Thank you. >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> We want to call this city council meeting to order. Today's Monday, June the 22nd, 2026. I ask Councilman Scurs if you'd leave us with the invocation. We'll follow a pledge of allegiance.
>> Father, we thank you for this day, Lord. We thank you for all your many blessings. Lord, we we thank you for allowing us to serve our citizens, God. and we thank you for allowing us to serve you, Lord. We pray that you will guide our thoughts, our conversations, Lord, our temperament tonight, that we'll make the best decisions that's in
the interest of our people, Lord, and for you, Father. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Amen. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, we got a little break from the rain, huh? >> That's because we we're inside. We needed to do [laughter] need something outside be different. But
anyway, well, we want to start off by welcoming our state representative, Shane Abbott. He's got something he wants to to bring before us. And so, Mr. Abbott, if you'll take the floor, we appreciate it greatly. Thank you, sir. So, I'm sure I'm not really revealing
anything brand new because I'm pretty sure everybody's already followed this, but um the local bill that we ran to to change the ownership of the Harvest and Field property from the uh state to the city, the governor signed on June 10th. So, we are through its last hurdle legislatively. So, now it's within 90
days of June 10th, the the state will transfer that ownership over to the city of Phoenix. Now, what does that mean? um that now opens up opportunities for grant writing um grants that we weren't eligible for before because we didn't own the property. Now that um the city can show ownership of that property, it
opens up to grants for whatever you might want to do out there, whether it be the field, the community center, or the fire station. So, okay, >> we're happy that happened and uh no no hiccups around the on the way and we've cleared our first or our last hurdle and now we'll just wait for the state to
turn it back over. >> So, thank you so much. We appreciate that. [applause] [applause] >> You know, I have to tell you, it kind of gave me a little heartburn over the years for us investing in two maybe three buildings that uh two buildings on that facility. One's our community
center, one's our fire station. We didn't even own the property under it, you know, but thank God we do now. So, thank you. Well, we will in 60 90 days. All right. Perfect. Okay. Uh, I want to ask the Liberty Partners if they will come up and uh give us a little overview
of the legislative session. >> Hey, mayor, council members, how are y'all? >> Real good. Yeah, >> we're going to go pretty quick and leave opportunity for questions if you have any. >> Okay. Who's got the clicker?
>> Got the clicker. >> Just say next and now. >> Okay. Next. This is a this is a overview of what has kept us in Tallahassee for in the and the representative for what seems like eternity. It almost feels like a year round legislature right now. And you you
can ask representative I know he would agree uh due to just due to the volume of special sessions that we've seen in the last two years. In fact, for those of you keeping track at home, it's uh the the highest number of special sessions we've had since I think the early 90s. So to to have six special
sessions in that time uh like I said has has has kept u kept us in Tallahassee a lot. Um kept us busy on on some different issues and stuff. So we want to kind I know that we've we try to keep y'all as up to date as possible through our weekly updates during the legisl
legislative session uh our monthly updates and then any any updates that we can provide here as well uh so that you know exactly what's going on uh there in Tallahassee. Next slide. We'll go ahead and start with the regular session that began on January
13th and was scheduled to conclude on March the 13th, which it did. Uh unfortunately, the the budget wasn't completed during that 60-day period. So, you'll see um had to come back a few weeks later to complete that. But next slide.
Just want to give you a brief overview. Jennifer, I don't know if you want to hit on >> I think the the only thing interesting um here is we do have in the legislature for the first time somebody that is no party affiliation and that was Senator Jason Piso at the end of last session
the 25 session last week of session he decided I'm no longer a Democrat I'm just going to be no party affiliation. So it's kind of interesting in the Senate but it really doesn't have an effect on what's happening in terms of uh the majority. Next slide.
>> And this is an overview kind of a gen a general overview of just the number of bills that were filed this year. Uh you know, we look at every bill that's filed and then we look to see if there's any potential impact on the city. So almost 1,900 bills that were filed, that number is a little bit lower than that we've
seen in recent years, but uh additionally, the number of bills that uh that ended up passing this year, 237, was probably much lower than what we've seen the last several years, too. I think there was only one year in the last seven or eight that uh came close to that, you know, as low as that
number. Not not a bad thing. Like [laughter and clears throat] I said, it's um you know, it's just kind of the the universe and stuff that we track on on y'all's behalf. And um you see the number of bills signed there. That that number may be a little bit higher since we submitted this presentation, but he's
uh the governor's getting very close. He's down to the last handful of bills. There may be 20 that are remaining on his desk now that he has uh probably another week or two to take action on. There's only one bill that has not been sent to his desk yet and that's uh
relates to emergency preparedness uh an emergency fund um that has not been sent to him. That's and that's from the regular session, but he's about to close the book uh you could say on the on the 2026 legislative session. You'll note
there we haven't seen any vetos yet. Um >> they're coming. >> They're they [laughter] have to be coming. >> But one one other particular note that we like to point out it's not [clears throat] it a bill can become law without any action after the you know 15
days um transpires. He can allow bills to just become law without any action. We've only seen that and this is be his eighth and final year. I think there were three last year that he allowed to become law without any action. So, um, you know, we'll see what those last
handful of bills if he chooses to do that. But next slide. You may recognize some of the faces here. Um, [clears throat] I think y'all were great, you know, coming to Tallahassee whenever we needed y'all to this year. Uh, walk the halls, you know, whatever
issue was was up. Uh, I know the local bill got a lot of you over to Tallahassee. Uh, Chief Sheffield, it's always amazing to see the people that he knows in Tallahassee. It was a famous >> Yeah. NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, [laughter] you know, it's like [clears throat] napping the chief up and
and giving him a hug and it was like, "Holy cow, [laughter] but uh you know, mayor, you know, we were able to get in with um with Senator Trumbull and stuff to this legislative session and uh you know, advocating on y'all's a priority." So, um always always good to have y'all over there.
Next slide. We want to touch briefly on some of the bills that failed. Like I said, not many passed, but uh these were some of the ones that we were tracking on y'all's behalf. Rural communities or the rural renaissance bill you've heard a lot about the last two years. Um and it it
failed again this year. We know that it was a a top priority of the Senate President. Uh but it did not uh get the traction that it needed in the House to pass this year. So, um, also Blue Ribbon Projects, a big, um, bill that relates
to large parcels of property and, uh, how counties and governments are able to, um, uh, enact different different policies around development of those those properties. Local business taxes, I think that was one that we had looked at specifically here um, during council
meetings. Senate Bill 180 rewrite. I know that one that was one that we were following closely this year. Thought that it might have the juice to get across and um unfortunately wasn't. AI bill of rights. Uh we know that's something that the governor is >> very very interested in and I think you
all have probably seen and may mayor you've been may have been approached by the League of Cities but um there's a lot of local governments mostly counties that are actually passing moratoriums or ordinances barring these um data centers. And I think uh there's a few that are that are looking at
deliberately wondering okay what do I do if I do this? What's the impact alto together? So we would strongly encourage you um as you know again in the future as things move forward just to keep you know stay deliberative keep your information together and see uh what whether or not it's a good thing for
you. So >> and for the record about 13 years ago I was advocating for that and I withdraw my support of [laughter] that. Of course, I did not see all these negative impacts that were coming with it, you know, but anyway,
>> enough said. >> Like we noted the uh the budget wasn't passed during the regular session. So, next slide, we'll look at some of the key bills that passed. Of course, uh the local bill that Representative Abbott was instrumental in in getting passed this year. Uh sovereign immunity bill,
uh if you remember, it increased uh some of the thresholds there. that is, as Clay was I just talking, that is sitting on the governor's desk. Don't know yet what uh what action may be taken as it as it relates to that. Local government finances, I know that's one that we've tried to keep y'all informed of um
requiring local governments to post their budgets online to also do a cost cutting [clears throat] exercise of 10% um annually to show what um a reduction in budget would look like if you had to make uh that reduction. and then posting
that information online in a format that people that's easy to understand for people to see. So that was um I think a priority of the CFO's office that >> and and not unlike what you all do already. I mean you you've got a very active website with your information. I don't think it will be much of a change
for you. Um we're glad we didn't see the CFO come running around doing [laughter] the city, but uh but again, yeah, we don't see it being a big problem. and then a land use and and development regulation bill that I think has has um has been signed yet or or has pending
signature. But next slide. So now we get into the special sessions that have been held. Uh this was um immediately following the regular sessions, special session D. You probably saw that in the news where new congressional maps were proposed and um
the legislature came back to Tallahassee the week of April 27th through the 1st. uh looked at those new maps. Um you know, you've probably heard a lot about uh the impact of the of the um every 10 the >> census
>> the census and and then the mid decade the state looking at those maps again based off population increases and trying to have a a realistic look at at where you know where the demographics and stuff are and looking at those lines. So, um, like we
mentioned, AI, Bill of Rights was included in that call as well as med medical freedom. Uh, the House chose not to take up those bills, uh, during the during that special session, but did pass the map. So, those those have been passed and I think have already withstood a few legal challenges. But,
>> next slide. >> Special session E. >> Thank you. >> Was uh the special session to come back on the budget. You see there was a few weeks there in May uh that everybody was back in Tallahassee and some of the sub appropriation committees uh met that first week and then bumped all
outstanding issues to the big chairs. Um that's when we saw one of your top priority projects, the affluent force main replacement project um get appropriated $1 million towards u towards that project. is we as we've
mentioned, the governor has not signed the budget yet, so we're still holding our breath a little bit. >> The governor doesn't even have the budget. >> Governor doesn't technically have the budget, >> which is which is ironic because we're almost to June 30th and he's supposed to have three weeks to actually look at it, but I'm sure he's making um the a what
is it 800 million I think is what they're looking at in terms of vetos. That's what he said publicly. He wants to veto 800 million out of 114.5 billion budget. So, we made the best arguments we could on yours, >> but as you as you recall, the governor
didn't sign the budget last year uh until June 30th, the last day of the fiscal year. So, [clears throat] um we're running up on that date again this year. So, next slide. And then just kind of a brief overview of last year's state budget. You'll see
it was 115.6 billion is what the governor recommended. and then um slightly different from what the legislature passed. Then we see what the governor vetoed last year and what the final budget was. Next slide. And that'll show you an outline of this
year's budget. As you can see, um it is lower. Uh that's something that legislature and the governor are are pointing out as year over year. the last couple years, uh, they've seen a reduction in spending. [clears throat] Uh, vetos to be
determined. Next slide. That's special session F on property taxes. I don't if you want to touch on that, Jennifer. >> Thanks. I get the I get the fun stuff. Um, you all have had a lot of questions on on this issue and I think one, it has a long way to go. Uh, we obviously will
see this on the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment in November. Uh, the entire state will vote on it. There will be a ballot summary, a title and a summary, which if the governor signs the bill that goes along with it, um we'll also have they'll be able to exceed the 15word title and a 75word
summary, which may or may not help explain the issue. And then the full text of the amendment. You're going to see a lot happen after July 1, after the budget is dealt with. You're going to see probably a lot of your colleagues around the state uh being very concerned
and expressing their opinions about the property tax cut. if you want to call it a cut, if you will. Again, it's for homestead properties only. Bumps up the the um homestead exemption to 150,000 next January and then the following
January 250,000. So, lots of questions out there. Um the legislation that did pass ended up having a piece of it that the governor, it didn't have a piece of it the governor wanted, and that was basically a pool of money, a trust fund for fiscally constrained cities and
counties. and that wasn't included uh didn't end up in the final uh the final bill and again the constitutional amendment proconstitutional amendment the governor had no say so I mean he obviously had his recommendations but that is a um a function of the legislature they passed by a
supermajority it goes directly uh to the ballot the the interesting thing is what is carved out in terms of what funds your property tax funds can be spent on public safety education schools infrastructure you didn't that you didn't include the last thing. There's
actually um there's a protection for your retirement funds for uh to fund retirement accounts of of those that you have, you know, pending at this point, which we thought very interesting, hasn't been talked about all that much. Um the reducing the non-homestead assessment from the max of a 10%
increase to a 5% increase. That is a nod to making sure that it isn't shifted to all commercial businesses, although it could still happen. This needs a 60% vote by those voting in November to pass to go into um our state constitution.
