531 this 11th day of a 11th day of August 2025 in the government center of the town of Lake Placid. I'll now call to order the regular meeting of the Lake Placid Town Council.
We are honored to have with us Reverend Norris from the Lutheran Church. It's always a pleasure to have him here. I'd ask everybody to please make sure your phones are either off or on vibrate. And if everybody would please rise, he's
going to lead us in our invocation and pledge. >> Before we do that, sir, I'd like to remind the council and any of the town employees that uh Mr. Harold Herm, a former employee of the town of Lake Placid, passed away recently. And
there'll be a memorial service at our church on August 23rd at 11:00 a.m. Just so you're aware of that. Let us pray. Almighty God, as the town council come together this evening, I pray that you will help them make decisions that are
pleasing in your sight and beneficial to the entire community. encouraged these elected and appointed individuals to remember that they're here to help make Lake Placid a thriving and beautiful community as they listen to the residents and business owners.
Direct them to make the best decisions for all involved. Continue to pour out your blessings upon all in this community. Watch over with your divine guidance all of our students, teachers, staffs, and families as the school year got started this morning for yet another
year of growth and learning. Grant peace and protection to all of our law enforcement and fire rescue employees. In your most holy name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge allegiance 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. >> Thank you. I ask the clerk to please call the role.
>> Mayor Hullbrook >> here. >> Council member Hayes >> here. >> Council member Worley >> here. >> Council member Charles >> here. >> Council member Everheart >> here. >> Okay. We'll now go to consent agenda one A
through D. Make a motion to accept consent agenda one as on the agenda. >> Second. >> Uh we got a motion to second. Any comments from the podium? >> Just a couple, please. Um Rachel's not
here, but I wanted to thank her for the new report on accounts payable. I think four pages is great and if uh Charlotte if she can look at is it easy to pull the description of the spending in it's just another column I think that would be helpful not just the vendor the
amount but what the description um the second since this month we have two minutes for June and July in the packet um I I think we need to add into the June under the pickle ball discussion um
Mr. Mayor, the important comment that you made where you added that the mayor clarified title issues are being resolved and then we will go out to bid. I think that that's that you know had a lot of people that were relieved to hear that and that it was going forward. So I would recommend that
we just add that. And then the last thing I want to say is in in July for the budget um I've done an analysis of 10 months to actual and a lot of the departments are over 100 are are they will go over next month or 100% budget.
So I don't know if that's something that you know during the year this is their departmental budget that will be increased. a few are under. So, just want to bring to your attention seems like we should be as departments are over their budget, we should be having
discussions on what options they have before the end of the um the fiscal year spending. >> Okay. Any other comments? Take it to the audience.
Seeing none, bring it back. Pull the council. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Worley. >> Yes. >> Council member Charles. >> Yes. With that amendment that I suggested to add that the mayor has acknowledged that the title work is
being completed which was the hold up and it'll go out to bid. >> Council member Everart. >> Yes. Was Eva, was that because we're all saying yes? That's >> Yeah, I probably should have Can we
revote on that? Because I kind of didn't have that until after I took the other roll call. So, do we want to revote on that or are we all good with it? >> Bring back up and revote. >> What the revote would be to accept it
with that one change? Do you want amend uh council member Hayes, do you want to amend your motion to include the correction that Miss Charles did for the meeting? >> I'll I'll amend my motion to the my motion to the two corrections that she cited. >> All right.
under public comments. The only thing I want to say tonight is see a lot of people here and and we know we got some important topics to discuss tonight and and I understand that there's going
to be some of you for them and some of them against you. And I want you to know that it's it's our job to listen, consider all sides, and make the best decisions we can for Lake Placid. I want us to keep our focus on the
issues, treat each other and our staff with courtesy, and remember, we're all here for the same reason, to keep Lake Placid special and strong for the f future. If you have comments, I want you to come
before the podium, state your name and your address, and you will be given up to three minutes to uh to to entertain what you have to say. Please direct your comments to the council as a whole and speak
respectively so all voices can be heard. And we want to thank you for helping us keep this a constructive conversation. So, at this time, I'll open it up for any public hearing or any public comments that we might have.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Ray Royce, 113 Waters Edge uh Lane here in Lake Placid. You know, often we get caught up in the news that's out there in social media and there's there's your usual three or four
pot stirs mal contents, but I think it's important. There's a couple things recently I came across that I want to say thank you to you all for. Um, number one, for years we've been waiting for the pipe bursting project to be over so we could reveate, you know, parts in the
south side of Inner Lake Boulevard. I want to compliment you all and your team because it looks great. The trees and bushes they put back in, all your trees are trimmed. So, I'm glad we finally got the pipe bursting done. You finally got that done. Number two, recently had an
an opportunity to interact with Allen from Solid Waste. You know, have some property hel and some properties out in Lake June Point. We were trying to get rid of some stuff after my father passed and I called Allen and asked, you know, what do I need to do about setting some stuff out? had a great conversation.
Your all's team picked up those few items the next day. And I guess I want to say as you all go through the budget hearing how thankful I am that we have the opportunity at only $290 a year to have the trash collection we have. I think
Highlands County and their upcoming budget are going to go to $268 plus some change. Call it $269. And we are indeed fortunate at $21 more than that to have 104 pickups plus white
goods plus solid waste. So I think again, you know, thank you for the good town staff you have that operates it and thank you for the policy we have as far as solid waste. Also wanted to inform you all that the county recently reconstit uh sunset the industrial
development authority reconstituted the economic development committee advisory committee to the county commission and now all three municipalities including Lake Placid are automatically entitled to a member on the economic development
committee advisory committee. Um, it can be a council member, it could be Charlotte, whatever you all ultimately decide to do, but I would encourage you all in the coming months to figure out who you want representing the town and have them get involved. Thank you for
your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh, Gary Freeman. name name is Gary Freeman, PO Box 657, Lake Placid, Florida. Last meeting, council meeting, I came up at the end and I I mentioned about the
plaza, the tower plaza. And I understand from one of the council members that uh it came across kind of like I don't like the tower itself. And I wanted to make it clear. And I want to apologize for that if that came across, but I do love
the tower. And then when the administrator said that she loved the tower, I I even felt really bad. But I I just want you to know that there's got to be ways to do it. I know Ken Ken Leblanc is working on some things. He's he's looked at and if we stay positive, I think we'll get it all worked out. But
I just want to apologize for that. I do like the tower. The rest of it, that's what I'm talking about. But the tower is great. Okay. Thank you. >> Don't Don't worry. I didn't take it that way. >> All right. Not saying other. We'll move
on. Yeah. All right. We're going to move to number six, resolutions. We got 2025-16 Plat Administrative Authority. I know Good evening. Dana Redell, town planner
for the record. See if I can get this mouse to work tonight. There we go. Uh recently, it happened very quickly. Um, I think the bill was passed on June 20th and it required an effective date
on July 1st. There was a bill that passed that requires final plats to be approved administratively through whoever is designated by the town council or city council or board of
county commissioners. Um, the city of Sebring used the same resolution that I'm using tonight and essentially it gives us an opportunity to designate someone. I put as part of the resolution the town administrator, but that could
be changed to anyone that the town council deems fit. And uh, like the town administration was what was suggested as part of the Florida statute amendments. That's part of my reasoning. Um, but
it also, this resolution also gives us time to come back with text amendments and we're going to be coordinating with Highlands County because as part of the Bullard ordinance, we've adopted Highlands County's land development regulations regarding plats and plat
adoption. So, we'll make sure to follow suit with them and if their changes aren't reflective of what we would like to see in the town of Lake Placid, then we might remove the plat section from our code, I'm sorry, from the Bullard
ordinance and put it into our code. So, uh, we we need a little bit more time, but because this became effective July 1st, and I expect another plat to come up for Burger King and, uh, Publix, I wanted to go ahead and make sure we
had something in record that followed, uh, suit with the Florida statute requirements. Tonight, one of our next items you'll see come up is a plat that was submitted before these regulations became effective. So, you'll see that discrepancy. We are asking for town
council approval tonight for the Dollar General final plat, but uh going forward, Florida statute would have us do it administratively. So you're simply looking for a motion to approve the resolution.
>> Correct. >> Second. >> So move. >> All right. So we have a motion, a second. Any comments from the podium? >> Just a quick question. Does LPA get involved or this this allows them also
to not approve then it comes to us to approve? So, as part of the Highlands County regulations that we follow, local planning agency actually isn't a part of the approval process. However, because we have different policies and
procedures, we still include them as part of the development review committee. So during the preliminary plat process, which is really when staff make sure that everything is sufficient, we reach out to all of the local planning agency members via email and we
ask for their input. If there's much conversation or differing points of view or anything like that, then we might bring it to a local planning agency meeting for their discussion altogether. Um, but it's not something that they vote on. So we are able to
coordinate with them via email on that. Thank you. >> Any other comments? >> Hearing none, we'll take it the audience. >> Seeing none, bring it back. Pull the council. >> Council member Eberhart. >> Yes. >> Council member Worley. >> Yes.
>> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Charles. >> Yes. >> Okay. Item B, resolution 2025-15, has been removed from the table for this meeting. And while Dana's up here, we're
going to go ahead and under number 7C, we're going to go ahead and let her do her request to approve and execute the plat for the daughter general. >> Thank you again, Dana Redell, town planner. for the record as mentioned before you as part of this agenda item
is a request for approval and execution of the Dollar General final plat. Um before the Florida statute was changed as I just mentioned there was a requirement that plats receive a signature from town council, city
council, board of county commissioners, whatever the regulating jurisdiction is. Um, this plaque meets all the requirements and it has all the signatures from every entity that's required to sign. There
was some additional information uh that our town attorney asked to be included in the package. So, usually you might not see something this comprehensive with all of the additional affidavit and things that were included. So, that's why you see so many documents. I included a location map
But I think our town council is very familiar with where the new Dollar General is. So, um, I won't bore you with those details tonight. There's a representative from Dollar General here if there are any questions, but they have completed their building
and all required inspections for and they have received a temporary certificate of occupancy. after tonight, they will be eligible for a permanent certificate of occupancy from the town of Lake Placid. I'm here to answer any
questions. Oh, and I wanted to point out that going forward, um, well, it doesn't matter because we're doing it administratively. I was going to say that it would usually be something on consent agenda, but we won't even have to take it that far in
the future. So, that's it for me. Thank you. So, I'll go ahead. I'll move to approve and execute the plot of Dollar General store 25680. >> I'll second. >> Okay,
we have a motion to second. Any other comments from the podium? Again, hearing none, we'll take it to the audience. Seeing none, bring it back. Pull the council. >> Council member Charles, >> yes. >> Council member Hayes, >> yes. >> Council member Worley, >> yes.
