City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to our council meeting. In the interest of time efficiency and ensuring that everyone who wishes to address the council is given the opportunity to do so. The following will apply to all comments made by the public. If you desire to be recognized by the chair, please fill out a request form presented to the city clerk present in the council chambers. Each speaker shall be allotted uh three minutes to address the council unless such time is extended by the mayor or by question from council. Group shall designate a spokesperson to avoid repetition of comments. Every effort will be made to avoid interrupting speakers. Thank you for participating in your city government. I'll now call this meeting to order. Thank you. All please stand uh for the pledge of allegiance and invocation by pastor David Nye from the Christ our Savior Fellowship Church. Let us

Yes, sir.

Let us pray. The scripture tells us in Proverbs chapter 14:34 that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Consequently, righteousness can also exalt the city, but sin and reproach will bring reproach. Sin will bring reproach. Father God, we pray for these council members that they make decisions that are righteous and therefore pleasing to you, our almighty father. Give them the wisdom, direction, and guidance not only during this meeting, but also as they oversee the affairs of this city. We ask your blessing upon all of our citizens of this city, our state, and our nation. And we ask all of this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Will the clerk please call the role? Mayor Robertson here. Deputy Mayor Gilbert here. Council member Paul here. Council member Urban here. Council member Fletcher here. All right. All right. And city manager, do we have any agenda updates? We have none this evening. Thank you. All right. Thank you. And first up, we have a proclamation recognition of March for meals month.

All right. Do we have a representative from uh the Ocola Council on Aging? Uh before we get going, why don't you all go ahead and introduce yourselves and tell you all tell them all the great things that the Council on Aging does. Uh aside from just the March for Meals, the Meals. Good evening everyone. Good evening, council members. Thank you for having us here. Um my name is Rob Guilts. I'm the senior compliance officer from Ocola Council on Aging and this is Dear Gutierrez and she is our vice president of community action services. So, we are um just grateful to be here to be um in partnership with the city to provide services to the citizens of St. Cloud. Our our big service is meals on wheels to help seniors who are homebound and otherwise don't have access to nutritious meals to help get them meals. But we also do a an array of services from inhome services to a mobile food pantry we have here at the St. cloud. I believe it's the civic center for the the uh community center. Um we also provide community action services with utility assistance like lie heap. Um we work with water with Toho. Um anything else you want to add?

No, we also we also offer the day the daily care for seniors that is in our be center in Kimi. So if you anybody needs their senior to be taken care of during the day, we can take and take care for them.

Yeah, y'all are an amazing organization. Um I was actually on the housing board for about four years uh back around 2008 9 10 11 and uh such a great group there and um so I'd love to present this as as a proclamation. Uh whereas the city of St. Cloud where the city of St. Saint Cloud makes every effort to recognize programs that make significant contributions to the quality of life for residents of the city of St. Cloud and Ocula County. And whereas the Ocula Council on Aging and its senior nutrition program serve those who are ill, frail, elderly, nutritionally at risk or disabled. And whereas by providing meals and other nutrition services, senior nutrition programs enable individuals to live independently in their homes and avoid premature institutionalization. And whereas in 2025, the Council on Aging touched the lives of 233,000 residents in the city of St. Cloud and Oyola. And whereas Meals on Wheels provides important daily social contact for homebound individuals. And whereas senior dining clubs provide not only nutrition noon meal, but socialization. And whereas one of the goals of senior nut nutrition programs is to ensure that no senior goes to bed hungry. And whereas senior nutrition programs are community-based and rely on the support of the community's resources, both human and financial, in order to achieve their goals. And whereas the Council on Aging's March for Meals program has operated in OciOla County for 55 years, providing services to the frail and vulnerable residents of our community. And in 2025, the Ocula Council on Aging Senior Nutrition program provided 166,356 meals annually for 515 clients and also provided 2.3 million pounds of food to those in need. And whereas senior nutrition programs across Florida and throughout the United States are participating in the March for Meals pro campaign in order to increase public

awareness of the work and needs of senior nutrition programs and to raise funds and recruit volunteers to assist in the delivery of meals and other nutrition programs. Now therefore, I Christian B. Robertson, mayor, along with the city of count city of coun city council of the city of St. Cloud Florida do hereby proclaim March 2026 as March for Meals and Senior Nutrition Month.

That was a lot. That was a lot.

Is it right side up? Awesome. Thank you all very much for everything y'all do. Thank you. Yeah, I I truly loved my my time and I actually serve on the board there representing the city council here. Um when I was on the housing board, I put together field trips for the seniors. I enjoyed every minute of it and I think next week we're all going to be coming over there for uh the champions. Champions Day. That's right. We look forward to seeing you all. Thank you again for your support. You're welcome. Thank you very much. As tradition goes, we brought cookies for the council. We love cookies. Thank you. Let's give them a round.

All right. And next up, we have employee of the month. And the employee of the month for the month of March by David Bridal. Good evening. Tonight, I have the privilege of recognizing someone who consistently goes above and beyond, not just during major events, but every single day, and that's Kelly. Kelly is the kind of person, I'm sorry, kind of team member every organization hopes for. She's dependable, collaborative, and always willing to step in wherever she's needed. Whether it's coordinating logistics, supporting co-workers, or solving last minute challenges, she handles it with professionalism and a positive attitude. Most recently, I nominated Kelly for her leadership in planning the 17th Street Ballfield ribbon cutting ceremony. What could have been a standard river ribbon cutting became something much more meaningful because of her initiative and creativity. She coordinated guest speakers, worked closely with St. Cloud Little League and the Challenger program, and ensured the event was seamless from start to finish. But she didn't stop there. Kelly was a driving force behind organizing the city council versus Challenger baseball game. And while I felt great during the game and had an incredible time, I have to admit the number of days I was sore afterward was a strong reminder of my age. Sorry, that was a bad dad joke. That game experience was incredibly incredibly meaningful. It brought together council, staff, families, and athletes in a way that truly reflected the purpose behind the project. In my nearly 25 years in local government experience, I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever been a part of. It reminded reminded all of us why community projects matter and who we ultimately serve. What makes this recognition especially

well-deserved is that this level of effort isn't occasional for Kelly. It's consistent. She brings creativity, leadership, and a genuine commitment to teamwork every single day. Kelly Thank you for your dedication, your teamwork, and your heart for this community. It's my honor to recognize you as employee of the month. And I think the city manager wanted to say something.

Thank you. Thank you, David. What more can I say? That was an amazing speech. Kelly has worked in the city manager's office for approximately six years, and I can say my entire career with St. cloud. She has been and the the most amazing support that I've personally ever experienced. Every time I have needed anything, I think she knows before I know what I need. She anticipates my needs. She anticipates the needs of the city council, the citizens, everyone. She's determined to do whatever she can to help all of us and make the city, the city council, and the staff look great. And we're really lucky to have her on her team, on our team. I appreciate her and I just want to say thank you. That must be

Thank you, Kelly. Yeah, Kelly does an amazing job. um for probably the the first eight months of being on council, Kelly also served, she pulled double duty as also the admin for all the council members. So, uh she works very she tirelessly. She's always got Candy in her office. So, we do appreciate her. So does David, by the way. Where is David? He sat down. Um next up, before we get going, I want to ask Andrew Sullivan to come up here. Um Andrew, can you come up and and explain what's going on this weekend with St. Patty's Day and the St. Baldricks and tell everybody they need to get down there and get their head shaved. I

I love being put on the spot, Mayor. Thank you very much. Of course, we have our Paint the Cloud Green celebration for St. Patrick's Day. It's going to be this Saturday starting at 5:00 p.m. Uh, one of the events that is very special to me and a little bit of the reason behind uh this nonsense that's growing on my head is a fundraiser for Kids Cancer called St. Baldick's. And the premise is a little serious uh but hopefully done in a fun way. Uh the participants in St. Baldrick's events get up on stage, they get their heads shaved in public, uh which is kind of a tough cell to get participants into. So this will be my seventh or eighth year participating. Uh our event so far, even though it's the first time the city has held it, has raised more than $10,000 to help conquer kids cancer. So it's an amazing start, but we look forward to seeing everybody out Saturday. In addition to the silliness of me getting a haircut and others, uh there will be food truck wars, uh live Irish music, there's a 5K and a Funrun walk event, uh and just all of the businesses and restaurants downtown. So, we look forward to seeing everyone out.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Andrew. Appreciate you, sir. Thank you, Jay. I know you've signed up this weekend as well. I'll be there. All right. Next up, we have the consent agenda. The next portion of tonight's meeting is the consent agenda, which contains items that have been determined to be routine and non-controversial. If anyone in the audience wishes to address a particular item on the consent agenda, now is the opportunity for you to do so. Additionally, if staff or members of the city council wishes to speak on a consent item, they have the same opportunity.

Council, any items you'd like to pull? Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Yeah, if I could uh pull number four and also uh number eight if I could with the pleasure of the council, please. Council member Urban. Uh yeah, Deputy Mayor already pulled four. I'd just like to do four as a separate vote, please.

Okay. Okay, deputy mayor number four. Thank you, mayor. Uh under uh consent general resolution 202619R is a fee schedule uh for for the city of St. Cloud. Um, after many reviews and many questions, I would like to eliminate se uh section 13 of the parking fee structure. Um, I I we looked at the cost of doing that, the cost of maintaining that, the revenue that's part of that. I just doesn't don't think it equals out to to to the aggravation that's going to cause both on the police department and also the citizens that live in the state streets that we'll use alternative parking for that. I would suggest that we bring it back once the uh parking structure is complete and then if we're going to do a whole city uh parking fees, then we do the state streets, we do I'm sorry, we do the downtown business area, then we do the parking garage and we do Lakeshore. Uh my personal heartfelt on that is I on that trail probably three or four times a week walking. There's a lot of birthday parties that exist there. There's a lot of uh gettogethers and it's a beautiful place on Lake Shore and uh some folks that's what they do. That's they don't go to Chuck-E-Cheese and spend five or six hundred bucks. They go there, invite their whole family and

have a good time. I'd like the city uh and and the council to consider just uh taking section 13 out of that for now and allow those folks to go down to the lake shore and enjoy themselves with no additional cost. Now, I know we're ever growing city and there's there's ever growing needs and there's house bills that are out there. We have to might revisit this, but right now I'd like to uh the pleasure to council to consider taking section 13 out of consent agenda number four. With that, I yield back and then I'll talk again about consent agenda eight. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, councel.

Yes, sir. Um, I want to add to that. Uh, I agree after our strategic planning workshop, we um, uh, speaking with the police chief, I know, and and other things that, you know, we determined that it's probably not the the right time to do it. Um, I think as activity continues to grow with the, uh, with any other restaurants coming on the on the south side, uh, on the states, you know, facing the lake, uh, I think there may be a need in the future. But right now, I appreciate all the work that staff did to put this all together. U, but I I would agree with Deputy Mayor. Council member Urban, did you you're done? I was just going to say I agree as well. Uh, it's the reason I pulled up for a separate vote is I was going to motion uh without uh section is it 13? 13. Okay. Okay. Uh, city attorney.

Yeah. Thank you. I just want to clarify. So, what you're referring to is the new added language in this item that's in section 13. The remain the other portion of section 13 that's been in the fee resolution would remain. Correct. The additional uh the additional verbiage that was put in section 13 prior to this council meeting. We're not the existing uh section 13 that's been there forever. Thank you.

Yeah. And we do recognize it that there are some parking concerns down there and and um you know where there are some folks that are hauling barbecue trailers and staying all day and tying up a couple parking spots you know with hitch hitch hitch to the back of their truck. So um that's kind of what brought this forward and and we just want to make sure that all the citizens have an opportunity to enjoy our lakefront and and um that's where that came about. So So just you want to make a motion to vote on that separately. Who wants to make that motion? We'll go ahead and vote on it separately. I just need a motion to approve that item with the change. Okay. Mr. Gilbert suggest you want to make that motion. Can I make it being the author of it? Okay. Yeah. So make that motion please.

So the motion is to to remove the proposed added language to that resolution but to adopt the resolution otherwise as presented. Correct. Section to remove that portion. All right. We have a motion from Deputy Mayor Gilbert to uh adopt the item four minus the parking fee section. And we have a second from Council Member Urban. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5 Z. Item eight. Deputy mayor.

Well, once before we're gone, I just like to thank council for that. I I I want to thank the city also for doing the studies and I agree this something may be visited uh later on as we continue to grow. So thank you very much council for understanding where my viewpoint is with that. My next uh item is is a proclamation for for national day of prayer. Uh I'm at fault. I don't think that we have to wait to your time to be able to do that. Oh part of the this is the fair housing month one. Yes. So I can be at the end of that Sunday with that uh with the advice of council I'd like to give it back to you mayor and thank you and I apologize I started talking too quick. Just a question. National day of prayer that's this month.

No it's May 7th is national day of prayer. So we'll talk about the end. We'll talk about the end. Thank you mayor. So are you good on eight for fair housing month? I'm good. Yep. I'm real good. All right. We'll leave that in with the bulk of the rest of them. And can we get a motion to uh on items one through nine minus four? Motion to approve the remainder of the consent agenda. Motion from council member Urban. Second. Second. Council member Paul. Will the clerk please call the role. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5-0.

Next up we have citizens forum. Any person who desires to comment on any item not on this agenda is provide this opportunity to address the city council. Each person is requested to complete a sign-in form to be provided to the presiding officer prior to or as soon as practical thereafter the person addresses the council. Can we get our cookies?

They normally pass them out. Scott. Scott must Scott's getting used to sitting over there out of the way. Yeah, this is a first. He's now going to be known as a cookie man. Cookie monster. Thank you. Thank you, Council Agent. And we look forward to seeing y'all out there this week. Uh, first up, we have Jacqueline ODM. Can I please have your address and name for the record? Jacqueline ODM, 617 Bivven Street, St. Cloud, Florida. Yes, ma'am.

I'm back for the same reason I was here last time. I wasn't able to get my letter that I received about the improvement. I have no objection to the improvement. I've learned over the years that when something is being built close to your community, it is very important that you make sure mentioning safe drainage. We've had flooding issues many times when there was improvements placed around our neighborhood. So, I'm I didn't get to finish what I need to say. I never got this on the screen, but the new um I know that the project was already approved before I got here. The new mechanic going between uh the end of our street over to Orange Avenue. The only thing that I wanted to request is that there is safe drainage between River and Bivvens and Meny when he does his improvement. That's all I needed to say.

Yes, ma'am. I think you you brought those comments up. Yeah, but I didn't get to finish it the last time you said protecting my neighbor. I have I'm protecting my property. Oh, yeah. Every personally been flooded by improvements around me. Yes, sir. So that's why you guys can't get rid of me because I'm going to every time I get rid of Oh, we don't want to get rid of you. I want you to come here. I'll be here every time I get rid of these cuz I've learned a very expensive lesson. I had to repair my property. I remember that. Yes, ma'am. Thanks for hearing me.

