City Council - Regular Meeting

Heat up here. Well, good morning everybody. It's great to see such a full house. Wish we had this all the time.

Julart and Janice is going to be talking very softly. She has a sore throat. So, um, invocation talking very softly. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, creator of heaven and earth, we come before you today and ask you to be with each. We thank you for all you will do for us in the future. Father, bless all the families that are represented here today. And Father, bless this city council and the decisions they will make today. We pray that those decisions be pleasing to you and the people of Portugo. Is in the name of our Lord and Savior. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all.

And would all our veterans in the room please stay standing. Thank you for your service and our freedom. Please stay standing. Do we have any announcements? Yes. I'd like to commend public works for all the good work that's going on across the city. All the improvements. The parks are looking fantastic.

And I hear there are really great things coming from utilities in terms of moving forward with our reverse osmosis expansion project. and we're really excited about that. And then on a personal note, I'm pleased to say I was recently notified that I was selected by the Florida League of Cities as 2026 home rule.

Done. Okay. Anybody else? Are you sure? Okay, our next meeting is going to be April 22nd. It's going to be our regular council meeting, 9:00 am here in Lashley Community. Everybody approve the agenda? Yes. Next, we're going to be doing several proclamations and presentations. The first one we're going to start with donate life month with Greg.

It's my honor to read this proclamation. the city of Pontagora, Florida. Whereas one of the most meaningful gifts that a human being can bestow on another is the gift of life. Whereas over 105,000 men and women and children are currently on the national waiting list for organ transplantation, of which over 6,000 reside in Florida. And whereas 49,065, a historic number of organ transplants occurred in 2025 in the United States thanks to the generosity of 23,787 deceased and living donors. And whereas more than 2.5 million people throughout the country and in Florida benefit annually from the tissue transplantation thanks to thousands of tissue donors. And whereas the need for organ donation remains critical and new patients are added to the national waiting list for an organ transplant every 8 minutes and each day roughly 16 people die due to the lack of available organs. And whereas more than 10 million Flidians have already registered their decision to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation at www.donatelife florida.org or on their driver's license. Now therefore the city council of the city of Pontagora, Florida does hereby proclaimed April 2026 as donate life month and the city of Pontagora encourages all citizens to consider leaving an infinite legacy through organ donation and sign up at mystoryont.com or when renewing their driver's license or state identification card. passed and duly adopted in the regular session this 8th day of April 2026.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much for your time recognizing this. Uh if you're 50 years old, uh before you were born, there really were no transplants. The technology, the drugs that we need uh weren't available. We did almost 50,000 transplants last year. Uh half of Flidians are almost half are already signed up at the potential donors. It's a little hard on your driver license on there. Thank you uh for that. Uh I always tell people that if you're going to donate organs, probably

probably you can't tell anyone because you're probably on life support without always let your family know that you would be a donor and a lot of times they'll end up making the decisions you can't speak for yourself and we still have you know over about a dozen people still dying waiting waiting for uh we do a lot of transplants down here in Florida and there's still 6,000 waiting thank you very much again for this second Next is National Telecommunications Week. You're all here for that.

Next is National Telecommunications.

There you go. It's my honor to um do this proclamation. Whereas emergencies can occur at any time that require police, fire or emergency medical services. When an emergency occurs, the prompt response of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. And whereas the safety of our police officers and firefighters is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of the information obtained from citizens who telephone the Pontagora Police Communication Center. And whereas public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services. They are the vital link for monitoring police officer and firefighter activities by radio, providing them information and ensuring their safety. And whereas public safety telecommunicators contribute substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and treatment of patients while also exhibiting compassion, understanding, and professionalism during the performance of their jobs. And whereas in fiscal year 2025, Pontagorta's telecommunicators processed 47,483 calls, including 9,632 911 emergency calls, contributing to a police officer average response time of 4 minutes and 31 seconds for all calls. Now therefore, the city council of the city of Pontagorta, Florida does hereby proclaim the 12th through the 18th of April 2026 as National Telecommunicators Week and in the city of Panagorta does hereby honor all the men and women who diligence and professionalism keep our citizens safe. Good morning everybody. Chief Han Smith

Police Department. Um, just a real quick thing about our our 911 center. It is a primary public safety answering point. So that means all the 911 calls that come in from the city come into our center as well as all the non-emergency and administrative calls. Um they are the first line of help for our residents, our officers and our fire personnel. None more evident than when we had went through Hurricane Ian. Um and then Hurricanes Helen and Milton. They were and during Ian, they were answering all the 911 calls for the entire county as well as some counties. So I'll never forget what they went through for that. Um we do want to thank our residents and our city council for fighting to keep them as a primary public safety answering point. Um, you guys have been successful and we really appreciate it. We need them here. Um, we operate 247, 365 days a year and at any given time there's two to three dispatchers in the 911 center that are not only answering all the 911 calls and administrative calls, they are also um dispatching our police and our fire personnel. So, it's a lot of multitasking. I could never do their job. So, I appreciate you more than you know. Um, training is very extensive. They have to pass all their certifications including emergency medical dispatch. So they're able if there something happens they can tell somebody how to they can ask the right calls to make sure we get the right people.

Um as council member Lockheart stated during 2025 your dispatchers processed a total of 47,483 calls into and out of the 911 center including over 9600 uh emergency calls. They dispatched 11,94 calls for service to our officers and 5,06 fire calls.

Additionally, uh they monitored over 55,000 overall events that were um performed by our officers and our volunteers. So, they have to keep make sure everybody stay safe stays safe and know where they are. And um I just want to say their professionalism during stressful situations is above and beyond. again very proud to work alongside all of our dispatchers and one of our our actual communication supervisor here is Audrey Dennis. So I just want to say thank you and happy telecommunicator.

Good morning. Uh surely casting. Hi, good morning. Shirley is the president of the Charlotte County Parliamentarians Unit. Good morning.

Whereas in this the birth month of Thomas Jefferson, author of the first American manual of parliamentary procedure in 1801, it is fitting that we honor him and reflect upon the importance of parliamentary procedure in democratic organizations. Whereas on the eve of the birth month of Henry Martin Robert, author of the Robert's Rules of Order, first published in 1876, it is an appropriate time to honor him and to celebrate his contributions to the field of parliamentary procedure. Whereas Robert's rules of order, newly revised, is the most widely recognized and used parliamentary authority in public and private organizations throughout the world. And whereas it is timely to reflect on the importance of parliamentary procedure in meetings and providing the civil discourse, protecting individual rights, ensuring fairness and maintaining order. And whereas the National Association of Parliamentarians has by adoption of a standing rule designated the month of April as parliamentary law month. And whereas the National Association of Parliamentarians is committed to educating leaders throughout the world in effective and fair meeting management through the use of parliamentary procedure. And whereas the National Association of Parliamentarians is globally recognized as the premier provider of parliamentary leadership whose mission is to provide education and resources to enable efficient and democratic decisionmaking through the effective use of parliamentary procedure. Now therefore, the city council of the city of Pontagora, Florida does hereby proclaim April 2026 2026 as parliamentary law month and encourages residents to appreciate the importance of parliamentary procedure in ensuring fair democratic decisionm that balances the rights of the majority of and minority and encourages ress of the majority of

city on the uh Charlotte County parliamentarians unit for recognizing us and all the hard work that all the members do. Thank you.

Next up is recognition of sales tax committee and city staff. Good morning, Melissa Riker, city manager. I have the great honor of thanking and introducing our sales tax committee for this past um nine months. Whereas the city of Punagorta is committed to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life for its residents through the strategic development of capital infrastructure and community projects. And whereas the city established the 1% sales tax committee to serve as a vital citizen-led body tasked with a significant responsibility of reviewing, evaluating, and prioritizing potential projects for funding through an extension of the 1% local option sales tax program. And whereas this committee comprised of 17 dedicated community members invested many hours of their personal time to examine the 50 diverse project proposals ensuring that the recommended slate aligns with the long-term interests and needs of our city. And whereas the success of this comprehensive review process was bolstered by the dedicated city staff from all departments whose collaborative spirit, technical expertise, and commitment to transparency ensured that the public and the committee were provided with accurate, thorough information. And whereas the 1% local options sales tax represents a critical funding mechanism that allows both residents and visitors to contribute to the infrastructure they utilize, providing essential support for roads, facilities, and public services without placing the entire burden on local property owners. And whereas the diligent efforts and thoughtful recommendations of this committee have provided a clear roadmap for the continued growth and prosperity of Panagorta demonstrating the power of civic engagement and collaborative governance. Now therefore, the city council of the city of Panagorta, Florida does hereby proclaim our deepest appreciation and sincere thanks for the 1% sales tax committee and staff for their exceptional service, integrity, and dedication to the future of our

Harborside hometown. Their collective contributions help ensure that our community remains vibrant and wellmaintained for all who live, work, and visit here. Past and duly adopted this 8th day of April, 2026. accepting will be Boydko, Mike Fox, Bob Gos, Lisa Gillian, Rose Henq, Craig Holt, Jack Howard, Isaac James, Ken Krauss, Cindy Marsh, Titchy, Gene Murtha, Garcella, Nurse Karthy, Donna Peterman, Joyce Tilden, or any of our city staff that have served on this committee and helped with the to please come up and have your photo taken as well.

Please come up and have your photo taken as well.

You do that last time, too. Next up, I would love to invite all my fellow Rotarians up here,

He's built a well-rounded career within the utilities department. Starting in wastewater collections, he proved himself to be dependable, hardworking, and willing to take on any challenge put in front of him. That didn't stop there. He took the initiative to earn his fog license. That's fats, oils, and grease. expanding this knowledge uh and skill set to better serve the community and the department. In 2020, January of 2025, Matt became our cross connection coordinator, which oversees backflow and cross connection prevention. Matt didn't just walk in and take the reigns in this. He had to rebuild it from the ground up. That takes uh persistence and a strong sense of responsibility, which he demonstrates every day. In addition to that, Matt plays a key role ensuring compliance with water restrictions, often working early morning enforcement shifts. That willingness to go the extra mile does not go unnoticed. No matter the task, no matter the time, Matt consistently steps up without hesitation and takes pride in everything he's done and everything he does. It's individuals like Matt who make the difference, not just in the department, but in the community that we serve. Today we want to say thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your comm continued commitment to excellence. Congratulations, Matt, on your five years. We look forward to many more years of success. Okay, this is going to be recognition of water plant operations excellence award. Come on up, guys.

Brought some of our

wonderful crew from the water treatment plant out here again. and Tom Spencer, utility director. This morning, we recognize the outstanding work of our water treatment plant team. On March 25th at the Florida Rural Water Association's Focus on Change Seminar, the city of Panagorta Water Treatment Plant was honored with the 2025 Water Plant Operations Excellence Award for a medium community water system facility. This award is presented by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and reflects their ongoing goal of ensuring safe drinking water for all people in Florida. This recognition speaks directly to the excellence in treatment maintenance and regulatory compliance. More importantly, it reflects the professionalism, consistency, and dedication of our staff who show up every day working around the clock to protect our public health and deliver reliable service to this community. On behalf of the city, I'd like to express how proud we are of this team and thank them for the work they do in day in and day out. Everybody, Brian Fuller and the staff in the water treatment PLANT and I'd just like to say thank you Tom for your leadership and oversight of the utilities department and I echo what Tom shared. You guys are simply the best and your professionalism is recognized not only here in Punagorta but also throughout the state. So thank you very much. also. Thank you very much.

Thank you for what you do and congratulations. Next is recognition of the 2026 engaged innovation award. Alicia is recognition of 2020 award. The city of Panagod is the 2026 engage innovation award winner for pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve through adaptive GIS driven problem solving. After repeated storm damage comprise compromised the advanced meter metering infrastructure system. The city refused to let service delays or data gaps impact residents. Instead, staff transform central square solutions into a resilient real-time alternative, integrating GIS field maps to capture meter and asset data directly through close collaboration across IT, utilities and building. The city created a workflow flow that validates, uploads, and synchronizes data seamlessly into utility billing, ensuring that un in the I could say that in in yes cycles precise information and faster community support. Today, this scalable innovation supports more than 14,000 meters, reduces manual entry by 90% and saves over 54 hours each month. With more than 100,000 meter reads already processed, the city has proven that herogra innovation is defined by adaptability, collaboration, and measurable community impact. Thank you to the dedicated staff of IT and billing and collections and utilities for your innovation, ability to problem solve, and dedication to Panagorta utility customers. And thank you to Alicia Oats, the interim IT manager, for putting all of this together and making sure that the community is able to celebrate this great award with us.

Are you collecting Alicia? Thank you everybody. Next on the agenda is public input. Those this is going to be for a board committee. So those wishing to introduce themselves as a nominee for a board or committee may do so at this time. Those who choose to speak must state their name for the record.

Anybody here for a border committee? That was a piece of all people I think. Good morning. Good morning. My name is Jan Dick and I'm applying for uh uh an alternate membership on the board of zoning appeals. I am currently the alternate on the plan commission and I am Snowbird. Thank you, Jen. Any questions?

Thank you, Jen. Anybody else wishing to introduce themselves as a nominee for a board or a committee? Is there gentry here?

Anybody else? Just Okay, one last call for those wishing to introduce themselves as a nominee for a board or a committee. Okay, we're going to move on.

Okay, one last call. This is general public input. Anybody wishing to address the council on any matter must state their name for the record. Each person will be allowed to speak up to a maximum of three minutes.

Good morning. Gary is my name. Uh I want to speak in reference to itinerary item 6A alpha. That's for the Peace River Wildlife Center. I first want to start with a little background. I'm not sure that everybody realizes this, but uh maybe as long as 10 years ago, the city made a mistake and leasing the land that the current wildlife center is on. Yet, it's owned it was owned by a private individual. Despite that uh knowledge and over the course of time, the wildlife center managed that facility only to find out several years later that it looked like that they were going to be pushed off that land. The city council at the time saw the benefit of looking for opportunities for future use of the wildlife center. It so happened that there was a developer that uh had an eye for the land that the site is looking at moving to currently. We had a very wise city council at the time and saw the potential of that land and how it might be utilized in the future. And sure enough, the wildlife center saw that as well too and looked for the opportunity to go to a permanent home. Uh they're a member of the or will be a member of a of the of a campus of facilities,

fisherman's village, visual um art center, linear path, library, military museum, and the dog dog park. What a better opportunity to utilize the facility of the wildlife center. I'm not sure that everybody realizes the visitor draw that that uh facility provides. When I have visitors coming in, I see two things at least I want to take you to if I have a have a few hours. One is going to be the fisherman's village. Everybody's got to visit fisherman's village. Second is the wildlife center. I think that's a very beneficial thing. And I'm not sure that everybody realizes the business benefits that that draws. So many people come in to the city to visit the usual type of things. This adds one more in that campus of facilities that draws them here. Uh I feel that that the restaurants, the businesses definitely benefit from that. This is a nonprofit. No admission donation support only. And it's envision questioning the benefits of the wild center.

Okay, I guess I lost my microphone too much here. Okay. Um, just just to finish up on that, this is a public service.

Thank you, Carrie. Good morning. My name is Robert Foron. I live at 115 Tropicana in Panagorta. I spoke at your last council meeting on my fully removable fabric boat cover and have not heard any response back since that meeting. Please note that I am not affiliated with any other parties that have tried to come in front of you to get their canopies or their covers approved. I believe that mine is different and is a canopy or is a cover fabric bow cover and it's not permanent. I have a letter from Cape Coral Council that they sent last month to read to you and I was asked to not name the company that's involved with my boat cover. So, I'm just going to say Bob's boat cover as I say it. The city of Cape Coral does not require any type of permit for Bob's boat cover system. While the city does require building permits for boat canopies at presenting the information on your company's product to members of our building division, the city does not consider these systems to be substantial modifications to boat canopies. And we do not consider these systems to be independent structures requiring building permits under the Florida Building Code. Therefore, the city will continue to enforce the requirement for permits for boat canopies. Uh Bob's boat or systems not require separate permits within Cape Coral.

So, in the end, I'm just looking forward to hearing your decision as soon as possible. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Paul. I reside at 64. I'm here today in support of wildlife. I'm in favor of approving agenda fourth amendment to their ground. This amendment will allow for an extension of April 15th to November 15th of 2026. Wildlife Center, visitors, and wildlife. Paul, could you speak up, please? Get a little closer. Step back. Okay.

I have personally been visiting the center since 1995 when my mother, Marilyn Smith Mooney, built her home in this community. It was one of the first places she introduced me and my family to when we came to visit.

And it is one of my uh the first places my wife and I introduce our guests to when they come to visit the area. The organization provides animals with rescue and rehab services. Their mission is to contribute to the survival of native Florida wildlife and they do much more. In 2025, the center took in 2528 living creatures. They successfully released 730 and transferred another 73. They care for approximately 60 animals each day. The creatures include raptors, song birds, mammals, and reptiles. The center provides education and awareness for the young and the old. And they host visitors to our beautiful community. Your approval of 6A helps to ensure that the center will exist for another 40 years and continue to provide value to the community of Punto, for the native wildlife, our neighbors, and our guests. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue to our community. I hope you value this organization as much as I do.

Thank you. Thank you.

My name is 4725 which is a wonderful however it's a speed it's a speed uh you know highway. Uh, so we would have decision as follows. We want to speak of Amar. I'm I'm sorry, Irene. Can you put the mic closer to your We can't hear you. Excuse me, Debbie. You looked and this is in the county. It's by on your way to the Riviera in that area. Oh, so Almar Drive, the area. It's a city street. The county said that they don't have any street. Yeah. Is it city? Okay. Yep. Good. Can I go on?

Thank you. So, we the undersigned residents of Almar Drive are writing to request the installation of speed humps on Almar Drive between Rio and where Elmer Drive dead ends. Elmar Drive consists of two straightaway segments measuring 7 and6 miles respectively. Our community has observed a consistent and significant, excuse me, problem with vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit, which poses a danger to pedestrians, children, pets, cyclists, and local traffic. Despite existing signage, which is currently inadequate, speeding continues to be an issue. We believe that installing speed humps will reduce speed vehicle speeds and enhance safety for residents and pedestrians, prevent potential accidents involving, excuse me, children and pets, improve the overall livability and safety of our neighborhood. The results of our petition drive are as follows. 16 no votes, 88 yes votes, 17 empty lots, and 37 seasonal or no answers. Based on these results, we respectfully request that the city of Punta Gorda conduct a traffic study and take the necessary steps toward installing speed humps on Almer Drive. Thank you for your time and your commitment to neighborhood safety. And lastly, just want to let you know that two days ago, we um I was walking my dog in the morning, as always do, and there was a traffic speed, one of those speed things that detect how how fast you're going. And so, somebody is hearing that we are in need of doing something. And I invite all of the council members to come and drive down Elmer Drive so you can really see how long the street is. And you know, it tends lends itself to people speeding. So, thank you for your time and your

consideration. Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Gary Wine, former vice mayor of this wonderful city of Pora, and I'm coming I'm coming to talk on behalf of the Peace River Wildlife Center. Uh, in regarding Henry Street, I first want to thank the uh the uh skilled Mr. Gary Skilcorn for acknowledging my wisdom that I got to be a part of. He and I have many spirited discussions and he has a lot to do with the way way things happened here. I just to give a little bit more history that uh uh Gary did not uh add into it in his time was is that we were proposed we had proposals to commercially develop that property. one was from a health uh assisted living facility and then later a developer who wanted to put some town houses in them.

