSESSED VALUE AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF TAXES WE GOT LAST YEAR DIVIDED TOGETHER AND THEN MULTIPLIED BY 1,000. THE ROLLBACK RATE WOULD STILL STAY THE SAME AT 5.2 SOME. if we went to a lower rate of 5.95 mils, the rollback rate stays the same.

That's not what I'm saying, I'm saying- Oh, sorry. Approximately 3.48%.

Because section one reads the fiscal year 2027 operating millage rate is 5.000 mils, which is greater than the rollback rate of 4.7499 mils by 5.27%. I think it'll be amended to say 4.9 if this 4.95 mills if this is passed, but I think the percentage over the rollback rate will be lower. I don't know. It's about three and a half.

Yeah, it's just a percent change calculation. So the new number minus the old number divided by the old.

And the devoted debt service millage would be also changed?

No, the voted dead service millage would stay the same.

That's the only thing that's there. Okay. So I just want to make sure that when we adopt this, this is the exact language that we're adopting if we do adopt it. Is there any, Mr. Matheson, Commissioner Matheson.

So this is still, the motion is still for a millage rate increase.

4.95. Correct.

And we have one commissioner who stated he will not support any increase. But again, has not stated anything to cut. We've already had a couple stalemates. I'm just trying to figure out what is going to happen with this vote.

Okay, so we have a second motion, 4.95. This motion was made by Commissioner Rich and seconded by Commissioner Matheson. And we've had public comment, and we've had competent staff provide us with responses, and we've had our public comment. I guess I wouldn't call it a caution. We've had the parameters set out for us with regard to how we would adopt this and we need to have a minimum of four commissioners who adopts a millage rate for the City of Stewart. And at this point, the vote is going, the item that is going to be up for vote is a 4.95 millage rate. Is that correct, Clerk? Correct. Okay.

That would be a 4.2% increase from the rollback rate, a 4.9.

This is a 4.2% increase from the rollback, okay. THAT WOULD BE INSERTED WHERE IN THE ORDINANCE LEGAL.

SECTION 1 WILL READ THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 OPERATING MILLAGE RATE IS 4.95 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7499 MILLS BY 4.2%.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE CHANGE AND YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE FOR THE ORDINANCE. Finally, is there any public comment or commissioner comment? None? I do have another public comment. Will Laughlin? Okay, this is the last time I'm going to open it up to public comment. We're almost at the vote.

Thank you, Mr. Laughlin. Thank you for taking my comment. Will Laughlin, Counter Highway 4.9. Think about this whole picture here. Why is there a funding issue? It goes to my point, the CRA, that 3% property tax increase that got passed on to everybody, because of TIF, the way that operates, effectively none of that 3% increase goes to the general operating budget. It can only get funneled to the CRA. I'm speaking in generalities. However, so let's say you got $100 million assessed value in there, 3%, 300,000. So why don't we just take money from the CRA or just underfund or whatever you want to call it, reduce the funding to the CRA to offset the difference. It's just that simple. You can keep it right at 4.9 or even whatever. You're at 4.9, your deficit's 300 and change. Reduce the funding to the CRA by 300,000.

Could be just that simple.

It's not complicated, it's not rocket science. This is what I've talked about before. The CRA is this $10 million elephant in the room that keeps getting fatter and fatter and fatter every year. It's eating up everybody's lunch. And who we're talking about, everybody. All the taxpayers, I get it, some people don't want to lose jobs, but what about all the people that are getting tired of having the government's gun shoved up their nose and saying, pay, pay, or else? Okay, it's just that simple. We can get those three firefighters. All you gotta do is reduce the funding to the CRA. Stop feeding the elephant. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Laughlin. No other comments? Can you have a vote? Can we elect to have a vote on this 4.95?

Commissioner Giobbi?

In the spirit of compromise, because that is where we need to be right now, and I do agree with Mr. Laughlin, where we do have a $16 million elephant in the room at the CRA. But in the spirit of compromise, I say yes to the 4.95.

Commissioner Rich?

Yes.

Commissioner Reed?

No.

Commissioner Matheson?

Yes.

