Good evening everyone. Happy Tuesday afternoon and thank you for joining us tonight for our city commission meeting. Um we're going to kick off tonight with a uh call to order. Tonight we're going to have the
invocation by Dr. Ryan Tucker, executive pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you for coming, pastor. Let's pray. God, we thank you for today. We thank you for the things that you do for us. We thank you for loving us the
way that you do. And we just pray right now for the city of Linhaven. We pray for the commissioners and all that involved. We pray for the police officers and the workers. And God, we just ask that you would just protect them. God, we ask for wisdom as they make decisions. And we're so thankful
for the community. We're so thankful that you love us. So thankful that Jesus saves us. We're so thankful for all that you do in our life. And we just pray right now that you would do far more for this city than we could ever think or imagine. We love you. We thank you. In
Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. I aliance 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 for coming tonight, Pastor Tucker. >> All right, we'll kick off tonight with some uh additions, deletions, and modification of agenda. city manager. >> Mayor, if you want to add um that we've
got Miss Dena Ward here, uh supervisor of elections to give a brief presentation on the possibility of changing our elections. Um if you want to would like to add that um at right after the proclamations and then you and I had discussed moving the discussion of
mayor and commissioner seals from your report to the consent agenda and I've put a sheet in front of every commissioner there if they would like to review that. Thank you for that. So, uh, if the pin, if the commission will, uh,
support, uh, we have Miss Nina Ward, our supervisor of elections from Bay County tonight. Thank you for coming, ma'am. It's a pleasure to have you with us. Um, I would actually like to put her first thing up on the agenda to be able to talk to us um, in front of the
proclamations if that is acceptable. Uh, if not, we can do it immediately after the three proclamations. Um, and then if you notice on the original agenda under the mayor's report, there was a discussion of office seals. Uh, that was
a disconnect between myself and CJ. I actually wanted that to be a unanimous consent uh, discussion item for us. Uh, so I'd like to actually put that back up. This isn't anything we haven't already reviewed with the um previous budget workshop, but just wanted to kind
of formalize that tonight with formal city commission concurrence. So, those are the two proposed changes. >> And mayor, we'd also like to um recognize commissioner Tinder here uh via telephone. >> Yes. So, thank you for that, city manager. I'm getting ahead of myself.
So, I guess first things first, we need a motion and a second to allow Commissioner Tinder to support via phone tonight. >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. I have a motion in a second. Um before the city manager calls the
role, is there any public commentary regarding this motion? Uh I don't mind saying it because uh Commissioner Tenders posted it on Facebook, but she recently had a heart issue uh and got a pacemaker put in, so she's recovering at home. She's doing great. That's the good news. But, uh, she just got out of the
hospital yesterday and she wasn't quite ready to bounce in here with us tonight. So, uh, with the rest of the commission's grace, we'll allow her to participate via phone tonight. So, I have a motion and a second. Any comments? Hearing none, would the city manager call the role?
>> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tinder, >> yes. Commissioner War, >> yes. Mayor Gallowry, >> yes. The eyes have it. Thank you all. And now back to the two modifications uh
of the agenda. So, first up would be Miss Ward, followed by the proclamations, and then um under unanimous consent, I'd like to bring up the proposed uh city seals.
Any thoughts or suggestions? Can we add to the agenda to talk about our way forward on looking at the uldc? >> Sure. >> I think I just want to talk with everybody about what our way forward is at because with the workshop we have I feel like the zoning workshop we had at
a minimum we need to start digging into the uldc. >> So this would be a proposed new item under new business. >> Yes. >> Say item number 21. make it 21 just before public commentary.
>> So we'll call that ULDC way ahead. >> That be acceptable with the rest of the commission. All right. Hearing no uh further discussion, can I get a a motion and a second? >> Motion to approve. I'll second.
>> Thank you. I have a motion and a second. Uh any public commentary regarding this? >> Sure. Any item that we have a presentation on public commentary will be open to the floor. Yes, sir. >> I don't have particular brothers either
way. City manager. >> No, we can allow public. Is it is it discussion only or is this something we're voting on? >> Miss Ward is just doing a presentation on the possibility of election change discussions.
>> So we will have a robust discussion among the commission. So there will be a public opportunity. So all right any other comments. Okay. Hearing none. City manager. >> Commissioner Perno.
>> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles. Yes. >> Commissioner War. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Tinder. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry. >> Yes. The eyes have it. Thank you for your flexibility with the agenda there. All right. First thing up tonight um is
going to be our esteemed supervisor of elections, Miss Nina Ward. Miss Ward, thank you for coming and being with us tonight. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Okay. Well, my presentation is going to consist of me just kind of explaining all the facts. Um, this is a growing
trend in kind of Florida. So, what I want to talk to about what I want to talk to you about, um, is the possibility of moving your city election from April to coincide with the countywide timeline. Um, so there's several cities that have already made
this change and that's really my purpose of being here because you are doing a charter review as well. So, um, Panama City Beach has already moved theirs as well as Callaway. And then the city of Panama City as part of their charter
review is also looking at this. So, now would be the time. Um, since we, you know, won't necessarily have Super Tuesday, municipal Super Tuesday in April anymore with so many cities deciding to change. I just kind of want to put the options out there. Um, I don't necessarily have a personal
opinion. I just want to kind of give you the facts. There's pros and cons depending on how you look at things. Um the most obvious benefit for moving the election date is voter turnout. Um so no surprise voter turnout is typically uh a
lot higher in the general elections in November. Um slightly lower in August primary. Um it's slightly more complicated for Linhaven since your charter currently requires a runoff election. So if no candidate gets 50% plus one vote in your
April election, there is a runoff in May. So um right now that would look like your primary would be August, your runoff would be moved to November. Now there are other options that um there's another city currently looking at that
is in the same scenario as you where if say you had more than two candidates you would automatically go to the or less than two two candidates uh two candidates would automatically go to November. If you had more than two candidates it would create that primary
in August and then the runoff would be in November. So basically, your decision would always be made in the November election with the highest turnout if that's what you're looking for. Um, looking back, five out of your last eight elections have resulted in a
runoff. So statistically, you you always see that runoff election more than more than not um for Linhaven. So um let's see the average turnout for the presidential years are about 75% in
the general and then we see you know 22 23% in the primary. Looking back over over the past two mayoral elections you had just under 22% turnout for Linhaven in 2025 and then there was two
commission seats along with three city referendums that were on a ballot and the turnout was 19%. So that's a big difference when you look at the presidential election in November with 75% when your municipals in in April are getting, you know, 19 to 22%. Um,
currently your city elections are on an odd year. So I would say the downside to trying to change your election timeline is it's going to have to extend some terms. So, your current terms that are up in 2027, you would be extending those
terms to be up in 2028 on the presidential cycle and then the terms that are up um in 2029 would move to 2030. So, everyone's terms would be extended by a year and a half. So, that's, you know, that's significant
to think about. Um, and then we get down to not just looking at pure voter turnout, but when you look at voter apathy, which is a big topic, and it is a real thing. Um, some people refer to it as ballot rolloff. So, as you get, you know, down ballot contest, typically
you're going to see more undervotes, which are people not making choices. Now, sometimes that can be apathy where they're just tired of filling in ovals and they don't care anymore when they get to the end of the ballot. But most likely it's people that aren't as informed on your local contest. So, say
we put the city of Winhaven mayor on a presidential ballot. Most people are there because they want to vote for president, right? Um, however, they may not make a choice when they get to the down ballot contest. Uh just statistically, we looked back at
the 2020 presidential election. We had 14,000 people that did not make a choice in a county commission race that was on that ballot. So, they made a choice. We had 75% turnout for the presidential um contest. By the time we got down ballot,
they did not make a choice on county commissioner. So, basically, out of 93,000 people that voted, 14% didn't make a choice on the county commission race. However, they voted for president and other issues. Um, in contrast, when we look at Linhaven election
specifically, if they show up for a municipal election, they know what they're voting on. There's very limited issues on the ballot. So, um, let's see, we had 47 under votes in your last election. So 1 and a half% of people
that showed up to vote didn't make a choice on a city commission race, whereas you know we had 14,000 or almost 14% didn't make a choice when we were on the general ballot for county commission. So voter apathy is a real thing. I want to
mention that. So you can't just look at yes, you're increasing turnout. However, are they going to actually make a choice on the city race when they get all the way down the ballot? You know, we don't know. Um, in turn that can affect candidates. Uh, not only does it extend
your election timeline, so candidates would qualify further out, candidates for the November election would be qualifying in June, right along county level, state level, national level candidates. Um, so they're going to have to work harder. I mean, that's, you
know, I don't want to speak too much on behalf of candidates because I really want to focus on voters. We want to provide, you know, access and education for voters. We want them to show up and vote. I want the highest voter turnout possible. I want everybody to show up.
But it does have an effect on candidates and campaigns. Um, it could get more expensive or less expensive. I don't have data to back that up specifically, but you have to think your city candidates are going to be competing for signage, advertising, donations all
along with your county, state, national level candidates at the same timeline. Um, so there's a lot to think about. Uh, ultimately it does save the city money. So in 2025, Linhaven's elections cost about $31,000
and that is just reimbursed to my office for our actual cost of running the election. So currently um I'm contracted to administer the election. However, the city manager/clerk is the chief election official. So they are still involved in making the
decisions whether you know whether to have early voting, how many early voting sites, days, hours, all of that is, you know, the city clerk that makes that decision. Um, so if you move to the countywide timeline, the city clerk is essentially removed from that process.
They don't have any say so on early voting or locations. we just roll onto the countywide ballot, which my office determines, you know, early voting dates, times, locations. Um, currently you do just have one early voting site in Linhaven. That's the senior center.
So, we've had minimal complaints about the use of that, but I'm not going to say we haven't had none because we have had some that were tying up the senior center for the seniors not to be able to use it. So, I mean, that is one thing. we wouldn't be using the senior center for that week, you know, in April, just
in November and August. Um, but that that has been very minimal as far as complaints that I've heard about us using that site. However, for the general and the primary, we do have eight early voting sites. So, you are giving your voters more opportunities,
more days. We have extended early voting hours. Um, and then Linhaven actually has five election day precincts when we get to the countywide timeline versus your one one site um for your city elections in April. So
>> So Nina, just to clarify, you said uh our cost last year was 31,000. >> That was for your regular election in April plus your runoff in May. >> Okay. And if we were to join a a countywide
election ballot, uh let's say you have eight early voting sites, a Linhaven voter could go to any of those and get a Linhaven printed on demand ballot. Is that correct? >> Yes. So, um not only would the cost be
absorbed, I think I mentioned that. So, there would be no cost to the city if you go on to the countywide timeline, we already send sample ballots. We already, you know, create ballots. We use what is called a direct print method. So no matter what early voting site you go to, we code the ballot. And I don't want to
get too much into the weeds and bore you, but the way we set our systems up now, um, we have the technology to designate when you show up to vote, we know we print your ballot, your ballot style for where your address is. Um, and then the next person behind you, they
get their ballot for wherever their address is. So logistically, um, it's possible, you know, that's what we're currently doing. We have hundreds of ballot styles based on precinct splits. So, you know, that logistically it's really a non-issue with the technology
that we have now. Um, it's more about, you know, providing access. And I know I've heard people say you're going to get uneducated voters showing up in the primary in the general voting on city issues that may not be they may not be as knowledgeable on. that is not for me
to decide. Um, we just want to provide, you know, the access and then it would be up to the candidates to get their name out there and get them educated on what they stand for and and get the support. So, it it probably would be a little more difficult for your city
candidates. Um, but again, I don't have data to back that up. That's just my my guess on that from what I've heard. So, >> any other questions? >> Anybody got any questions for Nina? I'm uh pretty educated on this because it's
something I've looked at and I know me and Miss Ford have have uh had uh extensive discussions on this. Um my recommendation for anyone on the commission and any of the residents, listen to the Panama City Comm um
commission meeting on I think it's in January 2024. I think it's around an hour and 50 mark. Um that's when they had um Commissioner Street had originally brought up of possibly moving theirs and then that's
when um Mark Anderson with Bay County Supervisor Election. They got a lot of good discussions about that and he provided a lot of great input. I'll say this on its face it sounds good but there's a lot of things to look at. Like for instance the canvasing board. We no
longer do the canvasing board. That's all done at the county level. Now, I don't know what happens if you have to have a special election. I think that gets a little muddy, doesn't it? >> Yeah. So, if you have a special election, it would be, you know, paid for by the city. You would have a city canvasing board just like you have now.
You would have to pay for a special election if you're not on that countywide timeline, >> right? But one of the points that Mark Anderson brings up is uh uh he relates it to Miami Dade where by the time you have
all your federal candidates, all your state candidates, if you have any referendums and all your local candidates, you might be talking at least three sheets of a ballot that you're going to have to bubble in. And then you start suffering from what's called voter exhaustion. And of course,
the local election, you know, starts at federal, then state, then county, and then local. By the time they get to local, we're at the bottom. So, how interested they're going to be on the ballot by the time they get to that point. Um, yeah. So, it's a lot to think about.
>> Nina, could you talk to what the other municipalities in Bay County are doing because some are actually moving to this and some of the others are not. So, can you speak to that? >> Yeah. So, um I think I mentioned Panama City Beach and Callaway. They already moved theirs. They do not have a runoff.
So, theirs is very simple. You know, they're just moving to the November timeline. Um Panama City is under charter revision, charter review, just like Linhaven. And so, I think that's something that they are considering. They're going to put it on a ballot for
the voters to decide um this fall. So, >> so you said $31,000, but that included the the the regular municipal election and the runoff. So, it probably be about half if we didn't have a runoff, >> right? Yeah. It was roughly 15,000 and
some change for each election. And and just for all of our edification as well, the date that you need any changes or anything that we as a city commission are putting forward for the referendum on August 18th, you need that
by June 12th. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. The end of qualifying >> co on the 12th. Correct. Okay. >> I'm I'm trying to figure out what what's the push on this. Do you know?
So, this is actually um being discussed across the major municipalities in Bay County. So, I specifically talked to the city manager and asked to invite Nina to come speak to us and tell us what is going on in Bay County and what the move is a foot countywide.
>> Right. I my personal opinion I think it since we have a charter review committee now I think it's something they need to look at and then provide a recommendation to us. >> So on that note city attorney um does
our current election uh process is it outlined in ordinance or is it actually in charter verbiage? >> It's in the charter. >> Okay. So it is a normal charter amendment. It is not an ordinance to change. >> Yes and no. The dates you can change
without uh even though it affects the charter, you can change the dates of an election without a referendum. If you were speaking of eliminating the runoff, that would require a charter referendum. A referendum, >> but the charter specifically states when our elections are.
>> Curiously, it only states when your runoffs are. >> No, there's two sections to it, I thought. >> Okay. The Florida statutes authorize a charter amendment regarding the date of election without a referendum. So even though it is in your charter if you're only changing the date, you can do that
without a referendum. You can still have a referendum, but you're authorized to do it without. >> That might ease the water. Thank you for that. I mean, I guess it makes sense. Um, and as it is currently outlined, I'll have to go back and reook at it
again. Does it specifically state in the charter like we do this the second Tuesday after the first Monday in April or does it just say the month of April? >> So section 31 of your charter says that runoff shall happen the third Monday in May after the general election. I did a
word search for the word April and I couldn't find it in the charter or code. So I don't know if there's a resolution or separate policy that states April. I couldn't couldn't find it on a quick search of in Munich code. Thank you. Okay. Well, thank you for that. Any
other commission questions? >> I think we already, like Commissioner War said, we already have the charter review committee. If this is a big deal, could we request that they make this the next item they look at?
