City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. Uh, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to go ahead and get the city council regular meeting and the community redevelopment agency for Wednesday, February 23rd called to order. Please rise for a moment of silence and we'll have the pledge of allegiance led by Vice Mayor Bach McPartland of America to the stands nationisible [snorts] and justice. All right. Uh, Madame Clerk, roll call.

Mayor Jones here. Vice Mayor McPartland here. Council member Dodd here. Council member Nun is excused and council member Matthews is excused tonight.

All right. Um, thank you so much for that. Um, council, do we have any agenda modifications? Anything from staff? All right. Hearing none. Okay. Going to go ahead and move forward. The next item on our agenda is proclamations and awards. I'd like to have um Miss Marie O'Brien come forward and whoever else you want to bring forward and uh we're going to be um reading a proclamation. All right. Thank you all for attending. So this is a proclamation 2026 moonshot community proclamation building a literacy capital of the nation. Whereas regarding proficiency is essential to education achievement workforce readiness and lifelong opportunity. And whereas Indian River County is committed to our moonshot goal of ensuring children are ready for kindergarten and reading on grade level by the end of third grade. And whereas the school district of Indian River County has made measurable progress and is now tied for second in the state of Florida for third grade reading and achievement. And whereas our community recognizes that strong early language development is critical predictor of kindergarten readiness and the future regarding s reading success. And whereas a thriving community strengthens language and literacy development across homes, early learning settings, schools, and community spaces. Whereas early learning and assessment of language and literacy skills are

essential to understanding children's needs and ensuring timely support. Whereas supporting parents and caregivers through awareness, resources, and access to evidence-based programs strengthens children's early language development and long-term success. Whereas literacy begins before school and school can't do it alone because literacy is everybody's business. Now therefore, be it resolved, we, the city council of the city of Sebastian, do hereby proclaim our continued commitment to the moonshot goal and advancing policies, partnerships, and community efforts that promote early language development, strengthens families, and improve literacy outcomes for all children. and witness whereof the city council has here unto set our hands and cause the seal of the big city of Sebastian to be affixed this 25th day of February 2026. Thank you, Mayor Jones. Um I want to thank the city of Sebastian, too. Um you guys are our first proclamation this year. I think you tend to be our first proclamation. Um and just to thank you for the continued support. It means so much. Um as you said, schools can't do it alone and literacy is everybody's business. So um some of our group here from the Moonshot Community Action Network, um we just wanted to come and say thank you and um also share our project and what this proclamation talked about too is the language is everything. And we're finding that if children, young children before school, in school, but when the more words that people hear, the more conversations they have, it builds their brain. So, we have the um Moonshot ABCs of

Hold it up this way. Yeah. Um when I give you the the poster. So, this is a new um project. It's a new campaign from MCAN this year. It's the ABCs of Indian River County. S is for Sebastian. Um this is the words were chosen by the community last year. We went to a lot of events. We did online surveys and have people pick words that mean something here. And then we have the pictures and um these are we're putting these up um throughout the community. We are at the main library now and we're going to be at the North County Library actually on a walkway. But it's designed to have um people talk about it. So when you're with a child, you'll talk about, you know, that's S, that's Sebastian, can you say S? Can you trace S? And um it's the the type of skills that will build a reading brain. So we wanted to have an easel here and we've got the the poster for you. And thank you very much.

All right. You want to turn around and hold that up? We're going to hold this and we'll get a photograph with this. Yes. And I've got a um Yep. You want to hold it? I'll hold that. Oh, she's got a camera. Y Thank you. That was my camera. Yes.

Want to take one with that one before? Can you do one with that for I'm going to keep this wonderful signature.

Thank you all. Easy. [snorts] All right. Uh, thank you all so much. Uh, we have a couple of brief announcements. Um, you want to read them, Mr. McCartland?

Sure. Friday. This Friday, February 27th, the Chamber of Commerce concert in the Park begins at 5:30. Johnny and the Blaze will be performing. And Saturday, March 7th, Sebastian River Art Club in the Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All right. Uh, thank you so much. Um, now we're at the portion of our agenda items, and this is a public input, and this is input on anything that's not on the current agenda. If anyone is here wish to speak on something that's not on the current agenda, please come forward. Yes, sir.

Uh Charles Wright, uh 801 Williamson Avenue. Uh came a couple months ago, um and tried to uh come to the council, introduce myself, and we have some issues at the uh airport that we wanted to discuss and hopefully the counselors can take care of this. We had a meeting on Sunday, a group of us at the at the airport and that evolved into actually a conversation with Jessibo and a and uh if you remember a few months ago, I had asked to see if we could arrange a meeting with the counselors and I think you asked Brian Brian to reach out to me. Um and we I hadn't heard anything and so we we were the next step was to come to the council and request uh to be put on the agenda. Um, I had a conversation with Jeff Sibo yesterday and uh and and apparently there's a meeting set up for Brian and Jeff and myself and a couple other people. Um, so it looks like that's being taken care of, but I had already planned to come in and and talk to you guys. Um, the one thing I'm not familiar I've been involved with other other city governments in Grten, Connecticut and and Taton, Massachusetts. Um, and this is unusual that you're It seems like you only have three counselors.

No, no, we just have two u missing tonight. They're excused. Oh, all right. There's five. Okay. All right. So, that's good. And then the other thing I was I was also going to suggest um and I don't know what you're I know sometimes there's open meeting requirements and if there's more than count so many counselors and it has to be a public meeting and that sort of thing. Uh we are meeting at 2 o'clock I believe with you um Brian in the city council chambers and just if uh another councelor wanted to show up and see what's going on it would be uh probably a good thing to start to involve you because I mean hopefully uh the the city of Sebastian can help help out what's going on. Anyways that's all I had to say.

All right. Thank you so much sir. We appreciate that. Thank you. You take care. All right. Is there anyone else who want to speak on anything not on the current agenda? Seeing none, do we have anyone on Zoom? No one has raised their hand at this time. All right. [snorts] Uh, thank you so much. Public input is closed. Um, now we're going to move on to item eight. Um, we're going to go ahead and recess the city council meeting and convene the community redevelopment agency. Um, first item on our list is item 8A. I [snorts] move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Do we have any discussion? Anybody from the public would like to speak on this item? Anyone on Zoom?

