City Commission - Regular Meeting

meeting of the city commission of St. Pete Beach to order. It is 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026. Uh, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Uh, city clerk, will you please call roll? Vice Mayor Marriott, here. Commissioner Robinson here. Commissioner Cy here. Commissioner Maldonado here. And Mayor Tate here. We have a quorum.

Thank you. Um, any proposed changes to the agenda, everybody? Commissioner, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to add two items to the discussions, please. Okay. Uh, first would be permit fees and secondly, decorum and civility. Thank you. And I have some questions on consent item G. All right. You want to take it out? I assume we'll discuss discussion. Yes. No, we can take that at consent. It doesn't move to the end of the meeting. Unders. So, so you'll discuss the consent item that the commissioners requested to pull at the consent calendar.

Okay, fair enough. But at the end of consent, right? Yeah, understood. I'm with you. Um, yes. And I I would like to do the same with item E, please. So, E and G are going to be pulled out of discussion post consent approval, presumably. Uh any other changes anyone? Okay. Uh is there a motion to approve the updated agenda? Motion to approve the updated agenda. I second. City clerk, please. Vice Mayor Marriott? Yes. Commissioner Robinson? Yes. Commissioner Cy? Yes. Commissioner Maldonado? Yes. And Mayor Tate? Yes. The motion carries.

Thank you. Uh so I understand we have a series of presentations. Our first one is on the microransit program. with uh Mandy Edmonds being our presenter. Good evening, Mandy. How are you?

Good evening everybody. Hi everybody. Um mayor, commissioners, um Mandy Edmonds, resident services director and tonight I am here to present on the microtransit program. One second please. Okay, so we'll go ahead and start. This slide provides a high-level overview of the microtransit program. We are currently averaging about 2,300 rides and 4,200 passengers per month. The gross monthly cost is approximately $44,000 with revenue offsets bringing the net city cost to about $34 to $35,000. The results in a cost ride ranging from or the results in a cost ride per ride ranging from 13 to $17 and the current contract expires September 30th and the total annual cost is approximately 536,000. This is an ondemand app-based service operated by freebie. Service is available 7 days a week with approximately 1300 to,500 service hours per month. Users request rides through the app and the program includes both advertising revenue and non-resident fair collection. The intent is to provide a convenient local mobility option for both residents and visitors. The people who use this the most right now are primarily visitors and activity based trips along key corridors. This slide shows year-over-year ridership trends. We saw a significant increase in October year-over-year largely due to the recovery from prior storm impacts. However, in subsequent months, ridership declined between 18 and 45% compared to the previous year. This indicates variability in seasonality in usage. Ridership has not consistently trended upward. The total contract cost is approximately

$536,000 um annually. The monthly operating costs remain fairly consistent with slight increases tied to service hour adjustments and revenue offsets include advertising partnerships and non-resident fairs. The net cost per ride ranges it uh ranges from 13 to $17 per ride. For comparison, a typical um Uber trip with the city ranges from approximately $10 to 12 depending on distance and demand. Um, prior to October 2025, rides were free. Since implementing fairs, we've introduced some cost recovery to the program. Uh, this program is subsidized and not fully intended to be costneutral. Trips are concentrated along Gulf Boulevard and key activity centers. High demand activity areas include Uppam Beach, Corey Avenue, Passagril, and County Park. There are over,300 registered users currently in the um app. These are resident users. 30% who have used the service more than once since the implementation. Um again, this is primarily a corridor based service, not evenly distributed citywide. The benefits of this program provides an alternative to vehicle personal vehicle use and helps reduce parking demand in hightra areas. The challenges to this program, um, the program is subsidized by tax dollars. It does not significantly reduce congestion and only about 15% of residents are registered users of the service. Um, this really is an amenity, not a core service that the city provides. So, tonight we're seeking direction um for option one to continue the service and put out a request for proposal. This would maintain mobility option for residents and visitors, support tourism

and accessibility, and will require ongoing subsidy. Option two, if we were to sunset the service, we would eliminate approximately $500,000 annually from the budget, removes the service as a city provided amenity. Both options come with trade-offs uh between cost and service levels. Um so at this time, staff is seeking commission direction. Should we proceed with a request for bid and include funding in the FY27 budget or sunset the program at the end of the current contract? Um, this program provides a valued service for some users particularly in hightra areas. However, it comes at a measurable cost to the city and we are here tonight to present the data and trade-offs and seek your direction on how would you would like staff to proceed. Is there any questions?

Thank you. Commissioner's questions. Mandy, did you um since we do have the data, can you tell me how many of those rides were residents? We've been asking for that specific number through our current contract uh through Freeb and they've been un able to provide that information to us. um you know so right now the response to that question was 30% of the 1300 riders use it more than once because they have all the info for that. I mean they should that should be an easy ask to get that info considering they have all the data which they've been using. Correct.

Okay. Just that would have been a nice number to have of the overall rides. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you, Commissioner Cosm. Uh, Mandy, thank you. I was wondering if you could um explain to us where the funding that would go to this comes from if we uh if you choose to run the contract next year. Um the funding for this would be in the same bucket as where it is right now. So, it'll be coming from our taxes. It's tax based adorum I believe. Is that okay? So, it's your property tax property. Okay. Thank you. Commission Maldonado.

Uh, thanks Mandy. Can you tell us why it is that you believe that ridership is uh down 45%. Um, I would say that it's probably because of the implementation of the fair. So, we did have that $3 per uh non-resident per ride um implementation happen in October. So, the numbers that we were looking at were really from October to January um and and just going year-over-year from that. So the ridership would be down because of that. Um you know about 40% down than you know previous years. And can you just clarify? You said $3 per ride. You mean per user?

$3 per user. Per non-resident user per ride. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Commissioner Mar. Um yeah. Uh Mandy, on the um financial analysis, it talks about the the revenue that we get from it coming both from fairs, from non-resident riders, and from advertising credits. Do we know what the breakdown between those two things is? Um we do have the breakdown. Let me see if I have that in my notes. Because I think if we had if we knew what the what the revenue was from non-resident riders, you could divide that by three and know how many rides it is. Approximately how many roughly

I think I want to say the advertising revenue that we get is about $9,000 per month. Oh, so it's most of it. Correct. I'm sorry. So sorry. Sorry, Mr. Mayor. No, no, that's okay. So So if n if it's if it's about $9,000 a month, we're getting maybe $1,000 a month in revenue from riders. From what I've seen in the reports, if that is accurate, I don't have it directly in front of me, but I believe the advertising credits are approximately 9,000. I want to say it's about 5,000 for uh Goya and I want to say another like 4,000 for tech travel.

So that's about 300 300 300 350 rides a month are non-residents. So that's 2,000 or or passengers. So that's about 3700 of the passengers a month are residents versus visitors who are paying. If I mean I I I think that math is the right way of thinking about it, but if any if anybody has a different way of looking at that, let me know. I hadn't, you know, um that doesn't that doesn't match freebies representation of Mandy saying that 30% right of the 1,200 registered residents have ridden it have used the service more than more than once.

That doesn't match that. It doesn't match, right? So some something's not working there. Okay. So we don't know. Okay. Um that's and then I guess my only other question would be for the city manager is did it turn out that there was any significant cost to the city for managing the program to register residents for the service? Is there any additional cost that the city has had to bear for managing that program and res registering residents? That's better question for Mandy because her team does this.

Right. So what we've done is we um we've taken what our we use at our front desk, the individual that we have at our front desk and they're kind of doing dual functions. So they're registering freebie as well as they're registering uh participants for classes. So um we have added additional hours to accommodate because right now as you're aware the rec center is closed because you know we're really only open during class time and then when we have afterare. So this person has stayed a little bit longer to try to accommodate the registrations that we get from freebie. Okay. Thank you,

Mandy. Um, I I noticed your your direction is either continue with the request for bid. I assume that request for bid is is that just for freebie or is there other things that we would allow bids to be on freebie?

Um, right now it could be anything. You know, we're just looking for direction once the contract ends. We could go back out for bid. could be um at commission discretion of how you want to see that bid proposed. Um or the other option would be to go ahead and sunset the program. U so just to be clear, I guess I'm sunsetting is is is freebie the whole program would go away and I'm now I'm trying to figure it is free our only option is really what I'm trying to ask of of uh of the city staff. I realize they're our current option. Are there other alternatives that may be more cost-effective? If we if we go out to bid, can we look at other vendors beyond freebie in this scenario and look for other vendors to possibly um bid on what it would be to to give us these same services or similar services?

Yeah, there are other services that are out there. So, I mean, when we go out for the request for proposal, it wouldn't be necessarily a bid, it would be a proposal. So, there could be other companies in the area that come into us and they may have different ideas of what this program could look like. Doesn't have to follow the exact model that we've been following for the last few years. It could be anything else. Okay. I I'm sorry. Some of the important what we could get from feedback today from you all is what are some of the scope of services or expectations you would have in that RFP because the purpose of today is we're building your 2027 budget and since a half a million dollars isn't necessarily a small number for this community. Yes.