>> We will have the runway to use an Air Force ism. We'll have the time. But if we want the charter review to committee to look at that, we probably need to ask them to do it at their next bi-weekly meeting. >> That's what I meant. Yeah. >> Yeah. Because as Miss Ward just said, we have until COB blows a business on June
12th to get whatever we're going to have in for the August 18th referendum to her office. >> Yeah. I think to me it would look bad if we at least didn't have the charter review committee look at it. If I'm if we're voting for
something that like would extend our um our four years to five and a half years, like us just voting on it, like can you imagine if Congress did that? If they just raise their hand and be like, "Hey, I'd be like to be elected for an extra year and a half." All right, guys.
Let's vote on it. How well would that go over? You know, >> I am surprised it's a year and a half. I assumed it would be like the extra six months maybe as you move from April to November of the same year. Well, you So, our countywide elections are on even years. Linhaven's elections are on odd
years. >> So, that that's because we're the odd duck calendar speaking, so to speak. Yeah. >> Gotcha. >> Well, actually, I would I think because Panama City does it is in the odd year, too. >> So, we're not the only ones.
>> Correct. Yeah. >> Yeah. This is what it says in the charter. says, "Election shall be held on the Tuesday immediately following the third Monday in April with necessary runoff election to be held the Tuesday immediately following the third Monday in May." >> Yeah, that is in section 11. I missed
that until we pointed it out. >> Okay. Well, again, I wanted us to all have visibility on what our other municipality brothers and sisters are doing. This is an option to save money. Um, I think if we were to make any
change whatsoever, this would absolutely have to be a referendum to the people and it would have to be a thumbs up or thumbs down from them. >> But the other municipalities, many of them are actually doing it. So, at least to get a brief on just because they're doing it doesn't mean we have to, but if
there is some logic to it. Um, and again, what is our goal? Smaller, more educated voter base showing up or do we want more voter participation? And those aren't necessarily inherently congruent things, but they're not also completely
disjointed either. So, Miss Ward, I truly appreciate you coming. Any other questions from the commission for Miss Ward? City manager? >> All right, Miss Ward. Thank you tonight. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome back anytime, ma'am.
>> All right, with that. All right, so moving along, we have three proclamations to give. The first one is National Police Week, then National Public Works Week, and last but not least, National Safe Voting Week.
So, the first one will be National Police Week and we will be presenting this after I'm done reading it. We'll be presenting to the Linhaven Police Department. So, proclamation
Whereas in 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar weekend May 15th falls on National Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on
Washington DC to participate in several planned events which honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Whereas there are there are more than 800,000 law enforcements officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members
of the City of Linhaven Police Department. And whereas as of early 2026, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial has officially engraved 24,775 names on its walls in Washington DC. This number includes federal, state,
local, tribal, and military law enforcement professionals who have made the ultimate sacrifice and killed in the line of duty. Whereas, it is important for all citizens to recognize the duties and responsibilities and hazards and sacrifices undertaken by our brave men and women in law enforcement whose
unwavering commitment ensures that our families, communities may thrive in peace. Now therefore, on behalf of the city commission and the people of Linhaven, I, Dave Lowry, mayor of the city of Linhaven, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim and recognize the week of May
10th through the 16th, 2026 as National Police Week, as we publicly express sincere gratitude to the men and women of law enforcement that make it possible for us to leave our homes and our families in safety each day, knowing that they stand ready to protect our loved ones, our property, our freedoms,
even at risk to their very own lives. Captain Bllock, I owe you a beverage of your choice, sir. All right. With that proclamation, National Public Works Week proclamation. The theme of the 20126 National Public Works Week is rooted in
service powered by community, celebrating the deep roots of service that drive infrastructure, innovation, and community connection that gives public works its sense of purpose. Public work professionals are ever present, working in the background to advance quality of life and meeting the needs of all people. Whereas the rooted
in service powered by the community theme highlights both visible services, roads and bridges as well as hidden services i.e. water and sewer to create the foundation for thriving communities reminding us that every project seen or unseen powers the connection between
service and the people it supports. Whereas these infrastructures, facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals who are engineers, managers and employees at all levels of government and the private sector who are responsible for
rebuilding, improving and protecting our nation's transport, water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems, public buildings and other structures and facilities essentials to our citizens. Whereas it is in the public interest of the citizens, civic leaders, and children of the city of Linhaven to
gain knowledge of and maintain the ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs for their respective communities. Whereas the year 2026 marks the 66th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the
American Public Works Association. There, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Linhaven, on behalf of the city commission and all citizens of Linhaven, I do hereby declare the proclamation the week of May 17th through 23rd, 2026 as National
Public Works Week and urge all citizens to join the representatives of the American Public Works Association to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees and recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and quality
of life. >> We'll now have our public works representatives come forward to present or receive this. >> There we've got uh Casey Westfall, our utility superintendent, and Adam Chambers, our assistant superintendent for public works.
All right. Thank you for your patience tonight, y'all. One more proclamation. Whereas over 100 million Americans, boating continues to be popular recreational activity from coast to coast and everywhere in between. People are taking to the water and
enjoying time together boating, sailing, paddling, and fishing. Whereas during National Safe Boating Week, the US Coast Guard and its federal, state, and local safe boating partners encourage all boers to explore and enjoy Americans uh
beautiful waters responsibly. Whereas boating safety begins with preparation, the US Coast Guard estimates that human error accounts for the most boating accidents and that life jackets could prevent nearly 86% of boating fatalities. Whereas through basic
boating safety, carrying life-saving emergency distress and communications equipment, wearing life jackets, attending safe boating courses, participating in free boat safety checks, and staying sober while navigating. we can help ensure boers on America's coastal, inland, and offshore
waters stay safe through the season. Whereas, National Safe Boating Week is observed to bring attention to important life-saving trips uh for recreational boers so that they may have a safer, more fun experience out on the water throughout the year. Whereas on average,
650 people die each year from boating related sa safety incidents in the United States, 75% of those fatalities are by drowning. Whereas the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error or poor judgment and not by the boat equipment or environmental
factors. Whereas a sa a significant number of boers who lose their lives during drowning each year would be alive if they had worn their life jackets. Now therefore we support the goals of the safe boating campaign and urge all of those who boat to practice safe boating habits and wear a life jacket at all
times while boating. and by virtue of the authority vested in me as the mayor of the city of Linhaven on behalf of the city commission and all citizens of Linhaven to declare May 16th through the 22nd, 2026 National Safe Boating Week.
And we will have Mr. Tony White of the Coast Guard Auxiliary receive this. All right. Thank y'all for that. Now, we're on to the consent agenda. Uh so first things first number seven uh
approval of minutes dated April 10th and April 28th. Can I get a motion for approval of the minutes? >> Did you want did you want the um >> I'll second it. >> Mayor, you also move that to the consent agenda.
>> I was going to go ahead and do the logos after we did the approval of the minutes. >> Well, the consent agenda is one item. >> Oh, duh. Okay, my bad. All right, so let's talk about this real quick then. Um, so approval of the minutes, that's
not a big thing. The other thing that I'm showing and everyone here, Judy, I apologize, ma'am. I I don't have a way to beam it to you in front of you, but these are the same logos we looked at uh during our first budget workshop with the department heads uh about a month
and a half ago. So, if you would Harold, go ahead and put these up on the screen for our public. All right. So, what we have here, commission, is the top logo, the oval logo is actually our formal city logo.
Um, what I am proposing and asking for unanimous consent on tonight is the three subordinate logos beneath it. So, I actually envisioned this. I did this as part of a coin design, actually, the one on the far left, the office of the mayor, but it looks so good with
nautical rope along the outside of it, much like the US Navy does for many of its coins and different command seals, and it still keeps the core original of our city logo together. So it makes the city logo itself distinguished. But then
the key officers for the city, the key leaders if you will, we would have the office of the mayor logo, a corresponding city commissioner logo, and then we would have a city manager logo. I envision these being incorporated into challenge coin designs, perhaps business cards, or for
PowerPoint presentations. when you're making an official uh presentation uh on behalf of your office, you could use this logo just as well as you could the city logo, but it's a little bit more personalized. And Harold, if you go to the next slide,
this is just an example. You take that same standard logo and it could be personalized with the commissioner's name, the mayor's name, or the city manager's name. They could also use this for their business card or a presentation. Uh, I've already showed
this to everyone once in the budget meeting. I just wanted to bring this forward once more. This would not be a mandatory logo to use, but it would be an optional logo for you to use for your office if you so choose to use it. So, that is what I am proposing uh for
unanimous consent tonight. So, any questions or discussion about the logos amongst the commission? Did >> you notice that all six of us go by a nickname? It's pretty crazy. >> I did not keen eye there.
I guess that's what you get for being a cyber ninja, huh? You look at all that. >> All right. Cool. All right. Any discussion there? If not, I will also open it up to >> Yes, ma'am. >> Mayor, um, I just wanted to ask I don't know who was just speaking. I think it
was Sam. >> It was >> um Okay. He said something about a nickname. What what what did he say? I couldn't hear him. >> He just noticed that all six of us, including the city manager, the four commissioners, and myself, we all go by a nickname instead of our full formal
name. >> Oh. Oh. Okay. >> We hadn't noticed it either. >> Hey. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. All right. But that is uh a minor thing. But administratively, I wanted to go ahead
and get the commission's approval before we we press forward with this. Any questions from the public about this? None. All right. Well, if hearing none, uh, can I get a motion and a second for approval of the unanimous consent
agenda, the two approval of the minutes for April 10th and 28th, and the commission approval for optional use of the city specific logos? >> A motion to approve. >> Thank you. I have a motion. Can I get a second?
>> Second. >> Thank you. Uh, I've already asked once, but I'll ask once again any questions or comments from the public. Hearing none, city manager, would you call the role? >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Wart, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tinder, >> yes. >> Mayor Lowry, >> yes. Thank y'all for that. Uh if you at any time decide to do a coin design or business logo or something, I'll be glad to help y'all if you would like to use
those logos. But they're now there and available for all of us to use. All right. So next, uh we're down to item number eight, old business discussion and possible approval. First reading of updated draft ordinance to
number to be determined uh establishing nonadvalorum requirements for the city charter. City attorney. This ordinance adopts the seven elements uh for notice and public disclosures for non-advalorum assessments. It is limited
to just those those seven items and it is a charter amendment change. this change has not been made in your assessment ordinance, which is what I understood to be your intention, but if that's not so, please correct me. >> So, and I'll let the rest of the
commission speak up as they see fit. Uh, there's been some discussion back and forth. Should this be in the charter um or should it be by an ordinance? And there are pros and cons to both. Um, philosophically, I think it should be in the charter. And the reason I do is you
put in the charter any hardcore yes or no requirements. You cannot press forth with an avalorum assessment unless you give the public these seven pieces of information. Whereas if it's in an ordinance, three of us on any given day could strike down that ordinance and
call it a day. Right? Where is if it's in a charter it is much more permanent much like a tattoo. Before a non-avalorum goes out, we have to share these seven pieces of information with the public. We have to do our due diligence to make sure they're informed
of specifically what we're asking or what we're attempting to do here. But there's also the other four philosophically it may not need need to be in the ordinance or need not be in the charter but be in the ordinance instead. So, do any of the other
commissioners want to speak to this? Um, I think it was were Commissioner Work, did you bring it up being an ordinance last time instead? >> Um, I don't know if I brought it up being an ordinance or not. I I just brought up by
that to me anything in the charter is supposed to be government framework. Anything that maybe it is because then anything done by ordinance. Well, we were policy decision making. So, >> yeah, >> to me it was more policy decision making. >> So, that would be by ordinance.
>> So, the the more I thought about it, >> I mean, I thought or based on our last talk about it, I think it was pretty much a consensus that we all wanted the seven. I think that's a a no-brainer. Um, and thank you to the charter review committee for putting that together
because the charter review committee is the one that came up with that. But the more I thought about it, the more I I tend to agree with Commissioner War on this. Um, if it's one of those things where it the main thing I wanted on it is that the limit is there and that is the way it's written. It is one of the
seven that we'd have to put a a limit on a yearly annual limit. I mean, if we all agree on it and we and we know it needs to be there. Um, and then we'd have to take the chance of I don't know. I just feel like I agree
with Commissioner War. It's more of a policy than it is a charter type item. That's kind of where I'm at. >> So, just to clarify, we have two different things here really kind of in the mix. One is the caps, the limit on
the increase, and we can talk about that philosophically. Uh there might need to be a provision for some kind of major natural disaster, hurricane Michael type thing. uh if we were to say for example you you cannot increase a non-abalorum
assessment more than 10% a year versus the 100% that the storm water increased for some of the higher tiers last year my own home included. Um, if we were to say you can't increase any more than 10% a year, that's one thing. You could say
if uh there might there would be an allowed uh freezing for 12 to 24 months, for example, if there is a major natural disaster, presidentially declared governor declared disaster, another hurricane Michael, right? You might want
to freeze that for specific reasons. that outside of a major natural disaster, and for any of us that have lived through Michael, we know exactly what that's like. Our whole world turned upside down for a while. Um, outside of that, you should not be able to increase
that anymore than a designated rate. Yes, it does kind of limit the power of the the city, but it also gives much more predictability to the taxpayers. Um, as far as the seven questions go, moving aside from
the the cap, the percentage cap for a moment, the core seven question requirement that we would be required to answer, I'm pretty passionate. We really need to put that in the charter. We have a unique opportunity to do so. That doesn't limit us in any way, but what it
does is it puts down a hardcore requirement before you can do a non-avalorum. You have to basically plan your work and work your plan. meaning we have to tell the voters and the taxpayers of Linhaven, this is what we are proposing here. This is what we're
moving forward with and here's all the information that you know you're we're required to give you. Um and it would it should paint the full picture of costs, what it's for, when it starts, when it ends. I mean, it it's basically the who, what,
when, where, and how. >> I don't think anyone's disagreeing with that. The ordinance would do the exact same thing, >> but the uh if we put it in the charter, it makes it permanent. If you put it in an ordinance, any three of us could kill it on a given Tuesday afternoon.
>> Yeah, but any three of us could put it on the ballot again and then have the voters kill it, too. I mean, >> but the voters would kill it, not us. That's that's the difference. Like, we would have to put this up for the voters to approve now. And I think most folks
would violently agree with that. If you're going to tax us, at least give us the full picture of what you're taxing for when and how much, for how long. Um, >> I hear you. I You're It sounds to me like you're implying that if we don't put it in the charter, then we're holding back information from the
public. >> Not at all. I'm just trying to make it as permanent as a tattoo versus a temporary tattoo because if we put it in the charter, there's a degree of permanency because the citizens will actually vote on it. Let's assume for a second they vote to
approve it as a referendum. Then it goes before then it it's literally in the books until a charter review committee review process goes through it again and then the citizens would up or down changes. It's more permanent.
