I'm using them. >> Okay. All right, which one did I want to pull, Andy? Ready? >> Yeah. >> Ready up? Good evening. We will call our Monday, July 13th, 2026 Commission meeting to order. Would you
please stand for the invocation and the pledge? Heavenly Father, we come before you today representing one Leesburg. Help us to lead with kindness, to speak with respect, to listen with an open mind, and to stand together even when the world feels uncertain around us. Bless
this Commission, this community, and every resident we serve. Let our work this evening be rooted in purpose, truth, and guided by integrity and a reflection of your grace. All this we ask in your name, please. 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. >> We have a few adjustments tonight for our agenda items. Um
6B 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. These items were advertised incorrectly and they will not be considered this evening. Um We'll they'll be um heard again on July
27th, 2026. Okay. Moving forward, we have no proclamations tonight, no presentations. Public comments. At this time, may we bring matters to the city commission's attention. We will not discuss issues
raised during this time. We will refer your comments to the appropriate staff or schedule them for consideration at a future city commission meeting. If you are speaking about an item that will be considered later in this meeting, your comments will be heard during public public
during public limit to limit to ensure equal opportunity for all participants. Thank you. Are there any public comments? Seeing none, let's move forward on to our consent agenda. Routine items are placed on the consent
agenda to expect expedite the meeting. If the commission staff wish to discuss any item, the procedure is as follows. One, pull the items from the consent agenda. Two, vote on remaining items with a roll call with one vote. And discuss each pulled item and vote by
roll call. Are there any items the commission would like to pull? >> Yeah, I'd like to pull 5 C6. >> And 5 C7. >> And I'd like to pull 5 C8, please. Is there a motion to approve the remaining items on the consent agenda?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the remaining consent agenda. >> Second. >> Roll call. Commissioner Cannady. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Berry. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peterson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reisman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry. >> Yes. >> Would someone please introduce
five well, 5 C >> 6 >> 6 is the first that was pulled, right? >> I'll introduce nasty people by title only, please. >> Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, executing and submitting the certification of taxable
value for fiscal year 2026-27 to the Lake County Property Appraiser and providing an effective date. >> Move for approval. >> Second. >> Uh I asked for this to be pulled. Um couple of things. Uh
on page uh it's in our packet, page 119. Uh we talk about the rollback rate, the current millage rate, and the maximum millage rate. I was curious uh the vote required at the end. It says uh we just need a majority to do with the rollback rate.
But it said if we were going to continue the current millage rate, we would have to have a 2/3 vote. And that is something new, I think. I don't I don't know about that. Or if we wanted them to increase it to a maximum millage rate,
it would require a 2/3 vote. And I, you know, just wanted clarification on that. Uh so, maybe you can start with that and then >> Okay, so so so the direct answer to your question is we're pretty sure that that's our understanding. There was some new
legislation that was passed this session that changed some of the dynamics from previous years on how you vote for your millage rate. That includes keeping the current rate. So, the way we understand the law is that to keep your current millage rate requires a 2/3 vote. This
would be the first fiscal year that that has occurred. In previous fiscal years, it just took a simple majority. There were other taxing options in past years we really never considered, like the maximum millage rate. That was a certain formula you come up with and
that did require, back then as well as today, a 2/3 vote. So, obviously, 2/3 for our body is four versus three. So, that's how we understand it. >> Okay. >> We can we can clarify that. >> Okay. >> But the um
we can clarify that. I'm going to take a step further, which I think you didn't ask this question >> Yeah. >> but I think it I feel like it's coming. So, so how did how would that affect your vote this evening? Okay, so let me digress a little bit. So, as everybody knows on this body, the public's here,
I'll explain again. The DR-420 is the standard state form that we work with the elections office and the appraiser and the tax collector, so that when the trim notices go out, we refer to it as there's one bus. One bus that goes out that gives all the taxing
jurisdictions uh, trim hearings and dates, and and maximum millage rates. Whatever you publish in the trim notice, you can go below below, but you can't necessarily go above. So,
let me I said trick words there, it's not necessarily. You can go above what's in the trim notice, but that then you trigger your own advertising requirements, um, and that becomes cumbersome, and we've typically avoided that. So, as we move through the budget
process, we've kind of always set what we thought would be the high rate that we advertised, and missed it if we if we adopted that rate, great, or we come down, great, no advertisement advertisements required because the
DR-420 is the vehicle to notify the trim preparers that that's the millage rate. So, while there may be some final question on whether you would need a 2/3 vote to approve the current millage
rate, if you want to have that discussion amongst you this evening to set the DR-420 high, you can do that. We can always clarify whether, you know, we can clarify whether what vote you'll need
come September, a lot easier than we can re-advertise for that. Or, you can just vote for what we what we what we discussed in the in the workshops, and that was the rollback
rate of 3.3 and some change, and send it out on the DR-420, knowing that without, you know, a belaboring love of advertisement, that's going to be the maximum rate. Was that your second question? >> Yes. In essence, um,
my concern, you know, I would rather us talk further about it rather than making a decision tonight to go with the rollback rate only. Uh my concern, the difference I think in amount of income to the city is less
than $400,000. Um like 380, I think Randy. But that's uh four police officers that we are considering freezing in our budget, the 11 positions.