Uh there was very spirited discussion on the citizenry not wanting that to be commercially developed and the strong support when it became available and the acceptance to Henry Street from the industry was phenomenal. uh we were having uh as I recall we actually had to have one meeting at the convention center to be able to accommodate everybody at that time. So I just wanted to just to relay that to you for a little bit more background information. Uh and uh it's been a pleasure to be part of this community through the years. Thank you. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Valerie Wolfrey. I'm the curator of exhibits at Peace River Wildlife Center and um that's basically the animal welfare and taking care of the animals at the education center. So I would like to speak on the importance of the service that Peace River Wildlife Center provides to the wildlife and our community. As Southwest Florida grows, encounters with and displacement of wildlife increase. Therefore, having our organization as a resource is vital. We assist the community and provide veterinary help for animals who are victims of civilization and would suffer needlessly without a place to bring them when injured or displaced. Our new education center will provide valuable resources to educate the public on how to coexist with wildlife, what to do if they find an injured or displaced animal, and provide inspiration to all. Everyone will learn ways to make a difference, especially school children who may choose a path of conservation either as a career or learn vital ways to help make a difference in our world. We have the wonderful support of a large community that assist us in many ways of our mission. They see the need for our services and help us make a difference every day. So they have seen us through the tragedies of Hurricane Helen and Milton. Truly some of our darkest hours. Yet with their support, we survived and the animals are home. To close, we are a nonprofit that sometimes struggles with the resources we need to fulfill our mission. As we grow, we're working to find balance needed to expand while still providing valuable services. This education center brings all of the year's work since the late 70s when our founders started back porch rehabilitation of animals to the current century with certified wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians and educated animal welfare staff. We have grown our abilities to provide proper assistance to the animals in our care. We have governing bodies FWC, USDA. We

also are um along with international, national and state wildlife agencies who dictate the path of our mission. That along with the need to move off of land not belonging to us or the city is why it is important that we move forward agreeably with the new education center. It is for the animals. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Steve Walker and I also live on Almar Drive for over 20 years and um I'm here to speak against the the uh speed bumps or speed humps that being proposed by others. Um I think the aggravation and the cost of those speed bumps is not worth what you're talking about here. Um, I I walk this streets and I ride the bicycles down the street and for 20 years and I've not witnessed what they're talking about and um there's going to be a cost and and a hazard to it. If if uh if the cost of the if my vehicle is damaged or my bicycle is damaged or somebody trips on the on the speed bump, it could be a hazard. Um, there's close to 200 homes in that area and so there's probably close to 400 people you're impacting by these speed pumps.

I think there's other ways to uh slow people down if if there's a problem. One way they could take a photo of somebody and send in the police report if somebody's speeding or some kids or somebody's uh going up and down too fast or you think they're going too fast. Let's take care of the problem. not just suppose there's going to be speed bumps are going to solve anything.

As you recall over on Tripoli, they also had a similar problem where people complaining the mayor complained about the people were speeding too fast down Tripoli and I believe they saw that problem um to the state or the county or whoever they had to work with lowering the speed limit and I'd rather see something like other alternatives, you know, impacting us. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Kevin Priest. I live at 4700 Alma Drive. Um I'm in favor of the speed humps. I think they are very much um a good way of slowing people down. I live exactly halfway between Rio Villa Drive and the bend in Alma Drive. I have had vehicles with with my directional wand turning into my driveway pass me. People absolutely ignore the speed limit on that road.

It's 30 miles an hour and the road is striped for a passing zone. It should be 25 miles an hour double stripe. There's no reason for anybody to pass on that street. If you look at it, some of the offenders live on the street. And if you double the speed on that street and you go 60 miles an hour instead of 30 miles an hour, you're saving one minute of your time. I walked my dogs there three, four times a day. And actually yesterday, uh truck pickup truck was coming towards me. I gave him a little hand signal. slow down.

He slowed down, rolled down his window and said, "Get off the effing road. There are no sidewalks. The white line on the side of the road is six inches from the edge of the asphalt. There's no place to walk. There's no place to be safe on that road. Lived there for five years. I've probably come close to being run over 25 or 30 times. It's time to stop it before someone gets killed or someone's pet gets killed.

We need to do something and it needs to be done now. They did put that radar speed back sign this morning walking my dogs. Two vehicles went by going just over 30 miles an hour. One pickup truck went by going 39 miles an hour in 30 mph. It's chronic. people seem to think that they're entitled and they're all self-centered. You add to the fact they drive too fast, that 50% of them are on their phone. They don't need to see you.

So before somebody gets killed, it's time that the city do something about it. And yes, I'm on the county side and yes, we are putting the same petition into the county even though it's not a county road. We will be at the next county meeting presenting the same information. It's time to slow people down. Thank you for your time. Thank you.

My name is Margaret Gallop and I live on 44 4528 Elmar Drive and I also am here to speak in favor of the speed bumps. About a month ago, I was coming home from just around the corner where Rio Villa makes that real hard turn uh and becomes Almar and there happened to be a car behind me. I saw the car in the behind me. I live at 4528 approximately 20 houses down on the left on the county side. I put my blinker on two or three houses before, which I always do to tell them I was taking a left into my driveway. I got almost to the driveway and this person, it was a woman in a white um Kia I believe it was who went around me to the left right around me speeding and floored it all the way to the end of Almar Drive or to as far as I could see her and I was already in my driveway. Um, a woman was walking on the sidewalk on the side of the road and she uh stepped across into the grass because she thought that car was going to lose it and she was going to get hit. I pulled in and went out to talk to her and she saw them. About 15 minutes later, that same car came back screaming down Elmar towards the corner and missed the corner. Couldn't make it. hit a pickup truck, backed up, went forward, hit a mailbox, backed up, and kept on going with fluid draining out of the bottom of her car. That's the kind of speeds that we have. I can be in my house with my windows closed. I hear a motorcycle come down that road. I want to go out and shoot the guy because he's crazy. And he floors it all the way down the road. And you can hear him coming and you hear him all the way down. Same thing with the we have a black pickup truck that's everybody knows that he does it and we don't know who he is. I don't know who he is but I see him and

they floor it. They just it's just a speed trap. It's just it just they just go so fast they don't care. So I'm in very much in favor of those before somebody does get killed. And I want to say there was a gentleman who spoke at a breakfast on New Year's Day and he told the story of his wife who's hit going out to the mailbox to get her mail and she was killed. So that's very bad road. We need help. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Richard Cell. I live at 27939 Arrowhead Circle Peace River Wildlife Center. Let me give you a personalization on this and why it really matters. Everyone that's spoken about it, they are spot on. It's important to our community. But here's why it's important to me personally. Three years ago, my wife and I, we were snowbirds coming from Kansas, we could have lived anywhere. We chose Puna Gorda

because the first time we came here and met a friend from college, we had lunch at Fisherman's and when we were done, I said, "Let's drive down this road and see what's there." What did we find? We had lunch. We found the Peace River Wildlife Center. My wife, God bless her, fell in love. We ended up buying a house. What does that mean? We pay taxes. What does that mean?

We go to restaurants here. What does that mean? We are part of the fabric of the community. It matters. It's important. So, from a financial end, everyone on this commission, Madame Mayor, I am begging you to make sure that you keep the life going for what we need in our community. That's a financial end. Everybody understands financial. So, let me talk about why it really matters to me. Because the woman that I love,

everybody understand and we've been together how many years? 36 36. She's a volunteer there. And when she goes, she actually likes cleaning the cages. And when she comes home, I say, "How are the kids today?" Who are the kids? Volunteers. Who are the kids?

All of them. Everyone here is smiling. What more could you ask for from a community jewel than the Peace River Wildlife Center? Everyone smiles when they go there. Every single time. So please, please, please do what makes sense, do what's right, and make my wife happy. So happy wife, happy life. Thank you very much.

City O'Hara, PGI, 30 years living there in the same house.

I'm here to touch on something that most people won't, and that's the police uh raises. Um I come from a family of with a strong military background. My grandfather was career uh Navy uh stationed in Miami who came up to Pennsylvania every summer spent the entire summer with myself and my six siblings. And he had us march into his room after dinner and you know would say hut two three four hut two three four and right hand salute too. And then he'd give us all a candy bar. though I've been around military for a long time and I respect those who put their lives on the line for us

and the police do that every day for us. So that is highly commendable in my world. I also am an advocate of good government, smart development, wise investing, wise finances. I own several businesses. is I was elected to a a four-year term on a board of finance where I was unpaid in Connecticut, and I was happy to do that. Happy to look at the fire department's budgets, happy to look at the police department's budgets. We rarely turn down anything because we were given good budgets, honest budgets, fair budgets. I've been trying to get the all the salaries. I want every to know what everybody's getting paid in our police department. And I still have not gotten that. I asked that shortly after last council meeting.

You know, you they won a 10% raise. 10% sounds like a lot. I don't what, you know, do have you looked We have a new council. Um, a lot of members on the council are new. You don't have the experience. You don't have the financial background. You don't have the development and investment background. That is very clear. We're very glad that you got rid of the corruption, but now we got experience, which is a an issue. And come here twice a month. I have a million things to do and spend five hours here to be able to talk for three minutes before and three minutes after because you have to be watched because you don't have the skills and and you need a board of finance and you need a building committee of people that are trustworthy.

I don't know how you're going to I I want to come through every salary and look at it compared to what the last several years and uh look at other counties. We don't have the money every salary and look at battered with a a hurricane and floods. So, you know, this is not the time to be asking for a 10% raise, but on the other hand, we want to be fair. These people are putting their lives on the lines. We need to look at the whole big picture and that's going to take a lot of time to be asking for. I'm not so sure you're putting that into it. I don't think they should get a a their raise should be accepted for the mere fact that I haven't gotten the documents I requested to to look at it and to give you guys some insight on what I see from my experience and having several successful businesses paying workers comp the whole bit.

But anyway, uh uh they they the bottom people may deserve a 25% raise, but we need to look at several successful businesses paying workers comp the whole but anyway they the bottom people may deserve a 25% raise, but we need to look at

Morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Sashila Cherion and I've lived in the aisles for quite a number of years. I noticed that today there were many people who talked about the Peace River Wildlife Center. I'd like to add something to that. If you reme I'm sure all of you remember that we used to donate hundreds and hundreds of cans, soda cans that the piece of wildlife crushed and they made money on it. Well, the hurricanes took care of all of that. Um I usher at the Military Heritage Museum

and I noticed that uh we had functions there and I noticed that people just threw away their cans, the soda cans. And I asked I happened to ask Sue Michelle, "What happens to those cans? Do they recycle? What do they do?" And she said, "Oh, we just trash them. There is no I was horrified because I'm a great I recycle practically everything." Um and so that's what started Sue Misha and myself. We could she was my partner in crime and we decided we needed to collect the cans and we did after every function she used to collect the cans and save them in a big box for me. Um, and when I was not there, she used to take it home. After a while, and we used to, of course, deliver them to the P River Wildlife Center, and we were doing our part for the community, but after a while with the hurricanes, she kept collecting them in her garage. And I get this call from her and says, "Sushila, uh, my garage is beginning to smell funky." So then um we we we found other sources, other ways of collecting and I must tell you ladies, gentlemen that somebody called both of us those two crazy broads and um I wear it as a badge of honor. I really do. Uh so we are still collecting and we had the thought that we would buy the crusher was of course destroyed. We thought we would buy a crusher for ourselves, a little one that crushes about 15 cans at a time. And that's where we are at the moment. And I was wondering whether someone could tell me, someone from the Peace River could uh tell me, us, Sue,

and myself, is there any um way in which the crusher can be bought? I believe it costs thousands of dollars.

Is that correct? I'm not sure. Okay. So, uh, well, my crusher costs about $120, and I think that's manageable. But I just thought I would bring this point up to all of you because it was a money m we were not making millions. I know that, but it was a money maker and it was helped the community to recycle. Thank you very much for your attention. Is there anybody else wishing to speak this morning?

No one else. Okay. Next, we're going to go ahead and go on to our public hearing agenda. Uh, first item is quas judicial

B-07-2025. 312 Sullivan Street. A a request by Sophia Gardy, authorized agent on behalf of Michael T. Hiderman, authorized applicant as manager of 312 Sullivan LLC, property owner for a variance pursuant to section 16.10. Chapter 26, Land Development Regulations, Pontagora Code. From chapter 26, section 3.9 per seven to allow a rounded average of 1 one ratio commercial area to residential area instead of the required 2:1 ratio and from chapter 26 section 4.23 23 A to allow the existing building to remain as a one-story structure instead of the required two stories for a mixeduse building located at 312 Sullivan Street, Pagora, Florida 33950.

Good morning, Rachel Barry. You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I do. Can you guys hear me? Right. It's really soft. It's really soft. Hold a little closer. The Can Can you hear me better?

Perfect. Okay. All right. So, the request as was read into the record is for application uh V072025. It is for the property located at 312 Sullivan Street. The subject property is listed on the Florida master site file and it is a contributing structure within the national register historic district. So although the interior renovations do not require a certific certificate of appropriateness, the variance itself was required to go before the historic board. Um HPAB heard the request on February 26th and then the board of zoning appeals heard the request on March 27th. um both of which have recommended approval of the application.

So to uh summarize a portion of the request uh when the property was purchased uh the proposed design of the interior configuration was permitted under the live work building type. Um and so the use of a mixeduse building is still permitted. It's just the configuration of how that is done. So the request is for a variance from section 3.9 subsection C7 that requires mixeduse buildings. Um it allows up the conditions for mixeduse buildings. You can have up to two residential units or a 2:1 ratio of non-residential to residential floor area. Uh so we are they are requesting a average 1:1 ratio. And then section 4.23 to three. All mixeduse buildings shall have at least two occupiable stories, 50% of the street floor dedicated to retail and then residential placed on the upper floors. So the request is to allow it to remain as one story without the retail use as well.

As for the uh approval criteria in section 16.10 10 of chapter 26 of the land development of the panagorta code. All statements have been found to be true with respect to the subject property. Uh from the future land use element objective 1.112, policy 1.1.12.11 and policy 1.1.13.11 each support the request. And of the historic element goal 11.8, objective 11.8.1 and policy 11.8.1.7 8.1.7 also support the request.

On your screen, you will see a conceptual design of the interior configuration. Uh so the office space would be towards the front of the building and then the residential would be towards the rear. and we went through the summary of the request. So the board of zoning appeals did include the first condition um as part of their recommendation as well. U staff has included an additional recommended condition. Uh so the recommended conditions of approval would be number one all exterior work shall comply with historic preservation requirements and number two the variant shall expire 6 months from the date of approval by the city council of the city of Florida unless the required permits for the proposed work are obtained or the proposed work commences if permits are not required prior to the expiration date.

And that is all I have. If you have any questions for me or the agent is here as well. Any questions? Does you don't have to if you don't want to, but state your name, please. My name is Sophia Gardy. I work with JVM Construction. Miss Gardy, I swear you first. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Um, I just wanted to come up here and say to everybody here and all of the members of residents, I just wanted to say thank you for your time and thank you, Rachel, for your time and helping us make this happen. And our main objective is just to to make sure that we preserve the historic integrity of this building. And as Rachel had stated, it we just want to bring it back to life because it it has been a little neglected. Anybody have any questions for

No, I just have a comment. Janine, I pass it every day and it's beautiful. You guys are doing a fabulous job on it. We do we own 308 which is to the left. Okay.

Nice. So I guess we're going to open it up public. Anybody want to speak on this subject second time? Anybody want to speak on this one more time? Anybody want to speak on this? Move to close public hearing. Second. Okay. All in favor of closing it. Say I. I. Oppose. Motion carries. Discussion. If not, I'll make a motion to approve 3A with the recommendations from staff. I'll second that. Okay. We have a motion second on the floor. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Congratulations.

Going on to 4 A. A resolution of the city council of the city of Panagorta, Florida, accepting a bill of sale for lease of lean affidavit of no leans and utility easements from Panagora acquisitions 2 LLC and warranty from Earth Enterprises Inc. for water and wastewater facilities at the development known as Pagora Commons located at US7 and Piper Road providing for conflicts and severability and providing an effective date Tom Spencer, utilities director. Uh, this resolution formalizes the acceptance of completed water and wastewater infrastructure uh, completed uh, by the developer for this panagora comments project, including a bill of sale, release of leans, easements, and associated warranties. As is standard practice, these utility improvements were funded and built by the development and are now being conveyed to the city for long-term ownership, operations, and maintenance. acceptance ensures infrastructure meets need uh the city's standards and is free of incumbrances and can be integrated into the city's utility system to serve customers reliably. This action protects the city by requiring proper documentation and transfers responsibility only after construction has been completed and verified and has met our standards. Uh this is a phase two of this project and the prior approved project was approved by council uh August 21st of 2024. Any questions for Tom?

Did Did they sign the pre-anexation agreement? I'm not sure on this one. I believe they do. They would have. They're in the county and that has not changed yet. Motion to approve 4 A. Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor to approve it. All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries.

Thank you. Going on to 4B. A resolution of the city of Panagorta, Florida, approving maintenance agreement number BJ85 PNS FM number 432729-1-78-18 with the Florida Department of Transportation for city maintenance of FOT highways within the city limits, authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the city and providing an effective date Anybody talk about that? Do we need anybody to talk about this?

Council's okay with nobody speaking on this. Can we get a motion? Okay. Move to approve 4B. Second. We have a motion, a second to approve 4B. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Going on to 4 C. Resolution and F.LAP Agreement for Alligator Creek pedestrian bridge design and engineering resolution. Richard Lemool, grants coordinator.

Um just uh basically the exact same uh lap agreement and resolution that we had last uh council meeting, but this time it's for Alligator Creek Pedestrian Bridge. Um, we've done this a number of times before and then we just also did it last um week. Unless you have any questions or concerns, I've got some answers. Obviously, biggest question is what is the city on the hook for moneywise?

