City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. Uh, good evening everyone. We're going to go ahead and, uh, convene this city council meeting, regular city council meeting. And now this meeting is in order. Please rise and stand for a moment of silence. And then we'll have the pledge led by Councilman Ed Dodd. Thank you to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Thank you so much. Uh, Madame Clerk, roll call.

Vice Mayor McPartland here. Council member Nun here. Council member Matthews present. Council member Dodd here. Mayor Jones here. Um, thank you very much for that. Uh, do we have any agenda modifications, Mr. Bon? Anyone on that end? Seeing none, we're going to go ahead and move on to the brief announcements and they will be handled by Councilman Nun.

Uh good evening. Uh so we have an exciting weekend this weekend in Sebastian in this area. Uh January 17th and 18th, uh Sebastian Riverfront Fine Arts, Fine Art and Music Festival. That's Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 to 4:00 p.m. On January 19th, we have Martin Luther King Day. Uh the city hall will be closed. January 23rd, the Chamber of Commerce concert in the park. The band will be Conspiracy Theory. January 24th, Sebastian Art Club in Riverview Park from 8 to 4 PM. And January 24th, the Treasure Coast Food Bank will distribute food in a city hall parking lot from 8 to 10:00 a.m. I will also mention at Felsmere, the Frog Lake Festival will be going on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, uh, feel free to get out and enjoy yourself this weekend.

All right. Uh, thank you so much for that, sir. Uh, next item on our agenda is public input and that's going to be anything that's not on the current agenda. Yes, ma'am. Please come forward. And council, I would ask up front before she gets started, before we start the clock, she may run over a minute or so. I'm asking you all permission if it okay to grant an additional two minutes if necessary. Yeah. All right. Thank you, ma'am. You may proceed.

Great. Good evening, everybody. Thank you for allowing me to address you. My name is Julie Garrett. I'm a public affairs specialist with the US Small Business Administration with their disaster office. So, you're probably thinking, why am I here? It was a great year for no hurricanes. I'm here because there is a very small declaration right now and Indian River County is part of it. It's from the storms that happened on October 26. Now, most of that damage was up in Titusville, up in Bvard County, but anybody in your county who had flooding or damage from that storm can also apply. So, it's Bvard County and all the surrounding counties. So, that's why I'm here. Just want your citizens to know that if anybody did have damage, that is available to them. That's homeowners, renters, businesses, faith-based organizations, nonprofit, anybody that needs help. Um, and I've given you each a packet. Um, your your folks can look online at sba.gov/desaster. They can apply online. They can call our 800 number 8006592955 for help. And just so you know, the disaster loan program, it's very low interest. The loans are from the US Treasury. So, the interest rate is as low as 3% for homeowners and renters. The terms are up to 30 years. That gives people very small payments. And there is no interest and no payment for the first year. So, this is different than a commercial loan. And then there's one other thing I want to tell you, and I I'm I've got a minute and a half to do it. You can also add mitigation to a disaster loan. So, anyone in Florida, if you know anybody who has a loan from Hurricane Helen or Milton or anybody applying now for a loan has up to 24 months of their loan to add mitigation

funding to that and that's to do projects to make their property stronger so that they get through the next disaster better. So, that's another really neat quality to disaster loans. Everything I told you is for this disaster, but it would apply to the future, too. if if there is anything that comes up later on. Everything you've learned tonight and that I've told you will apply in the future as well. And that's all I have for you. All right. All right. Thank you. Thank you so much. Is there any questions? Anyone? No. No. Thank you, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. Have a good evening.

All right. Any uh is there anyone else with uh public input? Any information that's not on the current agenda? Yes, sir. Please come forward in the back. Good evening, council. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You think I got an extra minute or two? I'm only kidding. [laughter] I I just want to take a minute and uh commend our police chief and Lieutenant Robert for that fantastic article I read in the paper and potenti reference to the mental health crisis uh and how they're going about handling it in this community. As a realtor uh for close to 40 years in this community, I've done a numerous amount of evictions. I don't need to remind you what transpired over on A1A when somebody was having mental issues and there was an eviction taking place and Mr. James Long a locksmith was a personal friend of mine for 30 years and I took that to heart and I was going to come in and talk to the chief about what the procedures are for people that are getting evicted under a rid of uh uh possession when a judge issues an order to evict somebody. Uh, it's not about we follow the orders, we show up, and we throw you out on the street. That's not what it's about. It's about [clears throat] mental health issues. People don't have a place to go. They have a family. And I'm hoping that this community and our chief, who's shown great leadership with Lieutenant Robert, uh, are addressing these issues. And um uh I went to that funeral and I ran into a lot of people that I spoke to and they said that should not have occurred. There were so many red flags, Mr. Mayor, that could have been avoided. There was numerous calls to 911.

That guy was asking for help. Why a locksmith would be standing in front of a door with so many red flags without a vest on is beyond me. And I'm sure we're going to get to the bottom of that eventually. They're not releasing anything. I think that uh the sheriff's department should be transparent and making sure that they release all the video so that we all can address it and we can all learn from it. My prayers go out to the lawn family and I hope it never happens in Sebastian. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you so much, sir. Uh, yes, sir. You wanted to come up? Come forward.

My name is Bill Flynn. I live in Sebastian. Um, first of all, I've started walking over the last 41 days. And what I noticed about Sebastian residents is when you wave to them when they're going down the road, they wave back. It's a nice family community. I really like that. On another note, there's a contractor working for AT&T and actually it's a subcontractor and when they install their fiber optic cable, they are accidentally cutting clear wave fiber. Nobody on the job site spoke English. I had to ask them to get the their boss to come and I showed them where my cable was going across the road and they went ahead and did it their way anyway and they cut my cable. I lost internet for an entire day. Something's got to be done. I'm not the only one that's having the problem. I stopped on my walk to talk to AT&T and he said, "Yeah, those guys are butchers." I don't know who's directly responsible for contract contacting the contractor, but a we need to have somebody on site that speaks English and I think that the subcontractors are all illegal. I don't know that for a fact, but they don't they're not doing the job properly. And when they go to replace the grass, I [snorts] have St. Augustine in my yard. when they brought back they put bea that's they're not making me whole and it's and I'm not the only one that's having that problem. I know of a number of people called in about it but I just wanted to publicly make you all aware of what's going on. We need to make these contractors tighten up.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much, sir. Is there anyone else? Any anyone on Zoom? Not at this time. All right. Uh public input is closed. Um next item on our agenda is the consent agenda. Council, what's our pleasure? I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as written. Second. Do we have a motion and a second? Do we have any other discussion? Hearing none. Madame clerk. Council member Nun? Yes. Council member Matthews? Yes. Council member Dodd? Yes. Mayor Jones? Yes. Vice Mayor McPartland? Yes.