We really want direction. Do you want us to hold the half a million and proceed with similar services that you have that you're going to have to subsidize? Do you have other ideas that you'd like us to include in the RFP? Because we by the time we finish the RFP, the budget will be too far along to pivot that quickly on a half a million dollar shift. Okay. Um, so I'm sorry, series of more questions. I apologize. So the revenue, uh, I know you've given me four months of data here, so I'm trying to figure out what the revenue annually is, not not what our cost is. I know that. And I know you've given me four months of revenue. uh four months of revenue I thought you said was 34 to 35 oh I'm sorry revenue is $9 to $10,000 per month is that accurate monthly revenue

and so theor theoretically 100 to $120,000 a year is what our revenue is off of this

I mean I yeah so I I think you know just for me I think I think I would love to explore freebie and other options uh see if there's other options that that can be more cost effective I certainly would tell you that um you know I I think most of us have received a lot of emails uh over the last few days. Certainly I have. I'll at least acknowledge what I've received uh and I know there's interest and I think for for me I I know that there's some some value in uh providing the service uh that is just a few things that come to the top of my head that is uh timely. You know, I can get get a ride when I need one. It's reliable. They're professional. They're courteous. Those are kind of things that immediately come to mind. Uh but I don't know that it has to be at the cost that we're seeing in this program personally. Um so I would love to see if you know if we're going to put it out for bid if if it's more other other vendors beyond just our current vendor and I want to make sure that that's a possibility maybe over to our our city staff branch. It seems reasonable. Um I I'll seed back to I know uh Commissioner Robinson has some more questions for you. So

not so much questions. I think I have some ideas. Sure. um if there was an opportunity to do do a partnership, whereas I know that we have some other uh options that have been viable in this community before that offer uh free to the city because they do it on their own and they do a free ride to the residents and visitors alike. and if we could do some sort of partnership where we could get maybe a hold harmless agreement with them and um and um we do some marketing for them. I mean because it does seem like uh whatever product we have needs to be marketed and then we can work out the specifics on any sort of advertising whatever. I just think there's options for that. I know the community is strong, but I I've got to express my my concern on Freeb using uh what I would consider our database to send out a letter to lobby for support for the freebie because that's what we got all on our emails. I have a copy of the letter that they sent out and I just think that's a security risk. That's a data breach. I have real concerns with that and as well with their contract with that because they are in breach of their contract for that.

Do you have more questions um or thoughts? Well, I I'm in as far as I'm concerned, Freebre has breached their contract as at this point and if we want to continue to do something else, we should look for something else that is going to be free to this community. And I think there's options out there. So if we do do something, I'm looking for a partnership. Thank you. Commission M. Was she first? Sorry. Um, sure.

Um, I I just have a couple of thoughts about it about the whole concept in general and um, you know, I think it's it's clearly an appreciated service and something that a lot of our visitors and residents appreciate having. Um, I I I also feel like anything that you give away, people like, and if you try to take it back, you know, like if I got free donuts every day and someone took it back, I'd be like, "Wait, where are my free donuts?" You know? So, so there there's a little bit of that. Um, I from from kind of a philosophical level, I have a little bit of a problem with um any government entity being involved in something that private industry can provide and with government competing with private industry and something that they're currently providing. Um, and I think that, you know, government's job should be to do the things that that are for the health, safety, and welfare of their residents that that private industry can't do, right? And so, um, you, you know, I think it's been clearly shown that this is something that private industry can provide. Um, I don't necessarily have a a problem with with keeping some sort of subsidized service and that's really because of the history of of why the freebie came about. And you know, initially when when St. Pete Beach started their microransit program, it was because we ended the contract with the PTSA to have the buses go from the county park down to Pasigril. Um, and the the residents of Pasigril didn't appreciate having the full empty full-size buses driving through their neighborhoods. And so the freebie started as a way to get visitors from the tourist district and the county park down to the business district and the beaches and the businesses in Pasigril and for employees to be able to get to Pasigril. And then it kind of morphed into something else from there. And and so I I still think that there probably is some value in some sort of

transit that gets people from the main tourist area of town into Pasigril. And if and if in a very costeffective way that program can also give other people some rides around town, clearly it's something that's appreciated. Um but but I mean I feel like we should be able to do it at a at a on a smaller scale at a at a more reasonable cost. And so, um, like Commissioner Robinson said, if there's some partnership we can do where it's it's, you know, maybe at no cost to the city or or maybe we put out there and see what what companies are willing to provide for, you know, $200,000 a year instead of $500,000 a year. Um, you know, I would I would be open to any of those things.

Thank you, Commissioner Maldonado.

Yeah. So, first first of all, full disclosure, I have been uh talking to several of the freebie drivers leading up to this uh to this meeting to kind of just get their input in some of the observations which you reiterated which was expressed by them. You know, the uh the cost of $3 per person per ride is very very expensive and they attribute a lot of this decrease to that. Uh secondly, I agree with the comments that we should seek alternative amenities that are providing transport. We have several local uh companies that have been doing that for years. I've also met with them individually and encourage them that if an opportunity came up to please put in for an RFP and then lastly I would like to have a discussion with the large hotels. I'd like for them to contribute to keep this amenity not only for our residents which use it primarily to frequent their locations but also for the tourists that come here and take advantage of that. Thank you.

Thank you. I've got a question. Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. I apologize. So, Mandy, now that we mentioned the hotels, uh, have you had feedback from the hotels? And we have not, um, reached out to the hotels at this point. Um, but I think looking at what you all are recommending for the scope moving forward, that would be a discussion that we would have. How would you do that? Once we know the direction that we're going to go, I think that we would just schedule a meeting with the hotels. there's a hotelier group that already meets pretty regularly and we would sit in on that meeting and we would discuss these options with them too and see what we can do moving forward.

Okay.

Yeah. I think so. So for me I think um you know from my perspective I would uh I would like to see us explore other options. let some of the the more private uh operators come and and and get involved in this as well uh and and open up for uh for competition for lack of a term and uh see what we can provide. I I I do agree with uh Mr. Monado's thought that we can seek revenue beyond just the the ridership. you know, perhaps I know we're already doing advertising, but perhaps for some of the hotels, it might subsidize if it's a high percentage of uh of riders coming from those hotels, we're offering them a service that they otherwise wouldn't have to provide from a their own shuttle service if they don't have one. So, I think there's some some benefits all around. And so, to be clear, are you looking for for a direction from us? That's that's what I'm making sure, right? What I'm hearing is the direction is going to be to go back out for a request for proposal um update the scope to kind of outline uh the needs that you all have mentioned as far as partnerships and um other subsidies and uh cost reduction effort. So that's the direction that I'm hearing. Everybody's in agreement. That's the direction we'll go. Do

we want to make a motion or do we need to make a motion for it? No, we just need You got the direction you need? I've got the direction. I think we're good. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you. I believe that was our only presentation. So, um I'll ask uh city clerk u it's time for audience comments. Uh do you know how many how many comments we have? How many what the count is roughly? Uh oh, they're all coming in just as I say that.

It was one I have three general comments and it looks like one, two, three, four, five, six for freebie. Okay. Uh so six to nine comments. Uh let's uh let's take the freebie ones first since we're already on the topic, please. And uh and we'll go from there. Sylvia Gabe,

good evening. Please state your name and address for the record, please. Can I reach this? Yes.

Sylvia Gabe at uh 4600 4603 Mirabella Court. Okay. So, from what I'm hearing is it does sound like most of you are not a fan of freebie. So, um, I'm just going to tell you what it means to myself, my husband, friends, neighbors, because we all really appreciate Freeb. And we have used the other private partnerships in this town that you've been referring to. We've used them as well. From our experience, we've had to wait much longer for the private cars to come for us. There's never enough. there's only one or two on the road and we could wait an hour which is when we started to use freebie a lot. So we call for freebie. We do it on the app. It's seamless. It's really simple and they come usually within 10 minutes. The drivers are professional. It's clean. We feel safe and it's just been a great experience. So we do appreciate their service and we use them for many of the town sponsored events. We take it to Haran Park. We go to the concerts. We go to the Corey market, the Sunday market, the art shows. We go to the events sponsored down in Pasa Grillil on 8th Street. Without freebie, I have to tell you, we wouldn't go because there's no more bus service down there. You can't park. You know, there would just be no way to get there. So, this service really is essential for many of the people that we know that take advantage of these town sponsored events and uh parking is a big problem. We know that with the freebie, we don't have to worry about it. We go to the restaurants, we go to uh the bars, we have a drink with dinner. I don't want to drive home. I want to call

for a freebie. So, that's what it means to us. And I hope you really, you know, take that into consideration. I think it's a much better service than the privately sponsored cars. And maybe we can figure out some way to get money from the hotels to help pay for it. That was a good idea. Whoever said that. Okay, I'm done. Thank you. Thank you, Dave Green. Good evening, sir. Please state your name and address for the record, please.

Dave Green, 3408 East to Basin Avenue. Um, I've been living in this community since 1992. In 2009, my wife and I started uh free beach ride at uh no cost to the city, state, county. Um, as a taxpayer first, I I don't like paying taxes to compete with myself, but you know, that's where we end up. As a business person, I agree with District One Commissioner. I don't think that the city should be competing with small business that's already provided. We would be happy if the uh RFP opportunity came about to put in some different thoughts, different ideas on how we could possibly partnership or bring the cost down significantly. $2.5 million over five years. I don't know. Can you use that money for an somewhere? I'd be happy to answer any questions or you know if anybody has anything for me. Thank you for your time. Yeah.

Okay. Thank you, Linda Venino.

I've never Can you hear me?

Yes, ma'am. Would you please state your name and and address for the record, please? Linda Vanino, 60002nd Street East, Apartment 21, St. Pete Beach. Um, I the reason I came to the meeting tonight was for strictly for the freebie. Um, you know, I think we definitely need something on this speech. However, I was when I saw the dollar amount, uh, it kind of blew me away because that is a lot of money. And right now, you know, we're not our beaches or our beach is not even our residents, not all of them have come home yet. So, that's, you know, that's affected the uh the free the freebie. I have taken it recently as well as in the past. In the past, I did have to wait uh became so popular that you know waiting for an hour, it did happen. I can verify that my for myself. However, the last couple of times I've taken it, which was about a month ago, um they were just there immediately and his name was Richard. He was very nice, very, very polite and took very good care of us. So, I agree that we do need something. I think once our hotels are a little more up and running and our residents are able to come home again, um I believe that, you know, the we'll have a lot more traffic, but I thank you for your time. I agree with the cost, you know, and hopefully we can find something a little more cost effective or another way of partnering partnering

with the hotels. As far as private entities, uh, I'm not really for that. Thank you. Thank you, Leslie Brown. Hi. Uh, Leslie Brown, 3408 East Basin Avenue. Congratulations, Mayor Tate. Thank you.

