that there's >> all right call this meeting here. >> All right, we are going with their iPads right here to say the least. God, please guide us
in this in this room here to make good decisions for the city of Defiac. And thank you for all your many blessings in Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Thank you all for being here. Um we will start off with the financial report.
>> Yeah, thank you for that. Um nothing really notable to report other than you will see that the land account transfer budget amendment is there uh along with the three incumbrances for the three projects that you all previously awarded. Those are also reflected in that financial statement. Other than
that, nothing else really there to uh to highlight. >> All right. Next growth and assistance development assistance. >> Uh so I I need a motion on the financial >> Oh, sorry. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Accept. >> Okay. Uh any discussion?
>> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Oppos say no. >> Okay. Motion carries. >> All right. Thank you for that. Uh the next item here is our growth and development assistance grant tracking sheet. in there. You will note uh that we are now up to a fiscal year total of $121,180,
which represents an 83% increase. Uh I can tell you that I I've received three grant applications since this uh grant tracking sheet was attached to this agenda. One of which is for property we were just talking earlier to incentivize demolition of a partially burned
structure. Uh a new incentive residential property. Uh and then uh we've got uh some some pencing. Uh I've also received another incomebased roofing improvement grant that I will be bringing to you on the 27th. So point being uh a lot of interest in that
program and and fortunately have the funding to to match that. >> All right. How much more funding do you have available? >> So you all uh previously approved a budget amendment to put an additional 75,000 into that. Uh so so we have
anywhere between 50 to 60,000 to get us through the remaining uh portion of the fiscal year. >> All right, sounds good. Moving on. >> All right, so uh old business number one here is update on Veterans Memorial and the request direction on next steps and
then approval of invoice 22455785 for payment. So we did have a meeting uh with the city council after a lot of input. Uh there was a decision made to disallow the Veterans Memorial to be placed in Chipley Park. At this point,
uh given some of the other concerns that have been expressed about the fire department and things of that nature, it would be my recommendation because we don't have a lockdown location to kind of put that on hold uh until we can further define that and focus on some of these other projects that we have. But
in this particular agenda item is also request to pay that invoice uh in the amount of 52,000 or $5250 for the work perform on those concept drawings and for the attendance of that meeting. >> Okay. So we owe this money. So >> we do. Yep.
>> Um you previously agreed to pay that. That's just a second. >> We got a second. Any discussion? >> Not on the invoice. >> Um any public comments on the invoice? Okay. Uh all in favor say I. >> I. All oppose say no. Okay. Motion
carries. 300. Um any I'd say and so you're saying we're going to defer. We we we need to pretty really get the city council's uh comments. I guess if you could maybe if you could work with Kobe on talking to the city council and see where this goes and yeah on location all
that kind of stuff. >> Yeah. So so here's kind of I've actually had a conversation recently uh with Kobe about another parcel that may be available. There's a lot of interest in Wayside Park. There's a lot of interest over in the Magnolia Cemetery. Um, but there's there have been endless
recommendations. Um, all of which if we wanted to move forward, you know, is going to require some type of conceptual drawings or engineering to determine accessibility, parking, all that good stuff. So, I'll do whatever this board wants me to do. Um, but I think there's
a lot that goes into that, you know, chasing squirrel, so to speak. Um, so that that's kind of my request is to let's put this on hold, work through some of these other projects, and then if we can figure out a location in the interim, we can certainly do that, but recognizing the amount of time and
energy it went into the project already, um, a similar amount of effort will have to be put in trying to narrow it down. So, >> yeah. So, I I I agree with you. Um, at this point, I really think we need to get the city since that's the push back we've been getting. I think we need to
get the city to lock down a location that they're going to be okay with because otherwise we're going to spend all this money, get all this engineering done for three other locations and have it come back and have them say, "Nope, we don't like those three either." So, at this point, I'd like to see again
more conversations with the city and get the location locked down. And then once we know where they want it, realistically we can use that location to start looking at different designs because obviously the labyrinth is not what people want. So I would say we need to lock down location before we do
anything. But on our end we need to just kind of stand down right now. >> Do we need to make a motion on that or >> I don't think No, I think that's general direction. >> Do we need to take any public comments on this or not? Okay. All right. >> No motion. No public. >> No motion. No public comments. All
right. Let's uh let's just you know it's on the list but we'll just move it down. We'll move the things up we can we can work on now and let's just uh keep moving. >> Okay. Thank you for that. The next item I have is to u adopt the fiscal year 26 budget. We did have a workshop on the
16th of July where we unveiled this proposed budget. There has been a slight change since that meeting. The county actually set their tenative millillage at 3.575 instead of the 3.6 six that this budget was based off of. So that
actually reduced our revenues by $5,53. Um so I went ahead and just took that out of the operating supplies. So that went from 15,000 down to 9947. That was the only change that was made uh since our last meeting on the 16th of July.
>> Okay. Any questions on this budget? We've had our budget meeting. Anybody have any more comments on the budget? Not. I'll accept a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All right, we got a motion. Second. Any discussion?
Any public comments on the budget? If not, uh we'll take a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose say no. Motion carries. >> All right. Thank you for that. Next item I have is request to approve the fiscical year 25 budget amendment for fiscal year 24 unspent revenue
allocation. So this is a continuence from our last meeting with the formal budget amend amendment that you already gave me direction on. So this is putting that additional $414,184 in unspent revenues from fiscal year 24 into the amphitheater account 6630. So
this is just a formal document to approve what you've already previously given me direction. >> Okay. Um accept a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All right. We got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Any public comments?