There's if you ask me today, would it pass? On its face, it would be very easy for someone to say, "Yeah, I want I want my property taxes lower." Once you start digging into it, I think we're going to see some polling coming out pretty soon about when you start to explain what it really does, who benefits from uh the
property tax cut and who doesn't, and then also uh some of the restrictions on it. Would be very easy to move things under, you know, public safety, education, that type of thing. Um it's going to be challenging for for y'all should this pass. I don't think it's
insurmountable. um it's it's probably going to be tougher for larger areas that have bigger, you know, budgets to juggle, but it's a long way to November. And so, um again, think about your opinions on the issue. You all are voting as well. Your constituents are voting and um to see what that would do
to put in our constitution. So, happy to answer any questions on that. >> Questions? >> Everybody good? I must done a great job. >> Awesome. Appreciate you. >> Thank you very much. Yeah. All right. Um, we'll go on to the
consent agenda and we'll certainly entertain a motion to approve as written. If you want something pulled off, uh, please let us know at this time. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Uh, any question, any comments? We are at
>> I'll go >> Todd. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. I. >> Eyes carry. Thank you very much. And at the regular agenda, we got several little ships here and a couple of deletions. Uh Kobe, sir, mayor, if we
could uh if we could delete 4C4, that is uh resolution 202609, initial fines for code enforcement. We're going to bring that back at the next meeting. Um and then if we could delete 4D1, that's at the request of the springs
developer. some clarification, we'll handle them over the next week or so and then bring that back. Um, and then if if the council so willing, if we could move what is currently 6A1, Ben Neber request for $5,000 waiver capacity fees. If we
willing to move that up under me on the regular agenda, Mr. Neberg um has a flight at 7:30. I'm I'm confident we're going to get there, but there's one item that we may get hung up on. So, I hate for him to miss his flight on something probably ain't going to take very long if everybody's comfortable with that. So, if we could move 6 A1, we will make
that now 4C3. And then if the council would be willing to move 9 A3 under Councilman Cosen, Bleachers of Harvest Field, he's got some people out here that came for that item and some younger younger constituents. I don't think we want to have them here at the very end of the
meeting if everybody's okay with that, too. So, if you are willing to move that, that that's not going to be an action item per se, redirection at the most. If we can move that to be 4C4. >> Okay. >> Okay. That's it. >> Yes, sir. >> We' entertain a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve.
>> Second. >> We have a motion in a second. Uh, any other comments? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> I. Eye is carried. Thank you very much. All right, Kobe, we're going to go to 4C1.
>> Yes, sir. Mayor uh Pervis Gray, the city's auditors are here to present on the fiscal year's 2025 financial audit. Ryan and Megan, Mayor, >> good evening. Uh this I'm Ryan Tucker. I'm a partner with Pervvis Gray Company. I have Megan Camp with me. She was the
lead CPA on the city's engagement. This is our third year on the audit engagement. You may recall a couple years ago, we had a number of findings in this report. Uh probably eight to 10 and now we're down to one. So there has been [laughter] a lot of improvements made over the last couple of years. We
were just going to go through a couple of highlights in the in the report. There are four letters in here on our letter head and the rest of this is really management's um information. We help them pull all this together as part
of our audit into the required format uh that all governments have to report under. But um this year there was no state or federal single audit. Y'all didn't meet the threshold which is 750,000 of grant expenditures on the state level
for a state single audit or 1 million is now the threshold for a federal single audit. So y'all did not meet either of those thresholds this year. Um if you turn to page one of this bound report, you'll find our where we issue our
opinion on your financial statements. And this is uh what's called referred to as an unmodified or clean opinion on your financial statements. And that is the highest level of assurance you can receive from a CPA firm. Um so well done
there. And we are pleased that this is being issued in a timely uh manner which is not the case in the past. Um so uh this is the deadline is June 30th. So thank you for calling this meeting to to get this out. um their management's
discussion analysis which is put together by Danielle's team and and um and Kobe uh is on page four through nine. If you only have time to read some portion of this document, I would definitely check that out. It gives some
comparative information um of the governmental activities and business type activities um and in total for the city as a whole. If you are interested in how the general fund did, you can turn to page 14 for
this time period. And you can see that the general fund had 10 point just under 10.3 million of total revenues and just under 12 million of total expenditures. Now, there were some transfers in and
out of a positive of about 1.9 million. So that resulted in a roughly $200,000 net increase in fund balance. And you might be asking yourself, where do we stand? Where does the government, what does the city stand in our general fund
in terms of our reserves? And you can see that there were 3.5 million. But if you flip back to page 12, [snorts] you can see that your fund balance, which is in the bottom part of that on page 12 under fund balance, there's a lot of
money that's restricted for various reasons. Uh so your unassigned fund balance is about 1.7 million and the GFOA recommends that that uh cities maintain a minimum of 16.7%
16.67% 67% or two months of operating expenses in reserve and y'all are at about 14.13%. So you're a little low of where you would want to be. >> You don't mind council. This does not include the $220 something,000 you
allocated in this fiscal year. >> So >> okay. >> So that's as of end of fiscal year 25. So correct you can take that 1.6 million add $220,000. So you're going to be close to 1.9 million. >> Yeah. So, you're very close.
Um, if you turn to page 16, you can see a budget versus actual statement for the general fund and see that you came in, you know, a little under budget, but I know that there was some projects that didn't come through, like for instance,
the the sale of the other the old facility there uh didn't come through in your budget on the actual side, but you came in under budget um of about $6 million compared to your FIN. final budget.
And then uh if you want to see how the utility funds did, you can turn to page 19 and 20. And now we've this is the second year. You can see these broken out um you know between the different utilities, water, sewer, sanitation, the airport and the gas fund there. And you
can see how those did the the water and sewer did did well. The airport as well and the gas fund had a small loss on the year. Um the notes to the financial statements include all C all types of information,
a summary of uh of accounting policies and principles. We did have to implement a new accounting standard on compensated absences this year. Uh it wasn't a material amount um impacting your financial statements.
Um we did break out a little more on page 34. or in the middle of the page, you can see the restricted assets. We did provide a little more information this year on the various restrictions of of cash y'all have. So, totaling 16.7
million that's restricted for various reasons. And then on page 35, you at the bottom there in that table on capital assets, you can see kind [snorts] of a roll forward of increases and decreases of your capital assets. And the largest
ticket items were improvements at the airport and that was like a $9 million project that's finally completed that was occurring over the last several years. Um there's a garbage truck purchase during the fiscal year and some library renovations as well that was
going on during that time. Um there's all sorts of information. Please let me know if you want to uh go over any any of these note disclosures. Um in the back of our report, we have some
required letters starting on [snorts] page 56. And this is your compli city's compliance with chapter 218 of Florida statutes um regarding in the investment of public funds. Uh if there were any um
compliance issues there, we would need to report on those. There were none. And any internal control matter, significant deficiencies of material weaknesses on page 57 and 58, there were none. And then one thing the auditor general does
require is that we tabulate these uncorrected statements. So if you turn page 59, you will see that there is one remaining item that they've been working on. Um and they have actually started implementing this after our audit
period. But u we have to keep track of these over three years. And so they may the joint legislative auditing committee kind of keeps tabs on all the cities and counties and if they're not correcting their audit findings, you may get a a letter from them after the third year.