No one has raised their hand. Uh hearing none. Public input is closed. Madame clerk. Vice Chair Mcartland. Yes. Mr. Do. Yes. Chairman Jones. Yes. Motion carries. All right. U Thank you so much. Next item. Item 8B, consideration of professional service agreement with Kevin Horn and Associates. Um, who do we have for this, Mr. Bent? Good evening, council. So, before you Oh, yes, ma'am. Go ahead, Mr.

Sorry about that. Good evening, council. Before you is a professional services agreement with Kemley Horn for the design and permitting of 1540 Indian River Drive. That is the name that we're going by because that is the address of the building and not the previous occupants. But the CRA was awarded, well, the city of Sebastian was awarded a fine grant on December 2nd, 2024. And the reason for the gap is we were trying to determine what we were going to do with the building. So, it took most of 2025 to determine the plan to decide how we were going to handle the building and how we were going to use the grant. So, during that time, we started working with Kimley Horn where we had a uh continuing contract with Kimley Horn for engineering services. By the time we finally got our plans together and we had a course of action, that contract expired. So that is why we are bringing this forward as a professional services agreement which is exempt due to our city code as well as state statutes. Professional services agreements are exempt. But we would like to move forward with Kimley Horn for again the design and permitting of what our plans are for 1540 Indian River Drive. And we need to move forward with this as soon as possible because the grant unfortunately does expire on September 30th, 2026. So that was just the procurement portion of it. But if there are any questions about the project or anything like that, I would turn it over to Miss Bernard to answer. Do we have any questions for

I do. Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. D.

Well, I don't I don't necessarily have a question on the procurement part of it. That's She does a great job on procurement, so I have to ask that. I I think that um we've got some scope changes uh as a result of the council approving the uh the acceptance of the grant and the eventual hopefully the eventual acquisition of the simple property next door to that. I know TC Palm and uh Sebastian Daly have said it's done. It's not done. There's a lot of work to do with that. But that's really changed the scope of this whole project, the scope of this whole thing down there. Um making an assumption that the fact that we have a willing seller and a willing buyer and that it's a matter of the city manager and his staff uh going through negotiations with the with the seller and putting something together on that, that's going to completely change what we may or may not want to do with that property. Um uh [clears throat] I I don't see that actually producing any type of a design that includes mechanical plans and architectural drawings and things like that on a replacement for that building um has any merit today. Um I do believe that there is a lot of merit in the demolition of that building. I think Brian and I have had a conversation [clears throat] about the potential liability the city has there if the uh if someone's hurt in that building. [snorts] And I think that um it's it's pretty much it's pretty much certain that the building is going to have to be replaced. We're not going to retrofit it to something. Uh and so my my feeling is that we should forego this. I I know there's there's a lot of constrnation and there's been a lot of pressure on the staff and I appreciate that they're responding to the kind of pressure that they may be given to do something with this. Um, and if if we can use some of the grant money to do the demolition or if we can convince Fine, who's a good partner with the city to extend the grant uh date, uh, I'm not sure that they can extend it more than, you know, whatever they do if it's a year, but I'm not sure how long it's going to take. I don't know what the

acquisition process is going to take on a simpler property. There are issues there that have to be dealt with, not only financial, but also mechanical. There's dock structures that um which submerge land leases have to be transferred to the city. There's and and once you get into that process, it could take months to do that. So, there's things that have to take place through the acquisition. So, my personal preference is that we don't approve this tonight. uh unless this can be transitioned into a project in which the demolition of the building is the objective and an RFP is sent is put out to uh to bring in a contractor to do that at the same time to hopefully try to save some of the building and the facade some of the material in the facade of the building so we may be able to use that in a future construction project. So that's my feeling.

All right. Um thank you Mr. McPartland. I'm in agreement with that. Okay. Did Do you need to say something, Mr. I'm I'm just ready when after you ask your questions. No, I was just getting ready. He's waiting for you. No, I'm waiting so to hear what staff has.

So, a a couple things and and uh Council Member Dodd and I have had this discussion. Um couple couple dynamics with this is one, the property at 1540 North Indian River Drive or Indian River Drive was purchased with an FCT grant. So we do have specific items in that agreement and operational work plan that we have to abide by. So, kind of a mechanism that if we're not going to go forward at this time with the design a and um permitting on a replacement structure is I [snorts] would request that we get um direction from council to begin to draft an alternate work plan for the property so that we can submit it to FCT and get their approval. then we can come back and look at demolition of the prop of the building. But we can't demolish what's currently there until we have a new work plan in place with FCT. And I think we get a

So so that's part of that's that's structured within the grant process. So we can't take that step even though it's a even though it's a condemned building the well they haven't given us approval to do it and part of the work plan is that we have to have it. So, we have to somehow get a revised work plan to allow us to go forward with the demolition and then we would once a decision is made on what to go back on that property. Okay. We would then submit for another revised work. And when you and I talked about this, you didn't say that to me. I did not. I didn't say that to you. No, I got that information today when I was talking with Alex. Okay. All right.

So, that that's the case. I don't have a problem with not going forward with this. that's fine. We just need to submit a revised work plan um and and have discussions with FCT. We've already started those discussions. We don't think it's going to be a problem, but we do have to formalize it and get their approval as we go forward with that.

Whatever steps you've got to do, I just don't see any sense in in paying anyone to produce a drawing for what a building's going to look like when we don't know what even what the scope of that building is going to be when we combine those properties. First of all, it says in this documentation that Kimberly Horn, it's a two-story building. I don't know whether that's been decided at all. Where's it been decided that we're going to produce a two-story building there? There are things in here that are beyond that that establish a scope that is beyond what I understand to even have been approved in this process. There were there were discussions by the plans by the parks and recck committee about a two-story building, but the parks and recck committee is not the final authority on that stuff. Okay? I mean, so my concern is that we're and we can certainly spend grant money and attach grant money. There's $59,000 worth of the grant money and a and a match for about the same amount of money from the city to do this. But we're going to produce a document that this probably has no merit to that. So I don't whatever we have to do to legally be able to move forward on this, we need to take that step. But there's no sense in us spending money to produce drawings, especially MEP drawings on a building that that I would doubt very seriously is going to be anywhere near what's going to happen on that property once we combine them and decide what we want to do. We're not going to build a community center on that small foot piece of property on the east side of that river. It's not going to happen. It's not big enough to be I mean we can build a small we can build something small on that but it's not a community center. We can however build a community center on the west side of Indian River Drive on the property we're going to acquire if we combine all this together some way or another. So there's a lot of things that have to come together if we're going to do a systemic view of what we're going to do with that property. This is a myopic view of what we're going to do with that property.

