Council Agenda - Regular Meeting

It is June 2nd, 530. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Mayor is not here today. So I'm going to ask Councilwoman Rebecca to lead us in the prayer and the pledge.

Let's pray. Dear Father, we thank you for this opportunity that you've provided us to serve our city of Sebring. We ask you to give us the spirit of Collaboration and cooperation as we go through our meetings each and every day. We ask you to bless the citizens of Sebring, the businesses and the residents and provide them for whatever they have in their needs. And we thank you Lord for our first responders and we ask you to continue to keep them safe, give peace to their families and to give them courage as they have to make difficult decisions many times when they're serving us. And Lord, we ask you to be with those outside of our city that are making laws and rules and all these different decisions that will affect us in the long term, Lord. And we just ask you to give guidance and wisdom to them as they make further decisions during this session. Lord, we just ask you that Sebring be known for kindness, for unity, and for service. And we thank you for all that you give to us. We ask these things in your name. Amen.

Kathy, can you call the roll?

Here. Here. Here. Here. Thank you, Kathy.

This is from the audience. If there's anything that anybody wants to talk about that is not on the agenda, please see Clerk Haley and she'll get you a form to sign and fill out and then we'll get to you later in the meeting. Mayor's report, since he is not here, I will put on the hat of mayor. Only one thing. So the Sebring Historical Society and other members of the community have been planning a celebration for America's 250th anniversary attached. On the screen, you'll see a flyer for an event that will be held at the Jack Shroop Civic Center in the City Pier on July 4th. Islands Lakeside Theatre will be hosting their annual patriotic show review on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Sebring Historical Society's celebration to begin at 4 o'clock and conclude at 9 o'clock with the City of Sebring Fireworks Show. So there's going to be several very various historical displays of the civic Center. With this history of seabreeze raceway will be starting so it's four to nine o'clock opening ceremonies at 430 with opening remarks and vacation by pastor Shannon presentation of the colors national anthem pledge of allegiance. patriotic musical piece reading of the Declaration of Independence retiring of the colors closing remarks and just a prayer so if anybody would like to be there I think it's going to be a great event and thankful for everybody who is putting that on so hope to see you there nothing else from John so moving on to council members comments and remarks Rebecca no report Josh

feel like rebecca's prayer was directed towards me nice um so today the state house and legislature voted to send um or to build it would put uh substantially increased uh homestead property tax exemptions on the ballot um We have some very preliminary numbers of what that would do to the city's budget. I think year one, which would be next year, would be a million dollar hit to the city as far as revenue. And after that, another quarter million with potentially higher increases as time goes on. I'm just putting it out there. I would encourage anyone who was thinking about voting yes on that to come examine our budget. We have budget workshops all summer long. Those are not fun meetings. We are always trying to keep things as tight as possible. And the trope is that there's waste in government, and I'm sure there is to some extent, but I can't find where it is here, or at least not anywhere near $1 million or $1.25 million. So I would encourage everyone who who watches these meetings, all of all 10 of you, to do your research before making your vote when that comes up. That's it. Thank you.

I'll mimic what Josh said. I mean, I just asked that everybody educate themselves. Before going to the polls, all of our tens of listeners, every meeting. That's it.

All right. Thank you. And I got nothing. So that gets us over to the consent agenda. Do we have a motion or any questions on the consent agenda?

Make a motion that we approve the consent agenda as presented. Second.

Motion is second. Anybody want to talk about the consent agenda? Any comments here, Kathy?

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. There is no old business. That gets us to new business. So 10a. All right. So with the Sebring Airport Authority, Mr. Morris has resigned from the board. So we got two people who are looking to fill the vacancy. So I'm going to ask Kathy to go ahead and call that for a vote.

You get one vote. You get one yes vote, I should say. Okay, it's an alphabetical order, so we're not going to be first. Bishop?

Yes.

All right.

