Remarks by Darrin Palumbo
628 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 23 of 26
“All right. I see no other light signs. Call the roll, please.”
“Yes. Motion passes 7-0. Staff, Dwayne Jay, thank you so much for this. This is a win for the citizens, and we appreciate your efforts. We are now moving on to Item 15B, another resolution, which I'll ask Joan to read into the record.”
“I see no light signs. I'll just first off start with something I say every year. Thank you to the citizens of Hideaway Beach for self-taxing themselves. I greatly appreciate that they protect their community and the rest of our community with their efforts. Just keeping consistent with past statements. The other thing I will say is, Melissa or for Casey, we're reviewing this now. Was this not a state change? Was this a statute change? Or what's bringing this to us now at this point?”
“So the citizens know we're still going to have time to vote on this. There'll be readings on this. There'll be public comments on this. This is the beginning of a bit of a journey, correct?”
“So that's what I was going to question. If our bond referendum is approved, does that affect this vote tonight, or do we need to compensate for that?”
“Very good. Councilor's light signs, if you have any questions.”
“I'm assuming that's in the form of a question, basically, right?”
“That's the new rules with super majorities and 7-0? That's correct. So this would be a good time to engage in conversation with your co-counselors and say, are you willing to discuss this with me going further? We always have the right to vote neutral or less, but I understand where you get at. I want to pitch my case for the next amount of months.”
“So just to confirm, as I remember from the previous meeting, as I call it neutral, a supermajority of the five, anything, what's the number for seven votes?”
“1.3551. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Henry, you're up.”
“I see no other light signs. Vice Chair Champaign, I agree with you. Feel out the dais. Can we start with the higher number? What I'm skeptical of is if we just throw the higher millage rate on there. have time to talk about it we're not going to get the majority we need to get there I just don't see that happening and that's time on staff in this council I certainly want to go with you and say I'm open-minded and let you pitch your case for the few months but with what we have to get a unanimous vote unless you want a straw poll your counselors now I just don't see it happening unfortunately…”
“Vice Chair, any other comments or thoughts, or did you want to scooch up the millage rate, make any motions or anything? I mean, I'm not trying to put, I'm asking before I call for a... Let me just reemphasize again.”
“Councilor Gray, your light sign's on. One more go around if you have guys that are going to ask for a motion or not.”
“Well, there's your answer on a unanimous vote, maybe. Vice Chair Champagne.”
“As you know, the light signs, I'll try to wrap this up. Vice Chair, you're correct. It is a small, it's not the amount, it's the philosophical debate on Marco. Some of us were elected, we campaigned, I understand you were appointed. By no disrespect, it's an easier path, but appreciate you being here. We kept – we made promises to the citizens that put us here, and those citizens voted on us based on those promises. Now, you're right – $300,000, 1.5 million – it's quite insignificant in the realm of all of Marco Island, but it's significant to the pledge you make to the people. And those…”
“Do we have a second on that? Motion by Vice Chair Champaign, second by Councilor Dome. I see no other light signs from the Councilors. We already had public comment on that. Can you call the roll, please?”
“No. All right, so that rate failed. Anybody else like to make any other motions? I'll make a motion at millage neutral.”
“So we have a motion. I heard Councillor Gray, and I heard, first I heard Councillor, seconded by Councillor Schwan. Can we just clarify the millage neutral number just so we know, please?”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Okay. I see no other light signs. Call the roll, please.”
“Yes. That puts us at the five we need, correct? Five to two. There's your majority, your super majority. All right, motion passes. I had to just double check that. We move on to 15C. Authorized city manager to request withdrawal from a Mark Island Police Department dock construction project, including withdrawal from EPA grant application. Chief Bellardo, no interim chief. Let me just scratch that off my agenda. Police Chief Bellardo, you are presenting.”
“I get a second. We have a motion by Councilor Goler. I heard a second by Councilor Schwan. We still have some light signs on. Councilor Gray.”
“Chief, I think you're going to get what you need for tonight, but we do see one more light sign, Vice Chair Champagne.”
“I missed the whole 14 ayes, so don't take it personally. So we have a motion in a second. Appreciate you confirming that. Do we have anybody signed up for public comment? No public speakers on this. Call the roll, please.”
“Yes. Motion passes 7-0. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Councilor. All right, moving on to, what do we have here, 15, sorry, we have 16 items removed from the consent agenda, 7A. So we go back to item 7A. Councilor Gray, I believe you removed that if my notes are correct. So do you want to start?”