We're going to call this meeting to order. Thank you everyone for being here this evening. It's approximately 601. The date is May 8th, 2025. I'm going to ask our clerk, Madam Clerk, if you would please do a roll
call. Commissioner Sia Burton here. Commissioner Moore preser Commissioner Lisa present. City Manager Christina Marie here. Finance Director Steve Compton
here. City Attorney Don Holmes here. County Sheriff's Office Captain David User present. And Mayor Myers. I'm present. Thank you again. Thank you all for being here and Commissioner Moore, if you would please
lead us an invitation. Please stand if you're able. Let's bow. Dear heavenly father, once again, we want to thank you for your grace and mercy. We thank you for bringing us together on this evening. And Father God, we ask that you would look upon each and every one of us this
evening. Give us mercy. Give us peace. Give us understanding. Help us now, Lord, to agree and disagree with unity and love. Help us to do those things that are pleasing in your sight that will help this little city of city and all these blessings we do ask in the
sense of Jesus name. Amen. Amence to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Is that um with that I'm going to start off with the announcements. We have quite a lot going on this coming weekend. Let's start off with the North North Prospect Area Historic Walking Tour. This is
Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. You're to meet at the Crescent City Women's Club. That's 604 North Summit Street. There'll be a walking guided tour provided by our volunteers and the tour will last approximately 45 minutes.
Please make sure you bring everyone along. Um, and that's on for Prospect Street. And then immediately following that at 100 pm they're going to have the historic marker dedication um for the Hubard Morris House. And this is
introducing a new annual initiative to dedicate a historic marker each year for a local site of historical significance. And this is all um put on by our members of the Futland Peninsula Historic
Society. And that's going to be is that going to be on Lake Street or do you want them on Park Street? Lake Street. Okay. So, it says Park Street, but you need to be on Lake Street right behind the house. Right directly behind the house. Also, many of you might have
gotten this in your mailbox. Thank you, Commissioner Devito, for bringing it to um our attention. Letter Carriers food drive the second Saturday in May, which should be this this Saturday. It says, "Put your non-p perishable donation in a
bag by your mailbox. They'll deliver it to a local food bank." So, please make sure if you have an opportunity that you can do that. Then, we're going to move on to Thursday, May 15th. The Futland Peninsula Historic
Society, they're having their annual potluck dinner. Starts at 400 pm and it will be at the women's club. And I believe you're supposed to bring a dish, correct? and RSVP online. So, we know how many RSVP online. Do you want for
those watching and those in the audience, where do they RSVP to online? The website fhistory.com. Everybody got that? FP history.com. Let's continue because if you have not noticed, this is historic month. We've
got um all of our markers. Uh, I believe we have some of those people that went around at night and you woke up next morning and you had markers in front of your house. Um, I know I see someone out there in pink who's probably responsible for that.
Um, I believe um, of course, Commissioner Lori and Rachel, you were very involved in that. So, we're going to have Oh, on Friday, May 16th at 6 PM, they're going to meet at the Cresant City Downtown Partnership, which is
right here on Central Avenue. Um, next to the barber shop, they're going to have a guided walking tour provided by the volunteers, and it will last approximately 1 hour. That's at 6 pm. Um, and that's going to be up and down Central Avenue. Commissioner D, are you
doing that this year? Yes. Okay. Well, thank you for doing that with participation. It's an interactive conversational event. Okay, that's interesting. Interaction. We've got a microphone and speaker. Oh, you
got a microphone and a speaker. Okay, that could be dangerous up and down Central Avenue. I heard last year she did a fabulous job and everyone is very happy that they had gone. I'm sorry that I was unable to be here. Um and there there are a lot of people
in the historical society who are multigeneration here and um hopefully as many of them will be here again because they have a lot to share to share. So that's what I mean by interactive and participating. Okay. And then that evening
um if you're not at the historical tour I will almost say you're probably going to be at the bingo at the women's club. That's um at 5:00 p.m. Bingo starts at 5:45. Do not be late. It is $20 at the door. You get dinner and you get makeup.
We must be 18 years of old or older to participate. Are they serving you? Huh? Are they serving you? No, but they are they are they are they are um there's a raffle, you know, through bingo. So there is So
there is that. And then on Saturday, the following day, they're having a barbecue. It's the best grilled half chicken plus two sides. and it's from at 11:00 am until they sell out for $15 and that will also be at the women's club. They ask for everybody to please join
them. And then of course we can't forget Bunko. Bunko is the third Wednesday of each month. It's going to be May 21st this um this month from 1 to 3:00 p.m. The cost is $6. Snacks and drinks will be available for a minimal charge.
Then we're going to move on to this is our fourth annual um fifth annual actually cups, kids and kayaks and it's at Dexter Park and I don't know if you've ever gone out there but please if you can do do so. This is um Sheriff
Gator Delo uh and all of his staff when they first stepped into Crescent City um as our law enforcement partner. They did this for the kids. This was done some years ago. They picked it back up and every year it gets better and better.
They're going to have um there's fishing. Lee provides the fishing. He is local. Um uh Dayton Lee Dayton and his wife Cheryl and he has quite a few fishing rods. People have been donating them and he told me yesterday he has at
least I think 40 of them cleaned up. He teaches the children how to fish and then they walk away with a fishing rod. So that's really neat. We have Sam Carr. We have Sam um and the Friends of Dun Creek. They come out with all their
volunteers. They teach the children how to kayak. Uh that's very important and water safety. So there's a lot to do. They have a bounce house and a water slide. Um it's just a lot of fun. It's at Dester Park from 10 to 4. There will
be food available um from local vendors. Kona I sassy lemonade black and blue um barbecue Saturday June 7th and this is going out in all the flyers all your water bills and it's also going out to the schools. So then we have, and I think
this is about gonna wrap us up, June 13th to 14th, we've got the um Crescent City Women's Club is doing their yard and fake sale, and that's going to be from 8 to 4, both the June 13th and 14th at the women's club. We got a lot going
on. Thank you all very much for all that you do. Do we have um Commissioner Lori, do you or Commissioner Devito want to talk a little bit about what's going on this month and what the signs mean? Um well, you covered a lot of what we're doing with the historic park dedication
and the tours that uh Commissioner Vito gives. Um and it is historic preservation month. It's a a national wide a nationwide observance. We started doing it here um four years ago. So this is our fourth year doing it. In my project, what I really concentrate on is those cool little signs that say this
place matters. Um, and they have a QR code in front of them. And each one's different. So when you see one, you can use your phone and push little button and it'll pull up the web a web page and tell you all about the history of the building that you're standing in front of. And it has pictures of it from, you
know, if how many depending on the building, there's some like the three bananas has I have pictures from all the way back when it was built in the 1900s. Um, and it has the history of it was the floor and all that stuff. So, it's just kind of a cool way to do a a walking tour of the city and see the history.
Um, and you don't have to use the signs either. If you want to go to our website.com, you'll see this is this place matters. It has a map of all the sites and you can click on there and see all the pages. So, it's just something that we started four years ago. Um, and it's gotten bigger and bigger every
year. So, love that. Oh, yes. and and yeah, some of the signs do say this place mattered and it's when they it might be a vacant lot and it shows you a picture of what was there before um some of the historic buildings that we've lost in the city. So, we want
to bring attention to that that you know these things just disappear if we don't take care of them and don't preserve them. So, well, thank you for everybody that that's part of that. Um, oh yes, Miss Liz, you have I know you have an
announcement, too. You would like to make this promise 19 street. They also wanted to mention that for the first time, we done a video with Bob Lee and it's an amazing video and it was a dream come true. When I first came to town, I
proposed this to Bob Lee and he told me, "Are you crazy?" So this past time he told me that it was a great idea and we're going to try to loop it when we have our meetings. Uh this is going to be for the tree and garden board and it is a webinar. We asking the public to
please view it. Uh it's a community benefit of trees by uh Dr. Bman by Dr. Ericart, a professor of foriculture in the school of agricult culture at Tennessee Tech. And that's
going to be May 13 at 12:00 p.m. I think uh Christina is going to post it on our Facebook that way people can get more uh information about it. Thank you. Okay. Thank you so much. Yeah, what what she was referring to was the first thing that we the first event
that we had to kick off historic preservation month was on the 26th. Um the purple home players and um FBHS worked together to get um to do a tour of the east side of Central Avenue. The purple home players were reenacting um
several was eight different seven different people, eight different people from the president's history and um Bob Lee filmed it and have it all together and it's now posted on our website again fphistory.com. We'll bring you to it and it's really he did a really great job and they the actors did a really great
job. I mean, they took real people from our history um and stepped into their shoes basically and and and you know, we're through the day. So, it was really they did a great job. They really put a lot of effort into it. So, it was really interesting. Well, thank
you all very much again. Um from our fire chief, Jason High, he wants everyone to know that they're currently not approving any burn permits in the city. how thankful we are, how blessed we are to look up and there be dark clouds. Yes. So, we all got some much
needed rain. I don't know if y'all were as crispy as we all were, but um but we got some much needed rain, but still we haven't gotten a significant amount of rainfall. So, at this time, there will be no um burn permits um in the through the city. So, I just wanted to make sure
that we went over that. Do we have anything else, commissioners, before we get on to this? None. We've gotten before you. You have the approval of the minutes. Um, I'll entertain a
motion. Um, can I just mention one thing? Um, the list of minutes that we're supposed to approve, and I'm sorry, there's an amended agenda, so I want to have the right one. Um, it includes the minutes from the January
10th reception, but we approved those at a prior meeting. It was on a prior agenda and I remember that we had changes to them. Those have been previously approved as I understand it.
And then the only other thing I would say is um in the revised agenda packet there are new minutes. I did not have a chance to review I was there's a lot of new documents in the revised agenda
packet. So I haven't had a chance to look at any of the changes. Okay. I don't know about anybody else but I have not had a chance to look at all those. Madam clerk, if you would just check to make sure that if we um with the January 10th and 11th that they
were in fact already approved. I I know for sure that the 10th was listed on the February 13th agenda where I think we approved minutes and I I remember writing some additions and corrections. I think
it was just the reception minutes, not necessarily the January 11th. Yeah, because I didn't remember the January 11th. No, it was not. I think they just added as part of this. So, right. But we we approved the tent. Okay. It really wasn't much for the temp. It
was just an open reception. So, that we have we have it on record, but it was it was there and kind of fleshed it out. So, just want to mention that. So, commissioners, we have um before you, you have the January 11th, January 14th,
January 22nd, January 28th, February 7th, February 12th, and February 13th um minutes. I have I have one correction on February 7th. Okay. Um it it was the special meeting. It says um about
halfway down, Mr. Martin moved that Mr. hours be reconsidered for the city manager position when city reopens the position. I believe that it's my question that you said that he could reapply for the position. Was that she did? Yeah, that's I I just
remember that sticking in my head. So rather than reconsider reapply reapply I just wanted that was one thing didn't make sense. Commissioners, do you have anything else? If I can, I'll entertain a motion.
Either I'll I'll move that we approve the minutes of February or January 10th and 11th, January 14th, January 22nd, January 20th, February 7th, February 12th, and
February 13th. I'll second. Okay, we have a proper motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. I. You have commissioner. I just said I'm I'm really not comfortable approving. I have not
had opportunity to read since I think they just went out, you know, late last night. Um, but I'll go ahead and vote for them to move things. That's up to you. You don't have to. You can vote. You can vote negative. I know it's up to you. But um I just you know wanted to
make clear that haven't had a chance to fully agree. If I might add Mayor those are just typo errors honestly. Um, also if I may, on January 10th, the corrected reception minutes, yes ma, were
approved and the minutes for January 10th, 11 as we have classified really that should have just been stated as January 11. We can make that change. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Again, we have a current motion
and a second. Call again. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Oppos? Nay. So, approved. With that, I'm going to go ahead at this time and we're going to go
to our public comment section. Um, I have public comment card from Mr. New. Mr. Nicole, would you like to come forward? Please state your name, your address. Um Melanie will start the
class. We approximately three minutes. Hello. Yes, sir. Right. John Lub. I live at 566 Old Highway 17 Crescent City. and I'm here to report in relation to the last blue
ribbon committee meeting. Uh between the last two meetings, I was uh tasked with looking for possible grant sources. I talked with Rich Rick
Donzalees with architectural firm REG. I also talked with Paul River Weaver who was with the historic survey and as a result of both of those uh we were sent a
comprehensive list of possible grants. Uh oh, we recommended one but it was also on the same list that Reg provided for us. So with that uh it is my understanding
the process is that with this information it goes to the city then they will pursue the grants after they have a memorandum of understanding with the school district
regarding the transfer of the property to the city. So the blue ribbon committee, so that's where it stands right now. Uh I don't know if that if that has happened in the
last week or so, but that's where we are at the moment. The Ruben Committee will remain in the process of pursuing grants only at the direction of the city. For example, if the city wishes us to
lobby some of the representatives uh in this regard, we would be happy to do so as a group or individually as you the commission direct us. The committee wishes to thank the
city commission for in for their support not only financially but in many other ways. Many people in this area are anxious to see this project move forward. We are here to
help. Thank you again individually as commissioners and as a commission as a whole. So if you have questions I'll be have it answered and Dan N is also here.
Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. N. And I believe that is um it's on the agenda for us to have to have discussion. Yeah. I assume you have a list of the uh grants that came from
RH. Um, we have the is it a copy before the discussion? I think I think every commissioner should have a copy of that. Yes, sir. Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you so
much. Okay. Okay, our next speaker is um your rat. Some of the um I believe some of these, let me um just throw up one moment, Miss Brad. Um, captainy. Um, I believe some of these
are probably going to want to speak after possibly you speak or are you are you good with that if we move any discussions regarding today's events until that time? Whatever you like, mayor. I mean, if it's okay with the
speakers prefer with the speakers that are here for that prefer that. Okay. I prefer that. Thank you. So, if I call your name, if it's regarding today, please just um ask that you could wait until and he comes up um
soon after. And mayor, just so they understand, you're explaining, you want them to speak after the sheriff gets his So, he has an opportunity. Yes. Okay. So, we've got um Nancy W. Yes. Speak after. Thank you,
Jennifer Cox. Afterwards, okay, thank you. We've got Lucy afterwards. Okay. Do we have any other um speakers in public comment at this time? Seeing no one else, um we're going to close public comment at this time, I
will open it up after the captain has had an opportunity to give his report. Okay. Great. We've got next we have um the celebration of life
for James Sachi. This is a special event permanent request to for utilization of people iron park on Saturday. So um we added this to the packet for your um review and doing celebration of life. They want
it all day. Yes, ma'am. Okay. You can do you come up. You're welcome. Please come up. Yes, ma'am. Hello. My name is William Parsons. I'm the commander for picture emergency response team. Um, also James's right-hand man and best friend. And uh, we lost him to stage four cancer. It
happened very, very quickly. But James helped the community, the state on many levels and even other states and other countries as well during hurricane disaster, hurricane deployment, missing persons, cadaavver recoveries, world transports. or something. You name it, he's been there. And we want to utilize
the park for a celebration of life. We're going to be cooking. Um all you guys are welcome to come by. We would be honored if you guys did come by. Um and grab a plate and show your respect for him. Thank you. And thank you. We apologize for your loss and the community. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you. Yes, ma'am. And I just want to let everybody know too this season we will be ready to go at it if you guys need anything from us. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Um, commissioners, do we have any question? Are there any questions? Um, well, I do have a couple
questions. Okay. But also, it's my understanding, we're being asked to wave the fee is that that's what we're supposed to vote on. Can you answer that? Um, are we asking we're asking for
Okay. Um, that's what I understood. and um I've reviewed the application. I can't find it immediately, but it's there was a fee of $50 and that's what we're being asked to wave. This is a class state. This is also Okay. So, um to should I make a
motion for that? You're welcome. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. Um I move that we um approve the request to wave the fee for um the class C event in Eagle Line Park. this Saturday, May 10th, requested by
Missy Parsons. Oh, excuse me. We have a proper motion in a second. Commissioners, do we have any further discussion? I have a couple questions for Mr. Parson. One of my questions is don't be
surprised about it. I mean, I'm really glad you're there, but we just happen to live across from the park and our neighborhood uses it, so I'm very familiar with the vent. Okay. Um, so one question I had and I couldn't necessarily um tell from the
application. Um, do you want the whole park? For example, there's tennis courts and there's a children's play area. We mainly want just the area with pavilion and the blacks. Okay. You want So in other words, it's fine with you if the
neighborhood children come. Absolutely. Or the people who play pickle ball come. Absolutely. That's fine. You just want the areas where you're cooking. Yes, ma'am. Also, I noticed um that it says you're expecting, you know, like 50 plus people. Yes, ma'am. And um we just, you
know, got this last night and I sent a brief email to the interim city manager. Um the rules of the park actually say that you're not supposed to, you know, park on the park property, right? So, I was hoping that maybe um the interim
city manager could let y'all know places that you can park. We'll have a 500galon smoker that'll be behind our rescue van and it will never be detached. It will be attached attached to the van at all times, right? But some but so um do you know where you're going to place that?