>> Council member Everart, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> I would like to um thank who I don't I don't know who's here representing Dollar General, but I'd like to Is there Thank you. Welcome to our community.
Thank you very much. Okay, now we'll go to number seven, new business. And the only thing we have under that is explore operational efficiencies between Lake Placid Police Department and Highlands County Sheriff's Office.
>> So, I'll take that one. Um, which got me front page of the paper today. um with people jumping ahead on something that is not the motion here. Um so this came out during the budget meeting and also um a couple months ago our town
administrator uh through different queries that she had um asked us are there any items that we should be looking at for operational efficiencies, contracted services, etc. And um even again at what a week ago's
budget meeting this came up again to come forward with recommendations. So looking at the budget costs and that and I understand that. So so there's no motion here to disband the police department. I just want to put that to rest. That was never a motion. It's to
do an analysis. We have a lot of costs and I think that we owe it to the town taxpayers to take a look at the costs that we have and are there any efficiencies that we can achieve. And so, um, I did that and and we did
that during the budget workshop and we looked at and, you know, flip to the next chart because I think those some of those numbers are important and it just poses the question is this something that we should have a conversation. We come back in the future and then we make
a decision. So the only item that I'm introducing is to have a discussion to see if there's operational efficiencies. Today the Lake Placid Police Department is 45% of the town's general budget.
202122 it was 774,000 and this year it's a million286. So it's significant increase in three years. The Highlands County Sheriff Department as everybody knows is 39 million. We
also pay taxes to the county. So people who are paying taxes to the county that also reside in the town are paying taxes in their ad valorum um for police services which is a good thing. Interesting to note is the town has a
lot of broad service capabilities. as many we use today. 911 dispatch, county jail, animal control, first on scene. And then there's a lot of other services that they have that some we use, some could we use. So if you go back to the
first what my to the first page Eva and that we go on to the statement of issue is I was seeking an analysis of what other opportunities of public safety enhancements, operational efficiencies and cost impacts between the Lake Placid
Police Department, Highlands County Sheriff's Office with a focus on identifying what best serves the citizens of Lake Placid specifically, should we consider contracting with Highlands County for more services or full consolidation or stay as we are?
So, the motion here is to authorize the town administrator to initiate the discussions with Highlands County Sheriff's Office regarding what potential service efficiencies may exist, including staffing, cost structure, and service levels.
the administrator. She'll come back and report the findings to town council within 60 to 90 days. Charlotte, I don't know if that's, you know, enough time. Um, and then from there, we would have the town meeting with the citizen input on what those findings and what the
ultimate recommendation would be. I understand this was done 20ome years ago and the answer was no. And so it's just I think with costs that are increasing on both sides, the county and ourselves,
it's time to start looking at what are the highest cost drivers that we have so that we can satisfy ourselves that there's no additional efficiencies, improvements, and again without degregating service. So that's the whole intent of this. I I appreciate getting
my picture on the front page of Highlands County newspaper, but the heading was wrong. I've never suggested disbanding the police department. There's not enough information to know or do we need to add add people or what? I don't know. So,
that's the agenda item. >> I I agree that we um should always be looking at ways to be more efficient. Um, I would reframe this though that uh to have Charlotte only investigate um
duplications of effort where we can consolidate efforts, constrain it to looking at those things and put the idea or put the investigation of full consolidation off to the side.
First of all, let's just take care of the quick and the the quick things to do that might make us more efficient and also help on Charlotte's term. >> You want me to go or you want to go? Deborah, >> I have a a few things here on your list.
Um, as you mentioned, 911 dispatch is all centralized. that's already been cleared. We use the county jail. We use animal control first on scene officer response. We we do that as well. Um training instructors facilities
and resources. We will have room for training uh in our new police station which is under um out for bid right now. And um I feel strongly that this will be
built. um specialized units like SWAT K9 all of those uh cyber crime drone we can do some things with that we can do some things with drone um cyber crime maybe so as well SWAT K9 those are expensive units and if we had a situation where we
needed those we would be much better served to use the sheriff's office as other counties do as well even with police departments they always use county services um we can't afford an MRAP Okay. So, when we need that, we we
need to go to the county. Um, major crime scene and homicide cases, if we needed assistance, they are there. We shouldn't have to pay extra for it. We're getting it now. Just the way things are. The school resource officers
are assigned through the different departments, through the sheriff's office and through the um department of education through the schools. advanced technology. I'm not sure what that refers to, but the community programs is really what got my attention because
that's what I did for 20 years. Um, and just so just a little clarification, seniors versus crime is not a program of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. Seniors versus Crime is a a program of the Attorney General's Office. It is only housed at the Highlands County
Sheriff's Office. It is not administrated by them except that they do um hire people to do it. I was part of the hiring process to get people to fill those roles, but it is it comes under the attorney general's office and
is facilitated by them. SALT is seniors and law enforcement together in case you're not familiar with what that acronym is. That is open to all Highlands County residents. It meets once a month on a Tuesday or Wednesday um up at the Sebring Rec Center I
believe at Sebring Country Estates and um we're always welcome. I get the announcements every month and the cops is a specialized unit targeting specific areas for crime control. So, these are things that we already get with the
sheriff's office where we don't need to try to forge any other kind of an agreement. But the other thing that I just want to bring to everyone's attention is that when we start talking about um hiring out for different
things, um I really feel strongly and a lot of people do. We've gotten a lot of comments. I have an email that I turned into the mayor that he may want to read about this. But if you lose your police department, you cannot get it back.
Period. You cannot get it back. As as noticed from Avon Park just tried to get theirs back. And the deal is once you say to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, we are relinquishing our our police services and we are going to
contract with you for those police services. Um you have lost your own police department. you've lost your local control and you cannot get that back. So the decision that you make if it does come
to that. The decision that you make in that regard is not for today. It's for today and forever because once you lose the police department and you say, "Oh geez, you know, maybe that wasn't such a great idea. Maybe we should bring it back." Okay. So now you're already under
contract with the sheriff's office and now you want to bring your police department back. Okay, now you have to hire people. You have to outfit them. You have to buy your cars. You have to rewrite all of your policies, procedures, all your manuals. That all
has to be rewritten and readdopted. It is research says it is a 3 to fouryear process. within that three to fouryear process, you're paying double for law enforcement coverage because you're still paying the contract because you don't have a police department yet.
Remember, you disbanded it and you don't have one put together yet. So, you're going to pay in those four years, three or four years, you're going to pay double. Um, and and I think it's just very important to the town of Lake Placid, one of the pillars of our
community is our public safety and the fact that people feel safe here. Why did you move here? Some of you moved here from what I affectionately call the war zone because I worked there for nine and a half years in Dade Broad and Palm Beach counties. Um the crime rate down
there is very high. Crime rate up here is not that and a lot of that is due to the fact that we have our police force and they're very attentive. Uh and I think it's a very dangerous place to go. Deborah. >> Um, I concur with no. I Avon Park
disbanded theirs in 2012 and they have had back and forth discussions about bringing it back. Um, July 24th. I wasn't there. I watched the meeting the video after the fact and the city administrator had a three-year timeline to bring it back and it cost of 8 to 10
million just to get outfitted again. And they have their own building yet. >> Yes. >> So once it's gone, it's gone. >> Yes. and they are not the fact that they're looking to try and bring it back tells you they're not happy
>> then. Um, go ahead. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> You have something? You have something? >> Well, that was um my thoughts. It's a big decision and um I as well think it's never a bad idea to um try to do um try
to save money or um try to you know get better service or you know more public safety maybe for just a few changes. Um but again as I pondered this this weekend also without watching I just I
do know that it is not just a light decision. It's not like let's just try this. This is not a trial period. Once you're there it's no going back. Um you are there. The other thing I thought about with that issue um and this is
beside the cost or anything like that is that um you you you lose some things. Okay. So like the sheriff's office and I have some friends that lost a child recently in an accident and our police are on
Johnny on the spot. Um, the way this works as far as in the town municipality is that our officers go out and they if you have an accident, they're there. If the uh, and this is not anything to say about the sheriff's office, they're mandated to use the state patrol
officers. So, the state troopers come and I love them to death. They are just the best people in the world, but they have to come from somewhere else. So you could have your loved one lying there by the side of the road for hours waiting for someone in the town like Plaster.
