--------- regular meeting along with our CRA meeting. The date is September 10th, 2025. It is approximately 6:02 p.m. Welcome everyone here tonight. Um at this time, I would ask Commissioner Moore if you would please lead us an
invitation. Stand if you are able. Let's bow our heads. Dear heavenly father, once again, we want to thank you for waking us up today to this brand new day we never seen before. We thank you for your grace and for your mercy. We thank you for traveling mercy on today.
We thank you for how you took care of us all day long. We ask that you be with us this evening and help us to agree and disagree in unity and love. Help us to do those things that are pleasing in your sight. It will forever praise your name. All these blessings we do ask in thy son Jesus name. Amen.
Amen. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all.
Thank you again. Thank you everyone for being here this evening. It's nice to have a little bit of sunshine. Um I think we're all a little water logged. So with that, I'm going to go ahead and Madame Clerk, if you would please do the
roll call. Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Lisa Kango. Present. Commissioner William Lorie. Present. Commissioner Wend Moore here. Commissioner Cynthia Burton here. City Manager Derek Martin
here. City Attorney Donald Holmes here. Finance Director Steve Conquist City Manager CRA Manager Christina Murray present. Mayor Myers present. Thank you very much. With that,
I'm going to go into our announcements. We've got quite a few announcements. Fall is in the air. Um, so first I want to talk about they've got the 2025 fall speaker series. Howard Blastic,
you know how to pronounce that? Blastic to and from Putnham County by rail. He will be here September 18th at 400 PM to speak to the Futland Peninsula Historical Society. That will be at the Woman's Club which is located on Summit
on Summit um Street and that is at 4:00 in the afternoon. says that he is a black native. Um he retired from Florida Power and Light in 1999 and he's been a member of the Atlantic Coast Line and Seapport Airline
Historical Society for over 32 years. He has railroads in his jeans and his grandfather was employed as a bridge tender with Florida East Coast Railroad. Should be very interesting. Um it'll be a brief history on the first railroads to be constructed in Putnham County. So, if you're available on the
18th, which is next Thursday, correct? Um, make sure you stop by the women's club for the uh Peninsula Historical Society. And then we've got the um this is going to be the October Fest,
which is Saturday, October 25th at 6 PM. It's at the Crescent City Women's Club. They're hosting this. The cost is $20. They've got German goulash, curry fruit, dessert and drink, beer and wine is going to be available for a donation.
They're sponsoring the pink out Putinham cancer donations. And I don't know if any of you have ever um seen that, but that's with all the flamingos and the and the pink ribbons that they put out in October. And then of course their bunko. They're continuing with their bunko. I'm glad to see that that just
keeps going and going. That's Wednesday, September 17th from 1 to 3:00 p.m. The cost is six $6. That also is at the U Crescent City Women's Club and bingo. $20 dinner and bingo Friday,
September 19th, which is next Friday. If you feel lucky, I don't know how many of you didn't do so well with the Powerball. This is your opportunity. Jackpot payout is $50. Tickets are available at the door. All winners will be paid with local gift certificates and you must be 18 years of age and I know
that usually starts at doors open at 5 and at 5:45 is usually when bingo kicks off. Is that correct for our women club numbers here? Is that right? 5:30 5:45. Be there at 5 so you don't miss out and you get your card and you're you're ready to
socialize. Excuse me. Socialize. Oh yeah, socialize. Yeah. Um, and then we've got, so this is with, um, also at the women's club, we've got the yard and bake sale. That's Friday, September 12th
and Saturday, September 13th from 8:00 a.m. to 400 pm. So, it's a big bake sale. If you have any questions, please contact Maryanne um, with the women's club. And let's see, we got a lot going on. Pal Memorial. They have their their fall
sleeve market and yard sale. That's going to be Friday and Saturday, October 10th and 11th from 8 to 2. There'll be multiple vendors, great deals, fun food for all. And there's food available at the Fellowship Hall. They're going to have breakfast from 8 to 11:00 and lunch
from 11 to 2. Breakfast will be biscuits with egg and sausage and bacon or cheese. And then, of course, hamburgers and hot dogs. You can't ever do wrong with hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch. They also still have space available if anybody wants to do vending.
And then the big one we've got coming up. This is for our Swine and Wine. So Swine and Wine is put on by the um our uh Rotary Club of Crescent City. It's October 4th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to 1000
p.m. at Crescent Lake Farms. The tickets now are $75. You can ask about table rates. I believe we've got several um Rotary members here in the audience that will be more than happy to sell you a ticket. Is that right?
And that always goes for our raising dollars for scholars, which is a great program that the Rotary Club here in town does for our um for our our seniors and I think senior high school students. Yeah,
that's true. Um, uh, I believe that's everything that we have. So, there's a lot going on. Yes, ma'am. Do you have another announcement? I've heard the vintage and artist market is at 310
on September 27th and 28th. Oh. Oh, that's right. September 27th and 28th. Yes. October. The end of October. Yeah. So, that's going to be Would you like to speak a little bit about that? you or I think Tim's here. Would one of you like
to get up and say just a little bit about that? He's closer. Okay. Hi everyone. The vintage market is going to be the 27th and 28th. It's going to be inside and outside. We're going to have many
good vendors, antique uh dealers from Palaka and Dand and the area. And we'll have music and food trucks and the um market explorer will be used also. So that's September 27th 28th. Okay, great.
Should I talk about bike tests also? You can. I think we'll talk about it again next month, but go ahead. Throw it in there. Well, you did a lot of the October ones. I thought I'd go. I know they put them in there. So go ahead. Okay. So October 25th, we're going to have a fall festival bike fest. It's
going to be on Central Avenue and the Market Square. We're combining the fall festival with the the fall f with the bike fest and it's a new development. So, we'll have vintage bikes, vintage
motorc Yeah, let's say motorcycles. So, they'll in the audience motorcycles and vintage cars, food trucks, lots of vendors, live band, two bands actually, stage. So, a lot going on from 9 to 3 on
October 25th. 9 to five. 9 to 5. Okay. Thank you very much. With that, we're going to close out our announcements. Um I'm going to move on to our public comments. I have um one
speaker card, so I'm going to open up public comments at this time. We have um Sharon Stein. Yes, ma'am. If you would come forward, please state your name and your address if you will. And you
welcome. Hi. I'm kind of a new resident. It was a year in August. My father and I bought this um 105y old house that had been vacant for a long time on the corner of
Maine in Florida. It's 19 North Main. Um, we were always been interested in, you know, old houses, but my mother passed away. Born and raised in Miami and Hollywood and retired. I wore Baker
for many years. Anyway, there was a little bit of a problem when I first moved in. You know, there were guys all hours of the night on the corner or whatever. Uh suddenly the man that owned the house, he passed away of natural causes
and then everything was quiet. Well, there's like now he's gone and then there's the Shepherd's Garage across the street and then the hardware store and then the lumber yard and then a vacant
house which is 21 M North Main Street and then mine is the twostory one on the corner. I kept feeling like I was being watched.
Okay. The man that lived behind me had pushed a camper and a cargo trailer in the yard when we bought the house. So, we kept telling him for 6 months, "Could you move it? If you can't move it, we'll tow it out and put it." You know, him and his sister both live on the corner.
They have a lot a lot of property. So, I'll move it. I'll move it. Well, my father got ill and had to go back to Dave, Florida to, you know, to his heart doctors, whatnot. So, I'm here in the house by myself. So, I start hearing people coughing and
stuff and realize there's people smoking crack in the camper that was pushed in my backyard. And one day I come walking out and this one guy says to me, he goes, "Are you there by yourself? You know, I have dogs and everything." And I said, "What are you talking about?" He
goes, "I hear you in there talking to somebody all the time at like 2 o'clock in the morning." I'm like, "First of all, I'm in there talking to my dog. What? How can you get me at 2:00 in the morning? My house is like 4 feet off of the ground, you know, and it's got wooden floors, you know, and there's
some gaps cuz we were installing new floors. Well, he was in that camper. So, they come walking out one day and my family comes pulling in from Miami and the guy comes walking out of the camper and he starts saying, "Hey, who are you people?" It's my father and my daughter and they went. So, needless to say, the
campers get moved, you know, whatever. Now, I still keep getting the feeling that somebody's watching. I'm standing in my kitchen. I see the house next door and I can see down a hallway and there's a candle sitting on a table and there's
somebody sitting in front of it. I can see the outline of the face. I kind of panicked and I thought, did I see that or is that a reflection off the TV from the living room shining on? Cuz I got these solid glass windows. Well, I go out the next day to mow and
you notice a window open and then there's a pane of glass missing put somewhere else. I look and I see the candle in there. So, I try to find out who owns the house and everything cuz I thought, well, you know, I buy it and my grandkids could, you know, raise their
kids. And anyway, this guy comes one day to mow the grass and I approach him. He says, "Well, I'm the one that owns the house." I said, 'Well, I think there's somebody in there, you know, and he didn't say anything. So, fast forward to two weeks ago, I'm I
go to go out on my porch and I see this one guy that's kind of well known around here. He's on a bicycle. He's a homeless guy. Crawls to the houses around here and goes to sleep. We've got pictures of him. Got pictures of his stuff and everything. Anyway, he doesn't see me on
my porch because I have an extra refrigerator and I had the door open. I was inside there. So, when he went by, he didn't see me. So, he parks the bike in the street right on Main Street. And he goes up and he starts trying to pull wood off the windows and pull the door
open. So, I'm like, "Get out of there. You don't live there. Nobody lives there." He says, "I'm allowed to be here." I go, "No, you're not." I said, "You need to leave." He goes, "I'm not in your yard." I said, "I don't carry you over there. you don't belong over there. Blah blah blah blah. He says,
"Don't tell me what to do." So then he starts I go, "That's it. I'm going to call the cops or whatever." So he gets on his bike. He leaves. I go over there and I look now. He's trying to pull this door open, but there's no screen in the
porch windows anymore. So there was a guy stuck in there. I've got pictures. There's somebody living in there. There's there's a smell of gasoline. There's matches and lighters and cigarettes and, you know, pieces of marijuana stuff laying there. There are
cans, right? So, we take a picture and I'm waiting for the cops to come. So, then the cops come and they go, "Well, there's nothing we can do." And I go, "Well, I know who the guy is that I caught." And the more I started thinking about it, I go, "You know what? I don't think he's the guy that's in there
because he would have climbed through the window, but he's old like me, so he couldn't." But he was trying to break in and get the other homeless guys stuck because that's what he does. I find out, right? So the cops come, they say there's nothing they can do. Blah blah
blah. So as these two weeks go by, I call again, they come out, they go, "Well, we'll go talk to him." I go, "Well, let me drag that stuff out and put it by the road." They go, "No, you're not allowed to go in there. We have to have permission from the person on the
property." Whatever. I go, he doesn't have permission. Not only that, he's not only in the front porch. He wants you to think that because they steal each other's stuff. What he did was he took the plywood off the door entrance and he sneaks in behind that plywood and he's
in that house. That's why I saw him in that room, you know. Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you that. I apologize. I have a question. Okay, wait just a second. We're kind of over your time. your time. Okay. But no, we we still want to. I just we
Well, the guys that runs the thrift shop, I'll just say this really quick. As we were pulling in the parking lot, he said, "Sharon, where are you?" He says, "I'm over here feeding cats by the lumber company." He says, "I just seen the guy you were talking about crawling through the window into the house." Okay. Commissioner Burton has a question
for you, and I'm going to ask our city manager for some for some direction. Go ahead. Yeah. First of all, I just would like to know um what is your address? 19 19 North Main Street. North Main. She's right on the corner. Yeah. Of Florida. And
I know I know she said that. I just didn't get it. And so all this really is kind of revolving around where Yeah. There seems to be a homeless problem around and they're crawling in these houses to sleep. Okay. And they go up and you know I I knew one
of these women but I didn't know she was a homeless person because I just moved in. I thought she was living in a park. Yeah, she's telling me, "Oh, we'll steal your plants off your porch and sell them." Mr. Martin, will you Yeah, if you give her your business card
and then also ask Pam on our code enforcement. Oh, I went to see her. Okay. And I told her about what was going on. Do we have any um sheriff? I don't know that we have any over there. I showed her pictures and everything.