You don't know yet? Not yet. I guess it'll be to the city's decision. Okay. Okay. And so, um, our interim manager will figure that out right where where it's supposed to go. Okay. I think if anybody's going to keep the smoker safe,
it would be Yes. Yes, ma'am. Right. I don't I don't have to worry about about that. So, anyway, it's a lot of work and very sorry for your loss. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. So, of course, as the lawyer, I will get it to bring up topics
that may not be uh necessarily popular in every scenario, but my question simply is, do you have criteria for determining when you wave a fee at the park? Um, not that not that I'm aware of. Not that we've ever not that we've ever
unless they requested it. Um, often times our 501c3s, they are um they're waved. Is that correct? Yes. Yes. And we are 501c3. the little secret. Could I amend my motion? Yes. So, my motion is that we
approve the waiver of the fee for the use of Eagle Line Parker um Parson's request by the Perch organization for celebration of life for um the deceased founder. Um and that we
waved the fee in view of the fact that these people are firefighters and first responders and provide a valuable public service um giving up their time. Yes, ma'am. Absolutely.
Does that does that, you know, it's only $50 and I'm not going to make a big issue of it, but if you have I don't know if your fee is set by ordinance. I guess it is. So,
you know, I think I think I can see we have we have a paragraph here uh that talks about the fees. Um and and maybe we need to to strengthen them up a little bit, tighten them up a little bit.
Um the fees charges and application deadlines. Um, yeah. So, we we probably should put that on. Yeah. My my my point simply is as far as I'm concerned, you can weigh the fee for everybody. But if you don't
have criteria by which you determine whether or not to wave a fee, then basically it becomes essentially a discretionary act with no particular guidelines, which is the kind of the definition of arbitrary.
No, thank you for bringing that to our So, I'm not against it at all. I'm just saying that probably you should look at your ordinance and because certainly have no qualm with your determining that this was a very worthwhile function, but the next people
that come in front of you may feel like theirs is very worthwhile, too, for different reasons. And it puts you in the position of basically saying one's worthwhile and one's not as worthwhile. that's really not a really great position for you to be in. So my my
point simply is if you have criteria for deciding when to wave the fees, then you go by the criteria and and so long as you follow those guidelines, you're you're okay. Again, it's only $50. I hear you. But uh with that, I'll I'll leave it at I'll
just leave it at that. Um yeah, when you look at paragraph six, when you go down to the guideline, it talks about um that city manager or city commission waves could wave the fee. Also, if you are a resident of the city
um within the city limits or corporate city limits that you could also wave the um usage fee. So, but you're right, we need some criteria. So, but at this time we currently have a motion in front of us um and and a second. Do we have any
further discussion? Thank you for bringing that to our attention. All right. Um we follow this after the city. Um now clerk, if you would please do a roll
call. We didn't wave the fees. I'm sorry. We probably didn't model it that rust in because our position was basically I paid fees out of my own pocket for groups because they were worthwhile and we didn't and they probably what we'd all be doing.
Okay. Um Commissioner Deo I Commissioner Lorie Hi. Commissioner Moore I Commissioner Burton Myers. And mayor if I could people who don't understand the joke by
Commissioner Lori u attorney Holmes uh al has been with the city of black at various times correct in a couple of capacities. Maybe you need to clarify what you mean has been with well you were the city manager. You've been with their attorney as I said it was a joke.
That was a joke. Mine was a joke too. So you're right. I've been associated with the city on couple different levels. of this little thing by commission and I threw I was a stick in the mud on some of their scenarios as well because for the reason I just
that's what you're there for to keep us keep us in line and we greatly appreciate that. So thank you. So we need to put that on our on our radar please. Um okay with that it's approved. Thank you. Thank you for doing this for
him and for the community and we wish you much success. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Okay, with that I'm going to open it up to Captain Captain. Good evening everyone. Mayor and council, would you like to start with our this report first?
First, we'll start off on our briefing. These are again, these are the reports that are there that are reported to FDLE for your crime stats for the city. The two of them here, the first one, I can't get the location because the offic Sloan was identified as a suspect in theft of a bicycle. The second one
was a vehicle burglary theft. This gentleman decided to go break into someone's car while they were in the Dollar General and deputies were quickly arrived there chased him in the woods a mile back and recovered prop Huntington and Bay I'll show you in
the next slide next couple slides here we're still I think we're 5 months into the into the year and we still have a 100% solidility rate on our crime city so that's pretty good Huntington Road Bay lane. Two vehicles traveling east. Huntington rear pleasures took place when the lead vehicle slowed to turn on
the rocket lane. The day we had the catfish festival, all the festivities that were going on over on Bay Lane, y'all was paying attention here while this guy was turning and just ran into the back of some of Magnolia south of Magnolia Street. This vehicle just runs the stop sign and basically runs into
some traveling on 17. Just ran right into 17 off Magnolia. Yeah, you do that too. Oh, this is a little funny. It's a record
high calls for service this year. 263 calls for service. 71 of those being traffic stops, two traffic accidents, 17 reports, 13 arrests, and three, one affidavit. That was charging affidavit that were sent to the state attorney's
office. as well as the other 90 or so increase. What was the other 90 or so calls for service? Yeah. And I was disclosing to go through and decipher like was it a certain house residence or something like that? It really didn't make any sense to it other than we just
had how this is your six-month comparisons kind of where we stand. worried about a 200% increase going from one to 100% increase going from one to two. And that's all I have for that. Any
questions? Any questions? Did you get the bicycle back? Did you retrieve the bicycle? No. It's probably in a scrapard somewhere. So, now we'll talk about the events from this evening. Understand understand that
I am very limited on information as we were just a small part of this investigation. The sheriff's office is comprised of about 150 sworn employees. We sent six people to this operation to assist HS the federal government which is HSI Homeland Security and Bure
Customs and Border Patrol. Some people were seen FHP was there as well. Again, we were just an assistant assisting in this operation. Our goal in this operation was just to stop vehicles. From what I could see just now in the south area, there were 51 traffic stops
conducted by our deputies. Only 10 of those were in present city. Again, details that I have are very limited just because this is not our investigation. I don't want to compromise the investigation of the federal government. The governor has been persistent to say
that local law enforcement, local and state law enforcement will assist federal agencies when they come into whatever jurisdiction they are in to do whatever they're they're going to do. In this specific one, uh we started this morning assisting them assisting them
with our street crimes unit. Again, that was a six-man team from what I understand. And any questions you have from there, I'll try to answer as best as I can. Our instructions were to establish probable calls on vehicles and stop them if there were undocumented individuals in those call the agents to
them and they would take over the traffic stop. Okay. Does commissioners, do we have any questions before? Um, no. I read the sheriff posted a statement online and I read that and the
thing that particularly interested me was if I get this correctly um that there were no personnel going into the schools. Did I read that right? That is that is false. As far as I'm aware, there's no person going into schools.
No, ma'am. That's what I'm saying. Property at all. Okay. Just just want to make sure I have that correct. And we the city were not just just for clarification. I would say we the city were not privy to any of this information. No. And as soon as I was able to release anything to you, mayor,
that's when I made the phone call to you released to say, "Hey, there's going to be a heightened level of law enforcement in South P to be exact." Well, I was out of the city this morning. I got up at 6:00 and we were out of the city. I had to go into Orlando. So, I was very taken back when
on the way back from Orlando. There's all kinds of stuff going on here. And uh I did get a report that there were um some um uh I want to say ICE I guess uh that had
gone to this school and um but you're you're saying that that was not true. If they went outside of what I know now, the schools in the south end of Cresant City being you know Middleton Bernie and Cresant City you senior high school they were not at those locations. Okay. On
school property. Well, the reason I ask is, you know, if people, you know, perceptions, you know, 99% of what people believe and if people actually believe that that's what happened. Um, and then all of a sudden they read something like, "Oh, no, we didn't do that." You know,
um, it sometimes just doesn't come across as being u trustful, I guess. I I trust you because I know you, okay? I've known you for years, but there's a lot of people there's a lot of people that don't know you. You're to them you're
just captainy of the sheriff and this is the first time that they've ever seen something like this come through city. So, I haven't seen it since the '9s. I I know it and and you can go ahead and explain some of that. Unfortunately, I wasn't here in the '90s. I was actually uh working for a
different company. I wasn't in law enforcement at the time or I would be retired right now. I didn't get here until 2003. So, but I do recall that operation happening. Um, a matter of fact, I was in construction work at the time and it was in doing stuckco and the
agents would come up to our job sites and there would be nobody left over and take off running and they would just go grabbing people. It was it was pretty wild. That was my personal experience with that many years ago. This operation unfortunately I had no part of. That was our street crimes unit. Again, we sent what manpower we could to assist them,
which was the six deputy sheriff's from what I understand, and a sergeant to five deputies and a sergeant. And unfortunately, I was not part of this actual operation. Will there actually be some type of report that comes out on this or not? If it is, it will be by the
federal government and I would have to refer to those because we didn't we as far as unless we found somebody who was committing an actual crime or we issued citations or anything like that, that's what we we would our involvement in this certain incident was just to do the same
thing we've been doing for years. Was really nothing different. We established probable cause on everybody. We write people tickets. We take people to jail. We nothing has ever changed with us. One of the things that I got that was pretty concerning to me was some individuals were worried that there was
possibly maybe crimes going on in the home. And I'll give you a kind of a scenario. Maybe there's some very bad domestic violence going on in a home and somebody in that home may not be documented in fear of us coming to their home and taking them away from their home. They're not wanting to call law enforcement. I do not want that to
happen. We have if there if there's detainers on individuals or warrants for people's arrest, we have to take set people into custody. But until then, nothing changes with us. So, I just want everybody to be clear on that until a law is changed or a law is passed that
requires us to do something else, then we will do that that that whatever that law is. But as far as right now, we do things nothing different than we did before. The only thing different this is a federal agency came into Putnham County asked for our assistance. We have
to assist assist them and they left earlier today. Uh questions are going to be questions have been asked of me. Is anyone coming back? I don't know why Cresant City. I've been in been in Cresant City for 24 years and when I want to go do certain things, if I want
to work drugs or if I want to work whatever it is, there are certain areas that are target rich environments. present city in my 24 years of doing this job has always had a lot of undocumented individuals. I see them almost on a daily basis. So again, we're
not changing anything we do. Again, if a federal agency comes into county and they want to do whatever type of operation, we have to help them. And that's kind of all I all question. Do you know where they took these people? I do not. Okay. It's
not 100% and I would only be speculating and I don't know that number. Was the criterion was it just undocumented or was it undocumented with other issues? I can't answer that. I just want I just and we respect that. We respect
that. I just have one more comment. Um the hel I think it was helicopters that were overhead both morning and evening that was very noisy. It was very intimidating and um I know I saw on social media um early in the day some
people were afraid that there was a you know like one very dangerous criminal out there. People heard all the helicopters. Um it was a little bit scary. So, I was very appreciative of when the sheriff's office posted an official announcement. Just um it didn't
make it any less noisy or intimidating, but at least people would know that, you know, they weren't y'all weren't looking for um an armed murderer or something like that. But, um anyway, it was it was quite impressive and a little
disconcerting. I understand. So, so HSI, Homeland Security, they were only in the air for, and again, this is just a a speculated time from what I know, was only in the air about 45 minutes. The other helicopters you were seeing, I seen them as well. The United States
Navy, right? Well, there were too. They they sounded very this morning was out there about 7 after 7:00. Yeah, you can hear it. Anyway, that I thought that announcement was at least
helpful in that regard. Thank you. So, at this time, if you're I'm going to go ahead and open up for public comment. I'm going to start with um Bratton. Miss Bratton, if you please come forward, state your name and your
address if you if you please. Always remember, you don't have to state your address. That's at your discretion. I can't see over this thing. That's okay. I can't either, but it's fine. It's fine. Thank you.
Um my name is Trisha Braden. My address is 507 Orange Avenue, just down the street here. Um, I just want to ask a couple questions about the raid that happened this morning. And I do feel like it was
a raid because that's the way it felt with the helicopters and all the numerous police presence in this uh small town that we have. Um, I filmed
two different uh stops by the police. Uh, fortunately, both of them were let go, but uh, border patrol was there. There were there was a dog sniffing. There was a a drug sniffing dog there.
There were uh state troopers and there were Putinham County Sheriffs surrounding both of the different cars that I was a witness to. Um I want to
know a few things about exactly and I know you can't speak to some things but I think as citizens we have a right to know certain things and one is when was the information relayed that this ice raid was going to happen?
