City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome to our council 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. Each speaker shall be alloc allotted three minutes to address the council unless unless such time is extended by the mayor or by questions from council. group shall designate a spokesperson to avoid repetition of comments. Every effort will be made to avoid interrupting speakers. For your information, the items listed in section 11 of the agenda are for first reading and introduction, and the council will not take final action on them tonight. If you have any questions on these items, please see the city staff in the back of the chambers. Thank you for participating in your city government. And now call this meeting to order. And if we can all please stand in remembrance of September 11th in observance of the anniversary of the 911 attacks in America on America. Please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of the 2,977 people who lost their lives that morning. May they never be forgotten. Also remember their friends, their families, and loved ones. Remember those who survived the horrific events of that day. Remember the heroes who responded in the hours, days, weeks, and months following the attacks. Their lives will never be the same. Let us not forget. And please join me in a moment of silence. All right. Thank you.

Please be seated.

And I'd like also like to add um and this has nothing to do with politics, but please keep the family of Charlie Kirk in your your thoughts and prayers. That was a horrific tragedy that happened yesterday. All right. Madame Clerk, can you please I'm sorry. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. We have that too. We changed things up a little bit here today to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy andice for all. Now we can sit. And 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. Thank you. And agenda update and two and city manager. Do you have any agenda updates?

Yes. Thank you. Um public hearings number 3 through 10 and 14 and 15. We're going to request that they are continued to the October meeting. Um, these were all related uh to the future land use map that was changing and we had a workshop with the city council where uh we were directed to make some additional changes to the map. So, we still have to um bring those back at the October meeting. Um I'm I was originally going to ask how many people were here for that. I'm just going to assume that the majority are. Um and and I would like to ask if the council if we could just go ahead and read those into the record and continue them so um most of these people can have their evening back. When we have the meeting in October um it's going to be at the community center. This room is um going to be having some construction done for a few months. So um the meeting will be October 9th, 2025 at the community center at 6:30. All right. Thank you. Uh, do we were you going to make a motion on those now?

Each one has to be read in and then continue. All right. Madame clerk, can you please read it into the record each item? Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-49, an ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Florida to adopting a transportation element of the comprehensive plan project CPA25006 providing for filing the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication applicability effectility copies of file and effective date and can we get a motion on that motion to continue motion to continue council member Urban second second from council member Fletcher madam clerk please call the role deputy mayor Gilbert I council member Fletcher Hi, Council Member Paul. Hi, Council Member Urban.

Hi, Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 50. And which item number was that? Item number three, public hearing. Gotcha. Thank you. And please read item number four into the record.

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2024-50 in the ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, adopting a large scale comprehensive plan planning amendment pursuant to section 163.3184 Florida statutes amending the Florida Florida land use element and the comprehensive of the comprehensive plan project CPA 20 CPA 24007 providing for amending of the official future land use text and the map of the comprehensive plan filing of the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication applicability effect severility copies on file and effective file on file scriveners errors and effective date all right can we get a motion on that item motion to continue

motion to continue council member Paul second from council member Urban Mad Madam 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 Z. And will the clerk please read item number five?

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-55, 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. South Florida specifically changing the zoning designation approximately plus minus 24.317 acres identified as Stephanie Lee Rossai Memorial Park reszoning project ZMA25-00008 from a agricultural to O open space recreation located at 2701 Missouri Avenue providing for entering the designation of official zoning map filing of the planning recommendations proof of publication servability and effective date and can we get a motion on that item. Motion. Motion from Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second.

Second from Council Member Fletcher. Madame Clerk, please call the RO. Council member Paul, I. Council member Urban, I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert, I. Council member Fletcher, I. Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 5-0. You need a break? Yeah. Okay.

Will the clerk please write read item number six? Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-56. 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. South Florida specifically changing the zoning designation approximately plus minus 0.118 acres identified as Rumble Road Resoning Project ZMA25-00009 from R1A single family dwelling to O open space recreation generally located on the southeast corner of Roma Road and Eastern Avenue providing entering the designation of the official zoning map and filing of the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication servability and effective date. All right, can we get a motion on that? Motion to continue. Motion to continue. Council member Paul,

second. Second from Council Member Urban. Madame Clerk, please call the RO. 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 seven? Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-57. 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. Florida to specifically changing the zoning designation approximately plus minus 0.97 acres identified as Canary Park resoning project ZMA25-000010 from R2 single and two family dwelling to O open space recreation located at 901 Virginia Avenue providing for entering the designation of the official zoning map filing of the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication servability and effective date

and can we get a motion on that item motion to continue. Motion to continue. Council member Fletcher. Second. Second from Council Member Paul. Madame 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. Will the clerk please read item number eight?

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-59. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, providing the zoning amendment of the zoning map of the land development code of the city of St. Cloud Florida specifically changing zoning designation approximately plus minus 1.95 acres 95 acres identified as DMI business park phase 2 project ZMA 25-00005 from R1A single family dwelling to 1-1 industrial located at 1505 Orange Avenue providing for entering the designation of official zoning map following the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication serability and effective date. All right. Can we get a motion motion item? Okay. Motion from Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second from Council Member Paul.

Madame Clerk, please call the RO. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5-0. Sorry. Will the clerk please read item number nine?

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-62. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, assigning a future land use designation approximately plus minus 9.04. 04 acres identified as Grace Community Church project CPA 25-00007 located north of East Earlo Bronson Memorial Highway and east of Nova Road south of Lake Lizzy Drive and west of Bradley Drive from community center count from community center county to community center city providing for amending of the future official future land use map of the comprehensive plan filing of the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication applicability effectility copies on file and effective date. Can we get a motion? Item number nine. Motion to continue. Motion to continue. Council member Urban. Second.

Second from council member Paul. Madame clerk, please call the role. And council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 50. Will the clerk please read item number 10?

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-63. An ordinance of the city council of city of St. claw Florida providing the 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 9.04 04 acres identified as Grace Community Church project ZMA25-000011 generally located north of East Earlo Bronson Memorial Highway East of Nova Road south of Lake Lizzy Road Lake Lizzy Drive and west of Bradley Drive from CCP Community Center perimeter county to CCP Community Center perimeter city providing for amending of the official future land use map of the comprehensive plan filing on the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication applicability in effect servability copies on file an effective date.

And can we get a motion? Motion. Motion approved. Uh to continue, Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second. Council member Urban. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5-0. And I think what do we go? Item number 10. 14. 14. 14. Yep. Please read item number 14 into the record.

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-64. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Claw Florida for the for amending the chapter 3 performance and sitting standards of the land development code by amending article 15 titled supplemental regulations by amending section 3.15.12 classification of annex land identified as LDC table of classified lands update project CCA25-00004 providing for servability scriveners errors conflict administrative corrections codification publication and effective date and can we get a motion for item number motion. Second.

Second. Second from Council Member Fletcher. Sorry. Motion from Council Member Fletcher to continue. Second from Council Member Urban. Madame Clerk, please call the RO. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. I. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 50-0. And will the clerk please read item number 15?

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-65. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida. for amending the chap amending chapter 3 performance and performance and sitting standards of the land development code by adding a new article titled article 12 urban infill centers identified as urban info centers LDC update project CCA25-000025 providing for urban infill centers standards and also including severability scriers errors conflict administrative correction codification publications and effective date. All right. Can we get a motion item number 15? Motion to continue. Motion to continue. Council member Paul. Second. Second from council member Urban. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Council member Paul. Hi. Council member Urban.

I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries. 5-0. All right. Thank you all for coming. We're going home. I think we're done. Just got a lot lighter. All right. Let's go back to the beginning here. And

and right now we have a presentation of the Patriot Award to Veronica Miller and Melissa Duncan by Pamela J. McGee from the Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. And anyone who was here for one of those items that was just continued, um it will be at the October 9th city council meeting at 6:30 in the community center. Um and there's not going to be any more uh discussion on it this evening.

If I can ask the nominees and captain to come up. Good evening. I won't take much of your time. My name is uh Pamela McGee. I am a uh Air Force veteran and I am a volunteer with the employee support for of the guard and reserve. And this organization was created by Department of Defense in 1972 to support Guard and Reserve that work for um various employers across uh the world uh the government and um to support their um going out and and being able to serve our country. This patriot award goes uh to uh individuals that the the guard or reser submits as a superior leader towards them showing support when they go out in the field and do their jobs and do their roles. So, um I have a short um little statement I'm going to make here. So tonight, the recipients of the Patriot Award were nominated by Captain Lou, who serves with the US uh Air Reserve and the medical support. He wishes to recognize his supervisors Veronica Miller and Melissa Duncan to the support these leaders have provided to Captain Lou during deployment and his time here in St. Cloud as an employee. know balancing the demands of the civilian life and the rigors of of military life is challenging. The Department of Defense knows that the efforts the employees make to support these soldiers and are appreciative of that. For this reason, we are now about I'm about to present uh first Veronica Miller. [Music]

Thank you. [Applause] Melissa Duncan [Applause] um with this award. Now we'll ask Captain Lou to pin them with an honorary ESGR pen to show their support. Next, we'll ask uh Captain Captain Lou to say a few words in regards to um how the reason he submitted these ladies for this award.

Um I just want to thank my director city manager and city for support me while I serve in Army Reserve. We need a more employer like you who understand and respect for those people who serve. Thank you.

We're almost done. The last part of this is what we have. We have a statement of support here that we asked our the um organization to sign to indicate their ongoing support for the Garden Reserve. And we've um asked the mayor if he would sign this for us tonight as well. Thank you very much. There you go. [Music] picture of the day.

Thank you. [Applause] That's good. Cameron just can't wait to talk about transportation to us. Yep. Next, we have a presentation regarding roadway improvements and triparty agreements by Mary Emma. Are you doing it? Okay. But also with Cameron is her sidekick.

Good evening. I'm Cameron Crannle, deputy public works director talking about mobility fee credits today. So this is the framework streets map. This is a map we put together with the city and the county. It shows existing roads and proposed roads. This is what we want our transportation network to look like. The collector roads are the city's responsibility. The arterial roads are the uh county's responsibility. can't hear you.

I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll speak a little closer. Sorry. So, um collector roads are the city roads. Our 200 roads are the uh county's responsibility. We built our mobility fee rates based on this map. We said this is what it's cost to build these proposed roads. This is what it's going to cost to improve the existing roads and we developed the rate based on that. Part of the way we're constructing this uh transportation network is through the u triparty transportation agreements. What you see here are some of the um roadways that are in the triparty transportation agreements that have either already been approved or in the process of being approved now. Um and they're all tied to developments. And when a development comes in that's near a road or encompassing a road, we look at it and if it's a framework road, if it's in our map, then the city will work with the developer to uh get what we want. And we do that through mobility fee credits.

Cameron, go ahead. Could you go back uh a second just so the audience knows, could you show uh explain to them the outline of the area? Yes, sir. The JPA, I'm sorry. Just so they know that. That is the joint planning area and that's yeah the purple outline. Correct Cameron? Correct sir. I just want to make that clear for the record in the in the audience please. So thank you very much.

Right. The the subject of the triparty transportation agreements are only developments within the joint planning agreement area. One of the ways we're building these roads are with mobility fee credits. Uh we use these because we believe they're faster and more efficient to construct the roadway and mobility improvements that enhance the overall transportation system. Uh not everything's eligible. We're only talking about construction costs above the minimum, the baseline requirements by the land development code. Also, these roads have to be on our framework street map and right-of-way acquisition to build these roads is also eligible. So what we're talking about baseline, this is what we're talking about. It's uh this is the land development code minimum drive uh travel lanes, sidewalks, small median. But when we want to build these framework roads, we want them to be bigger. We want them to have more capacity for transportation. So this baseline not eligible for mobility fee credits. What is eligible when we're going above and beyond that? when we have bike lanes, we have wider medians, we have wider sidewalks, parking, or sometimes even additional travel lanes. So, I'm going to run through a quick uh example here. So, the developer comes in, we're building a framework road. So, they're responsible for the baseline. That's the $7.5 million. That's what they're responsible to do. The county and the city work together. We say, "This is a framework road. This is what we want. We want four lanes. We want wider sidewalks, wider per um medians. So, and these are just estimates. So, the total construction cost of the framework road with the four travel lanes is 15.5 million. How we come up with the city's obligation is we have the total construction costs minus what the

developer has to build, which is the uh baseline, and then it comes up with the 8 million. That's mobility fee credits. That's not money we have to pay. That's uh we're not charging that to the developer. And these are all just estimates. So when we look at, you know, is building a road now versus building later, what's more efficient? What's more cost effective? So if we, so the scenario one, this is building a four-lane road, one mile through a triparty transportation agreement. This is what I went through earlier. Total construction cost is 15.5 million. The city's obligation would be 8 million. the developer has to pay 7.5 million. Another way to do it would be to have the developer just put in the baseline. That's the 7.5. They build that the two lanes and the city does not have to give any credits. They would collect those mobility fees. But 10 years later, we decide we need to build the the other two travel lanes now. We need to build bike lanes. We need to build a a a wider sidewalks. going from a two-lane to a fourlane is very expensive. Um, so that's when and it would be entirely up to the city to the city's responsibility to widen that road. So we're looking at 20.5 million. Now these are just estimates, but from a build now, build later scenario. Scenario one's the agreement, we've got $8 million in mobility fee credits versus waiting 10 years, widening the road ourselves. Cost 20.5 million. Now, there's a a couple other things to keep in mind. Uh just beyond the cost difference, it's a lot easier to build a road in Greenland when there's not a bunch of different uh not a bunch of residents around. If we're widening later, we've got traffic on the road. There's safety issues. There could be rightway issues. There could be utility relocations. It's just more difficult to build a road when it's under operation.