Congratulations, Commissioner Marriott. Congratulations, Commissioner Causy. I just want to say that. Thank you for your service. Um, I just want to say this month, you hear my voice shaking. Um, this month is 17 years that Free Beach Ride has offered free local rides on St. Pete Beach. So, 17 years. It's been a really long time. Um, there's been ups and there's been downs, but um, we've we've been here and, um, we would appreciate the opportunity if it is put out to Bitigan that, um, maybe we can work something out. We would appreciate that. So, thank you. Thank you. Joe Maddox.

Ma'am, you can ratchet that down to one. Uh Joe Maddox, 4100 Belle Vista Drive. Uh so I tell you, uh one, I think freebie is great. I've I've done it a bunch of times. It is awesome. Love, love, love. Two, sir, why is ridership down? Because all the residents from a year ago have replaced their cars that died and drowned in the all the sands out of the road and their cars have been replaced. So that's probably one a year ago, you know. Yeah. You know, didn't have cars. So I know that one from fact. Ma'am, you are exactly spot on. You know, everybody's been given a, you know, take it or leave it proposition. H, you know, uh, when freebie, my idea of freebie was, okay, you had two electric golf carts, you know, with one part-time uh, employee with no benefits. Hey, great. You know, wonderful. While one's charging up, the other one's going up and down. Great. Now in my neighbor I'm seeing a 15-pack van going around there. I'm like what? You know I mean it is possible to run this on a shoestring and uh well feel like it's not. So u don't take the take it or leave it and that's just my suggestion but anyway so there yes ma'am there are alternatives one. Awesome. Thank you very much.

Thank you sir. That was quite nice. I appreciate that. Appreciate your covered. Sorry. Thank you. Hello, David Hubard. Uh, Bokea Drive. I'm speaking on as a private citizen, not on behalf of the planning board. I saw the micro mobility study and I just wanted to come remind this commission that I I want to say a year or even two years ago, it was asked for numerous data points and apparently they've still not provided those. That's disappointing when we can't even find out h how much uh our residents are using the service. Uh I noticed while we track a $30 an hour uh average service cost, it doesn't include how much downtime there is related to vehicles not being in service or charging or sitting idle. And I would like to know that I I am a heavy user of the freebie or I I should say I'm a I attempt to be a heavy user of the freebie. I I've been known to go to agave and have margaritas from time to time and my wife and I have tried to use the freebie numerous times and I would say we probably succeed 25% of the times because we will book it. You have absolutely no clue when it's going to show up. Uh we're not willing to wait and then we take an Uber. So, if they could just fix the app, I think writership would go up significantly because there's times when I'm okay waiting an hour if I know it's actually coming, but I'm not okay just reloading on my phone endlessly wondering if it's ever going to show up. So, we end up bailing out and that prevents us from using it. Uh, I do want to thank the the freebie drivers. Uh, they're it's nice to see the same faces, Stephanie, Patrick, John, Thomas, Jessica. We we see them every time. They're always nice. the vehicles are clean and reliable. Uh we have taken Ubers where it seems like there's always a wheel out

of balance. What a driver one time was holding a pet lizard instead of driving. My wife's like, "Do you want me to hold that thing so you can actually look at the road?" I mean, that's what you get with an Uber and I don't like that. So, we would prefer a freebie or a similar service if the city wants to go out and find one. Um, if the city does go into a partnership or a subsidized agreement or whatever the case may be, I would encourage the city to either demand a useful app that lets you know when you're going to get a ride or to require some type of minimum service levels so residents aren't sitting around making a phone call and wondering if they're going to get an hour or two hours ride or how it's going to work out. So, those are my comments. Thanks.

Yeah, thank you. Tina Slater think she's here. Dominic Isgro.

Good evening, Mayor Tatton Commissioners. My name is Dominic Isgro and my wife Amanda and I reside at 44046 a St. Pete Beach. I'm an attorney in private practice since 2014, resident of our community since 2016. I'm here to address an ongoing issue with the Plaza Beach Hotel at 456 Gulf Boulevard uh involving the unlawful restriction of public beach access. Since early this year, the hotel has been asserting private ownership of a large swath of the public beach, seawird of its western property boundary, and ejecting public beachgoers from the area, even co-opting local law enforcement to threaten people who refuse to move with trespass. The hotel initially used plastic traffic cones to demarcate this area, but has now taken to driving wooden stakes in the sand all the way down to the water and even implanting six six foot lengths of rusted uncapped steel rebar into the Gulf at the surf line while continuing to eject non- hotel guests. My wife and I have met and spoken with Penelli Penelis County Sheriff's Office on several occasions over the past two months. The sheriff's office has now stopped threatening beachgoers with trespass, but has also refused to direct the hotel to remove these wooden stakes and steel spikes, taking the position that this is a code enforcement issue and it's up to the city to address it. The sheriff's office also informed me that representatives of this commission and the county property appraisers office met with the hotel management on March 20th and informed the hotel that it does not own the public beach area over which it is laid claim. Despite this, the hotel continues to cordon off the area and kick people out of it. This past Saturday, I spoke with an employee of the hotel, uh, Sunday, excuse me, who admitted that the hotel knows where its property boundaries are, but continues to assert control over the area because that's the only way it feels it can keep the area private for its guests and clear certain types of people out of that area that it finds undesirable. I'll refrain from going further on that

point, but the hotel doesn't care what it property boundaries are. cares what's good for business and until someone forces them to do otherwise, they're going to continue interfering with public access. On that note, my request to the commissioner straightforward. First, that the city take a clear and public position affirming that the area seawword of the western property boundary of the hotel is public and may not be restricted by private actors. Second, that the city take appropriate enforcement action, whether through code enforcement or coordination with the sheriff to require the hotel to immediately remove the wooden stakes and spikes that it has in placed along the beach. And third, I would ask the the city to uh give guidance to local law enforcement so that this issue doesn't persist um and and so that other beach hotel properties up and down the coast don't feel emboldened to continue this same sort of behavior. Thank you very much. I'm happy to address any questions if you have any.

Thank you, sir. Appreciate your time tonight. Lisa Reich.

Hello. Lisa Reich, Pond Street, St. Pete. Um, I am the CEO and founder of Coastal Wildlife Advocacy Group and I am here to publicly thank you, Fran, for your pivotal letter to trade winds and country thunder. I really appreciate it. The conservation world appreciates it and it made a huge difference. So, thank you. Thank you, Tiffany Quantero.

I've never stood up here, but I'm Dr. Tiffany Remar Quantero, and I'm here to also say thank you. Your address, please, Tiffany. I'm sorry.

Excuse me. My address, 3771 Bella Vista Drive East. Uh, and I'd like to thank all of you for also helping to remove the uh, obstacles for our turtles and move the festival or get it moved. And I'm also here because I am concerned about all of the cell phone small cell radiation potential and what we're dealing with here and where we are. And I would like to know how we can proceed not to get more to figure out why we have so many and to limit our RF radiation exposure because if we even walk down our street, if you look at how much radiation we're getting in our face, it's um it's disheartening for us in our health and human life to have single point mutations at this level consistently at this frequency. And so as a concerned citizen, as a doctor, as a scientist, I would like to try to do something about that to figure out why we have them, why we have so many. If we don't have gap in coverage and if we do have gap in coverage, how come we can't use the tops of our hotels that are currently in use and not have the small cells in our face in our going through our businesses going through our homes and also a lot of them are within a range where if they fall they're going to take structure. So, I don't know if there is, you know, that uh it's called fall radius if we can hold up with that. I know some of them are not currently having that. So, I'm here to say I'm concerned and I'd like to see what we can do to minimize our our health effects of these towers. Thank you.

Thank you, M. Muro. I have no further audience comments. Okay. Thank you very much. Um, next we have the consent agenda which I think we pulled out items E and G for discussion post. Um, I think normal I think what we've been doing is we discuss them and then approve the whole thing if that's what wants to happen. Right. Fair enough. No. Am I wrong about that? City clerk, can you help us do the please? The preferred course of order would be you move to approve the consent agenda as amended with the exception or as amended. Yeah.

And then we would take each item and we would take a separate motion on each item after the questions and discussion. Okay. Perfect. Thank you for the clarification. Yeah. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve as amended? I'll I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended. I'll second. See the clerk can make a roll call, please. Commissioner Robinson. Yes. Commissioner Cay. Yes. Commissioner Maldonado. Yes. Vice Mayor Marriott. Yes. And Mayor Tate. Yes. The motion carries.

Okay. Thank you, uh, city clerk. And now I think we pull out I'll just take them out in order to be frank with you, E. And then G. So, uh, discussion authorized the city manager to trans transition four limited term duration employees position into full-time positions. Uh I don't there's I mean I certainly I pulled it myself so I just had some questions but I don't know if there's others before I step into my piece. I just make sure that I allow others to to make their comments. So uh for me I know I know I'm relatively new so I'll just start with that. Um, and uh, you know, I think for me, I I know that we've got um, I did have a a a brief conversation uh, with our our city uh, manager this afternoon about this, but I I just want to make sure a few more things get kind of covered. Uh, my understanding is we currently have some temporary positions that we're looking to move into uh, permanent positions. And if you can remind me what department they're in and and and uh, the benefit that they'll provide, please.

Sure. maybe and they'll give you a teen teensy bit of background for the public as well.