All in favor say I. I. All oppose say no. Motion carries. >> Thank you for that. Next item I have here is request to approve uh invoice for payment regarding the fiscical year 24 financial audit. So we did receive an invoice for that fiscal year audit uh in a total of $6,750
that needs to be approved. We did have a budget for that. Um but that is uh an item that needs to be paid pretty quickly. So, it's on the agenda for your approval. >> Okay. All right. Um, does anybody have any
questions about this uh this >> money we have? >> Yes, money we Okay. >> Motion. >> Motion. Oh, second. >> Motion second. Kathy motion. Rob second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any public comment on this? Okay. All in favor say
I. I. All oppose say no. Motion carries. >> All right. Thank you for that. The next item I have is request to approve task order 25-03-C for Bowwin Avenue restriping between 7th and 8th. So this is a continuence from our last meeting where you all provided me direction to go receive a proposal
for uh that restriping. I did reach out to three notch group which is one of the two cities continuing engineering firms. They did provide a proposal for that work in the amount of $20,130. Uh as you can recall back during our parking study, there was an overlay done
by our consultant that illustrated um a pretty large increase in parking stalls there if we were to configure those from angle to head in. Unfortunately, that concept did not include any of the um conflicts that exist. So on the south side of Ball and in particular, there is
a landscape median there with a raised curb uh that's in conflict with that. And then there's also the uh redesign or or the the moving of the accessible parking spaces to the middle. So there'll be some curb cuts and and and things of that nature that would be part
of that. So it's not just a function of going out there taking out the old stripes and putting down new stripes. There's quite a bit more to that that has to be engineered. Uh so that's what that proposal uh includes. It also includes bid support to get us through u that bidding process uh so that we can
have a contract with someone to perform those activities. >> So it's both of these combined by 20,000 $130. >> That's right. So the the base fee is is 20,300. If if we need them to do some construction administration, which I don't believe it will, there's a
proposed fee for that. And then there's also surveying fee in the event that for some reason we need a survey. We already have survey data there. Um we already have the existing improvements. So there's no material change to those. It's just a function of how we reorganize those. So I don't foresee any
need for topo or boundary surveying. But they included that in there just in the event they get to it. >> So if they don't need it, then they won't charge it. >> Those are optional. >> This is not to exceed 28,130. >> That's correct. Yep. With the understanding if you want those additional services, that's what they
would be built at. But >> this is not the construction. This is just the design. >> Just the design. Engineering and design. >> What do we think the construction's going to be? >> I don't know. I don't know. I think it depends on the amount of saw cuts. You know, what has to take place there south of of Bowwin, if anything. Uh I would
like to think that once we issue the task order to three notch, we would know in short order, you know, kind of what that cost would look like. But outside of them going out there and really putting some time and energy into it, I don't I don't think we really know what the cost would be.
>> Okay. All right. Um, anyone want to make a motion? >> Okay. This is just and this is to pay this bill or the >> it's to issue the task order perform in accordance with the the restriping between seventh and 8th. Do we have a
timeline for how long this is going to take for them? >> No. Um, you know, I would like to think that if they were to get this task order uh this week or next that, you know, probably within 30 days, we we would have, you know, something to show for. >> So, it'd be ready by the next meeting.
>> That would be my hope. Yeah. >> So, we have a motion, not a motion. and >> but it's not going to exceed the 20,000 or >> unless 130 is is the fee and then if there are additional fees or additional
needs that have been um priced here with those be brought back to you for an amendment. Is this the only only price you got from three notch? You didn't get from others? >> Nope. Uh that was through the city's continuing services agreement. Um >> they have multiple continuing services, right?
>> They do. They have two. Um the reason I went with three notch is because we issued a task order to Anchor Engineering in the amount of $129,700. So I figured I'd spread the wealth with the other engineering consultant. >> Okay. Motion
>> second. >> And we got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Any public comments? >> Okay. All in favor say I. I. I.................... All. Oppose. Say nay. Motion carries. Right. >> All right. Thank you for that. Moving
on. We've got a request to approve invoice 24-0251 for payment regarding the 27 Crescent Drive design. So, we did receive an invoice in the amount of 5,000 from mobilization uh for the design work there at 27 Crescent Drive. I can tell you that I
did receive correspondence from Mr. Bradley Touchstone. He has a a 3D model he's put together so far the existing um building layout and he's working with the Culture Arts Alliance right now on determining their needs to put together a uh concept kind of layout for us to
review. So, hopefully we'll have that. um if not by our next meeting at the end of this month, certainly in September. >> All right. Does he give us a time frame on when he thinks it'll be completed? >> Well, I I think it it's just a function of of locking down, you know, what
everyone wants. Um again, having that design to you all for consideration either by the end of this month or September will guide when that formal design will. >> Okay. Does anyone want to make a motion? Motion to approve.
>> Second. >> Motion to second. Any discussion? Any public comments? All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say no. Motion carries. >> All right. Thank you for that. Next item I have is request to approve invoice 4-264-577 for payment regarding historic
preservation design centers. So, we did receive another progress payment uh invoice from JMT in the amount of $4,624.36 for their ongoing work on that project. Um, that brings the total build amount 61.9%. >> Okay.
>> Anybody want to make a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> He got paid a bill. >> Motion a second. Any discussion? Any public comments? Not then. Um, all in favor say I. I. All oppose say no. Motion carries.
>> Thank you for that. Next item I have here is request direction on lighting improvements along portions of Circle Drive. I was actually approached by a business owner um a few months ago about improving lighting. Uh this business owner is now asking that their employees park along Circle Drive instead of on
Baldwin or Sixth Street to free up parking patrons. At our downtown parking working group uh meeting that we had, we discussed this and there seemed to be general support for moving this forward. I did reach out to Florida Power and Light to see what that would look like
in in in the form of them providing those lights and then maintaining those lights. You'll see a layout of what they've come up with as far as how those would look along Baldwin Drive. There's seven light poles. They'd actually be almost identical to the light poles that
are on Baldwin with the exception of the light fixture itself. It's more of like a teardrop um than what's there now. Um, but the actual arm and the pole will look very similar. The original layout that they uh first put out there had I
think about twice as many light poles. We reduced that down to seven. They felt like that seven would eliminate that area enough without, you know, overly cluttering up the area, I guess, for lack of a better word. They have conceptualized this as um seven lights
between 7th Street and uh Maine Avenue right there along the northern part of Circle Drive within what we believe is a railroad rightway. In order for us to move forward with that, we would be responsible for a capital cost of $10,62.50,
which would allow them to do the boring and run all the wiring and and do the installation of that. And then monthly uh for those seven fixtures it would be $484.11. And they would also I'm sorry >> and that would be the city's responsibility.