Why exactly did uh was uh Crescent City the place chosen um after all these years since nothing like this has happened since the '9s. Um we were told recently that unless they
were looking for particular people, they would not be doing these massive raids. This one felt very random to me. Um, the people that were stopped were dark-kinned people, some who were driving by with tools in their pickup
trucks. I did not see a traffic violation. Now, I didn't see the immediate beginning of the stop. So, I don't know exactly what happened, but it just looked very random to me. Um, I I don't want to say random. I think very
directed. It looked very directed at a particular population. Um, so those are the questions that I have. Also, I would like to know how many people were detained. I think we have a right to know that. How many of
our neighbors have been taken away? And that's all I have. Thank you. Yeah, that is fine. questioning whether or not we have probable cause in our traffic stop would be a um an officer complaint. So if you have a complaint on a specific incident
where someone was stopped, I would encourage you to call in and complain, but that was our instructions that we would establish probable cause on every vehicle that we stopped. What was the other question? I do not know how many people were Oh, my time's up. We do not know how many people were detained. I'm sorry. This is not a joke
in that matter at all. We don't know how many people were detained at all. Um I I have I I don't know. I know it was a limited number. It was a small number. It wasn't two or 300. It was a very small number, but I don't know that actual
number. One is a lot. So, um I I don't know what that number is. And like I said, a lot of the questions you're going to have are going to be for either uh border control or homeland security. I think her other question will
as soon as I can relieve as as soon as I can give the mayor information of what's going on present city or the mayor what's going on at Pomona Park or Black or whatever. Uh I whenever I can do that I can uh I I am not going to go to jail
for uh violating any code of ethics by releasing information ahead of time on an investigation. That would put me in jail. So I informed you. I can't either. Um and and I will share with you that
just like Commissioner Devito said, I mean I was out taking my garbage, saw the helicopter out there and did not know. Um either I thought just exactly what Commissioner Veto said that obviously somebody's on foot somewhere and they're they're chasing them or it
was just, you know, practice a practice operation. Um, so I I I also didn't know until someone came to my house, who works at my house, and he shared with me what he saw as he drove through town today. So, and and again, what other
agencies done, what how they conduct business, I don't know how that is, but if my deputies stepped out of bounds on what they were supposed to be doing and what they were instructed to do, I would I would encourage whomever that was that was involved in that traffic stop because I can figure it out. they got
body cams on to file an officer complaint and we'll see if it to him and see if that was enough without a traffic stop or whatever the case may be. I think mayor could I just clarify something that so what I'm understanding the captain to say about you were asked
about releasing information. It's not your investigation. It's a federal investigation. So you have would when you say you would go to jail, you have to have authority from the federal agencies that are organizing that
investigation. Is that did I get that right? So yes, I just don't I don't I don't have a lot of information to at least some of the questions. Um you're limited by it has to be their authorization to you. I think that goes in hand though to your own agency. If
you know something's going on and you're told not to, doesn't that's kind of how it works. And and that's like when you say the word raid was an investigation. When we have a a drug investigation, I was it called the the drug dealer up and said, "Hey, we're we're on our way." And it's probably not going to be a good
thing for us. And it's unfortunate that it had to happen that way. But again, when I knew about this operation, I can't I can't remember that. We always have to pre pre-plan things before we do them. It it sounds to me like it was a shocking all kind of deal, you know? I
mean, you can have an investigation and you can come in and and pick people up without all the noise, I guess, is is what I look at, especially helicopters. I mean, yeah, you know, um helicopters they are, you know, they're like, "Wow, what the heck's going on?" And, uh, did
the helicopters land and take anybody into them and take off with them? No. You know, they're just here to make noise and and get everybody rattled. And they so you can tell them our reporters they did a very good job with that but it's very unnecessary. They come in they
they do what they need to do and they do it in a professional manner. I don't think you would have heard a thing about it really. You you've done this before with different uh things that you've been working on. You come in the next day you tell us about it. you didn't even know anything that happened the day before because you knew it very
professional and and this just sounded like it was a a shock and a kind of event. Um I guess because it's the federal government now. I don't know. But that's my take on it from what I heard from everybody. Right. Unfortunately, when they make their, you
know, their their their game plan when they when they conduct their investigation to ask for our assistance, we have to Yeah. No, I'm not saying anybody I'm just that's just what it and commissioners also please know that
Captain in the four years that I've that I've worked with Captain But oftent times we're not given any information until after the fact and that's for our protection for the sheriff's protection and for those that are involved
everybody's protection. Um, so it's just so yeah, I just wanted to make sure we clarify that. Um, at this time, Nancy, if you come forward, thank you. Thank I may just ask you to direct me then to
the right. Save your name. Sure. Nancy Wild, 237 Point Road, East, Florida. Recent retirey. I've taught at Miller and at North Bernie Elementary School for a number of years and have received uh communications from teachers that were
concerned this morning about the helicopter. Um it is state testing time. So to have that noise and the concern um was upsetting for a number of staff members there. Also not having
information about how they should proceed. Um, and I've contacted um several of the school board members to get some clarification about why they haven't had any kind of direction in case something like this happened. But my main concern was with the helicopter, if it was just
for traffic stops, why would you have a helicopter? Um, at 10:00 I was by the high school and saw 10 um highway patrol and sheriff's cars. So about 10 and I think actually a couple
more went by after that. But um to see that many going by to hear from teachers that were concerned to hear of a helicopter and then to be told that it's just those traffic stops doesn't quite match up to me. So um do I need to
contact then uh Homeland Security to ask about the helicopter situation? The purpose of that? Do I need to step up or go? Oh, I'm sorry. If you step up just so you can get it. I don't have their phone number. That's all right. I can do I answered you there. Helicopters are
made for us. I think again helicopters are made for a lot of things. They're made for people who take off running on foot. They have they they work great for medevac medevac if one of their officers go down get injured. They are able to chase vehicles a lot easier
than we are from in the sky. I mean, they can get, you know, 12,400 feet in the air and they can watch a car go wherever it's going to go, where the people get out, where they go to. It's a very useful resource. I was actually in ours the day before yesterday and we actually flew by a school and I was
waving at the kids out playing them in the soccer field out there. So, I understand the the use of a hill cover and what it's there for. Um, but again, this was not again, I want to reiterate, this was not our investigation. So, this was the Department of Homeland Security
and the um Customs of Border Patrol and I believe the um Florida National Guard. Okay. Thank you. Um quickly, I also spoke with a highway patrolman here today and um asked a little bit about
what was going on. He mentioned that in the last four years um that we've been pretty last about immigration in the country and this area and that this next four years there will be more of a concerted effort, more presence. Um and
so my concern is what does that look like for our community? You know, what does that look like for our schools, for our businesses, for our you know, our people here? So, and I know you can't answer that. you made that super clear. But I did want to say I did speak I you
know I wanted to ask the question once again that that response concerned me uh and I wasn't sure you know what to take from Yeah. I don't know I don't know what that impact's going to be I could over the next four years and that's you're the first one
that's that I've heard that from. So I I directed it to a highway patrolman just to to get some clarification. I didn't want to jump jump to any conclusions, but I wanted to get more information. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you for your time. Jennifer Cox, please come forward. State your name, your address, if you will. Hello, I'm Jennifer Cox. I live in Park. Uh I'm also a retired teacher from
Miller and Middleton Bernie. I love this community down here. Um, I wanted to uh address you all on the on something that on a national level. We know that the federal
agents have caught up multiple US citizens and many many people here legally and these people are being sent out of the country with no due process. We know in the last two weeks there were
even three children sent out. Um again with no due process which our constitution awards to everyone not just someone here with legal documentation.
Uh I I wanted to hear I would hope was hoping to hear from this commission that there will be some effort made to assure the residents and business owners in our community especially our Hispanic
neighbors that uh they are welcome here. They we know you all know how important they have been to to keeping our community vital. New businesses, wonderful people. Uh and I'd
like to hear the commission saying that our neighbors of whatever nationality are welcome, safe, and supported here. Um Miss Cox, I will permission if you're you're okay with that. I I would speak I would speak
to that. Um that I know from my perspective and each commissioner can share that that we embrace everyone in this community and um our heart goes out to the families and it they're the backbone of a lot of
what goes on in our community and we recognize that. I recognize that. Um, and um, I see that we've got teachers here, and I know that's the one thing that concerns all of us, and that's our
babies in the community. We had a a lot of kindergarters in here on Friday, Commissioner Burton, and and um, we had a mock commission meet. We had three month commission meetings and just what you know from our Hispanic community you
can tell that what they added to the community and to think that they're have any um it breaks my heart and and you know they were terrified with that helicopter. I know and I know and that was and and and captain and I I I mentioned that to the captain too that
you know it's it's you know it's everyone but I I I know I take great pride in this commission and that we have embraced we embrace this community and um commissioners do you want to say anything as well?
I would just say write your congressperson right your senators write everybody they need to hear this from us. I mean, we went to Tallahassee and we talked about a lot of stuff there, but this is the federal level. Um, we know this is coming from the highest
office, but you need to tell everyone that this is hurting us and this is what it feels like to be on the end of this just on the news. This is happening right now today to your neighbors. And that's the only way we can, you know,
what we can do. Um, I know I already have and continue to do that. So this is a small community and we're really a very close community. I mean I respect everybody in community. Not everybody respects me but you know for the most
part you know I I have to say uh everybody that I've contacted with and I work with here they're just wonderful people. And um you know you know I think about our main street for example uh last year most of our our uh volunteers
were the honor students uh from from the high school. Uh most of those folks were standing. You know I hope they're here this year. Uh I don't know if they will be or not. And and uh I can understand why they wouldn't be okay because uh
definitely uh they're not getting a fair shape right now. But you know that I'm out there trying to do all I can and uh whether it's here in Crescent City or whether it's on the national scene, I definitely will continue to be there for you.
[Music] Um thank you for being here. Um I guess I was going to hold this suggestion until the end, but um my thought was and I know there are other people who want to speak. Um, number one, um, most of
this is out of the control of local government like Carson City. The most we can do is really give you an opportunity to come and share your concerns and get information from um, local law enforcement as best you can. And in this capacity, local law enforcement is
really, as I understand it, acting in their capacity as sheriff's office, not um, for the law enforcement that we hire them for. So, um I think Commissioner Boy is absolutely right. If you have concerns about the effects on children
or the community or economically, um there are lots of places you can go online. I'm sure as a retired teacher, you're very good at this. Um some of some of this is coming as Captain Eser said, from the governor. Um
we have governor, you have a state representative and a state senator and as well uh we all here have a US congressperson and we have two US senators. So um and they also if you
want contact information for the department of homeland security or any other federal agency um it would be your US congressperson's office. Hopefully someone there could provide you with that information if they will. I have no
idea. Um so, you know, just thank you for being here. Um I would hesitate to say that the commission has any kind of official position because there have been a lot of changes to federal and state laws and um to protect everyone in
this community, we have to be very careful to comply with those. But we've always been a very welcoming and as Commissioner Burton said very friendly community. You've you've taught in our school. So um so you know so just thank you
and go forward. Okay. Did you say her name was Cox? Jennifer Cox. Okay. But um teacher Terra. Yes. Teacher. Yes I am. I'm retired. But I I would like to say that I agree what what
everyone has said and um I kind of like felt like it was raided too because hearing those helicopters, it really upset me. It really it drove me to a place. But I would like to say on behalf of my daughter who was an educator, she was very concerned about her students on
today. Um what went on in the classroom trying to support the kids and make them feel um safe is it's is very um mindboggling. Okay. And I also want to say that not not only did it affect those kids, but I want you all to know
that the work that the people were doing on the new schools, it affected that area also because everybody was gone. There was no one though. I said it felt like a ghost town. So we all know that it it is affecting if you have any heart
at all. It's it's affecting everyone in this community. So, um, I might even have some students out there that I taught way back. Anyway, you all know that I care for everyone in this community. You know, it it goes out. So, I do agree with what everyone has said.
And I do I'm sending prayers for everyone. We have to do that and ask for guidance and more understanding so that we do what's right. I'm getting some information into the hands of the teachers to what they can do. Thank you.
I also can't see you. So, um thank you so much for allowing me to speak um today. Um you spoke to uh Captain Aurori. Um we have worked together several for several years and he knows that I trust him to take care of our
community. Um but today did feel uh like we were being hunted. Um and I did actually ask him personally the question. He said that they were uh stopping everybody for for probable looking for probable cause.
The probable cause that I saw I heard in our text messages was that you had to either look like you were going to work or you look like me and we were targeted. There is no way that all of us collectively had a traffic violation
today. all the cars that were stopped. It is not possible because as soon as you see that a police officer is up up the road, you start driving better. So just for that, you know that that's not how it
went down. So, I do know that this is this is coming from the federal government, but at the local level, I just cannot believe that our local uh agencies are just going to let the law slide and do whatever you're told.
We recite the pledge of allegiance every morning in our schools. Every time we start a meeting, it ends with justice for all. This was not not justice at all. I was feeling uh threatened and I had no reason to. What I what do I have
to do? Put my uh citizenship certificate on my forehead or what? My daughter, my kids were upset. My grandkids were upset. I do know that they did not go into the school because I did call the superintendent. But what they did do was
follow our bullets and stop as the parents were coming into our schools and and stop people and how do you think those children feel? How do and that affected all of our children not just the children that look like me? So are
we really going to stand and allow the lack of respect for the law? We cannot have it both ways. Are we law-abiding citizens or are we not? We cannot say that we serve both gods and I do know
your job is difficult. I do know you cannot say I just know that somewhere somebody has to stand up and say this is illegal because it was illegal. That's right. It is illegal. And for all of us who feel like
that it's heartbreaking. This is the place I call home. Today I did not feel like this place brought me back. I do not feel safe sending my grandkids to school tomorrow. My daughter doesn't want to be outside. And I tell you, we
have nothing to fear. We're not undocumented. And all of our families felt exactly the same way. And I am really upset. To me, this time is personal. And I just wish that our law enforcement, our elected officials, everybody
stand up and say this is not lawful. If they want to come and pick up people who are here undocumented, like you say, there are ways to do that. This was not an investigation. This was a hunting this was a hunting ground today.
And let's not call it something else, please. And and I do wish that we can stand. I thank my three colleagues that spoke before. It it feels really good to know that I'm we're not standing alone, but we really do need our community to
be here, not just say it. We know you're here. You know that. I know all of you personally, but I do need everybody to stand up for what's right and this is not right. And if we don't do it and nobody does it, who are they going to
come for next? That's right. That's right. This is This is the United States of America. This is the place that I always told my family back in Mexico. Oh, the law is respected in this country. How can I say that now with a straight face? How can I even say the pledge when
I know that it's a lie? It's not just a squirrel and it is not blind. And just being targeted because you look like some, you know, you have certain the way you look. my black I cannot change
that. So I refuse to be hunted down and I really am upset that my whole community is being hunted down. Today was here today what it was not on the news but this has been happening throughout the country. So I'm what when are when are elected officials are law
enforcement going to stand up and say this is illegal? You may be directing us to do something but it's just like if somebody told you to go kill somebody. It's just as illegal. So, let's just go all I'm asking for all of your support because we we are not going to be able to do it alone.
We we need you. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Okay. This is the time that um I know some people came in late and I just want to make sure I know I know you've got a lot that you that you need to let go of
um and and um open it up if you guys can I don't have a card on you but if you'd like to say something good evening your name sorry you're late I know you weren't we you weren't late.
It's just you did get your card filled. Um I just I was on Facebook a few minutes ago and I saw there was a meeting. I had to be there. Um my name is Luc Guerrero and I'm a resident of Baka and um I'm a teacher at present high school. Been there for three years
now but totally um 20 years in county in the school district. And um my students came in and they they apparently thank you more because I don't have access to Facebook while I'm working. I'm actually teaching. And I was um I was surprised
to hear of all of their stress. And I'm like, don't worry, you're second and third generation, so um you should be fine. But it that wasn't the case. We were being targeted um because of how we looked. And then also I had this anxiety
because my daughter's out there. she's driving and she looks Hispanic and is she going to get pulled over because she's being targeted? Um it was just I could not concentrate. I'm so glad my kids were testing. So if I couldn't concentrate, I know my students couldn't
concentrate. Um and so where is humanity? Where's our human rights if we're being targeted because of how we look? Um and then as another one, my neighbor, like a person that I know, he got pulled over and he had no reason to be pulled over. So we're filing the complaints um because we want to
investigate it. Um, and so where are the human rights? And we, like she mentioned, we are here lawing citizens. We're educating our community, not just Hispanic kids. Everybody that comes into our
classroom, what where are we standing in all of this? You know, what are we doing about it? And thank you for the information. I just want to be here and and learn what can I do? How can I help my community understand? Let's write letters because we're we're about the second and third generation now. A very
in small amounts, but it it I was so surprised just listening to the fact that his family were pulled over because of how they look. And my dad is one of them. My dad was talking to me the other day. He got his pictures everywhere in case he gets pulled over. That happened
back in early 90s. I was a young child when that happens and I was afraid. And I can only imagine our kids now. And why is it happening again? Why are we digressing? Why is this country coming to this when they that used to be back
in the 80s and 90s? Why again? So um I'm just here. I'm I'm very unhappy um stressed for my students because I love every one of them. Whatever color they are, whatever language they speak, I love all all of them. And I know there was a lot of stress today, a lot of
worry and um and and the helicopter was unnecessary. Um you were targeting like she said, we were hunting um so therefore we need a helicopter because we're hunting people down. That was unnecessary. So that's my point of view. Thank you. I'd like to say something.
You know, I've just recently been in contact with the farmworkers coal coalition of uh southeast uh I think Florida. I believe that's the correct uh lingo. Um and
uh I I know Captain US has has talked to a small group just a couple couple groups there, but you know they're they're throughout Lucia uh Putnham and also Lake County. They they are and um they're a fairly large group from what I
understand. So, um, right now we we are kind of trying to work with them, okay, to to help some of their needs and stuff around, uh, our community and around the different counties. So, I I'm going to I'm going
to do this to you, Trish. If if you would just leave your name with Trish, I'm telling you, we we can contact you, okay? And and and get you involved. um I think with with the right people and and
the right um uh people to be with to to try and and fight some of what's going on. Thank you. So So please please do that. Please take with her. Not going to say, you know, this is a this is going to be a tough road. It's a tough road.
