--------- I'd like to call to order the City of Apaka Commission workshop agenda for uh excuse me, workshop for May 20th, 2026. Um if we can all stand, I'd like to welcome Pastor Stacy Bryan of Revenant Church to offer our invocation. Heavenly Father, we come to you today
and we just lift up every need in Apakka. Lord, we pray for every person on the dis. We pray for every employee and every resident in Apopka that the spirit of collaboration would rest on us. That the gift of wisdom would rest on us as we prepare to bring heaven to
earth and to our community. Lord, we ask you to lead us and to guide us and to prepare the way for us and order our steps every day. In the mighty name of Jesus, we say, "Amen." >> Amen. >> Thank you. If you can all stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> You may be seated. >> All right. just on time. [laughter] We'll give you a couple seconds to get
settled. Don't rush. Uh just a kind of a precursor. Obviously, this is something new for us that we're going to be testing out and trying out this this workshop before uh commission meetings and and we can do it as little or as often as this commission enjoys it uh and finds value in it. So,
we'll start with uh normally having the commission discuss any items that uh they would like to discuss in any capacity and and we try to have those upfront so that we can all kind of wrap our minds around where the conversation may be going. My goal is to uh limit the
time of each discussion item to six minutes or less only so that we can get through as many as possible each meeting. Uh and we can always push it to the next one as well. We can continue the conversation. Just because it's on here once doesn't mean it can't continue the conversation. just helps to have us heading in the right direction there. So, and then after that, we'll have some
dialogue kind of see which way we want to go. No official decisions will be made. It's just, hey, will we put this on a next agenda to, uh, an actual commission meeting agenda to make a final decision on. So, uh, and then from there, we'll have public comment as well. That'll be a little more loose to be able to have a little more dialogue
there if we want questions answered, things of that nature. allows a little more um Q&A versus our commission meetings that are a little more just saying a comment. So, uh from here, as long as everyone's ready, we'll start with this first one that um that I
kind of had asked or addressed in in uh last commission meeting. And I do want to thank everybody for sending your items in quite a bit and I I really like that. I think we have a lot to discuss and and we can figure out how we want to move forward with it. So, the first one is our procedures on meetings as well as our date and times. So, what we can
start with is is the dates and times. So, what I've heard or what I've seen from other municipalities is they do theirs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday. You we can pick any day there. Um I've seen some cities do both night meetings. Some do like we do currently,
which is one day, one night. Uh so, I'm open if if if we're open to changing, if we want to change, if we don't want to change, and everyone says this is working, public likes where it is, I'm fine with that. I just wanted to give the opportunity for the change of dates and times. uh from there and I didn't know if there's any comments for that as well.
>> I I have a comment. Um I would like to keep it uh the Wednesdays, the first and third Wednesday. However, on our first Wednesday, I would like to change the time to at least 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. Um, therefore, it allows an opportunity for our constituents that aren't able to
come um during the day having needing to take time off to be here um and be able to address whatever issues they may be having and make sure that they get we provide them an opportunity to be here um and present their issue as opposed to waiting two weeks later to address
whatever issue they may be experiencing. and be able to communicate with the dice. But that's my recommendation. >> Okay. Absolutely. Any other comments or discussions on that? >> So, you know, I I understand the the 1:00 was so that a lot of the parents
who um have their the the students in school. That time allowed a lot of the parents and the seniors that don't come to our evening meetings have the opportunity to come in the afternoon. So
if you make both of them evening, you are now kind of disenfranchising some of the parents because once 3:00 comes, uh they're picking up their kids, they have to go to sports, uh they go to church,
um and and um and so they're not available to come. And then a lot of the seniors don't like to come to the evening because after a certain hour is dark, they don't want to drive. if they don't have someone to bring them. So that afternoon allowed that particular
segment in our city to have an opportunity to come to our meetings and that's you know it goes way back but that was why they did the 1:00 1:30 meeting um because sometimes even the
chamber has uh meetings early you know that the Rotary does it allows that group to come in also business leaders it's just a time of the day that allows a lot of our residents that are still in the city to come to this meeting. The
6:00 one is really the nighttime, the people coming back from work. Um, and then um you're not going to see the same crowd coming for both uh meetings. But if you make them both evening, you're disenfranchising a a group that would normally come at
1:00. >> Right. Okay. I I I hear your recommendation. Thank you. In addition to that, you also have uh residents that work at night as well. >> Yeah. >> And so it also allows that group of of nurses, you know, your fire nurse to come in. So it gives that flexibility
where if you can't make one meeting, you can make the other meeting. So I think that was the rationale behind the two. >> So having that Yeah. Okay. And that I totally understand and I get it and I I get the the point too of uh the majority of people not maybe not majority but a lot of people do like to come to the night meetings as well. Again, I've seen municipalities do it both ways. So, um,
so I that's wellreceived for sure. So, um, Commissioner Ruth, do you have any any comments on that or or you're >> I'm comfortable with >> Okay. All right. Then on the days, you guys have any preference on the days? I know Wednesday. Keeping it Wednesday. >> Wednesdays. >> I mean, we're kind of all used to
>> the Wednesdays. >> We're used to a lot of things that we're going to be [laughter] >> I'm keeping it Wednesdays. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm okay with any day of the week. Um, of course, you know, the our co-commissioners all have
outside employment and other uh responsibilities. So, you know, I'm okay with any day of the week. >> Okay. All right. So, what I'm hearing is we're not going to change that in any capacity, which I'm fine with. Just wanted to have the discussion. >> Well, the time I think the time for the evening meeting, I think that was
something that we talked about from the 7 to 6. >> So, we could do that. Do we still want to do workshops at all? And and I guess we can kind of see at the end of this, is this productive? Do we like this? Do we not? Or do you just do it as needed? >> Is it as needed? And >> because we have quite a bit to go through um and and kind of to move
around over the next few months to to discuss or or meetings. So >> if we find this valuable, great. If we don't find it valuable, I also understand that >> I' I'd say as needed in that 7 o'clock time, a lot of times it really when they're because people usually get off at 5:00, then they can come here. A lot of times they have to wait like an hour
before the meeting starts and then sometimes the meeting runs late. They're not getting off to 11 o'clock. We also have staff that also have kids and they leave for 11:00 at night. So I think it will be in the best interest of everyone to change to 6:00 >> to 6. >> 6:00 gives um you know the working uh
residents to make it here. >> I mean they don't have to get here at 6:00. They can still get here at 7 >> because um the meeting will go on as long as it's not till 10 11 >> 12. Okay. Last week was an accident. [laughter] >> I agree. Yeah. Up to 6 p.m. would it
would >> Yeah, it would it would be good for just not even the staff because a lot of our staff >> they they end their uh day at 4 so they end up waiting three hours. >> Three hours >> and we have to be considerate about
>> let's try it. If we want to change it, we can change it again. This isn't in stone. So, we can massage it. It's okay. So, we'll stick it stick to the same Wednesdays that we have. move the second Wednesday up a little bit and then as needed or as requested we can do the workshop beforehand. >> Exactly. >> Second to that then the um I I'm fairly
certain you guys received an email I think it was probably two weeks ago about the different uh meeting uh procedures that different municipalities um Attorney Shepard had uh sent these to me. So I thank you for sending those. Uh you can kind of go
through them see what makes the most sense. I talked to uh Attorney Shepard and asked should we implement just Robert's rules of order? let's just do that. It's easy. And he's like, actually, it's exactly opposite of that. You you will spend more time trying to follow Robert's of order to a tea than getting the business other people done.
So, but you can massage that a little bit and each municipality uh that was sent to you can they do it all different ways, all different times, and it focuses on public comment and time of speaking and all those type of things. So, um I guess my ask is just maybe review those and if you guys are open to
having a set, uh procedure that's a policy that we all commit to in some capacity as best as we can. It's not again it's not going to be the the to the tea. We're going to have to massage it as we work through it. >> Um so, if we can and I'll put this on probably the second meeting in June
>> to go over and see and if you have if you can review those, send notes to to Mr. Williams and see what you're liking, what you're not liking on any of these and then we can kind of go from there and kind of Frankenstein the best parts of all of these. Any comments from there? >> They I'm fairly certain that email was
sent. Mr. Williams, do you remember when that was sent? >> I think it was >> Well, because you sent it to me and then I sent it to Radley. Radley then I think send it out. So, we can resend it. Let's resend it. So, please so it gets to the top of the inboxes. All right. Perfect.
Um, and Mrs. Bon, if we can start doing the timer at six minutes, and I should have done that for mine, so that's my fault. Uh, so we'll we'll uh move on now to planning commission board and and that procedure. So, and again, what we're working on now and and what this discussion is is craft around is we're
just trying to see if we want to make changes policy-wise, if we can, and also uh if there's any ordinances or resolutions we need to adjust. Um, so that's what this meeting is for. we're not going to be able to make any final decisions. And I know uh Attorney Shepard's office has provided some
background on what we can and cannot do. Um and Commissioner Ruth, I know that this was a something that you're passionate about. I'm happy to let you lead on this or do you want me to kind of run with some conversation here? Whatever works best for you. >> I'd be comfortable. >> Please, please do. >> Um
for the record, is there any of the P&Z board members here? Looks like four of them in a in a a hall right now >> in the chamber. Excuse me. >> I I did respond to Mr. Westine. Did I respond to um
Commissioner Mock? >> No. Okay. You didn't send me an email regarding planning and zoning? >> No. >> Okay. >> Uh Miss Woods, uh when were you appointed? February last year.
>> February last year. >> Mayor Nelson. >> And if you're gonna and I'm >> Are we done? >> If we can't have him come up to the mic, please just so everybody can hear and this if you're gonna have some dialogue here. What I don't want to do though, and I just want to be delicate with this is I don't want to
>> roast anyone or make sure. >> Listen, this is not a roast fest. I just want to make sure >> the the whole purpose of this was to get to know you. Um and you said it was uh February 5th of 20 uh 2025.
>> That's correct. >> And uh Mayor Nelson appointed you. >> Correct. >> Do you mind? What's your background? >> My background? How detailed do you want to go? >> No. No. Not very detailed. >> Keep it Keep it broad. I have I have a
>> in reference to development. >> Okay. Um my background is in business. Um a consultant. I worked for corporate America for way too many years. Probably about 30 some years. For the last 25
years, I've been a general business consultant working on anything that a client would like me to work on. >> Now, let let me ask you this. when you're when you're sitting on the desk, what is your frame of reference that you're governing by?