So, how are these credits applied? We're going to take the example just a little further. So, this development who has to build the onem four-lane road has a,000 single family units. That generates $13.8 million in mobility fees. We subtract the city's obligation for building the bigger road. The city still receives 5.8 in mobility fees once the project is done building. And this is the percentage that we've shown in past triparty transportation agreements. The city collects $5.8 million from the 13.8 generated. We get the four fourlane road. The city still collects $4.6 million uh for mobility fees for the city. We have to give a portion to OciOla County, 20% of what we collect. So that'd be 1.2 million. And that's for roadway improvements of roads within the city limits. Uh so that's Old Canoe Creek Road, Canoe Creek Road, Narusi. So the percentages vary. They can vary um from many different factors. Um the size of the development, how many homes they're building, whether it's town homes, single family homes, apartments, if there's commercial, it's what roads they have to build. We look at the transportation network map. There could be four roads they have to build. That'd be a lot of city obligation potentially. or if it's just one road, it could be a smaller percentage. And here's the uh mobility fee district map. The city of St. Cloud is its own mobility fee district. Any mobility fees that are collected within the city limits must be si spent within the city limits. That applies to both the city and the county. And then Miriam is going to take over.

So, in working with our community development and public works departments about the mobility fees and providing some clarification to council after you guys had asked questions at a previous meeting, um we realized and talked about internally with staff that we also need to provide education and explanation to our community about mobility fees, how they work, the philosophies behind them and so forth. So, um, we have worked on putting together a draft plan of potential strategies for how we're going to do that. We have a transportation Tuesdays that we frequently post on, um, social media. So, we would look at doing several of those as we go on the next several weeks and so forth. And these can include graphics or text or video type of content to explain different pieces and elements of this. Um, we've talked about doing podcasts again with our staff to talk about how these work and the the theories behind them and how they work and what they mean. Um, we'll be developing webpage content. We will incorporate this also into our citizens academy program so that we can kind of give people more of a deep dive into that. Um, we can incorporate some of the video content to our lobby screens throughout city hall. And um anytime where we're doing news releases where we talk about the city's granting mobility fee credits for developments, take a few sentences to kind of explain what that means and how it works just to provide more context and clarity on that. And we'll also be adding it to our citizens guide when we update that next. So,

thank you, Mayor Emma. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Uh Cameron just some clarifications. Um we look at widening roads and then we look at eminent domain during those widening roads. So that's a cost also. U perfect example I look at is Narusi road when right after you get uh to Ael County. It goes from three lanes to two lanes. Uh and that's where the congestion starts. Also what if correct me if I'm wrong when a developer comes in they already have the people in place the the contractors in place to do that. So when we do that, it usually is a cost savings because they're already there on site and the area is dug up that way. Is that correct? Am I assuming that or

Yes, that's correct. It's one of the ways they're more efficient. Uh you know, instead of the city having to spend staff time managing all these different contracts and there's certain things that a private developer could do quicker than than a city government. We we we realize as citizens and also I I I assume the council realizes the congested areas that we have here. What you're telling me is we're planning for the future. So our future generations, our kids and our kids' kids won't have the congestion because we're building out instead of building to the standards that as of now we're looking for the future as the growth of Ociola County and St. Cloud. Is that correct too?

Yes, that's correct. We've got the transportation network map. we know where we need to build the roads, what size they need to be. We're trying to build them now as opposed to later in the future when it's more difficult to build roads.

Okay. And the last thing is this not affected at all by the $2.3 billion that the metrop plan has set aside for Ocula County for future roads and roadways. Uh and metrop plan includes OciOla Orange and Semino County. We were just awarded $2.3 billion I think was what that number is. Is am I still on the same page? Uh so the OciOla County uh we're going through with the the city of OciOla County. We're we work with Metrop Plan. We're developing the 2050 uh transportation master plan with them. We're developing how much money that Metro Plan is going to give to different types of projects and uh widening projects is is one of them. Yes.

And when you say 2050, that's 25 years we're planning out. I happen to be a board member of Metro Plan and in 25 years I won't be around but there will be my kids and grandkids that will be here to to utilize what we're trying to do today. Uh looking forward the future but we also have that um that need for right now and today. So I appreciate your uh presentation. I I yield back to you mayor. Yes sir. Thank you and council member Paul.

So I want to say thank you Cameron for sharing this information. And I think it's very informative for the community to understand what roads belong to the city, what's the county and what's the state cuz I see a lot of comments about, you know, people wanting roads fixed and then you look at the road they're referring to, it ends up being a county road. So, um, thank you for sharing this to the public to help them understand what roads belong to each government agency. Thank you.

Thank you. We we have a um a website um on the city's we have a map on the city's website where you can uh look at all the different roads within the city limits and it'll show you the who's the uh maintenance responsible for all the different roads. You can click on it and it even tell you who to reach out for if you have a problem with it. Very cool. Thank you, Cameron. Thank you, Marma. Uh city manager,

thank you. At the last council meeting, there was direction from the city council wanting us to standardize a percentage of how much of a mobility fee credit we would be giving, which was part of why we brought this item forward tonight. Um, from a staff perspective, it's it's more of a case by case scenario. Um, but after we had this session, um, I'm looking to see if that was still the same direction or if if council um, agrees that it would be more of a case- by case scenario. I think you know my thoughts on it at least a case by case scenario is is the appropriate way to look at it and um yeah that's

yeah I was the member that looked at percentages wise but I understand different projects have u different needs and connectivity is our biggest factor and what I've liked with what we're doing here and what what we're doing on metrop is is just that connectivity um that's very important to get from one way to another. So, I was the council person that brought that up. I have been explained to it. Different projects uh are have different needs. So, uh I I'm in agreements with the mayor on that. So, I yield back to you, mayor. Yeah. And it is nice to know what percentages on each one, what goes back. And um we'll continue to include the percentages in in our backup. Thank you. And and I saw that there was consensus on that. Thank you. Thank you.

Is that Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. And thank you, Mary Emma. I know you did all the slides. All right, next portion of tonight's meeting is 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 members if staff or members of the city council wish to speak on a consent item, they have the same opportunity. and council. Are there any items you'd like to pull off to discuss the manager?

Thank you, mayor. I have two corrections. Item number one, um, there's a print out that was sitting at each of your seats. The agenda cover sheet is correct. I'm sorry. The agenda itself is correct. The backup is correct except on the um item description written by staff. Unfortunately, we made a mistake on the calculations in that one paragraph of the budget and recommendation. Uh, so I just put a correction at each of your seats so that you can see that total project cost has not changed. And then for item number five, it's a good mistake. I am told that the grant application for the uh St. Cloud Police Department to get the quadriped police patrol robot and um we

the dog. The dog. Yes. We thought that it was a 25%. Can it be a goat? Yeah.

We thought that it was a 25% match and so that's what we included. Um but it's there's actually no match. So, um, it was a good mistake. Better for us. Thank you. If we get it. Very cool. I like no match. All right. Would anyone in the audience like to speak on any of the agenda items?

Consent items. Consent items. I apologize. No. And council. We have nothing. Do we can we get a motion? Motion to approve the consent agenda. Motion to approve consent agenda from council member Urban. Second. Second from council member Paul. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries. 5-0.

All right. Next up is the citizens forum. Any person who desires to comment on any item not on this agenda has provided this opportunity to address city council. Each person is requested to complete a signage form to be provided to the presiding officer prior to or as soon as practical thereafter. The person addresses the council. First up we have Ricardo Watson. No, I I apologize. Give me one second. That is public hearings. We have David Kner.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, council members. Time's up already. Yeah. And we have Carlton Davidson and Josh Steinamp as well.

Uh, good morning, Mayor, members of the city council. Thank you for your time. My name is Joshua Stenamp. On behalf of the St. Cloud Veterans Council. I'm here to propose Soldier City Sundays. This is a weekly market designed to actively revitalize our community, provide meaningful support for our veterans, and celebrate a unique heritage of our city. We repo propose a lively, family-friendly market to be held every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veterans Park starting on November 9th of this year. This event will serve as a central hub, bringing together local businesses, diverse vendors, and live entertainment to create a consistent, vibrant gathering space. A core component component of this initiative is the commitment to veterans community. We plan to dedicate tents to veteran focused resources and local vendors. This is a powerful way to not only show our gratitude but also provide direct tangible assistance and a clear point of contact for those who have served. Soldier City Sundays will be a true community-led effort. We will feature live performances from high schools, ROC, local artists, as well as educational speakers from our police, fire, and military communities. These partnerships will help build a stronger ties and foster a deeper sense of public connection. This project also offers a unique uh with two significant upcoming events. Next year is the 250th anniversary of the United States and will be our city's Veterans Day parade in 2026. Launching this market is an ideal way to build the c celebratory year to honor our historic motto, soldier city. To bring this vision to life, we need the city's partnership and formal approval of this weekly event. We are confident that the market will not only support our local economy but also strengthen community bonds. Thank you for your time and considering this proposal. Any questions?

Very cool. Thank you, Josh. What you guys think? Name's Carlton Davidson. I'm a director of uh veterans and community outreach for Soldier Refuge. We're a faith-based whole family veteran first responder whole family uh fellowship and community outreach uh organization. I have a list of vast list of veteran organizations, first responders, individuals that are already excited to uh be able to join in on this and I'll be sharing everything I have and anything you all need, you know, to make this uh happen. Very cool. Thank you, sir.

Everyone, I'm David Castner. I'm also a member of the Veterans uh Council. Um I'm a veteran myself. I served over in Iraq and I uh you know I was over there for about two years 2006 2007ish. I just hope to directly support the my fellow veterans here in the city as well as the council and everybody else and that's going to be my contribution to it. Is there any questions?

Thank you. Well, first thank you all for being a part of this. Um council as you know this was the brainchild of this council. You know we all kind of came together. Uh we knew we had a need for to get veteran resources out there. Also, we have a need to have a a farmers market. We like to have activities out there for the citizens. And you know, gosh, I think we're going back to February when we all started talking about this. And these are obviously the members on this council. These are ones that that we selected and and they've been doing an amazing job. We met last month. We're going to have our second meeting tomorrow and it's all really come together quite well. And and um so I think November 9th we're going to be kicking this thing off. Do we want to talk about the first uh what we're going to do during these events? Like November 9th. I know it's going to be a little different November 9th.

Excuse me. So, I've already actually put the first wave of uh emails out to some of the resource groups that I know personally and I'm already getting some feedback. Transition House and quite a few others that are eager to jump in and I know we're talking about the community. You know, our family's been here for almost 40 years. Graduated brother, sister, father, everybody's been teachers and everything. Um I'm a Marine also. You know, did my time and came home. This is soldier city. Um, but it the community is big for us. It's big for the Davidsons. It's big for this town and Soldier City is what we remember and uh you know the history that we have here bringing it together as one. Uh the event you know is in the beginning phases. You know I've have probably about two 300 other groups. I got contacts within the VA. Got contacts here local Nona Baldwin Jacksonville Tampa and a whole lot of other groups that be I'll be sending this word out and be able to bring those veterans here. bring their families here. Uh looking forward to it.

Very cool. Um and I'll go ahead and update y'all along with the council. So today we had a board meeting with the St. Cloud um citizens foundation and we voted to um spend up to $5,000 to help renovate that park. You know, put some some paint on the band shell that the equipment. We got the paint color schemes today from Stephanie. Stephanie's here. Thank you. Wherever she is. And um so we're going to go buy a bunch of paint with that. We'll get us volunteers. Dan said to Carlton's the only one allowed on the ladder. No, I did not. You were I'm the only one allowed on the ladder.

Um, no, I'm I'm excited. I mean, you guys have brought some great ideas to the table and really it's coming together and we can't do it without the citizens or the veterans council to to go out there and make it happen. So, um, the citizens foundation is going to be the mechanism where, you know, we can we can give some seed money and get this thing off the ground and and kind of get this thing going for the citizens. And, um, November 9th, so we're talking about Soldier City Sundays, but November 9th, you know, that that falls within uh, the Veterans Day uh, celebration. So, instead of doing a parade, which we've alternated between St. Cloud and CMI with the parades here in this community, but instead of a parade this year because we're the time constraints. Uh, of course I wanted to do it, but these guys were like putting the brakes on it. And u, but I agree because we do want to do it right, but instead of that, we're going to do static displays. And I walked out there and thanks to Scott and Stephanie Hulamp, the parks and recck director, we walked out there last week, kind of st scoped out some sites for the um, static displays. So, instead of parade floats, we can have those same vehicles or tent setups, uh, table setups, uh, instead of going in a parade along the road, we'll just have it set up as static display. So,

we're going to have a great event out there and then it'll just continue on every Sunday. So, well, that was a good important part. Our agenda is to work within the city with a lot of city members, a lot of city um resident veterans um and have this event every single Sunday and just build upon it um and just make it as big of an event as we can. Awesome. And obviously with your guys' support and your guys' direction. Okay. And yeah, I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to ask Scott, the deputy city manager, to come up here and we're gonna he's going to explain some of the expenses. Uh as a city event, it's going to cost us a little bit of money to get to get this thing going. though.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. Scott David off, deputy city manager. Uh, mayor, as you stated, uh, we've been looking at this and and finding a way to make this be as successful an event as possible. Uh, and what city resources may be required to help get this started at least from the beginning to make sure everything gets off on the right foot, that we can provide kind of that push to make sure that the committee has the resources that they need. Uh we're actually going to be meeting tomorrow with the committee uh to talk about the exact setup, what this is going to look like, what some of those needs are. But as we talk about some of those immediate needs that we know at this point, uh we're talking about portallets that would need to be out there for the special events. Uh and those come to uh approximately $350 per event for the two portalates that would be needed out there in addition to the existing restrooms as well as some staff support uh that if the events and the committee chooses. So uh on the staff support you're looking at approximately $280 based on the time frame that you're looking at having these events. So that's $630 $650 per week. uh somewhere in that uh time frame. We also have the city had already been planning on November 1st to hold a veterans resource event uh at the same location. And what we're looking to do is to combine these two events and move these resources over to the Veterans uh council event and the new uh Soldier City Sundays to help provide that and give some more resources to get things uh off the top. So there was $3,000 uh that had been budgeted for that event specifically that includes some of the staffing and the resources that that were part of that event. So staff would be looking for direction on allocating those funds. Uh we can certainly get back to the city

council following the meetings uh with the veterans council tomorrow and as we continue along on this journey making this a great event for the community. a little bit of a better idea once we are able to iron out some of those details. But we know some of these prices already and what some of those uh costs would be at this point. Okay. Do we want to go ahead and um get the blessing tonight or wait for another month to on moving forward with any expend like

Sure. I I think it would be helpful to get some direction this evening. Uh certainly council can can make any decisions that you all wish. Uh, but I think it would be helpful to have some direction at this point. That way, both the city and the veterans council have some good ideas for tomorrow when we meet and making sure that we can plan the event uh again with with everybody's best foot forward. Yes, sir. Council member Urban, I love the idea. I think this is great. It's going to be an awesome uh thing for our city. Um my question is I guess um maybe this is a legal question but can we get sponsorships to help uh pay for some of these expenses?