She really didn't want to hear you. We'll have major Alice Mr. Martin stop. Okay. Yeah. The lady that owns it that lives on the corner of 308 and Elondo Drive.
She owns a couple properties around here and they excused fines for her and everything else. Um, it's getting to the point where my safety, okay, this guy and it's home, you know, I'm living in this old house and then my dad's like in
a hospital bed. He's like, "That guy's going to burn the house down. You got to do something." So, contact the sheriff's office. I They did come out. I mean, they I took picture this stuff and then they leave and I'm like, "He came back. He moved
other stuff. He brought other stuff." It said Jeremy just called me and said he's seen him crawling through a window. Now he just parks the bike like he's living in a townhouse or something. But he's not his stuff is on the front porch so he can take off real quick. But he's inside that house.
Okay. And this is the house um this is the house directly adjacent to you on Main Street or Yeah, it's I'm on the corner and then there's the house and then there's the the lumber yard. Okay. Yes, Commissioner. It's the house that has burn.
Okay. So, um shouldn't be it. Right. My question is um Sharon's house, 19 North Main Street, right? Um maybe that may be one of the
residences that would be eligible for a CRA grant. It may be a contributing structure to the historic district. So maybe Christina should also have the term. Yeah, I know the house next door to it is one of the ones that we we toured and
visited. So, I don't know if that one's a contributing structure or not. Um, if it's 100 years old, there's a high. Well, there's there's high possibility. So, anyway, I'm talking about our CRA director. Yeah. Um, but hopefully our city manager can review what's been done and make sure
proper attention is being given to the situation. Okay. Thank you. I'm so sorry. I mean, not for nothing, the guy that I caught that day wasn't the guy that's living in the house. I start to realize
that the guy that's living in the house is walking by me all the time when I'm getting stuff out of my car and he's watching to see where I'm at because I don't hang out in my front yard cuz it's kind of a big house. I go in through the back. So, yeah, he Well, you be safe out there. Yes.
He he isn't he's never said a word to me or anything. Well, thank you for bringing that to our attention and welcome to Crescent City. You're welcome to come to the meetings anytime. We we welcome that. So, thank you for being here today. It's a beautiful little town. Thank you. Um that's the only card that
I have. Do we have any other uh public comments at this time? Seeing no one else come. If I'm allowed to, I wouldn't mind. Do I need to sign a card? Sure. No, you're welcome to come. Okay. I just had a question about the revised agenda. On the prior agenda that
was out, sorry, my name is Tyler Denning. I'm at 501 Roy Boulevard in Baltimore Springs. Um, the prior agenda had an insurance decision to be made on it and the revised agenda does not have that on there. Has not been removed from the agenda today. We're going to have that discussion. Um,
we haven't got there yet, but Okay. The information is in the city manager's report. Got it. So, it's just not under business. Got it. Thank you. Yes, sir. Um, if we have no one else come forward at this time, I'm going to close our public comment portion of of this
meeting and we have a proclamation. Um, so with that, I'm going to go ahead if um, uh, Assistant Chief Aaron Highfield, if you would come forward, and you're welcome to bring your family.
And then we've got Miss Angela. Do you want to bring the the I figured y'all want to come right here? I'm going to go ahead and we'll read this.
So, we've got proclamation 2025-06. It's the city of Crescent City honoring the retirement of Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Hyel. This is a legacy that we have here between these two gentlemen. Um whereas assistant fire chief Aaron
High has faithfully served Crescent City as a volunteer firefighter for 29 years in dedicating his time, skills, and courage to protecting the lives and property of our community while also making a full-time maintaining a
full-time career. And whereas Aaron grew up inspired by a proud family tradition of watching his father, his uncle, and his big brother, Crescent City retired Chief Jason Hyfield, answer the call to
fight fires and safeguard others, which sparked a passion for volunteerism and public service at an early age to our benefit. And whereas early in his career, Assistant Chief Highfeld demonstrated extraordinary courage when he pulled a man from a burning built
home, thereby saving that man's life, an act that exemplifies his bravery, selflessness, and devotion to duty. And whereas assistant chief highel's leadership, compassion, and respect for his peers led to his fellow firefighters
selecting him to serve as assistant fire chief. A role in which he has provided steady guidance, mentorship, and an unwavering example of dedication. And whereas beyond the firehouse, Assistant Chief Hyel has always
treasured the simple joys of life, hunting, fishing, sharing time with his family, most especially his beloved wife Angela, I guess Angie, and his son Cody, reflecting the values of family, faith, and community that has shaped his character and service. And whereas the
city of Crescent City acknowledges the many lives Assistant Chief Highell has touched and those he has comforted in their times of need and wishes to express its deepest gratitude and admiration for his extraordinary service, his sacrifice
and countless hours he has devoted to the safety and well-being of our residents. Now therefore, I'm Michelle Meyers, mayor of the city of Crescent, city floor. On behalf of the city commission and our entire community, we do hereby honor and recognize Assistant
Fire Chief Aaron Hefeld for his 29 years of distinguished volunteer service and extend our heartfelt congratulations on his well-earned retirement. We wish Assistant Chief Aaron Hefel godspeed as he begins his journey into retirement,
knowing there's a hunting camp just waiting for his arrival this weekend. And with I have here set my hand and cause the seal of the great state of city of Crescent City to be affixed this 10th day of September, 2025.
Thank you. It's been a it's been a blessing being part of this community and being able to serve and help people in this community. I moved here back in 96 and um shortly after I joined the department
here and just kind of been a family a second family to me that whole that department. So, you know, everybody's always been welcoming and safe been welcoming and just made a great home for me and my family and just enjoyed my time here and
glad I could help anybody who needed help at the time and enjoyed what I did. Well, we are greatly appreciative and it goes to show the character of someone when they when they dedicate their lives to fighting fires,
but when they do it also after a full-time job that they come in and they volunteer in a community, it just says a tremendous amount about you. And so for all of us, we are greatly appreciative and we just wish y'all all the very best as retirement can offer. Thank you very much.
So, let's get a picture. over. We'll do one with this with the commission and then we'll do one with um the family. Can you see that? Can you see Commissioner Okay, let's do one with the family.
Let's get the family up here. Can one more, please? Thank you. You want you want to get up there? Okay. [Applause] Thank you. Thank you.
Enjoy your time together. I didn't. Um, Chief Rider, did you want the picture with anybody else? I'm sorry you didn't come up into that picture. No, ma'am. I can say one small thing. I can't express enough um the High family and the dedication they've given
to this city. um they're going to be extremely hard if ever replaced and uh just my gratitude for them and their family Joseph of words that can be said. I just wanted to make sure that was known. Also, I just wanted to make sure everyone remembers Carl is not alone. So, for the men and women that we've
lost in our line of work, like you said, working hard, you know, going above and beyond. And that's the perfect. Why don't you get I'm sure he's going to want pictures. So, you probably should have a picture up here with it. [Music] Thank y'all. Thank you very much.
That is true. So tomorrow, please everybody take a moment. Take a moment today. Take a moment tomorrow um for lives that are lost. Okay, with that, let's get on with this meeting. We've got a lot to to cover. Um
I guess if we ever hear from the captain, go ahead. here and he apologizes. Okay. He had a couple things come up out of his control. Okay. Okay. So, you have in front of you everyone, you have the sheriff's um
report. We can go through that real quick. Um, of course, he said there's nothing to report as far as um illegal activity that had occurred. Does anybody have any questions about
that? Okay. And again, this is for the month of August 2025. You go into the next one. We've had two accidents. Looks like there was one at 427 North Summit Street. Um, two vehicles side by side
and one um traveled into the other lane causing a collision. And then at 8:14 Randolph Street, and that one was a very interesting um that one provided for a very interesting uh scenario. So, we had
um someone they were um they went into um the cemetery on Evergreen Cemetery. Evergreen. Yes. They went into Evergreen and they hit a tomb and um he was arrested.
um he damaged the tomb in the cemetery, but we were getting phone calls here because there was a unfortunately a skeleton um that was uncovered that has now been taken care of. So, he created
quite a bit of damage in the cemetery. But did he figure it? Um I don't think they figured it out. I know. I know that um um one of the neighbors who lives across there happened to call me that morning
while we were trying to figure out what to do about this and um I said you know said are you calling me about the skeleton and she says what she said the skeleton I said yeah across the street I said well actually there's quite a few skeletons across the street
from you know but um but yeah that was that was an interesting one but he did go he they did arrest him and they got that taken care of. And um and I think that's it. Do you have any questions on any of this? That's all I know.
I have any questions for the major, but I guess we can Can we still help him? Does he still have the same? Yeah, sure. Yes. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.
Um, I did, for those of you that are that are interested, um, I had an opportunity, um, earlier this week to go through the new facility next to the sheriff's, um, office where they're building our new animal control center
and it is very nice. Um, it will be a definite improvement and hopefully it'll be an improvement for all of Pton County. They hope to have that open by the end of this year, 2025. So, it's coming right along. So, that's good news
for everyone that's um okay, with that, I'm going to recess this meeting and I'm going to open up our CRA um meeting. And so, Christina, I'm going to turn it over to
you. I know we've got in here. This is the time of the year when we have our downtown partnership. Um this is the first renewal that we're going to have of theou for the um
with the partnership. Has everyone had a chance to look over this? There's another copy. My only on on our desk there's another copy on my desk. My only question is is it the same as what
was in the published agenda? Is there anything appear to be? What was the question? I'm sorry. There's a there's a copy of the memorandum of understanding that's for renewal in the published agenda packet.
There's another copy that's on my desk. Is there any change? I believe there was some minor changes to that which is why we we update the names. So, we know what changes. Um, may I? Yes. Uh Tim just confirmed that the only changes were the names and
the dates. Um the content they did not modify. Okay. Okay. Got it. And I do have one request for one small change. Okay. Um somewhere on here in this agreement,
maybe it's already been updated. Maybe that was an old one. Okay. There's a line for signature by general counsel. C O U N C I L. That
should be S E L. It's on the signature page. Um just it's the wrong comment. It should be C O U N S E L just and it has it correct on the page prior. So it's just
right there change that on that. Right. Very well. Um, does anybody else have anything else on this? We kind of do, but I'm gonna let Christine go ahead and give your pitch and I have a couple questions.