Absolutely. Thank you, Miss ODM. All right. Next up, we have Chris Clark. I'm Chris Clark. My address is 3229 Countryside View Drive and I'm here to support the Rotary Club of St. Cloud. I'm secretary and the Spring Fling chair for the last five years. So, um, this year is our 43rd spring fling. It's scheduled for April 11th from 10:00 to 4 at the St. Cloud Lakefront. We've been partners with the city for 42 of those years, for 42 of those events. And um it is our community fundraiser that allows us to give back to the community. For example, like race across America, downtown murals at Christmas time, we provided meals for over 60 families and over 200 children got gifts. And this last year, we were able to do flags with placards and crosses for Veterans Day and Memorial Day to honor our military personnel who have connections to St. Cloud. We also provide scholarships to local St. Cloud students for yearly for about $20,000. So this year the spring fling is going to have a bass tournament which they've had for more than 40 years and the Ocola anglers help organize that for us. We have touch a truck which allows the community uh first responders to be there for their community outreach, a truck and car show, a kids zone that the Interact St. Cloud and the community Interact help support, 10 food trucks and almost 200 crafters. So we have these local high school students who help organize with the event interact

the oi anglers harmony and St. Cloud wrestlers and Tohjo Korus. So Rotary gives back to them as well. So the Rotary Club would like to continue to partner with the city of St. Cloud to keep this event going and would appreciate any support and publicity that you can provide for us. Thank you for allowing us to share. Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much. Um, so I I met with Mrs. Clark uh regarding this event, spring fling. Obviously, it's been going on the city of St. Cloud for Chris. Can you please come up here for a second? I may have a question here. Um, yes, sir.

How many years has Springflame been going on and being hosted by Rotary? This would be our 45th year. 45th year. This our 43rd event. There were two years that we weren't able to do it and that was one co and the other time when the boat basin was remodeled. Okay. Yeah. In years past, I know we've been a partner um with either giving grants or I know last year the citizens foundation, we were able to cover some of the cost of the police and barricades. Yes.

Um and so I met with with Mrs. Clark and of course I've spoken with some other Rotary members and I would love for us to be a partner on that event um in some capacity. Uh, I was hoping we'd kind of get this relationship going throughout this past year, but um, I asked her to send me the information on the boat trailer parking at Chisum Park. So, that's the Oculus helps put that together. Is that correct? Yes. Yes, they do. They help organize it for us. Okay. And and tell me what that Can you explain the that the bass tournament that goes on?

Sure. We start about 4:00 in the morning. We have anywhere from 40 to 60 boats. Um, they launch at daylight and they weigh in at the boat basin at three o'clock and we give them awards for big bass and however many fish they catch. Okay. Where do they for almost 40 years? They do the weigh in at the lakefront boat basin. Okay. But they're just parking over there, but all the weigh in goes on at the lake. Yes. They park at 4:00 in the morning, but then they don't get out until almost 4:00 in the afternoon because the weigh in's at 2:30 or 3. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So, the boats are there all day.

All right. And I and I asked um you I'd asked you to send me that information and I you got it back from parks and wreck. It'd be $282 to $360, right? Correct.

All right. And I'm just going to ask if at the council um I know we said we're not keen on waving fees these days. Obviously, we need to kind of at least cover staff costs, but these are parking. Um, obviously, the Ocula Anglers, a teen organization that that helps put this on. Um, but I would love if we can in instead of a a cash sponsor, obviously in lie of charging these folks the 282 to 360, if we can get some sponsorship banners and and you know, we can push it out there with our social media. It's not a bad thing to say the city of support St. cloud supports activities like this. What are your thoughts on that?

Well, my my thoughts on anything is when we talk about uh organizations and teenagers u I think is very important for the growth of of any of any teenager and any organization. Uh this is not a actual cost to us to wave a fee for parking for 12 hours. This is kind of a support system. It's not. And again, I I voted to start waving fees because we're looking out for the citizens, but we're looking at the youths and there are some folks that are are going to benefit from this um area and do we want to take care of them now or do we want to take care of them later? So, I I like supporting youth events and events that that help the city and sponsor with that. That's just my thought, but I don't know what the other pleasure to council is, mayor.

Yes, sir. Council member Paul. Um, I have no problem with that. The fact that they are an organization based out of St. Cloud. Um, I see no problem with supporting our own first. So, no problem here. Thank you. Yeah. And that anglers program, Oscillo Anglers, it's it's been amazing. I've seen kids grow up through there and I like Trip Binsky, he's out there on that college tour, the Bassmaster College tour. So, I think so cool. I see. Oh, is he going to be in this one? That's so cool. He's amazing. All right. Um, so can we go ahead and get the blessing from I mean you got three right there. That's all we need. So just to clarify, this is for the boat basin parking fees only at the Chisum Park. Chism Park.

At Chism Park. Thank you. I think it's 4 to 4. 4 to 4p. Somewhere around there. 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Yes. Yes. The whole day. Okay. We We all look forward to joining y'all out there. Thank you. We look forward to you all being there. Thank you so much. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Chris. Anyone else in the audience like to address the council? All right. All right. Next up, we have public hearings. Will the clerk please read item number one?

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2026-03, an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud Florida to annex into the city of St. Cloud approximately plus minus 5.26 acres identified as Bur Oak Boulevard commercial project ANX 25-000022 generally located north of Bur Oak Boulevard east of Tay West Drive and south of East Earl Bronson Memorial Highway and west of Life Oak Lake Road in accordance with the voluntary annex posisions of provisions of chapter 171.044 Florida statutes. Final public hearing for ordinance number 20 2026-04. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida assigning a future land use designation approximately plus minus 5.26 26 acres identifies Bur Oak Boulevard project CPA25-000013 generally located north of Bur Oak Boulevard east of Tay West Drive south of East Earlo Bronson Memorial Highway and west of Live Oak Lake Road from COOM Commercial County to Coom Commercial City providing for amending of the future official future land use map of the comprehensive plan filing the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication applicability effect servability copies on file and effective date. Final public hearing for ordinance number 2026-05. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, providing a zoning amendment of the zoning map of the land development code of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, specifically changing the zoning designation of approximately plus minus 5.26 26 acres identified as Bur Oak Boulevard project PUB26-0000001 formerly ZMA 025-000017 from PUD planned development from PD plan development county to PUD planned unit development primary master plan PUD PMP city zoning designation with a commercial future land use designation adopted by ordinance number 2026-04 generally located north north of Bur Oak Boulevard east of Tay West Drive South of East Earl Bronson Memorial Highway west of live live oak lake road

providing for entering of the designation official zoning map following the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication servability effective date. Good evening council. This is Tisha Manning, interim director for community development. Before you is an annexation of future land use map amendment and a PUD um for Bur Oak Boulevard commercial property. Um for background purposes it is contig contiguous and reasonly reasonably compact to city limits. Um it is adjacent on the western property bounder boundary and is located within the joint planning area. The current future land use in the county is commercial. The pending and proposed future land use for the city is also commercial. The existing PU existing zoning in the county is PD and the proposed zoning in the city is PUD. The development is compatible with the surrounding area and does not pose any adverse impacts on city facilities. Um the PUD this PD15 was adopted in the county um in 2015. We did an encumbrance annexation of the residential portion of this PUD in 2024. We assigned it uh future land use for the residential portion of medium density residential and um uh PUD zoning for that same residential portion. So on the slide is just a snippet of the PD from the county in which we're now adopting the or attempting to adopt the proposed commercial at the top. So we're going to still bring forth the same PD from the county with some um edits to the entitlements that were they received in the county for that commercial

section of the PD. So in the commercial section of the PD when it was adopted in the county, they had certain entitlements for houses of worship, personal mini storage, private elementary schools, kindergartens, daycarees, um, and billboards. So we have struck that from the PD now, as we bring it forth for the city. Um, you do have some documents that were provided to you as we updated that um, later this afternoon. We did speak with the applicant and they are in agreement to these uses being struck from that commercial portion of the PD. Um, we also did some cleanup language um, in that commercial section of the PD for some uses that were already there for production facilities, for communications, newspaper, magazines, and those types of things, as well as showroom and display areas. Um, that were already conditional approvals in the county. So, they'll now be conditional approvals in the city as well. But we did add a conditional approver for one of the other uses which is the automotive service stations, car washes, oil change and lubrication facilities and minor repairs. That was at the request of the applicant to not strike it from the ordinance but to make it a conditional approval. So that way if those type of uses came forward, it would need to come back before council for approval. This is just a graphical depiction of the um future land use that's proposed to come into the city. A graphical depiction of the zoning proposed to come into the city. And you'll see as I stated earlier that the property just to the south of that is also part of this um PD that was adopted in the county that we adopted with the incumbrance annexation in 2024.

So at this time, staff is recommending approval of the annexation, the future land use, and the PD ordinance. It did go to planning commission on February 17th with an approval by planning commission. And likewise, we ask approval of city council for ordinance 2026-03 for the annexation, 2026-4 for the future land use amendment, and 2026-05 for the PUD zoning. The applicant as well as staff is available for any questions. All right. Thank you, Tisha. Would anyone in the audience I'm sorry. Would the applicant like to address this item?

Good evening, council mayor John Adams, RJWA, Inc. 8 Broadway, Florida 34741. We're in agreement with uh staff's report and we appreciate working with staff to get these uh uses straightened out uh updated. I'll be happy to answer any questions you all may have.

Anyone in the audience speak a motion? Motion to approve. All right, we have a motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second. Second from Council Member Urban. Madam clerk, please call the role. Council member Urban, hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert, hi. Council member Fletcher, hi. Council member Paul, I. Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 5. Thank you. That was for the annexation. So, we need to do the you need to do the future land use and then the zoning. Yes, sir. Can I get a motion on item number two? Motion to approve. Motion to approve from Council Member Urban. Second. Mot from Council Member Fletcher. Will the clerk please call the role?

Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5-0. And a motion for item number three. Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Fletcher. Second. Second from council member Paul. And mayor if I may on this item. The motion would include the presentation from city from the city staff regarding those items that this the applicant has agreed to be prohibited. And that would be in the list that was in the presentation as well as there's a three-page document in front of you that identifies those. Yes. Thank you. Those are the strike out. Yes. Okay.

So, we have a motion from Council Member Fletcher. Did we? Okay. Do we have a second? I second. Second from Council Member Paul. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Fletcher, I. Council member Paul, I. Council member Urban, I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Nay. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 41.

All right. Next up, we have council action. Will the clerk please read item number one? Resolution number 2026-028R. A resolution of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, authorizing mayor to execute a voluntary billboard relocation agreement as authorized by section 7.20 20 Florida statutes without Front Media LLC for the replacement and relocation of its billboard on 13th Street and authorizing the mayor to execute the franchise agreement and providing an effective date. All right, Scott. Scott, are you going to Are you doing this or am I doing this? I'm doing it. City attorney, you negotiated it.

You need a coin or something there. City attorney. Well, I think there's there's a representative of outfront media who's who's here present and has a presentation I think they want to present to you. So, uh but as we've talked about before and this came up about back in May initially we started working on this uh where the city ended to an agreement to relocate an existing billboard and replace it with a digital billboard. There's a provision in the Florida statutes that allows for this to happen is essentially as a negotiated item between the city and the operators of these billboards. And so that's what we've been working on. Back in May, we approved a similar agreement. The city council approved a similar agreement. Uh we've done some rework of that agreement. It's it's pretty much basically the same premise. Um and we can talk some more about it as we go through it, but the uh real the provision would be that an existing billboard would be rem would be removed and a digital billboard would be would come up in its instead and then the city would be allowed certain aotments of advertising aotments on the billboard that's set forth in the agreement. So, uh, and and that was the concept that we talked about last May, uh, which was approved. So, it's essentially the same thing. And, and then I'll let the outfront reps do their presentation, then we can talk about it a little bit more if we need to.

Yes, sir. Chris, name and address for the record, please.

Thank you, city attorney. Uh, Chris Ashley, outfront media, 2640 Northwest 17th Lane, Papo Beach, Florida. Uh, thank you, council, for the time and the city attorney for your work on this. and I'll fly through this presentation uh in the hopes that you know it's as transparent and candid as possible and also that it answers any questions you may have but feel free to stop me at any time ask any questions you know outfront wants to be as transparent as possible we see this as a true public private partnership and that is the intent of the statute the city attorney mentioned statute 7020 uh so I don't have a clicker so I'm hoping somebody can help me flood through the slides okay you can go ahead and I'll I'll run through this quick to save you time so uh this is the introduction This is what we're here to do today. The city attorney attorney mentioned 7020. We do these all over the state. Uh we've done over 200 as outfront media. Uh this statute has been around for over 20 years. It's never been challenged. Uh and the intent is to provide a net reduction in signage or a public benefit. We're doing both here. Uh so the next slide tells you who we are. We're Outfront Media. In the next slide, you'll see we're publicly publicly traded company. We're headquartered in New York, but we have a local office here in Orlando, just north of West Michigan. And we're all over the country. We're in every big market. Uh we have municipal contracts with people like the MTA, Palm Train, and Palm Beach, uh Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Port Authority in New York. So, we have a lot of municipal contracts. We've never defaulted on a municipal contract in our 85 year history. I think that's important for the council to know. When we promise you something, we deliver. Uh the next slide is just an idea of who our advertisers are. In that Orlando office, we have 17 local AES. They sell to local businesses and that's what's important for a lot of the billboards is these local businesses. But in addition to that, we're the people that are dealing with all your big ad agencies for your Apple, your Coca-Cola, HBO, you know, all all the big ads are coming through out front because of our size and presence throughout the country. Now, the next slide, it's the meat and

potatoes of the deal. Um this is what the sign would look like. This is the mattress firm at 1201 Earl Bronson across from the Wawwa which I just stopped at on the way here. And this is would be your view going eastbound. Um, and this is just a general idea of what the sign would look like. It's a rendering, you know, so it's it's not perfect. It's not scientifically accurate, but we feel like it's a pretty good representation. Next slide is an aerial view of what the sign would look like, where we would propose it be placed. Uh, so you can see sort of the placement of the sign. Again, not you know scientifically accurate rendering. Uh the face of the screen is 14t tall by 48t wide if that gives you some reference. And then the most important part for the council I think is the content plan and strategy which we'll discuss discuss in the next couple slides. I know I'm going fast so feel free to stop me. I don't want to I don't want to take up any more time than I need to. Um but just so you know we we do this all over the country and we're really strict about this stuff. It runs strictly out of our Spokane, Washington office. Uh, we have all sorts of digital issues. If if they pop up, we are immediately notified. We give proof of performances to our clients, which would be you for some of this content we'll talk about. We have an in-house award-winning creative team, which you guys will have the ability to use if you like, but I'm sure you have your own people in house that would love the opportunity to put community messaging on a billboard and add that to their portfolio. It's actually something that's been really popular when we do municipal agreements for people that work in graphic design and things like that. And we just had some ideas on the next few slides uh of what that would look like. You know, this Soldier City Sundays, we'd love to throw that up. Um we have other things that we looked like the next one, the fall sip and shop. You know, we can create content with you, work your content that you send us. Uh and the cool thing about these digital billboards for content like this is it doesn't cost anybody anything. We literally just push a button and you send us the ad and we put it up through our content systems. And it's really great for things like emergency

management, Amber Alerts. Uh we actually will show a lot of times the car. So you say, you know, 2012 Toyota Camry, what's that look like? Here's the car. Here's the offender. Here's the child you're looking for. And we have those up and we suspend advertising. If it's in the county where the Amber Alert was issued for 90 minutes. If it's outside of that, we still suspend advertising for 30 minutes and all you see is the Amber Alert. And we actually have reports of people that have seen cars because they saw the billboard and the license plate. So, in addition to this great community service, there is a real public emergency messaging for things like hurricanes, tornadoes, where we can do dynamic content where it's linked into the National Weather Service, Florida Emergency Management, and we're able to broadcast those alerts instantly to the public uh on these signs. Another one for community messaging is the next slide. Just some ideas. You know, you y'all will do a great job of providing us with this content and we're excited to partner with you on it so you can broadcast these things to your residents. And in addition to this, on the next slide, we're talking about, you know, the things we're going to take down. So, I know it's important to have a net signage reduction in the city. This sign's out on the turnpike. If we agree to this deal today, we will take that sign down. It will be gone forever as it is non-conforming uh at the state and local level. So, it will not be rebuilt. Same thing with the next slide, which is a double stack billboard, which uh is pretty rare. You don't see a lot of these around Florida. Um, so that billboard will go away as well for good. It is non-conforming at the city and state level. So it will not be rebuilt. And the next slide is just the other side.

