Good evening. I'd like to call to order the board of commissioners regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, August the 13th, 2025. It is 6 p.m. City attorney, would you please lead us in the invocation and pledge of allegiance? Our
father in heaven, we come humbly before you to ask your divine guidance and help in our deliberations this evening. Bless the members of the commission and the and the citizens that are present. We pray that our work this evening will find favor in your sight. This we pray. Amen.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. City clerk, would you please call the role?
>> Mayor Brooks >> here. >> Vice Mayor Kerr >> here. >> Commissioner Taglerini >> here. >> Commissioner McGee >> here. >> Commissioner Gavay >> here. >> All are present. >> Thank you. Next on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. Do we have an
approval? A motion. >> Make a motion to approve the agenda as written. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tagarini, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gabayi, >> yes.
>> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. >> The motion carried five to zero. >> With no proclamations on the agenda, the next item is presentations. We have a check presentation. >> We have Mr. Jay Hatch, our recreation
director, to present to the Penelis County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post. >> So, uh, good evening, mayor and commissioners. Um, so, uh, this this check presentation actually goes all the way back to Seafood Festival that we hosted in March. Uh, there is a group, uh, within the Penllis County Sheriff's Office that is the public safety
cadetses. uh part of the event we park at uh park vehicles at the Mader Beach Fundamental School uh and in an effort uh kind of a joint effort we we utilize the sheriff's office safety cadetses to help park cars and in that same manner it ensures the school that we do have
some sort of security there. So it's it's a good partnership through that. Um traditionally they do not charge for their services. It's part of the stuff that they do. So as uh per our conversations with that a donation is being made to the cadetses for their program. So um with us we have Deputy
Strong, Deputy Frey, Captain Janelle Anderson, Sergeant Tyler Buts, and Corporal uh Alina Snitkco that are here uh to accept the check on our behalf. So we it is a 2, excuse me, $2,000 donation
to their program. Uh and then we are actually sent an email earlier. We're in the process of planning our next seafood festival uh and we're having discussions with them to join us again as well. So uh it's a big thank you from us to them for their services and their help with the event. But I'm just going to go ahead with the check presentation. If
you guys want to come up here Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Next on the agenda is public comment. Public participation is encouraged. If you are addressing the commission, step to the podium and state your name and address for the record and the organization or group you represent. Please limit your comments to 5 minutes
and do not include any topic on the agenda. Public comment on agenda items will be allowed when they come up. If you would like someone at the city to follow up on a comment or question made at the meeting, you may fill out a comment card with the contact information and give it to the city
manager. Comment cards are available at the back table in the commission chambers. Completing a comment card is not mandatory for any quasi judicial public hearings that might be on the agenda. An affected person may become a party to a quasi judicial proceeding and
can be entitled to present evidence at the hearing, including the sworn testimony of witnesses and relevant exhibits and other documentary evidence and to cross-examine all witnesses by filing a notice of intent to be a party
with the community development director not less than 5 days prior to the hearing. Do we have any public comment? John Hendricks, 569 Normandy Road. Um, couple of things. One, I was looking to see if the property the city was talking
about buying is on tonight's agenda. I thought it was going to be voted on. Am I overlooking it or is it on here? >> It is on the agenda. >> On the agenda. >> Okay. Well, I'll hold that then. Uh I sent each of you a copy of an article
that was in the beach beacon. Uh it was talking about Seol and I had previously had this discussion with Lesie Waters. Uh city of Seol has a population of 20,000.
MadiRaa Beach has a population of under 4,000. City of Seol has 160 employees. Madiraa Beach has 80. The budget for this upcoming year for the city of
Simol is $28.1 million. The proposed budget, I understand, for Madiraa Beach is $46 million. That's outrageous.
When a budget is presented to you, it's a wish list that all the department heads have come up with. It doesn't mean you have to approve it. You need to go through this budget line by line. There are a ton of things that can be scratched off there. Uh it's totally out
of hand and y'all need to to really look at that and see where you can trim it. There's got to be a lot of fat on there for a city this small to have a budget that big. Last year, Simol's budget was
um 31 million. So, they've cut it back. What we need to be doing if we've got excess funds, don't just spend excess funds for the sake of spending excess funds. Go to the roll back rate. Give some property owners in this town some
relief. Everyone is struggling now. You know, a lot of people paid out of pocket to fix their houses back up. And you need to look at our millage rate. Although it's low, it's one of the lower in in the county. But if we've got extra
money, it's not extra money to spend frivously. It's extra money to give back to the residents. So go to the roll back rate. We say we don't raise taxes every year. Simply not true.
We don't uh we don't raise the millage rate. That doesn't mean we're not raising taxes because the value of the properties are reassessed every year. So the people are paying more in taxes. Uh I for one and I know there are many
others that uh self-funded restoring our house. Uh and we're on fixed incomes. We're old folks. You know, if we've been here a long time, cost a lot to buy a house out here now. But in 1986, it didn't. It was just a
little retirement home. And I'm not the only one that's in this situation. There's a lot of people that are in that situation. And you've got to get a handle on this budget. Last year's budget, I thought, was outrageous. I think it ended up being what, around 42
million when I was in office couple of years ago. You know what the budget was? I know a couple of you do. It's 25 million. How did we go in a couple of short years from 25 million to 42 million now? 46
million. I'm surprised the doors aren't getting beaten down here with people upset about how high this budget is. And and on top of that, I don't see uh good management going on
in the city. I see street sweepers go by the street down the street at 20 m an hour. They're not even picking up anything. We're wasting the money on having a contractor do it because they're in a hurry to get home. They're just running down the street with the brushes turning and not even picking up
anything. And there are a number of instances I can mention. Our garbage rates, we raised them a few years ago to keep that first class service, but we don't have that anymore. We got one guy on an automatic truck. He does what he
can, but it's not the service we had. You need to look at what you're charging on those garbage rates now. It has to be much less than what residents are being charged because you got one guy on a truck, not three guys on a truck. So, so
y'all need to go through that budget line by line and make some tough tough decisions. That's what you're up there for. Thank you. Thank you. >> Do we have any additional public comment?
>> Please. >> It's um my name is Toves Garden, 590 Normandy Road. Uh I'm kind of falling in line with John. Uh but in a I look at it a little bit differently. So if it's 7,000 or if it's um 4,000 residents in
Madair Beach with 28 million budget, that's $7,000 per person that the city is spending to provide whatever the residents get out of it. 7,000. If you're increasing the budget to the
proposed 47, that'll be about $12,000 per person. $12,000 that the city spends on running what they need to do for one person a year. It's insane. Absolutely insane.
Um milit rates. John said that it's one of the lowest in the county. I just spent five minutes looking up milit rates at the beaches and I went northbound. Uh North Readington Beach $1. Bell Shores
55 cents, Readington Shores 169, Readington Beach 181, Indian Rocks Beach 183, Indian Shores 187, Belair Beach 204. So we're at 275. All these beach communities have a lower um mill rate
than us. I don't think they have the parking income we have. Tourism here is probably better than their. Why is our milit rate higher than theirs? Um, that's kind of what I wanted to talk about when it comes to the budget. I do have one question.
So, during the last storm, uh, most of these houses got flooded and I know that, uh, some people were living at city hall. So, where do I sign up to get a key to city hall so I can live at city hall if my house get damaged during a hurricane?
>> Are those all your comments? Yep. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? With no additional public comment, we will move on. The next item is the approval of the minutes. If the commission has had the
opportunity to re review the minutes, do you have any comments? >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes as written. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes.
>> Commissioner Gabay, >> yes. >> Commissioner Taglerini, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. >> The motion carry 5 to zero. >> Next on the agenda is the consent agenda. I'm going to read through the items that we have in the consent
agenda. A is approve fiscal year 2026 G beaches public library annual budget. B. Approve fiscal year 2026 PCSO annual law enforcement services contract. C. 2026
John Deere Gator purchase. D. Truevac trailer purchase. E interlocal agreement with Thompson Consulting Services for debris monitoring. F Penllis County Joint Participation Agreement Area 5. And G area 3 construction engineering
inspection CI approval. Does anyone have anything on the consent agenda that you would want to pull? >> Madame Mayor, I would I would like to pull item 9 D and 9G. >> Nine. What's the first one?
>> 9D and 9G. >> 9D. G. >> Okay. Attorney Tras. Um, just because we have only done this a couple times, Do I still open this to public comment? >> Yes, >> the consent agenda. Okay. Do we have any
public comment on any item on the consent agenda? >> Commissioners, do you have any other comments on the consent agenda? Then we will remove D and G and place them in.
>> You would just handle that right after you you just motion to approve A, B, C, E, and F. and then we'll do DNG. >> Then then you address DNG. Following that, >> do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve uh the consent agenda on items A, B, C, E, and
F. >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Commissioner Taglerini, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gabay, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. >> The motion carried five to zero.
>> Thank you. So then next on the agenda will be the true VAT trailer purchase. >> So this is uh Commissioner Gvahi. You had a question. You wanted it pulled. Did you want to discuss it or did you need a presentation? >> Um I I think we should probably listen to a presentation if that would be
possible. >> Good evening mayor and commissioners. Um, this item that we discussed at the workshop, this is due to the rather than purchasing a street sweeper, which is over $400,000 and as it was mentioned in public
comment, yes, we do contract that out, the contracted price is $2,500 per month for the same amount of sweepings that we previously did with our street sweeper. Our street sweeper was flooded during Hurricane Helen. We did receive $295,000
from insurance to replace that street sweeper, but prior to Helen, we had that street sweeper was in poor condition and not running, which was the reason why it was not evacuated off the island. So, the purchase of this
Truevac trailer is to help us to one, we can use it to sweep up debris in the streets. We can also use it to clean our storm water system. We can use it for if there is an item that we need to for some reason excavate with the ground, we
can use it for that as well. I am here to answer any questions you may have. >> So, how often would you be using this equipment? >> I don't have a set time. It's going to be as a need as needed. Um, but I could tell you just this past week, we could
have used it twice. >> Have you checked to see how much it would cost to lease or rent? They do not lease or rent these trailers. It's a contracted service that we would have to >> What I meant to say actually was to engage a company to do this for us.