But just make sure to be responsive to them and [snorts] and tell them what your uh plans are. Your city's response is at the top of page 60. and uh we'll be looking at that next year to see if they've um implemented those recommendations on the sanitation billing process
[snorts] that's been out there for a couple of years. Um we also have a separate communications letter. Megan was going to go through that just briefly. >> Good evening everyone. Uh so as Ryan
stated, professional standards require us to communicate certain items to those charged with governance. Uh in the engagement letter at the beginning of the audit, we will uh communicate to you the plan scope and timing and other administrative items. And at the end, we
issue this communication with those charged with governance, which is the separate stapled copy that you'll find inside the front flap of your financials. And these are just some housekeeping items associated with the conduct of the audit itself. So on the
first page uh we will go over where you find the specific accounting policies relevant to the city and that will be in note one. We do discuss where in note one uh we indicate that the city adopted two new accounting standards during the
current year under audit. That would be Gazsby 101 related to compensated absences and Gazsby 102 over certain risk disclosures. These did not affect the financial statement presentation themselves, but it did change the
methodology wherein the liability for long-term compensated absences is calculated where you have to assess the impact of sick leave liability that's not paid out at retirement or termination. We didn't note any transactions where there's a lack of
authoritative guidance or consensus on the appropriate treatment. Uh we do believe that all significant transactions were recorded at their appropriate amounts and in the proper period. Uh next at the bottom we go over some of the more significant accounting
estimates that go into the preparation of these financial statements. The first one is the allowance for uncollectible accounts and that's based on historical trends, collections data etc. Uh on the next page there is an estimate for
depreciation and accumulated depreciation and that's based on the estimated useful lives of your capital assets. There is an estimate for unbuild revenues uh within the utility system and that's based on estimated usage for cycles that aren't built at year end. um
net present value of future payments associated with leases for appropriate reporting under GASV87. Um and this is only for those leases where there is no stated effective interest rate. And then we have an overall estimate for the net pension
liability and other post-employment benefits and those are based on actuarial assumptions and estimates. Um any of these significant estimates if changed could materially impact your financial statements. So, we just want you to be aware of what these estimates
are and what they're based on. Uh, we do go over some upcoming accounting pronouncements in 20 in the fiscal year that we're in right now ending September 30th, 2026. We're going to have two that come up. That's going to be Gazsby statement 103, financial
reporting model improvements, and 104, disclosure of certain capital assets. 103 is just going to change the presentation a little bit of supplementary information and some other items within the financial statements. And Gazsby 104 is just going to affect the disclosure surrounding your capital
assets, your infrastructure, those types of items. Um then in the fiscal year ended September 30th, 2027, there's a new statement regarding events that happen after the financial statement date but prior to the report date. We
call those subsequent events and it just kind of changes the way that they are assessed just a bit um and the way that they're disclosed. We encountered no difficulties in dealing with management and performing the audit. So, thank you to Kobe and Danielle for that. Um there
were some uncorrected misstatements. Uh these were not material items. They're just items that the inclusion of these items would uh for for lack of a better term
um be less be less valuable to present than it's worth to flow them through. Um, so pursuant to Gazsby 87, there is a requirement that you put all long-term
leases that are over 12 months on the financial statements as long-term liabilities. There were a few of those such leases, but they only totaled around $60,000. So that's not materials to your financial statements. So the reporting burden of putting those on the
financial statements as long-term liabilities wasn't considered to be material. >> The copers and the postage m things like that. >> Yeah. So, items that are just going to kind of roll year-over-year, they are technically long-term capital leases under GASB87,
but for the purposes of your financial statements, they're just expensed and it's not material. Uh there were some other adjustments that were made that were a little above trivial, but they didn't rise to the level of materiality either individually or in the aggregate. So they're not disclosed in this letter,
but they are inside uh they're baked into the numbers within the financial statements. Um we had no disagreements with management. We did receive the management representation letter as required and as far as we know there
were no outside consultations with other accountants related to the type of audit opinion we expressed or any other treatments within the financial statements. We do discuss some other matters um related to the audit and
items that we find surrounding best practices or items that do not currently rise to the level of a reportable finding, but they may need to be addressed sooner rather than later in order to ensure continued compliance and appropriate financial reporting. So
those are at the bottom of page three. Um the first we noted that there were some IT security policies that were not in full compliance with the Florida cyber security law. You were required to be in compliance uh by January 1st,
2025. And there are just some of the IT policies and procedures that need to be shored up a bit. It [snorts] is a very hefty statute. We've noted quite a few um local municipalities that are, you know, having a little trouble getting everything perfect, but y'all are y'all
are on a good trajectory for that. We just want to make sure that you continue to monitor that. Uh we also noted that there is a large account payable acral for the city attorney. Um, currently it is not a material balance. So, it's not
required that it be substantiated quite yet, but if it does get any larger, we will need to see an itemized invoice in order to substantiate it and for it to be paid. Um, you'll also need to see an itemized invoice. So, we're just
requesting that that be provided as soon as possible. Um, as far as other matters, we did apply certain limited procedures to the required supplementary information as it's listed in the table of contents in the financial statements. Um,
and I think that's about it. Ryan, do you have anything to add? >> Overall, very cooperation, especially staff and Danielle. >> Well, thank you very much. Y'all have any questions? >> No. [clears throat] >> Well, thank you. You did a fantastic
job. Yeah. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Ryan. Mayor, >> if we could, the council would be willing to make a motion to accept that so we can submit that on timely to the state. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I have a motion second. Any questions or comments?
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> I. Carrie. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to uh thank finance Danielle and Tiffany and Beth uh for all our hard work. Um it's been been a heck of accomplishment to get to this far and
so we hope to keep it moving forward especially with the next item I'm about to talk about too. So we thank all our hard work. >> Yeah. Fantastic. Okay. All right. We're going to go to uh C2 4C2. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. uh council,
I want to I've uh spoke with all of you about this u I engaged with Ryan and Megan uh as our auditors um on looking at doing a type of operational audit of all of our utility accounts. And so looking and going through and having
someone put their hands on every single water, sewer, natural gas, and sanitation account um just to make sure that we are charging proper rates, that we're charging in versus out of city limits, that we're capturing all the revenue that city should be capturing, and that we're not overcharging. So um
and and the second part of that is to look in compared to our ordinances, resolutions, and our policies. Are we compliant? And if we aren't, what is the reason for that? um to look see how do we correct it? Is that is that a change in policy? Is that a change in you know operating procedure? And so I talked to
Randall about utilities director uh Miss Thomas utility billing supervisor about this and they're both supportive of it. Uh this is not a reflection of any current employee in utility billing. I think we've had turnover down there over the last year and a half, two years. I've got a great staff down there now.
This is simply to make sure our accounts are accurate and to make sure our staff's got a good footing to work with so we're confident and when we communicate with our citizens and with our customers. So, um this engagement letter would then would do just that. They would go through all the accounts. They'll verify all the information and
then also if we would like them to go and look at our policies and ordinances to proide to us what they see as being incompliant and what we need to do correct that. So across the three funds or four funds I should say, we're looking at a total cost um if you were
to go down to the last page of the PDF uh not to exceed $37,000 which would be busted up amongst the funds appropriately and then an additional max not to exceed of $10,000 at an hourly rate of $185 if we wished for them to review ordinances and policies for
compliance. And so that's bring us to a total of 47,000 which would be again busted up amongst the funds appropriately. >> And I would highly recommend you do the secondary add-on because of the nature of how we have structured the capacity fee ordinance of a certain dollar amount needing to go into reserves versus
operating. That's critical for us to look at that. >> So looking for a motion to approve that? >> Yes, sir. I'm ultimately looking for an approval of the engagement letter with Pervis Gray. >> So moved. Second. >> All right. I have a motion second. Any
questions or comments from anyone? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. I. >> Eyes car. Before you move on. U this hadn't anything to do with billing. It had to do with metering. You know, years ago, and I don't know if we've corrected
all this or not, but you know, we were we had some uh real faulty metering and some some very very big customers. for example, the prison >> and some others. Do you know if all that got corrected? >> So, we have two we have two big commercial meters. We're talking about water particularly. You've got the
prison and I believe CW Roberts is the other one. I could be wrong. Pretty sure. So, we've those two are correct. We corrected the prison one. Um and then in terms of meters or registers, you know, the council, you all approved the new system. So, that's all been installed. We have electricians. We've approved POS this morning for
electricians to run power to those to those that hardware out in the field. And then once that's up and running, Empire will come in and set up the software portion of it. And then within the next few months, all the existing AMI registers will ping directly to utility billing downstairs. Okay.
>> Um so they won't have a delay in reading the old ones that are still old AMR. Uh those we have to change out over time, but as they come online, they will automatically read to utility billing. >> Todd, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to clarify on that and I know this probably
seems trivial but I see see this a lot on Facebook so I think it's worth having a little bit of a clarification here. What what just got referenced wasn't necessarily that our meters in the field were generating incorrect data. It was
that we had a billing unit set incorrectly in the billing system. And and I I think that that's important because I see a lot on Facebook where people are like, "Yeah, my meter's wrong." you know, I'm getting build. You know, I got this $500 water bill and, you know, the city's stealing my money.
>> From what I've been told by staff, every time we've ever taken one of those meters out of the ground and sent it off to be tested for its accuracy, it's always came back accurate. >> So, I think I just wanted to make that point of clarification that what just got discussed wasn't that there's meters
out in the city that are inaccurate. It was that we had a simple billing change where it was the unit that was set wrong >> or something else >> on our end. Correct. The physical meters in at in front of everybody's house and business, >> they're accurate. >> And everyone we've ever pulled out of
the ground and had tested tested accurate. I just want to clarify anyway that was a big number. Okay. Um [clears throat] uh we've got that one taken care of. We're going to go ahead and move to to Ben Neighbor. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Uh council, this is was 6 A1 that you
all moved for >> C3. This is Mr. Neber. >> Good evening everybody. Good evening Mayor, council members. Um my name is Ben Nyberg. I was um I was here last year and I'm not sure if you remember me or not, but I was proposing a senior
housing devel excuse me, a senior housing development along 90 and off of North 20th Street. And um last year you all approved a $5,000 fee waver, impact fee waiver for proposed affordable uh senior housing development. And um we actually didn't move forward with that
project. We weren't comfortable with the soils of the site. the site conditions um didn't come back uh as positive as we hoped. So, we kind of just killed the project, didn't move forward. The last thing we would have wanted to do is propose a project, get into construction, and stop it for any
reason. So, we pulled the plug on that site. Um last year, kind of towards the end of the year, we found a couple other sites that we think would work well for a project. It's uh right around the corner on North 20th Street off of 90. We have uh two separate parcels. One's a
16 acre parcel, one is a 35 acre parcel. Um, and so what we'd like to ask you all for is a little bit of support on on two potential projects, but I just kind of want to make clear that two projects would never be funded at the same time.