That won't that should not happen in any day. Um I'm just saying there's more to this than just let's just try this because there is no going back. And um I I don't know I if we can do better, we
always want to do better. I think we should look at everything we can look at. But again, um this is a a big issue and um I think we need to look at everything like just like that. Just like if you have an accident, do you
want to tie up traffic? Do you want your loved one laying by the side of the road for hours while we wait for someone to come? Because it's not their fault. It's just the way the whole thing is structured. So there's more so much more to think about than just how much does
it cost. Yeah. Um, I know like I I've told you all many times, I keep tabs on social media and I know there are rumblings out there that people don't like the budget or they don't like some of the personalities on
the police force, but those can all be corrected. You don't just say get rid of the police department because you can't get it back. And then I'd like to add real quick a couple numbers to the second sheet that was added um where it
was quoted that uh it went up 66% over three years. If you add in the numbers, the budget for 2324 was 1,187 something. The next year 2425,
the budget was actually down 1%. And then the years from 24 20 say 24 25 to the proposed budget it's up 6.4%. But the same year Avon Park is being
charged an additional 27% by the county and we're only going up 8 6.4% they're going up 27%. >> Yeah. I'd like to make just a followup with the the years. So around 2122
we were in CO um you know I don't know the exact dates but we didn't have a lot of people moving around um our officers every it was low lower policing because nobody could go anywhere and nobody could do anything and our children weren't at schools and we weren't going
to stores and I'm just saying there's there's a pandemic somewhere in here that affected all of these figures as well. Um, the other thing I thought about this weekend was that if you have
an entity, okay, so right now we are doing we are planning a budget. We control the budget up here and you control the budget by coming here and thank you for showing up tonight. So you control the budget as well because you give us your input and you are the
people paying the tax dollars and you're the people coming into town and spending your money so we get sales tax off of that money that you come into town for even if you don't live in town. But if you hire an outside entity, this would be like hiring a a security company. And
so you hire this security company. Well, if we hire a security company, the T we do up here and you do um we would do a contract and then we have say over that contract, we can just say we we don't want you to use you anymore. We'll use
someone else because we're not happy with you or your expenses are too high and we just changed our mind. Okay? So, we would be entering into a and I love the sheriff, don't get me wrong, and I do not think there's any conspiracy or anything like that, but I'm just telling
you this is these are the dynamics of this whole thing. So, who approves the budget for the sheriff's office is the county commission, which you can go there and they do represent you, but as far as the town, like class, you've contracted
basically with a an entity that you have no say over. So every year now there's no going back. So they come to us and they go like, "Well, we raised our this or that. We don't get to vote on that. These people don't get
to vote on that. You don't get to vote on that unless you go to the county." So we don't control the expenses of the the police department anymore. Um the county does. So we have no say over that contract. We have to have it, which is no going back. And then we don't have
any control over that budget. It is what it is. So I think that's what happened up in Avon Park. They said, "Well, this might be too much money." Well, what are you going to do? Go back? No, we can't go back. So guess what? Here's the bill. Pay it. So, I'm just saying
it's I think it's better for us to have our little tiny area to have control over what we do and that would be control over our expenses for one of our biggest expenses for the town lake class that I think it'd be better for us to have control of it, you to have control
over instead of an entity that isn't directly in involved in it. So I appreciate and I agree with all of the comments that are making been made but we're jumping ahead to the
conclusion of what analysis could give. So today, let's just throw some other numbers. On average, with a one two one point 1,286,000 budget for 2400
residents, we're paying on average $520 per resident. Avon Park has just increased to 3.4 for for over 10,000 residents 340 if you do
joy and AI right is the average is about 250 I don't have that number but and what made that up but when you start looking at the numbers there must be an opportunity somewhere some efficiencies
and that's why I was saying just get together go over what efficiencies and then come back. Right now we're jumping ahead that that's the final. No, it's no different than 20ome years ago when uh Governor um Mayor Cassantis went and talked to the sheriff and they
came and they gave the presentation and then it was voted down. So, so I appreciate and I don't disagree with the comments that are made, but this isn't about jumping ahead and making a decision to do anything because we have
no facts. We have no facts, no information. It's just initiating that discussion so that in 90 days or whatever that period is then the facts would be presented and then the decision would be made. anything from
three types of things to nothing. So that's what the intent of this was, not jumping ahead that somebody's concluded we're going to do this because these are all great points that would be made at that point to allow us to make the right
decision uh which is both cost and service. And that's what's in this motion. Well, I I do agree to do the investigation, but limit it only to uh day-to-day operations
and don't go as far as examining a consolidation. >> I I don't frankly I I mean, it would be interesting it would be interesting to see what you know, number one, would the sheriff even entertain anything like
that? Um, and secondly, yes, it would be interesting to hear, but we don't have time to be interesting. We we have a a number of things on our plate and to take our town administrator to do other things. Now, we've just
added plat administration to her to her bucket list. um to to go over this and and and try to beat this horse at this point I think is really a misuse of our town administrator's time and we cannot
afford to do that. Secondly, um I just have this funny feeling in the back of my head that won't go away and that is that we're still trying to get rid of the police station and we're not going to do that. The police station is out for bid. The police station is vital to
our community as vital as the police department is. It's part of one and the same. And you know what, folks? So is the fire station. The fire station that the county is going to build just down the street. And and in a couple of years, hopefully a couple of years, um
we're going to actually have a municipal complex here where we have a town hall, we have a police station, and we have a fire station. And I I just think is this is one way to try to kind of let's oh maybe we don't need this police station. Oh but yes we do. And and the last thing
that I want to say about this whole thing is well other than I just don't think we should even go to this extent right now even though it would be interesting. But I have a question for you. If you're in an emergency situation
how long can you hold your breath? And >> you all done? >> Yes, sir. >> My turn. >> I appreciate all the comments that you just heard. But I want you to understand
one thing. This motion is the first step in eliminating your police department. It it may not say that, but it is definitely the first step in that direction.
And I'm against any motion that's going to interfere with the safety of our residents. Is uh Earl and Sally Claire here? Yes. I'm not going to pick on them, but
I re received a a letter from them of one of many, by the way, and it it it kind of pretty much says everything. It says, "I am writing today to voice our support for keeping the Lake Placid
Police Department. We live just outside the town limits, but my wife grew up in Lake Placid as a graduate of Lake Placid High School. We were married in Lake Placid and my wife taught school in the area for a number of years. The Lake Placid Police Department is a real asset
for our community. They have done an excellent job over the years and have continue to maintain a high level of police protection under the new police chief. The Highlands County Sheriff's Department also does a fine job of providing protection of those of us who
live outside the town limits. This current debate does not seem to be about the level of police protection, but more about the issues of building a new police station. I would suggest that the most important issue is local control of police protection. We therefore
recommend that you vote in favor of local control. Please vote to maintain the security of our Lake Placid residents and nearby residents who frequent Lake Placid stores, office, offices, schools, and churches by retaining the proven Lake Placid Police
Department. We would be pleased to discuss this with you. My wife and I will be attending the town council meeting this evening. I want to thank them for the letter. Like I said, I had many like this, but I I think this one
it was probably the best one. Again, and again, as your mayor, if the vote comes down to me, I'm going to be in favor of denying it in favor of our residents and public safety. I just want you all to know that. Uh, do we have a motion and a
second? >> We do not. >> All right. So, we got a motion. Is there a second? >> There's no motion. I didn't even have first. Did you make the motion, >> sir? >> I'll make the motion and then I'm certain it won't get a second, but I will make the motion. And the motion is
to move to authorize the town administrator to initiate discussions with Highlands County Sheriff's Office regarding potential law enforcement service efficiencies, including staffing cost structure and service levels. The administrator shall report findings and recommendations to
the town council within 60 to 90 days for further consideration. Is there a second? Motion denied. Let's move on. >> You don't open up. >> I'd like to thank you for bringing that up. I mean, I don't think there's
anything wrong with exploring things, but I just think we're really maybe later just on a side note, just to see if we can improve efficiencies. Um, maybe when we're not in the middle of all these crisises and trying to get a $40 million wastewater treat, all of that going on. But I appreciate it. I
do. I appreciate your thinking of that. And I do think maybe we should see what we can do as a as a team going forward once we're out of this crisis situation. Thank you. >> And I will say this, this really got out. We had a call from a television
station in Tampa uh concerning this issue. Uh, of course, my answer to them was I was going to wait till after this meeting to uh give them any kind of an answer. Uh, which I think was the most appropriate way to do
it. Um, but even though it it was not passed, I think it's still important for the public to be able to speak on this if they wish. And the lady over here first raised her hand. Make sure you state your come to the forward to the podium. Make sure you state your name
and your address for the record. >> My name is Mrs. W. >> Wait till you get to the mic. >> Thank you. My name is Mrs. Wanda Hall, Mayor. And I thank you so kindly. My husband's in a nursing home and I didn't get here in enough time to put in the paperwork. But what I wanted to say
about Lake Placid Police Department, hands down, we should not really be even having this discussion or even a continuation on whether we need to keep Lake Classic Police Department. And I say that to say
whatever is going on with Avon Park, whatever is going on with Sebring, for they do not compare to the men and women of Lake Placid. Now, if the budget is shortened, we
can't raise no money. Don't sell out us Lake Plaza and out the police department for we've got so many people now that are moving in Lake Plaza with big money. They're taking control over our city. So
if we are in short of money for Lake Plaza to police department, then that's when we need to go into the to the cold department of Lake Deplac as far as what we want. But for I say this, for every one of you on the board
without a reasonable doubt can save Lake Plazet Police Department. No more than without a reasonable doubt. All of us that's sitting here for a vote. Hands down. I don't know what I would do
without him. Cuz the other day they came and knocked on my door cuz if nobody seen me moving around, I lost my dad. I know the worth of these people. I've been here since 1987. We ain't never had
a police, not had a police department. This is not a ask if you might. No disrespect. There is no choice. Don't nobody know us like like Lake Plans Police Department. I left my
paper, but had I had my paper and not be coming from the nursing home, I would have been able to every mayor, every captain. This is what we stand for in Lake Pleasant. And if we can't keep our
police department, then nobody else should be able to move in this town with big money. And I thank you all so kindly. Good evening. Marlene Berger, 760 Sunset Point Drive.
>> I haven't heard anybody at all that I've talked to in the town over the last several years talk about disbanding the police department in Lake Placid. Someone turned this into an emotional issue because they knew what the result
would be. The police department, if you look at the statistics that we have here, the question should be, why did we have such a half a million dollar increase in one over three years in the cost of the police department? Now,
Colleen brought up a suggestion. I'm not sure I agree with this suggestion that it should be the town administrator. I would like to see our police department sit with the sheriff's department to talk about some of the things that council member Hayes talked about. What
areas can we have overlap that would save the cost in the town of Lake Placid? Everybody wants the same thing. We do however in our adalorum taxes pay for the sheriff's department
and so there should be some benefit that comes back to us and there are a lot of times when they overlap but I'd like to see our chief of police and perhaps the chief but the at the county level talk about areas where there could be some consolidation and
some savings that might help them as well as us. So I think that's the most important thing. I'm distressed, however, that when somebody raises an issue over the cost, we turn it into an emotionally right away run to the
newspaper and say it's disbanding it. There were a lot of inaccurate statements in the police department in the report that the that was in today's paper. And I want to make one com one a couple additional comments. I don't appreciate it when I send an email to
people at the town council and all of you that that email is then briefed to a member of the press without my permission. I would not do that to you. >> What? >> That's fine, but I would I I would like
to be told and you could always call me. I think you have my phone number. The other point that I'm making is I'm tired of reading in the newspaper about those people in Lake June Point. That was never brought out when we had three men sitting on this panel from Lake June
Point. It was never brought out when we had people two people sitting from Lake June Point. For some reason, since the last election, that's become an issue. And I don't think that should be an issue. The concern that I had in my
email and I'm was we have someone on here not someone who was the auditor for GM that I never said what I said at the bottom line is we have a person who was one of 200 one of 200 senior executives
at GM out of it work work out of 200 242,000 people 242,000 200 senior executives sitting right there.