That's what I really meant. >> We have contracted with a company to come and clean out storm drain inlets. But as you all are aware, we have a title problem here. So with trying to contract that that service, there's two different companies that we use. One is
FCS and the other is Siminal Septic. On many occasions when we've contracted that out and they've had scheduled dates, they've come out and the tide was too high. So, we were not able to clean out the storm drain inlet. So, that is one of the disadvantages of contracting
that out. And every time a service like that is contracted, at a minimum, it's $2,500. >> Okay. Well, let me just say what my problem with this is number one having to store the equipment, having to have
the land to store the trucks and um and number two, the cost of it, which is pretty expensive, $143,000 for the equipment. And of course, then you have to have the manpower and you
have to have insurance and maintenance schedule. so forth and so on. So, I just uh am not sure if it's the best use of our money and I just wanted to put that out there for the commission to think about and to discuss.
>> I was going to let y'all talk first. >> Do we have any public comment on this item? >> Good evening everybody. um $150,000 plus insurance plus labor
that brings the cost to probably two and a quarter, two and a half. Is there some way that I am sure the county or the state has a piece of equipment that we could pay them for a day or do a
barter service so that we don't have this cost because we're just again pushing the budget up up up with all this stuff that's going on. It's just a suggestion
hoping that we can find a solution, but somebody else has got to have this piece of equipment. I mean, the countyy's got to have two or three of them, I would think, or even more than that. So, >> do we have any additional public comment?
>> Megan, do you have any questions? >> No, I just have comments. >> Okay. Can you can you address the last speaker's uh uh recommendation? Have is do you know anything about whether or not the county had a has something?
>> I have not reached out to the county, but we've been in a situation where we borrow equipment before and it and it's not worked out well. >> And if we don't purchase this, what's our next what's our alternative is >> we would just contract out the service. We wouldn't be able to >> continue to
>> continue to maintain our storm drain system as well as what we could when we had the street sweeper. because we use that for cleaning out the inlets. >> Thank you, >> Vice Mayor. >> Um, based on the conversation we had at
the workshop, it makes perfect sense to have this piece of equipment and be able to use it as needed um and not have to work around anyone else's schedule. It's a fraction of the cost of the uh original piece of equipment. Um the that
was purchased how many years ago? >> The streets sweeper originally? 2018. >> 2018. Um and it does a better job. >> It from the demo that we we witnessed, it did a great job. >> It has a um a wider range of of use.
>> Yes. Um it's not something to maintain since it is a trailer. It's not something to maintain. Um you have to tag it and ensure it and it's trailered out and used and put back into
into storage. And you said you use this on a regular basis. >> It will be used multiple times a month. Yes. and it will be insured, but it will be added to our blanket, which I >> But I'm saying it's not like it's a tag piece of equipment. >> It doesn't have to be tagged as long as
it's used for city business. >> Yeah. So, um I support it 100%. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Do you have any comments? >> Um just uh just a couple comments. So, we had talked about this before. Um what were the couple instances that you
could have used it last week or just a few days ago when it rained? So, as everyone's driving around the city and you notice the amounts of dirt in the curb line that are coming from the properties, we could simply use this trailer to go down and suck the dirt right out of the curb. >> Many of those construction spots are
using silk that silk fencing also, you know, so >> a lot of that's getting into the roadway into the drainage. So, what's the impact of of I know that um it's going to be able to go to like hard-to-reach spots down in the drain,
the drain inlets. >> Yes. I think it had over a 10ft reach >> and and it's a powerful >> Yes. >> piece of equipment that can really clean that out because that's very very important as we all know. Um so, I'm I'm
basically for what we're going to pay for it, I'm I'm for it. So, >> thank you. So, I would just like to clarify a couple things. Um, for anyone that missed the previous meeting where we workshopped this and we talked about that the city really doesn't have a
fiscal impact per se on the purchase because we're using insurance proceeds to purchase it. Although that is still money that the city has, the money being used to pay for this is coming off of the insurance proceeds that we received for the street, the street sweeper. And
for staffing, the staff is already working. This is just something else that they would get added to whatever it is they're doing in the city that day. Um, I support it. We all talked about that before. So, um, do
we have a motion? I move that we approve the purchase of a Truevac trailer from Environmental Products Group. >> Do we have a second? >> A second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Taglery, >> yes.
>> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gabayi, >> no. >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. >> The motion carried four to one. Next on the agenda would be area 3 construction engineering inspection CI
approval. Commissioner, >> this is you. You pulled your questions. I was well Um it the the cost just seems to be extremely expensive for a a
person or a company to just oversee construction from time to time. What I what I read it just seems like you know $185,000 and you've already started construction apparently June the 9th according to so
it's been two months we've been two months into it. So, um I'm just thinking $185,000 for maybe a duration of 200 days or so for construction. It just seems to be excessive. Um
it's a lot of money for somebody just to inspect and oversee and you know, I mean, there isn't really a whole bunch of work to do. I can understand you can look at some shop drawings, you can I mean, I'm in that environment, so I know the extent of work. Um, I just feel
$185,000 is a lot of money for 200 days for one person to just, you know, provide this service for us. >> To clarify, it's not just one single person. It's actually a team of two. And
it's not just an oversight. It's somebody on the ground multiple times a day. And this contractor has been very needy. uh there is a lot of conflicts that we are hitting um probably at least two or three a day. So this is not just
a oversight. This is this is approval of submitts. This is change in items that we are hitting. We've just today we had three conflicts with the water mane. Yes, that is Penllis counties, but we're working in conjunction with Penllis
County. So this person has the best interest of the city. This ensures that the contractor is installing the product to the plans and also ensuring that they're billing the city properly. Every project that we've done for a
roadway project has in has had CI services done by the engineer to ensure that the questions by the engineer are answered in the field and we're not stopping progress on the project. When you say conflict, do you mean like unforeseen? Because it's underground,
nobody could tell where the pipes were? >> Yes. >> Are these conflicts based on gravity and water/force mane or is it based on, let's say, storm and sanitary? >> All of the above, including frontier.
So, Penllis County has in multiple places two or three different water lines that they have in the ground that they don't know that are there and they're not sure which one is live. So on multiple occasions already
and even just today, Panellis County is out there. You're digging up a section of the road that wasn't in the project plans to try to figure out what line is life to figure out where you can change and where you can get that connection.
We couldn't do the water main connection today because of a of a of a conflict. There's been issues where Frontier hasn't been marked and Frontier is running in places where they weren't supposed to go. So then you have to adapt in the field and it has to be
engineered in the field to be able to accommodate and meet all of the standards that you're supposed to meet. So everybody says that every utility is supposed to be at 36 in. That's not correct. We have water lines that are at 6 in below grade that are unmarked. We
have water valves that are in places that are unmarked and Penelis County has absolutely no idea that they were there. >> So, who was the engineering company that designed this >> that designed it? Uh, it was it this has been going on for several years. So, it
started out with, I believe, Duel and then it went to Trans Systems and it's it's with Trans Systems. >> Okay. So, so they would be responsible to address any field conflicts and advice how to
build it to go around the conflicts. >> They're not going to do that service for free because they do all of their preliminary work to do GPR, to do all of those items, but that still doesn't mean that they're going to re-engineer and come
out. you're going to have to pay time for somebody to come out on site. >> Yeah. I mean I don't want to belabor this but with gravity pipes they should be responsible because you should know the invert of all the pipes and how they
interact as far as water um which is pressure and also you know power you know um um other wires is what I'm trying to say that that just can be field relocated
you don't have to you you know, you don't have to be a highly uh educated to just do that. And anyhow, I'm sorry. I'm just I'm I'm just not for it.
>> Do we have any public comment? >> Good evening everyone. Chuck Dylan, 529 Madera, Lilian Drive. to your questions and comments. Hooch, what's supposed to be there is what is there is apples and oranges. And when we were doing the
Crystal Island project, you go down the ways and it's not supposed to be there. Okay. So, what do you got to do? And there it it does seem kind of excessive to me, but they have to happen. And to have somebody in the field to be able to make decisions at the time, otherwise
the project would go on forever. This is part of the reason the Crystal Island project went so well is because there was somebody from the engineering company that was able to make those decisions. And she got on the phone with the engineer. Okay, we got this problem.
What do we do with it? And it's a I don't want to say split second, but it's a a thing that you have to take into account immediately. Otherwise, the project sits. And if it sits for two, three days, then you got to start all up again. You've got the breakdown. You
also have potentials of um people, you know, so the water gets shut down. So who all is going to be without water for three, four days or a week, you know, and and it's just it's it's it's a nature of the beast. And I agree. I'm
not sure whether 185 is much, but I think typically there is a certain percentage of the project that is figured for that person to oversee the things and that's that's just my knowledge of it. >> No, but you can talk again in a minute.
You can't have a conversation with them. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any additional public comment >> now? Commissioners comments. >> All right. So, what I was alluding to, I you know, you have to have inspectors out in the field, no doubt, but the cost of it is what I have a problem with.
It's the cost not having an inspector out there to verify what's happening and what's being built. Thank you. >> Additional comments, commissioners? No. >> Can I ask uh Megan another question,
>> please? So, uh, Megan is you you mentioned incidents or problems on on the on this on the project. Can you contrast what what happens during one of these incidents before we had the consultant and then what would happen after we had
the consultant? How would it impact us differently? >> Well, as Mr. Dylan stated, you then shut down. If you don't have somebody on site that you can make the changes, the engineer changes. The contractor is not going to make the call. They are looking for the engineer to sign seals, stamp
it, submit a drawing before they construct it any different way. So if you have the engineer, they can do that on site. If you don't, you're looking at days. And another point to Mr. Dylan's comment is then you're looking at change orders for the construction workers being down days and then you're adding
days to the contract period. >> So CI services is has the authorization to solve the problem on the spot. >> They do. >> Yeah, sounds sounds like a good plan. >> I also forgot to mention that we do have a grant on this project. So we are on a time frame
>> elements. >> Uh to me it makes perfect sense. You have to have a construction manager on site with that has the city's um interest in in heart. It's a 200 day project and it's you have two people there daily.