Um, so we would be asking all for $5,000 fee fee wavers on two different sites. The way that the state agency works is such that only one project would ever get funded, but it's a very competitive process. And so putting in two sites instead of one would double our chances
of getting a senior community in in the in the city and in the community itself. And so um uh we're proposing up to 60 units of senior housing. The senior housing would be set aside for folks um earning up to 70% of area median income.
Rents would be anywhere from $700 on the lower end to $1,200 on the higher end. Um it would be 55 plus. And so you we cannot have anybody under 55 in the community. Um and so in order for us to proceed with the projects, we would be
looking for a $5,000 fee waver from from you all if you would uh support the project. Um the fee waiver is only if we get funded, just to be clear. It's it's not um and it'd be coming out of impact fees that we'd be paying. And so I think impact fees um for multif family housing
is somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 or $14,000 per unit. um it would be proposing 60 units. So it' be north of a million dollars for the city on uh proposed development. Um and so that $5,000 would only apply if we were to be funded by the state. And so chances of
being funded, you know, it really depends on the on the year. It depends on how many applications go in, but we're competing with all the other counties, smaller county. It's considered a small county in Florida. So Baker, um Washington, etc. And so, um,
last year I think there were maybe 12 or 15 proposed projects. So, one out of 12, one out of 15 not great odds. So, that's why I'm proposing two sites to go in to just kind of double the odds and and and see if we can get a project uh funded by the state agency. And so, the $5,000 fee
waiver was approved last year. Um, and all I'm asking for is to your consideration to support us this year as well. Um, and so I guess that's that's just the first ask. Um, and the second ask would be, uh, I met with Tom Baker today from the housing authority. He's very supportive of the projects. Um,
I've been speaking with him for the past year and a half or so on trying to bring a senior housing community to the city. Uh, he's super supportive. Um, and I would just ask you all if you'd be able to support us in a letter to the housing
authority um, asking them for their support on the project. So, a lot of times seniors cannot afford even $700 a month. a lot of them lived on fixed incomes, uh, social security, disability, etc. And so the housing authority today, from what I understand,
has about, they have voucher authority of about 400 vouchers with only 250 in circulation or so in the community. And so, um, we would want to, uh, potentially ask the housing authority to join us in this project and provide, uh,
60 or so project based vouchers. And so, what that means is that the voucher stays with the property. it doesn't move around with the tenant. And so, um, you know, if a tenant qualifies, they would be, um, welcome to join the community. If they don't, you know, then they they just wouldn't qualify either from an
income perspective, from whatever other perspective. So, um, you know, Tom's supportive of the project and I'd ask if you all could, you know, support us in drafting a letter, um, from the council and sending it over to Tom and and the housing authority and, you know, seeing if we could maybe work together on this
project. the the vouchers would be very very helpful in making the u the project financially feasible. Um the way that the tax credit um capital structure works is that it doesn't really favor
smaller projects like 60-unit projects. It's not so great especially in smaller counties. If you're in Miami Dade, you know, it's a different story in doing a 200 unit project, but you know, it's a little bit tough to get these deals capitalized. So, um, you know, if if the housing authority has the capacity, uh,
and there's, you know, a willingness from you all to support it, then I'd really appreciate it. We would appreciate it. I'm sure that 60 seniors in the city would appreciate it. So, that's the ask and, you know, I'm happy to answer any questions from you. >> The location, I think everybody knows that's on 20th and part of the old Coast
property. Is that what that >> That's correct. >> Yeah. Okay. And that's so that' be before you get to the any of the other housing projects that are going on up there. >> That's right. So, yeah, there's arborers at Emerald Springs, which was approved. >> Yeah. >> Uh I think two years ago or so, and now they're under construction. They've got,
you know, I think they're framing them right now. But >> yeah, I drove by today. It looks good. Um so it would be, you know, a couple properties away, >> right? Okay. >> Uh any questions? Anybody? Go ahead. >> So, this is 250 ft northwest of the intersection of Highway 90 and 20th. Is
that is that where it is? >> It's further up than that. >> It's on It would be Sorry. It might be there's a a tiny street there called Wabash. >> And so it's right there. It's 250 ft northwest of Wabash. >> Uh but there's actually two parcels. Um and so if you know that there there
might be two ponds with some um uh some electric lines going through that kind of bifurcates the two properties. So one propertyy's on one side, one propertyy's on the other side. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> But they're they're big properties and you know they you could do many many more units, but that's not what we're
proposing. Motion to approve the request for the two waiverss not to exceed 5,000 or $10,000 5,000 per project. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. Any questions or comments? >> Yes, sir.
>> Go ahead. >> Clay, do I need to recuse myself? This is my family. >> So, yeah. At this point in time, it because it is a family member. Well, have you fill out the proper form? A
conflict. >> Okay. >> You'll have me what? >> Have you felt the conflict form? >> Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> Just just want to reiterate that this is
for a 60 unit senior housing development that is that is geared towards people with fixed income. >> Yeah. And this is the kind of development that I think is a positive development for DeFuniac Springs to have this kind of thing [snorts] um here in the city. >> I agree.
>> And and I do want to clarify, you mentioned earlier, I know I'm being a stickler for words today, but it is uh capacity fees, not impact fees. >> Yeah. >> Okay, that's >> Yeah, we're we're trying to change the vocabulary there. But uh but any other
questions or comments? And just to clarify, it would be a $5,000 water and a $5,000 sewer per parcel. >> Correct. >> That's all right. All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. Eyes carry. Thank you very much. And
>> now we need a motion to have the mayor sign a letter of support to the housing authority if the council so desires. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion to second. Any questions? >> And you do not recuse from anybody. Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All right,
>> you get to do >> All right, [laughter] Gary. >> If you'll get if you'll get with the city clerk, she has to form. >> Yeah, thank you very much. Thank you so much and we hope you great success. >> Thank you very much. I really appreciate the support. Um I'm sorry I didn't mean to jet out of here. It's just there's
one flight an evening. So, thank you so much and we'll be in touch if you need if you have any questions. I'd love to get with any of you, all of you individually or as a group and kind of walk through the project and and give you some more ideas. It is it's a competitive process with the state and
so I'm trying uh we put in two applications in January and you know we didn't get funded so we're going to continue to try and um appreciate the support. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. We appreciate your interest. >> All right we're going to go to Mr. Cosen on the uh bleacher and harvest field.
>> Yes sir. So, um, this is probably one of the better stories since I was sworn in for me. Uh, by happen chance, I had the privilege of meeting for the first time a gentleman who is known in the
community as uh, Coach Hollingsworth. >> And when he met, he said uh, he said, "You're with the city council, aren't you?" And I said, "Yes, sir." He said, "Um, I'm involved in youth sports." And I found out later on a major level
in several sports, um, several age groups. And he said, "Out at Harson Field, we have one set of bleachers on one side of the field and one set on the other, and most of the parents are standing up and down the sidelines." I
think I think it's just one that um, is that right? One set of bleachers on each. >> There's not many. Okay. And so, >> yeah, most everybody's in chairs out there, >> right? Chairs standing, you know, everywhere. He said, [laughter] he said, "Is there any way we could get uh some
more bleachers out there?" And I said, "Well, first of all, uh the city hadn't got any money. [laughter] Uh but let me see what we can do." So, I called Kobe and um he said, "Let me make some phone calls." and he called around
and um had some of his public works go out to Gene Hurley and said there's a bunch of bleachers out there and they're just sitting there. So um >> I called Brian Kellenberg uh with the county since Harvest and Field is a city county thing
>> and I said you'll be hearing from Kobe. Is there um do you have a problem with this? Are you okay with that? And he said uh no. As a matter of fact, if y'all need We've got big heavy duty trailers. we've got heavy duty equipment. If y'all need any help, let us know. We'll be happy to help you transfer it from uh Gene Hurley to
Harvest and Field. And I was like, "Wow." >> So, uh while while I was there, he said, "Uh, Mr. Cosen, uh, can I show you the bathrooms out there and, uh, our water fountain situation?" And I said, "Okay." And so, I knew then we're going to get
into some money. [clears throat] So, when I need help from the county, since it's a city, >> now you're talking about the bathrooms. >> Harvest and Field. >> Okay. All right. Okay. >> At Harvest and Field. >> All right. >> And um so when I need help from the county, I'll just start at D1 and go to
D2 and D3 and D4 and D5. So, I called D1 first, you know, uh Dan Curry and I said, um, can you come out here and look at this? And, um, he said, "Well, what does it involve?" And I said, "It involves a recreation center. it's a
joint city county uh park and he said, "Well, I got some plat fees and I can only sell it. I can only use it on recreation, so yeah, I'll meet you." So Dan Curry came out there and he looked at the bathrooms. He looked at um I
think there's one or two water fountain one water fountain one water fountain for all those kids and uh the the bathrooms are in really bad shape and uh and Curry
said uh I'll put it on the agenda. So, tomorrow he's going to be talking about this to the BCC. >> And he's he's standing there and he's kind of looking around and he said, "Uh, what's that building over there?" And I said, "That's the old armory." He said, "Have you ever been in it?" And I said,
"Uh, yeah." He said, "What's in it?" And I said, "Basketball courts." He said, "Can you get me in it?" So, um, I called Sumi and she said, uh, she'd send somebody out and like that. Just like [clears throat] that. Mhm.
>> He walked in there and he said, "We are have we've got a really big shortage on recreational facilities >> available for our youth uh countywide." And this right here is a really good
opportunity. He said, "Uh, do you I heard that it was uh got a bad report one time. Can you uh can you find that report for me?" So once again, I call Sumi and she uh pulled up a report that was from 2018
and um basically um it said it had good bones. And I know why it did because Florida Army National Guard armories were built to take a direct hit. If there was a hurricane coming in off the Gulf and people had to be evacuated from
their home, the armories were equipped to shelter people with uh bed and food to get them through the disaster period. So it it was built to take a direct hit, but time and neglect has put some u you
know the windows uh need to be replaced. There's uh when we walked in the uh he said, "Are there any lights in here?" the lights work, the air condition was running. Uh, and he's like, "Man, we could we could do something with this." I said, "Well, the county could do
something with it. We couldn't." So, we started brainstorming ideas and um if we if we went in on a on a city county project on this, the county would be doing the heavy
lifting because we don't have the funds to do that. So, we were trying to figure out where how are we going to get the money and he was talking about, you know, he he does have discretionary plat fees for recreational purposes. >> Mh. >> And um
I don't know if it would be to our advantage and I'm just saying this just to give us something to think about for the future. I'm not suggesting we do this. I'm just saying here's an option. Mhm. >> Um we were going to s uh one at one time we were talking about selling the armory. >> Uh and I think it would be a lot more
beneficial to our community if um maybe one of the options were to give it to the county and let them take it and run with it. >> Uh because they've got the funding and we don't. >> Um so um there's it really was a good
day. It really was a good day and um you'll be hearing this again probably tomorrow at the BCC meeting, but um this is just discussion. So, I'm going to look for some direction at a future meeting. >> Yeah.
