City Commission - Regular Meeting

I call this city commission of the city of Poke of Tuesday, March the 24th, 2026 to order at 6:11 p.m. May we please stand for the invocation provided by Commissioner Mike Pearson, Senior, followed by the pledge of allegiance. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for that opportunity to come before you, Father. Father, we ask that whatever we do tonight, that be pleasing in your sight, Father, we ask that you just give us the wisdom and the knowledge and and the skills to be able to move this city forward. Father, Father, we ask that you put a head of protection around our city, Father, and cover each and every citizen, Father. Father, we ask that you just touch the hearts of our people, Father, and that we'll be able to work together in unity, Father. Father, to move our city forward, Father, we commit the city of Pokei into your hands in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Amen. Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. City clerk. Mayor Bab, present. Vice Mayor Cowin Williams, present. Commissioner McDonald, present. Commissioner McFerson, present. Commissioner Scott, present. Acting city manager, present. City attorney,

here.

City clerk is present. our interim city managers out on vacation. We do have our HR director setting in as the interim city manager uh for those three days that our regular city manager will be out. And I also just want to acknowledge uh staff uh city commissioners and most important our audience here for being here to uh witness our commission meeting as we deliberate as we uh move our city forward. Entrance city manager, do we have any additions on emergency basis?

No, mayor. Do we have any deletion on the agenda? No. No. Thank you. City commission having heard we don't have any additions or deletion to our agenda. What is your pledge as it's retained to our agenda? Bab, I move that we accept the agenda as printed. Second. It has been moved by Vice Mayor Kowis Williams and properly seconded by Commissioner Mike Fearson to accept our agenda as presented. Call for questions. Hearing, are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Vice Mayor Calman Williams. Yes. Commissioner McFerson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald.

Yes. Commissioner Scott? Yes. Mayor Bab? Yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Next, we have a presentation, proclamation, public service announcement, public comments. At this time, city clerk, do we have any?

Uh, yes sir, we have one for this section and it'll be Miss Annie Eiffel. Hello. Uh good evening everyone. Annie Eiffel with Healthier Glades. Um I'm coming to give uh community updates of things that are happening in the community. Um for the month of April, uh we have two events that are coming up. One for fair housing month. Um the glaze alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and Healthier Glaze along with some other partners are hosting a glaze housing summit which will be April 25th here at city in the city of Pokei at Italy Rose Gym. That will be from 9 to 3 is free and open to the public. And then on April 30th in Belglade, we're doing a lunch and learn um information and resource fair uh to provide information for those who are caregivers or someone who is disabled uh particularly for those in that age range of 25 to 62 where there's there's a gap. So, we want to make sure that folks are equipped with information um on how to continue to support those who are disabled, whether physically disabled or developmentally disabled. Also, uh other I want to share too, there's some upcoming health events. If anybody's in need of a mamogram on April the 11th, uh they will be um offering free mamograms at First Nation Baptist Church and that will be on April the 11th from 9 to 1. So, if you're interested in getting a mammogram, you can reach out to Dr. Jingle with Empire Healthcare to register to get the mamogram. And at that event, they're also going to be doing free health screenings as well. And then I'll come back later to talk about mental health

awareness and trauma-informed care month. As you know, we do a lot of stuff with um mental health awareness um in the Glaze region. So, I will come back with that information as well. I do have flyers for the commissioners and so you can make sure that they they get those um flyers for the um April 25th and the April 30th event. And with that, that's all I have. Thank you. That concludes the comments for this section. Thank you. Next, we have two block proclamations, and I have our city attorney read them into the record.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. Proclamation. The city of Pahokei honors the achievements and contributions of women who have shaped our nation, state, and community, and recognizes the vital role women play in all aspects of society, including education, business, science, government, the arts, and community leadership. And whereas women's history month celebrated each March provides an opportunity to reflect upon and acknowledge the remarkable accomplishments of women throughout history as well as ongoing efforts to achieve gender equity. And whereas the city of Pokei celebrates the courage, dedication, and leadership of women in our community who inspire future generations to pursue their dreams and positively impact society. And whereas recognizing women's history month encourages all citizens to appreciate and support the contributions of women, promote equity, and foster more inclusive community. Now therefore, Ike, Keith W. Bab Jr., mayor of the city of Pahokei, Florida, on behalf of the city commission, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2026 as women's history month and encourage all residents to join in honoring the achievements and contributions of women in our community and beyond. An official recognition whereof, I here to set my hand and cause the seal of Bahoki to be affixed on the 24th day of March, 2026. Mayor Keith W. Bab Jr., Vice Mayor Sinqueta, Cowan Williams, Commissioner Isabelle J. Macdonald, Commissioner Ever D. McFerson, Senior, and Commissioner James H. Scott.

Thank you. The next proclamation is also a women's history month acknowledgement but also highlights um women in the community. It reads, "Whereas the city of Pokei acknowledges the exceptional women whose leadership, dedication, and service have strengthened our community and inspired those around them." And whereas the city further recognizes the vital contributions of women in shaping the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our community. And whereas these women have made a meaningful difference in the lives of others through their work in education, public service, business, health, arts, and community engagement. And whereas the women being honored this month exemplify courage, perseverance, and compassion. And through their actions, they uplift others to create opportunities and leave a lasting impact on the city of Pokei. And whereas the Women's History Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women who shape our community, inspire future generations, and demonstrate that leadership and service come in many forms. And whereas the city of Pokei proudly recognizes the following women for their outstanding contributions to the community and they are Charlotte Bab, Alli H. Biggs, Beverly Hunt, Jasmine Himenez, Maria Razo, Angie Pope. Now therefore, I, Keith W. Bab, Junior, mayor of the city of Bahoki, Florida, on behalf of the city commission, do hereby honor these remarkable women for their contributions, dedication, and leadership, and in observance of women's history month, encourage all citizens to celebrate their achievements and the positive influence they have on our community. I in official recognition wherefore I unto set my hand and seal and cause the seal of Pokei to be affixed on this 24th day of March 2026. Mayor Keith Wb Jr. Vice Mayor Squeta

Cowan Williams, Commissioner Isabelle J. Macdonald, Commissioner Ever D. McFersonson senior, and Commissioner James H. Scott. Thank you. city too. This is uh an honor for the city commission, the mayor and our staff to honor and present proclamation or certificates or flags. I'm not sure what we have for the honores. You remember if you had anything?

Um not at this time. uh we will be doing something a little bit later. Um I was not able to finalize the presentation um in that regard. So we will contact them at a later date. However, we are um wanting to present the proclamation on today and um provide them with the presentation on later.

Okay. What we'll do also is present each of the honores tonight, have them come forward and we'll make some remarks about those individuals. Uh certainly uh we're honoring only six women's in our community today, but it's so many more. And this will be an annual event that we will have to recognize our pillars of our communities. And

I have a question first. M I would like to ask a request of the commission. I submitted two names, um, Mon'nique Pierre and Leslie Hess for the work that they do for the families in this community from Bridges. And, um, I submitted them today because I didn't see a deadline on there and I didn't know they was going to be presented tonight. So, I just wanted to know if those two names could be added to the proclamations as well.

Okay. We'll find a way of uh honoring them also, but to add them since the proclamation is all already uh done. But we would certainly add them in inclusion on these awards and you can when we do do the presentation you can present them also. So we can do that.

Okay. Thank you honorable mayor. Um if I may, um I wasn't aware that the commission um were asked to uh select individuals. So what you could do if if it's your pleasure, you can come back at the next meeting and just add some names and we can do another proclamation honoring how many um other individuals that you want to honor.

Okay. So briefly, let me go ahead and start. Uh we do have six honores here. Hopefully all of them are here. I'm not sure if they're not. We'll still recognize them by name. So, while we're doing this, if you would think about a few remarks on each of those uh individuals, we're going to do one at a time. I'll take the first two since we since I'm the mayor. I can do that and then the other commissioners will have one that they would introduce if you would please. And we're gonna start this coming this way uh with that introduction. We're just going to recognize them as they come up. And if you don't know a whole lot about each one of them, someone can still add to whatever comments you're saying, but I want each commissioners to be the one that officially uh recognize them.

And the first go ahead. Um, at this point I would just um say that we would do the recognition uh because um with and I'm speaking for myself because I know I was out of town last week and um a couple of times I wasn't able to um reach the um city manager with regards to the list and when I saw that the proclamation had been prepared I don't have a problem with it uh because uh like we said there are so many and we can't possibly identify everybody in one instance. So I would just say let's identify the ones that we have selected and when we do the presentation we can certainly do a a bio a short bio on each one of them.

Okay. That will give us more time to u prepare and do a proper um presentation. Okay. And I know we have some of them here and hopefully they can be here at the next meeting when we um

Okay. I'll first do the first introduction. Uh, this honor's name is Charlotte L. Babs. Miss Bab, would you just come up and just stand so you can be RECOGNIZED NOW? SAY, "Thank you, Jesus." Thank you, Jesus. I want to hear her some loud talk. Yes, Lord. That old time religion.

You know, I'm very glad to be here tonight. And I've seen such a beautiful friend. Yes. I am a encourager. I love to encourage people when they're doing the right thing. Yes. I want them to keep on. I want this city to be encouraging city to be a little city that set on the hill you that people will recognize you. I don't care what color you is or who you are. YOU BELONG TO P HOKEI. DON'T TEAR POKE DOWN. Build Pokei up. Work together with each other.

And you know THAT'S WHAT WE PRAY FOR. If you pray, God will give you the answer to the question. You try to FIGURE IT OUT. GOD ALREADY GOT IT FIGURED OUT. ALL YOU GOT TO do if you want peon to build up, you just pray TO GOD AND TELL GOD TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION AND DON'T CRY EACH OTHER DOWN. Build each other up. DON'T TALK ABOUT YOUR CITY. SOME BONE HERE and raise him. POKE IS A BEAUTIFUL little place, a beautiful little place. But we GOT TO BE ENCOURAGING PERSON. WE GOT TO HELP OUR LEADERS AT THE POLICE STATION OR WHATEVER. FILL THEM UP. DON'T TRY TO TURN THEM DOWN. RIGHT. We we begin to turn people there. We want to be a village. We want Poke to grow.

Yes. We want a little something little hotel in Poke where people come to visit you. Some people don't HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE PEOPLE. But we can have a little hotel here where they can spend their little nights, you know, with your family and have a good time over there. We come to build Pog up. We come to build up the city. We didn't COME TO TEAR IT DOWN. All right. If

you come to vote, SOMEBODY VOTE FOR YOU. BE A WORKER. DON'T BE A CAR DOWN. WE DON'T NEED NO TEAR DOWN PEOPLE. Something that need to BE DID, YOU GO TO THE MAYOR, WHOEVER THE LEADER, AND EXPLAIN IT to him AND TELL THEM ABOUT IT AND BUILD THE CITY UP. DON'T TEAR THE CITY DOWN. I AM OF ENCOURAGE YOU. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO build up the city, a beautiful city. Don't turn down. All right.

All right.

Everything. Okay. And before the honores leave, we're going to take pictures with the uh commission. By the way, for those who don't know, that's my mom. Uh she's the proud uh mother of three sons. One of them is a bishop and the pastor of the church of God here in Boi. Uh the other one was a uh citizen of the year uh recipient and also the first uh black AfricanAmerican captain in Palm Beach County and of course the third was actually a mayor of the city and also a citizen of the year recipant. So my mom have raised and taught a lot of leaders and encouraged us to be who we are and we wouldn't be who we are without her. So again we thank her and we thank you mom so much. Thank you.