Um, well, I don't really have a pitch. Tim's here to um speak on behalf of the partnership. Basically, this is brought before you because we're at the end of our fiscal year and the MRM of understanding needs to be reviewed. It's up to you all to um review and modify
the content as per your um liking. I'll turn it over to Tim. He can answer as to um what the partnerships accomplished over the past year and um he'll also ask for their next quarterly dispersement. Okay.
Thank you. Want to ask? Yeah, I may as well ask the question because your next quarter dispersement would be part of our new budget for next year, wouldn't it?
Is that correct? Yes. Okay. So really I kind of would like to put this on hold because right now I I I uh feel we should really kind of discuss
uh some of the money and how it's kind of being distributed um to see if we can't do something a little better with I mean the the distribution is uh 125 I guess every quarter and
uh we're paying Tim I believe $50,00 000 a year. Is that correct? I believe that's Tim. Is that your salary? Well, that's what you contract with your contract your contract 1099. So, basically, we're giving and that's
specifically for his salary. Well, that's what that's my question. That was the intent. I had some was going to ask about adding some language into this so that it does um it says for the administration, but when we originally did this, that was the
intent. Was it for the executive director position? Um, while it didn't specifically state that in the contract, we I think it just needs to be it needs to be looked at a little bit further. I know we've been really kind of talking a
whole lot of budget, basically our budget for the city and things and and I think this was kind of skinned over a little bit. Uh but but as I was looking at this, I'm thinking, you know, I just think it's time maybe to take a second look at how we're doing this particular
thing. So I I really would like to make a motion if I could to have a a workshop or something on this to to just go through it and understand what it is we're paying for. Is that what you would like to do is make a motion? That's what I'd like to do.
Have a workshop on it? Yeah. Okay. Do I have a second? Okay, motion dies for lack of a second. Um, I would like to see that if we do go forward with this and maybe we have to approve it at the next meeting, but for us if the commission, of course, I can't
make a motion, but I would recommend that that we have something in this that um indicates that it's for a full-time um executive executive position. And if at any time
those hours decreased then that those dollars would be decrease um as well. And the other too is um you know I think I don't know if this is right or not but
uh the CRA is part of our city and it's part in the commission. We're the ones that you know hold the purse strings per se and say hey what we can do. I I think we ought to be involved also as to you know your bud that that budget and
uh and also maybe to who we're hiring for the next time going forward. We should have a little more say in what's happening with that dollar amount. Okay. Commissioner. Yes. Um,
it's my understanding that a Main Street organization is supposed to be a 501c nonprofit that they are supposed to be relatively they're supposed to be directing their own ship. Um, I think I
presented a couple of years ago when Mr. Rud was here. um some examples of contracts that other municipalities have with their main street organizations. They're a little more specific than ours
as to specific things that they the city asks their main street to accomplish in return for the funding. So it's it's um very specific particularly in uh dand but it's my understanding that we
are not supposed to be managing them taking the place of their board of directors. Um there are provisions in thisou that um request in article 5 um when they ask us
for the distribution of funds that's specified here in article 4 payments um that says they're supposed to make a written request for distribution of funds with their projected budget. they've always give um and then within 90 days they're supposed to give us
their um their work plan and I think they've always done that but it's my understanding that they're not supposed to be part of the city and they're supposed to be run by their 501c3 board of director saying that we do that. I'm saying we
need to have some language in here because we have a fiduciary responsibility for sending money out to them. our fiduciary responsibility and this is CR money that we're we're we're taking $50,000 and we're paying somebody where we might be able to take
that $50,000 because it is CRA money to to maybe reinvest in the city in a different way. I guess is my would be my point. Okay. We always complain that this house needs to be painted or that building needs this or that or the other
and you know it's I'm I'm just bringing it up because you know I think that we should just be a little more fiscally responsible with the money. Okay. Mayor I have another question. Yes ma'am. Okay. So the requirement and maybe this is
something our CRA manager can answer. um to be a qualified Main Street organization, aren't they supposed to at least employ a part-time director? You want to Yes, you can address that. That is correct. For our population,
5,000 or less. Okay. Right. And it's my understanding and I just came back from the preservation on Main Street conference with Commissioner Wory and I've been to the CRA conferences where the CRA directors and
managers frequently report on how they're interfacing with their main street. But the idea is um for the main street organization to leverage the funds that come from the CRA so that
hopefully the city will not be in the position of having to use the CRA funds for things like painting, but hopefully um the main street organization will engender enough activity in the business
community so that the main street area will become more self- sustaining by their activities. So, um I'm kind of hearing two different things from Commissioner Burton. One is that we should more direct what our main street organization does. And the other is that
maybe we shouldn't spend the money on the main street organization. We should use it for facade purposes. Did I hear that right? Well, it's not that I want to direct everything that the main street portion is doing. It's the portion of the money that the CRA is investing.
You know, I I just think that maybe we need an eye on that from the commission. I don't care who it is, but to to make sure that if we are going to bring in uh someone to take that that slot, that
they give it that we have an opportunity to just see who that is before it's done. I don't know if it's right or wrong. I'm just suggesting that, you know, um Okay. So, wait a minute. Do you want them to fire Tim so we can hire? I'm not saying that. I mean, he's working here now.
No, I think my concern is and why I think that we need to do this is again I've said we have to future responsibility for this for these funds and I've had I've had several people say to me Tim um no offense you know it's no offense to you
but and I think that you even announced at the board meeting the other day that your hours here in Crescent City are 11 to 4 Monday, Wednesday and Friday and so Um, I envision a full-time position being just that, full-time. And
so I have some concerns when I have residents come to me and say, "You're spending this money." Um, I I guess I guess you can account for all the for the 25 additional hours. And I know that with the events and and
everything that that in the past Christina spent a tremendous amount of time. Um I don't know that we're having those same amount of events anymore. So I'm putting it back at at you and Christina if you have anything to to add
to that. That's why I just said we have language in here that Do you have a question for me or you want me just to defend the the position? I'm I'm just I'm just saying that that's what you announced and I've had some complaints about it. So I would just
I had the office hours because that seemed to be when people came in. They don't come at 8:00. They don't come at 5:00. They come in the middle part of the day. Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm out in the community either in Palaca or here trying to meet property owners or
make connections that might you know broaden our scope and our net with the adjoining counties. I don't think that uh everything can be done from behind a desk. I think I need to attend different Putnham County events and be seen so
they put a face with what we're trying to do down here, which is to beautify, bring economic vitality here. So, mayor, as I understand it, he's saying he is working the hours that there's a misconception that his stated
office hours are his only work hours and that and that he's in Palato working some of those well two and eight days. So, certainly I know that um he has a lot of paperwork to do. He has a lot of being out and about with businesses to do. um
I've come in there and interrupted him when he's doing some kind of paperwork. There's a lot of paperwork involved in a lot of cases. I've been very involved with that. So I mean so I I get I get it. So um to me just I remember we this was big deal when we became a main street
community. Um and Commissioner Burton went to Tallahassee. Secretary of State Cordberg came here. We had a big tour. um we were very proud of that and I think they have come together as an
organization. So um I I don't know I mean this is a surprise to me to hear that there's a concern about it. I note in here if when we um re-up this agreement, we are supposed to have um a
work plan for the CRA, their annual work plan submitted to us within 90 days of the effective date of theou just like we did before. Um, and I certainly think that we could discuss theou
um, when it's submitted, but I certainly would hate to um, demoralize the Main Street organization and the volunteers they have by saying nobody's doing that. We're not But are we I mean, this is on the table for a vote, right? Yes, it is.
Okay. Well, we're not doing that. The only thing my only suggestion is is we have a fiduciary responsibility. And so as the future as we go into the future we need to make sure that and if we need to be specific so it's not the administration
it's it's for that position and that was the intent for which this was originally presented to to us because Christina was no longer but this was going to be the city's contribution to the main street program. And so I'm
just saying that um I think as as we go forward um and commissioners, this is at your this is at your pleasure, you know, I'm just making that recommendation that you might just want to tighten this up a little bit. I just want to add one of the reasons we
wanted to do this actually, I guess, in the partnership of the annex was people were confusing what the main street group is doing for the city. They are an independent type 1C3. They're working on their own, but we're still providing financial support as all means should
get. Yes. And so, you know, if we're if they're supposed to be independent, we don't want to be more involved in their affairs. We we have memorandum of understanding with them. They've filled their their parts of it already to share. So, I mean, I think we just need
to move forward and approve it. And again, I'm going to say at no point have I said I want to be involved in their affairs. I'm saying that the fiduciary responsibility we have is to make sure that that money is spent the the way it should be spent. That's all.
Can you add something, Mayor? Yes. Um just for transparency purposes and looking at this contract if it's time for renewal and we have a chance to modify it. Maybe we can put something work together to create a metric to which you can have performance base so you can see so the community can see. I
know that Tim did a really good job on the last step. our executive director did a really good job on our last meeting providing the commission a list of all the successes that were done in the last month which seems to be a lot. I didn't even hear about those on the street but I read about them when it was reported. So maybe that we can build
something in this contract that requires them to do that every month just like all of our other divisions basically. uh and I can report that or they can even come and report that and and that will give you guys something to uh to to fall on is when the public has questions on what's being done
whenever I'm saying yes mayor just to that point in article 4 they're supposed to submit quarterly progress reports um they're a private organization I think quarterly is just
fine um they're not a city department um I I think that quarterly gives them enough flexibility to assess what they've done to I don't think anybody's questioned that. No, I said well the city manager was
saying make it monthly. It there's already a process for monitoring data and reports and they're quarterly and I think that that's enough I think that's frequent enough um and gives them the
flexibility to make those assessments. I I just I think it's quarterly probably and and were those more financial in that statement because I I haven't really seen quarterly reports other than financial quarterly quarterly reports not
but those processes for the last meeting we had a activities report and then what the future would be and I'm here to update that if you'd like me to. Sure. Go ahead. [Music] And keep in mind, Tim, that you know,
we're not trying, we're not being critical, but we have to answer to the people here in so people come to us and they're they have those concerns, we have that responsibility to answer to those people, right? [Music] I mean, I think this year the the
complaints that I get is it doesn't seem as though Main Street has been as vibrant as it was um initially when it started. Uh we did lose um different um venues. Okay. Uh all of our uh Latino
things went away. We had no Day of the Dead. I know. U you know, we we it just that's the complaint that I get is that it just doesn't seem as vibrant as it once was. And and so, you know,
you know, I took that to heart when people when they say it to me, I see it myself somewhat. Um and I'm just saying that that you know, you have to take that into consideration. and they say, "Hey, you're paying a whole lot a whole ton of money, you know, a box full of
money to this guy, and what's happened to our main street?" That's the question I get all the time. Well, um, you may recall I was brought on the middle of February. The work plan had already been decided, I believe, in December 24.
Just like this work plan we're working on now is for 26. So, I had no say in the work plan. My job is to execute the work plan and to execute the orders of the board of directors. You know, I'm just saying these are just observations that throughout the city.
And that's what I'm saying is that I go ahead if you would and present your and present your So, so as we know in June, we had red, white, and boom, which was had record attendance. It was a very very good event. Think everybody had a good time.