>> Um I'd like to invite Coach Hollinssworth up and uh and his parents and their kids if they would like to say a few words. They did want to address uh the council. about the bleachers >> uh about the bleachers and the bathrooms and you know
>> Yeah. >> everything that happened out there. >> So would you allow them? >> Yeah, absolutely. Come on. [snorts] >> How y'all doing? >> How's you doing? >> Good evening you guys. This is uh I'm Elvis. I'm coach Elvis Hollingsworth and
coach Tyler Elim. Um, we're coming to you from the uh Walton County Athletics and uh we we enjoy what we do, but we need just a little bit. Um, >> hey, can I make a remark before you get too far along? >> Yes, sir. Go ahead. I've met coach. I
probably met him a long time ago, but certainly last year they were coaching my grandson who was a first year and uh that team uh incredibly never lost a game and they went to all their playoffs and won every single playoff
and even went to the Super Bowl of that particular league and they won that as well. So, just want to say congratulations. You guys did an incredible job. And Dan Curry said, "Uh, man," he said, "Y'all y'all beat us every game we've ever played."
>> This is This is my 17th year with the program. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's been a long been a long road. >> In 17 years, you've beat. [laughter] >> Absolutely. The biggest thing is over the years it's it always went back and forth and this
last season it was probably the best it's been with the collaboration between you guys and the county on getting a lot of things done. There's just some of the things like the bathrooms and the bleacher situations. We just needed that extra help pushing it years ago. There were times we were dumping our own money into the program and I'm just a lonely
plant manager at the high school. I don't have a lot of funds to be able to repair bathrooms like that. >> You're a football coach too, aren't you? >> Yes, sir. I'm the head coach at the middle school also. >> Okay. Um, but over the years it's just that park takes neglect, but it's probably one of the most packed places on a given Saturday during football season
>> that we have in the city. >> I mean, there's four different teams, 35 kids a piece. Their parents come out there with it. It's a very big staple on what Definiac Springs has to offer on a Saturday. >> They come in, they play at our facilities, they go to our restaurants, they go to our businesses. I just think
that we need to take a little more time to put some more toward that, not just for our youth, but our entire community as well. feel like it would be a great asset for everybody to be able to use for the fair pitches in uses our lights for for the fairgrounds for adequate lighting
wherever they're driving. Um has become more and more used throughout different things with and the armory would just be a bonus if that could work into it because we're getting into the competitive cheer side and having a better place for people to go. >> Tumbling >> the tumbling and all the mats we're buying. Our little building just
honestly ain't big enough anymore. becoming a burden. >> My dad played a lot of football games on on that field and he graduated in the class of 40 >> and his brother Vernon Cosen graduated in the class of 41. There's a lot of history at Harson Field.
>> A lot of history. >> Been around a long time. >> Yeah. Yeah, we we kind of look at it as like a a crown jewel potentially, you know, that it could be and um and a and a stationary point in the community that keep kids coming back, keep them having something to do that's outside of, you know, games and, you know, trouble and
stuff like that. We we've been putting on as much possible manpower out there as possible for for different uh activities, whether that be just, hey, kids want to come out and play from 5:30 to 7:30. one of us will be out there and we'll be out there doing calisthenics or
or any some type of tag football or something. We normally have about a 35 to 40 kid >> um showing every night uh on any given night um when we're not doing a league like foot like flag football that we're doing right now or mainstream football. And we like to continue those services
to the community through our you know volunteer work, you know, throughout the year. And you know, some of these facilities that are being unused, we would love to have the opportunity to uh do some cosmetic work of our own. You know, maybe go handinhand with you guys
in any kind of way possible. Um just to give our community other things to make us great, you know what I mean? And make us a place where people want to come and move to >> to and and start a nice life. And you know, and they see that the the foreground and different things like that have already been established. And
you know when they come to places and they don't see much bleachers and they don't see a nice bathroom, they look at it as maybe like maybe it's the back, you know, been put on the back burner. >> Yeah. Don't worry. >> So, we just want to get, you know, to the forefront and, you know, kind of have a a place where everybody from
surrounding areas can come and say, man, Defunia's really doing some things, you know, lately, and they're not just letting old gyms, you know, go unpolished, >> you know. So, we just we just wanted to bring it to your attention, and hopefully we gain your support. If we had a U, which I know we're going to do
something, but if we expanded that fire station to where it goes a little bit closer to the goal to the uh scoreboard, uh that create any havoc for you guys. >> Um I'm sure we could >> it would just as far as having to relocate relocate [clears throat] the
restrooms and stuff with it. There is room if you had to shift the field back toward the playground some, >> you got room to play with it. I mean, I'm all for it. >> I don't know. I don't Chief, have y'all looked at any uh overall expansion as to how much
wider the existing firehouse would be. You know where the scoreboard is? >> Okay. Not going that direction. Okay. All right. So, would you be going toward the parking lot or the parking lot? Okay. In other words, one thing is the trucks that we're going to end up having
to have that building is not broad enough or wide enough to hold them. So, it's going to have to go toward the north. >> Okay. >> Uh I didn't know if it was going to go to the east or not, but uh >> we are looking for a storage area. Uh we were going to propose to you guys a plan
with uh local donors of of materials and potentially try to propose an a situation where we could get you guys to erect the building for us if we could provide material for that building. um whether that be a a standalone pole barn or an expansion to the fire
department in some form or fashion. Um but we do have some some people community that's you know ready to help a little bit or as much as they can. >> We just need to know um where that help needs to go and if it could help you guys in any way or if it's a separate
matter, you know. >> Well, you know, the county is there. We've got kind of a mutual agreement >> on the maintenance out there. So they're better prepared to do these projects now. And I'm not saying we couldn't do something as a city, but they're certainly very well prepared, but you
know, I think everybody appreciates the heck out of what you're doing. >> And uh we'll do whatever we can to support you, you know. >> Um Kobe, uh do you have Kobe? Do you happen to have uh is did you and Brian get a plan together? I mean, how soon
could they get those bleachers? If the council's comfortable with it, we I'll go with Andrew and I'm sure we can get them moved this week or next. >> Okay. Is that fast enough for you? >> It's very fast. Yes, sir. We're actually we're going to actually uh give you guys an aerial shot and and present exactly
where we would like them as a board. We're going to figure out exactly where they could be used at. We got a guy that went over there and took some measurements of the bleachers so we could have a plan for you guys and just hand it over >> and and just say, "Hey, this is where our proposed locations are and if you guys could just handle the other half of that, that'd be great. You better hurry
up [laughter] this evening. Figure out where the coach's boxes land at so they're not far. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> And we do plan on doing another Super Bowl this year. >> Yeah. Clay, do we do we need to take any kind of action in regards to moving the
bleachers? >> No, not at this point in time. It's still staying in the city and we're just moving them around. So, >> okay. >> We'll let Mr. Townson take care of that directly for you. So, just get it with him about that and then we'll let the board do what they have to tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. in regards to the we'll take it
we'll take up again about the armory. Uh we really didn't have that in front of us tonight, but I think it's something we need to give attention to pretty quick. >> When I invited uh Commissioner Curry out, the armory wasn't even on the radar >> and he initiated what's that building
over there? Can you get me in it? >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, the secret for us as a city either revenue uh or you know the county's participation because we just we really don't have the cash to to support that thing on ongoing basis and that's what
we're trying to eliminate ourselves from, you know. >> Yes, sir. We we are we're we don't either, but we're trying to come up with ways by utilization of the building to provide the funds that we need for an ongoing year. You know, normally we hit a kind of a a stale point after football season and we don't. We've just now this
year started starting a little bit earlier on certain things and trying to generate revenue in in a couple different ways. >> And we're going to keep elaborating on that more and more as we go and it more forefront and more, >> you know, hold on the on the facilities that we get or get the opportunity to
use. But and that could be things, you know, we we already put on the Lake Fest. Uh that's a small pageant thing for for youth youth women. And then we also have the flag football. We have the cheer. We have the tumbling that goes on. >> You know, we're just going to keep elaborating. We'd like to do maybe an adult league, uh, basketball league in
those winter months to kind of generate revenue for us. So, we're not asking for you a total handout. We're saying if we can just get a little bit, we'll we'll do as much as we can, if not the whole rest, >> cosmetically or financially, if we can afford it. >> All right. Well, we'll flip all the
rocks that we can. I I appreciate your enthusiasm and and I know this group here will do whatever they can to support you. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> Mayor, while we were out there, >> he asked if we could possibly get not a big one, but one of the small dumpsters
uh possibly donated by Waste Management >> ongoing or for a project? >> Only for a section of the year through football season. football season is when we have the most accumulated trash and we normally rely on our sponsors to do so, but without taking a dumpster away from their immediate um you know
revenue. >> In the past, we've used city hall and it ain't big enough. >> Yeah. [laughter] Well, that's a Kobe question there. >> Just just get with me before you leave and we can take care of all this. >> Okay. >> Appreciate that. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, thank you guys and thank you Dan. Appreciate you bringing that up.
>> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any about lost some place here? All right, we're over on uh 4C3. Mayor, >> there we are. All right, our five-year strategic plan adoption. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh council, this is
the uh final product of what we engaged Raph Telis a little over a year ago to do. Um and so um we took those priorities that the council came up with that workshop. Uh met, you know, staff put in put in input. Um community
members put in input. you all put together for a stakeholder workshop and then uh leadership team also went in and discussed this with the consultant. So um ultimately this is the the five priorities that the council came up with fiscal sustainability safe close-knit
community resources economic growth infrastructure investment. Um I believe the you know the definition and mission of each one of those uh come directly from our workshop here that day. Um and then the strategies developed from that and from our other meetings with staff. So uh ultimately looking for adoption of
the five-year strategic plan. We'll take this uh there's some more work to be done uh staff to take the strategies and then narrow down into specific action items that then be visible in the budget through you know through whatever that is priority the council has uh through the budget process. And also you'll
start see us incorporating this uh into like our agenda item for example. You know what are this what's this agenda item trying to accomplish? What what priority are we seeking to to do? So we'll start incorporating that. So ultimately looking for uh adoption of the strategic plan.
>> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. Any questions or comments from anyone? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Eyes carry. We're going to jump over
four and we're going to go to uh five, which is the invitation to bid. >> Yes, sir. Mayor, thank you. This is ITB 20262 UT cellular AMI natural gas solution. Uh and this would be to award. So uh we all
but we budgeted in this fiscal year to create to put in a separate natural gas meter reading system register system. Uh so this would be very similar to the new water system we're doing, but it will be solely for gas. It'll be a separate
system. Um and so we bid that out. Uh the bid came by one respondent. So that was Devtec. DevTec is a fairly large natural gas company, supply company. Um and so uh we're very confident in the system they can provide. And so that bid
came in at $187,933. That's for the hardware, software, uh and for all the registers. And then we budgeted $237. That's about a $50,000 difference. We will take that money to start purchasing meters u to replace those gas meters. And so we're looking
for to approve to award ITV 20262 UT to RAF no to Devtech in the amount of $187,933. >> So moved on that second. >> Second. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Um it just occurred to me Kobe, do we
did we kind of uh budget you said we have some money left over. Are we going to need to budget anything to pay Tyler to make an interface for this to make sure that it gets automatically imported into our billing system and we're not having to manually transfer data over like we do with some of the other
systems? >> Uh we'll check in. I don't think we'll have to I think I think it already integrate. >> Okay. >> From what we've done. So I don't we'll we'll make sure. But that the 50,000 buffer there is also for that reason too. So maybe some unforeseen things like that or uh if we run into an issue with the hardware if we got to put some
poles in like we did for the water system at lift stations. Um so we we'll figure that out though. >> Okay. >> Any other questions or comments >> from anyone? All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. I. >> Eyes carry. Thank you very much. And now
we're going to go to six. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh council. This is uh about the non-avorum assessment. This is not the resolution. This is not seeking any sort of action. This is simply giving the council uh ultimately you know you July 13th will be the initial
assessment resolution on the agenda and here that is our ordinance >> and ordinance and that is ultimately the last time you're going to have the ability to decide on that before you run out of time. So this is on here simply for you to have. You wish to have discussion great. If we don't, we move on. But give you every opportunity
possible before we get to the end of time. So, >> okay, [clears throat] >> it's up to the council. There's nothing to talk about, we move on. >> Okay. Discussion, anyone? >> All right, everybody's good. Well, we'll take it up next meeting. >> Okay. >> All right.
Okay. Uh, we'll go to seven. >> Okay. Thank you, Mayor. uh request to close city hall for 4th of July holiday extension. Uh council, you probably saying the state has closed offices from the 2nd to the 6th. We're already set to close on Friday the 3. Um I'm requesting
if council so willing to close city hall on Monday the 6th for holiday extension. Uh we're not requesting the second due to cut off being on the 30th. Um and staff needing time to get all that done and caught up prior to the weekend. So, um, this is we're requesting that, uh,
if the council would be so willing. >> Motion approved. >> Second. >> All [clears throat] right. Motion second. Any questions or comments from anyone? >> Any objections from our employees. [laughter]
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Eyes car. Thank you very much. All right. We're going to uh go down to uh we are skipping over >> citizens comments. >> Yes. >> Seven.
>> Yeah. By the way, we going way down the track here. Okay. All right. We'll open the floor up for any citizen comments. Please keep it three minutes and state your name and if you're representing an organization, please state that as well. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. [laughter]
No, just hope to see everybody on the 4th of July. Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Yeah, absolutely. >> All right, we'll go ahead and close the floor. Oh, go ahead. >> Aosta from the state historic preservation office is speaking at the
Chicago building Thursday from 5 to 7. He's the one that sends money when we ask for it. So, [clears throat] come if you can. >> Mhm. Okay. Thursday. >> Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much. Okay. We'll close the floor for
comments and we uh our attorney you >> Yes, sir. Mayor, I am presenting the city manager's annual performance evaluation summary pursuant to Mr. Townson's contract. The city is required to turn these in and have this performed on an annual basis. It is my pleasure to
report that the overall average, all five council members did turn in their evaluations. Um the ranges for the evaluations are were unacceptable is in a range of 1 to two. Needs improvement is three to four. Meets expectation five to six. Exceeds expectation is 7 to8 and
outstanding is 9 to 10. It is my pleasure to announce that the overall average places Mr. Townson in the exceeds expectations category of a 7.9 average. Um I would note that um due to a titling error, it appears on the document um because I have both of them.
They're titled exactly the same. the document your packet is a blank form. >> Yeah, that's something. >> So, Julie has both. She has one filled out that has the numbers and then they're titled exactly the same. So, I think she clicked the wrong one when it went up, but I'm looking at here. I can
read those if anybody wants me to read everybody's score. They are all a matter of public record, but the overall average is 79. I just need a motion to formally accept the evaluations of the city manager. >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Motion second. questions, comments
from anyone. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Eyes carry. Thank you. >> Thank you. And those are always available city hall for public record and should any councilman wish to see them. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> That's all I have, mayor. >> All right. Legislative request. We go to
Mr. Cousin on 9A1. >> Okay. So, um, one of our, um, local aviators who spent his life in it has been in contact with some of our, uh, customers
and businesses at the airport. And I wanted to share some of these thoughts with you. Um when the entire runway closes, tenants will be um who are solely airplane owners uh should be given the
opportunity to temporarily relocate their pl their planes and not pay rent at Definiac Springs while relocating elsewhere. And this would be an estimated time from one to two months. That that would be something to
consider. Is the council willing to consider that? I've got a there's a long list. I don't know if you want to hear them all at once or one at a time. >> Well, you know, if you we entertain that, what I would suggest, you know, you got to find a a reasonable rate at
one of our neighboring airports. >> And that's some u as far as a reasonable rate goes is coming up. >> Okay. All right. and then and and not you scatter [snorts] them all over southeast, you know, >> give a a particular and if they do move
their planes, you know, two states away, they get the same thing as if they had a movement. >> If they choose to not relocate, then they will continue to pay full rent since they are using the hanger. If they choose not to relocate, they will
continue um to be using their existing hanger. Um they're kind of trying to figure out >> how they're going to >> I understand >> make a living. >> Yeah. >> Um
the business owners each business owner should get a percentage discount on rent during the runway closure either 50% or 100%. The city is not providing uh availability of the runway
during the period estimated one to two months. The runway is an essential element of the business operating every day. if it helps identify the discount action as a goodwill gesture of the city because I speculate someone on the
council will argue that we are making improvements for them and it's not just the cost of improve and and that it's just the cost of improving their businesses. They didn't ask for the improvements and not allowed any input in the process. Um and the future
forecast doesn't pay the current bills. Um they're suggesting that they get a break. On uh on aside, all of the tenants are feeling the effect of the project already. I don't believe the following were discussed at the last
city council meeting, but have been implemented last week. Runway 27 landing distance has been shortened from 2696 ft from 3541 ft.
Um he goes on to explain uh runway 09 the distance has been shortened. Both runways have been shortened to 31 ft uh takeoff distance available. Both runways now have displaced thresholds not
related to the 927 project but significant. The airport has not uh has been out of class A jet fuel since 514 2026 because they're waiting on a part. Uh no
tram uh is out until June 30th. Um the airport only has uh 100 LL fuel. It's a must be a type of uh prop fuel. Does any >> low lead?
>> Low lead. Uh, no jet fuel is available. Um, only f the only fuel that's available is for prop propanes. Uh, there's a uh a good way to lose a few of our jet customers is to continue this practice.
Maybe we should expedite this part and look into leasing a fuel truck uh to deliver jet fuel. Um, and then he says, "But I don't know what the feasibility of that would be."
The bottom line to everything that I've read and I've tried to relay to you is that the customers out there are are hurting. >> This is affecting them and that we should give them some consideration.
And the reason I put this on my agenda uh under my name is because I don't know how everybody else here feels, but they did give a bracket from a 50% consideration all the way to 100% consideration. And at the very least we could do would
be to give them a 50% consideration. [clears throat] So there it is. Go ahead, Tom. >> So let's start let's start with the basics. Yes, I'm going to I'm going to come out the gate making the argument that we we
are investing through state and federal dollars upwards of $18 million$ 15 to $18 million in that airport and every one of those people out there point number two out of all those tenants out
there's only one person correct me if I'm wrong there's only one person that lives in the city limits all the rest of those planes that are stationed out there are people like the anesthesiologist that sent me a scathing email four or five years ago when he was upset he was having to pay an extra 50
bucks on his lease and he owned a $2 million prop, an SR22. So th this project has been in the works since I started on the city council 7 years ago. If they haven't known by now
that there was going to be some interruption, I can't fix that for them. >> [clears throat] >> The one thing I am willing to do because I do appreciate Mr. Mr. Brian coming up here a couple last meeting and discussing his his business with us as
it relates to the airport. The one thing I'm willing to offer is a deferral. Not not a not a discount because they have the opportunity between now and whenever we close the actual runway for them to move their plane out.