That's the only difference. >> Yes. >> Mayor, is this the first reading? >> Yeah. >> Yes. It's just the first. >> So, so we don't have to vote on it tonight, right? >> No, ma'am. >> That's correct, ma'am. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> But it is a bit of a philosophical question. And I just wanted among the five of us teammates, I wanted to work out kind of how we're going to stand with this so we can finalize it at the next meeting. >> So how does this uh impact our current not abilorum for storm water? Does that
mean we have to do this or does it automat get grandfathered in? >> In my mind, this is just an additional notice requirement that would come we do you do your annual resolution every year. So we we would if this were approved in April um or excuse me at
your next election we June August yes if we you have until September to do your annual resolution we would include these elements in your notice. If we couldn't because of timing you adopted your annual resolution before the voters voted on this um it would be grandfathered and it wouldn't
be a requirement till next year >> if it was the make or break. Um, if that was the only way that the rest of the commission would or a majority of the commission would feel comfortable approving this, we could specifically grandfather in the one current
nonadvalorum in place. But I still think that it should meet all of the reporting requirements moving forward just like any new nonavalorum would. >> That's the way I understood it is establishing a nonabalorum. So it's like
when you initially establish a non-abalorum, but every year after that, you don't have to do this. Am I wrong on that? >> It's up to y'all what you think. In my mind, an assessment is only valid if you do it every single year. So a proposed assessment is an annual decision you
make. >> Okay. >> Um Mayor. >> Yes, ma'am. Um, I wanted to ask the city attorney um uh when she reviewed the state statute and what it says uh about notifications
for nonadbalorum assessments and if does she have does she know that answer? If not, I can call her tomorrow. >> I'm not certain what the question was. There is a notice requirement um >> of state requirements. If you change your methodology or change any of the
underlying kind of guts of your non-advelor, there's a lot of public information requirements that are derived from that at the state level. >> Oh, okay. >> Thank you.
>> Yes, ma'am. So really this is more kind of a pulse of the the commission. Um I think we're all in agreement this is a good inherently good thing to do. It's just a matter of ordinance or charter. >> I mean to me the way I would like it to
be is any new non-AMorum assessment since we already have the storm water. I I hope I hope that in the future we don't have to do any assessments. Um and I know we already discussed this about property taxes and that we don't know
what the future holds, but hopefully we don't have to go down that road again. We see inherent goodness here. And for those of you real quick that in the audience that may not have heard this before, what this is is truth and advertising basically with nonavalorms.
We will have to tell you before any nonavalorm can be established when it will be started and when it will end um and basically what the requirement is and what what that money will be used for and where and how. So it's basically
a transparency intent here to make sure and there would be a reporting requirement. So whether this is a formal letter that has to go out to every taxpaying citizen in Linhaven or every registered voter in Linhaven, uh there would be a formal
requirement and there would probably be a couple via electronically by mail um to make sure that we've done our due diligence to inform the public before any formal vote is taken by the city commission. And that's what this is here. Do we put it in an ordinance or do
we put the requirement for this in the city charter? the city charter, it makes it permanent. And so if we need to use the term any newly established non-abalorum beyond whatever date this is, August
18th, the referendum date 2026, so be it. Uh but any further non-avalorum from our city commission or any future city commission even my unborn grandchildren's future city commissions unless future charter review committees change this and is approved
by future voters of Lin Haven every commission going forward will be required to give out those seven questions and all the information publicly ahead of time for the charter. The two amendments I hear are we would add a sentence to public disclosures
prior to approval from and after September 2026. No new non-advalorum assessment programs shall be imposed levied without these seven public disclosures. >> Yes. >> Does that address >> that address your >> What do you think, Commissioner Peebles?
>> I definitely am not going to say no to that. Yeah. I think um I would like to see some more guard rails for the one we already have, but that can that doesn't have to be discussed today. That would actually kind of muddy the
waters. This is a straightforward requirement, transparency requirement for all future non-avalorms. Period. >> Commissioner Tinder, do you have any thoughts on this ma'am?
>> Um no sir, not right now. find out. >> Okay. Commissioner Perno, any thoughts, sir? >> No, sir. I'm I'm good with the exactly what Commissioner Bor was saying as far as policy versus um
basically it's just feel like we just need to let this go and move forward, you know. So, yes, sir. >> All right. So, I I think we have a a way forward here.
the read the ordinance before you leave this item. Please >> go ahead and read read it as it is stated. >> An ordinance of the city of Linhaven, Florida, proposing amendments to section six of the city's charter to establish requirements for nonadvalorum
assessments providing that the proposed amendments shall be effective only upon the approval of referendum as specified in the ordinance. >> Okay. So you have basically our inputs here, city attorney. So it's a matter of just
refining this for our our more official next reading. Uh and we'll move forward from there. I know that was a little painful and I'm sorry for those of you in the audience kind of watching. This is uh sausage making literally at the local level. Uh I think this is this
will be a very good product uh with your concerns, Commissioner Warick, Commissioner Peebles, uh woven into this and it should be something that will will be helpful to the future city commissions as well as Linhaven City
residents today and in the present. So all right, uh moving on to item number nine on the agenda. Final reading of ordinance 1188 proposing amendments to the charter establishing the office of the city clerk plus conforming changes department
head appointment clarification and whistleblower designations. Over to you Amy. >> Um this ordinance has not changed since your first reading. Um it is ready to go if you approve it tonight. I will bring back ballot language at your next
meeting to put it on the ballot. Okay. Um, we've all discussed this uh at quite lengths before. If there's no other discussion for this tonight, I'll ask the city manager to read it and then we'll uh discuss from there.
Ordinance number 1188, an ordinance of the city of Linhaven, Florida, proposing amendments to article 3 of the city's charter, establishing the office of city clerk, and making conforming changes throughout article 3 and article 4 related to the duties of the city clerk, clarifying the procedure for appointment
of department heads, designating all charter positions as whistleblower complaint recipients, providing that the proposed amendments shall be effective only upon the approval of referendum as specified in the ordinance. For those of you that have not been attending meetings uh every every other
week, uh this one is basically kind of a an important but mixed bag of uh tweets for the referendum. These were done in conjunction with the charter review committee uh spearheaded by Mr. Corey Langford, its chairman, and Ryan Scay, its vice chairman. Um and what we have
here is we are establishing the office of the city clerk. Currently the city clerk is a dual hat role with the city manager. Uh we are segregating those into basically a power tag team but you would have a city clerk and responsible
for funding and policy. So a treasurer if you will plus administrative policies and programs whereas the city manager will literally be leading the vast majority of the people the day-to-day operations. So the personnel and operations on one side and the money and policy on the other. They work together.
They both report to the city commission along with the city attorney. Um, and then all three would be designated as whistleblower design, the city attorney, the city manager, and the city clerk, uh, that any city employee could go to,
uh, and bring up an issue and receive whistleblower protections from. So, since this is a final reading, this would be for a vote. Um, so can I get a motion for approval?
>> Buer. >> Mayor, may I ask a question? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I'm just trying to decipher here what we're saying. >> Okay. Um, by approving this,
does it mean that the city clerk, of which we don't have one right now, um, will be in charge of finances or be the same as the finance person and that the
city manager strictly will deal with people and jobs. Well, Commissioner Tinder, this goes back to the org chart that Commissioner Warick uh presented, >> Miss Myers. >> No, this charter amendment does not do
that. You have that opportunity to do it when you create your job description, >> right? Because it in there it says additional duties as the commission >> designates. >> So, does that answer your question, Commissioner?
>> No. Give me a give me a second shout there. >> Um, so in there it says we >> we the commission can give the city clerk additional duties as designated, but the way it's currently written, it doesn't give them the uh financial
responsibilities. >> Okay. Okay. And and who is our city clerk right now? >> Right now it's the city manager. >> Okay. Yeah. >> But if we take him out of the equation, >> then who jumps into that spot?
>> We would make that determination. We would become the hiring authority for the city clerk. >> If if Well, it's got to go on referendum first. If it passes the referendum, then yes, we would hire we the commission would hire a city clerk. That city clerk
would the commission. >> Okay. All right. That makes that makes sense to me. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you, Commissioner Ward. All right, so we are looking at the final reading of this ordinance, uh,
which would allow us to submit this to Miss Ward for the August 18th referendum. So, at this point, it is motion we need to vote on it. Correct. >> I don't think there was a motion, mayor, >> and a motion. Well, we need to vote or
we need to vote on it if we're going to move forward with it and submitting it to Miss Ward. So, are there any concerns or discussion among the commission before move to vote?
>> Any concerns? >> Nope. I guess I'll just say, you know, there was um a time when I wasn't for the clerk because back then in the career field I work in, I've seen that it works better to have
the way it was presented, it was simply a u basically uh separate duties to basically be an auditor. And in my mind, when you have auditors work daytoday with staff, it doesn't work very well. But I over time and new data was
presented to me. Um, and I'm sure you all remember that meeting. Well, not all of you. There was three of us up here. Um, Miss Kiki came up here and was like, "Hey, I've got this information that I
need to give you." So, I was like, "Okay." So, I met with her either the next day or the day after that. I gathered all the information. I gave it to the public. I talked about it and it really opened my eyes to holy cow. Um,
I was mistaken and um, you know, I've always tried to be open-minded and open to new information when it comes to me and um, I mean that's what happened. And uh so
at this point in in a in the type of government we have with the city where we've got five members of a board, it definitely makes sense to have the clerk at this point with the new information that I've gathered. And um yeah,
>> thank you, Commissioner Peebles. Any other commissioner got questions, discussions, thoughts they want to share? I have a lot of thoughts I want to share, but um I don't know if you want me to wait until we have a motion. No, >> go ahead. Let's let's get it out before
we do our motion. >> All right. So, first I want to say uh thank you to the charter review committee for uh making this recommendation uh looking at this and uh making the recommendation to have establish a city clerk under the city commission. Um, I support this
recommendation for the same exact reason I uh I brought this up on four separate occasions because it strengthens the checks and balances, protects the institutional independence, and ultimately it it serves the residents of Linhaven. And
for context, this topic surfaced even before I raised it. It was actually you, Commissioner Tinder, who um who brought it up before me. It was uh during a charter discussion back in February 2021. Uh she spoke in favor of the city clerk
being a distinct role and commissioner Pero, you indicated you were um comfortable with the city manager continuing to serve as a city clerk and supported removing the separate city clerk reference as a list of officers and departments in the charter. So when
I later brought this issue forward in December 2022, again I brought it up on four separate occasions. Commissioner Pero, you were on the commission all four times I raised it. Commissioner Peebles, you were on the commission three of those four times. Commissioner Tinder, you were on the commission the
first time I raised it in December 2022. And Mayor Lowry, this was before your time, so you weren't on the commission during any of those discussions. And ideally, this is a discussion or conversation I would have preferred to have a one-on-one. But, as we all know, Florida sunshine
law prevents that. And so, I want to be clear, I'm not asking for an explanation tonight, and I'm not asking for a defense, and I'm not seeking a response this evening. What I'm asking for is reflection.
And if anyone feels a need to provide an explanation at some other time, of course, that's certainly fine. But the purpose of my comments this evening or that's not the purpose of my comments this evening. The purpose of my comments this evening is to strengthen how we
lead going forward. This issue was raised multiple times and during that time the commission chose not to for move forward with this u structure. Now it appears the commission is prepared to support it and that
evolution matters and understanding how and why uh these decisions or u how and why we arrive at these decisions matters as well. And each of us should take a moment to reflect on why this didn't advance previously and why is acceptable
now. Because that kind of reflection is necessary for accountability, leadership and growth. You know, our actions and sometimes inactions can have real consequences.
Not only do they affect city staff, but they shape how this institution functions and they influence the expectations residents have of this body. Because a commission's willingness to exercise independent judgment or not doesn't just
affect one decision, it helps define how this body governs as a whole. And when decisions like this aren't made in a timely manner, the reality is it can set the city back at least 3 to four years. Even if that idea eventually
comes back around and comes to fruition and patterns matter. And one pattern I've observed is this. Look, disagreement is part of this job. Reasonable people can see issues differently.
What concerns me is when an idea gains momentum or perceived backing and decisions follow only only once they feel safe. Once the risk is passed, the support is visible and the outcome feels
guaranteed. Leadership requires judgment before the crowd arrives. Leadership isn't about checking which way the wind blows before deciding to sail. Leadership is about setting the course
because it's the right decision for the city. Waiting for certainty isn't leadership. It's permission seeking. And look, I'll be the first to acknowledge I'm not a perfect commissioner. I've had my fair share of
getting things wrong up here, just like anyone else who served up here. But what I haven't done is wait for momentum before taking a stand and being willing to accept some level of risk because that's what leaders do. That's how
leaders stay ahead of challenges and create opportunities for the city rather than staying neutral and operating in what I call the safe zone. And just to be clear, when I refer to the safe zone, I'm talking about a political instinct to avoid risk and
discomfort. It may protect the official, but it rarely protects the resident. And officials that habitually stay in the safe zone, they prioritize political survival over
public service. And ultimately, you end up acting like politicians rather than leaders. That's how leaders How many times up here have we heard people public officials on this diet
say, "Ah, I'm not a politician." We say it, but do we mean it? Leadership requires something different. Taking a clear position even when it's uncomfortable.
And one of the reasons I'm raising this publicly is for those in our community who may have aspirations to serve in public office so that they have a clear understanding of what leadership and independent judgment
looks like once you're up here. It's not always easy. I also recognize that there are many capable people in our community that could serve in this role and do an outstanding job. And I hope more of them step forward in the future.
But while we're here today, we have a responsibility to lead. Residents are depending on us to make difficult decisions even when they're not easy. And I'll be honest,
I don't know whether this level of reflection will lead to change, and I hope it does, but I I felt it was important to raise a question. If that reflection is genuine, I hope it guides how we approach decisions like
this in the future. And I'll close with this. Steve Jobs, who most of us know was a co-founder of Apple. He took a company that was from near bankruptcy in the late 1990s to one of the most successful companies in the
world. He used to tell his employees this. If you're just out to make everyone happy, don't be in a leadership position. Go out and sell ice cream. I don't take that as a call to be
confrontational, but as a reminder that leadership requires making decisions that aren't easy, popular, or comfortable. So, the way I see it is this. This issue is bigger than the city clerk position.
It's about whether this commission is prepared to leave with independence and conviction even when it's not not easy. Because at some point every elected official must decide who they are.
Leaders lead. Politicians sell ice cream. Do you choose leadership or do you choose to sell ice cream? My hope is that you choose leadership. >> Mayor.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> I I make a motion to accept. >> I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. I will open the floor to comments from our
public. Miss Parker, come on up. >> Good evening, Commission. Jamie, good job. I have to say there are two major people
that work here. Higher up people. Chris Lightoot, Jennifer Hodes. Both of them have two jobs. They should only have one a piece. What you just said, Jamie, was 100%
correct. I admire what you said and I thank you and it should be done. City clerk position should be done. Period. No. If Ansor is about it, it should happen.