Um, nothing right now. Right now, this agreement is for 771. Um, estimated design cost right now are from uh 23 with FDA and it's less than that. So, no costs at the moment. Um construction will occur once funding is available. Um but we do not have any construction funds at the moment and it's not on the books for FDOT but we've got 10 years after the design is uh complete and so expecting design to be complete in 28 and then um actively looking for uh construction money as as we speak. I just submitted a construction grant with FDOT on what was that um April 1st or something like that uh for the construction and we asked for $2.9 million for the project and uh we'll just continue to ask for money until it gets funded. Greg,

I was of the impression that FDOT would be responsible for the maintenance going forward, but the letter we received the other day said the contrary that we would be responsible. And so from what I understand, it is

maintenance is going to be covered by them if it's in their um right away. And so the bridge is in their rightway as I understand it. Um and I I did ask the lab coordinator for um um right and so for uh for consideration of the same agreement that we had with the last agreement in um in North Alligator Creek. I haven't got any word back from that yet. Um but I did include um Ron Ron showed me that um that language and I haven't gotten a word back yet. But this was earlier in the week that I did ask about it. from that

and I don't the way that the Suntrail grant reads that we would not be on the hook. This agreement is a lap agreement. They're two different agreements, but they're not exactly the same language with the maintenance that's required. And I think what what what we're talking about is major maintenance, major improvements and um and rebuilding if if something gets damaged as opposed to minor um maintenance. And so the way I understood it and the way that but I haven't had a a an official answer from FDOT as to what is the difference between minor maintenance which would be cleanup

you know and you know graffiti and stuff like that versus actual improvements and a recovery from damage maint but I'm I'm looking forward to that um that answer from FDA. Any other questions, concerns?

Um, Delex, for the record, I'm really concerned. I heard 2.9 million. I hear an unknown if we're have to take care of maintenance or not. Um, I I know that it's going to cost a lot of staff time and staff time is very precious. The thing that concerns me the most, and I think the last time we agreed because we're thinking it wasn't going to cost us anything, so we agreed to it. But when I read in in the email that was provided from us, you know, it it says local agencies are expected to budget for future maintenance and operation costs using local funds. That is stated in here and and right now with that stated in here with the unknown, I don't think we should take on a responsibility for a 2.9 million above this design cost, which is $700,000 plus. I just don't think that at this time we should be taking on this responsibility.

Um I don't know exactly how much we uh spend on maintenance for the North Creek Bridge. Uh maybe Ron has the answer on that, but as far as I understand, FDOT takes care of the maintenance on the North Creek Bridge. I don't see where there would be a difference. I do need to follow up and get a better answer about the maintenance difference between minor and and major maintenance. Um, and I I'm looking forward to that answer. Um, as far as the 2.9 million for construction,

um, we're not on the hook for construction at this time. Um, we're designing it and it's two separate, um, two separate grant ass, two separate portions of the project and FDOT does support this in a way. They just haven't funded the construction yet. I would say that with the concerns we have, I would say why don't we table this until until you have that definitive answer for maintenance. Okay? And then we'll go step by step. So once we have the maintenance, then we can go from there and then we can tackle the other stuff. So I'll make a motion to table this. I second. We have a motion, a second to table this. All in favor? I maint.

That was unanimous, right? Yes. Okay. Thank you. answer by anybody want to fill anything on the consent agenda? No. I'll make a motion to approve if none. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Can we take a 10-minute break really quick? I'm sorry. Is that okay?

Is Mr. Lecovich back there?

Okay, we're just going to go ahead and get started. Is anybody gonna speak on this? Any step? Okay. Do you want to go ahead? We're gonna have Peace River Wildlife come on up and speak to us. Okay. Hi. Good morning.

Members of the council. My name is Ed Watitzky. I'm an attorney. I represent Peace River Wildlife Center. Uh Trisha Le Point who is the executive director is also here. And there might be a few other people here who are interested in uh in this proposal. Uh As you know, we're here to uh request an extension of the buildout for the phase one improvements from April the 15th to November the 15th of 2025. What I want to do is I just want to explain uh some of the circumstances surrounding why uh the Peace River Wildlife Center is making this request and uh hope that uh the council will uh will will agree that uh this is a proper and appropriate request. Uh first of all, I'd like to say I think something that's pretty obvious for anyone who has gone over to the site. Uh the wildlife center has already expended an unbelievable amount of money and preparing the site in engineering plans and in actual site work and uh what I call soft costs, which uh include loan expenses and things of that nature. Uh the history of this is a little bit interesting. The u well the whole history of the wildlife center is interesting. I'm talking about just the Henry Street parcel. Uh the uh uh when the lease was originally entered, uh it was under some circumstances that were unfortunate with respect and one of the speakers already mentioned this uh with respect to the ownership of the property at Pon Park that the city originally uh leased to the wildlife center. uh the uh wildlife center uh agreed in connection with entering the lease for the Henry parcel to undertake a lot of work that it would

not have had to have undertaken had it been able to stay at Pon Leon Park. Uh the some of those responsibilities were constructing the parking facility which was uh this which the wildlife center supervised and and actually did the did the work on uh and hired the contractor for. The city did reimburse most all of those expenses. Uh but the wildlife center also agreed to be responsible for the storm for con designing and constructing the storm water management facilities that were required as a result of the construction of the parking lot and the piece river wildlife facility over the whole park. And that's an expense that obviously would never have had to have been incurred. That expense was shared 5050 I think or some some percentage between the city between the city and the wildlife center. So there is a uh there's there's a tremendous amount of effort. There's a tremendous amount of money. In fact, I can tell you how much money that uh we uh that the wildlife center has into this project so far. Over $2 million. And uh that doesn't even include the commitment of if you if you if you try to monetize

manpower that that pro that number would probably exceed $3 million with with all the work that's been performed. Uh the uh wildlife center uh has engaged in a capital fundraising drive uh over over the years to raise money in order to asssure that the expenses associated with relocating and building the facilities at the wildlife center are properly funded. And it's been a it's been a very successful campaign. uh the uh amount raised in donations, pledges, and other commitments as of now exceeds $3,600,000. And I want to come back to that. It's not that, you know, because a lot of what's been raised are raised in the form of pledges and commitments. And that's why, as I'll discuss in a minute, the wildlife center was required to obtain a bridge loan to assure the contractor that sufficient funds were going to be available to pay timely for the construction of the uh amenities and the improvements. And and by the way, the the work that's already in place has been paid for.

There's no loan on that. That's already that's already been been expended. Uh some of the some of the costs were anticipated, some were unanticipated. The uh it turned out uh when the storm water management facilities were being constructed and some of the site work was being performed uh some of the uh some of the foundations and some of the concrete and so forth from the uh wastewater plant were still in the ground and had to be had to be removed. that was unanticipated expense of around $40,000 and there was

situation that arose that we had to deal with and again I think I need to talk about that just a little bit. Um the the bottom line though is uh even with her even well let me back up. In 2024, the uh uh there was an amendment to the ground lease which uh had the effect of uh cons of dealing with the construction of the parking facilities which originally was going to be done by the city uh and uh the construction of uh storm water and so forth. And uh in 2024, that was June of 2024, uh we were on the Peace River Wildlife Center was on track, I mean was having everything in place to be able to complete the phase one improvements by uh April 15th of 2026. Um a couple things happen uh the uh two two things in particular, Helen and and Milton. uh and they didn't you know they affected the site they affected the pro that affected the process but it really even affected the piece river wildlife center in a more uh in a more devastating way and that is that the facilities of Pon Leon Park that were uh house the animals and so forth were uh were severely damaged. A lot of effort had to be and money had to be incurred to repair those facilities and uh the uh I guess it was the hospital building on uh down on Milus is that mile street or Martin I'm sorry Martin Luther King was was severely damaged also and had to be repaired. So, a lot of not only monetary resources, which I understand were close to a half a million dollars, but also manpower had to be diverted from the Henry Street project to restoring the

facilities. And again, remember that was in 2004 going into 2005 for taking care of uh or 2025. Sorry, Mr. I wish it was Mr. Vatiski. Can you talk into the microphone a little bit? Yes. Let me just do let me do this because it is kind of hard to just get down to this microphone even for a short person.

Um the uh so so we were on track the but even in light of all those uh situations we were the wildlife center was on track to complete the phase one improvements by April 15th. But I want to go back to the fundraising and uh in order to asssure the funds were available that's why the bridge loan was required and uh the bridge loan was applied for in uh I think it was around October

or started in June with the application for the bridge loan. The loan was committed by Sovas Bank in October of 2025 and we expected it would be closed right away which would have allowed the construction to to to be processed. I don't know what the status of the permits were but I believe the permits were in place. There might have been a little delay in that too but uh everything was was in place with the loan to go forward. So bank though required a number of different things. the the most important we all know about the you know the subordination non-disturbance obviously so I'm not going to talk about that but the other uh thing that bank was concerned about was the environmental condition of the property and uh the bank required and it was probably a wise thing to do anyway to have or or get obtain an environmental audit a phase one environmental audit uh the phase one environmental audit was obtained quickly. It was completed on October uh on October 10th of 2025. We're still on track. We're still on track. Um but the problem is the environmental audit uh found a strong possibility that there were some hazardous materials on on the site because of the past use of the property for the wastewater treatment facility. Uh there were some uh chemicals that that that they found materials.

I'm not going to even try to pronounce the names of them.

I I took chemistry in high school, but that's about it. Uh they're they're called PFAS and and they're uh chemicals that are associated and utilized and found in situ in u utility facilities uh a lot and and I and and and so the environmental auditor was specifically concerned about those because of that. There was a phase two audit that was required before we could move on and get the bank to close the loan. Uh the fa the phase two audit is an audit where there's actual physical studies done there. There are soil borings and and other physical actual chemical tests done.

Uh those uh th the phase 2 audit was completed very quickly too. We were rushing. We were trying to get this thing done. Uh it was completed on December 2nd and unfortunately it did confirm the presence of the PFAS. Uh the environmental auditor then uh required the wildlife center to take care of that.

Well, you know, we there were very small traces but they were slightly above what the uh requirements were what the guideline what what the uh environmental laws allowed. So, uh, the, uh, wildlife center hired an environmental attorney, uh, a very renowned attorney, uh, Kenneth Ortell, who, uh, has practiced environmental law. In fact, he's represented the county and some other, uh, local governments, uh, in this area. And, uh, he reviewed the, uh, phase 2 report. He rendered an opinion that uh, because of all of the circumstances, I'm not going to go in I well, I can't even go into all the details. kind of technical, but his bottom line opinion was and conclusion was that there was no need for self-reporting because the uh the the contamination was so slight. And number two, that uh the uh uh he he he recommended in order to comply with uh laws that there not be any water wells uh dug on the property or water not that water not be extracted from the property for portable uses. Uh which is fine. We're not going to do that and don't have to because the city water there's city water for the for the property. Uh the problem is that that report that was finally uh that I guess his opinion was rendered in uh late January. Now we're pushing now we're in now we're pushing against the deadline. Uh we're still trying to you know being maybe a little overly optimistic. We're saying okay we'll close the loan now and we can get this done. Of course then we had the other details about the loan closing subordination and so forth. Uh so so I I just wanted to go over that to explain a

little bit about the circumstances of why uh why we're here. Uh we felt in good faith that the uh April 15th 26th date would be well more uh or out well long enough in the future to assure and allow the phase one improvements to be completed. Uh as you see they're ongoing right now. Uh and uh we're very confident, knock on wood, that uh nothing will happen to uh delay the finalization or the completion of the phase one improvements uh past November the 15th of 20 uh of 2026. Um I uh I thought that the comments that that were made by the other speakers uh were were very good. The wildlife center is uh uh is a valuable uh and a very important partner in the fabric of Panagorta has been since 1982. Uh can't tell you how many times I've had to go over there with my daughter taking a squirrel or a bird or something like that that we found. Uh so it's uh and it does and it does provide the one of the speakers already alluded to and mentioned the uh economic positive economic impacts of the Peace River Wildlife Center. Uh so we're requesting that the uh that the uh fourth amendment be approved and that we be granted uh until November the 15th of 2026 to complete the phase one improvements and all the approved behing

as We were looking at uh all of our leases and everything and um one of the things when I heard you know PF PSA and I was like uh that's scary. PFA I was thinking that was pretty scary stuff and I I don't know if Mr. wanted to pipe in on that or not or if you think that's okay. Excuse me. Yeah, it's minimal. They're they're saying it's been taken care of. Right. It's minimal. So I just brought that up to explain. Perfect. Why the Yes, it was part of and I know that we were talking about like um the the le lease of a dollar a year and we want to I personally want to see you succeed. I'm sure everybody else in this council does too. Um

and I know we were talking about finances that was brought up several times about how much we you know contribute to nonprofits, how much nonprofits and looking at everything. And I know that you've talked to our staff about that and we were I personally was thinking that if we're going to do anything that we bring this back, you know, maybe in 18 months to see if there's something that we should input this into the clause to come back in like 18 months, take a look at how successful you are to see if we can, you know, change it a little bit to to have you pay more because we want you, like I said, we want to see you succeed. There's questions. You don't know how much things are going to cost. The other thing that I was going to ask is we are right now in the downtown flood study. We're not sure what we're going to need. I know you've got a phase two portion of that. I'd like to see if after our downtown flood study, if we need it, if we don't need it, how you are doing, if you think that you're going to be using it, maybe to also discuss that maybe in 18 months as well to say, "Hey, we need it. You need it. This is going great. This is successful." So, I'm I'm kind of doing two things here talking to you. Maybe I know that was one of our concerns as we're trying to figure out ways to help. You know, a dollar a year for 50 years is is a little unusual. You know, it's not for this area. Um but um to see and we don't want to make it extravagant where you have to pay all this money or anything like that. I think that we'd have to um like an assess value. But I want to say, can we come back and you know, in fact, the other thing I was going to say, a third thing is, should we make it January 1st, 2027 just to give an extra little leeway for you guys? You know, I mean, I'm thinking, you know, we don't want you to come back and I'll stress about this again because, you know, I I was just thinking maybe kind of just extending it a little bit farther for the beginning of the year to make sure that everything's gone. You know, we don't know what's going to happen with hurricanes again and stuff. So,

that's that is true. uh and we we would prefer not to have to come back here on this.

So yeah, and we would certainly appreciate that. Uh as far as far as the revisiting uh the uh uh this this whole situation in uh 18 months, we can't commit to anything as a as a wildlife center right now. And I don't think the city can really commit to anything 18 months from now because we just don't know. But but we we we are in a position where we we need to uh you know we can't be you know it costs we're dealing with the same things that the city is dealing with. We're uh we the operation uh costs operational costs for the wildlife center are very high and uh the uh unanticipated expenses that we've had to incur uh in 2004 and 2005 are high. the anticipated expenses that we know we're going to be incurring as a result of the buildout of the Henry Street property. We know what those are and those are high in the undertaking uh that that we have to uh Senova's Bank. So, we're not in a position to be able to uh actually, you know, agree to any kind of, you know, rental increase right now. But in 18 months, I I I I feel like that's and we did bring I think that was brought up in some of the staff meetings that that we would, you know,

bring it up for discussion be willing to bring it up for discussion at that time. Yeah.

Yeah. I don't think that we're and I can't speak for the board because obviously that would have to be a board decision, but I don't think we're 100% opposed to it. When we met with Melissa and Steve, what I had said was, "Can we get past the build and the loan so that we, you know, we didn't we weren't taking on another expense." Um, and we knew what we're our expenses were going to be. We have no idea. Um, our expenses are growing exponentially, going from point4 acres to 3 and a half acres and with two large buildings. So, figuring that out first and knowing what those expenses are going to be um, would be helpful. And as far as the date, if council is willing to give us till till January 1, we're fine with that. We've had a lot of discussions with our contractor. Um we're expected to be in before November. Um we were giving ourselves that time just in case, but we'll have no more of those H um

words um this year again. Um so we should be fine. Um but you know, I take January 1 if that's if that's agreed to. I think Melissa had um this year again. Um so um but yeah, January 1 is fine. I have no problem with that. Um you're in a lease. You're in a lease and you have a we now the city now has a $2 million upgraded property. To me, that's that's money in the bank right there. 2.6 to be exact,

whatever it is. Anything anything over. So, you know, the fact that we're even discussing that um to me is I'm not in favor of that at all. So, uh, $2 million of an improved property is is a lot of work for for a city property. And God forbid something happened, we would inherit that. Um, number two, I'm a little confused. Mayor, you mentioned something about phase two. What What does that when you said whether you need it or they need it, I'm confused on that.

Yeah. So, we actually discussed about that. Um, we have the downtown flooding study and they actually have phase one and phase two in their lease. So, phase two is the extra area and they don't know when that is going to be developed. That's also a prime area where if there's a possibility that we may need water retention or anything, that could be a good spot for the city to help with any kind of flooding issues. It might not we might not even need it, but we should have the options open just in case we need land. How does our lease read right now? I mean, I can't believe we're having a discussion of alluding to taking phase 2 away from road. We're not talking about that. We're just Well, that's what you just said, though. There's a possibility if we need it for flooding. If the city needs it for flooding,

that's what I'm discussing. It's phase two is that um where we're using for construction entrance right now. It's in the lease that a certain amount of years after phase one is completed that we would work on phase two. Correct. Is that something that you really anticipate needing down the road? Um yes, but I think we'd be open to conversation. Yeah. That's shocking to me. I didn't Okay. I I think we don't talk. I I think it depends on where we go with the lease. With the lease amount. Yeah. And just so council is aware, when Dr. Riker and I met with them a few weeks back, um it's a 20-year lease. Currently, 50 year,

I'm sorry, a 50-year lease. So, it's not like a one-year lease where there may not be major improvements during that short period of time. A 50-year lease, and we had discussed about keeping open lines of communication because there may be something where they need something amended. I mean here in six years we've got a fourth amendment coming through or so we're going to keep an open line with them because when a flood study comes through for example they may need something changed we may need something changed but we had discussed keeping open lines with them because of the longterm nature of the

you know you're right when you look at how much money that you've put into it you know that that is a substantial amount of of money that you've done and and that that's something that we really should be considering that that is an improvement to land. Um I still would like well number one I'd still like to move it to January 1. But I still would like to have a little bit of a reserve just in case you know it might we might not need it and then we just continue it on. But that's something that maybe after our flood study, you know, we can re just revisit and say no, we're good. We don't need the land. will keep it in your lease and it's just to protect the city and it might not be anything. Sure.