And I, you know, I just think that rolling back the rate is good for some folks, but I'm not sure that's the best thing for us to be doing for the safety of our community. So, uh I'm in favor of keeping the rate
at the same level it has been the last 2 years. >> And I agree with you and I appreciate your comments. Um We have the lowest millage rate in the county less one city. Um uh Mount Dora, which is a
whole different animal. Um rollback rate sounds all sexy, but I would think for tonight's purposes I'd like to move forward with the current millage rate. We can always go down later, but we haven't even finished budget. We do have two more meetings this week. So, uh I hate to make that decision tonight.
>> Two more Yeah. >> Well, >> I do have a question. So, what the the [clears throat] agenda tonight is to advertise the rollback though, right? >> And that was our recommendation. So, we prepared the We prepared the resolution
which authorizes you to send out the DR420 at the rollback rate. >> Right. So, >> You don't have to go with our recommendation. So, we did recommend >> So, Mike's recommending us to >> amend that then. >> Yes, so you would need an you would need an amendment to change the recommendation. I Although I think we
left the the DR420 blank, but our recommendation was to roll back rate. So you you should you should have you should amend make an amendment and vote on the amendment. And so the motion would be to go with the current rate which is 3.475 4752
versus 3.3783 >> with future discussions. Yeah. Yeah. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Wait. Motion was made? >> Yeah, motion was made by Commissioner Petersen and seconded by Commissioner
Bury to set the DR420 at the rollback rate. So you're in discussion. >> Yes. Any further discussion from anyone? If not >> But when will this be further discussed than now?
>> Uh the budget time. So what you So if if the motion carries to set the DR420 at the rollback rate, yeah and you need two votes on this cuz this is an amendment. So it would the DR420 will go out with the current rate and show a little bit of a tax increase, the one that we
showed you on that slide. Ultimately, um you can have continued discussions in August, but then during your budget workshops is when you would ultimately come back and vote to reset the millage rate. >> Well, we're going to have a vote on
what's on here and then the vote on the amended one is what you're saying? >> Right. So this evening there's a motion on the floor to amend the DR420 from the rollback to the current. And if you make that motion, then you need to vote on sending out the DR420
at in the amended form. >> And that higher higher rate is something we can go to the rollback rate with no penalty and you know >> At the first reading. At this point in In that you know we like Mike said we're in
the middle of our budgeting process. We haven't >> Okay. >> really heard a lot about this. I just don't want to come out of the gate and say let's go with rollback and that's fine especially when we're talking about freezing you know, positions. So.
>> So we have >> Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. Don't worry. >> So we have a motion and we just motion to rollback from the 3.478 to >> A motion to amend >> Amend the >> the DR420 resolution. That's the motion on the floor.
>> Okay. We have a motion on the floor to amend the DR420 the rollback number and then >> That's it. >> We will discuss further. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I just want to make sure I'm understanding. >> Okay.
Commissioner Berry. >> Are we voting or are we >> This is a this is a vote on the amendment. >> An amendment. >> Oh, yes. I'm for the amendment. >> Commissioner Peterson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reisman. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Canale. >> No. >> Mayor Berry. Yes.