So I I think I'd said that I was in agreement with that. I don't I don't I mean we revisited it, but I just want to be clear on this that the direction that we're receiving tonight is fine with us to not move forward with this. We will then begin to work on a a revised draft plan that we can send to FCT to get their agreement so that we can also pursue cost estimates to demolish the building. We will also follow up with find to see if we can get a one-year extension if they give us that ability. That way things could potentially work out. We could potentially be in design within the next year or before it would expire. And then if not, then we we forfeit that $100,000 in funds. But we also do have CRA dollars in general fund reserves identified in this project that we can utilize for the demolition as we get to that port part.

Okay. the grant funding, the fine grant will not we are not allowed to use that funding for demolition. Okay. Um so that's our that that would be staff's plan as we go forward. Um if that's in agreement with everything you all would like. How about if I do this? I move that we deny the extended service agreement with Kimberly Horn and that we direct the city manager to do what he just said. Second. I'm not going to try to say it all again. All right. So we we have a motion and a second. Do we have anyone from the public who would like to speak on this? Um, anyone on Zoom? Not at this time. Hearing none, public input is closed. Madame Clerk, roll call. Mr. Dodd, yes. Chairman Jones, yes.

And vice chairman McPartland? Yes. Motion carries. All right. Thank you. Now, we're going to recess the Community Redevelopment Agency and reconvene the city council meeting. Um, next on our agenda is the consent agenda. Council, Mr. Mayor, move approval of the consent agenda. We have a motion and a second to uh for the consent agenda. Madame Clerk, Vice Mayor McPartland, yes. Council member Dodd, yes. And Mayor Jones, yes. Motion carries. All right. Uh, committee reports. Oh, I have one.

Yeah. I attended the uh community I mean I attended any river county affordable housing committee this morning in in place of council member nun and I successfully nominated him and he was elected vice chair to teach him for being I'm going to leave it up to the I'm going to leave it up to our interim clerk to notify him that he's now vice chair [laughter] and [snorts] u watching he's probably watching well if he's watching he's there Congratulations, Chris.

And I attended the um military officers association meeting down in Vero Beach and we had a really good conversation from um CEO, one of the um I forget what the fell is a real top guy in the VA down in West Palm and he had told us that that new center that they're opening up in Vero, his his expectations are to be up and running in April. So, we'll see. and they'll have most of the services for veterans except for the aiology booth or whatever. They won't have that. So, you still have to go to Port St. Lucy for that. Very good. He didn't give you a year this year. He said April.

This year, they're already working on the building. So, he he's pushing because he know this is uh services that are needed here. We have a lot of veterans on the Treasure Coast and that's that's definitely needed. All right. Um any other committee reports? None. Um, no public hearing, so we're going to move on. No unfinished business. New business. Item 13A, presentation and consideration of final adaptation plan completed through Florida Resilient Grant Agreement. Karen. Oh, sorry. I moved too fast. I'm sorry.

You're good. You're good. You're good. So last year we received a grant from Florida Department of Environmental Protection to complete an adaptation plan and Kimley Horn was our consultant that completed that and they should be on Zoom ready to create to show a presentation about that adaptation plan. All right. Um do we have them? One second. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes. All right. Thank you. Um, let me figure out how to share my screen really quickly. Um, if not, we have the presentation as well.

That might be easier. I can't quite figure it out. Apologies.

Joseph, can we get a present? There you go. Perfect. Thank you. But we're going to have to change it. You got to click it. Okay.

All right. Well, thank you everybody. Uh my name is Shelby Roachcha. I'm here with Kimley Horn. Um and we're here to present the final adaptation plan that was done for the city. Um this is a continuation of the work that was completed for the vulnerability assessment which was accepted in 2024. So I can move forward to the next slide. [snorts] All right. So this slide should be showing what the project objective is. And so again, this is a continuation of the vulnerability assessment. Both the VA and the adaptation plan were funded through FD's resilient Florida program. Um so the purpose of the adaptation plan is to take what was conducted in the vulnerability assessment identifying floodprone assets and regions of the city and identifying potential strategies and general projects for the future and then also identifying any current projects that the city has to promote flood resiliency. And so we're looking at the city's CIPs, local mitigation strategy project projects and storm water master plan projects as well as taking a look at those vulnerability assessment results and proposing new strategies as well. And then sort of the end goal here is to provide the city with the means of ranking these projects based on set criteria so that they may move forward with prioritizing them in the future for implementation and move forward to the next slide. So again this is a continuation of the vulnerability assessment just some of the work that was done here. Um this involved modeling flood planes for the rainfall, sea level rise, title and storm surge events in which we determined flood depths and risk levels for uh city-owned assets only and then identified uh focus areas containing a high number of vulnerable assets or floodplone region floodprone regions of the city, excuse me. And these areas will be focused on in the adaptation plan. This next slide shows some of the uh vulnerabilities that were identified from that assessment. Here is one of the focus areas that was defined along Indian River Drive in which we're seeing

that the city is primarily susceptible to rainfall, sea level rise and storm surge flooding mechanism and a lot of the seaw walls and shorelines along Indian River Drive and then along the city's canal system were identified as vulnerable within this assessment. And so moving forward in the adaptation plan in addition to the current CIPs that the city already has local mitigation strategy projects these were the assets in which general strategies were defined as well. The following slide um is in regard to adaptive capacities. So this is a requirement um for FD for adaptation planning. And so these are four categories in which FD defines as the ability for the city to adapt to change. So what regulations or plans does the city have in place that are controlling these developments and controlling these projects going forward? What are the city staff available to conduct this work? How is the city financing these projects? And what infrastructure does the city have currently um to promote flood resiliency? um the canal system, the stormwater park, um any evacuation routes, etc. So, this final slide here just shows some of the adaptation strategies. So, the four categories that are shown here on the screen are in regards to some FTP requirements as well. This is just how they separate the projects within their guidelines. Um the first two sections protection and accommodation are your typical blue gray green infrastructure. So those would be your seaw walls any of your shorelines um shoreline stabilization as well as um any low impact development and pond or canal dredging which are some of the projects that were showing up on the CIP and local mitigation strategy list. Um as well as some of the culvert upsizing replacements. Um, retreat is one that um just has to deal with relocating infrastructure um if it might be along

the coast might be vulnerable to um specific surges and whatnot. And then the last category here as an example um our planning strategies. So making sure that the city is up to date with their stormwater master plans, other assessments, um the canal study for example, which was on the CIP list, um and you know projects such as those. And so sort of the end goal of the adaptation plan is to evaluate each of these projects um and compile them into a ranking system again like I said for the city to move forward and prioritize in the future. But the ultimate goal of the adaptation plan is to be able to apply for resilient Florida grant funding. Um, and so this would be compliant with that, uh, Florida statute, uh, 38093 as well as the vulnerability assessment.

