Thank you. And if you would I don't know if he's here. Is the pastor here? >> I don't I don't see it. >> Okay. If you would like to well join us in a moment of silence and um because the pastor the pledge of allegiance will be by Vice Mayor Ashcraft. So let's do
that. Please join me for for the pledge. 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. everyone to say a special prayer to the uh the two deputies in Hillsboro County that was shot uh earlier today. So, just keep them in your prayers, please. >> Amen. >> Okay, we will officially call this
meeting to order. Christine, is there a quorum present and proper notice been given? >> Yes, Mayor Lee. >> We're concerning the agenda update. >> Uh no, Mayor, there is no update. Okay. So, we'll go to presentations and I'd like to ask Commissioner Holland to meet
me down. >> Right here. >> I think you should go down. >> I I think you should go down. >> Come on. Up here, [laughter] >> Maurice. >> Okay. I
You're ready. Okay. I'm very proud to announce that I'd like to make this present this um to Commissioner Hawkins Holland. I'm sorry. They look alike. >> So much alike.
>> Yeah, they look alike. [laughter] It's um this is from the Florida League of Cities and it says, "For being a champion in the defense and protection of municipal home rule, the Florida League of Cities presents the 2026 home rule hero to Commissioner Michael
Holland, the city of EUs. Signed by um Holly D. Smith, vice mayor of Sandal, and Jeanie Garner, executive director and CEO of the Florida League of Cities. Congratulations >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. Thank you all so much. >> Mayor, I'd like to thank this commission for allowing me to do the work that it that I've done with the Florida League of Cities. It does make a difference when we're out there advocating uh not just on behalf of us as commissioners,
but as the people of the city of Eustace. Um there's a lot of things that going to be in front of the voters coming up in November. Um and it's going to take all of us to be home room hero heroes to make this all work. Um there's some of the stuff that we're looking at
budgetwise is very important this year. If we don't hold the line, uh if property tax stuff comes through, it will sink some of our smaller cities. So we need to work hard together with our citizens to make sure people understand
exactly what's in front of this and what's in front of them as voters. So again, thank you all for >> Thank you for all your work. Thank you. >> Okay. Next, we'll have a presentation um by Barry Dunn McNeel and Parker. >> Hi, uh Lori Carr, finance director. Uh
as you recall, when you guys hired me a couple of years ago, one of your first tasks you gave me was to look for a new system for our financial processes. And my reaction was that give me a year, let me get some training, let me evaluate it
and make a decision. and we came to you on November 20th with the decision that we need to come up with something else and you all approved for us to work with a consultant to help us make the best decision that we possibly can [clears throat] when we go forward so
that we're not in the same position in 10 years again. So, we um have our consultants here and they're going to give you it's basically a status update, what they've done, what they've discovered so far, what the next steps are, and then they'll be able to answer any questions for you that you'd like.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening, commissioners. >> John Grace with Barry Dunn. Also with me is Ross Ba with Barry Dunn. As we go through, we did uh put together a presentation to kind of walk us through um the discussion points uh kind of serve as uh as as Lori mentioned, a
status update. As we go through, please feel free to ask questions as we go. You know, we don't need to wait till the end. Um so, feel feel free to jump in as needed. For the agenda, we do have a few things that we will be going through. We'll do some additional uh introductions for myself and Ross. We'll go through and discuss some of the work
that's been completed to date. Part of that will be um going through the findings of our needs assessment. Um we also went through a request for information or an RFI um for the vineyard community. We're also will take us through that. And we also identified um multiple improvement options
available to the city going forward and we'll go through and discuss the recommended improvement option. Uh we'll also spend some time going through the tenative project timeline. Um, and then obviously as we see here, we do have um questions in discussion, but as I mentioned, please feel free to to ask
questions as we go. Uh, so it says Jonathan, I go by John. I'm a principal within our local government practice group. Uh, we only work with uh public public sector organizations. I've been with a firm for uh 14 years and and part of our local
government practice group and lead our enterprise digital transformation practice. Prior to joining Barry Dun spent 12 years working with various ERP systems. So all of my time in some form or fashion has been working with the public sector on these systems. Ross.
>> Yeah. Hi everyone. Hi commissioners. Uh Ross Defoul uh with Barry Dunn, senior uh consultant and acting as the project manager for this engagement. Um prior to joining Barry Dunn uh I was previously in the in the industry uh just with a different company. um currently uh
sitting around like 8 to nine years of um experience doing this type of consulting work on the system selection side you know getting in um understanding facts and and uh helping um our uh multiple clients um put out
RFPs. Uh so with that um I will walk you through uh some of the work that we completed to date. So in January, uh we um began uh work with um city staff uh primarily our two uh core project team
members, Lori and Kathy Wood. Um with that uh the initial the uh the initial discussions in January led up to factf finding sessions that we held here actually in this uh and partly in uh the commission office. Um we uh worked with
our team to I uh to identify fact factf finding dates to distribute um critical startup documentation to uh confirm scope and and everything else and that led us to factf finding uh beginning March 10th um here at the city of
Eustace. Um in total we spoke with 27 different functional areas and departments uh across the organization um from finance, HR, um community development, parks and wreck um you know and IT. Uh it was an exhaustive um
couple days. Uh we were running uh two to three tracks of interviews while we were here. Um but in in general those staff was great very well welcoming and very open to share um their experiences with the current softwares that they are
using. Um uh from there uh we took and uh we took our notes back. Um we synthesized in information uh from our factf finding sessions and developed a needs assessment report. Um that was a
deliverable document outlining um uh the current findings and potential uh areas for improvement and current challenges faced um by city staff. Um from there we uh worked with city procurement our city
project team and released an RFI or request for information. Uh this was released to the vendor community to uh understand functionality that was um currently uh that's currently available and could be available to the city should they choose to pursue new
software. Um from there uh we discussed um also uh the option of existing um of redeploying or reconfiguring uh existing software that that does uh that is currently at the city and that uh staff
through through feedback actually enjoys using. We have um examples with open gov and cardigraph. Um there's a there was a uh there was a direction from staff that they enjoy using it would also like to explore uh trying to permeate that
software throughout the city a little bit more. Um and then that uh as we received information back uh from the RFI um our team along with our project um our project team here at the city reviewed that information, analyzed that data and
we developed [clears throat] a options and recommendations memo which is essentially what we kind of want to go over with you all uh this evening. um these options and recommendations, they're based in um they're based in uh the responses from each vendor and uh
could be viable paths for the city moving forward. Um with that, I I think that that's essentially work to date. Uh do you all have any questions before we move on? All right. Thanks. Um
just some metrics here. Uh we had great participation. One thing that I would like to commend your city staff on, uh, 45, uh, folks participated in a series of three days with these factf finding sessions. As I mentioned, we had 27
sessions. Uh, your staff uploaded almost 450 pieces of documentation, which is vital for us to make sure that we're understanding the current system, understanding the current environment, and you know, understanding the outputs from these systems, right? are how are
we doing with reporting, right? What does a what does a journal entry look look like? What are some workflows and and the documentation in place um for us to understand and and really see how efficient or in times possibly inefficient some core business processes
are. Uh and and 43 survey responses. Um I mean I I could just say whenever we did kick kickoff, staff filled this room. I mean it was great to see and and I I would like to commend uh them for making time for this project. Go ahead.
