Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. City Council meeting, Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 7:12 p.m. We'll have call to order of our city council meeting. Roll call. Miss Wrights, please. Mayor Goodman, I am here. Council President Hines, here. Vice President Cox here. Council member Jones here. Council member Martin here. Uh I ask that Council Member Orio be excused. Excuse. City Manager Sue Bodet here. Attorney Kristen Belaloo here.

City Clerk Latricia Wright, I am here. And all other staff here.

Thank you. At this time, we have the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag by Mayor Charles Goodman. Join me if you choose. Lord, we come to you tonight, a group of people, a city, and Lord, we ask you to bless our meeting, to give us clarity as these counselors try to make the best decisions that they can for our citizens. And Lord, I ask you to be with each and every person that has come here tonight to give them the ears to hear government in action and perhaps one day choose to join that action. I ask you to be with our police department who every day risk their lives to protect the citizens of this community. And I ask you to be with each and every one of our city employees, Lord, that work so hard to keep our city moving. I ask this all in your most precious name. Amen. 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 very much. Item number one, additions, deletions, changes, and approval of the agenda. Madame President, I'm sorry. It's correct. I see. Never mind.

I have a motion. Accept the agenda as presented. Have a motion. A second. Have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I.

I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero. Item number two, mayor student of the month, Mayor Charles Goodman. lay this right here so I don't have to step. You know, you were nominated. Oh, I'm going to get this now.

Thank you, Aaron. You were nominated by Chief Richardson. You This is my chief. Is he? I wonder if they're related. Okay.

Okay. Well, he made the following comments about you, Ka. You are an excellent allround student. Straight A's. Okay. Always respectful to the faculty and staff and her peers. super cadet in the junior roc willing to learn and support her teammates. Additionally, she's an FFA FFA chapter officer and a cheerleader. So, when do you eat? As a young student, by far she is at the top of her grade level. I agree that would be Chief Richardson and the mayor that this student is an outstanding young lady and student very thoughtful and studious and gives 100% to everything she is part of and she is extremely respectful and kind. I really like the kind Gala. So,

there used to be a table here. Yes, there did. Probably need a bag.

I, Mayor Charles Goodman, would like to congratulate the student of the month for your outstanding achievement with this certificate. And this, which one is this? Let's Let's look at this together. Give me that back. This presented by Charles Goodman, the mayor of the city of Williston. This is to certify, as if we're not already convinced, that Kada Lablanc is awarded this certificate for academic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and attendance. You don't even play hookie. at Williston Middle High School given the seventh day of April 2026. Charles Goodman, would you please take and Ka I know that you being kind will want to share this with somebody. But this is from a local business, Flamingo Freeze. Are you familiar with them? They make excellent coffee.

We would like to congratulate the stu student of the month for your out from them for your outstanding achievement with this certificate. It is good

for one kids meal or anything off the ice cream min but not coffee from flamingo freeze. Would you accept that? Would you stay with Sir, thank you. I was going to get that in a minute. I was going to get that. Islesia Emmery in the building. Callesia Emmery. Callesia Emmery going three times. I looked and I did not see a candidate for Callesie in unless it could be you Randy.

No. Okay. But she is not here but I want to tell you what Mrs. Caven and Mrs. Hires who made comments about her. Callesia currently consistently demonstrates empathy in our classroom. Each and every day, she's quick to notice when a classmate is feeling sad or frustrated and responds with kind words, a comforting hug, or by just offering help. Kallesa treats everybody with genuine compassion and understanding, helping to create a caring, supportive classroom community. In addition to her kindness, Callesia has a big, joyful personality and truly loves everyone around her. Her warm heart and positive spirit make a lasting impact on both her classmates and her teachers. She is a wonderful example of leadership, character, and kindness, and we are proud to recognize her as the mayor's student of the month. My clerk will make sure that she gets this. I'm sorry she couldn't be here. It's one of the highlights of these meetings is being able to interact with the young people. But while we're here, I have this very, intelligent, capable young person that I would like to personally gradu congratulate. Okay, hold it out so they can all see the

Thank you very All right. If anyone is not here for the meeting, this would be a perfect opportunity to escape. Oh, I'm glad you all going to stay. All right. So, item number three, employee years of service award, HR manager Kimch. Good evening everybody. I am here to present service awards for certificate of appreciation for Timothy Bario. Thank you for your dedication and contributing to the city of Wilston success over the last 10 years.

This is a certificate of appreciation for Jason Lee. Thank you for your dedication and contributing to the city of Wilston success for over the last five years. All right. This time is public participation. This is a time where you have five minutes to speak on anything that is not on the agenda. When you approach, please give your name and your residence.

Is it lit? There you go.

Hi, I'm Brandon. Live in Willist. Um, I was just gonna discuss a few topics. I'd like to respectfully ask to hold questions to the end so that I can utilize my five minutes. Thank you in advance. I was terminated on April 2nd, 2026 of my employment with the city of Williston without prior disciplinary notice 5 days ago. Around the time of November 24th, 2025, I was placed on 410 work schedule at my request so that I could seek medical treatment for my injuries I received while in my time of service in the United States Army. and to allow me to be eligible for a slot for a dental grant I was awarded. The next week, I was awarded that a critical surgery needed. On March 31st, 2026, I was notified of a mistake on my time sheet with Latricia, Rob, and Alex, that I was incorrect on my start and stop times. I notified them that I was following the policy I was told by Donald, Barber, and Alex. I was told whatever equals 10. I requested a form from my first line supervisor, Alex, for my approval of my 410 work week and received nothing. Then I consulted David Kidd and Devon Hinden Lang, the only other employees on 410 schedule. They both were on the 6 to4 schedule. 6 to4 schedule notified Alex of my start and stop times. He approved my start and stop times was widely known in management and work staff and there was no issue. After being notified of the violation, I corrected it by staying 30 minutes later with approval which I was happy for to give me more time to accomplish the tasks that I was given. I used the biometric scanner that accounts my daily times. No issues were brought up from November 24th to March 31st, almost four months. I also do not have

the ability to view said clock at will to compare due to paper application still in use. Management also did not catch the mistake for months and signed off as well. The scanner has been proven inaccurate before and that that's if employees can even get it to scan our fingers due to our line of work. We are not given our two 15minute breaks by department of lab department of labor standards which equals the time difference I'm accused of. We only received the negotiated 15minute lunch extension to the 45 minutes. I was willing to give time owed in some form of an agreement like PTO, but no conversation would be entertained. Progressive disciplinary was not followed. I feel like I might still be retaliated against for my filing of my FMLA or me being named in the last city investigation where I was retaliated against or the unpaid certification situation I find myself in or me awaiting arbitration. At this time, I am unsure if these are related, but they certainly seem so. I have worked with or on all platforms of the city and put the city first consistently in many long nights and days of work and many missed moments with my family. I've worked with contractors and also was trying to fix policy issues overseeing meter reading field operations setting standards and training staff to include locators countless meter readers and water technicians. Events like what happened to me and David Kidd will foster a hostile work environment. We are human. I believe that my history with the city and my knowledge is invaluable to the city as many people can attest to and feel I've been discriminated against with the wrongdoing and the wrongful termination. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Does anyone on the council have anything to say? Before we make any comment, my general advice to you will be due to the allegations that were just made to not make comment. That would be my counsel to you all as your attorney.

Did you have anything else?

Is there anyone in anyone else have anything else to say? Good evening, council. My name is David Kit. I am a previous employee that was also terminated on Thursday, April 2nd. I was respectfully um request that council please hold questions till the my five minutes are done. Um, I believe I was wrongfully terminated from my position as an inmate supervisor as I was supposedly claimed of falsifying type documents. I am on 410.

Mr. Kid, just a second. Yes, sir. Um, can you start the clock, please, sir? Thank you. Okay. Sorry.

Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. Um, I believe I was wrongfully terminated as my schedule is as Mr. Cunningham spoke 410 which consist of 6 to 10. When I have my inmates, I am not allowed to take a lunch or anything of that nature. Um I did stop on my way to the prison to get my uh drink, use the restrooms of that nature that I cannot do once I have the inmates in my supervision. When I have the inmates in my supervision, they are to be in my eyes at all times. At that time I was not able to take lunch breaks as others would receive their lunch breaks where they get time away from their individuals. I must remain watching my inmates. I uh believe um that there's been violations of the CBA provide not providing specific and accurate descriptions of the disciplinary incident. I wasn't given any prior written notice or discipline of taking action. Um I believe my history is invaluable to this city also as I have worked for this city for 11 years selfishly in the utility department and prior to that I also served on the city of Williston's volunteer fire department when it was a volunteer service. I feel that progressive discipline isn't being followed as it should be followed per the HR handbook. And my my description of progressive discipline, it's a structured human resource process used to correct employees performance of behavioral issues through escalating steps. It's used to improve the employees behavior rather than terminate them. as every time an employee is terminated now you have to spend more time and more money

to retrain your personnel to get them to where they need to be. Um it would include rather than terminate you would go from verbal warnings to written warnings to suspension and then finally you would step to the termination process. Uh documentation is crucial in each stage to ensure fairness for both parties. Um, I never received any disciplinary actions or anything until after negotiations had been mentioned possibly around the uh March 26. Um, I do feel this is a retaliatory and my position with the situation what's going on and I believe that the city itself is skipping the chain of command. And the reason I'm saying that they are skipping the chain of command is my formal supervisor of streets and parks, Jonathan Bishop, was not informed any bit of my termination that was being done to me. He should have been informed. He should have been well known and aware of the situation of what was happening. He was not. I feel right there the chain of command was broken. I feel that mistakes like this continuously is going to be detrimental to this city and its future progression into the future as we go. And that's all I have to say at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Anyone else have anything to say? So, I've never been here before, so please forgive me if I'm not doing this correctly, but um my name is Janine Hartley and I'm uh live in city limits of Williston. And um so I was just wondering if is there something being done for our water supply? Um, so on one particular day, I know on March 16th, um, there was this flush of just muddy, dirty water that came into like my bathtub when I would turn it on, definitely into the toilets. And so it happened that day in particular, and it just so happened that I was here to pay my um my utility bill. And while I was here that um a call came in that they were saying that there was low water pressure. So, you know, you kind of put two and two together where there's low water pressure, this flush of just dirty water comes into your home. So, um uh a person came out from the city and looked at it and they said that they didn't think that it was coming from the city. So, the week prior to that, that same thing happened. And then it has happened before in the past. Now I have an old home. Uh but I have had when I first bought my house 18 years ago, I had all the plumbing redone, all new pipes, everything in and out. So I was just wondering is anybody taking a look? I've got a water filtration system, too. And it just, you know, where is this dirty water coming from? So, you know, it makes you wonder, is there a break in the pipe somewhere? I don't know um you know if anybody else has had this problem. So that's the issue that I have

right there. Is there anybody would like to address? Yes ma'am. If I could my name drop I can get with you after the right here. Sorry. I can get with you afterwards get your address and we can follow up with you tomorrow morning on that. That would be great. Yes ma'am. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comments?

Yeah, my name is Paul Lord. I'm a former employee. I was also fired wrongly and um I live in Willis for 50 years. But anyways, uh I agree with what all they're saying about the management and the supervisory. Anytime somebody is questions the management on their ability to do their job, they seem to be terminated and it's wrong. Good people were fired. Three, four or five of us, what now? Seven, six or seven. And I think something needs to be done about it. Upper management needs to be fixed. And I believe it's up to the council to do this because you all you all know about it because you hear about it every day. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Mr. Yes, I'm Tim 225.

So, Mr. Eker, before you get started, for future reference, if there is anything that you need to give the council, please give it to the city clerk and she'll distribute it to us ahead of time. Okay. What? Just say 30 seconds. If you would like to have a conversation, we can have it outside of here. But I'm asking you because we're not going to do this again. We can start your time over, sir. I'm not going to debate with you. You'll start my time back, please. I got it. I understand. Okay.

Part of the problem, too. Good evening, Mayor, Mr. Mayor Goodman, city council, staff, and residents. Before I begin, I want to take a moment to acknowledge a formal apology for my prior public call on the termination of former utility director Jonathan Bishop. At the time, my understanding was limited. Since then, I have come to better understand that there may have been a broader internal challenges, particularly in a workplace environment where employees may have felt constrained in carrying out responsibilities or raising concerns without fear of consequences. It is important to me and should be to all of us as we recognize systematic issues, not just individual actions may be at play. We must be willing to reflect, reassess, and take accountability when new information comes forward. I also want to thank Mr. Bishop for his years of of service to our city. With that said, I'm here tonight to address whether grounds now exist to consider termination of the current city manager, Sue Bode. for calls based on ongoing document concerns in October 20 and October of 2025. The city provide the city manager with opportunity to correct performance and deficiencies and realign with standards required of her position. Since that time that appears to have been insufficient improvement and in several areas continue action raise cons serious concerns regarding comp compliance established policies ethical obligations and overall administrative culture within the city of Wilston. These concerns include, but are not limited to, personal actions that appear inconsistent with adopted HR policies and raise concern regarding fairness, consistency, and adhere to established

procedures, workplace cons uh conditions that may not fully align with expectations or transparency, accuracy, and employment protection and may have impact staff morale and trust. concerns regarding the identification disclosure man uh management of potential conflicts of interest and require honor the Florida code of ethics for public uh officers and employees ongoing challenges in project oversight administrative management that may be contributing to the inefficiencies and increased cost impacting taxpayers resources and a broad pattern that raises concerns regarding leadership effectiveness business, organizational stability, and operational accountability. When taken together, these concerns may constitute gross misconduct, policy violations, or a failure to per perform duties required under the city's manager's contract, as well as failure to maintain a functional and e ethical workplace environment. As uh governing officials, you have a fudiciary duty to ensure ensure that the city operates not only within the law but with integrity, transparency, effective effective leadership when systematics issues persist particularly after corrective opportunities have been provided. It becomes a responsibility for for you for you to act. Therefore, I believe it's both responsible, reasonable, and necessary for the city council to formally evaluate initiate appropriate pro process to determine whether grounds for termination cause calls exist under a city manager's employment agreement. Thank you, Timothy Ecker.

Oh, yes, ma'am. I'm Joel Penny. Uh, I called several months ago when the peso building was up on auction. Uh, I talked to Miss Suda Bodec. Uh, she was supposed to get back with me to let me know what the website was or and stuff. U, she never got back to me on anything. So, several weeks went by and then I called up here and I was like, "Hey, you never, you know, called me and let me know what's going on." Well, then she turns around says, "Oh, we took it off the website. Okay, we're going to real estate put it give it to the real estate. So, in the meanwhile, she's not doing her job.

Is there anyone else from the public who has a comment? I'm Albert Fuller from City of Willist and I'd like to address the complaints that were that were levied about the two employees that were terminated. And much of that much of this has already been said, but I think we have a problem with trust within our organization, the city of Willist, and it has to reflect on leadership. I don't think there's any trust and I think the morale even though there has been a an investigation nothing has changed in fact it's probably getting worse and so somehow we have to address that but certainly I'm truly concerned about the two employees that were surprised with firing because firing should never happen. the employee should really know when it's coming and that progressive discipline policy has to be followed if the if it's going to be fair to the employees and if it's not then somebody is slipping and I think the questions that the city council need to be asking not tonight but the question the city council needs to be asking is what was the process and certainly who made the decision to terminate those employees. Now, I've been contacted by a number of employees that are concerned and are also, how should I say, scared because they don't know when they might be next. Because the justice that was

given these employees, if what I'm hearing is correct, the justice that have been given those employees is it's dangerous in a system. And that system is broken and we have to fix it. We can't just continue doing what we're doing and going on like, well, it'll work itself out. Uh the investigation didn't do anything in terms of working out this working out what needed to happen with with this city. And somehow is now it's time to take a firm look at what needs to be done. And I don't have the answers. All I see all I see is in indeed symptoms uh cropping up all over the place. And we got to solve this. As a citizen, I'm concerned I'm concerned that employees were terminated without attempting to correct a behavior pattern that is unconscionable because these people work for pay to support their families. And for me as a as a resident, as a sit, excuse me, as a citizen of Willist, I'm concerned that we we're willing to retrain people rather than correct issues. And it's always even as even as I as I took personnel management in college, the one thing is you never try you never get rid of people that can be structurally trained to do their job correctly. And it appears that these employees were were surprised by what happened. And so I think there's some questions that have to be answer that have to be asked and you all are

ultimately the decision makers. And so you decision makers must start asking the right questions. Where did these terminations originate? Who made the final who made the decision and why was it made and why was it done rather than rather than just just counsel people? But the progressive discipline policy and I and I say that because I spent uh I spent 38 years in public administration. It should never happen and it needs to be corrected. Thank you.