So, uh during the hurricane recovery, we actually at one point were up to 37 employees in the building and permitting department. We were basically scaling up to try to respond to the demand of basically 90% of the island being needing permitting and rebuilding. Um o about 12 months post storm we were approximately about 22 and this is uh when we went through the current fiscal year we requested seven limited duration employees in the permit division because we were still having quite a bit of volume that we were trying to basically play catchup. This is uh the director of community development has been doing quite a bit of organizational review and we are at a point where we believe we need these four positions at least for the next couple of years because we don't foresee or project a reduction in work and in a in an attempt to uh retain these employees. You know, my philosophy is once you go past a year, someone's not temporary anymore. So, you really should start looking at how do you fold them into the organization and and expect them to be here longer term. Um, as with any position, uh, we would like to convert these. They would be we would post those jobs internally. We're um hopeful that any internal candidates that are currently in those positions are still interested. There may be other people in the city that are interested as well. So we consider all applicants internally and then this would become the core team for permitting and building as we continue recovery um and try to address the volume. We um as you know permitting's been a hot topic for the community. Uh we think we've just about arrived at the sweet

spot of the level of service um and employees that we need to continue to to maintain the response that's required. not only by by statute but we're trying to exceed that response as a customer service level. So that is the reason uh behind that we do have funding available. The uh positions were actually budgeted in this in this year. So, we're not asking for any new allocations as part of your baseline budget in 26. And then if they're converted, we would um be proposing uh those positions in 27 to continue because of our expectation of permit volume not reducing anytime soon.

Okay. and uh there these positions even long term three four years from now as you migrate I think we heard at the last commission that we're looking at potential new software new mechanisms for for managing our permits uh going forward these these uh four staff positions would would be in your future as well in that same scenario they would they you would envision them growing into those positions uh even in the future and and the need will still be there as we transition to new software.

Yeah. So if anybody's been through a software transition, you know, the work about doubles for a period of time while they're trying to do run, you know, parallel systems to make sure the data is converted. So yes, the whole team, not just these four, but the entire building and permitting department would be transitioning to that new software. Okay. All right. Thank you. That was it for me on that topic. Um, do we cover both and then would you vote on this one first? It sounds like we'd vote on this one, right? Uh, is there a motion to uh move forward with approve item E? I'm sorry. Made a motion to approve uh item E. Make the motion to approve item E.

I'll second. City clerk. Commissioner CY. Yes. Commissioner Maldonado. Yes. Vice Mayor Marriott. Yes. Commissioner Robinson. Yes. Mayor Tate. Yes. The motion carries. Thank you. Uh, and we pulled out item G, which is authorize the city manager to execute change order five for the pump station one rehabilitation project with TLC Diversified, Inc. for the amount of $395,967. Commissioner Robinson, I think you had some questions here. Yes, I do. I'll let Camden come up for those.

Good evening. Uh, mayor, commissioners, for the record, Camden Mills, public services director, I appreciate the opportunity this evening to provide some clarification on this item. How far along are we in this process? We we're pretty far along for this bid process. And what was the total amount again for this for the uh pump station one rehabilitation program?

Our our total budget for this project was $6.25 uh million. Um, currently we've encumbered $4.1 million. Um so we have a remaining balance of about $2.1 million. Um we have um pending change orders um one both on the cassette item tonight about $424,000. Um so if those were to be approved, our remaining balance for this project is $1.7 million. Um I I would like to add, you know, going into to fiscal year 26, we anticipated adding the these scope items into into the project. Um so that that's what we're reflecting here tonight. We do not have any other planned expenditures at this time. Um so we do plan on on completing this project within the the budgeted amount.

Um change order to me is um something in the project obviously has changed and there's usually an increase in cost for that and is that increase to $395,000? Correct. Okay. And u we have a contingency fund uh planned on this project. Correct. Correct. How much of of that? How what is the number for that? Our our contingency um that's currently remaining is that about $2.1 million. 2.1. Okay. So, this is a quarter of that or thereabouts. Um and what phase are we in in the spending on this?

Um this this should be our final phase unless there's any unforeseen or unknowns that that come about. Um but as far as our plan spending, um that this is this is the last phase of that. Um we plan on um substantially completing this project uh this summer in in July and then um after that we will be waiting for the delivery of the backup generator which will come online in October and then we're planning to complete the project in November.

Okay. And um I just wanted to make sure because I'm just see a number this large it needs to have some questions asked to it. Um, and I was concerned at what phase we are in and how many more we think, you know, possibly, you know, more change orders we could have. Um, obviously this is number five, so we've had five to date. Um, and uh, it's good to know we have uh, 4.1 mil left and a contingency fund of 2, what was it? Two 2.1 contingency remaining. So that'll be windowled down to about 1.7 left. Okay, great. Thank you. That was my question.

Thank you, Ken. And then I have some more questions for you. Just raise some questions in my head. So original bid 6.25 4.2 spent today effort today. We've we've spent 4.2 out of 6.25. So I'm hearing I'm I'm reading remaining spend off the original budget of 2.1 million. You're saying we don't need to continue to spend that 2.1 if we spend the 400 or you saying we'll spend the 2.1 plus another 400,000.

We we don't plan on spending any more um than the than what's here tonight. So, so basically the original contract was for um a little over $4 million. Um that was for phase one of this project. What was design and permitted was phase one and phase two. Um so some of these change orders that you've seen come about. Um change orders one, change order two, and then tonight's change order five were all associated with that previously designed work um that were that we plan to incorporate into the project as part of our fiscal year 26 budget. I'm I'm sorry. I'm just 6.25 25 was your was your was your budget for phase one and two. Correct. I just heard you say that. And are we still in phase one right now?

We will be doing phase one and phase two. Um currently constructing. Okay. Let me cut to the chase. Will phase one and phase two end up being total spend including this change order less than or more than 6.25 budget? Less than. Um right now we're anticipating to be under by about $1.7 million. Okay. That's that's what we'll not spend against our budget that we projected and we'll still finish phases one and two. So, we'll be under budget. Correct. Okay. I'm just curious, are we are we are we on time? Are we under time as well or We're on time right now. Yep. Okay. Not over time, not under just right about where we expect to be. Yes, sir. And when's the completion of this, please?

We plan on being fully completed in November. Um, so we'll we'll be finished with the bulk of the construction in July of this summer, but the the backup generator won't be delivered until October. So then the contractor will um remobilize to install that generator um finish that work and so we anticipate being completed in November. Thank you. Thank you. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve consent item G. I second. City clerk, please. Commissioner Maldonado. Yes. Vice Mayor Marriott. Yes. Commissioner Robinson. Yes. Commissioner Cy. Yes. Mayor Tate. Yes. Motion carries.

Okay. Thank you. I think uh I think that's the end of our consent agenda. We're heading on to the ordinances. Um I see there is an ordinance. City attorney, if you would please read that ordinance to us.

Yes. This is ordinance 20268 amending chapter 66 of the police officers retirement system. An ordinance of the city of St. P Beach, Florida. Amending Chapter 66, Pensions and Retirement, Article 3, Police Officers Retirement System, amending section 66230, share plan, providing for codification, conflict, severability, construction, publication, and an effective date. Okay. Um, city clerk, is there any audience questions or comments on this? We usually have that after staff report.

Oh, thank you. Um,

well, good evening, mayor, um, commission Devon Schmidt, uh, finance director for the record. Um, so the purpose of this ordinance is really, um, amending our chapter 66 and the city code. Um, specifically, this ordinate updates their share plan allocation method so that eligible uh, retirees receive an equal distribution of qualifying qualifying premium tax revenues. Um, it also clarifies administration and distribution procedures to ensure that we're consistent with um, state law and specifically Florida statute 185.35. Um, what excuse me, I'm sorry. What is most important for the commission to understand is that this um plan uh remains fully funded solely by excess premium uh tax revenue. So there's no use of city general funds and there's no impact to the city. Um the city and included as part of your attachment there uh you did see that our independent actuarial did review uh the ordinance and confirmed that there is no impact to the city or state contribution requirements. There's no change to the actuarial assumptions or valuation results and no actuarial impact or statement is required.

Any questions, commissioners? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Like to make the motion to adopt ordinance 2026-08. I second. Clerk, please. Vice Mayor Marriott? Yes. Commissioner Robinson? Yes. Commissioner Casy, yes. Commissioner Maldonado, yes. Mayor Tate, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh I think that's our last uh ordinance piece. And next, it's our action items for election of vice mayor. Uh city clerk, this says that you can introduce this topic for us. Would you please do so?

Pursuant to the city code, the commission annually elects one of its members to serve as vice mayor for a one-year term. The vice mayor acts in the mayor's absence. This requires an affirmative vote of three or more members and the requested action is a motion to elect a vice mayor tonight. Thank you. Commissioner's comments, Mr. Mayor.

Um, sure. So, um, I've had the pleasure of being vice mayor for the last year. I want to I want to start by acknowledging that it is um that that we all know that really all it means is it's the person that runs the meeting in the event that the mayor can't be here. Um but I do have I I do have one comment and that is that um I think that historically um or or for for some number of years the city has been a little bit under reppresented or or has missed a little bit of an opportunity of building relationships at the big sea which is the barrier island governmental council and so as vice mayor I've had the pleasure of attending the big sea meetings for the past year year when our previous mayor had a conflict and was was largely unable to attend. And so, um, now that we have a new mayor who it seems will be attending those meetings pretty regularly, um, I I would just throw out there that I would be happy to continue serving as vice mayor just in just to have a little bit of continuity at those big C meetings in the event that our current mayor is unable to attend any of them. Um, and that's that that's my only opinion about it, but I just wanted to to throw that out there as as an option. And I'm I'm again willing to do it again that for whatever it means. But but but but that's my only thoughts about it.