So you're saying they don't approve double stack the stacked? They do not anymore.

That is a very old billboard. Yeah. That those are not around anymore. It's rare that you see them at all. So I know it was important to the city that you know we get rid of this non-conforming use as part of this deal. And this is the purpose of 7020 to incentivize operators like us to do things like this that we may not do on our own because to us it's it's a great billboard. We like it. It's got some cool ads on it. You know, the the landlord likes it, but at the end of the day, it's a non-conforming billboard. Um and then just to recap everything on the next slide. So, to give you guys just the the absolute summary, we're going to remove five existing static billboard faces within your city. and that's in exchange for one new back-to-back digital billboard at the location we showed you. So that's a net reduction in billboards removing older display faces and structures and the community messaging is provided to you at no cost to the city or taxpayers. And just to re to um reiterate that we're going to provide all the capital on the next slide, the cost and installation of the sign, the digitals, the electrical connections, the maintenance of repairs of the screens, the content management system, and all the removals that's all at the cost of outfront. So, your fiscal note says it right. There is no cost to the city at all. And under the statute, you're allowed to do this. Like I said, we've done this hundreds of times throughout the state. It's a great opportunity for a city like yours to work with a company like us on I will say it again. I really do believe that it's a really good example of a public private partnership. So, with that, I'll answer any questions. Um happy to do so.

Thank you, sir. Deputy Mayor. Yeah. Uh thank you for the presentation. Uh this is a perfect example of triple PS which I like and and to get uh some uh PSAs up there for for the city of St. Cloud which is great. Um my one concern is and I think it's already been dealt with and I I'll ask our attorney that is illumination at night uh and the distance between that and residential. Um I I think it's good but I that was I don't I'm not an expert at that but our last meeting was two years ago in May and we talked about the resolution of viting onto residential. It doesn't look like it's going to affect it. Um, any comments from Dan or you? Are are we are we within the legal laws of of the illumination law uh for night times?

Well, that they can explain to you the how the illumination works and all that. That's a real technical sort of thing. That's why that's why I'm asking. Um, but the basically this agreement what's in the agreement is what they'll be allowed to do. So, and that and that's what So, maybe Chris you can. Absolutely. Yeah, I'm happy to answer. I'm actually a digital an expert witness on digital lighting because I'm a nerd

and I do this a lot around the country. So I've done it in dark sky areas and it's really important things. So these billboards will have an ambient light monitor on them. It looks like a little bitty beehive and the concept is just like your cell phone when you walk into a dark room it dims. Same concept. So at all times it's monitoring the ambient light in the area. So if a thunderstorm comes through on a July afternoon it's going to dim the light. Sunrise, sunset, it dims the light. So, it's all related to ambient light conditions. So, if you're out on a rural highway and there's no other lights, the thing's going to go down as dim as it can possibly go probably. If you're next to a car dealership that's got a lot of bright parking and everything like that, it's going to be a little brighter and it's always within 0.3 foot candles. And the important part about that, and I know it's a weird thing, is it's basically you can go out there and measure it with a light gun. Um, and if anybody needs help, I can help you with that with the code code compliance. at you point it at the billboard and we you call us, we'll turn it off. You measure the ambient light. You turn it back on, let it run for a minute, measure it again. If it's more than 0.3 ft candles, we're out of compliance. Uh it won't ever be, but that's how you test them. And yeah, I mean, there's not a lot of residential around here. It's not facing any. And then the most important thing is this digital light can only go about 240 to 250 ft because of the louvers on the sign. And that's where you can't even measure it past that because the light is negligible.

Okay. Well, thank you for those answers. I knew somebody would know that. I just was looking for assistance. The only other question I have is you talked about Spokane, Washington office. You talked about a New York office uh headquarters in St. Cloud soon.

You got I mean, we're growing. We'd love to have you down here. So, I just signed Mayor I just signed our lease in Orlando for seven more years, but after that, yeah, it'd be a great spot. All right. Uh Chris, first of all, thank you for coming here tonight. Um and council, we we've discussed this in the past. We approved a prior agreement. There were some modifications. Um I think it's a big win. I think um many times we get citizens saying, "Hey, I didn't know that event was occurring." We see it all over social media where they say, "You guys don't do enough um marketing for these events or letting people know what's going on." If y'all remember, right before the hurricanes, there used to be, well, forever before that, there was a banner that went across 192 at New York Avenue that uh held on there by by cabling and and we no longer do that. This is a great way to to let the the citizens know what's going on. Aside from that, uh I think the public safety aspect's amazing. Amber Alerts, uh y'all know through the city of St. Cloud is an evacuation route for Bard County, I think, uh and from down south. So, I think that's amazing to uh to have that on that side of town where there is nothing like this. I think it's great you're removing that dinosaur of a billboard. I like that it's the north side. I don't think uh you know that's where people are exiting our city. We want to advertise people that to people that are coming into our city. If they're already leaving, what's the point, you know, if they're leaving the city that day? Um that one's just hard to see on that, you know, tucked over there on that side near Home Depot. So, I think it's the right one. Um, I just want clarification. So, we're getting uh eight different spots, two per quarter, correct, for whatever we want to advertise.

Yeah. And I talked a lot about this with the city attorney. Um, and I know it's hard to to understand the difference between space available and guaranteed. And I would tell you, you guys made a great deal. Y'all made a great deal with us because usually we just give space available. And the reason for that is these things operate around 70 75% occupancy. I wish I could stand up here and tell you from outfront that these digital billboards are always sold out. That does not happen. Maybe Art Basil in Miami, FIFA events, Super Bowl, but for the most part, there's always space. So, we obviously offer you space available. And I can tell you the vast majority of time when you ask for something, we will be able to put it up instantaneously within, you know, 24 hours, three three or four days is what we just asked for so we can make plans. But you got guaranteed space, which is our cross to bear because it hits us differently from an accounting perspective. So you're going to get even if this thing is sold out, again, unlikely. I I'd like to be optimistic, but that's hard to do. Um, you get those eight spots, two per quarter guaranteed. So if somebody's up there, they're getting bumped and you're getting placement 100% guaranteed. Eight spots.

Yes, sir. But you're always going to have space. I mean, if you as long as you have something in the queue for us, which is pretty easy to do, we'll have it up in rotation, but guaranteed you are getting eight spots. Yes. Yeah. And this is it's only a 14page agreement, but it took a year to get to this point. And and I I do have unfortunately whenever is prudent, a comment about the agreement that I think would be helpful. Okay.

And it's city attorney. It's about the PUD that we talked about on Friday, right? So, we did the research into the requirements of the PUD, and there's already about eight conflicts that we would find that would essentially make the agreement that we negotiated um to put an off- premise digital billboard on the site, we would be unable to do that. So, we would offer that we should approve the agreement as it was profered by Outfront before Friday without the additional zoning requirements, including compliance with the PUB. And I just wanted to be transparent about that because I don't want to get up here and waste y'all's time and say, "Oh, I got to come back in a month for the PUD stuff." And I can go through the reasons if you want me to of why there's conflicts, but I had our council research it and they are serious conflicts that we cannot meet with a sign.

Well, I don't know how to address because this is the first I'm hearing of. Yeah. Can we go ahead and put that on the record? You know, just tell us all what those are and maybe we can address those. Yeah. And and a lot of it is, you know, we got it on Friday afternoon.

We have staff here that maybe we can address This has been going quick and you know fast even though it has taken a while. So the PUD provides that no building or structure shall exceed 35 ft in height. In the agreement it says the billboard will not exceed 50 feet in height. We need the 50 feet, not the 35 to the top of the sign. Uh the PUD says that there's an issue with freestanding signage that may require Mr. Rocker, who's here to speak as the landlord, to remove his on- premise sign because you can only have one freestanding sign per parcel. Obviously, the agreement would conflict with that because there wasn't a plan for Mr. Rocker to remove his on- premises. The PUD says a 25- ft setback for any structures. Uh the agreement says a 5ft setback. So, just to be clear, the leading edge of the sign, which is the front that you see there closest to the road, would be more than 5t back. If that leading edge has to be 25 feet back, that's a problem. If you're talking about the actual pole that you see in the middle, we could probably make that work. Tisha, are you following each one?

Sorry, I'm going fast. That's all right. Tisha is our acting community development director. Uh, really important for us, the ambiguity and lighting provisions. The PUD says that incandescent lighting may be used for advertising signs. This is a digital billboard. It's light emitted diode. It is not incandescent. So, that's a conflict. And then, you know, just the principal structure ambiguity in the putt. Those are the major things that we found. And what I didn't want to do, and I don't think it's, you know, I I just didn't want to come up and say, "Yeah, thanks for the agreement." And then see you guys in a month to fix all these things. So, I didn't know if we could just clear those conflicts now and have an agreement in place where we can get this thing moving, get your messaging up faster, maybe even this year. Council member,

appreciate you bringing this up now and like you said, it would be wasting time if we had to come back to another meeting. My question for the attorney would be can we approve this agreement and saying any conflicts would uh that this agreement would supersede the original PUD or or is that possible?

I don't think that's possible to be able to do that. I think there some of the things that were mentioned might be you might be able to interpret to the to allow for the sign to move forward. Uh, for example, the signage piece, the signage piece in the PUB addresses advertisement for on premises, right? That's was the intent of it all. It didn't it didn't address what this is. A billboard is an off-site advertising sign. In other words, it's advertising businesses that are not on site. So, because billboards aren't permitted in St. Cloud. So, I you know, that's an interpretation one I think we could we could work through, which we wouldn't, which would be consistent with the PUD. uh you know the PUD says 35 feet sign they need to sign 50 feet that's a straight requirement in the PUD you can't change the PUD by virtue of this agreement I don't think

I would I would disagree with that and I would tell you that under statute 7020 that's the intent is to be able to circumvent local zoning codes like a local which is PD is just basically a very mini zoning code for the property and you're exempting your sign code with this with this agreement so you could also exempt this zoning code and that's from council um who I wish could be here today and and I I understand and believe me I want to work through but this we did we did bring this up on Friday the intent was if there was an issue we can enter into the agreement and then if we had to move forward and there was a problem I get it but right now I can't make that call about whether I whether you could change the PUD by virtually this agreement

well we'd also would you agree that we're indemnifying you in the agreement in section 10 that if anybody ever challenges this outfront we'll cover the legal cost well I mean I I would agree agree to that. But but of course the you know the issue we have is we have a PUD which is a which is a p which is a zoning requirement that was put in after a public hearing that dealt with and establishing zoning for it. So I sent can't simply undo those. We may be able to. I just can't give you that answer today. Can't we approve that with the conditions that staff can work through the PUD issues with the applicant? Well that's and if they work them through

how to propose I kind of looked at it like like you enter into a purchase and sale agreement where you have a due diligence period. the entity agreement if you have to if things have to be changed before you act before the buyer actually buys the property or the or the or the purchase doesn't meet up to the buyer's expectation they just don't buy the property so that's kind of how I looked at it to get the agreement in place the PUD is did come up towards the end at the last minute and we haven't been able haven't been able to work through it but if we can't work through it then um you know then they don't have to take down the the billboards get to stay the other billboards get to stay

well I have to I'm Sorry, city attorney. I have to make a decision on those billboards because both leases are coming up for expiration and if this deal does not happen, I will renew them and keep them up in perpetuity. So that's my that's my So basically, let me just kind of lay it out what we can do. All we can do, we can vote to say yes, we agree to move forward on this with the condition that those PUB issues are worked out between you and staff and then it leaves our hands and it's in in the hands of staff. and if they can work out those issues. If they can't, they'll let us know and then we're back to square. You know, you can you're staying where you are. Right. You can't I

mean, you're getting our you're getting our approval and then if but if you can't work it out with staff within I mean I appreciate that you can do that in a timely manner. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. City city manager. Yeah. I I can make administr minor administrative changes to a PUD. The code gives me that authority. So, um, just just, so I think as long as it's something that's considered minor, I think a lot of this is minor. I would agree, but but I would follow the city attorney's advice. Well, we and and I'm not saying you can't do it. I'm saying I just can't tell you tonight whether

Okay. Um, I mean, on its face, we vote on what it's going to look like and and you know, the impact on the community. And that's why I support this, seeing what it is, whether or not it complies with whatever zoning code, all that. I mean, that I I think can be worked out with staff. So, um, anyone want to make a motion on this or first I want to ask if anyone in the audience would like to speak on this.