Since we took over the the uh dance studio portion of the building in summer, we had the summer market. So we had eight different summer markets on Saturday. At first there was a lot of enthusiasm and then of course it kind of waned as time went on. We also had a
merchant mle in August. So the summer was a busy Saturday uh time. We attended the conference in July at the um Main Street annual conference. two board members and some community people went and then we had a post wrap
up about that conference. We incubated a small business, one of the vendors from the summer market. We had her be in our headquarters every day of the week so people could pop in and get bread, pastries, and
coffee. And that period ended after a month. and we're looking for a new business to incubate because that's one of the missions of the Main Street program is to nurture small businesses. If you look at the the matrix of the
website from the last report, this one the activity is up quite a bit u in in some respects. The last 90 days is up 58%. The period before that was up 223%. As far as outreach, I've been trying to
outreach with the joining counties with the tourism department of uh Putnham County, uh Kimberly Morgan. She and I met a couple times about how to bring programs to this to Crescent City, perhaps
programs or some other kind of programs. Since then she has um put on way a travel writer who is going to write an article about holidays in Pland County. So of course ours is a wonderful exhibit
of that. West Lucian County uh Georgia Turner came over and she said she'd never turned off 17 before. So she came over, came to the headquarters, came to lunch and uh Stephanie from Dan
said Dan wouldn't be what it is if it weren't for George Turner. So she's a big player in granted down south and east, but again she says it's a great opportunity for spousal programs to come here for the day, have a historic tour,
lunch, learn about what we have to offer. the past president of Daytona and Orman Beach Main Streets came into our world and we had a couple meetings with her to learn some of the things that Daytona went through
for events but also other topics too. Florida Department of Transportation was something was at uh the three main streets that I've attended so far the conferences. So once again there grant opportunities there that's all in the
past. Moving forward I've been speaking to uh well first been meeting with CRA and teaming up so that we can work with um the targeted properties here to have
some facade improvements. I've spoken with four property owners to discuss their plans that um they're not sure what to do. So, we're going to offer ideas there. We're going to establish a legacy program with the Downtown Partnership.
Of course, we're continuing to explore ideas for the studio, which we're open to any suggestions, but right now they're dance classes that are happening and we're considering an art exhibit, exercise classes
with this. back to the CRA. We're working on uh historic district entrance murals and new signage for the historic district and we're targeting the side campaign. As we mentioned, the vintage market is coming up. We're going to have
um September 27 28. We'll be decorating the lamp post if that's approved for the fall and then also for the holiday time. Bikefest is bound to be I think much bigger than Red, White, and Boom at this point. That's October 25th where
centrals close um modern and vintage motorcycles, cars, music, food. Uh and then of course December is light up. There's a conference uh September 28 and 29 that I'm going to go to for the main
street. It's a requirement quarterly for executive directors and uh we also are starting a fundraising campaign to help offset the expense of the fall and holiday events. So we're looking for specific sponsors
but also we need volunteers if anyone knows any volunteers. So those are some of the things we're doing. Are you getting your volunteers put together for the light up? We're trying. Okay. We we came over today to look at
the lights to see how they were stored and that's going to be a challenge. The lights we'll get through it. We do every year. We do every year. So I talked to Christina about some some ideas too with
that to try to for us to get some help with that. Good. Because that is very labor intensive and it takes That's what I hear. Couple of months. Yeah. So Okay. Okay. Thank you. You have anything else? Any other questions for Tim?
Um, no. I don't think I have any specific questions. Yeah, you've got sitting there in front of you. I don't know whether the board knows. I mean, commission knows that we've had some changes in our board. our uh
executive board has made some changes and that hasn't impacted our promotions uh pillar and uh a lot of those responsibilities have come to me. So that's fine but there's been some
changes and uh we are actively looking to rectify that. Good. Thank you. I move that we approve the MOU health partnership for the next facility.
Um I will second that. We have a motion in a second. We have any other discussion. Just it's not easy to have Main Street. This was really your baby. And it was my baby. It was absolutely
it's brought us um it's brought us a lot of visibility and as I understand it it's a lot of hard work and um when I used to ask questions um you used to say well go down there and volunteer so maybe we should all try to help them
recruit volunteers. Well and goodness knows I I I've given my a lot of hours to it too. So, right, any of us that can give hours to it, please, by all means. And that's across the board in the community. Um, it should be something that's rewarding and
and fun to do. And I know they are they are very limited on volunteers and and it takes a village. Definitely takes a village. And as I pointed out, I am a dues paying member and volunteer for three of the organizations that support Main Street.
So, I'm putting my time in And I'm glad you both went to a Main Street um conference so you kind of get a better idea as to what it involves and and how it works. So very helpful. It's very beneficial. So we currently have a motion on the
table. Um and a second. Could you repeat the motion please? Is to renew the Okay. With no no additional language. Okay. Um,
Madame Clerk, would you do a roll call for us, please? Commissioner Burton, no. Commissioner Moore, I. Commissioner Lori, I. Commissioner Dvito, I Myers. I'm um
this is important and that's the only reason that um I I do believe there should have been some language, but I'll say I'm gonna I'm gonna say I'm say no to it as it's currently written.
So, it passes. Okay. So, let's move on to the next one. We've got grant applications. Do we have some grant applications? Yes, ma'am. In your revised agenda packet, you'll see an application for 310 central. That's actually the partnership headquarters. The building
is owned by Mr. Charlie Lane. And um you have before you estimates for new canvas awnings and I'd like approval to u move forward with that project under our revital grant program. Okay. Commissioners. Um, I move that we
approve the grant request for 310 Central Avenue for the low bid that WC Specialy Services. Is that the name of it? Yes. For $7,296. I'll second that.
Okay, we have a motion and a second. Do we have any other discussion? I have a couple questions. So, um, the buildings that are targeted buildings, refresh my recollection as to why they're targeted buildings. Is it
because they're historic buildings? Yes. Okay. But does this did the awnings do anything to assist with preserving the historic structure?
I don't believe so. That's not a requirement though, is it? No. Um, my requirement and rule of thumb, the question that I have to ask myself before bringing this before you is, does it help to remove swelling blight? And um, I think it does.
Those awnings are old. They don't open. So, some awnings aren't adjacent buildings. Okay. So, does this how many awnings are there? Just the two. Are you talking about the the two striped ones? Yes. Okay. And then next door there's a blue
one. Yes. That's just a um an example. That's a rendering that Charles Red had done about three years ago when we were first um formulating a game plan for Central Avenue. And um it's just a rendering of
what it would look like with new awnings. Okay. And then my other question was um does this completely zero out the um the funds in that category in the CRA budget for this year?
It does not. It does. Okay. But we only have till September 30th. Yes. This will be the last project um for this fiscal year of central. Okay. Thank you. Are they retractable? Um,
are they? Yes. Current ones I know are retractable. Yes. And we tried to work with the mechanics of just reusing what was there and it's it's not practical. Both of the contractors said it wasn't practical to
try to revamp those existing awnings. I believe Mr. Lane back when he did all the improvements to the building himself when both Kings office supply and the barber shop um when the city uh did the facade grants for both of those
buildings he went in and did work and that was a big issue for him was a be a nice improvement right there. Okay. So we currently have a a motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion?
Okay. Seeing none. Uh, Commissioner D. I, Commissioner, I, Commissioner Moore, I, Commissioner Burton, I Myers, I. Okay, so approved. Thank you for doing that. Thank you for getting that done.
And I guess we have um I don't know if you want to stay up there. We still have the fourth quarter funds request. Well, that's the partnerships for the quarter request. And I think Tim um pretty much already briefed on it. We
just need your approval um as a formality to be able to. Okay. I move that we approve the fourth quarter. Haven't we already done that for this year? Not for this quarter. Not for this quarter. they work on. So, just for a
clarification, they did work on our calendar and now work on the um the regular January through December calendar. So, this would be their fourth quarter. It would be our first quarter to Right. Good. So, to be specific, it
would be for them October 1st through December 31st. Okay. Right. Okay. I need a second. I'll second it. Okay. So, we have a proper motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Okay. Commissioner Burton.
I. Commissioner Moore. I. Commissioner Lori. Hi. Commissioner Devito. I Mayor Myers. Um I [Music] Thank you. Tim, we you're going to have to stick
around. Sorry about that. But um I do want to ask the commission um I know we've got our public hearing se session, but we do have um I know um Tyler, you've traveled in from I think Altoont, correct?
So you've got to travel back. Um Oh, you don't have to worry about me. You don't need to move anything around for You sure? He's gotten pretty used to sitting through these meetings. Well, Mayor, were you trying to say that we should um move the business items ahead of the public hearing? Yes.
I mean, it's fine with me as long as there's no one sitting in the audience who wanted to speak on the budget and would be upset about that. And I think these should go pretty quick honestly in the business items. So, if everyone's in agreement to go through the business items first,
still need to approve the project. Um, we still have to I haven't closed I haven't closed CRA out yet. So, we're going to have to Are we going to do the budget before we do go to business items? Is that what you're saying? We're going to do the CRA budget. Correct. The CRA budget. Correct.
Okay. If you want to do that was going to brief on that on the CRA budget. You're briefing on that or you want me to brief on that? Okay. All right. Very good. I think all of you have your budget set um in front of you. There's there's
three sets in here. Um the CRA uh right now, it's my understanding, this is correct, that um that the county um is adopting the roll back their roll back rate. Yes, ma'am. Which changed which reduced the county portion of the CRA budget.
Correct. um those reductions. So the mayor um is correct. There was a a first reading yesterday adopting their roll back rate. Um it reduced um proceeds coming to the city from the CRA. We we went ahead and adjusted our numbers. Um
I'll just run through quickly. Uh on the central, north, and the south, we have approximately around $64,362 in revenues. That is broken up by having $179,62
in the central uh CRA, $368,673 in the north CRA, and $56,87 in the south CRA. Um, you'll have all the budgets in front of you there. Um, and Christina, chime in anytime you'd like, but the way that we broke this
down was looking and seeing what type of either homes or businesses we had in the area. Um, that is how we based um our percentage or our share of cost in the in the um expenditures columns for the improvement projects um in the housing
uh rehabilitation grants. Um those are the larger of the items in there. Um, if you have questions specific to anything within any of these items, I'll be glad to speak to them. Um, regarding uh the
central CRA, we had approximately around $16,975 uh in the housing rehabilitation grants. Um, under the improvement projects, we had $29,475. Um that's going to be for uh new pots,
hanging baskets, trash cans, possible benches, lighting, and wayfinding. Um those are some of the notes if you look to the right that we have there. The grants of course and the redevelopment um for the central is more um for commercial projects. It's mainly for businesses and the facade uh
improvements of our commercial properties in the downtown district. Wait, what what line item is that? Um, these are going to be, if you're looking at the expenditures under central, yes, it's going to be line item 43, the larger one's going to be line item 43
and line item 32. Okay. Okay. 32. Okay. I do, Mayor, I have a question about that. Yeah. Okay. So, I could have sworn when you had the workshop, the budget workshop on Monday that you said you thought we did
not need $29,000 for new pots, hanging baskets, and trash cans and that some of those funds could be moved to other line items. That is, it concerns me that we're spending 29,475
for trash cans and hanging baskets. The hanging baskets have not been successful. Um they're right out there in the bright sun. Some I mean I those are those haven't even been started. So
we've got 29,475 for I would say the miscellaneous things. But the um houses which there are some very very blighted houses on North M and Cedar. To me, that could
take um a good 10,000 more dollars um to really do something about the blight in that area closest to Central. And I I thought you had said that you wanted to reduce line 32.