Is there anyone else who has any comments? Hi, I'm Ronnie Kerr. I live 226 Northwest First Street. I want to thank the electrical crew. I've had two different problems with the tree neighbors tree limbs falling down across the utilities. It literally burnt my neutral. Anybody that's any way familiar, it sent 220 through my house. Terry was asleep. My son had just got home and he said, "Mom, what you doing on the porch?" I said, "No power." Little did I know what a neutral did. It sent full power through my house. All of a sudden, we hear the electric caught fire beside my house going to my meter from having the full power going. When I call up here, I get this. And this is a procedure problem, too. Oh, let me make a work order. I have two 220 going straight through my house, burning everything I could. I didn't know what to do. Shut the, you know, Terry handles all that. So, um, this week again, I had another limb come down. Thank God the big parts was on there. But there's procedure, work orders. Work orders for something that is that important as the electrical crew. They shouldn't have to have work orders sent out and something that's accentuating that could burn your house down and you have to wait for them to get the work order and get service to you. That and gas should never have a work order. Never. Those boys have been here long enough. They know what they're doing. They know if somebody calls in on something and says they're gone. They're going to do it. They are responsible for the majority of the money that comes into the cities and their hands are tied up with work orders. And I'm glad to see they have enough electrical crew that can handle something. My husband

worked for years being the only one on call 247 was not allowed to leave the city of Willist. So at least these fellas have a life now. I mean Willist, we got to get it together. We have to get the procedures the right procedures straightened out. Things are handled. I mean this isn't right. This isn't right. I mean here we had a full crew and we're having to hire people out of Orlando during hurricanes. They cut the trees down by my house. The wires were hanging. Terry hung a note one time when ours came down. Please put the wire back up. I mean, come on. It It's not right the way procedures are being done. Let them do their jobs. Leave them alone. And this disciplinary crap that's going on, that's bull. That's bull. These boys are We spend a lot of money training these boys. This doesn't need to be done like that where you just walk up and let somebody go without a warning, without talking to someone. I mean, these boys put in a lot of hours. A lot of hours and their family. So, I say, "Let's get somebody going. Let's get some procedures straightened out. Let these boys do what they need to do instead of having to answer to the council." I mean, it's ridiculous. No, you got to you got to watch whose toes you step on. Miss Deborah, I'm sorry. I see you frowning, but

And they're not answering to the council. That's what I'm Yeah, but it's it's the procedure and they're not being they're not be given the credit that they deserve

and it and it's all procedure. They're afraid of doing anything for stepping on somebody's toes. That's wrong. And that's all I have to say. We need an improvement. We need an improve. And the water, forget it. I've had lime in my water from day one. I've been in and out of the hospital with kidney stones. I've put filters on everything comes in my house and the water is still lousy. Anyone else? I got a question. How many of our terminations have gone towards grievances or suits, lawsuits or anything like that? And how much have we paid?

Two, right, Kim? We have not paid anything. We haven't paid anything. Okay. Please, no talking out of turn. Thank you. Um, Mr. You have anything? Not right here. I have a question, but I'll save it. All right. So, um, if nothing else from the public, we'll go for the consent agenda. Council minutes from March 17, 2026. Move approval of the consent agenda as presented. Second.

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I.

I. All those opposing name. Motion passes four to zero. At this time we will go with updates. Staff and board. We'll start with city manager subday. Thank you very much. All right. A couple of things. Uh first and foremost, I wanted to thank FMPA for inviting the city of Willist to the whistling duck ribbon cutting ceremony. Um, we had a good time that day and we witnessed 215,000 solar panels across 1300 acres of land, which was really interesting to see. Um, second, I wanted to read a letter that I got uh on March 25th um from the Florida City and County Management Association. Says, "Dear Susan, on behalf of the Florida City and County Management Association, I want to congratulate you on your five years of service to FCCMA. To recognize you for your service, your name and picture will be listed in the service award slideshow during the Thursday afternoon general session at the annual conference uh between May 27th and 30th at the Hilton Orlando. The general session will be held Thursday, May 28th, 2026 from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Uh, next wanted to let the council know that staff submitted a T-Mobile revitalization grant in the amount of $46,693 to install gas lanterns at the Peggy O'Neal um nature park to enhance safety, elevate the park's historic charm, and create new opportunities for community use and economic activity. the city received letters of support from the CRA, the Willis Chamber of Commerce, and uh the Country Lane Estates HOA. So, thank you for that. Uh then next, I received a letter um just actually got in the mail, but it was actually dated March 31st that I wanted to read to the council as well because it's actually um about the staff. It says, "I know that normally when you get a letter, it is someone complaining. I want to take a minute of your time to let you know about the exceptional experience I had with your employees. My dad, James Mattis, a resident of Wison

for over 60 years, failed to pay his electricity bills, resulting in Amos going to his home to shut his power off, which unbelievably was a blessing in disguise. We found out that his meter can was faulty, a potential fire hazard, and he had a water leak. I explained to them that taking my dad out of his home at 85 years old was going to be hard for him. I needed to get this fixed as quickly as I could. Everyone I spoke to or my brother uh dealt with in person from Amos in the public works department to Wendy at the front desk, Nikki and Sherice in the permitting department. I don't know the gentleman's name from the water department were all kind, compassionate, and helpful. We will we were able to get all the work completed and my dad back in his home by Friday. Please let your staff know that sincerely I thank them all. If you would please share this letter with them as well. Sincerely, Michelle Mattis Wooten, daughter of James Mattis. So that was a nice letter.

Uh wanted to let the council know that tomorrow is our fourth and final leadership training with Laura Gambino and then we'll be done all four sessions with her. And then at the next council meeting, the plan is to bring the list of infrastructure projects um to the council so that you can prioritize them for looking at a possible um loan uh that we've been talking about for a while. So, we have a long list um that we have kind of dwindled down and then we just need you guys to prioritize which ones we actually want to pursue. And that's everything I have. Thank you. Thank you. Um Miss Wright, you have anything steel?

Uh good evening, council. I just want to give you a heads up. First off, uh, with all this rain we had today, Levy County has implemented a 7-day burn ban. Um, I am dead serious. Um, I I can't answer why other than the fact they don't expect the weather to be good the rest of the week. What wind we're having is going to dry it out and it's going to be right back to where we're at. Um, on a side note, this morning, uh, myself, the mayor, and, uh, Rob attended the Levy County BOCC meeting. We were there to, uh, request a little help with our, uh, vehicle repair budget, and Levy County has granted us $16,000 to help, um, with vehicle repairs with the city of Willist Fire Department.

Thank you. Anyone else on staff? Yes, sir. Mr. Bon.

Yes, ma'am. Just want to let everybody know that um you will probably see a little bit more air traffic this weekend. Um next week is Sun and Fun down in Lakeland. Uh and we are hosting our NATA formation flying clinic. So, if you see airplanes flying in formation over Willist in and around the area, we are not being invaded. Um I've had that phone call before and uh it is it is very normal. Uh we're supposed to be hosting about 10 T28s and about 20 T6s. So u the lobby in the mezzanine will be open to the public for viewing and the grassy area right in front of the Piper Cub beside the fence will also be open for viewing. Uh we are restricting access to the ramp to the event personnel as you know because it's a a pretty high movement area.

Sorry that's a great question. Um it will be starting Friday. Uh, everybody will be starting to show up Friday. The event will run Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Definitely worth checking it out if you've never come by and seeing all that sitting on the ramp. It's a lot of lot of horsepower, a lot of American muscle. Awesome. Awesome. Thank you, sir. Anyone, Miss Troy?

Uh, yes. This well, since the last council meeting, we have onboarded two uh personnel to PD. one dispatch uh Jordan Tex Tex Taxidor and um part-time animal control is Isaiah, what was his last name? I forgot it all of a sudden. Starts with a G. You don't know. Okay. Isaiah G. It is

good evening council. So, a few updates that we have on the utility side. A lot of the work unfortunately has been held up at the sore plant as far as the cleanup and recycling of that area. Um we've had to pull the the crew that was working out there off to start a different project. Uh we are working on the fencing over at the tennis court. So that has started. Mr. Bishop is leading that. Um quite a quite a few other things going on. The uh small building up on top of the hill. We secured a contractor for that to uh remove that old building that we showed all of the council members. Uh that building's coming down. We'll get another uh quote for a small leanto to cover up the um chlorine that has to be covered uh from the sun. So, lots going on there. Um FDOT, Miss Deborah, uh FDOT has increased our traffic light, traffic signal from 16,000 up to 17,585. Um that's a $998 increase. Mr. Bishop was able to secure that for us uh this past week or so. So, lots of moving parts, lots of uh good things going on, and uh some other stuff as we all know.

Is there anybody over by the thermostat? Can you please turn it up so that it get warms up in here a little bit? I am freezing. Thank you. Make sure you push hold or it won't stay. Miss Deborah. Oh, Lord. What was I going to ask him? It went on 999 just like that. Oh, look. Uh, hold on. Give me a second. I'm not kidding. It went away with the thermostat. Come back to it. Yep. Shed. Not the shed. Dot. DOT. DOT. Is did the turn light get fixed at fourth street?

So, unfortunately, no. FD dot has the part they ordered is on back order. Uh, they don't know when it's going to be in. So, the light is still not turning green for the lefth hand turn light. Right. Call me daily on that. Ma'am, I have people call me daily on that. Yes, ma'am. We're still waiting on FDOT. That's that's their control box. Okay. All the parts inside belong to them. So, we're got it at the mercy of them. That's what I'll tell them. Mr. Rob, the shed that you're talking about, is that the one that uh me, you, and Alex have went up there and looked at on top of the hill by the water tower? Yes, sir. That's correct. The one that's falling down. Yes.

Yes, sir. Okay, good. Thank you, Miss Megan. Alex, any other staff? Oh, hey, Mr. Aaron.

It's me. Evening, council. Who are you? members of the audience. Um, fairly quick update on where we're at on the fiber. Um, Hector and his group's going to be here and give a statement for their stuff. On my end, we've made quite a bit of progress since our last meeting. Uh, most of it's been in the last few days. um the contractor that we consulting that got on to fix our routing issue with our router and the hotspot for the on demand services and stuff. He wrapped that up this afternoon, literally 30 minutes before the meeting started. So, we believe that's looking good. Uh we'll be able to test that tomorrow and make sure things are working like they're supposed to. The other consultant is working right now to finish up the setup for the Mosaic server. So, he's anticipating that that'll be done tonight. And we have a call tomorrow with Fiber Smith to maybe start making all these three things talk to each other. So, once that happens and that gets in place and everything's working like it should, I'm going to say hopefully by the end of this week when we get through testing things, we may can start weeding out some of the cowink customers as a trial. See how that goes. Right now, city hall is actually running off of Williston fiber right now primarily as another test. That's it.

Any questions on the council? I noticed that the little cone shaped looking things or fiber been put up around that were down on the ground that typically when they get through doing all their splicing in that area, then they'll attach them and put them up where they belong. Yeah, I've noticed them all. Yeah, they'll they'll leave them down because there's no sense in putting them up and having to go up take them down every time they manhandle them to do whatever they got to do. But once that area is finished splicing, then they'll put those enclosures up where they belong. How long will the testing take once all of your systems are talking to each other? Which which

you you said that that by the end of the week? Well, just we'll we'll get a few more beta sites on and we'll just keep monitoring the network and make sure we're not having any issues with drop packets and things like that. We've been fighting for the last couple weeks just until we satisfied that it's working properly. Approximately few days, I mean a week, not like a month. I mean, no. No. Okay. No, I think if we can get we can get three or four days of consistent work out of it without any issues, we should be good to go at that point. Great. Thank you. Anybody else? Hearing none. Got to start somewhere. Make a motion. We journ.

All right. I don't think we're there yet. Anything from the council. Go. You. She said no. You have something? Yeah, I got a few. Go ahead.

All right. I have a few questions. My intent in asking these questions is not to hurt anyone's feelings, but respectfully as a city council member, just things I would just like to know. Um, looking at your, this is directed to Sue, your um, weekly sheet that you send us the email. It said what you did for the week. Um kind of shocked at the one thing where we have a lot of projects. Um Crystal Curl lift station, squirt truck, um sewer gate station replacement, animal shelter fence, general um infrastructure improvements, uh police console, brush truck, $1.7 million. Please say that we're going to get grants and not loans. I'm not really interested in going for loans unless we actually have got to have it.

So, I asked all of the department heads to put together their list of infrastructure wants, needs, if you will. That was the list that Stephen just gave to me and that's the list I was going to present you guys at the next council meeting for actually, you know, for review as to what you want to actually put in the loan. That is entirely up to you. There are not grants for any of this. No, this is alone. So, you have to decide what you really want out of that list.

Says, do we need do we want to include a vac truck? As much the machine is an awesome piece of equipment to have. It's makes it quick for um utility guys if you got to dig a hole and re repair a water leak. It's an awesome piece of equipment. But even if it's a half a million or 3/4 of a million, it's it's a luxury. I don't think it's a necessity because last year or earlier this year, we rented one for a month and got a lot of stuff done. We lined up a lot of projects. That's a lot cheaper than wanting to do that. This one I was kind of confused at. Um, tasers should be included in the operating budget.

That was Steven's comment. What tasers? They were tasers that somebody put in their wish list. So, not you. Then we can we can remove those then. So, we got tasers. Unless it was for was it for the animal control? What's the cost value for the tasers? Is there a cost value with that? Uh, no. So, be me. Okay. Okay. We'll take it out.

All right. Uh, meeting with Michelle Gavlin. Gavin and Joe Williams of RF Tis. Um, reason impact fees. So, Ralph Telus is working on the impact fees that you guys approved. a year and a half ago was prior to me being here. Okay.

Okay. And then this one I just I don't remember a cost coming out when we've talked about it. Capital projects include a 26.4 million for a new public safety building and 27.4 4 million. I'm assuming M is for million. Um for parks and recreation projects. That would have to be one heck of an emergency facility. So that was the Lamar's.

Yeah, I'll take this. Uh first off, it's not one heck of an emergency facility. If you look at any public safety complex today that has a fire station and a police station in it um that meets all the standards today, that was the price we got. Yeah, you could cut it back some. Um people can shake their head no all day, but until they actually walk the walk and talk the talk and look at what you got to do, it's there. Um first off, there's there's no money going out toward that building right now. The only money that's gone out is our inind work where we've cleared the land and laid out the utilities. Everything else has been asked for through appropriations through the state, through the federal government. Um, until we get that, that's not going to move forward. So, that that's all out there like in a grant. It's for appropriations request.

That was just that was just the first time I've heard that it was that high. Well, we it when we first started proposing this, I believe it was around 10 million. Yes. But we've kicked that can to the curb so many times, it just keeps growing. It's just like anything else. You keep putting it off and prices don't get any cheaper. Is this the location out at the airport? Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

Anything else, Mr. C? Um, I hate to really say it, but earlier when we're talking about the evaluations or the the uh I call it the survey where all the employees and everything, there was something of a list that was repeated on there numerous times. And when I see employees get when I see employees who've been with us for some time and a group of them get terminated, in the back of my mind I'm like, is there a list or is it just the employee needs to go? Um, you know, I've been out when these guys have been out working and they give everything to these people. The one that for Mr. kid. Um, and listening to where you go to the bathroom and he cannot go privately. It's it's it's a shame

and it's going to be hard to find somebody who's going to want to do that. So, you know, and and same thing with Mr. Brand. If we are if we aren't following the proper protocols, we got to fix the problem. We can't keep just terminating employees. I was here Thursday and it was not a pretty thing to see people on a holiday weekend to get terminated. We couldn't wait it until Monday. So I Yes, I'm done.

Miss Kim, uh, their official termination date was Monday. They had to bring stuff in. We went ahead and put them on admin leave for the full eight hours just to turn their stuff in. Thank you. Does anybody else on the council have anything? Just a moment. All right. So my question is for Kirsten. What was said by Mr. Brandon that we shouldn't be making comments about? What what is the legal portion that we should not be talking about?

So my my advice to you is based on the fact that there's just been made allegations of hostile work environment, wrongful termination, etc. things that are legal claims. Anything that you all say in regards to that is is something that could be used pro or con by anyone who brings litigation. So in the same way that oftent times you see for ongoing investigations no comment is the is the official comment that that is my recommendation as it is the safest legal path in any threatened potential litigation or action against the city. So, so at what point are we to ask questions and get more of a clarification? Because an email saying that somebody's terminating, that's all you get. You don't get a com a phone call, you don't get a conversation, you don't get anything related to that termination. At what point are we supposed to be asking those questions? And where? So legally the safest place for you to have those conversations and is in person with the individuals that you are looking to have those conversations with um from from a legal perspective. Obviously I can't tell you you can't comment on anything. My job is to tell you what is the legally safest way for us to move forward on any of these things. And my advice to you in all pending, ongoing, investigative, or threatened litigation is that we don't make comment on it. It's like that with with anything. Um, that's not to say that you can't ask questions. That's not to say that you can't do these things. I'm just letting you know that there is a a potential liability that comes with anything that you all say. So that that's what my comment was based on. Okay. All right. Mr. Mayor,

Madame President, how are you feeling tonight? Uh, it could be better. Well, I it's a little tired. She's looking.

Sorry. I know it was a long day. Uh, this I would like to address Vice President Cox's concerns. While I was in Tallahassee, there is nothing ever assured about grants, but while I was in Tallahassee talking to a representative, he said that our safety complex was within the top three of the places that he is looking at that he believes a grant would be acceptable. And because it is a one-time grant, the he's I was told that the biggest problem they're having up there is continuing grants where they're committing the state to grants every year for projects. And because ours is, as he called it, a one offer, uh he thought we we were very good on possibilities of getting it. Now, it's a grant. don't necessarily mean we're going to get it, but it was in within his top three. So, the efforts that this council and the city makes going to Tallahassee sometimes actually work. That's all I had about that.

Thank you, sir. Now, on to more important objects. This morning at the county commission meeting, the girls uh basketball team, what is it? Uh not high school.

Yeah, high school. Okay. Anyway, they were present to receive appreciation for their hard work. And as I was sitting there, I I have sent such an email to the clerk. I don't know if she's seen it because she's had a busy busy busy day, but the council wanted them to know how appreciative they were of the hard work and the dedication and that their efforts were showed great honor and pride for the county and for the city of Williston. And I thought at that time, actually that's not correct. Someone that I was with mentioned it and I said, "What a wonderful idea. I have asked the city clerk if she would consider the girls basketball team as the grand marshall in our Independence Day parade." Uh, she's pointing out so I may be in trouble. But at any rate, I wanted the council to know that those group of girls were fantastic representatives for our city and our county. And I think we we could do something to help recognize them. And that's all I have. Thank you.