All right. Um, thank you so much for that. Um, next item on our agenda is item nine, committee reports. Do we have any committee reports? Yes, we have um the parks and wreck. We had a member who [clears throat] um resigned and um she's a regular member. So, we have two alternates um Grace Shelton and Dale Moore. Dale Moore, I spoke to him and he prefers to remain in his alternate position, but Grace Shelton is interested in moving up. And then I also put out an ad and um I got an applicant, Kayla Mlullen, that would like to be considered to serve on the board as an alternate.

Mr. Mayor, I'll make a recommendation that we move up uh um Grace Shelton to the regular member position as from the alternate and that we assign Kayla Mlelen to the other alternate position and leave Dale Moore in his alternate position. Oh, I'll second that. Yeah, Mr. Mayor, can we alter that just a little bit? U inmate Cayla McKelen to the alternate position that expires on 53127. [cough] And then to wave uh notifications and to move Dale Moore uh expiration date to 53128. Right now he expires in just a few months. Yeah, I'll amend my I'll amend my motion for that. Yeah. All right. Thank you. I'll amend the second as well. Yes.

Okay. All right. Thank you for that. Mr. Dod, do we need to spoke on? Uh, any No. Any other discussion on this, Madame Clerk? Council member Matthews, yes. Council member Dodd, yes. Mayor Jones, yes. Vice Mayor McPartland, yes. And Council Member Nun, yes, ma'am. Motion carries. All right. Um, thank you so much for that. Um, item 10, we have nothing. Public hearings. Um, item 11, unfinished business. None. Under new business, we have consideration and direction of proposal proposed Riverview Park master plan renovation concepts. Uh Mr. Benton, are you going to start or is Mr. Blankenship?

Yeah, I'll get it started while Mr. Blankenship is getting the the items ready uh down front. Thank you.

So, uh this is an item uh Riverview Park master plan. We have gone through numerous public input sessions on this. Um this whole process started over a year ago and uh we are now this at the point um or actually more than a year ago. About a year and a half ago we started uh this process and we're at a point now to where we're looking for some direction from council on the conceptual plan whether you want to go with conceptual B or C. Um so that then we can get into design and get get a design put together because we we need to utilize the design to go after additional grant funding. And one of the grants we applied for this year, we were denied because we didn't have a formal design completed. Um, so I just think it helps us as we go forward. And with that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Blankenship to give you all details on the two plans. Good evening, council. Richard Blankenship, parks and recreation director. Uh we're looking at concept B uh which is uh basically um closing Harrison, moving the splash pad to the north side of Harrison and potentially moving the playground a little bit closer to the splash pad so that uh parents and users have a a joint or a an easy uh convenient way of access. And then we would add more um picnic shelters and and that type of thing. That also includes moving the sand volleyball courts across the street to to uh twin peers. Uh formalizing the the overflow parking, focusing on boat trailer parking, making sure we we added um formal spaces so that it's efficient and we get as much out of it as we can. uh the veterans memorial stays uh in phase one and and um where the splash pad is becomes basically an open space. You know, it would be a multi-use space. It could be for uh veterans programs. It

could be for uh special events. It could be for food truck. It could be for, you know, just a multi-purpose open space. So, that's basically concept B. And then when you go to concept C, the main difference and really the only difference in concept B and C is that we don't close Harrison. We do add a speed table from basically from the splash pad to Indian River Drive to slow down traffic, but we don't close it. We would close it during special events like we do now, but it wouldn't be a permanent closing. And this this also gives you an idea for those that that produce special events and uh enjoy attending the special events, how much vendor space would be on either concept. We don't lose any vendor space. Uh we gain some vendor space. So it the park [clears throat] remains um uh very productive and and and able to be utilized. So again the difference between B and C is the closure of Harrison Street. Um but in C we do have a traffic calming design just not a closure. Um, as far as the where we stand with funding, uh, right now we have two grants. One is a fine grant specifically for design and permitting. Um, we design and permitting for phase one. That grant has to be completed and we have to have our permits by midepptember of 2026. So, we're we're going to need to to get going once the concept is determined. Uh the second

grant, the the larger land and water conservation grant, we've executed it on our end. It came to you uh several meetings ago and we forwarded back to uh the grant agencies for their execution. We just haven't gotten it back yet. And I've had calls from colleagues around that have similar grants and they're in the same boat. It's not it's it's just the way things are right now. So, the the only grant funding right now that is funded is the fine grant, and that's specifically for uh design and permitting. Uh there, like Mr. Benton said, we missed out on a a million-doll grant earlier because we didn't have plans and permits. If we'd had that, we'd have additional million. We do have some smaller grants that are pending. uh one is for landscaping, one is for signage. So there there's there's a lot of opportunity and options. Um and you know the way we manage our grants, the fact that we have 1.5 million in match that will go a very very long way. Uh because we can match a lot of grants with 1.5 million, not just one. So we're in a great position. We just need to have a a concept. then we'll go to a plan and and move on from there. So, with that, I'll answer any questions you may have.

All right. Um, thank you, sir. Um, anyone from council want to ask a question right now? You want to wait until we have public input? I [snorts] I'll just come out and say I like to see that might that might tamper the public input. Um, you know, so [laughter] yeah. All right. So, um you can set um we're going to go ahead and open this up to the public. Is there anyone from the public who would like to speak on this? Yes, ma'am. Come forward.

Hi, Council Sharon Herman. I live here in Sebastian. Um one of my concerns with both of these plans is the location of the handicap parking. If you look how far that handicap parking, the main section of handicap parking, which is seven spaces, they start at the front of that new parking section and they go back. I don't know if you can Oh, you don't have the picture up there. Um, that is a long distance from the main part, the proper part of the park where most of the events take place, most of your tents are and your arts people and everything. And there if you don't have somebody in a wheelchair that has someone to push them or they don't have a scooter, that's a long distance for somebody that's on a walker or on a cane. We have a lot of disabled people in our town, people in surrounding towns that come to our events. We have a a fair amount of disabled veterans in our area. And just because they're not in an electric wheelchair doesn't mean that they they can go, you know, even a quarter of a mile or however long that distance is to get to the main proper part of the park. Um both plans have basically the same amount. The second plan, part C, I noticed added three places on the Harrison Street or Harris Street um set entrance there. I didn't see any of the handicap ones that are normally by where the volleyball carts are now, but during events, most people lose those parking places to um the food vendor trucks anyway. So, when you're doing these these plans, I really wish you would consider moving some of the handicap places and look at the distance that you've got these people that are expected to walk. Handicap doesn't mean just because they're not in a wheelchair and a scooter that they're free to go any distance they can. There's people

that are disabled because of respiratory issues and other issues. And I think we need to really consider that. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much, ma'am. Anyone else? Yes, sir. Come forward. I'm sorry. I What' you say? I'm sorry. No. Oh, we don't have it ready yet. Something happened. Yeah, I know it didn't go earlier.