But that concludes the presentation. Um, I'd like to thank you for allowing me to be here. Um, if anybody has any questions. All right. U, thank you so much for that. Um, any questions up here? Well, I guess the only one I would have is there's a lot of projects listed in the ad adaptation plan. Yeah. Uh is that is there a need to cross that to any of our project plans or is that is this a trigger to do that or how does it fit within the overall process? So they were given all of our previous CIP plans and ranked those projects. Okay. So they've already they've already done that matching then. Okay. Good. Good.

All right. Um thank you. Anything else? Uh is there anyone from the public who would like to speak on this item? Anyone on Zoom? Not at this time. All right. Um staff, you have anything final? No, I'm just looking for acceptance of this adaptation plan because it will help us in the future for additional grant funding for capital improvement projects. All right. Uh thank you. We'll go ahead and They did a great job on the plan. I'll move approval. Second.

All right. We have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? Hearing none. Uh, madame clerk, roll call. Council member Dodd? Yes. Mayor Jones? Yes. Vice Mayor McPartland? Yes. Motion carries. All right. Uh, thank you. Um, we're going to move on to item 13B, um, consideration of waving community development application fees for the Habitat project. Miss Bernard.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. So, um we are moving forward with the Habitat for Humanity um application process and they've started to come in with different things future land use and resonings that they have to do to get the project started for um attainable housing in Sebastian. And one of the things that they asked was a waiver of their application fees. So, they've drafted a le a letter and that's what's being presented before you tonight. It roughly works out to about 6,200 per different parcel of land that they're asking for a waiver of fees on. And with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

All right. Um, thank you. Any questions up here? Well, I um I think it's a great thing we do this. May we probably should also try to do some expedited permitting for them if it's at all possible to do that. But would it be possible for us to have a letter drafted under the mayor's signature to the county asking that they also provide some relief from impact fees? We can do that. We can assist with that. We can speak with them and assist with that.

Okay. So, you know, we can Yeah, I mean, I'll make a motion that we do we we approve the waiver as requested and include with that um a review by the city manager review on expedited permitting processes and a letter under the mayor's signature to the county to request that they consider waving impact fees, especially connection fees for water and sewer and impact fees. All right. Excellent. Second. We have a motion and a second. Um, is there anyone from the public would like to speak on this item? Um, hearing none in here. Do we have anyone on Zoom? Not at this time. Okay. Thank you. Public input is closed. Any more deliberations here? Anything else from staff?

I would just say we were committed to this project making it attainable housing, but by waving these fees makes it that much more attainable. Yes. [clears throat] Absolutely, Madame Clerk. Vice Mayor McPartland, yes. Council member Dodd, yes. Mayor Jones, yes. Motion carries. All right. [snorts] Um, thank you. And we'll move on to item 13C. Who's Who's up with this one?

So, um, what you have before you tonight is the consideration of a resolution designating an administrative authority and administrative officer for final plats and replats. This is being presented to you tonight um as part of a Florida statute that was passed last year. So, this resolution will give staff guidance on how to proceed forward with final plats and replats until we can change our code. So, that's the resolution that's being presented before you this evening. Yes, [clears throat] this is something that is mandated from the state to us. That's correct. Right.

This doesn't change anything with the process to to get through PNZ and all that. It basically is only the final plat. The city manager will be signing the myars and and as opposed to the mayor and stuff like that, right? That's correct. So final plats right now come before you. So they would not come before you in the future, but that would be for final plats and replats only. Yeah. Okay. All right. Mr. Mayor, I move approval of resolution R26-08. Second. Um, do we have anybody from the public who would like to speak on this item? Hearing none in the audience. Do we have anyone on Zoom on this item? Not at this time.

All right. Um, thank you. Um, Madame Clerk. Mayor Jones? Yes. Vice Mayor McPartland? Yes. Council member Dodd? Yes. Motion carries. All right. Um, our next item is item 13D. I believe this is the airport. So, Mr. Sabbo is coming up. Yes. Um, resolution R26-04, Mr. Sabbo.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council members, uh, this resolution has been, uh, put forward for your consideration to accept an FDOT grant. Uh, this grant is, uh, for the airport to begin construction process on runway 1028. Uh this is a a lighter repair work that we're looking to do that would uh take care of cracks and uh uh different types of holes and stuff that have come up on the runway over the years and then reseal it and put new markings on it. Uh this will extend the life of this runway and put off any need to do an extensive rehabilitation like we did on runway 523. Uh this is just for the FDOT portion. We will be awaiting the uh the bulk of this grant which is uh will be coming from the FAA at a 90% portion and we would anticipate uh probably receiving that sometime in July or August and we would not proceed until we have those funds in hand.

All right. Um thank you so much for that council. Do we have any questions? All right. Um hearing none, I'll I'll entertain a motion. I'll move approval of resolution R-26-04. Second. Um, is there anyone from the public who would like to speak on this item? Hearing none. Um, anyone on Zoom? No, at this time. All right. Uh, thank you so much. Uh, public input is closed. Anything else from staff on this before we vote? Uh, no, sir. We just appreciate your consideration of the item. All right. Uh, thank you, Madame Clerk. Council member Dodd? Yes. Mayor Jones? Yes. Vice Mayor McPartland. Yes. Motion carries.

All right. Uh, thank you. Item 13E, consideration of resolution R-26-05 FDOT. Mrs. Sabbo again.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this is also an FDOT grant that uh has been issued to us. This is to begin the design and engineering process for the northwest corner of the airport uh to develop a new access road and the related utilities that would uh run in parallel with that road that will make the uh area uh adjacent to our new taxiway golf project uh as buildable leasable land for the airport's future expansion. Um the whole northwest corner currently right now is just open field between the old closed runway. Now that we have the taxi way in place and we'll be looking ahead towards providing an apron to make the area even more usable. This will provide the utilities necessary for us to uh solicit and bring in new businesses and uh uh builders to build out the area and make it a part of the airport.