Great. I move to approve 6A and extend the date to one January. Second. Wait, January 1. Oh, the year 27 There you go. Okay, we have a motion in a second. Discussion on that. Um I actually asked about including to have just uh phase two on the table at this point which is part of police. I do not agree to that at this time. This conversation is about an extension for phase one the whole thing. Mayor, may I ask you a question? Is there a way to just put it somewhere in the record that we have a conversation in 18 months? Yeah. And that and that's what I'm looking for

rather than adding it to the I'm not Right. That's what I'm looking to to do within 18 months. We should know if we need it or not. Just to have that discussion to say, "Hey, what are you doing so that it's in the record that we can come revisit this and if everything's fine, just keep it the way it is." That's what I'm trying to go. That doesn't need to be made in a motion, though. That's a conversation's on the record that both parties agree that they may come to the table in 18 months. So, it can just be put in the notes. Okay. So, if it's just needed in the notes, I'm fine with that. And I'm confident with Mr. Watis or with Mr. Watitzky as well that there'll be an open line of communication uh throughout the years of what's going on here. We have a motion and a second I believe motion a second.

Y okay conversation. We have a motion and a second on the table. All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Congratulations. I would like TO I didn't get a chance to meet with um Janice and Debbie, but I did invite the other three and you're all invited if you get um steeltoed boots. I would like to invite you out the site periodically to see the build. I have all goes back to the Navy. Okay. Well, I have all the other PPE gear. You just have to be properly outfitted. So, let me know if you're interested. Thank you. Congratulations, too. Hopefully we have no H words.

Thank you. Yeah, we're just going to wait for everybody to clear before we continue on. I need to turn the air up. It's uncomfortable right now, but now that there's no bodies might get cold. Yeah, we'll get warmer. Anybody want to move forward?

Plenty of space. It's kind of nice having a full house. body.

Okay. Next on the agenda is local area of opportunity and request for applications. Okay. Next on the agenda is local area.

Good morning again. Rick Glenool, grants coordinator for urban design. Um, so today or maybe I don't again. So, um, we're going to go over a brief overview of, uh, the local government area of opportunity and what it means to the city. Um, basically, we we know what it is. It's, uh, the process that took place, um, about three three years ago with, um, the brand is number three. And basically, it's a it's a it's a method that Florida Housing and Finance uses to um, bring skin to the game for local communities so they can have preference points, specifically density, size, um, and and prior prioritize where that affordable housing is going to be in our local uh, community. And it's a permanent source of funding provided by the state uh, every year through what's called an RFA, request for applications process um um, designed by Florida uh, housing Florida housing. And so applicants and developers that want to participate in this LGAO process which is localized, this is the first step. Um they have to once awarded once um they get a winning application locally, they need a um proof that there is um a buyin from the community or the locality of $340,000 from the local government. And that's usually through a grant or through a a loan. Last time we did this it was in

Brandis 3 was through a loan process and most entities will probably go through a loan process. Once eligible uh Florida Housing and Finance Corporation will go off and um select a small number of winning projects winning local projects and then submit them to a lottery and then a lottery will pick which development actually moves forward. So if we win the local um government or if the developer wins locally doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to win through the state process that year. Uh but what this process is is so that we can actually prove that there's local buyin and community support for development of that nature in the community. And so sometimes

this process can take two or three years. So these are the recent um LGO projects uh through the city and through the county. And then basically what the plan is for the LGAO process this year is that uh the affordable housing committee is going to run an AF an RFA this year um this May um and they're going to score in June and then they're going to submit um submit the winning application um through the RFA process to the state later on in I believe August. um the recommendation with the recommendation comes an incumbrance from the county of 340 um and then if it's um not awarded by the state then it's deobligated and then so we're not participating in it this year. What we're going to do is we'd like to be able to participate in it jointly with the um affordable housing committee and the county next year and have two simultaneous RFAS at the same time when our developers are actually more inclined to move forward uh with a a project. And so this is basically the project uh for 2027. And then because the RFA process runs annually and it's always funded every year, it's basically the same RFA. And so next year it'll be 2027 2011. This year it's also 2026 2011. And then so basically if we submit a developer submits an application next year and it's not um fruitful, then we don't have to obligate it. If it is fruitful and we push it forward to the state, we they'd like to see and that part of that application has to be an incumbrance of a $340,000 commitment from the city. And then so if it doesn't win through the RFA process in the state, then it's

deobligated at that point. And then what ends up happening is you can go through the process the next year in 2028 and then you're actually proving continuous local support through the state and through the local government and then you end up with a stronger package uh for that development which is prioritized through the local government and you end up with a strong application in 2028. And so that's kind of where I'm looking at I'm looking at that long view. The first application is not always going to be a a winner because of the lottery and prioritization, but that second one will probably do better. Um, so basically the next step is for us to uh carve out sometime this year or before the next RFA in 2027 uh to carve out some language and priority uh prioritize where we want to be, what that development might want to look like um and then you know basically prioritization which is allowable through the RFA process in Florida housing um um corporation. So, and then with that said, the final piece of this puzzle would be in 2027 just or 2028 consider an incumbrance in our local budget uh for that eventuality that we will have a developer moving forward with an application. So, somebody will move forward at some point in the future just not this year. And then I am free take questions. I also have um two uh gentlemen here. One is going to be from um Kurt Pentlech Lupek, which we all know. He's the director of Panagora Housing Authority. He's also the vice chair for the affordable housing uh committee in uh the county. And then we also have a developer named Brian from Newark. If you have any questions for him, let's take some questions.

So, respectfully, this was on the agenda before. We we spoke about this and I'm not even why we're talking about this. Again, I have a lot of concerns. You know, the first time this was brought up, a lot of the concerns is, you know, the city of Panagorta founded the the housing authority. We have a housing authority in the city of Panagorta. And you know, what I learned from this last presentation that we didn't have an appetite for at that time was that it um you know, I would want to see something completely carved out for our housing, our city of Pontagora housing authority. This opens up other opportunities, but I don't know that it is the best for us since we have our housing authority. I would just hate to see that, you know, we have, you know, Joe Taylor developer that's going to come in and, you know, wants to do a affordable housing, which is great. And then we say, okay, we're going to give that $340,000 and then the next year our own housing authorities ready. I mean, they they've got some projects that are going to be ready pretty soon. And now we say, well, we're sorry. You know, we've already invested that money somewhere else. So, I'm not in favor of this. Again, I'm I'm really not sure why we're talking about this again because we were unanimous last time that we weren't interested in going this route that we had our housing authority.

So, I I think the intent right here is to pursue a development from Panagorta Housing Authority because they are going they're not ready to develop yet. Um but they are ready to develop maybe next year or the year after.

But we don't need this for them to do that. Just like Brandis, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but the the way that the Brandas got built was the housing authority came to us and said, "Okay, we're ready for development and then the council at that time agreed to to put that skin in the game. We don't have to go through any of this. this opens up opportunities for lots of other people and you know maybe that's great but at the same time my concern is if we have a housing authority in the city you know and maybe Kurt and the others can kind of speak to that to make sure I'm I'm not saying the wrong thing but if we have our own housing authority then I would like that to take priority for what's going to be built in our city I I think that's the um

we're interested in Panagorta Housing Authority going through this process but I don't know exactly what the process looks like I know that Kurt knows more about it being the vice chair of the Ahack. Um, but the intent we know that they're going to develop again in this well they're going to develop again.

Good morning council. Kurt Pelchuck for the record, director of the housing authority. Um, the housing authority will be eventually submitting an LGO application with the support of the city once we have Oak Tree demoed and approved by HUD. Um the competitive this would be a competitive process. If the council chooses to do the competitive process, my only request is that if there's any competitive process is that possibly that the council or the application could have preferences for the Panagorta Housing Authority since we are the local authority here that was chartered by the city of Pontagorta back in the 60s. So that that would be my only comment. If you decide to go to a competitive process to carve out that language,

but correct me if I'm wrong. None of this has to be when you guys did the verandas, you just simply said you came to Panagorta city council and said we need this money and this is what we're going to do. Correct. We uh the housing authority and the development partner came to the city council explained to city council back then what this process was and why it was needed to support the project to rebuild public housing from Hurricane Charlie. Correct. For the record, how many loans do we have out with this type? I guess it sounds like we're we can do it every single year. So, how many years of $340,000?

Currently, there's only one loan with the uh housing authority and the city and that is for to that was to support the verandas of property that is a $340,000 loan. I believe one and a half% interest is what we're paying on that and we have we've come to terms on that loan agreement and 15ear loan on that. I'm call saying that. So, we do have an existing $340,000 loan. This is asking for a second one. Is that correct? We're right now I'm not asking for a loan. I believe the the request was to asking to see if we want to hear. That's what I mean. If we do, then it would be a second 340,000.

Yeah. And not even that. What what this is asking for is for us to enter into a competitive agreement that anybody could. Okay. So what would happen is there's a protocol that correct me you know if I'm speaking out term let me know but there's a protocol where they would basically say you know the county would would open it up to everybody and say does anybody want to develop in the city of Pora and then it could be it could be the housing authority it also could be Joe Taylor I'm just made that guy up you know that Joe Taylor wants to come in so my concern though is do we have the appetite to open it up for competitive bidding where anybody can do that and then even at that time even if it was them we can still say no if we have the money, but do we want to open it up for competitive billing bidding, which is not done by us, it's done by the county. Um, or do we want to just stay with what we have? And if number one, if somebody comes to us and is and can, you know, be in affordable housing aside from them, we don't have to go through this process. That's my point.

It can be done without this. I just think that if we start opening up this competitive and I don't feel like we have a lot of control in the city that, you know, we already have a city chartered housing authority, then, you know, So, it's different. It's either they can come to us directly or we open it up and we have everybody bidding on it. And at the same time, no matter what happens, you know, we may or may not have the money for it. It's either they can come. I I understand. Um, and so the intent is is to continue this relationship with Punaga Housing Authority, but this is opening up for others too. That that's my

Yeah. And I'm not trying to open it up. I'm just talking about the process and then um just having a discussion about whether or not we're moving forward in two years with the housing authority can come to us at any time. Okay. And say we're ready to develop. Would the city like to go in an agreement and would they like to give us a loan? This isn't needed. Okay. From my understanding can come to us at any time. This would actually enter in. This would actually open it up to you know Joe Taylor and other people. Florida housing doesn't require a competitive process at a local level. That I will say am I correct? Anybody else have any questions or comments?

Do we have a motion on the floor then? So I'm going to make a motion that we we stick with a process that we have now that we we don't go any further with this. So if we don't have a motion this table or I make a motion not to approve. I don't know if it needed approval. I'll make a motion not to approve. I second that. Okay, we have a motion and second to say no. All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. I don't know if it needed approval.

Next is the award of amendment to Parker Mudget Smith.

Good morning, Anaheim. Procurement. For the record, the city previously awarded a master agreement to Parker Mudget Smith architects in 2019. It was for the uh historic preservation of city facilities. staff requested a proposal based on the negotiated hourly rates uh to design city hall improvements with the requirements of the US Secretary of the Interior American with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines and Florida Building Code. The first phase of this project will be an updated condition assessment and once that is completed the the consultant will come back to city council and pre present their findings. Um the total authorization cost is 359,000 and the project currently would be 16 months. But again once that condition assessment is conducted and presented to council uh we can move forward with discussions with the planning director as being the project manager. They'll have discussions with the consultant as uh the time to move forward and what that design will consist of. We've also taken the opportunity to include the security measures implementation and design of the security measures that we currently have for city facilities and include that in the city hall project to connect it to the annex the main the main hub. So that is also included.

So staff is recommending award to park Smith and if this was answered pre-aggenda I apologize because I wasn't able to make it but I sure I don't think it was. Um, I had a couple emails on this. I'm a little confused as well. So, first off, is this the same people that did the original? Right. Okay. So, in layman's terms, why are we spending this money when we already have all the design and everything and we can't just say, "Hey, we liked that. How much is that going to cost us today?" I I feel like, and maybe I'm reading this wrong, I feel like we're starting over, like completely over, when we kind of, for me, have like the paperwork there and we can just kind of pick and choose. But maybe I'm wrong

and You certainly can jump in on it as well, but the previous design is was on a much larger scale. Correct. And the imprint of the the the footprint, I believe, is not being changed of the current building. Is that correct? And the footprint of the building on the existing design had been changed. Okay. So, it's because of that they can't kind of correct. Correct. But that makes sense then. And the initial assessment was done some time ago and we've had a number of hurricanes and particularly two flooding events that could have changed the conditions that we're working from.

Now the footprint alone makes sense. Thank you. Yes, the design was another company which was cancelled when when the project was also cancelled because it was severely over budget. Right. I believe we discussed that since we are modifying or rehabilitating a historic building, we don't have to include all the possible ADA improvements. And I think we um I don't want to pay for architecture on ADA if we haven't agreed that we're going to do ADA, but we agree we weren't going to do ADA ADA improvements. Being a historic building, it's not required. Correct. Or not.

I think to the extent that the building the historic building will connect into the the council chamber section, We are going to look at ADA at least in the first floor area but not necessarily the second floor. Yeah. Like we're not going through the whole elevator thing and all that. Okay. No, just want to confirm that we're not spending money. We don't plan to lose. And and at the pre-aggenda meeting, they also I asked if the timeline could be shortened because it is the same person and stuff like that. And I think that's what they're going to be working on is as they see it, they might be able to shorten the time frame. Yeah. Because that's my concern too because you know it's like PTSD. you know, it was the 16 months, you go down the rabbit hole and then all of a sudden, you know, the prices are exploding again. So, yeah, anything to work on, that'd be great. Exactly.

So, we'd like that timeline shortened like if we can at certainly have the opportunity to verbalize that when they present to council their findings. Fantastic. Anybody else have any questions? Move to approve 6. Second. We have a motion, a second to approve 6C. All in favor? I oppose? Motion carries. Thank you. We're looking forward to that getting started.

Okay. Next is the application and permit approval periods. All right. Good morning, council. Rachel Barry, signing official for the record. And so this current agenda item is for discussion purposes related to various applications and permit um approval timelines.

Uh so just for some general information, um there are some timelines and limitations listed out in our code. Um a lot of the applications do not specifically include timeline. Um, but each of those, you know, you could add conditions of approval which could include the timeline. Uh, there's also some Florida statutes. Did you all receive an email with those attachments?

Okay. Yeah. Um, so 163164 of Florida statutes defines the terms development order and development permit. Um those definitions ultimately include our development plans, zoning changes, special exceptions, anything that gives permission for use of the land. Um 166.03 Florida statutes outlines the process for issuance which also includes timelines of how long we have um you know to process the application. Um unless the applicant agrees in writing that you know they might need a little bit more update the plan, so on and so forth. There's also a small caveat that was brought to our attention about six months to a year ago, uh, section 252.363 of Florida statute, specifically relating to natural disasters. Um, that is not something that automatically kicks in. The applicant has to contact us and say, "Hey, I want to use this tolling allowance under this statute."

So to into the specific applications for a certificate of appropriateness. The land development regulations already include a sixmonth approval allowance. Um after that six months, if the permit has not been the building permit has not been obtained or if for any reason a permit wouldn't be required for the proposed work, which would be very rare, far and few between um then it would expire. However, there is a allowance that they request a renewal within a year that could be um issued, not guaranteed, but it that would come through our office. And I believe that renewal

since I'm the one that approves the initial CAS, I I'm I'm sure that the renewal would come from me as well. And then they have to have very good reason, you know, for you to approve it. Correct. um they would need to explain why the permits were not applied for within that six months and and all that. All right. So, next up we have demolition permits. So, one of the things that I I I'm sorry to stop you, but I think for us to be very specific, I think when you do 16.3 to add that, you know, requested within one year renewed by zoning official. That way we see that and know who it goes to. Got it. Thank you.

All right. So for demolition permits, we kind of have two different timelines that play into demolition permit applications. So when it comes to the zoning approval, it's valid for 60 days, but a building permit that's issued from the building department is valid for 6 months. Um, so they would need to begin the demolition process within 60 days or zoning would need to re-review and re approve that permit. However, that section does not provide for a renewal or extension. So, that is something that we would have to work through if somebody is approved for a demo permit and just does not begin the work.

And and that that's one of my concerns and I'm just going to bring the Pontto Hotel up as an example. You know, they valid for six 60 days, you know, to demo it, but then they left part of it. How does that work? You know, I know that is the if you've got within six months a permanent place to start developing you know then it's waved but then how do we specify that in here that it all must be because I don't want us to play cat and mouse with that as well so it needs to be very specific so that is also included in uh section 16.5 of chapter 26 the requirement that the uh work be commenced or complete um and they are require required to remove all accessory structures and for that purpose that includes driveways, curbing, they have to restore it um like it had not been developed. And so when those cases come about, they do not fulfill all those requirements. That's where code enforcement comes into play. Um sometimes it can take quite a long time. But that in particular actually is going for a penalty hearing this month.

Yeah, I think there's where there was a demolition on Marian Avenue and you can still see the driveway is still there. I'm not sure why that didn't get taken up or not. So these are things that I'm I'm wondering, you know, once somebody demos it, does somebody go out and say, "Hey, this is still existing, you know." Correct. Yes. Like for a long time with nothing happening. Gotcha. So sometimes on the um the highways we have to work with FOT sometimes they say no, don't pull out that driveway. Sometimes they say yes, do pull out the driveway. Um on a city road, they would be required to pull it out.

And I I saw it here too that I don't know if anybody else picked it up. And number five, it says, you know, failure to complete required demolitions within six months. You know, deemed guilty of a noncriminal infraction in the city of Ponta code enforcement shall have jurisdiction. So that's something I think that we really need to stay on top of. Absolutely.

All right. So next up we have the development plan applications. Uh so this is found in section 16.6 of chapter 26. The approvals once approved are valid for one year. Um it can be renewed for six months if an extension application is properly filed on time and is approved. Um there have been some extensions filed in the past. I believe the most that were approved were two extensions for six month periods. Um the first the uh owner and applicant had passed away immediately after the application had been approved. Um so they needed some time to pivot and then they requested a second extension to have some more time and then third was denied because it had been two years since the original approval. So is that something where we could say you know again I guess zoning official would approve it for the six month extension for the second one but only give them you know maybe state they only have one extension you know approved and otherwise they don't have another one

correct you know that we can put something language in there everybody else we don't want to keep on having them extend ask for exception you know to extend it to extend it we should probably have a deadline because they're keeping I mean that was an unusual circumstance where people passed away but so limiting the extensions. Yes, limiting the two extensions.