Um some of our needs assessment findings uh essentially working outside of the system dual entry in multiple systems tracking critical and important documentation in Microsoft Excel and other ancillary
systems [clears throat] just possibly issues uh sharing data across the organization. These are all um these are all uh these are all core problems or core challenges that were uncovered during our factf finding um uh sessions.
And we also um explored opportunities to enhance to streamline these uh these core challenges uh with the city staff with the understanding that modern ERP solutions can perform a lot of the business processes within you know
within one area where we don't have to share spreadsheets and share paper across multiple departments. um you know and just in in general just uh strengthen con control strengthen reporting right that's that's currently
um in place at the city >> I would say just to add in a few more things as we look at some of the these assessment findings you know I think Ross hit on you know obviously that heavy reliance on on manual manual data we also see instances where some of that
data lived in multiple systems right and so you start to you know look to what what's the data what's the sources of truth so seeing that information in multiple instances and then you know I think one of the themes that really [clears throat] came out of you know those factf finding sessions is just the amount of time it takes to find the
information right or you know the the information that that that you folks may need as commissioners it may take more time to get to some of that information you know for city staff now based on you know the existing system where that information is being stored whether it's in the system or outside of the system and then really again just looking for
some of those opportun unities to um you know look to better track grants, better track projects, right? So when we look at some of that information that is being tracked outside of the system, we want to make sure that you know all the information is is accurate. And then you know lastly looking at some of that
information to make sure that there is the opportunity to have um portals, right? Whether [clears throat] it is for an employee portal, a citizen portal, self-service portal. That's something that you know a lot of these uh modern systems can't provide nowadays. Um this is just an overall summary,
right? A table of uh findings from the RFI. Um the functional area uh is listed there on the left. Um we did this blindly. We didn't include any vendor names. Uh it was essentially just truly a request for information. Did not have
or and will not have anything to do with a future procurement. So, we wanted to remove bias and and we spoke with uh city pre precurement before this was um a distributed and then b we were reporting on on the results. But
essentially uh we went out um for an RFI and included uh most finance functionality including some utility billing and code enforcement. So um items uh or pro business processes that currently use the current ERP system Edmonds. Um with that uh this is what we
came back with. Um just a couple different uh um findings from uh different vendors across the marketplace, right? And uh we have averages uh there on the right hand side as as well. Um one thing that is
important to note uh because I'm not sure if it's going to be on slide eight or not. that we might have. Um, one thing that will that will be important to note is a um is the city and vendor split. Uh, that is essentially a work
breakdown structure that allocates time uh spent on the on the implementation side versus um, you know, who's responsible from the city versus who's responsible from the vendor and where does the weight where does the brunt of that implementation fall? That really is
important moving forward, right? It's a it's a big consideration city should uh ensure or at least try to help ensure that um they are staffed up for such an endeavor. >> And one other point to make on you know uh before we get to the next slide is when we look at an RFI you know
obviously are required to respond rates just giving them the opportunity to um you know to get familiar with the city and the organization. As Ros mentioned, we have some metrics on the right. Again, when we go through the RFI, we allow vendors to provide three metrics. [clears throat] We allow them to provide a cost range, an implementation range.
Again, really just kind of get an idea what's available in the marketplace so that, you know, should the opportunity continue forward with an RFP, you know, the city will have an idea as to what some of these costs of these systems are. >> Can you go back, please? >> Yeah. the uh the onetime subscription
cost that's all of them. Correct. >> So the the top when we look at that onetime cost that tends to be more of like your implementation services, right? So what's what's it cost for the vendor to uh come in and do any sort of data conversion, the training, the
implementation configuration? >> So those onetime costs typically are in that first or second year. Those subscription costs again the ranges, you know, you know from low to high that subscription cost is what you would be paying on an annual basis. So kind of think of it as you know the the access
to that system the subscription fee. You know a lot of these vendors are transitioning from having the system here on premise to cloud hosted. So rather than paying a license fee um you're paying these vendors a subscription fee to access these systems.