And they sing. Mayor Goodney. I said and they sing. Um, not to interrupt you, but we do have something planned for them on May the 2nd along with the high school. I had to get permission from the principal first before I can move forward with what we were going to do. And I have no objections to that, but I still would like to consider them as grand marshalss on our Independence Day parade. Even though I have already asked someone else, I will make it work. You know, you're not nearly as pretty. You don't agree with me. We will make it work.

Oh, Marty. Anything else, Mr. Mayor? Evidently not. All right, y'all. Come on. We got a long way to go. Nobody else has anything. Miss,

I'm sorry. I I I would like to address the issue of the terminations and ask your advice. Um, obviously there are some concerns about how they've been handled and I think uh most of us have acquired over the past 24 hours some understanding as best we can of what transpired. But I do feel like this is a conversation that needs to be had amongst the council to provide direction about how we want this to be handled going forward. So what is our best avenue at this point in time to address amongst ourselves our concerns and to give direction um and get questions answered in a consistent so we all get the same answers to the questions that we have. So my recommendation would be if there are questions that you won't have to ask them in in a public meeting, you can ask them

in a question form

in a question format for your city manager to provide you with all the same. So if you ask a question and say we would like answers to these questions to be provided to us, then your city manager can provide you all with the same information. It can be in an email or in a briefing or whatever that may be. Um to each of you individually or to all of you at a public meeting if that would is what you would prefer. Um you again you're certainly able to make comment and ask questions. My my caution to you all is that the more the questions come out as statements, the more that can provide fodder for a potential future lawsuit. So to the extent that the for instance oftent times we see things like please provide us with when we found out about this information, how we found out about the information.

Oh sorry. She wanted to know if we do this now or in the end. I was like, "What the questions?" So, she she wants us to move along, but continue. Go ahead.

When we found out about any potential allegations, what documentation there is, please provide us with a timeline, um those kinds of things are are perfectly appropriate questions to be asked. And if you'd like, they can be provided in a sort of briefing to everyone over email um that answers all of those questions. And then that provides us with an opportunity to provide factual information for everyone at the same time. Um, and then if we choose to discuss it further at a public meeting, again, obviously welcome to do that. I mean, you could discuss it now. I'm just not sure how many how much documentation your staff will probably have for you. Um, which may make it a little bit challenging. So, could we at the end of this meeting present our questions to be notated and returned to us via email so that we all have the same information about what transpired?

Absolutely.

I just want to ask one last question at the next participation. You're going to ask this is updates. No. Yes. I asked about list. What list? Earlier. Oh, okay. When I got my list just employees to get rid of, you know, Alex, I'm going to ask you, has you heard anything about a list? Mr. Rob, I have heard about a list, but I don't know it to be true or not. Okay.

Thank you, sir. I'm done. All right. So, if there is nothing else from the council, we will move forward to new business. Um, and let me just say that my concern is we have three consultants sitting out here who are on the agenda that I would like to have them do their business so that they don't have to sit here all night and then we can get back to this at the end. That's just what is it not working?

No, no, no. I have one interpreter. My uh ad train consultant has texted me that he's finished with the server. So the next step was Fiber Smith tomorrow.

Oh, okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. All right. So, discussion update on Edmonds system. Jeff Sates with Edmonds. Thank you, President Hines. Good to see some of you again. Chief RS, Mayor Goodman, uh, thanks for having me again. My name is Jeff Sates with the Edmonds Govvek uh, software company. I'm here to answer any questions we have had. Um, we provide the accounting, water utility, electric utility, utility service, um, software that the city uses. Um, there was some discussion last time I was here. There was a list of items um that I that I said that I would be back here to give updates on. I certainly am back here to give updates on. I I hope you'll like the updates. I'm certainly uh happy with the updates, but I'll open it up first to see if there are any questions from mayor, member of council.

I had one question this week, but me but Megan has already answered it for me.

Yeah. Join the club. We are so impressed with Megan. I said this last time, nothing's changed. We were so impressed with Megan, how good she is um at her job, how she goes above and beyond, how she fixes things that have always been broken. She's the one that kind of says, "No, um this this is going to stop." Also impressed. I don't deal with them as much, but Aaron uh overnight, every time we we get with him, we're impressed. And Sue doing a nice job kind of keeping the uh the ship together. So, I think those were important to to say just from just from our standpoint, kind of an independent third party. But were there any questions? So, I'm happy to just kind of get to the list, give you the highlights, get back seated if if there are no questions, but I'm happy to take questions, too.

I don't think there are any questions.

Cool. Uh, well, the list of items, um, there were some significant items on the list. It was brought to us mid-inter uh, holiday time. That list is largely completed. Let me say the two exceptions, what I believe are ongoing, uh, situations. um the system just being generally glitchy, slow, kicked out, frustrating. We all know as users of any system. Um we did a lot of work with that. That's where Aaron was really paramount. Um turns out u the term that I've heard for the second time tonight dropped packets when the internet kind of doesn't work properly. Um that seems to be the issue that was causing our system uh to glitch. So, we're hopeful that with the new fiber, which should have a lot less dropped packets, that just our system is going to work better because the internet's working better. So, if maybe I'll just leave it there. So, the glitchy system, something we take of the utmost paramount uh importance that that we've identified as a dropped packet issue. Um, some things going on internally here that should help that for you guys. We're also doing some things internally uh that maybe make drop packets less of a inconvenience for folks since it is something that happens. So we believe that to be ongoing. We're we're keeping a watch on that. We haven't closed our case on that uh yet. We want to monitor it as the city gets into the the fiber uh and then and then uh keep an eye on it. The other issue that I believe to be kind of ongoing, the meter readings here still take too long in my opinion. Um I I have a feeling Megan would agree with me, some others would. Um there there are too many readings coming from the uh the meter handhelds that the technicians walk around with. They might put in a certain number and then when it gets imported into the system, uh the number isn't what the staff here wants it to be. Uh we've been working with Itron to figure out, well, how do we get it to be

what Williston needs it to be? They've given us some answers. Turns out the answers didn't really work. So Megan uh has been trying some things on her own uh w with with our help for some of those things. Um and we've just been trying to really really get that down to to almost no errors. Um as le at least as it relates to that specific problem. There's always going to be other errors. Somebody might make a mistake. You know, things happen. But I still believe that the reading issue here, the reading's taking too long. That's something we're keeping ongoing um as as it relates to this list. Um but but other than that, every other item, um you're still waiting on communication to the citizens about their bill. Uh our hand in that was we were going to provide some some documents, a framework uh for Megan and the team to do that communication. We've given her some drafts um today. We and we'll work with her to to dial them into her specifications so she gets exactly what she wants and needs to communicate effectively about the bill changes to the citizens. Um, so that one could not be completed. If Megan wants some changes, we're happy to provide them. And then of course, furthermore, you know, we're a partner in this with the city and all of our customers. When and if there are issues, we are happy to answer to them. You know, we have our support team available. Myself and my team are available personally to the city of Willist. I had a few of my my colleagues out here uh to to pay a visit. We continue to do that periodically no matter what, even if uninvited kind of. We're just going to stop by and and say hello. We want you guys to be happy uh as it relates to us. So, um we're going to continue our ongoing partnership. I believe we're kind of working starting to get into the optimization phase uh of the installation. You know, everybody's installed. Um seems to be riding semisly now. We're not trying to break uh fix

things that are broken. We're just ready to optimize systems and processes, get people really seeing some of these efficiencies uh that we can provide. And I kind of feel that we're getting into that phase of the project. So that's it for my brief update. I'm happy to answer questions, have discussion, anything you guys want or need. Thank you. We appreciate it. Thank you. You guys are appreciate it. Okay. Item number B, discussion with possible action. Retail strategies for Williston Top of the Hills. Sarah Beth Stewarts.

Good afternoon or evening, mayor, council, staff, and public. um working on getting a presentation pulled up, but I appreciate all of your time. Um I'll go ahead and just kind of start off with an introduction. I am Sarah Beth Stewart. I am the vice president community partnerships with retail strategies and I'm here to talk to you about retail development. Um, I'm sure many of you here would love to see a Waffle House or a Chick-fil-A or uh Publix or any other type of restaurant or clothing. Um, or just retail opportunities in the community so you don't have to travel too far. Um, have a cool place to eat, entertainment, healthcare. There's a lot that goes into what we consider retail. Um, and that's what my company does. Uh, so a little backstory about retail strategies. We were actually born out of a commercial real estate firm. So our sister company does everything from major mixed use development, property management, tenant representation. We formed our municipal consulting side uh to really aid communities with attracting and finding the right retail for their community. Um so uh we act as the extension of city staff to take a proactive approach to retail development. Is there like a clicker or anything I can Okay, perfect. Um so we've worked with over 800 communities since our founding. Um we are very active in ICSC, Retail Live, several of those other uh municipal um uh companies as well. Let me keep on rolling. Um so a little bit about our process. So it starts off with trying to understand who the consumers are within the community. So there is a market analysis really understanding not just who the residents are but uh who might be driving in and out of the community. We want to study who they are, what are their buying habits, spending patterns. Uh there's all different types of data out there that we can pull that will really show us those consumers. And onto

the next slide. Um so this is actually a retail or excuse me, a mobile data report off of the Dollar General. Um, and it is basically a geoence and it's tracking those consumers that might be coming in and out of that specific Dollar General and we're able to see a lot of information about them and again what are your buying habits and spending patterns. Um, and then uh part of that and now if you'll go back two slides sorry. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Here we go. Um, so this one specifically is showing us about 30,000 people are in that retail trade area. So there's a lot more people than what your current residents are. Um and it's also having a 6% growth percentage over the next 5 years. So that's great stats to share with retailers so they know that they can make money within your community. Um another stat to share is there's $250 million leaving this boundary to shop elsewhere. Um a lot of you can probably tell me yes, we are shopping in other places and so those dollars need to be staying here locally and that's what we want to do. If we can pop over to the next slide. Uh there's all different types of reports that we pull. I'm don't bore you in them because it's a lot of data. We'll skip ahead to the real estate analysis. Um because all of that data is great and we can nerd out for hours upon hours upon hours of the data we have available, but the real estate is the true driving force behind a commercial real estate transaction. So our team of real estate professionals will come to the community. They're going to drive the marketplace cataloging real estate assets. Um, this screen right here is showing you one of our CL clients, St. Cloud, Florida. And all those green dots are assets that we have seen um would be viable for more retail development. Whether that's vacant land, uh, shopping centers, um, or just other assets that are just there, maybe they're vacant, maybe they're it's being bulldozed, whatever the situation might be, we're going to be looking at those real estate assets and cataloging them so that we can put together a retail strategy. Move on to the next slide. Oh, sorry, I skipped ahead too far. Um, uh, part of our analysis will also be an in-person meeting. So, meeting with stakeholders to really understand what do you want to see in your community, uh, for retail. Uh, we're also going to meet with property owners um, and and just business owners to really understand what are some hurdles that they're facing with having a property in Willist um, or operating a business in Willist. Um, and that retail strategy, uh, basically is going to tell us based off the demographics, based off your real

estate assets, and then based off who's actually expanding in retail in the region right now, who should we be targeting for growth? The last thing we want to do is spin our wheels going after a retail brand that is in bankruptcy or in closing. So, we want to find the right brand. Um, so our our retail strategy is going to look at the different uh corridors, uh, trying to analyze what retail should be here. Um, we're going to put together that retail prospect list and then the best part is our team is actually going to do the active recruitment. So, if you'll skip to the next slide, um, our team uh, sits here in the middle between uh, calling on the local brokers, um, the local property owners. If they're not local, that's fine, too. We'll contact them, uh, talking to the franchises, tenant reps, uh, retailers, brokers, and connecting with them to say, "Hey, we've got this opportunity in Willist. what is it going to take to get you here to open your business in Willist? And then reporting back to city staff on what is said, the good, the bad, the ugly. If it's a yes, great. What is the next step? If it's a no, why is it a no? Maybe it's just a not right now. Maybe it's an incentive. Whatever the situation might be, we want to uncover that those hurdles so that we can see these businesses open in Willist. On to the next slide is going to show you the team that gets to do it. So Garrett Smitherman is the portfolio director for the state of Florida. Um he is our our team that's are leading the team to really aid our retail recruitment team. Uh he's backed by Drew and Sheldon and Sheldon's not pictured on there but he's on the team as well. Um and they are recruiting retailer attending conferences promoting the sites in Willist. Uh we also have our data team, our marketing team and our leadership team. Of course myself is also on that team. On to the next slide. One of the other uh major components of our partnership is the uh conference representation. So ICS is the largest retail trade show. Um and it is a massive conference in Vegas every year. They also have local regional shows. There's one in Orlando uh in the fall

every year. So we attend these trade shows on on your behalf. Uh meeting with these brokers, developers, the retailers and again reporting back on different things that are said in those conferences and just reporting back on things that are happening in the retailer community. Um, another cool thing about our company is, uh, the president of retail strategies, Lacy Biz Beasley, sits on the board of trustees, which is a very prestigious, uh, position on ICS. So, she's rubbing elbows with the big dogs, and she's able to bring back a lot of information about what is happening in commercial real estate. I know I talked really fast. I know you guys have already been through a lot in this meeting and have a lot more to go. So, I'm here to answer any questions that you might have, except for I forgot to mention one other thing. Um the biggest retail trade show ICS Vegas is in May. Uh so we're about a month away from that conference. It is the Super Bowl of all retail trade shows. 30,000 people will attend it. Um it is the the craziest two and a half days because it's 15-minute incremental meetings back to back to back with all the retailers. There's a lot of information gathering that. So wanted to make note that that is coming up very soon. So with that, what questions do you guys have? Yes, sir. Tell them how much. I'll let you ask that one.

Okay. You've seen the conditions of our buildings. What would make a retailer want to come here considering the site of our buildings? Uh retailers want to make money and that's the bottom line. So our goal is to show them how they can make money within your community. Showing the demand. Now the supply of your assets is uh something that we will need to overcome. Construction costs are high. Uh, but there are a lot of retailers that are willing to develop or maybe they're willing to redevelop a building. Uh, and so we're really there to show them the right asset and to get those wheels turning. Okay. You can ask that question. I know you made a presentation to the CRA as well.

Yes. I don't know what the outcome of that was. Um, whether they're interested in partnering or or doing it themselves or partnering with us. Um, obviously they have a separate pool of money than we do. Um, and of course you and I have spoken before. We've known each other in all honesty, we we've probably met with each other three or four times um over the course of year couple years. Yep. And have applied for grants with Duke that you've seen. Um because we're not a Duke customer, I feel like they don't see us as clearly as they should.

Uh but Sarah Beth has always encouraged us to continue. She knows the very first time that I saw met with her, she showed me telephone pings of everybody who left the city limits, that little boundary she showed you and exactly what store they went to in what city.

Hundreds, thousands of pings. So these people know exa, they know exactly where everybody in Willist is leaving to go to and what they're buying and where they're going to buy it. Uh I think it would be very advantageous for them to be to work on our behalf uh to represent us at these trade shows. Uh we know what we need. We need clothing. We need shoes. Uh we need homegoods. Uh we have certain things that we have, but they're not exactly what we need. Uh obviously none of those. We have plenty of um western wear between Tractor Supply and Clover Leaf, but we need just regular clothes and sho regular shoes, place to buy tennis shoes. I mean, just anything.

Um and HomeGoods if you needed to put up some curtains or buy a rug, you know, whatever you needed. That's those I'm talking like a bells or a bell's outlet or something of that nature. Yeah. And we've kind of told Sarah Beth that's what we're looking for. You know, those things that Williston doesn't have. And I think it would be great uh to have them act on our behalf. It's just the money and like I said that grant that we applied for for Duke, they wouldn't pay part of it and we went that way I think two years and didn't get it either year. So now we're here asking for money. So what's the price? You asked but you didn't let her answer.

I did. I wasn't sure it's gone. It's I didn't know if it had gone up or not. Oh, it was two years ago. I missed it. Okay. No. Um, so it's 45,000 yearly. Uh, we typically ask for a three-year engagement because retail takes time. Um, a Dunkin Donuts can usually set up shop in 9 months, but uh, bigger boxes are going to be 3, five, 10, sometimes longer. Um, most retailers are already done with their 2026 and 2027 pipelines, so we asked for that. uh yearly engagement. You can exit out at any time. Priorities change, staffing changes, council changes. So, um there's just give us the 30 days notice and you can get out of that agreement anytime.

So, how did the CRA react? Okay. So, first I want to address your first point about being Duke because Sarah Beth and I worked together in Bronson and we did not get the grant either and we were partially Duke. So, I don't know if that has anything to do with it. Um but yes, so Sarah Beth, one of the meetings we had recently, she happened to mention that she also worked with CRAAS. That gave me the aha moment and I said, "Can you please make a presentation to the CRA?" The CRA is interested in partnering with the city. So maybe doing half and half, but they wanted to see how the council felt first. So we wanted to have Sarah Beth do the presentation to you and then there's a CRA meeting on uh Monday so we could go back and let them know how you feel. Yes, Miss Meredith.

Um I noticed on your list. These these are all franchises that you work with. So, no local businesses,

local businesses, too. Um, part of our recon day, uh, our inmarket workshop, we want to meet with business owners, um, our entrepreneurs. We want to supply them with the same data that Target and Publix has access to so that they can make decisions for their business. So, there's a lot of information that we can provide to those local entrepreneurs, to those local business owners. When it comes to recruiting more local and regional brands, um we are very targeted on those. Um there's a ton on there that we we do work with regionally and locally. Uh we have all different types of reports that we can pull to see what are those brands that have two maybe three, four, five locations. We like that model because those business owners number one know how to run a business and number two have opened up several businesses and they have access to capital so they will be successful. That's typically why we try to follow that model. Um, but we want to support all in any retail business.