>> That would be our responsibility. Um with the understanding that this is a 10-year agreement. We have eight years left in our life cycle. Uh so for two years the city will ultimately be responsible for those. Um but I did ask them about easements and Florida power
lines. So they would be responsible for all aspects of the project to include easements for the railroad rideway if there were any. >> Have you spoken with Main Street about being in favor of this? >> Uh we have in our park and working group um you know we brought that up. Kelly Meisner uh is on Main Street's board and
you know that they seem to be very supportive of it. I think there's a lot of people that that see it being very dark in that area. Um so you know I don't I don't anticipate much opposition there. You know there's not any residential areas around there. But I think it would be a nice addition to
that area, honestly. >> Okay. All right. Anybody want to make a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Um discussion. >> I just wanted I think that not just with the parking situation, but with um like when we do the Halloween events and
stuff like that around the circle. I think that's going to help a lot having those lights there. >> Any uh public comments? Tony Valley. Oh, >> Mr. Tony Valley. >> Hey, Anthony Valley. Uh, Tina Springs.
Um, my only concern I think lighting is a great idea. However, uh, I just get concerned. We do on Baldwin have what's actually considered highway lighting, which isn't appropriate for pedestrian scale. My only concern would be the scalable lighting be appropriate. We have lighting on the south side from that location, which is uh, also used
for the signage adjacent to the depot uh, for the exhibits there. And that is appropriately scaled to that side street. Uh, it's taller than a low pedestrian lighting that you would typically see in the downtown. It's taller because it is a more open space and would provide lighting. I just want to make sure this isn't because of the
what I just saw looks like the typical highway crossbar lighting. I know it's a different head, but uh the scale of it needs to be appropriate. I'm just want to make sure that it was the appropriately scaled uh to match what's across the street. And I'm not sure that the arm is necessary. And again, trying
to match us closer to the ones that are already there, I think would be fitting and appropriate. I would have concerns about something being out of scale because we really do need to change the ones downtown. >> Yep. So, you know, again, this would be very identical to what's there on Bowwin as far as the height, as far as the
length of the the arm. Uh, one of the challenges is, you know, having that amount of elimination over the roadway uh with a a shorter pole. As I understand, I'm a lighting expert, but in the conversation I've had, having a a lower pole reduces the amount of
coverage, which means you need more poles. So, that's kind of what they came up with, matching what we already had on Bowling. They do offer quite a few fixtures. Um, this is just one that they found that is is very close or similar to what we already had. >> There have been a lot of complaints over
the years about saying people saying they're ugly. So, I would say, you know, that's something we do need to be sensitive of because I mean, we need to get the lighting clearly, but we also need to make sure we're not redoing things because somebody I mean, you aren't going to please everybody, but
you know, the majority would be nice to please. >> Yeah. And I think that's the the challenge that we find ourselves dealing with is providing the illumination to make it safer, but also making it attractive uh and and fitting in with the historic qualities of Circle Drive.
And you know, there there's always that balance point of finding something that's out of the box that Florida Power Light offers versus, you know, going and buying a fixture uh that we would then be responsible for maintaining and installing. So, I can certainly work
with Florida Power and Light to to convey that to them and see if there are other options that may exist. Be glad to bring that back to you. Um, >> I think it'd be beneficial because even if we have to do more, but we're doing one that that kind of matches this the style, it's going to be a lot better in
the long run, I think, than if we you know, >> I'll be glad to do that. In fact, what I'll do is I'll bring back your entire catalog and I'll say, "Hey, circle which one you want and that's one we can go with." because they all have different prices uh both for installation purposes and then obviously for the monthly
maintenance. >> Great. I I mean I think we want to get it done and I think we want to get it done quick but let's just make sure we get the one that >> Yeah. So we don't have to redo if we don't like >> council did you >> I was just I think you address Josh
Scanyia Springs. I I was thinking along the same lines of some of the things that you already addressing consistency with the existing I apologize. I don't know why that thing's going off. Um and then there's also the possibility of looking with Chelco as well. I think
>> they do pedestrian >> they offered a pedestrian scale lighting as well. So I mean but you those are things that you were bringing up then. So I'm in agreement. >> Yeah. I don't believe that's Chuck's territory. So I think we'd be locked in with the power and light if we were to go with them. But we'll certainly look at it and figure out if that is a
possibility. I'll bring it all back and we can have uh more conversations >> as a territory, the weird territory. You got Choku and Florida Power right next to each other. But we do let's just see what options we can get by next meeting because it'll be the same month. We can get something hopefully approved. So >> the consistency though and the look and
all the the things that you were touching on chairman side, those are the complaints that I can see coming from the public if we didn't pick something that kind of blended or matched in. >> Totally agree. Thank you. Thank you. All right. >> Can we just table this to you? Okay, cool.
>> Yeah, I'll bring that back to you all at the uh the August 27th meeting. >> I'll just bring that whole catalog so you can kind of see exactly what they have and then you can as a board decide which direction you want to go with and we'll we'll then get have to get a proposal on on that particular design and I'll bring it back to you in
September. >> And then can we just double check with Jelco and make sure they're not? >> Yeah, of course. >> And that >> All right. debt debt issuance discussion. >> Yep. So, uh it's been talked about uh last week um about debt issuance. We had
previously reached out to the city's financial consultant. We as as myself uh the chair and and our attorney, Mr. Clayis here to see what our options are. You know, what does that look like? Recognizing that, you know, we're no longer talking about talking about
projects. This board has actually issued task orders to start designing these projects. So, you know, with the design comes the construction cost and the desire to want to construct these things right away, not wait until years six or seven once we finally have the revenues
to go ahead uh, you know, and and construct those. So, in those conversations, based upon our revenue projections, there seems to be a very positive uh cash flow coverage ratio to support the issuance of possibly uh $10
million worth of debt scattered over two separate issuances. Uh those are just preliminary numbers. What I would like from this board is direction on whether or not you want to pursue that. And if so, if you would like to have a consultant from PFM come to our meeting
on the 27th of August, he has indicated he has availability and would love to do that. So, >> Mr. Atinson, is this something we need to vote on or is this something we can just have a general discussion? >> We can have a general discussion. We don't we can't start anything without them here to talk about. >> Like, I' I'd be willing to listen. My only concern, just to put it out there
now, is borrowing money and not having a project to put it to, right? So, I want to make >> Right. All right. So, I want to make sure we have projects in place. We're borrowing x amount of money to go to this project. The end, >> your your bond covenants are going to attach the money you borrow directly to the projects and the performance thereof.