All right. And I believe that area is all cleaned up over there now. Is it uh the golf project's uh just about done other than paint markings and with the completion of that uh the grass is already starting to grow and uh we have the temporary apron in. We'll speak about that in a moment but the uh uh as we clean up the uh the large dirt piles are all gone. So the area is moving rapidly towards being able to be developed. All right. Uh thank you so much councel. I move approval. So we have a motion and a second. Um, anyone from the public who would like to speak on this item? Um, anyone on Zoom? Not at this time. Hearing none. Public input is closed. Madame clerk. Vice Mayor McArtland.

Yes. Council member Dodd. Yes. Mayor Jones. Yes. Motion carries. All right. Moving on. Item 13F. Um, this is Mrs. Sabbo 2. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Uh we're requesting your consideration of a new lease for one of our square hangers. This will be the second of the uh the three buildings that we uh completed last year. Uh this will be for a company known as Mullins Aviation. Uh they're an existing business that requested the ability to move into Sebastian Municipal Airport. Uh this business focuses on um uh heavier aircraft type of repairs, not heavy aircraft, but heavier repair work on types of aircraft than what is normally done. um uh at a lot of maintenance facilities. This is for uh accident aircraft refurbishment and uh structural repairs. Uh they have uh requested to move into our number two hanger G2 on the west side of the airfield for a 5-year term which would be extendable uh at the end of that term.

All right. U Thank you so much for that. Uh council, I'll move approval of new lease for Mullen Aviation. Second. We have a motion and a second. Um, is there anyone from the public who would like to speak on this? Yes, sir. Come forward.

Uh, Charles Wright again, 801 Williamson Avenue. Uh, I'm not speaking for or against. Um u I'm actually coming up here cuz as I said I've been counselor in other other states and and uh I I'm I just wanted to I am so impressed the way you guys are handling this council uh and the and the way it's presented and the way you're handling the public input. U and so in and I guess I had one question concerning the uh the lease and that is basically does every lease renewal come before [snorts] the city council for approval? Yes sir. Perfect. Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh, thank you so much, sir. Is there anyone else um on public input? No one else in the audience. Um, do we have anyone on Zoom?

No one has raised their hand. All right. Uh, thank you so much. Public input is closed, madame clerk. Mayor Jones, yes. Vice Mayor McPartland, yes. And Council Member Dodd, yes. Motion carries. All right. U, thank you so much. We're going to move on to item 13G. Mr. Sable.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh this is uh requesting your consideration of a uh service agreement by one of our retained engineering firms, Infrastructure Consulting and Engineering. Uh this is their CSA number 17 uh for us to uh pick up and work on the design and engineering for the Gulf Apron phase 1. We accepted the funding for this uh design and engineering phase back on November 12th. uh infrastructure consulting and engineering is one of the fine firms that helps us to develop and lay out these types of projects. This particular one, the Gulf Apron, will actually run for the first 700 ft of the brand new taxi way that's being completed. And then the infrastructure road that we discussed will come in on the back side of that to serve this same area. Uh with the completion of this uh this is one of of three things uh uh that are necessary to complete usable space for the aircraft and the ability to build buildings and make use of uh the area at that taxi way. This apron will provide an area for the aircraft to be parked or be moved in and out of any future hangers that are built on the site.

Is this over there near Skydive? Uh this is north of that also. This is actually in the uh uh the area where there is no development as yet. Uh Skydive is on the taxiway alpha. The new Gulf meets taxiway alpha at the very far north corner and this is at the very northern end of the taxiway Golf. Right. Okay. Thank you for that, sir. U council. Yes. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there anyone from the public who would like to speak on this item? All right. Hearing none. Um and inside um anyone on Zoom?

I have one hand raised. All right. Bring them on, sir.

Uh Mr. Gills, can you hear us? Hello. Go ahead. We We have you.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for taking my call. I u been listening to the uh Oh, by the way, this is Damian Gilliam, your former councilman, 1623 US Highway 1, Sebastian, Florida. I um was listening to the meeting. I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you guys. I know how much you appreci appreciate my presence. Uh all these projects that are being done at the airport just brings to mind that that big major project that was done for 9.2 million that was 6 million over budget. Uh let's just make sure that we're not using uh friends and friends of the family. Let's make sure that uh these things all come under budget. Okay. I uh uh that big building that you built over there at the airport for the vehicles and uh the storm water retention and everything else. Uh there are contractors that do come in under budget and give money back to the taxpayers. And I just want to emphasize that when I was on city council, I uh remember putting in the budget 3.4 million and the project completed out at 9.2. two.

All right. But we're we're talk about Excuse me, sir. We're talking about item uh 13G. This is taxa away golf uh apron. This is the project we're speaking on now. Yeah. You're doing a contract. Excuse me. Are you doing a contract? Yes. No. Okay. So, so I think we're all on the same subject. Just want to make sure that we all come in under budget. That's all because there was a letter by Joe Griffin, the old city manager that recommended the old contractor to do the job and Paul Carlau brought his friends over from the West Coast and took us for an extra 6 million. All right. All right, sir. You're getting up. Hang on.

You're getting off track now. So, stay on stay on task here where we are. I understand you have a lot of things to say or want to say things, but we've got to stay on the agenda. Okay. All right. Keep me straight, Mr. Mayor. keep me straight because I just don't want to see the policing of Sebastian. That's all. You know, I just want to make sure we stay within the budget. Yes, sir. I'm struggling paying my property taxes. You know, that $80,000 that I paid to defend my food truck, you know, the money's running out, Mr. Mayor. All right, sir. Your your time is up. God bless you and God bless Sebastian.

All right. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right. Um we had uh anybody else on Zoom? No one else has raised their hand. Okay. Um public input is closed. Um do we have uh council we have any deliberations? Well, I just want to point out just because of the speaker on Zoom. Um, I just want to point out that the u the matching money to this grant is coming from the airport operating budget, not from the general fund or the taxes. The airport is actually paying their way on this process. So, the taxpayers are not being fleeced in any way on this project. So, I want to point that out. Yes, sir. Absolutely. Um, Madame Clerk, did we make the motion? Yeah, you did.