For the record, Charles Wilson, 763 Sunset Point Drive, Lake Placid, Florida. Um, 20 years ago, I was associated with the same question that was brought up tonight. Um, it gets emotional. I understand. Councilman
Charles, I appreciate your your effort to keep our taxes down and looking at efficiencies. The one thing I do disagree with though is if your job is on the line for 60 90 days with the attrition and in the labor force that
we've currently had, how would you like that hanging over your head that we'll get back to you if we're going to merge or not in 60 or 90 days as a police force? I mean, we've lost a lot of people in this town staff. If you knew your job possibly wasn't
going to be here in 60 or 90 days and you could go somewhere else and make more money, why would you stick around? Effectively, you're getting the same thing that it it's a self-fulfilling prophecy by doing that. And that's why I agree with the decision that the staff
has made. I am all for all the cost any anything that we can do to integrate and to we've got mutual aid agreements and everything. We don't need to do a lot of duplicative things but there there's always room for improvement and I I applaud you for broaching it. It is a
difficult subject to to bring up and discuss and I've sat where you've sat and had that discussion before intimately and I it is difficult and I commend you for bringing it up. We're all taxpayers at the end of the day. We're all wanting what's best for
Lake Placid and we're all looking at different ways of getting there and we've all bringing different experiences to the table. But I I I I'm glad that the motion went as it was. But I encourage you to look for efficiencies
and where we can improve. That's that's what it's all about in government, business, everything. Thank you for your time. Thank you. >> Any other comments? My name is Chad. I live at 588 Sunset
Point Boulevard. You probably heard that before. Um I think Councilman Charles is right, but I think the rest of the decision that was made is also right. She's looking to create a yard stick by which we'll measure the
efficiency of our department, not to disband it. I would not recommend dis disbanding it because it ain't broke. It ain't broke. Don't fix it. We've got experience from just about everybody. They have a positive
uh interface with the police. Hey, I've gotten tickets. I deserved it. I was wrong. But I found the people to be police, the police to be polite and correct. I I I think that's a lot to give up
and I mean they they're they're doing the best and they should be rewarded anyhow. Thank you. >> Okay. My name is Rosemary Heath. I live at 588 Sunset Point Drive, Lake Well, it's Lake Placid.
When we're spending so much money, I think for the citizens in this town, it'd be nice to see why or if there's any other way we can save money. There's nothing wrong with our police. We need our police, but we need to look
to see if there's any way to save money. Adding 18% to our taxes is not it's not what we should do. We should limit what the tax make taxpayer play
pays and figure out ways to save money. Right now all we're doing is we're going to spend this money in this department and that money in that department and the other money in another department. This town has been neglect neglecting many sections of what we need in this
town. To fix it all at once is wrong. You can't lay all the responsibilities that other council members placed on us and have us take care of it all in one year.
And I think everything that costs over a million dollars need to be re reviewed and needs some say from the public. We have no refer referendums here. I mean everything is just done by maybe the city council member
members, maybe a group over here, but I don't see public meetings. I used to always go to public meetings back home and um we need public meetings here. We need
to know where this money is going, why it's going there, and if there's another way to save it, cuz you don't just pick have an idea and it's a great idea, but spend all your money on it. We need to know. We need to prioritize and we need
to let the public know why we're spending this money and not just take the money that we're making, raise our taxes, and not have your citizens understand. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments?
All right, we'll move on. Oh, >> for those of you that I've been seeing that are disgruntled and have complaints, email me with your specific complaints and then we can address them. My email is on the website. Um, so just
send me your specifics. >> Okay, >> I'm fine with that. >> Good. Oh, that's a good point. and and we all know public safety's is expensive. Uh Mayor Caster, city of Tampa, her
budget for the police department is well over 40%. I I I think if you look at every city in Florida, you're going to find that that's probably the most common number between 40 and 45%.
Uh are there ways to save money? Yeah, maybe we can look at that and and try to try to do that. But again, I will just never vote for something that would interfere with the safety of
our our residents. And I just want everybody to know that. Okay. All right. Yeah. Um, is that Yeah, that was the only thing there. Okay. Town attorney.
>> You're on here. >> No, there's nothing there. I just wondered if you had any. >> Thank you. >> Boy, did I put you on this? >> You did. And I was speechless for a change. >> Thank you. >> Did you do that again?
>> All right. Now we'll go to under new business. We'll go to item item D under town administrator. >> Uh did we do 7D1? >> That's what he's doing. >> Seven. What? >> 7D1. >> That's what we're doing right now.
>> I'm sorry. >> Okay. Thank you. We are bringing before you ratification of the previously executed agreements related to the Lake June Park pickle ball courts and the parking project.
Just for some background, the following project related agreements were executed based upon town council motion with general approval to move forward. There was no motion for approval by the town council for each agreement. In our previous town council meeting, I
stated that we had executed these based off of the procurement policy. After a deeper dive, we found that the Ferdap state grant agreement, the ARPAC county interlocal agreement, and Kimley Horn design and permitting agreement, which they are included in the town's
consultants library. I also stand corrected there that I said contractor instead of consultant. The previous town administrator, Mr. McCarthy believed the project had been approved by the council and therefore presented the agreements to the mayor for signature. During that time, the
project was managed by Mr. McCarthy, who again was the previous town administrator and utility director. Mr. Murray, who was the town engineer, and Miss Tyson, who functioned as our grant administrator. Since then, a series of key administrative transitions have occurred, beginning with our previous
administrator, Mr. Williams, back in June 2023, followed by Mr. Barber who sat in the seat for a very short amount of time and then Mr. McCarthy. With each transition, institutional knowledge of the project has been lost. New staff relied upon the prior approvals. We
recognize the need for ratification of these agreements in order for this to move forward. The fiscal impact amounts are listed here for you for each one. FAP grant at 200,000 our PAT grant 299,000
town match the town project and please note that the town's match was also budgeted in the 2425 and it continues through to the 2526 proposed budget at this time. Staff are respectfully requesting that the town council ratify the following agreements previously
signed by the mayor as outlined. the FDRAP state grant agreement, the ARPAC county interlocal agreement, and Kimley Horn design and permitting agreement, which includes the town which is included in the town's consultants library, and the attachments were included as
well. Do you have >> do you have a suggested motion or >> The suggested motion would be to authorize us to for you to ratify? I know Bert, you'll have to do that.
>> Suggested motion would be to ratify the three contracts executed by the mayor. Do we move take them all at once or can we >> you can do it either way >> separately because I I mean I have questions maybe the others on some but
not on you know one so do we collectively or just do them individually >> I was just >> like like what would have happened in a town meeting right these should have all come forward in a town meeting for resolution and now because that didn't happen that's why we're bringing them
forward now >> which is easier I I think I just made the motion that we go ahead and move forward to ratify all the agreements. But if I don't get a second, I mean, we can discuss that and change it. It's it's whatever y'all want to do. >> I'll second that, Deborah.
>> Thank you. >> I'll second that. >> Okay, we got a motion in a second and I'll open it up for comments. >> I I do. Um, so Bert, for the ARPAC, are you okay? Because I know you like to tangle with the with Highlands County on
any interlocal agreement. Um, so I'm guessing as town attorney you're fine with the language as stated in the ARPAC. Been a while since I've seen it. If you'll give me just a moment
and then while he's doing that, so Charlotte, going forward, I guess it's clear on what needs to come to town council for prior to the mayor approving it and what not. And are these the only three that have kind of fell through the cracks that the mayor signed without
coming to council for resolution? >> I can't answer that until we have them that come back up before us. The only reason why we realized this is once we went back through all of the previous documentation from the very beginning when this originally started. The way that it appears is that the staff all
recognize that it was the intent because it has come before council and been voted on. Um but yes to we are looking at them in a with a fine tooth comb now to make. >> So these three are for pickle ball. You're saying that there could be
>> since all the transition of people there could be more that we may need to look at and ratify in the future. And >> I don't know that. I'm saying >> as legally sound as you requested >> the ARPAC. I'm saying >> our pack
>> our pack that says Lake June Park phase three construction of pickle ball courts, paving, parking, drainage, and path connectivity. >> That is the standard grant used by the state when they're giving you money. Um,
it has a few things that are that protect the state as they always do. And if you want the money, you have to accept it. This is their standard grant that we have approved in the past >> for the county. >> The RPAC is the county, right?
>> The RPAC is the county interlocal agreement. I read that. It's fine. >> Fred app is the state grant. That's their standard grant agreement. >> It's acceptable and normal. >> Okay. So, I I've got some questions on the
FURDA app, and I get it. It's Ferdap's a very extensive, it's like what a 30-some page contract with a lot of language that there's no flexibility um to change. And I think Charlotte, for you, there's a lot of administrative work in there
that, you know, we have the reports we have to submit and things like that. So, there is a lot of details in here that we've agreed to do. The page one says, and this is just
curiosity, it says the line item is 200,000. That's what we're getting for FRAP. And it says the the ready waiver is 50,000. So, the total amount of funding is 250,000. I've never seen those numbers before.
I've never seen the 50,000 ready. I thought I thought it was a when we submitted the grant for Ferdap I think it was 400 and some thousand because we had to submit we had to match so much and they had matched so much. So this amount that's been signed is different
than the original grant that we submitted. >> Rachel is not here our finance director to be able to answer that thoroughly. But what I do know is that because we're considered a ready community that we receive money towards that. But again, I will have to defer that to Rachel whenever
she's back to be able to answer that more in depth >> just in case it has to be revised. Right. So we I I would think we want to match what we originally submitted and got approved by Ferdap whatever the amounts were on that which was like 47,000 something like that. Um
and and and these questions if if you go to page 143 it talks about fixedpric subcontractors and a lot of provisions apply like they are awarded on a competitive basis fixed price subcontract. So, there's a whole
bunch of rules in here that's not surprising about invitation to bid, request for proposals, and um subcontractors. And then it talks about the grantee may request approval from the department,
which is FDRP, to award a fixed price subcontract resulting from procurement methods other than those identified above. So when we go on to the Kimly Horn CR contract, there's some
vendors that are in there that seem to be pre-selected. So, and I'll have questions on that, but we just need to make sure we signed an agreement that says we have to request permission from them on pre-selection of
of suppliers. So I I just I draw to our attention some of the things that we've signed which I know we wouldn't revise, right? We'd have to just to make sure that we are following, you know, um the contract um from them
because it does talk about later that the attorney general can do audits and things like that. So, we want to make sure that we're on this whole thing with subcontractors and contractual costs and biddings and fixed prices that we're um basically paying attention to that and
and that we know kind of the reporting requirements that we have to do. Um, see if I had any. And then of course, and I think Rachel will do that, no comming of funds. So, when the money comes in, it has to be in a separate account. so that we can show
and this is a reimburseable grant. So I think that's important because this is money that we will be paying out 200,000 and then have to provide all the all of the um documentation that's to their satisfaction
um in order to get reimbursed for that. Um there's another chart that has that 50,000 ready saying the total estimated project cost is 250,000. So that's on page 157. I think we need to take a look at that and maybe revise
that to what the costs are. Um it's just it's it's um and I can see why a lot of people don't apply for FDRAP grants because of the documentation that you have to provide to them and in order to get your money reimbursed.