Um I just had this conversation with one of our employees here last week. Uh you know, you're in a tough spot. you're in a tough spot because of the color of your skin. You're easy to pick out. Um I
just think it's an awful thing and it shouldn't it it shouldn't be but but it is at this point in time it is and we have gone through that in the US. Well, you have comes around and I don't want to
get into too much more but but it's it is a very difficult situation. It is. Okay. We have any other can I say something? Yes sir. Would you come forward? I want to speak to you as an employer from that point of view. A
short history. 10 12 years ago. My company employed 60 people. 55 of them are Hispanics. In that era, you have to give a report every year.
um all other employees, we would get six, eight um social securityities come back. They don't match. And what are you supposed to do? You're supposed to try to get them to
match. You never heard from anybody after that. Now, today technology is very different. As an employer, it's really
impossible to hire an illegal. Why? Because when they fill out all the paperwork, you put that social security out there number, it'll come back as a good number, a duplicate
number, or a bad number. And if it's a bad number or a duplicate number, you can't hire the person. So that's where we are today. Now there's a there's a period in here where there are no doubt some leagues illegals
still floating around. But that's where we are today. You might ask yourself, why is this going on? That's the question. Do we have any other speakers before I close comment?
Seeing no one else come forward, I'm going to close public comment. I I on behalf of the commission thank each and every one of you. Um this is this is um heart-wrenching and um I
know I grew up in county and um went to Taylor High School and back in the 80s, 70s and 80s. Um, I saw what happened back then to people that I, you know, and I I just I think that came back today. Um, I I kind of had some vision
of that today. Um, and like they you've been encouraged by my fellow commissioners, reach out to um the governor, reach out to the president, reach out to your senators, your um representatives, your
congressmen um and your US senators. Just reach out to anybody that you can. And um with that um just mayor could ask one thing. So to the mayor and my fellow
commissioners, we're a local government. We're limited in what we can do. Um and I also want to make sure that we don't fall foul with any state federal laws. So I would ask for the advice of our attorney. Um, but we did hear from some
people here who were concerned about um, illegal stops and the sheriff said that they could make a complaint. Um, but I would like to talk to Mr. Holmes and see whether it would be appropriate um, for
us to make a transcript of what was said and review that later and see if there's anything that would be appropriate for the commission. um cuz to look at and see if we had any kind of um position or
comment that we wanted to make to any appropriate agency. I mean, I just don't know. Um but is it acceptable? I can ask you. I mean, there's nothing inappropriate about your making a transcript of public comments if that's
your question. No, there's no there's nothing about that that would be inappropriate, right? Because I I would like to do that. So we could review what was actually said and then see if there's anything that we would want to talk about at at a later meeting. You know, I don't know. It's
it's complicated. We have a complete transcription though. Um is that what you're looking for? Just the just of the public comment. Thank you. Not necessarily. I mean it is on on the record if uh on YouTube if you
can actually reference reference exactly where it is on YouTube. You want to get the, you know, when you see it back on YouTube, you'll actually get the the feeling instead of reading it. It's actually not the passion that I
want. It's what are the actual circumstances that are being complained of. And my thought was if we had it written out, we could review it and um see if there's anything that we should be um concerned with as a commission.
Bullet concern for transcription because transcription when you say transcription that's word for word and that might be a little difficult with their audio but I mean the high points I can see the high points. So I'm just concerned about transcription. So,
we'll give it some thought. Okay, that'll be helpful. Um, on a more positive note to all of you teachers out there, um, and former teachers out there, I just want to share with you, um, that
last Friday, um, we had, like I said, kindergarteners, all the kindergarteners here. And just share this real fast before we get into this because um and I thank you staff for all of your participation. Um Commissioner Burton
was there. Commissioner Devito came in and she spoke about what it was like to be a commissioner. Um it was just a a really neat experience. And we had a mock commission meeting and we have all
these kindergartens. The first class, the first couple of classes or the first session, they were just, they were outstanding. They had not gone to Wind Dixie and gotten cupcakes yet. The second group had just not eaten their cupcakes and they were they ramped
it up a little bit. The third group was um heavy. Yeah, the third group of pink sugar had definitely um been ingested and it had kicked in and um it was funny because the third group at one point I
heard Commissioner Burton say I'm trying to conduct a meeting because we did a mock commission meeting and we had kindergarteners and I was so impressed that these children come up here. They sat in our seats and we had an issue. We said there's five minutes that they want
more of play time. And so we allowed them. I didn't know how I was going to go back and tell um principal Tiffany that she had to do that and provide five more minutes, but they did get up. We allowed them to come up and speak to that. And um anyway, at
one point I heard Commissioner say to one of the children sitting next to me, um please don't put the microphone in your mouth. This is not a lollipop. This is not a lollipop. And then we had I had let one child um they got to sit here and have
their pictures made and so I always there was one that was the mayor and got the gavl and we looked over and they had taken the gavvel and they had like slipped down under and they were like I was like no honey that's not how the mayor is supposed to act. That's how the mayor feels sometimes. That's not how
the mayor acts. But what I was so impressed with is that the question was five minutes more. Their friends got up and spoke. We went five more minutes. We need five more minutes. We asked the teacher to get up and speak and the
teacher spoke and said, um, you know, learning is so important. And so the children in their decision making here, we talked about how often times the best decision is not the
popular decision and how hard it is to make those decisions when you know everybody out in the audience wants something different from what you know is probably in their best interest or what you believe to be in their best interest. Um, we the commission have to
do that. It's it's a tough it can be tough. I am pleased to say that all three sessions voted for more learning time and not more recess and it was unanimous. The last the last group the last group
was 41 but but it was um it was just I I just was really impressed. I was impressed with the teachers, with the students at kindergarten that they could comprehend that and they did realize and there was no criticism from their friends when
they knew they weren't going to get five more minutes. They probably knew they weren't going to get it anyway, but anyway, on a lighter note, thank you to all of you educators, um, retired and present. We greatly appreciate all that you're doing for our little ones here in the community. And we see that. Um, with
that, I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to recess this meeting and I'm going to open up our CRA um our CRA meeting. And so, thank you. Um, we have Tim Jefferson, executive director of our Florida Main Street program. He'd like
to give um a brief update on what's going on with the city partnership. Good afternoon. We've been busy at the downtown partnership. I'm just going to do a quick recap. In January, they moved
to the new headquarters. Many of you have been there and maybe some of you in the audience would like to come. It's right down on Crescent. Uh, you know, Central Avenue, 310 Central Avenue is our new headquarters. And we've done different
things. We had an open house. Of course, they the board hired me in February, which was a new position. We had uh a booth at Soulfest. We went through training in
Hastings about the board of directors. We had our open house. We had a mingle of vendors and volunteers that um Liz turned it into a potluck and we had about 50 people there. So that was wonderful. In April, we met with a
muralist who uh is going to help us put some murals around the city. locations to be determined. We had a booth at the Catfish Festival. We had a movie in the park right before Easter, which was hop, and we had about 50 people attend that.
Our spring fest was a couple Saturdays ago with 25 vendors and about 300 people attended it. I just came back uh yesterday from Dan. I know it's not very far, but we had a main street um
conference there and the whole topic was economic vitality, which is one of the four pillars of the main street program. So, it was very good to be um educated in that and enthusiastic about what we
can do to bring new businesses to this community. Of course, we have some things coming up. We talked about the historical society beverage stop that's going to happen. and we're having another mix and mingle and Pam's kitchen which is right next to
us is going to have a soft opening on the 31st of May. So, and then of course we got a red light and boom, which we'll talk about a little bit later, but please stop by the office at 3:10 and see if there's something you can help
volunteer or ask questions. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Um I believe you want to stay there. Yeah, I understand you. We have an application. Oh, all right. Go ahead. We're going to need approval of Yes. Commission.
So, my understanding the application is in business items. Oh, did we put it down? Okay. We did the first one, but that's but I I got to close out. I was going to say before you close out CR just not just um
I know we have had our city manager is also supposed to be our CRA um manager. So she has really more on her plate than she can do right now. But I was just going to say we do have um grant programs that are supposed to be ongoing
in the CRA and it was my hope that next meeting maybe we can have a report on our the progress of our grant programs. Um, so I'm just kind of requesting that we do that for the CR at the next
meeting. Um, but whatever um level she's able to give us a report. I really I wouldn't ask for it this month because there's too much. She's doing double duty. Okay. That that was really all I had.
Okay. Anything else before I close out? I'm gonna go ahead and I'm gonna close right and reopen our regularly scheduled commission meeting. And so we're down to our business items. And if
you come back up, please. Um we're doing Crescent City Downtown Partnership Red, White, and B Street Market. We've got a request for street closure and alcohol sales on Saturday, June 28th, 2025. Is that correct? You want to talk a little bit about
that? Sure. I didn't attend last year, but it's going to be very similar to last year's program where the the street is closed. There'll be food vendors um and music and then down by the um we
have the ramp. The idea is possibly put a tent down there with some seating and we'll have a beverage station probably up this side of the hill. Then maybe one down the bottom. Okay. Um, commissioners, do you have um
any questions? I guess my understanding is you're going to close it like last time. He'll go from from park park, right, down, correct? Okay. And we've got some homeowners there that need notification that will need notification.
Okay. And mayor, I have a question. So, but and that's usually my question is the home owners need to know if they're accommodated. Um, but as well and this came up in the prior year. Um, I don't know if you've been in touch
with the people who are possibly planning to reopen a restaurant at the location of the former Siren. I' I've been told that they're going to be opening there sometime in June. That's what I've heard also. Okay.
So, and it go at at one point was a different restaurant. The last time we had the street where there was a restaurant there. Um, my concern is that that restaurant be accommodated if they're serving alcohol or food or
whatever that they not be obscured by the tenth of a vendor who's doing the same thing. But normally last the last in the last event you want to speak to that. Well um yes you'll just need to be very mindful of setup being that it's in a confined
area. You'll have three bananas on one end and then hopefully this new business activated. So you wouldn't want to put an alcohol t right in front of one of our businesses. No. So just you know be very mindful of placement of the vendors especially if and when this new business if it's activated during the time of the
event. Um, last Red, White, and Moon, we did offer that business that Commissioner, um, they were open at the time when we offered him them actually the spot in front of their restaurant to put a table out and they actually even served here
out out of there. So, we were just, you know, trying to just accommodate the Okay. businesses and just be my public place. Sure. Um, I understand. I think her name is Katie, the one who's going to operate that business. I haven't personally met her yet, but I can
certainly do that. Um, yeah. No, we wouldn't put a beverage station in front of her place. I think it's closer to the park or the beginning and then way down at the bottom at the at the uh the ramp down there. That's where the tent is
proposed. No, like a a seating tent down by the water. So, we're not having tents for the the alcohol. Well, I guess we will use our popups. Yeah. But a bigger tent. So, let's get some let's get some clar
clarification saying um in the past you would have a tent that you would serve alcohol. You sell alcohol out of and it was typically in front of the apartments or right there in front of the kind of down by the apartments. trying to stay in the middle
so as not to interfere with the three businesses and the other one and the other business because both of them are open and he would sell alcohol. Is that not where where are you selling the alcohol? We'll do it wherever you think is best.
But my understanding was it was going to be closer to park and we would have every station there. That's right on it's too north. It's not there yet, but it will be. So, it's two North Park Avenue. So, she's right there
on the corner of Park and Central. Um, that restaurant is. So, you're probably going to need to to move down. Just move down. Okay. East. Go east. [Music]
So, Park is the street where Sirens is. Okay. We won't be further south down east somewhere in the middle. But closing the road is like last year.
I move that we approve the application for red and blue for the CCTV. Um and included the closure of Central Avenue between Park and L Street and that they accommodate the businesses and residents.
Do you also need to approve alcohol sales? Alcohol. We have a proper motion. Do I have a second? We have a motion in a second. Do we have any further discussion? Um, just a question. I think I asked our
interim city manager um there's insurance required for this and the city CRA will make sure that everything's in order before the event. Correct. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Uh you have listed on here the VIP tent. And what is
a VIP tent? That's the tent that is down by the water. It's a proposed tent that there would be tables and chairs down there for people who the pay to be
there. And it it's something that has hasn't been clarified whether the yacht club would want to do that or whether the partnership would do that on the city property on the city property or the county property because
some of that's county property. That parking lot is county property. Okay. I'm just going by what the the promotions committee discussed. So, and I want to say that too, it's even though I'm standing here, it's the promotions
committee of who has done this in the past, who will be actual operations that that day. So, Cindy and people like that. I don't know. [Music]
This doesn't sound like a closed deal yet. You know what I mean? It sounds like it's still kind of evolving. Okay. I guess we just need to have set some parameters. So, um, Mr. Holmes, I'm going to ask you, um, if they were to do
a closed event down at the end of the property, um, I guess down at the right at the water veg. Um, and you're charging to for people to be there. That was the idea. And you're going to be serving alcohol at that location also.
Yes. So, you're going to have two two spots for alcohol, right? And I think they were gonna ask the the Katie person to cater it. Okay. You want to weigh in on that? You want to give me a question? Yeah.
Can we do that? Can Can they do that? I mean, that's normally everybody gathers down at that end to watch the fireworks. The city's the one actually putting the fireworks on this year. Um, so it's a city it's it's the fireworks are the
city's the city's event. Um, I just want to make sure that we're not so I I don't know all the parameters, but uh I think there's precedence for public property
being closed off for used by those who pay a fee. But I think that the problem comes in if you're basically closing off all of the area that would be utilized for
something like doing fireworks and you're make and then all of that area is going to be closed unless you pay a fee and the fireworks being paid for with public funds and the property is public property which I think that's a bad
look. And is it illegal? No, probably not. But but it's a bad look in my opinion. So there for instance at bluegrass festival there was a tent that was there there at the the riverfront
that was that you paid for access to but there was a whole rest of the property down there that you didn't pay for access to. If you paid for access to that one area you got some certain special you know privileges or or accidents. So that was okay, but you had
the rest of the area down there that was open to the public. And I think that's that's the key. If you're you're basically shutting off a public area where people would normally gather to watch a publicly funded event, I think that's problem. That's a concern if you're going to put
tents up because families, you have little ones, they put chairs down there and they sit. So, I'm trying to um my understanding is that if it's just as an example, if it's 100 ft, it would be maybe 20 20 ft of it of the of the
frontage. It's not going to be the whole section or even half or even a third. It would be just a portion of it. So, who who is who can buy tickets to get into that area? Anybody? Yeah. I mean that that would be that would be my other
key. If it's available to anybody to buy first come first serve or whatever then then that would be my other concern would be. So if they're taking 20% is what he in his example they're taking 20% of the frontage and they're going to
have special um in some some form of special privileges in that in that location. But you pay to get in but it's first come first serve but anybody can pay. I I think that is acceptable. If they're limiting it
obviously to only certain people, then that that'd be a whole. How about if we if we come back next month before the event and give you all the specifics. I really think this is just not quite
it's not quite it's still kind of what the intent part is. That's that's so I think that that's I mean we know the event that we're going to have and you're going to do that. I think what we've got right now is a question down at the water.
So he's and he's going he said he'll come back and bring that to us. Um because that might be another that might be I wasn't at the board meeting on Monday because I was in the main street but my hope was that they would have
ironed this out Monday but they didn't. Okay. So, so do we want to go ahead and [Music] I would say we can go ahead and move on that if the commission so so so chooses um just knowing that that last part just
because and making sure so that we know exactly where you're setting up because I know I I have some concerns about having a tent right there and blocking the views the children families all sit um sit down there in the past they would do the tiki bar out all three bananas on
the tiki bar. I don't they're not doing that anymore. And I also not to be determined. So could I make a motion? I currently have a motion. I have a
proper motion. She had a second. She was resending your second. But now that I understand it, we're just going to go with Okay. Um you want to keep your second? Yes. Okay. So we have a motion and a second. Let's wrap this up question. Should the motion be approving
the things that we've said we have approved that's subject to um for them to come back for us to do a final approval of the Lori. It's your motion. Do you want to put that caveat in? You want to add that caveat into We're approving what I put in the motion was
what they did last year. Okay. So, we're approving that part come back next month. So that would be if they don't do it then they don't have to come back to us. Okay.