And now we need to do the new vote for the new millage millage rate which will be the 3.472. Okay. I thought we Any further Any further discussion? >> Now this is the formal vote on the the
DR420 resolution. So if you vote yes on this, you're sending the trim notices out to maintain the current millage rate which is a small which is like a 3% tax increase. Doesn't necessarily mean you have to do
that because come September is when you will formally set the budget and the millage rate. But you can't go higher without an act of God in terms of advertising. >> [snorts] >> So, our current rate of the 3.472
will be >> The notice. >> The notice that goes. >> Correct. >> Do we have a motion? >> This is This is the motion. >> So, I guess we need to vote. Please, roll call. Commissioner Peterson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reisman.
>> Yes. >> Commissioner Connealy. >> No. >> Commissioner Berry. >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry. Yes. Would someone please introduce um 5C? >> Seven. >> Seven. >> Yeah. >> I want to do this as we are going to do it by title only.
>> Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, amending the fiscal year 2025-26 budget for the general gas, wastewater, and gas tax funds for the third quarter and providing an effective date. >> Move for approval.
>> Second. >> This is the one that I pulled. >> I pulled it. >> Oh, you pulled it, Commissioner Reisman. >> Uh there's one There's one um item on here that I argued against it last month and I'm I'm still not for it, but it's on here.
It is spending the money of the um to um evaluate the Keturah Lee wastewater plant. Um So, I'm I pulled it for that reason. I I can't I can't approve this as it is with with that on there. So, I don't know with with
how that would work out. If you just want to vote and I just >> Are you just Yeah, just vote. >> I just get outvoted, but yeah. But yes, I just I think it's Yes, absolutely. >> Any Any discussion further discussion? Um roll call, please. Commissioner Reisman.
>> Yes. >> Commissioner Connealy. >> No. >> Commissioner Bury? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peterson? >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry? >> Yes. And I Yes. I Sorry, I would like to um make a
correction. I wanted to pull the um 5C1 and not 5C eight. No. >> She Yeah, so she wanted to pull 5C1. >> Yes, I'm good. >> So, that that's actually already been
formally voted on. Do we need to make a motion >> to move to rescind that. >> And then we'll need a motion So, we'll need a motion to rescind and then we'll need a motion to approve. So, what hasn't been approved is item 5C8.
Item 5C8 is the the the the um the holiday concepts that we brought up uh to add the uh two extra holidays. Uh That's the one you pulled. >> Yes, that's the one I pulled and I also pulled >> to talk about that? >> to talk about 5C8 and 5C1.
>> Okay, so let's make a motion. So, you need a motion to rescind. >> I'd like to make a >> Why don't we just do eight first and then go back to Okay. >> Um the question was We need to Would you please read please clarify the 5C8 >> 5C8 to be read by title only.
>> Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, authorizing amendments to personnel policy 340 to designate Leesburg Bikefest Bikefest the last Friday in April and New Year's Eve, December 31st, as paid holidays for
eligible city employees and providing an effective date. >> Move for approval. >> Second. >> Um Yes, I pulled this one because I was interested in finding out if um the options for another holiday could be added for Juneteenth instead of for
Bikefest. Juneteenth 19th, that's a federal holiday. And I was wondering if that could be added to for this year or if that could be switched out for Bike Fest. >> So, really this is this is this is the prerogative of the commission, however you guys want to
move. On a staff level, we did not add the Juneteenth holiday for the We don't have a reason why we didn't add that. Structurally, we added these two holidays. One
you know, the administratively as we discussed in the budget workshops, we added the Bike Fest with the amendment in there that if we don't have Bike Fest, that holiday goes away automatically. It doesn't come back to you for review. It if there's no Bike Fest, that's dead.