>> Bank's not we're not able, this isn't like we just go get a line of credit and you got the money, right? >> It's got to be and it's going to be defined uses for those projects. >> But my other my other concern again, just to put out there now before he comes in here, is I want to make sure that if we're getting those bonds, it's
going to the projects that are needs and not wants. It's only what you specify what you approve. >> Specific projects. >> Yeah. It's got to be project. It's not gonna be $10 million to operate the organization. It's going to be you want to do $3 million of this debt's going to go to the amphitheater. Three million
goes to the amphitheater. Million to the fire station. Whatever they are, they're going to be well defined. It's not going to be to pay salaries. It's not going to be to pay consultants. It doesn't go to pay any of that. It goes to the actual performance of the brickandmortar construction. you have some design cost
you can roll in, but typically it's going to be the actual vertical construction of these projects, >> which I think puts the heat on this board. We need to figure out what projects we want to do. And >> yes, it does. >> And let's get them all laid out because
otherwise we're going to have this annual >> disagreement on whether to take to to cut funding or not. And I mean, so I mean, it's my opinion that we need to lay everything out we want to do. We got eight years. That's what we're under is
eight years. We don't have anything other than eight years. So let's try to figure out. >> Yeah. So you basically have a sevenyear debt issuance available to you. >> Yeah. >> And if that is not something that everybody wants to do, then that's not something everybody wants to do. But if it is, let's try to figure out how we
can get these things accomplished. So >> I'd like like I said I'd like to hear the consultant and get more info. >> Yeah, that's the plan. Otherwise >> knowledgeable and and knows his stuff. So >> there you go. Okay, great. Well, that's all I have for my portion. We do have uh
city marshall, Mr. James Hurley here with requests for funding to continue the operation of four flat cameras for a period of 24 months. He can certainly go in a little bit more detail than I can. Uh but the short of it is he has a need. Uh we did go and meet with the full
beach CRA director uh that explained at that time how they were working with the police department which kind of opened some of these doors of conversation. So I'll let him take it from here. Um but that's kind of the short of it. >> Definitely. Thank you for for having me today. Um just a little quick little
backstory. When I took office in 2019, um that was when the CRA's inception was was the year previous. Um I was told, hey, we need you to support the CRA because there'll be funding for the
police department um in the future. Um it won't be in the next few years, but eventually there'll be be some funds generated that that can help the police department. So, looks like we're finally at that point in the CRA's development um where we we got some cash flow coming
in that can help us. So, uh one of our kind of first little projects we're reaching out to is um our flock safety cameras that we have. Um we got a grant two years ago uh to fund four of them and then we also got another grant uh the next year to fund another additional
four. Um but that grant funding is or that time is has gone out. So, um, during that time, we have realized what a valuable asset they are to us, um, in our community. Um, there's a lot of, um,
question about what their capability is, what they're doing, big brother, you know, are they watching us, are they following us, that kind of stuff. Um, it's it's not like that. Um, it's on public thorough affairs. It doesn't do speeding. It doesn't it doesn't do
anything like that. So, basically what it does will when certain triggers when a when a vehicle passes one of the cameras and say like I just got alert on my phone a little bit ago and it's great. Um and it shows you that it
works. It was a uh flock alert for a vehicle out of Arizona that was a stolen vehicle and it tells us what it is. white Chevy um truck tells us that it was at 331 and I 10 coming into the city. Um and it shows a picture of the
truck which is on the back of a tow truck. So that tells me that we probably already got it and it's being processed and taken to either the sheriff's office or our department that we we received a stolen vehicle. So um it will do stuff like that. I've found missing um elderly
folks that were missing from other states that were traveling through our town with dementia. Um and it will go as far as if you have a uh registration that's expired in violation. It'll it'll flag that if you want to set it to those settings. I don't like personally to do
mine like that because I'd be getting them off left and right. But um that's that's basically the capabilities of it. Um it's not it's not that anybody's watching anybody, but it it alerts us to certain things. Um one, as I was giving Rob a scenario earlier, if we have a
burglary in the area and they say there was a red Mercury cougar that was riding around that night, we can go back and search and say red mercury cougar and it pulls up the red mercury cougars that come by there and that will help us develop suspect. We've solved several
burglaries and crime and we've actually seen a reduction in our burglaries and thefts um since then also. So the bad guys know they're there um and and they deter you know stay away from those areas. So um it's definitely has
benefited the city and citizens for reducing crime. Um, and I said, so we're looking for for ways to fund some of these projects, and uh, we're we're asking the CRA to fund a two-year commitment for that. Um, the cost of
four cameras is 24,000 for those two years. Um, we've we're paying for four other ones. The sheriff's office is paying there's a total of 29 right here in the city. Um, Lowe's. >> So 24,000 all in chief or per camera? >> No, for for all four. Yep. for two
years. >> Chief, is that how many you think you're going to need full? Like, are you trying to just slowly grow these thing or how do you >> So, with what the sheriff's office is paying for, what we pay for, what Lowe's pays for, um, and then there'll be other
businesses. I would imagine Walmart will probably fund some shortly, um, for their loss prevention efforts also. Um, as that program grows and people see the benefit, I think you'll see a lot more retailers investing in them, too. So, um, currently we strategically have
placed them throughout the city. Um, all the ones we're asking for are within the CRA map. Um, we've got the city covered. So, if you come into the city and you're here to do bad things, we can most likely figure out what time and what vehicle you were on. >> So, with the density of the city, you've
got most of the density covered. >> Yes. >> Okay. You just these four will help you. >> Yep. Yeah. These would continue the ones that we already have. They're already in place. >> These are already in place. not something you're buy. This is just basically a subscription, >> right? >> So, Chief, just a few things for the
record. Um, with regard to this, um, is this a public safety innovation that you believe has been brought on by rising demand within our community? >> Definitely. Yes, sir. >> And do you believe this reflects your need for flexible real-time surveillance
that's not simply more police officers? >> Right. >> Does it fit in with community policing initiatives you've already established? >> Yes, sir. All right. So, we have um very broadly in our CRA plan um to boost aesthetics and safety um among and