>> My frame of reference is um >> are you are you governing by the comp plan or the LDC? >> Uh both. >> A combination of both. >> A combination of both. >> Um you know, we have guidelines and guard rails >> where we um
>> have to make our decisions on. We can't interject our personal opinions. No. >> Um because I mean one of the meetings I had to recuse myself because I was into being involved um with a lawsuit between
a developer and an HOA. >> So and and really I didn't I apologize. I wasn't trying to make it personal and and >> that's immaterial to my my comfort level is find out your background. Well, and
so I will say too for each uh planning commission member, I'm fairly certain we do have um some type of resume or report and when they apply for them um that is available to we can definitely get you copies of that. So I want to make sure >> we're not >> and we can get you all backgrounds and all that as well. I want to make sure that we're able to kind of what's the
goal >> with the planning commissioner or I know there >> I just wanted to state for the record there's four members that are here. >> That's a good thing in my eyes. I mean, uh, personally, I was wanting to see the attention level that the members were
going to put on this meeting, and I'm glad to see that you came in person. I mean, that's a sign of good faith. >> Um, it is our city. We all live here. But outside of that, I just wanted to know your professional background. >> Okay. >> And generalize as best you can in
reference to have you have you opposed any of the development that's went on? Um, I've opposed a few of them. >> A few of them. >> Okay. >> I don't know. I can't remember the exact ones. >> Um,
>> that's that's all I have for Mr. Wood. Anybody else have anything? >> No, I I just want to just trying to understand kind of where where we are we because I don't feel comfortable. >> Well, yeah. I I maybe I don't want to fill in for you, but I don't want to like interview everybody. They do have they've gone through the process of appointments and they do have their
resumes available to provide and and then I would definitely recommend if you want to meet one-on-one with them, I'm sure they would do that. >> I've asked I've asked for the resume. >> Okay. >> This is what I got. I mean, I'm just adherent to >> Oh, no. There's a there's actual official resumes then. >> That's probably attached to the um actually we should have attached to the
minutes >> as I gave you. Okay. Well, this is my introduction and for the privilege of coming in here and introducing myself to y'all. You know, um the stuff you're approving, we have
to approve at another level. So, I just wanted to let you know that my deep dive into this was to have a one-on-one personal relationship. >> Have I ever met any of the one other than Mr. Ryan? I don't know any of these members personally. >> I think we probably should. schedule a
meeting to meet with them oneonone. >> You definitely can and I would definitely recommend that. And I think too and I know the attorney did recommend and provided his uh well his office's memo memo as well and I know they'll be available for it. And one thing that we were discussing um as we're working through planning
commission boards and I know there's other things on here uh appointments to other boards and commissions. Uh what's key especially for this the planning commission itself is it's governed by some statutes that we can't necessarily override >> but but but not not to cut you off we're
governed by the comp plan and the LDC. Correct. Now if there's if there's issues with the LDC our attorneys been part of this process since 2014. Um, what I'm trying to get at is once
you pick a sore, you know, it's it's selective criticism when you pick at a sore that I didn't know existed. Uh, prior to making the the motion, I was exercising my right to kind of slow the development down since
the last time I sat on this council. We've added 10,000 rooftops, another 30,000 people to the city. And the re the the underlining issue that the community has as a whole is we're
overbuilding, underpromising, and we're making no changes on the infrastructure that supports it. The traffic's backed up. What I'm trying to do is >> put a hold of the processmen so we can
actually identify the areas that are in in in need of correction and make sure that our infrastructure catches up to our the rooftops that we currently have because as far as I'm being told [cough] I mean everybody here set through the
last budget process we made a half a billion dollars worth of request on a budget that's $2.5 million or $250 million and a discrepancy so big it's terrifying. >> So, >> and I think I mean you got to the core
of it perfectly is that we do have development and planning issues. Uh I think possibly that it it's a little uh misdirected the frustration possibly at the planning commission because they do have to adhere to applying the LDC and
the comp plan regardless of uh what they like or not like it's it as long as it follows that they have to either approve it or not. Just because they don't like a certain thing or product they can't do that. Really the blame should be on the elected officials. not you to it but
it's on us and what what we're able to do with that is we can get more strategic if we want to change the LDC if we want to change a comp plan which obviously the state's making it >> what this workshop is for >> so we can if that's the goal and I didn't know that was your goal I thought it was uh composition of planning board
itself so if we want to change the the uh LDC comp plan is going to be a little more difficult because the state's been shutting us down on that we can definitely go through that process again >> the last time we did this it was I mean we're still working off a 2010. >> How's it been >> for the comp plan?
>> The the last comprehensive plan that was sent up to Tallahassee got denied. >> Correct. >> So we fall back to 2010. >> Correct. >> And in in 2010 up to today, we were the LDC is the holy grail of what we're doing. That's what everybody governs from.
>> Yep. >> That's the the statute I chose to use to drive this motion. And the motion was driven in a in an attempt to let our infrastructure and our budget requests catch up with our future gangs that we
have on >> future building. >> Six minutes. >> So what I think and thank you for that just just to kind of wrap this up too and Mr. Wood, you don't need to stand up there anymore. >> Okay. I just have one comment. >> Oh yes. >> Okay. It's a three-step process. Okay. You
have the DRC, you have the planning commission, and you have the commissioners that are sitting at the deis. >> You need to take a look at the whole process starting at what the DRC does.
You need to map out what is this process supposed to be. We can only as a planning commission, we can only do what we're statutoily allowed to do. It's up to yourselves and the DRC
to take a deep dive look beyond a myopic view of just what this development is. They have to you all have to take a look at what effect is it having across the area. I don't know if that's down at the DRC level or not.
>> Well, Mr. Woods, I can promise you this. When you walk out of your house at 3:00 in the morning and sprinklers that can cast 20 feet cast three feet and you're consuming 39 million gallons of water a day, but you can only back that up with 7 and a half million gallons, there's a
problem. >> I not >> adding rooftops is not the answer. >> Sir, I'm not debating that point with you. What I'm saying is you don't start in the middle. You start at the beginning. >> I've only been elected for a month. >> I [laughter] understand. So, and I think
too moving from here too, what I'm hearing is that this was somewhat of a strategy. Slow this down wherever we can. Let's slow it down. >> I'll bring some new We're working on some ideas in the background to slow some stuff down as well. Um, and I'll be presenting that uh not this meeting, but
potentially next meeting of some new strategies that we're we're trying to get creative however we can here to do the same exact thing. Pump the brakes, give staff time to get their feet under them, give us enough time to plan properly, and give our residents time to actually water the grass properly. I will I will say this. The core members
that are here, that's a good sign. >> Yes. Well, I think it shows that they're very engaged and too I want to make sure that they're following the code the way that unfortunately it's the way that we've done it. It's the way we do it. >> It's the code that, you know, the the land development code that we've implemented. So, it's up to us to aggressively change that, advocate with
the state to change comp plan, things of that nature, and then that will trickle down uh to the planning commission, to the DRC, and and and be what the residents want it to be. So what led us here today? The code permitted what I did. >> So I'm just >> No, I No. And by all means, absolutely.
And and we just need to I every step of the way we can make some fixes to this to help slow down and get the residents what they are asking for, which is slow down and improve infrastructure. >> But I will say this, at our level, I can talk to any one of y'all about anything we do. That's we're not breaking
sunshine. I can talk to any of y'all. So I got an open door policy. Um, I want y'all to I don't want to influence you, but I want to I want to I want to back you up with historical facts because I've lived here my whole life. >> Absolutely. Any other final comments on
this? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. I'll be I'll bring additional uh plans that we have to help slow this down. We're working hard behind the scenes. I just want to make sure that we get it right when we do it. So, I'll bring some more as well. um
just ideas to really get what the residents have voted us to do. >> Mayor, I just I just want to interject really quick. Um so just to clarify, Mr. Shepard, um the commission is under the same sunshine state, right? In terms of
communication on something that's going to come before the dis >> correct amongst themselves. Yes. >> Okay. So in between Yep. So in between they can very good. >> They can speak to you. They can speak the staff members members of of the community uh but they cannot speak to
themselves or communicate with themselves. >> Very good. Okay. Thank you. >> Absolutely. So the only question I have with when they when they are appoint we I understand the mayor appoints them but um is there something in our charter and I should ask um I guess uh our
>> our in our CEO is there something in the charter that says how do they apply or is it just the mayor appoints? >> Yeah, the way the code reads right now is the mayor appoints. Remember a few meetings ago we had a discussion about some potential changes to that process,
>> right? if that's something the commission would like us to bring back for uh further review at a commission meeting. The discussion at at the end of that meeting was potentially bringing it back as an ordinance change. Okay. So we can we can take the notes from that meeting put work a ordinance uh to
adjust that and bring it for consideration >> that allows the public you know if a seat becomes vacant or their term ends an opportunity to have members in our uh community who would like to serve be
able to apply. >> Correct. It was more of an application structure and if you recall it was uh kind of in tandem with the CRA membership >> right >> process. >> Yes. >> So we are we can work on that and bring those back for for a first reading. Um >> okay thank you.
>> Anything else on that one? >> Um can I add one more question? Is any of the members a engineer? >> Uh yes feel free. architect, >> real estate agent, [laughter] >> no arborist,
>> taxpayer, and city land owner. >> That that'll work for me. >> No, thank you for the opportunity to present to you guys. Just real quickly, just want to say a couple things. First of all, I completely support the redevelopment of the rewriting of the land development code. I've been pretty vocal about that on the planning
commission, by the way. West 2535 Concourse Road. Just want to be fair about that. Um, I think we should harmonize and expand our green spaces. I think that would really help out with some of the things you're talking about. I've been very vocal about that. You
know, um, as was discussed earlier, we we are constrained by the land development code as well as the comp plan, right? The land the comp plan is like the major strategy. The land development code is the details. We're we're constrained by that. I can tell you that. I do my dangest to work through that. Uh, I think I'm probably
the only planning commissioner who is routinely asked to explain my thinking whenever I do denial votes and I do that quite a bit or even uh, you know, acceptance votes. And I I don't mind explaining my thinking because I want people to understand where I'm coming from. Whether you agree with it or not, at least you can understand where I'm
at. And the point is I think we're a misunderstood board, but we're trying to do the best we can. We are volunteers. you know, my paycheck is a big fat zero. And nothing I can be called any number of of things, but the most offensive one would be called a
rubber stamp because that says that I can't think for myself. And I'll be dinged if that's going to be true because I certainly think for myself. I think you all know that by now. Uh, I did send an email to all of you all. There was three items that I suggested that you do in the future for the planning commission. And just to recap,
open application process with interviews. Maybe a a venue like this would be perfect for that. Two would be to integrate more in the city. If you go on the city website, it says planning commission meets on certain day and that's all. Not of our names. You know, I'm I'm not interested in conducting
official city business as a volunteer. We cannot do that by law and it's not even proper. But just to have a little bit more with the process because I've had people email me at my personal email address, which I really don't want to conduct business using that. And uh you know I'll I'll say that you know we've
had a couple people that have come here before us. My goal is never to make everybody happy. It's to make everybody equally unhappy. And I think we do a good job of that sometimes. But we had a couple uh people come up and uh you know we had a lady with the Publix down the road over on um off Martin road that was
a great thing. Negotiated better densities for the shrubbery enhanced green spaces you know enhanced uh shrubbery behind the store. uh negotiated some things for the car wash. It was up here on 441 based on residents concerns. I met with another guy off
Kelly Park Road and I just happened to stop by there a couple days after he was in here presenting and he said nobody from the city's ever actually voluntarily reached out to me and I said, you know, I'm honored to be here to talk to you. Just say that we do take this position seriously. Um and you know, finally to close, you know, I'm
I'm here to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. If you guys think I'm part of the problem, then I'm certainly going to go away because that's it's a waste of my time to be part of the problem. I that doesn't help drive the city forward. I'm here to be part of the solution, but I'm not going to suffer the indignity of being asked to reapply for position that I've
already been confirmed to twice. So, that's all. Thank you. I was hoping you'd call on me first as I love being grilled about this kind of stuff, but it's a pleasure to be here. >> We appreciate it. Thank you so much for being here tonight. Um, with it and again that we're we're kind of working through this fluidity of of
this meeting. We're at that 30 minute mark, so I' I'd like to switch over to the public comment if there is any um specific to literally anything. Um, and then from there, if there's extra time left over, we can come back to some of these other workshop items that we can um discuss later on as well. >> Okay.