So you you will recruit equally businesses not on that list of the Popey. That was a very brief very very very brief list of ones that we have done uh in the state. So my second question is um the the and I think all of us can kind of look around who live here and know what we can and can't purchase in this community and and Deborah's spot on. It's it's clothing, homegoods, and shoes. Um, do we have a building site in this city that would support a bills that is large enough to support a bills? That's something we need to do our real estate analysis and look at all of the different assets are available or what might be able to be built. Okay.

Because I mean, I've driven this city enough as everybody else that we we have very little land on which to build. So, I am very concerned about spending this amount of Yeah, we need to annex, but that's a process. I I agree. I do think the city needs we need to buffer ourselves. We don't need, you know, retail businesses coming in on the edge of city and Levy County and Levy County. Sorry, Levy County, but Levy County getting the taxes, right?

Um, but I think we're a little bit, my personal opinion, cart before the horse here, that we would spend this money before we have the land to put these buildings on. Um, so I can tell you the last three or four that we have had, um, I can think, well, even think of three three or four that we've had that they actually have annexed because they bought the land and we delivered the utility services to them, especially at the airport. I'm thinking about the airport. They didn't have to buy the land at the airport. They leased the land, but we ran utilities to them because they purchased the lease. I mean, they got the lease. Um, I can think of everything from the elementary school to LAR. You know, those those lands were both annexed because they wanted to be here and have our services. So, as long as you're close enough to the in the municipal service district where we could extend our utilities to them, that's how you get the annexation. I'm just concerned because looking at Chief, that's not the same model that happened in Chief and the downtown of Chief is pretty much non-existent and all of the retail businesses that are on this list are outside of the city limits of Chief and benefiting from, you know, cheaper property taxes in the county. So, I I hear you. I'm just concerned that that won't necessarily be a guarantee here. I would agree with I agree with Miss Martin.

If we had a property, it'd be great. Well, it's about maximizing your property. That's the way to get the property. So, I do have a question. You said like Dunkin Donuts. What if a franchisee has the rights to this area? Yeah. Do you hunt out who that might be? Yes. And then get them. Yes. Okay.

100%. Um, but going back to the property, it that that's a big part of being in Florida is you don't have a ton of real estate. Um, and so you've got to maximize and so you don't want just to have any retail brand show up. You want something that's going to benefit um or add value to your community. So, uh, that's why we take the approach we do is being very strategic on what are those brands that are going to add value, add to that quality of life, um, and targeting them specifically. Finding the right real estate asset is a part of the puzzle, but that's everywhere. And so, that's our job is to maximize the options, finding the right brands, and getting them here sooner rather than later.

And I would love to work it into next year's budget. I don't mean right this minute, but next year's budget's going to be here before we know it. So, quick question. Um, if we decide to do this and you're not able to get any retail to come in and we've made payments, is there a reimbursement? Is there a what what does that contract kind of look like? Yeah, that's not in our standard agreement. Um, but we can talk with the attorney about what that looks like.

Okay. Any other questions? Anybody else have anything else, Mr. Mayor? No. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. It was great to see you guys. Absolutely. Thank you. All right. At this time, we're going to take a 15 minute break. It is 8:45 p.m. We will return at 9:00 p.m. Okay. Before everybody dismiss well take a break, I just want to thank Chief Rose for providing the dinner for tonight. So if you you could have did that at the end when he wanted to. All right, go ahead. Break time. Go ahead.

Thank you. Almost. Are you activating? That's funny.

Right. Right.

Okay. Okay. So I think that the wrong one here.

We're going to reconvene at 9:08 p.m. We're going to go with item number C. Discussion updates will on Wilson Fiber Hector with performance service. I'm not going to butcher your name. There it is. It is. Well, good evening, Madam President, Mr. Vice, council members, madam manager. Hector Samario with Services here to provide that update on the fiber. It's great to see everybody. Of course, I always wish it was under different circum circumstances.

Uh but I want to start by saying that we remain committed to the city of Willist and to Williston Fiber. Um you know, we're committed to getting this across the finish line. And when I say that we are committed, I'm really what I'm really talking about is our team. And that's from the president, our chief uh sales officer and our Florida team that's here with me tonight. Uh Joe Suggs, he's my boss. He's the he's our man. He's responsible for all things happening in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. He's been back there. Uh he is he and I have been on calls for the last several weeks trying to not only identify um you know the the challenges, but really again the best best and quickest path forward. On those calls have been our ops team, Charles Swurse. Hope I didn't butcher that. Got it right. I always just call him Charles. He's uh he's our operations manager. He's also in charge of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia on the operations side. And with him is Jeremy Ver Familiar. Had to practice that for because he's just kn different last names. He's our superintendent. He's the boots on the ground. He's overseeing our subcontractors with a heavy hand. He's doing all the QA, QC of things that have been done and things that are being done. He's documenting what's being done and and where if there are any challenges, what needs to be resolved. So, these are the teams that are here. These are the the folks that are committed to the city of Williston and to this project. Um, let me uh also I I talk about our team, but I want to say before I talk about a few other things that we have been working closely with your staff and I mean we have been in in in on calls. We have been on in meetings for the last few weeks working with your team and they have and it they have been absolutely phenomenal. Sue, Rob, and Aaron have been great. They have been they have been supportive. They have

been professional. They have been engaged and uh they have uh you know held our feet to the fire. They have done what they should be doing and they have but they have been great to work with. So we have really have enjoyed them. The delays any delays that have happened are are on us. Your staff has been working this very very hard to make sure that we we keep continue to move forward. So I just wanted to to thank them. Um I won't talk about the things that Aaron already talked about. Um but I just want to touch on a couple just two really two two items. Ftop permits. There are six still that are outstanding. We're still working on those, but we have been listening to your staff and we are uh pursuing options to expedite that process and find ways alternative ways to to continue to manage that. Luckily or fortunately, we you Rob has a wonderful relationship with the FDOT folks that has been a blessing and has been very very helpful. So that we're thankful that he has been involved because he has really helped us to uh you know cut through some of the red tape and get things done and moving moving forward as best as we can. And really the last thing I wanted to just mention is the numbers. We have 12 drops remaining um that are yet let yet to be installed. Those 12 are right of entrance. We need uh permission from the property owners to get to get access. We have 99 drops left to test and there are 85 drops that have yet to be assigned but that's just a matter of identifying those 85 that are ready to move forward with the with Willis fiber and once those are identified we'll be completing those as well. And that's really my wanted to give you a quick update and wanted to open this up to Q&A for any questions you may have for either me or for our team members. Any questions from council?

These are new members. No, these are uh your senior.

Yeah, they're well, they've been on the the company for for for a good long time. A lot of experience, but we brought them on here specifically to address um and to expedite the process here. We all understand the challenges that we've had. So they're here to just to bring another level of expertise and hierarchy to the project to make sure things are getting done. So I don't want to say that they just started. I have been on the phone with these guys for again several weeks. Uh we have been in meetings and on calls with your staff for at least two three weeks minimum. We've been engaged in meeting with staff to to again figure out the best path forward.

We just like to say welcome. Thank you for coming down.

And let me add, they're not here just as a show of force or to show the flag. They are they're committed. They have been I can't say enough about how hard they're working. Um just the level of expertise that they have that I don't, you know, when it comes to project management, superintendence, and uh and then just the the the what's the word I'm looking for? just the the ability to provide the resources, the person who has access to those resources and my boss Joe Suggs who can make things happen and within the company to bring folks to the team as he's done for the city of Willist and these team members that we have here engaged now.

So, um Mr. Killian just a second and um you can go next. So when it comes to the subcontractors um that we were having told that there was an issue with before related to giving improper documentation to FD dot is it um are they still on board? What is going on with them? Are they doing things more appropriately and correct at this point or did we go with somebody else? I can only say that we are absolutely we've heard from staff and we're pursuing uh we're looking at alternatives and options to expedite that process of getting somebody else

to eliminate the frustration and expedite the process. Guess that's about as as far as I could take that. Young man is behind you. Back up. Did you want to answer that question? Yes, Madam President. Just wanted uh to kind of reinforce what uh Hector had said there is we're we're we are removing them from the process and are pursuing more efficient means to expedite those FOP permits. Working with Rob has been invaluable since I've been on board and just uh building on the relationships that he has to to get that back on track because that's been a big hurdle timewise. Okay, Mr. Keian,

I just wanted to add since the not the new team but a different team has taken over, we've gotten more answers within the past 48 hours than we have with the prior, excuse me, prior prior management that was in place. Okay. Um, these three gentlemen and Hector have given us quite a bit of data that we've needed um able to get with FDOT and actually do some things in a in a positive direction. So, thank you, gentlemen. Okay. Thank you so much. Um, Miss Meredith,

um, I'm I'm just reading from our city manager's notes from this past week. She had a meeting with you. Um uh and and in her notes and maybe Sue you can clarify a little bit um talks about light setting not designing the project properly um and that we are now going to have to do quality control as we do installations. And my concern is is forward looking not backwards looking. that given that appears that the project was not particularly well designed initially, um are we going to run into problems down the road with the design features and with the installation that are going to cause us a headache and a hassle down the road? How how are we dealing with the fact that light set did not properly design this system?

I think the uh and what I mentioned earlier is probably the most important Best way to respond to your to your question is um with uh Jeremy here the superintendent as I said boots on the ground he's looking at everything from was it buried deeply enough are the cables you know hidden wrapped against the protected against the poles are the poles secure he's looking at all of that so despite how it was designed we are looking at finishing this up correctly um in in a quality way um we're in conversation with Aaron and really with Rob and and Sue to make sure that we're not missing a step. If it needs to be corrected, we're looking at ways to correct those things. So that is the past and we are looking at how do we do this right moving forward.

So So you your team will take the quality control portion of this and when when you guys are done so to speak, we will have everything will be as it should have originally been designed. Is that what I am hearing? you guys are going to correct anything that was done not to the and again I I have just sort of a very vague statement here that it was not designed properly. Um so my question is you know are are we go is the finished product going to meet all of the standards that it should have met at the very beginning.

You know that's a I think in any project there may be I mean I look at my home and when that fiber was laid and I ended up cutting it when I was just you know weed whacking. So, and that was you supposedly a a quality company. So, there may be I can't tell you that there'll never that that's never going to happen. We're that we're going to we're going to catch everything that that's out there, but we are going to be very diligent and looking at as much I don't want to say everything because sometimes you get things missed, but we're going to be looking at everything to make sure that it is done. If it's not done correctly, it's going to be documented and it's going to be resolved. Okay. Thank you,

Aaron. No, I was going to add that most of the design deficiencies have already been solved. That was done on in the field by uh Sun Coast as they've been building it. So, as far as the overall design, we're we're fine. Thank you. Any other questions? Any questions? So, we need to There's nothing. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Hector.

Thank you all. Appreciate it. All right. Item D, resolution 2026-26, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving a task order proposal for development of a safe streets and roads for all action plan from right Pierce authorizing appropriate parties to execute such proposal on behalf of the city of the city of Williston and providing an effective date. Walt Nichols Right Pierce.

Good evening. Thank you. Walt Nickel with Right Pierce. Um yeah, a couple of meetings ago um council approved and uh executed the agreement with um FHWA for the safe streets for all action plan grant. So this is um the next step of that is authorizing Wright Pierce to conuct the safe streets for all action plan study that is being paid for by that grant. Um we have first applied for this going on three years now. Hard to believe. Um and it was a little bit different program. It got put on hold and then got resurrected again and and came back to life. Um when I sent the information to Latricia, I included the old proposal from three years ago. I've since passed out uh the updated proposal. So that was my air. Um but by approving this it authorizes right pierce to conduct that safe streets for all action plan. The action plan is a requirement by FHWA for you to complete to identify um hazards both for vehiculars, pedestrians, bicyclists um with a their goal is you know zero deaths they want on on the transportation system. That is the goal. That is the objective of this this this study is to identify things. Um it's got a sevenstep program where we we go through we meet with um with uh with you, get you involved. You'll have your own uh oversight committee. We'll meet with uh stakeholders in the community um to form to inquire about their their uh opinions or views they have on the traffic situation. We're going to look at traffic uh data, accident data. As part of that, we'll need to work with police department here to do that. So, that's all part of the study. It's about a nine nine month to 12 month process for this to all occur. Um, but this will authorize that. But once this is done and approved and accepted, that opens you up for uh

federal money for transportation related projects. Um I believe that they've got a $5 billion uh pot of money that is is countrywide, but it is going to local communities. Um at Levy County's meeting this morning, they approved their action plan also to get started and there is uh collaboration that we should be having with our local communities. Levy County is listed. So as they're starting their program, we're starting ours actually at the same time. The timing is really well. Um, so I think we can integrate what they're doing countywide with what we're going to be doing citywide. So if there's any specific questions, but this is just to enact to get the the ball moving on the grant that was awarded to Willis.

So the grant was 153,600. Yeah. And it says in order for you guys to complete the fee will not exceed 153. But that's not that's not your cost. That's just the cost of everything underneath the grant.

Everything underneath the grant. Okay. There is some services that they wanted from the city, but and we kind of talk about that and it can be the time when we're going to meeting with the police uh department, your staff's time, getting access data, maybe getting uh speed information. There's there's a portion of that that we can count towards the inind and we're planning on doing that. So once we kick this off, your inkind services can be the time that the city is doing. And so that's how we propose that. So we will need some as we kick this off, some help from from your staff, from the police department and other staff, your road department. But the grant and our fee are the one and the same. There's no out-of pocket money coming from the city on this.

Okay. That was my question because I I was kind of confused. Yes, sir. So the grant is for how much? 153600. And what is right parents cost? 153600. Well, not to exceed. So he's saying that their fee is in the grant as well. Paid for by the grant. So the whole grant is their fee. Yeah. Well, not the whole grant, but everything that they're going to do, including their amount, is underneath that grant, not and then the incline is for the staff to provide so that so that we're not having to pay money out of our pockets. Does that make sense?

The grant has an end time payment, but that can be taken away as Walt has said. Yeah. because talking to you that costs a lot of money. Uh and I'm glad you know that mayor and the and the other members each one of the that anytime he talks to a city he can log it in as in kind payment to help cut it help cut down on the overage that you may experience staff time. Yeah. Okay.

In addition to this there's inind and it's about a 15%. I don't have that number, but if we track your time, your staff's time that we do, we're going to put that towards your kind. So, you should have zero dollar a zero dollar payment needed from the city for this to happen. And again, this is the first step, the first part of the grant. This is really the the small peanuts of the thing. Once this is done, there's money for implementation of roadway improvements, of traffic calming, of traffic safety items, but you can't get those dollars until this plan is done about this this grant. Did he answer your question? I guess

this grant can I clarify and correct me if I'm wrong. This grant is to identify the places that we need to improve traffic safety at which point then we go and we are set up to get the next amount of money to actually make those changes. So this is this is for this the studies and the identification of where we need you can't get those grants until you do this and the things that you and staff do is going to offset that 20% in kind that we have to pay. Your services is going to take care of that without us actually having to pay cash out of pocket. Does that make sense? chief alone can do that.

Yeah. I was I was just making sure because I was thinking if we're ininding, you know, is there a deduction and what right Pierce cost charging for in kind? But y'all answer that no. Okay. All right. Any other questions? Were you done, Mr. Pierce? I move approval of resolution 2026-26. I second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the council? Any discussion from the public? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay.

Motion passes four to zero. All right. So now we'll have resolution 2026-27, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willist, Florida, approving the miscellaneous professional services for the public works department contract modification number seven proposal from Wright Pierce authorizing appropriate parties to execute such proposal proposals on behalf of the city of of Williston and providing an effective date. Walt Nichols Ry Pierce.

For the past five years, we've had uh a miscellaneous services contract agreement where we do assist the city, the staff with miscellaneous things that come arise. So, we've modified this. We ask for a chunk of money every year about about eight to nine every eight to nine months, we come back for to add more money to to that. we've done since in the past five years we've done 42 individual tasks that we do we bill those uh separately there's a line item on the bill we give every month what the work is done but essentially it's an assignment and they can range from um a drainage or flooding problem that somebody's having and they ask us to come out or it's some other type of um we've done some designs the fugit live station emergency bypass we did all that design that bid that that was under here um and things like that. So um as a need arises and the last couple times it was asked that we get either at each task came in we get approval from either council president or the city manager. So when we get asked to do something from staff uh I send Sue an email saying hey they want this done do you authorize this under the miscellane services and I get a yes or no we create the task and we do the work. So that's it. So this one is is number seven that we're asking. We also have one for the planning department. Those we do primarily plan reviews. So as a developer comes in um you know the uh anytime fitness the Wahwa the other things we do the plan reviews or somebody's coming in to talk about uh a development uh we have a task for that that's separate. Uh the towns of Willist the construction administration is all under that too. Um though under that one that should be reimbursing the developers as they come in. They're now getting build for those fees. So that should be coming back to the city. But

this one is for really work that needs to be done where staff needs our assistance on on engineering matters. Miss Latricia, can you go to the actual um document? I think it's the the last page for this one. No, it's the actual where it talks about um the price. So go I think it's up one.

So maybe maybe you can find it. But um the is it page 31? 33. 33. 33 is the graph. So the question I'm I want to ask because there's another part to it and I can't remember what it was. Um but we're paying um the hourly salary plus 3.3 times where we're paying 3.3 times the salary. Can you explain what that's about a little bit? Why are we paying 3.3 times what the salary is for those are our our billing rates that are our agreement is to pay and that's pretty standard in engineering. There it is.