Hang on a second, sir. It's on. All right. There it goes. You're good. Okay. You're good now. All right. Uh, thank you, sir. You may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, city council. Damen Gills, 1623 US Highway 1, property owner of 490 US Highway 1, Sebastian, Florida. Resident of this community for over 40 years. I first and foremost want to thank our city manager, Brian, who've really reached out to the business owners and the uh uh people that uh this road will affect uh and Richard uh who also kept us in the loop constantly on any updates. And I also want to thank Parks and Recreation, the chair and the committee members for really being open-minded and understanding our wants and our needs as taxpayers of this community. Um, first and foremost, I don't think it was mentioned, but Parks and Recreation recommended C. And I was happy to hear Mr. Dodd, Councilman Dodd, at least he says on in the beginning that he's with C. Um, I've been in the hospitality business for over 40 years. Our location's been there since 1975. We were there before the park. The park came in 1985. It is important to our family, to the family next door, the cleaners that see be chosen because it affects our livelihood, our employees, our income, etc. I um I hope that you you know you make the right decision uh and you don't take this too lightly. Um because if you do change the road, it will change the value of our property. It will change our income and the what our property is worth. Which brings me to the next point that I did contact the city manager to offer my property and the property next door because we spoke about it to the city if they wanted to purchase it and at that time

he said there was no funds available and I'm sure he can confirm that. So, you know, we're not being unreasonable business owners. We thought that uh you know if you want to close down that whole street to be considerate and fair to our families who have been in this community for a very long time. [snorts] Um the most important thing is public safety and being down there for all the years that my family's been down there. I've seen the police, fire trucks, emergency vehicles come and go constantly. And it would be in the best interest of this community that that road never get shut because we had a bomb scare not too long ago. I was out of town and they were directing the traffic through my property which was fine because people needed to get by while they were designating the bomb and it allowed people to come down Harrison Street and make the left and continue north. So there's also turning issues but I don't want to dive too deep into that. there is public issues, public safety issues, and so please be be conscientious when you vote. Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Mayor, and thank you, council. Appreciate it.

All right. Thank you so much, sir. Is there anyone else? Yes, sir. Hello, my name's Roshan Desai. I own our patch dry cleaners. I just want to second what Damian said and council member Mr. Dodd said as well. We'd prefer concept C. It'd be helpful for our business if that road was open. Um I feel like uh customer our customers will take the most of our customer a lot of our customers come from the island. So, they would take the parking lot and go out that way. And again, um I think it would be an issue for public safety. Uh the other thing is that I do appreciate you guys are investing the time and money to keep that park um to improve the park and um maintain it. And it um it's a great place. I'd like to keep it the way it is. and uh [snorts] encourage the improvements in uh concept C. Thank you.

All right. Thank you so much, sir. Anyone else? Yes. Come forward, please.

How you doing? Thank you. Um Michael Nage, uh resident Sebastian. Um first off, thank you. I mean, I think it's important to revamp the park in general. Uh, thinking of [clears throat] uh having a young family that I that I do. I lean more towards be um biggest reason being is by the uh splash pad and things like that, having that portion shut down, especially during events and things like that. I kind of think of safety um for families and being able to walk freely between the um uh food vendor truck area and then the splash pad and um and the park area. So overall though, I mean I think they're both great options. Um but as someone with the family, that's kind of the option B is where I'd lean. So all right.

All right. Thank you, sir.

Anyone else? Hi, good evening. Cara Irwin, lifetime resident of Sebastian. Um, thank you guys so much for what you guys are doing at the park. I'm so excited to see how community events are going to come together with a new design. Um, I really am in favor of be. I like the idea of having the splash pad and the park together with everything that's going on with the park while the band stands there. families can be by the band and see their kids playing and with it closed off, it just is a public safety thing. You know, there's not going to be people driving through even when there's events. But when families are there just at the park playing, so it's nice to know that that' be closed off and there's not going to be a lot of traffic. You don't have to even worry about that. And to Michael's point with the food trucks and stuff, I think it's great to just be able to walk across the street and have it be open. So, plan B.

Thank you so much. Is there anyone else? Yes, sir.

Good evening, guys. Thank you. Um, first of all, again, like everybody else for uh congrats on getting to this point and revamping the park. I'm sure everybody's excited about it. Um my [clears throat] personal experience uh was bringing nephews to the um to the park multiple times and I understand that we're going to be moving the splash pad and the um playground together which will be a big help. But just on the aspect, I I kind of lean towards B. Um, also on a public safety deal, just cuz there's been multiple times whenever you're headed across the street, whether they want to go to the splash pad or they want to go see the Veterans Memorial, that as you're walking across the street, a car comes flying out of nowhere. Um, I'm at the I live down a street from the park. I'm there quite a bit. I do not see a ton of traffic using Harrison Street. Um, and it seems like whenever it does, it seems to be that they're trying to get around the light cuz they don't feel like waiting in line. So, they're usually at a high rate of speed. So, my personal experience is personal safety around kids. So, I'm in favor of doing it. Um, the other aspect of that, and I understand the the business side of it, definitely. Um, but it isn't technically closing Harrison Street. You're still leaving it open past the existing businesses. And from my understanding in the design on other public safety issues, if there was emergency situation or something that you guys needed to use it for, the poles are removable from my understanding. I'm not sure. Um, so you guys could open that if needed, but uh, just my opinion. Just wanted to get it out there. Thank you guys.