Thank you, Commissioner Robinson. I will as well put my name in the hat. Um historically um it's usually the most senior uh not having recently served um in the capacity before. Um, I would enjoy the uh opportunity to serve as vice mayor um in back of commission uh mayor, excuse me, mayor Tate um should he not be able to attend a meeting. Thank you, Commissioners Maldonado, Commissioner Calls, any

I don't have a lot to add here. I was thinking that I was going to nominate Lisa uh Robinson for this job since she was the most senior uh representative on the board.

So just a uh a point of clarification here um and I understand traditions and things like that. I do agree with Commissioner Marriott that the large of value comes to having continuity and experience in serving on the various uh external committees. I would be comfortable with Commissioner Robinson as our vice mayor if Commissioner Marriott can stay on the committee that she served on. Would that be possible or is it traditionally the vice mayor serves? Um I mean I would be happy to continue being the alternate at the big C. I don't know if there's a is there any procedural

our next item on the agenda we'll have do appointments to the agencies including big C. So that's there's nothing that prohibits that. Okay commissioner not vice mayor from serving on any board. Is that correct? I'm sorry. Say that again. So for the big C it does not have to be the vice mayor. No. Traditionally, the mayor goes, but you can appoint an alternate or if the mayor doesn't want to go, you can appoint another person to go to the big sea. But traditionally, it's the mayors from the barrier island cities that are there. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, is is there need a motion?

I thought there was one on the table. So, if not, I uh I would love to nominate uh Commissioner Lisa Robinson as vice mayor. I'd second that. Commissioner Robinson, yes. Commissioner Cosy, yes. Commissioner Maldonado, yes. Vice Mayor Marriott, yes. And Mayor Tate, yes. The motion carries. Congratulations.

Okay. Uh so right into that next topic which is uh our appointments to outside agencies. I think we've got uh about six of them here that I see on this this this sheet in front of me. Uh let me see actually one two three four five. Yes I was right six. Uh so we've got a number of agencies. Um I'm I'm privy to a sheet in front of me that tells me who's at least in been historically serving on these uh on these committees and we've got a few vacancies uh based on turnover in the last month or two. And um I'm not sure the protocol here, Mr. Brooks, on how to how to go about this. Is it

um I think you all in your packet have a a graph or a chart. Um there's one, two, three, four, five vac six vacant positions. You could reappoint the ones that that are there now or you could replace them. So you may take them one at a time first. Do the big C. Do you want to keep the same or do you want to make any changes and then maybe go to the FLC and then the MCPC? Maybe do them one at a time. That way the first choice would be the representative and the second then would be the alternate. So a motion for the representative and then a motion for the alternate for each of the committees. I know it's a lot of motions, but that's fair enough. Is there other comments from the from the commissioners on this?

In previous years, they just made the list and then voted on it as a comprehensive list. Okay. So, I don't know what's preferred, Ralph. You can do it all in one motion. Perfect. Okay. Yeah. Um, so I, you know, from my perspective, I don't know if Let me let me ask this question of the of the commissioners. Um, are there people in certain roles that are already listed on the sheet that that would say I would want to step away for some reason that we would want to vacate? because I I'm more I guess I'm more thinking do we want to just fill the vacancies I guess is what I'm trying to imply unless somebody says I would like to transition to a different role andor vacate a role that I currently have my name under that sense

I would like to vacate the MCPC I think that would be more appropriate to have uh our mayor and vice mayor uh fill those positions okay I'm good with that I would like to take the FLC as a primary and the SLC as either primary or alternate depending on Commissioner Marriott's uh wishes and desires. Let's see. Florida League of Cities and the Sun Coast League of Cities.

Correct. Commissioner Mayor, do you have thoughts in general at all?

Um, yeah. No, a couple a couple quick thoughts. I'm um I'm totally fine staying where I am as the primary at on the Sun Coast League of Cities. Um and the alternate at the Big C. Um I don't have any real super strong feelings about any of it. Um, I did also just want to to let everyone know or bring to everyone's attention that um the one thing that isn't on this list because it's not typically a cityapp appointed position is that um our our previous mayor was the appointee from the big C to the um PTSA board. Um and the um the the folks at the big C have appointed me to to finish out his term on the PTSA board. Uh which is through September at which point the big C will then decide who you know which city you know they usually sometimes they rotate it amongst the cities whatever whether it stays with St. Pete Beach or or what have you. But that will be a big C decision this fall. Um, but I did just want to let everybody know that that's that that I will be filling that position on the PTSA board and that that's a appointment from the Big C, not from the city. Um, just so everybody knows what's happening there. Um, as far as my um being primary on the Sun Coast League of Cities, I'm totally fine staying there. If there's some place that somebody's really dying to move around and I can be better served somewhere else, I'm fine with that, too. Um,

Commissioner Cosy, thoughts? I I don't see your name yet on here, so I'm going let you wait for four for things to get filled up. Sure, they will. Yes. Um, I would be the new person here, and I would defer, I think, to Commissioner Maldonado as to uh, you know, if he has a specific choice to make, I think, uh, that would make sense to me at this point. Commissioner Kosy, are you willing to serve on the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council? I think that was that's one of the things that I was thinking I was interested in and I I am for u maximizing networking opportunities for our city

and I have the time availability to uh maximize that. So I'm not totally sure. I think I'll be useful wherever I end up. Uh, I'm going to pause real quick. Uh, let me ask Commissioner Robinson, are you are you still uh, and I don't know that I heard it. You may have said it. I'm sorry. The Penelis County Flood Insurance Committee, you want to continue in that uh, representative role? Yes, I would.

Okay. So, let me not for sake of vote just to kind of at least we're all tracking together. So, I've got uh, going across the top representatives Big C myself, um, FLC John, sorry, Commissioner Malinado, I apologize, sir. Um, MCPC, myself, uh, PCFIC Commissioner Robinson, uh, SLC Commissioner Marriott, uh, TBRPC Commissioner Casy. Um, so far I have an alternate, uh, which I think aligns with the PTSA of of of Commissioner Marriott. She would also be uh, number one PTSA uh, but also the alternate on Big C. Um, so far I think I have Commissioner Robinson as the alternate on MCPC.

Yeah. And Commissioner Robinson as the alternate on the TBRPC. Unless you That's at least what I have. No, I'm fine for that. Okay. Um, that leaves uh you gentlemen to my left some alternate opportunities if you'd like to which are what again? Uh, the FLC. So, the Florida League of Cities. Uh, the kind of the sister piece of that is the Sun Coast League of Cities. uh and uh the PCFIC. I think we're looking for some alternates on I I would love to be the alternate for the uh SLC. I think that works well because you're also the primary on FL I'm sorry, SLC. Yeah, FLC primary SLC. That's the Sun Coast League of Cities as the alternate to Commissioner Marriott.

Yes, sir. And I'd love to be the alternate on FLC if that's available. It is. All right. And so, at least by my count, I've got one alternate needed for PCFIC, Penelis County Flood Insurance Committee. I'm happy to do that. Okay. All right. I think we've got at least every box. I feel like I got a bingo card here. Like I'm going to holler bingo. Um so, um should I make this recommendation since I've got the bingo card? Motion. Yeah.

Okay. Um, I'll make a motion and I'll just list them all out, right? Uh, so on the big C, I'll make a motion for representative uh on the big C to be Scott Tate uh as the alternate of uh Commissioner Marriott. On the FLC, our representative will be Commissioner Maldonado with the alternate of Commissioner Causy. On the MCPC, I have the representative as myself, Mayor Tate, with the alternate of Commissioner Robinson. On the PCFIC, I have the representative as Commissioner Robinson and the alternate as Commissioner Marriott. On the SLC, I have the representative as Commissioner Marriott with the alternate as Commissioner Maldonado. And I have on the TBRPC the representative as Commissioner Cayy with the alternate as Commissioner Robinson. But tracking on that and and just to be clear I know it's not on our list but PTSA our primary is Commissioner Marriott.

I make a motion to approve all of that good stuff that I just read off to you. Second. And to be clear uh Mr. Brooks, is that is that uh how should I make this motion? That's a great way to make the motion. Just got a second and a roll call. I'll I'll second. Commissioner Cay, yes. Commissioner Maldonado, yes. Commissioner Marriott, yes. Vice Mayor Robinson, yes. Mayor Tate, yes. The motion carries. Okay. Uh let's see. Uh we have a third action item here which is resolution 2026-09 establishing and amending public parking fees uh with uh city manager assistant city manager Adam Puyer.

Hey, how you doing sir? Good evening.

This is a resolution of the city commission of city of St. Beach, Florida, establishing a comprehensive parking fee schedule, including both metered and permit parking fees by resolution providing for repeal of conflicting resolutions and providing for an effective date. Hi, good evening, mayor, commissioners, Adam Poy, assistant city manager. So, the resolution you have in front of you tonight is uh largely administrative. So, what happened when we took the parking fees out of ordinance and placed them in a resolution, we we just handled the parking meter fees as you remember at the previous meeting. So, we basically have to make a home for the permit fees as well. So, what we're doing tonight is just uh basically moving all of our parking related fees outside of fines into this single uh resolution. There were no changes to any of the parking uh permit uh rates or anything like that. So, what you'll see in this resolution is all of our current uh permit fees. Obviously, some fees have uh some permits have no fees. And then you'll see your updated uh parking meter rates that you approved at the last meeting. So again, it's largely uh administrative. Uh no changes to to anything that had been previously voted on. And I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thanks, sir. Thank you. Is there a motion to adopt a resolution? Motion to adopt resolution 2026-09 establishing and amending public parking fees. I'll second. Commissioner Maldonado, yes. Commissioner Marriott, yes. Vice Mayor Robinson, yes. Commissioner Cy, yes. And Mayor Tate, yes. Motion carries.