Yes, we're going to that's part of the discussion we've had initially. So we'll we'll be able to work through that. Good. Yeah. As you know we've got the um on the veterans council we've got the chambers the c the ocola the St. cloud. Um, of course, we've got some some other people we'd like to jump on board and sponsor. Council uh Deputy Mayor Gilbert.

Yeah, this may be brought up later on during this meeting, Mayor, but uh back some time ago, maybe eight or nine months ago, I suggested that we take the fences from the veterans and move them in so we can have parking available for these events because I truly believe these are going to be large events. And we had talked about that uh at an earlier council me meeting and I I don't know the exact date but I think this is going to tie in with it because we're going to be able to allow to have parking. Uh I thought it was 48 more structures. I might be mistaken on that but keep in mind that that would help these events and all events at the Veteran Council and I yield back to you mayor. Yes, sir. Yeah, I've spoken with staff on that. I think we looked at some numbers. I think uh you we just got some numbers on that.

Yes, sir. You're you're correct. There were three options uh that the city had looked at. Um one of those was relocating everything to move everything in the fences. Uh you've got fences on the back side on 14th and then you have fences on both New York and Pennsylvania Avenue. So staff went out, took a look at it. We can move those fences in somewhere 10 to 12 feet in in that ballpark that would provide that additional parking space there. Um, if we were to do that on the excuse me, the uh south side on the 14th Street side, that fence had been moved in a few years ago and was converted to a black vinyl fence that's out there. Uh, so the two options that we uh had that we spoke and and got some quotes on uh were to move the fences in on the two sides on the New York and on the Pennsylvania sides. you'd be able to move those in. If we were to maintain a similar style of fence that's out there now where it's the metal uh with the spear tops to it that that has that more traditional look and the traditional feel to it. Uh the total cost for the demolition and installation of the fence uh somewhere in the ballpark between $50 and $60,000. And if we were to make that uh black vinyl brown and and go away from the look that it has now, uh so it would be different on this the street that fronts 192 there. Uh that would be somewhere between 30 and 38,000. Now there would be some additional costs for for curbing and some some small uh additional costs as well, but that's the pricing that we have right now from our contractor.

Yes, sir. Um, that's a lot of money. Uh, maybe we kind of see how it fills out and create a bigger problem, if that makes sense. Like see if it if it truly becomes uh I know there's some property owners nearby that that would like or allow us to to use their parking. Um, so I think we already have through parks and wreck. I think there's some some understandings uh on the other side of Pennsylvania. So, is that accurate? Yes, sir. That that's what staff has been working on. Yes, sir. Thank you.

All right. Um, so I guess we need to give Scott direction on this. Uh, or the deputy mayor, deputy city manager. No, thank you on that one. Did.

All right. Um, I appreciate y'all's comments for this and the support. Of course, this is Y'all are part of this, too. Um, it it's such an amazing group, guys. David, Carlton, and Josh, thank you'all very much for for being a part of this and and the rest of them as well. So, do we just need consensus or are we going to um there's not really something we vote on on this? Just giving consensus that we're moving forward with. Well, I think the the the main thing that staff was looking at, we do need to know is does the council is the council okay with considering these events as really essentially city events, right? So that city staff would be involved in it and we'd work through it the way you would as if the city were putting on the putting on the events and work with the veterans council.

Correct. With the veterans council still leading everything in being the agency that's there. city staff would be able to provide any support, any resources that the council uh the veterans committee would need during that time frame along with any of the funding uh that would be required at least to to get things up and running and and throughout the course as the the council sees fit. Council member Paul, no, I wanted to say thank you to the gentlemen who spoke um and those that are also on the veterans council. I think this is a great idea and I fully support it and I also love the Soldier City name. Thank you.

Yeah. Yeah. Um I believe it should be a city event. I think this is a obviously the St. Cloud Veterans Council operates underneath the city council. They were appointed by the city council and they're an amazing group. I mean, everybody comes from different backgrounds and as Carlton said, he he's he brings a lot of the vendors and and Josh brings a lot of the entertainment and and and David's a veteran, but he's been around the events and and working here with the city for years. So, um you know, we've got Steve Montier from Channel 6. So, we kind of we got people on there from different backgrounds that really put together an amazing team and and and I we don't hope to we hope not to drain a lot of city resources. Um, you know, obviously it sounds like uh two portletes and the what else was going to be the cost? A dump trash

and staffing the the trash. We already have that taken care of. Yes, sir. You know, $750, $700, I think. Somewhere in that part. Yes, sir. Um, a week and we anticipate that there will be some fundraising through this as well as the sponsorships that council member Urban had suggested. So, um, that that's my take on it. I think we can actually we're taking there's $3,000 from the earlier November. Yes, sir. That's correct. That we can start applying towards some of these. Yes, sir. Okay. City attorney.

Yeah. Just in the the second part I was going to say when you as when I was asked that question was so if as we talked about when the veterans council was met and when we had the meeting with we did say that if there was going to be any formal commitment to do it would have to be approved by the city council. Right. So, one of the pieces is is the intent was as put together by the committee was to have these every essentially every Sunday at the Veterans Park. So, we would need we need confirmation that the city council is okay with that uh for that and so that staff can move forward with putting this essentially a farmers market and these attendant events every Sunday as part of the direction or the second suggestion from the veterans commission. So that's we need a we would need some specific direction on that tonight so that staff can plan accordingly.

Okay. Yeah. It's my belief we need to start bringing that park back to life and and I think the city staff does help make a successful event. I believe that that's it's important that that the city is involved with this and you know we have not had the best successes and in standalone farmers markets throughout the years and I think that having in Veterans Park along with the veteran resources and activities for the families and entertainment on the stage and you know somebody singing the national anthem and and the color guard up there. think putting it all together and just giving the people in our community four or five hours a week is not too much to to for the city to put out there and and give back. So, um that's my view on it.

So, the council's good with the event working towards the event every Sunday. I definitely have Park. That's what we I think that's what that's what staff needs some direction on that. Okay. Good. All right. All right. Thank you, Scott. Appreciate you, Josh. David Carlton. Appreciate you guys very much. Thank you so much.

Yeah. Thank you. Y'all have a good night. Thank you. All right, next up we have Janelle Stout. Hi, my name is Janelle Stout and I am a member of Grace Community Church located at 5501 East Earlo Bronson Memorial Highway in St. Cloud. We are currently in the process of planning and hopefully building a new sanctuary on our property. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the many people that I have interacted with over the last four months or so. These include several City of St. Cloud staff members, planning commission members, and city council members. I have had questions regarding zoning, preapp meetings, annexations, future land use, impact fees, payments, online resources, and others. Each person without exception has answered every question I have had with knowledge, promptness, and kindness.

I know I so I don't hate She's not speaking on the item. She's phrasing it. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. I'm sorry. We I didn't mean I didn't want to interrupt compliments for staff, but I had to. I understand. I would love to list the names of everyone who has helped me along this path, but I know I would miss someone and I don't want to do that. In addition, for everyone that I might name, I'm sure there are others that have helped them help me. I'm grateful to staff and others who serve the city of St. Cloud to the best of their ability and help people like me who are not nearly as knowledgeable as they navigate the system of this city government. Thank you.

Thank you, Janelle. All right. Would anyone else in the audience like to speak during the citizens forum?

Come on up, sir. Jerem, or you want to come up? I'll hand the microphone to Yeah, there's a microphone right um by the by the clerk. Thank you, Mr. Ferdick. I got a pretty It's He's gonna bring a microphone. I don't know if you can squeeze. I can't even hold it. New York Avenue. I didn't know I'd be allowed to talk. Absolutely.

But I would like to address what I consider both the builder on this old hotel. And I would like to do anything I can in my power to get windows put in that building and scaffolding removed and then get that owner off the project. He I mean it's a joke. Do you really want to have the centerpiece of the town going on for the next 10 years? Yes, sir. I believe that there is now an active building permit again. Is that correct? Yeah, but they're just renewing it. No, hold on, sir. Let me just let me ask city attorney.

I understand there's an there's an application to renew the the existing permit that expired and staff is working on an application. The building department is for a new permit. But you know, I thought a I'm sorry. I I thought a month or two ago there was a they activated a permit again. No, the permit expired and they filed an application to renew the permit and they're in the process of reviewing it now. Council member Urban,

I just wanted to say I share this gentleman's sentiment. I'm I'm sick and tired of of looking out our window here and seeing the the St. Cloud eyesore and and something has got to be done with this owner who has dragged this along for as long as I've been on the city council and for pretty much as long as I can remember being here in the city of St. Cloud. So, we we've got if if they can't get their permit and start active construction daily, we've got to start giving ramifications to them. So, I I feel your sentiment, sir.

Yes, sir. The city has no obligation to give him a permit. Why in the world do they keep allowing him to renew it so he can keep looking at the damn scaffolding in the garbage? And you know, I I'm just fascinated that you all have allowed this to go on this long. Well, I've been on for about nine and a half months, so I understand it's been going on for 10 years. So, uh Yeah. Yeah. I I hear longer numbers than that. it.

Okay. Um I've seen it go back and forth where the city was actually contributing money towards it and it's and taking it away. So or get that the owner decide not to to utilize the money. So there's a lot of deals. I I know they've been given a lot of uh um leeway, but we we need to let the city kind of work through those those legal issues. I used to be a builder and I'll bet my bottom dollar that will never be a functioning hotel. Well, I hope you're wrong. I I really hope to see it come back to life. And

you said I can't interrupt you. You interrupted me. I'll bet my last dollar that it will not be a functioning hotel. I would suggest working with the builder or a new owner to maybe fix the ground floor in that little uh restaurant section. and then just lock the doors on the upper part until somebody has proper money and proper staffing. Uh was there a performance bond put put up for that hotel? You know, when you do large structures, there's meant to be a performance bond if they can't complete the project. So, that's where I'm at.

Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. All right. Anyone else in the audience like to speak?

I would. Jeremy, you going to walk around with a mic? Jarm Ferdict 50 Ferdic Road. How y'all doing tonight? I just got a couple questions. Um the I came home to my street once again being bored with um it started with um let's see what Central Link Spectrum now it's T-Mobile and it was before that there was one more. There's three different borings going down to the end of my road. So, it got me thinking. I'm like, why are we allowing each company to come in with their streaming fiber optic and they're boring both sides of the street, hitting telecommunications every time they come through? Why wouldn't the city put in one big bore and then make money off it? charge these telecom or streaming services money to use your cavity that you have in the ground because right now they're destroying more stuff than what it's worth. And guess what? Out of the three that's came down, no one's even on them. So I don't understand why we're allowing them to destroy and put stuff in the ground and we have no control over it. Do we have a plan, a master plan for and how many more are coming?

City attorney, do you Well, first I I've heard comments from from citizens and I've seen them behind my own building just running wire. I don't know who it is.

The my understanding is the telecommunication infrastructure is being placed in existing public utility easements which they are allowed to utilize. That's what those easements were put there. The issue over a local government's control over telecommunications changed several years ago when the legislature essentially prohibited prohibited individual local governments from doing what Mr. Fertic had suggested. We are uh the city shares in what's referred to as a telecommunication tax which is paid by the companies to the state and then we we are paid a piece for it. We used to have what's referred to as franchise agreements. So every every every telecommunication company or cable company that operate in the city had to have a franchise agreement through which we could control the things that Mr. Ferdick is talking about right now. But we don't have the ability to do that. And as long as they are operating in that public utility easement that's in place, there's there's very little the city can do about it.

So do we know how many are coming? I have no idea. I don't know because I I have three dead ends down there just right now. Just to let you know. So, the fiber optic lines are sitting there, three of them. And they told me there could be three more. I' I've only known of three, Mr. Mr. Felinger. Yeah, we we've we've only had three people that have applied for the permits. Okay. Cuz he seemed like he knew that there was at least three more coming. The guy you said Spectrum, T-Mobile, and another one. Quantum, I think. Quantum. No, that one hasn't came. So, I'm looking forward to them coming to my yard. And then so the other thing is I have an issue with my road which I can talk to y'all after. Um it is a private road that I set I maintain. You can keep going.

Um for I had to open the road and maintain this road and even sign off that the fire truck cannot come down to my house. So I have all these things in place with the county when the county used to own the road. Now I guess the city owns the whole road. Where does that make everything that I have signed in the past? Is that agreement still in place? I have 760 foot that I maintain, but you're boring and doing whatever you want on my maintain road. That was considered a private drive. This verdict pass, but we can talk about later. You said you got more information on that.