Um so those are pretty much a lot of the just the comments I had. I mean, I don't ex except for the dollar amount being different than the the original, you know, it looks like the rest is just to you and your team of the requirements that you're going to have to do which
are extensive and then to make sure that the subcontractor clauses that we really are following. Um, I have no objection to the Kimly Horn, but because of all the transitioning with personnel, I when they say it's based on the construction
drawing prepared by the town, there were a couple of them. So, I want we need to make sure they're looking at the right drawing. The first one had them the courts near to the roundabout and then it was moved. And I know there were discussions on the layout of the
parking, a lot of town comments on the layout of the parking. So, we need to make sure they're getting in the right drawing. >> Can we get a copy of that? I mean, because I'd like to see where the retention ponds are going and everything. So, you're right. You know,
to your point that we've provided Kimley Horn something as part of their, you know, their contract. So, I'd also like to see a copy, and I'm certain the public would of, okay, what is the drawing layout that they're proceeding
with? But there we realizing that the the layout the final layout that we have is the final layout that was voted on. Yeah. >> So it's not going to come up for discussion again. >> Well, I just want to make sure that they're looking at the right drawing
with all the turnover and staff. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. I I had a question too before I let you have the microphone back, Charlie. um when we do um a piggyback contract, doesn't that preclude some of the things that Miss
Charles brought up in here? If it's a piggyback contract, whomever we're piggybacking on would have would have met those parameters, I believe. So, if we do a piggyback, I don't think we have to go go through it again. Am I am I
saying that right? Maybe. >> Bert, you may have to interject here. I know that and it's my understanding that we can use the piggyback with our contractor. I mean I keep saying contractor, our library of consultants. I'm going to leave that to you. >> Library of consultants applies to your
design engineer. That's your consultant designing. You've got a library where you've already been out, got bids, got contracts in place, and you've issued work orders once approved. Once that work order is approved by council, um piggyback applies to the construction
agreement, not the design. The design is the library of consultants. The piggyback is construction. Um stand up in the back. There's the man that's one of them that's constructs all over the place and he's offered to the
staff several other contracts. Piggyback concept. Thank you. just piggyback concept is a preacher of state statute. You have to comply with the statute and then sometimes you don't have to go out to bid. That too has to be approved by
council. They will bring you staff I'm sure will bring back either we're going once you have a design will bring back here's the design. Do you want to use this piggyback contract or do you want to go out to bid your decision at that point?
So staff would bring you a contract that qualifies under state statute if they're recommending a piggyback because somebody else has already gone out to bid. Pardon me. Therefore, it just says rather than every state go rather every
municipality bid the construction of a pickle ball court, it's already been done. Just use that one. Simple, >> right? And and I believe what you've just described in the way you have certainly is within the FURD app. The FURD app is say you go out to bid and
that's what you just said. You go out to bid, you bring it forward and then if it's a piggyback contract, which is perfectly permissible, then town council would approve that because you'd have the the like, you know, there's conditions with a piggyback contract. So I I think it fines. My
question is we have built into Kimley Horn's contract that they will use a supplier. That's that's of interest to me, right? We basically are saying in here it is understood
that the design of the pickleball courts will be done by Niti Sports Construction under contract directly with the town and then later they they keep talking about Niti site grading stabilized vehicle
structures will interface with Niti's scope of services. manual will be specified by Niti. So I'm like, who is Nidi and how did we pre-select them that they're incorporated into Kimly Horn's
contract. So >> I think that's part of the piggyback thing because Niti did Spring Lake, >> but Niti resurfaced Spring Lake tennis courts. So, and I feel that we're getting the
cart before the horse because we want the design and then we go out to bid of who's going to construct it. And I was surprised and curious and how we've already
embedded in Kimley Horn that we're using this Nitty company and I don't know who the Nitty company is and what our relationship of why we and how we pre-seelelected which then kind of gets into back to
that paragraph of pre-selection. We've got to go out to Ferdap to make sure they approve that. >> Wasn't the Spring Lake built with Ferdap funds? >> My understanding with Niti, and I will have to defer to someone else who was
here prior to me, but is that Niti is the one who has done all of the pickle ball courts in this area. >> That's what I understand. >> That they are the only one skilled and qualified enough and that there are the um piggyback agreements for us to use. >> Right. because they're the only ones in this area >> to do it and that are
>> are qualified to do it and so it's a what do you call soul source resource >> so so actually they're not in this area I don't think but you know the mayor had brought up um US open pickleball champ you know in Naples that big court and
that's done by more sports group um armor court so there's a lot of pickle ball court construction companies I'm more that and I and if it ends up being this Nitty company is the
piggyback then that's a later discussion versus it being built in right now. I mean we haven't approved that they're the piggyback. Nothing's brought forward and again a piggyback is like work. Spring Lake resurfaced their tennis courts.
>> What page is the language on that you're concerned about? >> Um it's the Kimley horn. >> Okay. page of the agenda. >> Oh, it it writes over >> the logo is >> keep it's after the fur app, but the the page number writes over this red.
>> What page of Kim Horn is it? Pages on the top. >> Oh, for Kimley Horn, it's basically page two. >> It's going to be this. >> So, yeah. I I'm Eva. It's like
>> the logo at the bottom. >> I think even it might be like 174 starts the Nitty I'm sorry the Kimley Horn contract. >> Yeah, I think you're right. >> 174. >> This doesn't mention >> Where you at, Bert? >> I was trying to see if
>> it does. So, page two, the mention of >> page two, number four, >> Kimly Horn will provide >> engineering services. And I'm fine. I have no issue with what we're having Kimley Horn do. Where's the language that's knitted? >> Number one says site grading design for
the stabilized vehicles are storm water system modifications and design to finish subgrade elevation to interface with Niti's scope of work. >> Well, that's something that Kimberly Horn is doing to interface with who they
know is the best design I mean constructor in the area. So there's if I may, >> this is an engineering question, design question that Kimberly Horn says they will tend to this and as I read this,
this is not bringing in or guaranteeing committee anything. >> It is not a pre-select. That is not pre-select. >> Let's back up a page then to the first page of Kimley Horn and go to paragraph three. It is understood that the design of the
pickle ball courts will be done by Niti Sports. That's us telling them, not them selecting. And and based on what you said, my my question there would be back to the FURD app where it says FURD app says if
you've um if you've selected your subcontractor, then you need to report that to them. So, so as I'm reading and nitties throughout Kemley Horns, but it starts
Bert with it is understood the design of the pickle ball courts will be done by Niti. My question is who made that decision because there are other pickle ball court providers
and then throughout it it talks about they will do this according to Nidi. They will do this according to Niti. So, I don't know who this Nitty company is and more concerned on how they were pre-seelected.
>> So, this is this is the design phase. So, apparently Kimley Horn is familiar with Niti and they're going to do the design for Kimley Horn. Niti is to my understanding the industry
standard in design that this says we're hiring Kimberly Horn to do the design work. Kimberly Horn is saying yeah I'm going that man in the back of >> Is he Nitty? Is that you keep pointing the guy in the back? It is. You Well, you had him you had him you had him stand up but you didn't say who he was.
You just said >> he's the representative of Niti. >> Okay, good. >> That's what they do is design pickle ball. And it's perfectly normal for engineers to say, "I'm going to use that canned design off the shelf." So, it complies with what you're going to build.
>> So, how did we select Nidi >> versus? >> We didn't. >> Um, our engineer did. >> It is understood that the design of the pickle ball courts will be done by Nidi. >> And this is Kimberly Horn's letter saying that's who we're using.
>> I don't agree with this. >> Okay. I mean, that's just my the way this is written. >> So, Charlotte, you signed the Kimley Horn contract, right? Or or Mr. Mayor, you signed it. Is that your understanding that they're telling you this is who we're going to use
>> based on what was given by >> So, is this a design and construct contract? >> No, this is just the design contract. >> Understand? But why wouldn't this say any of the other pickle ball court providers? I'm
concerned that we have pre-seelected a supplier. >> No, you >> it even came out in last month's meeting where Eva's talking to and signing a contract with excavation point central contracting and niti and it's just the the fair bidding
process. I mean, I'll go on. Who's the general contractor of this job? >> There is not one because it's not even been designed yet. As soon as we have a design, we can then determine a general contractor by either
bidding or >> um piggyback piggyback this it there are a lot of times a design engineer will use um a design off I'm going to say off the shelf a can
Mr. in the back. I'm sorry. I don't remember your name. You told >> I'm happy to approach the podium. >> You can do so at your own risk. You know, the mayor I'm not so >> Yeah. Come. Yeah. Come up to the podium,
please. >> Where are you located? >> State your name for the record. >> Sure. So, Jonathan Pap with night sports corporate offices in uh Longwood, Florida. Where? >> Longwood, Florida, just north of
Orlando. So, our firm specializes in the design and construction of sport courts, tennis, pickle ball, and basketball for municipalities. Um, we've worked with your entity for several years now
through, uh, some of the, you know, names that were mentioned previously that held, you know, short-term positions, um, to kind of get this project going. We were brought into this project due to our our
ability to complete the project, but then in addition since we have the ability to cooperatively uh purchase the you know use a co-op or a piggyback with with your town. Uh so that was one thing that we were we were offering that would
streamline the process. Um, one of the differences between our company and the companies that you mentioned, we're the only company in the state that builds the court ourselves. And over at Spring Lake, we reconstructed those courts. We did not
resurface them. So, we converted two tennis courts into six pickle ball courts. It was not just a resurface. It was a a construction project similar to what you're looking at here. But maybe to clarify, Kimley Horn
reached out to us as perhaps a consultant on the project. We've worked with Kimley Horn on other projects, other court related projects. So they reached out to us since we had some knowledge of the project prior. And since we are familiar with court design,
they're a civil engineer that specializes in civil design. We're a court contractor that specializes in court design. I if man I think if if you break it down
like you're thinking okay so let's take it out of design because design is more com more people don't understand design let's just say Bill Brantley back there I contract with him to um build my house or build a commercial building he's
going to subcontract out jobs doesn't mean I have to get involved with Jana concrete or whoever designs the cabinets and we don't have to go out forbid for every part of what he's doing. He's the general contractor. He selects people to
work with consultants, people that um you know, but he I don't ask him to go out for a bit on each part of that. And design's a little bit harder, but this is kind of the same idea. Even biologists, they'll contract um the government contracts with a big company
and then they they have different biology teams, you know, do studies, but we don't have to go out for bid for everybody they're using. We're contracting with Kimberly Horn and then they're going out getting specialists that they they trust, but we trust Billy
Brantley to do the right job. >> This does not mean that they will automatically get the construction job. >> Amen. They are just a consultant to Kimley >> Charlie. >> I have a little familiarity with this topic. Um Charlie Wilson for the record.