Look at what Vicky Gainor did. Look at what Vicky Gainer did. Look what Mayor Nelson did. Look at the crap we saw. I've lived here since 2002. I didn't come to a commission meeting
really until after the hurricane. So, thank you. You should do what exactly what Jamie just said. Thank you. >> Mr. Johnny Basher, >> I've got a couple things. Um, first on
leadership. leader acts on the available data, the best data that's available to them at the time to make their decisions. When that data changes, they have to be capable of changing their position and moving forward and leading. But you make your decisions based on the
data that's available. And a leader doesn't go back to that data once it's there and admonish those that didn't act as he did or they did on the available data that was there at that time. To me, that's what leaders do. Um, and that's
all I really want to say on that. The the two things that I do have questions about this though is um, one's not really a question. It's more of a statement is that no matter how you slice and dice this, at the end of the day, this will result in more employee
cost or more administration cost in the city than we currently have. That's acceptable. It's budgetable. You can do it. I have no issues with that. I just think that everybody needs to be aware at the end of the day this is going to cost more money going to cost the city more money in employee expenses than we
do right now and that's neither here nor there as far as that's concerned. The the second thing I wanted to mention was you mayor you had said that the whistleblower would be I think the city manager and the attorney and the city
clerk. That's not what the ordinance says. The ordinance as written says this position shall be a says a designated whistleblower complaint received. So possibly that's right. I just don't know where the other ones are stated at. >> Point of order, city attorney. Um the
city attorney and city manager are current whistleblowers uh authority and this would be a third the city clerk would be the third whistleblower authority. Correct. >> Under your under your current policy, the city attorney and city manager are current whistleblower recipients. This
cotifies that responsibility for the city attorney and the city clerk, city attorney and the city manager in the charter. It adds that duty to the description of the city cler. >> So it gives it so you have three. >> It's in 26 section 26k. It adds it >> as long as it's it when I read it, I'm
like that makes the city clerk the only position and you were here. You were sitting over there, but the last meeting the the chair or charter review commission chairman uh he actually briefed that and said this would make all three the whistleblowers. I I understand. I just when I read the the
ordinance as it's written, it it this change it just adds it. It doesn't say that there's two others. So when I read it, I read it as it was going to be the position. And if it's not, that's great. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Basher. All right. Any other questions or comments
tonight? If not, I appreciate y'all being such a uh laid-back crowd tonight. Uh we definitely want to give all the information we have to you. If you do have questions, please ask. Otherwise, if I hearing no other questions or comments,
>> I got something. >> Okay. >> I just want to say, Commissioner War, in the future, if you want to know why I feel a certain way, just ask me. Like it to to I feel like you're implying that I'm not making a hard decision. And a hard decision would have
been voting a certain way when I didn't have 300 people the next day being the the next beating me being the mayor pro Tim come up and tell me how racist I am for 3 hours. Okay. I've made hard decisions. I take data and I change my mind based on that. In fact, you in the
last meeting changed my mind on an ordinance because I took new data. >> So I just request in the future just talk with me, man. >> I can't we can't talk about this one. >> We have a meeting right here. You you you can ask at any time in your commissioner's reports at any time at
the workshops. Just talk to me. I want to be a teammate to you. I don't want this. This is You said you don't want to be confrontational. Let's talk about it. >> Okay. I want to be a teammate with you. I want to go forward. I want to do what's best for the city with you by my side. I feel like
>> I don't know there's a miscommunication or something. I've gone to bat for you in the past. Like I want to be your teammate. So, I feel like I don't know. I This is I'm not even mad about it. I'm just kind of like sad about it. I feel like like kind of hurts a little bit.
>> And I get that. Um, you know, this is not something I take any pleasure doing. In fact, I'll be honest. I lose I lost sleep over this about whether to do this or not. I really debated on it. But back to your
your point about data. I did a whole presentation and I did a lot of research on this and I talked about one of them I talked about research before you were on the commission of all the city clerks that I've talked with and I had it broken down by all their functions and
duties on a on the graph on the PowerPoint slide and I explain the different percentage of where city clerks typically fall in different types of government. Yeah, but the data you gave me is not the data what changed my mind is what I'm saying. It's the data I
got from Kiki. So that's kind of irrelevant to what I'm saying. >> Well, thank you for that. Um, for the good of the order, >> but but the whole purpose of me talking about this tonight is that if it requires us doing more
research, then we need to go out and more research. Let me ask you this. How many how many of us went out and talked to other city clerks? because I went and I talked to every city clerk in Bay County and then of course many different city clerks across the state. Has anybody talked to other city clerks to
say, "Hey, how do how do you do this? Is this a good idea?" You have. Okay. Have you talked to other city clerks? >> But my decision was based on the data I just told you. >> Right. And it's our responsibility. It's not a matter of whether you agree or disagree with me. It's a matter of we
need to go out do our research. And if it means we need to go out and do our research, then do it. And if you want to provide just like we we talked about the changing the election, I have my feelings on it. Your feelings might be different on that. That's okay. I don't mind the disagreement part. It
just seems like we're hesitant to make decisions. I feel that this decision was due to outside influences. That's the way I feel about it. And it's not just this. There are multiple other things that I feel like it was outside influences that influenced the
commission's decision. >> Outside influences. Well, I'll say on record, I don't have any outside influences on this. So, for the good of the order, we have an opportunity as a team here to do something that I think we are all in
agreement is good for the city organizationally and functionally moving forward. um that basically segregates a very consolidated and very powerful city manager position. We have a very good city manager who's very capable. Um he
has flat out said he would love to have a city clerk colleague to be able to handle the issues of policy, finance, that type of thing so he can focus on the people and the operations. This will be inherently good just like I think the
seven questions for future uh non-avalorum issues for future commissions. This is an inherently good thing for the organizational structure and function of our city. So if you Tim teammates will go with me. We have a motion in a second. We've had public commentary. City manager, will you call
the role? >> Commissioner Tinder? >> Yes. >> Commissioner War? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles? >> Yes. Commissioner Pero, >> I'm just gonna stay out and vote no. >> Mayor Lowry,
>> yes. >> He said no. >> He said no. And I'm a yes. So the motion passes 41. >> All right. Uh the LA and number 10, final reading of ordinance 1189
proposing amendments to section 24 of the charter regarding residency of the city manager city attorney. >> Again, this one is unchanged from your first reading. If it's approved tonight, I'll bring back language to put on the ballot. Um if this is also moving
forward at the election. So before we discuss this at all, would you like to read the >> Yes, sir. Ordinance number 1189, an ordinance of the city of Linhaven, Florida, proposing an amendment to section 24, article 3 of the city's
charter regarding residency of the city manager, requiring the city manager to establish permanent residence in Bay County within 12 months of his appointment, providing that the proposed amendment shall be effective only upon the approval of referendum as specified
in the ordinance. >> Mayor, may I ask a question? >> Yes, ma'am. I I thought the original one was that he required residency in the city of Lin Haven, not in Bay County.
>> That is correct, Commissioner Tender. Um the way that >> So that got changed? >> No, ma'am. Um the way the current charter it reads, it does require within 12, is it 12 months, city attorney, that they must move to the
>> city of Linhaven. current charter says during his tenure he shall live in the city. >> Okay. So during his tenure he sh the city manager shall he or she shall live in the city. What the charter review committee recommended to the commission
was make it a member of Bay County. They have to reside in Bay County. uh our current city commission. In fact, the three finalists that we hired from, none of the three lived in the confines or the boundaries of Linhaven. So, they
would have to move in. >> Currently, um this this our new city manager lives about 8 and a half miles north of city hall >> versus I live 6 and a half miles southeast of here. So, almost the same distance, just different direction
outside of the boundaries. So, Um, >> okay. It was just it was confusing for me because there like three words in there that have changed >> and I didn't know if we changed them the last meeting or what. >> No, ma'am. This is >> I mean, personally, >> go ahead. >> No, ma'am. This is this is what the
charter review committee briefed us, Cory Langford, the chairman, um, where they were recommending just Bay County. >> Wow. Okay. So there are there are pros and cons, but that was what the charter review
committee uh proposed and put forward to us. We had the first reading last meeting and are set to have the second reading tonight. So is that >> okay? So basically we're voting on number 10 as the final reading and this
will determine whether uh he lives in Bay County or not. Is that correct? partially. So, what this means is it would be the city it would be the city commission uh approving referendum language to go forward to ask voters for
an up or down vote on August 18th if they will approve or deny this proposal. So, this puts it before the voters. >> Um but it can't >> put it before the voters. Okay. for Bay County. >> It can't go before the voters on the
referendum if we don't give it the thumbs up here in the commission. >> Oh, okay. >> Any other questions or discussion amongst the commission for this? >> I make a motion to accept.
>> I'll second. >> I have a motion and a second before we vote. Is there any questions or discussion among the public? Mr. Basher, come on up. I'll try to be real quick. Um, if you're going to do this, I I would
think it might be better and it may be late in the game to make this kind of a change, but to give the commission the discretion to wave the residency requirements for prospective um, city managers, meaning it would give y'all the discretion to say, "Okay,
since you don't look I I'll use Mr. Lightfoot's residency as an example. you live pretty close. Um, so I think it's reasonable to wave the requirement to live in the city, but you may want to somebody that's coming in if they're
moving from Texas and they're moving in here, you're going to want them to move to Linhaven. You're not going to want them to move to Callaway. So, you may want to say at the commission's discretion, you're able to wave the residency requirement of Linhaven or modify the requirement. That's just a a
thought process that I'm having as you look at this. >> Just just my thought. >> Thank you, Johnny. That is interesting. Come on up, Mr. Finch. >> Good evening. James Finch, 410 East Second Street. I
believe Chris, you live closest city you live to is Lin Haven, right? >> Yes, sir. >> So, I mean, it's not like he's living in Callaway or the beach or, you know, whatever, >> right? And what if a man's got a house at a 2% loan and then you make him move and it's
8%. You going to compensate for that or I mean that'd be pretty bad on him. But he lives the closest to L Haven is you know whatever of any city. It's not like he's living in Callaway or the beach or whatever. And I think maybe you know the
city could exempt it or approve it or you know put it in the charter and let the vote people vote on it but it needs to be done but I wouldn't want to lose lose a city manager because he's got to go and get a different loan and the loan would be a tremendous amount. So you'd
have to take that in consideration. >> Yes sir. >> And if he's not doing a good job run him off you know. >> Thank you Mr. Finch. I don't see any of the charter committee members here, so I will speak on their behalf. Um, they did consider giving the commission the
discretion to decide um whether to wave the requirement or to allow him to live within proximity to city limits. And they ultimately decided not to do that to create predictability for potential candidates the next time you find yourself needing to bring a city manager
to town from somewhere else. >> Thank you for that, city attorney. The one thing when I talked to Chairman Langford and I asked what was their kind of uh thoughts behind this, he said you I believe it was 22 or 24 miles from city hall here. You can go in any
direction and you're basically hitting the Bay County line. Now, if you're down on the other end of Panama City Beach and it's Thunder Bike Week, you might take two or three hours to get over here, but in general, you're looking at no greater than 22 24 miles away. Uh and
I typically and I specifically mentioned I live six and a half miles from here. He lives eight and a half miles from here just in a different direction. Right. I live in the city limits as does all the commissioners and the mayor. Uh that is the manager, the police chief, um other key staff. There is no
requirement residency requirement for them as there are for us elected officials. So that's the only thing that I remember from Chairman Langford was they kind of went back and forth and instead of a proximity or trying to come up with a number well is 10 miles radius
or 15 miles radius fair they just decided if you said Bay County that basically gives you 22 to 24 miles in any direction >> and they're a Bay County resident. Period. In the story is that a fair assessment or summary? >> They had that they had that discussion too. Yes.
>> Okay. Is that an accurate depiction? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you for that. All right. So, any other discussion amongst the commission? If not, we've got a motion in a second. Uh, city manager, will you call the role? >> Commissioner Tinder? >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Warick? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry? >> Yes. So, the eyes have it 50. Thank you for that. All right, we are down to new business now. Nomber 11, the formal appointment of my friend Commissioner
Pat Perno as the new mayor pro Tim per rotation established in resolution 2021-08-365. City attorney, >> I apologize. >> Sorry, didn't mean to put you on the spot. >> Um, I think all you need to do is make a motion. I don't know that there's
>> so I actually have two things I want to do here tonight. But the first part, let's go ahead and wrap this up as properly agenda. May I have a motion um to appoint Commissioner Pero uh as the new mayor pro Tim per the standard
one-year rotation amongst the commission. >> Motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Second. >> Thank you, ma'am. I have a motion and two seconds. Um and for the the public, what we have here is the mayor pro Tim
is effectively the deputy mayor. And so if the mayor is out of pocket, um sick, ill, resigns, the mayor pro Tim is the acting mayor, the intram mayor. Um this has happened very recently and but it's
it's four commissioners and it's a four-year term. So during each elected commissioner's four-year term, they will serve as the ma mayor proim or deputy mayor for one of those four years. And this is the normal annual rotation.
So that's what that is. I have a motion and two seconds. So if there is no discussion or questions, I will ask the city manager to call the role. >> Commissioner Ward, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Perno,
>> yes. Yes. >> Commissioner Tinder. >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry. >> Yes. I know you didn't vote no for yourself, Pat. I almost thought you did there. You were so soft. Well, thank you and congratulations, Mayor Pro Tim Pato.
Uh, one other thing I am going to kind of inject here. And this is a surprise to everyone except the city manager. Um, I want to recognize our newly uh relieved mayor pro Tim uh Mr. Sam
Peebles. He is a very humble guy, very softspoken guy, but incredibly thoughtful guy. And during his past year as the mayor pro Tim, I think he has done more as the interim or the acting mayor. Not only was he the mayor for
about two weeks after the former mayor resigned, but while for four to six months prior to the former mayor's resignation, um he was out a lot with a sick father and some other things. And so Commissioner Peebles ended up running
a whole lot of meetings. Some of those were three and four hours long. Uh they were marathons. So you handled the double duty, Commissioner Peebles, with grace. and um you kept the city steadfast and turnurning and chugging right down the
railroad tracks. So, I want to thank you sincerely for that. And as part of that, I secured a 3D printed of the newly approved seal. And uh give me just a moment and I'll I'll do an official
presentation here for you. But I found a couple here that does 3D printing on the Northshore community right here in Linhaven. and I asked them to print this seal for us. Um, so you are the first one to get this and it is it says Mayor
Pro Tim Sam Peebles. And there's actually a little stand for it as well that you can display it, you can hang it on your uh on your wall, whatever you may like. But I wrote on the back of it with today's date and it says and it
says, "Sam, please accept my sincere thanks for your steadfast and humble leadership during a very challenging time in our city's our beloved city's history. It is a pleasure to serve alongside of you on the Linhaven City Commission. Very respectfully, Dave
Lowry, 33rd mayor of Linhaven." >> So, sir, Yes, sir. My privilege. >> All right, with that, >> Mayor Fay. >> Yes, sir. >> Sam, I I just hope that I don't have to
endure what you did this year. Just going to say that and thank you for your grace and your honor. >> Thank you, sir. All right. Number 12 on the agenda. First reading only of ordinance 1187, Finch smallcale future
land use map amendment, director of planning and development. >> Here, let me read the ordinance real quick. >> Yes, sir. Ordinance 1187, an ordinance providing for the adoption pursuant to chapter 163, Florida statutes of a land use change from mobile home park to
mixed use for an approximate 3.42 402 plus or minus acres of property located at 220 2011 West 14th Street, partial number 10223-000000-0000 in the city of Linhaven, Bay County, Florida, repealing all ordinances in
conflict here with and providing an effective date. >> The floor is yours, ma'am. >> Thank you. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. I am met a couple of you but I am Gina Grandpri the new planning and development director.