But just if we can get information gathered, if we have the conversation, be great because it would be neat to see where that is. Um, let's see. Future land use. I'd like to ask just a question about future land use stuff. agriculture when you're changing it to future land use. Is there any teeth in this to force people in the future to stop doing agriculture? No, I I believe uh with Matt Walters, were you with that group as well with Matt and and Heath White and all those guys when they came up with the the code or help come up with that? Yeah, we we put language to support agriculture. Um and none of that's being removed. I know. I'm just saying there's nothing in there that's going to cause it to disappear, right? No. No. I wish we could do things to encourage it more. Okay.

In our community, right? I think we need to talk about that down the road, what we can do even though things are being developed, you know, to to still encourage agriculture. Um, is there a is there something on the site, the city site that I can look at the connector roads that they were talking about tonight, the main roads that they want to widen and keep connected to the city? Is there is that open to the public? Did Cameron leave us already? So there is there is a map of of of roads. I think that's what came. So what are what was the term he used for the roads that y'all want to widen framework? Framework. So there that's on the map that shows

there's definitely a a map that shows the city and the county responsibilities. There's a new GIS hub. So I'm not familiar with every single map that's on there. Um I Melissa, are you in here? Is do you know have we added the framework streets? I think so. If not, we'll get you a copy of it.

That'd be great. And then if we are talking roads and future stuff of roads, turnin lanes, why are we letting all these developments go in with no turn-in lanes? I mean, it's a lot of vehicles that are stopping on a main road that's not supposed to stop to turn. So, if we're looking at future roads, that would be great to look at. I don't know what the code says about it, but be nice to push the builders to put in turn lanes off main highways that are not stopping and going. And one more last thing and then I'll be out of your hair. Um if you don't let like if the developers come in with mobility stuff even if you don't build the road take the land from them wide enough to build your future roads for connectivity because I think what you're saying your urban you know all the direction of road connectivity is important. So it's not always you have to build it right then but leave enough room to build it down the road that way we don't have to buy it later.

Correct. force them into giving you the road that you want, your framework road. That's all I have. You'll have a good evening. Yes, sir. Thank you, Jeremy. All right. Anyone else in the audience like to speak during the public comment?

I'm Leroy Price. I live at 2750 Clay Road. I um talked to a lot of um my neighbors in the area. We're we're concerned about this change of uh land use on our street. Um the situation is attorney. This is one of the items that's these are items that have been continued to the October 9th meeting. Yeah. You know, the future land use changes that's going to be at the October 9th meeting. So the next meeting? Yes, sir. Thank you. The October 9th meeting. Yeah. October 9th. Yes. At the next meeting. Yeah. All right. Anyone else in the audience?

Okay. Thank Yes, sir. Just speak right from the podium and name and address for the record, please. Yes. My name is Paul Pasos, 2130 MP Drive. Um, I'm writing to formally Right. Serious. I can talk. It's all right. Take your time. We're not going anywhere, sir. You okay? We can translate for you. All right. Thank you.

All right. And next up, we have public hearings. And would the clerk please read item number one? First of two public hearings for resolution number 2025-097R a resolution a resolution of city council of city of St. Cloud Florida establishing a final advorum tax millillage for the city of St. Cloud for fiscal year 2025 2026 the same being adopted prior to the adoption of the final budget for said period. [Music] Hey, your mic's not on. Hey, Jay. Deborah.

Hello. There we go.

Jeff Cooper, finance director. Uh, as per Florida statute 200.065, two public hearings are required in order to adopt a final adorum tax millage of 5.1128, which is 6.27% above the rolled back rate of 4.811. Uh, as a reminder, the roll back rate is this the rate that would generate the same tax dollars assessed as the previous tax year, not including new construction. Uh, the increase in taxable values for existing properties is not considered for adorum tax. So, the key takeaways uh for the citizens is uh 1 mill equals $1 in tax per,000 of assessed value. Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed taxable val property value by the millage rate and then dividing by 1,00. So an example would be with our proposed millage rate of 5.1128 and a property tax value of $100,000 for simplicity sake would create a tax bill from the city of St. Cloud of $51128. So our proposed millage again for the 13th consecutive year with no increase is 5.1128. Uh taxable value of 300,000 would result in annual city adalorum taxes of $1,534. So for the general fund, these are the budget highlights, the budget increases um of the fiscal year 2526 budget. Uh there's a 1% cost of living increase and a 3% pay adjustment for uh all

non-public safety union uh members, and that equates to 1.144 million. our public safety union contracts which are also in line to get the same 1% cost of living increase and a 3% pay adjustment of 834,925. We are proposing 13 new positions, eight of which are public safety, six of which are police officers for 1,259, 392. Uh we have an increase in police and fire operating costs of 1.2 2 million, an increase in public safety pension uh contribution costs of nearly 1.5 million, and an increase in health benefit costs for all staff of $474,85. Um, these are the proposed general fund positions. as I mentioned, uh, two new school resource officers, four new police officers, a public educator/insspector, uh, an associate planner, two maintenance workers for streets, uh, one senior trades worker for bricks, uh, part-time park ranger, and a part-time grants assistant. So, staff are recommending approval of resolution 2025-097R, and we're requesting your approval of the same resolution. Any questions?

Dan, I got a quick question. Um, how come this is on the the public hearings and not on the the the first? Because by statute, you're required to have two actual two formal public hearings on it. So, you're not taking final action on these items tonight. However, you do have to we we are they're set for advertised public hearings. So the public has an opportunity to address them now as well as they'll have an opportunity to address them on September 18th when these things come back. Okay. So this notice was uh advertised on everyone's trim notice. The next one next meeting on next Thursday um will be um advertised in the Orlando Sentinel on Sunday.

Okay. So with this one we under the typical first readings we don't do public comment but with this we have we you have to on this one you have to that's why it's it's under the public hearing portion of the agenda. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Thank you Jeff. And we have someone in the audience who like to speak on this. Ricardo Watson. Good evening. Ricardo Watson, 2371 Kings Crest Road. I believe this is it here. All right. Um I'm property owner at King's Crest Subdivision. I ra I rise today to formally object to the inclusion of my property in the city of St. Cloud tax base. On my 2025 trim notice, the Osilia County, the city of St. Cloud millage rate, and related non-anvalorum assessments have been applied to my property. However, the annexation of King's Crest into the city of St. Cloud is still under active litigation in Ociella County courts. Until that case is resolved, the city has no lawful authority to impose municipal taxes or assessment on my property. The inclusion of these charges is premature, unauthorized, and creates irreparable harm by imposing financial burdens before the legal question of annexation has been decided. The trim notice itself is evidence that the city is acting beyond its lawful jurisdiction, contrary to both Florida statutes and constitutional protections. Accordingly, I respectfully demand that the city remove city of St. Cloud millage and related assessments from my property 2025 tax obligation until annex annexation is lawfully established. It's not established yet. My greatgrandfather my greatest grandfather said they that forsake the law praise the wicked but such as keep the law contend with them. I request my objection to be entered into the official record of this hearing. I also have a written objection that I would like to also place in the

record. You can give it to the city clerk as soon as you're done, sir. All right. And that'll be it for me. U Yeah, city clerk. Thank you. Thank you. And uh just to let you know, I do have the oath of offices. Thank you, sir. All right. And it will be used against you if you do not follow what your oath told you to do. Thanks, sir. Please give Thank you. Please give it to the officer. He can hand it to the clerk, sir. Please give it to the officer, sir. Ricardo, there you go. Thank you. And anyone else in the audience like to speak on this item? Are you in the audience? He is in the You have some more to say audience.

It's still my turn. All right. And uh council have any any discussion? All right. Can we get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second from Council Member Urban. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Urban, I. And Deputy Mayor Gilbert, hi. Council member Fletcher, hi. Council member Paul, I. Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 5-0. And will the clerk please read item number two into the record?

First of two public hearings for resolution number 2025-098R. A resolution of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida, establishing a final budget for the city of St. allowed for fiscal year 2025 2026 and the same being adopted following the adoption of the final final millage rate for said period. Jeff Cooper, finance director um as per Florida statute 166.241, the city is required to adopt a budget each fiscal year by ordinance or resolution. The amount available from taxation and other sources, including balances brought forward from prior fiscal years, must equal the total appropriation for expenditures and reserves. In other words, the adopted budget must balance, which it does. So, this year's total city budget is a decrease of 31.5% from the fiscal year 2024 2025 adjusted budget. Um, also a note with the exception of police, fire and information technology, all general fund uh budgets decreased, operating budgets decreased from 2425 original budgets. So here's a breakdown of um expenditures and millions um for this fiscal year 2025 2026 is $214.8 8 million. As you can see, um 87.9 million of that total or 41% is the general fund. Special revenue funds account for 29%. Uh enterprise funds account for 15% and then internal service fund, capital projects and debt service. Uh the enterprise funds for the people in the audience for us are the sanitation uh storm water and building permit

funds. Those are separate from the general fund and not funded with your tax dollars. Uh this is a general fund revenue breakdown. Um, so the it's important to note that Advil valorum taxes account for 37% of our total revenues. Um, so there's been talk at the state level about Advilum taxes. So when you hear that, just remember that your city government is funded at the present time of 37% from those advalarum taxes. Um, we have intergovernmental transfers. Those are transfers from the special revenue funds, the Toho interlocal fund, the OU interlocal fund, utility tax, and the gas tax. So, this is the breakdown of where our revenues come from. Uh these are general fund expenditures, and as you can see, we put uh police appropriately in the blue and the red. And as you can see the total so 58% of our entire general fund budget is public safety. Uh after that the general governmental uh costs and I'm half blind so I can't read that percentage from all the way here. Um but that's um the administrative uh people city manager myself human resources procurement and so forth. Uh transportation is your streets. Um and then we have reserves of $500,000 um um general fund reserves. So the key focus areas in our uh strategic goals, the first one is diverse and magnetic economic development. So under that we have a downtown public private partnership

mixeduse project in the works. uh uh our parking uh Centennial Park improvements phase one and a downtown signage project. Uh I'm not going to read all these, but effective community safety, as you can see, public safety is a priority for the city of St. Cloud. So, we're we have the new positions. Uh we were funded for the phase one of the public safety complex as well as fire station 35 and 36. uh during this past fiscal year. So, those projects have um are getting off the ground now. So, you will see movement on those. Uh we have a new a purchase of a new fire engine and a purchase of a new ambulance. Uh as well as replacement of 17 public safety vehicles. Uh and finally, Tennessee Avenue and 17th Street storm water improvements. And that was also funded in the current fiscal year, but work will go will be ongoing for that project. For high-erforming government, we have 16 total new positions. Uh the citywide pay increase that is in line with the city of CMI and which were in constant competition for staff uh for uh security additional security services for city hall. So that's to come. Uh the police chief is leading that effort. uh some backup appliances for data protection um for um information technology and uh an enterprise resource planning. Basically, that's your new finance, human resources and procurement system. We put our initial $1 million into that project that will cost us somewhere in the range of $4 million, but our current system is approximately 30 years old. uh effective transportation network funded projects. We have the Lasal

Avenue extension, Rumbl Road roundabout, additional parking on Lakeshore. We have our annual master plan paving project. And we have our first paving project funded with franchise fees. Uh that's $536,000 and some change. So, you'll see some additional paving work throughout the city in the year to come. And with that, uh, staff recommends approval of resolution 2025-098R, and we're requesting city council approve, uh, the same resolution 2025-098R.

All right. Um, is Robo-Dog part of our council security? Is he gonna be in here with lasers shooting out of his eyes? Uh if app if approved for that grant, Robo-Dog will come forth on a future budget amendment. Okay. But he's free, right? If we get it. I like that. I like free. That is correct. But we'll have to recognize the grant revenue and then the expenditure. That's your department. I I'm the bean counter. I understand. I just understand. Free. Um anyone in the audience like to speak on this item? No council discussion city attorney. No,

you wanted to say something to us. I was just going to remind after the vote I was going to remind everybody this is not final. They'll be back in fronting again on the September 18th meeting. Yes, sir. And can we get a motion? Motion to approve. I heard his voice first. Motion. You are slow at it though. He jumped right in halfway. Motion to approve from uh Council Member Urban. Second from Council Member Fletcher. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi, Council Member Fletcher. Hi, Council Member Paul. Hi, Council Member Urban. Hi, Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5 Z.

Thank you. But before I end, I want to thank all my fellow directors as well as the city manager and the deputy city manager as well as yourselves. Um, so for the citizens information, this process starts in January. So, it's not going to be but a few months and we're going to start on the following year. So the directors put together their budgets. We have individual meetings with the directors and the city manager and then we have our workshop with you all. So it's it's a very long drawn out process and a lot of uh work goes into it. Um so thank you to everyone to for getting us to this point. It's a very streamlined budget. So from the taxpayers's perspective, you're getting good value for your money. we continue to do things as efficiently as we can. Um, so thank you.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Cooper. I I know you look forward to budget time every year and it's like Christmas. It never ends. Yeah. And thanks to all the staff as well. I know it's it's a long drawn out process. All right. And so we've I think you just commented after we took the vote on that. So will the clerk please read item number five into the record. Is that correct? Are we on five? Nope. We move down to number 11. 11.

Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-53. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Florida amending chapter 24 environment by creating article 9 open burning providing pro prohibiting permitting exemption emergency emergency prohibition extinguishment and suppression of and enforcement and penalties providing for findings conflict severability administrative corrections codifications publications and effective date

good evening mayor council Jason Miller fire chief before you is resolution 2025-53 um this is a resolution to amend the city code Um, as you recall, many months ago, um, it was brought forward about creating some burn ordinances due to some issues we had here in the city as well as the drought. Um, through looking at the past um, council meetings, there was a 2025 53R that we that we thought was our item that had gotten approved. It had nothing to do with the burn ban whatsoever. So, this one missed getting put back on for that second reading. So we are here today seeking approval for this. Um staff record recommends approval. Um again it amends chapter 24 environmental concerns for the city. Provides the fire department with approval and permitting for outside fires. Lists permitted and prohibited types of fire. Um particularly it provides burning prohibition language um drought indexes, land clearing, etc. And it creates enforcement mechanisms for the city to take action against those property owners who burn when they're told not to.

All right. And would that picture come from? That's not That is an Andrew picture. So that's a good question, but it looks cool. I mean, it's a fire. Deputy mayor. Yeah. Uh fire chief, we we did have this meeting and and we did have major complaints. I received them myself about burning and uh you as the fire chief I'm going to rely on uh this um for and you're saying you recommend this?

Absolutely. So this gives us two mechanisms. Um it allows us to go out and inspect the property and say yay or nay. Um it also allows us to work with the division of forestry um to grant authorization for certain areas that are maybe further out inside the city limits where it wouldn't have a bearing. But regardless, the the land clearing burning um has specific provisions in this um amendment, I guess, would be the best way to put it. Okay. Well, I I appreciate you and I I think your professionalism has shown itself, and we appreciate you as a chief, and I don't want to state this, but we don't need a California.

Absolutely. Um we're a little blessed here. Um we don't have hills and mountains. Um, our droughts tend to, yes, they're bad, but um, they're not, the terrain helps us not be that bad. We've had some rough calls out in Narusi area and some of those areas that are actually just outside the city limits. We've been quite blessed and we're going to keep going that direction with the brush fires hopefully. Um, but I would say be careful of palmettos in drought season. They're like plant-based gasoline for all intents and purposes. In and growing up, uh, Smokeoky the Bear was my my my hero. So, uh, we want to keep it that way and and I appreciate everything you do and I yield back to you on that, mayor. Thank you.

Yeah. Fire Chief, I believe this came about from a call that y'all had went on off Norusi Road, right? Correct. It was the property down on the back side of Norah Tyson, um, which was a land clearing burn, which just it turned into a mess, not just for us, but for some property owners in the area, um, with some ash fall and some damage to some structures as a result. That was a ci civil situation that they resolved with the property owners. We weren't involved in that, but we did have some issues with some enforcement mechanisms that we did not have at that time that this more than takes care of. Yeah. And thank you for recognizing those and bring them forward. And I know you had to work with legal as well to kind of figure out what's the if state kind of

governs a lot of this. Right. Okay. I'm here if you have any questions. Anyone in the audience like to speak on this item? Mayor, just put a clarification. The chief said it and it's on your slide, but this is an ordinance. It's not a resolution, I think, part of stuff. So, that would be that would be it's an ordinance. Yes. Okay. So, is that an Andrew thing, too? No, that was a me thing. You do we not keep you busy enough? You're making slides and you know, you know how to do PowerPoint? I I know how to make PowerPoint. I can't figure out the difference between ordinance and resolution. So, they don't give you enough to do, do they? I've have plenty to do.

All right. And now, do we have any anyone in the audience like to speak on this item and public uh council com uh comments for discussion? Can we get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second. Second from Council Member Urban. Madame Clerk, please call the RO. Council member Fletcher. I. Council member Paul. I, Council Member Urban. Hi, Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I, Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 5-0. Thank you. Thank you, Chief.

All right. And will the clerk please read item number 12 into the record? Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-54, 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 approximately plus minus 61.698 698 acres identified as city parks resoning project ZMA25-00006 from P professional to O open recreation located at 1104 Lakeshore Boulevard 317 Delaware Avenue 300 Georgia Avenue and 120113 Street providing for entering the designation of official zoning map filing on the planning recommendations proof of publication servability effective date.

Good evening Melissa Duncan, director of community development. This case before you tonight is for the zoning map amendment for the project known as city parks resoning. The existing zoning district is professional. The requested zoning designation is open space and recreation and it is consistent with the existing future land use of parks and open space. This request is compatible with the surrounding area and will have no adverse impacts on city facilities. Okay, here's a graphic representation of the future land use map depicting the park and open space land use. And here's a graphic representation of the zoning map depicting the professional zoning districts for context. Honor before June 16th, 2025, staff recommended approval. Planning Commission also recommended approval at their meeting on August 19th, 2025. Likewise, it is requested that council approve ordinance number 2025-54. This is a city initiated project, so staff is available if you have any questions.

All right, Melissa, can you go back one slide, please? Sure. Does that also include the the plant, the water treatment plant? It doesn't appear. So, the the Toho? No, sir. It doesn't it doesn't capture that. Okay. So, are we keeping that? What is the designation on that? The future l It's professional. It's just not being changed to O. Okay, we're going to keep that. Okay. I I assume there's a the gap in between the red where it shows the blue. Is that owned by the state with in the lake? Is that why? I think we looked that up.

I think so. Even though there's land that goes all the way there. It's a correct. But we actually have land, but it's not. Does the city not own that section? Um, that's a really good question because that's where the bathroom is with the pumps for the storm water pond. You know, we've been maintaining it so we should still have the right to our retention pond is on it. We have our bike trail on it also. So I can just go build a house on it and live on there for free. Um I'm sure there's some type of mapping issue. If HR Thornton were here, we you already would have done it. Yeah.

Um the prop I mean we used the property appraiser map as the base to our GIS. So that may be something that we need to investigate with the property appraiser to find out why it's not shown on here.

Right. And it's it's a little quirky that whole area in the way that is actually as I recall in the charter I think there's a provision that talks about how everything between lake the lake shore and the water is considered part of lakeshore boulevard. It's actually rightway public rightway areas and I think that's how it's established in the charter. Uh so it's we have the right to be there and depending on the water level and how how high the lake rises um you know it it could be state lands or it could be the cities but we have the right to be there by basically way the charge been there for how many years.

All right. Anyone in the audience like to speak on this item and council discussion? And can we get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second from Council Member Urban. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Paul. I. Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 40.

And will the clerk please read item number 13 into the record? Final public hearing for ordinance number 2025-61. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida to annex into the city of St. Cloud approximately plus - 9.04 04 acres identified as Grace Community Church project ANX 25-000017 generally located north of Easter Lebronson Memorial Highway east of Nova Road south of Lake Lizzy Drive and west of Bradley Drive in accordance with the voluntary annexation provisions of chapter 171.044 Florida statutes. Yes, ma'am.

Good evening again. Melissa Duncan, director of community development. This um this request is for the voluntary annexation of the project known as Grace Community Church. This request meets the statutory requirements and is consistent with our joint planning agreement with Oyola County as it is contiguous and reasonably compact. The existing future land use uh which is still a county designation is community center and the existing zoning is community center perimeter. Those are both county designations. Here's a graphic representation of the future land use map depicting that existing county community center land use. And here's a graphic representation of the zoning map depicting the county's existing community center perimeter zoning district for context. The associated comprehensive plan amendment and zoning map amendment were both continued to the October 9th city council meeting. Honor before July 9th, 2025 staff recommended approval. Planning Commission is also I'm sorry, Planning Commission also recommended approval at their meeting on August 19th, 2025. Likewise, it's requested that city council approve ordinance number 2025-61. And the applicant and myself are available if you have any questions.

All right. Thank you. Anyone in the audience like to speak on this item and council discussion? Can I get a motion from council? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second from Council Member Urban. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Urban. I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi. Council member Fletcher. Council member Paul. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 5-0. Will the clerk please read item number 16 into the record?

Public hearing for resolution number 2025-11R. A resolution of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida granting a conditional use for private school in the R R1B single family dwelling zoning district and on the plus minus 2.45 acres of land known as the Alter Academy project CNU25-00001 located at 1215 Old Hickory Tree Road as described in the body of this resolution. Good evening again. This case before you tonight is for a conditional use permit request for the project known as the Alter Academy. The future land use is lowdensity residential and the existing zoning is R1B single family dwelling. The proposed conditional use is for a private school. Their proposed hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 2:30 p.m. The proposed student capacity is 40 students that will be uh divided between two modular buildings with 20 students in each building. And they are proposing to have four staff members teaching grades K through eight, sorry, K through 12. Here's a graphic representation of our future land use map depicting the lowdensity residential land use. And this map depicts the current zoning of R1B. Here's a graphic representation of the site plan showing the location of the existing modular buildings. The two uh squares that are highlighted in the lower right hand corner are the existing highlight um existing modular buildings where they are proposing to locate the private school on our before July 16th 2025 staff recommended approval with the following conditions which I'll read into the record. Number one, the approval of the

requested conditional use does not constitute the approval of the provided concept plan. Changes to the site will require approval of a site development plan and any con and any additional approvals required by the land development code. Number two, no reduction in parking shall be permitted. Number three, this approval is for this private school, the Alter Academy only. Upon this school leaving the subject property, the conditional use shall expire for as long as the use permitted here under continues in the event that stacking or standing of vehicles encroaches into the public right of way or otherwise interferes with flow of vehicular traffic as determined by the city. The resolution may be brought back before city council for review and consideration of additional conditions to address traffic issues or possible revocation of rights granted here under in perpetuity. At the meeting on August 19th, 2025, planning commission recommended approval with conditions. Um, likewise, it is requested that council approve resolution number 2025-11R with with the conditions as stated by staff for the conditional use permit for the project known as the Alter Academy. At this time, the applicant and staff are available for questions.

All right. Thank you. Uh, Deputy Mayor Gilbert, I have to recuse myself from this. Yes, sir. Thank you. You'll need to fill out the form so get it from the clerk. Yes, sir. All right. Would the applicant like to speak on this item?

Good evening, city councilmen and women and city manager. Thank you for having us back again. We had some previous issues with the school that we were uh wanting to bring on here and we found Mr. Moore's um objections to some of that to be credible. So we are no longer in any way associated with the previous school that was looking to get on property and looking to start something fresh and new uh that really benefits the city. You know especially in the last planning meeting seeing the need for for both uh school student you know availability. We think it's a great fit for the St. Cloud and also creates for new jobs in the area instead of people leaving the area and creating more traffic. So, we're very grateful that um we can help out the community in this way. You know, we really have a vision from um baby to bingo, you know, for for the community that we have something for everybody to be able to help them, you know, support them, love on them, and uh in any way possible. Uh the other issues we'd had with the pantry and the food line have been completely corrected. uh we have it now parking and walking in and it's a completely you know comfortable and easy transition. We actually had during the summer one of our clients had an issue with heat where we had to have the emergency services out. Firet truck ambulance both came through right in the middle of everything completely easily. You know great transition in and out. No problems with any stacking standing uh parking. Uh last Wednesday being the day that we do the pantry after Labor Day, we actually had an increase from the ones that didn't come Monday. So we actually served 225 families, 650 people that day and in and out with no problems. So it was a really good test of everything, you know, the changes that you guys had asked that we implement. And uh we appreciate your time.

Yes, sir. Thank you. And would anyone any questions from the council to the applicant? Thank you. Thank you. Anyone in the audience like to speak on this item? All right. Council discussion and can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve from council member Fletcher. Second. Second from council member Urban. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Fletcher, I. Council member Paul, I. Council member Urban, I. Mayor Robertson, I.

Motion carries 4 Z. Thank you. Will the clerk please read item number 17 into the record? Public hearing for resolution number 2025-112R, a resolution of the city council of city of St. Cloud Florida granting a conditional use childc care centers in the HB highway business zoning district on the 1 point on the plusus 1.99 acres land known as primrose school stloud project CNU25-00003 generally located north of Ralph Miller Road and south of East Narusi Road and west of Hackne Road in and south of Ditson Avenue as described in the body of this resolution.

Good evening. Melissa Duncan, director of community development. This case before you tonight is for a conditional use permit request for the project known as Primrose Schools at St. Cloud. The future land use is commercial and the existing zoning is highway business. The use of a child care center requires a conditional use permit within the highway business zoning district. Um, as I said on the previous slide, this parcel is now commercial. This is, um, an old map. They were recently annexed into the city and their land use was changed to commercial. Um, at the time that we created this presentation, um, the maps had not been updated. They have since been updated, but the, um, slide here does not, uh, depict that square as red. Um, we do have the map on standby. If you would like for us to put it on the projector, we can um show it um with the proper commercial designation. Um, and so is the same case with the zoning map. This is the prior um older zoning map. It is now highway business for the zoning district.

Can you go back really quick? I'm sorry. Yes. What is the what does that say? USM that's a county designation. It's a zoning designation. Um urban settlement manufactured I believe is what that stands for. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Here's a graphic depiction of a potential layout of the site to include the child care center along with a playground and required parking. I'd like to remind council that we are not approving the layout or the site plan at this time. This is just um for um a visual aid-

which I'm sorry, go back. Sorry. I'm trying to understand which what road is Ralph Miller on that um on the right hand side of your screen because of the linear site this way. That's how it'll Yes, sir. Okay.