So, it isn't true when when you start to look at some of these subscription costs too, um they tend to be, you know, the same if not maybe like two or 3% difference year-over-year. But from a budgeting perspective, that's also one of the advantages we're seeing, you know, for these vendors that are going
to the subscription cost because you know what that cost is going to be year-over-year, you know, through that. >> So, that's a set it would be a set. [clears throat] Okay. >> Great question. >> Okay. Um and our four uh improvement
[clears throat] options that uh that we did come up with with brainstorming with our project management team and just based on um some of our knowledge and expertise in the uh in the area too. Um first improvement option really isn't an improvement. You can you it's it's
essentially an option, right? You can stay status quo. Um I know our project team isn't really looking to do that and I don't believe that y'all are either. So uh second is core ERP replacement. Um after after a little more time and consideration and additional
conversations uh HR wanted to understand right so your HR folks wanted to understand the functionality that is in the marketplace right um so finance HR and utility billing would likely end up being rolled into one into
one RFP which is replacement option two and that is totally common and normal and standard like we've seen that before. Shoot, we've probably even issued those before, right? Um full suite replacement here in uh option
three, which would be a single RFP and kind of replacing going out the bid to replace everything that's currently in the city. And I know that there's staff that really enjoy some of the systems that they're working on. Um that would be it would be a force change, maybe
some change management concerns there, too. Um not necessarily the best option. uh whenever you do have things that are currently working. And then option four would also be uh multi a full suite through placement but it could be multiple um RFPs as opposed to trying to
fit all functionality into one. Um through our research and our discussions >> is there cost for multiple RFPs? >> I'm sorry. >> Is there a cost for multiple RFPs? >> Yeah, there there usually is um you know
from our perspective you know the develop the RFP. You know, there is an additional cost for that because, you know, we tend to use the the same RFP where there tends to be additional cost is just the time for your staff to kind of go through develop the you know, review the requirements, go through, you
know, the vendor evaluation process, our time to develop those. So, you know, from that perspective, there is additional time and effort on both the city and and Barry D. >> Yeah. So, uh, through conversations with, um,
our city PMT, our subject matter experts, uh, within each department, it was pretty clear to us that moving forward, the best option here is re, uh, is option two. Um, grouping finance, HR, and utility billing into one RFP uh,
should minimize some risk. uh also stabilize scope and and provide something that we feel like city uh that our city staff can really kind of run with um and and not be too much or weigh anybody down. Um and addition add additionally [clears throat]
uh you know this is the core of where a lot of the manual processes live right um and it's replacing that legacy financial system um would uh really do believe
that the city would benefit greatly um from replacing that system and uh reworking some of these business processes that re that require work done outside of the system, passing paper, passing spreadsheets back and forth, you know, not being able to really
efficiently share data uh back and forth across departments. >> Now, going with this um option too, you know, looking at replacing financing, HR and utility billing, you know, that also comes into the timing of replacing these, right? So, when you when you think about, you know, going through the
RFP, usually what we see is more of a, you know, still going through and and releasing the RFP for this, but as it relates to the implementation, through a phased approach of you know doing financials in HR utility billing. There can be some concurrency with these but that would be part of the RP processes
to determine what would be that timing and then also have the vendors come back to us for those recommendations as well. Any questions on this recommended option before we move forward? >> So I think we really just wanted to kind of look um you know at the timeline to
date. So, where we're at now is about halfway through the project. Um, you know, about six months in, you know, so if you kind of follow everything from from left to right, um, you know, kind of, you know, sitting here today going through um going through the the presentation, the next step would be
developing what we call our functional technical requirements. So, that's really working with city staff to determine what do we want this future system to do. We help guide the the the city through this process. Uh and then concurrently also developing um the request for proposal um and then
releasing that proposal probably around um you know the the late October, early November time frame. Uh go through have vendors uh respond to those RFPs, review um you know and have the city staff review those responses, go through a
scoring process, ultimately identify who are the vendors that we want to bring in for um demonstrations. For those demonstrations, we we give them essentially scenarios that we want them to see. We're not letting them just show what they want to show. Uh from there, there tends to be a reference check
process ultimately leading into overall vendor evaluation, scoring, selecting that preferred vendor. Um and then having that contract negotiations probably around that January time frame. So looking at the timeline, obviously like you know, we we also work with our
clients to determine is this feasible? this work. Uh but you know, we're we're very confident and comfortable with this. >> That's all we had to present. Didn't know had folks had any other questions for us. Thank you. >> I mean, so what what
who's in charge of the data? Is it the vendors or is it you? It's it's it's a combination of both. So when we look at the data conversion process, you know, the the and in the RFP, we will identify and ask, hey, we want to know how long how much it costs to convert let's
>> and and is there an integration with the payment systems we have now with this program like like I know she didn't mention rect and whatever how they're whatever payments are taken from utility now. So those payment systems integrate with
this we would identify that as an integration in that RFP. So [clears throat] um not only having vendors respond to the functional and technical requirements, we would have them identify how much it would cost to do the data conversion, what interfaces and integrations are available and if they don't have those, what it would
cost to to develop those. So coming out of those vendor responses, we'll know what it would cost to implement, cost to procure and then the cost to do the data conversion. Um I am always of the opinion, especially when it comes to data conversion, less is more, right? So
the amount of time that you know the vendors will convert it but it usually is up to the city to validate that data the amount of time it takes to validate and also you want to make sure that data is good right if the data is not good you know it doesn't make sense to bring some of that and we've already had some of those conversations with city staff
>> and and you don't foresee you don't foresee any like in incompatibilities with any systems that we would currently keep with this system >> not to our knowledge no >> well I I think it's also important to to to state. We don't know what system it's
going to be. Like we're we're ushering your project management team through a procurement process that includes written responses and um visual vendor demonstrations likely over a threeish period of of days. We're not sure what
systems going to be, but modern systems should have the capability to get hooks into each other and and share that information. Additionally, each and every system that you've mentioned, right, like Rec Reces, your your payment processors, I know uh Bryce just mentioned new tab machines, I think at
the library that those those pieces of hardware will be stated in the RFP explicitly and like we need to understand what a vendor can do to integrate with those so you guys don't have to repurchase things, right?