But if they so choose, we could offer them a deferral and we could spread that out over six or nine months. So we still get the income. They don't have to pay it while the runway's closed. And then it it start it it implements once the runway is reopened and we spread that
extra, you know, $200 or whatever it is for that hanger out over the next six months. I think that's that's a a fair opportunity. But let's keep this in perspective. There's there's a lot of people that love to sit in their chair and sit fire off an email and they have
no clue about operating the business of an airport. That's completely different than getting in a plane and taking off. The business of the airport is the business of the city. And it's my understanding that we have a
wait list of 30 plus of people that are chomping at the bit to get into those hangers. So, if anybody's upset, let them cancel. They got a 30-day right to cancel because we got 30 people waiting in line that would love to take their spot. I think the people who are getting hurt
the most on this aren't the people who are just private plane owners. I think the focus is is the people who earn their living out there as and have a business >> and that and that's why I'm I'm offering the deferral because I do want to consider those. But in discussing this
with staff, it's one of those things where we open up the floodgates. We start giving credits and discounts. We open up the floodgates to everybody. And while I am 100% empathetic to small business owners in this city, I think that we need to we
need to really consider our actions in this. So to me, a deferral is one way to do it. But as far as giving someone a discount because they choose to go move their plane to Bob Sykes, I'm not interested in that. >> So just a few comments on whatever we
do, we still have to stay in compliance with federal regulations. For instance, Chev FAA grant assurance 24 is one that comes to mind just off the top. That all fees must be reasonable based on market rate. And that if you provide any
discounts, adjustments, or otherwise to your fees, your airport has to be fully self-sustaining. I mean, the money you raise out the airport has to go to it. If you choose to put other funds there, that's fine. But you can't use your airport money elsewhere in the city. to that point you cannot if you discount
any rates you charge under an FAA regulated airport we have money in it like we do you have to make sure that the discount to an aeronautical user is not passed on to a non-eronautical user so I think when we start talking about credits breaks like that we would have
to do that analysis my recommendations if the council wants to take any of this up um respectfully to the suggestions here would be an abatement for the expected time period of closure prrated. It's down two months, give them an abated two months.
Um, don't defer and extend the lease. That's just going to become a headache for us managing that one way or the other. Um, just allow them an abatement if you want to do anything. But I can tell you FAA regulations do not require that. I've looked at that very detailed.
The FAA does not require whatsoever that you provide any discount to any tenant during the term of their lease there because they receive the benefit thereafter. I would note that if somebody says that during the shortened window that their aircraft is not able to operate on our runway and they can
provide us proof, they might be entitled to a longer abatement than two months. I don't believe we have anybody out there that falls in that category. anything that could land on the original runway within reasons probably able to land on this that's out there right now at least maybe not other craft that come in but
those will be I would encourage you to consider abatement options before getting into fees and credits because of the need to calculate that per FAA standard uh I would similarly say that you know terms of deferring it to the back end of a lease you would typically
be required to extend their lease because once your lease is over they're not obligated to pay at that point. So, >> could you explain in layman terms how an abatement works? >> Yes. Let's say the let's say the runway is closed from September 1st to November 1st. >> You're not going to pay rent during
those two months. You get two freebies. >> That sounds reasonable. >> That's what abatement is. You just don't make them pay it. So, what's the financial impact on that? 40 minutes or so. Is that right? About 40. Looks like our
monthly hanger rents equate to roughly $25,000. >> So about 50 thou. So $51,000 to the city is the loss. >> Okay. based >> and that's a direct loss to the airport. >> Based on council's recommendation, I'd like to make a motion that we go the
abatement route. >> And how would you what language you want to put on there for the time frame for just as long as we're shut down? >> My recommendation would be during the actual time period of closure. >> Not if we're closed 30 days, we're closed 30 days. You don't get two
months. close 33 days, you're get that you get a month plus three-day proration >> would be if you're going to do that, >> but that's to your call whether you do anything. >> So,
of those 40 tenants, how many of those planes sit there for weeks or months and don't get used daily or weekly or monthly for that matter? [clears throat] Um, I think Andre could probably give you [laughter] that. >> Okay.
>> Good evening, council members. >> I don't know if this is I don't know if this is uh legal or not, but the biggest people get the people who are getting hurt are the business people, not the ones who are rich and just parked the plane out there. >> I think there there's only three businesses on question.
>> One's air methods and it's not going to be affected. It's helicopter. >> Two and another two are on the side. There's only two businesses. The other 37 38 tenants are individual tenants. They're not businesses. Only there's only two. >> Palm view Monarch Aviation and Air
Methods. >> Could we Could we do that, Clay, to help the businessmen out there >> to bait just the two business tenants? The council wanted to do that just for that. I mean, if you believe their business can be affected, you can. I
mean, that's >> we had one of the business people, I think, at our last city council meeting that came up here asking for some relief. I don't know if y'all remember that or not. >> If we've only got three businesses out there, um,
>> only two affected, right? >> Yeah. Your air methods would not count because they're helicopter. >> Okay. C, >> if I could go back to my question. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. Can about how many of the planes out there of the of the regular tenants,
not the businesses, but the others. Do those [clears throat] planes actually use you you know what I mean? Are they paying for a lease? >> I can >> and come fly two or three times a year or or or whatever. >> There's probably a good mix of that. I can get you all that data from Bur
tower. So, it might be might take a week or so. Um we just pull them up and see what that looks like, you know, tenant by tenant. >> But we could give you we can give you a better idea of that. >> Well, I think it's fair. Let me just I I'm going to help Andre out here a little bit with I think what's probably a fairly logical assumption.
Do you have 40 takeoff and landings out there every single day? If you got 40 tenants, you don't have 40 takeoff or landings. It's a fair bet that they're not all using it daily, >> right? If and which is kind of my my
point. If they're paying a lease and they're not utilizing it anyway, I mean, why are we going to lose $50,000? But we can't discriminate between the user and non-user. Can we >> between aeronautical and non- aeronautical? >> Well, I'm just talking about those that
that [clears throat] have planes in a hanger. >> Well, if you got a hanger, you should have a plane in a hanger. Maybe I'm not following the question. >> Well, he's talking about some that use, some that don't, right? >> Well, no. I think his point goes to the fact that you've already got people out there who
>> really aren't losing a use opportunity because they're not using it every day anyway. So, the assertion that they've somehow been disenfranchised is not doesn't hold water. And I and I tend to support that. And um yeah, I
mean because I mean the person who get affected just as much as somebody who's trying to have a plane come here to pick them up or drop them off that can't land during that two-month window. They may be more affected than one of our tenants. >> That's true. >> We'll never know that. >> That's true. >> It's up to the council. But mayor, I I will note procedurally I do think you do
have a motion, but I did not hear a second. So I don't want us to get too far into discussion. So before um before we go any further, if the council wants to because there's not uh enough
information right now, we could defer this to the next meeting when we've got more data and maybe somebody else will come up with a better idea till then. >> And if that's the case, if y'all think that's a good idea, I'll withdraw my motion. >> Okay. Well, it's gonna fail for a lack
of a second, but that's all right. It's better if you withdraw it. Go ahead. >> I'd like to know from the man who has to run this from day to day what his >> Excuse me. I'd like to know from Mr. Townson what his opinion on all this is and how what he proposes during the time that runways down.
>> I I think I agree. I mean there the impact again uh I to agree that this has been known for a very long time. Um this is coming. It's happening. you're looking 30 to 60 days, but maybe longer if we get into some scenario right now, we're looking 30 to 60. Um,
so I if you're looking from a finance perspective, the airport, we don't need to do it because if you from a total abatement, if you go to lose $50,000 in the airport fund, we're we're going to start having a little bit of a problem because there's maintenance to be done out there. >> So that would pass on to other non-eronautical users, which would be
other city residents that are not tenants of the airport. I mean, we're not going to transfer money out there if that's if that's what would cause that. Well, >> what I'm saying is if the fund falls short, is that was it would that be the logical outcome? >> No, we would just cut operating uh operating expenses till we cover the
shortfall to the point we could. >> So, that's what you have to do because if you pass it on, you're going to violate FA Grand to look at you got to look at rate increases that be hangers or tie downs or fuel sales. You got to increase rates. >> I ain't doing that.
>> Okay. So go ahead. >> You know, I I agree with the businesses that they're kind of tight. They don't they they don't have customers without a runway. We get it. We would like to keep them, I'm assuming. Right. >> So, I mean, I'm I'm I'm completely open-minded to doing something to help
the businesses. >> Mr. Mayor, go ahead. >> So, Clay, just to clarify, are we allowed to abate for businesses and not abate for non-b businessiness? So the fact that the businesses are
aeronautical based, the FAA language reads aeronautical versus non-eronautical. So as long as you're not discriminating in that category, the FAA does not say it is a local policy decision the way the FAA does it. I think the question would become
um you probably would need a little data to support the business usage of the runway of what that impairment of the business would be. Merely because the runway is not open doesn't necessarily mean they're losing out on that business one
way or the other. Maybe Andre can figure that out in or look at what they have in terms of landings on average on a monthly basis. We could look at that. But if you know on an a on an annual basis, you've got less than 10 takeoff
and landings for a business versus you have a customer that's got more than that. Meaning they're using it once a month. No, there's no way to justify it. But I do think you have to have the data to support it. That's I mean there's got to be some log some logical connection to the loss you're avoiding if you
choose to do it. Otherwise, yes, the tenants going to say my loss of enjoyment is just as much as their loss of revenue. Don, >> do we do we know off the top of our head, even if it's just a ballpark number between those two businesses, what do they employ number-wise of
employees? >> I think currently four. So, >> so there's only two and two is a two-man operation. I believe that Palm View is two as well. >> Okay. >> But you're looking at the hangers. I think one company has two hangers and
one has one. >> Monarch has two currently >> and those rates are 1,500 each. And then the Palm View is a little over 1,800, I believe. >> 1806. >> 1906. [laughter] >> I I would kind of think that the shutdown would encourage a lot of the uh plane owners to take that time to have
maintenance done. You know, it'd be an excellent time to say, "I'm not going to be flying. It's good time to roll it over there, have all my maintenance done on this thing, too." I don't know how often they do it. Whatever. couple years typically. >> I think it yearly for their Yeah, you have an annual inspection on most most
planes. >> Not all. I think it's a every thousand hours. >> But anyway, you know, of course, they may not be thinking like that, but I know I would if I if I needed some maintenance and I said this be the perfect time to get it done, you know.