Okay. Honor before July 16th, 2025 staff recommended approval with the following conditions which I will read into record. Read into the record. Number one, the approval of the requested conditional use does not constitute the approval of the provided concept plan. Changes to the site will require approval of a site development plan and any additional approvals required by the land development code. Number two, at the time of the site development plan, the applicant will need to provide a masonry wall on their lot to mitigate the sound between their playground and the residential homes to the north of the subject property. Number three, no reduction in parking shall be permitted. For condition number four, um when we took this item to planning commission, this is how they stated it on the record. um they they were trying to come up with um a condition on the spot. So we did capture the intent of their condition better and we we rewrote it so that it would be more clear and so we uh edited it to read as um I will state now. Number four, this conditional use is for a child care center. In parenthesis, subject to land development code 1.3.3E and is valid only while the initial certificate of use remains active. If the certificate of use expires or the business changes ownership, the new operator must apply for a new conditional use permit to continue operating. And number five, for as long as the use permitted here continues, in the event that stacking or standing of vehicles encroaches into the public right of way or otherwise interferes with the flow of vehicular traffic as determined by the

city, the resolution may be brought back before the city council for review and consideration of additional conditions to address traffic issues or possible revocation of the rights granted here in perpetuity. Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions as stated other than item number four um on their at their meeting uh on August 8th, I'm sorry, August 19th, 2025. Likewise, staff is requesting that council approve resolution number 2025-112R with the conditions stated by staff for the conditional use permit for a child care center for the project known as Primrose St. Cloud Primrose Schools St. Cloud and the applicant and staff are available if you have any questions.

All right. Thank you. So, it's a conditional use. Where if if not highway business, where are child child care centers allowed to go without conditional use outright? We'll check. Um I'm just curious if if they're allowed anywhere. They're not allowed on the highway. I think downtown's a conditional use as well. It is downtown. From what I remember, it's a conditional as well. Downtown. Yes. But where is it allowed where it's not a conditional use? Is there anywhere? I just high. I don't think there is either. I'll pull up the code right now, but I I don't kids. Is that what's going on here? What's the I think it's because of the the the traffic stacking, traffic drop off, all those kind of issues that comes in.

I think this is the perfect site for something like this. It's it's not right up on the highway. It's just off. I think it's uh I don't think it's bad for a community to have a child care center. Um would the applicant like to speak on this item? Uh, hello. I'm Kevin Oconor. I'm just representing the owner. Um, the only thing there, it's still referencing Primrose. Excuse me. And Primrose is really not a buyer of the site. So, excuse me. I don't think that matters, but I think just to make sure that it doesn't get stuck in the Right. Yes. So, that's it. That's it. That's the only

So, it's not necessarily Primrose school. Correct. Yeah. Primrose was Yeah, Primrose was buying it and then they couldn't fulfill it and so u they the owner still wants it to be used for that use. Okay. Thank you, Kevin. Yep. Are are you the broker on the on the deal? Okay. I recognize your name. Oh, yeah. What's the brokerage? Uh NI Real Jim John Walls. Yeah, I know John very well. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Okay. and anyone in the audience like to speak on this item and council discussion and can I get a motion?

Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Second. Second from Council Member Paul. Madam 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 5-0.

All right. Next, we have council action. Request council's approval of the reduction of the code enforcement lean filed in the amount of $83,27.90 and acred fines of $8,57.90 to be paid within 30 days of the council meeting. Is this Melissa or Tisha?

Sorry, that would be me. Tisha was ready. She's She was wanting to come up here. You sure you don't want to share with the microphone here? Yes, I've got a great team. They They always have my back. Let me get a little organized here. I was looking up the um question that you had earlier and yeah, yes, the um childc care centers are um permissible outright in the business commercial uh zoning district. Business commercial. Where is that located? Um we don't sporadic. I think it's Yeah, it's kind of scattered throughout. Um

I think that's what that on McKay. I think that was a a business commercial at that time. It's the most intense commercial use we have before it goes industrial. Oh, it Okay. Okay. Never mind. Thank you.

Okay. Melissa Duncan, director of community development. This request is for a reduction of lean for the code enforcement case number 2022-2122 for the property located at 71813th Street. The total amount owed is 83,27.90. Uh the property was found in violation of failure to prohibit but rather allowed signage to be installed at this property prior to obtaining permits by this time specified. Um a lean reduction request was submitted by Mr. Mark Wells offering a proposed settlement um in the amount of $277.90. The proposed settlement was reviewed by the code compliance officer and the city manager resulting in a counter offer of $8,57.90 which equates to 10% plus the administrative costs. Following the special magistrate recommendation, the property owners provided the city manager with a subsequent reduction request and detailed documentation of the circumstances surrounding the violation. Upon review of the new information, the city manager updated her recommendation to a reduction of $1,02263 for the total administrative cost. And essentially that is the $277.90 plus all the costs that were incurred after the uh case went to the special magistrate. And with that um I complete my presentation. Staff um is available if you have any questions.

All right. Would the applicant like to speak on this item? Good evening, Mark Wells, Dana Wells. Thanks for having us here this afternoon. We are with 71 813th Street, Wells Strength Commercial Investment and St. Cloud Levy Liquor. Um, first we want to say thank you very much for the consideration and for bringing down the uh lean. We really appreciate that. And uh question that I had just for a clarity sake was what were the additional fees um that were represented that represent the $700 difference?

Either city manager or Melissa, whoever would like to speak.

You have the the the piece that's in the packet. Melissa, do you have that? You can put it up on the screen. You know, the the uh my blank Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Um, under consideration of what I see here, we would greatly appreciate your uh approving this recommendation and uh we'd be happy to take care of it in 30 days. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Do you have any questions for us? Okay. So, you're in agreeance with the 1022? Yes. Okay. Thank you. All right. Council discussion. Council member Paul. So, I have one question. Um, were you aware of the additional costs for the $794? No, ma'am.

Okay. So, um, in the future, I don't know if it's something that we could do. How do we notify these extra costs for situations like this? So this is a little unusual. Previously when So you only see these matters when the item gets to a lean after compliance has not been met, right? That's how you've seen the the code enforcement reduction request and they'll the the respondent will ask for and they'll be in front of you. Typically when that happens, um, as Melissa pointed out in her presentation, the city staff will make a recommendation. And usually that recommendation is to an amount that takes into account all of the costs that the city has incurred throughout the throughout the uh the m the maintenance of the code enforcement matter. So um in this instance because the city manager recommendation was based on the circumstances that the respondent presented that it would seem fair to reduce it to the actual costs. So we calculated the actual cost which was u uh was a little unusual because typically typically we would have been looking for a reduction that takes it down to for example 10%. Right? So in this case if the

which was the original recommendation $8,000 in this case if the reduction that the that was presented to the council was was to $8,000 it obviously would incorporate all of the all of the costs that the city had in this matter. So we didn't necessarily we don't necessarily break it down. Um as you remember in previous cases, this is I think the first case that I can recall in recent memory where it's just been brought down to the actual out-of pocket costs. Other cases will be uh they will include the cost plus they'll include the fine piece and payment on the fine piece. So uh we think this is good information. It's it's uh it's obviously information that u that the council can use and the city manager can use when she considers these requests and it'll be part of the packet when we move forward on it to do it. But typically we don't do this because we typically aren't looking at a situation where all we're looking at is recovering the out-of- pocket expense. It

it was in the agenda package though we we did include it in the backup right for this meeting today. Yes. Right. Yes. for this meeting but to make them I don't think you know as he just said he Mr. Wells just said he's this is the first time he's actually seeing it. That is correct. Yeah, that's all for me. All right. Thank you. And can we get a motion? Motion to approve with the reduction to $1,226. Second. All right. We have a motion from Council Member Urban, second from Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Paul. Hi. Council member Urban. Hi. Deputy Mayor Gilbert.

Hi. Council member Fletcher. Hi. Mayor Robertson. Hi. Motion carries 5-0. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Next up, we have first readings and introduction. The next items on the agenda are ordinances before the council for first reading and introduction for the sole purpose of the council to authorize the publication of the ordinance for a final hearing. The council will not take final action on the item tonight. Full presentations and public input on the ordinances will occur at a final hearing at which the council will consider final action. Will the clerk please read item number one?

First reading and introduction for ordinance number 2025-66. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Claw Florida providing a zoning amendment of the zoning map of the land development code of the city of St. Claw, Florida. Specifically changing the zoning designation approximately plus minus 30.94 acres identified as elite estates project ZMA25-00001 from MDX I mean MXD mixeduse county to MIX mixed use city generally located on the northeast intersections of Clay Road and Wagon Court providing for entering the designation of official zoning map finding of the planning commission's recommendations proof of publication seability effective date And can we make a motion on that? Motion to approve.

Motion to approve. Council member Fletcher. Second. Second from Council Member Paul. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Council member Urban. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. I. Council member Fletcher. I. Council member Paul. I. Mayor Robertson. I. Motion carries 40.

Will the clerk please read item number two into the record? First reading an introduction for ordinance number 2025-67 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 17.35 acres identified as Harvest Grove PUD formerly known as Nona Town Homes project PUD 24-00005 from R1B single family dwelling to PUD plan unit development generally located north of East Labor Bronson Memorial Highway east of South Narusi Road south of Lilian Lee Road and west of Puffin Road providing for the entering the designation official feature land use official zoning map of the filing permission planning commission's recommendations proof for publication server building effective date

and can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Motion to approve. Council member Paul. Second from council member Fletcher. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Gilbert, Council Member Flesher, I. Council member Paul, I. Council member Urban, I. Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 4. Will the clerk please read item number three?

First reading an introduction for ordinance number 2025-68. An ordinance of the city council of the city of St. Cloud, Florida as authorized by section 177.015142 Florida statutes renaming the seminal land and investment company plat of colored quarters to the seminal land investment company plat of east quarter providing for cerability conflicts and effective date. Can I get a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve from council member Paul. Second. Second from council member Urban. Madame clerk, please call the role. Council member Fletcher, I. Council member Paul, I. Council member Urban, I. Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Mayor Robertson.

I. Motion carries 40.

All right. Will the clerk please read item number four into the record? First reading introduction for ordinance number 2025-71 an ordinance of the city council of city of St.Cloud Claw Florida amending the city code of ordinances chapter 42 traffic and vehicles article 3 parking stopped and standing by amending section 42-61 generally section 42-62 parking spaces provided by governmental agencies and non-governmental agencies for certain dis disabled persons section 42-64 notice of illegally parked vehicles section-42-65 liability and payment of parking citation violations and section 42-66 Six hearing to contest citation before hearing officer and renumbering section 742-67 presumption regarding illegal park parking operating stops etc providing for conflict serability administrative correction codification publication effective date

and can I get a motion motion to approve motion approved council member Paul second second from council member Irvin Madame clerk please call the role council member Paul I, Council Member Urban, I, Deputy Mayor Gilbert. Hi, Council Member Fletcher. I, Mayor Robertson, I. Motion carries 40. He came in just after I was going to say I was like, well, he's in the room, but he didn't hear. All right. And that wraps up that. And city attorney. I do not have anything, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. All right. Thank you, city manager.

Thank you. Um, I have a few things. First, um, if you don't mind passing that down while it's being passed down, I'm going to talk about something else, though. Um, thinking about what you had just asked about sending the information to the codeforcement lean requesters. Well, that was complicated to say, I I will ask the code enforcement staff if they have a contact phone number if they can reach out to the person and let them know that the full packet is available on the city website so that they can see all of those those costs. So that would if that would help. Okay. Okay. Because I think that that must be where the the information gap was. Yes.

Um so I just passed out um our current workshop list including upcoming dates. We have a workshop scheduled for October 16th and there are two council members who will not be present because they will be at the FRA conference. Um, so I I'm asking council if you want to proceed with th those topics on that date when there's only three of you or if you would like to reschedu either topics or that or or the date of the workshop. You're asking the ones that won't be there.

Well, if you want I mean the ones that are there really don't care. I'd assume they don't care, but um I would like to be there. What? I don't remember what day the dates of that conference. Give me one moment. So, it's it's next week. No, I'm I'm talking about the October meeting having the conflict. The 16th. The October 16th. Yes. I think it's FRA that you and Councilman Urban, Mayor, can we just push it to the following week or the the following week? Looked like it could be a possibility if council would would like to do that on October 23rd. That's a Thursday. That's a Thursday. Yes,

I'm good. That's fine with me. Thursday 23rd. Good. October. Yep. Okay. That was consensus. So, we'll move October 26 to o October 23rd. October 16th.

October 16th to October 23rd. Sorry. Um Okay. And then um just wanted to clarify next week's workshop and city council will be in here in the chambers. Um but then beginning October um probably going through through the end of the year, we will be holding them at the community center while this room is under construction. Um and last I wanted to recognize that our community development director who received the award earlier this evening. Her parents drove all the way here from the panhandle. Um and I was hoping if and I think they walked out. Um, but I was going to ask if the council could stay after and redo the picture where she received the award. Um, so that she can have her parents participate in that picture.

Absolutely. So, that was that was that was it. Thank you. Well, they're back. All right. And Council Member Paul.

All right. So, I have a few things. Um, so I met with Carly McGrin. um Krabby Bills and a couple weeks ago and um she did we did have a discussion in regards to um Krabby Bills and their um business concept. Um she would like the opportunity to come and present to council their concept. Um, they do have 14 different locations and all she wants is just to share their business concept because I know we talked about when it was brought up about seeing, you know, something different there, but she just wants a fair opportunity to come and talk to the council and just share their business concept. So,

is this a new concept different than what they have over there? Well, they have eight different ones. But she showed me um 14 different locations, but I think um just opportunity-wise for them to for her to come and share what they do have to offer at their other locations. She just wants that opportunity to do that. So, and I have no problem listening. I've been at a few of the locations and the clear the Clearwater location and then they have other venues. I would love to hear uh what they have to say. I think they have four different concepts. uh councilwoman uh and I spoke of her also, but we we at least owe them that I would believe too.

Okay. So, I I can add to one of the workshops workshop dates. Um I see the city attorney had his light turned on. That might be more relevant. Well, as you know, we've been working with we've been discussing the renegotiation of the lease which is going to expire and we have an executed letter of intent from them. So, the question I guess we have, do you want to hold off on that letter of intent and bringing the amendment to the lease back until you have this meeting or do you want to do it all contemporaneously? Uh, Council Member Urban,

I I think we should continue on with uh um executing the the lease that we were going to. I'm I'm obviously open to hearing out um the presentation and seeing what they have to offer, but also I think we were heading in the right direction with the current um lease that we were getting ready to execute. That's just my opinion. I mean, I wouldn't slow down on anything, but I think we do owe them, as Deputy mayor said and council member Paul, I'd like to sit down and listen to the other concepts. Yeah, because all she wants is just the opportunity do it soon. I think I don't think it'll really slow things down.