Um if you do roll commissioner I commissioner I commissioner I commissioner I thank you. Thank you. Okay, we're going to move on to our city
manager contract. So, I'm sure that all of you have the opportunity to review the contract. I believe that u it falls within the guidelines that I was given in uh in my directions to
negotiate with Mr. Martin. It does use the previous RUD contract as the substantial basis of the of the contract. Obviously, the numbers are different, but the uh majority of the
terms are u found within or similar to those found within the RUD contract. The RUD contract did not have a uh a relocation uh fee or relocation
stipen. Um Mr. Martin asked for a relocation stipen and uh given the fact that the commission had approved one in dealing with a previous applicant who did not accept the job I felt that u the concept was
one that the commission had essentially tacitly approved and the number that Mr. Martin agreed to was significantly less than the one that the commission had approved earlier. And that I will say
that um negotiating with Mr. Martin was uh it was a good, for lack of a more descriptive term experience. It was one where uh in my opinion he
um demonstrated a willingness to compromise with the attitude of um if I can get the job and show them that I'm worth it then I'll worry about increased terms later on if if the situation arises rather than making a
demand or an ultimatum. So the contract in front of you is one that I think he's accepted. I think it's within the scope of what you authorized me to to negotiate and uh so it's it's for your consideration.
I move that we accept the contract signed by Daron for be our city manager. I will second that. I have a motion and a second. And just for the record for anybody um this was negotiated with by Mr.
Holmes. Um I have spoken I I spoke to Mr. um Martin yesterday for the first time other than the time whenever I spoke to him. Um and to tell him he had received you know
we were offering him a job and he is very eager. Um the paper came out and said he was going to arrive earlier than he was anticipating. Um he would like to start June 2nd. um he shared with us in his interview that he had he did have a commitment for
that week prior. Um but um he is he is eager and I've spoken to all um of the other of all of the three candidates they've been paid I think as today for their travel expenses. Um quite honestly one of them actually called me yesterday
and I guess he felt he had heard that Derek one asked me point blank is Derek the one that that got the offer and I said yes and he said he was going to do Crescent City well and then a gentleman called me last night um one of the
applicants called me last night and he said the same thing. I just wanted you all to know that um as much as I was interested in Crescent City that I think the commission made so um but everybody had been
contacted but from that June 2. Yep. Through June 2nd. So that's that's when that's when he that's when he would start. So do we have any other discussion? Um, I just wanted to say I actually thought that um I thought if there was
no objection the contract was going to be finalized. So obviously when I saw it in the packet it wasn't. I'm very glad to know that you have talked to Mr. Martin and that he is coming because I was a little concerned. This is more of a formality because we have to make sure that we've done this
so that it's going to have a final approval. Sure. Of course. Um, but I'm just glad to know that you've spoken with him and that he did not give up on this. No. Right. I was in communication with him soon after. Um, you all you all know
that without polling the commission that I asked that the contract be sent to anyone to all of you and uh if any of you had any objection you could contact me. Howard, I heard nothing from anybody. And since it was within the parameters of what you authorized at
your meeting, as you kind of alluded to, Commissioner Devito, uh, everything was there within the parameters other than the fact that you didn't specifically authorize the relocation expense. But, um, as I said, I think, you know, my conversation with him, he said, "How
about relocation? That's going to cost me, you know, I'm going to have probably $5,000 in relocating." and he said, "If you guys had covered 2,000 of it, I'll cover the rest." And since you had offered more than that to the previous candidate, I told him that I felt that
that that was within the bounds of what with what I could could authorize. So So he's he's been in communication with me since soon after that and he's very eager to to go. I was very encouraged by the fact that we got that
signed contract two days after we had that meeting. That that made me feel good that it was a long drawn out process. I was like, well, this is that's why I didn't email you. I figured, hey, this is great. It's done and signed. So, as I said, it was a very
pleasant experience. he came and sat down and uh with his significant other then and that's important because we all know that that partnership is one that uh is important to
someone's satisfaction in the job and moving to a different community and so forth and so on. And it was it was a very positive negotiation all the way through. She's from I I know she has lived in park. I don't know if she's
she's not from she just she just lived there and I talked about that yesterday about the importance of having a spouse. Um and in in the interim Christina Marie thank you. You have done an outstanding
job. We really have. You stepped up to the plate. I think we've all been extremely impressed and you kept everything moving forward. And um thank you mayor. And by the way, he's a seinal.
Here we go again. That simolina, what are we gonna do? Here we are. This burgundy and gold me. Okay. With that, we have a proper motion and a second. Madam clerk, could you please do a roll call? Commissioner,
I. Commissioner, I. Commissioner Moore, I. Commissioner Burton. Hi, Mayor Myers. I think so. Next, we have um our fire chief staff recommendation. We have interviewed
three candidates. Um you'll see before you a resume for Mr. Joseph Razer. He's accepted the position. And I believe uh Chief Crackfield may be here to answer any questions you may have about um about the upcoming fire incoming fire
chief. How you doing, Chief? I'm making it. I'm uh dealing with a back injury right now, so forgive me. I can't sit super long. That's why I was kind of milling out in the hallway. Um at this time, you know, we've interviewed three candidates. I agree
with staff's recommendation at this time. I think Miss Razer will serve as a good chief. Very accredited and interviewed very well. Um, do you all have any questions at this time? Does anybody have any questions? St. John's. Currently in St. John's
County, we only had two qualified candidates of the three and they both live outside the county. Any plans on continuing to live there? I'm not sure. currently works for Putin County EMS. So, he's in and county on a regular basis. I saw that. So, I assume
that I trust your opinion. Do we need to I move that we um accept the recommendation of staff and our Mr. Joseph Fraser as our next fire chief. Thank you. We have any discussion? I just have
questions. Can we achieve? So, um my understanding this position is 20 hours a month. 20 hours a week. I mean 20 hours a week. Sorry. Yes, ma'am. Time period. And so you will actually be here 20 hours a week or do we have did was
that discussed as to whether you would physically be here? So the position is 20 hours a week page. So you have to do 20 hours a week as in all the chiefs know you're typically sorry here more than 20 hours a week. and he is he has already committed that he can dedicate whatever time he needs to be here to
make sure that he accommodates the position as well. Um Okay. And he has good references and Yes. I mean, have you worked with him before at all? I I've worked with him in the county aspect. I've worked with all three of the candidates. Okay. And so,
yes, ma'am. I've worked with all of them before. Okay. Well, and I'm sorry you have back injury. I have a guess that you got that on duty. So sorry. Not sure if we have it. Thank you. Any other questions? Um I was going
to let you know I believe 27th was going to look to start training. Yes, sir. And um my last day is June 14th. Um just let you know 27 years and then he'll be coming in to train with me as much as possible around my shift and his shift.
Um, you know, it'll be a couple days a week probably um until the full tech. So you guys are aware. So your last date is June 14th. Yes, ma'am. Just to be nearby. Not for that.
I'm assuming you're going to put up with no trespassing sign. I have no trespassing signs already. I've met trespassers in the past. I've already approach Burton. Hi, Commissioner War. Hi, Commissioner Lorie. Hi,
Commissioner. I thank you. So, approved. Thank you. And thank you, Chief being here tonight. You take care of yourself. Do you need a break? Okay, I'm going to do a five minute maybe seven minute recess.
So, we're going to go ahead and regularly scheduled meeting. And next on the agenda is the welcome signs at north and south end of town. I'd like to add to the June meeting. They didn't have all of the supporting documents.
Can I get a motion to table um welcome signs until the June meeting? Yes. I move that at the interim city manager's request we table the welcome signs item until the June meeting. Okay. Do I have a second? Second. We have a
motion and a second. Um all in favor please say I. I post nay. Okay. So so moved. Um next is our letter of support for right solution. Um, and we have got and thank you so much for sitting out
there in the audience. I just it's been a long Yeah, I know it's been a long evening and it's I apologize for the delay. The first I've heard of that and a terrible day.
Um, I'm Thompson, executive director for Ride Solution. I want to thank you for your time tonight. I want to thank uh Commissioner Moore and our staff, Gloria Williams, for getting us on the agenda. And I apologize for not being here
earlier. We are asking for a letter of support from the Crescent City Commission for our appropriation request that's in the legislature. Now, uh it's a
1.293 million request to restart the county flex system and run it for a year. So that would be
um either a foot in the door or a uh uh interim solution. Ultimately, uh what needs to happen is the statute that created the community transportation coordinators, which is
chapter 427 been on the books since 79. uh it needs to be made uh enforceable in rural counties. Um what has happened is that Medicaid reform removed Medicaid uh
dollars from the system and med waiver dollars followed that. So in 2010 we had the uh 25 equivalent of about 1.4 4 million
in Medicaid and waiver dollars. Um, and this year if we see 145,000 of that, we'll we'll be lucky. The synergy between Medicaid,
Meda, FDOT, and transportation disadvantage non-sponsoring funding. The synergy and the efficiencies of running those funds under one entity is what
created the uh county flex system and that system then was used to serve the general public of county. So the 1.293 293 is a first step
to number one getting the issue uh in a recognizable form to the legislature and number two hopefully be a uh a first step
towards getting chapter 4.7 back to where it needs to be. So I I think I read it near that. So it is in the currently the senate. It's in the house. It's not in the house. That makes sense.
Um yeah, I believe we did this. I know we wrote a letter of support. Did we I know you and and Commissioner Pickkins at the time you came to us before. I thought we wrote a letter of support at that time as well. Um, so yes,
Commissioner Dev, I was just going to say, do we want my motion? I do. Okay. So, I move that we um provide a letter of support for um the budget item
um for the Putham County Public Transit Flex Group reopening. um that's designated as SF2563 for $1,293,000 um as requested by Mr. Hopson from Right
Solutions. Okay, we have a motion in a second. Do you want at the bottom of that for my signature to be the sign? support that you usually sign. I just want to make sure if I sign my name make sure that everybody's in agreement.
Sure. I do have I do have a comment about this. Okay. Um and we don't have legislative agenda items on the um on our agenda, but we should probably touch base on it. Um, I think we've all
received emails from the League of Cities and everything that the legislators passed its deadline. They're only coming back to discuss the budget and possibly a few other items. And it's my understanding they're coming back next week. So, time is of the extreme
essence on this. And um I think as the sample letter from PALA was done way back in February before the session um this should to me really there should be two separate letters. One should be to our senator Senator Leak saying thank
you and please um I think it's I think it's in the letter um ask the Senate to keep their version of the budget. Um and then to our representatives, representative house, I mean representative sat rather in the house,
ask him um to please agree to the senate funding of this issue. In other words, slightly different language for each letter. Okay. Any other discussion? Commissioner Moore, thank you so much for for asking this to be
placed on the agenda. You're in the right place at the right time. Um I do want to compliment um Miss Mary um and commissioners if we want to write a letter I want your approval that we write a letter on behalf of the commission thanking both um Mary and um
pastor Oliver. They helped us out tremendously and she was just a breath of fresh air and Barry just and so was he. He was he did he did an outstanding job helping us when we needed that. So, so thank you and we
know that we know what you do for this community and the asset that you are and how many people do that. We thank you for all that you do. Okay, with that we have no other discussion. Can I say thank you to um Miss Gloria
back there who actually took me to the side because I know that the people in this community really need it. So, Miss Gloria, thank you for looking out for the community. Commissioner Devito. Hi, Commissioner Lord. Hi, Commissioner Moore. Hi,
Commissioner Burton. Hi, Comm. I Okay, so approved. Thank you. And again, thank you for your time here tonight. Thank you. Okay, mayor. The next item is our blue ribbon committee and the board of historic preservation boards request for grants. regarding the development of the
middle school. This has been a topic of discussion in both the BRC committee and the preservation board. They've asked this to be brought before you and consider um uh authorizing staff to move
forward with staff or grant writers to move forward with acquiring grants for the Miller Middle School. So I brought that before you could have that discussion. Okay. And one of the biggest challenges is that we don't own the
property yet. Um so we would get a letter from the school district um authoriz authorizing us to apply for a grant on their behalf. Um and so without that, you know, we can't do anything. Um
historic preservation grants are due June 1st. So we're very long time. um in that list of grants that from RNG provided by a few mayor can follow up on comment. Yes.
Um there was my understanding um that we were just looking at a discussion of the special categories grant from the state the division of historic resources. That was what I understood
um from the agenda when it was first put out. Um and as Commissioner Roy pointed out the deadline for that is June 1st. um the others we that list I don't know that it even shows deadlines. We would
have to do more research. Does that look the same way to the rest of y'all? Um and then so to me the significant question is um for the special categories grant it's my understanding
that um the maximum award is a million dollars. um you have to ask for something in particular and we just yesterday got the report from um RA.
So you know to me that's key and we have to figure out if we wish to ask for money if you don't get if you don't ask you don't receive any that's for sure. Um, and then we would have to figure out who's going to write the grant.
Yeah. Right. So, we got a couple of things. I don't know. Um, I was hoping that some from the blue ribbon committee could tell us whether they have in mind or whether RA has spoken to them about what we possibly could um make as the
grant request, you know, to fix something. Um, I just looked up the list of things that we'll pay for. Um, it says acquisition, but I don't know if there's um, restrictions on that. So, anyway, um, I was hoping someone
from could shed some light and if they can't, then we'll have to figure it out ourselves. Can I say something? Yes. I don't know why we're being asked permission if they can already grant. We have we don't own the property. Um it's
really not up to the city to I mean the school still owns the property. So and the BRC is really shouldn't be working for the city necessarily. You're just
back data to help support the reason why we maybe should own the city. So I'm not sure why we've jumped now from I mean this has been a year that we've been you know doing this BRC
committee and I think that that we have to get back to why we were doing it to begin with and um understand it it really was to [Music]
um have the information in front of us that we could bring back to the city to see if even the city wanted to us to own this the property. Uh I think you're moving ahead the BRC committee just is saying well you know we need this and
the city needs to kind of do this for you know get property so that we can start doing this and that's just not the way I think it should work. Um, somebody want to speak for I can kind of answer some of Commissioner
Burton's questions, not all, which I or concerns. Could I speak to that just briefly? Sure. Okay. So, we've taken several steps. Um, we've made several decisions about the Miller
Middle School property. And what I'm trying to say is there's a logic to us applying for a grant. Um, in our strategic plan, we made a decision. It's in our strategic plan that we should do our best to acquire
the property. We also enacted a resolution that said the property should be preserved, that we were in favor of preservation of the property. Um, so I think regardless of who
ultimately owns it, and this is something Mr. Red talked to us about a long time ago about Central Avenue, um, there's only so much available money for grants, and we all know that historic preservation
um involves the need for funds. So, and Mr. Fernandez from REGG several months ago when he spoke recommended that the city apply for a division of historic resources grant.
And what that would do if if there is an identifiable need to make a repair or a a preservation type repair in that property, I think um the money would not
even be available until next year. Um but you can only ask for one grant a year. So um that would and I'm assuming that the money would follow the property if we did not ultimately and we need to get
clarification from maybe reg on that. Um essentially we would be applying for the grant for the property to accomplish a preservation need. And I have not had time to read the whole report which is a lot of this stack.
But but what I'm trying to say is I understand you know grants are very important and they tried to get a grant to begin with and of course the the the state said no because number one is they own the property. The school owns the property. So the state still owns the
property. So well but the school board owns it not the city. And so therefore we we could not get that grant. So this is a different I don't know if it is or not. Is it No, no. Grand
um possibly someone from the historic society. I'm not the historic society from the BRC. Right. But maybe if I could just finish a clarification. The grant that Commissioner Burton was interested in is a very different type of grant and that um could not be used
to for us that was only for acquisition. that couldn't be used for us to acquire property that actually already belonged to another government. Preservation grants are to advance preservation and I don't think there is the same concern
exactly with who owns it. The idea is to create the preservation activity. Then why don't you ask the school board? They own it. That was a that was something that I was wondering is it is in talking to the school district have they have
they agreed to go in and and do this as join in and that would like to ask them from the DRC but I just want to clarify that it's kind of different one of them she was going through department of environmental protection this is this is
about yeah secretary of state office but we have someone who would like to speak to us from the BRC All right. I think those are I think Mr. Burton and Commissioner Dito are both right in a sense.
uh with a with the language that we that was proposed that would come from the city to the school board.