Sun 763 Sunset Point Drive. Niti was contracted in the beginning when we were trying to get cost estimates and designs for the ARPAC grants initially. So they were instrumental in helping us design and
to my knowledge didn't charge us anything at the time. >> Correct. >> They do state uh they are eligible to use piggyback contracts from other m municipalities that do more than we do. We're we gain the benefit generally on a
piggyback contract. So if Gainesville gets the same identical thing bid for X amount of dollars, they have to honor it to this to any state job that anyone wants to piggy back off that particular job with within a certain time frame, I
believe, but I'm not sure the details, but that's the the back history of it was they were contacted by the town back in the when we were first going to RPAC before we were notified. that they
weren't going to fund us until we got the FRAP grant. So, that was a whole another process, but they were kind enough to come with us at Pollson's office, sit down, come up with we needed numbers in order to present to uh our
pack and that's how the history and to my knowledge, you guys are the largest as well um >> in the state of Florida. in the state of Florida. And that's why and they are the only ones. They just recently redid which I'm a member of Sun and Lakes
North. They just redid six well there's four courts now. They were six to courts temp but now they have I believe it's 14 courts up there. Did a fabulous job up there as well. So
that's the back history of how NIDI was incorporated in this project is they were helping us from the very beginning trying to get us some cost estimates. So we knew we had numbers in which to go to our pack with to request the grant and
then we're told once we did that was required. So that's that. Thank you. And might I add, we have graciously, as a courtesy, held our price year over year from when those initial budgets
were done. So it it would be my request of of council that you guys move forward with a piggyback contract for the construction of the courts. If it was to be put out to bid,
you will likely get a higher price almost certainly. We we've held our price as a courtesy. We've understood it's been a process as most capital improvements are with smaller municipalities,
but this has been quite a process. We have a lot of time, energy, and effort that we've put forth to date, and we'd ask that you look upon that kindly. Um, as mentioned earlier, we are the
contractor. We will be self-performing the entire project. So, we're not subbing it out to someone else. We'll bring our paver down from Longwood, Florida. Our guys will spend the night at your local hotels and and
we will be the primary point of contact for the construction of the pickleball courts. So, we we just ask that the piggyback agreement. We've sent the um the town clerk examples of other contracts that
are already in place. All of our pricing is still good, but when time comes for the construction, that would be our our ask. And if I may ask, would there be any objections to that this evening?
I I do I think it should go out to bid and I and I appreciate your comments, but we probably don't have enough information until we can get through this design. So, so my questions were on the Kimley Horn contract, >> but
earlier on we talked about in the FURDAP agreement some of the requirements that we've signed that they're holding us to. So, that's where it gets to be a little sticky here on how we've we've said we're going to go out to bid. That's
that's what's in the FERDAP contract. So, you know, you're asking me, do I have any objections? I want to make sure that we follow the contracts that we've signed. They all tie into each other and I get it. >> Right. Go ahead. >> Has your company ever built for these
pickle ball courts under fur grants in the past? >> I'm not sure. I'd have to >> I suspect have >> Yeah, Spring Lake. >> I Spring Lake may be an example of that. Usually we're an arms length from you
know some of those grants that are received. >> Source of money is not your concern. Just get the money makes sense. >> But I I would like to think yes we have and there is flexibility in those grants to where um as was mentioned earlier you have the
the ability to either put it out for bid or do a piggyback. >> Yeah. the piggyback agreement has already been done. It's it's already been put out for bid. So, you're saving time. You know, time is of the essence. I I
don't know uh how much longer, but you know, time is of the essence with with this project, I would think, to to to get it going. >> The whole idea of piggybacking and these types of things and having a library is
that we save time. Everybody the worst thing I hear that everybody says is we we're wasting time. We okay we end up with the same result. We waste months of time which right now with the cost increases and God bless our president I do agree we have to stand up for a country but we have tariffs and we have
costs that are going up exponential just crazy. So we need to that's what government's about. We need to move it along. I love this idea of piggyback. I like the library. These are proven people and that's why we do it and we try to move government along quickly and
I am for piggybacking. I agree. I am for that as well. I've been on this council almost four years and all I've heard is piggy is is pickle ball for four years and I really appreciate you holding your price for that long and we as a council
have to get some things done. Now, am I saying we do it illegally? No. Of course not. But there are some things that sometimes you just have to take on a little bit of faith, a little bit of what people have done before and have been successful. And one of the things
is piggyback contracts for these pickle ball courts. Good knows. Let's get a fork in the ground. >> All right, we have >> Yeah, I have a motion. >> I have a couple more questions, please. So, so I appreciate and pickle ball was I think January 2023 is when town
council made a decision to go out to bid. Um, I just wanted to clarify piggy piggybacking at all. This is about the Kimley Horn contract that's been signed are what my questions are
regarding. Um, just interesting to note is when we had estimated use and Pollson for this it was going to be 25,000. So this contract is double that. It's 53,000. It's already been signed. No issue there. But it's just a
clarification. Bert is the very last page. It talks about cost. This is so the signature page, right? Um, and actually there's no date on it, so it' be interesting when it was
signed, but it basically says, "If you concur with the foregoing and wish to direct us to proceed with the services, please have authorized persons execute both copies, retain one, and return the other. Fees and times stated in this agreement are
valid for 60 days after the date of this letter." Kind of vague. I'm assuming it's the bid is good for 60 days, but it just came to us. I think maybe the date we signed it. I just want to make sure that that language is clear that all of
a sudden they're a month into this and I think they said it's going to take, you know, four months that the price doesn't change because the way this is worded, >> the contract, >> it's just a funky way of wording it. I think >> the contract is clear. The price has
been held. The agreement has been signed by the mayor. And the motion is to ratify the agreement signed by the mayor. >> So you have no concern with this statement here. Fees and times stated in this agreement are valid for 60 days
after the date of this letter that they could then increase their costs somewhere in on the 61st day. But it appears to me that it was signed within the 60-day period >> and and so
>> it appears to me the contract is lawful. >> So, right. So, your your your interpretation is it was this is a I'm going to say a bid and you've got 60 days to sign it. If not on the 61st date, I can increase the price.
I'm not going to sit here and play what if questions tonight. >> No, that wasn't. >> No, you are. You're just throwing all sorts of stuff trying to throw rocks at this. >> No, I'm not. I'm not at all. >> You absolutely are. There's >> contract. I'm given an opinion that this
is a valid agreement. >> There's nothing wrong with it. My question on this statement is and because it is signed, the price can't increase. The cost can't increase. >> That's my question.
>> The cost cannot increase. Okay. >> The agreement is valid. >> Okay. >> For the third time. >> I I'm sorry that you misinterpreted or understood my question. >> Actually, I think you're the one that's misinterpreting the agreement. >> Oh, really?
>> Yes, I do. by asking what a >> sentence means. I'm >> I better I better stop. We'll leave it right there now. >> Yes, I think that would be appropriate. Okay, those were my those were my cost my comments.
>> Okay, we have a motion and a second to ratify the three agreements. >> I'll bring it to Yeah, you can come have your say. I'm Rosemary Heath. May I ask a question before I begin? Is that okay?
>> Yeah. >> All right. Um, was there a master plan? Do we have a master plan now? >> I didn't understand. >> That's not germaine to the topic before the council. >> Yeah. Well, I just wanted to know if we had a
master plan. >> We have an old master plan. >> Okay. So, the master plan is finished. >> No, it hasn't been talked about. >> The the next topic is going to be to pursue the master plan.
That's the the next one. >> Okay. The grant for the pickle ball court says it had overwhelming support from the community. Indeed, many people
have opposed the spending of the money, consuming the prime property of the park and denying the children their historical green space that they play upon. It is my understanding that Charlie Wilson put a survey which asked one
question. Do you want pickle ball? Yes or no. It never told where or how much money was going to be spent spent. It had little over 200 responses of yes. Some didn't leave a name. Others did
text their names. We were never told if there were any no responses. Um, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I lost my place. Um, anyone who annoyed um who opposed the
court's location, we were all annoyed. Ignored. And I wanted to just make it a point that Colleen and Joy went from house to house, asked what the citizens wanted and needed. They made
um Miss Charles made a report and brought it to the council showing what they would like to have. Nowhere was it said in that report that they wanted pickle ball. I also went and to the park and I
collected 501 signatures with phone numbers. You can identify these people. Overwhelmingly, they oppo um oppose pickle ball courts.
Why are we not using Why are we going with 200 yes or no questions from no one we know? We don't know where they live. We don't know. Most of them are from I'm sure are from Seabbring. And here I go
and I get all these signatures from the park and you totally ignore me. This is not overwhelmingly approval that you all said in that grant. There's great opposition of putting those pickle ball courts on the
lakeside. your your three minutes are up. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments? >> Um I'd just like to see if we could just to move this along. Could I go ahead and my motion to go ahead and uh ratify
these agreements and also piggyback um for the construction? Deborah, I'd suggest you vote on the one you've got and then bring a separate motion to direct staff to bring forward a piggyback contract forth with as soon as the design is complete. I would not cross breed the two.
>> Okay, let's vote on that first motion and thank you. >> All right, we have on the floor a motion and a second to ratify the three agreements. If there's no other comments, pull the council. >> Council member Orley.
>> Yes. Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Charles. >> I'm a yes to the ARPAC and the Ferdat and I'm a no to the Kimly Horn. I would like to see the design that's been given to them
from us that they're designing and I have concern of a pre-selecting a supplier in this contract. So for the NI, I'm a no. Not that it makes any difference. I know for the vote >> is that a no for the entire because the motion is for all three. So is that a no
for all three? Because I I defer to the town attorney whether I can. Is that a motion if the motion includes the all three together? Can she make yes to one and no? >> She can't. You'll have to take it and record it as a no vote.
>> As a no vote. Okay. >> But she can quantify like you've done. She can give a speech all she wants >> based on concerns on the >> but she cannot approve part and not all of a motion. >> Fair. >> I think council member Abard.
>> Yes. Uh I assume staff I shouldn't assume. I trust the staff will get the right drawings to them. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'd like to make a follow-up motion if I can. Is that is that appropriate with this? because I don't know that it's um that we go that I go
I'd like to go ahead and um direct staff to make a motion direct staff to go ahead with the piggyback contract to bring back to us. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Any other comments from the podium? >> A piggyback contract with a specific
supply a contractor. >> She did not say that. >> I'm asking her for clarification. I would I just directing staff to do that whatever they decide and bring it back to us whatever and if there's a
selection then we'll vote on that as well just let's get this contract done let's get the piggyback done let's go with that it's all I'm asking is to move it forward bring back a contract and if it's not the people we want we could also discuss that I'm just saying let's
go ahead and get the contract going and get it before us and move forward So, we won't go out to bid. Is that what we're saying? >> That's what I'm saying. I think that um it's just going to delay it another three, four, six months and then prices
are going to go up and we have I think that this company and maybe you have a better company and that's fine, but let's just move it forward. Please, let's I made a motion. Is there a second? >> And that's what I'm seconding. I absolutely agree. We have spent enough
time on this project and the more time we spend um I think that that the price is only going to go up and I think we have to acknowledge the people that have gone before us in building these pickle ball courts and acknowledge the fact that they know enough to choose uh the a
correct vendor the state doesn't seem to have a problem with it so why should we >> so is your recommendation then I mean a piggyback contract to construct the courts to do the whole project because there's lighting There's paving, there's
landscaping. So, I'm just trying to understand what exactly you're suggesting when we don't have the full design back. So, who's the general contractor of the overall project? Because you have various subcontractors.