Okay. Uh, I must make a personal comment that I'm pleased with the the pace that we're going through. I think we're at uh items for discussion. Um, and I know that uh I know that we had two items for discussion from Commissioner Maldonado. Uh, specifically, I think you called them out as permit fees and uh decorum and civility is what I wrote down, but I'll I'll let you kind of make that particular motion, please.

Great. Uh, and thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor. So, um, and Devin Schmidz here, so I may call on you, uh, our brilliant finance director if necessary. So, permit fees, uh, related to, uh, to storms. I'm sure that many of us have tried to at least start carving out time to meet with constituents regarding the after the-act permits in amnesties and things like that. One of the reoccurring themes that I've had come up in discussions with my constituents has been the the very very expensive uh fees that are now being associated with restoring their homes. And I will tell you that, you know, I was quite surprised and and alarmed to hear that many people have for the last year, year and a half been fighting insurance companies and now getting to the point where even through uh civil litigation things where they're finally getting payments, are getting ready to put in for their permits, uh but they're finding challenges and difficulties with coming up with the uh the resources necessary to pay for the fees, you know, and I did talk to the city manager. I do believe that we're well funded when it comes to building uh where is where our fees go into and I would like to have the um the support of the commission to extend storm related permit fees extended to uh June 30th to coincide with the after the fact permit fees. And this is not for new builds. I do I do want to clarify that you know um I know that a lot of folks are going through with new builds. I know that we've begged, we've pleaded, uh we've asked folks, uh through public forums and engagement to come forward and to apply for storm related fees. But now I I do feel that we have oneoffs and it's a small limited amount of numbers that I've come across where these people are asking you know if I could at least

bring the discussion to the commission and ask whether or not this commission would be supportive of waving permit fees for uh storm related uh fees. So, I'd like to discuss that with the um the commission.

Commissioner Marup. Um yeah, I just want to clarify something. Commissioner Maldonado, are you um so I think it was about a year ago was when the deadline was for no permit fees for storm related repairs. And so are you suggesting that we refund the permit fees for everybody who's paid them for the last 10 months? That would be one of the questions to see if we have the bandwidth to absorb that uh internally.

Okay. Another clarification I believe after you had you had two steps in this process. You had the first where it was 100%. Then there was a time period we only did 50%. Right. So we're talk We would need some time to this is pretty significant ask of retroactity. Just want to make that clear and we would need some time to analyze that. The exact dates were April 22nd. I know it because I filed on that last day um for zero um for all of them being covered except the 2% fee to the state and then it extended to I believe it was June 1st. I think June 1st.

And I just have a question. When does it stop? I I'm just I I feel for everybody. I get it. But at some point there has to be an ultimate, you know, there has to be a date. Um and we're still going to get hit with those outliers that are going to say you extended, missed the date, all that because I I'm sure if I get the emails, everybody else gets the emails. Um and again for new builds as well um for those items. So um I'm happy to talk about it. It's just that I think we have to

and it's going to change every commission. So at some at some point um you know we did say again and again and it was a tough thing to go through um just doing that because we did it four times.

Yeah. because we did it initially and it was supposed to we extended it again then we did it to April 22nd and then we did half price to June 30th. So the question is, wouldn't it be more realistic if you're talking about that to do the half price on those fees, not the full price? Because now you're to talking about you got people that went from June 22nd, I mean, April 22nd to June 1st that we're half price. So, so now we're in a full rebate. So there's a lot to be considered and there'd be a lot of math to figure out where that is. But I think if you're going to talk about it, it to be fair, it would need to be the half rate. I think also um

or we go down, I'm sorry, or we go down to to you know a quarter, I don't know. Um some discount, you know, something so that it's a it is a sliding scale to till we're ultimately at zero or or not zero, the other way 100%. Yeah. I think also the um you know initially for the first six months after the storm when we were um having no fees for hurricane repair that those were dollars that at least theoretically we will we either have or someday hope to get reimbursed by FEMA. No, but we but we were getting re we we were were hoping to get reimbured from FEMA for some of the extra people we had to No, the state had none of those things

none of those things are accurate. Um, so the FEMA grant that funded the first six months was called a 1206 grant and the state had front-loaded it. Okay. So they basically paid okay for all the expense and then after 6 months they cut it off and we had to pay for everything.

Okay. Right. And so, um, and and and my position, I mean, I think ever since we we started charging for permits for hurricane repair again, I think my my position has been the same and is still the same that as somebody who who is going through the process of having to tear my house down and build a new one, that that I think for many of us, the the permit fees are a very tiny percentage of the cost of the of of the whole thing, right? You know, you you lose everything you own. You have to repair your house. There's, you know, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars of losses. The permit fees are are a pretty small incremental fee. And I think that that I and most of the people that I've spoken to would rather pay the fee and have a very efficient, well functioning building department. Like I mean along the way I remember call talking to a lot of people who were like I will pay double the fees if you can just get me a permit. And so, um, so I I I am I am a bit concerned that if we get into a rebating a lot of permit fees because because it would be very difficult to just say now like if you like whatever horrible situation you've been in that has led to only now being able to apply for a permit. We're going to give you a free permit, but all the people for the last year had to pay. I mean, that gets messy. And if we get into a a rebating fees scenario, we potentially put ourselves in a position where those four limited duration employees that we've just decided to make permanent, we go, "Well, now we don't have money for them." And so we're going to have fewer people in the building department and we'll get you a free permit, but now it's going to take six months instead of one, you know. So I I don't want to I don't want to put us in that position.

Double. So, I'd like to hear from Commissioner Casy before I circle back and answer a couple.

Well, I I kind of insensitive to I'm I'm thinking along the lines of Commissioner Maldonado. I I'm hearing uh I'm seeing a lot of people in district three who have been delayed for various reasons. Some of them they couldn't control and now we're going to charge them fees for no logical reason. And so I just would like to have the basis for this and if um the building department is able to afford this and it would be coming out of building department and I understand there's a surplus in the building department. So I would I would actually like to see um some version of what it would cost us to um maybe stick with the 50%. And I I think um if we were able to afford it, what I feel like would be right and helpful is for storm storm repairs to be free of fees.

Okay. Uh thank you. And keep your lights still on. Commissioner, you still Yeah. Yeah. I was just didn't want to I can quit for now. I just need a clarifying question on your statement. Did you say you think it should be free for storm repairs or 50%? Well, I would like to see some version of those two things because it might simplify the math if we're not going to do rebates to just keep it at 50% going forward for any storm recovery, not not new builds. And I just want to see what the cost of that would be. So that would include rebates from last June till now.

So So you want to look at a retroactive rebate and then anything going forward indefinitely. That's your proposal. I would like to see what those numbers are. Okay. The projections will be difficult because I can't predict a hurricane. No, no. I mean on this on You're talking about Helen? Yes. These are the ones we've had already and where we did allow the people who got in in the first part to do they had no permit fees. My own permit fees I paid them and then I was refunded that and that's because I was able to put my permit in right away.

So you're proposing 50% for any hurricane Helen or Milton. I'd like to see what that number is because we're at 50% now. So I would be proposing we're not at 50%. Where are we now? Everyone we're we're back to full. We were at zero then 50% now we're at 100. We have been since last June 1st. Okay.

And and and to to just answer and then also to just kind of maybe uh pull things back a little bit. Uh it is very confusing. You know, it's it's confusing to us as commission members. It's confusing to folks that uh don't uh follow the commission meetings aren't adhering to emails or opening emails and getting information to them. So, they're getting secondhand information. And that's why that I've made an effort to try to reach out to people that I think may be in that segment of society that just don't have the social media, don't have the resources, don't have the ways of getting uh in contact with the city on a regular basis. Uh after hearing two of my fellow commissioners say um you know, yes, it would be creating more work and going back and seeking you know um reimbursements and things like that. I would advocate for 50% moving forward. So, those people that currently haven't applied for storm related permit fees related to Helen and Milton, not going any any uh any further than that uh that have not started work, right? We're we're talking about um folks that are just now getting ready to submit their fees for the first time. If we can absorb it within the building fund, then I would be very supportive of reducing their fees to 50% until June 30th being an absolute hard cut off. And we have to be very uh very strict on that. You know, I do I do see what you're saying, Commissioner Marriott, that we've pushed it back. We've waited a year. Commissioner Robinson, Vice Mayor Robinson, uh you know, in your point that um how long is too long, but I I do feel now that having spoken to at least uh a baker's dozen of people, 50% of those people are just shocked when they go in

and and look at what the permit fees are, you know, and I'm talking about 3,000. That may seem like nickels and dimes to some people, but uh to some people that's, you know, that's a month and a half, two months income. So, I'm I'm being sympathetic to the range of people that I have in my district, you know, whether they're earnings are in the millions or whether they're in the thousands. And um I do think that if we can absorb it and and maybe Devon can come up and comment a little bit on actually I'd prefer the community development director to come up at this point. She's she's way over budget. Are are you saying just from now till June 31st? Are you saying retroactive since we've started paying full collecting full

options? Quite frankly, you know, if I if we can just help 10 people out of a situation, you know, uh I would be open to all options at this point. What I don't want to be is uh authoritative and say we gave you a deadline. This was it. Either meet it or don't meet it. I don't think that that serves the community. and that uh I am trying to do two things. You know, get people back in their homes and protect us moving forward. So to to Commissioner Kazy's point, we need to start thinking as soon as we get through these things about preparedness and things and I think that's where you were going, sir. So

well, I don't get the cut off. I if if we're talking about strictly the previous two events, I don't see why there's should be a time limit related to those. And I only went with that because that coincides with after the fact permit fees. You know, I'm trying to not add any more to the timelines or burden on the staff. I realize every time we come up with an idea, you know, we're we're putting more on their plate. So, uh, again, open to all options. You know, we could make it 30 days, 60 days. Um,

but I I don't see that it need to apply to after the fact. And also we we have people who have um not put in and it turns out they have done work. I'm just talking about people who are delayed and doing their they haven't put in a permit yet and they haven't done any work yet for various reasons. I think we're talking about the same people. I think so.