Could we we could put the the amendment to the lease on your meeting in maybe November and then would give you time. Maybe it added to one of these workshops. Can you do that? think maybe the October workshop you just said and then they can come make a presentation to you then I'm good with that. Okay, three nods. We will invite her to October 23rd. Ken, you said you've eaten at other restaurants.

I've Yeah, they have they have a Clearwater restaurant and they have a different They just purchased four additional ones. Uh the Clearwater is their um it's around that circle if you ever been to Clear Water and it's a double decker. was very very well done. So, at least they're a tenant. They've been a tenant. U I I agree with uh council member Urban that we we've been working long and hard to do this. Uh but we do owe them to the opportunity to present to us, but we don't want to put on the brakes. This has been almost I'd say an 18month uh uh item we've been working on, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Thank you.

All right. Um so my next request is um wanted to see if I can um get consensus on attending a national league of cities. Um they do have a conference that will be November 20th through the 22nd in Salt Lake City, Utah. So wanted to get that opportunity to attend that conference with other elected officials out the you know entire state. um also to strengthen our local leadership here on you know just gaining knowledge on how other elected officials are doing in their city and stuff. So wanted to see if um it was okay to attend that and um Sandra did pull up the information regarding that and um shared it with Veronica. Oh, our city manager.

I have no problem you representing us at at a a convention. It's a convention. I said National League of Cities. Okay. You need consensus from one more. One more. Okay. Got it. Thank you. Enjoy your trip. And there's others that are local that are going over there as well. Yes. City of CMI is an actual member of this league. So, um, but I know I had checked into it to see if we were, but we were not a member, but they do have non-member rates. So, okay.

And then my last one is traffic regarding um the school traffic from St. Cloud Elementary to New NI Road. Um I was coming from the Walmart and um off of New Noty and I know that school traffic standstill is leading into um new ny which I seen a car stop you know quickly because they didn't I guess see the cars that were actually at a standstill. I'm not sure um if that is still continuing but I know it's a safety concern. Um, you can't turn down the I forget which road it is um by the daycare and at new ny I guess it's buddinger you have to for me I go around because there's no way of trying to pass a whole line of cars to get to um 17th street. So

okay. So that's still Weren't they kind of just allowing parking on one side? Can can the chief of police please come up to the podium? Maybe he would know more than I don't know. I thought maybe you would know more than us. Um, so Council Member Paul's talking about the the the stacking of the the pickup. Yes. Yeah.

So, Doug Gerky, chief of police, uh, unfortunately, this seems to be a reoccurring issue with a lot of the schools because they don't have the the staging space to do that. So, a lot of these vehicles actually stage along the roadways. Um, we've seen it numerous times. Um, I know with some of the the redesigning of some of the schools, they're putting in the loading areas on the school properties, but most of the time, just because of the Marjorie Stoman Douglas Act, the the schools stay locked and closed, so people can't come on. Is that what you're referring to, ma'am? Just so I understand. Yes. So, that's a it's a it's a continuous issue um for us.

Yeah. And maybe we need to reach out to the school district. Um because I really thought that that they had limited it to just one side of the road so that or off the road, you know, and that the cars were pulled over, but I thought traffic was flowing again. So we see these um sometimes when they don't like the lines, they'll drive around somewhere else. They'll reposition themselves. They'll come in a different direction and they'll just stage somewhere else and then uh kind of maneuver their way in there. So, as we come across those, we'll do our best to try to navigate that and try to assist with the traffic flow, but um we'd have to set it up as a as a separate patrol area that we'd have to go look at multiple times to try to figure it out. Right.

But I hate to say once we leave, sir, unfortunately, you know, once we're gone, they we're not there and they're going to do it again. Similar to the the speeding complaints that I get on the road. It reminds me I know you were the chief of the airport at one time and you know, when you go to the pickup line, they're telling you to keep driving, you know, and you got to keep looping around. They don't let you kind of sit there. Yes, sir. And we'd have to scrape everybody off even on the the entrances. I'm sure everybody's been up to the airport. And unfortunately, we'd have to go up there and scrape everybody off the side of the roads. So, we we could do that. And I I just, you know, I think it would actually make more of a traffic nightmare because people don't know where to go then when we start pushing everybody everywhere and they don't know where to leave to. So, they'll start driving around and making U-turns. And but it's definitely something we can look at.

I mean, we can address. think that they could put a a ribbon all the way around the I know there's a a covered area in the back there. Isn't Is there a road back there? Do you know in the back of the school? I don't know if that's a concern if if driving those vehicles on. So, I do know that the city does have an agreement with the school district that when the road is constructed through uh Stevens Plantation North, I'm not sure what the current name of the project is, that the city had committed to adding some additional space in a turn lane through through that project to kind of enable some of that stacking. Um, I know that's still part of the plans. The road just hasn't been constructed yet.

That could be five years down the road. We don't need to have a go-ahehead on and that would certainly alleviate um what the city manager is discussing that would certainly alleviate the issues that we're looking at that we're seeing here. Yeah, I think maybe we need to speak with the school district and see if there's something that we can be done because I know that there's the the entrance coming off, you know, right across from the old um it was the old police range there, the where the concrete building was the police. I guess it's going to be a helicopter pad now. Um, you know, maybe if they could create something that, you know, loop around the the covered area in the back just to stack the cars there. I think we need to really have that discussion.

I agree. And and you're right, mayor. There is space here to do that if they choose to do that. And they can potentially section it off so they would not have to be able to open it up, but they can stage them on the property so there's a loop through to at least get a lot of the traffic off the off the roadway. Yeah. And it still kind of keeps them away from the school building itself if they keep it to the out. Yes. They just can't be on. They can't come into the actual enclosure into the roadways that get close to the school until a certain time. I believe it's 15 minutes before school is over. Okay. Yeah. I think we owe it to our citizens to finally take see if we can find a solution to that. Mr. Mayor, I think I believe M. Duncan, don't we have a meeting next week on this with the school district? Yeah. Okay. Right. On this? It's on my calendar.

You're going. My phone's telling me I'm going. So, So yeah, I think it's next it's Tuesday, I think, on this issue. Well, on budding road with the school district and the and the interlocal agreement that Mr. It's on the pond. There was something about the pond. The pond and the road were we right. We purchased the pond because we needed additional ride ofway for the road to be able to be constructed. And as a condition, they said, "Okay, but you have to give us some additional lane stacking um here." Okay. I'm sorry. Tuesday. Tuesday of That's what my phone says.

Okay. And as we in the future as we start annexing up into the Narusi area, we're going to have to find a solution to that one as well. Those get backed up also. You can find the solution. Yes, sir. Those schools get backed up as well. Yeah. And the original intent was not to have school two schools on that property. Um I'm going to give a shout out and credit to my mom on that one. So she found the for sale sign on that tree and they bought it and they were doing K through8s and that school was built to the back of the property to allow the stacking and then they went built a second school and change it to a middle and a elementary school. So that caused the issue that that didn't exist when they first put the K8 in. But you know

normally it's past councils that are you know that that create the issues but in that case it was a future one. So that was a legal change also, sir, that actually changed the the stacking that vehicles weren't allowed anywhere near the vehic the the school. They had to be locked down until that certain time with the Marjgery Stoman Douglas Act. I hate to say it, I don't think they actually prepared for any of that. So now that it's changed, it's obviously created numerous significant traffic problems at at the behest of the safety of the students, which I I agree to that also, but it's just we have to find the happy medium to figure it out. Okay. Yeah. And I know you your your SRO in in the past has been out there and and kind of kept everybody uh

so that's a challenge in and of itself too because SRO is supposed to be on the property specifically and not necessarily directing traffic for the safety of the students. So we'd have we bring over our own traffic officers and we do our best to try to like keep people moving. So every day we're having to to direct traffic. Is that um it hasn't come to my attention that much but I don't believe so. one of our SRO, one of our school resource officers are here. But I don't believe that's the case. But I'd have to look at it to be honest with you, sir, to get you the the correct information if we're going over there every single day or is it just certain times where things are just getting backed up so much and I'd have to determine that to try to understand. Maybe fly one of your drones over there and just like with a a mega horn, whatever. That's coming, sir. That is certainly coming. Yes, sir. Or your your dog. Maybe make sure

the robotic dog. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We'll send that over there. Yeah. All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Yes, sir. So, yeah, Dan's going to find the solution to it next week. Okay. I'm on it. All right. Is that all? Yes. Thank you. All right. and Council Member Urban uh was contacted by the uh organizers of the the Brooklyn Rose 5K for um childhood cancer awareness month uh this Saturday at the lakefront 7:30 a.m. and I told them I would mention that. Um they invited all the city council to be there and all the residents if anybody wants to participate. Uh so just wanted to mention that and uh have a good weekend.

Very cool. Uh Kobe, wasn't that one we cut the ribbon on last year? Yeah, that same that same 5K. Yeah, we go cut it together to I would love to do that with you. That's at Saturday at 7. You said 7:30. Okay. Thank you, sir. And Council Member Fletcher. Um I have nothing at this time. Thank you, Mayor. And Council uh Deputy Mayor Gilbert.

Uh I passed out some information, but u one of them um I'd like to go on to public record so each of you have the backup here. I was approached by REITs around uh America in December for for uh Mount Peace for the wreaths that will be set out. Last year the city did uh work with them. We weren't by the people that admitted with reefs around America. We did not know about it. So we weren't invited. We didn't go as a council. Um and there was some push back on that. But that's okay. Uh I'm looking not in the rear view, but I'm looking forward. Uh there's some cost contingencies on the rear around America and I would like to for council to consider um absorbing that cost with our council contingency for that and that's just for simple things like the sound system the tent and and um and additional staffing. So I put the paperwork into you. I put the letter of what it's going to be and there's 17 ree that will be dedicated to to for re around America. Um, deputy mayor, when you're talking about the tent and the sound system, are you talking about renting one or using ours?

Using ours, but there is cost involved, mayor, and I just wanted to know if that's something that we can absorb. Jay works for free. Uh, thank you, Jay. I'll talk to your agent from now on. We have to pay Deborah. So, so that's the pleasure of council. I'd like you to consider that and then um maybe talk to to the uh city manager or somebody about what we can do. I don't know how to communicate with me, but I want to talk to this uh lady about it. It's not until December, but I really wanted to work on it early so we can be uh appraised of what what's coming on and also our participation. All right. Um yeah, can we get maybe share with the city manager that request? I have.

Oh, you have. They've got copies and the public records got copies, too. All right. If I have not gave you a copy, uh, Miss Miller, I will as soon as we get out of the building. Okay. Thank you.

Secondly, I was um walk uh walking the path of the new pathway that goes from uh St. Cloud all the way through CMI down Tri Park part and um Park and there is the old Hamilton District Mill that was built in 1886 and it was abandoned in 1909. There are still remnants of that sugar mill on that pathway. I would like the pleasure of the council if we could write a letter to Oil County because right now they have the property. It used to be owned and was sold to the county. It I can't predict the future, but I do believe it may come into the city at one point, but we have talked to the county. and like a letter from us if we can go ahead and use that and put some historical markers there and maybe some u picnic benches and things like that so people can learn about uh the dissitans and the the actually the founders that came here.

I'd like the city manager go ahead and speak on that. She's already kind of brought it up. Yeah. Um um thank you mayor and deputy mayor. Yes, we deputy mayor and I were talking about that earlier today. Uh yesterday we had the leaders lunch and I did um mention it to the county manager Fischer um that it would be great if that if if they could put in a historical marker and I told him he was excited about the idea. He said it was a great idea and I said well it's going to be brought up um most likely this Thursday at our city council meeting. But I do think a letter of support requesting it just makes makes the request stronger um and would help.

He even offered to pay for it, right? And gold played it. He said they were they were putting signs up at other facilities. So he he's like I'll get with staff. So yes, um I don't remember about the gold plate, but it's just a great part of our history. It's not in Main Street or downtown, so we can't ask those folks there, but it is a huge part of uh St. history. That's the very beginnings. Yeah, that's beginning before we incorporated before the Civil War veterans came. That was prior. Consider getting a letter written to them if we can by council. If you could approve that, we will get a letter written that we'd like to see that happen. That's consensus. Okay. Can we send them other location ideas, too? Yep.

Um Yeah, we um Yes. Um no, in in in our conversation with the county manager, we also spoke about the graffiti on on those walls.

Yes. And um you know, what can be done to take that off? and and we we have done graffiti uh before with a place for grace ministries. Uh people wanting uh hours, community hours and things like that and that that's somewhere we can go. There's always people wanting community hours and and to find a direction of it. I even uh one of the police officers came up to me and said that they do it on their time off. I'm not going to mention the person, but they actually go on and take the graffiti off during their time off. So I think if we designate it historical, we dress it up and we put it as such, then maybe it wouldn't be as tag, I guess they call tagging as it as it would be. So your consideration, I really like letter out to the to county for support of that.

So m are we looking at partnersh partnering with the county on it because it's their property and their structure. So we've got to we can't just send volunteers out there to start working on it. That that's a Dan question. So, I'd like Dan to tell us what we can and cannot do. If you could ask him, please. I appreciate. My recommendation is you reach out and ask for a partnership with the county so we can get so we can basically get permission to do everything you're asking for. Okay. Thank you for your advice. Can we go ahead and give consensus for that? That Yes, we want that. There's consensus in any other areas that we feel that uh uh was there another one you had in mind? Yeah, there's plenty. Okay. Well, let's present the maybe next week when we all come together. you want to pres, you know, provide that information.