The next honore I don't see her here but my eyes are getting a little blurry sometime. It would be Ally H. Biggs. Miss Big. Commissioner Biggs is here. Commissioner Biggs was the first AfricanAmerican female city commissioner here in the city of Poki. And she have been a commissioner or was a commissioner and vice mayor for approximately I think 12 or 13 years before she finally retired. She wasn't defeated in any race. She won and she won until she retired. So we want to thank Commissioner Bigs for all that she have done for this community and recognize her for her efforts. Commissioner is recognized. Uh, the next honore we have is Beverly Hunt. And um is Miss Hunt here?

She's not. She was named. Do we know who um recommended? I don't know. Miss Hunt. Miss Those names were provided by the interim uh city manager. Okay. But she works at Dr. Collasio's office.

Okay. So, um I'm sure Miss Hunt has been um very instrumental in um making um positive contributions to our um city and so we will definitely um have more of a presentation for her um at our next u meeting when we make the presentations to each of the individuals. Um, is Jasmine Jimenez here?

It's so hard to follow that up. Really quickly, Miss Beverly, she's the pediatrician. She's been our pediatrician since I was like really little and we got here from, you know, Mexico. Um, so yes, very thankful for her. And then I'm the children teen person at the Pokey Library. I've been there for 5 years. Born and born and raised in Pokei. All right. So, I also want to build Pokei up. Yeah. And I just want to focus on the kids.

Um, that's who we see at the library every day. Um, and yeah, that's basically what I want to do here also. Um, and I think we do that for the kids that we see at the schools that I know um, we see every day and we see what they need and things that they don't have. So, hopefully I just want that to be better. And with bridges also, I agree with Pierre and Leslie Hess. I think there's so many women that can be recognized. Um, thank you.

Thank you so much. Thank you so much for all you do for our children. Uh, we we don't have enough input and um so again, thank you. Let the vice mayor, we can just pass the love around. I'll do one and then let James do one. I'll do one and then Commissioner Scott can do one. Commissioner Scott. Okay, he'll do that.

He I'll do Maria. Okay. The next um honore we have is Maria Razo. IS MARIA HERE? JUST WANT TO PRESENT MYSELF. I worked at um AC Elementary. I'm currently um the principal secretary, but I've been there for 11 years. And I started as attendance clerk, went up as a CLF, data processor, and now the principal secretary. And um currently um looking towards coming to church.

All right. Putting my name up there. All right. All right. We want to say thank you for all your service that you are providing for the city and at um Canel Point Elementary. Um so we want to say continue to serve our children and let us know when you finish and become the teacher so we can celebrate with you. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, Miss Angie Pope.

I don't think any of us Mrs. speak. I think she should be brought on board as a motivational speaker. That was so inspiring. Thank you, Mrs. B. But I'm Angie Pope. I've lived in Pahokei 43 years. I'm originally from North Carolina, so I'm a transplant, but I've grown to love this town and this community. I know just about everybody in here uh in one way or another because I worked at the local bank for 40 years.

So retired three years ago. Um through that organization I've been allowed to serve on many committees and different things. My favorite thing is getting to know all the citizens of this community and I hope help them in one way or another through the service at the bank or the the committees. My my favorite service was always with the youth. So I appreciate your aspirations to be a teacher. Um it's so fulfilling to work with our young people.

Um even though I'm retired, I still have a little energy left to get. So, I'm still volunteering with Everglades Preparatory Academy on their board, the Kentucky Rotary Club, a lot of agricultural activities through Farm Bureau and different things. Um, so any any any time that I have, I look for ways to do those things. We had a great fishing contest Saturday up at the lake with the kids, and those smiles were just everything to us.

So, thank you. I I feel in the shadow of so many others in the community that are deserving as well and so many people that I look up to. But um I love Pokei and I want to see it move forward too. We've had our life here. Our children grew up here and it's been a wonderful experience and I too thank the Lord above for all of that. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Commissioners, would you join me and the honores, if you would please come up and take a picture with the commission so we can make sure we have Oh, we have Before we take our attention, what we're going to do is have each of the commissioners present a conversation with Mon names included in here uh as a contribute to our dedication to you and again we thank you so much for your service and your dedication to this city without you we wouldn't be where we are today. So thank you so very very much. So again, we'll have I'll just go ahead and do the first and I'll present this to my mom, Charlotte Babs. Also, my mom was a employee of the year and she was working for Pratt Whitney. I think she may have been in her 30s or 40s, but she was pretty young during that time. So, thank you, Mom, for everything that you do. And I have uh commissioner, former commissioner bigs uh proclamation.

Yeah, just to miss

and funny thing about it, I just want to say this is the most fit lady. She might remember me. But for years, every morning me and the kids be up there and she come up there and inspiring kids to run. She'd be running and walking so fast and we can go to the bank yesterday and she's always smiling and always supporting and I think I think where you want my heart a long time ago you bring your kids to that height

and y'all just working got me some parents like this just like present this to you too much. I appreciate you. I want to present the proclamation to Maria. Maria want to say thank you and on behalf of the city of Hokei want to say thank you for all the work that you do in our city.

Yes, I would like to present this token of our appreciation to Miss Jasmine Gemini. And I just want to thank all you guys because this is what it takes for a community to come together to be able to move our city forward. We can't do it all by itself. As commissioners, we need the entire community to join in and move in the same direction. And again, I just want to thank all of you, your work, volunteer work, and all that you do. And of course, this one is uh for Miss Alli Bigs in her um absence. and um

and Miss Hunt also pass so we can certainly have Can Can everyone look in this direction? Um those of you recipients, could you open your All right, everybody say pokei. One, two, three. Pokei. Pokei.

All right. Again, we have done many proclamations, but I must say this is one of my favorites. So, thank you so much again for all the honores and all that you have done for this community. Thank you so much. Next, we have the consent agenda consisting of the March 10th, 2026 city commission meeting minutes. I entertain a motion to uh approve the Senate agenda if this is the desire of the commission.

M I move that we accept the um we accept the minutes. Second. It has been moved by Commissioner Williams, Vice Mayor Williams, and second by Commissioner Mike Pearson. Call for questions. Hearing none, are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madame Clerk. First Mayor Calvin Williams. Yes. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner McDonald, yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Mayor Bab,

yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. We don't have any. Well, we need to see under old business this uh discussion of any existing activities or previously scheduled events if any. Uh acting city manager, do we have anything that you would like to mention? Okay. So, the currently we only that I'm I'm aware of is the I love Pokei Day which is scheduled for April 4th.

April 4th. Okay. And do you know where we're going to be having that? At the marina at my King Park. It will be at Commissioner Park. Commissioner Park. Okay. Thank you. I didn't announce these. We don't have any public hearings and or ordinances. We do have two resolution. First resolution is resolution 2026-09. See their attorney.

A resolution of the city commission of the city of Pokei, Florida authorizing a piggyback of the city of Lakew Worth's speeches agreement with CAP government, Inc. for building department inspection plan review, code enforcement inspections, and building official services, providing for adoption of representations, providing for an effective date. Thank you, city attorney. I can entrance city manager, could you give us a brief explanation of this proclamation if you could?

Yes, sir. And this is the one on cap. Mhm.

Okay. Staff request commission approval of a resolution authorizing an agreement with CAP government in to provide building departments inspection plan reviews code enforcement support and thank you and building official services. This agreement ensures the city um maintains essential regulatory functions and high service standards for our residents. The city of Pokula requires consistent professional oversight for the building and safety operations. CAP government has a proven track record of successfully providing these services at the city or to the city to ensure administrative effect efficiency and cost effectiveness. The city is utilizing the piggyback provision of the co city code. This will allow the city to exempt itself from formal bidding process by adopting a contract competitively awarding by another government entity for the same services. Specifically, the city of Lake Worth Beach conducted a competitive selection process and awarded a contract to CAP government for comprehensive building department services. For the agreement with the city of Pokei, CAP government has agreed to honor the terms and pricing established in the October 15, 2025 amendment contract with Lake Work Beach. The scope of work is comprehensive building official services, including plan reviews, code enforcement support, and inspections. This agreement does not replace the city's current code enforcement officers. These services are included solely as a contingency to be utilized only if necessary

and the contract duration is for a term of three years. The renewal option are the agreement may be extended by two additional years to additional one-year term upon written mutual consent. And there are also um a rate schedule for the building inspection which is um if you need that information is an hourly rate of $92 um per hour plan review $97 code enforcement 85 and building official and these also falls under the building and planning and zoning department and will be charged to professional services as far as the budget impact.

Thank you. City commission having heard resolution 2026-09 properly read into the minutes by our city attorney properly explained by intram city manager. What is your preference?

I move that we accept resolution 202607.

Are there a second? Is that a second? Resolution 20269. Huh? It's 09. 20269. 2609. My mistake. I'm sorry. I I I have a question. 26 I'm sorry. Let me repeat that. I move that we accept resolution 20269. We need a second. Then you can ask whatever question. That don't mean your second going to mean we're going to vote on it. But at least it'll make it proper to discuss it and then take a vote whether or not we're going to approve it. I'll second it.

Okay. It has been moved by Commissioner Mike Fearson and properly second by Commissioner Mdonald for the adoption of resolution 2026-09. Call for question, Commissioner McDonald. So, is this um an extension of what we currently have in place? Because it seems to me that we already have a relationship with CAP government. Um, is this an extension or Thank you for that question. Um, Commissioner McDonald, I am not sure if it is, but if so, I have answer. You can answer. Yeah, I can answer. Okay.

Um, the contract has expired. And so, this allows you through your procurement process. It's in your code. It allows for piggybacks on um, governmental contracts that have already been bidded out and have gone through a process. And so you all are allowed to do that under that provision of your code. And it's for I think basically the same services that they're providing right now with the exception of what I heard um the interim I mean the acting um manager say about um no it's not for code enforcement. So you still have the same code enforcement officers but in terms of inspection services and other services that are needed. It allows you to piggyback those rates. Like in in other words, in another city, they put it out for bid and they did a solicitation and this was the most responsive and responsible bid. And then the governmental entities through most codes are allowed to piggyback on already existing processes. And so that's what you're doing. It's still within the time frame um of of being allowed to do that. And so, um, the only difference is it does allow for the extensions that were provided for, but only up to the time period that that initial solicitation allows for it. So,

right, I just wanted to clarify because I do know that we already have a relationship with CAP government. So, I just wanted to make sure.

So, I just have one question too where it says this allows the city to exempt itself from the formal bidding process. So, we're um like bypassing that. And this this is basically it's allowed for in the code. So, what the city is saying is that instead of um going through the expense of a publication and putting it out and probably getting some of the same companies to bid, um they're bypassing that in order to piggyback this agreement with another city, which you're allowed to do. So

question this particular agreement we only utilize them as needed uh accordingly if it's something that we can't handle. Uh I think that's what um the code enforcement that was what was said about code enforcement but the other services it is as needed. So you pay uh at the rates that were procured with city of Lakew Worth for those um no no more than the amounts that they went through the procurement process for but only as you need it. So that's how that's how this contract with Lake Worth reads. And so I'm assuming that's what the city um of Pokei is going to do as well. I have another question. So the contract hasn't been prepared yet.