Okay. Yeah, you did. There you go. That's why I don't remember. See, council member Dodd. Yes. Mayor Jones. Yes. Vice Mayor McPartland. Yes. Motion carries. All right. Thank you, Mr. Sabbo, for your time. Um, next we have item 13H, consideration of professional service agreement with Kim Horn. And since we turned that down during the CRA meeting, I don't think we needed. Well, no, but we've got to open it up so we can This was This was not moved forward. Yeah. So, this is off the agenda. All right. Thank you, Miss Graham. We're going to move on to item 13. I consideration of a three-year service agreement with Ghost Coast Entertainment. Miss Graham.

Oh, good evening, council. So, for the past, I'd say few years, we have been using Extreme F Extreme FX for our fireworks, but after speaking with the um parks and recreation director Richard Blankenship, he wanted to look out and see if there were other companies that could provide fireworks services. So we actually started last June because this year is the 250th anniversary of the country and everyone that we reached out to they either were full or their our budget was not in alignment with what they could provide to us. But we were able to find a company um Ghost Coast Entertainment who currently provides services to Tybee Island in Georgia as well as uh New Brunswick, Georgia. So after speaking with them and seeing their fireworks display that they put on as well as the fact that their budget is static, so it would be $25,000 per year, whereas the proposal we received from Extreme FX, it's it's not a definite number because they will still charge us tariffs every year that tariffs are in place. So while they said it could be $31,000 this year, that doesn't include whatever tariffs. So we could wind up with another $7 $8,000 bill that we received previously. So after speaking with Tybee Island, looking at their budget, which is less than ours, and looking at their fireworks show, the p uh the director, Richard Blanca, and I made the decision to try out um Ghost Coast Entertainment. And again, while we are signing a three-year agreement, if something were to go wrong, all of our agreements have a termination clause in them. So if we get to the point where year one was good or we need to terminate or something happens, we can. But based on their performance and based on talking to their references, I do not believe we would have an issue. So that's what we're bringing forward to you is a three-year agreement for fireworks services with Gast Coast Entertainment.

Yeah. All right. Thank you. Yeah. And this is a America 250 this year. So probably difficult to get anyone in any time. So, I'm glad we were able to get someone because we need to have a really good fireworks display. Perhaps that other 10,000. I don't know. Mr. So, Mr. Mayor, can I just kind of I know

kind of thinking on that line. I know that their proposal was for a specific show at 25,000. Um, and recognizing that it is America 250. We have budgeted 35,000. What if we go back and see if we can get what we can additionally get for an additional 5,000 and take it to 30,000 uh since it is 250 or we can we don't have to do that but just kind of hearing the the 250 theme and and trying to make sure we end the day with a bang and and go out with a good great fireworks show. Um just a consideration for council to consider. How about if we approve that? How about if we approve this for a a maximum of $30,000? Okay. Yep.

Is that is that I mean we can I I wouldn't have any issue with saying a maximum of 35 given that what what is happening this year with this the 250th anniversary and so forth if you feel like it might want that. So, so why don't we do it this way? Maximum of 35,000. We'll negotiate with them and probably come in somewhere around 30. That may give us another 5,000 to figure out something else we could potentially do for America 250 on the on So, I I'll make a motion that we approve this uh with a maximum expenditure of $35,000. Second. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, anyone from the public like to speak on this? Uh, no one in Oh, yes, ma'am. Come forward. I just have a question. I'm sure I live at 632 Gossamer Wingway.

Hang on. We didn't hear you until you get to the mic. Oh, Sher shook. 632 Gossmer Wingway. I just have a question. Did you say they proposed $25,000 a year? So, yes. Correct. So, why are we going to a maximum of 35? Because they haven't they haven't ex extended the fireworks display to the celebration of the 250th anniversary, which could be an additional cost. and we're just giving the city manager an opportunity to negotiate with this vendor to include that in the fireworks display. So 25 just as a regular fireworks or something special.

So I'll give you an example. So in our bid package and everything we have a specific shell count and things like that that on their bid document they've given us a bid price of 25,000 for those expenses. We will go back to them see what additional get increased shells increased sizes how that all works um in the show maybe get additional minutes within the show or additional shells within that time same time frame to increase the production of the show that is what the additional so it would be bigger than the years you've had in the past correct what the what they're bidding on now is what we've done in the past yes right okay I still don't agree with that but that's fine all right that's fine anyone else uh Um, do we have anyone on Zoom?

I have one hand raised on Zoom. Of course. Bring them on. It is. Start the timer. Started. Hello, Mr. Gills. Can you hear us? Yes. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you for taking my call, Mr. Mayor.

Absolutely. I um you know I'm I'm one of your biggest supporter every year when you blow those fireworks right here at my doorstep at the No-Name Sports Bar and I love to see money burn. And I just want to uh let you know that splurge a little. You know, you dropped 70,000 to keep my food truck from running. I think an extra 510 grand to celebrate 250 years of America. I hope we keep our democracy, by the way. But uh uh go the extra few bucks. You got the money. You got plenty of money in reserves. And if you can burn $6 million more at that airport that you didn't need to spend, what's 510 grand? That's a night out, you know. So, let's have a big party and let's hope America survives another 250 years. Right, Mr. Dodd? [laughter]

Anyway, yes, sir. And I'm about I'm about ready to to change my motion to ask the city manager to see if you'll sponsor the fireworks display for the donate bar. [laughter] Don, Mr. I'm sorry, Councilman Don Don Juan, I mean Dodd, I'm sorry. You know, you served this community so well and uh you're a good public servant. That's what we need. We need we need good public servants that are going to watch over the money and make sure that they don't please us. But this is money well spent, guys. So, you got my vote. And uh thank you again, Mr. Mayor, for taking my call. I know how much you love me. I'll see you at the Italian American Club. Okay.

All right. Thank you, sir. Have a good evening. You All right. Um do we have anyone else? No one else is raising. All right. Uh public input is closed. Council, I think I made a motion. Did he make a motion? Yes. All right. So, you know, you get distracted sometimes, but And if Brian can't get the negotiator right, I guess me and him could light him off at the end of the dock when he exits, [laughter] right? All right, Madame Clerk, roll call. Vice Mayor McPartland? Yes. Council member Dodd. Yes. Mayor Jones. Yes. Motion carries. All right. Um, next thing we have is [snorts] uh city attorney matters. Mr. Stokes.