Yeah. No, I think that's a great idea. That is and also I think we need to to ensure there's some some access points to it. Kind of figure that too. Yeah, there is. And the path is and then there's a a subdivision, but a citizen, Mr. Verney, brought that up to my attention and that's why I investigated it. But you can also when you're walking, riding your bikes, scooters, strollers, everything, it passes right by there. So, and this this uh trail is beautiful and it's going to go all the way to Roma Road when the extension's done through all the way downtown All right. Maybe we do scooter rentals just to go on the canal.

Uh we have to make sure that the right scooter rentals and not the speed. Uh and we have to talk to the police chief. What got that robotic dog get you? Um, since I've been on council, I I've I've asked the city and in the in the attorney and everybody what we can do about that hotel. Uh, I what legally and what legal actions we can do. I've asked since day one, I've been here almost three years in November. And they just I feel that and I can't bring this up otherwise than here. I feel like they're just abiding enough to get by. The Sears Tower in 1972 was built in three years, which was the tallest building. This building has not been in use since 10 years. It's an eyesore, not an icon. I don't want it to be the eyesore on I4. I don't want to be the eyesore in St. Cloud. So, I don't know what we can legally do, but I'm asking council and legal and city managers or anybody listening, what can we do to to put that in place or or get somebody that can and what legally we can do? Is it with CRA? Is it with BLE? I don't have those answers, but I agree with our gentleman there and I agree with Mr. Urban. That's our city forefront. You you you're talking about bringing additional vendors, people. You open that up. That's our biggest building. So, I don't

Sir, we need this is council discussion. Thank you. Uh so so yeah, I'm just asking council if we could figure out just today how we can ask the city manager and city attorney to take every legal action necessary to go or go away. I think we can get with the building department and find out where they are in the application process and we can my office can report back to you next week about what we think the strategy would be to to basically uh put the pressure on the owners to get this thing fixed or to this or to basically sell the property.

Thank you. And I'm I'm I'm an entrepreneur and I get but uh enough's enough. I don't know how else to say it, but I look out my building. I mean out my window in the building here and that's the first thing and it draws my eyes to it and then I go what are we going to do? I just want to make sure you understand that the way the the way the restrictions in the law with regard to ongoing construction projects and the ability to continue to keep permits alive is a problem for local governments in instances like this. So, um, it's all going to depend on where the building department is in the review, whatever application is, and what existing code violations may exist on the property, if any, uh, to be able to deal with this.

And I appreciate your legal advice on that, Dan. I'm just shouting out to anybody that can get will there some movement on this,

report back at the next meeting. So, thank you. Uh recently there's some uh developments that took place this week and um they're kind of uh sad and uh you know we're here to debate, we're here to talk, but we're not here for violence. Um so pray with me. Motion silence are something that we as a best country in the world to live in where you have freedom of speech. I've been to China. I've been to different places where you don't have freedom of speech. You say something, they lock you up or worse. So, I would like everybody here today, if they have somebody that they disagree with, whatever they are, just give them a hug or something because this is this is this is ridiculous. And uh with that being said, I did talk to um the uh chief of police and probably about a year and a half ago, we were getting uh downstairs remodeled and then we're supposed to have security systems coming in with those metal detectors and things such as that. Um, in every other s, not every other city, I go to Cassini a lot for some of the board meetings. Go there. They have metal detectors put in, they have security put in. Just a deterrent for the safety. I sat here withund and some odd people today. I'm not accusing anybody, but I guarantee you a guy came up with a satchel and reached into it and first thing I said, whoa. just not that it's happened, not that it will happen, but I I don't want it to be okay till it's not okay. So, I'd like to have the pleasure of the council to figure something out where we can get something in place to protect the citizens, the city, the city employees, and also the council up here for to avoid any future mishaps. Not saying they're going to happen, but if you don't plan, you plan to fail. So, I'd like the consideration. We've been talking about security here for over a year and we're waiting for the um for the reconstruction downstairs, which looks great, but if we can put points of

emphasis on checking metal detectors, some kind of deterrent, I think our citizens deserve that and everybody that comes in here to make a presentation. So, I ask the council consider that to I know we talked about next year's budget, but last year we talked about this year's budget. Uh I think that's something we need to look at.

City manager, you want to respond? Thank you. So, um, we actually discussed this on Monday at the director's meeting that with the new year budget going into effect October 1st, what can we do to make sure that the security system can be as as close as possible to that new year budget. So, actually there um I think the meeting was set between the police department and procurement and I'm not sure if there was somebody else that was supposed to be in that meeting but they are actively right now talking about it because we we do want to and I saw the bag too and I I and again I I I'm just looking out uh there's a reason we're the safest city in in Florida and 34th because of our police fire and everybody there is a reason we've got great great police department. Great chief, great fire chief, but we can prevent some things just by uh being proactive. So, I'd like to consider that. And thank you. And by the way, we're not going to be meeting here for a few months anyway. So, what a great idea when we're reconstructing this area to make to to maybe put it in. Don't know if it could happen. Just want to ask pleasure of the council to consider that.

Where's Jeff? Jeff's got the He's not smiling. I mean, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. And again, I I think we have the best uh fire and police department. I know we do in the state of Florida, and I know we're at least 34th in the whole country of the best fire and police. So, we appreciate that. Uh this week coming up, I'll be going to Florida Planning Conference. Uh that's going to teach me more about the planners here in the city, and I'm going to learn more about them because when I came in, I hadn't had that planning experience. We plan over 300 conventions a year and we have fire marshal approvals. We have uh fire, electrical, water, but it's on a temporary basis. So, I think if I go there, I'll learn more about planning to be able to talk to our citizens and also be able to understand our staff more. I think our staff does a great job. I just want to tell everybody that's where I'll be next week, Tuesday to Thursday before the conference. Uh thank you guys for consideration and I I yield back to you, mayor.

All right. Yep. I uh I'm also going to be there. I'm going to learn what it's like to be a planner and I hope I recover from that. So,

um went to a great event uh a few weeks back coasted by St. Cloud Main Street to the um the uh introduction of the sheriff. Our new sheriff came to St. Cloud and uh we were there to to greet him and of course I know our police chief and some council members were there and and uh I've got some high hopes for our community. Obviously, it's it's great to see we do have the the strongest law enforcement um the leadership here anywhere in Florida, I believe. That's it's uh it's amazing. Um speaking of of law enforcement, so today I I mentioned we had the St. Cloud Citizens Foundation meeting and um I met with with Lynn, Officer Lynn, and we talked about the shop with the cop. Chief, would you like to come up here? I just want to ask it. I don't know why I want to ask you questions on it, but I know you'll know about it. I know you enjoy shopping for toys.

That's one of the greatest things that tell you it's water gun battles. It's shopping with toys, but only if I get to hit you. Yeah. Balloons, but you do it when I fall down. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

God, that video is uh never going away. Um what an amazing thing. And you know, they they go off and they get grants for this, but I know this year it's been problematic. And and uh so Officer Lynn met with us today and and I I told her I would go ahead and speak about that and try and reach out to the community, see anything if if there's anything that anyone in the community, business leaders or uh business owners or citizens, if they want to contribute financially to this, it's buying toys for the kids for Christmas and um for our for our own community here. So, one of the things we're not going to let them not have the toys, you know, obviously we're we'll step in uh at the very end if things occur uh where they don't get the funding, but um we kicked around some ideas for some fundraising activities. So, I'm going to personally get involved myself. I know uh we spoke about this uh earlier about fundraising activities for that and and I know Council Member Gilbert loves getting involved with these type of things. So, um, but I will go ahead and give a plug for that. And I I I called you up here just because I know, you know, you you get involved. If you want to go ahead and talk about it real quick, you know,

you know, it's um it's it's it's it's not just heart-wrenching, it's heartwarming when we get to take these children out. Um, we do we asked for a grant from Walmart and obviously some of the things have changed um about the 501c3s that we'd had to create. So, we were looking at potentially a police foundation and I think we've come up with something else that we can potentially use so we can apply for the grant or at least qualify for the grant. Um, we're still in the grant process. I'm sure Lynn told you that, but we're still trying to figure all that out. But, um, it it's heartwarming because some of these children actually the first thing you start walking around with them, they give you a gift card from Walmart and the first thing they say is, "I want to get something for my sister. I want to get something for my mother." And it kills me because they said, "Are we already at the the $100 limit?" I go, "Nah, don't worry about that." And next thing I know, I'm taking out my own credit card and I'm just paying the difference. And it's just what an the the children that come through here, they're so deserving of everything and everything we get to do. And um it's just one of the best events. And I will tell you, I mean, the police department, we fight to go do this because we really want to um you know, spend some time with these children. We find some other children. We show up at people's homes with bicycles and everything. And you know, we get into the season and Deputy Mayor, you spoke about it. We're in some really tough times in in the world right now in our community and and everything. And you know, Christmas should bring us together. the holiday spirit should bring us together at the very minimum. And I'll tell you, that's where we don't have any barriers. So to actually participate in events like this, um, you know, we always say that law enforcement is not a surgical sledgehammer. We don't just go out and try to put people in jail. We work together as a community to better the community. And I think that's one of the biggest things. I say it all the time in the citizens workshops and everything I speak about. Um, but to work together to actually give children Christmas or some type of holiday that they don't get a chance to ever have is just it's it's it's heartwarming and it's just it's humbling. So

yeah, thank you for the opportunity to speak. And and as you stated that uh sometimes the kids will use their money to buy groceries for the family. They buy groceries, they buy things for school, then they don't get a chance to get anything for themselves. Yeah. And I know the we dare to care, they actually sponsored it last year. They fund I know Vinnie Shepard was out there with the credit card is what line and that's correct. So we partnered with we dare to care but um they would not necessarily when we asked for the grant money they wouldn't give it to we dare to care directly. So, it had to be a law enforcement type of um 501c3 which we did not have at the time. So, we had a difficult time trying to qualify for all that to make it work. Yeah. And we have the St. Cloud Citizens Foundation which is a 501c3

and it's a government foundation which is the most important part of it. It's under the government umbrella. So, I think or it should be. So, I think that that might make the difference to potentially get some funding. I sit on there along with two others which includes Donna Kulie and Donna's amazing obviously. she's kind of kept the the finances together with that and uh so we're gonna we're going to do some great things with that to assist with this program. We'll make sure it it goes off. So without Thank you, sir. I want to thank you for everything you do, but I'm going to go ahead and give a plug for that as well. And uh um uh so Officer Lint and also talked to to Sergeant um Stockdale on this. Yes. He's our new community engagement supervisor. Yeah. And he's really excited about getting involved in and really doing things with this this event.

Absolutely. So, we kicked around some fundraising ideas uh in about a 20-minute phone call. So, doesn't have to do anything with water balloons, does it? I'm still water logged from the No, but we have to talk about that. It's about a dunk tank. I don't That's right.

Um uh No, but I I will say uh so Officer Lyn, you know, she wrote up a lot of information here. Um but but here's what she said. They're preparing for the annual Shop with Cop event planned for the third week of December. Each year, approximately 45 children are partnered with St. Cloud Police officers for a memorable shopping experience where they select gifts and necessities. The program not only brings joy to families in need, but also creates lasting positive connections between youth and law enforcement. Participants are nominated by our officers who have firsthand knowledge of children that would most benefit from a positive, supportive interaction with law enforcement. This ensures the program reaches those who will gain the most from the experience. In the past years, we've applied for funding through Walmart's community grant program. Unfortunately, our most recent application was not awarded. So, we are now looking to partner with our community to keep this meaningful uh program going strong. So, and it just just amazing thing. So, I do want to thank you, your community outreach team, and um all of your police officers for getting involved in this because I think we'll be able to get out there and hit the streets and and I'll go out there and um hit up some business owners for money for you guys. So, for this event. So,

thank you, sir. That's something I can do. So, I can't muscle people for money. So, but I appreciate any help you can ask for. I assure you I will not, but thank you. All right. Appreciate it. Very much. Thank you. God bless.

And that is all. So, next up we have the uh actually I want to get I saw Stephanie came in here now. Stephanie, thank you for um you and the deputy uh city manager for going out to the Veterans Park. We talked about the the event earlier. We had Josh and a couple members from the the Veterans Council here and so we all kind of gave the green light on that. So, thank you for getting me the paint colors on the helicopter and the all the other military vehicles. So, we're going to move forward on that. Thank you. And thank you for giving us your staff to as well in the future here. Thank you in advance. Um what else did we do? I I went and spoke with the uh breakfast with the pros which was amazing. One of the other the folks that was with us, we had uh John Weaver with the old the boat and so there was a lot of excitement with that and so I look forward to that really taking off and and doing whatever we can on uh in the community to help them out. So,

I hear they have a great band from Nashville this weekend.

I saw that. Yep. Saw that on social media and and we had lunch on that a month ago with the OSO leaders with the the superintendent and the the county manager and all and Terry Weaver actually gave us a hosted it and they've done amazing things with it. Totally decorated and um I've never I haven't been out on the water on it yet, but I think they're going to do great things. So, all right. Next up, information section, report section. We have Thursday, September 18th, 2025. S city council workshop 3 pm here at city hall. Is it here? Yes, that's our next meetings. And then after that, we're moving on. Um, Thursday, September 18th, 2025 with city council special meeting at 6:30 at city hall. Thursday, October 2nd, 2025, community redevelopment agency meeting, 3 p.m. at city hall. Thursday, October 9th, city council meeting 6:30 p.m. at the St. Cloud Community Center. And we have the recreation advisory committee minutes February 2025 approved and the reports. We have the warrant list uh number 11, fiscal year 25. And with that, this meeting is adjourned. And

if you can stay for the photo for