I'll speak. I'm Billy Rocker, uh, 6128 Waterfield Way. So, what Chris is offering to do. He it's he's the one that's spending the money. So, he has to get it the way he wants it or he can't do it and he and he shouldn't do it. But, uh I used you. So, we're in partnership on a a board out by Disney. I built the board, was trying to manage it. I did a terrible job. He takes over and all of a sudden it's really good. So that's kind of where the relationship is. Uh but when he's talking about the the this 7020, it it eliminates zoning,

right? I would that's our that's what your attorney says. Absolutely. City attorney, you want to comment on that? No, I just have another comment before you make the motion. No, Mr. Rocker's coming. Okay. Sorry, Mr. How do you want the motion to read?

I I I defer to the city council and city attorney. I mean, I I I think the most efficient way would be to strike the putt. I don't see the conflict. I understand the city attorney's opinion. Um, but again, we're we're circumventing the sign code through the same agreement. This is a mini zoning code. It's a commercial industrial use, which is really the only requirement of a billboard sign in the state of Florida. It's obviously a commercial use. Uh, the putt is many restrictions. If you all want to, like you said, mayor, and I I totally appreciate the support and don't want to overstep. If you say staff will work it out, I'll trust in that. Uh, I would ask that we sort of expedite that due to the timelines I have with the other billboards who are not going to be happy that I'm here presenting to take their signs down if we're being honest. Um, but those leases are coming to an end. So, you know, we're not doing anything on tour. Uh, but we are we will be on an expedited timeline if at all possible to to get these things fixed or I will have to renew them.

Yeah. And I wouldn't say that unless I felt staff would find I um find it that that we need to do this in expedited fashion. Uh city attorney, I just wanted to point out the one thing, mayor, that you proof read and caught me on. Yes, sir. You want to bring it up? Yes.

So, the mayor did part of my job um by catching something that's in the agreement. So, and on page seven in the agreement, there is a typo that's important, and it it has to do with the notification related to each quarter when the city would uh provide notice to outfront about what measures they wanted to do it. And the language that's in the version in front of you says if the city fails to designate these days within this time frame, the allotments for that calendar year are waved and it's supposed to be for each quarter. Correct. And not absolutely. So, I just wanted to point that out. He did catch it. I saw that today. It's only 14 pages. Thank you for your time. So Dan and city manager, is that something we can do? And uh

I mean hopefully work out these things within Well, and what do you think? The city manager is correct. There is there is authority within the code to basically interpret these things as I was saying earlier. So, we would just have to get there and look at the seven or eight issues and decide how the city manager feels comfortable, whether they fit into the definition of a minor or a that but are consistent with the intent of the existing PUB and we and we can go in that direction. Yes, sir. Council member Fletcher,

um I agree with everything that's been said. Um I did have a question for the applicant um regarding the PD issue and has this um PD issue came up in other jurisdictions in the state of Florida that you can provide an example for? Uh, frankly, no. Um, it's I did an agreement in Deerfield Beach that was on Southwest Florida or South Florida Water Management where there was some conflicting stuff there and the city just circumvented it through 7020. That's the only example that I can think of. Okay. So, that was the way that they did it. They just circumvented it through 7020. Thank you. Thank you.

Sir, are you saying it would have been a lot easier if the property owner did it through a straight zoning, develop that property? I mean, to me, you know, it it's whether it's a PUB or straight zoning, it's it's a highway business piece of property. I mean, it's not uh it's not like a mixeduse development or um it just to me it's a pretty simple thing. And I think uh that's I'll go ahead and make the motion to u approve it with the condition that the the staff can work through those PUD issues. Second and the one change that we pointed out and and with the one change. Yes, with the uh um correcting that that typo. All right. Who said second? I think that was council member Fletcher.

So motion from Mayor Robertson, second from council member Fletcher. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5. All right. Thank you all very much for all the work on this.

All right. And first readings and introduction. Next items on the agenda. Ordinances before the council for first reading and introduction for the sole purpose of council authorizing the public the publication of the ordinance for final hearing. The council will not take final action on the items tonight. Full presentations and public input on the ordinances will occur at the final hearing at which the council will consider final action. Will the clerk please read item number one?

First reading introduction for ordinance number 2026-06. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida to annex into the city of St. cloud approximately plus - 743.53 acres identified as Whley's plat project ANX25-000020 generally located north of each East Lake Tohopga east lake east Ociola road south of CMI Park Road and west of Lake Tophelga Road in accordance with the voluntary annex annexation provisions of chapter 171.044 Florida statutes and can we get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Urban second. Second. Council member Paul, Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher.

Hi. Council member Paul. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5-0. Will the clerk please read item number two?

First reading introduction for ordinance number 2026-07. An ordinance of the city council of city of St. South Florida assigning a future land use designation of approximately plus minus 743.53 acres identified as Whley's plat project CPA 25-000011 generally located north of east north of Lake Topaleaga east of Ocula road south of CMI Park Road and west of Lake Topalea road from MXD mixeduse county to MIX mixeduse city providing for the amending official future land use map of the comprehensive plan following the planning commission's recommendations proof Publication applicability effect severability copies on file and effective date. Can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion approved. Council member Paul.

Second. Second. Council member Urban. Will the clerk, please call the role. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. I. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5-0. The

clerk, please read item number three. First reading introduction for ordinance number 2026-08 an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud Florida providing a zoning amendment of the zoning map of the land development code of the city of St. Club Florida is specifically changing the zoning designation approxim approximately plus minus 453 400 excuse me 743.53 acres identified as wley's plat project ZMA2-000014 from MXD mixeduse county to MIX mixeduse city gener generally located north of east north of Lake Tohopala east of Ocola lake Oyola road south of CMI Park Road and west of Lake Tohopala Road providing for entering the designation official zoning map following the planning planning commission's recommendations proof of publication servability and effective date.

Can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion approved. Council member Paul. Second. Second. Council member Urban. Will the clerk please call the role. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. Hi. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5. Will the clerk please read item number five

four sorry first reading introduction for ordinance number 2026-16 an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud Florida to annex into the s city of St. cloud approximately plus - 44.33 acres identified as Chisum Chisum Estates project ANX25-000025 generally located north of Old Oak Trail east of Lake Topaliga south of Lilian Black Road west of South Marusi Road in accordance with the voluntary annexation provisions of chapter 171.044 Florida statutes. Can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Oh, sorry. Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second.

Second. Council member Urban. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 50. And can you please read item number five?

First reading and introduction for ordinance number 2026-10. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida to annex into the S city of St. cloud approximately plus - 9.79 acres identified as Narusi Starline project ANX 26-00001 generally generally located north of J Street east of Twisted Branch Lane south of Lilian Black Road and west of South Larusi Road in accordance with the voluntary annexation provisions of chapter 171.044 Florida statutes. All right. And a motion. Motion approved. Motion approved. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second. Council member Fletcher. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi.

Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5-0. Will the clerk please read item number six?

First reading and introduction for ordinance number 2026-11. An ordinance of the city council of city of St. Claw Florida assigning a future land use designation of approximately plus - 9.79 acres identified as Narusi Starline project CPA 26-00001 generally located north of J Street east of Twisted Branch Lane south of Lilian Black Road west of South Narusi Road from LDR lowdensity residential county to COM commercial city providing for amending of the official future land use map of the comprehensive plan filing the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication applicability effect servability copies and file an effective date. And can we get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Fletcher. Second.

Second from Council Member Urban. Will the clerk please call the role? Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. I. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries. 5 Z. Will the clerk please read item number seven if you need to take a breath? No, I just need to change my paper. Maybe have Stacy read one or two.

First reading an introduction for ordinance number 2026-12. An ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud, Florida providing a zoning amendment of the zoning map of the land development code of the city of St. Florida specifically changing the zoning designation approximately plus minus 9.79 acres identified as Narusi Starline project ZMA26-00001 from AC agricultural to conservation and R2 rural development county to HB highway business city generally located north of J Street east of Twisted Branch Lane south of Lilian Black Road west of South Marusi Road providing for entering the designation official zoning map following the planning commission's recommendations proof of public publication servability effective date. And can I get a motion on that one? Motion to approve.

Motion to approve. Council member Fletcher. Second. Second. Council member Paul. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5-0.

Will the clerk please read item number eight? First reading introduction for ordinance number 2026-13 an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud Florida to annex into the city of St. Cloud approximately plus minus 4.85 acres identified as Hickory Tree Road Community Center project ANX 25-000026 generally located north of Olive Mountain Bend east of Hickory Tree Road south of Ni Road and west of Hickory Tree Road in accordance with the voluntary annexation provisions of chapter 171.044 044 Florida statute. And can we get a motion on that? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second. Second. Council member Urban. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson.

I. Motion carries 5-0. Will the clerk please read item number nine?

First reading, introduction of ordinance number 2026-14, an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Florida signing a future value land use designation of approximately plus minus 4.85 85 acres identified as Hickory Tree Road Community Center. Project CPA2-00000016, generally located north of Olive Mountain Bend, east of Old Hickory Tree Road, south of Noty Road, and west of Hickory Tree Road from CC Community Center County to CC Community Center City, providing for amending of the official future land use map of the comprehensive plan following the planning commission's recommendation, proof of publication, applicability, effect, severability copies on file, and effective date. And can I get a motion on that? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul, second.

Second. Council member Fletcher. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5-0.

Will the clerk please read item number 10?

First reading introduction for ordinance number 2026-15. An ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud, Florida, providing a zoning amendment of the zoning map of the land development code of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, specifically changing the zoning designation approximately plus minus 4.85 acres identified as Hickory Tree Road Community Center project ZMA25-000020 from CC Community Center Core to County to CCC Community Center Core City. Generally located of north of all of Mountain Bend, east of Hickory Tree Road, south of Nulti Road, west of Hickory Tree Road, providing for entering the designation official zoning map of the following planning commission's recommendations. POA publication applicability proof of public publication servability and effective date.

And can we get a motion on item 10? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second. Second. Council member Fletcher. Will the clerk please call the role? Deputy Mayor Gilbert, hi. Council member Fletcher, hi. Council member Paul, hi. Council member Urban, hi. Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 5-0. I just looked over. Council member Paul got a new hairdo. Look at that. Looks great. Thank you. It didn't happen just this meeting. It's before that. This weekend, she agreed to take let Andrew take off just a little bit. All right. All right. Will the clerk please read item number 11?

First reading, introduction for ordinance number 2026-17, an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud, Florida, amending chapter 3, article 4, agricultural zoning district, article 5, residential zoning district, and article 14 use regulations section 3.14.3 accessory dwelling units ADU of the land development code providing for servability, conflict, codification, publication, effective date. And can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Fletcher. Second. Second. Council member Irvin. Will the clerk please call the role. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Council member Irvin. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Nay. Mayor Robertson. I. Mo. Motion carries 41.

Will the clerk please read item number 12. First reading and introduction for ordinance number 2026-18. An ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud St. Cloud Oyola County, Florida. Amending Chapter 24 Environment Article 9 Open Burning Section 24-308 Emergency Pro Prohibitions of Burning or use of fireworks or related actions to define dangerous environmental conditions providing for conflict servability administrative correction codification publication and effective date. And can we get a motion item 12? Motion to approve. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second. Council member Fletcher. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Paul, I. Council member Urban, hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert,

hi. Council member Fletcher, I. Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 5-0. And the last one, item number uh 13. First reading, introduction of ordinance number 2026-9, an ordinance of the city council of city of St. Cloud Florida prescribing the manner of holding the regular election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of nove of November each year election year to wit November 3, 2026 with a primary election on August 18, 2026 if required pursuant to chapter 20 article 1 section 20 of the code of ordinances of the city of St. Cloud providing an effective date. And can we get a motion on that one? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second.

Second. Council member Urban. Will the clerk please call the role? Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries. 5-0. All right. I have a feeling we're just getting started.

Saw that big old stack of papers on my desk. All right. City attorney, do you have anything else to add? only to remind you at your uh work your meeting on Monday has actually been scheduled as a special special council meeting. We wanted to confirm that the city council is good at the start time at 9:00 a.m. for that special council meeting. We're all in agreement on that and then you will hear the presentations from the for the economic development consult position that you put out the RFP on. So and but I just wanted to confirm the time and the date on Monday.

Okay. Um, I did see that list and I saw that there were a handful of them that well there was one two that withdrew but one that could not attend to a scheduling conflict. Are they able to provide any answers to their questions even if they can't appear to answer other questions? Do you know? Well, you would know I guess city manager. Well, normally when someone doesn't make the effort to come to an interview, we don't accommodate them, right? No, I just didn't know if if what the scheduling conflict was or what the I don't know the specifics. Okay, that's all I have. Mayor, thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you. All right, city manager.

Thank you. I have a few items. Um, first, I recognized a couple faces from the citizens academy, so I wanted to thank you all for coming and you guys been making a quite an effort to be coming on a regular basis to learn about all of our department. So, thank you for coming to see them. They get extra credit for this. It's actually a a requirement that they have to attend one council meeting before graduation. By the way, I I saw the uh the post you put up there for the uh the with the fire truck. You went up in the the ladder. Something I would not do. It's pretty scary. It is scary. Was our fire chief at the controls hoisting you up? No, I left that to the professionals.

Scary.

And I have a few few other items. All all positive great things this evening. We were notified that we received the government finance officers association popular annual financial report award. Um, as the council knows, we have previously received the distinguished budget award since 2021. We've been receiving the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting award since 1998. So now that we have finally received the third, the popular annual financial report, we are now a GFOA triple crown recipient which is which less than 2% of government entities nationwide have achieved the triple crown and we are the only the 25th city in Florida to achieve it. So

very cool. Great great work from our finance department. Yeah, Jeff's amazing Cooper that whole department. Mhm. Uh, previously the city council had requested that I reach out to Oyola County about putting signage up along the C31 trail regarding the historic sugar mill and they have installed three signs. Two of the signs say welcome to the sugarmill trail and then the third is at the historic sugar mill site. And all of them all of the signs are large. Um, it lists the history. It does. It talks about the history of the Hamilton Dist. Very cool. Love it. Thank you for getting that done, by the way.

Thank you. It was a great idea. It was a great idea. Congressman Sodto has agreed to sponsor our EOC and communication equipment federal request. I was notified of that. So, we'll be moving forward with that request. I'd like to welcome our new assistant city manager, Jabari Walker, who's sitting um side. We're very excited about they are loving all their new seats. They just hide the podiums.

Um and then the last thing, um I would like to congratulate Councilwoman Paul. She has been selected by Onyx Magazine's Women on the Move as a 2026 honore, which we're very proud of her. So congratulations.

Thank you. Um, and to go along with that, I'm going to pass around the packet um that she has completed if the city would consider sponsoring a table at the event. And there is money available in the city council budget. The table of 10 cost is 3500.