This is the contract. So what you'll find is behind this item you'll find the Lakew Worth agreement. That's the agreement that you're piggybacking. So that is their agreement. What we do um in the city is whenever we piggyback on a professional service, there's a um a document that we also require. So that we're saying it's going to align. That's what you see immediately as exhibit A behind the resolution. It means this is just saying that we're going to align with uh you know our address instead of Lake Warts and and our and requiring them to have a bond just like they have in the other city and certain other requirements that are um we want to make it applicable to us. And there may have been some things that um were were not the state law at the time that lake words went out but what we've done what I've done is I've gone and I've captured you know whatever those are ever verify and things like that so that they're a part of our contract to be updated with legal requirements. So and the notice provisions who notice is supposed to be sent to in case there's an issue it's updated for us instead of um late work. Any additional questions?

No. Hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott? Yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams? Yes. Mayor Bab. Yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Next we have resolution 2026-10 city attorney.

A resolution of the city commission of the city of Pokei, Florida authorizing the submission of three neighborhood engagement and transformation neat grant applications authorizing certain city officials to execute necessary documents for the submission providing for an effective date. Thank you. City attorney, city interim manager, could you give us a brief explanation?

Yes. The neighborhood engagement and transformation, which is the need program grant program, is a competitive state grant designed to support communitydriven projects that improve public spaces, promote recreation, and strengthen neighborhood engagement. The city of Pokei has identified three priority projects and that aligns with neat object objectives. One is the project fund which is a swing set installed of installation of a complete swing set at MLK park to enhance play um opportunities for children. The next one is also a project fund um commercial shade um playground cover installation of commercial grade shade and structure um structures at city playgrounds to provide some protection and increase inc increase comfort for residents during outdoor activities. Um the Pokei community garden and zen space project development of a community garden and wellness focused zen space to promote environmental education, health, and community engagement. These projects collectively support the city's goal of enhancing recreational opportunities for childrens and families. Um, encouraging yearround out outdoor activities and wellness, strengthening community engagement through accessible public spaces, investing in durable long-term infrastructure improvement. The need grant application process requires city commission authorization and destination of of a official to to execute all necessary grant documents. And additionally, the city must commit to providing any required matching funds

which be drawn from available budget resources or other eligible sources. Currently, there is no immediate fiscal impact associated with this proclamation.

That's it. Thank you. Entrance city manager, city commissioners, having heard resolution 2026-10 properly read into the minutes by city attorney, properly explained by city interim city manager, what is your preference? I move that we accept resolution 202610. Discussion. Second. It has been moved by Commissioner McFersonson and properly second by Commissioner Mdonna for the adoption of resolution 2026-10. Call for questions.

I just have um a few just two questions. I know with the NE grant um we have to do a match. Do we know before we vote on this how the match is going to be? Is it going to be um donated services or cash or um for the projects? U Miss Boule, please. Good evening everyone. Good evening.

Thank you for your question, Vice Mayor. So, uh to answer that question, the match would be uh in kind services sweat equity. So, we would get volunteers to come out and uh they would be uh the volunteers would be assessed a certain amount and it caps up to I believe $25 or so an hour and collectively we would then uh provide that calculation on a form and that would make our match for um the grant. Now, if we do have funding somewhere either in our capital improvement sax or wherever we have qualified uh a qualified area to pull funding from, we could add that in addition to

Okay. Cuz I know before we submit this, we have to have the name. You have to have the names of the people and all of that. And so that's why I was asking before we approve it. So if we say we're going to do it through sweat and equity and then we don't get the volunteers, that's why I was just wondering with the funding, you know, which one are we doing? because I know we have to put that on the application.

Yes, ma'am. It will be sweat equity. And then we also there's another element that they've added to our knee grant which is um they have empowered for a lack of better phrasing our cities and municipalities to partner with community organizations. And so uh right now uh there's a couple community organizations that are partnering with us such as healthier glaze. Thank you Miss Eiffel. um on the community garden zen space and then we have empower healthc care um for uh the the two uh playground projects which is fund project one and fund project two. Okay. So we we we're working it out and we're getting community input.

Thanks. And my last my next question is I know we've talked about MLK and I'm glad to see we're doing this

and I know we talked about it need to be um evened out. Are we going to put the swings down or are we going to get that evened out before we put the swings down so we're not back in the same situation again or how is that going to work? Are we applying for funds for that as well? So when we put them down twofold. So yes and yes. So, the goal is to um lay a a concrete foundation there or some type of foundation so that we're able to install the swing sets and and they not be corrupted by the muck so that they're they're steady. And then um the other part to your question also is um yes we we are looking for additional funding because we would like to add to that and make it an entire uh playground and some shade and covering and and so on just to kind of um work on some of those improvement um initiatives that we have for MLK.

Okay. So as we get them and then too I know that you you also shared some um some resources. So, I'll through the manager I'll get with you about those resources from that last um meeting that you went to. Just a point of clarification, I see it says certain city officials to execute the necessary documents. I was just trying to um could we outline who those necessary or those certain officials are? That would be the city manager. Oh, I'm sorry.

Yeah, through the mayor. Um because sometimes some grants require the mayor. Some grants require um the manager to execute. But in the um in the document it does say the uh it does say the mayor or the interim city manager in the resolution. In the title it says certain city officials. So the certain city officials are the mayor and the or the interim city manager. Have we identified the space for the garden? Where is it going to be?

Yes. tentatively. So, um, per our previous administration, um, the garden project has been something that's been going on for years that we've been trying to to execute. I've recently learned that we have some opportunity with some additional property that the city does own um to to put our garden there. But right now the identified space is the space between actually here behind um city hall behind um the commission chambers. There's a space between the school and the chambers where the um the plant beds and things of that nature would go. Okay. I'm just asking so we can so we can know what we vote on and where the space is.

Yes ma'am. So that that is right now that that tenative space. Okay. And so, um, with regards to the not so immediate, um, impact on the budget, are you going to be able to get those, um, matches in place prior to the deadline for the, um, submission of the application?

Yes, ma'am. So, those matches um, the the application is extensive. Um, however, I've I've written them a dozen times, and thank God we've gotten all the awards. um and and that makes it all the better for us uh completing them. So, with that said, yes, we'll be able to um put everything in place. I've already communicated with our community partners. Um we we already have our volunteers in place and um our high schools, our local high schools and middle schools are also um in place for us to um to to use those those batches. And so if we do have to use funds, you guys will come back and let us know that what funds is being used and how much is being used.

Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Prior to the submission of the application, because I know the submission of the application, I think it's in May. Yes. May 14th, I think it is. So, it's like a quick turnaround. You got because it is a lot of work.

And and what what we would like to do to to remedy that and put our best foot forward and making sure that all of our grant initiatives are are done um properly and timely. um and transparently is that we like you all said get the folks in place and announce it to our community. So those of you in this audience, you are also invited to participate when we have a communitywide uh cleanup day where it would encompass that immediate space where the installation of those grants would take place.

Yes. Yeah. All right. See, they committed. They committed. All right. Are there any additional questions? Hearing none, are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk, Commissioner McFerson, yes. Commissioner McDonald, yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams, yes. Mayor Bab,

yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you, commissioners. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Next we have new business presentation by the city manager of upcoming events. We do have one item listed here. The discussion of the consideration of the evaluation of the for the entrance city manager and city clerk and we'll have our city clerk I'm say entrance city manager discuss.

Okay. So you all were provided um a couple of um resolutions regarding the evaluations for intram city manager part of that has a descript an instruction. So there are many two evaluation tools, two there are two evaluation tools. So you you would rate them by the categories but right now it's a discussion for them.

Okay. So it's a discussion for them to determine. So right now this is just a discussion to determine what is it that you're wanting to do. And if I could, I'll start off having the commissioner who suggested an evaluation. And of course, we always have an an evaluation for the city manager and the city clerk. I think we're behind in our evaluation of the city clerk. So that'll get us kind of up to speed. As far as our city manager is an entrant position, but even entrance, we normally try to do a six months evaluation. It's just to give that individual an ideal of their progress, how we see it in our eyes versus how they see it in their own eyes. I also would suggest too that we look at self evaluation of both of these jobs. Tylers uh some company most companies do that just to give a picture how that individual see themsel versus how we see them and we'll get a copy of their own evaluation and that'll give us some ideas of way we need to focus on sometimes. So that's just a suggestion if we want to go that route. Doesn't

have to be. It don't it's not necessary, but it's just a suggestion on how we want to go about doing the evaluation. And if anyone else got any input on how we should go about doing it. I know in the past it just been a straightforward evaluation where we evaluate the the uh the the staff and we've did a public acknowledgement of our evaluation. Each of us have a written evaluation, but we also have a written part of evaluation that we want to share not only with the public, but definitely with the uh staff themselves, how they're doing. So, um before I start, Miss Prince, you had some information that you wanted to share regarding the um evaluation process.

Yes. So, part of the evaluation process, I wanted to get the commissioner's input on if they wanted to change any of the the scoring as far as um the categorize that the city manager or the clerk is being scored on. Um and the other thing was once the evaluations are complete, I would like to have them so that I can complete the total scoring from each commissioner and add them up.

Okay. So, with that being said, um I basically just requested that we do an evaluation of each one of these um positions because like you said, um it's necessary. And uh also um not to mention that the one for the city clerk is overdue um and we might be a little bit premature with regards to the city manager, but nevertheless, they both need to be done. So, would you say that now is a good time to do it or are we are we needing to postpone it?

I would say um the this clerk's evaluation um was due I think September. No. Yeah, September 12th. So, I wouldn't suggest doing it tonight or um I would say that we discuss this further to get everybody's um input on it collectively. So, do we need a workshop? Cuz obviously that's going to be the only way that we can um have a discussion on it. Yes, I am. Oh, I'm sorry.

And are we scheduling that tonight just so we'll know ahead of time where we need to be and when? Yes, we could schedule that tonight. I think also I'm sorry.

Even prior to scheduling a workshop or looking at a workshop, we may be able to at least look at the question and see just off the top of our head, do we feel there need to be some changes? Uh this this evaluation has been used for a while. I'm not saying that there are not a need for changes. I don't see a need, but there may be others that do see a need. And if the majority does see a need or even half would see a need, then I think we need to have the workshop to discuss we need to make some changes to some of these uh question. If no one really see a major need for changing in the question, we're just kind of spinning a wheel if we don't need to. I'll put it that way.

I know we did this back in 2025. Um it was just updated and we had a work an extensive workshop on this. So this was I mean some of the commissioners were not here. So, but I guess we can still look at it, but it was done at no back in 2020 June of 2025. Yeah.

Um, this was updated in 20 June of 2025. So, I mean, we can look at it and see cuz there were a lot of things on the last one that didn't apply to each position. And so we went through it thoroughly and made sure that all the questions applied to the positions because they had both of them really saying the same thing and it didn't apply and it wasn't they wasn't going to be fairly evaluated based on what was previously that that that was previously being used. But I would recommend that we review what we have here and then schedule a workshop when we come back for the workshop. We've already looked at we have the information before us now. If there's any changes uh we

there's a different which is what you have before you okay that's for general staff for general correct thank you

and for instance the evaluation of the city clerk you indicated that that evaluation on an annual basis should have may have been taking place in September what would be our evaluation date now would it be say for instance if is three months past due would it be for a 15mon period now on this particular valuation to kind of overlap the three months that we didn't uh would I I just want to make sure what are we going to be evaluating or what would be a suggested uh time period say for the clerk evaluation

um because I I tried to review um the policies to see if there was anything in place uh as well as the ordinance and I was not able to find anything that states that we should do it right now or um evaluate the clerk prior to um we're being so far behind. I would suggest um in my opinion to just evaluate her during um by her um anniversary date. Bigger Back,

is there a set policy that we supposed to uh uh set date in the policy when we're supposed to I know we're late now, but is there a set date in the policy we should do evaluations? Is that outlined in the policy? It was I I looked and I did not um I could not find anything um stated that in our ordinance book. Okay. But yes, so for point of uh clarification, I came back to the city of Pokei September. I was appointed as the clerk in July. In July.