Yeah, the multiplier that is, you know, our rates times 3.32 overhead, profit, insurance, everything that goes in an engineering company. Um, and that is pretty standard and a little bit less than standard. Um, that you'll see um you'll see between 3.5 and four. Um, but we're we're at at 33 that that is ours. Okay. So, you always pay three times what your employees hourly salary is. And the 15% markup is

um if there sub consultant costs which we have not had to have bring in any sub consultants for any of your work. Okay, then under this% under this like the impact fees we talked about Rafelis, they're in there, but that's that's worked in. But under our miscellaneous services, we've never had to bring in a cons a sub consultant. Somebody were to come in with you've got a need for I think something that we don't some wetlands delineations that would need to be done. We don't have that in staff. We'd have to bring in a specialist or something like that and it would be their rate and a markup. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, it's going to be the rate of whatever specialist has to be consulted related to the project or whatever going on. Okay.

Because that was going to be another question. Yeah. We have not had a need yet though under the miscellaneous contract to do that. Okay. Mr. Mr. Mayor. So I know that the I'm not comparing us to anybody else, but I know that other municipalities perhaps my experience have been with larger ones have their own plan review. Are we subcontracting out plan reviews to your company at this time? Yes, we've been doing that for several years now. Several years.

Yep. So the city staff still does planning. We look at it, utilities look at it, but we look at it from an engineering standpoint, a different perspective that we bring in. But yeah, we do anything that comes in, we'll get a notice from the planning department typically to ask us to do that. So when we have something that needs reviewed, which is any project, y we go to your company and pay you to do that review. So we don't have to have anybody on staff from an engineering perspective. Yes. So typically, yeah, Elato County, city of Gainesville, they all have staff.

Staff to do that. Yeah. They have engineers on staff. Yes. And you don't have Thank you. Okay. Any other questions? You have questions?

Okay. Gotcha. Okay. Any other questions? I just want to say I appreciate the itemization. I don't know that I've seen that before. If so, I don't I didn't read it in the same light, but I liked seeing each individual project and exactly what it cost. Yeah. And we in our bill every month I list all of these same things in the bill and it's usually zero because some of these some of these go away. I guess we've just never seen it. Okay. I mean I'm sure staff's seen it but we haven't se I've never seen this before and I I appreciate it.

Thank you. Can can you give me the the the date? Is this just last year to and from? Yeah. When does when do these when does this uh I don't know. I don't have dates are sequential. I mean, we started with the task 01 and now we're at 42 this one fiscal year. This is multiple. Oh, this is the whole five years that we've been working for you. Yeah, because there's there's tractor supply and there's and then there's country lane state. So, yeah.

And some of the larger ones and we're doing the inspections during construction. Uh towns and there are some crossover I will say. Um I think it's number just to be clear with you, you will see towns of Willis task 10. that was done under the planning uh uh public works because we didn't have an agreement with planning to do plan reviews at that time. We were doing them under this contract. Then planning got their own miscellaneous services to hire specifically mainly for plan reviews and then that that work got transferred over to the plannings and towns of Williston is you know is under there cov that's one that is under both we've closed this one out. We do that under the planning now. Um, but when they go to construction, there's there's a lot more ti time involved. Shoping reviews, site reviews, site inspections, and things like that. We do those also under these miscellaneous contracts

and it's bill back to them. It is now. That always wasn't set that way, but you've got a new rate structure that is being built. So, when a developer comes in, they're paying those those fees. And I think there's other add-ons that the city is allowed to do. Um, one thing I would recommend working and maybe when you do budgets that when you do for the planning one, not necessarily public works, but when you do bill the developer, if that money could go back into this same pot, it would it technically would be just self- sustaining. You put in the seed money and it should self- sustain and pay for itself.

That would be and I don't know if that's happening, but that might be a financial housekeeping, bookkeeping type thing that that would benefit the city, I think. if you did do that. Need a motion. Yeah, I make a motion that we approve resolution 2026-27. A second. Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion from the public?

And no. Yes, sir. If you'll come to the pod. Robert Langan, 500 Northwest Fifth Avenue. I don't know who did the CLLE drawing reviews, but our underground and our electrical list my lot as 87 and 86. My title says 85. They're not being looked at in the detail that need to be looked at. Furthermore, and I mean, we paid for it. I I took it on ourselves to pay for it, but there were two underground conduits that were missed during whoever did the inspection on it that were never installed. Now, I've put them, we put them, we the board put them in ourselves, but stuff's not being looked at to detail it needs to be looked at because there's no way I should have two sets of drawings in the same lot have two actually two different numbers plus my title having a third number. Got that's b I mean, you just look at you don't have to know you don't have to know a lot about this. 85 86 87 83 84 85. It's not well the code says it's got to be this. This is simple common looking at detail and it's not much detail to compare not this drawing and this drawing when they're mirror image of each other other than the numbering systems are different. So whoever's doing that you all need to start holding them accountable.

Thank you. I can address that. I don't want this to sound like an excuse, but when Country Lane estate started, we were not contracted to do plan reviews. That's right. You did not have an engineer looking at plans. No. And I just want to state the fact you didn't have that expertise looking at it. We were asked to look at the pump station and the sanitary only and that's what we did and worked with that with the developer on that. But there was a good example where you did not have an engineer on that and it wasn't. We came in after the fact and that's one reason we haven't accepted it thus far

and my personal opinion one of the reasons why it's important for us to have a company like absolutely like Pierce on our team. Any further discussion from council move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay.

Motion passes four to zero. Resolution 2026-28, a resolution of the city council of the city of Willis, Florida, approving the state of Florida Department of Transportation public transportation grant agreement for financial project number 446167-2-94-01 regarding the Williston Municipal Airport construction taxiway extension and RW5 decoupling PFL15. 5369 authorizing appropriate party to sign an any document required to execute such agreement on behalf of the city of Williston to provide an infected Benton Steagle airport manager.

Yes, ma'am. So, uh this project is one that we've been trying to get on the books for quite some time. U it's this this is going to be a 100% funded FDOT project as it improves airport capacity. Um, and all of that that you just read essentially boils down to we are extending um taxiway Fox which is a taxiway that services runway 1432. Um, and currently we we don't have a parallel taxi way for that runway. Um, so we we will be getting it a parallel taxi way for that. And then the decoupling part. If you look at the intersection of runways um you know five and 1432, there's some old concrete and asphalt there and it would actually be decoupling and taking taking it away. So the on the screen the green area would be all new pavement and the red area is what we're decoupling.

Any questions? move approval of resolution 2026-28. A second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the public? Any further discussion from the council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say nay.

Motion passes 4 to zero. Now we open public hearing ordinance 2026-759 attorney K. Madame President, this is ordinance number 26-759, an ordinance of the city council for the city of Willist, Florida, amending chapter 24 of the city code of ordinances regarding environment to provide adding article six entitled landscaping, tree protection and site vegetation management. providing for definitions, providing for landscaping plan requirements, tree protection and removal, planting standards, landscape design requirements and maintenance requirements, providing for enforcement and penalties and variances, repealing all ordinances in conflict, and providing an effective date. I'll hand this over to your staff.

You want me to take an initial stab at it? All right. So, I'll take an initial stab at the next four um ordinances. So, these are not mandated by the state. Let me start by saying that that's my first question. They are not mandated by the state. Like whose idea was this? However, they are recommended by SwiftMUD, which of course is mandating our nitrogen removal numbers and they would help with our BMAP points. So that is why we're bringing them to the council. We understand that they may be somewhat controversial some of the things in them. So I'll leave it with that and I'm going to let Walt take it from here. Yes. Will you clarify while you're talking and what the BMAP is?

Yes. I'm going to start I'm going to start with that. So all the water management districts in Florida have been looking at uh surface water, groundwater um for for pollutants um and water quality and areas that were suffering poor water quality um were under became under basin management action plans or BMAPs. Um, Williston is located within the Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs Basin Management Action Plan and part of that action plan, they they are mandating participants within that um governments, counties, Levy Countyy's involved in this um Citrus County and others and then the municipalities within those that are in the BMAP that they have a responsibility to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharges to waterways and to groundwater. water um and you've got a mandate um several milestones that you are required to meet. Um for will city of Wilson itself 2028 is your first big milestone where you are required to show that you removed 5,579 pounds of nitrogen per year going into waterways and springs and groundwater. Uh that number increases in 2033 to 14,878. And in 2038, you have to hit your peak of 18,598 pounds. Um, so how do you do that? Well, we've uh approached um we've pursued several grants and just this year we won the uh area one septic to sewer grant for the design. We talked about that. Uh that is a big step towards getting your goals. So right now, one of the biggest uh contributors to nitrogen to to the springs is septic tanks. And so either you have to go to the advanced treatment or they would like to see that it be hooked up to sewer systems. So that is what we've done. We pursued and won u a

grant for the design and this is similar to safe streets for all. We get the design money. Then we can ask for the big dollars of the construction. So um that one is underway. So we've gotten approval u from that and we got a grant for $451,000 for that. Um, you can expect to follow up with that with about $20 million for the implementation of this once the design's done. So, that's one part where we're going. There's going to be some additional upgrades that you can do to your wastewater treatment plant. That's another big chunk where you can remove uh nitrogen and phosphorus from groundwater. Uh, a simpler way to get smaller points, but it helps in the big picture is adopting certain education and policies at the community level. And four of those are recommended ordinances that we have for for you today. A landscaping ordinance, an irrigation ordinance, a fertilizer ordinance, and pet waste cleanup ordinance. So, they all have different levels of complexity um and impacts. And these are recommended by Swift Mud and FD. Um this is kind of a what we've put together is a hybrid of what they're asking and recommending. Um, if you did adopt these, you get a percentage of your BMAP requirements reduced. It's about a 5% reduction, but it it's a way it's showing that you're doing this. So, these are some easy things. There's a few other programs that we'll probably be bringing to you in in the future, too. There's some public education things that you can do that help get you a percentage or two. There's street sweeping. You still got to work out the details on getting that done where you can you can get some points towards that. But you do have a big mandate and this is going to help. This the septic dwer that we're in the process of doing is a big chunk. This is another one just whittling away at what you need to do um to meet your your requirements. So I can go through these the landscaping um it

goes through parameters. If there's things in here we can change some of these things. For example, it says this applies for uh landscaping areas that are greater than 2,000 square ft um or you're planting more than eight new trees. There's a variety of things. We can tweak this and adjust this. We don't want to go too far off these numbers. These are recommended guidelines. Um but it it does the landscaping one is probably the most severe I would say of an impact. If somebody's coming in with a a new development or a new big commercial area, they're going to have to have landscape plans. They're going to have to be Florida friendly landscapes. They're going to have to have proper irrigation systems that are friendly to the environment. So, the landscape ordinance probably the most impactful, but not to current residents, really, not to your typical homeowner. But I do recommend that you do look at these things. We can we can tweak these a little bit. So landscape is one. Uh irrigation is pretty standard. You know, as we get into drought situations now, you're going to get some of these bands anyway, but it limits per the water management district guidelines when you can irrigate, how much you can irrigate, the times and and the in sequences. This one's probably less imposing for people. Um we have that. The fertilizer one, I will say, has been controversial in multiple areas. Um it limits when you can sell fertilizer. you have to uh the businesses will have to post placards when they can't sell the fertilizer and why I think this placards are to be provided by the city. So any anybody selling fertilizer in here it has time restrictions. Um I do know in Elancho County they had it they rescended it. It's something you know just advise this one has been controversial in other areas. So, do recommend that you review it and and understand the impacts that it may or may not have. Um, and then the

last one is probably the simplest is a pet waste. Really just mandating that people clean up after their pets if they're walking bags and so forth. Um, you can impose vines if they don't and things like that. It's almost a normal thing nowadays that that most people do. Um, le the less imposing, but all four of these do help meet your mandate. So, um I can say they can be tweaked if there's a particular language or a particular thing you don't like or fees and fines can be adjusted um that are applied in here. They can be tailored somewhat.

Mr. Can you go to the irrigation section since he kind of went over that a little bit? Did we have to go through these in order? Landscape is fine. I would prefer if we did for never mind. Okay. And these need two readings, right? Has this has the water management district come up with their guidelines? Well, these are based on they they've have recommended language. So, they do. Our our particular water management district has. Yes. Okay. Because when I read the state statute, it says they should.

Yeah. They have. And D does. And this is kind of a a blending. We've looked at both the EPS and the water man districts and and there is flexibility and we kind of blended which ones we felt were were more appropriate to Wilston and we put that in there. Well, if we're looking at the the tree protection and removal kind of thing um when it talks about protected trees, specimen trees, and the grand majestic trees and what you have to put back when you cut one. Um it's not too bad. And and do you say this is just for new development or would that pertain to someone I'm on page 82 of the packet? Yeah.

And would it pertain to somebody who cut down a tree in their yard? Well, okay. Landscape plans need to be prepared by a landscape certified landscape architect um when developing or installing more than 2,000 square foot of new landscaping. So, if you're doing more than 2,000 ft, these rules are going to apply. or you're planting more than eight trees at a time, then then you have to have you have to have plans. You have to have a landscape architect prepare them. And we're talking like crepe myrtle trees. And if you're going to do more than eight and aelas, it says things have to be a certain height. Yeah. Says they have to plant an 18 inch bush. Yes. I mean, that's a little ridiculous.

And and I'll say the landscaping one is going to be pro is probably one of the most difficult ones. It's the one I had the most trouble with. And is it the one with the $5,000 fine in it? You can tailor that $100 an inch. That is their suggestion. Or $100 an inch if you Yes. Yeah. I I have issues with that. Absolutely. These numbers you can I mean if we go if we go too far off of this, we may not get our credits. Well, see, I don't know what their plan says. Is does their plan say this? See the plan and the penalties are what they say. Those are their recommended but we can change that. We can change that.

Yeah, cuz 5,000 $5,000 per tree per tree pretty much knocked me off the chair. I was like, you got to be kidding. If it's a if it's a protected or specimen tree, right, without a permit, you can apply. My understanding is you can apply to get a permit to remove the tree and then you do not have to pay the fine, but you have to plant back. So, whatever it tells you to plant back. And we have this in Elatch County. My neighbor just took down a 44 inch live oak. Um, they were allowed to do it. It was damaging the driveway and their foundation. The county came out, issued the permit, and they took it down. It was causing problems.

And how many did they have to put back? Um, he just has to do one. Just one of a certain size. So, yeah, it was pretty uh, again, not egregious. Yeah, we can change some of these things. You do have the capability when I can change when I can't change. Yeah, I I I tell you the landscape is the most difficult I think for communities because it is it's pretty egregious in in certain states, but you can change it. You change the you can change the uh the fees. You can change some of these sizes if you would like to um to to make it not as as difficult. You can increase the size when they need to bring in a landscape architect instead of 2,000. If you were to go to 3,000 or 4,000 square feet, I don't think that would be a prop.

I mean, like, how much is an acre? How many square feet are in an acre? I don't know. 42,000,000. 42. Well, I it you see, it needs to me it needs to be at least that. Oh, wow. Well, I don't think anybody doing a development, if you had a large scale commercial development come in, they're going to be just say three or 4 thousand square foot of landscaping might be a lot. They would have to apply. Um, you're not going to get 2,000 square foot of landscaping in a residential subdivision home. An individual home, you're not going to get that. Not in an individual home. Not.

No. So, but if you come in um with a large uh open space in a large subdivision that's part of a HOA, those can be acres in size and then then that portion of that would fall under this ordinance appropriately. So, but I will say the landscape is is probably the most difficult and the next fertilizer ban. It's just been very controversial in places. It has So, can we just You need to quit. Can we just We're going to just stick with this particular ordinance. I'll get you in a second. This particular ordinance. We don't want to

$25,000. No, he said something about fertilizer. I'm just saying we're going to we're not going to do any of that other stuff. Yes, ma'am. I I want I I do agree that perhaps we should look at reducing the amounts to to the minimum. I it would be helpful for me to know what the minimum that we could do and still meet the standards that would get us the points towards the BMAP. And unfortunately in our reading of it, it there these are guidelines. They're not mandates. So how far you vary off? I think we could we could make the suggestions and run it by them right before you officially adopt. We could do that.

Absolutely. And run that by.

I know that there are other counties and municipalities in the area that have this and and it does not deter businesses or developments from coming in. It's I mean if you if you go to Ocala for example, I mean even the Dollar General in Blitton and you look at the landscaping there, it it meets it meets this and it didn't deter them from coming in. Um, and so I I think that, you know, this is to me, um, while I while I appreciate that the $5,000 fine is very high and I do think we should, you know, consider altering that and some of the other requirements on here, I do think it's important that we um, for a variety of reasons that we do have a tree policy and a tree ordinance. And and there are a number of reasons that I feel this way. And first it there are studies out there, numerous studies out there that show that having a tree on a piece of property raises the value of the property by anywhere from 6 to 20%. A mature tree. Um it there are even studies that show that if your neighbor has a mature tree on their property that it raises your property values as well. Um, a single mature tree in the yard of a house, according to the National Realers Association, raises the value of that house by as much as 7 to $8,000. Um, the other thing is that trees soak up a lot of water, and we are dealing with a lot of flooding. Trees drink between 150 and 300 gallons of water, a mature live oak tree, 150 and 300 gallons of water a day that they absorb up through their roots. The more trees we cut down, the more flooding we're going to have. And to me, when I look at the math between what we are going to spend to mitigate flooding when these developments come in, and sorry those you who live, this is not personal, the CLE, CL came in and cut down every tree out there and now we're dealing with flooding problems on Seventh Street and in other directions. Um, you know, would

that have been the case if there was a buffer along Seventh Street? if they had left mature trees to soak up and slow that water down. Even the canopy that a mature tree creates slows down the rainfall, keeps it from becoming a flash flooding. There are statistical studies. You can look at every arborous Davy tree, National Arbor Day Foundation, Pacific Northwest Research. There are so many studies out there that show how advantageous trees are to slowing down flooding and and keeping moisture in the soil so that we don't have erosion and we don't have sinkles and we don't have things like that. So, while I understand that at first glance some of this seems really alarming, I think that there's actual economic benefit to the city and the residents that will prevent us from having future costs imposed on us that will be this is sort of a a slow a slow establishment of trees to help us from having to spend a lot of money really fast to deal with flooding and other issues in the community. So, I understand that, you know, we may not want to go as hard at it as this particular ordinance says, but I do think it's important that we consider this not as a a burden, but actually as an asset to help prevent future problems, including the price we're going to have to pay to deal with the BMAP issue further down the road. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Oh, sorry. Are you gonna say something or you want me to? Well, you're you're looking the other way. I don't know any other way to get your attention. Uh, so you said that if your neighbor has a tree, it increases the value of your land. There's studies. There has been studies. So then I should be charging all of my neighbors for all of the trees that I have on my property while they are look like bald eagles. All everyone else took down every tree in their lot. And there's one grand pine tree

that is left in this poor little lot of an acre and it's 150 200 feet from the house. But the owner doesn't like dealing with the pine cone, so he wants to cut it off. And this ordinance would stop him from doing that without a permit. And it would not issue a permit if there was nothing wrong with the tree and it was not a threat. Is that correct? Because that's not what the way I read this ordinance. I don't think that's the case. They would have to issue a permit if you asked for one, right?