Uh, yes, sir. I do have one thing. The council authorized at the request of uh of Miss [snorts] Miller and the former city attorney uh to authorize outside council to pursue um an issue with one of our vendors um underwater engineering services. Um in September you authorized outside council to be retained and authorized it up to $10,000. We're up over eight uh expenditures already and it does look like it's going to litigation. Uh so um what I'm going to be needing is additional funding. Uh and we're asking at this point to authorize this up to $35,000. Um on for this outside firm. Um just um so that you know we are going to be pursuing now that it's going to litigation we are going to be pursuing uh discussion with our insurance carrier to see what they will will pay. Uh also in the agreement with this vendor there is an attorney fees provision. Uh so there is the uh the likelihood and it will be requested that if we go to litigation that we get our fees paid but for now we have to front that to to the firm in order to continue with this uh with this dispute uh on these engineer on this engineering project. So so if we could get approval to up to 35,000.

Do you need a motion mayor? So, you do need a consensus or or a motion would be best. Yeah. Yeah, I think so, too. I'll I'll move that we approve the expenditure up to $35,000 for outside legal counsel. Second. All right. Um so, we have a motion in a second. And this is very important that um um because this project is something that u greatly benefits the city if it's not it will greatly hurt the city if it's not taken care of properly. So, correct. Well, I appreciate that. So, anyone from the public? No, no, no. Sorry. Oh, no. Madame Clerk, I think um Mayor Jones, yes. Vice Mayor McPartland, yes. And council member Dodd, yes. Motion carries.

All right. Thank you very much. And that's it. All right. City Manager, Mr. Benton.

So, I haven't talked enough the last two days in those workshops. So, I've got a few items to sh share with you uh you all tonight. Um, first one is is is really positive and I I just want to recognize Avery and the social media. Um, I I know we we brought her on board. It was a part of our strategic plan and and to increase our, you know, citizen engagement with that. Um, just want to give you all a couple of stats um, in regards to social media. So, since over the last year, since February of 2025, um we have on on City of Sebastian social media, we've got about 4,000 new followers. On the police department, we've gotten almost 35,000 new followers. Um and in some really cool stats from just this month in February, uh it's our biggest month we've ever had in the city on social media. The police department so far this month of February has 7.5 million views on social media. They have 15,100 follows in this one month and content interactions um over 376,700 with the police department. With the city's page, we've got 173,000 views, 188 follows, and content interactions of around 3,000. So, you know, it has to do with all the videos and and the messaging and things that are getting out there. Um, but I just want to recognize Avery for the great job she's doing. And I hear it a lot in the community. I hear it from other municipalities. Um, it gets talked about anytime I'm at a a city manager meeting. You know, someone always mentions our social media here in Sebastian. So, she's doing a great job with that and I just want to take a minute to recognize her and share those stats with you all. Second thing, um, last Friday I had an opportunity to meet with the new president of, uh, Orlando Health,

Sebastian River Area Hospital, uh, Mr. Dan Bowen. Um, great, great gentleman. I think he's going to do great things for the hospital. Um, you know, I explain I had discussions with him about the perception of the hospital previously and they are working very diligently and hard to change that. Um, so you know, I welcome any feedback from the public. If you, as council members, get any feedback from the public, positive or negative, um, he's open to hearing it and wants to hear it. Um, and then I've also, um, gotten engaged with them. I'm going to, uh, be a part of their community engagement council. Um, right now, this first term is a one-year term. We'll meet quarterly. Um, so I can provide details and feedback on that. But members of the public, if you have any interactions or any experiences that you want to share with the city in regards to the hospital, please feel free to to contact me. Last thing, um when we went through our budget cycle, um you all were aware with the retirement contribution that we would have to utilize a certain portion of reserve funding this year for that. Um it's we made that we're making that contribution now. We had planned to do it January 1st. However, there was some issue with just breaking it down and how it fell within all of the different departments and um ensuring we had all those funds also within the enterprise funds. Um so in that presentation we had um over budget was anticipated to be $233,000 or exceeding that just in general fund. um we are going to be doing an an adjustment to pull out of uh re uh reserves 210,000. So our numbers were a little high um with what we had anticipated um in our initial presentation to you all but that is what we're going to be pulling and then we'll make the the contribution to the um the the

retirement fund. it may have already taken place um uh or within the next week or two. Um so that will be added to the additional amount that we had in the budget. So with that, any questions you all have, but that's all I have for tonight. All right. Um thank you so much for that, sir. Um Madame Clerk, I don't have anything tonight. Thank you. All right. U Mr. Dodd,

okay, [snorts] a couple things. Uh first of all, um if you didn't get a chance to see any of the three tax workshops that the city manager put on, um try to go back and watch them. He did an exceptional job in not only presenting the information about what the potential impact is of what the state's trying to do with property taxes on on the city, but also a heck of a good summary on our budgeting process for people who don't understand the way budgeting is done. So, um, we, uh, we we we have an opportunity between now and the time that they put together language on a referendum because once that happens, we are prohibited from doing anything to support or not support the referendum uh, under state law. Now we can try to educate our public on what the overall impact of that is so they can at least make their decisions based on understanding what it's going to do to the city that they live in as opposed to um uh as opposed to the I don't know I would say the the the political good feeling of I'm going to I'm going to do away with taxes and hopefully we can educate people to understand what happens when they do away with taxes when they do that process. That's the first thing. Second thing, uh, this goes back to a conversation we had, I think at our last meeting about growth. And, um, um, as I was looking at at some reports that were received, I noticed that at least one of our local newspapers said that Sebastian is going to, their staff is going to identify ways to stop growth or to to potentially prohibit growth. And uh also uh a local news agency produced an article that Sebastian is examining how the city manager development processes can review the comprehensive plan to consider changing growth. Um that doesn't send a real good signal in my opinion. Um and I'm not talking about whether I'm pro or not pro growth.