So I just wanted to pro provide that clarification. So you guys developed this tool back in June of 2025 and you developed it with the intent of allowing the individual to have an advanced notice of what they're going to be evaluated on. So, um, just sticking to fairness, I wouldn't suggest a change.

Yeah, that's what I had when I went back and looked at this. She was hired July 23rd, 2024 as the clerk. So, we should have that. I was appointed 2024. And so, we should have did it July 23rd by July 23rd of 2025,

which I agree with. Yeah, I agree with the crook on this. If we gave her if these were the um tools that we said we're going to use, that's what we need to stick with. But I have another question. Uh since we have to evaluate the all of our charter um officers, would it be feasible for us to make sure that we get them on the schedule where we're doing all of those evaluations at the same time instead of having everything so stagnated, it'll be easier to keep up with? Yeah. I want I'm I'm

and even if we even if we go ahead and do the clerks on now we can have them come back uh we want to do it in September the next coming September we set a schedule where we can do all of the evaluations so we'll be on a schedule and try to stay uh keep everything up to date. I agree with you on that. Um, simply because right now I send out monthly emails to the interim letting her know when evaluations are due. Um, I do it a month in advance for the one that's coming up so that there we're on a schedule when evaluations are due.

And that should also be applied to the charter staff. But I'm I'm my question is if you're saying um as far as the charter members to do them all at the same time.

No, what what I'm trying to establish is a is a schedule. We know the evaluations are due at a certain time uh at the beginning of the fiscal year or whatever. Let's try to get those employees on a set schedule where we not trying to we're doing one valuation this month, then we got three months later we're doing another one. we know what we're going to have to do and we have the tools already in place to do that. That's just a suggestion since we're having a discussion. Okay. But the point that I'm trying to make is we cannot do them all at the same time because they weren't all positioned. They didn't all get their position at the same time.

You start on your the anniversary evaluation. Then from that day forth they go on a set schedule. Just do I understand you do the yearly anniversary type thing. It's just just suggestion. You have to

No, I'm just trying to understand what you're proposing because if if I get hired January 1, I'm expecting to have my evaluation my annual evaluation the following January 1st. But if somebody is hired June 30th, they're, you know, of the same mind that they're going to have their annual evaluation the following June 30th. So when you saying have them all at the same time, I'm just trying to clarify what it is you're proposing because we can't do them all at the same time because they took those positions at different times.

Just it was just a suggestion only. And um I guess I hate to bring a form employee. We we we did an anniversary evaluation and then we had a a fiscal year where everybody once you start working you got a evaluation everybody evaluation was due at a certain time and had to be submitted to Tallahassee and I was just trying to get everybody on a set schedule where we get in there and we're doing those but I mean it's just a suggestion we don't have to we can discuss it at the uh workshop we don't have to beat keep beating this horse tonight we can put it at the workshop and make that dec determination. So, let me just ask a question. I'm trying to help understand, too. So, are you saying because we're behind now, you want us to try to go ahead and get them all done now and then after that get on the set schedule based on their anniversary? I'm just trying to

the employees that have been here at least a year, we can start from there. Um, with uh you you still passed due from this past July, correct? Um, yeah. Okay. But you guys developed the tool. So, that's what I'm asking. Are you saying go ahead and do them the ones that need to be done now and then moving forward we know what their schedule is? Is that's what I'm trying is that what you Okay.

That's not what I'm understanding. I mean because from what what I'm what I'm perceiving you to say is okay whatever the hire date is once they have a year then you just going to have everybody's evaluation at the same time. No, no, no, no. You okay that employee on at her year if she get hired in a

whatever date you have to do an annual evaluation from that date forward. But once that employes full is on full time after that year, you go ahead and have a set schedule for them other than just having everything stagnated. I was just trying to bring everything together. It's only a suggestion and that's all I mean that's clear. He's saying it's only a suggestion. So we can take that under consideration. We got an HR person here so she could help us or guide us in how we should be doing them annually and and from the future on.

I think we should stick to policy and policy states that we should be doing them annually and conducting a a evaluation outside of their annual date. I think it kind of take us out of the the the word or the or the policy because there's some physical impact associated with that too because if they're do a raise and you're not doing their evaluation when it's technically or officially supposed to be done then you know they looking for an increase in their pay because you completed their evaluation. So you need to stick to the time that it's supposed to be done as opposed to a blanket time that we're going to be conducting these evaluations.

If we have a policy in place, we need to do what the policy says do. That's what that was my initial question as far as when I was asking about the policy, but it should just clarify that. So if there's a policy in place, we simply follow what the policy say to. That's all. So the workshop date, we're back to that. We have to do that. um when we get to our future agenda items, we go ahead and say on workshop day

and I'm going to go back to my initial thought too if we look at these questions and especially now the clerk we have looked at them previously to see any duplication of questioning and eliminated that. I'm not sure if we need the workshop. We may need it but I'm not sure if we need it. I don't want to sit here schedule workshop is something we really don't need. If we take a look at these question and somebody can say hey it's couple question on here we really need to look at maybe tweaking or changing or eliminating all together that may be a need for a workshop but if you don't see that then I'm saying I don't see where there would be a need for a workshop. Not saying the workshop is a bad idea, but I just don't want to waste our time doing something we don't necessarily need to do or have a purpose of doing other than saying we're going to have a workshop. I know we say we're going to look at the question and see if there are some changes that need to be made, but we can do that prior to even coming to that point. Just say, "Hey, it look like we're going to need one based on what we're looking at. Well, question uh can we look at this? Will that be feasible to maybe um table this for the next meeting and then uh we have opportunity to look over it and we can have a little discussion in the next meeting.

That would be

okay. That way you can email me any changes in that I can um implement them into the performance category and then forward them to legal for review. Um I think that we shouldn't do that in Well, I'm just asking should we be doing that individually because we should agree on that collectively versus versus sending them individually like that. That's what I mean the workshop workshop versus sending you all should talk about it. It's not it's not extensive. Maybe you want to just look at it now and if you want to change something say what that is

and mayor Bab said it was done. Yes. Again um this was just looked at in June just in fairness and I just want to make sure I voice this and how I'm feeling just in fairness. um how do you evaluate someone and change the questions and then unexpectedly they're evaluated on a question that they didn't have chance to prepare for. So that I just want to make sure I voice that to you guys. No, that's a valid point. I'm thinking I want to stress that. Okay.

It won't end up being much if any changes, but you're right. That's a good valid. And even if there's any changes, if we've already submitted whatever we submitted for this year that we gave a person to be evaluated on, we should stick with that. If we have any changes, then be recommended for the next evaluation. I agree that we still need a general

just make the changes that be And that look like the consensus would be that I mean for this evaluation you stick with what we currently have because both parties have hopefully have looked at this and have enough information that they know what they are prior to being evaluated on. So okay,

right the future changes, right? We can give them enough time to know what's coming at the next evaluation if we decide to change anything a need for anything to be changed. Okay. And and as stated before, we can if y'all want to do it tonight or either we can um just take it for another discussion even though whatever is already in place, it'll it'll apply for this annual evaluation, but still we have discussion. If you want to change anything for the next one, um just do it at the next meeting and let's move on. pretty good with here. We just put it back on discussion when we do our agenda items. Okay. And that'll give us an opportunity to look at it more detail next time. together. I was trying to figure out which two go together. So, did we decide because they both have this one that we're going to stick with this one? and any other changes would be for the future. Is that what we're saying?

Right. Okay.

Okay. Everybody on the page together? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. HR director, what what are we deciding? We will have to report to the mayor and we won't have a report of the report this commission meeting from the mayor. Next will be the report of the city attorney if any. No report at this time mayor.

Thank you mayor. Report of the entrance city manager. Um, let me see if I have any. Okay. Um, I do not have any at this time.

Okay. I'mma go back to the city attorney just for some clarification. Uh our interim city manager is taking vacation is I don't think it was about 3 days but anyway I'm trying to see on her interim contract do we call for paying her for vacation time or not? And I don't have a problem if it's in there. I'm just wondering what would be the process.

She doesn't have a contract, but I'm assuming whatever your um policies are that would apply normally to regular city employees, they would apply to her. And so I don't know what those are, but the HR director is here and I'm sure she can weigh in. Yes. So like the attorney said, she applies as a regular employee. So she has accumulated vacation time. Okay. And I thought I'm just now that regular employees start accumulating that six month period if that's true.

No, sir. According to the policy, they accumulated from the first day of work. Um the policy also states that they can't use until after um 90 days and she's way past 90 days. Okay. And we'll move to future agenda item of the city commission if any commissioner. Excuse me. May I have a question I wanted to ask? um under the um but she didn't have a report. The um manager I just wanted to ask one question. Where are we at in the RFP process with Mccclure?

She was not going to know that. So she's not going to have that information. Miss Peggy, if you would please. So just to clarify the RFP process for the uh A&E services for Mccclure for Mccclure. So um that would the A&E services would be for Mccclure and all the other grants that we have and I spoke with um um Miss Driver and she said that they're currently finalizing um the the final parts of the document that they need to go out for bid. So it hasn't gone out yet.

We have also um been coordinating with Palm Beach County um and their department of um engineering as well as their um administrative department has coordinated with us to find some cost effective um possible options so that when um the RFP documents and um this endeavor for lack of better words is brought before you, we we can have some possible options. So, it's we're working on getting an option with the county and also putting that um RFP out. So, Lord willing, if the county says we can allow you all to procure those services through us, then we would we would get that agreement and see what that looks like and bring before the commission and have the commission decide on which option we would go for. And I think it was stated earlier that being that it's a government entity um you may not be able

No, no, not with CCNA. I I keep writing that. So if um if if you are speaking with someone, please loop me in because I'm not aware of how you get around procuring the CCNA services. Okay. So it so right now it's just conversational. We were just trying to find um some different I guess cost effective um options to see how we can procure procure some of those CCNA services or see if the county can lend us um some of their services. And the reason I'm asking because the deadline is coming up in June.