>> Yes. >> Um that's $500 a day per person. It's reasonable roughly. And to um for Megan's point, a lot of the contractors too, historically in the last couple of years, not only is it the manpower that's down, but sometimes
they'll demob from the site to go work somewhere else and they will charge you demobilization and remobilization. And that's become and that is very expensive. So to keep the project moving is is huge. I >> mean, I definitely understand that if you don't have someone there, the cost
for dead days, those aren't free. So, that's going to be up charges. Um, just to clarify for commissioner's um comments on the cost, this is a um company. I can't remember if it was bid out or if it's one of the piggyback contracts. >> It's one of our contractors.
>> Okay. So, I mean, I think the price has been vetted. It may not look like a good price on paper because looking at $200,000 is hard to swallow when you think about when you're just thinking about somebody overseeing. But I think it's just so much more than that is my understanding.
So any additional questions? >> Actually that was one of the comments or questions I was going to ask if this was bid out and >> this was part of our engineered contracts. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Do we have a motion? I I I move the approval of CI services
in the amount of $185,000 to provide construction oversight and regulatory coordination for the area 3 road range drainage improvement project. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Tagarini,
>> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gavay, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. Motion carry 5 to zero. >> Next on the agenda is public hearings ordinance 2025-14
amendments to chapter 14. City attorney. >> Thank you mayor. This is ordinance 2025-14. I'm going to read it by title only. An ordinance of the city of Madira Beach, Florida amending article 4 moving of structures of chapter 14 buildings and building regulations. of the code of
ordinances to revise the title of set article to elevation and relocation of structures to establish requirements for elevation permits, require document submitts, provide for setbacks, and address conditions of permit issuance for the elevation of existing structures
where the structure remains within the original horizontal footprint, providing for conflict, providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing for an effective date. That was the second and final reading of ordinance 2025-14 by title only.
>> Do we have any public comment? >> Nikki Restnik 14024 Viv Viven Drive. I just want to say to the mayor, the commission, Marcy, your your staff, everybody, I cannot thank you enough for the speed of which you have put this together and making this possible for
homeowners that are elevating. It means a lot. So, thank you very much. >> Do we have any additional public comment? Commissioners, any comments, questions? >> This is our second reading. It's been
gone over. Um, I echo the the comments given. Great job. >> Seems like a a win-win for our staff and for residents. Make things a little more streamlined and make just make more sense.
>> Absolutely. Thank you. So, do we have a motion? >> Go ahead. I would like to adopt ordinance 2025-14 amendments to chapter 14 article 4 elevation and relocation of structures second reading and public hearing.
>> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Gabbay, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tagarini, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes.
>> The motion carried five to zero. Next on the agenda is ABP2025-04 corner kitchen and coffee house and I will give this to the city attorney. >> Thank you mayor. This is a quasi judicial proceeding. It's governed by the code. I need to go through a couple
of things of the code before we start receiving testimony. First of all um a summary of the application. Um, pursuant to land development code article 6, division 6, article uh, alcoholic beverages, the applicant for a 2025-04
is requesting authorization from the board of commissioners for a 2 cop alcoholic beverage license for the sale of beer and wine, buy the drink, or in sealed containers for consumption on premises at Corner Kitchen and Coffee House located at 1399 Gulf Boulevard,
number C2 here in MadiRaa Beach. The standards to be applied uh during this hearing are set forth in section 110-532. I need to read those to you. When considering the alcoholic beverage application, the board of commissioners
shall consider the following factors. Number one, the extent to which the location and the extent to which the proposed alcoholic beverage requests will adversely affect the character of the existing neighborhood. Number two, the extent to which traffic generated as a result of the location of the proposed
alcohol beverage request will create congestion or present a safety hazard. Number three, whether or not the proposed use is compatible with the particular location for which it is proposed. Number four, whether or not the proposed use will adversely affect the public safety. And number five, no
application for review under this section shall be considered until the applicant is paid in full any outstanding charges, fees, interest, fines, or penalties owed by the applicant to the city under any section of the code. Pursuant to the code, the burden of
proof is as follows. The applicant shall have the burden of proof at the hearing to show by the greater weight of the evidence that the application is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and complies with all procedural requirements of the law. Conditions may be suggested by the
applicant, the city or any party or may be imposed by the board which are intended to assure consistency and compliance. The parties in this case are going to be obviously the city of MadiRaa Beach and then the applicant Jonathan Olnick um
and he is with rpdelli.com Inc. The order of presentation because there have been no parties who have issued a notice of intent to become an affected party will be that the city will make its presentation first and then the applicant will present. I'm
going to go ahead and read the quasi judicial procedures that we're going to use today's hearing. This is a quas judicial proceeding where the board of commissioners acts in a quasi judicial rather than a legislative capacity at this hearing. It is not the board's function to make law, but rather to apply law that has already been
established. In this hearing, the board is required by law to make findings of fact based upon the evidence presented at the hearing and apply those findings of fact to previously previously established criteria contained in the code of ordinances in order to make a legal decision regarding the application
before it. The board may only consider evidence at this hearing that the law considers competent, substantial, and relevant to the issues. If the competent, substantial, and relevant evidence at this hearing demonstrates the applicant has met the criteria established in the code of ordinances, then the board is required by law to
find in favor of the applicant. By the same token, if the competence, substantial, and relevant evidence of the hearing demonstrates the applicant has failed to meet this criteria established in the code of ordinances, then the board is required by law to find against the applicant. At this time, I need to ask each one of
the commissioners whether or not there have been any exparte communications between the commission and the applicant. >> No, I'm seeing all nos. >> Um, did you >> Well, I don't know if this would be exparte, so I want to say it. Um, I
frequent the corner kitchen often and I know the owner and I knew that they were going to be on the agenda tonight and that he was on vacation and would not be able to attend. >> Did you have discussion with the >> We did not. >> Okay. All right. All right. So, are there any conflicts of interest any of
the commissioners have? I'm not seeing any there either. So, at this time, I need to swear in all witnesses. Anyone that's going to speak on this application today, if you could stand up, raise your right hand, and be sworn under oath. Anyone that's in the audience that's going to speak on this? Is the applicant here? Applicant's not
here. You swear the testimony you're about to give is going to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. So, at this point, mayor, we would go ahead and have the city uh proceed with the application and make it
make its staff report and recommendation when considering Could you introduce yourself, Andrew? >> Okay. Good evening. My name is Andrew Morris. I'm the long range planner for the community development department of the city of MadiRaa Beach. >> And your job responsibilities here at the city?
>> My job responsibilities is to But I also uh write ordinances and do comprehensive plan amendments and variances and >> Okay. So, you're familiar with this application then? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Why don't you go ahead and give your staff report then? >> Okay.
>> When considering the alcoholic beverage license application, the board of commissioner shall consider the following factors. Uh the first one is the extent to which the location and extent to which the proposed alcoholic beverage request will adversely affect the character of the existing neighborhood. The corner kitchen and coffee house is located at
the skyline of Madiraa Resort which is a mixeduse building with ground flooror commercial uses with second floor and above condo hotel units. A similar 2COP license was granted in 2015 for a previous tenant uh Sweet Brunette
at the same location. Additionally, uh the surrounding area along G Boulevard includes other businesses with alcoholic beverage licenses. staff finds the proposed use will not adversely affect the character of the neighborhood. The next one is the extent to which traffic generated as as a result of the location
of the proposed alcoholic beverage request will create con congestion or present a safety hazard. As the proposed use mirrors the prior 2COP license approved in 2015, no significant increase in traffic or congestion is anticipated. The skyline of Madira
Resort was built prior to 2019 amendment to division 2 off streetet parking spaces which increased the parking requirements for restaurants and lodging. This amendment increased the amount of parking required for temporary lodging and restaurants that previously were not required when the skyline of medier resort was built or when sweet
brunette's alcoholic beverage permit was approved. While this use is considered a continuation of the previous intensity, staff recommends including a condition that any future expansion in size, seating, or alcohol service will trigger compliance with the current shared uh parking standards. The next
one is whether or not the proposed use is compatible with the particular location for which it is proposed. Proposed alcoholic beverages would complement the food and non-alcoholic beverages sold at this establishment. Alcohol sales would be incidental and secondary to food service. The next one
is whether or not the proposed use will adversely affect public safety. Uh no negative impact to public safety is anticipated. The level of alcohol service will be similar to the previously approved use. The next one is no application for review under the se section shall be considered until the applicant has paid
in full any outstanding charges, fees, interests, fines or penalties owed by the applicant to the city under any section of the code. applicant has no outstanding fines or penalties owed to the city under any section of the code. Um recommendation city staff recommends
the approval of ABP 2025-04 with the following condition. Any proposed expansion of floor area are seating or increase in alcohol beverage service intensity shall require a parking agreement in accordance with section 110 uh- 956 shared parking facilities.
attached is their uh local application uh their existing site plan and the public notice and mailing and posting in and affidavits. >> Thank you. >> You're asking that the um city commission take this agenda package into
evidence? >> Yes, sir. >> Um and with regard to um affected parties, did the city receive any notices of intent to become an affected party? >> Uh we we did not. >> All right. So, mayor and commission, now is your
opportunity to ask any questions of staff if you have any questions of staff. >> No questions. >> I have one question, >> sir. >> Uh, is there a minimum setback requirements from a church or a school for
any alcoholic beverage use? usually uh the 300 feet um which uh there wasn't any any near here within 300 feet. Any other questions? Okay. Again, I'm going to ask is the
applicant in the audience, the applicant not being here, is anyone in the public like to step forward and uh discuss the application? >> Yes. I'm here in this place. >> And if you'd like to step forward, I
need to swear you in. >> You can come all the way up front. >> Are you here for the applicant? Did you say? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. If you could raise your right hand. Swear the testimony about to give is going to be the truth, the whole truth, nothing about the truth. >> Yes. >> What's your name, please?