I believe I have a presentation. I like to do a presentation for planning commission and city commission on situ on all development applications. So that is what I will be doing tonight. I believe that the applicant is I know the
applicant Mr. Finch is here um for you to ask questions following this. So there we go. As city manager lightoot read the ordinance. Uh this is application was
presented to us to change the future land use map at a small it's a small scale future land use map from mobile home park to mixed use. As part of staff's review the application was evaluated under the city's requirements for future land use
map amendments. That review includes the existing designation, the proposed designation, the applicant's justification, potential impacts, and consistency with the comprehensive plan. The property is approximately 3.2 acres and is currently
vacant. Although it has been approved for a mobile home development, under the existing designation, the applicant is requesting mixed use, which allows the property to be considered for a broader range of uses, including residential, commercial, and public or institutional
uses. As you can see, um, and by Whoops, sorry, a little happy here. Uh as you can see by the aerial view located within the property is located within the established part of
the city in near existing streets and surrounding development. The proposed map would change from the mixeduse designation. uh staff reviewed the surrounding areas.
As you can see that it fits within that um existing pattern. So on the north is commercial, south is highdensity residential and to the east and west is the mixed use. The planning commission reviewed this
request at its regular meeting at the um 5th of May. There was no public comment after the discussion. The planning commission voted unanimously 7 to zero to forward a positive recommendation to the city commission. Based on staff's review, the request
meets the applicable review considerations for a future land use map amendment. Staff finds the proposed amendment to is consistent with comprehensive plan and the ULDC and that mixed use is appropriate in this location based on the surrounding future land use pattern. Any future development
will still be required to meet all applicable city code requirements. Tonight's first request is for the first reading only. Staff recommends the city commission conduct the reading of the ordinance as city manager the city manager did for this the Finch small
scale future land use map amendment and provide any discussion or direction as needed. And the applicant Mr. Finch is available for any questions. And that concludes my presentation. I'm happy to answer any
questions. Again, the applicant is here to ask answer questions as well. >> Welcome aboard. >> What was that? >> Welcome aboard. >> Thank you. I'm excited. It's been a whirlwind of a couple weeks. So, >> we're glad to have you and you have a very impressive credentials. Uh,
>> thank you. I worked hard for that. >> You are clearly going to be a force multiplier for our city team. I hope so. I I look forward to working with you. So, >> so you said we had a unanimous 70 recommendation from the planning commission, planning committee, excuse
me. Um, what are your thoughts? >> It meets the code. Um, that's what this is for. it. We do evaluate it according to the comprehensive plan and according to that it it allows for uses to be
changed in accordance to what's surrounding it. And with mixed use on the east and the west and commercial and high density on the north and south, it it would warrant it would we would recommend that you do that. It's consistent with the
comprehensive plan. As planners, we want to stay close to that comprehensive plan and this is a quasi judicial dis um decision and therefore it goes through the public hearing process. So really we
can make a recommendation based off of the code based off the comprehensive plan but is ultimately your decision. It is a legislative decision. So regardless of what the applicant has to put down there, what they propose, it
really comes down to those, you know, we have it outlined in the ULDC what uses are allowed in mixed use. Therefore, you have to consider all of those uses could potentially go in there regardless of what the applicant may have come
forward. uh he could sell it tomorrow and it could change completely from what he had presented. So just keep that in mind in making your decision that mixed use has a number of things that can be potentially put there.
>> Yeah, I watched the planning board meeting so I don't really have any questions and I appreciate you everything you're doing. So you seem very thorough. >> I I that's what I aim to be. I want you to have the best knowledge to make informed decisions and so that it
provides clarity. There's no questions. >> Thanks. >> I actually have a question for Mr. Finch if that's okay. Um, I don't know if you know this or not, but literally every single time I post on Facebook,
uh, hey, we got this new business coming or whatever. Literally every single time someone's like, I wonder what's going on this property over here. So, I love that it's changing to mixeduse because everyone wants something to go there. So, I'm I'm excited about that. Um, I
know that it has nothing to do with our decision tonight, but people keep asking what is going to go there. Do you have any idea what kind of interest has been for that lot? >> Come on up, Mr. Finch.
We going to build a twotory bank on the corner of Florida and Walgreens. And then Culver's looking at the other corn on New York. And then when you put the uh storm water stuff in there, you don't have much left. You know, as I
travel around where I hunt hunt these ponds that everybody has around here, you know, they take half your property and put a pond there. I go to Atlanta, I go to all those other states, walk downtown, I can't find a pond nowhere. Miami, I can't find a pond. Can't find you. But around here, there ponds
everywhere. So we did mixuse, you know. So in the back if you put six or eight apartments in the back back there it's it's adjacent to the apartment complex that's there on the south end and all that but it's a community bank will be going on the corner. Culver's looking at
the restaurant's looking at the other side but uh you know they've not had went to a contract. They're trying to get it approved through a franchisee or whatever but right now it's a community bank. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it,
>> sir. Any other questions or discussion amongst the commission tonight? >> Commissioner Tinder, do you have anything, ma'am? >> Uh, no. I'll make a motion to approve the first reading.
>> Oh, darn. >> Tell you what, we'll uh we'll hold that thought, Commissioner, and uh we'll let you be the the motioner at our next meeting. How's that? >> That works for me. Give me a check on that one. >> Yes, ma'am. All right. Well, thank you
for that. Guess we'll Any other discussions? If not, we'll move forward. All right. Discussion and possible approval of resolution 20265-553, approving the purchase of a new fire
truck. Resolution number 2026-05-553, a resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, approving an agreement with Stingray Chevrolet LLC for the purchase of a 2026 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD crew cab in the amount of $134,561.37.
And this is a rescue truck that we budgeted and planned to purchase this fiscal year. Uh the chief has worked with several different dealers to get the best price possible. Uh, this one is sitting there on the lot will be built out if you all approve tonight. Fire chief, do you have anything you'd
like to add, sir? >> Good evening. >> Good evening, Mayor Commission. Just to add to that, uh, rescue truck. This is part of the fire department's goal to stay ahead of growth. Um, this truck is being specifically built to run BLS EMS
calls, but we're also building it to be a high water vehicle for any kind of storm, high water, flooding, or anything like that. So, it's going to be a dual truck to do all different kinds of things. And correct me if I'm wrong, Chief, but this would also take some of the pressure off uh for you having to
use your million plus dollar trucks. This would save wear and tear. >> Plan for this truck is it's going to take several months to get built. Um so we're looking at the end of summer before it comes in. The plan is to put it at station two and then come back to commission and uh during budgeting to
add three personnel to that to make that station two fully staffed cuz right now we only have three people at that station. One would come off the engine. We'd hire three for each shift. Then we'd have an engine and a rescue and it would take the pressure off that million-dollar truck running all the EMS
calls in the souththeast east side of the city. Um I did my analysis uh this week. Station two at Mosley is almost catching station one here in the middle of the city as far as call volume. Um they're almost equal. So as it were it
used to be station two there was nothing going on. You run three or four calls. They're they're they're competing with station one. So the city is getting very very busy at this time. We really need to stay ahead of growth and we need to really look at the future on how we do that financially, physically and with
personnel. Chief, thanks for you for your leadership here on this and staying point to ground and and ensuring we we try to grow with the growth and be responsive and proactive versus reactive. >> Yes, sir. That uh truck that hopefully
if you approve was about a 4month research trying to get the best price to come up with our budget that we had budgeted. Um we were actually came in a little bit under so it's uh a really good thing for us. We just got to stay ahead of growth.
Thank you, chief. Any questions for the chief? >> No. Motion to approve. >> Got a motion. Do I second? >> Second. >> Got two seconds. That's a good thing. >> All right. Any public discussion tonight or any public questions regarding this?
Hearing none. City manager, would you call the role? >> Commissioner War? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Tender? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry? >> Yes. Thank y'all for that. The eyes have it. All right. On to 14. Discussion and
possible approval of resolution 2026-05-554 amending the fee schedule to include fees for the hometown heroes banners. >> A resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, amending chapter 42 of the fee schedule in appendex A of the Linhaven
Code of Ordinances and providing for an effective dates. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. So, we come back for a change in the fee schedule. Um, the Hometown Hero Banners fees have not been in the fee schedule prior to this, and my understanding is
they're getting ready to hang them again um for Memorial Day. So, the decision was made to try and add this. >> And what is the new fee schedule for this? So, for a a new banner, year one would
be $100. Um, and then for the rehanging each year, it would be $50 for year two and year three. And then the banners are retired after three years. Get back on the list. >> And mayor, this is for research. This is about the standard uh pricing throughout
the country for this program. It's become a pretty popular program and the the fees mirror just about everywhere. I I see this with Panama City, too. Uh down on Harrison Avenue lot. It's definitely a hometown pride patriotic
kind of thing. I think it's great. Um and the just to clarify the the banners, they typically have about a three-year life expectancy in the heat and the sun, right? >> Yes, sir. And then we had discussed staff as well to change the design after three years as well, so you're keeping
something that looks a little newer um instead of using the same thing over and over. Gotcha. Okay. Any questions among the commission? >> No. >> Mayor, I will add that we did bring a fee schedule update last meeting and
then we're bringing you this one as we work through uh work through things. Uh we will likely have several more items that have to be added to the fee schedule just to make sure we're accounting for everything. Um and uh Miss Marsh is also working on updating the fee schedule in an Excel
sheet so it's a little easier to read than the current Word document. Would it be um too complicated if someone said, "Hey, I just want to pay for the all three years and pay $200 and be done with it." >> We wouldn't collect it every year. Be
>> Well, that would make it too complicated. >> I would think from an accounting purpose that Miss Roman would frown upon collecting it at one time and keeping a record of who's doing that. So, could we do that or it would be too complicated? >> Okay.
>> Okay. That's great, Miss Roman. So, it's kind of like old Harry Truman. He had the little name plate that said, "The buck stops here. We need to get you one that says we'll take your money." That's awesome. Right. Well, thank you for that. Any other questions? If not, can I
get a motion to approve? >> A motion to approve. >> Thank you. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Um, any I'll open the floor for questions about this. Any thoughts, questions, discussion? Hearing none. Thank you.
City manager, would you call? >> Commissioner Peebles? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Warick? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Tinder? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry? >> Yes. You did right, Judy. All right, we're on to 15 now. Discussion and possible
approval of resolution 2026-05-555 accepting the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Construction Loan Agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. City Manager. Resolution 2026-05-5555, a resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, relating to the state revolving
fund loan program, making findings authorizing execution of a clean water state revolving fund construction loan agreement WW03250 with the state of Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of 13,289,215
authorizing the loan agreement establishing pledged revenues designating authorized representatives, providing asurances, providing for conflicts, severability, and an effective date. Mayor, back in December, I believe it was, the commission approved the resolution to submit the
loan agreement for the SRF loan for the influent pump station and the headworks of the wastewater treatment plant as we are required to do for a capacity uh expansion as well as the consent order that the city was given for the wastewater treatment plant. We did receive approval back on the SRF loan
after several uh submitts of of different things the department uh requested. This resolution will accept the loan agreement. We are not bidding the project out yet. We still have some things to work on uh before we do, but it will allow staff to accept the loan and then to come back to the commission
when the time is um when the time is right for the um rate study findings uh to make a decision to go to either Bay County or to build this and then to make a decision. The first loan payment is not due until 2028. >> I would like to add one comment. Um your
resolution identifies three loan three existing loans that will be uh senior debt. They will be paid ahead of this loan. I have reached out to the state um because the contract itself doesn't expressly address at least one of those contracts and I
wanted to get clarification on that. So there may be a slight delay in asking for your signature on this until I get that issue cleaned up. >> Miss Kiki, do you have anything you want to add here, ma'am? Add >> either way. Yes,
>> mayor. I will note in there, it's in your packet, but just for the public, uh, the loan rate on this is 2.45%. Uh it's for a period of 20 years. The debt service payments is $439,751 semianually. And like I said, that first
payment would be due October 15th, 2028. >> What was the total amount again? >> $13,574,615. >> Any questions, commissioners? >> Motion to approve. >> Got a motion. Can I get a >> second? Thank you, sir. Got a motion in
a second. Uh any up, Mr. Basher. >> Sorry, I just Will this 13 million be borrowed immediately on when y'all pass this or does it wait until you actually get your bids back and and start projects? >> Yes, sir. We do not get any of this or we we do not borrow the money until we
execute this and put the project out for bid and begin construction. >> I just wanted to get clarification on that. Thank you. No worries. Thank you for that. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? Hearing none. City manager, would you call the role? >> Commissioner Warick. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Pero? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Tinder? >> Yes. >> Mayor Lowry? >> Yes. Eyes have it. Thank you. All right. 16. discussion and possible approval of resolution 2026-05-556
awarding the service agreement for cemetery lawn care services to GrowPro LLC city manager >> resolution 2026-05-556 a resolution of the city of Linhaven Florida approving a 4-year agreement with Grow Grow LLC relating to the
provision of lawn care at Mount Hope and Linhaven Cemeteries in an annual amount not to exceed $49,939 $9.50. Mayor, we put this project out to bid. A total of uh six bids were received with GrowPro being the apparent low bidder.
Um this will save us approximately $6 to $8,000 a year as they under bid the current provider. >> Okay. Any questions among the commission? >> No. Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Thank you, gentlemen. Any questions among the
public tonight on this? All right. Hearing none. Would the city manager call the role? >> Commissioner War. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Pero. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Peebles. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Tinder. >> Uh yeah. Yes.
>> Mayor Lowry. >> Yes. Eyes have it. Thank you for that. 17. Discussion and possible approval of resolution 2026-0557 awarding the contract for bulk aluminum sulfate to Univar Solutions. City
Manager. Resolution 2026-05-557, a resolution of the city of Linhaven, Florida, approving an agreement with Univar Solutions relating to the provision of bulk aluminum sulfate and an amount not to exceed $55,000. And mayor, this is a chemical used at
our wastewater treatment plant. It was time to bid bid the um supply out. We did receive three bids um as well as some no bid notifications. Univar is the apparent low bidder at a dollar uh 1.2 242 per gallon and this will save us
just a few thousand dollar annually. Not a substantial amount, but it gives us a contract to to go off of. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Any questions among the commission? >> Make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> I got a motion and a second and no questions. I'll open it to the the
public. Uh any questions tonight on this hearing? None. City manager. >> Commissioner Tinder. >> Yes. >> Commissioner War. >> Yes. Commissioner Peoples, >> yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Mayor Lowry, >> yes. Thank you all for that. The eyes
have it. 18. Discussion and possible approval of moving forward with bidding out James Roger Park improvement. City manager. >> Yes, sir. This project uh was part of the hurricane uh Michael rebuild. Um we did design the project uh back in August. You all approved a final design.