Was I mistaken about that? No, I mean, we had that discussion. Um we went back through um every line item yesterday. Christina and I had talked uh and moved some of the funds around and I and I misspoke earlier. I'm sorry if I I gave you the wrong number on 43 is the other large one that is the
redevelopment grants, not the housing rehabilitation grants. So, um 43 is 46,99 is the last line item that is for the commercial projects. The other one is for the homes and the homes in that area are limited. Well, now I know exactly where they are,
but they're in the area. Christina, what do you what do you see with this 20 with this with this for the improvement projects? Do you think that we could that we could remove 10,000 of that and put it into the housing? How much do you think we could remove?
I agree with Commissioner Devito. I think we should. Okay. Um these notes for um the baskets and things are kind of left over residual. Um of course we do need money for improvement projects. I would love to see wayinding um come to fruition. Um,
however, um, I agree with Commissioner. Okay. How much do you believe how much do you believe we should move out of there into this into the housing rehabilitation? I would say at least 10,000. Okay. And mayor, would that have to be
done like when we move the CRA budget, would we have to say which line items we want to amend or are we going to go we just going to do them now? We have to approve. So as we approve, yes, my understanding correct
Mr. Holmes as correct because we're approving this budget in the CRA. So if we're going to make any adjustments to this, that's what we're going to have to approve in our motion. Correct. And then that's going to go to the the general the right the commission's budget. So
should that correct? Are your bottom line numbers changing? I heard you take No, they're not. So that's what my thought was. They weren't, but yeah. So mayor, this just a procedural question. Should as we discuss this, should we have a motion and a second and
then discuss any changes as proposed amendments? You can. We can do it however whatever is your pleasure. I think that's going to be simpler to keep track of especially for your minutes. Okay. So, um I would like to move that
as the CRA board um we adopt the 202526 budget that's before us dated September 10th, 2025. um with any um changes and amendments that we
discuss. [Music] Um I I'm saying that I'm making a motion to adopt this and then go through it. Our city attorney said that that would be the cleaner way to go. No, it's to do these individually. So if
we're going to change any of these amounts. Is that correct, Don? If we're going to change an amount, it would be easier that we change it by motion. that she makes a motion. So she wants to reduce 29 to 19 and move it over to this one that she would make that motion and
at the very end when we have all those motions and everybody understands then we would make one motion to approve the this as as amendment as amended. I mean my understanding was we were going to try to keep this make it simple. Yes.
To make it simpler, I think you make a motion as to a particular line item. Okay. If there's a second, you approve that motion and then you have an amended platform that you then ultimately will move to either accept or reject. Thank you. More concise for me.
Thanks. Thank you. So, the motion should be directed to the individual line. Exactly. So, I would move that we Hold on. Let's make sure I got the right one. um that we reduce um line item 32
in the CRA central budget from 29,475 to $19,475 and then add that $10,000 to the amount in line 42 for housing rehabilitation grants to make at 26,975.
Do I have a second? Second. Okay, we have a proper motion and a second. Commissioner, do we have any further discussion on this motion? Seeing none. Um, Madam Cler, Commissioner Devito, I Commissioner Moore, I. My apologies. Commissioner Lori,
hi. Commissioner Burton. Hi. Myers. Hi. So approved. So approved. Okay. Do we have any other discussions? Do you have something, Commissioner? No, I just want to disappear. Huh? Sorry.
She We're very fortunate to have her tonight. She's Don't we usually Doesn't the clerk usually call different orders? It's okay. Do we have any other discussions? Anything else? Any other changes? I just
I just have one more question then as well for the north CRA the same kind of issue in line 53 we have 39 39,668 and I think we that was for um housing
rehabilitation grants and we discussed the um the blighted residences in the Grove area um and we talked about again maybe moving some money from line 54 for
commercial up to residential. I believe they moved some because it was at 25,000. So they they took it to 39668. I thought we were taking it back to 55. Um Christina Marine, how do you feel about
that? Um to take it to 55. Okay. Which line there? That's going to be line 53 53 and 54. So, are you going to take it out
of um improvement projects? Yeah. Is that where you want to take it out of? Okay. And what line item is? That's going to be 52. Line 52. That's 18,318. Okay. So, we don't want to take it from
54 for commercial. No, we want to take it from improvement projects. Okay. So, and what does somebody add that for me, please? 18907 that one that comes up to 57,000. Do you
want to zero out the improvement projects in line 52 or No, no, no, no, no. You just want to add bring that up to 50,000. So, you're going to add 10,32. Okay. So, we're taking it we're taking 953
up to $50,000 and you're saying that that needs 10,332. So, you're going to reduce line 52 by 8 of $18,318 you're going to reduce it by $10,32. Okay. So, I would like to move that in
the North CRA budget, we reduce line 52 for improvement projects by $10,332 and we add that same amount to line 53 for housing rehabilitation grants. Okay. Do I have a second?
I second. Okay. We have a proper motion and a second. Do we have any other discussion? Okay. Commissioner Burton. Hi, Commissioner Moore. Hi, Commissioner Lorie. Hi, Commissioner Deo. Hi, Mayor. Myers,
I Okay, so we have any other changes? It's the same thing we saw before minus the reduction from the county. If not, I'll go ahead and I'll entertain a motion of approval of the CRA budget for the fiscal year 202526
as amended. As amended. Thank you. And recommend it to the city commission. and recommend to the city. Yeah. Um my my question is this is based on 8.76. Yes.
So then you're we're just proving that is what we're saying. It is based on the the roll back rate currently and we've provided three other um balanced options and we can review those as we as we go through this
meeting if you like. Where are they? They're they're under they're all sitting right there. Should be sitting right there in front of you right here to the left of you. Okay. This is a lot of paper. They're all full budgets with resolutions. There's a lot of There's a lot of paper.
So, let me um if I can ask a question. Um Don, Mr. Um, right now this is based on the roll back rate and we're approving it in the CRA to give our approval to the commission
sitting on the CRA board. If for some reason um the commission decides when we go through our millillage that we're going to go lower than the roll back rate, can we bring that that new amount back to can I
reopen up the CRA? Yes, I think that what you do would be move for reconsideration. Okay. Um the person who made the motion to approve would need to be the one who makes a motion to u reconsider. Okay. Um yes.
Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, we currently that answer your question? Um well, but I have a question. I don't I'm looking for I I guess if we can't cross that bridge when we come to it. They're in that other pile and they
start out with a cover letter with the milligry uh and then the res commissioner. I'm sorry. Okay. Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We have a motion right now. So, okay. If there's no further discussion,
um Madame Clerk, if you would please Did we get a motion? No, we didn't get a motion yet. motion. It's going to be a long night. It's going to be a long night. Can we please I'll entertain a motion and please um I move that we approve the CRA budget
and recommended as amended and recommended to the city commission for adoption. Okay. Have a proper motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a proper motion and a second. Any further discussion? None. Madam clerk. Commissioner Devito.
I. Commissioner Gory. I. Commissioner Moore. I Commissioner Burton I Okay, so we're approved and I'm going to at this time our CRA and I will reopen reconvene our regular scheduled meeting.
Um can everyone agree that we're going to take our business items first? Yes. Okay, then let's go let's move on to our business items, please. So, we've got you have this. Yes. And Ted, you're here. So, if you'd
like to speak about your vintage market and fall fest permit question. The vintage market is inside both sides of the building because it's two nights and that way we can lock the
doors and the people with furniture don't have to take it away. We'll be in the alley. Uh we'll be out front a couple little places. There'll be a blood mobile down the street. We're hoping to get some classic cars.
There will be some entertainment over in the market square, some vendors over there that want to be outside and uh it's just growing and growing. We're having a lot of nonprofits that want to be involved such as ARK
down the street and ARC of Platinum, which is a different organization that deals with uh disabled people. Um, I got a call from a Veterans Administration benefits person, too. So, I think that's
good. We're getting these nonprofits to um be involved. And of course, Infinity, one of our omni presenters, is sponsors, is going to be there. So, the vintage market is uh 27th and 28th, Saturday and Sunday.
The fall festival, we just had a board meeting. It seems like it was last night, but it was the night before. And the decision was to com combine to merge those two events, the fall and the bike fest. The fall was going to be the 18th and the bike was going to be a week
later on the 25th. And the idea was to bring them together. The board voted on that to do that. They did. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, mayor, let me just kind of make sure I understand this correctly. The vintage market stands alone. The
fall fest is combined with the bike fest. Correct. Okay. So, the bike fest application is what it is. It's just that some of the vendors are going to be um we've already approved the bike fest. The bike fest has been approved.
Yeah. So, it's there's no change in the bike fest. You're just adding the fall market to it. Fall elements to it. Exactly. So in a sense the fall festival application go away. Um okay that's not our package is it?
No what we have before us is the vintage market. Correct. Where do you can I ask you a question? Where are you going to set up the fall festival in the market store? No no the fall
festival is with bike fest. So we'll do it probably under the tree or somewhere out there. we have to go with Anna and um hopefully Rachel and a couple others and walk it out and figure it out. Uh because we've got bleachers and the stage and things
other vendors for the bike fest. So in in a nutshell, James idea is to have our tent and make it look fall like a little barn or something with corn stalks and bales of hay and things like that. So
it's basically just a decor thing. and that the vendors that already wanted to come on the 18th agreed to come on the 25th. Okay. So, so it's just kind of involving it with the right the fest. So, there's just so many events going on
in the county in October. It's Yes, we're very busy. Soon as it cools off, that just caught me by surprise that the board voted on that. Okay. Okay. I move that we approve the vintage
market application. Okay. Do we have a second? I'll second. We have a motion and a second. We have any other discussion? Nope.
Commissioner Burton. Hi, Commissioner Moore. Hi, Commissioner Roy. Hi, Commissioner. Hi, Mayor Myers. Hi. No, I'm good. So, mayor, that's the vintage market is
really in two weekends, right? It's two weekend. It's September 27th, which is a Saturday, the 28th. Okay. So, I'm saying it's about in two weeks. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said it was two two weekends. is coming up.
He's coming up city. Yes. Okay. That's what I was trying to say. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. So, that's approved. Thank you. Do you want to move on to the um the lamp post? All right. Um much discussion about lamp posts and how it used to be and how it
was last year and so forth. So I think at this point um the partnership is going to decorate the four corners here, the four lamp posts here with a fall theme, corn socks, scarecrows, pumpkin,
whatever. And then um right after Thanksgiving, make them a holiday theme. So you're not going to do it as a competition anymore. So that other No, it's the discussion at the board meeting was just
too much. All right. Okay. So, did you attend this? Did you attend the board meeting? Yes. Okay. I mean, I would like to know I don't recall um this is the first time I'm hearing
that the two events were merged. Um but I guess we can have that conversation another time. Um, your approved work plan calls for a uh fall festival, a separate date from the biker event. It's two separate committee. So, I think that conversation
needs to continue because I don't recall that being a formal vote on your on at your board of directors meeting. But again, maybe it was the meeting before, maybe it's executive meeting before the board, but I'm I'm pretty sure we we discussed it. It's
if it's modifying the work plan that was already voted on though I think there's a well the work plan has been modified also besides I mean we added the summer market that was on the work plan so we added to it okay
okay it wasn't my decision about merging these two oh I I I think the I think the bottom line here is if if there's one Saturday And it's not there's a lot of competition for the fall festival amongst other cities and
then the 25th we know the bike fest we want to put the energy into that. So we didn't want to have a poor showing of fall festival. Right. You want I mean you're saying you want bang for your buck in terms of your volunteer time and resources and vendors
that you ask to come. Yes. We have to approve if you're asking us to approve decoration of lamp posts. And as I understand it, you're saying that the partnership itself is wants to decorate the lamp posts that are closest
to the four corners on central on 17. Correct. On east and west like one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. Right. We're going to take care of those and if the organizations comes through and they want to do some other ones, okay, but that would be along Central. Uh the
feeling less or the other night was that they weren't committing to that. They weren't saying, "I'll take that post. I'll take that post." There was no discussion of that. Well, we also opened it up to residents because like Ace Hardware, they always
decorated theirs. Um, so that was my that was my question. So, we're not opening it up to to the public anymore. And I think that was a fundraiser for you as well. I think um, Christina, was it $25 for a a lamp post or?