Yes. So from what I understand Miss Miss um Driver has been working on it and um we should be getting something soon. um she did adhere to your to the directives that were given to her to go with the CCNA services. So, from what I understand, um, she's in the process of it's just a out though. you just have to put it out for bid and then there's a and what I suggested to the manager was that maybe she has somebody from another city um you you put as a part of your procurement selection committee who's in involved in you know in procuring CCNA services

and u maybe that's a county employee or maybe city of Belglade or someone like that but it's just putting it out it's not you can do it on demand star you'll get a whole lot of applications and then you can have a, as I've talked about before, a catalog of folks that you can use for a three-year period. Cities do it all of the time. It's written for you. All you have to do is put it out. So, from what I understand, she's doing it. And and also, we did talk about putting asking one of the the county um uh procurement uh uh department employees to sit in on that. So, I I'm making I'm actually making that ask um hopefully tomorrow, sometime tomorrow,

because I know they saying we supposed to be done with everything by June. So, did we get the um I know you said you would provide it to us once we get it. Did you get it submitted asking for the extension to December? I know you said it won't be a problem or anything and I know we just did a resolution. So, where we at in that process as well because I don't want us to lose at least a little bit of funds that we do have when June come and it's not complete. So I meet with F DOT regularly. As a matter of fact, I had a meeting with them today. And from what I understand, we are still in good standings. Um and I did meet earlier. Uh the no last week, I believe it was I think it was towards the end of last week. I did meet the supervisor meet with the supervisor of the coordinator for FDOT that is assigned to our region. and we've discussed BART, we've discussed um uh Mccclure, we discussed phase 4. So, so far we are good when it comes to the extensions and we did bring it before the commission um and it was shared with them that um we we did get um the commission approval for the extension,

but we don't have anything in writing from them yet that we actually got the extension. That was part of the resolution. So the resolution that that you received the backup the exhibit was the actual extension that we were asking for the extension. I'm talking about from f we've actually gotten the extension. It's it's for December 30th of 27th. It's it's on that it's Oh, I thought it was that we were asking them from what I read on the resolution. Okay, I'll look at it again. So we've actually gotten the resol we've actually gotten the approval to December of next year to finish the project.

Yes, ma'am. We asked for it um through we made we um made application or we sent a letter um through the city manager asked for it and then the the ask was routed and then the final uh extension approval was sent over to us and that's what you received um in the resolution uh and I think it was exhibit 8 um that was part of the resolution. So it is the the actual extension letter. Oh okay. I thought it was asking us for support. Okay. And I can double check and send um what I have to our manager and then she can send it to you all as well.

All right. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Start with uh Commissioner McFersonson if you have any think of future gen items. Yes. Uh, I guess we can go put our clerk's evaluation on the next uh agenda for the next for the next meeting. I would like to make a motion that we put a clerk evaluation on there. Second. Are there a second? Second. Been moved and second to add the clerk evaluation on our next agenda item. Next agenda.

Are we going to say what the time frame will be? What what would I what would the time frame be we're evaluating from? Well, I think we could go up until till now, but we still need to keep her annually. Her next evaluation should be July. So that's in 3 months. Yeah. HR do you consists that city clerk is charter so I don't have it does not have anything to do with the general employees this would solely fall upon

now I understand we'll be make I'm just saying as far as the recommendation as far as the time frame of evaluation that's all just from your HR experience and background I know we're doing it. I know. I mean, and even the clerk had some suggestion of where she feel she should be evaluated from what period to what period. I'm just trying to get an input though. But uh no, I I just want to be clear on uh what her um timeline is. July. So July is when you were appointed. Yes, ma'am. So this July will be one year.

Yes. Well, it would not be one year. The tool was developed in June. So it'll June of this year will be a full year that the tool was developed. They just developed the tool last year. So July is when I was appointed. I was appointed in 24 and they the commission developed the tool in June almost two years and haven't been. But I I personally don't think that she should have any input into how we decide to evaluate her because we are evaluating her. So why would she be able to tell us how to evaluate?

I was allowed to provide input, Commissioner Scott. All of the commissioners that sat here prior to you, they allowed me to have the input because it affects me as a um as a charter employee. So all of the charters were provided that opportunity. Okay. Your your point is well taken, but I still say that I don't think you should have any input in how we decide to evaluate you being that you're the one being evaluated. So what what time frame are we going to evaluate on what what time period? I just have a question. So M uh Commissioner McFersonson, you said from July 24th up to now.

Yeah, we can just we can cut it off at July and then I guess we have to count these months that she's passed through. We just have to count that on the next evaluation. That's what I was going to ask. So where would we do the next evaluation? Would it be from March to July? That's what I was asking. We can just cut it off at July. Was everybody here July? No, I was That's the reason I said I I would be excluded from this evaluation because I wasn't here. That's why I said the initial statement that that's due up until now and then her fall back on her and we just late with doing it, but let it fall back on her. So date the next one be from March to July

period would be of evaluation for what? From Jul from July up until July what? What was the um July July 2025? You're looking to do July 1st, 2025 up until or July 10th, 2020. July 2024 24. She came in one year. 25. We can only go back one year. 25. Huh? For one year. This is this is an annual review. So in other words, that one that was missed, we just going to chunk that one. What you mean?

And then wait till July then. She been in office since the 20 July 20 24th. Plus even we still need to do the annual evaluation. We're late. I understand. We still need to make sure that that's still done. And then the next evaluation will fall on the um the next anniversary. Okay. What what are your suggestion for the date? Um July 1 is 2025.

If we want to include Commissioner McDonald, we will have to include the last. If we cut it off at July, she she won't be evaluation and I do I mean I can participate next. It doesn't matter to me. I just know that we need to make sure that we keep on schedule for um evaluations that need to be done is all I'm saying. Well, since I made the motion, I guess we'll go up until now and then we just That's my recommendation. I have a question. July 1st, 2025. 24 24 Okay, July. But I have a question. Are we working outside of policy though? If the

I'm just asking I want to stay within I don't want to do anything outside of policy. The policy say we're supposed to do it and then it'll cut off Commissioner uh that's fine. We'll go to July just to be turned in. So it'll be from July to July. I'm just trying to stay with but just for for clarity like I the tool was developed July of 2025. So if you guys wanted to, you could do that up until now or up until July. But the tool was actually developed, there was no tool prior to the actual tool was developed July um June, I'm sorry, June of 2025. So no evaluations were being done prior to then

I don't believe any clerk got evaluated prior to that. Well, I think this it's in the policy. It just it just wasn't it is but I'm just Yeah. Okay. So, we're going to correct that. This evaluation will be from June 1st, 2025 until this month. That's my recommendation. We can't do it. But is that a year we working outside of policy? I don't know. That's why that's why I was trying to get the

let's just let's keep it simple since her evaluation now. And her point is her point is she's she's saying that these tools will develop after that time period. If if we can pull up the old tool whatever was in place at that time we'll go from that July up until this July and this tool here will only apply to the next one and we'll make whatever change. What happened the previous two was a general employee didn't have anything specific about the clerk roles and duty we had a workshop I remember that we did that so that's why you guys developed this to be able to evaluate me um fairly for fairness um last year

so why can't we just do if this was developed in in July of 2025 use that as the starting date but this was developed in June huh Yeah, cuz it was developed in June, but it but it has been it hasn't been a year yet. That's why she keeps saying you evaluate her, you evaluate her on a shorter period. So, it probably be best to just stay wait till July and I and I don't mind the evaluation at all. Like I welcome it. I'm not saying I'm just saying I'm just saying I understand what you're saying. I and I keep saying it but you know I didn't want to

I see I hear you. So there are areas where you can make comments regarding some of the um exactly

critiques that don't specifically apply. So far as I'm concerned, it could be used, but I wasn't here for that time period. So I'm just saying. So, but we're going to have a discussion for at the next um commission meeting that we can set that and you'll have input if you want to make any recommendations for the next evaluation. But I my whole point, we need to stop putting it off because we're behind now. We need to set a schedule and go ahead and stick to it and let's do what we need to do with the evaluation.

Okay. I don't think we put it off though. I don't think we put it off. We didn't receive anything. Well, I'm saying the evaluations have not been done. So, let's let's fix that as a commission. We need to fix that. Are we Do we have the dates of this evaluation set? I'm thinking now it should be June 1st of 2025 until March 1st of 2026. We in March, right? Unless we're going to just extend it to the end of March and then evaluation and uh I say the evaluation period

from the tool from the date the tool was developed up until now is what you're saying. Okay, that's that's fine with me. And so then when we evaluate again, so is that going to be the so we actually doing an in between? Okay. Okay. Well, let me not ask no more questions then cuz it see I'm just trying to understand if we supposed to be doing it annually. That's all I'm just trying to understand. When are we going to evaluate again? If we doing March now and her evaluation end in July, are we going to evaluate her again in July? That's all I'm trying to find out. Since we saying annually,

are we going to evaluate again in July on her anniversary? That's all I'm trying to figure out. So, we want to evaluate her now up until March. This will be for last year, right?

I wasn't here. So you all

I'm just trying to get an understanding. What? Don't get frustrated because I'm asking a question because it says we're supposed to do it annually. Who getting frustrated? I'm just asking a question. We understand that. I mean, who even showing frustration? Okay. But I asked the question and nobody didn't say anything. So that's why I was asking. Okay. Let's let's just simplify this. Let's just go ahead and do the evaluation. It'll be done late from July to July. This evaluation here will go from July up until July 2026.

But we have the old tools. We let's just go ahead and utilize the old tool on that particular since that is what they had gave her to be evaluated on up until then. Okay. July and if we and we can that way we can keep the annual evaluation on the same date. Okay. Let me just restate my motion. I make a motion that we do the clerk's evaluation from July 2024 to July 2025. Right. Nine months late.

But but I mean it got to be done. The tool the tool wasn't developed until last year. They going to use the previous There was no previous tool. That's why they developed it to be able to evaluate me on new tool. And I I know Miss McDonald said that the clerk or maybe even HR. I'm just asking from those who perspect what would be a time frame that we can move this forward and see if that to work for us. I don't know. It's on us. She can't make that determination. She said three times. It's on you all. That's on us.

She's an HR person though. That's all I'm saying. I know the final decision is on there, but for her to make a recommendation or suggestion would be so the policies that I review is for general employees. As far as the um charter employees, I base that simply with the general employees. What you all decide of when you um the dates you want to evaluate the clerk, that's solely upon the commission. You know what? I didn't say that a hundred time. I understand that. If you can give a recommendation or suggestion, don't hurt, but don't give it don't don't

I feel like we can still use that the um the tool that she's mentioning even though it wasn't um established in Okay, Mr. We Commissioner, thank you. Mike Kirsty, you made a a suggestion of the date would be July 2024 to July 2025. We would do that evaluation which that was probably exclusive dates on the the 1st of July June July 1st 204 to July 2025. What's the last day in July? 31st.

31st of July. Okay, we got the dates down. We'll use that last day of June, shouldn't it? One year July 1st. Yeah, he's correct. Last day. June 30th. Should be due June 30th. Make sure she gets her retroactive today. Okay. So, that that'll be on top of her evaluation that that key. Yes. All right. Everybody can agree with that. I think we can live with Okay. Any any other future agenda items? Uh, yes.

Oh, you got to vote. You got to vote. Got a vote for this one. Yeah. Just quickly state your motion. Second. Okay. Recommend that we do the clerk's evaluation from July 2024. You say June one time, now going to July. July. It starts in July. Okay. her anniversary is in July. Okay. Until well, give ourel a grace period. We'll say to June to July 31st. That way we have that that due date. It should be due by the end of July. That way we have a grace period in between there to get it done.

And it uh well June 30th from July 30 from July 1st to June 30th. Make your mind up. I'm I'm fine. I'm trying to just move forward. Let me stop. Okay. Let me restate it for clarification. I'd like to make a motion that we complete the clerk's evaluation from July 1st until June the 30th. July 1st. Put the date on 2024. Thank you. 2025.

I second it. Okay. Moved and second. Call for questions. Hearing none. Roll call. Madam clerk. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott. Yes. Vice Mayor Cow Williams. Yes. Mayor Bab. Yes. Whatever.

Uh, one more other thing. I I would like to have us to have a budget review. I think on the February 24th meeting, we had asked that the budget come before for review and possible amendment. Um, we didn't set a schedule date for that, but I would like to have that to come forth at the next meeting. Um, uh, and my reason for asking that, uh, for some position change. Also, we've hired some different staff and we saying the money is coming out of general funds so we can get a look at even if it's just a review, a look at the budget to see where we are to make sure everything is in place so we can put our eyes on the budget so we can be fiscally responsible to the citizens of Po.