All right. Thank you so much. Never said this. Did you say your name, sir? Uh, sorry. My name is Scott Cox. I live here in Sebastian. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Anyone else? Yes. Comport. Hello. [clears throat and cough] Sorry. Robin Refe. I'm a resident of Sebastian for 29 years. I have children and grandchild. Well, grown children now and and grandchildren. And I'm also a local realtor. So, I get a lot of feedback from other people. I want first of all I want to thank you all for the coming up with this having this concept being able to do it and and being forward thinking but also um I am also for plan B um for the same reason everybody else the businesses um no name and ARPAT I use ARPAT a lot and I know that they'll still have access to that so I'm not I don't feel we're hindering them to where they won't get business I would still use them I know I'm just one person but also the safety Even where the parking lot is now going across to the park, it is dangerous. You have to watch. Kids don't they always want to try to run ahead to get a hold of their parents and if you're not grabbing them, it could be a safety issue. I understand that there's a concept where it could be removable in case someone had to get down there, the the barricade or whatever. I would vote for that plan where the barricades could be removed if you had to get through. But it is a cut through for people who want to bypass the light. They don't want to sit there. they're impatient. Um they're in a hurry and if kids are playing and going, it's just for me it's a safety and the it's I think a better a more beautiful type of plan layout. Um, and I've been to uh across the state to Tampa area and there's something very similar over there and I think it just would work well in uh for all involved because the businesses still can still can get in and out and also the safety for the residents and the um both the seniors and the the younger children. So, thank

you. And I live at 105 aol and heart path. Thank you so much, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else? Uh yes, sir. Oh, sorry. Yeah,

I'm for plan C because I use the cleaners and I do come in from the riverside. It's a lot more convenient than coming from US1. Um, you're responsible for your own children, your grandchildren. I have grandchildren and u that shouldn't be a an element. Thank you. All right. What's your name, sir? Bill Flynn. Thank you, sir. Uh yes sir, you can come forward.

Mr. Mayor, city council, uh Mark Chingris, I've lived in the community now I think 14 years. I'm involved with quite a few things down at the park. I'm also involved with a lot of the organizations that the uh nonprofit organizations that use the park for different events and other things. Also have grandkids that have gone to the splash pad and so on and so forth. So, I'm in favor of plan B, um, safety is a big item, but the big part part is years ago when I went to college, I went to college for architecture and I've talked to Brian and the city about different concepts. And the big thing here is with all this park is putting the park together. By having Harrison drive through, it separates the park. You have the upper park and the lower park. it. Even if you do the concept and have things down there, it's still going to be separated. The only way to really put this park together is to have Harris closed. I talked to a local business person down in the area and today and they thought, well, Harrison Street's closed off. It's not closed off. Harrison Street continues. You take a right, take a left, and you're on Indie River Drive again. It doesn't change. It's just a little longer. So realistically this person said to me, "Really? So they can still access us from Indian River Drive?" I said, "Or Indian?" "Yes, absolutely." And I said, "Not only that, you get all this parking out behind here, your businesses that people can start, park, and come to your businesses." So um there she changed her mind from C to B just because she understood it incorrectly. But the design that you've done for B uh for B is I think wonderful. I think it has a lot of great concepts there. It'll be good for our events. It'll also be good for safety and it also makes that park really whole whole. It's not park. And uh I do think that Mr. Dodd is incorrect in saying

that C is the best one to go with. I think B is the best one to go with. And I think it's safety. It's the park. It's the beauty of the park. The beauty of the waterfront. I've known this. I've probably put more paces down at that park than a lot of other people um throughout the last 10 years. So, I understand how it works, where it works, and what people do, what people like. So, it's just a matter of people understanding that maybe B is probably the better route to go. And I like the idea of safety at first, all safety first, especially for kids. So, thank you for listening to me. Thank you very much for your time. All right. Thank you so much, sir. There anyone else? Come forward. Ma'am, you'll be second in the back. You'll be second.

Good evening, city council. Thank you very much. Britney Mel Corey, Sebastian resident. Um, I am in favor of plan B myself. I, as a young family, I do agree that I think from a safety perspective, B does take that into consideration. I also agree that the fact that bringing these places together from having a south end of the park and the north end of the park, I think it makes way more sense to put them all together. Um, we do a lot of events in the park as part of the chamber of commerce and I would agree that this makes a huge difference um, from an economic standpoint from having events and making it just work for everybody from a safety perspective. So, I am in favor of plan B. Thank you.

All right. Thank you so much, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Oh, sorry. We have one in the back. Hang on, ma'am. You can come forward. Hi. Um, I'm Shama Desai. I'm also the owner of Arpat Strike Cleaners um, by the river. Um, I'm in favor of Plan C. Um, I personally have been there 20 years every day. I've seen um the activity on days where there are events and are not events and I've seen plenty of traffic and in my opinion closing that even though our section is open I feel like the cars are either going to use our driveway to make the U-turn or go through the parking lot which is also going to have families and children. They're going to go through the parking lot trying to turn around and that's going to be traffic in that section. So, it I feel like there is unintended consequences to making this closure. You are going to see traffic just building up in that area, trying to turn around, trying to cut through parking lots, dirt road parking lots. I don't know how the parking lot's going to look, but um I do feel like there's going to be safety issues there, too. Um, I appreciate everything you're doing. Um, it's going to look beautiful, but I really do want to emphasize I like plan C. Um, and if you could maybe come to us, um, and kind of like see what we see every day. Um, I know the traffic tests were done, but we'd like some more traffic test done in season time in busy times and, you know, to be able to see the real traffic counts. So, thank you. All right. Thank you so much, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

[snorts] [cough and clears throat]

Good evening. I'm Vicki Drumheller. Um, I serve on parks and recreation and a lot of what you heard is what we've been hearing for several of the meetings. Um, one of the reasons that the committee recommended C is we really if if you look closely at that, we've moved all the kid things into the main park. So having the splash pad as well as what is now way on the side uh the playground having that together brings a modicum of safety. And you also have to remember that even if the closure that was projected in the B option happen, you still have three crosses over Indian River Drive to get to the other things to get to the two the twin pairs to get to where the volleyball is going to be moved. So really I think that a lot of safety considerations were taken into account for sea when most of the children that would probably you know have the option of of running around or getting out into the street that can be just as much of a problem on the Indian Rivera Drive side as it would be on the Harris side. So I think for uh for the layout, for the extra pavilions, for having some space on the side where our paths and um the bar are located to have more room for the veterans programs that there's less opportunity for um a childhood injury when we're putting all those things into the park. This is my personal opinion. So, I'm I want to make sure I do serve on parks and I've heard all of these things, but my personal opinion is the best thing for our city is option C. So, thank you very much.

All right. Thank you so much. Um, anyone else? Yes, sir. [clears throat]

Mayor, council members, thank you. Jaden Folk, Sebastian resident. Um, I personally uh really enjoy the concept all around. Um, I I do feel that B is a a little bit safer for the kids. As a father of two little girls, I think the open concept, you know, and that flow of tra or that flow of foot traffic as opposed to, you know, having that road cut across on Harris, uh, is is a much better plan. Just in my opinion, of course. Um, it would make me feel a lot better if the, you know, my girls could kind of just go in between and, you know, I have lesser worry. uh when it comes to their safety. Um not that I don't keep an eye on them, but you know, they they can get get out and around. So, um at any rate, just wanted to voice my opinion. I really think B is a great plan. Um and again, I think you guys did a great job on just the concept in general. So, thank you.