Mayor Clark. Yes. Motion passed.

Thank you. With regard to the special item set for 5.15 PM for the meeting of the final millage and the final budget, I'll now call the item for the final budget for fiscal year 2027, which is stated on the resolution number 69-2026. City Attorney, could you please read the resolution?

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Stuart, Florida adopting the final budgets of the City of Stuart, Florida for fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2027, providing an effective date and for other purposes.

Thank you. I don't see any motions or any lights.

Commissioner Geovi. I just have a question for the city attorney. Previously, did you say that we needed to change the wording on the final budget for 2027 if we passed other than the 5%?

No, the only thing I said was we only need a 3-2 vote for this resolution. However, I believe that the resolution as proposed is in sync with a 5-0 mill, which you guys just voted on a 4.95. So there will need to be some adjustments, which you guys have already discussed. I'll let the finance people discuss that. Okay.

So as Mr. Baggett was saying, the budget was prepared with the 5 mils, so that reduces the revenue into the general fund by roughly $200,000. There are myriad ways that we could balance the budget. We could take more from unallocated fund reserve, these firefighters everybody's talking about. That's on you guys, but by a 3-2 vote, some cuts have to be either proposed by us or proposed by you guys and voted by 3-2 so we have a balanced budget.

Thank you, Mr. Kulin. Mr. Kulin and Mr. Baggett, we have a resolution number 69-2026 that has a section one with, I think, eight sections in it that talks about all the special funds and the funds. Mr. Kulin, if we're going to adopt this budget, We need to have these numbers to make sure that whatever we're adopting, I don't know if you'll need time to make any adjustments, or if it's just in one category that we'll need to make the changes. But if we're adopting the budget, and then there's section two, which just says that everything above is adopted and will become effective. So can I just go through, The general fund, I think that was where the emphasis was to

Do you have a copy of the resolution that has the numbers on it? Yes, the first number there is the general fund, and the other ones are like the landfill property tech, you know, and the stormwater. And then we have the CRA number, the C. Those are unaffected. It's just that first one, I think it's item A, where it's $50,998,422 as the expense line for the budget. That would have to be reduced by $250,000. Yeah, we could just make it a nice round number. We could just do 200,000. I think that would be sufficient. Let's make it 202,000, just so Department of Revenue doesn't come back and say that we did something wrong. So 202,000, if we reduce that, $50,998,000. 1,422 to, you know, 50,798,796,422. Then we would have a balanced budget by reducing our expenses by 202,000. We'll give you and Mr. Perez every opportunity to make sure that that's a number that we'd want to adopt in our resolution.

While you're checking on that, Commissioner Gilby has a comment.

Yeah, I just have a question for Anthony. How much cash on hand does the city have?

um it by the city uh like the entire like the enterprise funds budget yes um uh there are certain parameters we cannot answer that question commissioner jobe because of the settlement with the pfos you can leave out that piece well what kind of that's going to be pretty obvious so i i he didn't give a number so all right i just caution you On having that answer.

Thank you. Okay. Let me rephrase the question, Anthony.

Okay.

How much cash does the city have on hand? Not including. Settlements and you're not giving me a total figure, so we can't deduct anything.

There is roughly $21 million in the general fund total. Some of it's designated for various things like building permits and things like that. Roughly the same in the water and sanitary funds. Maybe only like $3 million in the sanitation fund. Roughly $20 million thereabouts in the water and sewer fund. Stormwater. I couldn't speak to a number off the top of my head.

But you've given me, and I think the community, a little bit of an idea of what's there. So to cover 200,000 of a shortfall and still have firemen and still be able to do all that, it seems like we're able to do that.

I would say, because this relates to the general fund, stuff for the water fund, we want to maintain the equivalent of a double A rating for loans and operating reserves, and those are kind of another animal for enterprise funds, but for the general fund, $200,000 since our revenues are coming in fine for fiscal year 26. Our expenses are not going to be at 100%. We're not going to go over our fiscal year 26 budget. $202,000 is a reasonable amount. I think safely I can stand up here and say that we can absorb that from our unallocated cash reserves with the caveat When we're coming to you next year.