But we we will absolutely call those things out >> and When we get to the no contract negotiations piece, we make sure that all those data conversion interfaces, integrations are spelled out not only in the contract but in the scope of work so that going into the implementation, you
know, we have all those things identified. >> When you when you talked about references uh you would go do you have like a number or an amount? How how do you do that? >> Yeah, we usually will ask vendors to provide a range of five to six
references, right? So usually, you know, we want to talk to references that maybe have been on the system for a certain number of years, right? Or we want to talk to references, you know, that have just implemented. We want to talk to references in the area. So usually that ends up being about five or six.
>> So one of my fears, one of my fears with this is what we currently have now as we have Edmunds and Edmunds is not compatible with some of the other systems we have in the city. So one of my fears is another vendor coming in and doing the same thing.
>> That's is a very valid valid fear and concern. >> So how so what's the how do you how do you how do you get over that over that challenge. >> So we you know when we go through and and work through uh developing the requirements right to see what you know
vendors can provide we go through that contract to statement of work when we do that contract we also do it for a period you know 10 years so that you know that you're going to have that investment you know for a 10-year period. I think what we're seeing with the vendor community is moving away from having the system
here on site, right, and having that that cloud hosted. You're getting those continuous updates in those systems year-over-year so that you're not getting into a situation, you know, like you are today. I think we're also seeing instances of these newer systems where, you know, you're not looking to
customize as much as as folks would do in the past. You're really configuring these systems so that you're not on a system where it's just you and you feel like you're on an island. you're on a system that other organizations are using which should should help. >> Okay. >> When when you issue the the uh the RF
the RFQ >> RFP >> RFP uh will you include the systems that we intend to keep so that they know when they apply or they respond they have to be able to work with those.
>> Correct. And and we'll identify these are the systems. This is how want your system to interface, right? So, we're going to ask them >> how do they send the data? So, we'll even put in examples of, you know, you must be able to send data from your system to this system, vice versa.
Sometimes it's one way, sometimes it's multiple. And then we'll ask them how they're going to do that, right? They're going to do that through, you know, an application uh programming interface, an API, import, export. We ask all of those questions ultimately to determine if there's a cost to that or if it's something that just is is out of the box.
>> Good. Okay. because you're right like we don't want to be in the situation where you know you got these systems and they don't and talk about >> Okay, >> any more questions? >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Thank you. >> Good job.
And now we'll go to audience to be heard. Do you have any cards? >> I do. Um first one, Gail Isaac Thomas. Good evening. Long time since I've got since I've been here. And
congratulations my brother from another mother. That's my first brother from another mother. Hope you're all doing well. And I have tickets for the comedy show.
And the comedy show is for September 19th. Starts at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $11 until the 21st, which is Tuesday, I think. So, if you need tickets,
I have some tonight with me. Okay. Darius couldn't be here, so I told him I I was standing in the gap as usual. But anyway, I have some concerns about Easttown CRA.
Can you please tell me at the corner of Orange Avenue and Kensington where the Avenue signs are? They used to be lighted.
Why aren't they lit anymore? Someone is always hitting the the the pole. >> Yeah, >> it's been hit again several times. And Kensington Street has a lot of
potholes on it that needs attention. I'm not your RA rep as I would be presenting that to you. But anyway, I have that concern. And my other concern is about the CRA budget,
the $100,000 for the Eustace Bloom. How did that come about? >> You know, we won't respond, right? >> I know. Okay. >> I know, but I'm asking the question. Everybody knows my number except their
attorney, but you can get it. Okay. And I know Rick has it [laughter] and I know Christine has it. So anyway, I have a concern about that
because if it's Eustas and Bloom, why we don't have anything in our neighborhood? That's my concern. If it's Eustace and Bloom, we are a part of Eustas. At least we should be included. And
especially if it's coming out of the CRA funding because that's what the CRA as I can remember it was for the BL ble areas and that
does include our area. We need some beautifification out there also. Thank you. >> Thanks. Next card is Katrice Hatcher. Good afternoon. Oh, good evening. Um, to the vice mayor,
to the mayor, the vice mayor, the commissioners, um, to the attorney, and to the manager. My name is Katrice Hatchard
and I'm a proud resident of USUs. I also serve as the secretary for guiding light community outreach which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to speak tonight.
Guiding Light Community Outreach was established early this year. Our mission is to connect individual families with the resources and education and support to strengthen our community, meeting the
people where they are. Earlier this year, Guiding Light Community Outreach partner with Divine Favor 647, an organization I'm also a member of
supporting a lupus awareness event. That experience reinforced the importance of organizations working together to serve our community. It inspired me to continue my work. Today I'm here to
share an upcoming event that I have is beyond the backpack is assisting children that's less fortunate with uniforms. This event is going to be
held after the school year to assist the kids that has started the school year off with no uniform. a partnership with some of the local elementary schools to find out who those students are.
Our goal is to serve approximately 100 children in the um and their families by providing backpack, school uniform, hygiene items, and uh community resources to assist them as well as
providing a meal that day. I'm here this evening respectfully asking the city commissioners and um to assist me with acquiring the building. I noticed that um they do
provide a 25% discount. However, I'm asking you guys to consider giving us a wave on that fee. So that would allow us to provide more items for the event.
I'm not asking the city to uh fund the whole event. All I'm asking is that you guys consider giving us a waiver for that particular day. I believe that when local government, nonprofit, businesses, and churches and volunteer work
together, we can create a stronger community together. I did provide you guys with a pamphlet of the information and anybody that's here that wants a copy of the um information. I do have um >> I just want you to know your time's
expired. >> All right. >> Any questions? >> What building are we needing? >> We don't know. Do >> you know which building you're wanting? >> The you uh the building right here on Bates Avenue, Carver Park, the community center.