>> Heather Turfinger. >> Okay. And what's your resp what's your relationship to the property owner? >> I'm an employee of his >> of the business. >> At the business. Yes. >> All right. And what would you like to tell the commission? >> Um we um opened in March. Um he's asking
to serve um wine and beer just like the previous business did and um we are very focused on community and we're very um excited to be there. Um I started with him on March 17th and really enjoying getting to know the community and we
think this will um bring people together and um just continue the vibe that was already there from the previous business. Thank you. Any questions? >> I have I just one uh the there's a one condition about any proposed expansion of floor area seating or increase in
alcoholic beverage service intensity. Are you aware of any increases plan increases of any kind? >> No, sir. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. If there's no other questions, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Does anybody else in the public want to speak on this application? >> There being no other uh people, mayor,
it's back to the commission for a motion to be made. seconded and then discussion on the motion. >> I make a motion to approve the alcoholic beverage permit 2025-04. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second.
>> So discussion. >> Any additional discussion? I'd just like to mention that um anyone that remembers the Dwani plan that there was an activity center on one end and on on both ends of the city, but
right there at 140th was also I'll call it a minor activity center and that's exactly where this is. The previous owner had an alcoholic beverage. It was never an issue. Um I think it's a great thing. >> I do too. I agree. Any comments?
Congratulations. >> Well, we haven't voted yet. >> Well, no. I said I I meant congratulations on opening, you know. >> But we'll be sure to go here and have something to eat and drink then. >> Call the RO. We just
>> city clerk, would you call the role? >> Commissioner McGee. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerr. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gavay. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Taglerini. >> Yes. Mayor Brooks. >> Yes. >> The motion carry five to zero. >> Thank you.
Next on the agenda is unfinished business. A is the Scott Hulkcom request for special magistrate fine reduction at 572 Johns Pass Avenue. >> So, Mayor, can I help start this out? Yes, please. Okay. Thank you. So, um Mr.
Hulkcom and his wife were cited for a couple of violations on their property um in May of 2023. The matter came before the special magistrate for consideration on October 2023,
some 5 months later. The special magistrate did find a violation of the cited code sections were which were failure to have a building permit for building an accessory structure on his pool deck, an outdoor kitchen. In addition, there was a violation for not
having a pool fence. Um the special magistrate ordered that the property be brought into compliance by November 22nd, 2023. if it was not in compliance by that date that there would be a $250 a day fine that would acrue. The
property did come into compliance almost an entire year later. Uh it came into compliance on November 13, 2024. Um the fines that have accured on the property total
$92,44.7. After I provided that payoff to Mr. Hulcom, he requested a fine reduction. Um, I did have some correspondence with him. Some of that is in the packet. Um, I did tell them that city staff could not support anything less than a fine
reduction to $46,224. That's basically 50% of the outstanding lean. As you know, this item was discussed at the workshop meeting. Um, and now it's here for official action to be taken. Um, I do know that Mr. Hulcom requested
a the opportunity to speak and I believe he's here in the audience and so he would like to speak before any motion is made. So, Mr. Hulcom, good evening. John Hulcom, 572 John's Pass Avenue. Um, before I get into the
lean stuff, there was some things that were said at the last meeting that I feel I should have an obligation to talk to or an opportunity to talk to, and I hope that it did not have any uh bearing on your vote or your opinions at the workshop last time, but another resident
got up here and claimed that I was not u properly homesteaded for my property. There is nothing further from the truth by all definitions of being able to homestead my property here. I check off all of the boxes. Um, a couple of you echoed that when you made your, um, when
you made your comments. So, um, I would be happy if you wanted to go to the Penllis County Property Appraiser and talk to them. I've talked to them when I first homesteaded the property a year ago. I talked to them after the meeting the other day and both times I talked to them, they said, "You are absolutely
homesteaded at that property." So, that's the first thing. Second thing is um there was another comment made by the same individual that said that my next door neighbor had a problem with me and a fencing issue. That is absolutely not the case. The problem she has is not
with me. It's with the property. Before I bought the property in 2020, there was an issue with water running off from the property into her yard. That's what she was claiming. Had absolutely nothing to do with the fence. Uh the house is currently nearly knocked down. Um, as I
mentioned during a workshop meeting, I received a significant damage letter. Uh, I'm going to have to come way out of pocket to rebuild the house to code and um, and that issue with the homeowner at 574 is going to be resolved obviously
because of the permitting and everything else. Um, the yard issue that was brought up last time, um, the deputy neglected to say that the house, he mentioned the house looked like it was abandoned. The house had had a demolition fence around the property. 3
weeks prior to the visit by the deputy, which was the day before I got up here and spoke, um there was a permit that was approved by the city for demolition. Um the current status of the house is that the majority of the house, the house
itself was knocked down. Um they probably have another couple days to work on it. Um during that process, I had them clear all of the grass on the site. Um the contractor did say to me, I would not clear the grass on the left
side of your property near the front yard or the right side. Keep it as a barrier for your neighbors. And that's what I agreed to do. Um, I have engaged a landscaper and he will continue to maintain that grass and the trees on the
property during construction and then after the house is rebuilt. Um, I know I had originally come in here and asked that the um, fine be waved due to the circumstances that I brought up during the workshop meeting and throughout this
whole process. Um, one of which again is at the very beginning the contractor that I hired who is not familiar with Madira Beach. Um, does most of his work in Hillsbor County went to the city department, the permitting department showed them the schematics and said,
"What do I need to permit?" And three people there told him that if it was not a attached structure to the ground, it would not need to be permitted and it is not an attached structure to the ground. there was already power there, sewage, electricity. I now know, you know, going
through all of this that it absolutely should have been permitted. Um, the one thing I will say is if I was going to build something and I was going to try to do something that was not above board, I certainly wouldn't build
something out on my back patio for everyone to see. I certainly wouldn't build something next door to a person who chronically complains about my property. It had the former mayor, the city manager, and about five other people in my backyard um discussing
discussing a PA issue. And that's where the kitchen was, you know, they brought up the kitchen the next day and said it was out of compliance, which again was news to me. I originally asked for this to be waved. Um I know that that's not going to happen. Um, the last offer was
50% which is still an exorbitant $46,000. I would ask that you do something more than than just 50%. Um, I'll disagree with it, but at this point uh I just want to get this over and done with. It's affecting my health. It's
affecting uh stress for me and my wife. And couple that with the fact that now we have to build an entire new house. Um, it has always been our goal to continue living in Madira Beach and to live out our lives here and I would like to continue to do that and I would like
to continue to do that without an any animosity um between me and the city. Um, that's all I have. Thank you for your time. >> All right. Thank you. So, um the options for the commission are to uh deny the
request, grant the request, um or grant the request for a fine reduction to a certain dollar amount. So, for example, I move that the fine be reduced to whatever the number is. And then you would have a second on that. And then
you would discuss it and then you would vote and then we can move on to the next agenda item. Okay. Any questions? >> So, uh, we we shouldn't ask any questions until after someone makes a motion. >> Well, you have questions of Mr. Hulcom.
>> No, of me. >> I want to ask city staff a question. >> Oh, no. Now is the time to do that. >> Marcy Jenny, um, when we had this last meeting, I don't know that if we were told I I know we were told somebody at city staff
said, and I've thought about that a lot. Can you imagine that someone would have told him that if it wasn't an attached structure, it wouldn't need a permit? And I'll tell you why I'm asking. Because in my head, I'm thinking,
if you can roll it in and out of your garage, you don't need a permit for it. So, is there the chance, I'm not asking you to say definitely somebody didn't or did, but is there the chance that his contractor could have been told if it's not attached, it doesn't require a
permit? >> I would speculate if the question wasn't specific and was brought to somebody very general and in passing it, it could have yes, very much been stated as such. I you know >> okay because I know that the other the other comment that he had made here was
that in conversation with the city manager that the city manager had said he would recommend that we I believe it was wave the fine which I asked Robin if he said that he said no however and I've said this before I know that when you talk to people
when I talk to people sometimes we have the conversation again and they didn't hear what I said they heard what they wanted to hear. And I, no disrespect to anyone, that's just the way it is. Sometimes I have a conversation and walk away and I heard
what I wanted to hear, not necessarily what the person said, which is why I think it's good practice to speak back your conversation to make sure that everyone understands what you said. So I think those two thing we also received an email from a resident and and it was
a mindful email I thought because you and I had a conversation here one time on the deis about permitting and fees and when the statements that we made I didn't really feel I thought it was a great statement to get the community to
pull their permits and then I had a conversation with a homeowner later who didn't like that because they had followed all the rules rules and they had done everything the way we asked them to do and then they waited months and months and months and were still waiting to get it back into their place
and we were rewarding in their view all of the bad people who and I say bad people loosely. I don't mean that people are bad, but that we rewarded the people who just went ahead and did the work without a permit by not finding them and punishing them, which we remedied that.
But so now when I listen and I especially when we have a workshop and I walk away and I reflect on the conversations, I'm pretty mindful of that. And this email that we all we all received it today um was talking about
the property and the issues and long-term and how MadiRaa Beach has to quote long been known for selective code enforcement. And I think that um people might could say that in the past, but
it's a new day. And um I mean I had three phone calls today because somebody got their site shut down because no silk fence, which I'd also like to bring to your attention, commission, that we do have pictures of the property currently
and it doesn't have a silt fence. It doesn't have any of the things that are required of a contractor for construction. Um, and the grass that is left, I can understand why you'd leave it, but it's not cut and it's very tall. And I also know that we get a lot of
complaints. I told Robin today, it's the biggest complaint I get from residents is tall grass and trash cans left out when they're not supposed to be, but tall grass is the biggest. So, those are just my comments. Are we supposed to have public comment before we do
>> public comment? >> If you want to receive public comment, >> do we have any public comment >> commission? >> There really should be a motion on the floor and you discuss the motion. And so I I would recommend there would be a motion.