We we finished up the plans. Uh the cost opinion is just under $1.1 million. That money is in fiscal year 26 uh budget. However, it is part of the disaster recovery uh budget that is in the negative. So, the general fund will be affected by doing this project. We do
get a lot of questions from the public on when this project will be built. Uh so, instead of just bidding it out, we wanted to bring it to the commission and ask direction on moving forward or placing the project on hold indefinitely. Um, as I said, the money is in fiscal year 2026 budget, but it
will be coming out of the general fund because the disaster recovery, as we all know, has we've expensed all the funds from that. And on page 152 of your packet, that is the cost opinion that has been broken down by each item. Um, so the commission can
take a couple different actions tonight. One, approve the project to go out to bid um as the plans were finalized back in August. two, put the project on hold, or three, you can say we want to bid out the stormwater pond and a playground or the stormwater pond and a basketball court. Um, or we can bid the entire
project out, and once we bring it to the commission for award, um, you all can decide what to award, if any, at that time. Um, the way we've seen some prices, it could come in at $700,000 or it could come in at 2 million. uh prices have been coming down slowly on
projects. So there is a chance it comes in below the cost opinion, but we will not know until we bid it out. >> So commissioners, let's uh let's kind of have a frank discussion here. Um so there was 1.1 million uh in FY26
and Miss Roman, refresh my memory, please. How much did FEMA come back and what was the word you used? deobligated or >> unobligated. >> How's that? Oh, good. Much better.
>> Um, FEMA unobligated $3 million. Uh, not specifically for this parks project. That was just overall throughout all the projects. Uh however that is not the end of the unobligation in my opinion. I believe that there's
more money coming. As uh city manager informed you, we did budget a million1 uh for this park in the disaster recovery fund. However, there are no FEMA funds available currently. So we
whatever you decide to do with that park will ultimately be paid for out of the general fund. >> Thank you for that. >> Right. So fellow commissioners, this is uh kind of the open discussion time frame. Y'all let's talk about what your
initial first blush thoughts are and what y'all are thinking on right now and what you recommend we uh we do moving forward from here. What do we have in the general fund is about 15 million >> thereabouts? I can >> 51 I thought
>> 15 um >> in the You're asking for the cash number in the general fund. Is that what the question was? >> Yes. >> One moment please. I'll for you. >> You mean the reserves, not the not the cash? >> Oh, the reserve the reserve number or the
>> Oh, no. Well, this is what I'm concerned with. 15 million 9 I believe >> is um we have a payment every year for the disaster recovery bond. What are we up to? About 22 million. >> The the balance on the disaster service
21 million and change. >> 21 million and change. >> The annual debt service is 2.7 million for the disaster recovery bond. >> So let's just say we don't get any more money from FEMA, right?
And we got to pay 2.7 million a year. >> Correct. Until >> So you're talking that money will be dried up in about seven years. >> Until 33. The the bond uh terminates in 2033.
>> So six years. Okay. That's kind of what I'm pitching with everything is that and this because I think we're all under the impression that we were going to get funding for this from FEMA, pay for this, and now
we're not. And it's just I don't know what to do. I'm >> there is very little more money coming in from FEMA. >> Very little. >> This is a very popular and desired thing, but if you don't have the money,
you don't have the money. I mean, the end of the day, we've got to be physical responsible stewards of the taxpayer dollars. So, but I don't know if there's a mix to be had in that or a yeah, but or a different option or alternative funding, but
go ahead. I saw you. >> I I guess this is what's going through my mind right now is I'm thinking the top priority needs to be storm water because that that location is horrible for storm water. I don't know if you ever seen it when it rains, but it it floods badly.
>> It has $200,000 in the in the line item among storm water, >> right? >> What exactly is that? And there's a ditch at the very back there. >> So that that $200,000 in the cost opinion is to construct the storm water facilities uh for the for the park. Um
will that help with the flooding in that area a little bit? Yes. Will it solve all the flooding issues? No. I think there's still one house there that has flooded in the past. That house has not flooded since 2019. Um, >> talking about that one on the corner there. >> Yes, sir.
>> So, it's gotten better. I I know when they did 390 and they redid the ditches, it better, >> but I don't know. >> I'm not going to sit up here and say that constructing that pond will solve all storm water issues in that area and the house will never flood again cuz that is not not accurate. It will help,
but it is not guaranteed that the flooding will be resolved because of that $200,000 pond being built. >> Understood. On the site map in the package, excuse me, on the site map in the package, there's a large empty lot behind the park. Is that is that the
land that belongs to Royal American that's going to be expanded from the uh reserve at Northshore? Is that >> the the land you're talking about? I don't think there's anything being built um as part of the apartment complex that they're building. >> I mean, is it owned by Royal American?
>> It is owned by Royal American. Yes, sir. >> Okay. I know. Uh mean is that part of their expansion though? We I mean, you know, the road that comes out at Jinx there uh just past Bradley Circle. Um >> Yes. Or that road that's freshly tied
into Jinx is the the new driveway into the apartment. >> The new driveway for their for their additional apartment and assisted living that they're going to have. >> Is that going to branch all the way back there? I mean that is that land going to get built out is what I'm saying. It doesn't to my if I remember right on the
plans it does not go all the way to the ditch there. I think there's some wetlands and some woods that stays there. >> I don't think you'll be able to see the neighborhood uh the Bair neighborhood from that apartment complex. Either way it's not going to be popular decision. Is there any way of funding it
another way with uh the storm water a different way on this project uh as as a storm water project on its own? Um not and it won't be it won't be I know it'll still be general it will it will still have to be funded right it would be very
hard to justify using storm water department money to build a storm water pond for a park. >> I agree completely. Not so much as it would be for a park as it would be for the for the storm water in the area.
>> Yeah. But >> but it would end up being for the park. >> Be a stretch. And at almost every meeting, the last six meetings, we've talked about the storm water nonadvalorum and how we shouldn't have one. Um we most definitely don't have $200,000 in the storm water department
to to construct the pond uh for that. But if we did it, if we did peace work and did budget the and and and bid out the $200,000 storm water, it
would help the park and it would help the houses. Yes, sir. So, you could vote tonight to bid the project out as it sits in these plans. Once the bids come back, we will bring it to the commission to award, and you all can decide which part of those bids to award at that at
that time. You can award just the pond. You could award the pond and the basketball court, the pond and the playground. >> So that way we could we could give we could give something, but not, you know, >> if the bids come back with prices for each, you can value engineer it out and decide what you all want to award at
that time. >> So we can descope it once the bids come back. >> Yes, sir. >> How much we spent on designing of this? I >> think we've spent around $60,000, Bobby, on the design. Yeah.
>> Wouldn't the finan just from a dollars and cents point of view, wouldn't it be better just to It's not going to be popular, but would it not be better to table this? >> I would ask not to table it. I would ask you all to make a decision tonight because staff is being inundated with
calls on what is happening with this park and it would be good to tell people what is happening. I'd like to make a motion that we'd go ahead and we go ahead and bid it and then when it comes back, we have this conversation, this tough conversation about what we what we
what we put on the job versus anything at all. That way, at least we're we're making the effort till the end with the with the people that are asking for it. So, >> so we'll have an opportunity to say nyx the whole thing, do the whole thing, or do parts of it. >> Yes, sir. when we bid it out and the bids come back. You all can reject all
bids and say we're not doing the project or you can >> and you know and we'll face it together with the with the residents and find out what's the most important thing to them. If they wanted one thing, you know what I mean? Or two things, what can we do? You know, so >> I'll second the motion.
>> I have a motion and a second. Um any public dis I have any public discussion or questions tonight? Johnny, I see you chomping at the bit. Come on up, >> mayor. >> Ma'am,
>> I do. I'm sorry. I'm coming in the ball game here. >> No worries. >> Um, this whole thing here, uh, can Kiki tell me was any of the, uh, $12,11 we gave to Panhandle Engineering for
figuring this up, >> what what was that for? You mean on are you referring to the checklist, Commissioner Tender? >> Yeah, yeah, I'm referring to Yes, I am. >> They have not had an invoice for this park in a while. >> The the $12,100
>> Excuse me. >> Go ahead. >> The $12,11 are for ADA design and the rails to trails water loop. >> Did you hear that, Commissioner Tender? >> It had nothing.
Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Certainly. But what is it we're voting on >> right now? Mr. Bashers is up to for public comment. Then I I'll tell you the motion. >> Okay. All right. >> So, everybody loves parks. We all know
that. We all know that it would be great to put a park there. Um this is one of those leadership chances that you got a decision to make. It's not going to be popular. Um, the money is just not there to do this park right now. You can bid it out, but you're going to utilize the
city's time to put those bids together and send them out with no clear understanding of when you get them, how much money you've got to spend. If you decide tonight to spend 200,000, send it out for the storm water pond. But if you just send it out for bid, you're taking up your your contractor's times, the
people that are going to bid on this, bid in good faith that they've got a good chance to get that reward and get that money. And if that's not the case, you need to do something different. Me, if I was a contractor, I would not want to spend my time and effort going through the motions to fill out forms and bids and do the actual numbers and
put all that together to give you if there wasn't a good chance that it was going to go through. Um, I think you're going to end up using the city's time and your prospective contractor's time when that I really don't think this project's going to be approved. You need to decide, do you want to approve this project or do you not want to approve
this project? Spend the money or not spend the money. It's a fair point, Mr. Basher, and thank you for that. >> I just asked Mr. Lightfoot how much time it would take, but since a lot of it's already been done. So, this bid is ready to go, Mayor. It can be >> take that much time, >> right?
>> And and people have their cost in line. I mean, you you put it out, they they answer. I mean, contractors. >> So, it would run it would be advertised for 30 days, but I feel that we would get numerous bids on this project.
But it comes back to we don't have any dollars in the piggy bank to cover it. Now, we might be able to allocart a little bit. If we're talking about just improving storm water, drainage on the park, okay, fine. But I mean, this is we're basically sitting at a kitchen
table. We have just enough money to pay our bills and we're talking about a trip to Vegas here. We just don't have it. So, I know that's a metaphor, but we just we don't have it in the piggy bank right now. Mayor, if I may, we're talking about the residents of Bair, >> right,
>> that had their that that had their park kind of taken away from them and and was supposed to be built back like the promise that was made for people for after the hurricane. >> Yes, sir. >> And I I think we we we owe it to them to at least go to the 11th hour with them
with the with with with the issue at hand with the city is, hey, we're going to bid it. We we got the work here, but we don't have the money. But what what's the most important thing to you? If we could do one or two things this year, you know, we could keep it we could keep
it in the ropes. Once you once you bid it and start with somebody, they'll value engineer with you. If I'm not mistaken, the contractor say, "Okay, you got this much money this year. He still has the job the next year. We'll put a little more money at it. Do something else." >> And and and things change along the way.
But I I mean we're we're I know I know what you're talking about what you're saying, but when you get down to the people that live in those houses and what they want for their neighborhood, I I think I think that that's my that's my point of view. So,
>> thank you for that, Commissioner Pero, because I didn't Hang on just a second. I didn't have that background in the park with the residents there, so I didn't know that. >> So, thank you. We did have several neighborhood meetings out there throughout the design of this project and heard feedback from from the
residents and commissioner Tinder. The motion um is to move forward with bidding the project out and then making a decision once the bids come back. There was a motion by Commissioner Pero and a second by Commissioner War.
>> Okay. So if so when the bids come back we don't have to accept any of them or accept all of them >> doesn't lock us into one. >> Okay. >> Mr. Masher, thank you for your feedback.
Uh any other questions before we we move to a vote here? Hearing none. City Manager. Call the RO, please. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Warick, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tinder, >> yes.
>> Mayor Lowry, >> no. All right. So, 40 or 401, excuse me. 19 discussion only on the city parkour. City manager. >> Yes, sir. We've had um I'm sure you all have received several complaints in the
past few weeks about some homeless issue um down at Porter Park. We think we have that remedied. Uh but that brought some issues up. Um also in some conversations with the police department, our ordinance is very vague on park hours. Um so before we brought you an ordinance change, just want to have a general
discussion um to consider putting park hours on each park. uh whether it was dawn to dusk, you know, 30 minutes before sunset, 30 30 minutes after or 30 minutes before sunrise, 30 minutes after sunset at every park aside from the sports park in Kane Griffin, which we
would ask to be um open until 10:00 p.m. because there's basketball courts, pickle ball courts, etc. that's used there late at night. Um and also in the ordinance, we would likely discuss putting restrictions on pets on the picnic tables under the pavilions at
parks. Um, we've had some issues where some of the folks that were gathered down there just let their dog, they tied the dog to the picnic table, let the dog lay on top of it. Um, and then when they've left, you know, they came in for a kid's birthday party. Um, not very sanitary. Um, so we asked to kind of
restrict that. Um, just wanted to hear some feedback. I know. Commissioner Peebles, I talked with him about some issues he had received. Um, on the Porter Park issue, um, Commissioner Wart had had got the same calls or same messages. Um, so just kind of wanted to hear some feedback from you all before
we bring an ordinance uh revision to you. >> Yeah, I think uh it's very important to figure out these hours just to make the police job easier because I was kind of I talked with chief and deputy chief about it and that's kind of they both kind of said the same thing is like well
I mean we have an ordinance but there's really nothing to enforce. So, so but I think the one thing that I think it was uh Deputy Chief Ingfinger had a really good point is or suggestion is um you know
we might want to have a caveat in Porter Park with the if we go with let's say uh hypothetically we go with 30 minutes after sundown maybe we say besides the bridge >> and the boat ramp. >> Yeah. because um there's many people
that go like before the sun comes up, people go out on their boat after the sun goes down, people walk the bridge. There's quite a few people that walk the bridge after the sun goes down cuz that's the perfect time to get some exercise in. So, I think that's an important caveat to add, but I'm
definitely a proponent of the hours because our ordinance talks about not to be at a park after it closes, but we there's no official closing time. So, how can you how can you enforce that? >> I was meant to read that, too. So, section 42-13 subsection B of the ordinance states,
"No person shall be admitted or allowed to remain in any city park after the designated closing hour except for the purpose of camping where designated or as approved by the Department of Leisure Services. First off, I don't think we have any park we allow camping. Second off, the closing hour is not mentioned
anywhere in the ordinance." So, we just want to specify the the hours for each park. And mayor, >> go ahead. Ma'am, >> on uh on this subject, uh what about what is it accommodate for the people who've been down there and fish all
night off the ve off the bridge? >> Yes, ma'am. That's what Commissioner Peoples was referring to is the the bridge for fishing and the boat ramp uh would be excluded from those park hours um like at Porter Park. Okay. That would be specifically for like the pavilions and the playgrounds and the bathrooms
there for the for the people that are using those. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> So, what's your recommendation? Uh half hour before sunset, half hour after sunrise, and with the exception of what Commissioner Peoples brought up
>> for for Porter. Yes, sir. And then from for the sports park and for Kane Griffin, we would do from I believe it's 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Um, whatever Justin and Tai would recommend for the opening, but 10:00 p.m. would be the closing. Uh, Kinsaw, uh, talked to Justin last night
would be about 9:30. That allows for the practices to end and for people to get out of the park except for fishing there at Kinsaw as well. >> Okay, I'm good with that. Yeah, as long as I mean I trust the staff's recommendation on hours more
than my own. Um, but yeah, we definitely need the hours though. So, if commission's good with that, we will. >> Go ahead, Commissioner Tender. >> Hey, >> I want to ask this. Is this going to put an extra heavy burden on the police
department to enforce this or who's going to go down there and drive around every day? But with the conversation with the police department, this will actually make their job a little easier because they will actually have some teeth to to utilize to to get people out of the park if they need to um that are
there after hours. Currently, they can't make them leave because it says after closing hour, but there is no closing hour. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Like Commissioner Peeles, I'm good with this. If you want to draft it up, we can formally review it and bless it our next
meeting. Thank you, >> Commissioner Pero. You got anything to add? You're good. I should say, uh, Mayor Pro Tim. Um, all right. So, that's 19 done. There was no vote needed for that. Number 20,
discussion and possible approval of moving forward with bidding out the construction of M0044 Florida and Ohio Avenue corridor improvement project. City manager. >> Yes, sir. So, this is similar to the James Rogers Park except this uh project is grant funded. However, the cost
opinion once we got the plans 100% complete is significantly higher than the grant. Um, but we didn't want to bid the project out and then bring it to you all and have to put some CRA funding with it. Um, and you all reject the bid. So, we wanted to discuss it before. Um, we are recommending bid the project out
and likely award Florida Avenue from 7th to 9th Street with the downtown improvements. That would likely use every bit of the grant funding as well as some CRA funds that would have to go with it. Um, one, the downtown project like city of Panama City did, it is a
significant construction undertaking. Um, it would be very similar to ours except we're not digging up the entire road. We're going over top the over top of the existing. So, it would not be as significant of a construction impact though it would be a pretty significant um time.