This is the wrong one. Oh, I have two. I'm sorry. Okay. So, that would be this one. That Are we going to be voting on both of these or Miss Paul is going to bring up the second one? Okay. Do you want her just to talk about both of them? Do you want to talk about both of them? Yes, I can go ahead. Um, can I just go ahead and read my comments now? Okay. I don't know if you were done or not. That was my That was my That was my last Well,

we've got this. Do you want to Maybe we just go on down. Do you want to go now or do you want to I'll go now? You want to go now? Okay.

So, um first I wanted to say um last month we had Roots and Rhythm which was hosted by St. Cloud Main Street in Granny's um Southern Smokehouse. That was a success. Um I've heard positive feedback from residents who thought the event was phenomenal. Um we did have a um former hometown um Brent Fulwood um former NFL um Green Bay Packers come into town and he um was very happy about participating in the event here hometown. So he was excited about that. Um, I also had the opportunity to sit down with Senator Arington's office and do a remote session here in person with their staff and it was basically a opportunity to share um concerns or listen to concerns from constituents. Um whether it was regarding things happening in Tallahassee or local, I was able to answer. So um although we didn't have anybody to stop by but it was a great opportunity for constituents to stop by. Um thirdly I wanted to um in lie of the community grants that were um disconnected. I um discontinued I'm sorry. I wanted to bring back up um I have a conversation with the council. Um we did talk about it at a workshop um last the end of last year regarding um council having a specific amount to allocate for things happening in the community. Um wanted to bring that back up and have a um the discussion regarding that which will also tie into my request that I have here. So if we can talk about that then I can kindly bring these two up. So,

all right. Yeah. Um, council member Paul, the reason I asked if you wanted to go now or later, I had some some comments on that as well. Um, we had spoken about community grants. Uh, and and I spoke with city manager and this is something a little different where um about individual sponsorships. I know the county they do betterment grants, you know, individual coun commissioners. Um, that's something we haven't done here in the past, but we have floated that idea. Obviously, we don't have the funds that that Ocula County has to to give to their commissioners. Um and in lie of the community grants, I know we had flowed the idea of possibly allocating each council member with um allowing them to do the sponsorships as long as it fits certain criteria. You know, must be a nonprofit and um similar to what they did before with the grants, but I think a little tighter controls. I think they should be in St. Cloud or they should be uh something connected to St. Cloud. Um, I would be in support of this, but I think we need to set the policy to do it. We don't have a policy. Um, what are y'all's thoughts on this?

Which you talking about the the I'm sorry, mayor. I Well, essentially, you know, throughout the year, we're going to have council members come forward with requests for sponsorships of certain events or dinners, and it's going to happen more and more as we get through the year. And last year we didn't do that because there were community grants.

We've kind of held off from doing community grants through the the um procurement department. We told him hold off on that. You know, we've just kind of figured this out. And we've talked about this in the past. Um, since today, uh, in looking at some of this information, I would be in support of of coming up with a policy that would dedicate funds to in each council member where they don't you don't have to come back to us

as long as it fits criteria that supports the city of St. Cloud. Um, and but I would cap it at $10,000 for each council member to support nonprofits, but I think for each nonprofit a maximum of $1,500. I think we we don't want somebody saying, "Okay, I'll give five grand to this one, you know, and then it's just it's a little over." So, you're you're saying split the buckets. Yes. Okay.

Yeah. Um because, you know, the people did elect all of us individually. Uh we do represent them and we get request after request as you know. Um can you sponsor this soccer club? Can you can you s sponsor the football team or the band or um and while the city I know the city would love to support all of these activities. We can't afford to support everybody but individually we can kind of spread it out there and ensure that that many of them are taken care of. So, so you're thinking about uh 10k per because we don't have districts here. We we we we have all the city where the oil commission has their districts where they mostly fund their projects. Is that am I correct so far?

That is correct. Okay. So, um for me uh being uh um working with the the taxpayer dollars I want to make specific to the city of St. Cloud like you said.

Yes. Um, I don't know, and maybe I'm wrong, but maybe 20 grand per person to do that. Uh, and with a sponsorship because if we sponsor something for 1,500, it may not happen. So, I don't know that number, Chris, but I love the procedures that you're talking about in putting in something in writing. I think that's a great idea. Uh, so we have some standards about uh uh giving uh that I don't have just questions, not really answers at this point. Uh, Mayor. Oh yeah, and that's where and typically we you know we talk a lot of this through workshops but I mean we're here and we you know we we make good time during this meeting so and we've got two requests on the table that are different but we do sponsor these type of activities uh whether they're um last year this would have been something through the grant process for this event

this table sponsor we do that kind of throughout the year with these dinners so with the 10,000 I would say for supporting the nonprofits just so something to the effect what council member Paul's asking for. So there's there's a 5K she wants to be the sponsor of it. So uh it would still be the city of St. Cloud, but it would be council member Paul saying, "Hey, I'm here. I'm the main sponsor promoting this." Um but also when it comes to the dinners, I think we also need to kind of have some controls on there as well. And I would also add for those dinners a $5,000 max for each council member. But I I believe they should be handled in the same in the same manner that as they have been where those are tables for the council like they've been throughout you know how how we've been doing it.

But I think that each council member should have that ability which we do already. But I think there needs to be a policy in place on how we make those requests in a certain amount so that okay say we're seeing $5,000. Well, if I say, you know, that say the Golden Eagle dinner and maybe that's 2500 or the education foundations 2500. Well, that's the 5,000 for the year, right?

And I would know that if I chose to sponsor those, too. But if I look at some of those that say it's $1,000 for this one or that one and I decide to spread it across five events, that should be my call and that should be y'all's call as well. So, um, in that way, we're we're really hitting we're all elected by the same constituents, but for different reasons. I believe we all have our own views. We have our own uh outlook on on on our city on how it should move forward in the future and how we support organizations. Um, I just think that that's a really a fair way of splitting it up and everybody kind of has a say as to who gets supported throughout the the process. So, um, okay, we got a number of lights, but I'm going to call this on the city manager first, and then I'll go to the council.

Thank you. As the conversation continues, I I would like to ask that we also consider that I have to budget for for these things. Right. So, right now is the time of year that normally the city council is giving me all of your requests for the for the following year. So, I'm I'm going to need clarification. Yeah, I think we still budgeted the $100,000 for the grants. I think we kept that in this year's budget. So, correct. That's where this would be coming out of.

Correct. This right now there's enough Well, I I would need to clarify depending on the amount that the council chooses, but the there's a balance in that budget right now. Absolutely. But what I what I'm talking about is as you're talking about a policy um if if we're talking about a policy for the remainder of this year um leading into we we have a budget that we typically list all the tables that we're going to have. um council selects what which what which what you want so we can go ahead and we can put it in the budget and it assists um everyone throughout the process. Um so if we can clarify as you move forward um if you're talking about for this year and then also separate amounts for next year.

Absolutely. Uh go ahead down the row. Council member Urban.

Um I would just say I I if this did move forward, I'd like to see an official policy, but um I I hold the same concerns that I held with the community grant program, which is that it's not my money, it's the taxpayers's money, and we're staring down the barrel of some pretty um scary state legislation that where the city might have to make some very difficult decisions if this leg legislation passes budget-wise. So, um, you know, for that reason, I personally would be against a program like this. U, but I just, um, you know, I think if something was in place, we would need an official policy and in a budget for it. That would be my statement.

Yes, sir. Um, and and I'm just for clarification. So, we don't we're going to say no supporting any organizations for the whole year. My my no dinners, no nothing because that's what we're that's what that means. I mean, my personal belief is if me as a citizen, if I want to support an organization, I will do it with my own money, not through the city taxpayer money, but I understand that's a, you know, not a not a popular decision, but that's that's how I feel. Yeah. And a lot of these organizations, they have like the Boy Scouts, they've got one that's coming up. I think we have a table for that, right? The Golden Eagle dinner, right? So,

and it supports that organization. I think it's a great organization. I was a boy scout myself. Um, but essentially you'd want to not fund that. And that's I just want to make sure I'm, you know, understand. Look, all of these organizations are fantastic organizations. I'm not saying I I wish I had a million dollars. I I would fund every single one of them. But I my personal position on that is that it shouldn't be funded through taxpayer dollars. That's that's just and and look, I I fully admit that's not a a a popular uh position to have, but that's that's where I'm at.

I I think all of those um supporting those organizations and those dinners are a separate fund. Correct. But it's still general fund money. So, they're within the same line item, but uh but I think there's budget was approved.

There's two separate things that that I think the council's talking about. We typically have a list of tables that we cons consistently go to every year and if council starts to not go to those we find out if there's still interest in it, we may remove it from the list. Additionally, at this time of year, we we send an email which I I've already sent, you know, let us know if if if you have any that you're interested in. So that the tables is is separate within the same line item of the budget, but then we also have I think the sponsorships which which are so it's there's I think there's two separate things. They just happen to be in the same line line item of of the budget. Um and you know we have at times where we need to buy tables like we've bought a table to go to the county's um annual update. We we we bought a table uh for that. We've we've bought tables to go to the um OciOla Arts annual event. Um so there there is there is both. Um and but maybe this would be a good topic for a workshop with the finance director. We can give you a printout of the entire budget on on how this is has been working.

Yeah. But I think we already we passed that budget in October, right? I mean we passed it well before October um to for those events. There is money currently in this bud. I meant ch I meant the the policy the the change factor if if you would like we could I'm talking about the money the money is currently in the budget towards those type of events has already been approved by this council. Yes. Okay. You want to remove it from the budget.

I that's why I'm trying to understand how we move forward. So, for example, and I'm thinking worst case scenario, if this Avalorum state legislation passes and we have a choice, we have this $100,000, do we put it towards public safety or do we put it towards events? I would move it to public safety without losing a week of sleep. That's I guess that's kind of my point here. Yeah, we can't take it from public safety anyway, I think. Right. Yeah. Yeah. No, I understand that 100%. All right. Uh, Council Member Paul.

So, I want to make um a couple things clear. Um, being selected for a magazine, um, they selected me. I didn't call them to be selected. So, um, I think as far as to um, you know, if I had not been selected, I wouldn't be going to this event at all. You know, they people are watching and see the work being done over here in St. cloud and that's how I got selected on that. Um, but anything if it gets approved or not, um, even if it do, I still would be transparent to filling out one of these because that's just how I am because I know it's taxpayers dollars and I want to be, um, consider how I um, choose on what I spend as well too on that. Um and then the second thing to say um to donate to whatever organizations or whatever, which I do that on a personal level as well, but this specific request is asking for barricades. I don't have personal barricades to donate to somebody. So to, you know, say that, you know, all of this is just barricades, lights, and pushing a um a flyer out on social media to get people to know about the event as a council that we support. So

yeah. Yeah. And I'm not a fan of giving money to an organization just to give money where they can just turn around and hand it out as a sponsor or you know their own scholarship or or whatever else because we've seen that in the past. Um there is one that we do and I don't know if we did it this year the education foundation scholarship. We handed them out last year under our name. The city of St. Cloud gave the scholarship to the education foundation. So our interpretation at the workshop when council cancelled the grants was that that came out with it and I I don't believe any of the other local governments provide the amount of money that that we were providing. Okay.

Yeah. And that one didn't rub me the wrong way as much as one where because well I'll tell you one um on from my side the other from west side of CMI at the military museum where the be way before I got involved they had applied to the city of St. Cloud for a grant. City of St. Cloud gave them a grant. Then they turned around and gave it to another organization who handed it out as a scholarship and it had didn't have the city of St. cloud on it and it didn't even have the Museum of Military History on it. It was another organization handing out 1,500 bucks. That's what I want to prevent from happening. It's just cash. You can look at it as money laundering for, you know, um it's it's just not that shouldn't be that way. Um I these kind of situation where it comes to police barricades, at least we're seeing where the money is being spent and and um I support this. I support these requests, but I but that's where I think we need a policy in place to kind of regulate these type of requests. There needs to be a policy. It it that's more my concern are we're setting whatever we choose to do. Say we do this, we're kind of saying, hey, then we have to approve everybody's that comes to the table. Uh or if we deny it, then we have to not deny everybody's that we all bring up no matter what it is. So that's where I think we need a policy in place and I think we do need to support organizations at some level. I mean we get kids and I know we use personal funds. I mean, there was one that I fought against um I think it was the last meeting, maybe the one before. Uh there was a nonprofit that came up here uh wanting fee waivers and I personally wrote a check because that's we just weren't doing fee waivers.

But this is this will be different where we don't give fee waivers. People in the community can approach any of us and say, "Would you support this?" And that's where I think we need a cap as to the each individual nonprofit and there should be a maximum limit for each council member as to what they can support. That's kind of the my thought process with um I I think we need to start resolving these issues before they every time we're going to sit here scratching our heads. Well, I don't know. Should we support this or support that? And we keep going back to, well, we say we're not doing any fee wavers, but I got to tell you, there's a lot of great things in our community. We still need to support our community in some fashion. Deputy mayor, you got a lot of stuff going on your head right now. I want to hear it. I I I'm I I'm just trying to absorb it all because uh personally and professionally, I set a budget each year for the donations that my company and myself give um to different organizations. and it's set each year. That's what we get and that's where we go. Usually first come first serve for asking us for for for donations and I'd look at worthy causes that I believe affect uh the the the folks the arena that I I'm in. Uh I respect uh uh uh Mr. Urban there because it is right where spending taxpayer dollars. I hear you loud and clear that some of these events are actually helping our youth and helping people uh for needs that are needed. And you know, I don't want to get personal, but at Place for Christ, we help people in need. You know, these organizations uh with these 5K runs, I think we got six or seven of them this year. How do we choose?

How many are you running in?

Uh I'm walking in all of them. Not running in any of them. I used to run and I got tired, so I started walking. But but but how do we uh disseminate which ones are worthy of that? And I don't know. That's why your idea of the policy is a great idea. Uh I I I understand Mr. Urban totally understand them because we do this and there's been organizations that I donated to in the past. They came, hey, you're going to give us your regular $3. And I said, no, it's already been allocated to another organization. Um I like the a lotment. if we're going to take $100,000 and and I like the betterment grants that the the county does. I think that works out well. They they look at their district and their needs for those districts and a lot of them are food benefits and things such as that that benefit their their districts. I'm just so torn with this because a lot of things that we deny here I stroke a check for out there

and I'm I'm okay with that. But I I just I want the pleasure of the council if we do something to like you said be a policy be restrictions be a better betterment for the city of St. Cloud and and the citizens in the St. Uh, other than that, may Mary, these are one of these, these are tough. These are tough. It really is because there are people coming for needs. I had one today and I actually referred them to a place for grace. So,

and I like some of the as these organizations where some of them they have found other ways to work with the city of St. Cloud such as the meals on wheel or the the council on aging with the CDBG stuff. There are other ways, but some of these organizations, you know, say we've got because I know I I've had people many people approach me. Um, say it's a soccer club or a band and they just need a few hundred. Well, where they're going to wait a whole month for me to bring it here and then how do we say yes to that group and no to the other group? Whereas, if we already say the mayor's funds are this, he's got the ability to sponsor that much money to as many organizations. He can divvy it up where it's $100 a piece or maximum $1,000 to an organization.