Future agenda item of budget review next meeting for the next meeting. Second call for question. You ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Commissioner McFerson. Yes. Comm. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott? Yes. Mayor Bab.

Yes. Okay. My suggestion or recommendation for a future agenda item would be to have on the agenda a scheduled workshop date that we could discuss our RFP for the marina restaurant, the campground and the marina itself. Why I'm saying that is we need to decide

for that first RFP. Are we going to look at just the marina restaurant or are we going to entertain someone coming in? That don't mean they have to do it all three. But they could do one, two, or three as for putting in a proposal for those things that we need to have done. Unless we decide let's not do the campground, let's try to get that up and running ourself properly or let's not do the marina part of it. Whatever we decide, we need to have a workshop and then get some language in there. Assist the city manager staff of what we would like to see in that RFP. What are we looking to have done in there? We know we want to put the uh restaurant out for proposal. Are we going to include the other two entities also in there?

What you recommending that we put it on that we take a have a workshop and decide what we're going to Right. Correct. I second moved and second that we add for a future agenda item the discussion and workshop for an RFP for Marina restaurant campground and Marina. Mr. Mayor. Yes.

Might I also um suggest that you all make as a part of that a before you um do it to have some due diligence done prior to the meeting. I think I heard the um inter manager say that she had uh and maybe Miss Boule may know more a conversation with um the folks at the state. What what are the parameters of what they will allow for? Will they allow for all of these things to go out for RFP? do they want to participate in that at all? You know, is that solely the city's decision? And so, so to have some um something in place that will allow you all to have be able to come back. So, you're not just having a discussion about it, but you're having it based upon what you know you can actually do,

right? So, in other words, recommending some homework be done prior to, right? So, you're just not have and then you would have a delay after that and you have to go figure it out. But if if if there are discussions taking place prior to then you'll you know you'll have an idea about right what what you need to what the box needs to be for your discussion. Yes ma'am.

Right. So, um I would um invite Miss Boule to come up too because I think we had some conversation with regards to uh procuring a manager for our marina and she was supposed to be contacting someone to see if um we could make any um headway with that. So just to uh again so just to shed light on on uh both of your comments u recommendations the uh state d uh Mr. Brendson we did speak with him and I think I shared that I believe it was the last commission meeting where we talked about putting um different entities of the city out for RFPs um and they he did share that the state will allow us to u use our procurement policies um to be able to procure someone or an organization to run the marina and or run the restaurant. So, they will lean towards whatever this the city's procurement uh procedures are um because they pretty much align with our our state with the exception. I I if I'm not mistaken though or even though whatever we put on if it puts out if the contract and everything still has to be approved by

by the state yes well it's it's not just legal sufficiency they require their form forms

and so the question some of the questions would be and I'm happy to participate in the conversation when you have it has a form has their contract changed um are they would it be would we be using the same thing that has been used before. Do they have anything that we can um look at for uh let's say um campground? Do they have any other properties around the state where you know that has been considered? Maybe they have something we can we can look at and and start drafting because you all are going to have to draft your contract, your RFP based on that contract of whatever the requirements are and whatever you put out. It would be a lot easier if you could attach something and say these are when you're bidding it out here. This is what we're bidding out. This is what give us your best, you know, cost um for for these things. We're looking for a manager. We need somebody to do XYZ. So, you you need to know what that contract would say. At least I would want you to know that so that you have a you know, you have something that's actually going to be viable when you get bids in. And so to piggy back off of your statement, um when we when we met with him or spoke with him at our phone conference with him rather, he did share that as he well as he was speaking with us, he did share that he was looking at the contract um the city's contract, the marina contract with FD and he did share that um the contract was written broad enough to allow the city to use um our procurement procedures. Um, however, we can set up a meeting with him and just make sure we do our due diligence and and making sure that our um RFP aligns with what the state requires and what the state allows for the city to do with the arena.

So, we'll do our due diligence and then we'll make sure we include you in that conversation. Question question, attorney, the um so even prior to being submitted for RFP, the outline pretty much of that contract should be included. Correct. I think you should have it for all three. If you all decide exactly what they're getting or what we're expecting.

Yes, sir. If you're if you're going to put out if if this is the agreement, I don't know what you'll decide in your workshop, but let's say you said you want to do all three, right? We you would want a contract I think for all three of the things so that you can attach it to your RFP and you can you know when you explain this is the city of Pokei this is what the campground this is you want to give some background some historical information you may even want to give some information about the city of Belglade and what you know so what their campground has done so that they can know about the area when they bid when they bid for it and then you want to of course publicize it very broadly um maybe in trade magazines and other places so that you you have a wider variety of people who may be qualified to actually do that work. And I think too even after they put out their bid for that or their RFP themselves that each of these potential vendors should come before this city commission and do a presentation and then we will vote on who we feel is the best person to run say their restaurant or to run their campground or to run anything. even though their cost may be higher to us. I for instance, say somebody want to run the rest of the run and they want to pay the city $3,000 a month rent of leasing per month and somebody may come in there and say they want to pay the city 2500. that person who has the lowest benefit to the city may win over the 3,000 based on their presentation. I'm just saying that could happen if we decide to vote and listen and have the

presentation be a part of the RFP too. Well, I I think all contracts it's going to have to come to us to make a decision once they do the RFP anyway. So, we go the commission will have to make that decision, right? But I'm talking about even having a presentation. Presentation. Yeah. Do a presentation. But and as I hear you, Mr. Mayor, rather than having it be a recommendation from after the city, let's say the city manager has a selection committee and they decide, okay, this is the person we're going to put forth to the commission. Well, the mayor is saying, we want the top x number of people.

We want to know them all and we want an interview to be a part of the process. So, you would put that in the RFP. that that that would also be a part of maybe the point system that that you would give for you know the interviews might be weighted a certain way and um and then you all would not only make the final decision which you would have to do anyway but you would also have that interview process baked into the document. Yeah. And so are you saying that presentation? Yeah. the presentation right which will be the you all I say interview but the presentation is a part of the as a part of the um the point system that you

and they'll be aware of that we will be having a point system because it will be created for us to have so it'll be made aware in the documents that there will be a point system you suggested what did you what I suggest

um I will bring them towards the commission so whatever the um the commission decides um you know we'll we'll go with the commission um how the best practices you know are that we we do our due diligence and as our city attorney stated contact um the the state and make sure that we um we do what we need to do and if the commission wants to engage in that process it seemed as if it's allowable so we would have to yield to whatever the the um the commission besides we we're open to doing what we need to do to move the city forward.

I think that's I mean I understand that but that wasn't what I apologize.

I mean because this is your field so

Yes sir. Yes sir. Okay. So, I I would suggest in and in the interest of of time um that we do allow our um uh candidates to put their best foot forward and present themselves to the commission. I do agree with that. Um, I think the city has had its fair share of um, disheartening situations with contractors and situations where folks have made promises to us and they did not deliver. And so, um, I think through the direction of my manager and of course through the the, uh, commission's direction to her, we would yield to whatever suggestions you make. But I do believe that we should hold um these organizations accountable. And so in in doing that, having them come before the commission, having them come before the community and say, "Hey, this is what we're going to do for your city and this is how we're going to do it.

So that's my one last question. Uh just a scenario. uh say for example if we may only get one or two um biders for the RFP we can still select even though we want the top three if we get 10 we want the top three but I guess we can discuss all of that in our absolutely you can discuss it all in your workshop so who would determine the top three I guess will they all come and present and we determine huh

that would be part of your discussion so um sometimes it's staff but if if you choose to be part of the process then that would be part of your discussion you would kind of set the rules of engagement for

oh okay so the the RFP itself would be um the most responsive and responsible bidder so it would be based on you know who who is um um you believe can do the work, qualified to do the work, who can like just because somebody bids for it doesn't necessarily mean they're qualified to do it. And so that's the responsive part. And um uh and then and then responsible um you know if somebody puts in a low really low bid and you know they can't possibly get that work done even though it's the lowest one then you may not choose that person or that entity rather because they really can't do the work for that low amount that they put. and they don't know they can't.

Um, so they they would you would want them to be qualified and then you would want them to be able to do the work for what they proposed and then as a part of that you all would make the decision. Um, you could as part of the process but then um as a part of that they would have to also present. So that would be a you know they would have they would have knowledge of that in the document that goes out for bid. That's what I was going to be one of my questions. I want to are we going to make sure that you know it's been happening that we're not getting the information after the fact like someone may come in and say hey I can run the restaurant but they come before us but they don't have any documents to show us where they have successfully ran a restaurant and just because somebody may know them and come up here and say oh they're good I've talked to them and they can do the job but we don't have the documents and then we go ahead and vote on them but those documents would be a part of their packet right and so that we're not just putting it out, making sure I like someone and they can, you know, meet the qualifications is what I'm saying. And then, you know, we get what we, you know, get. So, we're going to make sure that's part of the process. Correct.

Right. And you could also hire someone um you could also put out for somebody a reviewer u to to review and do the background and all of that for you because that's not really what you all do, right? So, you could you could make that something that you do. I'm not suggesting one way or the other. I'm just saying it's done. Okay. Sure.

Um also consider um that we we don't want to make it too stringent where we are limiting um the amount of candidates um that come before the commission. So, we definitely want to hold them um hold their feet to the fire and make sure um that we get qualified candidates. But I would like us to consider the rubric that we set so that um we open it up to a large pool so we can really have our pick of the litter.

Yeah. As long as they meet at least the minimum requirements of say a restaurant operator. If a person don't have the license in that business, although they may be a good cook and cook some good ribs and some good food, you just ain't going to bring those person in because they can cook. like the city like our city attorney said, um you know, putting it on the different platforms I think will open will open us up to um a a wider array of um folks to select from

and also all the things that we're talking about that we're requiring, we can put those things in the RFP to make sure, you know, hey, if we want three years, five years experience and and we can outline that. We outline all of that. I think that's going against what she just said. No, no, no. I'm just the question that was being asked. No, but you still put all them stipulations in there. You're running people's way. I think that's what she was just saying. No, but you want to get qualified. I ain't saying anybody, but you know what I'm saying. But when you start five, that was just that was just an example. I'm just saying we going to outline what we what we expect in the um RFP. We got

pretty much the same thing like we did when we put out for the bid for the auditor. You got to but we had an audit selection committee, but that'll be up to us to decide how we want to do that.

So I and one one last thing for me. So the the responsive um and here this is kind of the definition is is a bidder who meets all of the requirements of the bid submission ensuring compliance with the specifications outlined in the invitation for bid. And so I said earlier are people you probably want to do a invitation for bid. And in contrast a responsive bidder is one who possesses the necessary experience, fatil facilities, the reputation, the financial resources to perform the contract successfully. And so that's what your staff or you could have somebody do that for you would weigh. But you you want to make sure that you on the front end you weigh all of these things. Okay.

Okay. We'll move now. We going to have our discussion. Did we? We have to vote. We haven't voted yet. No, we didn't. Not yet. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Call the question. Hearing none. Additional roll call. Madam slur. Mayor Bab. Yes. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott. Yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams. Yes.