It's out, period. No holiday. We added in New Year's Eve and had that discussion on a staff level because that's the one we get a lot of asking about. From employees and the like. My
suggestion would be if you want to swap out a holiday in this action, it would be keep the Bike Fest holiday in there because that's really an administrative thing. If you swap that out, we don't solve our problem. Our problem is that
our major facilities get shut down during Bike Week and then people have to are forced to take PTO or leave or whatever. So, administratively having that holiday not just a benefit to the employees but
but a benefit administratively. So, if you want to stick in Juneteenth, I would suggest swap out the New Year's holiday and put in Juneteenth or add the third [laughter] holiday, which nobody will say yay or nay to. Now, but I will tell
you I think Melissa Stanley would there. You know, as far as a total holiday count before we add these two, we're at 12. >> 11. >> 11. So, if we add these, that brings us to 13. What's the typical holiday count for >> It's between 10 to 13 is the average for
municipalities. >> So, we're in the we're in the kind of the envelope with 13. So, I mean, I'm not going to sit here and argue against the four, you know, but you look, let's be real, too. I I think, you know, if I I would really suggest
administratively, there's a purpose for the Bike Fest request. And if you And if you scrap that, then you're going to pick and throw on two holidays, now we got we still have an administrative problem with staffing. >> And and >> What can we scale? >> Yeah, I just want to toss in, too. We might want to look at some of the new
legislation and whether there would be any issues with adding that particular holiday, as well. >> It's a federal holiday, though. What is it? >> I think it is a federal holiday, and I just want to confirm everything's okay with that, too, in light of the new legislation.
>> municipalities open or closed during that time or are the counties? >> Most >> In our area, many are not closed on June 10th. There's some that give it and some that don't. Um some may provide an additional floating holiday, so an employee can use that towards that, but in Lake County, we don't have many
municipalities that give June 10th. Some do. >> Okay. I'm just curious. Well, okay. If this is the option, I was asking because it's it's demonstrates commitment to what we do serve far as um showing our nation's history, cuz that is history. We cannot erase it. However,
um it's also I mean, the fact that it's a federal holiday is the why I was really trying to suggest it versus um New Year's Day, the rest of them. And I understand administrative reasons for not coming to work or the difficulty getting into work, but
was a Do you do polls or surveys to employees for any of these holidays or you just present them? >> Yeah, the last time we had asked employees it was like 64% wanted an additional holiday, but they didn't say specifically what day they wanted. They weren't like I want this day. It was
very that was very general, but as far as wanting additional holidays >> I'm sure >> it was over. >> You can have a 1 2 [laughter] 3 day off and that would be makes sense. Well, I'm open. I just was bringing up the suggestion that it was a federal holiday and if we could consider it. So, if we would like to table it, that's fine and
discuss further or how would you recommend? >> I don't want to add a third one right now. So, I I my recommendation is we approve this if staff tells us, you know, if I mean if the employees tell us they want to take June 19th or June 10th over New Year's, so be it, but yeah, I'd
rather just move forward like this. I I would not support a third holiday right now. >> Those are my thoughts. Any other thoughts? Roll call then or do we >> So, the motion on the floor is to adapt the policy as is, which is the Bike Fest
with the time certain and the New Year's Eve day. >> Okay. Roll call no further discussion. >> Commissioner Carnell? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Berry? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peterson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Weisman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry?
>> No. >> Okay, so now um now we need to go back and re so you need the motion on the floor to recind 5C1. >> Um yes, thank you. That was my I can make that motion. >> I can make that motion. I'll make a motion to recind 5C1.
>> Second. >> Um My question? >> You there's >> When you introduce it you vote to >> Roll call, please, Andy. Mayor I'm Commissioner Berry. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peterson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reasman.
>> Yes. >> Commissioner Cannady. >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry. >> Yes. Yes, would you please introduce 5C1? >> I'll make a motion to introduce 5C1. >> Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, designating Leesburg as a Bee City USA affiliate and
providing an effective date. >> For approval. >> Second. >> Um This is the bees the Oh my gosh. I don't need 5C1. Excuse me.
I I'm okay with that one. I don't need approval. Please resend. Um >> Why don't you just vote on >> We can just vote on approval. Yeah. >> Okay, can I have a roll call, please, on the vote? I'm Commissioner Peterson. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reasman. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Cannady. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Berry.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Berry. >> Yes. >> Okay. This is the resolution of the City Commission of the City of Leesburg vote 5B1. It's the one I would like to call. Thank you. >> C1 is speed. >> Motion to resend. >> We have to.