My question would be, are the organizations in St. Cloud, are they servicing the residents here? That's that needs to be in the policy. Yeah, absolutely. I don't talk to anybody outside the city. I don't go anywhere. All I do is unless I'm going to tri county league cities or you know the I I I agree though with council Kurban though uh if if those monies are allotted and he says listen that's taxpayer dollars I don't want to spend any of it then he doesn't have to he doesn't have to that is correct and and that's his stance which I I agree wholeheartedly with with Councilman Urban and spending money I just I do I I just struggle with what I think's a betterment may not think but the council's a betterment

we went to we we were there the the blue light gala. Amazing event um that that uh or the the police department had a table at and

you know that was to honor you know fallen officers and and around Central Florida. So there are some very important organizations that we should continue to support in some fashion and um you know whether the Golden Eagle one that's coming up. I think that it's great to to continue to support our Boy Scouts. Um, as the city manager said, the the state of the county, I think it's important for us to all be there for the state of the county because that's one of the few times that we get to sit in a room where every in municipal uh or the the government entities get to sit together under the same roof in a relaxed environment and and we all engage in conversations with those folks. So, um, city manager,

thank you. The blue light gala was paid for by the forfeite agreement that the council recently approved, but the Eagle event is not currently listed in our budget as an event. We do have um miscellaneous tables item, which is $3,500. Uh, however, I had recently been directed by the city council not to approve anything within this line item without your approval, which is why Miss Paul had to come and ask for approval at an event that she won an award. Previously, I would have signed up for the table and and we wouldn't be in this situation. I I just I just wanted to say that like that that's why we had a miscellaneous tables item for when these unique tables came up and I think being honored the way Miss Paul is being honored is is pretty substantial.

Yeah. And that's the way she chooses to spend say an allocated amount. So um so what do y'all think about um what we've talked about here? Can can I just clarify for a second as well? I think it's a very distinct honor that we have a council member that's being honored for a woman on the move as well. And that money is already in the budget this year. What I'm saying is, you know, for me personally, if we're all budgeted $10,000, whatever it is per council member, um, you know, I'll personally choose to to to not spend my funds and that's how it goes. That's that's what

this is budgeted as well. This is already budgeted money what we're talking about. It's just we never came up with a a plan on how to allocate those funds. Right. Okay. So, just like the 3500 for that, it's already budgeted. I'm saying if we have a a new policy where we each get an allotted budgeted amount, that's what

Okay. That's what I would like to see is a policy, but that's the whole purpose of us h having a conversation because we talked about it in a workshop, but we never got anywhere to a solution. But coming up with a policy would be great because I don't want later down the road someone questioning, well, where did this money go? You know, I want to be transparent as possible. Even if that means filling out a request, anytime that I donate it to somebody, it this would be filled out. So um that's just to cover myself. So

yeah. Yeah. And I haven't made any requests myself for any dinners or you know um in fact I've given dinners to the group here. Um but I I think did you buy me dinner? Wait guys, girls. I don't think I don't know if you went to that one at the museum. The city manager, the deputy, their spouse, every you know group went over there. Yeah. Uh that was a year ago.

Um but but yeah, that's that's my point is we do need to show a fa our faces in the public at some of these events. So just nixing all that out of the budget and not using those funds I think is is um you know I I I think I don't think we add to the funds. I just think we you know we kind of follow through with with what we've been doing. But this is just a mechanism with controls to it. So, if if Council Member Paul would agree that whatever policy we come up with, say it's a $10,000 for the um to support nonprofits and a 5,000 for dinners that if we did that that these would these would add in factor into that.

I have no problem with that. Okay. All right. with that. I I would support that if that if that is the request of council member Paul. You good? I'm good. We're good. We're good. Can I just get clarification? It was $10,000 for Betterment and 5,000 for tables or the 5,000 was within the 10,000. Do we want to make a decision on that now or do you want to do more homework on that? I mean, I don't know. We've been talking about this for a year now. Council member Fletcher.

Yeah, it is it I mean I'm just going to echo the same comments. I mean it is tough. There is organizations out there, plenty of organizations that that do a lot of good work. Um like council woman Paul said we do get, you know, a lot of requests, you know, brought one, you know, the last council meeting. However, I would have to agree with with council member Urban on the fact that, you know, we could, you know, it is taxpayer money, right? So, we have to be very, you know, conscious of that and I think we I think we all are. Um, so if if I would definitely like to see a policy if we did decide to move forward with um allocated money between each council member um and we would just make the decisions individually how we wanted to.

Yeah. And that would avoid So there was an organization last meeting or one before I don't recall. Um and we essentially had to say no. But w with that type of organization, they are located in the city of St. Cloud. They do serve a great need. Um, and so say they went to any of us and said, "Hey, can you sponsor this event and as long as it benefits the citizens, and with that one, it was the children in our community, I think an individual council member should be able to make that call. I think we were elected by the citizens. I think you guys will." I think I also, not to not to interrupt, mayor, I think I think one of the the things with these requests is because we haven't finalized it, right? So, we would look at it differently if we had a policy in place. Now, we're kind of like going back and forth with this, meaning we're saying, "Hey, you know what? This is the last one. We're not doing it no more." Then we get there and we're like, "Oh, well, shoot. Now we're now we're doing it again." You know, I think we need to just button it up.

Yeah. Because I get yelled at when we don't give it to one and they say, "Well, wait a minute. you just gave a a a fee waiver to somebody else or oh I mean see I get yelled at as especially as the mayor they they say they blame me for everything. Um but but this puts a policy in place and you know that we said if you have any complaints here's the number.

I didn't realize that it was in the charter they set up an autoresponding place. Um, I just I I'm trying to just kind of do some some housekeeping on this and that way we're getting out in front of this and um so when anybody else we'll see it in an advertisement say council member Fletcher wants to support a um um a food pantry and say he wants to well see what happened yesterday commissioners purchased some steer a hog a steer a goat over at the fair. Not only did they support the I know well Keith was over there did the videos I think not only did they support our 4 kids but then they handed it out to nonprofits or say uh actually pastor Luke was there and and received it for to hand out physics for at the altar for for those in need. So, there is a purpose for this type of for those funds and I think we need to get out in the head of this and um we we can't just continue to tell the entire community we're not going to support their activities. City manager, you still have some more to say.

Well, I think it's clear you guys want a policy and and I can bring you back a policy. The question is, do you I also heard no workshops. They want us to draft a policy and bring it forward to the next city council meeting. Are we good with those amounts? Okay. It keeps it well under it's what 75,000 under the 100,000 of what the community grants were the prior year. Um and and it puts tighter controls and I think it truly is representative of each individual's um outlook on the community and who they represent. Did I say that right?

I'm just glad it's a policy because, you know, then we can decide as as Councilman Urban says, you know, if he decides not to, that's fine. If I decide not to, that's fine. That's correct.

Uh but there are worthy causes and you are right. There are some causes that we donate to on a private level that help the community. I know because I got statistics on it and that's something we might want to look at too if we are granting or writing these things. We would like a report back how it impacted the community, how it helped the community. It just could be a one page letter, something like that. It's great. The kids got together and and just some kind of report back so we can have some history on it. I I don't like a lot of paperwork, mayor, but that's something at least we know how it impacts the community,

you know. And to be honest, um, while Council Member Gilbert or Deputy Mayor Gilbert, you know, he he can he's got a huge heart and he loves to support everybody, I got a huge heart in a very low bank account. Um, and I'm the I am the lowest paid employee in City of St. Cloud. Uh, besides me,

besides this guy and this guy. Um, but I got to be honest, when we tell these people no, sometimes after the meeting, I end up telling them yes with a check and it hurts. I I mean, I still got to eat myself, but I but it it pulls at my heartstrings and and I want to support all these great things and um and I know you do it as well and we just don't talk about it. So, that's where, you know, either we say no to everybody or we we find a way to continue to support our community and and really um spread it out there.

I think you just did. I think the policy is going to work and I think the amount's going to work and then let's put it together and then we'll go from there. Is everybody in a Guys, yes, Jen. Okay. So, what do you think? That's a great idea, Mayor. With that, under that policy, I would support Council Member Paul's request. Um, if the city manager can put that policy together and bring it forward to the next uh both both requests or I was talking about the policy. Yeah. Oh, do I support I support both requests if that's if that's the wish of of council member Paul. I mean we can have the policy because these events are happening April 24th and then May 2nd. So if we have the policy at the next um council meeting, I'm okay.

Okay. Um can I ask one one question for clarification on on the policy currently or previously when we would sponsor things? Um it would say sponsored by the city of St. Cloud. Is this policy to include sponsored by the city council member or by the city? It would be both. Um sponsored by council member Paul and the city of St. Cloud. I I I think that they're making that decision to sponsor the organization. I believe and they're going to be out there. I assume you're going to go to the Yes, I was out there last year. And you are running in that 5K. Excuse me. You are going to be running. I'll walk. Um

it's been many years since I've ran in a 5K. So I can't I can't talk. Um but yeah, I that's where I feel that especially if we're going to Bless you.

kind of break it up and say sponsored by this council member, that council member. The whole point of of of my conversation was if we're going to do that, we need to have controls. We need a policy in place. That way, it's fair for everybody. It's fair for every organization. We're not saying yes to this person and no to that person. If somebody comes to me, I I request betterment funds through my county commissioners through the at the military museum or, you know, the city of St. you know that represent St. Cloud. Um oftentimes they'll say, "Hey, I've used up my betterment grants. Go ask another one." and uh or you know sometimes they they support every one of them you know so that's kind of what what can happen with this situ you know with this policy I'll try not to use all mine up in the first before the end of the year because I know once we do this we're going to get a lot of requests um and I don't think that's a bad thing I think the citizens need to know that we do support them and especially these children's programs you know, our teams because I definitely, you know, we definitely want to make sure that, you know, say say it's a a a football club or when I say football, it's Footsaw, the soccer club. They've come to me in the past uh or or soccer where they've said, "Hey, we won these um we're going to nationals." Well, how great is that to support and they need $250, you know, something just to kind of, you know, pay for the gas for for the parent for the the the the parents to drive them there. So, how cool is it to be able to sponsor something like that and that these kids from our city are able to go to another state and play at that level? But if we don't do that, they're they're not they may not get that opportunity.

City manager, one last question. um the tables that are currently line items in the budget. Would you like us to continue this year with those? Yeah, I'll have to look at them. I haven't seen them, but yeah, I would continue. I can read them to you right now. Decided upon. Okay. So, that was So, was that consensus the ones that are in the budget? Yes. Okay. Because they were already agreed upon by the entire council. So, I think that's that's fair. Okay. Thank you. All right. You got good direction and we're good on all

I think. So I think you'll you'll get a spectacular pro uh policy that then will be changed on the fly at the next meeting. But I think we'll bring you a spectacular draft. Thank you very much. And I also have one more thing. I had a lot to say and that's why I that's why I asked you did you want to wait till it was your turn or do you want to do

Well, I just have one more thing. Um I had met Dr. Christian Wells um probably a few years ago at some conferences before I even became um an elected official and he's the director of center for brownfields research and redevelopment. So um he I wanted to invite him to a workshop to share different grant opportunities that are um in the community well that are available in some of his redevelopment projects that he has worked on in different communities. I know he's also um worked with the Somaya Singleton over in city of CMI on some of their projects as well, but would like the council to be open for this opportunity to invite him to come in and just share his background um of what he does in the community. So, I know um he's working with some other communities on redevelopment ideas. So, wanted to bring that forward. So,

so like a presentation before council. Yes, I think that's fine. Um, when is when would he like to be there? I mean, if it's at a workshop, uh, cuz he is in Tampa, so um, I would prefer a workshop um, to invite him in if that's when's our next workshop. Not this special meeting, but April. Oh, and I think we have quite a few things on the on the April agenda. That's because we're bringing back the downtown entertainment district. I don't know. I I just wanted to share the idea whenever he gets on there. I um can definitely just relay it back to him, but I just want to, you know, whenever it doesn't have to be April, it could be May if there's nothing already on there. Um but just wanted to invite him to come and speak. What's May look like? May 21st.

Perfect. Good. Okay. Throw it on. Yep. That's good. Miss Paul, during uh Florida Lead Development Association, we had a whole session. And I think the uh city manager is with me on that about brownfields and redevelopment. And you'd be surprised of how much brownfield we have here in the city of St. Cloud. Uh warning that's getting developed right now is the the uh electric plant that's going to go from brown to green and it's a great piece of property. So anything that'll help our city grow with redevelopment, I'm I'm down with if if council's cool. Yeah, I'm a mayor a member of the Florida Brownfield Association. So that's how I met him at different conferences. So, do we have any brown fields here?

None that are designated within the city limits. We we did not name the power plant a brownfield. There's other areas that potentially could be. You could you could name the entire CRA a brownfield. The problem is there's a public perception that nobody wants they they they don't see the opportunities that those people who are knowledgeable of brownfields know that it opens up for them. Yeah. We were at uh I I believe it was I know council member Urban was there. I was there in Daytona. I think was it Melissa in there with us or the city manager? It it was a a conference where they we sat in on discussion about brownfields and they were at Tampa as well. That whole group.

Yeah, he's a a professor over at USF too. So yeah, could have been the same guy. It was very interesting what they were what they were talking about. All right, we're going to go right back over here. Council member Paul, is that everything? Did you want to go ahead and say anything else since I'm gonna be quiet? You're good. Okay. So, we go ahead and start back that way. First of all, I want to go ahead and ask the fire chief before we get into the rest. Fire chief, can I have a second with you up here at the podium for a minute? I just want to ask for an update on the hiring of these folks that uh are going to be. So, currently we have hired 36 of the 48. Very cool, man.

We have seven of them that are in fire school currently. Those are paramedics that we sponsored through the fire school. We put them on a contract. So, they should be finishing up right around the end of April. So, we're looking pretty good. Yeah. Uh during our strategic uh workshop last was that this Monday or last Monday? Last Monday. Last Monday. Yeah. Um I went next door, they had 52 people out there training. Not our guys, just our guys, but we had seven, I believe, are going. We had seven in that class. Those are the seven paramedics that we hired and we're sponsoring through that class. um that First Response holds at our training grounds. That was so cool. Jay was so proud of that. That was the largest class he's ever had there.

He's he's been very busy um and and we've been keeping him busy obviously with those new hires that we have. So, it's it's a great partnership. Yeah, that's cool. Keep up the great work. Thank you, Chief. Uh uh police chief really quick. I told you I was calling you up for but just not the other thing. Um the city manager uh referenced some uh Congressman Soda was was sponsoring uh some federal a bill or something or appropriation.