So if if that's the case, then how are we protecting the trees? Well, because then for every tree that is taken down, there would be a certain number of trees that you would be asked to replace it with. So if for example, if you took down a large tree because it was endangering your roof or causing disturbance to the sidewalk or septic or sewer lines or anything like that, that's and I mean it it clearly states here you palm trees. I mean there's there's quite a long list of acceptable

trees that can be replaced, but it would ultimately I I mean it would prevent people from again, sorry, SE, but from cutting down every single tree and and creating then a a flooding problem. But you're talking about a development. He's talking about a homeowner, individual homeowner. And I mean that's where I think we could tweak this. And that was actually my question to begin with was does this just pertain how does this how does this influence a resident? That's was my question. Taking down would need to be permitted if they're already we already have a rule that you have to have a permit to cut down a tree.

If they're a protected tree, a specimen tree or a grand/majestic tree, those are going to need a permit. You have to you can get the permit if there's a hazard, if it's, you know, detrimental to your property. If you're doing an building addition, you'd have to get the permit, but you would have to do a replacement for it. Okay. I'm going to ask again. If the tree is not a hazard, Yeah. does the city then have to issue a permit to cut down a large tree just because you don't want to clean up the pine cone?

I would say no. You can get variances the way it's written for unique site constraints if they can demonstrate something that convinces the city um utility conflicts uh preservation of high value or natural vegetation or an exceptional hardship. So there are so if if you can meet into those categories the way this is worded you could take the tree down. If not, no. No. One of my other issues with it also is that it talks about commercial properties and the fact that they have to in be inspected every year. Who's going to inspect them and who's going to pay for it?

Um I don't see that written anywhere in here. Yeah, that would be it says they have to be inspected annually. Yeah, that is something I think we could strike. You don't have the to do that. I'm I'm all for striking whatever doesn't have to be in here. Yeah. And yeah, like I say, I we would be happy to get a confirmation before any of this is adopted because again, these are they're guidelines. It's not a hard and fast rule. So, you have some flexibility to adopt.

I mean, I love priests, too. I can tell you that uh where at the corner deli area where they put up the red light and they did the paving in that area. I can tell you the construction company act that I knew, the people that were from local, they actually came and got me at my office and took me and showed me a tree and they said, "Can we cut this tree down?" And I said, "No, you can't cut that tree down. Put a guardrail around it." And that's what they did. So that trees and it's a huge oak tree and it's just past the corner deli and on the left and it's there because it's a beautiful tree and I told them, "I don't care what you have to do, put up a guardrail." And that's what they did. So, I love trees as much as anybody else, but I don't want a homeowner,

a new development, something else, but a homeowner, I don't want them to have to go to huge expense. Now, cutting down a tree because it's a problem, and having to put back one, like I said, the ones you have to put back are not all that bad. I mean, they're 3 inch in diameter, 4 inch in diameter, is going to be a pretty good size tree, but I mean, it probably won't cost $300, $400. But then here it says depending on what you cut down, what kind of tree? Which one? Yeah. And look at So B, if depending on what you cut down, you can put palm trees up. So now you have to put three palm trees to equal that one.

Every tree that you cut down. And look at the shrubs. The shrubs have to be trees in there. If I'm cutting down one, I don't want three more want to put three more in my in my yard. Yeah. The pal palm trees must not bother your sewer or your That's what I have in my le root system. Yeah, that's root system. That's what I have in my backyard. I'm just I know. I'm just saying. I mean, yeah. So So let me ask this this one question, Kirsten. If we don't approve this, does it like go away in order to continue to have discussion? Do we have to approve it?

You don't have to approve it in order to continue having discussion. You could give us instruction on what you don't like. We can reddraft it and come back to you. Um you can approve it with those conditions. Um if you want if you're that clear on what you're wanting to change, which it doesn't sound like. So just some general feedback would be useful. Not as a criticism. I'm just I I think we have more of a vibe than a than a a change specific that we want

about it how it affects an individual's homeowner. I mean now would I mean now would be the time to answer those questions unless you want to submit your questions to us and then we can provide you all answers and bring it back. That's also an option if I know that it's it's getting late so I want to provide us with some and then is that what table it or

if if you would like I'm trying to think of the most efficient way to do this because that's what I'm hearing we want. Um, we can table the ordinance. Email us your questions. We will have answers to your questions when we come back with if there's a a general sense of your preferences. We'll try and make amendments to the ordinance when it comes back. Does that well does that sound doable to you as well? So if we table the one ordinance, we continue to discuss the others that are attached to it.

I mean I my preference would be that you give us a sense of what you like and don't like. So like for this ordinance, we have a sense of what you like and don't like and what you generally have questions on and then we can move on.

So before we move on, we have a couple questions. Mr. Eert, he was first. Yes, I'm Tim5. Since when do we live in a communist country? Y'all want people to or to to um annex into our city? Um I I mean when you telling people that that they can't cut a tree down because of swift mud or whatever this is y'all are talking about and it cost $5,000 fine or even a homeowner you're telling them that they got to plant back. So maybe they don't want it. Maybe they just want a a a tree-free yard. I mean I'm just saying. And uh and if it's long as it looks good, what what if they don't want it no more? I mean, I miss you didn't care about Country Lane estates. I mean, it smelt like a mud. It smelt like rotten mud for 2 years while they were building that. I mean, and so nobody's going to come to town. Nobody wants to annex the town if y'all going to keep doing all this. This is just ridiculous. And the tree is not $300. It's more like a 12,300 bucks.

Big tree. Yeah. Yes. Trust me, I planted them. Thank you, Jonathan.

So, I'm not going to advocate whether you should or shouldn't do the ordinance. What I am going to say though is Miss Meredith was 100% spot on. So, when Swift Blood, they do a calculation on percolation, which is storm water runoff. When you country land states when they slick that off, part of the drainage problem was every time it rained slick the top quarter inch of the property off that all did a runoff. The property never absorbed it. That's what the trees do. They absorb it and each tree has its own uh absorption percolation value of what they suck up. So depending if you take down a hardwood, you'll see that you'll take more trees to be planted. If you take down bushes, you'll have to replace it with less bushes. It's all about what the percolation is. And so all that percolation means that you'll have to spend more money in storm water that we ain't got no more. So I'm not going to I'm not saying vote for it, don't vote for it. But if you don't vote for it, keep in the back of your mind you will spend more money in storm water where we don't have the elevation for the storm water in the future. So I'm not telling you what to do. I'm just asking you to think about it. That's all.

Okay. Thank you. It could be millions. It could be hundreds. It could be nothing. It all depends on what happens. That's all. Or it could be I don't have the money to put back the trees into my yard. I I especially there's no right answer, right? No, there's no right answer. But if we're working for the citizens, sometimes hard decisions have to be made. But I'm I'm talking as a citizen. Yes, ma'am. I mean, I'm saying if you come up here, as as a homeowner, if I take down a tree because it's causing an issue, ready to fall on my house, and then when I take it down, I have to put in three more or put in another one.

So, you you could revamp all that. So, there's a difference between a nuisance tree, which is something you don't like, and a dangerous tree, which is hazardous to health. They're two different conversations. But I think that was the question that she was asking. But it can but it can all still be tweaked in a different place. It can be tweaked. Yeah. So we just need to make sure that we're doing it appropriately. And I talked to Swift Muds on and off for a lot of years and I don't remember the calculation. That's why I was scared to get up. But most of your calculations go off a square inch of the base of the tree. Then there's a calculation for the footage of the tree. And somehow they take all three pieces and that's the number you replace them with. I just don't remember the calculation right off hand. But correct me if I'm wrong. Walt. based on the diameter of the tree. Okay. Thanks, Joelby.

I just was I was just was wondering, can y'all just made that for like a commercial? That's it. And then just do away with resident. It just makes it all much easier and everything because like one oak tree just to plant is 3 in wide. That's probably about like 1,500 to plant. So, I'm just letting you know. I just plan to let you all know what it comes. Thank you. All right. Any other session? Anything else from you, Mr. Nichols? No. I say I did expect this to be an interactive process and to get your feedback. I mean, we can't we we do want to hear back from you and how we can adjust this.

So, I guess what we need to do is let them know what we want to keep, what we don't want to keep, what we want to change or readress, and kind of go from there. So, we can move on to the next one. Provide your questions, comments, and concerns via email. We'll have something ready for you at the next

That works. Thank you. All right. So, we can just move on. We don't have to do anything. Okay. All right. It's on mute, ma'am. Ordinance. This is ordinance number 2026-760, an ordinance of the city council for the city of Willist, Florida, amending chapter 24 of the city code of ordinances regarding environment to provide for adding article five entitled irrigation conservation. Providing for definitions, providing for year-round irrigation schedule, prohibited waste and non-necessary water use restrictions, providing for exceptions and variances, providing for an automatic irrigation system standards, enforcement and penalties, providing for conflicts with water management district rules, repealing all ordinances in conflict, and providing an effective date. Okay, same premise. Um the same reason again for uh improving your your BMAP reductions of nitrogen phosphorus. Um this one's a little less uh I think uh ownorous on the people. It does indicate um residential non-residential watering times um days based on your address on your house. This is pretty common throughout having this type of ordinance. And then it goes in on practices that are prohibited. Um, and again, it's looking for wasteful water is really looking people are abusing things, you know, allowing allowing water to flow unattended from a hose without some type of shut off. Um, sprinkler systems with broken heads and links. Uh, um, hosing down driveways when there's other other means of of doing things. You're allowed to establish, you know, you can violate these things. I call violate, but differ from these. If you're planting a new a new lawn, you're exempt from that while it's growing in. Or if you have micro uh irrigation or low volume irrigation type things, silker hoses and things don't apply because they're so efficient. Um you're testing your sprinkler systems and things like that. That doesn't

apply. But it's really just trying to hone in again on our water use and and discharge to springs. And this is a beneficial ordinance uh less controversial. Um, again, the things I would recommend changing there really isn't much. I thought this one was pretty pretty straightforward. Um, and how whether you want to I think we even did not specify a fine here. There can be fines. Um, if you wanted to find that would, but right now it's going to be enforced by your code enforcement. Um, we didn't hone in on a specific fine on this.

And it doesn't require irrigation. It only talks about what irrigation is. Yes. Oh, yeah. You're not mandated at all in any way to irrigate. But if you're irrigating to to limit that. So, this was a little bit straightforward. These are adopted pretty much throughout without any controversy. Well, I mean, I can't even wash down my driveway. Why not? Correct. If there's other means to do unless it's the right day two days. Well, you can't even It says prohibited. You can't do it at all. Not at all. It says It says prohibited. That makes no sense. No. Uhuh.

Yeah. Vacuum, pale of water, sponge, just not with a hose. Yeah. If that if a rainwater system Oh, there you go. Rainwater system. rain water. Also, if your neighbor's dog poops in the your neighbor's yard, he has to clean it up. That's a different one. No, that's Can I ask a question?

Sure. So along actually on that very topic on on item C, the hosing down um I mean there are actually businesses that come and pressure wash your building and your driveways and obviously residents should be able to do that for themselves. So is there any exception? Well, it says when there's no other dry cleanup method available, which there is. There isn't. If you're pressor washing your concrete that means Yeah. What's that? I'm like sweeping. Well, sweeping. If you could clean it up by sweeping it with a broom, you should use a broom. Or a blower. Or a blower. Yeah. A blower. Well, I think it's some common sense.

And and I know it's not common sense because people don't know. At University of Florida, they use a air system to help, you know, debride the side of the buildings and stuff like that. But obviously, if we don't have access to that, hosing down your driveway would be acceptable. would be acceptable. I mean, yeah. So, just change some things. A bl. So, um, so why do we go with with different days? I mean, what do we Can you scroll back up, Latricia, a little bit so that we're not all doing it on the same day? It does kind of distribute the the water usage, distributes runoff into streets and gutters.

Keep going. It just limits. Yeah. On page 87, So, so it talks about daylight saving time. Then it talks about Eastern Standard Time. Why are the two different one's November to March and one's March to December? Different growing season, two different times of the year. So, and one you could only do it once a week and once you can do it twice a week and it has to be during the summer you can do it twice a week but it has to be after 4:00. So, it has to be like in the night so that sun's not when it's not evaporating the water evaporating. Gotcha. It's actually better for your lawns too. Yeah.

It's kind of like and in the winter you could only do it once. It's kind of like back in the day when you could only get gas. If your tag was an even ended in an even number, you could only get gas. I don't even remember that. But did it really? What What state did you live in? Oh, wow. Okay. Way back. All right. So, where do what do we feel on this one? I'm pretty much okay with this one. Yeah. I feel like this will not have a heavy impact on the res. We just have to educate them. You good? Can I get a Oh,

ready for a motion? Can I get a motion? Yeah. I make a motion that we approve ordinance 2026-760. On first reading, right? On first reading. Yes. Thank you. Second. I have a first and a second. Any further discussion, Joby, from the public? I I saw you. I No. Come on up. I saw you. We just have to do things in order. I just want to know who brought this to this tension. I mean, wasted our tax dollars. That was my first question. I mean, it's stupid. I mean, like, this is Willist, not Gainesville, not Ocala. We're a little hole in the wall. That's the state of Florida. So, it was it said that it was brought to us by the city manager.

She needs to go. Second. Okay. So, so listen, we're Joby, that that's your first warning. We're not going to do that here. Okay. Um, and then Mr. Nichols came back and gave us an explanation as to why it is that we are going through this information now. So, let's stay respectful. All right. So, we have So, do you have something, sir? if you come to the podium.

I've dealt with these things in Okoy. My question here is how are you going to enforce it when I've got an irrigation meter that tracks how much water my irrigation sits and the guy next door to me doesn't have one? There's no way to differentiate how much water he uses on his house versus his lawn. It all goes through one meter on him. Mine's separate. Now, where I lived before, we had separate water lines. They would they didn't even cross. But something you're going to have to consider. I mean, I'm I'm just pointing that out. You have to figure out how you going to enforce it. A lot of the older houses, I don't suspect have water meters or even irrigation systems if they do. But um

do it visually just seeing it. Yeah. I I don't see like a water consumption. There's nothing about metering is there. It's just the amount of time that you can do it. If it's running and it's not supposed to be okay. It's visually. So you're going to have your water bill be a little cheaper than your neighbors. Yeah. Oh yeah. A lot cheaper. That's a good idea. Yeah. Have we thought about who's going to enforce this? Oh, you're chief. You're code. It's uninforceable. I know she doesn't work after 4. It really is. The word the wording now says code enforcement. We can change. I'm sure it does. I'm sure it does.

You have the But then you don't have a code enforcer that works after for and I only have one code enforcement person that's an animal control person as well. Well, she rides around and she sees it going and it's not supposed to be going, then she needs to fight them. I mean, there's nothing she has to do. And if she sees that it's on a house that's one, I'm just trying to see if it's even or odd and it's not their day. I guess she'll Don't worry, they're all going to be calling on each other. It It does say code enforcement and public works, so it can be shared. Okay.

Thank you. All right. Any any any further questions from the the public? Any further discussion from council? Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I. I. Oh, was that wrong? Yes, ma'am. Oh, sorry. Did you have something? Yes, ma'am. So if now what do we do curiously because we're like in the middle of the vote. I mean I I think we took the vote. You can certainly if if you would like take the comment as well. Okay. Go ahead. But the vote's been taken.

So if we're public works is going to be enforcing something like this, would this be an extra position or would this be a conversation for next physical budget? If they if they see it, they report it. I'm sure all of these probably say code enforcement. Every one of these y'all got probably say code enforcement. Tree cutting, watering, everything. I don't see code enforcement on everything. Well, that's the only Who else going to enforce it? I'm just saying I You said it probably says it. I'm saying I didn't see it. And I know it says public works, but they can't write citations. No, they're going to have to report. No, they can't. They have to report it.

They'll just They'll just note it in their daily job and report it to you to All those.

Oh gosh. So we said all those in favor. All those opposed say nay. Seeing none. Motion passes four to zero. All right. Ordinance. Madam President, this is ordinance number 2026-761, an ordinance of the city council for the city of Willist, Florida, amending chapter 24 of the city code of ordinances regarding environment to provide for adding article 4 entitled use of fertilizer providing for definitions, providing for application restrictions and practices, providing for content and applicable and application rates, providing for management, storage notice, training exceptions, licensing and registration, enforcement and use of recovered funds, repealing all ordinances in conflict, and providing an effective 761.