>> Okay. I was wondering about the uniforms. Are kids um required to wear uniforms now? >> Well, mostly all the schools have a standard uniform. Either um the khaki
pants or either um uh different color um shirts or either um uh white, blue, red and different colors like that. Yeah, they they wear the uniforms. >> Is this required? I don't think it's required, but it it
helps with being able to wash the clothes and you'll be able to uh wash and uh go to school and they don't know the difference if you're wearing the uniforms. If you have to wear clothes, it's like different because they'll
remember what you had on. And I'm also partnershiping with some of the local businesses to be able to provide this Do you have a request from this organization yet for the building? >> Okay.
>> I contacted them um and was instruct and was told that it would be a $25 U discount because I'm 501c3 and that I would also because it's going to be open to the public. I would also have to connect with the uses police
department which I have made contact with them and send them my email and receive the email back that they were going to be getting back with me. So I have made that contact and the building is available that particular day
and it's on a Sunday and it's going to be a inside event. Nothing outside. Everything is going to be inside. The food, the clothes, everything. >> The head of those departments are here listening to you. I'm sure you'll hear something back. All right.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, >> Stephanie Smith. Good evening everybody. Um, I just want to thank you so much for giving me a few minutes of your time. My name is Stephanie Smith. I do reside in Lake County. First and foremost, I am a Christian and secondly, I am a mother. I
have six beautiful children. Five girls and one boy. We are a very busy household. Um, we haven't had the easiest life and not all of my children are biologically mine, but each of them are mine in my heart. And everything we've walked through, my greatest mission has been to instill Jesus in
their in their hearts. Um, and so far so good, may I add. [laughter and gasps] Um, but I'm standing here tonight because I believe we need to continue to plant those seeds here in Eustace and our county. Um, about two and a half weeks ago, a friend of mine were
talking. Our church had a local um, prayer and worship night and we really decided that we needed to get out behind the walls of the church. And so what I did was I simply made a flyer and posted it online. And before I knew it, things
were gradually getting big. And um I had a within a couple days I had a worship team reach out to me and say, "Hey, we want to come." Uh within a couple more days, I had um a local uh coffee shop come and just want to hand out free ice coffee. No names on them, just wanted to
hand out free iced coffee. Um the post just kept getting shared and it just kept getting bigger. Um so last Friday night happened and we didn't have a big organization back in me. Um we had over about a hundred people uh down in Fen
Park. It was absolutely beautiful to say the least. Um we had families walking into the local stores downtown buying ice cream, bringing back pizza, um just sharing different things. I um we even had uh some come down. Um I said
that already, the coffee. Um I just but I wanted to be intentional, too. So I went around and I met every single person that came. one of them, Miss Emily. Um, so she invited me to come here tonight to talk and just let you guys know that my intention right now,
um, is to bring God back into these streets and to start planting the seeds to our children. And by doing that, I would love to come alongside on the first Fridays. Um, I know that you guys have stuff going on in town, but there's not anything going on down in Fen Park.
Um, I would love to come alongside with some local churches to see if they'd like to have their worship team come out as well. Um, that night I saw fathers dancing with their kids. I saw mothers singing with their children. Um, my vision is just
just to come alongside Eustace. Come along Lake County and just pray um and just worship our Lord together. Uh, we are called to be the church. In Acts 2:44, um it states that all believers were together and had everything in common and they sold property and possessions to give to anyone who would
need. That night I saw people praying with local homeless men, just anybody. We were just out there and it was just magical and I just want to continue that with the city of Eustace. Thank you, [snorts] >> Eric Schwabach.
I'm here with Stephanie. Um, I'm a school teacher. I've taught for 31 years. Um, I have a prison ministry cuz I have six kids in prison for murder. So, I got a call from somebody from Spectrum News to say, "Hey, do you know what to be in Lake County after there there were those shootings?" Because in
Orange County, every time one of my kids went to prison for murder, I would get the call, you know, hey, let's do this. So, um, we have a couple different programs. One is called Coaches, Convicts, and Cops where we talk to these kids and tell them, hey, here's the reality of your choices. Um, but the other one is coaches and convicts with
Christ, right? I didn't know who my dad was till I was 12 years old. We got a lot of these kids that are coming from really troubled backgrounds. When she told me that she met you, I looked you up and I was like, well, I'm preaching to the choir. So, um, for me, I just I love the fact that we have an event for the youth coming up in November. Kind of
the same thing like how do we continuously do these these events and and really tell these kids it's tell the youth the truth, right? I had the blessing to work with Casey Dantis' team on the mental health stuff that we have in the schools, but these kids need to hear real stories from real people
saying, "Hey, look, you know, the devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy." And this is how he's going to do it, right? He's going to use it with with guns, drugs, all of those other things. So, I'm just seconding what she says. It's, you know, as we're doing these things, maybe be very intentional. Hey, from this time to this time, we're going to
try to target the youth. I say target, but you know, focus on the youth and bring them together because if they don't have a positive um male role model in their life, we know that there's going to be somebody in a church, a local church. So, it's really about bringing the church body together and saying, "Hey, like, you
know, because my my wife, we have a house on Magnolia here in Eustace, but we also live in in Waterfront Park." So, for me, it's how do we get these going in every every location, right? you know, Claremont, Waterfront Park, you
know, um just same thing. So, I brought some presents for you guys. I got some Jesus loves you bracelets. So, just pick out your color, pass along. And these are books that we give out in the prisons. I had a 13-year-old kid go to prison for murder, and I couldn't get him a red letter Bible. For those of you that don't know, it's the stories of
Jesus. And I'm like, you know, so this opened up, and it just now we have these in prisons all over the state, all over the country. And it's like, I just want them to know those teachings because at the end of the day, there's not one of his teachings that's not going to make our community better, right? It's not about religion. It's like, you know,
feed the poor, love your neighbor, do all of those other things. And if we as a community can come together and teach that to our kids, then we're better off. So, I'll give you guys one of these. And can I come up? I'm sorry. >> Then they can pick a color. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Any more cards?