I'm just saying that um from a political point of view, perception is reality. If people perceive that this body up here is not willing to approve anything that is involved with growth, then that makes them think that they don't need to come and talk to Sebastian about anything. And that's the farthest thing from reality if I understand it correctly. That not not we we it's not that we don't want to grow, it's that we want to grow the way we want to grow in that process. And so I I just want to just cover a couple of things as a result of that so people kind of understand that framework. Um our our our growth whether we do or don't grow or what we do inside the city from a from a development perspective is covered by our strategic plan our comp plan and our land development code. We can't make a decision plan zoning commission can't make a decision that is contrary to the strategic plan comp plan and land development code. We have to follow those rules in that process. Uh our strategic plan is very straightforward. It says that we want to do we want to do affordable housing. Um it says that we need to do we want to do certain things. Our comp plan does the same thing. This there are two forces that we don't control. One force that we don't control is property rights. That's a constitutional thing that's applied to everybody. You have you have constitutionally protected property rights in the United States. Um, I'm I'm not a lawyer, so I can't get into the language in the Constitution the way that works. But if you have something, you have a piece of property, you have the right within this country to have that property serve your pleasure and to do with it what you choose to do with it, as long as it doesn't negatively impact other people's property rights. This is where the two-way street comes in. It's kind of like a highway. You drive on the left, they drive on the right. But if you decide you want to drive on the right and you have a wreck, you're the one causing the wreck. So from a property

rights point of view, it's kind of the same way. So from from our perspective, the city's perspective, if someone comes in and says, I want to exercise my property rights, then we have to be willing to accept the fact that they have the right to do that within the parameters that protect public safety and and so forth in that as we go through that that regard. Uh also, there's a ton of state statutes that make it impossible for us to approve something. We had a big project turned down a month ago that if the current statutes that are being looked at at the state level are approved, that won't even come to us. It won't come to anybody for approval. It'll be automatic. Um, and so we're we're caught with that that process. Um, the other side of that from the political side, when I set up here and look at projects, I think about this not in my backyard syndrome. And the whole thing is that this room fills up when we want to do a project off of Schuman Drive with people who live on Schuman Drive and don't want it done. Okay? They don't come in and say, "We don't want growth. We don't want development." They come in and say, "We don't want that project because it's increased traffic on my street." When we talk about a project off of Fleming Street, do we get a whole room full of people who live around Fleming Street who come in and say, "I don't want that project. It's going to it's going to increase traffic on my street. It's going to do this. It's going to do that." That doesn't necessarily say they don't want growth. It says they don't want that growth. And so when I personally view a project, I kind of try to separate myself from not in my backyard. The project I was talking about just a minute ago off of Fleming Street was four houses from my house and every one of my neighbors came in and screamed about it. But I don't know that I would disagree with that project being done because I'm not sure we have a legal way to not do the project. That's just I'm just

looking at it from that perspective when we go with that. So, I I think it's important that we understand that everybody understands that the city, either the plain zoning commission or the council, is not trying to arbitrarily do or not do things that don't fit within these rules. Okay? There's been no decision by this council that we don't want any more growth in the city. None whatsoever that's taking place. So developers, if you want to grow in the city, come talk to our growth manage man uh growth management department and let us discuss what you want to do and whether it fits within the vision that is in our strategic plan and in our comp plan because there is a very solid vision in those two plans. If it doesn't fit, we don't want to do it and and we can not do it if it doesn't fit those things. So, I just want to make sure after seeing that the that the media was out there saying that, I just personally wanted to make sure that I kind of expressed that when it came about. So, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

All right. Thank you so much for that. Uh, Mr. McPartland.

All right. Well, I just want to commend Brian again for those property tax dis discussion. I mean, he did a phenomenal job up there and again, as Mr. Dodd said, those are all online. You can watch them again. And then kind of just getting back to Avery and her cast of characters next from next door there. If if you have not seen the don't text and drive, stay off your phone while you're driving, you need to see that video because yes, it was comical, but it's it spread a very important message. And also to keep in mind that if the Florida League of Cities has any kind of awards for the social media, I think she needs to be put up for that. And what else I have? Well, this morning I went and visited over the Vero Beach High School and it's the Indian River School District their career technical education program. And down there they had for automotive, culinary, biotechnology, media, nursing, and health. And they didn't have the aeronautical. My concern was we didn't have the same at Sebastian, but they have all of the same at Sebastian as well as also aeronautical. So something to do with the drones and everything. And it's a it's a wonderful program that they have. I mean, if you if you ever get the chance to go down, they were going to visit Sebastian High School, but their biotech children, youth had a exam that day, so we couldn't get in. So, but there's a lot of great things that are going on with the Indian River School District, not only in, you know, our scores. Dr. Moore has done a phenomenal job here, but also in the career technical education because college isn't for everybody. And a lot of these kids who finish these programs here, like I heard a couple of the teachers say this morning, they come out of high school and they're already making more money than the teachers are, which I think is phenomenal for children to be able to do. So that's it, Mr. Mayor.

All right. Um, thank you so much for that. Um, and to continue on with the property tax discussion, Mr. Benton and I um attended a um property tax discussion in Felsmere and it was facilitated by Mayor Jessica Salgado and um city manager Armando out there and and I can tell you that there was one council member or mayor. There was most of the mayors from all the cities in in River County was there. Couple of cities had a council member there. Each had a um uh their city manager there. Also, the county administrator was there and a county commissioner was there and other folks and we had a great discussion about this property tax thing that's going on in Tallahassee because it's going to affect all of us. So, we're we're we were meeting so that we can go in as a unified front rather than the city of Sebastian going and talking to the legislators saying we have this and we're we're trying to work on a a unified front going in there sharing ideas and um we also set up I think we're going to meet not next week. What was the I don't have my cow what's

it is next week. Next Thursday I believe was

Yeah. Yeah. Next next Thursday, we're going to have another meeting of the same group to see what we can come up with because just as um Mr. Dodge stated earlier, if this thing goes through up there and it's signed by the governor and the referendum goes on the ballot, we ourselves and the governmental side cannot advocate for against it. So, we're all getting together now to share um our concerns with our legislators. So, and that's what we did today and it was a great meeting out there and um it was fun to see all the other people, too. So, we had really great discussions. So, I really appreciate um Mr. Benton who was very instrumental in in dealing with that. Yeah. Uh Oh, yeah. And Oh, that's true. And our city attorney was there. Uh there were other city attorneys from other cities there as well. So, we had the city attorneys there and a couple of clerks were there as well. [snorts] So, I'm sorry I missed that. Thank you for that, Mr. Benton. But that was our day today prior to coming back here and having another property tax discussion in our chambers at 2 o'clock. So we're doing everything that we can. Um but we we've got to just wait on the state now. So I think if there's nothing else before us, this meeting is adjourned.