Yes. If they got for one season, it was 25 or 30. If they signed up for fall and winter, it was there was a deal. But Okay. Didn't you didn't you agree that the organizations at the meeting didn't
want to take it on? The board voted on it. Yes. And it was um Yeah. asking. It was hard to manage um last year and that's what I understand. Okay. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion.
Okay. And I guess my motion would be to allow the downtown partnership to supervise the decoration of lamp posts on Central Avenue for both fall and Christmas. Okay. Do we have a second?
Motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Um and mayor, I just I made it very general in case if one of the businesses pops up and says they want you, then they can accommodate them. I'm sure rules that like you know certain people couldn't decorate it.
We understand. I'm just saying we should open. Madam clerk, if you would please do a roll call. Commissioner Burton. Hi. Commissioner Moore. Hi. Commissioner Lorie. Hi. Commissioner Dejito. Hi. Myers. I. Okay. So approved. Thank you.
Thank you, Tim. I think you're think all of your items. Let's move on to Diamond Wireless. Just want to give you an update on Diamond Wireless. Um we were tasked a little bit ago to get some information on them and find out uh if any other cities have had success. Um we had a
little bit of success um finally getting in touch with the representative over at Palm Coast. Um we did a little fact finding. We had about a 30-minute conversation with them. Uh the takeaways were that the Diamond Wireless Company definitely was helpful in expanding the wireless services to the community. of
course with several new towers um they brought in new carriers. Um of course that created better service for the for their customers uh and better reach. Uh they took care of all the expenses. The city actually did not incur any cost. That was a question that I had had. Um and so the city did not incur any any
costs for any inforeseening expenses or or anything for expansions and the additions. Um Palm Coast did recommend having a specialized company or firm. um they gave me a name who they use um that deals specifically with tower construction contracts um and andor
lease and carrier contracts to review that final contract or be part of that process. I don't know how much that they cost or what their fee is. Um, but he said that these companies, of course, they've been around doing it for a while. And as our attorney uh knows, he reviewed that original contract. They
are very very good with uh with with how they word their contracts and so we don't want to, you know, be tripped into something. Of course, um it's uh it has been a revenue generator for the city of Palm Coast. um they gave me a total of course they have more towers they have
several towers but they're bringing in um a substantial amount of actual revenue into their budget every year um and uh so that's the giveaway or the summary is that it has been a revenue generator expanded sales service for the community um and it's also been um a
hook for an influx of supporting businesses as well okay we have any questions I do. I do. So, I remember this discussion very well. Um, and I think our city attorney
said that um, the way the contract was worded and the way these things work that um, we would not necessarily receive revenue until they were able to lease out to other companies. Um, and
one of my questions is if they build the tower, I mean, essentially we're we're giving them rights to to put it there whether they get any leases or not. Um, we're in a little bit different situation from Palm Coast because of our
population. So, I'm wondering um you know, would we have the same success or would it be a long time in coming? I don't know how we get an answer to that. Um maybe ask the company
that would consult on the contract. But the other thing that I asked during this discussion um that's more important to me is would there be any harm in us doing an RFP to see if we get any other
offers or if diamond would be the only one you could if you were soliciting to receive a product that that you're basically paying for. um in essence like a contractor. This company's coming into
the city wanting to pay us a lease to build a a structure and then have subleasases and pay us off of those subleasases. I'm sure that we can put out an RFP, but would you like to answer that further? Maybe no. I mean, there are other companies for sure.
Yeah. I mean RFP is as the acronym implies a request for proposals. Yes. So other companies could make a proposal that was similar with differences or or without differences, you know, uh but but
intended to accomplish the same result. No doubt about that. Um and my recollection without seeing the contract in front of me right now, I don't remember that they were going to actually build the tower right away. They were basically getting a
reservation of Right. Yes. For lack of a better term, that's my recollection. They would only build would only build if they had those contracts. Those contracts. That's my rec. So, they were going to tie up our property um and and prohibit anybody
else from coming in for that property in hopes that they got a contract for five. Was it five years? I believe was it believe it was, but I again I don't want to comment on that, but I think it was five. They currently have 30 and 50-year
leases on the properties in in the Palm Coast. Yes, ma'am. And uh those are broken down separately by property, whether it's monthly monthly lease payments or yearly. Um Palm Coast said they would be willing to share their contracts with us and the contact of the
company that specifically deals with these types of of uh of contractors. But I don't think this company would be proposing to enter into a lease with you. they are proposing to basically be a finder or potential finder of people who would lease.
So I think they did require a minimum term of 30 years on the leases if they procured them. But I don't I think this was not this was not a lease. This was a procurement for lack of a better term. This was a procurement contract giving them the exclusive right to market your
sites to see if they could secure someone who would enter into a lease with regard to a tower and antennas. That's my recollection. Um, a question I have is I know the the property they were looking at. I also
know we own a little sliver down um south 17 outside the city limit, but it's cityowned. Have you considered have have you have you considered putting it there? That would be a discussion we'd have at a at a later date and that that wouldn't
be a problem. Um we have not taken it any further other than just factf finding to bring back information for you all. Okay. And I think that that piece property is a residential law. There's other residences that are around it. So I don't know it's just a little
but So, there's a tower down there already, right? Yes. Go ahead, Commissioner. I kind of thought that the existing tower down there maybe made that not a
selected site. But the the other thing is does that make homes in that area because then people start putting towers in. I'm sure that that company has studies for that that that we could ask them for and I believe they they
just as an option right because they also talked about the soft water cover an option something to think about. Okay. Do we have any other questions before we move on? Okay. I I guess where are we with this?
Yeah. I'm I'm asking permission to move the process forward with them in allowing them to revise any type of contractor what they have already given to us and to see if they can in fact get any leases. There's two ways for revenue
that um Palm Coast had told me of course it's the land lease. So they lease the land from us, they pay us for that and then we get a shared cost of the subleas leases that they make on the tower as well. Um, I would like to move forward and just to see if we need to put out an
RFP if that's something that the commission would like. We can definitely do that. Um, but this company was approaching us to bring a service to us. It wasn't the opposite. Well, I mean, that's fine with me to do
more research, but yes. I mean, I I just think we need to know more about it. what the Palm Coast contracts look like, what they would be paying us, and um whether it's advisable. I mean, I know we're not
um we're not asking them to paint city hall, but um if there if it's possible to do an RFP and see if there's any competition out there as far as providing this service. Um to me, it's always better to know what options are.
I will tell you that um on average from what I was told is that one tower is around $90,000 a year of of actual revenue for the city if they find people who've gone to it. Correct. As was commented, this isn't Palm Coast. Correct. So,
correct. Don't know whether or not you're going to have the same interest in putting a bunch of antennas out there by a bunch of different companies. But just a comment. Probably not probably not of a legal nature, but a comment. I don't I don't know that it's fair to say that we're
talking about a $90,000 revenue stream in Crescent City as as they have experienced in Palm Coast. Well, Mayor, if I could um the after attorney Holmes comment, it
occurs to me um I would like to know what is the most comparable area that they or someone else has a tower in and how is that doing? So, so the question for me in concept is and this is one that I can't if you don't mind. Go ahead.
Absolutely. The question for me in concept is um you know is there enough is there enough interest in having towers here so that uh so that giving them well back up.
They want a they want an exclusive on the ability to market our sites. Exactly. Obviously, I guess that means they think there might be some interest in someone buying in. But um but it may be that you
know for remember that if like you said the cost of building a tower is substantial. I don't even know what the cost of building a tower nowadays is that's capable of holding multiple uh antennas, but don't you imagine they're not going
to build if they can't lock in a number of different lees and there's no promise as to when that happens. So my question is, is there a lost opportunity by giving them an exclusive? That's my question. I just I don't know the answer to that. Maybe
they're great at going out and finding folks, but on the other hand, uh if the folks were already in line, they might be coming to you with the idea that they would lease your property and and you go ahead and get the lease in place and then they put people on the It looks to me like this is a no loss proposition
for them. They lock you in. If they find people, it makes it cost effective for them to go ahead and put uh towers up and antennas on fine. If they don't, nobody else can either. um in terms of you know your these particular sites cuz they've got the
exclusive. That's my only concern. So I'm not saying yes or no. I just and and we're locked in for like 30 years or something. No, I think it was only a fiveyear agreement. But if there's a lease that's entered into they said the least the minimum lease would be is I call 30 may
have been 50. I think as a city you know we have to we have to consider our future growth. Yes. You know how how fast are we growing? Um, right now I don't see I don't see it. We're growing real grow real real fast. But the other thing too is uh
where this thing is kind of locked in is it in an area that's we're not going to be able to put houses on you know you know I think they mentioned over by where um of wast you know get in the way if we if we want
to uh put the houses or grow in that sense but you know our businesses and everything um if you you know, we've got to start looking and trying to grow our businesses. Um, they can always use better internet and and those kinds of things.
So, that that's really what we have to consider. Now, for 5 years, it it might be um might be be a valuable thing to kind of see what happens. And then if after five years and they don't lock anybody in, it
is done deal. That's the way I'm kind of reading it. Correct. Gentlemen, gentlemen, you were lied to. Okay. I was watching this at home. The board the board never approved any of that. You said that. Mr. King, I'll give you a moment. Let's
I'm done. You've heard. Please, let's not be disrupted. I'm not trying to. Pardon me. Don't do that again. [Music] Um anyway, just getting back to, you know, five years is it could be it could
be a win for us if if all of a sudden we start to grow. I mean, we do have a new school coming in. Um, you know, our high schools getting bigger. I mean, I don't know what these towers are going to be. You know, they're 5 feet off the ground. They're pretty tall. They're pretty
tall. But but you know uh so it could be a valuable thing to us or it may be a bust. So my thought would be my biggest concern is the length of the of the exclusivity.
If it were a one year and then see what you know interest they've had and that would give them an opportunity to see what interest they have had too. Sure. Um they'd have an exclusive for you and I'm just coming up with that amount. You may think a different time frame is better, but if they came up with one year, then cool. Or you came up with one
year. But my my concern is just, you know, how things have changed in the last 5 years in Florida. Yes. Um, five years is a long time in that context. So that's just my only thought. It's not I look at things though like this. We
got a corner lot over here hasn't sold. We've got a bunch of empty buildings up here. Haven't sold. I mean, and and this has been, you know, a long time. I mean, this I've been here now 30 years and things are still hanging out. So, yeah. You know, and and so just give him one
year. I mean, I don't think that's reasonable enough time to actually see if we are growing. Um I know there's a couple things maybe impossibly in the works, but but but I I haven't seen anything kind of all of a sudden if you aren't growing, then what does five years do? Yeah.