All right. Thank you so much, sir. Is there anyone else? All right. Um is there anyone on Zoom? [clears throat] I have one hand raised. All right. Uh, let me take this person in here first and then we'll go to Zoom.

Good evening, council. Damian Gills. Um, I spent a lot of time there at the park. We definitely have a traffic problem. Closing the street is an answer that will affect two businesses that have been there for a very long time that also care very much about this community and can give you a very good account of what it looks like for the children playing in the park and running back and forth. Um, for the most part, you see a lot of parents that are responsible and you you don't really see a lot of kids running across the street for any event. Uh, it's really not a major concern. But for our businesses that are there every single day of the year, it is a concern. You guys have answers that don't involve closing our street down. Plan C is very good. We're going to have a beautiful amphitheater, beautiful park no matter what, but please do not close our street down. Thank you.

All right. Thank you so much, sir. Um, yes. Uh, person on Zoom, can you bring them in?

Mr. Stalin, can you hear us? Yes, I can. Can you hear me? Yes.

Hello. Uh, my name is Charles Stelman. I live on Mabberry Street and I'm a resident of Sebastian Longterm. Uh, I'm really just wanted to mention in the plans going forward if we could put a a sidewalk on the perimeter of the park. Especially my biggest concern is coming from uh down Sebastian Boulevard, but as well as coming down Harrison, you you have to go right from the parking into the grass. You can't really get around on the very perimeter uh for the sidewalk. as well as um getting some enhanced pedestrian um crosswalks with the um blinking stop here, pedestrians coming across at both ends at Harrison and at the Sebastian Boulevard. Um there's a lot of traffic that comes through there and I've noticed at other places that when they have these enhanced pedestrian crosswalks, it seems to be a little bit safer. But without the sidewalks, you have to cross from Sebastian Boulevard, you have to cross over to get down to the river where if you just if you're doing if you're redoing it and you're putting in the sidewalks anyhow, we can get a sidewalk down the perimeter on both sides with Harrison and uh Sebastian Boulevard. Um, as far as plan B or plan C, they're both great plans. I wish I could help you out more with that. I don't have um enough information u really to give you a better um recommendation. My reason for calling in was mostly to to ask if we could um look at in the planning zones that if we could have sidewalks on the perimeters mostly for

access and again mostly for access with people with disabilities or seniors. That's all I have. All right. Thank you so much, sir. All right. Um public input is closed. Um now we will have deliberations by the council.

So Mr. Mayor, if I can um I get us started. I first I'd like to talk about the handicap um parking. Um I notice and and tell me if if what I'm seeing is just not the complete picture. Um the existing handicap parking there's like I'm going to say three or four spots on the edge of the park on the uh south edge of the park now. And there's three or four spots on the north edge of the park. I don't see either one of those on this map. Is that correct? Are they just not listed and they're still there? Yeah. So, I'll just state on this. So, you got to remember this is a conceptual plan.

The um concept C does [clears throat] capture some of those handicap spots um on the south end of the park. However, neither plan really delineates, you know, any handicap spots on the north side, and there are some. Um, and I I've heard the comment, and I think we said it in the public input as well in the public meetings we had over a year ago. We will [clears throat] increase the public the handicap parking in strategic areas throughout the park around it.

Okay. And and I do want to clarify uh neither one of these park renditions allocate handicap parking for events. That would be allocated on a temporary basis. So um what I would love to see if if it could be added is maybe something that does delineate where tenative handicap parking would be on a temporary situation during large events because that that would be a concern for people. of Miss Herman's concern I think is very valid because during events we tend to have a lot more people and you know the handicap parking is is a premium. I know we put it in the main parking lot but it would be nice to see where we would conceptually put the the temporary uh handicap parking even even if it was just listed as a temporary idea. Um so that's my thoughts on that. Uh, as far as the the closing of Harrison Street, um, you know, I I res I I use our Pats as well and and I respect Mr. Gillums, both of them, on this, but right now, we currently close Harrison Street every time there's a large event. Anyways, we have, as long as I can remember, we closed that street down. We run those drivers through the park. Right now they're going through a a dirty dirt, sometimes mud park, which it won't be that according to the to the conceptual plan. It'll be a paved park. So So this isn't changing anything during a large event. What this is is what are we changing the rest of the time? And during the rest of the time, my concern is uh there's no volunteer police officer standing there to make sure no cars drive through there. Uh so therefore you you right you know what uh Mr. Flynn is correct. You have to be responsible for your own kids. You do. But our job as as city leaders is to make sure we provide a

safe environment as much as possible. Uh I have always felt personally uh you could ask Mr. Benton before he was ever the city manager. I always wanted to close down Harrison Street because I thought it would make a more fluid park experience. I thought it would be safer for families and young kids. Um, I still lean that way because once again, this isn't about special events because during the special events, we're closing it down anyways. So, it's not affecting traffic during those events, we're already doing that. Um, but what about the rest of the time? I feel the rest of the time this would provide a more safe environment during those times when there's not people there watching the roads. Just my thought. Thank you. All right. Uh, thank you so much for that, sir. Um, anyone else?

Mr. Dot, the chair. Sure. I'll do it next.

Okay. I uh I've been a proponent of closing Harrison Street for a long time. However, I listened very intently to the parks and reccks committee when they did their when they did their research and they did a very good job of researching this. Uh and my tendency to lean towards option [clears throat] C quite frankly came out of their meetings when they did that. Um I I I think to address some of the things that were brought up, which were very good comments, [clears throat] um the the concept of the park being a north and south, Heritage Street being the break between that, [snorts] that's going to kind of be done away with when we move this splash pad and the park and the uh the playground on the north side of Harrison Street. Uh and we make that that setup in there is where the where that'll take place. um the area where the current splash pad is. Uh I know on this C plan it calls for some expansion to the veteran stuff. I'm still personally believe that that's a perfect place for a food truck court like in option B when it shows that. Um [snorts] I can see I can see a lot of benefits to the city to be able to do uh food truck Fridays in the park. Uh do something like that. One of the one of the big problems that we have right now is our ability to do something like that. Um I don't know if we have to change our land development code to do it or not, but we could do something along that line. Uh, I think uh putting the elevated um I'm not sure what you're calling it, Brian, but where you elevate at at the entrance to the to the uh south parking lot where you elevate Harrison Street up and you run it kind of elevated and hopefully with some uh some type of of stuff on the road that makes it very inconvenient for me to drive on it. A lot of noise and so forth will slow down the traffic there an awful lot. Uh, I find when I go to the cleaners, I do I do go to the cleaners, I don't go