The language says the city would take possession at their own discretion, but there would be a memorandum of understanding that the city would take
possession and at your discretion would be when we had enough funds in place that you wouldn't be burdened. So that's the plan. Uh and we would have to get
with Charlie Douglas and the school board and get that memorandum of understanding in place and that would make it go a lot smoother. But M I think Commissioner Dito is right. We we could do
preservation by simply maybe asking the school board, can we pursue, you know, but but that's that could be part of the memorandum of understanding and it won't be hard to get that. All we need to do is get with Charlie Douglas. I'll be
happy to be on that discussion or it could just simply be the city going to the uh school board. So I think that's basically where we are and and time is of the essence on um on this
do we certainly want to apply for that for the the larger uh on this bill if we possibly plan number one larger ones coming from the state and who would and who would do I mean
who would make that application that be Fred Fox would that be our [Music] R could do that. They would do that on our behalf. They could do it. My question is um how what would be the
fee and we would I mean essentially um I can't tell from this report what would be appropriate. I don't know what is I'm assuming there's something and someone even suggested to me if we didn't apply it to the main building could we apply
for the grant for the auditorium um which is also a contributing structure to the historic district and is very important to the community I think though so my question I'm going to go I'm going to go back to this right now time is of the essence I you're not
going let's be realistic um you're not going to get an between um the school district and us um before the June 1st deadline and also be able to get this grant. Have you spoken to the school district about applying for
this grant on their behalf? They they have the property. If they apply for this grant, it would be to their benefit. Um, and so I I think that if they apply for the grant though, then they're stuck with the property for till the money comes in
next year and then it's a two-year closing out, you know, process for the grant. Um, we applied for then we're stuck with the property and as soon as that comes into our as soon as that belongs to us, we we
own everything with that comes with it. everything and I don't think that we can afford that. Now, if you really look at I've looked at all these pictures. I look at what it's going to take to bring this building back. In your memorandum of understanding, it can say and I think
this is what it says now, but we proposed you don't take possession until you decide to take possession. The meantime, the city, not the city, the district is maintaining the property.
I think you agree to that. That's that's what that's what the that's what the L understanding would say. Okay. Has anybody spoken to um division of historical resources to find out as far as those parameters and the situation
that we're in for some guidance from them? That that would be I mean that would be the first thing I would do is call them up and say this is the situation we're in and how valuable this is to the community, to the school district. Um
how do we go about proceeding and still being able to qualify and and so we're trying to we're trying to figure this out and and I think the the easiest thing is call them and say this is and and they're very very helpful and this is what they do.
is what they wanted to do. Um um to call them. Yes. Commissioner, it was something that Paul Weaver, person that's doing our historical survey, who's done many of these grants and Rick from RG mentioned to us that all it takes is basically a permission, you
know, sign something from this school district for us to find that we have. So, it is something that they do all the time. So, it's not it's not difficult to do. In fact, they said it's really, you know, people. So we don't know but we don't know how
much REG is going to charge us if they were to if they were to be the ones to write the grant and submit the grant on our behalf. So we don't have that detail. We don't know necessarily if Division of Historical Resources will accept it um or even consider it if we
don't have ownership. We only have an at our discretion as far as taking possession. And how much is this grant worth? up to a million dollars. Up up up to a million and I'm assuming that up to a million could provide something of
great benefit to one or the other. And mayor, I I really like the way you said it. It the whole purpose is to do it for the community for years to come because it's, you know, preservation projects take time. Um, it is my guess that both
Reg and Paul Weaver can answer that question that you so succinctly asked. The $64 question to us is um who you know we need someone to do this for us and what would it cost? How
would we do it? I think they can I think they can tell us how to do it and exactly and that's something that that I I again say that if it comes down to the school district doing it um
preserving the cafeteria, preserving the auditorium, preserving the gymnasium, something to that effect. Um, you know, a million dollars could go a long ways to those individual buildings. So, the main building, it's going to require, we
all know it's going to require more than that. So, I just think that discussion with the school district and that that means that Charlie Douglas needs to be part of it. Um, Mr. I have advice. I have recommended an attorney to the school district to
represent them in those negotiations. I have is I'll also mention that in my experience with grants uh some grants actually are taken on by the grant writer on the basis that they will
administer the grant if it's awarded for fees that the grant includes to be paid to the administrator. A lot of times most grant writers won't do it unless they think there's a high probability of the grant being awarded. that may give you an indication of whether or not they
think the grant's going to be awarded when you talk to your folks about the fee for grant writing, but it in my experience the grant writing fee can be significant. So I think you're wise to ask about the fee of of the grant writers regardless
for any grant not this grant also for that would we have to put out an RF RFQ um put as a grant they have different we've contracted them for a different
in order to do we do an RFP you have a container in your contract with them? No, you have to look into that. Just make sure that we're within those that we meet those parameters so there's no, you
know, we don't get ourselves in trouble. So, commission um how how do we need to proceed here? How do you want to proceed? Well, I have a question for city manager. Um and two questions here.
One is I thought someone from the city attended um the historic resources whatever the webinar they have or the required webinar was that you and also do you have a recommendation for us as to how
we should go about this if you don't fine but if you do um I would love to hear thank you commissioner um I don't um uh have any input on that. As far as
um the webinar with our historical resources, I have not sat in on that. I do work very I'm working very closely with a representative um from that department on another our our historical survey
grant. Um so I do have that on my to-do list and the link in my email box to watch. Um, but I have Okay. So, you did you didn't go to the webinar and um because I don't even know when it was.
It might have occurred before you came into this job. Um, so that's fine. Um, all right. Just wanted to check with you. See, because you sometime, you know, when you do have a recommendation, it's usually very good. I was hoping you were going to pull a rabbit on that.
Thank you. It does say rather than it does say in the grant guidelines that have ownership of the property for grant funding is requested or have the written concurrence of the property owner. So the written concurrence of the property owner is all it
says as I described your permission. So, mayor, to me, um, we need to me, we need someone to be designated to at least inquire of both Paul Weber and
Reg. Um, could they help us at the state? And if so, for what cost? Um, and as well, we would need to have someone contact the school board. I'm assuming Mr. Fully might be the right person. Um,
and to ask, you know, are they willing to participate in this to the extent of giving us a letter allowing us to apply for the grant? I think
um we went through uh most of what we got from um our excuse me showing your age. I know. Sorry about that. Um, she did it.
You know what I didn't see in in the whole thing that they did was at the end say, "Okay, these are all the things that are wrong with the building. These are all the good things that are good to the building." But I didn't see a thing
that they kind of did with the uh blue moon lodge that said, "Okay, if if we come in and this is what it would take to fix this building or bring these buildings back to a a basic state, okay,
that that you could actually use these buildings." So I was hoping that's I was okay. And that's what I was hoping to see and so that we have an idea. Yeah. I mean, we assume that's going to come pretty soon. Is that Yes, that's right.
I mean, because I think that that really that's a that's significant. Yeah. I mean, without that, you know, uh you know, if I go and get a a guy to do my electrical work in my house right now, I my house is not very big. It's going to cost about 8 to 10 grand to get all the
wiring in place. Exactly how much it costs. Oh, okay. Well, I'm just saying, you know, it's it's it's expensive. Yeah. You know, and uh you know, the air conditionings didn't work. I I I went through it pretty good. I was surprised I actually got pretty interested in it.
And um you know, there's a lot of work that has to be done in there. And I'm not saying that it can't be done, but th those that's the that's the number one question I think for the city right now. Is it feasible for us to to move
forward, okay, with the cost of what it may be? And that's still a big question mark. Okay. What is the cost of it all? We thought we'd have that by the end of April, but it didn't happen. I I understand. I'm not I'm not So, we still don't know. I guess what Commissioner
Burton is and I I have to agree. I look that's that's that's what I look that's the first thing I look for also and hoping that it was here because then it at least gives us an understanding of what we're what we're going to have to
chew on. Yes. The commission remembers their their report is finished the end of May. So they're still we're still waiting I assume for that detail. Yeah, that's correct. And this is just a
draft document. Um, in my city manager report, I referenced that it's a structural assessment draft for review. So, we got it yesterday. Yeah, we just made sure we had it for information for tonight. So, thank you. Thank you very much for getting this out
to us. And and you know, I know I sound like I'm anti school. I'm really not. But one thing I always said when we began this back in June of 2024 by the way we're coming to our birthday one year birthday um is that the the
commission isn't going to decide whether we keep the school whether we spend the money on the school. It has to be brought to a referend referendum to the city the taxpayers because this I think is going to cost us a lot of money with
the detail in the analysis. We'll be we'll all be able to make adjustments on how to move forward. Yes. So that's what that's what we're waiting for. Okay. And we should be able to get this funded. It's not going to happen
overnight. It's going to take several years to get this funded and it's going to take several years to build it back. Yes, it really is. In the meantime, in the meantime, the the district will have to support it. I mean, I think they know that they'd
like to give it to us today and but make any sense to the city and they know that they they have said we're not going to do anything that's going to harm the city. This is a partnership. It is truly a
partnership between the city and the district. They want this to happen. They want the city to have it. And they've told us that over and over. You know, we're already we can make this work. We
already bond for schools for our new schools and all that kind of stuff. And you know unless unless we get support through not just through the city but through a foundation through people through
private enterprises somewhere you know it it's I don't think it's going to happen. You know we we followed that in the beginning that economically it has to it has to be feasible. Yes. And and
the BRC is still committed to that. Okay. So, we've worked, as you know, very hard with the commission to bring you data. Yes. And analysis and recommendations. We sit here today waiting further for your direction,
which we're happy to do, but we're but as as you know, we're not going to act without your guidance and direction. Commissioner Dia. Okay. So what I am
looking at here is the agenda and the agenda says um this is what directed my thought process before we came into the meeting. Um the agenda said blue ribbon commission and historic preservation boards actually request for grants from
middle and middle school and it was my understanding that it was the historic preservation grant for special categories the large one due at the beginning of June. Um, I am particularly focused on U Mr.
Fernandez from Reg and I'm very sorry I didn't Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Gonzalez. Sorry. Um, I think there was somebody else with that name because it's all summer, but anyway. Um, I'm sorry that it did not occur to
me to follow up on this. He suggested we apply for a grant. The man knows what he's doing. Um, right. He's on the commission and I think the question should have been to him and still can be to him. What is it that we should apply
for a grant for? Okay. Because to me, if he thinks that we should be trying to bring up to a million dollars into this community for something on that 15 acre site, I would like to know what it is
and what would be the ballpark cost for someone to do that for us. Is that something that either the BRC or our interim city manager could do like within the next um five business days?
Well, I think first off, you're gonna I believe right that with him with Mr. Gonzalez, you're going to have to find out if he is even able to do this. But what was what did he have in mind? And what did he have in mind? Somebody has to reach out to him. So, you need to
give some direction. Commissioner, we need we need some direction here. And I just wanted to um answer one of Commissioner Martin's concerns. We never as the BRC or as a commission, we never envisioned this project as being just the city paying for it all. This was
going to be partnerships like you said between private individuals, private organizations, the county, the I mean the school district, but we have to start somewhere and someone needs to take the lead and someone needs to put the step foot out there and get started. And that's basically what they're asking
for is to get started and by being able to do this first grant and get some money coming in because as as Mr. Gonzalez is Mr. said when he was here at the PRC meeting we should be applying this year and next year and next year and next year. He's like this is the kind of projects that they fund. This is
the kind of projects that are popular in Florida. This is the projects that are happening all over and this is the kind of project that would be beneficial to this entire community especially to the city. So, it makes sense for the city to be the one in the driver's seat, but by no means are we going to be holding the entire purse strings. Um, but we have to
get started somehow. And that's why ERC is here to get this started at least like hopefully. I mean, applying for a grant is not guaranteed. Um, we don't even know if this grant will exist next year, but we can start somewhere. Um, but we can't just sit here and not do something
because we're afraid it's not going to happen. So, I guess I need a motion. Right. I move that we authorize our interim city manager to contact um Mr. Gonzalez with our EG and inquire
two things. One, does he have a recommendation in mind what we should feasibly be applying for this year from the special categories grant? Um, and if he has a recommendation about that, um,
could his firm assist us and what would it cost and report that back to us as soon as there is an answer? I'll second that. Just even if we don't act on it, I would like to know what we should have done
and could have done. So, we're not acting on the grant right now, but we are asking So, what you're asking is them to come back to us with a recommendation. Okay. Very costly and the cost what would it and very quickly with the understanding that we're going
to have to call special meeting when we get that exactly discuss this. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Do we have any discussions? Do we have any public input on this? Has anybody been here waiting to hear this?
Should we also request that Mr. Wever. Um, that's Do you want to add Mr. Weaver to you? Do you want to amend your motion? Um, yes. I would like to amend my motion um for our interim city manager or someone who she might
designate to also contact Mr. Weaver. Second. Okay. So, you're Okay. Any other discussion? Okay. Commissioner Burton. Hi, Commissioner Moore. Hi,
Commissioner. Hi, Commissioner Devito. Hi, Madam Mayor. So, directed. Yes, sir. Uh, again, the BRC stands ready. If we can assist in any way, uh, please just let me know. Please do. I know Christina
will be in contact. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Thank you very much. Thank you guys for your for your assistance. Okay. So, now we're going to go to our workshops. Yes, ma'am. You'll see the first two items, those workshops have already been
um set and the remaining workshop topics are um topics that you've previously approved and those workshops need to be set. So, Okay. So, we got 9:00 on the 19th these
workshops. Um, and then we have 9:30. Yes. Mayor Myers. Yes, ma'am. If I would ask that the commissioners provide the clerk with additional dates for June.
I I do have Commissioner and Did I not send some I sent you some, but those might be June 16th. June 16th. Okay. And um Mayor, I have a question. Yes. The
there's a list of workshops. Um the one at the bottom says BNA. That's the software for finance department. Oh, okay. Could we piggy back the B as an A on the do part since we're here already on the
19th? Is that Steve? Could you do that? Um, could we be here for that morning? May 19th. I'm sorry. On May 19th, after 6:00 is probably going to take it's probably going to be 10:30. Let's save it to 10:30
and or just immediately following. If we do immediately following ma'am, I have a question. Yes, ma'am. So, I thought we were having workshops sooner. Um, my husband and I have to be
in Dand at 1:00 on the 19th. I believe that's a Monday. Um, do you think do you think we can by noon? AB. I would hope so. See, it wouldn't take more than an hour,
would it? I would think so. Yeah. Had be out of here at 11:30. Okay. Um and then I I don't know. Do we want to um prioritize um you know, put in order which we would like to see happen? Well,
we know he's got the fire station. Um I think that's going to depend that's probably going to depend right now on the chief. Correct. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. So, well, his whenever he's feels that he's able to do that first
that that and quite honestly that and the gas department are um a priority. Um what does everybody look like on the 22nd of May? Hold on.
Anybody on the 22nd of [Music] May available in the morning? First available in the morning. Okay. So, could we do the um could we do both the budget timeline and the natural gas
department that morning? What time? Starting at 9:00. Um, I had the director check in with Katie at the natural gas. We're working on schedules because she's super busy right now.
Um, the the only thing I would mention is um the tree and garden board meets that afternoon on Thursday the 22nd. Yes, I forget. Okay. Just at 1:00, 1 or 2 o' We should be done by then. Start at
9:00 in the morning. I just We will definitely be done by then. Okay. And what is that that we're putting on that? Well, we're looking at natural gas and budget budget and timeline. Um Okay. Will you be ready for that on the on the
22nd of May? What's the budget? The budget and timeline for year 2025 26. And that's just to go over kind of the timeline, the schedule. process.
Um, mayor, yes. To Is there time that morning? Um, one of the items we have on here, I think, is to review the um outcomes of the 2023 fiscal year audit and anything that we should be brought
up to date on. Um, would Steve would Steve be ready to do that? Just to um I don't believe the audit will be completed at that time. It's it's usually not until you talking about
the 23 2324 audit that he's currently working on. Okay. Not the one that we previously had. Um, I was talking actually I think I'm the one who brought this up. What I was talking about was something um that the auditors said that
we should be aware of and you talked about this that we should be aware of what um we are working on in the finance department to go forward so that we wouldn't have deficiencies any policies and procedures that are changing that
kind of thing. just to get an update on we need to be ready for that. It's important for us to know so the budgets and timeline for the year for 2025 26. Can we schedule that on May 22? I'm going to say that. Can we not?