That's all that was granted for that one because it was two six month extensions. So they had their original year and then two additional. So they had two years total. Is that okay? All right. So then we will go to special exceptions which are listed out in section 16.8 of chapter 26. That section does include approval timelines. The special exception is valid for two years. Um that two-year period is allowed for them to obtain permits and or begin the use. If the two years is not sufficient for the request at hand, um there could be additional timelines added or conditions of approval, additional safeguards could be included.

So my question is why is a special exception any different than a development plan? Why are you giving them two years where a normal development plan is one year? They're asking for the exception they're being given that. Why wouldn't they build on the same development plan timeline? they have to get the approval for the special exception before they can even get their development plan approved. Um because without the special exception, their development plan would be for a use that technically is not permitted on the property. So we would have to deny the development plan without the special exception first. So you're giving two years for a special exception. I mean to get a development plan which would extend it another year plus to see where I'm coming from where all we've got. So we need to figure out because if you do two years a special exception with a condition of approval that might be for another year that's three years and then you've got the development plan for another year which is you know four years and then development for another two months that's five years for a development plan. I guess what I was meaning was if the for certain special exceptions if if two years is too long of a time frame just please correct me if I'm if I'm wrong on this but we could shorten that time frame also

as a condition of approval. I just don't want to see us having this vacant land all the time and nothing's getting developed because we have a special exception or something. We want to see them move along and that's kind of our goal is to help move things along. They know they have a deadline that sooner. Maybe it will light a fire to get them to do something a little bit quicker instead of Oh gosh, two years is all a sudden here and now we need an extension because we, you know,

I'm okay with moving it to one year. Janine pulled for the record. I mean, you know, this is after they've been approved, right? I mean, obviously it's after they've been approved for the special exception. You have two years after the approval, correct? in that two years would be the development plan process and the um obtaining of building permits. So what happens if whatever we stipulate what happens if they don't meet the timeline they have to start all over. That would be correct. Yeah. I don't know if that

I'm not a developer, right? I don't know how long it takes to get stuff. I know it takes a while. Um I don't know if that's encouraging people to get stuff done or discouraging them that now I didn't get done and now I have to start all over. So forget it. you know, I I I feel like this is a micromanagement. I mean, whatever you guys whatever the people that, you know, you do this on a daily basis. I I don't know what really is good or not. Um, so I I just don't want to see where we're shortening things and then people can't get stuff done because we're handcuffing. That's all. This is permitting though. This isn't like saying, you know, start to end. This is for permitting to get started. And I'm I'm thinking if you really want something done, you don't need, you know, a total of five years.

Some of these things, some of them have happening consecutively, though, right? You got your special permit while you're while you're doing a development. So once you get the special exception, if you got the permit in place, it automatically goes to a development plan. Correct. Right. And there's the 30-day for staff to review and then 30 days for them to provide updates. And um so that process can at times take a long time. Correct. Are we are we having any issues? Is this why this is being looked at that we have issues or why is this coming to us? I guess my question. Staff was requested to bring a discussion item. But I mean have we had any problems?

Are we is the wheel broken or we just look I mean I'm I'm serious. I don't know. Are we having any problems? I just feel like if if the if it is not broke don't fix it. I think there was one that came up and and I don't know, it didn't come to council, but it went to the other board where they gave him a two-year for somebody who was leasing considering leasing a spot and now it's two years that this is still in the books that somebody can do um was it a storage unit, I believe. So now even though they didn't it fell through, now this person has two years to develop the storage unit because the first person in the lease. So that was kind of an odd one. Okay. But so but I I guess so that was an issue if you're asking I'm giving an example. But but why is that an issue

for a storage unit for two years that is no longer a storage unit place or acceptance? Yeah, I get that's an issue of property pull it up to land from being developed because they have well they can develop what was a special exception for that piece of property which was three times larger I think than what was anticipated. I I don't quote me on exact three times larger but it was a very unique large special exception that got So now we have two years with this large special exception. Is that project not moving forward? They have two years.

We have not heard any updates. Um the two-year approval uh relates to the special exception itself. They after the special exception and then the appeal for the square footage, they filed their development plan application that went to the DRC in October of this past year. Um, and then they have six months to get all of their signatures and approvals on their site plan. We haven't received any updates. So, their their deadline for their development plan approval is coming up within the next few days. Okay. So maybe not.

I just I I feel like this is all really just we're we're we're speculating. I'm not seeing that there's I I always like to look at something when there's a definitive problem. And I just don't see that there's been a definitive problem that I can say other than maybe, you know, okay, we don't like something sitting for two years, but at the same time, we still want to be a friendly uh uh place to come and to be able to develop. And sometimes these things take longer, and I just don't want to handcuff. So unless you can tell me that there's been a problem, I'm not in favor of any of these changes. So what do the other cities, counties do? Do they give two years for a special exception? Do we know?

I I have seen varying timelines for special exceptions because it it really depends on the use that's requested. um you know a a storage facility, you know, 18 months may be appropriate where you know a single family home maybe give them a little bit longer, right? Um you know, so it it could depend on the exact use that's being requested. For variances, the six month is typically what I've seen. Um and special exceptions, again, it it just varies based on the use. So they they even if we changed it to one year, they still have the you know, but why to go to another it though? It doesn't make sense to me why we're going down this rabbit hole.

Trying to see if we can get development moving faster. But but the problem is that's an unintended consequence, though. Is what if they But you're making that up, too. That that you don't that you don't like the two years, but what if they can't get it done? They got to go through the whole process over. That's not No, I think that's handcuffing our No, it's there's no need for this. We've had zero complaints. We've had zero people come to council. We have zero people that staff is telling us have had a problem. I mean, there's no problem with what we have. We didn't have any issues over all these years with busted rights and now we do. So, we don't know what's coming up in the future. You know, that is that is completely different.

No, I'm just saying an example of things that we don't know what's going to come up, but we're spitballing. None of us really know what it takes to to develop a special exception. So, leave it the way it is and move on. Okay. So, one of us wants to leave it, one of us wants to shorten it. I guess it's just a consensus of what we want to do because this is just discussion. Should I move on to the next slide? Yes, we like Do you have an opinion? She did. She said it little varies. Sometimes it's 18 months, sometimes it's a year. Yes. So, the currently for special exceptions, the code says two years. Um but if council you know deems it appropriate that could be adjusted up or down either way. But what do you think would be best?

It depends on the use right. So maybe make this with if you have this use this has this time frame. Yeah that but we do have residential and and you know commercial too. So we could divide it via resial. That two years is right in the middle. You said 18 months. Sometimes it's less. Two years is is a timeline that is really kind of right now. Two years is more. Two years is more. I understand that, but it gives you more time. You say 18 months. If it takes a little longer, you have that leeway. Oh, you're saying move it down to 18 months. No, I'm saying leave it the way it is. You said it was in the middle. Two years is more than 18 months. You're not understanding what I'm saying. Yeah. I'm sorry.

18 months is what she says is normally what's on there. And if you look at that 18-month period, if you leave it at two years, you're extending that 18 months by a few more months and allow that person not to have to start the process over. That's starting that process over is a lot. And that's a lot of money that people have invested. We want them to invest in our city. We want them to build in our city. And and she said it's it's do we want to go the rabbit hole where if it's this, it's this time and that that time. I think that's going to drive staff insane. So that particular property that you're talking about has sat empty for decades. couldn't figure out and they did figure out how to make it work. And I I'd like to know if we can hear from them whether they're still planning.

I'll reach out to them and see if I can get a response. Okay. I plan leaving it up to two years. I don't think it's a big deal. Yeah. Either way, that's fine. This is just discussion. So, yeah. Jine, you said one year. I said one year. You said two years. I'm guessing Greg, we didn't hear from you. I'm fine with leaving it the way two years said two years. Okay. I guess we're leaving at two years. Okay.

All right. So, for temporary use permits, um those are listed in section 16.9 of the chapter 26 of the code. And different types of temporary use permits have different timelines. Uh so for your farmers markets or Christmas tree sales, you know, your your tent sales, um those are allowed for up to 60 days. A temporary storage container is allowed for up to 45 days and a temporary construction office is allowed for up to six months. Um, other types of of temporary use permits don't specify a specific time frame, um, but can be included as a condition of approval. and any extension or renewals of the temporary use permits again would only allow for that same initial time frame for an extension.

And this is like though in place with the um on US 41 where they kept on asking for an extension. I think we gave them I can't remember the time frame but it was the uh mobile homes. Mobile. Yeah. So again that came to council. So I guess if there's something here it would come to council for an extension again. So the ones that fall under zoning official you know like the temporary storage container or you know the ones that are outlined there those would be administrative but anything that falls as like a unique request like the the staging lot that isn't something that's listed out as a temporary use and so that's why it came before council. Okay. So any renewals for an abnormal request for say absolutely would come back to you all for for renewal.

All right. So we've got variances listed in section 16.10H. Um these don't specify a time frame. Um but you know as we saw earlier with the variance that was heard this morning um staff recommended the six month time frame. Um, and so that could potentially be adjusted if the applicant is working through a development plan, per se. Um, if they're working on those final approvals, we might add a couple months onto the six months. Um, but of course, those would be recommended and would have to be approved by council. All right, we've got vested rights. I did not update that section. Vested rights are in chapter 27 of the code, not chapter 26.

Sorry, Rachel. with that. So that one you're going to put in six months because you said it doesn't have a specified time frame for the variance. You're going to make it six months. Yes.

All right. And this slide is not updated. Vested rights are listed out in chapter 27 of the code. Um it does not specify a approval timeline and so those probably might vary as well depending on what being requested. For instance, we've heard um two applications so far. One request was for a five unit town home. Um a second request was for a single family home. And so the the request could vary. So I don't know that I would feel comfortable including a specific timeline in there, but maybe include that um a timeline shall be included as a condition of approval

and then when it comes to council, that timeline can be discussed. you're giving everybody a a different time frame for a vested rights. I think we should still have like a hard stop. Um, and I think that it was the planning and zoning that request in three years to have that changed in there to three years to have a vested rights timeline.

I recall when it was first brought up with the first one, they were talking that there wasn't any kind of timeline and they requested for timelines to be three years. And then we discussed at that first one where I just brought it up vested rights with one year extension um if they're actively moving forward with their permitting and stuff like that. And the other thing with the vested rights um that I was talking to Mr. Levich for is if you say it runs with the land that's kind of scary if it's a vacant piece of property and and Mr. was a completely special exception for that because what was happening, but I think unless you have permitting in place and stuff like that, it just should not run with vacant land because now you put a piece of property on there that has a vested right to be a single family home and the rest of it's all multif family and then they have the vested right to put a single family. So, I think it should not run with the land, a vacant piece of property, I should say. So, it can run with the land as long as it's a developed land, but it should not run with a vacant piece of property.

Um, we also included a similar condition on the special exception we discussed earlier. Um, that special exception was also specifically approved for that particular applicant, obtaining ownership of the land, right? Um, and so if that particular applicant did not move forward, then they could not have another developer come in Perfect and go forward with the project. Awesome. But doesn't by nature vested right has a timeline because once we we do our LDRs and everything's in stone again it's really just to get bridge the gap. So correct I mean the vested right is specific to the the place that legis

specific to any changes we make. Applicant has 12 months from the date council changes something or does something. Okay, that makes it so for any So this will be ongoing on that's good to know. I think it should specify something with a type of time time frame saying that maybe like it will be discussed your your vested rights time frame will be discussed at council or or something saying you know that

leaving it open I think just is a can of worms. All right. Next up, we have the uh Florida statute timelines. Uh so, as mentioned, uh Florida statute section 163.3164. This is the uh from the definitions of the community planning act. Um and so, as mentioned, that term includes all the applications that we have discussed. And then the tolling and extension of permits and other authorizations. That is one that you could see some larger extensions on um that would be out of city staff's control. Um so there's only one development in particular that notified us that they wanted to utilize this statute and it was a residential development. Um so they reached out but other than that no previously approved developments reached out after the recent hurricanes.

And other than that, do you have any questions for me? I have a question. Okay.

No, city marketplace. I mean, we're so tired of looking at a concrete now. Um, so City Marketplace was issued a notice of violation letter and about a week after submitted a development plan application, um, which I talked to Mr. Lecovich, which temporarily put the code case on stay, uh, we issued a deficiency letter for that application. You have 30 days from the date of that letter to have all of the deficiencies addressed. Um, and this is listed out in our land development regulations. If that does not happen, the application is automatically deemed withdrawn and then the code case would kick back in. Uh that deadline, I believe, is end of day today.

Okay. Anybody else with anything on that one? Next one is the discussion regarding allowable travel plan length. Rachel Barry, zoning official for the record. Uh so this is another discussion item to receive feedback from council on any changes that you would like to see. So currently in section 8.10 of chapter 26 that outlines um you know RV parking for properties outside of the special residential overlay. And again that overlay covers PGI Btore Isles and Btore Meadows. So anything outside of those areas would fall under section 8.10 and then any properties inside of the special residential overlay would fall under section 3.13J. The difference between the two uh the special residential overlay limits it to a 19 foot or less travel van. So it does not allow other types of um RVs or you know anything longer than 19 feet which when you start to break down the actual length a lot of them come at 19'2 in 19t 3 in so they're just barely over that 19 ft. Um so for discussion um you know would you all like to see the code amended? Uh so just for some examples, you know, a full-size pickup truck is typically over 19 ft long. Midsize is about under 19 feet. Um but those travel bands are probably going to be about the

size of a fulls size pickup truck. Um so that would be one question is whether or not the length should increase within the special residential overlay. Um another topic that comes into play with parking of RVs inside the special residential overlay, you are allowed to park an RV up to seven days within a 30-day period if you have a a special permit. Um, in looking through the code, I could not find anything that allows you to sleep or live in the RV through that permit. I did find a section in chapter 24 um that says those units can only be used inside of a licensed park. Um, so if that is something that is desired to be allowed, then that would need to be added into the code. I think you also said on the web web page where you apply for the permit states that you cannot

That is correct. So it does state that you cannot live on it. Yeah. And is there isn't there a limit? I thought it was seven days in a 30-day period but it was only like twice a year or something, right? Seven days in a 30-day period and then there was like another caveat to it. I thought there is one parking permit where you can get for like two days in a row. Um maybe that that might be the HOA I'm thinking of. So those are some of the questions. Um whether we want to extend the length within the special residential overlay. Um allow additional time beyond the seven days within the SRO. Um or would you like to see it left as is?

These travel vans are very popular. I've seen them a lot, you know, where they're parked in and they're they, you know, they take them out, use them. And I know we had we had one come up around uh my area and it was that same thing. It was like 19.5 or something, you know. So, you know, are we out there measuring? You know, I I think what happened is they were contacted and said, "Can you give me the specs on what that is parked in your driveway?" You know, does it have A, B, and C? And that's kind of how they went through it. Janine, hold for the record. So, I can just say I I'm guilty of driving an F250. So, that would be allowed to be parked. I mean it's it is 20 up to 22.18 for the larger one. So So um your typical pickup trucks are just fine. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thank goodness

because I have one too. It's big. Yeah. Well, what I'm saying is this the full size van is probably almost 20 feet and and to me I I don't live in PGI or Bernto aisles. I mean saying 20 feet is really I think it's inconsequential when you're talking 19 whatever. So to give everyone foot. Is it really going to matter? I think it I think 20 feet wouldn't be so horrible. I agree. And it's easier for code enforcement. Yeah. Right. To not have to fuss with the So, could we change that to 20 ft? Make it 20 ft even instead of 19. Yeah, I have no problem with that. Have people coming out with a measuring tape that's 20 ft.

We might have to put notice out or maybe specify as well. You know, there's no overnight sleeping, you know, type of thing. That maybe should be specified. There was actually a code that I was involved in and they actually asked the person if it had a um there's actually a question that code asked whether it had a like a a potty in it or you know shower and that actually was deemed whether it was a you know a regular van or a habitable van and is there is there a difference of that too? Is that a curiosity? Um, maybe that's a typically the um definitions just refer back to the Florida statute definitions.

Um, but that is something that we would take into consideration if somebody has converted a typical passenger van into something else. Okay. So again, are we are we in consensus? maybe make sure that it's not, you know, they're not sleeping in as well in that 20. Okay.

And then would you all like to see any changes to anything outside of the SRO or leave that as is? Okay, next is Florida Department of Transportation traffic signal maintenance.

Good morning. Ron Evers, public works. Um the public works staff from the city has been meeting with the county uh public works staff on many different topics. One of the things we're working through right now is updating the interlocal agreements that we have with the county. There are some language in there that is outdated and we're updating that to work for both them and ourselves. One of the things that was in discussion was the traffic signals within uh the city of Pagord and city has a traffic signal maintenance and compensation agreement TSMCA with um F do we've had it for quite a number of years and how it works is the FDOT provides the they have signals within the city they provide us with funding for maintenance and operation and repairs of those lights. That's our responsibility for that agreement. We do not have the ability to on the staff the correct staff technical staff or the ability maintain those. So, we have the county maintain those and then we reimburse the county using those funds to take care of those lights. And so, we're just passing through basically to the county. We're the middleman. The city holds the TSMCA. Um, we don't perform the work, but city the county already does all the work. Funding's passed through the city, but we still remain responsible for compliance for the reporting and for any issues that may happen that are beyond those. So that gives us unnecessary risk. The city retains the liability for the operational safety. We don't have operational control because we have the county doing that work for us and it's

quite a burden both on county staff and on city staff to do the coordination, invoicing, sorting through work orders, getting all of that done. It's a big burden on both the county and the city both in right of way and with our finance department. So, it's an inefficiency. Um the responsibilities are misaligned, the county public works and ourselves. Um and we met with Kristen Simeone. She went with us to one of the most recent meetings in discussion of this and uh city public works is requesting the opportunity to transfer our TSMCA directly to the county that would assign full responsibility to the county for the maintenance and the responsibility and risk goes to the county and they would receive the FDOT funding directly and still be the same uh still be the service provider for the signals. From our perspective, the risk is eliminated. Uh removes the liability for signal failures and FDOT compliance. There's efficiency gained because of unnecessary pass through of monies as they go to the county. Staff time is recovered. we're able to refocus our time in public works and finance on the things that are truly important instead of sorting through invoices and there's no service impact. It's the same provider doing the same service. It's just a cleaner structure. And so what I'm requesting today is consensus to allow the public works to move forward with transferring that TSMCA over to the county.

Sounds like common sense to me. And I'm in agreement. Yep. Me too. So my one concern is that if we have something out, can we like tell the county, hey, we need this, you know, like we won't all a sudden like it's we're just city. We're not going to get to it. It is their responsibility. They take full responsibility for it. All of the risk goes on them, right? So if something's going out today, we're actually probably taking the backseat to county repairs with those lights being the count responsibility. It'll have equal attention as a county would have. Okay. So, I'm just want to make sure that we still have the same attention that we need to have.