foster the well-being of our residents. Um city of Margate, Florida recently did a very similar initiative. Um, I will note their plan goes into much greater detail than ours does than the broad safety initiative I just discussed under empowering the holistic well-being and
investing in infrastructure and then safeguarding our heritage. And certainly, um, Chief, you've talked before, so I'll kind of ask a leading question, but I think we need on the record to make sure we're statutoily compliant. Um, we've seen an uptick in
vandalism of dilapidated or vacant structures in the past couple years. Is that correct? >> Yes, sir. >> And this is something that allows you to do that without having just police that and help deter that without just having roven controls of men on the ground, right? >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So with that being
said, um some plans go so far as to deal with crime prevention through environmental design septed or event security enhancements, things of that nature or community mobilization initiatives. We intentionally when we update our plan
did not get that granular and detailed in how we included it, preferring to allow the broader methods of this to be presented to the CRA under. It's my position this broadly falls under 163.360. It is consistent with other redevelopment initiatives approved
around the state under that statute and falls under the broad purposes of our plan. What I would say to you is that what the chief is presenting is a limited impact on the budget that fits the requirements you need to meet a
community policing innovation initiative. based on those issues. There may be things he comes to us with in the future and chief knows I'm going to tell him if he can't do it and I argue about impact fees all the time, don't we, Chief? >> All the time. And um that's fine. We we
we will have those conversations if we get there. I bring all this up because this is the first police initiative you've been asked to fund. not as a way of saying you can't do it or that we won't be able to do more, but that we may decide that we wish to do sub goals
to our plan that get into some of those issues to make more of this flexible. This is a quintessential community policing innovation that's been recognized throughout the state and the and the nation. I think at CRA we should defund it. It falls well within it. Um
is it as a 24-month initiative, what I'd ask the CRA to do is to agree to approve it. um for this budget year with the expectation we would fund it the following budget year um as well but it would always be subject to future budget approval should something happen to the
organization. You're comfortable with that chief? >> Oh yeah definitely. >> If that's the case we need a motion to >> So we would be doing it for 12,000 instead of 24. >> You would commit 12,000 in the first year 12,000 in the second year. >> So is that how the motion needs to be or >> Yes. You can a motion to approve is you
going to move you can move to approve the allocation of $24,000 over a 24-month period for the continued operation of four FL cameras um subject to future funding year approval. >> Motion >> second
>> discussion. >> So just short short answer Clay legally we're allowed to fund this. >> Absolutely. But I put all that on the record so that if anybody ever asked it wasn't just I said yes. >> Yes. I know. only >> I know but you pre-answered the questions I was already ask
>> absolutely yes but this is the first time we've ever done it so it's better that everybody understands exactly how we can do it >> my question would be where is this going to come out of the budget our budget is this uh >> probably other professional service would be my guess >> right does that need to be part of the motion
>> not all right cool all right we got a motion in a second um any uh we did discussion any public comments okay all All right, Councilman Connor, >> Josh Coners, I I absolutely support this and I would um ask the board support
chief in this effort. Uh flock safety cameras have proven extremely valuable not only locally but across the nation uh for silver alerts, Amber alerts, um god forbid the day that one of our kids gets snatched up, you know, these provide a very rapid response for law
enforcement to track down the vehicles that are left in those areas. So, I strongly support this. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. If not, all in favor say I. I. All oppose say no. Motion carries. >> Mr. Chair, if you will indulge me. Um
because of our meeting move. Unfortunately, this conflicts with a standing planning board meeting I have with another client. That starts at 6. So, I'm have to go on the road, but I do want to make um comments on Commissioner Hamilton's item just so that we're clear on this. >> Yeah. >> Can we put Commissioner Cam Hamilton
before my comment? >> That's up to you as the chair. I just want go ahead and do that. Let's go ahead. >> I just want to comment on the legality. So there's no question the CRA is well able to fund improvements to our existing fire department under a variety
of our initiatives. I will note just off the top one revitalize infrastructure. I think we broadly talk about stimulating prosperity when we enhance and eliminate blight which I don't think anybody is going to disagree. our fire department is not in
the best condition and blight's probably even a little generous when you go through those. Um the enhancement of livability goal has broadly been used to address fire safety and police infrastructure elsewhere. investment of infrastructure and more importantly I think it goes to the quality of life and
enhanced public services under that element six we have we cannot today before the question gets asked why not just build them a new fire department when you go borrow the money why we can't today because it's in the city's capital improvement plan the moment they
drop it 36-month clock starts after that we could reconsider it but with the blessing and if you choose to move forward with this initi The motion can be whatever you want it to be, but just understand the next steps for Mr. Irvin would be to go to the city council, which I can't imagine,
we got several of them sitting around the room today. I can't imagine they're going to say no, but you got to get their permission and the other taxing district that is affected by this is the county. We've got to get the board of county commissioners permission. Provided they provide give us blessing,
we can use these monies to renovate and improve our fire department and contribute to that. I think um the motion if it could be to direct uh Josh to work with Kobe Towns and to get this uh to get something before the city
council. Uh >> I think it'd be before both boards. >> Before both boards, but I'm just saying I think that would probably be a good route if that >> I think he's got a >> I've got I've got a legal question. So >> when I was reading the statute, it says all taxing authorities, not just the
ones that contribute, and it specifically says that. So, wouldn't that also include Northwest Florida? >> I looked I looked into this quite a bit. I know Josh talked to some other CRAAS and I'll be glad to look into it even more. Every one I've called specifically
says that all taxing authorities when used in the concept of CRA. The taxing authorities mean the taxing authority subject to it. The implication being there may be taxing authorities that are not subject to the CRA and therefore their blessing is not required because
you wouldn't be using their money. I believe that interpretation is more consistent with us only needing to go to the county than the idea we'd go ask the school district, can we use CRA money for something to do with our fire department when the school district's taxes are not affected at all by ours.