>> So, what kind of above and beyond financial impact are we looking at here? So, if you go to page 179 of your packet, um there's a cost opinion broke down by the different phases. Uh phase 1 A, uh the cost
opinion with a 10 10% contingency, um is around $5.3 million and phase 1B is $4.3 million. Um, so if we're able to do the 9th, the 7th, uh, on Florida Avenue, we
have approximately $4.1 million, I believe, left. So if it comes in directly on the cost opinion, uh, the city, the CRA would have to add 1.2 million to it to complete it. >> Do they have that much slop in the jar to be >> Roman is diligently going on her laptop
right now? You can see the smoke coming off the keyboard as she looks for that number. That's a hell of a lot of couch cushion change. But >> I'm sorry, the question is about the CRA commitment. >> Could the CRA bridge that roughly $1.2
million gap though if we went ahead with the first phase? >> It depends on the timeline. Could they um do it today? Yes, but it would override all the other budget items. So um I would say that it would have to be
done in phases. We couldn't do it in one year >> and likely if we move forward with bidding this project out by the time it's time to award the project we will be in fiscal year 27 or right at fiscal year 27 and could add more in the budget for that to cover it >> reshifting around some of the existing
CRA projects. >> CRA director, do you have any thoughts here you you care to enlighten us with and your thoughts? Sure. >> Good evening, mayor, commissioners. >> Uh what you see the cost estimates
uh that you seen in the agenda packet is just an educated guess. Um fact is that if we want to move forward with this project, we have to bid it out otherwise the state will never grant us any funding for this. So once we know once
we get these bids um for the individual phases we know exactly how much it will cost and at that point we can determine how we can pay for these phases. Maybe we might be able to afford phase 1 A and
phase 1B at the same time. We have seen this in the past with the Tennessee Avenue project for example. It was the cost estimate was at 1.2 2 million to construct it and it came in at 623.
So well below the anticipated budget and that's why I'm saying right now what you see there is an educated guess. We know for a fact whenever we get the bid u numbers in then we know for sure how much it will cost.
So my recommendation would be to advertise um the bid u the bidding this project and then take it from there and then decide which phase we should focus on. >> And we'll make a note that typically we
do not bring the to the commission to ask to bid a project out. Uh but with the likelihood of this coming in over budget as far as what we have for the grant uh we wanted to bring it to the commission and discuss it before bidding it out. We may bid it out and there may be no dollar spent from the CRA. It may
be 100% able to be expensed uh from the grant funding. >> And once you bid it out, we have to accept a bid. >> You don't have to accept the bids. You can reject all bids. But if we do, if we do reject the bids, we will forego the grants, >> right? >> And
>> then we'll have a better idea of whether we can do this in phases or >> whatnot, >> out of pocket versus a grant, right? And timelines on the grants. Are there expiration dates on the grant?
>> Is there anything specifically timesensitive to this? >> Yes sir. There is a a time time stamp on the grant >> which is that kind of sunsets when you know by chance >> as of today um the the grant agreement
will sunset in September of this year. We already submitted uh a request to extend the the grant by another 12 months. So that would if we were to advertise the construction now, this would give us enough time to actually do the construction and to fully utilize
the grant amount that was awarded to us. And if if we bid this out and it comes in where we can only do a portion of one phase, then we would submit that to the funding source. they would approve it and then you all would approve moving forward with it. Again, not expensing
any money out of the city's pocket. >> So again, we can just scope it just like the other we talked with the James >> as long as the funding source approves. Yes, sir. >> I make a motion to approve. >> Go ahead, Commissioner Tender.
>> Oh, did he make a a a motion to approve it? >> Yes, ma'am. We're uh we're still kind of I was trying to ask you and the other two commissioners if y'all had any thoughts on this. >> Oh, I got lots of thoughts on this one. >> Well, go ahead.
>> Um I I've been watching this very carefully and Ben has been keeping up with me on, you know, uh where we're at with things and stuff. Um the timing of this is going to be crucial for all the
businesses located in that area number one and and all the work. I hope they do it in the middle of summer so they can work all night instead of during the day. And I just I just mostly want to
keep in the foreground the fact that the elderly shop down there. They eat across the street. um they eat at our place. We now have a new slice house pizza coming to open up any day right across the street
from us. And uh we have of course a wild route, but the elderly are on canes and they're on walkers. And I just want that to be kept uh kept in mind when we do this so we're not doing something that
just turns into a big shutdown in that area. >> Yeah. And that's all I really have to say. I watched it like a hawk to see what's happening next. >> I've got a few thoughts, too, but I want to respectfully defer to the other commissioners first. Commissioner
Peeles, do you have anything, sir? >> I think we need to go ahead and approve this before the time runs out so we don't lose the grant money and then go from there. >> Mayor Pro Tim Pero. Um Um I will I'll
second the motion by Commissioner War. The the fundamental difference here is we have a grant uh and we don't know how much it's going to cost. We will have a better idea of cost once you actually
run this around. Uh and if we say no on this one, unlike the other one where it's completely out of pocket, we have $4.1 million in grants uh and a very possible $1.2 $2 million gap we'd have
to fund if we press forward. But if we do nothing, we lose the 4.2 or $4.1 million grant. Correct. >> That's right. And as a reminder, it's the CRA would fund it, not general fund. >> Fair point.
Now, one question then, do you have that much in your couch cushions? and the CRA if if that's what it takes to bridge just that first phase. Let's say it comes in on the high end and it's 5.3 and we get a grant for 4.1. Are you
comfortable with that 1.2 million delta in the CRA for the CRA given area? >> I think that's a question to be answered once the bids come in and we look at what time it is. Um, as far as where we fall within the fiscal year and the and the budget, >> it's it's about setting priorities by
the CRA board. Um, if we focus on this project, which I think is a very important project, then we we may have to put other CRA projects that I'm currently working on on hold >> and but then they eventually will come back whenever the >> becomes a financial balancing at that
point and just prioritizing what we're going to do with our CRA funds at that juncture. Okay, good with that. Um, so we have a motion and a second. Uh, before we vote, do is there any uh comments from the public on this
particular topic? Johnny, you're unusually quiet. You're good on this one, huh? You're going to pass. All right. Well, hearing none, city manager, will you call the role? >> Commissioner Warick, >> yes. >> Commissioner Pero, >> yes. >> Commissioner Peebles, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tinder,
>> yes. >> Mayor Lowry, >> yes. All right. And last, but certainly not least, item number 21 before public commentary. This was the ad that Commissioner Peebles asked for, and that is the ULDC kind of way ahead discussion.
>> Yeah. And Commissioner Peeles was funny brought uh Miss Grand Prix and I had this conversation about 3:30 this afternoon on our next steps uh after the workshop we had um with Ray Greer. So, just do kind of want to hear some feedback. We were planning on scheduling one-on- ones uh with each of you, but
since you brought it up tonight, let's discuss it here publicly and decide, you know, do do we want to do more workshops to look at the ULDC and the comp plan or do we want to continue the zoning route uh that was t um kind of initially chosen. I don't think that that's the
desire after the workshop from the commission. Um we had anticipated, you know, putting $200,000 in fiscal year 27's budget for the zoning. Uh but we can still put money in the budget of fiscal year 27 to go the consulting route whether it's zoning or or the
updates or we can kind of do it a piece at a time in house and bring to the commission uh via workshops and then you all decide on the changes. >> So I'll open up the floor here. Commissioner Peele, since you asked for this, would you like to start us off, sir?
>> Sure. that I mean that kind of starts it for me. But I just wanted to pick y'all's brains since sunshine long because I think it's time uh the ulc has been put on hold for too long and I think after that workshop we had to me it seemed pretty evident that we can do
what we wanted to do with zoning with the ulc. So let's update the uldc and let's figure out the steps we want to take as a team to figure out to make that happen. what our first off we need to know what our goal is when before we're changing it but I don't know if
the one-on- ones make sense or a workshop I kind of uh like the one-on- ones um and then when we get together publicly we can talk about it >> just because people tend to >> I don't know have more defined what they
priorities that they want uh when it's a one-on-one and then we'll bring it publicly to discuss but I'm not that's not like a hill I want to die on um Whatever route we want to take, I just want to get that discussion in our brains so we can kind of start working towards that together because we got to
we got to do it. >> Agreed. >> Other commissioners, Commissioner Tender, do you have something uh you'd like to add, ma'am? >> Um, no, I don't think so.
>> I approve. Let's go. Commissioner Wart, >> I mean, I'm of the opinion um when I brought this up before that we should do the comp plan first because that's supposed to >> Yeah. >> be your vision of what you want the city
to look like and that helps guide what you want in ULDC. >> I'm fine with that. I think that is an a really good idea because that covers what you said. our vision on what we want to do before we change the LDC. So, >> and I also want to sit down with the
planning director. I haven't sat down with her. I'm hopefully this Friday. I'll see I'll see if I can get with her, but I'd like to pick her brain. And it's really good to have someone with a different perspective from a different place to to come here, provide their perspective. So,
>> there is an old Florida farmer term for this and it's called plan your work then work your plan. And we need that comprehensive overarching guidance. Jimmy Buffett would call it the navigational swim lanes or the navigational beacons. Let's establish
those and uh press forward and update our ULDC. Mayor, I've got to practice this a little bit, but Mayor Pro Tim Perno, your thoughts, sir. >> I'm good with whatever you want to do.
>> Well, it sounds like we're in just about violent agreement. Is that enough uh guidance for you out of the commission? >> Do you all want uh some workshops or do you want to just kind of start with one-on- ones um with staff and then kind of build out from there and then have a workshop? >> How about this? How about we have our
brand new planning director sit down and do an initial hardcore scrub um and identify key areas that we need to focus in on that you need inputs from us on because a lot of this is going to be very technical and functional subject
matter expertise centric. Right? Let's figure out where the gaps and seams are and let's all come together and literally have meaningful input. But let the pros take the first whack at this and then we'll jump in. That way we don't put too many cooks in the kitchen up front
>> and you go ahead and get your boy base started and then we'll come in and help where we're needed. >> That work for everybody? >> All right. All right. Um now we're down to the new item 22. We have public commentary. We
have two up. First we have Miss Jerry Parker. Miss Parker, come on down. Oh, public commentary. >> Good evening. >> Good evening, ma'am. Um I want to just um give some information in reference to um I went to
a candidate forum about a week a little bit over a week ago and um there's one person in particular um I had seen a post on our beacon about um David Aosta. I guess he was a Callaway um resident
that went that um tried to go for a commission seat and he didn't um he didn't win. So, but anyway, um he was very um um comparable to um Jim Norton, who was
one of the candidates. And um I just want to give y'all some information regarding that because I know that Christy Maroy sent y'all information. Um so, I did a little text to him. So, I just said, "Just FYI,
I just read what you said about Norton. Let me give you a situation that took place with Norton and a citizen, a St. Joe citizen at Piggly Wiggly. He demeaned that person and kept yelling, and I'm not going to say the verbal word, but f you loudly inside the store
um several times at the other person and others heard his vocal words. So, no, I will never support a piece of crap like that ever. And he's a superintendent of schools. This man is Jim Norton. um not a good person speaking to someone
like that and he doesn't deserve a seat in Congress in my opinion. So, I just wanted to let y'all know about Jim Norton. He's not a good person and he should not be able to run. Do you have something to say, Jamie? >> I'm just trying to figure out if this is
the forum for this. >> Well, I just I just wanted to give this information because Christy had given y'all information in reference to this. So, that's the reason why I'm giving y'all the information in reference to this. Y'all don't have to agree with me or anything, but I'm just saying that
this is the information that I'm giving. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you, ma'am. Mr. David Wagner. >> Mr. Wagner, I like your hat, sir. It's very patriotic. Thank you, sir. I'd like to very humbly thank you for the opportunity to be here. I'm from 1506 Illinois Avenue,
David Wagner. It's great to hear from Mrs. Tender voice. Um, hello to our new uh city stewards. Thank you for all you've turned things around in this city. Um, but I have a problem with the parks. Um, I may run out of time.
Everyone likes the term walk in the park. Sounds good and free. It's what we all want. Things were pretty difficult for some of us back in previous years where things were not as ethical as they are now. Um, once I was passing by some basketball kids after I played tennis
and I just innocently asked to play basketball, thinking they might play four-on-one, etc. I was caught off guard by the actions of this one kid because they're all coached to be afraid of guys or strangers, whatever. It was very strange. And I simply said, "Hey, I'm
not a bad guy. I live around here." Turns out within a half an hour, him and his parents called the police and there were four squad cars at my house an hour later thinking I'm some kind of a predator. I'm a E6 retired Air Force, 31 years of Department of Defense,
background checks for 32 years. Would never break the law cuz I have pinching. My wife's sitting back there. I love her. It turns out that really I found out weeks later the kid got with his parents and that's what they Okay, I'm reading. Okay. Anyway, the cops took it
what they did hook line and sinker and they kicked us out kicked me out of the parks forever. They never and then let me tell you how he did it. He was uh I called up the next morning when these guys came out of my house. I said, "Why'd y'all come out? You know, I just was going to ask to play basketball."
And he said, "No." And I left. And um I said, "Let me tell you good things about me." The next morning, I said, "I'm I'm called the good Samaritan in my neighborhood. I'm very kind-hearted. Help people with hurricane stuff, you know, money for tree removal, whatever you you want to say. I can't read this,
but um shoot any Oh. Oh, this cop when I said that I put all the trees up at Kane Griffin Park, I put them up. Those little trees, the 20 around the fence area, I did that in two days. No one else did that. and I saved those trees. That's why they're still growing. And um
I compare that. I said that was my Euima moment. You know what he did? He screamed at me. He said, "How dare you compare yourself to Euima." Do you know what he said? Because of what the little kids might have said him. He said, "You're trespassed from all parts in the city for the rest of your life." You know, he didn't tell me why. He didn't
check my ID card. He didn't treat me with human dignity or anything. And this guy is probably still working here, probably getting promoted and everything. And by screaming at me, he said, "I had mental problems. Go get mental help." Like I said, all I did is ask play basketball. Now, this is
happening by people like this all over the place. This is a travesty. Anyway, Mrs. Tendle or anyone would want to help me. I can give you my phone number and we can resolve this. We're good. We're not secondass citizens. Me and my wife, we're good people.