>> How do how do you do a motion or recommend anything until you talk talk through it? When you go to the discussion, if someone is making a motion saying, "I don't think that we should, you know, reduce the fine at all." And your response is, "Well, I think it should be 50%." Then the motion
could be amended to change it to 50%. But you discussed the motion. It's not the issue discussed. You discuss the motion. So >> once the motion's been made, a different motion can't be made. Is that correct? >> Yeah, you can amend it. The first one can be withdrawn. It could be tabled, you know, but yeah. So, you're
discussing the motion. >> That's my recommendation. >> I uh I would like to make a motion to to reduce the fines. And I don't want to allude to how much yet. I think that would be subject for discussion. So, I would like to say let's reduce the
fines. Not very specific. >> It's not really a complete motion, you know. So, pick a number and then you can then you can talk it up or down. >> $10,000.
Your So, your motion is reduce the fine from 92,000 down to $10,000. Okay. Is there just need a second then? >> If there's no second, >> you're not second it. You're not seconding it agreeing with the motion. You're seconding it so that we can start
talking about correct the motion and come up with what we can agree on. >> Yes. >> I'll second. >> City clerk, will you call the role? >> No, we're going to you need to discuss the motion now. >> Yes. Yes. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
>> So, we start with Commissioner Gavah since he made the motion followed by Commissioner McGee who seconded it and then the rest of the commission. So, how much um funds has the city spent on this project? What has been our cost so far?
That's the staff. I have no idea. And it's essentially staff time. We would have to go back and determine the amount of time spent on it and then determine the hourly cost times the number of hours >> in the special magistr's time as well.
>> Correct. So, if you were to give a ballpark figure, what would be your determination? I would I would I'd have to check to see how much time has been spent, but anywhere
from probably 20 to 30 hours in for everything on it. Time's probably an it's been a couple thousand dollars would be my guess. Okay. It wouldn't be It wouldn't be beyond $10,000. >> Most likely. No.
>> Okay. Thank you, >> Commissioner. You have comments? >> Well, um the lean agreeing with Commissioner Govy, right? um
the uh amount around $10,000. I was I was thinking more along the line of of 25, but um Scott Hulkcom also lost his home in the hurricane also, but he wants to be a citizen here in MadiRaa Beach. I
don't want to um you know overly punish also. So yes, I chose that number because 46 is close to 50 and then half of that. So that's
what I came up with. But if the city manager said it was around 10,000 that we've invested in in the in the property itself, >> I would we'd have to go back and there's >> so 50 maybe. You think can you give me a ballpark at all or no? really no way to
determine. >> I have the whole I have a issue with the whole thing only because it was brought to the special magistrate in 2023 and Mr. Hulcom had an opportunity
to if it was on if it was on wheels, if it was not if it was not a permanent structure as has been discussed, he could have easily removed that, put it in his garage,
whatever. He chose not to do that. He was told of the fine at the time that he had that he was brought before this before the
special magistrate and ignored it. Chose to ignore it. the city has to have. If we reduce the fine or if we eliminate the fine, then what are we saying about what the special magistrate or what the city can
or cannot do? I understand it's a lot of money, but it's not a lot of money because the city decided we're going to we're going to find this person a lot of money because he put this kitchen out in his backyard.
It's accumulated because Mr. Hulcom decided to ignore it. He came into compliance in November, which is two months after the hurricane Elen after it had flooded and was I'm sure unusable anyway.
So, I don't understand why we would reduce the fine to a significant I mean, you're we're talking about 90% reduction. Why we would even
consider that? Because the next Mr. for Hulkcom that wants to to build something out of permit and goes in front of the city magistrate, the special magistrate where all this could I'm sure was
discussed whether it was um at the at the at the hearing with the special magistrate that I was told that I didn't need a permit. My contractor was told I didn't need a permit. Okay, that discussion was made and decided and well, you did need a permit and you must
remove it. But a year later, it's still there accumulating a $250 fine or whatever it was. And now everybody's home was
substantially damaged or close to it. Um, it's a lot of money. I understand that. But it's it's not the city's It's It's not the city throwing that fine out. It was It was uh You know,
I've had other neighbors that have had this the same thing happened and they took it upon themselves to make sure that they they destroyed their permanent structure that was beautiful.
It just didn't comply with the the current or the it was not built with a permit, but they they decided to comply with what the city requested demanded.
So, it has nothing to do with how nice it is or or um whether it met the permits. It has everything to do with
um whether you're gonna comply by the city's requirements. We all have to live by the rules that we agree to live by. It's a super difficult uh issue for me. I my inclination is to be compassionate.
Uh but as since I've been a commissioner for the last 3 years, I've heard lots many issue stories of residents who've had to deal with the consequences of uh not following code. And initially when I saw this, I thought, well, why is it being reduced? It seems pretty
straightforward. Um, and I think that if we dim diminish the uh diminish the amount too much, uh, then why do we have the ordinances? Why do we have the codes? It takes away the
teeth of, uh, our enforcement. Um, I I'd be willing to go with the city's recommendation of 50%. Uh, I wouldn't feel comfortable. I wouldn't feel comfortable even that I know I know people are going to say, "Well, why did he get a break?" And I'm
and I don't know what to say to that except city recommended it. So, I'm going to follow staff recommendations. >> So, I agree with Vice Mayor Kerr. Um the problem in reducing the the lean is that
number one the special magistrate is pretty lenient. I mean they it takes a long time just to start getting fines. If you go if you show up if you show up for tall grass he gives you 90 days to cut your grass before you start getting
fined. So I mean there's a it's it's pretty it's pretty easy to work with. Um, I agree that if we reduce fines, then you're setting the precedents. And we have a lot of um issues in the community
right now with the special magistrate. >> So, does anyone have a recommendation? >> I I move that we amend. We already have a motion on the floor. >> So, okay. >> So, if if if you're going to suggest that the motion be amended, that would
be appropriate, Commissioner. >> But, okay. All right. I apologize. I thought you I'm going to make a motion to So, your request is is will the maker of the motion be uh willing to amend his motion to whatever.
Will the maker of the motion be willing to amend his emotion to 50% of the total amount which is $46, uh $224? >> No. >> Okay. So, you can either you can vote it up or down then call the role and then
you can address the next motion. >> City clerk, would you call the role? Commissioner Gavay. >> Yes. >> Commissioner McGin. >> No. >> And Gabby, yours was no. Correct. >> Mine was Mine was no. In other words,
keep it at 10,000. >> Okay. Yes. Okay. >> So, let's make sure we got the motion right. So, the motion is to reduce the fine to $10,000. >> The answer is yes. The motion is yes. Right. >> Vice Mayor Kerr.
>> No. >> Commissioner Tagarini. >> No. >> Mayor Brooks. >> No. >> The motion failed. >> Three to two. >> Four to one. >> Oh, we had two yeses.
>> One yes. >> You only had Commissioner Gavah voting yes. Everybody else voted no. >> Okay. Four to one. >> So, we need another motion. I move that we support a settlement of the lean for the amount of $46,224.
>> Do we have a second? >> A second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Tagarini. >> Yes. >> Commissioner McGan, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> no. >> No.
Commissioner Gabbay. >> No. >> Mayor Brooks. >> Yes. >> The motion carried three to two. >> We had Commissioner Gavayette. No.
>> And current. No. >> That's correct. The motion passes. So, the fine has been reduced to $46,224. Okay. All right. Next on the agenda is hurricane damage update community development ground floor assessment. Uh good evening. I'm Marcy Forbes,
community development engineer. Uh we've prepared a memo with regards to the downstairs community development floor. Um as you know, we've it was damaged during the flood. it um received flood waters up to a little over seven inches
in the interior. So once we were able to kind of get back in the space, we wanted to have basically a vulnerability assessment performed on that space before we just moved back into it. And with that, we contracted with Penoni Services to look
at that. We have Vince Barnes here from Penoni to help um answer any questions you guys may have. The main thing we wanted to to understand was uh what damage if any did occur during the flooding and um what
what was constructed and what vulnerabilities if any were there um and how it was constructed and did we have any issues with that with that they did um some testing and it was determined that downstairs was um not
properly or does not qualif qualify as being truly dry floodproofed. It lacks um some design issues in the slab as well as the walls. So with that, in order to utilize the space down there
as it was before, it would have to truly meet the definition of dry flood proofing, which would require demolition of portions of the existing slab, replacing it with a thicker slab, adding in steel, throwing in some deep
foundations, and then doubling up the wall thickness with a one more layer of CMU block. There's obviously more to that and I'll let Vince speak to that. But with their analysis, we also had them run a construction estimate and to
demolish the floor and return it to a true truly dry floodproof condition. They estimate the construction cost to be roughly $2.4 million. And that does not include any interior buildout, electrical, HVAC. that is just
to return the shell or to turn the shell into a truly dry floodproof condition. With that, um I'm sure there's a lot of questions. So, um Vince, if there's anything you'd like to add to that, um then we can kind of let them ask some
questions. >> Yeah, let me introduce myself. My name is Vince Barnes. I'm with Pannon Associates. Uh we're a multi-disiplinary civil engineering firm. I am a structural engineer, a professional engineer licensed in the state of Florida. I'm also a licensed special inspector in the state of Florida. We
were engaged by the uh city uh after uh the event occurred u from the flood waters of hurricane Helen. Uh we did a uh an assessment uh both looking at the interior and the exterior of the building. I've provided a um a draft
report, staffed draft, because we have not finalized it. We've had an uh continued discussions on potential uses of the space which I'm prepared to talk about. Uh but as our uh report details,
we reviewed original drawings for uh the addition uh they were prepared by a um architect and found that the slab was um would be uh insufficient on resisting
the uplift buoyancy forces associated with a designed flood event. Uh one way to think about that is a structure acts like a pool. Uh if you have an empty pool and you have high ground water, it will pop out of the ground. Similarly, effect of pushing a bucket in the water,
it's going to want to push back at you. That buoyancy force has to be uh considered in the design of a structure. The uh flood waters uh I believe were somewhere in nature of one to two feet along the exterior. Yeah.