And I and I've gone back now probably three years looking at some of these questions when they were raised. I've yet to find a CRA that's told me you need to go get a mosquito control district or a special district taxing authority to sign off on it. But I will
assure you that if we find any indication we need to, we will certainly get their approval. But the the indication from the legislative history is that any taxing authority that loses a percentage of its abil revenue to a tiff has to sign off on the use of the
tiff unless it's expressly authorized by the legislature. So that's the reason I look at it that way. >> Could should we just to to see CIA? Should we think about just sending them a letter notifying them of this just to just to eliminate all >> Well, that wouldn't be enough. Either we
get their either have to get their permission or we don't have to get their permission. >> Okay. >> Notifying them doesn't mean anything. I mean, notifications is what we had to do to the county to get them included. They did nothing and therefore they got included. But now we have to get their permission to use it. But I feel
confident that and again we will continue to explore that. But the two I've talked to very specifically who've done some of this have said we don't ever talk to the school district. Why wouldn't we? I said the question's out there is and they said we don't see it
that way. So we will make sure that's not the case. We'll talk to the state redevelopment agency. Um and I will certainly make sure we have good legal footing stand. >> Yeah. I would feel there we had a very strong that yes we only have to go to the county. That's my only concern in >> writing before you spend the money.
>> Okay, perfect. Um, so real quick, because I know we've all hopefully had a chance to look at some of these pictures, but I walked through with Chief Sheffield. Um, that fire department's a joke. I would not want to live there. There's mold. There's paint out the wall. That picture right there,
that is a wire with metal touching the grate on the AC outside. The building's not up to code. What's funny about that is who comes to do the inspections to make sure your building's up to code. >> The fire chief, but their building is not up to code.
So, I think we've talked about this at multiple meetings, city council meeting. Um, we've all had a chance to look at these pictures hopefully, talked to Chief. I've talked to Chief, I know Josh has sat down and talked with Chief Sheffield about some of the needs and wants and what would make that fire
department liveable. Uh but more importantly, after talking to him, the goal is to make it useful for the next 15 to 20 years plus, right? We're not just going to go in there and paint and, you know, replace drywall. We're going to go in there and make sure it's usable. You know, add add showers and
bathrooms. They only have two bathrooms for that whole building, right? If they start getting women firefighters, they have one shower to share right now, and it's that little stall. That shower is smaller than the shower I had on a 110 foot coastard ship. It's ridiculous. I can't stand up in that shower. I'm not
that big. Um, you know, there there's a lot of things that need to be fixed and some things that would make it work better. You know, I talked to him also about expanding the bays out. So, one of the problems he's facing now is the ladder truck that they have is too short, but you can't get a longer ladder
truck because you can't fit it in the building. If it's more than 33 feet, you can't park it. Um, and there's some houses around the lakeyard that he talked about and pointed out that if they had a fire on the second floor, that ladder wouldn't reach. Now, he has
a plan in place, but it's not it'd be a lot easier to have the proper equipment. Um, so kind of like you were saying, my my motion would be to or maybe need to be a motion, but I would say direct Josh to talk to Kobe and start setting up these meetings to get the approvals with
the city and the county. Um, but more specifically from the city, I know there's been talk about the fire department going to the to the county. I want to make sure if we're making this investment, which we need to make for
our city, um, because I also think it's going to help us keep our fire department. I want to make sure that the city is going to back us up and not have this back and forth for 10 years trying to get it done like this. This is something that needs to be done. It needs to be done relatively quickly.
>> Yeah, if I may, I think, you know, that would be certainly a function of the conversation I have with Kobe to to determine exactly what the need is from the city. You know, what what do you want out of your fire department? How can we help be a part of that? And then I I think additionally, I will add this,
there have been some conversations about building a new fire station. Uh Clay very eloquently, you know, said that we can't build them a new fire station today. uh but if it is removed from the capital improvement list that in three years we could so you know I don't know if there's any desire from this board to
have that conversation but you know I think it's it's part of the total conversation to determine if there is a need is there a request for us to help build a fire station with the tiff funds and if so let that be part of you know the entire conversation one way or the other ultimately this board will make that decision um but you know if you
would like I'll be glad to have that conversation with with uh Mr. Townsen as well. >> Is that Are we going to just direct you to do we need to make a motion to >> just just general staff direction? >> Everybody good with directing >> fine for me and and I'll bring something
back to you in short order. >> Okay. Uh public comments. >> State your name. >> Sharon Gren, resident. I talked to Josh this week. I've talked to Kobe this week. And I went to talk to the fire chief this today. So because before I say anything, I like to have some
information. The first thing that he told me is he wants to keep the fire station where it's at because he said with the weight of the fire truck and if he had to keep going over the railroad tracks that the location that it's in now is the very best location.