If you're not growing in one year, then you're saying we might in four. Well, but one year, I I think I think with the option to renew the option to renew um and and that again, we could look at the activity that they've generated within that year. I
mean, that's what they're in the business for. And so, we just want to make sure they don't come in and lock us down with us not getting any money to keep anybody else from coming in here that might want to come in here. Yeah. they come back after a year and report to you, hey, we had number of people make contact. Nobody's
really pushed a button, but we think we got something working for the next year. You know, that's that sort of thing. All I suggest. So, the consensus is that we're going to um and another thing is I mean, we're a different market like you all said and I mean you can negotiate any contract,
ask him to ask a city manager to continue to explore this and to bring back. I mean, let's give some direction here and let's move on. Right. So, Yes. Do you need to say something? I would like to just mention that um this conversation has started about nine months ago when Mr. Brohart was here and
um he did express to me before he left that this was a good project for the city to move forward on. It's not um an opportunity to increase cell phone coverage and not only Crescent City but South Putham and um as well as have some an income stream whatever the size may be with
that um coming in for the city. So, um I would ask for this conversation to please not be, um table too long and let's, you know, come up with a decision either way. So, well, I'm just saying their their presentation when they came in and gave their presentation, it was a
little different. They're not ready to build. They just wanted to lock down the property and then they would seek out and see what would what interest they could gain. And so, that was a concern. That's a concern. It's a fishing expedition, right? So, that's what it is. Mayor, if I could, um, yes, in concept, that's a
good idea, but we have to think right now when you're talking about a contract of where the rubber meets the road, right, is a good deal for us. So, um, so let's get into correction. I don't care. Yes. Give us some direction. Commissioner, are you about to make a motion? Go ahead.
Um, so I move that we authorize our city manager to continue to look into possibilities of um a lease agreement or other arrangement with Diamond Wireless um to bring information back to us when
he has a second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Not I think this is we don't need to do a roll call on this one probably. Let's all in favor please say I.
I post nay. Okay. Let's move on. Tank for city hall and the annex. Um Christina Marie do. Uh yes. There's uh four proposed paint colors on the um wall the south wall here. Missed it. You didn't see it. Commissioner.
No. I haven't any and I've got no reply. If we could take a recess, break. Yeah, we should take recess. I'm going to recess and um 8 Amen. back in session. Thank you. Thank you.
Um, we're going to move on to the guide. Everyone, I hope during your break, we gave you allowed you enough time to go out and look at the um color palette that's on the side of the wall outside. Um, Christina, do you want to lead this discussion? Says she
sure um as you all recall, we are getting City Hall and Annex building painted. The painter is going to start on Monday, so we need um a color choice. Okay. And would like your input on that.
You want to show us? Do you have what, Mr. Cooney? Uh well, his color was comparable. I I do have it in my office. His color palette, but those were the four. Did you see the four samples on the wall?
Coon's was the darkest the darkest blue. His recommendation was a darker blue. Okay. So, you got little pads there. Why don't we just write down what we like? How's that? And then send it in and give it their big
argument about what we want. Whoever gets the most wins. I'm almost done. Yes. Um, what is the cost of painting city hall? Um, you approved it uh at our last meeting for 15,000 and change. There
were three minutes presented for city hall and the building next door both buildings all inclusive and we agreed to move it into our better place to take it out of our better place. Yeah, good idea. Yeah. Yeah. That's my concern with the budget.
Y so we agreed to take it out of better place. Is that How do you want How do y'all How would y'all like to do this? I think if if um we have I guess light green branch and the tree and down below in the green area right there at Pat and
Queen's house was a beautiful picture. Show them back in session. Okay. So, we have you have all the paint colors and and the winner is the winner is dark blue. Okay. Okay. We all need a motion. Um,
I move that we paint city hall the dark blue color. I'm taken. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Mad clerk. Commissioner. I. Commissioner Lorie. Hi. Commissioner Warren. Hi. Commissioner Burton.
No. Myers. I want to do different colors. I did too. I did too. I did too, but I'm gonna go I'm gonna go with this with the blue. Oh, yeah. Well, y
Okay. So, approved. All right. Thank you. And the black that you saw, that will be all the trim. That will It's kind of It's more of like a a grayish black charcoal. Anything
will do that is moving right now. South Tower. Yeah. Next on our on our item under business. So we have utility service company. Um they've given us a contract their proposal. Um this project's been in the works for a while. Um this is at
Lake Street and Cypress Avenue. Um these dollars are going to be utilized out of our better place. And um the bid that we got or the work the the work order we got is for $131,72. Um that is slightly under what we had
budgeted for the project. Um which is always good. I'm asking for um I'm asking for permission to move forward with this. Have Don um our attorney take a look at it one over and execute the contract. They will be um most likely
starting sometime um you know it could be in the middle of 2026 but 30 in our fiscal year but about 30 to 60 days we were told that they could start on the job at the earliest. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Middle of the 2026
it would be 30 to 60 days for completion. Yeah. Um, mayor, I have a question about that and a concern. So, in the budget or in the Better Place, um, you noted you had $20,000 for tree mitigation because you
said that, um, there's oak trees around it. There's actually heritage oaks, very significant oaks around there. And you said they would have to be trimmed to get them access. I I was not aware if they had to be trimmed. It was brought up in one of our meetings that they were there and I
figured that we would be able to set aside some funds to in order to take care of that having any type of mitigation or protection effort. It's not stated in their contract, but it's something that the city could uh could definitely do or we could go back to them and have them add it as an additive to their contract.
Well, more than just trimming, what concerns me is um they're going to have to bring in probably quite a bit of heavy equipment, lifts, they're going to have paint and all that. Um when the um
water man projects were done on Main Street and Prospect um there was an addendum section 02115 landscape and tree protection. Um that provided for protection of the tree roots. Um I think
um there's two things that have to do here. um it's it's very damaging to trees to have heavy equipment and chemicals around the roots. And if you look at that um contract language, um there were
specific standards um adopted and requirements and I think we meet that to keep from basically um seriously damaging those oak trees that are right around the tower. Um, and then the other thing is, um, and you
might, um, look into consulting with Mr. Chuck Lippy with Advanced Tree Care. He's a master arborist that the city has hired before. He would probably be an excellent person to come up with a plan on how to protect the tree roots. um and
any mitigation should be done by um a certified arborist or according to to any plan or we may wind up with dead or dying oak trees at that site. Um, so I would basically I would just like to move that we make a provision in the
contract um that this the contractor will agree to a um tree protection plan that the city arranges for. So I have this May I say something? Yes, sir. Um,
depending upon what this tree protection plan is, it you could have your contractor indicate that it's going to increase the difficulty of the work or increase the cost of the work. Um, and my only question is, and it's not for me
to decide, my only question is if that were the case, would that be something that the commission would want to make as a sticking point? In other words, if the contractor says, "Show me what your tree protection plan is, and if I think I can deal with it, then fine." And I
understand, my understanding of the motion was the city would furnish whatever equipment or provisions were to be made for the protection. My point is that the protection itself
might increase the difficulty factor of of the contractor in terms of I don't know what kind of paper the contractor is going to be using. So my question is would you would you want that to be that wasn't in the specs I assume of what you sent out. Correct. Correct. So my question is if uh the contractor
said that wasn't in the specs that's going to increase my the uh difficulty factor of my doing the work. I won't do it for this price. Would that be something you'd be willing to make as a sticking point? And so we we'd back back out of the negotiation. That's my question.
Yeah. Um if could I just say this? Um I I don't think that it would. I I think the tree protections for that particular area um are something the contractor could probably work around. I mean, some
things are just as simple as you don't want them pouring chemicals out that may be extra or storing them too close to the base of the tree. It's more a matter of making sure that you move things to one side versus the other. So, you have to go ahead and get the tree protection plan and you have to
have at least it articulated. Yes. So, you can then ask the contractor whether or not it's going to cause him a problem. Right. That's you're absolutely correct. Right. This is this is an important project and yes I mean it's the water tower or the you know
it's not either or this is done all the time. The tree protection plans are developed um for construction projects. They're done all the time. They're in the ISA brochures. Contractors are used
to working around them. And certainly um if the trees eventually die and we have to take them out, that's probably a 15 to20,000 cost for the city and it would dramatically change the way that park would look. So I don't really think that
um we have to say well we just have to we just have to let those trees go so we can do the water tower. I think it would be easy to accommodate those. And as I say, contractors are accustomed to working with with tree protection.
Typically in the state of Florida when you do projects, especially around trees of that nature, they have to put tree protection around. It's a orange barricaded fence around the drip line. Um, I have to get with Keith. We are going to be working on um a couple things this year for when we have
projects on inspection and what's required and holding contractors accountable, taking photos, having daily reports. Um these are things that I did as an inspector from where I'm at and I plan on doing that when I can get out of the office and not be working on budget. So, I'm going to look forward to that
and getting some sun. As you can see, I'm a little pale. So, uh I I do look forward to getting out into the field and we'll be looking at those trees. we'll be making sure that they are protected. I can talk to the contractor and I can see if in fact um there are provisions that I'm not seeing here. Um
but we'll discuss that, see if there's any cost that's included that's that we don't see and I'll get answers back to you all on that. Um the thing is we are under a time crunch. I do need to get this executed. We had 90 days before the contract was uh null and void. Um, if I
go and look at that contract timewise, um, it was 90 days and this came in on 7225. So, we have to move. Well, you have you have a couple weeks
and I mean is it not possible to add to the contract that um y'all will agree on mutually acceptable um protections for heritage oak traits entering into this contract. Um just like Commissioner
Burton said, we could probably add an addendum that would cover those. And then again an inspection going out when they're working daily go you know going out there daily taking photos making sure they know that the city has a presence there we will make sure the trees are protected but the main thing
from I'm very familiar with the site and um our own public works department as well has not observed the tree protections that are already in our ordinance for a while. Um, probably
something is going to have to be put down to protect the the tree roots and um I'm sure they can they can work with it. But anyway, um so are we ready for a motion? Um yes, we are we are ready for a
motion. So um I don't have it. Um I would like to move that we approve the contract with what is the name of the organization? It is. Yeah. Utility services comp
utility service company incorporated USG water. Right. With the contract with utility service company, right? And um do you want the amount in there? Yeah, I guess I have to. in the
amount of 131,732 to be paid from Better Place Plan funds um with adding language to the contract um that the company will observe mutually acceptable protections for the
heritage oak trees. Second proper motion in a second. We have any further discussion? Um I you're on a time you're on a timeline. If they come back to you and
say that'll be an added cost, how are you planning to handle that? I'll bring it to you all on the 25th for the next meeting. I'll add it to the agenda. I'll call I'm going to call them tomorrow. Didn't you have $20,000 designated for treat medication?
We have a set amount in the better place. So we have funds that we can move around in there. I would say that we budgeted a little bit more than than what the contract is here. Um, we'll get to that number here in just a little while. Okay.
Okay. Sounds good. Okay. Any further discussion? Do we have any public comment on this? See, Madam Cler, Commissioner Burton, I. Commissioner Moore, I Commissioner Lorie. Hi.