>> Thank you, sir. Is there anyone else that would like public commentary? Mr. Basher, >> first let me apologize for taking up so much time tonight. I really did not intend that. >> You asked good questions most of the time. >> I've got one question. I want to go back
to the um seven items on the referendum. One of them number um four says total project cost annual and overall that's targeted specifically at projects. You look at like storm water right now it's
not really a project. So I think the wording on that may be a little off if you're just focusing just on projects. It's going to be really hard to tell you a total project cost of something that's going to run 10 years um that you're funding all the time. um that might it
might be a good thing to do but I think project cost might be a misnomer in this instance. >> Point taken and thank you. Uh the core crux to that and I know we've talked about this a little bit Johnny is we must do our utmost due diligence and
give that as clearly and succinctly and as detailed but informatively as we possibly can. Right? And then when things change, if you have hyperinflation or a cap five hurricane plow into you and change the whole dynamics, you'd have to deal with that
when it comes, right? But um clear start, clear end, clear purpose, clear cost as utmost as we can possibly get it. And we'll have to flex to your point to the rest. Thank you for that, Mr. Schwitzer. Come
on up. Good evening. almost didn't recognize you with a beer. Yeah, >> I'm old. Um, I'm gonna try my hardest to be positive because I know it's been a long meeting. I was watching at home and you guys started talking about James E.
Rogers and that got me out here. >> Please don't leave that park like it is. I don't know if you've seen it. Those telephone poles are probably 40 years old. There's wires hanging down. The concrete's all cracked. The swings are old. I don't even I don't really even mind
the swings. I'm not expecting a perfect park. If you could just take this in I I feel like what's going to happen is the bids are going to come in too high and and nothing's going to be done and that's going to be an abandoned park. It is now. And I'll tell you right now that the maintenance they do a good job. I'm
not it's not completely abandoned because they do come through, they mow that area and they keep it. It's not overgrown. Other than that, it's abandoned right now. So, if you if I could ask an ask for a creative solution and maybe take it in phases, maybe just
start taking down the poles and the wiring and the old cameras and some of the equipment that is really, you know, ugly. Um, instead of just thinking, oh, it has to be this all new basketball court and all
new sod and everything. You know, I'm not opposed to throwing grass seed out there. just pull this stuff out and um and um throw grass seed down. Okay, so that's I just want a creative solution and I want to see progress. I don't care if it's done. I just want to see some
sort of progress. Number two, we have a real problem with the police department here and I want an investigation. That man right there, I don't know his full story, but if that's true that all he did is ask to play basketball and the police believed the mom and the kid and now he can't go to the park anymore,
there's a problem. We had that's the second time we had a problem with a mom whose little girl was playing in the front yard and the police just come down so hard on him. We have a real problem and I'm not even going to get into flock because I'll get triggered. We have a real problem and you have to address
that. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> I will say uh just Mr. Schwitzer the I believe Mr. Wagner, how long ago did that happen, sir? Okay, thank you. >> Okay.
>> Thank you, sir. I just wanted to add some context. Okay. All right. We have our our public commentary for tonight. Is there any more final call for public commentary?
All right. Uh we'll move on into the mayor's report, the old item 22, the new item 23. Um it's been a long meeting. I'm sorry. We we had gotten away from these, but we just had a lot of weighty issues to talk about tonight. So, thank
y'all that came out and stayed with us tonight, rode through it. Uh we'll try to wrap this up, but thank you sincerely for being here and I thank the commission for your your due diligence and your patience here. >> That's all I've got. Proud to serve. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> Um I just wanted to ask because I didn't understand. I think I recognize the voice, but who was the last speaker? >> Dave Switzer. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Did you mean David Wagner? The
>> talking about Dave Wagner. >> I'm talking about the last person who spoke. >> Dave Switzer, >> whoever that was. >> Oh, and public commentary. Yes, ma'am. That was David's. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all I wanted to know. >> Yes, ma'am. But uh otherwise happy to be
here, proud to serve. Sir, I will talk to you. I'll be glad to talk to you after this meeting. Uh fellow veteran and and fellow resident, figure out what happened there six years ago. Um definitely hear that. Um that's all I've
got. So, Mayor Pro Tim Pero, you're up. >> Commissioners report. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'll be brief. Uh, I just wanted everyone to know if you don't already know that starting Thursday the 15th, the 16th, the 17th,
and the 18th at the Panama Country Club, there will be the 99th 99th Sherman Invitational, which is the oldest and longest running consecutive
amateur golf ter tournament in the southeast United States. >> Cool. >> We are one year away from having our 100th invitational. Um the Panama Country Club, if you've ever been, does a wonderful job with
this tournament. Um it's flighted for uh all for all skill levels and all ages. Um I'll be participating as a super senior for the first time since I turned 65 back in March. So fun fun. But um as
well as this as well as fun, people travel here from all over the south to play in this tournament every year. It it it kind of um it kind of turns um it's kind of a little small little mecca for golf, you know, and and and it
Linhaven is the is the power center for it's really cool. Um, with that being said, um, uh, be cognizant of the of of, uh, some people coming and going down Ninth Street, you know. Um, and, uh, u, let's wish for the
best weather for the participants. Uh, as far as Miss Parker, I know she's probably gone, but I know she spoke of a candidate for the US Congress. There is a candidate for US Congress who is a Linhaven resident, a Linhaven kid, went
to Mosley High School. So do your research. We have a local individual who's running for the Congress seat from Linhaven. So went to graduated Mosley in 2009. So I got to meet him and I I'll let
everyone do their diligence, but uh heck heck of a man. I met him and shook his hand. Um um and uh also uh I'd just like to pay my respects um to the life of uh Mr. um uh state senator Bill Posey. I I
read the email from uh from Chris in his morning notes and uh Bill Posey uh passed away at the age of 78. Um he was a resident of Rocklage, Florida. I I formerly lived there. Um he he he passed away in Melbourne. Um, this man was a
champion for the Indian River estuary. Uh, he helped establish the national designation for the estuary program down there. Um, the um the the Indian the Indian River Lagoon suffered
from from development drastically. Um, the manatee population took a hit big hit. um the algae um um stuff like the the the the pollution was just unbearable down there and they've tried
to turn it around and they're making progress, but it's a it's a it's a fight and uh this man was was one of the few people who got it going as well as as well as everything else he did. And he had a career in real estate. He worked at McDonald Douglas. He he he was a he
was a state representative and a and a state senator here. So, we don't know him, but I had to have show a little Central Florida pride. I don't know if Chief Johnson ever knew of him, but uh he was a great guy. So, with that being
said, um and then uh I'd just like to tell I know I voted no on on a previous item. Um, Commissioner Warick, um, I know in the past, um, uh, my no my no vote was more of a message that, hey,
hey, in the past, those were the decisions I made. I made them in the same seat that you're in as a leader, okay? As a perceived leader, cuz you probably don't perceive it that way, but that's your opinion. And I respect an individual's opinion, okay? Um
to to be frank, there was a time and it was when we were doing the uh the first um referendum questions that I asked were one of the questions to be about the clerk and I support bringing that
question to the public because ultimately that's what we're voting on is getting that to referendum. So the the nuts and bolts of it and how it's going to be spent, those were factors in my decision not to have one because it was presented to me that it was going to
be at a great expense. Now, we've formulated a way through through your diligence, which I appreciate, that it might not be that expensive, and we have a city manager who is is obligatory. He
he he's obliging to it. So there is a different set of circumstances now, not sour grapes over what happened in the past. And I'll leave it at that. And with that, I'd like to thank our city employees and staff. And that's my report.
>> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Peebles. >> Thank you, Mayor. This past week, um, I had the honor of coming here in the courtyard for the National Day of Prayer with First Baptist of Lin Haven put it
on. It was a great event. Thank you to them for putting that on. Um, also want to remind everyone that we got our TPO meeting coming up at the end of this month. Uh, Commissioner Perno and I will be there for that fighting for Linhaven. Um, last one we had to do a little bit
more fighting than I thought we would, but I think we got our way. And, um, thank you, Mayor Lowry, for this token. It was, um, very thoughtful. Thank you. >> You're most welcome, sir. Thank you for your service.
>> Absolutely. And, um, sorry, Commissioner War if I got a little heated earlier. Just want to be, you know, just got to say my peace and I hope we can move forward and continue to make Lin Haven better. Uh, and that being said, that's all I got to report. Thank you to um all
the staff, but specifically I want to shout out the the sports or the parks and wreck, but also sports. Um, parks and wreck has been really good working like giving me information on tree giveouts and things like that. And then sports department. I met with the uh
commissioner Tinder brought up that um the letter that was sent to her about the stuff with the baseball and softball. So, uh, Justin Ward was kind enough to meet with me in that citizen and we workshopped some things and, um, I know you guys know this already, but
Justin is an extremely smart man. Uh, yeah, like I had some ideas and then he told me some stuff and I was like, that's a better idea, you know, and uh, yeah, so that was that was really fun. It's really fun to workshop with people and bounce ideas
off and and see what you can come up with when you when you work together. But uh that's all I have. Thanks everybody and um hope you enjoy the rest of your night. >> Thank you sir. Commissioner Ward, >> I don't have a whole lot. Um, all of you should have received an invitation for
the Bay County League of Cities for the 8th of June, uh, where we'll have the base commander, um, Colonel Berg Hold, um, talk about, uh, the construction going out to the base and, um, the arrival of the F-35s. So, um, if you're interested, I think
responding to you, is it CJ? >> Okay. So, if you plan on going, please respond to that and, uh, we'll add you to the list. That's all I have. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Tinder. >> Yes, sir. How are you?
>> I'm doing good. And I'm very glad you're doing better. >> I'm doing much better. Um, a few things that I would like to say is um we have outstanding
an outstanding police department. They're there for the most ridiculous things and the most important and I don't know how they do it with the staff they do, but I do appreciate it. And as far as our fire department, I hear those
sirens going off all the time, so I know they're on the road and I I appreciate them, too. Um, one of the things Well, oh, by the way, this is really important. Uh, congratulations to Commissioner Pero for
our mayor promp. Uh, that means you have to bring coffee for everyone when you get there. >> Um, >> I don't think you want my coffee, Judy. >> Also, the other thing, where is it? I
had circled it. Oh, I I tend to go back. I do tend to go back to things that happened a long time ago and I guess it's because I never want us to forget how far we have come
or maybe the few curves we've taken along the way. Uh for example, the the um hours at the park. I understand why we have to have them because we have junk going on down there. I'm concerned
with who's going to who's going to, you know, oversee that. But, um, uh, to Mr. Switzer, I'd say just throw a a fishing pole in your trunk, buddy, and you're safe all night as long as you
stay out on the bridge. And uh I I don't know, you know, we had a point where there was a couple that fed the cats down there at Porter Park. And it was it was a very personal issue for them. And they fed the uh they fed the cat. And
then before we knew it, the that was Chief Rainey stepped in and said they were um going to get arrested for leaving these little paper containers with cat food in them. And so that they were elderly and they they backed off on
that. and uh just things like that that we have progressed from and and then we seem to backtrack. And I just hope that I just hope that we keep our residents at heart. I hope they're the ones that
that uh know why this is happening. And even if we try two or three different things to see if it works better or if it's worse or whatever, it's better than doing nothing. And uh I just think that's kind of important to keep in
mind. Yes, I was in the hospital for 2 weeks and I just got home. And that gives you a lot of time to think about reality and what's important and what's not. And let me tell you, honesty and
transparency is the most important thing. It is the most important thing because we have been brought in elected by our community to do those things and to be those things. And if we can't do that for
them, then we're just not doing our job. So, I I really think we need to um I think we just need to keep all that in mind and we'll just sit back and see what happens with all these things going on. and uh
I'm game. So anyway, thank you all for the kind words and everything. Yes, I did get my chocolate ice cream on the way home from the hospital yesterday and that was important. >> Awesome. >> With that said, I'm done. >> Thank you.
>> We're proud of you for bouncing back and wish you the speediest of recoveries and hoped uh with any luck, we'll have you back with us sitting up here uh at our next meeting in two weeks. Um, >> oh, abs, absolutely. I will be there. >> Awesome. All right. Thank you, ma'am.
Uh, city manager. >> Yes, sir. A couple things going on. Uh, just a reminder, we've, uh, started working on our budgets. Uh, we've got the budget workshop scheduled for, uh, May 21st at 5:30 p.m. Uh, we have successfully gone live with our.gov
domain. Uh, so you'll start seeing the city of linhaven.com. Go to cityoflhaven.gov. um there won't be any any issues. It'll just automatically redirect to the new website as well as your email addresses will forward right on. Uh but we are
officially on the.gov domain. Reminder, hurricane season starts June 1st. Uh please check your hurricane supply and make sure you are ready for this season. >> Uh the final concert of the spring concert series was rescheduled due to rain. The new date is Friday, June 5th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and it is the
Will Thompson band. So, we will have a pretty big turnout for that one. Splash pad will open this weekend. Saturday hours are 10:00 to 4:00 and Sunday hours are 1 to 4. It's weekends only for now until school lets out until it goes to the normal hours. Reminder that we have the Touch a Truck with our first
responders this Saturday, May 16th. Uh we we are working on an apparel store. Justin has been working with one of our vendors to have an online store for our sports parents. Uh they can go online and purchase team shirts um or hats or hoodies. Uh so apologies to Commissioner
Peeles. It's going to cost him a little more money now to go buy some shirts and stuff for his wife and family. Um but the especially the teams that are going to Allstars, the parents will be able to buy some apparel to wear for that. Um and we will receive a little little bit of money back on that as well to the
city. Um, we're going to do a little trial trial run and if it is success successful, we will bring a contract modification to the commission uh for the all sports. Uh, reminder, we have a town hall Saturday, May 23rd. And then shout out to CJ. I don't know
if you all have seen it, but we have a new public records request module that went live. Um, so it is she has done a great job getting that established. Um, it's a new tracking system uh for public records. that can be submitted uh via the portal. Um we'll allow if multiple
requests are submitted, people can go and see that an old public records request um and be a little bit more efficient way of of submitting those for our residents or for anyone who wants to submit a public records request. Um with that, any questions for Miss Roman with
the checklist? >> Got anything for us tonight, Kiki? All right, last but certainly not least, city attorney. >> I have two things I want to let you know. I have distributed to each of you a legislative report. This is from the Florida League of Cities. The first 30 pages are bills that pass. The last 40
are bills that did not pass, but likely will come back again. So, um, if you don't want to read it all, pay attention to the first 30. Um, I'm meeting with staff to go over some of the bills that I think will affect the city either immediately or next year. Um, and as a
result of that, I do expect some ordinances to come back that will immediately affect you regarding the comp plan and the ULDC. Um, so not to get ahead of your efforts, but Gina and I were already talking about things that needed to happen just to keep up with the legislation. The second thing I
wanted to let you know is about a year ago, over a year ago, um the firefighters petitioned to form a union. And today, um, the hearing officer recommended an order to approve that bargaining unit. Um, so I just wanted to
update you on that. Um, as soon as the, uh, commission approves that order, um, an election will follow for the 21 employees that it will affect. >> That's my report. >> Thank you, ma'am.
And if there is nothing else, we will adjourn. Have a good night, everybody.