Yes. Yes. Doug Gerky, police chief. Um so we've we've actually asked for this in the past. If you recall, we u we asked for some some help from Congressman Sodto and he actually put forth was it I think it was a year or two years ago u for the new emergency operations center and communication center. uh we put forth a legislative initiative to try to fund some of those uh new items. They're they're you know they're costly to to outfit the new technology and at one point I believe it was about $2.6 million that we we initially asked for in equipment and that includes um computer rated dispatch servers and video walls and I believe it was 1.2 or so that was actually approved. 1.2 2 million was approved and unfortunately the government had the shutdown and that legislative ask was actually cancelled. Um so we came back to it again under the city manager's direction to go forward again. Uh we did submit the full amount again and we will see exactly what uh we will get or if we're able to get anything. U but we certainly want to recognize Congressman Sodto for his help and his push on this uh because he he obviously recognizes uh public safety in the forefront for us. So we're we're very fortunate to be moving forward with it.

Very cool. and he was able to get us funds for those barricades for downtown.

That is correct. Yes. So, a million dollars legislative ask. Um, obviously, you know, I mean, we're very very keen to the grant process, especially in the federal process. So, the city is growing very quickly. We could add we go out quite a bit for we have a cop several cops grants uh that we're working through to help us hire some fire some obviously the the firefighters, but the police officers also. Uh, but this one is actually for uh movable barricades, vehicle barricades. Um obviously um I don't have to remind everybody what's going on in the world today and the threat environment that we're facing. Um obviously we do some substantial threat assessments every time we do have anything that's going on in our city. Um watch it very closely. But um this is just another tool in our toolbox that we can actually deploy very quickly and they'll be uh they'll be movable but they're vehicle mitigation barriers to actually um ensure that vehicles will not be encroaching in uh the the areas that would be for pedestrians only. And sometimes that's done by accident. It's not intentionally, but vehicles could potentially drive into an area where there's pedestrians walking. So, we certainly want to prevent that.

Yeah, we definitely appreciate you keeping our whole community safe. Uh you as well, Fire Chief Miller. Um we are honored to join you at the awards ceremony the other day. How cool is that? I mean, everybody has a great time. My hands are always hurting by the end, by the way, from clapping. I know the city managers was as well. Um, but that was so cool because you can just feel the love amongst all all the officers there and it's just one big it's amazing family there.

We appreciate that sir and again thank you so much for the support. Everyone that does show up I will tell you uh the overwhelming support by the council, our city manager and our staff is um it's humbling to be honest with you. Um I again you see it around the country but um when when I think when the community and our city leaders support public safety, we work together to keep our community safe together. Uh we always talk about law enforcement. It's not a surgical sledgehammer that we don't just go out and arrest everybody. That's not what we do it for. We have a very very robust community engagement unit, but we work with our community to ensure that our community stays safe and we take pride in our community and hopefully the children and the the kids that potentially would be thinking about doing something like that, they may change their mind u because they don't want to let the community down. So um that is why our our crime rates actually fell again for 2025. Um we're we're definitely on track 2024. where we were ranked the safest city by our crime statistics and for a city of our size, 37th in the nation. I know Mayor Gilbert loves to loves to count talk about that, but um but but our crime rates further declined. Some of our violent crime rates did go down. We had some increases in certain areas, but um uh with with the leading edge of our drone program and everything that you have helped us to get to keep our community safe, um it's uh

who's following your lead and getting those drones now? City of Orlando. That's right. That's right. $11 million for seven. No, seven. What is it? It's 11. It's 11 devices for uh I want to say about $7 million. So, yeah, he got a much cheaper and he was at the forefront. So, yes, um his his leadership at OPD really paid off down here. So, yes, we're very blessed. Whoever hired you made a good choice.

Thank you. Well, she's sitting on the deas right there. So, she was part of the hiring panel. So, but um again, thank you so much for your support. Um yes, our officers and our community, our dispatchers, they did an amazing job. We recognize some community members that did life-saving measures, Heinlick maneuvers. So, we recognize everybody because again, it takes a village, right, to keep our community safe. And I will tell you, that's exactly what we do each and every day. Our officers, I think we have officer of the year somewhere to back there. Officer of the year. LET'S GET Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Chief. Appreciate you. Yeah, we we definitely support you, the officers, and uh and thank you for keeping our community safe. City Manager, you had more or No, that was everything. Thank you.

This is a feel-good night. I love this. We're We're doing great things. Um, Council Member Fletcher. Um, I have nothing to add at this time. Mayor, thank you.

Yes, sir. Uh, Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Uh, I'll be brief, but uh, I have a few things. I I messed up and um I've been um this I've had two proclamations in three and a half years here on the dis and I want to bring up one I missed uh and I'd like to bring it up in April if we can do national prayer day May 7th uh national day of prayer and I'd like to do that proclamation in April. I did not get it into the city staff quick enough to get the application done. I'm going to put it on myself. We're day a day late, a dollar short, but this is one of the three proclamations I've done in three and a half years. The other one was two years ago on this National Day of Prayer. So, I'd like you guys to consider it. Again, I'm not going to be offended if uh it doesn't get approved by y'all, but I I definitely wanted to bring that up. I don't know where we go with this next uh city consensus or do we have to make a motion?

I just wanted to clarify. Um, the reason that it's not on the agenda is is not that it wasn't submitted in time. It was that it was not consistent with the recently approved policy. However, I will point out I think the entire 22 years I have worked here, that proclamation was read every single year, but it is not consistent with the new policy. But council can act as council deems appropriate if you would like to have it at the next meeting. I'm bringing it to you. Do I need approval from you? I think it's appropriate. I think it's appropriate. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, council, for that. And again, uh, we'll work on on doing a better job getting it in time, on time, and part of the policy.

And and I can revise the policy if council would like that. We would, uh, I I don't know if that's for another day or date, but we we could consider that. I I don't know where it didn't fall in line with policy. So, I I don't want to bother the council right now. I'd rather uh do do a deeper dive into it and figure out and then bring it back to the council at another time if that be appropriate. Well, I mean if you change your name to Kenjamin. Kenjerman, right? Exactly. Uh says Kendrick. No, that's the name I call.

Uh one thing I did miss uh during u the National Prayer Day and the attorney told me I'd have to wait to that. part of the section uh that for the fees and structures, there's a disabled section of people in there for rates of swim in the swimming pool and there's 12 people that qualified for the city in previous years. Four of those people were out of u out of the city of St. Cloud and two of them were out of the JPA. I'd like to council consider anybody that's disabled to have the rates of the disabled St. Cloud folks for the swimming area. That would be anybody qualifies. There is a there is a a process they go through. They have to have their disability. They have to have a written appointment written through the doctors and also handicap appreciation for that. So it is vetted pretty well, but I just want to extend that to anybody that uses the St. Cloud pool uh for disabled. A lot of those are for rehabilitation reasons. So I did not address that. Uh and that's in section I don't know if it's section 13, but that's in the fees when waiverss list. I don't know how to address that council, but I'd like you guys consider that that fee to be a straight fee for citizens of St. Cloud and

that's in the parks um the the fee schedule that we had on this.

Right. Well, the so the disability rate is in the fee schedule. Previously, the council gave me direction to wave it for those people who qualified as disabled. We created an internal policy based on that direction on on how someone could go through the application process. So I would just need clarification right now um based on that meeting we had written it to say only for city residents. So if the council I I can quickly update that internal policy to say um for um residents within the JPA, it can say residents within Ocola County or it can just say any disabled person. That's at the pleasure of the council.

What would you like council uh deputy mayor? Where my heart goes is to any disabled. I mean, let's think about a lot of these disabled people that use pools use it for rehabilitation and there's not a lot of pools uh in the area that they get to use. So, that that's that's my pleasure, but I have to ask the pleasure of the council. But I I think if it's going to be for rehabilitation, it's disabled. I think it's a good thing we should do for everybody. Okay, I'd be fine with that. Okay, that's three. Well, I we'll go ahead and update that policy immediately.

Again, I'd like to thank uh council for that consideration and approving that. I think it's good for for all. Uh I I passed out a packet from the metro metro plan. I'd like you to read it. It's it's a b it's called basics plan. It's on federal funding for uh the cities and 43% of the cities have um federal roads through them that are maintained by the cities, but only 16% of the federal funds go to those cities. the the funds are given to the state and the state can decide where those funds go while the basics act goes from the federal to to us and cuts out the the middleman and the different uh aotments of that. But that's just an overview. I'd like you all to read it and give me your input on that uh through through however channels.

Can you record your voice reading at all and just send me the audio book? Yeah, I I I can and my voice isn't as good a as a lot, but I'll I'll do that for you, mayor, at any time, but it it is a a big program for for uh federally funded uh for our roads and infrastructure through the metro plan. Uh there's a letter that can come from you, mayor, from the city manager, andor all the uh the council. And if you pleases you all to do that, I would ask you to do that because it gives more money directly to the cities versus the state and the state using their discretionary funds to push it out otherwise not going straight to the city. That's designated by the federal government for the cities.

Yeah, we are blessed to have you representing us on there. I was that three years now you've been representing city of St. Cloud. Now you are chairman of the Go ahead.

I I'll read it. Uh and and this is another great thing. It's a transportation disadvantage local coordination board for orange Orange and SE county. We just got approved uh additional $3 million. Now what that means is there's a lot more people they call them stay at place. That means a lot of the elderly now are living at home and and they're staying at home versus uh uh uh uh homes and and and hospitals and things such that. But they need transportation to their doctor appointments to to their v visits and everything like that. That's what this disadvantaged transportation board does. Uh it's working real well. Uh I'm working very hard on using those additional dollars to reach out to do more for for for these folks. But that's what that board is. It's for the disadvantaged and disabled. And that could be low income, that could be um amputees, that could be any anything over the spectrum of dis disadvantaged and disabled. And I think uh it's a great board to be. It's a great board to chair.

And we can get a lot done for not only the citizens of of St. Cloud, but this is a tri county deal. Oyola uh Orange and Semino County where there's 3.4 3.4 million residents in that area which is bigger than the state of Delaware but there's 75 million people traveling the roads for our tourists for everything like that. So to get these folks to and back from their appointments is very very very uh very necessary. And their charges are $4 a trip. You know I'm trying to get more dual trips. only 17% had more than one person in in these vehicles. I'm trying to figure out doctor's appointments that, you know, we can put two or three people in these vehicles to be more self-sufficient, but that's not done in a day. So, I I I'm I'm honored that this council has uh allowed me to remain uh on the metrop plan board and also uh allowed me to uh accept the uh position of chairman for the transportation dis disadvantage board.

Yes, sir. Yep. we can all tell you have a passion for this. Um, and you know, obviously with the transportation infrastructure, uh, issues that we face, it's very important that somebody's on there. Um, I like you on there each year because each year be you become stronger, more knowledgeable, and you bring that right back to us. So, thank you. Thank you for everything.

Well, I appreciate that, Mayor. And it does take a while in these boards. It's a 22 member board. uh you know, Mayor Demings, Mayor Dyer, all the mayor Papka, all the mayors from and then all the council people. So, you really have to work together with them to do what's best for our tri counties. And then therefore, uh we have a great staff. Cameron's our our person on staff here that votes and we're doing a lot of things and I I'll continue to bring you update after my meetings of what we're doing because I know we can't communicate other than this time and I might be it might be a boring read, but things are getting done. So, thank you, mayor. Lastly, uh my friend Keith and I had a conversation last week, uh a sitdown conversation, and I just want to thank you. It was a great conversation. It was about Metro Plan, it was about the city, it was about infrastructure,

uh and it was about our our our two I tried watching the week before one, but there was no it got cut off for due to technical difficulties. Is that what we're going to call that? But it was rerand. And I just want to thank Keith and thank you guys again for National Prayer Day. I think it's it's a it's a big day and I and I appreciate the folks here on council and the staff. And with that, I'm going to yield back to you, mayor. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh, Council Member Urban.

Yeah, thank you. Deputy mayor is really uh really killing it on the on the metro plan board. I mean, St. Cloud is very blessed to have him representing us there. And I want to thank council as well for the recommendation on the uh the individual grants. I think having that policy in place and and that structure is going to be very helpful for uh not only us but the entire community. So, very productive conversation. Um, one item I do have, it was brought to my attention that one of my nominees for the Veterans Council was not attending. So, I would like to remove uh Mr. Bonnardy from the Veterans Council and I would like to nominate Heather Stockdale. I've spoke to her and she's very interested in running and uh so I would like to make a motion for that nomination. I don't know if we need to vote on it or not. I think we vote on it. We vote on the slate with it. So, yeah. Um, we have a motion from council member Urban to remove Garrett Bonady from the Veterans Council and add Heather Stock.

Second. We have a second from Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Will the clerk please call the role? Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. I. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. I. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5-0. All right. And can we please if we can send an email out to Heather tonight. We have a council uh veterans council meeting tomorrow. So if she can make it, we'd love to have her there. I can give her a call, let her know as well. She's very excited to serve.

Awesome. Thank you. I think that's a great pick. Um and uh of course her husband Garrett, he Sergeant Stockdale, he's uh been out there at the Soldier City Sundays and head of our comm the community engagement. Amazing group. I think um under Chief Gerky's leadership there, they've really just they they knock it out of the ballpark getting out there to the citizens and and letting them know that our police department are really there for the citizens and and um they're not just guns and badges, you know, they are they're all officer McDonald's out there. All right, amazing selection. Um yeah, anything else? That's all. Thank you.

All right, along those lines, Veterans Council. I'll go ahead and give you guys an update as to what's been going on. I think that's my job here. Um we've been doing Soldier City Sundays obviously since uh November and so what we've decided to do so we started off with 10 to 2, shrunk it down to 11 to two. Um now we're going to adjust it one more time to the second and fourth Sunday. Um just to kind of get it get get its base back again and it's going to kind of slow down a little bit more. But um since we've done that, we've had an abundance of applications. So, we're, you know, getting the word out that the Citizens Foundation covered their insurance. I think, you know, we kind of we we had some some things fall through the cracks early on with some some members not showing up and we're kind of weeding through those um the weakest links and um and that's why it's great when when council members acknowledge that there's maybe their selection wasn't kind of working out that they they make that appointment and and put somebody in their place that uh and I think that's an amazing one. Heather's going to do great. She's an active she's active in the military in the Coast Guard. So, how cool is that?

Um, also we had Captain Matteo's out there. So, he was out there last Sunday, this this past Sunday. So, the next one will be not this Sunday, but the following. I don't have a calendar in front of me, but um I don't know if we put that on. Can we start adding those to the our soldier city Sundays when I can read them off in the into the meetings in the future?