>> No, I have no more cards. And the little cards in the book, by the way, the books are free. So if you don't have, if you look at the back, it's plusnothing.com. They're free. And then the little cards are cool because that's what we give out because they have the series, the chosen that we started showing all the prison tablets. And the back is light up the
world. So anybody can make those cards, but you're giving somebody a free Bible that reads to them out loud. You know, you can't [clears throat] >> even I can't mess that up. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> I've tried. While we're passing these out, is there
anyone else from the public that would like to be heard? Step on up. >> Hey, good evening everyone. My name is Randy Campbell. Uh I am going to be the uh principal for Eustace Elementary for the 2627 school year. Uh although I will
be new to that position, I am not new to Eustace. Um I started my educational profession uh at Eustacemiddle when Eustusmiddle was on the Kurt Wright campus. Uh so uh
since that time I have served in various capacities uh in different areas within Lake County. Um and I will tell you that uh I have never ever experienced the support that I have gotten since getting
back to Eustace. uh Mr. Hawkins, uh Chief Capri basically were waiting on my doorsteps to see how they could help the school and what the needs were. Uh so many churches have reached out. Uh it has just been a
wonderful experience. I'm so excited to be the principal of Eustus Elementary, but I'm also very excited to be back in the city of Eustace and working with what just seems to be an outstanding group of people. So, thank you for letting me do a quick introduction. >> Thank you, Mr. Campbell.
>> Anyone else? Madame Mayor, seeing no one, I'm going to >> Okay, >> turn it back over for you for the consent agenda. >> So, let's move on to the consent agenda. Do I hear a motion? >> Move approval. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Vice Mayor Ashcraft.
>> I. >> Commissioner Hawkins. >> I. >> Commissioner Holland. >> I. >> Mayor Lee. >> I. So [clears throat] let's move on to ordinances and public hearings and quasi judicial hearings. >> First, madame mayor, we have resolution number 2026-60, a resolution by
[clears throat] the city commission of the city of Eustace, Lake County, Florida, providing for proposed millage rate of 7.3898 mills for the fiscal year 2026 27 annual budget for the city of Eustace Lake County providing for an effective date.
Uh Lori Carr, finance director. I'm going to keep this kind of short and sweet. We've talked quite a bit about budget already. Um tonight is, as I had said in our previous workshop, tonight is setting the millage rate that will be sent out on the tax bills. It is not
binding. We can certainly go lower. We cannot go higher without notifying um by US mail every single household. So we uh we had our workshop on June um 18th tonight. These are the the term process which is truth and millage and
they're very very tight deadlines and not meeting the requirements you could actually not receive your property tax. So, it's it's a very serious deadline that we work with. And so, we are planning to um before the end of the month after tonight, we will send our
approved rate to the property appraiser who will put them on the first notice of um millillage bills. And then September 10th is when we have our first reading of the millillage. And that one is um that's the first step in the process
of truly adopting it. Tonight is not really adopting anything. And then we will have on the 24th of September. That will be our final vote and our final millillage. And that's what we will certify and what will go out on the final property tax bills.
And um just a preliminary budget summary. A couple things have changed since we met. Not much. Um, preliminary revenues are 30 million. Operating expenses are about 9 million. Personnel, which of course is our biggest expense,
is close to 21 million, leaving us with a positive number of $34,000. And then we are planning to use reserves to fund the one-time operating capital. And so that would be a shortfall
um use of reserves of a million258. And our property tax revenue increased uh 6.8% which is about a half a million. Our new construction increased significantly by 47.71%.
Um and that generated about $125,000 more in revenue. Our health insurance increased by 5.5% or 78,000 and that's just for the general fund. We still would have all the increases would hit impact the other
funds as well. Uh property and casualty increased by 120,000 or 8%. However, I just received notification from our risk manager today that it's only 3%. So, we're going to have a little bit of of savings when we present the final
budget. And we uh still have not received any of our state revenues. We're waiting. It'll be the end of July, early August. So, you know, we do our best guesstimate on those. We added the three new position,
which I know that um Rick had discussed that before, a deputy police chief, and then three firefighters midy year, which would begin staffing for fire station number three. And then we had uh three positions that were vacant that were eliminated. uh an accounting specialist
in my department, events coordinator in the events department, and then the deputy aquatics manager over in the parks department. So, our since our workshop, we added uh $67,000 more in property tax revenue
because we had the preliminary uh figure on June 1, then we got the actual figure July one. It was just slightly different. We have our um health insurance increase which we since added. We um we had budgeted 10% in liability
and then we were told eight since we've had our workshop but now I'm told three. So that number is going to go down even a little bit more. We did add the um it was just it was an oversight the uh city housing rehab for the nonCRA program.
We've got a piece in the CRA and then we have a piece in the general fund now. And we um also did the gateway grant program where we reallocated 30 uh 30,000 and we um had overlooked because it was we had changed our legal
advertising from coming all out of the clerk's office to the individual departments and we had not uh included the development services figure when we spoke last time. So, our personnel costs are about 67% of
our budget. So, twothirds uh with operating and capital making up the rest of it. Again, health and life insurance. We've talked about that. Uh the budget does include a cost of living adjustment of 5% uh for 570,000. And then also uh and
that also affects all all employees and all funds. Even though we're specifically only talking general fund tonight, uh they we and we're doing the flat thousand which is what we've done consistently. This would be the third year since I've been here and I think
it's probably they've done that longer than that to to help us become more competitive. the uh [clears throat] the fire pension rate actually went down 7 and a half% and then there was just a slight increase in the police pension rate of.32.