Thank you, Lenard, for your service. All right. Going over to 10B, Class 8 Municipal Service Truck Project Award. Jared and Chief.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Jared Lee, Budgeting Grants Coordinator for the City of Sebring. Last year, we applied for a grant that basically awarded money for us to replace two vehicles with two new garbage trucks. It was part of the settlement agreement with Volkswagen for emissions control. We are finishing working through those right now, waiting on delivery of the second truck. This program is a Like sequel to it, if you will, where it's again, you replace an old certain model, your truck diesel, a certain size with a newer one. The only size that we have that is class eight is fire engines. So we do have an engine that can be replaced that is of the required age before 2008 diesel. And we were awarded this grant. The caveat of it all is, is the cap is $400,000. Fire engines are now $1.2 million. So we need some direction forward if council is willing to explore this option, see what questions you might have as we go through this. And then also I'll need kind of an impact of what you want to see on your CIP. So I've kind of given you a snapshot of our vehicles in the attached pages as well as what's on our CIP. The one preliminary is kind of in there is just for show. that we're talking about right now it would not be in there if you decide to pursue that right now or if you decide not to pursue it we would continue on with the one that's planned for the future unless you do an expansion which would be two in the future so just kind of lay out the ground works of that if chief has anything to add but kind of looking for direction from council because we are talking such a large number thank you jared

So it's the 1996 vehicle that we're replacing. It's basically on the CIP to be replaced next year? No. Or was not?

It is not due on the CIP to replace at all.

Okay, so.

The CIP has our, we're trying to step towards a 10-year replacement, not a replacement, but to take them from a frontline truck to a reserve truck before they are completely worn out, because that's kind of what we've been dealing with now. We left trucks in service for too long. By the time we put them in reserve, our two reserves, one needs an engine overhaul, and we're just kind of nursing it along, and the other one has had two in-frame overhauls done on it already.

This is a one-time grant through Volkswagen, and this is the end. So it's now or never, right? Right. So we can save $400,000 now and start this early, or we can just say, no thanks, and we'll spend that $400,000 plus the cost of whatever cost increases we see in engines going forward. Is that an accurate summation? Pretty much, I understand. Okay. I mean, it would be foolish not to take advantage of it, is my opinion.

I completely agree, especially after today. We want to be smart with our funds.

the engine it would replace, do we get to keep that or do we have to destroy it?

It has to actually be destroyed.

Yeah, we have to make it inoperable, so we'll actually have to cut the frame rails in half and bore a hole through the engine, which is the same thing we have to do with the trucks we're replacing with the garbage.

So what would you do about a spare then?

We'll have... So engine 14 will go into a reserve status. Got it. And then we still have... and then the reserve burial as well.

Oh, yeah.

Any other comments?

We have a motion. Make a motion that we move to approve preceding the development of the grant agreement and authorize the city administrator to sign the 10-8 equipment proposal agreement.

Motion. We have a second?

Second.

Motion and a second. Anybody from the audience want to talk about this or any questions? No. No more further questions here? Happy?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Thanks for finding these grants, saving us some money. Okay. I know this is from the audience, Patty. Bob, you're up.

And item 12A is ordinance number 1573. It's on your agenda for second and final reading. And it's entitled an ordinance amending section 2-260.1 of the code of ordinances of the city of Sebring to appoint the chief of the Sebring Police Department to the city of Sebring Police Officers Retirement Trust Fund Board and to serve on this board, in service on this board shall be ex officio to assign duties and responsibilities as chief.

Anybody have any questions about this at all? This is the second reading. Do we have a motion?

I make a motion we approve proposed ordinance 1573 on second and final reading as presented.

Second. Motion is second. Anybody, any questions from the audience? Comments? No further discussion here. Kathy?

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Bob, you're up again. Agenda item 12b is proposed ordinance 1574 on your agenda for first reading. It's entitled an ordinance amending section 2-421 of the code of ordinances of the city of Sebring to prohibit the obstruction or interference with the enforcement of the code of ordinances of the city of Sebring and providing for an effective date.

Any other questions on this one?

So, Carl, I'm assuming this is just to make it a criminal act to interfere with code enforcement, because right now there's nothing you could legally do if that is being done.

Hi, good evening. Chief Carl Hogan for the record. To answer your question, there is a statute on the books for obstruction. We believe it could loosely fit, but we felt it would be stronger to have an ordinance in place as many municipalities and counties do. This would criminalize obstructing a code enforcement officer or a city-ordered, board-ordered contractor that's executing code enforcement work. And to give you a backstory, we've had two recent instance, one with some sovereign citizens who didn't believe our board orders affected them or impacted them in any way, who tried to oppose code enforcement officer actions. We also had a property owner that didn't believe the code board order was effective as well and obstructed the contract or throwing them off the property. We worked through it. We were able to finally get compliance on both properties, but we had no real teeth to pursue formal action through law enforcement or criminal action to affect the code enforcement board's order. So we felt this would be a prudent ordinance to have in place.