We'll move to Commissioner Mike Don if she has any suggestions or recommendation for future agenda item. So, um this um pledge that I have here was um circulated at the um legal cities um congressional conference and um I think it would be good if we could adopt it and um live by it here in our community. Uh, I'm going to make it available to the city clerk so that she can send it to everybody, but um upon review um I'm going to um list this as a future agenda item that we adopt this dignity pledge and um have it erected on all of the uh work sites so that um we can have it as as a guide when it comes to our interactions with each one with each other rather. So, um anyway, all it is is that, you know, we're not the only one only ones that have been experiencing, you know, similar behaviors um acceptable or not, uh in our uh commission meetings. And so um nationwide this is being um adopted or suggested that we adopt if not this one something to this effect. Uh so I will like I said provide it to the city clerk so that she can um email it to everyone and you will have time to review it and hopefully um agree that it's something that we can do here in the city of Pokei. Would you mind reading it now so we can go ahead if you want to make a

motion to uh

um dignity pledge shared concerns. We recognize that how message is delivered shapes how it is received and that assumptions about people or their motives can limit progress and undermine dialogue. We acknowledge that I win, you lose dynamics erode trust, that words can unintentionally compromise the respect owed to individuals or groups, and that empathy and accountability sometimes collide in ways that require careful navigation. We also understand that the absence of historical or personal context can lead to misunderstanding and that fear of being labeled or misunderstood can discourage honest conversation. Naming these challenges helps us commit to a culture of dignity, clarity, and mutual respect. Dignity pledge. Shared values. I will engage in good faith and assume good content. Use data and take time for fact-based conversations. Honor human dignity while expecting accountability. Ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to speak. Disagree respectfully. Listen to understand, not to respond. Reject zero sum thinking. Treat ideas as separate from the person expressing them. Act in ways that show we are all working for the greater good of Pokei. Shared practices. I commit to recognizing that it's okay to pause or not to respond immediately. Ask questions and listening with intent to understand. Avoiding assumptions. Practicing. practicing QTIP, meaning quit taking it personally, stating my thoughts clearly and naming the values behind them, using constructive processes to address grievances and or uncomfortable languages

language rather. Making an effort to know colleagues as individuals. Not assuming where someone stands on an issue. Creating space for candid non theatrical conversations. behaving in ways that demonstrate commitment to Poki's well-being, practicing weight. Why am I talking? And uh this was uh submitted by um the city of Louisville Louisville. So all I did was replace Louisville with uh Pokei and it can easily be adopted as something that we stand by and live by here in Pokei. some of the things that you that I was mentioning, not all of them, but some of them are actually in our code of conduct as to where we should conduct ourselves.

Uh I would I would recommend that this be um posted throughout like I said so we can be reminded whenever we walk past it. I don't know if you all have taken a look at it, but we have something similar with more more specific in here too that the commission agreed and signed and it has everybody's signature is in actually Duncan Padet uh frame about that size and it's normally was in the uh city manager office but we all received copies and pledged to that and that can be probably merge with this. This has some good

things in there, too. But that's something we should Sometimes you need a reminder. Yeah, you do. I mean, you know, um the other thing that I would um we got second about that we look at the other thing as well. You're right. We'll look at both and see if we can merge them together. Uh then second them and move. Who's call for questions? Who was the second? Was it? Okay. Go ahead, Mayor. I'm sorry. Call for question. Hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam clerk. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Commissioner Scott? Yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams? Yes.

Mayor Bab?

Yes. Motion passed by unanimous vote. The other thing I have is um I do know that we have I our um recreation um board and um in reviewing the manual uh I think we have at least eight boards that are established whether or not they're in operation or not. And um I would like for us to review those and um come up with a plan to go ahead and have them all implemented and working because um they are they are necessary uh to be able to get some things accomplished that we are working on getting accomplished. We have um people saying that they want this that or the other but let's get these boards working so that we can u make some progress.

And um Commissioner McDonald if I may an update will be provided to the commission at the next meeting. We do have um some vacancies. So um I'll have an item that come before you guys for consideration. Okay. So let's just have it as a review item. Added as a review item for the board. She's saying I think prior to you coming we had already addressed that and she's the um memos went out and she's been gathering names. We can reiterate it. Okay. Is what you're saying.

So yeah, it's only a few um you do have some vacancies. We have um a post on Facebook encouraging residents to join boards. But there there are like some vacancies that will come before you via a resolution. And then anything else that's still just vacant and the one is having um any interest in or if they're not applying then I'll let you guys address it. Right. So are you saying that we do have these boards already in operation? So but there are vacancies on Yes, they're vacant. So it's listed on the U website. So anything you see in that list on the table I've hyperl so it provides um an opportunity for interested parties to go and review the code as pertains to their respective board.

Um but I've listed which boards are vacant and if there's a vacancy on a particular board. Okay. Now just so we are make point of clarification. I think she said all of these boards are operational. I don't think all of them are operational. There's about seven or eight of them. Um, I was reviewing today and I the only one that I know of is the recreation. Um,

well, it's it's there's a list on our website. So, if you go under the clerk's department, go to boards and committees and you'll see a full table there. Um, I've made sure I updated it. It's very interactive. So, you're able to um see what's vacant, if there's a vacancy. If you see vacancy is completely vacant. If you see one vacancy, then that's just one vacancy. Okay. And while we're doing that too, Mr. PL, we need to reach out to the U school system, the schools in our area for the youth council.

Yes. Now, that's one that Yes. One of my suggestions to the commission is that you c you guys reconsider the youth um advisory um council only because it does not give a um age range and it's it's for the youth but the way that it was established it does not provide Oh, we have to just update that particular Yeah, but I can't do that. Yeah, it's in a code. So, you guys would have to do that. Yeah, but I just wanted to make sure I say that, you know, for your information in advance. Matter of fact, I think I may have had second that the young lady that had put in for that.

She's offensive. She she she did put in. However, it doesn't it's it most youth uh most youth councils are for youth. Youth. Yeah. But the way I She was in high school. Yeah. She's college. She was in college. Yeah. So, the way our um youth council is established, it doesn't tell you whether or not it's going to be for kids or for adults. So, I would really suggest that you guys take a look at that and determine, you know, the age range for that. And two, maybe you can Google some of the youth councils and get their Yes. board makeup and how they would word in their uh Okay. age group. We'll do

But that's a chartered thing, isn't it? I mean, not a code. It's a code. It's a code. We have to It'll come back before you guys. So, it won't be anything that I'll do independently. I'll bring it back to you to the commissioner. Okay. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry. Um, Commissioner McDonald, um, did you still want to do the item or Yeah. Okay. So, second, which we had already put it up. Put it back. Okay. Been moved and second. Call for questions. Hearing none, are you ready for a vote? Roll call, please. Commissioner McDonald, yes.

Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Vice Mayor Calvin Williams, yes. Mayor Bab, yes. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Vice Mayor Williams,

I do um have a future agenda item. Um before I start, I just want to say this. I did do a public records request and so my item is going to be pertaining to I'm glad um Commissioner McFersonson said that um to look at the budget. So I'm going to give a copy to everyone of my records request that I did. And so what I would like what my um my um request is going to be and I know um we can ask questions if we can pass these down. I've been asking in regards to the um we're getting rid of the grant writing position because it was a position that we approved and that we felt like the commission needed. So I did do a request in regards to it. And so what I wanted to do was g um give each um commission a copy so they can see here you see the job description for the strategic planner because the strategic planner position um was what came into play. Didn't come to the commission to be um approved or to even put on an organizational chart. Um because looking at the organizational chart, the grant writer fell up under economic development, but now looking at the strategic planner position, the organizational chart that we were sent, it falls up under the city um city manager. So my concern is looking at this position based on what we what was presented to us, this this job description is not even pertaining to a municipality. is pertaining to a private industry. And my other concern is we removed a full-time position to a part-time position at 20 hours a week and still paying $60,000.

And my concern is our if you look at the last page, oh, and with this position, all you needed was a high school diploma. It says high school or equivalent at $60,000. And the position was never advertised. It was just changed. And I'm sure someone in Pokei for just a high school diploma or a GED, this would have been a good position for them. And it was never advertised. And not only is it not even full-time anymore, it's part-time. And they're even still getting vacation time for part-time, 20 hours a week. It says it works 20 hours a week. And also, if you look at the back where it says rate of pay for part-time employees, we again not following our policies. Our policy says part-time employees are supposed to be at an hourly rate of pay. And so I did the math for this position at $60,000 working 20 hours a week. That's $59.78 an hour that we're paying for a part. We removed the grant writing position. So, I would just like for this commission to have some explanation because this is a concern of mine and we're not even following our own policy cuz in our personnel handbook it says that part-time positions are supposed to be hourly rate. So, my question what I like to be explained how much vacation time they're getting and being part-time and how are we keeping up with their hours if they are part-time. But if you look at my email that was sent to me where Miss Prince said on the front the salary is $60,000 annually and part-time should not be paid annually. They should be paid on a hourly rate.

So in summation, what is your future agenda? We need to discuss how these positions are changed and they should come to the commission and the commission should be made aware of this because I'm sure if some residents had known that all you needed was a high school diploma for this position some of our residents could have applied for this job versus us just changing the position and this is you know I requested and this is what we're getting and is that are we being transparent with our community and with the commission and then we're not following We're going to be audited again and we are still not following our own policies.

Okay. State state. So my motion is is for the commission to um for all job changes which should come to the commission and the commission be approve all job changes be given a few uh organizational chart um and approved by the commission. and the job description doesn't even match what was presented to us. And that's a concern of mine when we're supposed to be doing our due diligence and making sure that um you know the right decisions are made for the city. So that's my motion,

Mr. Mayor. Yes. I just ask that when as a part of this motion, if it's a second, if you all would add to it to allow it to be written in a way that um we make sure that it's legal so that it doesn't interfere with um any um any of the managers um responsibility. That was my question. Areas of uh ex exercising a manager's areas of um jurisdiction. And so I'm I'm sure the motion is fine, but if you'll allow me to just make sure that when I bring it back to you, if it's a resolution or something that it's done um to be compliant with your code. Okay,

I'll second. Been moved and second. Call for questions hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? including the recommendation of the city manager. I'm say the city attorney saying it need to be within parameter that it doesn't interfere with their day-to-day operation. So we understand that comply with code that that's the only thing that made me second. She took the question right out of my head when she stated that question hearing none. Ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam Vice Mayor Ken Williams. Yes. Commissioner McFersonson, yes. Commissioner McDonald, yes.

Commissioner Scott, yes. Mayor Bab,

yes. Motion passed by unanimous vote. And my last one is that um I would like for us to move um on April 14th, we've had the interview um the applicants um for a manager that we move forward with the um in um fulfilling the manager's position um starting the interviews April the 14th or the 28th. so that we can go ahead and get someone permanent with a lot of the projects that we're saying that we want to move forward with. So having someone permanent so that we can go ahead and get someone permanent and get stability in the city.

Okay. Now, April the 14, don't think that's a second Tuesday. That's a normal commission meeting Tuesday. So, cuz we normally do interviews during the commission meeting an hour before. That's when we normally do them. Okay.

There's a second to that.

Second. Okay. It's been moved and second that we move forward to have our interviews for the permanent city manager job on April the 14, 2026. And of course, it'll be proud to be commission me. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm I'm sorry. Can I add to it like we did before when the um attorney got with HR and they developed the questions

um so for that to be the part of the motion cuz that's what they did before they got together to develop the questions I guess for legality um make sure that the right questions are being asked um and you know they had them before for us prior to us interviewing they provide them you know they gave them to us when we came in for interviewing so reviewing what HR Star gave it wasn't so much. Oh well. Changing. So we actually had the last and doing commission meeting. We opened up our commission meeting and then we we had the interviews first. I think it was during Was it during the commission? I thought it was during the commission meeting. Commission. It was Yeah, it was during the commission.