Um, just to let the public know. And I know we do put it out there and I know positively Oyola puts it out there as well. Um so we're going to try it out uh the second and fourth. We just started it two weeks ago. Tomorrow we've got our next Veterans Council meeting. Not only are we working towards uh and we've been moving on the doing the Soldier City Sundays. Um but also we've already created the committee the subcommittee to do a veterans parade. So we wanted to do it last year. Obviously city cm they had theirs. I want to make sure that we have it every single year here in city of St. Cloud uh supported by this city council through the veterans council. We've got such an amazing veterans council. Steve Montiero um obviously we we've got representatives from McCormack Institute. We've got somebody from Ocula Chamber, St. Cloud Chamber, you know, the list goes on and on. And we've got a great team there. And um and it takes time to kind of find out what works and what doesn't. Uh, Scott, I think there's still portallets out there. I don't know if they just for they did they remove them this week. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Um, yeah, and everything worked out great this past weekend that where we didn't need extra staff there and you know until we build it back up and and I don't think it'll get out of control there. Not on a Sunday. Anyway, um, with that uh like I said, we've got our next meeting is uh tomorrow is uh here at um one o'clock. one o'clock tomorrow. Yes. Conference or veterans council. Yeah.

Um okay. There was something else I wanted to throw along those lines. Okay. Like I don't have enough that I throw on my plate. Last meeting we talked about chickens. I want to talk about chickens again. We And now we're talking about 40 chickens on a quarter acre and that's and and and that's in a subdivision, right? And that's an that was an encumbered subdivision that just didn't have an HOA. as we start moving into say up Narusi Road where we just annexed in seven acres um there's going to be some of these five acres, two acres, one acre that are agricultural and we're going to be hit with this just like with with the doing a policy for these the the grant funds um or you know the community support funds. I think we're going to keep hitting these situations where you're going to find some unique stuff out there. You know, maybe they got 12 spider monkeys on a quarter acre. What are you gonna do with that?

Few sloths. He knows. Yeah.

I don't know. You you you just don't know. And I've spoken with the the agriculture community um especially during the fair time and they I had got a lot of calls and obviously we had some uh that weren't too pleased, but I don't think they realized that we weren't tightening the rules. We're actually helping them. Um and and Mr. McConnA at the last meeting, he was correct by saying, "Well, you guys are just talking about chickens. What about, you know, what if you got five acres?" And I talked to um um the president of Kos and and he he said, "Well, you know, if you've got five acres, 40 chickens on five acres, not bad, but you got 40 pigs on five acres, that's a problem, right?"

And we all know that's a problem. But maybe the person who's got 40 pigs doesn't think it's a problem. So, I feel and I don't think all of those things should land on our plates here in a council meeting time and time and time again. Um, that's why I'd like to recommend um something similar to what we've had in the past to create that ordinance. A St. Cloud Agriculture Advisory Committee. I believe that was Matt Walters uh the Whites something where they don't have to meet every month, but maybe once every two months. I've already talked to to Matt. He's very excited about that. they feel that there's a need for that. Um, and I don't mind spearheading that as well. I think that that that's an easy one, but I think that it it's more of a committee that sits down and kicks around ideas and and as we start annexing in because we're going north,southeast, west with these annexations, especially you going into the CMI Park area, um, you start telling some of those people they they can't do some things and they're going to get pretty nasty. Um, I want to make sure that that they can continue doing what they're doing and still be in compliance with the code. So, I think an advisory committee that focuses just on the agricultural um issues. I think I think it I think it's needed. I think it's important to to um and and not just that, I think maybe they they can uh give us advice on on how we continue agriculture in our community. you know, where downtown we've had that the food the the garden in the back where obviously it's not going to be there in a year. Um, and maybe they've got an idea of where it can be relocated to and it may not be in downtown. Maybe it's another place in the city on a larger piece property. Um, I'm very interested in their ideas because I do I've got a heart for agriculture here. I was an FFA throughout all of high school. I always raised animals. Um, I just feel that we need to find a way to continue that in

our community.

I couldn't agree with you more, mayor. I I would suggest if you if it so pleases the council to do quarterly meetings, but uh I couldn't agree with you more. My house backs up to unincorporated as county and I know there's at least two roosters and a few more because I don't need alarm and that's why I get up in the morning. But I'm okay with that. But I I think that's what community that we were in. I think that's what St. Cloud is about and agriculture is a big part of St. Cloud. So, I don't see what would hurt us to get the people that have been here. You got some farmers that have hundreds of years of traditions of family members that are here and if they're going to willing to help us with this, I I don't see how we don't go with that. But you you council, I don't know. And it just so happened that right after that meeting, it was that I think it was that weekend, you know, we had the rodeo parade and that night I had I was out there from 2:30 till about 10:30 at night in the arena calling out the bids for the goats, the the hogs and the and the lambs. and I I got approached by many people out there and with concerns and so that's where I think putting the experts on this um if Dan you can draft something very similar to the veterans council um where we can select some folks um you know I've got a handful of names I mean I know a lot of these people myself but you know I want to make sure it's a group that that really not and I'm not looking at like big ranchers you know big of big parcels because they don't tr they're not going to be facing the issues of us annexing in say they're on a half acre and they've got 20 chickens and they may be allowed to have 20 chicken I think 20 is allowed right

not 20 per acre with a minimum halfacre property with a halfacre right so mayor would it be simplest just to basically reconfigure the old committee yes let's start with that those individuals and they did excuse me as I recall they did a lot of work. I think it worked really well because the council was not involved in the committee. I think they received a at the end they gave a report to the council. Well, I would like to sit on that too to make sure um that gets right back to the council in the same fashion with the veterans council.

So, how we so we could reach out to all those individuals and just basically see who's who from them wants to continue to serve and basically bring it back up. Yeah. because they don't they're seeing it from their point of view, but I think a council member being on there as well to see it from our point of view. I think it's the perspective I think it's important because um we hear it from all they they won't hear it from the citizens. We hear it from citizens, you know, that may be opposed to some of the things that they still support. You know, we we're getting all all views there. So, would that be something you guys would be fine with?

What would you what would you want to do? Do you start it with one of the council members? Are you going to use it like the veterans? It changes council chair. Yeah, we can do it in the same way. I I just council's fine with that because at some point I'll be falling off the veterans council. Right. Right. So you like for the format to be similar to the veterans council? Yeah, we can do it with appointments, but I think we maybe we can start with I mean I don't know. What do you think, Dan? The those three guys that were on there, I think it was whether it was have to look. I I thought it was a fairly large committee. I want to say eight, nine, maybe 10 people on.

What if we started with the three that have stayed active with this, you know, with with Matt and and the whites and let them select the ones who really know what it's what's needed. Well, we can do that. And why don't maybe the best thing to do is just let us look at that how it was created, bring it back to you at the next council meeting. Uh and then we can make recommendations. You can talk about the number of And okay, we can start with those three core members.

Yeah. Because they look at it from both sides. They don't believe, you know, they don't feel that um obviously 40 chickens on a quarter acre. They think it's a lot. Um you know, they they look at the uh they call balls and strikes, as I like to call, as I like to say. So they're not just saying you can have whatever you want. They don't believe you should have 40 pigs on a five acre piece, but 40 chickens on five acres is fine. Um, I I just think it's good to have the advice of the experts, the one the people that do deal with it every day. Matt's obviously a large animal vet. The whites, I mean, all of those folks since I was a kid have been involved with KBOS. So, I I think it's the right group to um to start with.

We're good. There was consensus, but I do have a question. Yes. Um, we were planning on bringing the chicken ordinance back at the April meeting. So, are we pausing bringing it back? So, bring it back. This is not just because the chicken ordinance. No, this is that's we've already kind of figured that one. Okay. Thank you. I think right from in the last meeting. Yes. I just wasn't sure. This is not changing that. No, this is so that situations in the future don't arise.

I didn't know if you wanted them to look at that. Not just not just situations, but where we can really add value to the to agriculture in our community. Not just, you know, on a case by case when we annex in and somebody's got something that doesn't is not within our code, something that, like I said, a garden that we're not going to have, they could they could have an idea. Hey, let's put it out here. Let's they they're the experts. So, let's let them kind of um have some input on it.

Okay. We'll we'll bring the chicken or the ordinance back in April and and we'll we'll bring you something for this for the group. And I agree. I I think they were they were great. They were actually really reasonable when we worked with them previously. I I know staff had no complaints. So,

yeah. And they loved working with staff. So, I think that's it's a great start. Thank you, Dan. That was a good idea starting with them. And um and I know Matt, he he's already said, "Hey, you do it. I'm I I want to do it." So that's all I have. Um I think I think we talked about Tallahassee. Uh city manager, can you give us an update on Tallahassee and where everything's at?

Do you remember? So, I was told that the utility bill did pass both the House and the Senate. I haven't received confirmation from Mr. Comy to ensure that our language was still in it, but I would assume if they had taken it out, he would have notified us. So, I think based on that, last amendment I saw was still in it. It was a subsequent amended offer, but that one was withdrawn withdrew. So, I don't think the last amendment showed.

Yes. So, our trip was successful. um they still haven't finalized the budget yet, but you know, our our projects are in at least um the draft, so we look good. Um there's still some some bills, I think, that have been potentially um detrimental to the city. In fact, there was an email from Mr. Cardy and our city attorney was going back and forth with him earlier today um that perhaps you would like to

on the sovereign immunity. Yes, actually the sovereign immunity action that was taken was actually beneficial. I think uh from what apparently what Mr. Carmonney told us was that the house that had passed a bill that went to the much higher rates and had they passed it early on in the session. He said surprisingly I don't remember what the word he used but he used an interesting word. It was almost like was a little extraordinary. They decided the house decided to pass the Senate bill which has the really increases the sovereign immunity levels. I think they go to they're at they're at 200 300 now. They'll go to 300 five was it?

300. No, I think it's like four or something. But so they are going up but they're not going any up anywhere close to where the house was. Well, assuming the governor signs off on it. So, uh doesn't even So,

and it shortened the time. shorts it shorts the claim time brings in the the tort reform retains the tort reform statute of limitations issues. So it's um the position that the League of Cities took and told us to essentially take as thing is if you're going to advocate advocate against the House bill. Recognize that this the sovereign immunity limits haven't gone up in well over a decade. So expect that at some point they're going to go up. support the Senate bill is what they were saying. So, I think that's that's what happened there. Um, other than that, there there's there's a couple of interesting there's a there's a couple a new bill that not a new bill, but one that sort of flew under the radar apparently, and I talked to the building official about it today that would change the way cities charge for building permits that could have a significant impact on on the building department and and resources for that department. And it has it seems like it has passed both houses. So it's it's kind of moving forward. It basically changes the analysis with regard to permits from they're typically based on value of the work that's being done to the city's going to have to calculate the actual cost of the permit under the applicant do that. So that that is going to be uh one that's going to the city's going to have to work hard to figure out how to deal with that one and it could cut back on resources for the building department.

Okay. And I know in the past we've actually lowered the permit fees because we've taken in so more money than like there's there's a limit of what we can Well, yeah, there is there is but so got Boba, you know, the best office in city hall. We did kind of moving. So, other than that, I think some of the ones that we were concerned about have sort of stalled. Um, and but it ain't over yet.

So, I signed up earlier today for a webinar from the Florida City County Managers Association for April 2nd, I think, is what the date is, and they're going to go over everything that passed and and how it affects um local government. And so, at that point, we'll we'll have a better idea of of what's happening. And everything still has to get signed by the governor. So just because it may pass both doesn't mean that he'll sign them into law. Yeah.

Okay. Um I've got two more things to add. I'm sorry. Uh we're all good with Tallahassee legislative. So okay. Um Claudia from the Daughters of American Revolution. Uh I know Scott, you you had forwarded me some information. I spoke with her today. Um I'll just let everybody know that this falls right underneath the Veterans Council. So, um I guess she had been in talks with staff prior to the Veterans Council about the uh Daughters of the American Revolution monument going over to Mount Peace, but then we determined, I think we all determined that a better fit would be at Veterans Park. There's already uh um a um Grand Army of the Republic. There's the World War II. and and so we spoke today and she has the plaque and she's going to be at our veterans council meeting to talk to us a and the veterans council is going to determine the right spot. My view is it should all be in chronological order. I think that makes sense if somebody's going through they see the you know American Revolution and Civil War and just kind of you know all the way through. So, um, once I get once the the, uh, after tomorrow in the Veterans Council meeting, I will come back and and inform you guys what everybody's where we feel it should where the Veterans Council feels. Ultimately, I believe it should be the council's determination. Um, but that that's what that veterans council's for is to bring that back to you guys. So, that council works for y'all. So, essentially, I work for you and everybody else in here. Um, also I've um this year of course I I assume the uh the role representing all of y'all on the Tri County League of Cities. Uh I got a phone call from um the executive director asking me uh if I would be interested in assuming the

second vice president role. Um the I've been involved with Tri County League of Cities for many years. uh I was a citizen advocate representing the city of St. Cloud. They did it one year back in 2018 and so I would attend all those meetings and and you know with all the mayors and council members around uh the tri county area that's oul um seminal in Orange counties. So with that that puts me in line in two years to be the the president of Tri County League. So it's so cool because we actually get to host them here. I think we're doing it next year, right? I think early 2027. Yes. Yeah. because we couldn't find a date this year. They had a conflict.

But I think next week we're all going up there two weeks, right? I think some of y'all had um agreed to that. The 19th. What is it? Is it the 19th? I don't remember dates, but yeah, it's I just follow my phone every day. It's every day is a different experience.

Um yeah, I think that's cool. That's at at the uh uh Floor League of Cities office there in Orlando. So, I look forward to going there. And I know we're going to have uh almost a dozen state reps or senators going to be there. I know Senator Arrington. Um I know um Representative David Smith. Um there's a whole list of them that are going to be in attendance. So uh everybody's invited the council and you know mayor, but that is I believe where they're going to vote on the slate of officers. So that's where I'll be um approved to be on there. the the the actual board approved me, but then it goes for a final vote before the whole membership. With that, I have nothing else to add. And next up, we have reports warrant list number five, fiscal year 26 and the recreational advisory committee minutes August 2025 approved economic development advisory committee minutes 2021. Community redevelopment agent uh agency minutes 20 December 4th 2025

March not March Monday March 16th or 19th which one was that 16th is the special meeting. Oh you have it on here. Well Stacy handed me a note but it's on here. Okay. I was just making sure you weren't telling me it's the 19th night 16th. I'll go ahead and read it. Monday, March 16th, city council workshop, 9:00 am, city hall, council chambers. Thursday, March 19th, city council workshop is cancelled. Thursday, April 9th, city council meeting, 6:30 p.m., city hall, council chambers. This meeting is adjourned.