That should be an easy one. Let's go ahead and Can we put that on the 19th? Let's wrap that up. On the 19th. Oh, you have to leave on the 19th. Yeah, that shouldn't take though. But how long should that take? This with the BSN is this is just a
workshop. This is just a workshop. So they're going to do are they going to do a presentation? Yes. Yeah. Okay. Could we limit them to maybe 40 minutes? Okay. So, we limit them to 40 minutes and then we do the timeline immediately following so that we can still get
Commissioner Devito out of here um by no later than 11:45. Okay. And so what are we doing then on Thursday the 22nd? But we're not meeting then. No. Okay. Not unless Not unless um What about
natural gas? Not unless you can get natural gas or for some reason the fire station is even if he's ready for that. I don't know that he will be and you don't think natural gas will be ready either. Okay. So, no nothing. You're clear on the 22nd. Go ahead and make
plans. I don't have um Okay. So, is everyone in agreement with that right now? BSNA. Yes. BSNA is on the 19th immediately following the um I mean uh yeah immediately following
the golf cart and budget and timeline is immediately following the question um before we leave this um workshop topic um didn't we not say that we would have
a workshop on the general animal subject whether they were domestic or wild. Wasn't that one of our topics to be done somewhere? Um just the whole animal control issue is part of right because there was
animal control and then there was domestic a lot. Right. Yes. We can add that in. Um animal control that that whole topic is going to take longer than that's going to that's going to take a while. Right. I just don't want us to
forget. Okay. I don't think any others are forgetting that. I got reminded of that on Tuesday morning. If we could just keep that on list. Okay. Thank you.
Okay, everybody's good with that. Let's go on to the city manager report if we can. Um, is there anything Christina Marie that you need to bring to our attention on your city manager report? Um, no, ma'am. I think I've educated everything that's going on recent in the
report. Unless you have any questions. I don't have anything else. Okay. Commission, you have questioning project. How's that? I know last time I asked about rebitting it. What's going on with that? Right now we have a
pending watering project. Um so um over on this side of town that would kind of be on 308 as well. our public works director um wanted to wait for the striping to happen to maybe um let it coincide with that work so we're not
doing striping and then restriping but have we got the go ahead yet for the south um not yet on that topic um a letter to the state a couple of days ago I'll share that with you this was regarding
this that project right has it's not found anywhere. I mean we we made you see people go over these feet tables way too fast and there were stripes there years ago and they just faded away and we were brought this up a
while ago and then we were told we'll wait until we repave after we repave like I just and if they you know I haven't started this yet the letter that's being passed out is
just an update on the CBDG grant and where we are in the the timeline. So, as you can tell, that is underway. And as far as the striking um the commission approved it the end of latter part of last year and um it went
out for you approved a specific company that company's bid was no longer valid. It was significantly low. Ultimately, I do believe we will have to bring it back um put it out for bid again. Oh, yeah.
Not as yet. No. You know, really this is something that needs to be done for just for safety. Someone's gonna hit one of those feet tables and tear the bottom of the car off. They've never had I don't think they've ever had striping on
North. I can tell you it was poorly done. It was okay. So I just if you would regardless of what happens with the CV CBD. Yeah. You know what I'm talking
about. Um let's I think is that's the feeling from the commission is that we need to move forward and and get that striking. They did a they did a great job over at the um former middle school when they did
the repaving there and the parking lot. Yeah. It was nice. of those yellow tactile pads that are on the the curbs. I hate to read that those were not um for non-skid. Those are for people who are blind. You did not know
that. There was when we did the tour bus two weeks ago, there was several of them missing at Prospect Street and then there was one like down halfway down the block. Did we get that fixed or not? Yes, I've met with FDOT and I have another meeting with the nuclear maintenance department and that meeting
is on I believe the 20th or the 21st and their team will be meeting here. We'll be walking off town. That's one of the subject matters as well as our bricks um crossing the highway. You asked about getting those stained and um and
multiple other issues with DOT. Yeah, they're working with the um also one of the medians if there's something different that we should be able to do with the medians for lower maintenance. Um and uh we had a sign that we were
still waiting. Yeah, there's a thing with those lights that have paid enough to be able to put in from burning all the way up to north city limits out more. There are 12 of them that are out right now and I have sent that
request in um I contacted Carol and we've sent that request into they're not online, right? I I've I've gone online and posted the the complaints. Okay. that and I've also spoken to Carol about it
so she's aware at FPL but there are 12 of them we have anything else you good yes okay so um was passed out to us and the reward that I
needed a letter about the status of the CDBG grant 23dB-N13 Um, and the status of it, it's not clear to me what the CPG is for. It's for the North Main Street water project. And
it's a lift station on 308 as well. That's one of the more important ones that really kind of need to be done. It's very important to get that one done. when we kind of got awarded the grant at the same time as Prospect and South Main. It just went through a whole
different process and took a lot longer. Okay. It was for South Main and No, I'm talking about the ones that are completed. Um there was actually a contract brought to the city that we
signed and there were um specifications in that contract for the protection of the heritage trees. Um, and I talked to Mr. Rud or either Mr. Bhard, I forget. I talked to one of them about this for the status of the contract for the North
Main um project because that also has quite a number of heritage trees and they said that the time had not come yet to sign that contract. I don't where does that process fall in this timeline?
August of 2025, award contract and submit contractor procurement package to Florida Commerce for VA. Okay. But is that a contract hopefully that we will sign? Yes. Yeah. Award the contractor and then we're going to advertise for
construction bids in July of 2025 and then we will have that probably at the August meeting and then we'll have we'll make that recommendation. I mean that award that contractor and they go forward, right? So then it would be the advertising for construction bids.
It would be my understanding that that would be the time to make sure that we include because we had an entire workshop with midtower to make sure that we include the same um agenda and provisions for protection of those areas.
Jason was that was part of it because they removed he redid the plans for the more we did all that together. So which should be the exact same okay coming from our engineer to go I mean that wants to do the construction to pack it. So okay well I just want to make sure
that that does not get lost in the shop because I think we have some of the largest trees in town. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. I do appreciate it. and just enjoy a few extra copies back. And also with this,
this is important to our um to our fire station as well for the ambulance um because of the water issue and being able to get the the water. So, it's going to be more beneficial to us and cost effective if this goes in
place before we go forward with that. We're all hoping that the timing works out that the new station can tie into this new water project. That would certainly be ideal. Um I I am very encouraged because um and
I know I've I've placed several phone calls and haven't gotten anything back. I think they're all taking a break right now as we know after session everybody has to decompress. So it's hard to get much information out of anybody immediately following. Um it's your understanding they're coming back next
week. I thought they were coming back um later. So I was told June second they extended it to June second. The encouraging part though is that they have reached out to us again um regarding the fire station, not our
water man, but but the fire station. They've asked for additional information just like they did last year and Christina Marie and the chief have taken care of getting to them. So that's encouraging. Last year um they started that
conversation. The first year they did the first year we applied there was we didn't hear anything from them. So hopefully that means that they had told us last year that if we give you a million this year can you come back next year which we did. Right. and I I cannot
figure it out but I as to which version of the budget it's in but the fire station you know it's got to be a conference so my suggestion was going to be at some point on this agenda um that we talk about saying something about
because we have a historic preservation plan in there too um to support that and do we need to actually write a letter of support to the appropriate house Senate for the fire station. I don't know. Heard the senator would probably like to
hear that. We appreciate him getting in our getting budget because I have a feeling it's funny the senate sign house is more than I do. I do want to also bring something up
that um and I I don't know how I don't know how we go forward with this, but in your in your report um Christina um I know that the magistrate they have a a meeting this upcoming week. We've got chestnuts become an issue
again. So, um with Pam, we've let it get out of hand. We worked on abading that property, cleaning that property up and um it's it's almost right back or it's
headed right back where it was before. It's living right there in those conditions. Um the neighbors, it's not fair to the neighbors and we've worked on that. with Pam. Um rather than reacting, um I I do believe she should
be more um aware of what's going on before it gets past that point. So I just in talking in talking to her um because now we're in a situation where we're right back almost where we were and
um it's it's just it's just a bad situation over there. So you would talk to Pam about that and making sure that before these properties get to that point, let's be proactive and not
reactive. Um, okay. Do we have anything else on that? If not, I move on to um do you have so it's under my item at least but the um as I think all of you are aware by
this time I was made aware of and provided copy of a complaint by an employee uh against a commissioner. Um let me first state that the purpose of this uh discussion right now is not
to conduct a trial or hearing or factf finding uh sessions tonight. Um instead the purpose is for me to advise you of options that you have. As you know you can't talk to each other except in this context since the
complaint is against a commissioner. There really is no one who is uh designated in uh in your policies, procedures or ordinances to uh investigate or to take action regarding the complaint which leaves you as the
authority who would be uh responsible for that. So, the complaint alleges behavior that u could be characterized as a a setting or situation that that uh
could be termed a hostile work environment. Um I think that uh your options are many but one of the options that you don't have is to ignore the complaint. So from that perspective and let me
reiterate I think I did in an email to all of you. I've not investigated the complaint. Um nothing I say is intended to comment on the merits of the complaint. I've done I've not talked to anyone uh firsthand directly that was u
either the complainant or a witness. So and I don't and I don't intend to investigate it. I think that my role as attorney for the commission would make it inappropriate for me to be involved in any investigation of the complaint against the commissioner, but I think that the
complaint has to be looked into unless you're going to determine that you have some reason to believe that the complaint was made in good faith. I don't have that. I have no knowledge of that. If you do, then that would that would be, I suppose, a reason for not
moving forward with an investigation. But unless someone has that information, uh then I think that you're going to have to move forward in some format to investigate the complaint. And I think that probably that would involve you u uh I believe reaching out to League of
Cities or the attorney that's represented the city in the past in litigation uh involving liability issues for a recommendation as to somebody who might investigate the complaint. I don't think the investigation make it very clear I don't
think any of us should direct the course of the investigation but based upon my understanding of the nature of the complaint I don't think you're talking about a real extensive investigation probably involve interviews of the people involved and if there were any witnesses that that uh that could add or
shed light to the to the u situation and obviously the investigator would want to talk to them but again I would not want to be in any way involved in directing I don't think you should either. Bring the investigator in, get the complaint, he or she the complaint and let them go whichever direction they think they need to go. At some point, I think a report
comes back to you. Um, and that report then would be uh for you to consider. Uh and then at that point for you to make a decision as to what is anything to do and your options go from you know pretty much
uh a discussion to a reprimand to a censure to a recommendation to re refer the complaint to the division of ethics. You don't have the power to remove a commissioner. I think you all know that only the the governor would be in a position to do that and that would be
that would be only if there were probably circumstances that the the department of ethics or division of ethics found to warrant that. So in essence and in some I'm not asking for looking for or recommended there be some
kind of a hearing tonight at all. I am recommending that again unless you someone has reason to believe that the play was played in bad faith. I did not have that knowledge but unless someone is going to take that stance then I think there needs to be an investigation and I think that investigation needs to
be done by by a third party and then you go from there. Okay. Yes, go ahead. I was just gonna say I I just believe me, I've been thinking about this all week and
um I don't know about League of Cities or how they would actually get involved with an investigation. I don't know if they really have a [Music] uh a group of people to actually invest things like this. I wouldn't suggest
that they do it. I would my point was they might suggest someone to you who you know of or other in similar circumstances right and or like I said your attorney could the attorney who represented you and in in liability
matters might be the same um I would not want to make the recommendation either I would not my firm involved in and I think the reason for that is obviously contract and and of course the commission really can't make um we we can't do anything with it. We we're not
judges here. We're just commissioners. And um but but there is uh a place to put ethics complaints and that's actually the state commissioner of ethics. you know, I don't know how else to to do
it, but Well, I think there's a procedure um when you when you look this up, there is you go to North Florida, I mean, not Florida, if you go to Florida cities, but um there is a there is a procedure and the first one is you acknowledge and then you send them on for an
investigation. Okay. So, like John said, I think we would have to refer it. Now, though I do know that the Florida League of Cities, anytime I have tried to talk to them um on a legal issue, they will absolutely not talk to us, um they would
only want to talk to the attorney. So, I guess who would be would you be the one to to speak to them for their or send it on to them? I mean, I could be a conduit without because as I've I have no information about your marriage
complaint. I have intentionally not talked to anybody about the complaint other than to to read it. So, sure, I don't mind doing that, but I I don't know that I was looking that I was recommending that they become involved as an investigatory agency. I'm not sure they would. I was simply much like you
sought assistance in deciding who might assist you in the city manager search. They might have a pool of you know folks who they said are are in our area who could do it uh efficiently and and hopefully relatively inexpensively so that you have a third party set of third
party eyes on it that probably still would come out of their legal office. And I just know all experiences I've had with them, they will not talk to you unless unless you're the attorney. So that would be so that's where we would
have to start. That's where we that's where we would start. So So you're So you going to cities now to make a decision? No. No. That's not what we're saying. That's not that's not what he said at all. He said we would have to have an independent
investigation. Yeah. No, I understand. And so that's where we would go is because he can't do the investigation, we can't do the investigation. So it would be somebody in the first, you know, that's who we go to always for um for legal advice outside of Dawn is the
League of Cities. And so they hopefully could recommend somebody who could do this in this internal investigation um and be objective and not subjective. And that's what we that's and generate a report fairness to everyone. That's what
you would have to have is an objective um um investigator. Yeah. I mean that's you get it. And then they'll bring their recommendation. They would bring their recommendation back to us or at least they bring back their findings. They
would bring back their findings and at that point in time then we could we the commission could could determine um a course of action. And of course the the complainant has the right to go directly to the division of ethics
in terms of an ethics complaint. But I don't think you can defer since the complaint was made to you. I don't think you can advocate and say that that's the complaint's only option. And so I'm not saying that I want to make clear that I'm not saying that you are in any way limiting
the complaintants avenues of of redress. I'm just saying that since it's been made to you, I think you have an obligation to act on it. And and independent of that, that complainant can make their own complaint to the division of ethics if they wish.
Okay. Independent of this. Yes. Okay. Okay. So, I need a motion. Okay. Well, I move that we that Mr. homes contacts the cities to find a
investigator or to get their suggestion or find some investigator that can investigate and bring back. Well, I'm going to need a second. I mean, so this is an acknowledgement. So, um, Don, help me out here because I
don't want to say anything outside of what I could, but you said already that we either acknowledged that if someone's got a different option, then I guess they can put it on the table, but but as I in my opinion, the option that doesn't exist is to ignore
it or do nothing. So, we have a proper motion. No, we don't. Did you? I do have a problem. [Music] She could. Okay. I'm sorry. I thought you did. I didn't know if you didn't. Okay. I I'll go.
Okay. Motion in a second. Do we do we have um Do we have any discussion? Any further discussion? Well, actually, I haven't. Okay. Um, I'm the person who's the subject of the
complaint. Um, it's been published in the newspaper and um, in his email to us, Mr. Holmes said he would recommend um, that we do it and the city have an investigation that would afford due
process. So, as the subject of the complaint, I am very interested in being afforded due process because when you're an elected official, and this could happen to any of us on any particular topic, um you
don't get the same kind of due process as if you're an employee. If you look at our procedures, our p policies and procedures for the city as a whole, um, if there's a harassment complaint
against and Mr. Holmes described this, I believe, as harassment, I think that was I don't think so. Hostile work environment. That's how work environment that was in. Um then there is a process for investigation and there's a time to
talk to both sides. When you're a commissioner that becomes public record so a certain I'm sorry can I just please finish? Yeah. So obviously um if you're the person complained against you have an interest in having due process which
Mr. Mr. Mons is recommending a recommendation and this topic hasn't come up but am I allowed to vote on the motion as to what to do? You and I talked this morning and we didn't talk about you did you didn't ask. Thank you.