So that part went there's asbestous in the ceilings. >> That's not good. And the ceiling tiles are asbestous and they're coming down. I asked him because they were talking about the bats. He says like they've tried to cover up some of the places and
that's things that everybody in Defunia that lives near the lakeyard deals with. But he was very happy. He was hoping that the city would work with the state and maybe get something where they could stay in that location. He said if those
things were here that he could he could see that fire station lasting another 20 years. He did talk about bumping out because we looked at the fire engine and the one that he has now. You've got like this much room. I'm sure somebody's directing. >> There's pictures on there showing the
front and back somewhere. >> And the front he's there's already an overhang where you could bump that out. The places where they have the windows, they're not windows. They need to be cut out. And I said, "Well, if you cut out windows, the
best thing to do would be cut them out to a standard form so you don't have to special order windows because you can save money that way." He totally agreed with that. We were talking about, let's see what else we went through because I went in there that
the area, yes, those things need to be done. But he said the building is structurally sound. They have the big metal braces. And so I think that the city council did that, but he also told me today because my question was, "Have you asked
the city council for any of this money in a budget request?" He told me no because we keep losing city managers that two city managers ago they did talk about it but it's not like the city has ignored
him or done anything like that which made me feel better because I was wondering like why are we asking the CRA to do something that I consider taking care of your employees. So, I'm very much in favor of it, but I
didn't understand. And I asked him and he said he wasn't sure. I said, "Why aren't you at the CRA meetings?" And he said he didn't know if he could come. >> I chiefly, are you can you only be here because you had something on the agenda? >> Anybody can be here.
>> Well, I like I said, I don't know. I just asked him and he said he wasn't sure. So, >> so I would say if you're going to talk about this to have him here instead of somebody like me. But like I said, in three days, I've talked to three people
and the city council member was nice enough to call me back. Josh went and talked to him for an hour and a half the other day and went to the fire station today. But it just seems like it's a lack of communication and making sure
that if the CRA spends this money that there's line item budgets with the city that are going to take care of it in the future because our buildings don't need to get in this kind of disrepair. Oh, I know. I was going to tell you where the air conditioner vent comes through
the air filter that you put in your air conditioner. It's taped up to the wall. There is no grate. There is no nothing. It's a over there. There are electrical wires >> out everywhere. So I'm going like these
are the people that are going there. That fire station couldn't pass a fire inspection. So I say with the CRM money when they get the money that this should be like at the very top of the list to make sure these men are safe. >> Absolutely.
>> So one of the So talk about safety. One of the other things that chief told me was when there's a storm, >> they get a bad thunderstorm. They have to get in full gear and jump in the truck and lay on the floor. They don't have anywhere safe to sleep >> because the it those asbesus tiles that
are coming down would fall on their heads. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. Any other comments? Okay. Please state your name. Thank you. >> Michelle Kit. Um, I've also visited the fire station
and um, I'd like to have a fire station we're proud of, but I have one concern. If construction starts, what are you doing with the firefighters? >> So, I can answer that question. So, I talked to Chief and FEMA has agreed to bring one of their trailers up
>> or a couple of them if needed. But that would have somewhere they can sleep, somewhere they can shower if we're doing the construction upstairs. >> So, they will have somewhere to sleep that's right there on the property that's already taken care of. That's already awesome. >> He's already Chief Sheffield's already talked to FEMA and set that up. >> Um I I want to make a note that if y'all
do this, I want y'all to do it well and not put, you know, a band-aid on it. Let's fix those windows. Let's get it up to code. Let's get it. But I'm I'm very supportive of this project. I do agree that we got to get those city council members agreed not to do anything with our fire
station because um we want our fire station. We want our police station. So, um I do think that has to be in writing that they have no um future revenue, you know, future to turn it over to the county or even have
it managed by the county. So, thank you. >> Please in your discussion with Kobe, please mention that that um that was brought up and you know um we need an architect and need to make sure it's done right, not just not just again not putting a band-aid on it or you know
>> Yeah. and and and you know, I will say that's why it's important for Kobe and I to have conversations to see exactly what what it is that that their desire is um and bring that back. So, >> Okay. Thank you. Please state your name. >> My name is Randy Lightner. Li ght ne. Um
I tried to wait a little bit because I've got an 8-year-old I had to drag along tonight to come in, but I was listening. So, first I want to thank Mr. Irvin for in the beginning of the meeting kind of wanted to put everything to bed and and get these needs taken care of first. I really very much
appreciate that and especially Mr. Hamilton. I'm I'm so proud you're on this board and and pressing forward with this. Um the first thing I want Mr. Irvin, you you have had a few conversations in the past with fire chief about this, right?
I had a conversation uh with him shortly after this whole conversation started here recently. >> You've never had one in the past and >> but but in fairness to the conversation, you know, I've been in the fire service since 1999 and I've been to that fire station many times.
>> Okay. So, so that may be the Okay. >> Okay. So, moving forward, I think that most of what I have to say is more to the board behind me than in front of me. It seems like you guys are are are ready to to move forward with this. But I'm not going to talk about my son. It's been spoken about publicly ad nauseium.
If anyone doesn't know, it's a prime example of why we have to have mutual aid agreements. So feel free to get with me. I just want to fill you in on the state of what it's like in the county if it does fall under county leadership right now. And this is not blaming anyone. It's just the state of things
right now. Back in April, I had to call 911. I didn't know what was wrong at that time. Um, the dispatcher thought that it was a triple AAA, which is an immediate, you know, that's immediate. You You're about to die. They've got to get there. It was 2 minutes before my call was
dispatched, over 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived. My understanding from talking to people in the city is that those fire trucks are there within 3 to 5 minutes. It took almost that long for them just to dispatch a call in the county. Uh, same thing happened again in May with
almost the exact same times. It was just gallstones. Everything was fine. I'm just a big baby. But, um, that's kind of what you're going to have to look forward to if everything falls under one umbrella. This has been a long ongoing problem. It's not new. I'm I'm just not even going to talk
about some of the things I I was going to talk about to for time, but mutual aid agreements do save lives. You have four here with fire rescue and and all four of those are very much needed. I know there are some strong opinions that people just don't want the sheriff to
have it because they hate him. That's absolutely not true at all. You just have to have backup. I don't care who the sheriff is, he has to cut budget sometimes. Some sheriffs may not be well locked and
may have a hard time in the future keeping employees for that reason. There's always reasons. So, you always have to have other entities to come in and and help you. Otherwise, people are going to die. It's so important to keep
this fire department under control and operation of the city. No, no contracting it out, nothing. it needs to stay just exactly as it is. Um, and I do want to clear up one thing that's been said that it doesn't really matter
because the city doesn't have ambulances anyway, but unless it's changed in the last month, what the city does have is paramedics on every truck. Um, I understand that there are occasions when when they don't, but they do employ paramedics who can save lives on the scene using advanced life saving
techniques. And as a nurse, I can assure each and every one of you, even with delayed advanced care, firefighters are medically trained, simple oxygen via nasal canula can make a massive difference in recovery from even a heart
attack. I know that I've angered a lot of people getting involved in this. Um, and that's okay. I became a nurse because I wanted to change lives for the better and I wanted to save lives. I've had to learn the hard way just how important
mutual aid partnerships are and just how important rapid responses are. And my goal here is that no one else have to learn the way that I did. If the CRA doesn't fund the fire department upgrade, I'm very afraid the city will hand it over to the county.