>> Yeah. But I'm I'm I'm certainly open to helping out the businesses. >> Yeah. Me, too. [snorts] because those those four employees more than likely live close close if [clears throat] not in in the city limits. >> Why don't we have Andre get us their use
rate in terms of the runway usage aspect and we can come back and look at that option since we don't have a motion on the floor. >> Okay. >> Andre gave us a thumbs up. >> We'll take it up on the next meeting. >> All right. Uh Dan, you want to move on to uh let's see what you got next.
>> CRA. >> Okay. So, uh, this is not going up for a vote. I just want to say with >> all the stuff that's happening with budget and
the lack of funds for the city. I don't know when this is come up going to come up and when we need to put it for a vote, but I want to ask my fellow councilmen to start wrapping their head around the possibility of reducing the
increased advalorum tax to 50%. >> That's the lowest you can go, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, um I'm of the mindset that the city comes first.
And we need to make sure our house is in order and everything we need is done and our city is growing. We need more infrastructure. I know y'all are tired of hearing about that, but we've got to have more funding if
we're going to pay for these projects. And the only way I see us, one of the main ways I see us doing this is to increase to decrease what we are giving to the CRA from 95% to 50%.
And we don't have to put a put this to a vote, but I'm just asking y'all to wrap your head around it. >> Well, you know, two things. You are the CRA now. >> Well, I know, but we can't talk about that now. I I understand the point of >> at least that's what I've been told.
>> But the point I want to make is that you have a lot more direct control as to how it's spent than you did when another group had it. Uh and secondly, if you do the 50% cut, then you right out of the
shoot, you take away $360,000 that we had available to spend each year, you know, because that's coming from the county. >> Okay? And so uh so you you're going to lose bare minimum 360,000. And if you did keep it in place, I think
that the real uh smart coordination with the city needs can be a great advantage and you get all the money including the $360,000 that you would be giving away. So, I I hate the thought of giving away
that $360,000 every year, you know, and uh you know, because that's that's when you and the attorney as to what you can and can't do. But we looking more and more to me like we can
utilize these monies on things that are very needed. And we've talked about a couple of them in particular, which is the infrastructure in the alleyways and repaving the alleyways and then the uh uh upgrading the fire station. >> Yeah, >> that's a couple that's that's a couple
of big numbers right there. But uh >> All right. So, the next is um I'd like to give uh a request to Kobe to come up with some type of plan, some type of
instead of just pretending like these asbests pipes aren't feeding our homes with cancer-causing byproducts. Could we start replacing them? I know we can't replace them all at one time, but
can we start a program where we can start at least start Mr. Mayor? >> Go ahead. So, first off, we already have a plan in place and and
I believe you have sat through at least two meetings that I recall where we voted on obtaining funding to do the the design and replacement of all asbesus water mane pipes in the city. You've
already voted on it, >> right? So I don't I don't see where I don't see where it's helpful to sit here at the dis and quite frankly gaslight the public into thinking that this is somehow dangerous
and that we're we're pumping their water full of carcinogens when we're not. Number one, we're in the process of of replacing all of that pipe. And number two, Mr. city manager, correct me if I'm wrong here, they consider those pipes currently
safe, do they not? >> Correct. >> Okay. They consider them safe as of right now. It's much like as best it's on a a siding or a roof. As long as you don't disturb it, it's okay. So, I I
Councilman, it it >> it's okay. It really bothers me that you that you bring it up in this fashion because it's it's what what are we trying to accomplish? >> Okay. >> Like we've sat through numerous meetings and and and heard lengthy conversations
from from engineers about this and so for you to say, "Oh, we're just letting this go and we're not making any plans on it and there's carcinogen in our water system." >> What What's the play here? Like what what's the what's the angle? Well,
I don't I'm I'm not going to buy people saying that asbestous is safe. I don't believe it. Uh okay. We've got different opinions. >> That's right. So, and we've approved it and the only thing
the only place I see it happening is and it and it hadn't happened yet. >> Why not? >> Is uh Twin Lakes Road? >> That's the Is there other some places that I'm not aware of that's where it's already been replaced? Is is this plan
in action? Are we actually doing it? >> Yes, sir. And I, if I'm not mistaken, you and the council woman voted against it when we went to borrow the money to do it. >> Okay. Okay. So, we're back to, you know, and and there's no sense in, you know,
getting your dander up. I mean, we're having a conversation. >> I We are. >> So, you can't borrow your way out of debt. We're already $13 million in debt and want to borrow more money. We're not trying to borrow away out of debt by borrowing to an address to address a
problem that you're bringing up. >> What I'm trying to convey to you is we're already doing it. So, what's the point of you coming up here and and bringing all of this up and acting like >> No, I I want to know where where where are we doing it other than Twin Lake Drive? >> Well, Councilman, if if you don't know
by now, >> well, just you don't have to be insulting. Just please tell me. I'm not. Maybe you should maybe you should have a discussion with the city manager because this has been discussed at this dis with you present. Okay. Numerous times. >> Where other than Twin Lake Drive are we
replacing the asbestous pipe? >> The whole city. We are in the process of engineering all of the asbestous water main pipes to be replaced. >> We we are replacing them right now. >> We are in the process of engineering the replacement and they have they have accelerated the one on Twin Lake Drive
so that we can get that one done. I mean, planning is a huge part of this project, you know, and so it's >> the engineering and the planning, we're doing it. Uh, past uh councils didn't do that. We're doing it.
So, I mean, we are definitely engaged and it'd be like, well, you know, how come we, you know, we aren't already paving the runway? We could have said that six months ago because there's a lot that has to happen prior to the physical pavement, you know, and there's
a lot that's got to happen before >> we go start digging up pipes, you know, we can't just >> so just pick a road and let's just go tear it out. >> It's got to make sense. We got a lot of other factors to think of, but we're we're engaged, you know. >> Kobe, when did the federal government mandate we remove those pipes? Do you
know what year? >> I don't exactly. I think we started looking at this in 23. and 23. >> We're currently, the council did approve the SRF, which is a 50-50 grant loan. We are in design. The anchor is completely
done with phase one. They're almost done with phase two. They expect to be done with design in the end of July for the entire AC water main replacement project, which is all the asbesus concrete water lines from the historic district to Twin Lake Drive. >> Um, and then we expect to go to SRF in
November for construction dollars. >> Okay. So, >> and I find it hard to believe that it would be uh safe if we weren't federally mandated to remove them. So, >> well, federal government mandates a lot of things that don't make a lot of sense. So, I'm not saying AC water don't
make sense, but there's a lot of things we get mandated and we don't get funding to do. >> Unfunded mandates are a very popular thing. >> Okay. >> Good. All right. Kobe, executive comments. >> The first one is the Shiitak building. I
think I stepped by stopped by the other other morning. Um and they have um pretty much got all the walls up and repaired and then they should be moving into electrical and floor repairs over the next few weeks. So, uh that is moving along pretty well. Um and then
the other thing, mayor, is over the weekend, you know, the storms came through, we had we had some pretty rough hits. Uh the fire and police, I know, responded to a number of different calls, trees down, public works went out and moved, I think Andrew told me six over that weekend so far. um and some water uh going over roads and then our
plan operations. Kyle's going to get us a report together. We did have um some lightning strikes that caused some spills. So, we're going to get that put together and share that with everyone. Um but he has done a proper reporting um and we've actually got them I think at this point everything's been corrected. I know I called uh Kyle Sunday is
Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, I can't remember now. And uh I didn't get a text from him. I got a text from his wife back and said he's been awake for 36 hours. He's sleeping if I need him. I said, "No, these things have our control." So, she she re she gave me a whole rendition of what happened. I told Kyle this morning she probably run the plant better than he can. So, so they
were all working hard. So, we appreciate everybody's uh staff's work this weekend on the storms and stuff. So, >> that's it. >> Is it okay? I add Clay, I hope you didn't do what I did on Second Street
before they put the barricades up. Thank God they put the barricades up, but it was too late for me. Uh, [laughter] I went through there on my wife's car and she's got one of these bumpers that starts at one tire, goes around the back, and comes over the other tire and
it's probably that tall and goes all the way around. And all that volume of water got up in that back bumper and just pulled it off the back of her car. >> Oh, no. >> Yeah. I mean, I was sick. >> I was sick. But anyway, B the barricade
was not up when I was heading down it that that day, but I saw it from the top of the hill and I just said, "Nope." >> Oh god. >> I could see it moving across. >> I don't know how deep it was. It must have been 8 10 12 inches deep. >> It was every bit of that. >> Yeah. >> I mean, it filled the crest. Yeah. I
mean, it filled from shoulder to shoulder. [laughter] >> Well, I I was glad to see those barricades, but it was a little too late for me. Okay. Uh, we will go. >> Did you I didn't mean to pass you by. Did you have something before we go to comments? >> No, I'm I'm done. Mayor, >> you good? >> All right.
>> I'm good, mayor. Thank you. >> Good. >> I'm good. >> Glenn, >> uh, real quick, Kobe, congratulations on your evaluation. Um, I know we're all proud of you. You you you and Danielle and staff has got us
through two clean audits in a row. um the year in the last two years, the strategic plan that that um I don't know where that idea originated, but you you got it going. You brought it before us. Um I I I I
really don't know who to give credit to for that, but that is a tremendous plan uh for this city to move it forward. But uh so you know, I appreciate that the operational audit that you're do, the city utility that
was on the agenda tonight, those are types of things that's making the city run more efficient. And a lot of those ideas come from that man right there. And we're very supportive of him. And I'm glad we can do that for you, >> Dan. >> I'm good.
>> Good. I want to on that subject, you know, because we were talking Dan, we were talking about, you know, things you have to do prior to actually physically doing construction. Uh, one thing we're doing as a council is we're setting systems in place. Has it been done? And
you know that takes it does take a little money and it does take a little time. But you know and I hope to God there's some way we can keep this thing rolling 20 years from now. You know that it doesn't get turned off. But you know we got systems that are going in place that are really going to make a
difference. And people don't appreciate it right now because we're we're kind of at the doing our little study hall on it. But man, once these things start engaging and then next year, the people following up know exactly what to do because you did such a great job of setting up the system. So, I appreciate
you, the staff, the council, everybody's been involved in that and I know it's a big big deal. All right, we're going to call this meeting adjourned. And uh don't get wet. Looks like it's still dry.