>> Yes. The motion does not specify general contractor. It gives the staff the discretion to bring back a piggyback contract. It may be the man in the back. It may be somebody else. But it and then you get to dis you get to say I like
that contract or no I don't send it out to bid. The motion is perfectly legal. >> I'm just trying to get clarification, Mr. Harris, so that I can properly vote. >> Absolutely. As you should
>> because it's pretty vague to bring back a piggyback contract. >> No, that's not vague at all. Staff discretion. That's different from vagueness. Uh, is it premature without even have is it premature without even having the
beginnings of construction drawings? >> Um, um, Councilwoman, no, that motion is not. It it um allows the staff to take the design by Kimberly Horn,
find a lawful piggyback, and present it to this council for approval. Still you've got the design to be done before the staff before the council can say yes I bless it that's a contract. >> Okay. So this is just doing work in
tandem to save time. >> Yes. It's giving us the staff the direction. Yes. We will consider a piggyback. >> Okay. >> It's it's just a chance to expedite it. It's not saying it's done. >> Exactly. Okay.
>> Okay. Thanks. Thank you. >> Any other columns from the podium? from the audience. Bring it back. Pull the council. >> Council member Worley, >> yes. >> Council member Hayes, >> yes. >> Council member Charles, >> no. >> Council member Everheart,
>> yes. >> All right. Thank you everybody. >> Now we got old business, uh, town administrator updates. Oh, before we go any further, on the I believe it's Wednesday, we had
a budget hearing, but due to a tragic I don't know what you call it episode and her family, our financial director had to leave town. Uh, very sad case.
really feel sorry for her and her family. But uh in lie of that and being she's not going to be here, we have cancelled the budget hearing for Wednesday night and it will be taken up on the 27th
and we'll finish up that night and ratify the budget. But I want everybody to have please say a prayer for for the for the family and the the tragedy that they're having to go through at this time.
Yes. Make it quick. >> Are um Aren't there supposed to be three budget meetings? We're supposed to have three. The first one's canceled. Now you're cancel cancelling the second. So, we're only going to have one. >> No, we've had one. >> Okay. And then we're supposed to have
>> doesn't doesn't matter how many we have. >> Okay. >> You're welcome. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I did. I left out the uh Underground Administrator number two, master parks and recreational plant. Duh.
>> There we go. Mhm. >> 181. 191. Is this >> 81? >> Page 181. >> Thank you, Eva. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. 7D2 master parks and
recreation plan authorization to utilize Spring Lake piggyback agreement for park master planning. At the June 2025 town council meeting, council directed myself to engage catalyst design group regarding the potential use of a piggyback agreement for park master
planning services modeled after the spring lake project. Since that time, I have worked with Catalyst to obtain a proposal reflecting Lake Placid scope of work. The Spring Lake project served as a baseline for the piggyback agreement. However, notable differences exist.
Spring Lakes's plan covered fewer parks and did not include public involvement or um CAD-based illustrative graphics. Lake Placid's proposal addresses 12 parks of the Lake Placid Loop Trail Network. Public involvement and CAD renderings are available as part of the
proposal, but are not included in the alternative lowercost version. The piggyback agreement provides a cost-effective way to advance the town's parks master plan without conducting a separate competitive solicitation. The proposed cost for Lake Placid under the
piggyback contract is 40,900 which covers site visits, programming discussions, designs, conceptual master planning, and related deliverables consistent with the Spring Lake scope. Funding is available in the general fund. And then there is a recommended motion.
>> Um I'd like just to interject and we had a tourist development council meeting and I don't know if you'll recall but um one of their people that they work very closely with came to us and had a a plan um for Lake June Park. And um at this
meeting it was decided out of all of these there was about six different areas where they were going to look at master planning for um sports facilities and you know just parks in general. So
we were chosen one of three to go ahead and go forward with spending money on it if and they asked me well do you think they call it drilling down let's drill down on these three areas. Okay. Lake June Park has happens to be one, which is really great because they're telling
me at the meeting that even though it's the figures are like 1.2 million, 1.5 million, that there's ways that we don't have to write a check. So, um, they were asking me and I told them that this was coming forward and I didn't know how
that would fit in with what they're doing, but I just wanted to let you know that they're offering that to us and to help us get that paid for free. So, I don't know what to tell you. I told them I'd have to come back to you guys and and see. I think it's I think we should
use them. I think we should they Thank you very much. Yes. And that's I told them it sounded really good to me that we don't have to write a check. They're going to help us take care of that. So I just wanted to let you know that because I think that if we're going to do this they and it and I did look at the I
thought it was just for other parks but it does include Lake June Park. So um if you could I don't know how to do it but just say that yes to the TDC and I don't have it on the agenda. I was going to bring it back uh to you in September and
then we I would have a vote for October meeting with the TDC to say yes, we want the the council voted we want to move forward with the plan, you know, to drill down on Lake June Park as a as one of their chosen
parks to to do that with. So, I don't know how it affects this, but I'm just saying um May okay. I'm completely confused because the TDC did this uh they did several
parks in the county and their focus was tourism money and I think what we want is playgrounds for the kids. We want this master plan to say where are the playgrounds? When they came back with their master plan for Lake June, it was all ball diamonds everywhere even where
the pickle ball was supposed to go. Well, that's fine. >> So, I'm confused on if their their mindset if they help us is not going to be our mindset. We're we want parks for the kids. They want tourist money.
>> Well, I think the the multi-use parks that they have are um not just for like ball fields. You can make them ball fields or you can do lacrosse or you can do soccer all on the same fields. What my thought was, I didn't expect, you know, because I know we have to I think
it'd have to come back. I think they should come back to us and talk to us. We need to get those plans back out and look at them. But if they could somehow coordinate and come in, but I'll bring all that back next month for the council meeting and I can invite them. But I'm
just telling you, I'm just advising you that they're offering this um this additional um drill down on one our major park and the the fields would be multi-use um for lots of different sports, not
just just not just baseball, but it would be you could do baseball, you could do other things. So, I would I'm just giving you that heads up looking at this. I already told him I said, "I don't know because we're going to be doing this other plan." Um, so I just want to give you a heads up
and there's other good news coming at the end of the meeting with the TDC. So I'll let you know about that. But anyway, so I guess this is another piggyback agreement. But this is favorable and not contentious. I guess >> I think that's a great idea. But uh also
I take to heart what Miss Everheart said that because you have to remember that the TDC is focused on heads in beds and when they talk about multi-use parks and all these fields that can be used for the several things that you mentioned
was they are all tournament related functions. They are not children related functions. Now, children participate, yes, but in organized teams that stay in hotels and thus give heads and beds. These are tournament oriented functions. And you're absolutely right, Miss
Everheart. They took our swing sets away. They took our pickle ball away. They paid no attention to that. And it was all about heads and beds. So, yes, let's piggle piggy back where we can, but let's piggy back where it makes sense to us. >> Yeah. And I'd just like to add to that
because the design that Casey presented, if you think of Lake June Park as four quadrants, they had parking after you put your boat in up to the far left corner. And there was not enough parking for boats and
participants in the sports. They had the other three quadrants, all the multiuse, um, football or baseball. But more of concern for a lot of people here, they had no pickle ball. So, we're already
making a decision to put pickle ball here. That would mean put that on hold to go forward with a plan that I personally I I didn't like it, especially for the parking. So, because it turned that
whole 38 acres into sports field where you've got premier waterfront property that a lot of the Boers and the the picnicers and the uh beach people they use. So, to me, I don't know what the
drill down really means, but I don't know that we're interested in turning that park just into sports versus the multiuse that it's being used today. and and it will be and and I know that
people here in the audience would not be >> supportive of now putting all that on hold to see for the next six months or whatever their drill down means. So that's I mean I'd like to stay course with this because this isn't just parks >> and again parks is beyond swing sets,
right? It's people wanted um dog parks but the attractiveness is the multi-use trails connecting our different parks because that's something that we we've talked about. We've put funding but we've never moved forward on. So I appreciate
>> I never I never said put this on hold. I just said if you wanted them to in additional to this if you wanted them to come and talk to us. So I'm hearing that no you don't want them to come and talk to us. >> Is that the consensus? >> They can always come talk to us but as
long as we have a clear understanding that we're their goals are different than our goals or they may be entirely opposite. Well, I'll just bring it back in September and if they want to come and
talk to you about what they want to do and I I I frankly I need to look at what they had even presented to us back then. Um I haven't had time to pull that out and look at it and they can talk about that. I'm not saying anything. I'm just
saying that we're being made this offer. Okay. >> So, I'll go ahead and make the motion. I move to authorize the town administrators to execute an agreement with Catalyst Design Group utilizing the Spring Lake Piggyback contract for parkm
planning services in the amount of 40,900 to be funded from the general fund. >> A second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any other comments from the podium?
>> Can we the the three phases? Can we have provision there to break out the grant assistance phase if we choose? That's hail. That's not catalyst. >> Okay. What? >> So, so the hail would be a complete
separate contract in in the future. >> Yeah. That >> it's just they work with hail, which now I appreciate after reading all of this fur requirements. >> Oh, maybe you know of somebody. But no, this is just catalyst, right, Charlotte?