I would have a question. I I mean, we didn't do any sort of permit fee waiver with Adelia or any of the other hurricanes we've had on the beach. I just want to put things in perspective. Um and and we did do that for these two backtobacks as giving grace to everybody. Um and it extended for a fairly long time. And then we talked about the grace on the amnesty for people that got in. Uh my concern would be if we are talking about this that the only fair option would be the June one and that would need to be a rebate for people that paid.

If I can just have the director comment on rebates because we are still backlogged on the 24 rebates that we have not been able to return because of complications in our finance system. So, I just want to set expectations if that's what we're going to do that it comes at a cost to a very skinny finance department that is trying to put a budget together. And so, we need a lot of time to do these this rebate process. But Laura, if you would weigh on on just operationally what's happening.

I'd like to say one more thing. I agree with uh Commissioner Marriott on the fact that people would prefer to have a permit and get it in a timely manner than what we had seen before and it to be um you know the we've been working very diligently on the permit department and I'd hate to see any detriment to that.

Thank you. Laura Canary, community development director. Um so a few things. Um, number one, I just wanted to and maybe uh George from Deote can better explain this, but I know when we talked about the previous reimbursement, excuse me, when we talked about the FEMA reimbursements, the waiverss came into play. It basically offset what we were able to get back from FEMA as a city. So, I just want to throw that out there that it w it was I don't want to say frowned upon, but it was noted and then um captured accordingly as you look at the reimbursement that we received as a city. Number one. Number two, um again since my time and I wasn't here in the very beginning, but I know that just the communication of trying to explain to just come and apply for a permit even if you're not ready to do the work and you don't know what you're going to do and you haven't heard back from Elevate, get the application in because then we can still wave the fee and even if you don't come in and act on it for six months or eight months, it kind of holds that place for you and then you're not subject to those fees. That was another thing I just wanted to note. And then um third, I think the point was made of, you know, that given the cost of some of these projects and the cost of what the permits can get up to, it can be a lot to some. But in the bigger picture, a lot of times based on the overall scope of work, it is a portion of the overall project. That being said, I would hate for anyone to have their project held up because of the permit fees. And so one of the things that we've talked about with management is, you know, is it is another approach. And again, maybe this is for you all to think about or consider, you know, maybe looking at something like truly a hardship application or or program or something that we could address these maybe, you know, handful of people or one-offs moving forward, maybe indefinitely. that if it really is that permit fee, maybe you are working through a program or a third party and you have funding

available that's going to help you with the cost of the project, but it's going to come out of pocket for the permit cost. Some type of application that you could provide to us that then again on a case-byase basis, we could look at that. Um, and then again I've seen where you know similar programs for like you'll see that with like a utility bill, people that can't afford their utility bills, they may round up on their permit fees an extra dollar to put into that hardship fund for other people in the community that are trying to rebuild. Just just a thought. Um, and then the other thing that I I just wanted to mention as far as the again when we we even ran into it when we changed it from to the 50% there was a window of time where there were people that had came in and had the 100%. And so going back to the the rebate and kind of the not only confusion that that kind of caused for people coming in but then also um you know the people that have done it right you know it um we we don't want to punish anyone and I think that that's why using the fees up until this point it's really more been to incentivize to just get them to come in. Hey, come in by this date and you don't have to pay any permit fees or come in by this date and it's 50%. Um but those are just some thoughts that I have and any other questions I'll be happy to answer.

Mr. Cos.

Yeah. So I understand I think that the complication with rebates is the mainly the FEMA taking into account what we've already done and then how would we account for that with them? Is that the major time consuming? Yeah, I was thinking completely separate from our we have staff and working with finance and if we were to determine what the reimbursement amounts are for the individual applicants and getting that all figured out. Then completely separate to that is what we've already done to date um reimbursement wise, FEMA wise, funding wise because that again waiver was factored into their methodology in determining what the city was going to get reimbursement wise. So I just don't know how they would go back. That's I don't know how that would be handled. Yeah, the whole rebate thing seems way more complicated than what I was thinking that we might be considering, which is just trying to help out the people who need help right now.

Would the commission be interested in a hardship idea and absolutely bring you back some absolutely criteria and then Yeah. And one of them could be you've been unable to commence work within 18 months post storm and

Yeah. So just just so I understand I I think what we're what we're contemplating because I I've been listening and and I think I think I I I hear some concerns about you know we went from zero to 50% now we're at 100%. And if we go something less than 100% now what do we do with the people that have paid more than whatever we go to now we got to worry about retroactively making the people whole going backwards and I think that concerns me with equity. Um, but I think what you're proposing, uh, Dire Director Canary, is is is some kind of maybe not that, but a if you're legitimately going through a hardship, you've been you've been battling profusely with your insurance company or something to that effect, right? And and you've been trying diligently uh, to no avail until now, right, that we might be able to offer some is this is what we're kind of talking about. we might be able to look at a at a case by case for the same handful of people that we're talking about and if it's truly a hardship with some verifiable documentation that isn't too ownorous,

I think I'd be worried about this becoming a a heavy hurdle because we hear about the the hurdles in getting things done. But without an over overly burdensome ownerous uh you know burden of proof on the on the homeowner that they have diligently been trying uh then I think you know we would consider a hardship u waiver or or or reduced rate or something to that effect. I think that's something that is intriguing to me and I I guess the only thing is it's variable. you don't know how many people are going to come for it and so it's harder for you to project the the future cost but I guess theoretically that's less than everybody which is what we're talking about right now

if if we were going to establish this I would bring it back by resolution so that we had a record of authority from the commission and we could even cap it so we set aside the money in the fund and then if we needed more money we would come and say we had 50 cases we've reached our cap so we can put some number in there once we do the financial analysis of the fund when we bring the proposal back. I think that's it because I think, you know, at least from my perspective, I don't want to speak for the the entire group, but you know, Commissioner Marriott, you know, mentioned that, you know, we just we just agreed to bring in four permanent staff on your to uh to say that that's going to keep permitting in a in a good place, right? And so, let's not uh then turn and put ourselves in a deficit by something. So, I'm intrigued by the by the cap as well. I think that would imply that,

you know, your team is going to go out and give us a budget analysis of now that we got these four positions that we're going to that we're going to fund. What does that leave us in in some kind of I hope it doesn't drain us down to zero. I certainly hope it doesn't put us in the negative, but some kind of some kind of uh position that that lets us have some kind of u you know, an amnesty type program and uh and yet doesn't uh put us in such dire straits that we've just uh hurt ourselves with the rest of our permitting process. Yeah, let's let's call it hardship. Hardship not amnesty on the other one. Hardship works for me. I'm looking to see some I mean I I I don't think we're looking for maybe you're looking for an action, but I think you know

so so thank you. Uh thank you all. Great uh great discussion, great points. I just want one point of clarification. Will those four new employees be built be paid out of building funds? Yes, they will be 100%. So, okay. Thank you. Just want to make that a matter of record. Thank you. And we'll um we'll look at Sorry. The EL Commissioner Calls, you I just want to make sure that I didn't interrupt. No, I would like to hear what Laura says.

I was just going to say that with the eligibility criteria, we'll we'll come back to you with some recommendations because I think the key is to make it flexible. You don't want to go with the the usual, you know, income or, you know, we're going to need to look at some different parameters. But I think too we could look even beyond, you know, hurricane repairs potentially because there may be someone that, you know, maybe they're past that point, but maybe there's an opportunity, you know, there's people helping people, a nonprofit that'll help you make improvements to your home. Maybe they have, you know, improvements that are going to be made, but and the financial means to get those improvements made, but the permit fees are a hardship or a difficulty for them. So, I think the goal would be to kind of be able to allow anyone to build or, you know, improve whatever they're trying to do with their property and it not be held up because of the permitting fee side of things.

So, I'm sorry. It feels I'm just only just for the sake of I thought the conversation started with those that were affected by the storms and yeah, maybe let's keep No, let's keep the proposal. We bring back narrow and then we can just storm related. Yes. truly been diligently trying uh and and unsuccessful, but diligently trying, right? And uh and what can we do and what would be the cost of the city? If we need to cap it, let us know what that cap might be. And uh at least that's my thoughts right now. Commissioner Cy.

Yeah. And diligently trying. I I think that the thing about that is it could be they just don't have the funding available. And so and you know, that's their delay. I spoke with someone this this week that was in that exact situation. So I just been wondering you know what we can do with that. Okay. Uh just a question for you that but storm related. Absolutely. Storm related. Oh yeah. Yeah. We we there there's So okay that brings up a point Laura. So how many houses do we have now that are on that list that ones we think had damage but haven't given us a permit yet? Last count was 235.

Okay. All right. Does that kind of define our universe then? Yeah. Yep. And Commissioner Maldonado, in the interim, if you'd like to have those individuals reach out to me directly. I we can at least look at their specific situation and see if there's anything that we can do timelinewise. Again, even maybe planning it out accordingly to assist them in the interim or at least, you know, hopefully be able to provide them at least a path. Yeah. No, absolutely. I appreciate that. Uh Laura, thank you. Thank you, Laura. Uh Mr. M, I think we have we have we sufficiently close out to your your

You did. You did. And uh again, thank you for uh for your indulging me in that. And and again, you know, my my my point my my passion is just is just to make sure that folks get back in their homes. So, thank you. I I I share it. So, thank you. Well, you like to get another discussion point? I I do and this one will hopefully be a lot shorter. So, I we'll see.