>> So, um, for now, we'll switch over to public comment. >> Dr. O. And I'd like to keep as much as possible each residents kind of back and forth to six minutes similar to us as much as possible because there will be dialogue here too. And again, we can start to
create our own rules of how you want this. Um, and I'm open to feedback as well. Good evening. >> Um, is it is this on? >> Yes, it is. >> Um, I agree about um having the afternoon and evening because some
people just can't do evenings. Um, and especially people with health problems and vision problems at night. That's one big complaint that um I know people have is that um they can't thrive at night
and they want to participate and [snorts] so that that's a big issue. um we need to um keep going, keep the momentum going and participation and I know that uh it is
working on some issues with communication [snorts] and uh getting the social media set up on Facebook and it's going to take some time to convert over and uh making sure that uh citizens
aren't blocked on some of these accounts and getting the new one up for Mr. Ruth. And uh it's going to be a a big improvement on people being able to communicate directly with the members.
Um it's going to make them uh they're going to feel appreciated and that's very important. Um, I want to see that we have people buying in and
that's this this period of time is going to help more people buy in, especially if they can't sit through a whole meeting. This is going to give them that time um to get in here right after work. and possibly moving up the meeting to 6:00
p.m. instead of 700 p.m. is not only going to get help the employees, but citizens are going to be able to get off work at 5, jump in here at 6, and leave by 8 unless these um resolutions run
longer. Um and then on summer nights, maybe get home before dark and be with their families. So, um, that gives them a chance. And there was another issue I
was going to bring up. Um, geez. Old days. >> A whole another meeting after this, don't worry. >> No, no, no. Yeah, but it was um I think it had to do with this. >> We still talk about next meeting, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Stress.
>> Um, no. But that's a long wait. [laughter] >> Yeah. Um the six o'clock meeting, it had to do with the six o'clock meeting. Um well, >> okay. >> Old age. [laughter] >> Thank you for your comments.
>> Thank you, Dr. Bob. >> Thank you, Dr. >> O. Robert Ryan 142 Kentucky Blue Circle Pap, Florida. I um I was on the planning commission. I was originally
uh nominated by Mayor Lane in 2013 when um Mayor Kilshammer came in. He purged all the the appointees that Mayor Lamb had made except for uh Mr. Green. So when
Mayor Nelson came back in, I applied again and I've been serving. So now I'm on my my 11th year. Where where have you gone wrong? Show me some criticism so we can get some feedback. >> And I'm sure we can get you some
feedback. But in similar to what we said previously, I think the point was we're trying to figure out strategies to slow development legally that the state has allowed us to do or hasn't really allowed us to do. So I think it was an avenue where we're uncovering every stone to see what we can do. So it's
clear the planning commission took this as a little bit of a slap in the face and I apologize for that. I think it was just to have discussion on uh what we can do, what we can't do, how in any avenue can we slow down development, I think is what we're looking at right now. So, I do appreciate the members
that are here and even the ones that aren't here, I appreciate their time. I think it's key though that um it wasn't an attack, although it did feel like that and I apologize. It was more to make sure that we are not leaving any stone unturned to figure out how we can handle development moving forward. >> No, not just trying to get some
clarification, not an attack. I just want some some feedback, some constructive criticism of what we're doing wrong because I you got to realize since I've been on there for for 11 years. This planning commission has not caused the city to get sued because we
part we follow the law. And you have to realize that one thing has been been said, but you have to realize in the land development code um federal law and state law supersedes anything in in the land development
code. So there's a lot of we have to realize there's a lot of u >> nuance to it. >> Yeah. >> No, completely understood. >> Absolutely. our our water, our sewer, and our infrastructure can't support the growth we already have. >> Oh, I agree. And I've been bringing it
up. Has have all the members here watch the planning comm planning commission on YouTube? >> I do. >> Yes. >> Religiously, >> not religious. >> Not religiously. >> Not just because >> because we make recommendations, okay, and some will deny it and they'll
they'll like I deny it more than anybody else. And I explain my position why I denied it. Well, I will tell you at least when I have meetings, well, when as a commissioner and now as mayor, uh I would ask staff why was that denial? I think that's something um many problem.
The staff gets it wrong half the time. >> Okay. Well, that's a different story. If you feel that way, we can have a different discussion. >> I can change we can change that. We can email I can email you directly, each one individually, explain why I denied it. >> Absolutely. >> Because I you know, I'm not blaming staff, but they do get wrong half the
time. >> Okay. Well, then we can discuss if you have any specific criticism that you feel you need to discuss about staff, we can have that offline separately. [laughter] No, >> just it's just human nature, you know. >> Sure. And and this is for all the
members. If you if you copy everybody on the diets, you will get no comment at all. If you single the commissioners out with a an email or a complaint, the the commissioner can have a conversation with you. But if you if you blanket
everybody, I'm not going to answer it only because it's a conduit to a conversation that we shouldn't be having. So that was meant as an educational tool. >> Perfect. Anything else, Mr. Ryan? Commissioner Ryan, [laughter]
>> is it Mr. Ryan? Am I fired yet? Anybody? No. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Michael Minced. >> Well, good evening. >> Um, I got to say I love coming to Apopka. This is like one of my favorite
cities to come to because you guys are a small town compared to Orlando where I have to drive 408, 417, all kinds. Um, Michael Lincoln McCrae, uh, 3200 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida. Um, I was a former member of the disability
advisory board for Orange County. So, I'm here speaking on behalf of the disability community. Um, one of the big obstacles that we have not only in Apopka, but across the state of Florida is handicap permits, handicap parking.
Um, one of the biggest issues is um is Ubers, Lifts, Uber Eatats, uh, Door Dash, um, even regular citizens who don't have handicap garments are taking
advantage of those spots. And it irrates me 100% because I have personal friends who are in wheelchairs that can use those spots because they need them and half of them have wheelchair ramps. I've
met with Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando Police Department, and the same answer that I've gotten is not much we can do. You know, we can ticket them, we can tow them, but not much that we can do. And there has to be something. The
next thing is audioable um walk signs. There's a there's some intersections that have the walk sign is on to cross John Young Parkway or State Road 436. There's some intersections that don't have that at all. And that's a safety
risk because if you have a visually impaired person who can't really see the the walk sign, what are we going to do? Um and then the last thing is um I was a chairman of I was the first person in
the state of Florida to get supported decision-m recognized in the entire state. Um, I had House Bill 73 passed and signed by Governor Ronda Santz, which is requiring judges to look at supported decisionmaking before putting people in guardianship because I was a
victim of guardianship abuse. I was a victim. I was held hostage from family and friends because the guardian thought that I wasn't able to make my own decisions, that I wasn't able to live a normal life just like everybody else.
And I was like, you are wrong and I'm going to prove that to you. Um, so I put in to Florida state statute that um, now judges are required to look at supported decisionm. And I want to give a big shout out to the chief of police um, for
Apopka Police Department because um, the amount of autism community that they put with TIPACOP and the Special Olympics torch run is just absolutely amazing. >> Awesome. Thank you so much for your advocacy and thanks for being here tonight. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir.
>> Leroy Bell, >> Leroy Bell, 2308 Blue Meadows Court of Pops, Florida. Um I see you have on the um future workshop discussion is one of the one of the items that I wanted to
discuss this is uh about an intersection. But first, before I get to that, if you remember during the campaign, the campaign uh most of the candidates was talking about transparency
and the other thing was about slowing the growth. That brings me to the to uh Commissioner Diane uh point about the citizen being a part of the the
board. And one of the biggest problem that the citizens had prior to it was some of the appointments to this board and how that they came about to be on the board.
And I think each commissioner should take a a a better dive into once you come aboard and you're talking about transparency. You need to open it
up to the citizens and give them a chance to let them to be a part of slowing the growth because ultimately they are the one that is affecting.
Secondly, I want to talk about the intersection of Boy Scout and Apop O'Coy Road. Uh I I I know a few hours maybe 15 20
hours ago, someone was killed over in South Papka. They were ran over I think it was on Marvin's Amlets and 18th Street. The same thing is going to happen up on
Boy Scout. If you gonna take a left on Boy Scout coming to Apakka, it's hard because you got the builders, the developers got all those signs blocking the people coming from Okoy.
And you know, you got the little dip over and once the people try the whoever trying to turn left, you can't see what's coming around the corner. on the way to the the meeting tonight. I
was three calls back and almost seen four wrecks already. So, if anything can be done about that, it need to be done quick. >> Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Williams, I know we discussed this previously. How quickly can we get those signs taken down that are in the rightways? Uh
>> we're working with code enforcement to get those uh remedied as quickly as we can. >> Perfect. If we can kind of prioritize that intersection, I know it is it's been a long time issue. >> Understood. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bill. Albert McKimmy, 3603 Golden Gem Road. Uh, I've put out a couple of emails to
the commissioners recently, so I'm not going to waste your time tonight trying to get through that. First question, when were the rights away for Kelly Park roads completed? If they were completed at the beginning of the year as we were told they were going to be, the city had
60 days to implement the start of the the procedure to to to begin the work. It's never began. >> Do you want me to answer? >> Not just now. I'll just get I'll fire through this because it's only a few minutes. >> Well, I I'll give you more time. Okay. For dialogue. Yeah. >> Uh so we don't have the final piece of
the Rightway yet. Uh there's a a piece a property owner that's really finding us difficult right now. I think we have everything else that's closed on one specific one that's on the southeast corner of Effie and Kelly Park is one that is um causing delays right now. So we do not have all the rightways
acquired yet. >> Okay. It's just, you know, it would have been nice if after the new year somebody come back and said to us because what we were told is it was going to go to eminent domain and that the commission had already justified the fact if it didn't proceed it went to em do demain.
So we're now 5 months down the line and the commission sat and did nothing. So I'm a bit disappointed in that. I could go on about the uh 180 the 18 months from the pioneering agreement be signed for the road to start and all sorts of things. What I'm
concerned about is where's the liability stand because along the line we've got developers who are threatened to sue the city and the city who are unhappy with developers. As a resident, you're taking my money. I don't know what's happening. So that's
fine. I give you some packets for Golden Gem Road. I could ask you some questions on them, but I already know all the answers. But what I need to know is, do you know the answers? And do you understand what's contained within that packet that perhaps should be pointing you in a particular direction?