These are the one-time capital projects that are being funded through the general fund and the um and and this goes kind of to your point um Commissioner Ashcraft Recrack software it's in there and it would be the
replacement for Recesk if they don't fall into the other systems. So they're covered either way. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that. And um yeah, and then then the other big one is the ERP system which would be the
initial cost and that is um it's based on what they presented tonight. It's probably a little high because that's a lot the utility is going to be hit with a large portion of this as well. So you have the utility
and the whole work order side. And when he had mentioned um cardigraph that's part of of all these costs. So the general fund is not going to be as hard hit. It's not taking the full hit. A lot of it will be on borne by the utility.
And this is um not for tonight but this would be when we do our formal vote. the millage rate and the uh number of commissioners required um to approve it. If we went with the millage rate we're proposing of 73 point 7.3898,
we would need four commissioners out of the five to approve it. And if uh we only had if we went to roll back, we would need three. And that's a loss of about 518,000 if if we were to do that. And we only
budget 95%. That's industry norm because you're we're not going to collect all property taxes, homes and foreclosures and and you know all all other kinds of issues. So when we have that rate and that rate is a 3.93%
increase tax increase. So it would be advertised as a tax increase when we finally get to that point. And that's uh that's all I have. So tonight we're just looking for the approval for the rate to put onto the millillage uh trim bills sent by the
property appraiser. >> Any questions? >> Is there any uh anyone from the public that would like to be heard on this matter? Seeing none. Madame Mayor, I move approval of resolution number 2026-60.
>> I second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Vice Mayor Ashcraft, if it if it wasn't for the uh upcoming vote on property tax, I might vote no. Also, if it wasn't for
the amazing job that Rick and Miranda did on this budget, I would be voting voting no, but it's an I for me. >> Commissioner Hawkins, >> I. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I. >> Mayor Lee, >> I.
Next, Madame Mayor, we have the first reading of ordinance number 2026-28, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Eustace, Lake County, Florida, approving the annual update of the 5-year capital improvement schedule of the comprehensive plan under Florida
statutes 163.3177 subsections 3B, providing for conflicting ordinances, severability, and an effective date. >> Uh, Laura Carr again, finance director. I do not have a presentation for this. We've gone over capital in depth in the
workshops and um you know we've done the process a little bit different this year with Rick being much more involved in the entire capital process as opposed to just the items that affect his departments because they're all his departments now.
Uh so if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. I believe there was one change from the um original budget that we presented you for CIP and that was we added a little bit of additional funding for the building across the street coming out of the
police impact fee funds for the EOC portion and other than that there were not any changes questions. >> Seeing no questions. Is there anyone from the public that would like to be heard? Having none, madame mayor, I'll turn it back to
you. Madam mayor, move approval of ordinance 2026-28 [clears throat] on its first reading. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Vice Mayor Ashcraft, >> I. >> Commissioner Hawkins, >> I. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I. >> Mayor Lee, >> I.
>> So, we'll move now to future agenda items and comments. [clears throat] We'll start with city attorney Jay. >> Couple quick updates for the commission. Um, hope the updates that I've sent out have been helpful and wanted to let you
know that I've formally taken over any of the current litigation that the city's involved in from prior council and that along with that notice of appearance, Derek Schroth is also listed as as my co-consel on those cases. So,
he'll be receiving those updates just like I will through the automatic filings and be participating where needed. Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. >> Yeah, I've got a handful of things. Um,
you know, one is I want to thank commission for all the efforts on the budget that it was some long workshops. It was some hard work. Um, you know, we cut the the general fund 2 million when
we started. Uh we it was like 1.7 on the first cut and went back again and I just I know it wasn't easy but beg you all. Um we have two RFP packages that are coming due. won the uh city attorney. Um
that RFP opens on the 28th of this month and also we have an RFP out for the revolving line of credit that opens up on the 23rd which is early in the week. Um
the city manager search um they close the applications. We had 75 applications for the city manager. Um there are some meetings that were scheduled uh Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of next
week. We have not, as this meeting started, I haven't received the package yet. Um it had been promised uh that we should have had it in hand by now. I know that doesn't give you a lot of time. Um the meetings are all going to
be virtual meetings. Um you're welcome to come in. We can get it set up. you know, we're used to running the virtual meetings out of here. So, if you don't have a facility at your house that you're good with, um, and we can schedule them for any time that's
convenient for you. So, I know there were some I believe Commissioner Hawkins is scheduled as early as Monday if the package comes in tomorrow. Um, the consultant is saying that there is not a lot of pre-work and he's going to walk you through it. I know if it was me, I'd
want to read everything ahead of time, but I'm kind of overkill at that stuff. So, >> if you have scheduled and you need to adjust that schedule or you desired to adjust that schedule, please reach out to Karen. Karen can work with them and
um you know, take the time you need. It's pretty important what we're doing. Uh there is on July 21st at the Eustace Community Center. Um there is a probuild with Habitat for Humanity kickoff. Um
the next project they're doing, this is kind of like a kickoff happy hour if you would. Um they're they're doing a veterans house. They're building a veterans house. Um so I wanted to make sure you all knew about that. Um I think an email went out already on that. Um
few meetings back uh we discussed Lakeshore and the the traffic on Lakeshore. Um Lake County is installing a hallway all stop at Lakes Shore and Woodward. So that should bring traffic,
you know, to a halt at that point. Um they'll be we've been working with them make sure there's adequate pre-signage and and message boards and everything up to to let people know of a change of traffic and we have run that through PD as well. And last thing I have is the
hometown festival. So it was a blast. Um, >> so last year 2025, we had 6,500 people there and the average dwell time, which is kind of what's important, how long are people are they just popping in or
leaving? But the average time last year was 94 minutes. Uh, this year, um, 17,200 people. >> What are you? I was saying 14, but >> we've got some great drone pictures of
it and and also not only was the number >> um almost three times as much, but the average dwell time was 150. >> Should we get him every year? >> I had fun. I'm I'm for it. So, um but yeah, I wanted to share that with you.