to the no-name bar, but I do go to the cleaners and I don't quite frankly um I don't I don't go further down Harrison Street to any river drive. I turn around and go back out and and fight the traffic to get on US1 and get through the light uh as opposed to doing that. So, um, but I and I handicap parking, I think the Harrison Street parking area right now, uh, that's there is the only convenient place where you could expand handicap parking because it's the only place where a handicap someone driving a vehicle who needs a handicap parking space can get up against the main part of the park. You can't do that on Sebastian Boulevard eastbound because that's always closed when there's events going on. But that her that stretch of Harrison Street is open during events. And if those parking spaces were pretty much all handicapped, there would be a really good place for handicap uh to be able to actually get their vehicles near the park as opposed to parking all the way over somewhere in a boat parking area or all the way down this [snorts] south parking lot and having to go 200 yards or so. I I have a need for that personally and it's not uh I don't personally need it, but I have a my wife does and it's it's not convenient for me to park all the way over in the boat parking lot and have her then walk all the way into the park. That's not not a convenient thing to do. Um so I don't see two sections in the park because we're going to be moving that. The only thing south of Harrison Street is going to really be the Veterans Memorial. And if we work something out, there'll be hopefully a food court place in there. Um, [snorts] I don't but I will tell you just just on the other side of that, we did do some traffic studies in there and I know Brian hasn't produced those numbers cuz but we did do some traffic studies in there and quite frankly the traffic is not as heavy on Harrison Street as a lot of people think it is. Uh, so that's one thing on the on the side of closing it. So that's my thing. Thank you.

All right. Thank you, sir. Uh, Miss Matthews.

Sure. Thank you. Um, actually I I I'm in favor of both plans. I I just love the fact that we're redoing some things. Um, and I'll just start with B. Um, [clears throat and cough] when they're going into coming off of US1 or whatever and the Harrison, I'm not I see it directing the traffic to the actual businesses there because the only place they can turn in is into the parking of where those businesses are. It's it's so um you're you're driving them to the businesses and then if they wanted to come out if they wanted to and I'm going to tell you right now that as soon as um if we were to go this route as soon as people caught on that they can come off Indian River Drive and come into that parking lot and hit the backside. That's what they're going to do. The fastest, the best is what most people end up doing. But I see that and I like I like the cohesive. I like the fact that there is walkways that it's tying it in. Um, yes, I I do see there's a little, you know, probably some type of fencing around the play area, so we're not going to have, you know, children, but but when you do have something and you're wanting to draw those people over there, you're going to need something that's going to direct them. And a small crosswalk like in concept C, I don't know that that's going to draw them. Um maybe, you know, with concept C we can widen the crosswalk across there or something that'll that maybe draw I um the handicap I had a couple of things. The handicap has already been discussed. The you know that's a major concern um you know with getting people in there and especially those upper clothes. The other thing that I have and I understand this is conceptual but it does show that the monument is at the you know the front. Um, I'm looking at a monument as a sign and not the arch that's pictured on the back side of this. Um, guiding people in because I would I would not want to guide people to the US one side.

I would want to bring them in from the clock entrance or the Harrison Street entrance um or even the drive entrance and not trying to direct them because of that big arch or whatever. Um, I I don't know. I I have both, you know, I I don't have a, you know, I I love both plans because they both, you know, pretty pretty much in the same thing, but I I kind of draw to um be because I do like the fact that we're we're we're addressing we're we're acknowledging what we've moved, you know, to that south side and making it a part of that park. But I do also understand um you know, the fact of keeping it open. So, I don't know. I I see I don't see the as a if I were a business owner in there, I would be glad that now this curve is directing people to my parking lot.

I'm not sure. All right. Thank you so much, Mr. McCartland.

Yes, I love both plants, too. I mean, they're they're fantastic. Something needs to be done down there, for sure. And first off, I want to thank Richard because if it wasn't for Richard spearheading this thing, getting some of the funds so we could do these plans. Great job, Richard, on that. As far as the handicap, no matter how many spots we put down there, it's probably not going to be enough during a special event. So, I think something needs to be looked at with the special events, additional handicap parking, and then run people with golf carts back to wherever they want to go because it it doesn't matter. You get 30,000 people 50 handicap spots ain't going to help you. So, something needs to be done along those lines. Probably with some of the organizations I think that could be done. Uh both both plants again they're they're wonderful but I kind of I'm kind of leaning towards C you know and because again during the special events we closed down Harrison Street and but the rest of the time it's open.

All right that's it sir. All right. I I think um for me I believe the original vision for this park, the renovation of Riverview Park was to have the seamless flow through the park. And um and that's what plan uh concept B shows me. And when you think about if we have the food truck area in in concept B, the food truck area, there's kids across the other side of that street playing. There's parents over there. So if there's food trucks there, we also have the veterans memorial there. There are a lot of veteran services that take place there. Those veterans are going to be walking across. I've already heard from many of them. U they're in uh wheelchairs just can barely walk and they want to be able to access that and without having to be u feel like they're going to get run over by a car or anything. And the other part is Harrison Street comes down um we could actually put removable ballots in there or permanent ones. But if the removable ones come in, if there's anything out of the ordinary pops up, they can be taken out. And obviously that area can be accessed. Um and Harrison Street flows right through the the um new parking area. So that area will be paved. Right now it's just all dirt going through there. There's easy way to get back out on In River Drive. I use RPAT myself all the time. When I go in there, I come off of US1. I turn around, I come right back out. I don't go down any river drive or do any of that because I came from the other way and and I think that's easier to get out. But that's just my opinion on that. So if you ask me, I would be leaning towards concept B. So

I have one thing I wanted to add that before we do entertain motion. Um Mike first. Oh, I'm sorry.

One thing I wanted to add. You know, the one thing that B gives this whole plan that C doesn't is it takes an amazing beautiful park and it expands it and makes it one fluid bigger park. Right now we have a great park, but by going be it takes that park and expands it into the road. It expands it so that the veterans memorial and the food truck area that's presented in the pictures all become part of that same conducive park. And I I know we closed the street down, but it makes it all one park. And and to me, while we can get that by closing the street down and C with B, we have that built in at always and and it just makes it a more fluid feature. So, is it okay if I make a motion?

Yes, sir. I'd like to make a motion to uh approve uh option B. Second. [clears throat] All right. Um, Madame Clerk. Council member Dodd. No. Mayor Jones, yes. Vice Mayor McPartland, no. Council member Nun, yes.