So we'll do it similar to how we did it. I imagine the last time. Okay. Call for questions. Just I do have a question. I'm trying to figure out if we doing it April the 14th, why are we doing this evaluation? But the evaluation has nothing to do with um that has nothing to do that has nothing to do with hiring nobody because the new people coming in that's interviewing is not going to have evaluation. The two has nothing to do with anything. Yes, it does. No. No, it doesn't. No, it don't. Okay. Okay. just question you guys said April.

I guess what I'm asking so are we doing the evaluation or we're not. That's what I'm asking. I understand this point because at that point either we going to choose Miss Busy or we going to choose somebody else. And another question too, even if uh somebody else does get chosen, we need to make a point of letting them know that that'll be for interim position, not permanent. Unless we going to hire if we're hiring for we hiring for a permanent. We got an interim already. We hiring for a permanent. But I mean

no it'll be different for Miss Buster. She'll be hired as a permanent the other candidate. No, we're interviewing for a permanent. Okay. That's just on the same page. That's no problem. We can we can take that up as far as having it going forward with the entrance city manager evaluation. We we can we can vote and I just I think I think was kind of confusing if you're going to either do it you know I see what your point no my point is at the last commission meeting or the meeting before uh Mayor Bab said okay we going to wait 6 months uh whatever 60 days or whatever now

oh Mr. Cal going, "This ain't been 30 days and she doing so." But that's why we came up with doing the um she made a suggestion about doing the evaluation. But it does I mean whatever y'all decide is okay with me. But this just I'm just saying let's just make up our mind what we're going to do. Cuz one one thing we we saying oh give us 6 months 60 days or whatever then we move on. Now the next me oh give her to the next meeting. You know that's pretty much what you're saying. So I'm just asking where we at. So to me it don't make sense to do no evaluation on some on someone when you just f to interview them for a job. But I'm just that's

I don't think I think Mayor Bar had brought it up but I don't think we didn't vote. We didn't vote on that. We didn't vote on that. We didn't vote on that. It was mentioned. No, I'm just saying I'm just saying he he did mention it. I don't know. I don't really Did we vote on it or not? I'm just saying I just know that's just something that he said. But so it was a matter. It's okay with me. I'm good. Okay. Let's vote on the item at hand as far as uh the motion to host and have job interviews

interviews for the permanent city manager position on April 14, 2026. So now we're going to have a clash on the schedule because we agreed to do the workshop for the um Okay. You're right. Yeah, that'll be during the commission. You track that. Okay. The interview. Call for questions. Hearing none. Are you ready for a vote? Roll call. Madam cler. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner McFerson? Yes. Commissioner Scott, yes. Mayor Bab, yes. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Commissioner Scott, no. Have that take care of the future agenda items, recommendations. Uh, last we have general public comments uh from the public city clerk. Do we have any public comments for our completed? Yes, sir. We only have one and that is uh Mr. Jack Pinkle sounds so patient. The last man standing crowd but

Well, we laugh so trust me they watch. One of the things that was on my list here to talk about was the marina, the campground, all that stuff. I wanted to know where we're at. I've been here 5 and a half years now and and I've been trying to just get things accomplished in this town and nobody seems to want to do it. So, this that was great to hear that you're putting that on the agenda. Um because I think it would also help bring jobs to the community. We need to get I think I heard somebody mention hotels and motel somewhere. Maybe your mom and dad. Yeah,

that would be good. I don't know if the marina is fixed yet or not. I mean, I started talking about this when Rodney was here and he was telling me they got to get the marina fixed before they can do anything. And I just want to see this town grow. I I want to see it prosper. Um, there's so many ways that this town can make some money and grow and and beautify itself. Um, I mean, one of the things you guys can do to make some money, it sound, it may sound stupid, but if you put solar panels on all your properties, all the b all your schools, all your big buildings, you sell that the the power that you generate back to FPL and you generate income, help pay your teachers, help to pay all other stuff because I have solar panels in my house and it helps. I don't have enough to over and sell it back because I didn't have enough space on top of my house. But your buildings that the city owns, all the schools, you can put that up there. You can even get it financed by different entities that will pay to have it put in and it just pays for itself over time. Um, I was told that that you guys offer incentives to bring businesses into this city. I'd like to know what they are. So, maybe we can bring some people in. I mean, I love this town. It to me, this is this is where I'm going to die. And it's beautiful. It can be more beautiful. Um, I'd like to see more citizens participate like all that volunteer

stuff you were talking about. That's awesome. You know, I'm here to help anybody. I've been trying to offer my help for the last 5 years and I I was in the construction business. I'm trying to teach people how to do my business so they can make a living. Nobody wants to learn. It's crazy. It really is crazy. But I just want to see this town develop and I want to know what's going on. Well, one of the things you said was back with the Marina and that that development. What's going on with these apartments here? Why is that still on hold? I mean, it becoming an eyesore just driving by it every day.

You're coming. Okay. You know, why is it stalled? Who's not paying? Who's not working? I mean, what's going on? Like I said, I was in construction. Yeah. 30 years. And I It's a private development. And we would try to get the owner back out here again just to give an update and see if that would help. Uh because the last time he mentioned that those apartment would be ready and up and running by December of this past year, which I thought when he made that comment that wasn't going to happen, but that was his comment. So, we was hoping that would occur. Has he been paid for this project?

He's a private developer. They they they they have they had over a $20 million in their coffee pot to do this. And I'm sorry your time has elapsed. So, three minutes. I know. Okay. Anybody else want to talk for me? I mean, can somebody answer me? Why is everything stalled? We just say we don't know. There's a private developer and we'll try to get him. We'll try to get him. Businesses, the buildings are all closed. Why? Yeah.

The city the city does not that's a private developer and the city really don't have anything to do with that project. They just we sold the property to them, but it's the between the private developer and I guess his finance people. Now, as the mayor said, we maybe can reach out to them and see, but we don't have any authority over that particular project. The county put up a bond, too. So, that that place going to get developed one way or the other. Even if someone have to take over and and do it, how do you push it forward? You you go to the county contact go to the county commissioner. Okay.

I'm sorry. What was that? um because the county put up a bond, you can go to the county commissioner meetings also and um see if they can tell you anything since the city doesn't have anything to do with that project. One last comment with regards to what you can do with that property. I literally spoke to them yesterday and they said you guys can do whatever you want on that property. It's yours. You can give it away. You can rent it out. You can lease it out. They just got to give final approval. Even if you did it yourself, okay, Mr. I think you should do it. Okay. Keep it in the city. Keep it open. Thank you.

Okay. Our last on our agenda is comments for the good of the order by the commissioners and I'll start with Commissioner Scott if he had. Oh, what happened to me? I'd like to um congratulate the um park and recreation. They sent uh third grade team up to uh Winter Haven and I think the kids been playing basketball for about five or six weeks. Now they get a chance to represent the state of Florida in the national tournament and basketball and they got a gold ticket. that mean they go for free because they won the tournament. That's great.

And I think that was that was excellent, you know, and uh Coach Daniels and Coach Johnson and other ones that participated in it. I think they did a great job with those kids and I just want to uh congratulate them. Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Good evening everyone. I would also like to say congratulations to our robotics team at the high school. Uh we want to thank our young adults um middle and high schoolers for doing a great job with robotics and we want to say we appreciate them and we want to support them in any way we can and I think that we should recognize them from the city as well and invite them to come to the commission meeting for a job well done and let our young people know that um we support them, we're behind them. So, if we can um get that information to the manager and get, you know, talk to the high school and Mr. Dinard to see if we can get them in here also and to congratulate them and I think do something um nice for them. And I just want to thank everyone for listening tonight and say good night and um bless you.

Commissioner Magdal. So, um I just want to um thank everybody that did come out tonight, even though they all left by now, but um last week I visited Capitol Hill. And I want to encourage everybody to um make sure that you keep an eye on the bills that are being uh presented for passing. Um several of them are ones that are near and dear to our hearts here in Pokei, such as the um the housing bill, um the um water infrastructure bill, and I'm probably not saying them like they're um actually named, but um several of them um with regards to how we are looking to make sure that we improve things upon um what we're doing here in in Pokei and not only Pokei but other uh communities as well. So just keep an eye on those things and make sure um that you're you know positioning others and informing them as well. Uh we met met with um uh uh Miss McCormick and uh we made sure that we stressed our concerns and she is well aware of what our interests are and we uh can certainly count on her to um push those bills that are important to us here at home. Um, and also, um, I I just feel really inspired right now because I think that we are starting to take a a step in the right direction. And I know that if we're persistent and consistent, uh, we can get the job done. So, um, kudos to everybody on the desk and, uh, our citizens as well.

Okay. Commissioner Max Pierce,

I just want to thank everybody for coming out and again I think Commissioner McDonald had mentioned our boards. Um, we just want to just reach out to our community and ask you to just help us to make Po Hokei great uh continue or keep progressing and and I just want to let everybody know that I love you all and ain't a thing that y'all can do about it. And just want to mention the fact that we're going to be working to include in the uh youth counselor age uh stipulations in there so we'll know what age that the children can uh participate. Also that's one of the boys I really hope we can get running our children are future and they're so eager to learn and participate. Normally we have a mark uh commission meeting on an annual basis. Uh Pokei Elementary School, normally the one that we have here at the chamber. Uh we have some uh recording of some of those uh sessions uh in our archive. You need to if you get a chance just take a look at some of them. They actually presented me with a uh a little picture plaque of all the kids that was in here during that mark uh meeting. I think they had asked the mayor to uh look at having basketball nets on the playground and we was able to do that really quickly. and they took pictures of that and say they had went to the commission meeting and I that as an IC and it was granted by the commission. It was so uh touching and so lonarded. So if you know of any child

that may be interested, we can talk to them directly and encourage them to consider being on the youth board. They had their own uh mayor and counselor and everything. It was great the time it was in operation, but it's very much due that we can get that filled if we can along with all our other boards. So, we're going to look forward work hard on doing that.

Can I add to that? I was going to say that's um kind of in line with um something that I've been trying to work on trying to meet with the guidance counselors at the school and at the college to try and get the um chamber um open back up in in operation as well. So that would be a great opportunity for them to um definitely get involved in that just and even not just to have that to educate. I even cuz those are our future leaders. Even if we start from the youth, if I'm not mistaken, I think I had um encouraged a couple of youth. I think they did fill out applications, but the board never did develop. I need one of them.

Yeah, they they they did they filled it out. However, encouraged them to uh sign up for that particular board. But matter of fact, I think they have been over two year a year or so ago. They one of them is in college. Oh, no. They just uh those they submitted September, but when they developed the board, I don't think it was developed um wasn't enough. Yeah, it wasn't enough information. And I think that's certainly something that the commission should revisit to add those um age ranges in there. So, I'll I'll research it and I'll um present. Okay. I entertain a motion for the German as a meeting. I move that the meeting be adjourned.

Second. Moved and second. Call for question. Hearing none. You're ready for a vote. Roll call. Madam clerk. Vice Mayor Cowan Williams. Yes. Commissioner McFersonson. Yes. Commissioner McDonald. Yes. Commissioner Scott? Yes. Mayor Bab? Yes. Motion pass. meeting the journ at 8:54