Indulge me. So, uh decorum and civility, you know, and I I do want to thank our city clerk for reminding us in sitting forward uh resolution 2022-13. uh and that in that you know it's it's a doctrine that we have not been following not just this commission but the previous commission especially when it comes to decorum decorum being not only from the deis and your commissioners and mayor but more importantly from some of our attendees and just the level of uh disrespect discontempt uh and ill treatment of our city employees at times is unacceptable and it's it should not happen. it can't happen. It's something that we've outlined as expectations for ourselves, but also for anyone that signs a card. They get up there and on the back of it, maybe they don't read it. They agree that they're not going to do certain things, uh, profanity, obscene gestures, personal attacks. um it's got to stop you know and I do expect that we uh as a commission uh would lead by example that we would assist in keeping the decorum of this forum if we see it you know whether it's the chair the vice chair um and even in some cases legal counsel that we address it before it becomes a problem and it is becoming a problem it's now bleeding over into public meetings community meetings uh and you you know, with the with the help and support of my community members, um we will we will get ahead of that. And that's all I'll say on that. Uh for now, um when it comes to civility, uh I intentionally held off on having this discussion until a new commission was in place. I had raised the notion of having a resolution or an ordinance passed for a code of civility. And I brought this up again because the National Civility Month is coming up.

It's observed in August and this is something that um you know cities, counties, government officials um practice and it's aimed at providing kindness, empathy and respect of mutual behavior to establish trust not only from your elected representatives but more importantly from the people that we serve. So what I would like to do with the support of staff is have a workshop sometime in either June or July. I know that May is pretty packed. Uh it's extra time for the commission, but I would invite my fellow commissioners to at least have the discussion on whether or not this is something that you feel uh would be something that you would like to pursue to make uh St. Pete be the shining example of civility when it comes to public officials and even possibly public staff and our city members. So, I open that up for a brief discussion whether or not you would like to have a workshop which will hopefully end up in an ordinance uh for this city. Can I if I can please I know normally I don't always go first but uh you know I last uh last commission meeting was my first uh leading at least from from this uh this side of this uh of this room and uh I just wanted to publicly apologize to Commissioner Maldonado. I think it's my place uh leading this and it might be all of our place but I just want to publicly apologize for uh for you know not stopping that sooner and uh and I assure you that is something that I will be far more diligent going forward with. Um I am wholeheartedly in agreement with with a with a code of ethics and civility not only amongst ourselves but uh what we provide to our to our community and what we expect from our community as well. And so I just wanted to publicly apologize to you for for you know that occurring last week and or last session and and make sure that uh you know that I I won't uh abide by that going forward. So just on record apologize to you sir.

Commissioner Cy agree that there's some process that needs to be refined and um derived at this point. So, I could see the value of a time of discussion and I don't know another way to do it besides a workshop or unless we can make it an item on the commission.

Commissioner Marot, um I'm I just wanted to say I'm fine with um having it be a workshop and the timing Commissioner Maldonado spoke of I'm that's totally acceptable to me. speak. You don't have to. I'm just put me on the spot here. You don't have to.

I I just don't I I mean, I don't personally have a problem being civil to anybody up here or anybody out there. So, I just don't know exactly what we're trying to solve other than um you know, we already have an ordinance. We already have that. It it sounds like we need to act on it more than anything else. Um so that would be my my two cents into the into the conversation. I don't think a meeting is a workshop is necessary. Uh can I ask uh Commissioner Mullen, are you are you proposing changes to it or or more just a reminder that this is uh you know

I I think that uh part of that might be uh open to the staff and the city manager. had something that you think would help support uh the city staff if they had a code of ethics and outlined expectations. It is a best practice. I would need to read the ordinance that we currently have. I I did glance at it, but I think it was more processoriented. Um it is a best practice to have a code of ethics from the top down. That is just from an organizational development perspective. We have team commitments internally. You can call them whatever you want to call them, but it is basically an agreement amongst the peer group um of how we will conduct ourselves in public and private in in the course of conducting the business of the city

and and second in there.

Well, thank you. So, I I'm sorry. I did not mean to. I just lose my thoughts sometimes. But to Commissioner Mer, oh no, it was Commissioner Robinson's point. Uh it's not necessarily how we conduct ourselves with one another. It's also, you know, anything that's not illegal, unethical, or immoral. We can deal with those through statutes and other things. These are uh basic guiding principles. Uh these are things that I've worked with in big government. I did previously share examples. I know that uh Ralph, you've worked on similar things in other cities that have been very successful, but my concern is not only our behavior, but future commissions. And by setting that example now, you know, and and to not uh be specific, but we have neighboring towns where commissioners have conducted themselves in in a very uh inappropriate way and they're still not able to address the issues with that person. So it sets a standard. Um we could discuss you know uh consequences. That would be one of the things that I would like to bring into the discussion. What if you don't adhere to that? You know, then what? Uh and as our city manager stated, this is this ordinance that I just referenced, it's more about um decorum and um processes, but I can resend those examples in advance of that so that you can see what it is that I'm trying to get to. And it really is just uh to be transparent. You know, it's it's it's a double-edged sword, right? We're holding ourselves to a higher standard. Our our conduct not only here, but also off duty would be applied. You know, my my belief is that a public servant is on duty 24/7. So, anything that we can do in our private lives that would discredit the city could therefore uh impact our our ability to serve uh on this commission. Thank you. I I would agree that we lead by example.

I just don't know if we need to have anything in writing. I look at the state of the union and you know, today's politics in general. I mean, if we're setting an example, I I just don't know if we have to have something in writing necessarily. I I I mean, we do it by example and we lead by that. Um, but if there's going to be a workshop, I will attend.

I will say it's best to do these things when you're all getting along. So, we're in a really good place. Let's not wait too long. All right. So, Mr. Mayor, back to you. Yeah. I I don't know. I mean, I I think there's some interest. I don't know if you're suggesting a next step or I don't I don't know if it's even viable to vote on you know it sounds like interested in but but not you know so is there is there a something I'm I'm hearing the majority is interested in some sort of workshop or item to be discussed in public in the future that's enough direction for Ralph the city attorney and I to

move forward with designing something to set the stage for you all to have that conversation. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And I'd rather do something tailored just for our city than using other cities as examples. So, we can put that together and I can I'll bring that back in June or July. Yeah. Uh, okay. Thank you. I think that ends our items for discussion. Uh, and so I'll ask for uh reports. Okay. There you go. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. No, no, no. I I am jumping ahead. So, you're I was I was just going to try to get in a report. All right. Well, we'll get to reports. Let's uh let's start. Uh the city clerk, do you have anything to report? Yes, I'm sure I'll get to you.

The city clerk's office is currently accepting applications for vacancies on the board of adjustment and the police pension board. Qualified residents who are interested in serving are encouraged to apply through the city clerk city clerk's office. More information, including the application, is available on the city's website.

Thank you. Uh city manager, any reports, please? Um just because there's been significant public interest in case um any of our residents have not seen on the news that uh Country Thunder has moved its venue location uh to Clearwater um on a non beach uh site and so uh they are in the process of expediting their permit with Clearwater and we um have had that confirmed from the Tradewind Resort as well. So, everyone has been notified and the planning is in progress to uh still take place May 8th through 10th in uh Clearwater.

Thank you. Uh District 4, Commissioner Maldonado. Oh, you skipped the city attorney. Oh, I'm sorry. I I apologize. Oh, that's okay. I apologize. No, I'm sorry. Um, we did have a a new uh House Bill 399 that became effective and I'll just distribute this and you can take it home and read it at your leisure and nothing further. Bedtime reading material doesn't have any major effects on us, but just so you're aware that it is in effect. Yeah. Apologies, city attorney. I've now realized I can just go around the room, can I? So, two. All right. Mr. Maldonado, did you have something else? Uh, Ralph. Okay. No.

Okay. Uh uh thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Not necessary for you to publicly apologize, but I appreciate the gesture. And um I do want to publicly praise our city manager, you know, for showing uh integrity and resolve uh when it comes to country thunder. You know, you did uh follow the process and I know that, you know, uh city staff at times is is accused of doing certain things. uh you've you've been very transparent in the process and I do appreciate uh the fact that you were very front- leaning as mentioned by one of our speakers tonight. You know, your letter uh to the organizers and just following the process. I applaud you and I encourage you to keep doing so. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh Commissioner, yeah, I too am very impressed with the whole staff. So, I just think uh we're doing a great job and I'm excited for the future. As far as um I wanted to put out for district three, specifically the residents on 46th Avenue as well as Bokeh is uh there is a parking survey that's been left at your doorsteps. If you haven't seen that yet, it's due into the city on May the 1st. So, please get your voice in on what you would like parking to be like on 46th Avenue. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Coy. Commissioner Robinson.

Nothing to report. Thank you, Commissioner Marriott.

Uh, sure. I just wanted to thank uh Mandy and the parks department for putting on a great uh spring concert series. Um, it was another fantastic one last Friday. It was well attended. And uh, and I also wanted to thank the um, vets of South Penllis County. They were um selling beer and wine at that concert as a fundraiser and they graciously allowed me to help them out and uh and it was super fun. It's the best way to go to one of those concerts is to volunteer with those guys and uh um so uh so I just wanted to thank them for putting on a great series of events. I heard them talking in the background about their plans for Fourth of July and I could not be more excited about the events we have coming up. So thank you guys very much for making this town as much like a Hallmark movie as possible. Love it. Uh thank you. Uh so for myself, I I do want to echo uh the the good work by the city uh staff, our city manager. Uh also adding in the the Springfest was really well attended. I was able very happy to be able to attend that. Had never seen a in the pool Easter egg hunt. I thought that was kind of cool.

Um and uh and the concert series are always amazing. I'm interested in what's going on for July event as well. So, I look forward to hearing from from Mandy about what we're doing with that as well. So, uh with that, I think that closes uh my my commission reports. Um I think that's it. I'm uh pleasantly surprised as they look down at the clock. Uh so, if uh no further business uh then this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.