>> Yes. So one to two feet on the exterior interior uh flooding was found to be about 7 in as you mentioned. Uh the flooding uh occurred uh likely through breaches in uh the flood panels and
possibly cracks in the slab. This lab was found uh based on our um scanning of the structure to be largely unreinforced and consistent with uh some of the commentary that we found based on our
record research. Um in this process we uh provided a uh a detailed report of our findings. Um we did not include it our calculations but we did provided the findings as calculations uh for um consideration
including uh findings that the uh the exterior walls would uh have failed under a design flood event of 2017 which is different from today um of as much as uh 400%.
Um our analysis uh looked at consideration of both um what would have been for uh uh flood resistant design at the time that this was per permitted. We also did
additional research uh to what is required now. Uh current requirements now have a different freeboard requirement. Um and uh in in both situations we found to be the existing construction insufficient uh to resist
design uh a designed flood event uh which would be near the second floor. This flood event was again 1 to 2 ft and failure occurred to some extent. Um we provided the cost estimate uh for
approximately um uh $2.5 million. Uh I do want to amend one thing was we uh that was for um was for some mechanical systems. Uh let me see if we have it for um
and finishes as well. So that would that that would be a full um interior uh restoration. Uh I'm prepared to uh answer your questions on our report. um and including additional preparation I have
regarding um uh potential alternative uses for this space. The space is approximately 5,000 square ft. >> So would you mind giving us those because when you're finished I'm going to ask for public comment prior to the commission.
>> Okay. Uh the we uh consider uh four potential options if you wanted to uh uh drive flood proof it in compliance with um the uh the code. Uh based on our
discussions with the building official, uh we would be able to uh restore it for the original code. uh we wouldn't have to meet current code requirements which uh raise the freeboard to 4 feet above base flood elevation. Uh so we have uh
we have those uh but what I was was mentioning as an alternative um we were considering the potential for do you want to share it or or it can be shared. So, we were considering the potential for um opening
the space um and taking it from a uh what would be u required as an occupied space um uh for um as a as an office space to more of a um uh an open space um a free use space per
se. picnic tables open uh and with potential of a small area which would be dry flood proof for instance a a bathroom at at ground level. So we could take a small area and do the thick and slab do the walls uh do the reinforcing
needed and have that area um actually um meeting code requirements. Uh but to do that we would remove large large sections of interior walls de of the interior um things of that nature. And we
uh based on our um uh estimation we're at about uh $488,000 to um you know demo the space and open the walls and and and and give it a change of use. That's um uh based on uh
conversations with the building official that would be a potential acceptable alternative um to uh you know as as drive flood roofing and restoring it to the original use.
>> Okay. Do we have any public comment? >> Please. Chuck Dylan, 529 Lillian. This is all flood zone. And if anybody was building here, they'd have to build breakaway walls. So I don't know why we couldn't do the breakaway walls. If you're living
right over there, they do breakaway walls. And so I, you know, talk about a waste of money. And it was I breakaway walls. I mean, you know, that's what everything is on the beach and everything. So you could have the
structure back with the breakaway walls. And as to how anybody else does anything, you know, to try to floodproof something that just got flooded is kind of an oxymoron. I'm sorry. You know, I just, you know, that that's stupid to
me. How would anything tried to be floodproofed? So complete waste of money and to turn it into a picnic table area. Well, I mean, you know, you could, but we've also got the sheriff's thing downstairs that we spent how much money you're going to be looking at that as
well that we just spent how much money to repair? I think was it right underneath here? So, it's just, you know, ludicrous to me. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any additional public comment? Have one more.
>> John Hendricks, 569 Normandy Road. Food for thought. When that was built out, it was $960,000. Uh, and it wasn't many years ago. Uh, it can be floodproofed, but you need to be
competent in what you're doing. And apparently, a lot of incompetence took place downstairs as far as I guess the way it was built and the way it was secured for the hurricane. So,
I don't I don't know exactly what happened, but it shouldn't have happened, and I'd be curious as to who was responsible for that. Thank you. >> Do we have any additional public comment? With no more public comment, commission
questions, comments. Uh where would the offices uh where would those where would those offices go if we made it into an open space where where would that's you I think >> that's the question is we we we would
definitely have to figure out a new space um and because you can't you couldn't add breakaway walls to an occupiable space. If you were using it for a garage storage or parking, then you could do breakaway walls, but you don't have those in a usable space.
>> Okay. >> The only way we would be able to occupy that space as it was before would be to fully dry floodproof it. Vince, did you >> That is That is correct. So, yeah. Um, AC 24 outlines the requirements for dry and wet flood proofing. So, breakaway
walls are not considered a dry flood proofing. um they are allowable in storage parking space and you know that's a I say a a wet wet floodproof condition you know which is not
applicable for a um occupied >> well that that answers my second question. Thank you. Uh and so I just I mean the the recommendation is to to just hold off and consider uh alternative uses and I certainly would
be in favor of that. Yeah, >> um yeah, I would definitely consider alternate uses. Um the the gym currently is not being used by fire staff any
longer. There's there's a space that is not being utilized um for the last year. um that space has not been usable and we've been we've been getting by. Now, if we
could maybe um re do um some modifications to the existing layout to make that more permanent using using the gym area as well. Um
I think there's other options. I don't I don't think we need to be spending 2.5 million to try to make that permanently uh floodproof. >> If I could just since uh Commissioner Curry said that, I'm a huge uh supporter of the gym, but under these
circumstances, uh I think that makes sense to use that at least to alleviate where do we put our community development? and staff is, as you know, staff is um struggling to find spaces. We're also
looking to hire multiple people on so that'll get even tighter within the next few months. I know previously there was discussion of maybe expanding over not in the dog park area,
but um on that side or expansion on the second floor over here. Um, so that may be an option that you might want to consider as well. >> Commissioner's comments. >> I am I'm going to go with the city staff
recommendations and also with the commissioner Tagalorini and Vice Mayor Kerr. So, I'm I'm willing to uh explore other options before we invest $2.5 million in restoration.
>> Commissioner Flood proofing is never really that good. I mean, you can try with gaskets and sometimes you have the gaskets placed on the shelf and then they disappear and then when it's flood flood hits, you can't really put the gaskets
against the doors and make the doors totally floodproof. So, I'm also um not in favor of rebuilding downstairs, but what I would recommend, and I discussed this with Marcy, would could you as an option, we could extend this wing over
the retention pond and create more space in line with this floor further further that way. So, um just not sure as far as the cost and and where we get the money, but other options would be also my
recommendation. >> So, I think it's unfortunate. It's extremely unfortunate. And to the the question that was raised from a resident about who was responsible for this, those people no longer work for the city. And the super unfortunate thing is the
secondary buildout that we have down there is no good either. The police station or the sheriff's room that floods. It's no good. It wasn't built properly. And unfortunately, there was no oversight from anybody looking after the person who was in
charge of that project. He It just happened. Whatever wanted to happen happened with no oversight. So, um, I know way more about frangible floors than I ever thought I would even know what that meant. But,
um, there's nothing that can be done with that space without us spending. And the quotes 2.5 million, it would be 3 million by the time we were done because it's not nothing ever comes in, not a project like that in budget. And so
I know that we talked about different ideas. Um, and I would 100% not support doing anything down there, spending a dollar to put any offices back downstairs. And um, I mean, we have a
lot of things to think about. Where are we going to put our sheriff's department? Where are we going to put all of you? And um, I would be more interested in sooner than later looking at options for what we can do um
for that department. It's a large it's I mean planning and the the community development department includes our permitting department. It's the largest department inside a city hall and so it's a lot of people. They've been working on top of each other for almost
11 months and um I liked some of the options that we brainstormed on, but for long-term I I love these other ideas. So maybe um if we could get some
ideas and dollars to it to see because building anything isn't going to it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take time. So, thank you for bringing terrible news, but it's not your fault.
>> Can I add just two quick things? So, um dry flip proofing is an effective technique. Uh we've did it a number of times on properties that during the storm that um up in the clear water area that um uh you know had did not have an issue. But you are correct. You have to
have the supplies. You have to have training. you have to maintenance. Um I just want to do mention uh Tampa General that's what they did and they didn't flood. That's a different drive flood proofing method but you know there are um
it is a uh it is a code allowed and it is a um successful method although be very expensive. The cost estimate we we put together if you just put kind of in in your mind it's about $500 a square foot. um that number um I would say based on my
experience here locally may be consistent with new construction of an elevated building. So there may be some consideration to be made. Um we would offer if um if desired to provide um you know any additional studies
schematic design we we we do a number of these projects all over the world. So happy to help. >> Thank you. Anything additional? >> No. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Next on the agenda is the hurricane damage assessment, the FEMA damage spreadsheet. City attorney or I'm sorry, city manager. >> Thank you, mayor and commissioners. We have up on the screen. You did receive a
better copy than what was in the packet of our damage spreadsheet which we have shared multiple times over particularly when discussing uh during the budget workshops and going over uh the damages the insurance proceeds and what we've
submitted to FEMA. So uh we're going to go through the spreadsheet please if you have any questions and I'll have the applicable departments come up uh and for any questions but starting and again the spreadsheet is up on the screens and you do have a printed copy but it starts
with building and community development on the first three lines uh first floor city hall then serve has removed and then the third line on the second column building and community development contents. Um so description of the
damage followed by the estimated cost to repair. Um and then the status of repair replacement. Um so for you just heard for building and community develop for the community development for downstairs we did have serve pro come in and remove
and uh so that the cost of 135,000 um we did receive 116,000 so far 116,526 and change for from our insurance uh for those expenses so far um in the marina
Krabby if you have any updates for the marina. But uh I'm just going in order by the buildings, but Krabby, if there's any updates for any of your um equip the building itself has been repaired. Um the sophet and fascia that was damaged.