And so this is not unique to us. You mentioned a lot of other cities or counties have something similar.

Yes. So currently Highlands County has a component of not signing a code enforcement officer citation. We looked at Haines City. We've looked at Winter Haven. Several have very similar ordinances in play. We certainly hope it would never come to an enforcement piece. We really rely on the communication piece to try to get voluntary compliance, but there are some folks out there that don't believe our laws and orders apply to them.

That's all. Only questions I have. Thank you much.

Any other questions?

Thank you. All right.

Do we have a motion?

I make a motion to approve Opposed Ordinance 1574 as presented and schedule second and final reading.

Second. Motion is second. Any comments from the audience? Further discussion? No? Kathy?

I just need to say one thing before we all vote. We're going to have to announce that second and final reading on this ordinance will be June 16, 2026. Okay.

Thank you, Kathy.

Fischer?

Yes.

Kolscher? Yes. Stewart? Yes.

Hayward? Yes. Penny, thanks for being here. In Scott's absence, could you give us an update?

Yes. Only a few items, one of which is the Illinois pond weed. We believe that the legislature has allocated $350,000 towards the pond weed removal and alternative plantings. So we will be working towards getting that done. and the TDC Synergy. So the Synergy proposal, I believe Scott sent you an email with a letter from the county that they are going to collaborate with us and support the recreational opportunities. We will be, Synergy will be on one of your upcoming council meeting agendas presentation. And the final thing is just that the staff is working on the recommendations for the special events. changes that staff believes needs to be made to the application process.

Okay. Thank you, Eddie. One question, too. I don't know if this is a new question or a Bob question. Any update on Blackman's and the contract with the golf course? Any communication?

Thank you. I communicated with the Blackman's Council, sent him the City Council approved form of the lease on May 21. Followed that up on May 27 with a phone call offering to schedule time to meet virtually or otherwise. I have received no response.

Any other questions for Penny or comments?

One question. The recommendation for special events and updates on that application. One of the things we talked about, I don't know, a month ago, is closing some of the roads down past Wall Street. I think a few of those have been in our consent agenda, and I have neglected to bring them up. Is there any push from staff to clarify that that's actually needed and to minimize that happening before 5 PM on weekdays?

Do you want to come up and address that question?

I think the same question.

She's kind of been spearheading that. Okay. So we've been talking with events about it, but it's essentially a decision that you guys would collectively make. And then we would give those recommendations to event organizers. So we've made notes and kind of talked about it as a committee and then given those to Scott to kind of approve it from a group standpoint. And then we'll eventually get it to you guys, hopefully in the next like week or two. And then we've changed honestly a lot. We've changed the guidelines. We've changed no parking signs, how those all work. We've changed the application up, everything. So we've been kind of giving the events a heads up that like, hey, we might pull you back and we might amend your event and make it a little bit smaller. But from here on, events have essentially been changing theirs the chamber if you notice um she changed a lot of hers especially her new one she updated that one and it only goes to wall street okay um so they know about it they know the changes are happening um just the events that can't necessarily make that change car show we're kind of struggling on that one so it just kind of We're telling them about it. We just haven't said, like, hey, here's the rule yet because we haven't made it a rule yet. But, yeah, we're telling them.

All right, thank you.

And will there be a rule with exceptions? You know, like, I mean, Soda Festival.

Yep, so we did parades, and then we did any annual event that can't be scaled. So Soda Fest, Fan Fest, anything that can't be moved down, those will obviously be the exempt of it. Still be allowed to be a culture. Yep, yep. Or if someone brings us an event and... we just can see, hey, this is a new event, it has no way of being scaled, then we'll see what we do. But from a first standpoint of events, we're definitely going to scale those. Okay, great. Any other questions?

That's good, thank you. Thank you, Hannah. Any other questions? All right. Thank you, Benny. Matthew, you're up.

So moved. Second.

Questions, comments from the audience? Here? No? Kathy?

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. We're done. Have a great evening.