Council member Matthews, This is conceptual right? So we can [clears throat]

no motion fails. All right. Thank you. Do we have another motion? I'll make a motion to accept concept C. Do I have a motion? Do we have a second? I'll second that. All right. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, Madame Clerk, Mayor Jones, no. Vice Mayor McPartland? Yes. Council member Nun, no. Council member Matthews, yes. Council member Dodd, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. All right. Right. Um, next item is item 12B. Um, presentation of the pavement uh, management group. Who's taking care of this? Lee. All right. Good evening, council. Lee Lord, public works director. Uh before you we have the PMG report for pavement management for our PCI assessment for the next three years. Um last time this was assessed was November 2022 and our index at that time was a 72. Um, currently our index came in at 68 as of November. 31% of our streets are in good condition, 43% are in fair condition, 10% are in poor. Um, there's been a decline since our last. Uh, the reason for that is there was a shortfall in the budget and getting pavement done during 22 and 23. Um, followed by renewed efforts in 24. Um currently we have done we're scheduled to do 8.18 center lane miles in 25 and 26. Um and that's estimated to be completed in March. So before you have the the finalized report and then for for the public to view we have the dashboard which interactive dashboard which shows our current PCI index at 68. So I'll go over the index ratings. Um they're colorcoded in blue. One is excellent. Blue is excellent. [snorts] Green is good.

Yellow is fair. Uh orange is poor. And then five is failed. Um for those uh preservations and those PCI indexes, uh there's also recommended treatments for those. So any roadway between a 0 and 30 PCI which would be a failed uh full deck recommendation um is recommended for that treatment. For roadways within 30 to 49 a 2in mill and overlay is recommended. 50 to 65 cape seal is recommended but there's a caveat to that. Um visual inspections need to be done to ensure the road edges are not cracked or failed to be a good candidate for this pavement method. If it's shown if it's shown to be failed the road edges will be going to microsurfacing or a milling overlay which we have found in the recent past we have done that 65 to 75 microsurfacing microsurfacing is recommended which we just did that in the kill air Crawford area Mayberry um locations I'll point you over to the map here looking at 25 and 26 can you zoom in just a little bit So, Periwinkle, that is a failed a PCI score of 27. Um, that is set to be paved coming up the end of this next month, February 23rd, we're starting at if it's approved um by council.

Real quick, Lee, I just want to jump in here on one thing. So if you notice, I know it's hard to see on the screen, but when residents are looking at this at home, on the left hand side where it shows a PCI of 27 for Periwinkle, two spots or three spots below that, it shows the previous PCI. So back in 2022, this section of roadway was a 45. Now it's dropped 18 uh points in PCI points and it's down to a 27. So just want residents to be able to see what the change has been. A lot of it's dependent on traffic, but the change over the last three years.

So each year that payment is prolonged or prepared, it's a three to six% or excuse me, um 5 to 10% or points, should I say deviation. So if you look at not paving in 22 and 23, you're already starting behind the curve of 5 to 10% um in a negative or 10 points lower. So that PCI rating of 72 in actuality could be a 62. Um, with the current rate that we're at at 68, that's with the paving that we did in the previous years, last year alone, catching catching up from 22 23 and doing 24. Um, I can show you another neighborhood that's set for this year, uh, which is Joy Haven. Let me see here. So, Joy Haven section from Mid, excuse me, that was shown as a 20 the 56 which is in fair condition and that one changed of 21 points from the previous year that is also scheduled in FY25 and 26. So once our paving is completed for 25 and 26 um after speaking with PMG our report will look more so at a 70% rate 70% Um also from 22 to current we added the 512 alleyway which was not um added in the 22 assessment and then also we

annexed Industrial Park Boulevard which is still private but that was also brought into the assessment as well for this year. Uh for 26 and 27, we have scheduled 5.19 center lane miles to to pave in 26 and 27. Um our strategic plan goal is to maintain a 68 or better. We've we've attained that thus far and we strive to keep it higher. And with that, if you have any questions, I'm here to answer. Any questions?

Mr. Mayor, I move approval. All right. Second. Yeah, I I do have a question. We have a motion and a second. Any any discussion? Yes, sir. Okay. Uh so, um how many miles are we paving this year coming up? 8.18. 8.18. 8.1. And what is the cost of that 8.18 miles this year? currently before that'll be coming before council next year or excuse me next council meeting is 1.7 million that covers all eight miles that's million overlay in FDR and we've already currently completed as of today um it's roughly around 650,000 in preservation

okay just want like people to hear understand you know how many miles we're able to pave and how how huge of amount of money it is to do along with along with that we've also I encumbered 500,000 for swell work and 174,000 for driveways. Okay. Thank you. It's important to hear. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion? U Madame Clerk. Vice Mayor McPartland? Yes. Council member Nun. Yes. Council member Matthews. Yes. Council member Dodd. Yes. And Mayor Jones? Yes. Motion carries.

All right. Uh thank you so much. Um, we're going to move on to item C, consideration of approving emergency uh closure disaster wage policy. Mr. Benton. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to turn this item over to Miss Karen Miller to give you all some details on this item. All right. Thank you so much, Miss Miller. Good evening. We were made aware by Indian River County.

Okay. So, we were made aware um by Indian River County Emergency Operations Center that in other areas of the state, FEMA has been clawing back money according to the the municipality's wage policy during an event. So with that, we took the time to look at an existing emergency closure policy that we've had in place since 20 2017 and just make sure it follows all of the FEMA regulations and all of the FDM requirements. So this is really a cleanup of our existing policy before it was approved by staff and we are trying to bring it into the FEMA requirements where it needs to be approved by council. Um, so this was more a cleanup of language and just reorganizing the policy, bringing it forward to you to make sure that we are in compliance with all FEMA FEMA regulations.

All right. Uh, thank you so much. Um, you have anything to add, Mr. Benton?

Yeah, I'll just I'll just add one thing. So, a couple of the items that we did have to amend in this uh policy were requirements. We joined uh what's known as the FDM FROCK program. We joined that. We completed the initial application process over a year ago. So this past hurricane season, we were eligible. Basically, FROCK makes us eligible for an immediate percentage amount of money to be reimbursed to the city and we don't have to wait for FEMA. Um but they do put additional requirements on the city. So we had to implement some of those requirements. you'll see some of those are included in the food element um where in the past we weren't really you know handling much of that but now we are required to um you know feed our employees during the emergency period um and so that that's one major change that we had to make and then obviously the wage policy and ensuring that we get council's approval um and signature by the mayor so that the highest governing body of the city uh did approve the policy in total. Thank you.