Um don't believe you had some equipment and there's a list of equipment on page three under Marina. Uh that starts with fuel pumps all the way down to a 10x10 shed. Uh, and just about everything has been replaced except Krabby the I
believe the dock power the pedestals. So, we have the pedestals in the store. They've been purchased. I was uh made aware that insurance is going to cover the cost of the pedestals. There was some back and forth about whether they were going to cover stuff over the water or not. So, they're going to cover the pedestals and the dock boxes. Currently,
we're doing the seaw wall project. So, while that's going on, we're installing pedestals as you know as we can. Um, USA Voltage is coming out and installing them. So, we're doing about two or three a day, you know, here and there when they have time. So, we have them all in.
They're getting installed. And the only So, we're all that stuff's been taken care of. We're back up and running. And all the pedestals work that are there, but they're falling apart. A lot of the lights blew off, things like that. But the new pedestals that have been installed look great. They light the
dock up great. And that's pretty much it. I mean, we're coming all back together full circle a year later almost. >> Yeah. Fortunately, the marina didn't receive I mean received minimal. I would I think I would >> Yeah. The build the building didn't receive damage. The docks were still all
there surprisingly when I got there. Um we didn't lose any boats. Uh we fared very well during the storm. Uh we just lost basically anything that was electrical that went underwater just got toasted. pump outs and fuel pumps and things like that. But it's all been
replaced. We're up and running and ready to go. Better than ever. Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Recreation again, back, sorry, back to page one under buildings after marina.
There are several line items for recreation that begin with serve pro cost to remove the flooded area and the rec center. Uh and then six line items underneath that to include the building contents, the shed, the concession stand, including fencing, uh just
repairs to the rec center office mill work. So you can completed the first four outlines and still making repairs to the recently, but Jay can give an update. Yeah. So, on the um on the building side of things, we are still waiting in the
office mill work. Uh that is the last piece. I left the repairs to rec center also in progress just in case there's anything that changes with the installation of the mil work and cabinets that are coming in. Um we were told like two weeks ago that it would be in the next two to three weeks and they'll be done. We had a contractor
picked out initially. He had a heart attack and then subsequently quit doing what he was doing to enjoy the rest of his life. So, we had to switch contractors unfortunately. But so that's where we are in that. Um and then going to the next page, the one I have uh lists just the fencing
>> equip. Um >> sorry. >> Good. >> On buildings, Jay. >> No, just finish the building side. >> Equipment. >> Uh let's see. Equipment >> on page three.
>> So that would be the the trailer, John Deere, gator. Okay. Uh most of those, let's see, looking at everything, that's all completed. The mower we actually went over and had removed from the school today. It had been in inaccessible up until they got the portables and everything off of there.
Uh that thing is it was destroyed when Helen rolled through. Um it was scrapped today and then we are looking to see what insurance is going to do with that and then we're going to evaluate the need to actually replace it. In the
meantime, um, in going over there, we also learned from the school that the entire irrigation system at the school has been essentially destroyed on that field because they put down between the storm, the flooding, the the road uh gravel that they put down,
the portables, the whole process, and then they're now scraping the field, regrading the field, putting grass down. Uh, and the irrigation has just been thrashed through that. So, uh, when we initially installed it to make sure that the grass was good for our programming, it was a I believe it was $16,000 cost.
I was looking at that today. Um, it'll probably somewhere near there to do it again. So, that'll be a discussion in this room to talk about one, what kind of proceeds, whether insurance or FEMA or whoever is going to help assist with that payment and then us evaluating our future need with that as we get back
up. And then the electric for the lights. We didn't want to mess with that because they were running power through all of that stuff. So, we haven't touched it quite yet, but I do have the electrician coming out this week to take a look. Uh, we think most everything should be fine underground, but the um
all of the electric outside that field I went over there today is solid black from either burns or mold or whatever. So, that's going to be a another insurance proceed conversation. So, we're still looking at the school field. Everything on on this site though um all the equipment here was taken away. We
did have some like you know you see some repairs to the gators and the trailers. A lot of that was uh wind driven water that got through the seals and all that stuff. So it was done in in house with our mechanic and taken care of. Um and then
the last item I have on there, uh it says fencing located in Rock Park. That has been completed. I just didn't change that on there. And then the splash pad and waterfall repairs have all been completed as well. all that stuff is back up and running. Uh, anything else that we find is is kind of switched over into routine maintenance if it's things
that we didn't happen to notice. Uh, but as we go through the park, it we've got a new staff member and it looks better than ever has. So, we're going through that. >> Do we have any public comment? >> Question. >> How how complete are the graphs? I mean
these um spreadsheets as far as insurance I don't see a column for FEMA. Um it kind of disheartening that you know it looks like the insurance is >> Jay don't go cuz I want to ask you something >> basically 10%. So >> so we everything that is not covered by
insurance is has been submitted to FEMA to then hopefully be reimbursed by FEMA. the and we'll we'll fix the spreadsheets because and I apologize I didn't see how they were not even um in the agenda when they
were submitted they were even but they got with the software likely either way you have the copies in front of you they're up on the screen um there is the last column in each sheet shows the insurance proceeds received um and then
the fifth of the six sheets kind of summarizes all of the insurance I believe through through the end of through today I I'm sorry through August the 8th um the insurance proceeds that we've received a little over a million
for Helen damage and 108,000 from damage attributable to Milton the last page and it's only three lines shows FEMA reimbursements and they're broken out into FEMA and state because some of it that's just how it's how it's provided
by FEMA through the state through the Florida Division of Emergency Management. But you can see we've received just a little bit over u 30 looks like what 36 $37,000 for the FEMA reimbursements. Those do
take time. Uh it can be upwards of years. Hopefully that the time has been reduced. We're confident that it hopefully has been, but we we really don't know. like years ago when I was up the street, it would be four to 5 years before you received your FEMA
reimbursements. Granted, we've had an inordinate amount of storms just in the last two years, obviously throughout the whole country, but specifically in Florida and in our general west coast area. The so everything has been submitted. Fortunately,
as all of you are aware, I think a lot of the public, we did receive an advance to cover um the costs that the city incurred for debris removal. Um so that helped out. In other words, we didn't have to take money from reserves to pay for those costs, which are a little over
4 million. They're not listed here because this is specific to damage to city structures, equipment, infrastructure, etc. Is is it reasonable to ask um
at somewhere we should have an idea um what we expect the resident share of the expenses the cost to replace and and repair um when we're finished with insurance.
And I mean, we're pretty pretty good at getting the cost of repair together because that's that's really on city staff to do. Um, and I understand we're waiting for insurance and FEMA. Um, but we have to have a
fuzzy idea, a gray idea of where we expect that, you know, what did this storm actually cost the residents, I would think. >> Sure. >> So, if we could put that together, it would be appreciated. comments. >> Okay.
>> Uh real quick, uh the repairs to the recreation center were that 57,000. What did that entail? >> A little bit. >> So the 57,000 they uh it was 2 ft of drywall throughout the entire building
and then the floor was replaced. There was carpet in the in the So when we we got into the building after the storm and after helping recover and all that stuff, it was full of mold and we had uh basically it was again it was carpet uh wood peel and stick floor uh drywall 2
feet paint and then all the trimming and stuff. So all the rooms that had finish of some kind were were redone. There were a couple of rooms that were concrete painted floor that didn't have to be redone. Some of the drywall did, some of it didn't. So, the further they were away from the windows, the better
off they were. Our rest, like the bathrooms were fine. Their tile floor, all that stuff had a floor drain, but everything else, again, this was all wind driven rain through the cracks and crevices and the doors and everything. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Questions?
>> Questions? >> So, I have I have a question based off of that. Why did Serpro not recommend drying out the rec center? I I don't know the answer to that. >> That's Yeah, >> that's fine. What I wanted to say was
that today we got an email on a grant through um F D through the D for it is a specific recreation development assistance grant. So >> is that FURDAP? >> I don't know. It just came today.
>> Yeah, it's from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. So, I mean, I'm telling you because you probably I mean, this sounds like it might be something that would be exactly what you need for the fields. Sure. So, yeah. >> Thank you for that. >> Yeah.
>> So, moving um moving on the largest uh hold on just a couple on vehicles for parking on page two. There are two vehicles that are listed. We uh our K Cabota sustained some damage. Uh initially it was
determined to be totaled. Then later on is the m our mechanic managed to get it back in operating working order and we are now it is usable. So it was not u discarded surplus. It is in use. Uh we
did receive insurance proceeds. We notified the insurance company. This piece of equipment is now functioning. Uh what shall we do? they stated for us to keep the insurance proceeds. So, we'll we'll review that and I'll as to whether how that should proceed, but
that's listed on the spreadsheet. We've accounted for it and we'll decide we'll reach out and get likely a legal uh opinion as to what we're supposed to do with the proceeds. The second vehicle was uh the Chevy Equinox that did substain damage. It was parked in a high
in a higher area, but not in a very So, it did receive flood damage. Uh I know the vehicle had received was not working uh properly or and we were looking to dispose of I mean dispose declare it surplus and dispose of the vehicle. We
did receive uh as is listed just under 14,000 from the insurance for the vehicle. Uh and then under equipment for parking, we listed uh well again they're they're listed again the vehicles that I just mentioned
under equipment, but just wanted to share the parking kiosks and meters. Uh we had begun to phase them out by January 1 of 2025. The storm just moved that time frame up. Um, and we were
simply going to return them back to the company. They did come and so they were found and not none of them were working after the storm and the company did come and remove all of them. Um, but again, we were going to phase all of those out >> any
>> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Any additional comments? So, Robin, I think um I had asked you about to talk about the grass. So, since we're on hurricane, talking hurricane, um the I mentioned earlier
that the biggest complaint I receive or call I receive from residents is in regards to grass in the city that is overgrown. And we've we had the deputies here in our workshop and they talked about it, but I didn't understand what they were
saying. It wasn't it wasn't simple enough. And I asked Robin if he could present something that would be simple for us all to understand in in the steps. First you do this, then you do this, then you do this to help the
residents and all of us be able to understand why it takes so long to enforce getting grass cut. >> Okay. So can you do that, Robert? >> So the as we are either notified by a
resident or a business, um then we it's forwarded to our deputies to the first step that they do is to contact the property owner. They reach out and contact and advise them, you need to mow your grass or your weeds. They do not get a hold of the property owner. They do send them a letter. Um
they post the property and send a letter. That can take upwards of up to a week to then hear back. They they follow up with a phone call um again to try to speak with the property owner. it unfortunately then results in a second
letter being sent and that can be in upwards of five to seven days later. So now we're at one week. Um that's essentially the process. If it's still non compliant or it continues to recur, then it's brought here to the special
magistrate and that just further elongates the process and the magistrate will give anywhere from days to up to a month for the compliance to occur. It's a pretty simple, straightforward process, but again, it's incumbent on
getting a hold of the property owner. So when you say if the deputies if somebody reports it um wouldn't it be a good idea if the deputies drove the city once a week like code enforcement like our our um
building enforcement does on a set day every week they would drive so that they would have a metric of knowing and and not just haphazardly driving around the city and they might see it or they might not notice it because they're not looking. Well, they were directed
several months ago to drive every day that they're here the city and identify and note properties. And I've received one brief report of certain properties waiting to receive the report much detailed as to all the properties that they've reached out to, all the phone
calls that they've made and all the letters that have been sent out. So, they have been doing that and they will continue to do that, drive around and identify the properties. I think the reason that a lot of the resident I mean there's lots of reasons to have concern but one is mosquitoes,
snakes, mice, all of those sorts of things. And so um and if your house is torn down or you're not here living in it, you're not really as mindful as the person that's living next door to you. I will tell you where where I live, there
were considerable properties around 143rd and Palm Street and now they where they were not being now they are being mowed and most of those properties are still vacant and I know that they reached out to them as well as some of the streets from on 144th and 145th just
because I walk those pretty regularly where now they're being maintained significantly better than they were a few weeks ago. Um, and then I've heard of other parts in the city, but again, it just continues to grow and we continue to notice them every day and if
I observe them, I let them know or any other city staff were letting them know. >> So, we also talked earlier today in passing about um workshopping this to discuss the fines and the process of how we go through that
>> because there's not really a I mean there's not really a a fine process and what we can do based off of state law that we because we are governed by the state. >> So could we workshop that so that we could have a better understanding?