Um, I got our uh Mike Bishop as our new economic uh development director who had a pre-arrange vacation, but we wanted to get him in as early as we could, so we brought him in and then gave him a week off right away. Um, but he did a great
report on it and um you can kind of see, you know, the last year it it tracked the people and their movements and a lot of people left right afterwards. This time people hung around um and they went different places and we showed some of
the different restaurants and the impacts and where they went afterwards. So a really good report. If you all didn't get copied on it I can make sure that you did. Um it it was really really nice to see. So figured I'd end with that little bit of good news and that's
all I have. >> Absolutely. >> Go our city commissioners. Commissioner Howland >> um On June the 27th, Ann Ivy, our librarian, and I had the opportunity to go to the Miss Florida pageant, and
Eustus really showed out for Miss Florida. Miss Florida, our uh Miss Eustus Bailey uh Joy Martin came in the top 15 in the state of Florida for the Miss Florida contest. And uh Sydney
Solace, our uh Miss Teen Miss Eustace, is first runner up for that pageant. Um, very proud. The girls did a beautiful job and represented us very well and are great ambassadors for the city. Um, and
again, just very proud of our city and everything that we're doing out in the community and um, let's just keep it going. >> Absolutely. >> All right, that's all I've got. Mayor, >> Commissioner Ashcraft. >> Uh the only thing for me is um is what
you see in front in front of you about the uh conference that I would like to attend. This is the only conference I am going to attend this year because of schedules and my work. Um this is the same conference I attended last year. They brought the Japanese uh Japanese
festival here at the Eustace. I just like to uh >> Oh, sorry. You didn't get >> They didn't get a copy of it. >> No, sir. I did not provide them that copy. >> Oh, okay. All right. Well, here I can show it to you. Um just, you know, just
like to get your um your approval on that. Um it is actually in the US this year and uh just to keep building relations with the uh people of the state of Florida and um and Japan. Um there is a there is a Japanese company
that's uh doing some work with uh our Lake Tech Community College. Uh so it is it is it is pro providing a uh economic benefit for our city. >> Gary, how quick do you need to know on this? >> Uh I believe uh I believe Rick and
Miranda have looked at it. They just wanted me to present it to you. Yeah, we're starting to it it you know, we're doing these conferences. I want to make sure there's availability in the in the hotel where the conference is and >> so we're trying to get the arrangements
made so he doesn't get locked out anything. We have um you know we did have in the budget um for everyone attending the League of Cities um so that money can be transferred over and it's just it wasn't an announced
convention so we asked vice mayor to just let y'all know we'd like to do that in blue with the league of cities >> as long as it's in blue with the league of cities like I say it's the It's the only conference I'm going to attend all year. So, >> I'm fine.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I would like you to come to Lea City also. I mean, at some point it's really good for you to be there with us. >> Okay. >> Where is it? Where is it going to be? >> In Hollywood,
Nashville. >> Oh, this is in Nashville. >> And the cost is the same as Tennessee. Yeah. The cost is the same as the Florida League of Cities. That's the only commerce I want to attend all year. >> Yeah. I'm saying the cost is relevant to what you get for the Florida League of Cities.
>> Um Rick and Miranda would have >> I I don't have it in front of me. It's it's a little bit more, but we've we've we've got the funding sources. >> It's not that much more. >> Okay. So, next >> I'm good. Well,
>> you know, I [laughter] I um uh you know, I'd have to say that uh Rick and Miranda, you know, again, thank you. You know, you guys are uh you know, just really making a difference in that front office. Uh and you're working
well with staff and and that $2 million cut that was painful for me. So, I can imagine how it was for you. Uh but but I just want great job. Great job to the two of you and great job team. So
>> that's it for me. Great. Thank you. >> Okay. [clears throat] My comments would be that um the July 30 was awesome. Absolutely. And I'd like to really um shout out to Rick, Miranda, Sherry, and Mary. I mean, they were out there and
manning everything and doing everything that need to be done and organizing and they did a fantastic job. And Marissa. And so I wanted to make sure that I um acknowledge everything that they did to make this happen. Um
I'd like to introduce that's Justin, right? And um he is a student at which college? >> University of Florida. >> University of Florida. And um >> I'm sorry [laughter] >> Commissioner Holland.
and um I he wanted to talk to me about being a mayor, but you know, he's interested in being involved in the community and and it's the second student that I've had um to talk with and and I want to welcome him and intro and and I hope that you'll introduce
yourselves to him um because when we find young people wanting to get involved in the community, that's really awesome and we need to encourage them. So that's Justin and please introduce yourselves and I'll be out there to talk to you also. Um and I I want to comment.
It seems like Palmetto Plaza. Isn't that on the agenda? Something to be done there. >> The the um the entrance. >> You kind of It's more the the park area. >> Yeah. >> Um Yes. Okay. Yeah, we've got we're doing something to the entrance.
>> We're doing the playground there. Um, we're going to do parking on the other side of of the facility that we have with some sidewalks going around. >> Um, that's in design. I need to get an update from Greg. We're going to
self-perform that work, but I will find out when that's slated. It is budgeted this year. We need to get that cranked up. I have a meeting tomorrow scheduled at 1:00 to >> Got it. >> to update all our projects. So, I will be able to let you know by the end of the day tomorrow. Okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. And and you know, uh Gail brought up the that someone always hits the pole there. It it does look pretty bad. So >> it it does. I brought that up before the way that it looks and I think that we can work on improving that. And also um
talk to um Tim and we can beautify it all in there too. So there's a lot to be done. >> We can do something. >> We're working on it. >> So I wanted to make that known. So, guess what you guys? It's almost a quarter after and so I'm going to call
this. >> Yeah. See what happens when Commissioner Squad is not here. [laughter] He doesn't call us until 8:00. Thanks George. >> Nice meeting. [laughter]