We are under a consent order from FD. How many of commissioners have read that? How many commissioners have actually been to Golden Gem Road to see the condition we're in just now? Two photographs there, one currently, one previously. So the reason that we're in
the situation we are in just now is the city's negligent behavior over the last two years. The reason that this bond field was there was no interceptive trench or drainage put in. I've got thousands of pages to deal with this and I can prove what I'm saying. But I've been treated like a fool for the last
two years. Nobody's taken me seriously. Now we've got a year to fix Golden Gem Road Ponds. We can't do it, commissioners. So my next track is to go and argue with the FDP and St. John's to say that they've put you in a position that's
attainable and that we need to try and renegotiate what's happening with them because there's no way with the budget that you guys have been presented with and what's going to be done, it can be done in the time scale that we've we've got. And if we look at it, the comprehensive plan is based on us having
350 million gallons of water available to us just now. We don't have it. We're not going to have that until my opinion till 2030. I can give you reasons for that, but that's that's an honest opinion. First thing you're going to do is it's at
least 52 weeks for when you start to order pumps to get them. One last thing, commissioners, at the budget, nobody mentioned the fact that we need to start working on a a a sewage plant. Those are going to take four years to build. And I
brought something to your attention perhaps 8 months ago. It was that the city had requested Orange County help us with 2 million gallons per day of sewage. If we couldn't handle the sewage 8 months ago,
why aren't we doing something about it now? Let's get that plant underway. >> Thank you, Mr. McKini. And I did receive your emails and um when you're ready to meet, I'm ready to meet. So, thank you, >> Matthew. This is my excuse to stretch my legs.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Some of my time away. Matthew Hutchinson, 1262 Lake Francis Drive and 72 East Main Street. So, one, I think this meeting is really smart uh to not take away time from the actual
council meeting. And it said planning. So, I figured this would be a good opportunity to tell you some things that I think should be done or at least were promised to us in years past or there were rumor and when I bought the property, I was optimistic about seeing
those things done and none of these that are on the list got done. Now, I know things may change and they might not be like I got on here a pocket park by the um gingerbread in between that was promised to us at some point. It didn't happen. It would have been a great
amenity to bring people down here. So, here's what I've heard in the last several years. And I know some of these are in the works of being done. So, I I'll be able to cross these off very soon hopefully. Um lights on Fifth Street. There was rumor that there was a
Duke Energy um opportunity where they were going to help put the lights up on Fifth Street and then I've heard rumor that it might even go over to Central and Station Street. It'd be great to um make the area more welcoming with a lot of the lights that that some of the businesses have done by themselves and
we tie it all in together. So, that's number one. Um I know there was supposed to be a development at the end of Fifth Street. Uh, I think nobody's bid on that, but I'd like to see the entertainment portion of it, a band
shell for small concerts and to bring people down here. Uh, I would like to see when I met with Jim Hit when he was in charge of CRA, he showed me an entire expansion of the bike trail all the way down Station Street and I was so encouraged. It's been four years. I've
seen nothing. Okay? And so I know it takes a long time to actually do it, but when I'm shown something and I'm shown plans that supposedly were approved and nothing happens, but again, this is not on you all. My taxes continue to go up
the maximum every single year, but yet the benefit on my side hasn't I haven't seen it. Um, I'd like to see the crosswalk over here. There's a crosswalk, but there's no button to push. There's no reg there's no safe way
for people to actually cross the street unless they just selfmonitor it. That's an easy fix. Um last time I met here during the CRA meeting, I know they purchased the property or you voted to purchase property across from Lowe's and Fishes. Like to see that turned into a
resource center for the homeless. We also need additional parking downtown. There's events like the Friday night um uh farmers market. We need more parking. We need to improve the the whole parking area, the palm trees, the
grass, and the facads need to be painted. We need to install Ballards at Fifth Street, which was promised to us on several occasions instead of having the police. Like, it's great. The police are phenomenal down there, but just having the lights on, it could be a deterrent where people are not sure
what's going on there. The ballers are are imperative. Um, let's see. pickle ball courts, the Frank Carlton Center. Those were approved if I'm not mistaken. There were four pickle ball courts that CRA funds were supposed to be used. That's an amenity that keeps people down
here. I know they're doing pickle ball out at Northwest, but there's no amenity at Northwest. There's no commerce out there other than, you know, a snack bar or what have you. And we need something like that down here, similar to your bike park. And that whole area down here is being neglected. I know I'm out of
time. I'm running out of time. Um, I mentioned the pocket park and let's see, from a from a resident standpoint, that's all from an owner owning property down here. I want a pocket to grow. I want I want more customers, but I want
it to be responsible. When I sit on Vic and it takes me about eight lights to cycle through cuz I'm all the way back to the high school, that's a problem. Same thing on Welch when the traffic's all the way back to Thompson. The biggest issue that I have said for probably 15 years. I said it when Kathy Till was a commissioner when she was
running is an S-curve on Pan is stupid. I know it's a county road. You've already had one death out there and you've had several accidents. My wife works at the school out there. I cannot understand why there's an S-curve there. Like it's a county issue, but it's in
it's city also. You got a city park there. They need to be addressed. So those three aren't on the sheet, but I hope you take those into consideration. And I'm glad you did the meeting because now I don't have to say it during the city council meeting. And congratulations to all of you for your
uh new positions. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> We can't be done early. >> Yes. >> Can't be four minutes early. All right. We will wrap this up then. Um actually be done early. Some of these items uh we will put on uh additional workshops down
the road to discuss in more detail. Definitely the Pioneer Agreement is a big one. the citizen um advisory boards and committees and things like that is a big one as well. They're all important. So, we will hit them one at a time, make sure that they get the time they need and if we need to u add additional time or a separate special workshop just for that.
>> So, mayor, excuse me, quick question. So, the we the next meeting we will be voting on the commission meeting will be voting on changing times and dates. Is that the next meeting >> and the procedures? >> Procedures. Second meeting of June. >> June. Got it. >> Yes. Second meeting of June. We'll add
the meetings dates and times and the procedures for our meeting. >> Yeah. So, it gives everyone a little time to review >> and we're not rushing at all. So, any other final comments before we close this out? >> Appreciate everyone. >> This was productive. >> Yes. >> Love it. All right. We'll see you at
seven. Part: 2
Uh good afternoon. I would call to order the city of Apopka May 20th to 2026 commission meeting. Uh I'd like to recognize Commissioner Ruth to introduce his pastor that's going to be providing the invocation and my former youth pastor as well. >> A terrific pastor, Pastor Todd Lanir.
Thank you for your service, sir. >> Let's all stand, please. And thank you all for your servant leadership. We greatly appreciate it. Father, uh we come before you with grateful hearts. Thank you for the privilege you've given us to live in
this great country, the best in the world. We thank you, Father, that you've allowed us the privilege to live in this amazing city. We thank you for our leaders. We pray blessing over them tonight. And we pray for wisdom, God, uh here in this room. You tell us in James
uh chapter 1 that if we lack wisdom to ask you and you'll give it. So we're asking, Father, we pray, Father God, tonight as we open up this meeting that first and foremost that you would get honor and glory. We pray God that respect and honor would prevail in every
comment made and every discussion that's had today. So we commit this city to you. We commit our leadership to you. We thank you for them. We thank you for our police officers and our firefighters. Those that protect us. May you protect them. So we say thank you, Father. We
give this evening to you. May we see everything through your eyes. May we listen to everything through your ears. But Father, most importantly, may we feel everything today through your heart. It's in the name of Jesus that I pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. >> Commissioner Ruth, if you'd lead us in
the pledge of allegiance, please. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> You may all be seated. Thank you so much
for that, Pastor Todd. >> When I was in high school and middle school, he was my youth pastor. So, I'm sure he's got stories I don't want him to tell. Um, as always, we are uh running our meetings with decorum. Uh, I don't want
to have to read the statement every time. It is in our agenda. If you want me to read it, I will. Uh, and if we need to remind residents of this, I'm happy to do it. But we ask that everyone just conduct themselves with respect and decorum. And if there needs to be reminders of it, I'm happy to read that as we go on. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Uh, we will move on to public comment period now. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. My name's Dr. Jim Moyer. I'm elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. And as always, my
presentation is mine and mine alone. And I'm speaking only for district 2. Uh this presentation is uh implementing the D2C3 that I introduced uh two weeks ago.
Oh, am I doing something wrong in here? >> Do we have all the slides loaded up in? >> Oh, there it is. Nice. >> Waist not what? I may be doing Am I doing something wrong side?
Sorry about that. >> You can hit this if you'd like. >> Okay. My apologies. >> The arrows work. >> Okay. My apologies, Mr. Mayor. As a reminder, the D2C3
is water challenge is change, conserve, clean. Why should you participate? Well, the United States uses twice the global per person per day average and about the same as China and India
with and they're about four times more people. So, they use half the global per day per um per person average. We use twice. Florida residential water usage now exceeds agricultural. And as you all
know, we're historically an agricultural state and the Orange County despite many conservation initiatives, our per person per day water usage is over twice that the global average and it's only almost
entirely due to outside water irrigation. Uh how do I waste water? How do I pollute our water bodies? ask yourselves please um according to water useit wisely.com
there's over a hundred ways you can conserve please can pick one and consider doing it according to greencoach.org or there's only almost 16 different ways that you can uh prevent water pollution, including s something
as simple as picking up litter because in the United States, 60% of all the water pollution, I'm told, comes from litter. Uh take personal responsibility, look at your habits, and please change
them. Thank you very much and God bless all of you. >> Thank you Dr. Moyer. >> Uh Dr. Moyer, can you go back to the um the website that you presented? Water wisely water. >> Water useit wisely.com. >> Got it. Thank you, sir.
>> And there's nearly close to 200 on there. It's a lot. >> Nice. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Michael McCreant. Did he leave? He was here earlier. Mhm. >> Yeah.
a better evening now. We had a good evening earlier. I had spoke to you about a resolution that I sent the governor and the the secretary of agriculture about buying
local and growing local and making sure that we keep people employed and commerce in the past. And I've seen that change happen already. If you drive 441, you will see
the state palm mixed in where they had the majel date palms. And I can see them there. I noticed them, but a lot of people won't. Um, the city just paid 10 over $10,000 each for nine
palms. This bill that I just got tonight is $94,500 for nine palm trees that don't belong in the state of Florida. They're from California.
And we could put cabbage palms in there for about $700 on the top end for the an identical height tree locally, locally grown. And they're the state palm tree. They
belong here. And this if you densely pack them instead of spreading them out 40 ft apart, you can grow some canopy. Um if you go down through a coey and
through sweet water, um you will see some clustered palm trees and they do provide a little canopy that way. But when you provide when you stack them and they use shorter trees too. Uh but if you spread
them out like you're seeing here um they're not providing any canopy. So your money is not being spent to help reduce heat. And if you noticed, if you look at O tree in Orange County, the
mayor just um planted on Arbor Day a tree and they're going to be spending their money uh their tree bank money um which they have much higher fees for um offending nature
by contractors and and neighbors. And they're going to be using that money to put in hundreds and hundreds of trees in the near future. And it's called O tree, the letter O and tree. And you can go
read about that. And he just announced it um a couple weeks ago. So let's uh plant some trees and let's think about uh everything we do on contracts no matter what it is alarms or anything
else to be um native. >> Thank you Dr. Olmstead. >> Okay. Albert KB3603 Golden Gem Road. None of us are experts and we should all know our own limitations. But we are blessed with the ability now with the internet
to go and do research if we're not sure about something. If I want legal advice, I'll go to an attorney. When I go to an attorney, I'm looking for advice, not options. I find options do nothing but confuse me. So question I have commissioners, are you satisfied that
when you have advice, it is advice or are you too many options? How much is legal advice costing us in the city every year? I believe our contracted uh attorneys costing us more than 400,000 a year and on top of that we're
spending money on other legal services. How many hours a week are we get? How many hours a month are we getting for that 400k per year? I know the answer, but I'm not here to give you answers. You need to start looking at things. You
need to start to decide if 400k is a suitable amount of money to pay when we don't get answers to questions that were asked back in December. >> Thank you, Mr. McKim. down just a little bit. Good evening, Mayor. Um,
>> good evening >> and commissioners. I am as usual uh here just to remind you of our celebration that we're having uh for the unhoused and the needy that
will be this um Sunday. It'll be at just like mama's. It'll be at 5:30. We are honoring um Memorial Day uh that day um as we honor those who have died in service for our wonderful
country. So, we will have those kind of decorations. We will um we will just uh continue to love on our unhoused. I continue to see positive changes in uh relationships
and employment. It seems like people are starting to uh employ some of the unhoused and so that's always a great thing. But I'm also seeing a large surge of people coming in from Orlando.