There's always next year as a caveat because we never know what happens in the 12 months ahead of us. But the reality is that this is a compromise and I think that we certainly are not losing. One resident was concerned about losing firemen. So I think we're able to cover that and compromise on a 4.95% rate and not really be detrimental where we're firing people and not being able to pay things. So I just wanted to make that clear because sometimes I think the impression is given that we don't have any money. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Matheson.

I just want to clarify that- Yes, sir. The suggestion is to tap into our reserves to make the compromise between 4.95 and 5 mils. We've been sitting here for half an hour going over it, and a solid summer, many months of budget. Not one commissioner has proposed a reduction, and now it's to tap into our mills. And again, three commissioners have supported the staff proposed budget, which includes the new fire and the new employees. And now the proposal, there's not been one motion by a commissioner. That's part of our job. If we don't support the budget, we suggest things to cut. And now our proposal is to go deeper into our reserves, which have a high probability of being affected if Amendment 3 passes next year. We're going to dig into the piggy bank.

Thank you, Commissioner. Any other commissioners with any comments on the fiscal year budget and the specific language of resolution number 69-2026? City manager and city attorney, are you satisfied that we're meeting all of the state requirements in approving if we put into vote resolution number 692026, which is amendment to the. To the budget itself, the general budget based on the fact that the approved mill was approved at 4.95. Have we met all of our requirements for budget approval process?

We have met the statutory requirements of notice and there was a lot of, I commend Mr. Trulsky for putting it all together because it was very difficult to get the timing down. That is all right. On 4.95, I assume the number, I mean, you're asking me, I assume these numbers are right. So I'm not putting my... My reputation online, I assume that with that assumption, yes, we've made the adjustments with the 4.95 mils to the budget here. But we're obviously relying on our staff.

Yes, in A we have.

So we went through and Mr. Cooling adjusted Section 1A. And if I'm correct, it's reduced from... $50,998,422 to $50,796,422. All right, 22, 422.

And if the decision made was to spend down the fund balance, it would be just, I think the amendment would be a change to the other sources, source of revenue in the general fund to go from 800,000 to 1,002,000. And if that was amended, then Section A, like Mr. Baggett said, you'd pass the budget at that you know, $5,700,000 and some change. And then that gives the top-line authority for the entire general fund. Everything else is just details. And then we would spend the additional $202,000 in fund balance to make up for the decrease in revenue from going from $5,000 to $4.95.

Thank you, Mr. Kuhlman.

Thank you.

There is a motion. We need to have a motion with regard to, we've had the explanation of the impact of the potential 4.95 mills on the budget and we've decided to make a change to the general fund amount and not deal with any specific change in the budget itself at this point in time. I need to have a motion with regard to the final budget for fiscal year 2027, resolution number 69-2026.

I have a question for city manager. Is he over there?

Yes, city manager. Yes, sir.

Can you give me some background on why the state might require 60 or I believe it's 90 days operating expenses with the budget?

Well, the 60-day recommendation is just a recommendation, and it comes from the Government Finance Officers Association of America. It's just a best practice for general funds. It's not a target. Nobody's going to slap handcuffs on us if we go to 59 days. The way taxes come in, we get a bunch later on in the year. We don't track fund balance day to day. It's just a recommendation for general practice, good guidances.

Do we as a city have to pay our expenses? Yes. Okay. And is some of that reserves in case a hurricane comes and people, we still need to pay our expenses, correct?

That's why that 60 days, it's like operating reserve. It's not capital reserve. It's operating reserve. Paychecks, you know, paying for, you know, clean up, debris cleanup, that sort of thing, operating reserves. So 60 days operating reserve.

And does that reserve, right now, would you say the city of Stewart's Where our credit rating is pretty high as far as borrowing money?

The city does not have, because we haven't gone out for any bonds, we do not have an official credit rating with one of the Moody's or the rating agencies. But in developing the audit and the rate study for the enterprise funds, we are equivalent to a double A rating is what our contractor, Rafe Teller, said about us. the city's financial situation.

Okay, but do they look at whether or not we pay our bills and our reserve balance when we go out to borrow money?