We'll probably have better attention because it'll be completely their responsibility. So, for instance, if an auto accident happened or something rammed the cabinet, they've got the technicians, they've got the material on hand, and things get repaired more quickly. And it eliminates all that. administrative conversation. That's the biggest heat right there. So, if we get a complaint from a resident, we just like email it to the county.

County is responsible for those lights. But I just needed a consensus. We'll have to provide the minutes from this meeting um to FDOT so that they can get those wheels in motion and the time frame for the renewal is coming up here in May. So that's why this is a timely situation. We have consensus. Absolutely. Yes. Thank you. While you're there, I just want to say people are thrilled about the pickle ball and tennis courts and the removing the shutters from the city hall. It looks it looks so proud of the city on all accounts. So, thank you very much for getting after that so well.

Thank you. We've got staff that's been working really hard on a lot of projects throughout the city and they've been doing a fantastic job. No H words. No more. But where's the R? I'm kidding. Completely kidding. We changed it to healed. He court. Where's Okay, next on the list is the traveling request.

Yes, this is the last uh level of leadership training offered by the League of Cities. I've been doing my level best to learn as much as I can. job as well as I can and asking there is money in that fund that hasn't been used because others aren't taking advantage of the the training and I'm just asking to use that funding to take this last course.

So essentially yes um Jennifer Faulner, deputy city clerk for the record. Um, so I did just want to give you a current balance in the 4,000 account which is covers the council's travel expenses, things like hotel accommodations, mileage reimbursement, etc. Um, that is the account where council had authorized a $2,000 aotment per council member. The account currently has a balance of $4,55120 available. Um the anticipated expenses for Mr. Julian's uh FLC leadership class from that account would be approximately $350 to cover a one night hotel stay plus the mileage reimbursement. Um the registration fee for that is already covered in council's existing registration budget. So, this is just um a request to authorize uh the dispersement from the travel account because council member Julian has exceeded the $2,000 aotment because of the the FLC the other FLC training that he's attended

from the travel account. So, there aren't going to be any more requests again because it I mean it's already used up and we have until the end of September, you know, for this. So, there are other things that are coming up. Correct.

Right. So, so basically in kind of a more general um general framework under the current travel policy, council members who exceed if if if there are funds that are designated as a an aotment per council member, right, like the the 4,000 account for um for council's travel expenses, then under the current travel policy, any any council member who is in um who exceeds or has met that allotment, they have the um the ability under the travel policy to request an additional dispersement or an additional allowance um from that fund if there are funds available. So, like we said, council member Julian has exceeded his $2,000 aotment, but there are is still about $4,500 in that account available to cover travel expenses. Um and yes, that would run through the end of this fiscal year. And currently, we don't have any other um council members who are at their $2,000 aotment. So there wouldn't be a request that would come to council for those council members unless

the event that they wanted to attend would put them over that $2,000 limit and then the request would come to council to basically approve the difference. Does that make sense? Yeah. I I'm just saying that, you know, we have this time frame for this and and I'm I don't have a problem with this, but I don't want to see another request because I want to go to another event or something like that. That's this is a one time request. Well, that in in that case then the discussion would need to be both approving this particular request and amending the travel policy. The way the travel policy currently reads is any council member is allowed to bring a request to council for additional funds.

Yeah. And that and that's kind of what we discussed. We're going to self police. If you want to attend something, bring it to council and we discuss it. I have no problem with it. You can take it out of my account. I don't have anything coming up that I know I'm going to be going. League of Cities is is definitely something that should be on our radar. So, I have no problem. in favor of that problem. Yeah. I mean, I don't I don't have a problem, but I was just saying that we we need to make sure we balance our checkbooks and we have it annually that we know how much things are going to cost so we're not trying to dip from other areas.

Sure. And we can include um when we come when the departments do their budget presentations and we start talking about um allocation of these funds for next fiscal year, if council would like to revisit any additional conditions of the travel policy to amend that pro that process, that that would be a time to do it. Um, but like I said, this I just wanted to be clear that this particular agenda item was not to say correct approve this but no more requests because that would that would essentially that's triggering a policy change as opposed to dealing with a one-time request under this if that makes sense.

I'd like to get you know when we do this it's nice to have reports back but it's it's nice not to just say here go to the website and look at this. It's nice to have a detailed if you're going through this you want to educate us because you're the person who needs to educate us and I think the last time when you did something you said check the website and we kind of had just to always give report back when I go to okay yeah this is actually training that any one of us can go to this is just continuing education and government okay

and again if there are going to if if there if there is an appetite within council to have reports made council members who attend training as part of the condition of approval. That's something that you can all absolutely discuss as a revision to the travel policy. But I just want to be clear that, you know, we're not that this what we're talking about right now is not extending to a change to the travel policy, right? or that if it is that we make that clear whether we're approving council member Julian's request the way that the policy currently reads and talking about a policy change for future requests or or not. But I want to be clear that what what's being asked for is just a request under the policy the way it exists which allows any council member who is in excess of their allotment to bring a request to council for approval.

I will make that motion. Okay. I'll second. We're in a Yes, we have a motion. Second on the floor for $350 to be approved for Mr. Julia. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.

Oh, I guess I'm still up here for the next

council policy review. I had added, give me just one second for technical difficulties. Um, actually I had added a folder of the council policies under the presentation folder on the drive and I don't see Oh, this one isn't linked to the live Z drive.

Oh, okay. That's maybe that's the Okay. And that's just for reference for you all to be able to see the actual policy um reference policies referenced in the presentation if you if you want to. Sorry. reference. Okay. So, essentially, um, we went through a really fantastic review last year where we updated the the rules of procedure for council. Um, and as you all are aware, there's an annual adoption of council policies following the reorganization um, after each election. So, in going through and making sure that we don't have conflicting policies and that everything is updated, um, Sarah has been going through and anything um, that is currently a an in effect council policy um, but that hasn't been reviewed for a while and that may potentially be in conflict with the rules of procedure. We just want to get council clarification and direction on which way you want to go to make sure that when we adopt um policies at the reorganization meeting that everything is updated and we all know what we're working from from um for next year. So the first set of policies that we're

going to talk about um kind of fall into the basic category of rules of procedure and public access. The goal again being to modernize the polies policies, remove obsolete policies and strengthen the framework for civility and public engagement. So the um we'll do a similar to what we did for the rules of procedure. We'll batch the review based on policy categories um and just get council direction on how you'd like to proceed and then we'll bring everything forward for final approval um once we complete our review. So the first one and if there if you all want to see the actual policy pulled up for any of these slides, please let me know and we can take a look at the actual policy, but the slides are just going to summarize the content. So essentially, there was a policy um about city and county joint meetings. Um those were some key bullets from that policy. And so the clerk's office is request requesting council direction on whether or not you would like to um uh leave this policy as is and have it brought forward for um either to be readopted to incorporate into the council handbook rules of procedure and to make any changes.

Oh, I'm sorry, Jennifer. Do you know if the county has a similar policy in place? That I do not know. That is a very good question and something that we could certainly look into. Um, let me look and see if there's anything in the notes on the actual policy that talks about countyart.

So, it looks like based on these notes that this policy was um put together with input from the county back in 2005. Um, so these were so I don't know if they, like I said, I don't have the minutes here. Um, so I don't know if the county adopted their own policy, but the policy that we have was um was based on input from the county commissioners during a joint meeting. Do we need a policy on this? That's also a fair question. I mean, we all we all know how meetings run. I mean, do we really need a policy on it? And that's the toughest thing. We never know how our meetings are going to run.

Yeah. I say get rid of it. Either way, I just leave it until it comes up again and then we have to revisit it. Okay. And would you like as part of our uh as part of the clerk's policy review and update? Would you like us to reach out to the county to find out if they have any interest in doing a review of this policy as well to potentially update or do you want us to just say leave it alone, leave it the way it is. If something comes up, we can address it at that at that. I like that. That's up to you.

All right. So, the next one is a policy regarding meeting for city council. Um, and again, the key provision here was just about lunch breaks. If the if the meeting is not going to be over by two, um, clerk's office was requesting direction on whether or not you wanted to revise this provision, do away with this provision, or determine if a specific time certain um, for breaks within the meeting would be helpful. Again, I feel like we don't need that. We just Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, I think we're we're finally getting squared away with staff and stuff like that where we're actually finally making our meetings shorter, you know, knowing how much we can put in and how much of a time frame. So, so in this case, since this does establish a like a hardline for a type of break, do you want to just do away with this policy? and we can make sure that in the rules of procedure um I think it does reference something about meeting breaks just being at the discretion of the presiding officer. So if you are fine with that then we'll leave it as it reads in the in the council rules of procedure and get rid of this policy. Correct. Everybody good with that? Yep.

All right. The next one, this is the one that I think there um there's going to be a little bit more discussion on. So and Uh, city attorney Lecovich, I know you've been looped in on some of the conversations regarding the quasi judicial procedure policy. So, currently we have a policy. Um, it is it is included at the end of the council rules of procedure in the in the appendix. Um, it's also provided all to all of the board members during their um onboarding training and their annual training if they sit on a quasa judicial board. And there has there have been requests um recently torically to basically clarify some of the things in this procedure because we have especially for the board members because we have essentially two types of quasi judicial advisory boards. We have boards that are more on the enforcement side, which would be your code enforcement board and the building board. And then we have quasi judicial boards that are on um the legislative public hearing side, more similar to what council does, which is where they hear applications and make recommendations or decisions based on established criteria. Um so I'll give you an example in our current um uh quasi judicial procedure and the policy that adopts that procedure. Um there was some a question at the code board training this past February that there are um provisions for public comment in this quasi judicial procedure the way it reads but code enforcement board they don't take public comment because of the enforcement nature of their hearings and so there was a request to maybe clarify that within the procedure but because the procedure was adopted by resolution of council council is the ultimate body that has to decide about making changes to that procedure. So, that's just an example of the type of clarification um that advisory board members and staff are seeking. and if you all had any

other instances that you wanted to bring up um about clarification or revisions to the policy, but essentially we're looking at um refining the quasi judicial procedure to make clear when things apply to quasi judicial boards that have to do enforcement versus quasi judicial boards that have to do legislative or public hearings. So, one of the things I I know with the quasi judicial it's supposed to be facts, you know, and that's what Mr. Levich on saying facts and sometimes we'll have open to the public and they're just doing emotions of what they think and what they feel and stuff like that. I don't know how to

Sure. So that that's already addressed in the policy and in practice what happens is that is then the responsibility of the board attorney staff or the city attorney if he's present to reframe the scope of that testimony or to let the board know you know you you if it's a if it's a situation where public comment is allowed and that public comment exceeds the scope of the testimony that that's allowed in the context of that public hearing that's already accounted for in the procceed there wouldn't we wouldn't have to make any change to the procedure for that. That would just be a situation where in practice staff, the board attorney or the city attorney would have to let the board know whether or not that testimony is eligible as fact-based or whether it's

Do you see what I'm saying? So that so I I understand that concern and that's definitely something that that comes up that that is already contemplated in the procedure and the procedure and the policy already say that has to be based on clear and substantial evidence, facts, all of that stuff. So, yeah, that stuff's already in the procedure. So, that wouldn't necessarily be a procedure, a change to the this document. That's just something that's on on responsible parties during the hearings to make sure the board is aware of what the scope of of that testimony should and should not be.

So, if someone's getting emotional about a topic like on that, does Mr. Levich have to or can yeah or can or any of us if it's happening in the context of a city council meeting it's a quad judicial and people get emotional sometimes but they stop you I mean the last time was very emotional emotions which was great I didn't feel like it was appropriate for me to stop emotional even though I said even though it's

well and then within the quasi judicial hearing you also have where you're functioning as legislative versus where you're applying criteria. So maybe Mr. Lecovich, you can speak to what the what the kind of scope is when you're having public hear when you're having public comment because it's a legislative public hearing versus you're having a public hearing because you are soliciting testimony to decide whether or not certain criteria are being met that then determine whether or not you're going to approve or deny a request. I mean, I think if you have public comment under quasi and you know, you're talking about where they're going to approve this this computer screen and the person up there starts talking about, you know, a building across the street, then it would probably be up to either the mayor or Mr. Levich to say, "Please stay on topic. You know, that building has nothing to do with this topic here." Motion's hard, you know, but

Well, what about the time when someone came up multiple times speaking from the crowd coming up and and and that's I mean, that's just not appropriate. I think if you stepped in at that time with your authority, Mr. Leovich, that would help us a lot. Um, and and it was it was really it wasn't necessary. It wasn't helpful and it was repetitive. So, we're already bad guys in those kind of situations,

you know, and being, you know, if it's like a courtroom, is it relevant or not? Which is does it help the tri of fact, which is you guys, the fact body make a determination. If the answer is no, then it's not relevant. If the answer is yes, it is relevant. That's up to you guys. You know, people who get emotional. Yeah. You know, I mean, I can certainly say, hey, it's up to you to use your decision making authority to rely on what testimony you want to believe and what testimony you don't want to believe and what is factual, what is emotional. But it's really up to you guys how you want me to proceed with it.

I'm kind of I mean people are going to get emotional and things but I'm thinking more of when they come up multiple times and out of basically out of order you know they have a chance to speak and make their point and then they keep coming and coming that doesn't seem like that's a very very good way to run a meeting because then it becomes repetitive. Yeah. And it's and there's a lot of people here you know for five and a half hours you know recently

and we've had occasion some folks come up during the public comment section early in the meeting and give their opinion on item whatever 2A and then want to speak during the public comment section of when 2A is being addressed and it's the same information so maybe at the beginning so it becomes completely repetitive I think so one of the things that you're asking though is like code enforce with their cause of judicial. They do not have, you know, correct their their enforcement hearings do not allow for public comment under state.

Yeah. Which which is the way that it's supposed to code enforcement as it is not open to the public then Mr. No, no, no, no. Like they don't have their initial public comment section. Oh, I see what you're saying. So, do we want that? No, you don't need that. So, so basically in for that example. What I was suggesting is that while while that's how they're trained and while that's how the meetings run in practice, that information is not contained in this resolution or there is what's not contained is there isn't a clarification that the public comment procedures set forth in this quasi judicial policy do not apply to code enforcement hearings. And that's what you need to add.

So that's what we're requesting clarification on things like that. Whether we revise this to add a section that says okay specifically for enforcementbased quasi judicial hearings like those that go before code enforcement and building board. Here are the set of procedures that are followed for those two types of boards because there is some some lack of clarity in this because this document is trying to address all the quasi judicial hearings that happen with across all the city boards and some have more stringent restrictions than others because code board bases their decisions off of the evidence. like someone saw, heard, and observed.

So it's factbased. You know, you don't need someone coming in, well, I think A, B, and C. It does them no good. Yeah. Now, if you want to clarify, that seems like a wise choice. Yeah. Like what we have now, say this is council, you know, that is and then, you know, make sure judicial is separated for other.

Yeah. Yeah. So, I think I mean our the clerk's office recommendation um would be to basically revise this procedure document and then have a council resolution adopting the revised procedure that sets that kind of separates it more and says these are the quasi judicial procedures that apply to to hearings before city council. These are the ones that apply to code and building and enforcement boards and these are the ones that apply to quasi judicial boards that hear applications like the board of zoning appeals, the canal advisory committees, those type of things. And obviously there will be some overlap in those procedures because some of the procedural things are the same regardless of what type of hearing it is, which is what's already in this policy. But I think breaking it out into those so that when a board member or a council member comes on, they can go right to the type of hearings that apply to the board they sit on and not be confused by the stuff that applies to maybe other boards but doesn't apply to them.

Perfect. Is essentially what we'd like to do. Excellent. And obviously we will work um with you uh Mr. Lecovich to send you drafts of those revisions based on the input that we've received from board members. you'll look it over and then we'll present a revised procedure um for council approval. Excellent. Okay.

So, this next one um council has a policy in effect that council meetings will not be scheduled on Yamapore. Uh clerk's office would just like um direction from council on whether or not you would like to extend this to any other major religious or cultural holidays. Obviously, practice versus policy, but this is I guess the only one that we have an actual policy for. So, if you would like to expand that or if you would like to get rid of this policy and just say, you know, if staff's city manager's office and clerk's office practice is to to avoid holiday scheduling to the greatest extent possible and you're fine to just do that as a administrative directive, do we need a policy for that? So, depends on which way you want to go. Get rid of the policy and just have a note that We try to avoid holidays including before Wednesday. Okay. So this next one um is regarding public input and again our recommendation I know that we have um updated information and updated policy actually in regarding public input in the rules of procedure. So essentially, we just want to know, do you want a separate public input policy? Do you want to just revoke this one and say whatever's in the rules of procedure is what we're going with. Okay.

So, this was just one where it's it's in conflict potentially with what's in the rules of procedure. We just need your approval to bring it forward. Everybody says yes on that. Okay. Yes. Can I make a couple of comments about the this issue though? It really helps the three minute and the timer and all that. Uh, and I think we our intention is when someone receives an award or something, they have about like a one or two minute opportunity to talk. Sometimes they go on a long time, 10 minutes, you know, and so it's not really our rules of rules of procedure, but perhaps when we're presenting awards, we can tell them if you want to respond.

Yeah, I'm gonna Yeah. So, I mean, if we're in agreement, then then it helps to do or you can go ahead and say you have a couple of minutes if you'd like to respond, you know. So, maybe we'll do is in the beginning when we're doing presentations, we'll just, you know, add that at the very beginning saying we're just asking if you receive something to keep it limited to a minute or I can't remember how many minutes. So, whatever we have in our rules and procedures, we'll just, you know, put that at the beginning just we at the beginning. Okay. I have another comment. Um, can we just limit the number of presentations and all these, you know, proclamations and stuff? I thought we were only

I thought we limited those two. I don't know what happened. I think it was three. I don't know how we ended up with six or so today. I think it was not only proclamations, it was service awards. That's what made it larger. Does everybody get a fiveyear service award? Was this a special exception? Yes. If you make it to five years, you get the opportunity to receive that award in front of council. Yours, huh? No, not employees. I know. I'm just joking.