Okay, you see new faces. So, um, continue to, uh, support, uh, the nonprofits that are helping the unhoused and the needy. Not just me, it's a lot of us out here that are doing that. Um, you can help me by, um, going to
Compassion and Apaka on Facebook. And I have two lists there. One list for hygiene items and another list for clothing. Um, you can also help me by uh giving uh used clothes that you may
have. A lot of the men are smaller men and um I am very low on men's clothing at this time. Actually, I have none. So, if you can, if you do have things that you can clean your closet out, that
you used to could wear but you wish you could wear that you're trying to get back to, just buy it again and let me have let me have the smaller sizes at this time. I appreciate everything that you do. I am pleased that what I see
from the public, not just from uh and I believe it's a reflection upon the leadership that we have in our city that people are just walking up to me and say, "Hey, you're the one that helps with the unhoused. I've got this, you know, and I'm every day I'm running somewhere to go pick up something or
drop off something." So, I am pleased. I am busy and I am glad um that I have the support of the community and I thank you very much. May God continue to bless each and every one of you for your gifts and your love of kindness that you show
to those who have less than we have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Street. Good evening, mayor. >> Good evening, >> commissioners, and everyone in a rightful place. I apologize for the yell out. We have some Naomi kids in the building unexpectedly.
I want to say thank you to well, four of you up there who came out to Naomi kids to our gratitude breakfast and all the city officials. It was amazing to see the city come together to support Naomi Kids. Naomi stands for never alone,
overcoming many issues. And I want to thank the public for the continued support. Talking to local residents. It's amazing how many people do not know that we have a little zoo right here in
Apakka. And that's one of the field trips we will be taking the kids on. So I want to thank everyone for their support as we continue to support local businesses here in Apakka. Um this year we scheduled for seven field trips
during the summer and ex with the exception of one or six six field trips is right here in Apakka supporting Apakka businesses. Thank you for due to your support the public support. So we appreciate it and we want
everyone to know take a look at what's going on in Apakka. There is a lot of businesses, a lot of places, unique places that you can go and enjoy. And please continue, even if it's not Naomi kids, please continue to support our
youth because they are going to be the ones when we are too old to make decision, they are going to be the ones up there making the decision for us. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Nikki. All right. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh, thank you for all that have spoken. Is there anybody else that maybe did not provide a card that wants
to speak? >> Okay. >> All right. We will close public comment period. Uh, we're going to approval of minutes. Did everyone have a time to review them? >> Yeah. >> Any questions on there? Any edits? Anything like that? >> No. >> If not, then I will, uh, ask for a motion to approve the meeting minutes, May 6th.
>> I'll second. >> Motion by Commissioner Baron, second by Commissioner Anderson. All those in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Uh agenda view, Mr. Williams. >> No changes, Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Uh proclamations. I'm
going to come down for that. We are going to start with our building safety month. uh our building team has done an incredible job making sure that our residents are safe that any new business that are coming in place are um well taken care of and so I do want to thank their team and uh I read the pro
proclamation whereas our city our city of Apakka is committed to recognizing that our growth and strength depends on the safety and essential role our homes commercial structures and infrastructure play both in everyday life and when disasters strike. And whereas our confidence in the resilience of these
buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of vigilant professionals, building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, trades people, design professionals, laborers, plumbers, and others in the construction industry who work year round to ensure
the safe construction of buildings. And whereas these professionals are dedicated members of the International Code Council, a nonprofit that brings together local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal officials who are experts in high in the highest quality codes to ensure protection of the
buildings where we live, learn, work, and play. And whereas these modern building codes include safeguards to protect the public from hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods. And whereas building safety month is sponsored by the International Code Council to remind the public about
the critical role of our community's largest unknown protectors of public safety and our local code officials. These individuals provide assurances that our buildings are safe and sustainable, which is essential to our prosperity. And whereas built to last is a theme for building safety month 2026
to encourage all of us to get involved and raise awareness about building safety on a personal, local, and global scale. And whereas each year in observ in observance of building safety month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience, and
economic investment and to acknowledge the essential services provided by local, state, and local and state building departments, fire prevention bureaus, federal agencies in protecting lives and property. Now, therefore, I, Nick, mayor of the city of Apakka, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
building safety month. And I think we do have some building officials here. I was about to say you were saying up front before. Well, thank you for everything you guys did. Greatly appreciated. Do you want to say anything? >> No. Okay, commissioners, we can come down and get a quick picture, please.
I'll take you in the first Perfect. >> Excellent. Thank you. So, we uh also today is uh emancipation day for the state of Florida. So, I wanted to make sure that we recognized that and uh read a proclamation and we normally have an event for this, but uh due to
transitions and and some loss in communication things, um we're going to be getting it back next year. So, uh just in in some capacity. So, I'll read the proclamation. Whereas the city of Apakka recognizes that the observance of the end of slavery is part of the history and heritage of the United States and the state of Florida. And
whereas as a governmental body, the city commission opposes and rejects any form of oppression and supports residents and organizations working to achieve genuine equality and protection of human rights for everyone. And whereas President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation on September 22nd, 1862, announcing that on the first day of January 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States
shall be then forward and forever free. And whereas on June 19th, 1865, federal authorities arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed slaves that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. And whereas June 19th or Junth has
been commonly recognized and celebrated as the day that slavery ended in the United States. And whereas Emancipation Day in Florida is traditionally celebrated on May 20th, today to recognize the emancipation of slaves as proclaimed by General Edward M. Mcook from the steps of the not house in
Tallahassee on May 20th, 1865, effectively ending slavery in the state of Florida 11 days after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. And whereas as a result, many Flidians celebrate May
20th as Emancipation Day in Florida. And whereas in recognition of Florida's unique history with respect to the emancipation of slaves, the city commission commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery and recognizing the recognizes the significant contributions of
African-Americans to the state and our nation. And whereas we gather today, May 20th, 2026 at city commission to honor Emancipation Day. Now therefore, I, Nick Neesa, mayor of the city of Aka, Florida, to hereby recognize May 20th as Florida Emancipation Day in the city of
Aka, and encourage all citizens to recognize and honor this day in the city of Apakka. So, thank you. So, we can take a picture. Oh yes. Also, we did provide a uh emancipation proclamation um emancipation day proclamation to uh
former commissioner and reverend Smith um and he was able to read that today as well at an event he was hosting at his church. Correct. Yes. So, thank you for that. All right, we are moving on to the consent agenda. Is there anybody from the DIS or from the public that would
like to pull anything for specific questions or details on it? >> Not hearing any. Um, ask for a motion to approve the six consent agenda items. >> Moved by Commissioner Ruth, seconded by Commissioner Anderson. All those in favor? >> I. >> All opposed.
>> Motion carries unanimously. All right. Moving on to business item. Uh, approval of the seventh amendment to the me memorandum of agreement for conveyance of the Golden Gym Road property. Mr. Samowski.
>> Good evening everyone. Good evening. >> Mayor Commissioner Vladimir Simonowski. I'm the public works director and what we're bringing to you tonight is a request for approval of the seventh amendment to the memorandum of agreement by and between St. John River Water
Management District and the city of Aapka for the district conveyance of the Golden Gem Road property to the city. In summary, on May 15, 2009, the city of Apaka and the district enter into a memorandum of agreement whereby the
district conveyed to the city the Golden Gem Road property. The conveyance was conditioned upon the city's commitment to design, permit, and construct a reclaimed water storage and act for Richard recharge enhancement project on the property. Since the original
execution of the MOA, the parties have approved six amendments to extend the project completion deadline. Uh the MOA amendments one number one through six were executed between April 2014 and September 2025. The current amendment number six
expiration date is May 29th of 2026 this year and the MO amendment number seven will have extension date from May 30th 2026 to March 31st 2027. Of course, MO amendment number eight may be determined based on ongoing design
recommendations. Uh the city has encountered several challenges that have delayed the completion and operational implementation of the project and in response the city is actively developing a series of technical and feasibility
reports to guide the next phase of work. These reports are anticipated to be finalized by fall 2026 to allow adequate time for the city to complete its internal evaluation and for both parties to review the findings collaboratively. The proposed seven amendment will extend
the project deadline as we said earlier to March 31st of 2027. This extension will support the development of a physible and coordinated plan to fulfill the city's obligations under the MOA. The plan schedule for the design and construction of the east and west pond
facilities as of this moment looks like this. Conceptual design of the west pond will be completed on May 22nd, 2026. Final construction plans of the west pond will be completed at August 28th. Initiation of the east pond design
should happen on the same date, August 28th. Initiation of construction of the pump station should start in September 1st. The completion of the reconstruction of the west pond is scheduled for February 28th of next year, 2027. The final construction plans
of the east pond on April 30th, 2027. And the completion of the reconstruction of this pond is to be determined of course based on the construction plans for this pond. Um the water management district board
approved this extension number seven on May 12th, 2026. And tonight we have uh two representatives from the water management district. And I just would like to mention their names here. They're being present. Cammy Dwey and
Susan Davis. And there's some plans, they're part of course of the extension number seven. They're very similar to the ones they were approved in the extension number six of the of the MOA and mainly they're
related on monthly status meetings with the district which is ongoing process until March of 2027. Our next meeting is scheduled for next week which is on Thursday the May 28th. uh we still have to do consumptive use permit modification application that was
submitted that application was submitted on August 21st of 2025 and this is of course a continuous effort. The hydraologic and liner material evaluation as I said earlier is done by our consultant Tetrote is in pace to finish by the end of May 2026.