And it's just a simple fact. Lives are going to be lost if that happens. So, you kind of literally have lives in your hands tonight. Thank you guys for putting up with me through all this and listening to me. I appreciate it. >> Okay. Any other public comments? >> Okay.
Please state your name for the record. >> My name is Charles Bernie. I'm actually retired fire chief. Worked here for 28 years. Uh just to verify a couple questions, a couple things. You mentioned maybe Chef Chief Sheffield wasn't here. I've been informed by numerous city managers, do not come to
these meetings. Do not come to city council meetings. So >> that's Well, I'll go ahead and state the record. I don't know if the city council will disagree with me, but we want everybody in the public to come. >> How many city managers over the years? So, and I've been told, do not come city
council meetings, do not come to these meetings unless unless you're instructed to. >> So, I talked to Chief Sheffield today and he basically said if Kobe was going to be here, he would show up. If not, he was going to just watch on YouTube. >> I'm not saying Kobe tells him to or not to. I'm just making sure everybody
understands there's certain times that I have been told don't come to these meetings. Um, but just get on just so everybody understands that that's not just up to Chief Sheffield. That's sometimes they're told not to come to these meetings. >> Well, we would like for everybody to come to these meetings. So,
>> I'm not saying does this. >> They just they just don't want you. Some of them just don't want you here. >> I don't think that's an issue now. So, but >> Well, I'm not saying it is. I'm just saying in the past it has been. But as far as that building, obviously I've worked in that building for over 28
years. U Lord knows how many times we put band-aids on it over the years. Fix this, this, fix that, fix the roof, fix the ceiling. Um it has come to time that and this was started and the mayor knows and that this stuff was started 10 12
years ago that we need to fix this and get in different buildings, which is great. City halls move, police departments move. Something's got to be done with the fire department. No if, ends, or buts. Um, like chief said, that's a great place. You can go north,
south, east, or west. You're kind of out of the way and everything else. So, it's it's a good location. And I believe we're in the works. And actually, I've talked to Representative Abbott about it myself um about getting that property over to the city so that
we can if we have to, we can tear it down if we need to or rebuild what's there to make it work properly for everybody. Like you say, it's um it's a hazard. There's there's no Lord knows if you get up above the ceiling and see how many wires are up there.
Some of them are live, some of them aren't, some disconnected, and most time, and nothing against the city, but it's been city electricians. Whether they're certified or not, who knows? They're the ones they hired to come do the job. So, um, I just wanted to verify
that that's the reason Chief Sheffield may not be here. Um, and like I say, I'm not saying Kobe didn't didn't say anything. I'm not saying anything against Kobe. I don't really know him that well. I know him a little bit. Uh but uh I do agree with everything that's being said. This has got to get done.
There's no if ends or buts. It's got to get done. Uh hopefully the city will work together with you all and and we can we can get something done. Something the city be proud of. Like I say, I started there when the police department was downstairs. That was the police and fire department uh many years ago. So we
only had the upstairs part of it. If you've been there, you know how small that is. just >> uh just working on that little part of it, trying to get everything done. Uh and the police department only had downstairs. >> So, uh I'm all in favor of getting everything done we can we can do and
keeping the fire department by all means. U keeping the city because guess what? Sheriff ain't going to be there forever. And the next sheriff comes in and says, "I don't want fire department." Guess what? It's coming back >> and now you've got to fund it. So, you're better off keeping it, upgrading
it, doing the best you can. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. Hopefully, we can get this done quick and get a get a really nice good fire department that's safe and everybody's proud of. So, that's the goal. >> Okay. Any other comments? Public comments?
>> Okay. Um, >> I believe we have one more. >> I had the item about the rail railroad pedestrian crossing improvements. you know, we've talked about this and we're talking about the lighting now down there, you know, for the employees. I
mean, uh, the historical crossings, I think it would make sense to, uh, to explore, you know, what it would take to to get those usable again. I mean, you know, uh I guess it's seventh. They got
the big dip and um you know, it's just it's just it just be nice to to get get that improved so people could use it and it could safe and you know, back to where it should be. So, >> I'll be glad to reach out to uh three
nice group and bring back a proposal similar to what we just did for um the restriping if you'd like. I will add to that we did have conversations with stakeholders today on our um amphitheater project and and that was something that was very common in that
discussion. Uh right now those two seem very disconnected that is Bowwin Avenue and the amphitheater and circle drive. So you know I think everyone agrees making them more walkable uh make them making them more attractive will will certainly help you know make everything feel a little bit more connected and I
do believe there are some you know opportunities to do that um you know here pretty soon. So, I'll be glad to uh to bring that back to you hopefully by our next meeting. >> Sounds great. All right. Uh any other public comments? >> Okay. Any other board member comments?
Okay. If not, I'll accept a motion to adjourn. >> Motion. >> Second. >> 603. All right. We're journ. Thank you all. Hey, Rob. I forget.