I think it I think it's important for our employees to be recognized at council. Um, they have the option if they're not comfortable being recognized or if it's not a big deal to them, they do have the option to just receive it from their supervisor. But to me, it's a great opportunity for all of us to be able to say thank you to them. Great. And I'll just um on that, I did just because I I did find it. So, in our current rules of procedure under rule 20 for proclamations, there is a rule 20.7.1 that already states the recipient is allotted up to one minute to speak upon accepting the proclamation. So, if council would just like to

reiterate that at the beginning of that section of the meeting, then I'm happy to do the timer for one minute. I was going to say or you could just set the timer for a minute. You say that and then set the timer and then that way we're not kind of like Sure. Um and then regarding the number, it just says under uh rule 20.11 uh number of proclamations read during the meeting may be limited by vote or consensus of city council. So there there was not a specific number identified in the rules of procedure as to this was going to be the maximum number per agenda. You guys want to make a decision about that? I actually enjoy them.

I doesn't It doesn't matter. I do enjoy some of them for sure, you know, but um yeah, I don't I just don't think we need more than three and they'll be more special. I mean, the downside to that is we only meet so much per year. So, it's kind of hard to try to get everybody taken care of along with the service awards. It could just be like a consciousness thing. We hear you. And point taken.

And then I noticed today people were clapping because we all love the birds, but they haven't been clapping. And so do we promote loud clapping or not? And it probably maybe I think it really was just we we've had it back and forth and stuff like that. It doesn't bother me if people clap. I don't know how anybody else feels. It doesn't bother me either. I'm just thinking about the ones who don't get the applause. But I Okay, just let it go. It's fine.

I'll just share with you what it what is in the rules of procedure regarding public comment because I know that that was something that we discussed when we reviewed these rules. Let me see if there was anything that had specifically as they said on the front when we had that

right and that was I mean and that was part of that was existing policy. So when we discussed the public comment procedure that was adopted as the rules of procedure that was a point of discussion and what made it into the uh rules of procedure currently in effect is that any person who willfully interrupts or disrupts assembly of people meeting any lawful purpose shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be arrested by police officers. So we don't have anything more restrictive in terms of decorum I guess I'll call it regarding public input and that was at council's direction. So if you would like to revisit that you're obviously welcome to when we do our um do our resolution and adopting proced

get a consensus here right now how we feel about it. It doesn't bother me at all. I enjoy it. I've always said meetings should be neutral and there shouldn't be because it can be decisive on one end of the other. That's the way I would run a meeting. But, you know,

I've always it doesn't cause me to be more decisive one way or the other. I think that if if we truly work for the people and they're here to show their approval for whatever, then it's okay for them to clap. I think it's ridiculous that we used to go into a that was dark and and quite frankly it made me cough and sneeze and everything else. It just felt like you were uninvited and I want the public to know they're very much invited and they're very much um invited to show emotion. I I just think it's important. I think it makes them feel more relaxed too when they come up here.

And when I said divi, I didn't mean on our end decisive. I I meant that if you have something that's going on that is, you know, can be tense and you have some groups clapping and some other groups clapping. I just like a neutral environment that way nobody feels like they are intimidated to go to speak because you have maybe one side clapping or you have another side doing this. That's the just the way I mean you go into any other council chambers or you know um a judge or you know anything like that. It's there there's a reason for that. So I mean obviously I'm outnumbered. I've been that way since day one. But that's okay. I just don't want people at the same time I want people to be relaxed in here, right? But I also don't want them to be intimidated. Um because people are clapping and and standing and I mean I can tell you that to me that conversation with the sports court um you know where you have people that are standing and clapping and hooting and hollering you know you had people on both sides there and you had people that probably maybe were intimidated that they didn't want to get up there. So you know you could argue that either way um we should be environment, but you know, that's just

like I said, we we won't make any It sounds like you we don't have a consensus to make any changes or clarifications currently um to the the public input policy for that under rules and procedure. Again, if that's something you want to bring up when we go to readopt this um next year, we can have that discussion then. Okay, next one. Action non-aggenda items. Again, this is another one that as you can see from 1998. Um, this is contemplated already in the uh rules of procedure that were adopted in October of last year. So, same as last one. Do you want a separate policy on this or would you like to revoke this policy and just go with whatever was incorporated in the rules of procedure?

Revoke this one. Everybody okay with that? Whatever. Sorry, it looks like the key provisions from the last slide got copied and pasted. Sorry. Let's do the same. Let's do this. Let's go ahead and pull up the actual policy just so you know what it is exactly.

Okay. So, apologies for that. So these are the key provisions from uh policy 98-04. And then just briefly, let me look at what the current rules of procedure says on agenda items, non-aggenda items, that's rule 38. So our current rules of procedure, rule 38, um this first bullet point is exactly the 38.1.1 that the item is if it's deemed an emergency matter then it can be um it can be essentially added to the agenda. Um and same with the second bullet point. So yes both all all of this that's currently on the screen that text is essentially what our current rule 38 in the rules of procedure reads. So if you all are in consensus to revoke this policy we'll just go with what's inated procedure. Okay. And thank you, Council Member P. I thought I I felt the spidey sense of like something feels a little funky on that one. So, thank you for making sure that we were looking at what we're actually revoking instead of a copy and paste issue. Okay. The next one is meetings during state of emergencies. I believe this was of a set of policies that was adopted in response to COVID. Um, and I don't know if we have something this detailed in the rules of procedure. I'm also not sure, Missy. Do you know if the city clerks or excuse me, if the city manager's office has established a policy on that or are you all were you all operating under the policies that were enacted during CO?

During CO, we were operating under this policy. Um, state law is what dictates the you had to have the physical forum. You couldn't just have everyone telephonically or remote participating. The written comments that was the same thing. We we couldn't encourage people to come into the council chamber. So that's why that was there. I think we're under a different set of circumstances now. So council might wish to consider that. Let me see if there was anything. So, rule five in the current rules of procedure um talks about emergency council meetings. And let me just see if there was anything that was contemplated for um state of emergency.

There's nothing under rule five that currently contemplates that. But what we could suggest is when we go to adopt these rules of procedure. Um we could bring a revision that adds a subsection to that rule stating that meetings um during states of emergency as declared by federal, state, whatever will comply with those requirements because it sounds like those might change depending on what the state of emergency is. So basically just adding to the policy that we'll follow whatever the state of emergency requirements are as dictated by whichever agency declares that state of emergency. Does everybody sound okay with that?

Yes. Okay. So that brings us to the end of this first set. The next set will be um that governance conduct and leadership. And again, I will try to maybe um what I can do is I can talk to Sarah and we can go through and um

well, let me ask council this in order to kind of streamline this process. if the independent standing policy either is completely the same as what's in the current rules of procedure or is outdated and in conflict with what is in the current rules of procedure. Could we have a standing consensus that we'll revoke those policies and council will go with what's in the rules of procedure? Yes. Because then we can just lump all of those revoked ones together in one resolution. We don't have to go by them one by one. Does that work for everybody? Okay. Great. All right. Thank you very much. Okay. I I have I have a question. Janine for the record.

So this governance, conduct, and leadership, what did you say you and Sarah will Oh, just that that's the next um the next kind of category of independent policies that we will bring for your review. Okay. Yes. And I I don't know if that's been scheduled on a on a future agenda yet or if we're looking for an opening for that, but Good. I have a lot to say on that topic. Okay. Great. And if you um if council would like, we can send you a list of those policies that will be reviewed and cop and links to those. So if you would like to prepare questions either in advance of the meeting or if you want to bring it up at pre-aggenda for that week, then then we could do that and you'll be able to kind of have a little bit more of a heads up on those.

Perfect. Okay. Thank you. Let's see. Project.

Okay. The FEMA grant manager closes on Friday. The monitoring for the living shoreline also closes Friday, April 14th. The gazebo railings bid closes. That entity that was interested in the public private partnership will have their construction and development team in regards to the marina in town during the first week in May. City council chambers is under construction. The Herald Court membranes permit software and procurement study are under review and ranking. the hydraulic monitoring for water distribution. The purchase order has been issued, so that's underway. Bokeh grant, we are updating the statement of probable cost per grant requirements. That was something that the state told us we needed to do. Um Rick has submitted the grant to the Florida Boating Improvement Fund through FWC for the East Moringfield in the amount of $275,000. I want to prove that I can say the word uninterrupted as I turn the page. And just kidding. The interim financing for the

I want to say the word uninterrupted will be on the next city council meeting. Bond council, the financial adviser and staff went out to bid for non-t taxable and taxable lines of credit. Through the taxable line, we will have a slightly higher interest rate. There are no required draws that would have to be taken with the non as with the non-t taxable issuance. Since the city council continues to look for additional sources and we'll use SRF first, it made the most sense to go with the taxable line of credit. The line will have no unused fee and no prepayment penalties. That's all I have unless you have questions. The only thing I would like is date it, please.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Did you hear that? Put a date on him. The project updates. Yeah. Are dated. The only thing I would like is you hear that.

So, we'll go to Sorry, Jennifer. I'm gonna make you go back up for boards and committees. All right. So, for boards and committees, we have um one alternate seat open on the building board, one regular and one alternate seat open on the Burnt Store Isles Canal Advisory Committee,

one regular and two alternate seats open on the code enforcement board. And that takes care of the vacancies. um regarding the nomination. So, there were a couple of questions from the pre-aggenda meeting. Um in going back and reviewing council discussion, s neither Sarah or I could find explicit direction from council regarding appointment of individuals to multiple boards outside of the statutory require or statutory prohibition, excuse me, against dual office holding where people can't serve on two decision-making boards at the same time. Um Sarah's recollection is that you know that had come up um when there were a lot of applications coming in and in an effort to you know provide access to the boards to as many people as possible. Um a previous council had requested that individuals not be appointed to to more than one board um even if they were allowed to be under the state statutes. Um so if that is something that council would like to um to give you know clear direction today on we will implement that going forward. Um the uh the vacancy for the board of zoning appeals which is the nomination item we're hearing today. The vacancy for that seat was announced at the March 25th city council meeting. Um, and that and I did just want to say regarding the members on two boards because this is one that's coming up with planning commission and board of zoning appeals. That one is a little bit different just because under the old LDRs um or the sorry the 2024 LDRs, those two boards were combined into one, the planning and zoning board. So then when we split them back out because of um the 2024 LDRs being repealed, it made sense rather than having find seven new people to serve on the board of zoning appeals that we basically put um the planning

commission folks into the BCA board because the other thing that happened with the repeal of the 2024 LDRs is that the planning commission um no longer qualified as a decision makingaking board. So there was not an issue with people serving on both planning commission and board of zoning appeals because the only one that's decision-making is the board of zoning appeals. So that being said, um at that point in time when we repopulated the board of zoning appeals with former planning and zoning board members, there was we had not yet implemented the membership composition change that allowed for an alternate seat on the board of zoning appeals. So, that's why we're talking about a vacancy on that board for the alternate seat. Um, I can say I know Mr. Dick was here for most of the meeting and did an introduction this morning. Um, he has been while while he is a snowbird when he is in town, he regularly attends the planning commission meetings. He has sat in several times as a regular member on planning commission in his capacity as an alternate and he's essentially just requesting to do that for board of zoning appeals. So, I think Mayor Lux, does that cover everything that you had asked about from the pre-agenda meeting?

Yeah, and I think that is where we're trying to like keep it so we have more people who are involved, not to have one person on several boards. And I think that was what was happening is that it was the same people on all the boards. And I personally like having it, you know, kept separate that you don't have people, you know, on one person on, you know, a bunch of boards.

Yeah. So currently the only um the only situation where we have people serving on more than one board is the planning commission and the board of zoning appeals. All the other boards, we don't have any um anybody serving in more than one capacity. So all that being said, we do have a nomination item on today's agenda to fill that alternate seat on the board of zoning appeals. Um Mr. Dick has expressed an interest in serving and is eligible to do so. Um, the appointment would be for a three-year term expiring in 2029. At this time, council may choose to nominate nominate and appoint or continue to announce the vacancy. And it was just just only advertised on March 25th. So, it hasn't been announced for very long. Correct.

Yes. So, we haven't opened it up to like let others try to come in instead of him being on two. Right. And so basically under the council rules of procedure, what we what you all adopted as the as the process is we announce the vacancy once we have an an application, we bring that forward as a nomination and then it's council's discretion whether you would like to continue to announce the vacancy or if you want to appoint. So we don't once we once we have an application we move it to nomination because otherwise there's there there is no mechanism in the rules of procedure for how long we leave it open after we receive an eligible application. So you can nominate and leave it open then to see if anybody else during a short amount of time could

Sure. Yeah. Because I I believe you all have done that before um where you just do the nomination and not the appointment part if you wanted to leave it open. So that is an option. So I'll take a motion on how you'd like to proceed with this item. I'll nominate John Jan Dick for an alternate. Second that. Okay, we have a motion, a second to nominate Mr. Dick. All in favor? Opposed? The motion carries.

Um, let me ask just one follow-up question then. So, because similar to how there's nothing in the policy about how long we leave um leave a vacancy open once we have an application, we also don't have about how long we leave a nomination open before we move it to appointment if we don't receive any additional applications. Is that something that council would like to give direction on or would you like it to just be up to staff discretion? Two council meetings maybe that way you know like does that work? Two council meetings because you can always make a decision sooner but okay

at least it gives us a definition. So that means that we will leave the um the nominate or the leave the yeah leave the nomination for this alternate seat open until the second April it would um it would come back up for nomination if we haven't received any additional applications at the second May council meeting. Perfect. Okay.

All right. And then the other nomination item that we have is for the utility advisory board to fill the alternate seat there. Um, Mr. Gentry has expressed an interest in serving and is eligible to do so as he is no longer seated on the code enforcement board. The appointment would be for an alternate term an alternate three-year term expiring 2029. At this time, council may choose to nominate nominate and appoint or continue to announce the vacancy. Has he come in? Did he come in to I don't know if he was at the last council meeting because Sarah covered that one. He he he hasn't made he didn't make an introduction today, right? So, I just don't I don't recall him making an introduction.

I believe he did when he was being considered for the code enforcement board. Um, I seem to recall that he came and did an introduction for that, but for the UAB vacancy, I I don't believe so, unless he did it the last council meeting that Sarah covered. Okay. Do we want a nomination? I'll nominate Mr. Gentry. Second. Okay. We have an obomation and a second to a motion and a second to nominate Mr. Gentry. All in favor? I motion carries. And then similarly, would you like to leave that open again for two council meetings? Okay. So, both of those would come back if we don't receive any additional applications.

Um well, even if we did receive additional applications, that would come up for nomination at the second May meeting with all available applicants. And then you could decide if you wanted to appoint or continue to hold the nomination at that. I do think we need to, you know, have a consensus and stuff or discussion of some sort talking about more than uh two boards for a person though. I think that really does need to come up for something solid because you said you couldn't find I know it was in discussion, but I don't know if we need to have something solid, you know.

Yeah. I just we just couldn't find a record where we got definitive direction on okay, no, we don't want or yes, we do want to allow. And like I said, the only instance where it's come up since since I've been with the clerk's office is in the situation with the planning commission and the board of zoning appeals because of how we had to split that back up after the LBRs. So, I don't know if it would be something that's really just going to be an issue while those two boards exist separately or if you want to expand that to, you know, the larger advisory board membership. But, um, we can certainly talk about that whenever council would like in terms of making that a clear policy change. Do you do you want me to go ahead and put something under boards and committees for that second May meeting to talk about that so we can get consensus on that?

Sure. Sure. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, we'll add something to that second May meeting about um members serving on more than one board. Okay. Do you have any reports? No. Just a reminder to everybody about Sun Coast Remake Learning Days events um Saturday, April 18th here in the community room 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Um, it's called Desserts and Discourse. Gives everybody a fun and engaging way to practice public speaking plus dessert. So, what could go wrong there? And then the other one is a um uh movie an arts and crafts movie night. It will be at Lashley Park on Friday, April 24th. Okay. And it starts at six o'clock.

Thank you. Thank you. The downtown flood study workshop will be at 4 pm here at uh the Lashley Court. April 15th, Kimley Horn will be presenting their work so far, a little overview of what they've discovered. Um it's a midpoint kind of check-in that council had requested. So, we're encouraging the public to come out and join us 4 pm on April 15th here at the community room. The land development regulations workshop will be at 5 pm on the 16th at the life celebration center. That meeting will be recorded, but it will not be shown live. So, you'll need to look for that on YouTube the day after the meeting.

Later this month, the um special session will be held on property taxes. After that session, I'll be scheduling a workshop in May. Uh, council member Pulk had actually requested this and and I kind of had it in my head for planning as well. So, watch for the May date that we will focus on property tax reform and what the implications can be for the city of Panagorta. Remind everybody that we're coming up on hurricane season, June 1st. I will be attending the governor's hurricane conference on May 13th to the 15th. um hopefully get some new ideas and understand more about what options are out there for a city like Panagorta.

And that looks like all I have unless you have any questions for me. Um regarding workshops, do you want us to be at those and not speak or or is it a thing where you can have a discussion? Like when we did the marina workshop, there was a lot of really good healthy discussions. So I'm not clear on what

I believe the format for both of these workshops will have council at the dis and it it will be just a community presentation not not breakout sessions. So that the only concern is when there's breakout sessions. So we will we'll have the dis just like we always do for a council meeting very similar to if you had a chance to watch the AP HPAB meeting last night. Same similar and then we'll have the speaker speak from the podium. Council meeting very similar two things. similar.

I was in court yesterday on the RJ Gorman case. Judge Gentelli did continue the trial period until October 13th through November 6th. We'll be set sometime for trial that period if we get to that point. uh he has encouraged us to open lines of communication in regards to possible settlement and now scheduling and coordination of the non-binding arbitration andor mediation. Uh Kristen and Ron, I'll be getting with you guys here in the next roughly 30 days to sit down with you for some time to get some updates from you guys and questions I'm gonna have. Um,

I've been getting a lot of calls and emails. I think it was the last council and then on a different note, a lot of calls and emails now. You guys had at your last council meeting the presentation by Halo and I need some I guess further clarification or direction from you guys. It was my understanding they were asking council to write a letter in support of their cause was to request a public hearing.

Okay. I just want to make sure because now they're wanting me to initiate not just a public hearing but to initiate a petition challenging everything else which is basically going into court. No, absolutely not to do that. So, I just want to make sure, but I agree with you. I thought it was just to schedule an administrative hearing. Yes. We were in support of that. Yeah. That you guys were in support of that, but not to actually file any type of court action or anything else. Nope. Because I don't, you know, I've been trying to gather from them

how long it may take, you know, in terms of my time or council's time or staff time on whether it's going to be or whether it's just going to be some kind of administrative. I haven't gotten the answers yet and then if we file the administrative request, you know, if they're going to be handling it, they just needed the city to initiate it. So, I'm still waiting on feedback from that uh while I've been sitting here. Um I've I've received three different phone calls from Halo and I have three messages to listen to when I get back. uh an interesting and that's why I'm bringing this up now because the deadline to file the petition for administrative hearing is on April 20th uh which is prior to our next council meeting.