See the man, you going to defer? I'll take it. You going to defer to Mr. Nichols? No, I'll take it because I went through this in Bronson. It did not pass. I'm going to be honest with you. This is a very controversial one as well, but again, this we had to get your pulse as to how you felt about it. And um I mean just like Walt said, I mean it basically says that you cannot use certain types of fertilizer during certain times of the year and the businesses that we have here in town that sell it, they have to disclose that. So again, it's controversial. We understand that. Oh, sorry. Finish. Um I No, you're good. You're good. Go ahead. My mouth just wants to.

So, but the city is now going to incur costs because the city has pres provide the signs for the business to place out there. Now, like the other ordinances, there are exemptions for, you know, bonafideed farm operations, livestock pastures. So there are some exemptions in here but again this one you know as Walt said has been repealed in other in other areas because this one but I mean for the the businesses that are selling it we have to provide them signs. Correct. Correct.

Now again on this one I think some of the from my experience what I've seen elsewhere the biggest push back is the restrictions of time when you can buy the fertilizer place fertilizer. So that is um um on page top of 95 that year when uh but it's going to be seasonal ban June 1st through September all over the whole state all over the whole state. Will that be the case? Well, each community like I say um Elatro County adopted this and then got rid of it. It didn't last very long. Okay. There was complaints. I So it's not statewide.

It's not statewide. They're asking each individual community to do this. Um not all the communities are doing it. As you said, it did pass in Bronson. Again, we could ask to how far can we push this limit? I think the toughest thing is those bands when you can or cannot. But all the other things about fertilizer free zones if you're within 25 ft of a spring, a river, a lake or wetland, those are really common sense things that and that's a direct pollutant into those water bodies. doing those things on the low maintenance zones, having deflector shields on a rotary spreader so you're not spreading this stuff all over the sidewalks and things like where it doesn't need to be. There's a lot of common sense things that you could do. Can we push the limit and strike the fertilizer time band? We could do that and run it by swift mud and say this is what we're going to do. Are we still going to get the credit? Be happy to do that if those are the things that are more difficult. The other things in here are really almost common sense housekeeping things that are going to protect our waterways. Um, you can still use fertilizer, you can still do it, but you do it in a responsible manner and that that we could try to push that limit. Again, these these are guidelines. So, let's see what we can do if you have heartburn with any of those. And I think the time ban is was the was the biggest that I I've come across.

Individual resident is exempt. Um, no, this is everybody. Yeah, I found that at the bottom of the state statute. That's the last line in the state statute. In the state, but in your ordinance, it's not exist. Change it. The state statute says I can do it. Why are we Why don't we make it we're less restrictive? Yeah. Or more restrictive.

Well, if we get Yeah. be happy to if there's anything you want to strike and we can run that by them if we still get our points. We don't want to. Our goal here is you're going to have You've got a big requirement on the BMAP. It's a daunting one. So far, Williston, we have to report on a yearly basis what we are doing to meet these BMAP requirements and we've been getting favorable reviews. You know, we when we didn't get the first subject to sewer grant when we applied, we applied for both the design and construction, a big ass, we didn't get it. We met with them and they said, "Ask for smaller chunks and we we said how if we don't get these grants, how are we going to meet these these goals? We need help." and the people who were giving the grants talked to the people who were mandating the BMAP and they see we're we're trying and so we were able to get the grant if we continue to try they're going to be giving us those opportunities or showing that you're working towards this. Um this helps this helps. Is it mandate mandatory? No, but it helps. And uh but I think we can we can offer a suggestion to them and see if they

I mean it does say right here yard workers who apply fertilizer to individual residential properties using fertilizer and equipment provided by the residential property or the resident is exempt from the requirements of this section in the state statute. Uhhuh. So why can't we do that? I'm pretty sure that may be that may be so if you're going to if you can restrict all your residential properties within the city it doesn't have any teeth in the water management district's eyes is what I'm speculating if you can exempt if it only applies to commercial you don't have that with commercial it's not you're not going to get your points they're looking for widespread nitrogen reduction to the to the water

and usually it's the commercial people who are doing the applications a lot of residents don't put fertilizer on their on their lawn. No, but if they're having a commercial company do it on their property, it applies. It says right here in a yard worker who is doing it if it's supply if the equipment is supplied by the the resident. It's not pertain Yeah. But that's not in your ordinance. No, it's not in mine, but it's right here. That's what I'm saying. She wants it in or Yeah. And we can not to hurt my residents. Yeah, we can add it, but I I don't I can't speak for the water management district. We can ask them. Can you ask them? We can tell them it's in the state statute. We can We can ask.

Mr. Mayor,

Mr. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Madame President. I want to remind everybody that this is about getting the points necessary to satisfy the government, not about enforcement or how you're going to do it. Because frankly, 90% of this is uninforcable. So what Walt is suggesting is that you tell them, "Okay, yeah, we'll pass those." Nobody's going to adhere to them. Nobody's going to there's it's impossible to actually get a hold of them and enforce any of these things unless you're going to have somebody monitoring your every house that is in your district. It is impossible. So, what Walt is trying to tell us, I think, and please correct me if I'm wrong,

is he is trying to get points. He is trying to get points but he wants Thank you. I'm just speaking. He is trying to get points. He is not focused on enforcement or the other miscellaneous things. And that is what I hear Walt trying to do. Thank you very much. I am yielding the floor. Thank you, sir. I don't think he said pass it and then ignore it. But Mr. fault. Do you have comment? Yeah. Would not. Can you respond to what he just said?

Yes. Yes, I can, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. My my focus this evening is is is presenting this ordinance to you with with its pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision. And yes, it is in the the goal of helping you meet your BMAP requirements because that is a a big goal. That is it's a train coming down your way. and Wilson's been pretty good trying to to meet that. So, I'm helping with that in a matter of enforcement. Yeah, you are the the police on this to enforce it. Now I have seen in my career where in large resident areas with uh wet retention ponds where they complain because they get green with algae the the enforcers are coming in there because it a lot of it is fertilizer abuse and then things do get cracked down. When when a problem occurs that's visual you have the mechanism to address it. Do you need to be driving every day looking for these things? No, that's not your problem. Is it, you know, but if you see on the irrigation a house perpetually with the sprinkler heads broken and they don't fix them, I mean that it's their water bill, but and again, it's hurting the environment. You have a mechanism to do something. It's it's when there's a problem, you have a mechanism. you're not required to be having people drive around to enforce these things, but when a problem is occurring in the pond, I' I've seen that where it's just and and that's a problem and then you have some teeth to to put put some controls on it and that's the that's the intent the water management district's expecting you to hire staff to go around and do this, but it's it's some common sense to help us meet our goals for water quality. So,

makes sense. this one that we should also table and follow up with our questions, wish lists and questions of things to be added and removed.

I would say yes. Mr. Edgar, did you have a question? Since when does common sense get shoved out the door? This is communism. You pass this. It's next thing you know is neighbor snitching on neighbor. Neighbor snitching on neighbor. Why ain't we working this hard to get the water infrastructure up 50 or $60 million instead of worrying about fertilizer? That don't matter really and truly. We ain't got no springs and waters around here. I mean, we do got a a retention pond over here by the cat box over here by the U nursing home. So, where are we even wor? This is pure stupidity when we got other stuff to be worrying about like water 50 or $60 million to be bringing up. Why isn't he spending time doing that? This is This is insane. He should be gone, too. Anyone else? All right.

So, we're going to table. Yeah. Just giving an opportunity. All right. Ordinance.

This is ordinance number 2026-762. An ordinance of the city council for the city of Williston, Florida, amending chapter 24 of the city code of ordinances regarding environment to provide for adding article 7 entitled pet pet waste management providing for definitions providing for removal of animal waste, water removal device requirements, disposal of animal waste exemption and enforcement and penalties. providing for public education and outreach, repealing all ordinances in conflict, and providing an effective date. I mean, I don't think this one is as controversial as the last one. I mean, it's basically just telling people that they need to remove their animals waste. I mean,

from their yard. No, you're exempt from your own yard. If you're Excuse me. Go ahead. Yeah. If you're walking your pet on somebody else's yard, you respond. Does it say you're exempt in your own yard? Private propert. It applies for private property not owned or lawfully occupied by the handful. The public property not limited to sidewalks, streets, parks, natural areas, schools, trails, and rights away. I make a motion that we approve ordinance 2026-760.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion from the public? Any discussion from Oh, come. So, BJ, City of Wilson Animal Shelter. Uh, just a question on who about the fines because there's fines on that section as well. Yeah. How's that going to be handled and enforced? That's it. Animal control code enforcement. Just so you know, when code enforcement isn't around, shelter manager gets called to handle some of those.

So, we do have some and we are working on getting more way stations for the parks. So, that is something that we are working on. But, um, and there are some I think we have one in John Henry. Yeah, we have two two in John Henry and only one and then one here. Um, so we are working on getting more. That's just kind of a responsible thing on on our part to make sure, but I I was concerned about the fines. Yeah, I made those fines up just to let you know. I mean, I needed to put something in there, so I made those up. But if you guys want something less or something more, Sure. That's half of them.

I see it. No, we haven't. We just need a motion again. Not this one. We haven't. We have a motion in a second, but we haven't voted. And I do need to make an edit. There was a duplicate. That's like 25 and 50 instead of 50 and 100. Section 2496 needs to be deleted maintenance requirements. That is an error. All right. And it's just first reading, so we could change it. It was in two places. It's fine. Joby, Mr. Really? Nicholls.

Uh, yeah. I was just up here and, uh, Mr. Timothy Edgar just came up here and basically said about the same thing I said. I just want to know, Miss Hines, do you have something against me being gay or something? Because you literally told You literally gave me a warning, but you didn't give him a warning. What did he say? That he should be fired, and you gave me a verbal warning. Do you have something against me? Well, first of all, I didn't know that you're gay, so absolutely not. I don't have anything. Oh, come on. The whole town. Okay. I'm not the whole town. You ask me a question, I'm giving you an answer.

Would you like me to make the motion again with the change to the fines? You just need a change to the fines. If you just want to amend your motion to I amend my motion that the uh civil fine of up to $25 for a first offense. And I will note it's up to So, it sounds like there's still some room in there. Um, and a civil fine of up to $50 for each subsequent event. The second has to be okay with that. Who second it? Mike. Are you okay with the amendment? I'm good. Can we second amend the amendment? Second. First and a second. Any further discussion from the council?

Seeing none, I move to vote. All those in favor say I. I I all those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero. Thank you. All right. These will be as passed updated in the reporting that we need to do to the water management district. So this will go a long way to meeting your goals and avoiding possibly costly fines. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That closes public hearing. Item number eight, public participation. This is your se second opportunity to speak. You have five minutes.

Yeah. Tim 225. Um earlier we were speaking about um Sue and the uh lack of well the firing not not doing the due process and stuff. But while we were talking about that, what we should have been asking is for the lawyer to recuse herself because one of the one of the people that's involved in this, which is Alex, for doing the firing, should be recused from this. Anyways, her her law firm needs to be here and not her because there's conflict of interest right here. She should be removed from her from this period. Just just say that's another lawsuit.

Madame President, if I could just speak on that for a moment. Do you really want? I will I will as always recuse myself from anything that requires recusal as I have in the past and will continue to do. Thank you. Anybody else? Anyone else? Yes, sir. Can I ask Walt a question about the wall up there? Can I ask him a question about that about the survey up there? You can ask me and then he can answer if he

would walk there when you going to the 27 going through the traffic light. It looks like way the gas pump going to be set up, they going to be egress, ingress off the 27, turn to the right, get in there. It's going to be a mad house trying. It's going to be bad up at that traffic. I can tell you, I mean, in the morning, afternoon, that traffic is so lined up up there and the people trying to get in, get out and there going to be a lot of accidents right there. And what I was what one reason I was saying is what I if DOT really did their survey then they should have routed that traffic when they went in there off of 27 that they had to go around through the backside and come around and hit the traffic light and that would save a lot of traffic jam and a lot of people having

you want to answer instead of walk. microphone, please. Sir, may utilities director uh Mr. Killian have a plan and process that he can talk about. Rob, you want to tell them what we're planning on doing? Hey, Miss Sue, thank you. Uh yes, sir. We are in contact with FDOT. Um we are going to have to do a traffic study up there. There it is. Once the traffic study is completed, they may or may not adjust the traffic signal to to deter that traffic. Probably have to wrap through and come around because that is a work in progress.

We all live here. So I mean when you go there you see it. What do you mean by adjust the the traffic signal? So east and or excuse me north and southbound. um heading south off of Northwest 7th does not have a turning arrow. It uh it's a solid green. So the traffic coming off of

south or excuse me coming headed north on 41. So if traffic's headed south on Northwest 7th, traffic heading north on 41, there's a traffic light to turn left or right onto uh 27. There's not one on Northwest 7. That's where we chief and I and Sue and Alex were talking about the um the study. That's what we got with DOT. We're talking about seeing if we can get that traffic pattern changed to where light is green on one side and it turns green on the other side. But again, FDOT has to do the traffic study once Waw Wa opens. So, we're going to have we we know we're going to have a problem up there. Um, unfortunately there's one person in this room that's going to have to deal with that traffic up until that traffic study is complete. But we are working on that.

Gotcha. Well, were you going to say something? No. Were you going to say something? W. Okay. Okay. I'm glad I'm glad he helped me out. It's okay.

He's He's sitting down. So, I'm Joel Penny. Uh, so with Mr. Donald and y'all and his departure, y'all gave him and y'all wrote him up a couple of times and gave him warning and did an investigation and everything uh on these five people that just got fired. They didn't get no uh writeups or anything. they just got fired. Uh, was there any method of why that happened or I mean who's acc I mean who to blame? But I mean like so in a while when this was all going on I know y'all all voted to give uh Miss Sue another chance. Uh, can't y'all vote on to maybe get away with that chance and then get rid of her? Because I mean, it's just them people have been here forever and they have always worked. I mean, that's ridiculous to do that on Easter. How coldarted is Willist? We're not coldarted. We're all family. I think the problem of life and sense.

Good evening. My name is Lisa Burke. I actually represent the ask me side, our public employees here. Um, I wanted to say thank you, Madame President, for your time, council mayor, and I wanted to move as we were going into negotiations this year. That's moving forward. The budget's around the corner as it takes special employees to be public employees to be there away from their families during those emergencies. And as you know, um, you guys have to go out. Our employees are here away from their families again. So as public employees, they do have a se a contract in place. They do have due process rights. Um but again like I says negotiations most important our employees in the cities public employees are here. It takes them to run the city because without the city and without those employees what would what would our our residents do? you know, they would they would be out and they need help. Um, again, I was here to make sure that there is no misinformation put out this year as there was on August 26th. My intent to negotiate was put in. We've had one session. And again, I want to make sure that no misinformation is put out because according to council meeting August 26th, um, management didn't know anything about negotiations. So, when I forwarded the email and everything else this year, I made sure to include that. And I did have our local, they were they did speak up and according to last meeting, maybe some misinformation might have been given out, too. So I am here to just to

clarify where we stand on that and to make sure that we know you know that employees are here to help you. And mine is they're the ones who are to help save you money too because again they are special. They have the knowledge and they might be able to assist to help save some of that money and things uh you know like he says code enforcement and different things like that. there may be ways to help have an idea of something to help the city. So, thank you for your time. Thank you. Anyone else? John.

Hey, Brandon. Brandon, John, speak real quick. So, I've been sitting here all night trying to figure out whether I could, should, or want to say something. The thing I think we're all missing is this. You had an employee with a total of 14 years, employee with three years, employee with five, and employee with 11. If you come to me at Streets and Parks and ask me to replace David, hell, I can replace him cheaper than what we're probably paying him right now. The problem is, what kind of employee do you get for that said money? You may not get the equal employee. If you look at David, I'm not saying whether he should or shouldn't have been relieved, but what I am saying, it's gone. If I get the right employee, it takes me five years to think about getting back to base zero where David is today. We all make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. Some are grave. You have to get you have to relieve them of their duties. Other ones you learn from. And if you make that mistake, you're bound never make it again. So my philosophy is I've been called weak more times than I care to admit to. We spend more times with these people than I do with my wife if you're totally honest with it. So you become you you make a bond with them. So you either learn them, teach them, mentor them, make the mistakes together and grow as a team or we're a Fortune 500 company and every three days there's a new employee. You're always going backwards and your revenues aren't where you want them to be. So I don't think we've just talked about that part of this. You're always going to have employees that need to be relocated, but I don't think every boy every employee makes a mistake and needs to be relocated. Um, we all work for a living here. You look at people who have history, they can help save you money and mentor the young ones. And I sometimes think we forget that. So, it's one thing I want to bring up.

Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you, Jonathan. Excuse me. It is cold in here again. if somebody can help us. I know how to operate the machine over there. It doesn't hold for very long.

Hi, Brandon from Willist. Um, I just want to put on the record I have not officially filed a formal grievance with the union yet and ask that the city implement the charter section 2.10 investigation section and an opportunity to make things right. The section to my knowledge and best of my abilities reads section 2.10 investigation. The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city in the conduct of any city department office or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses administer oath take testimony and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided by law. That's all I have. Thank

you. Anyone else? Are you still freezing? There's a blanket here. Thank Robinson for that. I forgot it was anyone else. Okay. Announcements. Any announcements from Miss Sue? Nope. I'm good. Miss Patricia,

I just want to thank the fire department, police department, and Vicki with city hall for a wonderful job they did helping me with the Easter festivities that we had a couple of weeks ago. And I want to give a shout out to Germaine Thompson, owner of JT Bounce Houses, for pro for providing the bounce house we had there. And thank you to everyone that participated and helped me out with that Easter festivities. I really appreciate it. Thank you, Chief. Uh, any other staff member? M

So, I've got a question. So, what do we do at this point with our our employees that are seeking uh our judgment and where do we go from here? Is it my turn yet? Nope. Okay. Just a second. Miss Megan, Alex, any other staff? All right, Miss Cox, let go first.