All right. Uh, thank you so much. I was just looking at that about the mills. I'm like, were we doing that on the the mission critical part of that, buying the mills or not? So, we were not. So, now we're in compliance. Absolutely. All right. Uh, council, do you have any questions or a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the uh revised emergency closure disaster wage policy. Second. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, is there anyone from the public who would like to speak on this? Hearing none. Anyone on Zoom? No one has raised their hand at this time. All right. Um, thank you so much. Um, Madame Clerk. Council member Matthews, yes. Council member Dodd, yes. Mayor Jones, yes. Vice Mayor McPartland,

yes. Council member Nun, yes. Motion carries. All right. Um, next item we have is item D, consideration of proposed city council meeting dates for calendar council. We looked at that. Do we have any conflicts for anyone? Mr. Bid,

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I just have one item. Um, and this was brought to my attention by Council Member Matthews. November 4th, uh, is a Wednesday. That is the day after the election. Typically, we try not to hold a meeting after the election until we have the results ready. Um, so I would recommend, if you all are okay with it, moving that meeting to Monday, November 2nd. Uh, then that way we can hold that meeting, but it'll just be Monday, the day before the election. Can we um just have one that month? I think we've done that before. We can. My only concern a little bit is October 14th is our one meeting in October and know that's the first of the fiscal year and a lot of things seem to happen as far as purchasing

with staff. Um and our next meeting won't be until November 18th. Um so if if we get to that point and staff loads up the October 14th meeting and we don't need to meet November 2nd, we won't. But I would like to kind of reserve that day just in case. I I don't have a problem personally with um moving it to the second if it becomes necessary. I just have I have a question. We're the second and fourth, right? The second and fourth Wednesday. Okay. So November 4th. Yeah, we should be on 11th anyway. No, if you remember because of the holidays and Veterans Day, you change it. We always adjust November and December get adjusted. Okay. um because of the holidays,

right? All right. So, sounds like we have a consensus. Is that right, council? Yes. Yes. Yeah. All right. Good. You have a consensus. Okay. Thank you. And um is there anything else? Any any of you have anything else on the calendar for next year? For this year? Just write down I won't be here. June 24th. June 24th. Let me write it right now. June 24th. [laughter] Did you write that in crayon? Red crayon. Red crayon. Red crayon. Don't get it wrong.

All right. Um, thank you so much for that. Um, our next uh agenda item is uh city attorney matters. Mr. Stokes. Uh, yes, sir. Just just one item. Um, as you know, I' I've been working on our uh code enforcement special magistrate situation. I'd like to get permission from council uh to go ahead and uh see about recruiting a second special magistrate just so that we do have somebody as a backup. Uh because working with just one is kind of working without a net. So yeah, I I I'm okay with that. I agree with that. I think we should have that. So yeah. All right. I don't need a I don't need a vote as long as I've got the consensus. You have a consensus. Yeah. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. All right. That's it for you, sir. Yes.

Uh Mr. Venton. Um I just have one item to bring to your attention. We had um as you all know we had appointed two employees to the generate employees uh retirement pension board. One of those employees left employment with the city back in December. Um so we did reopen applications. We all we received an application in um so I have appointed Michelle Faulner to serve as the second appointed employee to the retirement pension board and she will serve the term that was left open uh from the employee that left uh the city. All right. And that's all I have for tonight. Thank you. All right. Uh thank you so much for that. Um Madame Clerk,

I don't have anything tonight. Thank you. All right. Uh thank you so much for that. Um, now Councilman Nun, I don't have anything. Where to start? I don't have anything tonight. All right. Thank you. Thank you so much, sir. Um, Councilman Dodd, I had one thing. Yes, sir.

Um, as the state does in a lot of cases, they have a set of rules that apply to municipalities that don't apply to them. And the set of rules that's kind of important in the discussion right now is that um after there is a ballot initiative identified, it is illegal under state statute 106 for a municipality to expend any funds in any way, shape, or form to to do anything about that initiative. And since we're looking at uh quite a bit of um of effort related to property taxes this year, um once they once they put together something uh which probably won't happen now because we're talking about a special session and it may not happen during January, it's going to happen relatively quick. Uh we're going to we're not going to be able to even put information on our web page pertain to that because 106 would consider that city expending funds. So, I'd like to see if there's a consensus that we can um we can ask the city manager to come up with a plan for us to do some web advertising. Um possibly hold some workshops here in the chamber and try to explain to people what the possible negative impacts will happen to the city uh related to u related to changes that may happen for the in the adarum tax structure. I do know that Vero and the county both intend to do workshops in February time frame related to this and I think it might be important for us to try to do something maybe uh uh maybe put something especially put something on our Facebook page and other although I'm [clears throat] after some stuff that's happened on Facebook I'm slowly but surely pulling away from it so I hate to see it happen but u put stuff put stuff on our our social media stuff uh on that so that means they'll have to spend money so they're gonna probably want us to agree to let them spend some money and I would like to see if there's a consensus to allow them to do that

and maybe also schedule a workshop possibly here in council chambers and more I believe that more than one council member can attend that as long as they don't speak at it that would be correct yes so which means Brian would probably or our CFO or someone would have to represent the city and present that information. Yes, we can we can do that. We can we'll schedule multiple workshops. We'll do it similar to how we did the Riverview Park uh workshops that seem to work well with doing daytime and nighttime and then choosing a couple dates in a week, days in a week. Um so we can we can start working on that and getting those put together and then we'll notify you all of the dates that are chosen.

Yeah, it's really important quite frankly that we let people know what the impact is of what they're trying to do at the state. Uh and and I think a lot of people are not really fully aware of just how big and massive that's going to be on a city like Sebastian. Uh just just right off the top of my head, just from the information that we've captured, we don't collect enough money in total in adum taxes to to cover our police department operation. So, and that we also have lots of limitations placed on us about how we can spend money like discretionary sales tax money and and other things like that. So, we can't pay police officers with discrete dur sales tax money. We can buy police cars, but we can't pay police officers. So, we can buy some really nice cars, we just can't put anybody in to drive them, you know, and and uh there there are things like that that it's important for people to understand. this Riverview Park thing we talked about tonight, that's not going to happen if they change that rule because we will not be able to generate enough money to match the grants because we're going to have to use every penny we've got to run this city. So, people need to understand this exactly what the overall impact of that's going to be. So, that's it.

All right. Uh, thank you so much for that, Mr. Dodd. Um, Miss Matthews, I have uh one thing I'd like to um acknowledge. I want to wish uh Betty Arlada a very very happy um 105th birthday. She turned 105 January 10th. And um what an amazing story. What an amazing story. Um I love the fact that um Miss Betty, she contri uh she tributes dancing and chocolate to her years of life. And what what an amazing I I I can't even imagine. But happy birthday, Miss Betty. All right. Uh, thank you so much. And I don't have anything, Mr. McPartland. I'll eat plenty of chocolate. That's for sure.

Yeah, [laughter] I'll dance. That's it, sir. That's it. You'll dance more. Not if I eat so much chocolate. [laughter] My role. All right. Um, that concludes our business for this evening. This meeting is adjourned.