So I may have to reach out to you guys individually of course through Dr. Riker as well on where we're at with that. But it's my understanding to file the petition for an administrative hearing. But I am assuming that is as long as we're not putting forth forth all our staff time. Absolutely. We file it to initiate the process and let them do what they have to do. Correct. And I even thought it was more of we were just in support of one to be to be, you know, whatever the case was. But yeah, I don't want to I Yeah. No staff time. No, we did send the letter. Yes, that's that was it. Okay, I will keep you guys apprised then

Melissa.

Uh, two things. I talked to Chief at one of our breaks about the Alamar. Um, and we do have a little bit of some of the road and then some of the roads county. So, but she did tell me right now there is a traffic um, you know, like they said their little speed sign out there. So, she'll have some more information to see what their speed traffic says and then, you know, maybe we can go from there on that. Um, and the other thing too, and you know, I I talked to them at at uh at the break, these microphones are driving me insane. Um, and so one suggestion that we kind of were talking about, apparently that microphone, you know, goes off of those little thingies over here. So maybe a solution is to move that over there and see if it's not maybe that's the disconnect. It's too far away. Um, but I know they're really trying to work on solutions and I really appreciate that because I know we're at this, you know, just for the public to know we're at a tipping point where we're going to be back in council soon. So, we don't want to spend a bunch of money. Um, but I do understand the frustration. I get the phone calls about, you know, sometimes the meetings and whatnot, but they're on it. Um, but I would suggest maybe we move that podium and see if that helps with that disconnect.

Yeah. Or wherever. That's it. We put it in the middle and just separate. That's all I got. Um, I feel like we need to address that boat cover. I think it's an electronic kind of a boat cover situation. I know that old people like to have boats and they can't put the covers on literally because they're hanging out under the water. So, to me, that seemed like an a good, you know, meeting of the minds to have an electronic vote cover. It didn't seem any more offensive than most vote me covers. But, do we how do we make that decision? Does this have to be a whole council big deal or can it be

It certainly does. Um right now I have staff investigating what the um what it is that the the product that they are actually asking for, what implications that will have for our building department permitting if any. Um that presentation is not ready yet and as soon as it is, we'll get it on a council agenda because council had previously agreed to hear more information about it. If any presentation is not ready yet we'll get it on the council agenda. Great council. Yes. I have two things.

We all received an email from Janet Finten about micros microchip scanning stations that she has offered to take the lead on and solicit the funds to pay for them and and so forth. And I'm just asking if we could put this on the agenda to talk about about is there concern? I'm sorry. What's it about? Mic micro microchip scanning stations for lost dogs and they would be placed in various locations around the town. You all received an email that gives all the details. I don't recall that at all.

And she followed up and asked, you know, how do we get this going? So, I I said it probably need to be an agenda item. And that's why I'm asking to put it on the agenda in the future. Can staff look into this a little bit more before you put it on the agenda? Honestly, I don't view this as a staff project. I had encouraged um her to reach out to team Panagorta or potentially even the Rotary Club or some service organization that might have an interest in moving this forward. Um, we certainly if council would like it as an agenda item, we can certainly explore something that city staff may engage with, but that that's up to you.

I agree with you, Dr. Missy. There's lots of ways to deal with it and don't get it to they can Yeah. Rotary 18. You think that would work, Drake? At least she could she could try that route. We don't want it to cost us money. Obviously, she's she's No, she's not planning on us. But she wanted to it would be in our parks where they would for the parks. So we I mean I would encourage that if she's ready for a presentation then to let us know and then maybe we would look at it then. I think right now it's just too early on what you know

I don't think it's a bad idea if I would like you know like said Rotary team come to maybe to take the initiative on it and then if it looks good and sounds good then consider bringing it to us. Anything else? Yes. Um, I was invited by the Florida director of the American Flood Coalition to a local leader summit in Washington DC in May. And they're going to pay all the expenses, but it occurs on 18 through 20. And I'm asking if you would consider postponing the council meeting on the 20th of May to the 21st so I can get back here.

This happened to me once where I asked for a change and everybody said no. you have that opportunity. I'm just asking the rest of the council if you'd consider postponing the 20 May council date to the 21st. I have a regular Thursday commitment Thursday morning commitment. Actually, I do too. Okay. Yeah, I probably won't make any important decision. It's actually one of the boards I sit on. Yeah, I'll probably miss that. Anything else? That's it. Janine.

Yeah. I just have a few things. Um, one thing that I did not get to discuss in the last meeting was that that light at Retta, which will be up and running in the next few weeks on the corner of Reetta and US 41 North. Um, there will be a crosswalk there. So, that's a good thing. Good thing. Yes. Uh, the other thing I wanted to say is thank you to Sarah for reminding us that anything that we put out online or when we have any of these um meetings that we have individually, they are public record.

I turn in all of my next door posts. It's easy to do. I turn in all my Facebook posts. Um, I think and I have something else I need to turn into her because I did just recently do a little um a little presentation. And I think it's important that we remember that. And I I want the community to know that when when one of the city council members puts a post out about any of us or any of our votes, we are not allowed to retaliate or talk about or or make comments on because it is a Sunshine Law violation. So once one city council member puts something online, there's there's no recourse. And I want the public to know that because I think I' I've been asked a lot of times, why don't you say something? Well, I I can't

put your own post out. By law, I'm not supposed to. Um, and I I don't put inappropriate posts out. I try to stick to whatever the city puts out. Um, because that's what we're supposed to do as representatives. We are supposed to represent the city and speak for the city. And so I try to whatever it is the city is putting out um and not put in a thing that that is, you know, that could have the potential to bring bring an uprising within the city. So thank you to Sarah for doing that and just hopefully everybody will turn their their things in and um you know at any moment anyone could ask for records and we are we have to comply. So

thank you. Well, just to clarify, I mean, part of our rules say that we shouldn't be posting things where we may be still making a decision. Could that be against the sunshine law? You post facts. Well, but even after a vote,

if it's after a vote, you can post it. If it's facts, you can post it. If it's something that's coming up in the future, especially if it's going to be quasi, you're not allowed to post it. Well, I'm I'm hoping this comes up as a a discussion. Maybe uh I personally think that all of us should stay off of social media and maybe leave it to our assistant city manager unless you're posting like a town hall or something that you're doing. But it really does. We're supposed to be working together. And I think sometimes posting things, saying that it's just stating this causes all this emotion and then somebody's repeating and somebody's talking and you're responding or you're responding, you know, it's just and we're not supposed to respond. I just personally think we should leave all the social media stuff to our assistant city manager, keeping everything neutral among us so it doesn't cause all this turmoil.

Well, let's do the elephant in the room. It's me, right? I'm the social media person. And I'm going to let you know right now, I will continue to post facts. I will continue to post whatever I feel necessary to post to communicate with the citizens. And also, if there is something that's been posted, whether you post it or whoever post it and you don't feel that it's accurate, you can post your own post. No, we can't interact online. No, we don't. But if you feel that, you know, you want to put your facts out, that's perfectly fine, too. Um, there's been a lot of misinformation put out there, especially on Next Door where there's breadcrumbs left and there's not truths about either A, B, or C. And I've been very active to make sure that the citizens know exactly what's going on. So, that will never stop. your that's your

uh no then you're welcome to to put your own post out if you feel it's not I mean there is people that try to say AB and C but it's factbased so I do think if you put your if you put your name and it says private um this is my own personal account that's one thing but if you're putting city of Panagorta next to it you are talking for the city and that's that's inappropriate well show me where I said city panagorta next to my post I'll be happy to take it down it's not on a post it's on your Facebook it says us. Yeah, I've got a council page. I think we all do. Oh, well, Greg does. Yeah. No, personal has to be kept separate from the city, but I think this is a a discussion we need to have. Um,

well, I'm just letting you know. I know that this is all directed at me and I'm letting you know that free speech and everything else I'm going to continue to post. I correct misinformation on Next Door. There was somebody that posted some incorrect information about our watering restrictions and I corrected that. told them that it was swift month that is designating and requiring us to site violations. Where it gets tricky is when it escalates like that whole thing with the the kids kids not the council doesn't want to allow kids to play that was not anything to do with anything any of us said, right? But when it gets on next door then people just feed off of it and escalates and it and it's so much misinformation you can barely you can't contain it. So,

so you can choose ignore it and that's perfectly fine too. That's within your rights as well. Yeah. 20 emails. Then you're told, "Oh, you're ignoring not responding or something like that." I mean, every every council member, we all have our own journey. We all have our own journey. We have our own people that we represent. We have our own journey. Oh, you're ignoring responding or something like that. Anyway, I'm finished. Thank you. Okay. Didn't mean to bring up a discussion on it, but

no, I'm going with Almar. you know, it might be a joint discussion if we do decide to have this in because it is county and it is city. So, and I'm glad that you've got like the speeding there to kind of monitor what's going on. I know I live on a longer road too that you can see that sometimes people just want to get to their destination and they just take off to the very end and then slam on the brakes to get into their spot. So, and and you're right, there's no sidewalk just like you know my street has no sidewalk. So, it does get a little scarier. You know, I just like to bring clarification all of from Rio Villa down to the culdeac city avoid response. Okay. Okay. Thank you for that. Thank you. I thought it was um

I I know I've heard more than one person, but I know that Cindy brought up board of finance and you know, I know it's more time, it's more this, but it really is nice to maybe considering having people on a separate board of finances looking at things, you know, for us. You know, of course, we're going to have to have disclosure, you know, private that's inside of there. But I I think that there's a way that sometimes you can just do numbers to help everybody understand what's going on. I think it's just a good transparency. I know it might be difficult there. There might be issues with it, but you know, we we want to make sure that we're very very transparent with, you know, what we're doing here with our finances. And I know Kristen's been doing an excellent job. I'm not saying that you're not doing an excellent job because you are. I think sometimes there's just questions out there um on maybe how something or how you came up with a number how something I don't know that's just I've heard it several times from several different people and I don't know if it's something we should even consider twine with or not and

that's what I'd like to ask is there consensus to invest staff time in looking at a board of finance put on the can we talk about on the agenda first and just kind of spit like you know spitball it first as to what we you know what would it incur I think it might be for staff to spitball it first before it comes to us, you know, to say, is this good, this bad? We've come to this decision. We're looking at all these things. It's more difficult instead of us telling them and all and they're like, "It's too hard." I mean, I right now I don't I don't think that it's I think it would just put more taxation on who we have currently. But, you know, I wouldn't Yeah, I don't know. I just heard it. So,

I've heard it a number of times, too. We have a lot of really smart executives, retired executives, you know, CPAs, just people can have another set of eyes never hurts anything. I don't think I think we have to have a consensus. Yeah, we should. And the consensus is for having it as an agenda item. What are your wishes? Agenda or just put on an agenda. Put an agenda. We can maybe spitball it. Yeah. Good. Fun. Yes. because I know it's going to be like, you know, is it going to be sunshine and then who takes care of it? Like it it could be a very lengthy discussion. So that's a yes from everybody, Jennifer.

Okay. And I just want to say I went to Aguana Land and I don't know if anybody's gone there or not, but I was like ah reptiles and snakes and stuff like that, but I was completely impressed with that place. They are amazing. I actually me who's never touched one of these things. I'm cutting a snake and I'm, you know, doing this stuff that I've never I went out of my comfort zone and it was so educational and it's right here in Plenty Gord and I think more people need to start visiting our place. It's just like peace from the wildlife. Once you stumble upon it, it's amazing. And I I think that we really should try to help promote Aguana Land, which is also this gentleman's put $10 million of his money into this. And it is actually the largest reptile in the world place and they have I mean they showed this like little baby albino turtle which um is very rare and they have one there and they have like 10 of another big big boy that's in the whole world. We have 10 of them here. So, and they're trying to because they're going into extinction. So, that's my plug. Please go out there. It's an amazing place to visit. And I think all of you will be just as impressed as I was on that. And I guess now that's all I'm going to say today. So, any other public comments from anybody? Please state your name.

Cindy O'Hara.

I'm going to direct this to get the person to get me these answers to our city manager. please. Um, I want to know who is responsible with delaying getting me the law enforcement wage report. That should be a click of the button to print off everybody's names and their incomes and their position. Should be a click of the button. I don't want to hear, oh, they've had all these lots of requests and you know, it's a big con game. I'm not going to fault play into it. We're not fools. Get me the report. It should be a click of the button. Second, uh, who filled the room with the uniformed police officers the other council meeting? I want to know who was behind that shenanigan. I see that as a bullying intimidation game. Were we paying third question, were we paying them all to be here for four or five hours to because they want a raise? They want a 10% raise. I mean, that is nonsense. I want to know who was behind. Whose brilliant idea was that to bring them all in uniform and sit here for four or five hours so they could get their 10% raise. That's nonsense.

I want to know the person behind all that. Um, and I want to know if we were paying them. They can come in their their regular clothes out of uniform. Um, looking at the 2026 pay raise increases. I just did a quick research and I'm not saying this is what they should get. Some of them might deserve a 25% raise. We need to look at all those wages and who's getting what and where it's heavy and where it's not. And maybe they're all getting fair wages and maybe they're all not getting enough. But how can you make a decision when you don't know?

And I know darn well that all of you haven't spent that kind of time. You don't have a board of finance. You don't have people concentrating on that. you have a school board to concentrate on those incomes. But looking at um 20 for 2026, federal employees will receive a 1% pay raise, the smallest increase since 2001, while the US private sector salary budgets are projected to remain uh relatively flat with an average increase of 3.3 to 3.5%. And they're coming in at 10. Are we that far behind? Okay, let me pull up one more thing here.

Uh, most civilian federal employees received a 1% raise in 2026. Federal law enforcement personnel saw a larger 3.8% raise this year in line with the military's pay raise for 2026. Okay, so we need to analyze these salaries, see what's going on in that police department. There's clearly shenanigans for that nonsense to happen last council meeting and then me not to have those salary reports. That should be a click of the button. Don't tell me they don't have that all on a computer. I mean, we're not fools. Okay. And then with Janine's comment about um saying that uh people should be able to show their emotions. I agree. Melissa, you know what the military guys would say and and people taking care of criminals? F your feelings. should be able to show their emotions. I agree. Melissa, you know what the military guys would say and and

so yeah, I've caught your disease. Um, so this getting old. Um, so in my capacity years on the planning commission and now on the code board, I probably chaired more quai judicial hearings than anyone here with the exception of our our our attorney. Um, thanks to the city clerk's office over the years, training for board members and especially for board chairs and vice chairs who have to take secondary training to just normal board training has helped us understand what these things are and also through the help of uh attorneys both previously Mr. Lean and now Mr. Leovich um it is pretty cut and dry in a code board hearing that is essentially a courtroom. You walk in with that understanding. You have respondents. You have essentially a board attorney, city attorney, and for um uh Councilwoman Lockheart. One of the things we do at code boards, we take that podium right back there and we put it right there

and the respondent speaks from here and the city speaks from here like you would have in a courtroom. But that might help your microphone thing. when it comes to quai judicial hearings in um on the planning commission and and this has kind of changed. Yeah. Sometimes it gets a little difficult to separate public hearings, legislative hearings, quai judicial and understand what rules are in effect. This is where it's incumbent upon whoever's running the meeting, the board chair, the mayor, whomever.

They have to maintain maintain control of that meeting. And what I used to always do when we would switch as part of the agenda to quai judicial hearings is they give us a sheet of paper. These are the rules. This is the evidence you can consider. This is the evidence you can't consider. This is what you must uh remember when making your decision and you make it clear to your other board members. You know, yes, this is what's hearsay. Third party introductions, things like that. You can only consider what is presented to you as sworn testimony on the day of the hearing. That's why it's quite judicial. You can't uh include other things unless the attorney says yes, you may admit this evidence. And admittedly, we got into some sort of dicey situations on the planning board because of decisions the attorney made. things that I think uh may have been may have been straightened out by now. But uh it's incumbent upon uh each board chair through the training that the city clerk's uh office gives to understand the difference and make it clear to the board at that time. It's not that difficult and and it's easy enough to do. Thank you.

And just for the record, that was before my time. Yes. Yes. I get the feeling when they say mayor too and it's previous, it's like, oh, it's not me. Good afternoon, city council. Boy, look, what a breath of fresh air. No pun intended. Uh, by the way, I'd like to know the names of the two ladies sitting behind the screens there, first and last name. before the end of the meeting. But regarding an administrative hearing,

as the citizen waters are of the state of Florida and the United States of America, I want to see all five of the city councilors participate. Tip of the spear on this one. Attorney, I want to see all five. It's time you all start taking the air, land, and water a lot more seriously. How many environmental advocates are in the room today? Please stand up. I'm fighting for all of you

every day. Just like our soldiers are fighting for you every day. because I come from a family of soldiers and warriors. You know, April 6th,

Karina Schmidt puts on a great event with We the People, Charlotte County. It was so nice to have Representative Danny Nicks approach me and have a conversation with him before the meeting started because we are going to get these industrial wastewater facilities built at Mosaic with reverse osmosis and I'm going to lead that charge and anybody tells me they're working on something and they don't want to tell me what group they're working on then they don't know who their friend really is. I want full transparency.

Not one of you will ever have what Senator Albertton said to me in front of Colonel Julian. You will never have that because you haven't put the time in. When I call a friend at 7 in the morning or 7:30 and at 8:45 call back, I expect a return call back from my friend. time. Now, I want you all to understand I'm starting a new group. It's called Politicians, Politics, City, County, and State. We'll be meeting next Friday for the first time at 8:30 in the morning till 10:00 a.m. And this is an American group.

You want to be part of this group, you come as an American. I don't care if you're Democrat or Republican. you come as an American. The last thing I want to say, we have a real problem on next door. City attorney, mayor, vice mayor, city council member Julian, city council member Danton, and city council member Lockhart, we have a real problem on Next Door and it we need to get to the bottom of it. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Come on, come up and say something positive so we can end on a great note.

Gary, anybody else? Happy Peace River Wildlife. Come on.

Gary Skilicorn, something I've wanted to mention a long time. You're having trouble being heard, huh? Look where your microphones are. Look where they are. They ought to be close to your face. So maybe that's a little positive. When I watch this on Zoom at I've got earphones on. What did they say? Oh, I missed that person. So look where your microphones are. They ought to be 8 in to a foot at the most. And if you're talking to the council that direction you better have your microphone there. So hope that cheers things up a little bit different mood. Let's be heard in the future. Okay. Be heard. Look where your microphone is. Awesome.

With with that said, meetings adjourned. Thank you.