Miss Deborah. Okay. Um, I have given to you tonight um all the members on this panel except the chief and I ran out. I have given you um what's known as resolution number 25 202533. It is the city manager's contract. If you will turn with me to page three, which is the actual agreement itself, you see that the term says the city hereby employs city manager for a 4-year term to commence on the 24th day of February, 2025. The city has the right to terminate the employment of the city manager at any time subject to and in accordance with the provisions of section six of this agreement. If you'll turn to the next page for me with me, it talks about compensation. I can tell you that it says the salary is um 82,000 plus benefits a year. Uh we'll come back to that in a minute. It also, if you'll go with me to the next highlighted section which says separation and termination, uh there are two different kinds of separation, actually three. one where we're in agreement um or where where there's a retirement or a resignation or renewal or a non-renewal of the agreement uh in agreement with the city manager and the other one is unilateral termination which means one side agrees but the other side doesn't essentially uh if you look under unilateral termination which is 6.2 two says, "For the purpose of this agreement, termination pursuant to paragraph A will entitle the city manager to severance benefits set forth in section 6.3, and such termination shall occur when a majority of the governing body votes to terminate the city manager, not for cause, which I'm

not saying uh I don't want to have to prove cause. I've been, as you've heard tonight, we've been told not to discuss it, and I don't want to discuss it. We've all heard it. Um it says with not not for cause at properly posted and duly authorized public meeting. Such meeting does not need to be a regular scheduled public meeting. This one is you move a little further to the severance calculation amount. It says the severance amount means the total amount an amount in accordance with the schedule included herein which is shown below a value of any acred or unused vacation and sick personal sick or personal leave days. Now you see I've marked the 12 to 24 months. It amounts to 60 days of severance. Those 60 days are at 8 hours a day, which is 480 hours, which is $18,92160 plus or minus, plus any unused annual leave and a quarter of the sick time. I move that we terminate our current city manager, Miss Subodet. I

have a motion. Do I have a second? Have a second. Any discussion from the public? Any discussion from the council? All those in favor? Oh, microphone, please.

Sorry about that big decision. I just think that that we need to to move through this a little slower pace. I'm not saying this doesn't have to happen. So, are at this point in time, are we not providing our city manager with the reasons for her termination and others that I remember about Would you like to speak on it? Put it on public record.

Oh, no. I think that was the terminations or it's not speak on the termination, not this particular matter. Right. Well, that's so you can

my reason I don't believe change of command was followed. I don't believe that recourse was taken that the uh proper I've done an investigation. I've talked to many employees. I've talked to department heads. I've talked to the employees themselves. Um not just the two or three that we're talking about now, but many others. Uh they're all afraid. They're all scared. Um they won't say anything because they're afraid to say anything. Um, I believe that you, you know, I felt that way in November because I asked for the motion in November, uh, and it failed. I think now we've seen no improvement, no results, and everyone is being threatened to be fired every 5 minutes. Um, if you do this or I will fire you, uh, you do this, um, or somebody else will do it. Um, I won't even get into how how I believe she actually feels about Willist and how she openly talks about the people of Will.

Have you been present for this? No, but many people in different situations have told me. Okay. In different departments.

So, my my request is that is it's not that this does I'm not saying that this doesn't need to come to a vote. My request is that I I would like to be operating with the same information with all of us having the same information. Um and which is the question that I asked our lawyer, could we ask our questions, get the answers so we all have the same information that we are working off of. I have in the last 24 hours been informed of some things that have transpired that I am very concerned about that mirror many of your concerns. However, um I was not actually present for those conversations with the ter obviously the terminations and such. I personally would like to have it in writing. I would like to have be working with the same information that everybody else is.

I think you're going to get one side of it. Well, I'm not the whole side of it. I would like to ask more than the city manager for that information. And I know you want to do it too, but uh I don't want to wait. And there is a motion on the floor. So I I think about the um when the attorney would say when we're up for an important vote, you have to vote with what's best for the city, not your heart. Not with your heart.

No. And I very much appreciate that. And that's why I would like to actually have the information which I would love to and was planning on asking tonight these questions at this meeting to get clarification so that we all had the same information but on advice of council I've been told not to do that. So um you know again this is something that I learned about yesterday at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I did not have the advanced notice that you apparently had. Um, and so I personally would like the opportunity to get that same information whether we call a special meeting for later this week or however we do it to address this. I'm not saying it doesn't need to be addressed. I'm not saying that I don't have exactly the same concerns as you do. I do not have the same information

with which to make a a good decision and a decision at this level with this kind of consequences. I feel like it's imperative that we're all operating with the same. You should ask for public comment again. Well, let them tell her for now. You get to pick me. So, we're in the middle of the vote. How does this work? Generally, the proceeding is motion, second, public comment, discussion, vote. So, we have a motion on a second. Now we can do the public comment and then we can vote.

Generally speaking, yes. I I I forget if we have what point we're at to be completely honest with you. I don't remember what the order was. I know that there's been a second. So she Yeah. And second and then she asked us to. So we're at the first and second. So then next would be your public comment. Any comments from from the public? Toby,

so these five employees or four employees whoever got fired on Easter with no notice or anything, I'm sorry, I'm I'm really against you, but they had no notice. They were just terminated. And she has not worked here for less than four years. He has worked here. I He was here when I was on the fire department. 11. No, he was here when I was on the fire department back in 2003. That man does not deserve anything he got. But she does. Gosh. Are you still

I don't know. Yeah. Must be sick.

My name is Lisa Burke. I have two things. My whole I am a former public employee. I will always be a public employee. My goal is to make things better for the city. So again, last year on August when it was brought to the attention of city council that we were negotiating, we had a meeting prior that afternoon and Miss Sue and HR both stated that we did not turn in our intent in on time and that she knew nothing about it. Again, I am repeating myself, but I forwarded and it is public record on the emails for this year's intent because I forwarded everything from last year. So it is public record and mine is I have encouraged the local the officers have even talked and asked Miss Sue and stated as this procedure goes for this because again I I don't want I didn't want her to uh continue doing wrong. My my goal was to what do I want to say? Benefit the employees and to make sure that they have their rights and everything heard. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Joey.

Let's You need have a something to say. M Tim, um, Miss Meredith, whenever y'all was doing the vote last time and it was you voted for, she voted for, which is hardly you ever hear like tonight. Uh, y'all voted against, you voted against, and you was on the fence line. And it took courage for y'all to say no to this. And you know what? Y'all are right. You You gave her the opportunity, and she failed again. And it was by her own conduct. She's an adult just like the rest of us. And we're all, you know, I mean, but Miss Meredith, remember when the investigation going on and you were very upset about about it was supposed to be anonymous and it wasn't about the bullying. No different. You left the bully in place. The bully's right there. And who knows if you do let her stay here, how much is that going to make more chaos in the city? How many I mean that's going to make more people scared of their job. I mean you got to think about other people. I mean, the community, the people of Willis, everybody that works here is I've known Nate, I know known him my whole life. I mean, almost how long have I known?

Very long time. And for you to fire him on Easter, that that's just wrong with no notice. I think she deserved the same thing. And I think you should rehire everybody that she fired. And if you if you're gonna sit up here and you're gonna let her be a city manager again, it's just going to do the same thing. It's going to make it even worse. It's going to make it even chaos. Who knows if she going to fire somebody else tomorrow or the next day? I mean, who who knows if she's going to just make his job a living hell where he just leaves? You got to think about that. Really?

Thank you. Is there is there any staff that would like to speak on this? Okay.

I'm not staff. I'm Ronnie Kerr. My husband was an employee with the city and the fire department. 30 years with the fire department, 35 with the city. The city has always been a family. if they had a problem, they could always come to one of y'all regardless. We know it all of y'all. Miss Meredith, I don't know you that well, but I know the rest of them and have been. I've lived here in Willisman, been married 47 years. When you intimidate somebody and you treat them like they have been treated, where they're scared to talk to each other, where they're scared to come to somebody for the fear of being fired, and like they're saying, most of these employees have been here 10 years or better. They deserve some respect. for anybody to come in that doesn't know them. I say take a little time and get to know them because we have the best staff and employees in Willist all over. These guys will stand up for you whether they're at work or whether it's after hours. And to be treated like they have been is so very wrong. So very wrong. These boys need support. This needs to be settled. Miss Sue, I'm sorry. this $25,000 we spent already to stop the fighting is still going on. So that tells me you haven't stepped up and corrected it. And losing five employees, five long-term employees, it's just not right. I mean, they're family. You treat them like family. And with the chain of command, they're right. Everything that that has been said is right. If you have a a a set, you bring it up. You discuss what's wrong. You explain to them, okay, this is what's going to be demote them to a different department. But you don't get rid of somebody that's been here

that long that is basically cross-trained to do any department because they have been here that long. When my husband was here, he was fire department volunteer fire department. He was city crew. He was gas crew. He was water. and most of the time he did it by himself instead of calling somebody out to work. It's not fair to what's left here in Wilston. We need the stren we need the the strength of the people that know these boys and that come and feel comfortable dealing with them and that they don't have to fear if they see something or don't understand something to come to somebody and have them explain it. It's not fair. And we've got all these people coming to Willist now and they want this and they want that craziest thing. I'm going to plant a tree in the middle of the road that I've been fighting with for five years because when they come and govern the pothole, it pops right out the first rain again. And I have threatened and threatened to put a tree in the middle of the road just to keep everybody from hitting the three-foot pothole.

Yes. Anybody that's been down First Street, y'all have hit that pothole. It almost knocked your wheels off. Thank you. Like I said, um the comment, we just we just need to show our strength, bring everybody back together as a family, and it's not happening. That's one of the things we need to do. We need to get rid of it, start over, get our family back. Thank you.

Thank you, Matt. Um Wilson Police Department, I've been here 29 years. I live in the city on multiple properties. I've listened to all this stuff. I had a personal experience recently where a department head mfed me and screamed at me and got a one-day suspension. Okay. And then we terminated good employees that bust their behind for what? We This place is in a mess right now. I've been through many city managers, many councils, many chiefs of police, all the We're in the worst shape we've ever been. This is right now. This is This is a mess. We have We have employees stabbing each other in the back. We have It literally There's no management here. We're running around in circles and we're not going to get anything done and this town is about to blow up. There's stuff going on everywhere. And we're running around in circles fighting the same thing that I stood up here and said she didn't tell the truth to me back then. Why? This this is a big circle. I know this is horrible. This stinks for everybody. Nobody wants to start out from scratch. Some point we got to cut a loss, move on, and figure out how we can figure out this family can back get back together and work as citizens.

You know, we say something. Sorry. Go ahead.

Okay. I I just want to to explain why I have requested more information and it it's fine if it moves to a vote. I I know what my vote is going to be, but I I do want to protect the city from litigation and from concerns moving forward that we have fired somebody for cause that perhaps we didn't understand. And and I'm not saying that we don't understand it, that some people don't understand it, but making sure that we are working all off of the same facts makes the vote have more strength so that when the time comes, if there are any issues that we have defensible position. So just so you guys understand, it is it's not that I don't think that this conversation needs to be had and this vote needs to be had. That's my reasoning for wanting to gather a little bit more information. However, that said, if we need to move to a vote tonight, I'm ready to make my vote.

Is it Is there any staff member in here who's had conversations with anyone on the council who has not spoken to Miss Meredith here and willing to give her the information she's asking for? the two employees that were recently fired parties, but yeah, but they've spoken to you, right? They've spoken I'm speaking of those who have not been one of them called me after they were terminated.

Well, once they were terminated, once they were We're looking for anybody who was kind of involved in this situation recently. you were you go ahead right so Miss Killian

while I don't agree with the termination I do feel that the employees did deserve some type of disciplinary action I feel that we should have done our due diligence a little bit more to move forward court to do a better investigation to make sure that what we did was the right thing to do. I do not feel the determination was the right thing to do, but again, I do feel that there was some type of discipline that was needed. That's my piece for somebody. I've been in management for a long time and there was always a due process on how they disciplined an employees. You just don't go and fire. Not unless there's a reason or method behind the madness. you know, when I'm sorry. I think back when we interviewed Sue here and she was looking forward to coming in and work with us because we had um we had systems in place. Are those systems there now? We got a back of a house that's all in shambles. Got good people. these people here come hurricane season since I've been on council would be right up here in the thick of things and we're getting ready to go into hurricane season and we're missing some of our employees. And if we hire new ones to come in, they're not going

to want to come up and do what these guys do. They're all sleeping in here with with mattresses, air mattresses. They're in different offices, things like that. Their kids are allowed, they bring them up here because they don't want to leave them at home because they're up here working, you know. So, the culture's changed and it's not for the better. I've had customers talk to me and, you know, they see what's going on. Dallas um

former employee Dallas Lester. I was terminated May of 2025. I was wrongfully terminated. Sue initiated that. She did not utilize the chain of command. My first line supervisor and the department head were out of town when the investigation took place and I was ultimately terminated by the department head who was being forced to do that by Sue and did not agree with my termination. I will gladly go into detail again with each one of you now, but I have sat down with each one of you and gone over with paperwork showing you what actually took place and what happened, which I'm guessing helped result in the initial vote against Sue, which did not pass. It has been over 11 months that I've not been employed with the city. I'm struggling to pay bills. I'd like to have my job back. I'm an apprentice lineman. I have two years into my apprenticeship with the electric department. I've worked multiple hurricanes. I'm part of a team. I bring history. I have a gas license, a water license, an inmate license, DOT license, CDL license, fiber license. I was one of the first two employees in this city to get a fiber license. Although you were told that no one in the city had a license, that was a lie. Myself and Aaron Mills had a license at the time. You were told that no one had one. Mr. Mills, would you agree to that?

Except it's not a license, just certifications. But yes, I apologize. It's uh three certifications allowing you to do fiber. Thank you, Mr. Mills. This problem needs to be fixed. They do not need to wait 11 months. Their families don't need to not struggle due to the wrong decision made today. I'm available for questions although you have my phone number. Thank you council. Thank you. Anyone else from the public?

My name is Henderson. Been working for the city almost two years. I had so much faith. I really did. I didn't know this going to lie. But the city does have a union contract. And when steps are not made in contract, that's why the lawyer was so smart to tell you keep quiet. And if you allow management to continue to violate contract, all you do is open liabilities to the city, which is the citizens. It'll be their money that's paying lawsuit. Would you allow in your own business, your own company knowing that somebody's violating contract and keep employing them? No. Because you wouldn't be able to take the loss. You understand that it is a liability. So while you ponder and want to figure out is this the right thing to do, think about the countless money that could be lost on liability. Contracts are nothing to play with verbatim. Verbatim go to court. They're hard to argue, especially when you step out of bounds on contracts. On the trucking company, know all about contracts. You have to go by what the contract writes. It's signature signed off. And if it says, you can't just end up terminating. There steps. There are steps to be made for corrections of employee wrongdoings. Unless there's theft, maybe a battery, something that calls for immediate termination.

But disciplinary termination without steps of counseling first is unheard of in I in public work or in co co-op um work for legend uh city for 13 years man and only person that I know him got fired there he was drunk and they really still they tried to counsel him but stay in the fence. Drunk. So, are you going to allow liabilities to affect the city or you going to go ahead and try to correct? And if y'all do decide, Miss Sue, if they do decide to give you a second chance or what is or what not, take this home. I told you eight months ago, God mode. Do you remember that conversation? God mode. Nothing happens unless it comes through you first because it ultimately it's you sitting there that have to answer all these questions. That's what I was trying to relate to you eight nine months ago. I don't know if it went in one year or out the other but I did have so much faith but it's up to council now. And with council, y'all decisions come from is it worth the cost or do I want a chance roll the dice and gamble for more liability because it never goes down. The cost always going to rise. So it is what it is up to council. But thank you.

Thank you. Can I answer Rob's question? His question? Yes. He had a question about the two gentlemen that were fired. What direction? I think didn't you say no sir? What what do we inform our employees at this point moving forward? That's what my question was. Okay, you have something. Jonathan,

we all know we have a CBA. We all know we have a handbook and I'm the first one to tell you I hate both of them. Uh sometimes they work in my favor, sometimes they don't. Sometimes you have to let employees go and I'll tell you that it's if you'll ask my wife, it's the hardest thing about being in management is letting people go. How do I explain to you they made a million dollar mistake? We can figure that out. But you affect a person's livelihood, that's a totally different story. So with all that being said, you have to follow the CBA whether you like it or not. Y'all signed off on it. We have to obey it. It's pretty bluck simple. The HR manual, y'all signed off on it. We have to obey it. It's pretty simple. It's black and white. There's no gray. So, what I would suggest is moving forward, if we feel the need to terminate people, we need to follow each and every one of those rules, even the ones I don't like. Because I don't like them doesn't make them right or wrong, but they're rules and we have to obey by them. You pay us to keep you out of court. You pay to make cook to fix the mistakes that we make. I get that. But at the same time, half of what we do is keep y'all out of court. We should be able to be released a little bit stronger to make our own decisions to obey the rule book and then you penaltize penalize us as see fit. But it may or may not have been done all the time. So that's all I'm going to say.

Thank you. Anyone else? See, I can just tell you that I brought this tonight uh in support of all these employees. It's 11:30 and they're here. They're here because it's important to them. And I think because it's important to them, we need to support them. And that's just where I stand on it. I couldn't not bring it to you. There was nothing else I could do but bring it. Okay, there is nothing else. We will move forward. All right, so we have a motion and we have a second. Anything else from the council? I move to vote. All those in favor say I.

I. I. Was that I? All those opposed say nay. Motion passes four to zero.

Second. I'll second. Oh, I can't second. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seen, all those in favor say I. I. I. All those oppos. Motion passes. We're journ