This comments from the audience for the record. Charlie Wilson with 763 Sunset Point Drive. I think this is getting the card ahead of the horse a little bit. Um, I'm not unopposed to opposing uh to allocating to $41,000
almost for current things that we need done at the ball fields. Everyone's complaining about the gazeos falling apart. U the hogwire fence along the road that's a safety hazard from the traffic circle to where the grove used
to be. Balls could go through there. Kids are going to follow them. That's going to be a potential problem. Uh I don't know that you're going to get any money until you complete a FRDAP and ARPAC grant. So you have time in which to do that at a later date. And if
you're going to take the money out of the general fund, I think there's other uses that could be more used and more effective right now. Not to say that it's a bad idea down the road, but you're not going to get any more funding until we complete the current cycle. So
that would be my observation. Thank you. >> Just to clarify, right, this this is for 12 different parks. This isn't just Lake June. But but the point that you're bringing up, I think are important. We're going through the budget workshops right now and Harry's, you know, been
providing a lot of um cost for improvements at Lake June Park. So Harry, there's a couple more that were brought up just to kind of put on your list whether it's this year, next year, or what. But yeah, this is a design of
all of our parks to determine, you know, what can go where. >> Okay, no other comment. Oh, you got one. Okay. >> Gilbert Randall, 38 Lake June Road, Lake Placid. kind of going along with what Charlie said, um, you want to spend
$40,000 for a parks plan of things we need to do to upgrade our parks. We currently can't afford to maintain our parks. We can't afford to repair our parks. And you want to spend $40,000 to get a plan to improve our parks.
How are you going to pay for that? You're looking for ways now going into budget to cut cost and to create savings. uh you've talked about the overlap in services whether it be police or whatever that we pay county taxes and then you end up paying your your your town taxes as well overlap in those
services. Well, at least with the police when you pay for that overlap the town residents in the town are utilizing that service. you're wanting to spend all this money in Lake June Park that you yourselves as council people have said that every study that has been completed
indicates that that is about 90% used by non-town residents and you wanted to put more and more and more money into this project that is not even serving the town. And that's probably a high number if you
really get down to it. What you need to look at if you want to save some money, turn Lake June Park back over to the county, let them take care of it. They have a lot deeper pockets than we have here in Lake Placid. They can at least maintain it because right now it's it's
basically a black eye on our community. It's it's nothing to do with staff. It's nothing to do with effort. It's to do with dollars and cents. We can't afford to maintain that park. We definitely can't afford to improve that park.
Uh Harry gave you a budget proposal. Uh we got started on it last week. He sort of prefaced that with I only came up with about 50% of what needs to be fixed right now because I know we can't afford 100%. And of that 50% I want to think he said he realized
probably we can only afford 25% of that. So I'm only going to request that in the budget. So basically what he's saying is give me this money so we can continue to go backwards with this park for another year and keep all this discussion going. I don't know how much of the public's
time you've wasted over the last year talking about this park and the pickle ball courts. Get those courts completed. The funding's there. It's all been voted on. The dead horse has been beat to death again. Let that get finished and quit eating up
your time with that and your thoughts and your effort for this town. You're you're losing focus on what's in town for what's really not. Technically, it is, but that is not what this community uses. That's what the county residents use. There are parks within this town
that could benefit the young people within our community that ride their bicycles, that walk home from school, that do all those types of things that that need to have some recreation and some exercise. You could take that money, put it into that where it be better utilized
and people could enjoy it. But to waste $40,000 to give you ideas that you can't afford, I think is a malfence. Thank you very much. Thank Okay. Um the reason we are going for May I or do you want to do it and say why we're The reason we're
going for this is because um for example, Spring Lake had a master plan put out and it helped them immensely with getting grants and they said that what they spent on their master plan paid for itself in getting grants back.
So that was behind all this. And secondly, it's not for Lake June. is for all the parks in town, the little pocket parks, um the where the the kids in neighborhood parks. This this is not entirely late June. >> Okay.
>> Good evening, Marlene Berger, 760 Sunset Point Drive. Council member Everheart, you're actually right on the target because the money that was spent for the analysis in Spring Lake has paid many, many dividends for them and will continue in the future because the
grants that they put forth are scoring very high in the 99% with Ferd whereas we scored at the low 50s for it. When people say that people in the park, 90% of them were outside
the county. Did somebody take a survey of that? Because as I as I know, more than 90% of the people who came to this meeting in support of the pickle ball courts were outside the town of Lake Placid. That was for $200,000 from the
town. This we're talking about 40,000 which is well spent and will serve everybody in all of our parks. I just wanted to pass that out. So, thank you for bringing that up because I think it's important. I think we should go forward and do it. Thank you. >> Yep. Thank you for reiterating.
>> Okay. Seeing nobody else, go ahead and pull the council. >> Council member Charles. >> Yes. >> Council member Everheart. >> Yes. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Orley. >> Yes. >> Okay. You
>> got anything else? >> Huh? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Just a reminder that our next budget workshop meeting will be on August 27th. We have our regular town council meeting on another regular town council meeting
next Monday and we will have updates at that time. >> Yes. And just as a side note, uh Deborah, I will be out of town next Monday. >> Okay. >> Just give you a heads up.
>> Okay. >> I Let's go ahead and start. I'll go ahead and start down here. Joy, you have anything? >> No. >> No. Deborah, >> just the comment from about the TDC. Um, I know there's been a lot of talk from the public and up here on the dis um
about why can't we get better figures? Why can't we know what's going on? The TDC has in their budget because we we can't complete the budget because it's the way it works. Anyway, but they had talked to the local our tax collector
here in Highlands County and they've appropriated money to uh bring the uh accountability for the bed tax to back to Highlands County. So then we will get the breakdowns and we will know right
here sooner and also where the money's going and all of that. So, I know that that's been, you know, but they heard the people heard and they've actually put in the budget to go ahead and make that transition. >> Good news.
>> When when are they going to do that, do you think? Right now the they the the tax money uh from Highlands County goes to the state and before at one time our local tax collector accountability for
he collected the tax and then it he knew where it was coming from and also it also some people not like that but it also holds more people accountability in our county that are not paying it and should be paying it. So um this brings
it back home basically and I know that this if you've ever wondered and the question is how much does Lake Placid you know how much are we contributing how well you can't find out but when he was collecting it you could find out so this is just a if they they like to
drill down this is a drill down on bed tax bringing it home so we have more control as far as knowing what's going on so I think it's great is >> good job. >> Um, yeah, just two quick quick things is
so September 15th, I wanted to bring that up, Charlotte. Um, I think we scheduled a meeting at a CRA meeting. Um, I think you all know my daughter's getting married the weekend before, the Saturday before, so I'll be in Maine uh
for her wedding. I won't be able to attend that meeting. Um but in talking to Charlotte at one point that was going to be the first reading of the CRA budget. So the meeting before on the 8th will be
the first reading of the town general fun the town budget. I think it makes a lot of sense to put the CRA budget reading at the same meeting as the town budget um and ask um what your thoughts are. And that's what we did in the past.
But then we separated um CRA meeting. Are we doing that? I'm shaking. >> Yeah. I just wanted to let you know that I'm not I'm not going to be there. >> Um >> yeah, we're doing we're doing that budget until 27th. So that that makes sense, >> right? Right. But it was to not separate
CRA budget at first reading at one workshop and town budget first reading at a separate meeting. Do them together. >> Okay. So I'll comment on that. Sure. So first reading will be September 8th for your regular town budget which includes your CRA budget. What you'll adopt with
the CRA are your projects. So the entire budget which includes the CRA budget gets adopted by town council. >> At what date will that be the first? >> So your first reading for both your town budget is on the 8th adoption of your advorum
and your final budget number your budget is the 15 is the following Monday >> is the 15th. That is state stat I'm sorry >> the 15th >> the 15th. Yes. So final adoption. >> So and you're you're going to do both the CRA and the town budget and the ad
valorum. >> We can we can do your CRA um let me clarify the way we've done it in the past is when town council adopts the budget. Your CRA money is in the budget. >> Right. >> Okay. What you're going to adopt is your
projects through the CRA through that budget process for the CRA. But the final adoption of your budget is done by town council. So CRA will adopt their their projects that are part of that the CRA funding. >> So you're doing
>> and your CIP your CIP gets adopted by the CRA board. >> Okay. So you do first reading of that is September 8th. Second reading is the 15th. >> Yes. And that's statutoily um required because of our advertising that we'll need to do for adoption. And then both
of those though will already be discussed during the workshop. >> Yeah, your workshops in your first your first hearing. Usually typically this the final reading of your budget is usually a very quick meeting because you've already went through everything.
>> And that final workshop is going to be >> August 27th. >> August 27th. So that'll be the workshop to get everything we didn't last time, including the CRA. Gotcha. Thank you. Um
and and just curious that I thought the tower was going to come to this meeting. Something happened there that >> Yes. I apologize. His health is not well. Oh. >> So I will I'll be talking with our town attorney and we'll see what we've got to do next. >> Okay. And then um Florida planning. Is
there any status on the Florida planning? you know, we had those workshops, I think four months ago. They came and they did some ordinances. We gave them some changes. So, is is that just on hold or is that they're they're backlogged? And are there any plans for any other workshops with them?
>> I will get that information for you and have it when we have the meeting next Monday. They were here in June. I know that they were here doing some preliminary work downtown. Mhm. >> Um, so you may not have seen necessarily a workshop, but they came and they were boots boots on the ground here doing work.
>> Yeah, I I know there's interest on cuz those were great workshops, right? With the feedback and that we we gathered some momentum and now we're just kind of like, well, what's going on with all that? So, >> I'll have that update for you. Um
>> my notes said that um the uh the downtown existing conditions report, land development regulations, uh and so forth were due were due August 1st. >> I'm not touching. >> Okay. You're trying to You want me to
try? >> I would. >> I wouldn't touch it. Deborah. >> Okay. >> Council woman. >> She's just more electricity, right? >> It's not coming on. >> So Joey, I didn't catch what you were saying with >> commotion. So my notes said that August
1st the central Florida planning um the d uh deliverables August 1st was the downtown existing conditions report land development regulations framework >> uh public workshop and community survey.
So we're behind we're behind >> we're almost done. >> Okay you're good >> it came loose >> okay >> I will have to follow up with her because I have not touched base since August 1st. >> Okay. And then next week we have a town council meeting.
>> Yes, ma'am. On Monday >> and we have items on the agenda for that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Charlotte CRA meeting also. >> Say that again. >> A CRA meeting also Monday night. So you have a CRA and a town council meeting.
>> Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay. First of all, I want to thank everyone who came tonight, whether you talked or not. Uh I think it means a lot to all of us when our residents get involved in what's going on. Uh whether
you agree or disagree doesn't matter. The five of us, we have to decide what we think's best for the town. And if you think we do it for the money, you you're you're sadly mistaken. We all love Lake Placida
dearly and we want to make sure that it grows the the proper way. So, I've been doing this a long time and and I'm not on Facebook. I'm not on the neighborhood, but I understand from time to time that uh comments are made about
the the town council or this or that or whatever and all you're doing is I think doing a disservice to them. I mean, if if you look at the paperwork they got and the amount of stuff that that that we go through from one time or another,
uh, these folks deserve a a big round of applause for what they do. And I just want to thank not only our staff, but the council for for everything. Okay. All right. Anything else come before council?
Meeting adjourned.