Yes, they look at fund balance. That's one of the things they look at.

Okay, so that could affect our finances in the future, our actions now, and our credit rating, so to say. is based on the past actions of the city over many decades, I would say.

It's one of a myriad of things that go into what Moody's and rating agencies do when they rate a municipality. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kulin. Do we have any other questions? We need a motion from our board. I'll make a motion for approval of resolution number 69-2026 final budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2027.

which includes just a very, those who refuse to accept the recommendation of staff nonetheless did not come up with a solution. So we find ourselves here.

I would just request that any amendment specifically state the amount of money that Lee and I came up with, the $50,796,422 as the expense budget for the general fund. And further, I would request that it would say that that difference would come from unallocated fund reserve, just to make it crystal clear.

Madam Clerk, could you include that?

If that was your decision.

Can I ask real quick, Mr. Cooley, one more question, follow-up? Does subsection 1C, the CRA fund, does that get affected because we're reducing the general funds? Is there going to be an adjustment there?

The way the CRA revenue is calculated as a transfer from the general fund to the CRA, it's based upon the... We budgeted at a 5 mils increment for... the increase in property taxes for the properties in the CRA. And it's such a small amount that I think it would be best that we would basically eat the difference and just transfer the 3.3 million that is already budgeted at five mills as a transfer to the CRA from the general fund. rather than try to calculate. Right here sitting now, I'd have to find out what the incremental increase in value for the TIF was and then multiply that by .10. And I think the general fund should probably just eat the small difference and just do the $3.3 million transfer to the general fund from the general fund to the CRA.

Because I just want to make sure none of the other subsections are impacted. So we've got the landfill, which is probably not impacted. But the CRA has a $16 million number. So would this be adjusted at all in the resolution or it's going to stay the same? It would stay the same. And the lease property fund, that'd be revenue from our lease properties. Correct. Not going to be impacted. Police special revenues fund, not going to be impacted. Water and sewer funds separate. Sanitation funds separate. Correct. Stormwater. Okay. I apologize for interrupting, but I just wanted to make sure.

No, thank you for the clarification.

Oh, thank you. So we have a motion and there's a second. Who made the second? Sure, I'll second it. No second?

I'll second it.

Commissioner Reed seconded the motion. DO WE HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? RESOLUTION 6-9-2026 BASED ON A 4.95 MILLAGE RATE WITH A CHANGE IN ITEM A TO THAT FOR THE NUMBERS TO REFLECT I THINK 50,798,422. 96,000? SO IT'S 202 THEN? OKAY. And then Item number C will not change Everything stays the same in the language of the resolution if this is adopted This is the language and it will be effective Do we have any comments on the motion that's been put in front of us?

Just I'd like to clarify the CRA budget was adopted a little bit ago with the five mills. So I would have to revisit that and I think that would be, in my opinion, I don't think it's, we should probably not do that.

In fact, all of these, even though you said that you were taking on a larger amount under the under the general fund, all of these budgets were developed by the departments based on five mils.

These are not my numbers. These are the department's numbers. I just help facilitate and put it all together. And there's meta-level stuff about insurance and stuff like that that I have to dictate down to them. But these are the department's numbers, not my numbers.

Thank you. Thank you. But Anthony, can I just speak? Commissioner Jobe, you're allowed. Thank you. You made a recommendation that after we have this vote that there should be an amendment. Does that need to be on this particular?

Just as part of the amendment, I request that it's specifically clarified that the difference in the $202,000 is made up by increased use for our, from unallocated cash reserve.

Okay, so that needs to be in this motion.

Where would that be added, legal? So maybe we put, a note would be put right on the A, where A is. The amount has been reduced by X, which will be made up for

I personally don't think it needs to be in the resolution, but where it comes from is up to us.

Madam Mayor, can I ask Anthony a question? If the budget was passed here, we can always do a budget amendment after it's adopted next year.

we could always adopt budget amendments, but the direction for, you would pass an unbalanced budget by $202,000. We can't do that. We can't do that. So we have to address where we're gonna come up with $202,000. And one suggestion was cash fund balance or unallocated reserve. There are other suggestions. That would be my suggestion as the easiest way to get across this bridge would be unallocated fund reserve.