And I was going to ask that before we took a vote because just to make sure because otherwise if you're if you're allowed to recuse yourself or not. Is that right? Well, I mean, obviously you have an interest in the outcome of the
vote. So, the interest, some people define interest as being purely economic. I think I go a little bit beyond that from my perspective. If if a person has what appears to be a conflict in the outcome of a
vote and that conflict uh is is very apparent then I think there's there's a in my opinion it would be most appropriate to abstain from voting. Okay. So that means if it's do I fill
out the um ethics conflict form? You can certainly fill out the ethics conflict because either because if I'm supposed to vote and I don't vote, then that's an ethics violation. Well, I don't accept that. Uh what I I you are I
just gave my legal advice. You don't have to follow it. You can do whatever you choose, but I gave my legal advice. As I've said before, I don't direct anybody as to what they do. I provide my advice and then you go as you see fit. Also, I didn't say that the investigation will provide due process
in our conversation. And in my email, I said that I didn't think there was a specific process established in your ordinances or codes that described how to move forward with a the processing of a complaint of this type. So I thought
the general guidelines of due process should control. I still think that that was it. Yes. Yeah. Exactly. And that's exactly what I said and I still think that. And in my opinion, due process involves first an investigation allows I didn't say the investigation only take the information from the complainant
investigation to take information from all sides and then the information be brought back and there'd be multiple levels of I guess opportunity to to discuss and and and find. So um
yeah, I'll just leave it at that. I just have one question now. the League of Cities. If we do this with the League of Cities and it does it
become See, I know through um is it part of the Sunshine Law? Does I mean will it will it be whatever they whatever they're doing is it out in the open? Whereas I know like with uh the um
ethics commission, they if they take it, it's closed until they're finished. The results of the investigation would be public record. There be no requirement that the investigator speak to people in a public setting. No.
Okay. I'm just I'm just throwing that out there because you know immediately what's going on is always out there you know every soap oper the commission we the commission
um you know I'm just questioning right un unfortunately it was in the paper um to both to both of you I apologize um I knew they did a public records request and I did ask the paper I did them please not
to I I did I'll admit it you know just can you can you just wait um and it's it's the papers paper um I apologize you both had to go through that um goodness knows I've gone through it and I know
several of us have gone through it and so we know how that what that's like um and it's no fun for for anybody um but I do believe that you know with the due process, but we as commissioners, we also um need to just
as we would anything in a confidential manner. Um, hold it close, please. Everyone hold it close. But I'm sure that an investigator I would only hope and I think if they came back to us with a recommendation, that would be the one
thing is to make sure that that both you and the complainant had an opportunity to share your site. And I don't know, again, I'll reiterate, I don't know that you're looking for in a recommendation from an investigator, right? But but just in their in their findings, you're
looking for fines. I apologize. Again, I'm fine. And then you decide what to do with the findings. Um, if I can just say one thing. Um as the commissioner who is the subject of the complaint um the
complaint itself has been substantially published in the paper. So certainly um I welcome the recommended investigation. Um I would like to be treated fairly. I would like for the
person making the complaint to be treated fairly. Um, and at some point in this process, um, I spoke to Mr. Holmes briefly this morning. Um, this has been very upsetting to me and I understand, um, the whatever happened, that person
who made a complaint was obviously upset. Um, but I would like to be treated fairly and I think that involves an impartial investigator to, as Mr. Holmes has recommended to sort out the facts um and to do basically what would
be the parallel process for a commissioner who is a subject of a complaint um the similar process that would take place for an employee but we don't have a provision for that. So, I'm just asking to please be treated fairly
and to have this move forward and as well um to have the person who made the complaint also be treated fairly and have this dealt with expeditions. I think that's what the to me that's what the motion does.
We have a motion and a second. Yes, sir. We have public comment. Yes, sir. I have a simple question. Uh if all parties agree, would a simple apology uh be satisfied to everyone? You're asking me? I'm asking everyone.
That's not up to us. That's not up to us. That's up to um That would be up to a complaint has been filed. If uh from my perspective at this point, unless the complainant were to voluntarily come forward and say that
they did not wish the complaint to be investigated or pursued, it would not be for us to to start trying to broker a deal by asking if an apology will eliminate the concern. Thank you. Yes, sir.
I've seen this before. This is this is a smear with the city and the black Daily News. Uh how they find how do they get to the paper? This should have been handled between the two parties and the
city manager and maybe the attorney and a closed office at the lowest position trying to get this solved. But it ends up on the front page of the paper with a picture above. And what the paper finds
important, something of a he said, she said, and the witnesses, what they don't find important is examples of when we had Dale Walker, who had SEC violations uh against him, didn't make the front
page of the paper. um the late audit that was just published for uh 2022 2023 that had 1 over $1.4 million in misstatements. Did that make the paper? Out of 411 municipalities in
Florida, we are the ninth highest in the entire state for municipal rate. And Miss Ames, was she not didn't she help you on a campaign?
And also, uh, you know, uh, when a couple members of the commission handed, uh, uh, one of the citizens to run against Lisa to get her out of uh, that seat. Who is her
girlfriend? Who's her girlfriend? Melanie. So, this is a smear. This is a smear. Thank you. Your comments are very disappointing, but thank you. Um, okay.
We currently have a motion and a second. Madam Commissioner Burton, I. Commissioner Warren, I. Commissioner Lori. Hi, Commissioner. And on the vice advice of Mr. Holmes, I
am going to recuse myself and if someone will give me the proper paperwork to fill out, I will fill that out. Myers, thank you. Um, I do have one request, actually two requests. Um, when I spoke to Mr. on this morning just to
get an idea of what I could do and not do. Um he suggested that potentially um Miss Bley might even be the person to hire. Um I would prefer and to just have fairness that we have someone who is not
connected with the city and does not know any of us. Um, I think that would certainly um I think that would just be more fair. Not I didn't suggest that Miss Early be the one. I may have
misunderstood. Yeah. In the past, I've gone to her in similar settings and asked for a pool of people who might investigate and she's given me names. Right. Pick one. I have no objection for that. I thought I heard
you say um cuz we talked on the Zoom call. I thought I heard you say that she might be a candidate. Oh, no. I'm sorry if I if you I'm sorry I didn't make that more clear. I did not I did not intend that. Um that's fine. Um and the other thing is um I asked Mr.
if it would be appropriate since this has been in the paper. Um if it would be appropriate for me to submit for the record just um a brief written account of my idea of what happened, not to read
it here, but just to put it in the record. Um and he said that was permissible. And I believe it is. Um it's a public meeting. She there has been a complaint that has been made public. I didn't make it public. I don't know who who uh
advised the paper, but they made a very request. And I think that it, you know, number one, it's not inappropriate for her to to have a response. U and and a written response is the cleanest because, you know, it's there. Um and
much like the complaint, it was a written statement. I hope we don't end up trying this case in the press with the press going to one and two back and forth. I have no idea. Um you know that's why I'm afraid of but paying
attention to that. Well no it is what it is. Yeah it is. So um you know there's well I'll just leave it at what I've said. I mean remember this also uh
there's any of you who have been employed with superiors uh in positions where there are people above you in in rank of one nature or another understand that there's a bit of a coercive atmosphere implied at least if a
superior tries to talk to a subordinate about a complaint for instance and it's taken as a suggest suggestion that the complaint should go away. You understand what I'm saying? If you've ever been in that position, you do understand what I'm saying. And that's kind of that that
superior subordinate relationship exists where you have commissioners and and employees. Um, so I think exactly what Miss Devito said is 100% correct. Fairness is a two-way street. It can't be fair to one without being fair to the
other. It's it's either fair or it's not to everybody concerned. out of fairness. Mr. Vito said, "Look, there's a there's a statement out there that says I did things. I'm really in kind of a loss as to how I can respond because someone had told her in the past that she like made
a response that could be considered violation of the sunshine law because she's communicating something." And I told her that in my opinion that at a public meeting like this, if she wanted to prod produce a written statement, I saw nothing at all wrong with it with her putting her her, you know, some statement out there on the table. uh
sooner or later it's going to come out in an investigator's report anyway because certainly an investigator would have both accounts of what occurred in the report. Um so it's it's not a situation anybody wants to find themselves in. It's uncomfortable talking about it even here
with everybody present um for everybody's and and but like I said before if you don't address it then you you have a complaint about what someone considered to be inappropriate contact by a commissioner that you've not done
anything with and um that that is the grounds that is the beginning of the potential for an allegation that there's There's a hostile work environment that's been created. Someone said I'm being treated badly and you're saying
okay understand what I'm saying? Yes. So and I'm not saying that you again. Let me say it one more time real clearly. I nothing I've said is intended as a comment on the mayor's complaint. I don't know. Okay. Got that. And madam clerk, just
for the record, um, for clarification, you received a public record request, correct, from the paper. Yes, ma'am. Um, so, mayor, I I do have a written statement to provide to the clerk. And
as well, if I Mr. Holmes said, it would be appropriate for me just to say something very brief that does not go to the merits of anything. Um, but that I would just like y'all to know a couple of things. May I please? Okay. Um, obviously everyone knows that
a complaint has been filed by an employee and if you read the paper, you know that it was against me. It is very distressing to me that um, anything I said would make a city employee feel upset enough to file a formal complaint.
Um, I always try to treat others as I wanted to be treated myself. So, it's very upsetting to me to hear that something or things that I said made someone feel that bad. And um I
appreciate uh that one of the speakers said, "Well, would an apology be okay?" Um I would even want to ask that at this point of the person who made the complaint. That did not come from me. And as well um if you read the newspaper
story, you'll know um that there was a quote from me. The paper called me and they asked me for a quote and because it was a commission issue, I because of the sunshine law, I did not want to say anything substantive um outside of a
meeting. But I do want to say to you all that um a harmonious environment in the city is very important to me. Um, having people feel comfortable here is very important to me and I am very sensible
as to how that feels because several years ago there was a city employee at a very high level who's no longer here um who was very abusive and demeaning to me. And I did bring that up in a meeting and nothing was done. And that person
also swore at me in a public meeting and nobody made any comment um whatsoever. So, I know how that feels and um whatever happens, I'm very happy there's an investigation and hopefully there'll be an opportunity to sort things out and
make it right because I want to feel comfortable here and I want others to feel comfortable here as well. And I would just like to point out that um we have uh a policy resolution
202301. Um we adopted rules and procedures for commission meetings. That was something that I brought to the commission and asked for because I felt like we weren't being necessarily courteous enough to each other. Um and
there were, you know, just some issues as to how we treated each other and the public. And so I brought that forward. So I do care very much and I appreciate your time and listening to how I feel about it. So thank you. Thank you very
much. Good. Okay. We're going to move on. Commissioner Devito, you had um two items that you wanted to bring up. Um yes. One of them just put this to bed and sorry I've misplaced my agenda. I
forget which one was first. You had the um consideration to reschedule the August commission meeting. Oh, not necessarily that we should do it today, but that we should be aware. The schedule's not out yet, but it looks like this year um the League of Cities
conference that we usually go to is going to conflict with our regularly scheduled. So, we could do that at the June meeting and put it on the agenda for the June meeting. Um I would think that and then
um just so the public would have a heads up and maybe the schedule would be up then because then we'd know what the you know they differ the schedule. I mean they vary sometimes. And then the other thing um I kind of wanted to put to bed I had asked whether
there was enough interest um with the members of the commission. There's the um ICMA, the International City County Managers Association training on a variety of subjects for 15 hours that was available for group break that if we
wanted to take it and we all signed up um we could split the cost amongst us. Um I have not I don't see anybody else asking this to be on the agenda. Um I will probably go ahead and spend some of my training money to do it. So if
assuming it's still available. Um so anyway, just wanted to to know if anybody else wants to jump in if it would make sense to go through the whole um deal. I think it's a great idea. It really does cover a lot information and
you can do it pace and it's just a computer anywhere. It actually was really well done. And if I had any training money or if I have any training money, I'm glad she was the price. What was the group
price? I don't I don't call I think I think 8.95, but that was that was Well, you don't have to do it together, right? But that would be forever. That would give us all the license the license. Yes. So, um I
didn't do the math, but I assumed that five and you have I think how many months to do it? I think you could ask them to extend it to if you don't get it done. I think I can either have at least four months to do the training. Can I make a
suggestion? Sure. That as we go into and and I agree it probably would be very beneficial for everyone. Um you should always be learning something. Um, should we make this part of as we go into the budget? Because, um, I know
that several of you are going to be going to the conference and I don't know if I have to go to the conference this year or not, but um, that's going to eat up a tremendous amount of our money, which it does. Um, so maybe that's
something that as we go into the budget, we talk about that in the budget. One of the things on budgeting, right? That's Well, we're not going to get to the budgeting right now. I mean, I'm not so You might, but Well, I was just going to
say that's the irony of it. It applies a lot of it applies to the budgeting process, but um I usually um I usually absorb a lot of the cost of my training. So, I will probably go up go ahead and
sign up for it and do the budget section. Um, but yes, I I think we should talk about it in this year's budget. Absolutely. Great idea. Thank you for bringing that up. Do you have any um I do have
something I need to mention to Don. Um, but do you have anything else? And I should have done it, Don. I know you got um Mr. Rudd, he sent out an email. Did you get his email? I did not see it. Okay.
I didn't read it. there's some concern and I think as we go into this talking about this with the CRAAS and with what's going on legislatively with the CRAAS and um he just as a reminder and this is
just something that for us too that um if the agency sunsets the districts cannot continue to operate even though they've not reached their sunset date and um so if you would just um and I'll make sure that we provide a copy of this to all the
commissioners as well. It's just he just recommend that if you talk to the Cliff Shepard is the attorney for the FRA and he can help explain it and answer questions that about extending out extending this out because our central one I think expires in 2028.
So anyway, okay. Yeah. And I'll and I'll make sure that y'all get all the commissioners have a copy. We'll get it sent. And that's from Charles Web. Yes. Oh, and still looking out for us. Okay. And it's dated when is that recent? Like this week? Yeah.
Those are the bills on the pass. Um I thought they changed a few things. They did change quite a bit. Rolled it into the budget talks that shouldn't be. So what he's saying is that due to the recent legislation that would have resulted in the end of CRAAS,
we've had a lot of discussions. Um this is with the board of redevelopment association board of directors on the proper functioning of community redevelopment agencies. A distinction that came up is that when a CRA is created, both the community redevelopment agency and the community
reevelopment area, the district have matching sunset dates. When a city adds additional districts with their own sunset days, the original agency still has the original sunset date. If the agency sunsets, the district cannot continue to operate even though they
have not reached their sunshine. I am concerned that this may not this may have happened in Crescent City in 2028 when um city forms and north and south CRA districts with 30-year sunset, I'm sorry, 2018 sunset dates. the
original agency will sunset in 2028. I believe he said it can be extended at least another 10 years but possibly more if it was formed before a date specified in changes to the statute. Um so anyway okay I'll look at
our central is currently extended to 2035 the central I thought it was that's what I said to him and I thought it was extended to 2035 for the north to south of 2015. I thought that sounded I said I
said that um to him as well that I thought that it was 2035. I thought it was 2028. I appreciate him writing to us but um I think we would have had that discussion when we decided to be a main street program if it was that short. Um
I just don't remember that. So anyway, that's it. Okay. If everything's else is okay, can I get in? One more question. Yes. I keep asking I don't know why I don't get answers but the fire hydrant at the
corner of Summit has been open for years at least. I know and I know that we did the the rest of the projects and replace them all but it's still there and I asked Michaelard about this. I asked Charles about I still never found
an answer. You know why? Yes. Now, now I'm just sitting on the city manager that you're sitting there. Can you tell me? You know, I um public works about it. I will double check tomorrow and get you a answer to why it's
not. They did all of the fire. Yeah. All nice and new. I don't know why that didn't get Are you sure it wasn't abandoned? I think it's right there. I'm pretty sure it's
Oh, South State on that side. Okay. Um there was something to I mean I have one quick question. Um, do we feel that um it's necessary to
have any authorization for us to contact our state representative for Senator Lee um on the fire station and the um historic preservation grant or um do we think that's necessary? I mean, should
we do it? And if we do it, do we need to vote to do it? Um, that's that's your call. That's your commission wants to do that. Okay. So, we're not going
to go as we've been going on. I mean, I was, like I said, I called and left the message for them. But I mean obvious that we're still supportive of it. Okay. So I would just need to we need to keep a watch on
that. All right. That's motion. Oh, I'm sorry. Um I move that we second. Okay. A motion and a second. All in favor, please say I.