The reclaim water operating and water balance model analysis is also ongoing and will be finished will be completed next month. And we have the south pond design which is south of Snowden Road just out of our wastewater treatment plant. That's an ongoing process and the
pump station design is a 90% completion. So having all these listed and these are the conditions of the MOA. Uh the staff recommends approval of the seventh amendment to the MOA to ensure continued progress and alignment with
the district expectations and the city's long-term water resource goals. And I'm available to answer any questions you may have. >> Thank you for that. Uh commissioners, any questions? >> So just a comment. It's that I one of
the things I brought to my agenda review is that this has been like ongoing for since I've since I've actually been in the commission. And how sure are you with these time time um time frames because it's like extension number seven and it's all it's almost like everything always starts with like with this we're going to do this and it just no
completion of really much of anything. >> So most of these conditions were presented back in September of last year. I believe it was September 29th >> because the expiration date for the previous amendment number five was at the end of the month. So from September
last year to now what have we done? >> So what have we done? We've already started the consumptive use permit and of course most of the data is already submitted and the district is evaluating our data now. uh the hydraologic and liner material evaluation that's
basically the report that will be provided on Friday this coming Friday by our consultant tetratech and they will represent the final design of the smaller pond which is the west pond. Uh we have the reclaim water operating and
water balance model analysis that is pretty much at a completion. We just working on the final data on that and that will be completed next month. So most of them already completed including the south pond that is already at 90% completion. It requires probably another
month or two of uh before final release. So most of that data is technically completed what was originally asked from us with the au the extension number six of the MOA. Now we just have to include them because they're pretty much at the
final stage and the expiration of the amendment is at the end of this month. So as we move forward, we're just the district decided to add these same conditions so we can we can move on to construction and again the design as uh
I showed on the previous slide the final construction plans of the west pond will be ready at the end of August and our anticipation is to start construction on the west pond at the beginning of September >> and we're confident in this time time frame. >> Yes. >> Okay. Oh, that's it. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Any other commissioner have any questions? Trisha Bear. >> Uh so thank you um uh Mr. Veor for sharing that information. Thank you for that. Um so my question is um how
much has this cost us thus far and how much will we still need? So if we go task by task uh completion of all that sorry of all the ongoing efforts that we
have right now I would say it's probably close to a million >> okay >> including the redesign and the objective is now to once we start with the with the construction of the pump station that will be approximately 12.5 million
That is the cost estimate that wasn't part of the of the specific conditions because it wasn't it wasn't constructed previously, right? This is a new addition that was of course due to the circumstances that we had there that
didn't proceed on time. So technically the only portion that is being mitigated right now is the liner at the two pawns at the west pawn and the east pawn. And we anticipate right now if just replacing the liner alone with any
we we don't have any concrete data for now but I would say between 2.5 to $3 million just to replace the liner and to regrade the site without any additional work on it. So technically could be more than that and most likely will be. >> Okay. And so you mentioned that there is
an issue just before that you mentioned that there was an issue. What was that issue? That was the That was the event that happened I believe sometime in January or January of 2024. >> Okay. And Mr. McKim is here
>> to give the exact date. >> Yeah. So January 3rd, beginning of January of 2024. >> Okay. >> That of course delayed some of the progress on the overall project for the entire facility. >> Okay. And again, these are all different
elements of the overall facility expansion there. And the the pump station was not part of that when that incident happened. It's coming as a as the project progresses to make the facility fully operational.
>> And I'll piggy back with what Commissioner Anderson asked. Will it be on time? This is a priority. >> We have moved so far pretty much. We're coming to the end of all the commitments we have made on analyzing the situation
there and what needs to be done to make the facility operational. So we feel strongly that this time we're going to be on time. >> Okay. And my next question is did you put that in your budget? >> So yes. So, what we have in the budget
right now is the $2 million for the replacement of the liner, which is coming from the operating fund, and we have the $12.5 million for the new pump station that is also budgeted through the capital impact fee in the capital improvement program.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. That's all I had. >> Thank you. Any other commission questions? >> Just one more question. So, the how much did we budget last budget cycle for this pond? >> 2 million. >> 2 million. Have we used that 2 million already? >> We haven't used the 2 million for the
construction. >> So we have >> because we haven't started any start. So we still So we have additional 2 million that we carry forward the 2 million from the last >> budget cycle. Correct. And 12.5 million 12.5. Yes. >> So 12.5 plus the two 2 million car. >> Correct. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you.
>> Any other questions? >> Uh we will open up to public public comment then. Any public please? 3603 Golden Sham Road. What we aren't addressing is the elephant in the room.
Back in May of 2024, DVO Seram came here and asked for $950,000. Within that, it was to do three things. Provide aquadams, which I said we never needed, we didn't need. It was to plug a home, which was just hundreds of
dollars. It wasn't a big event. The main thing that we needed to do before we started any work was install an interceptor trench. We should have had drainage on that site long before there were signs that there were problems a
year before the collapse of the pond. In that documentation today, I give it to you. So there's no doubt in my mind, I'm 100% certain that it was negligence and incompetence that contributed to the collapse. We didn't have drainage in. If
you look at those pictures all around the liner, you'll see brown stains. That's where water is ingressing over and under the liner. If you look carefully, you will see erosion under the liner. That's what caused the seams to burst. Those seams had a limited
capacity of 100 PSI. Maximum test was I think 300. It's just like a skin of a a drum without the without the ground underneath it. It sinks and the seams crack. So the problems we have is that
the liners have to come out before we make any decisions. In those photographs that I've given you, you'll see what DVO described as volcanoes. Well, I would say that there some people describe them as whales and some people describe them as hippos. What they tell you is water
ingressed underneath the liner. When you get saturated substrate underneath the liner, the substrate then is no longer capable of carrying the loads that it would be as dry. It's called soil arching. All you have to do is go on to AI and look at the effect of saturated
substrate under a liner and you'll find it no longer carries load. So, as long as we're replacing the liner, I believe we have some some chance at being able to do something. What I don't know is if the substrate that's underneath is ever going to be fit to carry load because
until you do ultrasonic testing or or some sort of testing. I don't know. But there's other things that I don't have time to discuss with you today that I think concern public safety. There's an area on the burm on the northeasterly side and in the inside of the pond which
show significant problems could arise. There could be a collapse on the easterly berm similar to what happened on the westerly berm in which case you would have 300 300 million gallons of water cascading down on the land below. So there's a number
of things that we really need to look clearly and I don't think we can do it in the time constraints. I think it's pie in the sky. >> Thank you, Mr. McKim. Any other public comment? One thing before we start doing a project like this, no matter what it is,
is we have to look at the hydraology the and um all the research that's been done over the centuries. Um, we have a carse map for one thing and that car map is right on the Apka
website. Um, it's new up there. Um, but the US Department of Agriculture has had it all along. Um, I know I don't want something dug like
that at my home because I'm over a huge car area. um the fact that they that area is right there at a a dangerous area, maybe they should have done some consideration before digging it there.
uh if we go to put any more in, we really have to look like I mentioned um about the upcoming project GIS with the Ottabon Society,
Ottabon, Florida, regarding their new GIS system to look at wetlands is it has all the geography out there for these properties and we really need to consider where we're putting things like
this before we put them down. And uh somebody said that they were allowed to dig as deep as they wanted to. Well, if they would have looked at the um geology uh ahead of time, then they would have
might have considered not doing it there or not doing it to the depth they did. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Mstead. Any other public comment? We're going to close public comment then. Uh any any final comments from the commissioners at all?
>> I appreciate the questions and thank you for that. I know staff has been working very diligently on this and I want to say thank you to the St. John's River Water Management District for their patience with us throughout this process. Um I know it's been a little frustrating as this specific project is part of a much larger regional project.
Um it doesn't just impact city of Aka residents, it impacts uh many other local municipalities as well. And that's why this is so important for St. John's and and why they're giving us such tight time constraints is so that we get it done. Um and I can appreciate that. It helps us stay to it and and no delays.
So, um as we start to progress and and plans come into place, we'll share the information with the commissioners so that you're immediately updated and we'll share with the public as well. Um unfiltered so that you have exactly what it is. I believe this Friday, uh it's listed on on uh here. We we are getting
the conceptual design. Yes, this Friday. So, I'm happy to make sure that gets out to everybody in in its raw form, no editing, no nothing, so that you can see exactly what it is. Uh, again, we've got to start seeing progress on this, and that's what St. John's is is desperately needing from us. And not just pro uh
progress talking, but actually getting it done. So, uh, with our third party, uh, vendor that did the studies on this, uh, we feel confident moving forward, or more so, the staff feel confident moving forward that we're going to be able to get this done in this timeline. And uh
really to show St. John's that that we're serious about this, we have to start spending money on this and and that's what we're going to be doing. So um with that, if there's no additional questions, I uh will ask for a motion to approve the seventh amendment to the memorandum of agreement for conveyance
of the Golden Gem Road property. >> So moved. >> Moved by Commissioner Baron. >> Second. >> Second by Vice Mayor Velasquez. Uh all those in favor say. >> All opposed. Uh motion moves uh approved
unanimously. Thank you for that. We'll move on to the Sheiler Park subdivision major development plan. Before we take a deep dive in that, uh Attorney Shepard, if you can this I'm seeing it's quasi judicial. If you can provide a quick
high level of what quasi judicial means for us as an elected body. >> Absolutely. Mayor, a quasi judicial action by the legislative body in this case the the commission is one in which you are applying the code to the facts presented. You are not making up as you
go and it is not based on opinion about how you feel about any particular topic. It is simply about whether the applicant in this case Sheila Oaks uh has proven that they meet the requirements of our code to get their in this case master development plan approved. Uh in that
regard you will hear from staff. They will make a report and tell you what they believe. You may hear from other experts. I do not know. You may me see hear from members of the public who themselves are experts. But if they are, they need to state what they're experts in. And if you there is conflicting competent substantial evidence, you can
choose to believe whichever evidence you want. But understand your decision has to be based on evidence. And for every decision to deny, and it's not just this one, it's all of them. We have to write a letter that says why did it get denied? And that basis has to be based on a lack of evidence or a lack of
proof. That's it. >> Thank you for that, >> Mr. Sun. Excuse me. Doctor, >> that was my mistake. I am very sorry. Please. >> Good evening, mayor and commissioners. This is Dr. Jun, planner at the
community development department. The applicant has requested approval of a major developmental plan for residential subdivision of 115 single unit single family lots called Sher Park. The property is located at 1920 Sheller
Avenue. The total size of the properties is about 40 acre and the property is currently vacant. The property was annexed in the city in July 2025, changed its feature land use to residential low and re reszoned to RTF
residential to family in November 2025. The proposed plan is a single family residential subdivision um with 115 residential lots with open spaces um and the density of the development is
2.86 dwelling units per acre. It includes 104 lots of minimum 60 ft width and 11 lots of minimum 80 ft width. The proposed setback are minimum front yard of 25 ft, minimum side yard of 7.5
ft and minimum rear yard of 20 ft and minimum corner side yard of 25 ft per the requirements of land land development code section 3.3.6. The provided open space is about 10.6
acre. It is about 26% of the property. The required open space is 20% per LDC section 5.4.4. This open space includes 8 foot wide gravel jogging trail of 0.5 mile loop.
The subdivision provides two access point from Schiller Avenue. The primary access is not gated and secondary access is emergency emergency access and it is gated. Um the access point are connected with internal loop consisted two looped
blocks. The landscape buffer are provided around the perimeter of the subdivision and it is consistent with the requirements in LDC section 5.2. The open space includes two main park
area. One one of the open space is provided with a bench and the other is centered around the stone water pond and this area is intended to serve as a naturalistic active recreation area for for a zing jogging trail. The DRC has
recommended approval on March 4th and at the commission planning commission meeting on April 14th planning commission unanimously recommended approval of the Shur Park major development plan. The recommended motion is approving the Sil Park major
development plan and just want to um point out that these that approval of this MDP does not authorize the development staff and public are available for any questions. >> Thank you for that. Uh does the applicant have any presentation they'd
like to do? >> Please. Uh, good evening, mayor, madame vice mayor, and commissioners. My name is Jonathan Hules, and I'm with the Lounge Law Firm, 215 North Yola Drive. I just have a short presentation just to supplement the the the materials that
Mr. Dr. Sun has provided and to provide a little bit more background because >> Can you bring the mic? >> Yes, I'm sorry. >> Sure. Sorry, >> Mr. Boom. Can you set a 15-minute timer? >> Yeah. Anything more than that? >> We all like to talk sometime. This isn't my presentation. Another one on there.