>> Who? >> The $55,000 for the heart monitors. >> No. >> B1 is the front >> This is the resolution >> monitors. >> commission for the Bulldog site. The Bulldog site. That's 5B1. >> That's 2.
>> 5B2. >> Yes. >> 5B2. >> I'll make a motion to resend the vote of 5B2. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. Commissioner Reasman. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Cannady. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Berry? >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Peterson? >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry? >> Yes. >> Motion to introduce 5 B 2. >> Second. >> Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a construction services agreement with
Bulldog Site Work LLC for sidewalk construction on Baker Street and providing an effective date. >> Is there approval? >> Second. >> Yes. This is the item that I would like to pull and I have questions in reference to. Um
this was a CDBG grant that was requested and there's a remaining balance of 30-something thousand dollars and I was just wondering if that has to stay within the CRA Leesburg CRA or could it be moved to
another area for the >> As long as we spend that in the target area, we're good to go. >> Okay. So, could this be >> Added. >> uh added to possibly for the um Leesburg CDC for >> with Bulldog. >> Okay. So, does it have to remain for sidewalk?
Could it be used for anything else? That's my question. >> It probably can be It will be easiest to use it for an extenuation of sidewalks in the target area, no problem. It can probably also be used for another project within the
the the the target area, but we'll probably need to get county approval before we pull the trigger on expenditures. >> Okay. So, whatever we request with the grants with the CDBG, it has to go within those same items in which we requested for. >> No.
The money has to be spent in the target area >> Mhm. >> benefiting a certain low-to-moderate income area that's identified by the census tracts. >> Okay. So >> Okay. So, that money has to be spent in that LMI area.
Brandy's looking at me. >> Could I get some clarifications cuz the Bulldog sidewalk contract is 76,000 and we have available funds of 45,000. So, how do we have an extra $30,000 available? >> So, the CDBG grant came in and we got $45,640. The bid came in at 76.
>> So, we're pulling the rest of the money out of the CDC. The CRA, sorry. >> The CRA the GL CRA will pay the remainder of the money. >> Okay. >> And that's what we because that would be that would be a staff level expense under the city manager. I was just going
to pull that out of the Carver Heights CRA. >> Okay. So, it was two it was Okay. >> getting $76,000 worth of sidewalk. >> Which was really important. >> 40,000 of it's going to be with the CDBG, 30,000 of it is with Carver
Heights CRA. >> Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Now, moving on. Roll call for this is Commissioner Cornell? >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Berry? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peterson? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Eastman? >> Yes. >> Mayor Berry? >> Yes. >> Moving on to >> six >> six C >> six A six B >> six B1. Will someone please introduce?
>> Introductions to be read by title only. >> An ordinance of the city Leesburg, Florida changing the zoning on approximately .30 plus minus acres from city R3 high density residential to C3 highway commercial for property during
located south of East North Boulevard, east of East Dixie Avenue and north of East Main Street lying in section 25, Township 19 South, Range 24 East, Lake County, Florida, and providing an effective date.
Do we have to do any discussion now? We're not We're not We're not Okay. Do you invite one hearing? July 27th. July 27th. That's right. So, then now we will go to
non-retaining items because the rest are full. Yep, there are none. Grant, do you have any >> I know just real briefly, I just got back from the municipal attorney seminar at the tail end of last week and got a bunch of info on some legislative
changes and some things that I'll be working with the various departments and Al on to uh make sure we're compliant with laws moving forward. And other than that, just good to see everybody. I missed the last meeting, so uh nice to see you all. Look forward to seeing you at the end of the month.
>> City Manager, any items? Okay. Roll call, please. Commissioner Cannella. >> Nothing tonight. >> Commissioner Berry. >> Nothing tonight. >> Commissioner Peterson. >> Uh nothing tonight. >> Commissioner Reisman. >> I just one thing. We have the Leesburg Chamber breakfast on the 23rd. So, hopefully everyone can come out to that
and that's will be it for me. Thank you. >> Mayor Berry. >> Uh nothing tonight. Thank you. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second.