And just a note that I think that the budget for the CRA was passed pending what this budget was.

The budget for the CRA was passed- Based on what happens today. Five- No, it was passed at five. Yeah.

Okay.

Well, we wouldn't have to amend the CRA budget if we just kept the same transfer from the general fund to the CRA at what it's budgeted right now.

I just want the right language to be in the amendment so that we're in compliance.

Our future city manager is shaking his head no to set a record.

Then...

I don't...

But I disagree that we can just have the CRA stay at five Mills the CRA is a statutory vehicle where 90% of the tax increment is

is diverted from both the county's millage rate and the city's millage rate to be spent in the CRA. If we don't come back and amend the CRA budget from the total gross number that was based on five mills, we're effectively giving the CRA more than the 90% that was originally set forth statutorily for them to receive. It's not something we need to do tonight, but we're absolutely gonna have to return the CRA budget that was adopted this afternoon at 3 o'clock and have it be adjusted to the gross number is going to have to start at the 4.95 mils rather than 5 mils. It's not a big deal, but it can't be ignored.

Right, thank you.

Thank you for your input, Mr. Mortel. Ms. Jobe, would you have any other comments?

Rather than wait, we're here, we're voting. Why not put it into this agenda?

If we have a consensus from the- It's for the CRA, yeah.

It's on the CRA. Oh, it's gotta be on the CRA. You guys are part of the CRA, but- All right, thank you. Okay, Madam Mayor, just to clarify.

that we are going to adopt a balanced budget by stating that we are reducing the general fund item A, section 1A, by $202,000. Is that sufficient, Mr. Baggett?

As published on the agenda, we're reducing Section 1A by $202,000.

To whatever that, $50,700.

I don't think you need to put in the resolution where it comes from.

Madam Clerk, is that clear for the motion?

Okay, thank you.

Okay.

Would you like to state the motion, Madam Clerk, so that we can, and I will not be asking for any more public comment. We've had the motion and we've discussed it. Before the commission votes, could you please state the...

I have approval of resolution number 69-2026, reducing the general fund section 1A by $200,000. 202, I think it was.

202.

Got it. And is that clear to all of the board members? We've had discussion on this from the public, and we've had input from our legal and from our budget department. Madam Clerk, I see no lights on for the commissioners. Could you please call the roll? Commissioner Reed?

No.

Commissioner Rich?

Yes.

Commissioner Matheson?

No.

Commissioner Giobbi?

Can I ask if we are making this motion in alignment with the millage rate that we just passed, I don't know if it's proper to ask, but what would be the objection?

I think the discussion's over. You need to vote.

Okay. Yes.

Remember, we only need a 3-2 vote on this one.

Okay. I'm going to vote yes.

Mayor Clark. Yes. Motion passes.

Thank you. This has been the meeting for the special commission meeting that started at 5.15. I hope that there's no discussion and deliberation. I'm going to adjourn this meeting unless there's adjourned. Can we break for five minutes and then we'll come? You mean 10 minutes? 10 minutes.

Go right to seven, Mayor.

I will come back at seven o'clock and we'll come back to public comments.

Yes.

And I'm calling back to order. THE MEETING, THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 14th. WE WERE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. MR. BRINKLEY HAD MADE A PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK NORMALLY WE DON'T HAVE COMMENTS AFTERWARDS, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER GIOBBI WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT, AND THEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WILL CONTINUE. THESE ARE OUR NON-AGENDED ITEMS. THANK YOU.

Welcome back, everybody. It wasn't really a comment to what Mr. Brinkley said. It was actually a suggestion to Pinal that we did address the four-way stop and all that, but I don't think that she mentioned about the containers that are also blocking. So, I mean, the whole issue needs to be looked at and addressed. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure that she does that. That's all.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, do we have any public comments on non-agenda items? I do. I have Louis Leonard. Mr. Leonard was here. Could you sound the hallway for Mr. Leonard, please?

He might be out there.

Mr. Leonard is no longer here. I hope that he can send in his comment in writing or something. Are there any other public comments on non-agended items?