Okay. So, this this uh property and this project has taken about the longest process you can take in the city to get to this point because when it started, it was actually in an incorporated county. it w did have uh entitlements at that point to be developed as a
lowdensity uh residential subdivision. Uh based on informal meetings with the county and city staff at that time, it was determined it made more sense to to have this property um be reviewed, approved, and potentially developed
through the city's processes uh because it was within an enclave. And there is state policy that states that when possible, enclaves should be either eliminated or reduced in size. So by virtue of that, there was a decision
made to seek the approval from the city to annex this property into uh the the city. So as was due all development pro processes uh in the city, it starts with a community meeting that's mandated by your code. That community meeting was
conducted over a year ago uh in April of 2025. It was done virtually. We had about 15 to 20 people from the community attend that meeting. There was uh uh a presentation uh that was made by the applicant team. And as part of that
presentation, this plan that's shown here was presented. Uh and even though we were at just at the annexation stage, we also knew we needed a comp plan amendment and reszoning. And while those were just map changes, we wanted to provide as much detail as possible. So
we included this what was at that time a conceptual plan showing the project and and as you I'll go through these slides, you'll see it is very similar to the major development plan that's now before you. Um, from that period forward, we went ahead and conducted submitted an
annexation application and that culminated with public hearings before this board in which this the city council uh annex the property by unanimous vote into the city. As part of that presentation, I pulled this from from my presentation at that time. We
also included this site plan. It's not necessary for the annexation stage because that's simply a decision by the the city council whether to take the property into the city or not. There are criteria for that uh unrelated to the site plan, but we wanted to be transparent with what the the proposed
project was going to look like if ultimately taken into the city and and taken through the the city's development processes. And um we followed that with processing a comprehensive plan amendment and a resoning application to assign the property city designations
under both the comp plan amendment uh comp city's comp plan and and the city zoning. And once again we showed a similar conceptual site plan at that time of what the property was going to look like. This is actually taken from my presentation during those public
hearings. And even though that was just the map change where you were changing the color on the map, this detail did not need to be provided. But being transparent and wanted to provide as much information to the public and uh you this council uh this this conceptual
plan was included though both of those applications were uh reviewed and approved by a unanimous vote. And from there, we've been at it with the major development plan, which is the site plan phase of the development approval process. This is an excerpt taken from
the major development plan. It's it's flipped on its side as were all those other images because of the uh geometry of the site. north is actually uh to left of page. But as you will see, the the major develop plan is very consistent with those conceptual plans
that have been shown uh to and accompanied all of the the community meeting and all of the development applications that had followed. Uh it's 115 homes and that equates to about 2.86 dwelling use an acre. It's far below
what have been allowed in under the county's uh in entitlements and far below what's allowed under the city's zoning code. Technically speaking, as was mentioned, that is uh broken up into two different sized lots. You have 60x
120 foot lots and 80x 120 foot lots. The 80x 120 are located to the north on the on the north perimeter of the property and that matches the same size of lot that is located to the northern subdivision where you would then have 60
foot lots in the remainder which are larger than the subdivision the lots in the subdivision that are located south that is existing today in the city. Uh so as was mentioned this is at the major development plan stage. The land development code sets forth what the
review criteria for the site plan is. This is included in your staff report but I just wanted to present it once more. These are all the criteria that staff has to apply and has to find that u have been met. Uh and these include
such things as that the the proposed development the uses uh are um consistent and comply with the applicable zoning district and use regulations and that all applicable standards in the the city's land development code including the
development standards in article 5 and environmental standards on R six are met um and the remaining u um criteria that are set forth here. Your staff report find makes those findings. It serves as confident substantial evidence for the
approval of this major development plan and uh we concur with that staff recommendation and we're happy to answer any questions we might have. I failed to mention also with me in attendance today is Mark Steelly who is the project engineer and does most of the work here
because as we said this is a a site plan a very technical exercise to based on review and and and getting it to this point before you. So with that happy to answer any questions and um >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Want to say that I did meet with Mr.
Jonathan and Mr. Steve. I'm just going to give the first names and Sammy. Uh Mr. Sammy, I met with them on Monday. We went over um the site plan. Um there were some questions and
you're right. This has been going I remember this from what almost three years, four years. Is it three years already? >> It's been it's been over a year. >> The ones I had at home. I mean this was the site plan that you pres the conceptual plan that you had presented
when you first introduced it. >> Correct. In >> pretty much nothing has changed just whatever the staff asked you to do. >> Um I know that today you had earlier today you had the DRC and I did ask some questions of the
staff because I did tune in this morning. The only thing I kind of found um interesting was when we spoke on Monday, it's 115 lots. Am I correct? But there was some comment made that you had
agreed to 109 lots. Is that correct? >> Okay. >> You want to walk them through? So, yes. And just for context, so this is not the last step in the development approval process. What what what the DRC this morning was on the construction site plan which is which is the engineer
drawings that follows this. >> Of course the this this process has to be approved first before the construction site plan. I'm going to ask Mr. Stey to come up and just talk briefly about that reduction that's not reflected on this plan or I don't it does not need to be. So the the question
I had asked the staff was um because I I listened to the whole um presentation this morning on the DRC >> and um so I was listened to the discussion and some of the things that our um uh Dale Smith had asked of you
and you had agreed to. So I wrote them kind of all down. So I my question was does the construction plan impact this plan and I was told it was it does not that the construction plan is completely
separate and this one is just a major site development plan and that was that was the only issue that I had because I listened to the DRC this morning. >> Yeah, we can't go you can't go the other way. You can't get a a site plan approved for 115 homes and then take a
construction site plan on the next step with more >> or a small you cannot reduce a standard >> that's been set in the in the site plan. >> That's okay. >> Any other questions? >> I do. Um so my concern with this project
is the infrastructure liability considerations that we that that are in place especially the cars that's happening in that area. Um just for context, it's a unique landscaping created when uh the water dissolves the bedrock limestone area and I know that
Geotech is has been invited to uh look at the pro the property and assess it. Um so I too was watching the DRC this morning and there seems to be some uncertainty with the property in terms
of what's going to be city, what's going to be HOA. Um, and I know that that area right now the city's already experiencing a $800 $800,000 roadway reconstruction project that is
experiencing. So my question is is how are we going to make sure that the city is not liable for the car that's happening currently in this property? Sure. and making sure that moving
forward the project that's being constructed is going to be um once first of all that the homeowners are aware that there's a cars under their property and there's a possibility of sinkhole not that there's that there in terms of
percentage wise but we want to make sure that's disclosed. >> Sure. So, a a couple things in good question and good comment, Commissioner Baron. Um, your staff is on it and so, um, there's already been a a geotechnical investigation conducted on
the property as part of this site plan that found no carst and it found that typical construction methods can be utilized in the the the building of this subdivision, this community. Um staff
because of that recent experience in the vicinity of dealing with a a road that has some subsidance determined that they would want additional investigation to be conducted on this property as part of the construction site planning which is
the engineering exercise. And so we crafted a condition that allows for that additional uh investigation to be made at at the more technical side which is the engineering plans. Uh and if if those and and and two things staff gets
to determine the scope of that utilizing a g their own geologist as an expert of of how where and how many holes to to poke to to to look for carst. No carst was found as part of that initial geotech exercise, but there's going to
be more. If there's any cars or any other anomaly that says, "Hey, we can't use typical construction um methods in in in building this community. Then there's a condition in the major development plan that shifts
that infrastructure from being public, which typically when a a property is subdivided, the roads and the utilities are public to private. So it treats it more like a gated community. gated communities are opposite where the roads behind the gate are always private. Um
and and that's a condition that's now in this major development plan. So there's a going to be additional assessment. There has been a finding in your staff report that the the geotechnical investigation that has taken place so far is sufficient and has been deemed
sufficient by staff by public works staff. But that this added condition is just an extra layer of protection likely we and I'm not going to put words in staff's mouth but born out of that experience they're having with that other subdivision. I'll tell you most of
the of the of the city for better or for worse can be design has a carsted designation on it. And so this is not uncommon uh of of a condition. It's certainly not uh peculiar just to this property or
this area of the city, but I think because of that, you know, recent experience that city staff has, you're you're going to see uh more scrutiny put on how much studies are going to be conducted. Um quite frankly too, this additional study would have already been
conducted. It the timing of the comment was was later than what's typical in the development process. And so we collaborated and we we crafted one that I think works both for the city and works for for the the applicant team,
the project team to to to um continue moving forward in the process. So >> Okay. And I just want to uh just quote what I've got on the um on our uh agenda, if you will. Uh, so it it just
says this represents a significant municipal liability and demonstrates the need for caution when considering city ownership of new infrastructure within mapped car regions. So I just want to make sure that we as a city is protected
in terms of this this project. Um, so I'm I just want to make sure that we are clear in terms of um who's going to do what on the property because I know there's uncertainty as to what if it's going to be HOA, if it's going to be
city. Um, I just want that to be a little bit more defined and clarified for me um in order for me to move forward with that. >> Well, I I appreciate your comments. That is something that's not a criteria for this this what's before you today which
is the major site plan. It's been made a condition of the construction site plan and it's an either or. It's either the geote geotechnical studies are conducted and shows there's no carst anywhere and it would be a very rigorous
uh assessment and and if that's the case then the the the the project remains public infrastructure as every subdivision and then the city has been in the past and will be in the future. If there is any carst, I'm sure it'll be further
investigated. But if the project were to move forward and it was something that could be dealt with, which there are engineering techniques to deal with carst conditions, it's always individualistic, then at that point that infrastructure would be shifted over to
an a private responsibility of an HOA. And so the conditions there there's no ambiguity. It's a if it's either one of those two paths. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions from the commission? No, >> but I did think that was one of my concerns was the geotech studies, but
staff kind of assured me. We kind of went over that. So, I'm I'm confident that staff is actually reviewed it and I'm confident move forward with it. That's all. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Let's go to public comment. Anybody in the public would like to speak?
Okay, this is a rare moment for me to come up and talk besides Naomi kits. But um with this new I'm not against per se the development of that new but what I want you guys to take a look at and
consider before moving forward the location where that is being proposed two issues there between Cleveland to Sheila Oaks every time it rains it already floods it floods really bad
there adding more traffic and more houses. That's a two-lane road that already has over the recent years and I've been in that area for the last 21 years. So, I've seen the changes on that
street with the opening of the 414 extension. We have added traffic already going from going on to and from the 414 coming to downtown Apopka. Another issue
um the church that's right there, they are doing good things for the community. However, every Wednesday if you pass there from um after 6:00 p.m. there's a backup from
the church all the way past sometimes past Cleveland of vehicles lined up waiting to get in to receive services. Today I passed there after 6:00 p.m. It was backed up. It would made it
difficult for vehicles traveling southbound to get around those cars. Even though they're doing the best they can, they parked on the side, but there is limited space for them. So, if we're going to add another 115 homes, we have
to expect at least one driver per household. So, and then if you have two family um two adults in the house plus possibly adult children because with the cost of everything, we have more adult kids still living home not able to
afford their own. We're talking a lot more traffic in a two lane. So, I want you guys to consider consider the area. It's not against developing, but unless you guys plan on putting like a fly over like Maitland did or some
widening the road. It's kind of hard because the way it is, it doesn't have much room to widen the road. But if you guys can take a look and see first address the flooding issue and some other way to get around the issues that
we already have in that area. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. Anybody else? I was impressed with the thoroughess of the report. Um it goes into all the neighboring um properties and um the
history of of all the adjoining areas. Um it is just the most thorough one I've seen of any reports. Um, in
looking at the car report, um, the area of the exact property looks like it doesn't have it, that the property above it has carst. And it's very simple for everybody to and and the
people from the departments back here to pull it up right on their phone. There's no reason why somebody can't answer questions right while we're in a meeting. You know, it's so simple. Um, but my greatest concern um or only
concern that I've seen so far because the numbers were given about traffic and everything, my concern was the the foliage, trees, the canopy. Um, I did not see very much canopy in these pictures. Um, >> I want you to know I did mention that to
them and uh and I did mention you >> Dr. O is gonna say something. >> I did I did tell them I said we have uh an environmentalist Dr. home will will, you know, look at this and look at the uh the landscaping.