Commissioner Zido. Hi. Mayers. Okay. So, approved. Let's go ahead if we can with your with Oh, sure. Sure. Um, so I I want to bring it to y'all's attention. Um,
we did not uh in this process, let me rewind back. When I first got here, I was catching up on a lot of emails and where we were on on some things. the my predecessor um had started the conversation um with Brown and Brown to
solicit them for getting cost on our general liability workers comp insurance. Um everything we've done has been above board. Um as Tyler can attest, even in our conversations, I've treated both companies um with the
utmost um professionalism. No costs were shared. um we did everything very professional. However, I did not um follow the protocol with an RFP. Um what I'm asking the commission to do is in all of our budgets tonight that we're
going to be looking at um and what's been presented in front of you um the FMIT's proposal at 214,000. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't remember the number 214. It's right around there. Yeah, he didn't remember then. I think it was
208. That's what I remember. Are y'all pulling this leg? We we utilize that number in in in these budgets. So, we went with FMIT. Um I've already spoken with Mr. Tyler with M FM
FMIT. I've also spoken uh with Molly Brand with Brown and Brown as well. um and let them know that uh we are going and I'm asking you all to allow us to um move forward with their renewal and we
are going to go out with a a proper RFP um and solicit properly and um and we're not locked in our contract. Um in his contract that we do have both that we're providing, we do have a two-year rate lock.
It's an option. It's an option. Correct. And so we are good. We have familiarity. They do a great job for us. They've been there, it seems, uh, for many things that you all have needed as a commission and this city as a whole. So, um, that's what I'm
asking to go ahead and move forward with their renewal. And, uh, that's it. Do we need to vote on that? Yes. We go ahead and renew our general
liability and additional insurance policies for so is that a one-year renewal would Yes. Okay. So, does your renewing a contract for you? Okay.
Okay. Do we have a second? I'll second that. Have a motion and a second. Any further discussion on this? Um Tyler, thank you very much. Uh you've been to Crescent City several times. Thank you also for being as competitive
as you have in this current marketplace for the city. Yep. Absolutely. And and hopefully next year, you know, as long as we don't have any crazy storms, we're expecting to see property rates come down again. So hopefully we can show you the same love next year. You know, FNIT has
we have definitely needed you in the last few years and you have risen to that occasion. So thank you. Um, so with that we have a motion and a second. Madam cler please. Commissioner Devito. I. Commissioner Lori. Hi. Commissioner Moore. Hi.
Commissioner. I'm so sorry. Commissioner Burton. Hi. Second. Myers. I apologies. That's okay. Guess we I think it's a keeping us on our toes.
Keeping us on our toes. Vote often. Okay. Now, let's go back to the fun stuff. Thank you. Go to our public. At this point in time, I'm going to open up our public hearing section of this commission meeting.
Mr. Thank you, ma'am. Getting there. And mayor, if I had known that Tyler was going to visit us, I would have arranged to get him one of our signature native cats.
It's not too late. There's probably one out back in the car back today. Appreciate it. Part: 2
happen. >> Let's move on to um >> amendment. >> Yes. >> All right. So, if you all go um we will
well we're working on on this process. We're going to get some page numbers and it's going to get better. Uh but if you go into um right after our um our NIS cyber security framework, the next page is going to be um cover letter for
consideration for ordinance 202510 budget amendment for 24 and 25 general fund. Um just a note um each year in September, the commission adopts a a budget for the general fund in which project revenues equal the projected uh
or projected revenues equal the projected expenditure. Um, after the fiscal year is closed out, we find out whether revenues exceed expenditure or not. This normally takes a couple months. It's best to wait until mid year to incorporate surplus or undesated fund balance into the current year's budget.
The commission's directed staff to maintain the $1 million reserve un undesated fund balance and anything above that can be incorporated into our current budget. Currently for this FY2425, we have approximately $318,465
of undesated fund balance over and above the $1 million reserves. Um, this is a combination of revenues exceeding expenditures along with undesated fund balance from other previous years. Um, I have included a spreadsheet um that shows the adopted budget with those line
items that need to be amended in yellow. Um, the additions are for a variety of reasons. uh workman's comp insurance lines are because they were an estimated cost and they were underestimated. Uh we also need to amend professional services
which our CPA and auditors are paid. We are currently paying um a couple of years of auditing that over overlapped and so that's what has increased that line item um to a significant amount. Um if you all want to go through the budget
we can go through there. Um, we have, if you go down to the totals page, which kind of tells the story, um, we have the 318,465 we put into a city hall expenditures account. Um, for our total carry
forward, uh, the city had approved a citywide wage increase of 7% and that cost around $85,000. Um we also have included in uh current active budget include building repair
and maintenance of 60,000 which we are currently working with um to fix the building and do a couple things here at this building. Um the remaining carry board for us to talk about tonight is $173,10.
we have a need um and I have given you each department and what the deficit for that department um is. Now, not all departments filled 100% deficits. We didn't need to such as city manager's office um the overage on that was for uh
a couple of reasons. City manager search and also pay of the of the interim um that was here prior to my arrival. Um finance is the other largest item and again that's going back over and paying for multiple years of audits and overlap
from previous year and that includes a deficit right now um of $78,000 actually I'm sorry $57,000 um that line item is not equal. We are asking for 70,000 to be put into that for the remainder of this year to pay
for um the audit process through the rest of this year. They are almost done with the audit as in my city manager's report. There's only I believe six or seven items left and Steve has been um working very hard to get those back in. There's also some emails and some other
information in my city manager report regarding uh our audit and the process of where we are. So, I'm asking for you all to approve uh 2025 uh 10 and allow us to move these funds into um into our current budget as as
you see them on this uh spreadsheet on the general fund total care report and request spreadsheet. >> I have a question about this. If somebody else has a question, I mean, they should go first, but I do have a question. Do we have any other questions
while Commissioner Veto is her question? >> Thank you, Mayor. Um it was my understanding when we had our workshop on Monday um the paperwork that we were given then said that after the
deficits were covered in the different departments there was an amount of approximately $62,000 that could be used in the 26 fiscal year
as carryover funds. that that was the amount remaining after all the deficits had been met in the different departments. Is that is there no longer um $62,000 remaining? Did you need more
money to cover the deficits between Monday and today? >> No, ma'am. And I'll explain that. Um it boils down to in the process for the workshop um we had identified specific line items that did not encompass the
totality of the deficits and we were um proposing to the commission that we would have an amount of revenues and amount of expenditures through the rest of the FY and we were going to offset some of those deficits by that time. Steve and I had an issue getting in and
finding how to properly put this into the budget and we called another finance director of another city. Um they directed us that what we need to do is put the entire funds into the deficits and when there's a reconciliation next
year when you're auditing we can actually figure out what our our you know deficits really are or if we were in the positive and then we would find out what a true carry forward would be at that time for next year. We're not anticipating a carry forward.
>> Well, we directed you to do that. >> Yes. >> At that workshop, correct? You were directed to put that into this year's expenditures. >> Yes. And it was >> we did. >> But I'm sorry. I What I'm hearing sounds like two different things. What am I
missing? The the $62,000 was supposed to go where. >> We instructed him to put that either in a miscellaneous item in the current year's budget, >> right? >> Um or find someplace else in the current year's budget. He had to it had to go
somewhere, right? and that we were not guaranteed we would get that and so we put it in the in the next year's budget would would not be smart >> right in a nutshell. >> Okay. But that was my >> because we didn't know that we were going to have that even as we go
forward. >> Right. But the last I heard was what you said that we gave direction that it should be put in a separate line item in the amendment to the current year budget. >> Okay. That's a little different than what you were. It was as you were
asking, did you put it into next year's budget? >> No. That it potentially could be available. There was >> there was $62,000 that was not needed to cover deficits and it would be separate,
but so what I am wondering is I was expecting to see it in a separate line item. >> Where'd you put it? >> We we put it in all of the spread out. We spread it out. Yes. >> I don't like that because >> we and if you go to the spreadsheet at
the bottom um for each department, we gave you exactly the amount of the deficit and the amount requested to add to that department to take care of that deficit. Not all takes care of totality of deficit, but for the most part it does. We were originally covering the large items on there and the workers
comp, but there were other needs and from a better standpoint of accounting purposes, um, it was best to put them in here, go ahead and fill the gaps and have reconciliation next year and accounting next year when we go in and
do our uh, our assessment and uh, and audit and figure out exactly what we have and don't have. >> Okay. Well, mayor, if I could. >> Yes. Yes. What concerns me is um we're saying basically we're $173,000 in deficit
>> currently, but we still have amount of money coming in. Uh we have revenues and we have expenditures that was given to you on the previous spreadsheet uh or on on our uh on our meeting this last week. and then taken that out uh of this and
and revised it to show that we were going to go ahead and use and spread the funds throughout the entire um the entire budget where there are deficits. >> I thought it was going into miscellaneous item on that side. So, where did Julianne tell you when you did you talk to Julian?
>> She concur. This is also the best practice. >> Spread it out and put it into a miscellaneous. >> Correct. >> Steve, would you like to talk to that at all? That's Julian. >> That that is what Julianne had told us to do and as well as another finance director. So that's the best accounting
practices. >> I mean I just to me we usually put the money in that's needed. Um >> well it sounds like that's what they did. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, it sounds like it being the way this turns out, it sounds like we
didn't really have $62,000 of unallocated money. No, we we purposely had left that in in our thought as being a buffer originally and not putting all the money into the account and having some sort of uh
carryover buffer, but that was not the best practice to do and we have a need to take care of some of these issues. A lot of these problems were just unforeseen costs last year. >> 173,000 me
almost 70 I believe we budgeted in the finance it was uh we're at total expended right now $95,000 and we budgeted $38,000. It's that was unforeseen and that has to do with audits.
>> Okay. And that was because our the audit the audit billing piggybacked on this year from last year. >> Correct. And and there will be correction too on some line items. I I've asked for you
all to approve 34,000 going into the city um total city manager budget. there was aotted in in there 9,000 in a line item and I can go up to that to see exactly which that line item is with the account number but we expended $87,000
and that was because of the searches that was because of pay for intram uh city manager I believe that was brohart um this is definitely not plugging >> yeah but at the same time we didn't have a city manager salary so those two should have crossed each other out
>> and we have a line item up at the top that that can Yes, but for the purposes of putting this money in this budget and amending it, finding out what we have next year is that that's the plan right now. We put it in here and cover it and it's where it should be.
>> Numbers trying to calculate this. my copy is I I may I'm very concerned about this but um one concern I have is that I guess um >> we have some time flexibility to adopt
this but we have absolutely no time flexibility to adopt our fiscal year 26 budget. We don't really have any time. This has to be done by the end of the year. By the end of the fiscal year. So, we really don't have time flexibility. So, we better figure it out now.
>> This is our only option. This is our only opportunity to figure it out. So, we better we better figure it out. Um, now, Commissioner Lori, you're saying some of these are not >> I'm trying to have it up in my head. It just doesn't seem to be happening.
It sounds to me like you you can do it one way or you can do it another way, >> right? >> So So what are the consequences? You know, tell me the difference why you would do it this way versus the other way. >> Tell me why it's so
>> I was going to say don't look at me. >> Ask them. Yes.