>> And and the the canopy is so important to keep the heat down and to um hold the soil in place and to um build the environment. And so to get
canopy over the entire property and all the trees uh all the all the homes is is so important. But overall I felt that the presentation and the materials in the packet was excellent.
>> Thank you for your comments. >> Anybody else? >> All right we will close public comment on this. Uh any other final questions, comments from the commission? >> No. >> All right. Well, my understanding is that this is just a major development
plan. It still has a couple of stages >> and from the DRC this morning, I understand there's there's a lot more that the applicant needs to um satisfy. So, this is just going to allow them to go into the next uh phase of this
development. >> I want to ask one question. >> Sure. And I looked over >> one of the reasons I didn't have much to say to the developers. You know, you you put you put together a a fantastic
product. It's worthy of your time and effort. My biggest concerns are um the infrastructure to support it. You know, I've I've turned all my attention in that direction. I'm going to stay out
of the weeds and try to keep it professional. I think we can do better. >> Um, as a staff and a council, you know, it getting to this point is is I've asked um a bunch of questions and I
get no answers. Um, I'm handcuffed with what I can and can't say. Uh, none of them involve you. you I if in the future I'm going to look for bigger green space you know our LDC let
I mean you're you you're compliant with it you know I'm going to be looking to make improvements in that going bigger um you know I want to encourage us as staff to start bringing back our tree tree bank u I want to make sure that
we're offsetting you know the removal of those trees to other areas I got a lot of concern concerns in the flooding being a lifetime of Hopkins. Uh the people that live in the area, I I empathize for them. Um the water plant
that that services that area was put together in the early 1900 or the 1990s. >> Um it was built by Sheila Subdivision. That's before Royal Oaks. That's what's going to be supplying your water. U the
the comments I made earlier. I live on this side over to the gross and bacher plant, but that plant also serves this the the three foot sprinkler dispersement. That's that's not a joke. That's for real. Um, we're going to add
another 60,000 gallons a a day's use to that consumption, which I'm getting in the weeds. I just want you to the my concerns are outside of y'all. So, I don't want you to take my my reasons for not meeting with you personal cuz I like
your product. I think we could just do better cuz eventually that is going to get built out and the infrastructure that there is not going to be able to support it. Um, and when that happens, they're going to be lined up here and they're going to be giving it to us and
I'm going to be taking that. Uh, but, um, I'm encouraging staff to do better. So, I'm going to leave my attention in that direction. Thank you. Anything else? Then we will look for a motion to approve the major development plan for the Sheieler Park
subdivision. >> Some move. >> Moved by Commissioner Anderson. >> Second. >> Second by Vice Mayor Velasquez. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All opposed. >> Uh Commissioner Baron. So it'll uh
motion carries uh 4 to one with Commissioner Baron in opposition. >> Okay. All right. Uh I don't think we have any public hearing ordinances or resolutions. We will move on and hopefully I'll get all this in order this meeting. Uh city Yes, exactly. Uh
city administrator's report. >> Uh nothing to report tonight, Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. City attorney's report. >> Happily nothing to report tonight. >> Thank you, sir. Uh city commissioner's report. We will start with Commissioner Ruth. >> Oh, I'm good. >> All right. Commissioner Velasquez, Vice Mayor Velasquez. Um, other than that,
again, uh, thank you for reading the proclamation for emancipation. And I see that, uh, Commissioner Smith is here. Um, I actually tuned in live when you read it over at the Hope community this afternoon. So, uh, thank
you for doing that on our behalf. And uh just want to say Monday is Memorial Day and as we do every every Memorial Day we meet at the cemetery and we do a whole ceremony there to honor the veterans that are no longer with us. And um
that's pretty much it. I just want to say thank you. even though it was a very long day on May 13th. Um he did bring a lot of cupcakes and there was someone staring at the cupcakes and I said to her, "You should have taken a cupcake." Um I survived
with a pack of six cupcakes when I went home. >> But uh thank you for bringing the cupcakes. I thought that was a very nice gesture. >> Absolutely. Um, and last week I did attend um the Florida League of Cities uh leadership class for two days on May
14th and May 15th. Now, it was very interesting. Um, we had a great panel um from it. There was a book that was given to all the commissioners and one of the things that was kind of the main subject about this uh leadership committee uh
was the participation and how we should connect with our public and how to handle sometimes some of the public who's unhappy with us. Um they talked about transparency, integrity, and uh
sometimes we think we're the only city that faces challenges. Um but I will tell you that listening to other cities, they are all facing the same issues with their growth and the frustration that
they, you know, their residents have with infrastructure, with uh water, with sewage. I mean it it was something that we all talked about at this uh leadership class and it was very informational got to share a lot of
the you know how are the cities dealing with it and um so it was very interesting and out of it was a a a book by if anybody knows who Lydia Gardner was >> um she was um
uh I forget what her title was but it was her daughter who was the main speaker Betsy Gardner and what was I forget what Lydia Gardner's >> clerk of courts well her daughter wrote a book Betsy Gardner and it's it's a
great book so I'm going to bring it to the city hall and uh let the mayor our new mayor read it >> I would love that absolutely anything else >> no nothing for me >> thank you commissioner Anderson
So, I had the pleasure of attending my first metrop plan Orlando um board meeting. And one of the things that I want to do and I think it's important that we all do when we all go to different um sit on different boards, we come back and kind of share with the council and also with the community kind of what we got from that. So, during the
end, I'll try to make it very very short. Uh so, a quick synopsis of kind of what transpired during the meeting. We had and my computer just did something crazy on me. So, Secretary John Tyler reported um
with FDOT about the target zero policy which focuses on engineering education and outreach. He also announced the launch of the smart driving college challenge in Orange County. It actually rewards college students for safe driving behaviors. Uh and I want to kind
of go deep into that a little bit. So give me about two minutes, two seconds. Let me go in between two. So the smart driving college challenge with DTO is like is a regional traffic safety and education initiative
connected to drive safe central Florida and central Florida expressway authority. Uh the program generally focuses on promoting safe driving habits among college students, seat belt safety, impaired driving
prevention, speed reduction, and one of the cool thing about it is it actually rewards students for safe driving. And I know the uh I want to say that Orange County currently is uh it this program is in two schools and they're looking to
launch it in other schools. So, I'm probably going to get with Bradley and also with um one of our uh probably with Melissa Dio about making sure that this program is in all the schools because it's very effective from my understanding. In addition to that um there are some updates with the central
for division zero and also the advanced air mobility um update. And what's interesting about that is I'll just give a quick synopsis of kind of what that is. Um, which was second. I don't want to read all of this. So,
So the advanced air mobility is so what they're looking to they're looking for central Florida to be the hub that kind of launch it um and it's been going on I want to say probably now for the for a few years now um and what it is is electric aircraft air taxis drones and
they understand that we can't really build more land right so we have to find a way to be more effective with transportation because of the cost of of roads and also the idea that we can't build more land right And what's interesting about this initiative is that we are going to probably be on the
um innovative side here in Central Florida. So currently involved is the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Authority. Um one of the things that it will assist us with was with with the tourism um traffic, rapid population growth. Um
there's a lot of different technology partners, so please be on the lookout for more information. Uh, but we are definitely definitely here in Central Florida. We're gonna be probably like the hub that's gonna be launching that. So, that's all I have. >> Awesome. Thank you so much for that. And and at any time if you want to do any type of presentation, we can put it on here if you want to.
>> Okay. No, no, good. I do. But I just Yeah, I love it. No, thank you so much for that, >> Commissioner Baron. >> Oh, and happy emancipation day. Sorry. That's important. Thank you. >> I was just going to say that. Happy Emancip Emancipation Day. My recommendation is for next year, consider reading it on the city hall
city hall steps. I love that. >> We've done it previously and there was some >> planning miscommunications. I we'll call it. So, we'll fix that. >> We can make it an event. >> Yes. >> I I think it's important. Thank you, Commissioner Smith, for being here as
well. Um so, >> I'll tell you what, our Eagle Scouts have been busy. Um, so we have a ribbon cutting on Saturday for the doctor's uh dog park and then there's one next Saturday at the museum for their flag
pole dedication. So that's going to be fun. I'm going to look forward to seeing that. There um there was an issue that was um well, let me just go back. There were several homeowners from W's Edge
Waters at Vista at W's Edge. Thank you. um that emailed us. Uh thank you Val and your team for getting that four-way stop sign up rapidly um because that was helpful in making sure that uh those residents in that area were safe. So I
appreciate that. So kudos. Um and there was a concern in terms of a lift station on 1350 Sheieler Avenue. The lift station apparently had been beeping for a couple weeks now. Um, and so I recommended and it was uncertain whether
it was a city lift station or a county lift lift station. So I had recommended to use the sleep the C click fix. Oh, Glenn, do you have Mr. Brooks? Do you have information? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Please share. >> But it's been a slow news day today for Channel 2 News. I see they put out the
city's lift station. Uh, it is private owned and it was beeping and stuff. And I see they even put it out. There's a new city of Apakka, but it was not ours. Um, it's privately owned. We did make contact with the private owner and they have >> working on it.
>> All right. So, moving forward, uh, how can residents handle that? I recommended that putting it on to the CC click fix. Yes. >> As well as the 311 because we weren't sure again whether it was city or county. Um, but moving forward for the
residents that are listening and are in the chamber, what should we do moving forward? I would say use the >> see cle >> fix. Yes. And also as always to call public services. But yes, if you would just do that. Um either way we would uh
we will get to it. Right. Sounds great. >> And see click fix. Even if it's not ours and we find that out, we'll reach out to Orange County and get them involved. >> Okay. I just want >> I knew they said they'd reached out to a commissioner, too, so I didn't know which one of you it was. I like it was you. Okay. >> That's okay. I I totally out there, but
I want to make sure that again when I get emailed by my constituents that I'm representing them here on the dis. So, I appreciate that. Thank you for handling that for me. And finally, um just like what Commissioner Velasquez said, happy Memorial Day. Uh I look forward to
participating in the event on on Monday and thank you for all that have served. Um, and if you've had a family member that have served and is no longer with us, uh, my my sincere apologies. And so, yeah, that's all I got.
>> Thank you. Uh, it's on Mayor's Report now. And if you can imagine, I have a lot to go over. >> I actually don't. Uh, I just want to say thank you to staff. Uh, thank you for all the time you guys have spent with me. You guys have been truly supportive. We're doing this internal culture shift and you guys have been on board the whole time. So, thank you for it. I know
it's been uncomfortable. It's going to be continue to be a little uncomfortable, but we're doing it. So, I want to say thank you to them. Thank you to former Commissioner Smith for being in the chamber as well. I appreciate the continued um show up. It it showed a lot. So, thank you for that. And that's it. So, have a great evening everyone.
Thank you. >> Thank you everyone.