>> Yes. And just wanted to go the last area for the damage is public works which is several the majority of the items um on the spreadsheet although they don't list anything well technically the I'm sorry
the snack shack under Archabald and we are engineering is in progress to get the building put back together mainly the walls the flooring >> the deck >> and the deck roof >> it might be easier for me to to discuss
what items have not been completed rather than go through the spreadsheet because I have, as Robin stated, several items that are still ongoing and the reason for that being is unfortunately they need to be re-engineered. So, um,
we have the John's Pass boardwalk pilings. There are three pilings down there that need to be replaced. I just received the engineering on that and I'm waiting on proposals to see if that item is going to have to go out to bid or if I'll be able to get three proposals to
replace those pilings. The 141st generator um the the station has been completed but the generator has not we just received um information from our finance department that the insurance will cover the cost of the generator
replacement. So that will be be coming forth to you at the workshop in a couple weeks. Tom and Kitty Stewart Park. Um I did finally receive the seaw wall designs, but the unfortunate part of that is we are in a different flood
mapping. So um we have to redo the site plan over there to elevate a bathroom structure there if that is the choice of the commission to put a bathroom structure back there. We are working on the site plan now. Uh we already the plan was still to move
forward with the um pre-fabrication builder that I believe I've mentioned in previous meetings. This contractor provides restrooms for all of the Penllis County parks. They're nothing beautiful. They're basic concrete structures with restrooms. Very solid.
Um there's quite a few in the county. So we are working on a new site plan for that and trying to see how we can get that elevated to. We're looking at seven feet is what we're hoping, but we will have to wrap around the um the ramp for
to make it ADA compliant. Snack Shack, we just discussed that um John's Pass Park and all the way to 135th parking lot, which is six parking lots. I spent quite a few hours with FEMA yesterday walking those parking lots and the reason for that being is it
was brand new asphalt when the hurricane hit and every single one of them was damaged by the cleanup or the surge. So they have been reported to FEMA. We are unsure what FEMA will reimburse us for. So we are not planning to do any type of
replacement or repairs until we have that. They are usable but they're not brand new like they were. So, I unfortunately with that meeting yesterday, um the paperwork was inaccurate. So, I have to meet with FEMA again next week. I also forgot to
mention that I'm meeting with for an inspection for FEMA for the boardwalk pilings and also the generator next Thursday. So, we'll have an outcome for that. The Jetty, uh we have finally gotten a hold of the um Army Corps 408
section. We have a pre-application meeting set with them for September 16th. That will, as we had mentioned previously, we were under the impression we were not going to need that from previous conversations we had with Army Corps, but as Penllis County got
involved, they reached out to the section 408 and we will need to have a permit for that. So, we are unsure of what they will require. We want to ensure that we have all of that before we start submitting applications so that the progress and the process isn't even any longer. The
Madira Way lights, we thought that we had those completed, but the unfortunate part is any of the underground wires um and this is happening all over the place. They have they were repaired um but they have since burnt out and we have located two sections of those
lights that we are for sure the electrician is working through that. So, we're going to repair those sections and then there still be two rows of light or two lights remaining that we are unsure if there's any breaks. So, we're trying to do the most feasible minimal impact
to that area that we have to for the time being. And then really the last thing is just the Gulf Boulevard medians um replanting of those. We're working on replanting the whole entire city. most of the places that were impacted have either been cleaned up or have been
planted in some manner. So, it's not really an emergency and the landscaping is not covered by insurance or by FEMA. So, we're just as we as we receive plants, we're we're working on that >> comments.
>> I don't have any I don't have any questions. I should explain very clearly >> the bathroom. um that discussion, make sure you coordinate with Robin and speak with um visit St. Pete uh Clearwater
uh because anything related to tourism perhaps there's a grant. >> Sure. Absolutely. >> So that that'll may influence whether we want to put that back or not or how we want to put it back. >> We have the approximate estimate cost estimated cost for the bathroom. We're
looking at about just for the bathroom structure, probably about 120,000. But with it being elevated, it will have to have a deep foundation on piling. So, we're going to still have to do some core samples and and unfortunately more
engineering cost to be able to meet all of our codes, but we will absolutely reach out. >> Yeah. I mean, that's a big tourism item. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Megan. >> Thank you.
>> Next on the agenda is the 2025 seafood festival recap. >> So, mayor and commission, a couple years ago, I did go share with you the our expense revenue and expenses for the seafood festival. And that's what's this
item uh just to show again what our expenses were, what the revenue uh in the categories uh just to globally are as listed on the top of the spreadsheet. the expenditures, the actual expenditures for the event, which
again was held back in March, just under 195,000. The total revenue just under 202,000. Uh, which this was our I guess I would I'm not sure if this was the the most well the most attended
event, but certainly a fairly large attendance similar to the prior year. Um, but both our the expenses and revenue increased. Uh we did receive the grants from Visit St. Pete Clearwater, the 50,000 that are mainly for um
marketing the event. Um I don't believe we received a I don't know J I forgot to ask whether we're receiving an economic impact for this one. I know we did last year. Um but we'll follow up with the visit St. Clearwater. I didn't think of asking that when I was up there. Um but
these are the costs related and broken out by advertising, stage and sound, food and beverage. um supplies and operations. Uh and then the expenses for the Thursday night, we broke out a little separately the gather for grouper um
event that was held on Thursday night. Um and then the revenues which mainly come in addition to the visit St. P clearwater funding from various sponsors. Um the majorities are a significant amount uh from the vendors who pay to participate both food and
non-food the and then the the beverages that are sold by the city. And we do account for, excuse me, for the parking where we do charge a flat rate of $25 for the all of the lots from 135th,
I believe, down toward uh the path to 130th. Um, and so Jay, is there anything anything to add? >> Uh, no. The this uh spreadsheet had been circulated a couple times. I know the mayor's seen it. A few others may have
as well. Um, in the most recent update, I I did mark the orange thing, uh, expenses. Those were a few minor ones that as we were reconciling that we had through just, excuse me, reconciliation, the
expenses had recognized that those were not included. So, it was about a $1,500 difference overall when we went with that. And then there was some others that went down. And then the parking fee that was initially included uh did not includes the did not include the taxes that were paid out. So that number was
updated as well. Um one of the I I'd say the advantages and opportunities with this uh spreadsheet is it's an opportunity for especially the way we built it is for uh my staff and I to break down and look for opportunities obviously for cost uh cost cutting
measures and savings. um other opportunities that we can have sponsored uh like we've already had a discussion with KO. They don't do that, but it was it was it's leading to different conversations as far as how can we make the event more uh successful from
an expense standpoint and then on the revenue side continue to grow that. So, it's it's it's a it's an exercise that we've done since we started doing this and every year it gets more fine-tuned. Um, and with us looking to host a another seafood festival here in 77
days, uh, it's another opportunity for us to take a look at that. So, if you guys have any immediate questions, I can answer those. Um, I should be able to answer them. If not, I can get information back. >> Do we have any public comment,
commission comments, questions? >> Just to clarify, the because orange and yellow, the darker oranges are the updated. Yes. >> So there's the least those are the smaller amount. The uh there's less orange than yellow. >> Yes. Well, sorry. Everything in yellow
is is when I reconciled receipts with a clarion and put it on here, yellow was was telling that's that I should have just cleared it up, but the yellow was telling me that I had confirmed it. >> Okay. >> So, that was that was for me. And then the orange was the >> just for for clarity and uh to be open
about it, those were ones that were not included originally. So, and again the pro our to be a accurate and recording and we've had discussions in the past regarding uh obviously using our ledger and recording and properly budgeting for
the expenses and the revenue and properly showing them and we will have that for the fiscal 26 and account for all of our events uh properly. Uh correct coding for both again expenses and revenues. Look for sponsorships.
Look for obviously streamline costs wherever we can do that or cost reductions. We're not um these events are are for a public benefit. Um we're although we don't exist to we're not a profit center making for special events.
Obviously, they do need to cover their cost, but there is an opportunity for generating um the revenue that can then be returned uh back as we did tonight to the police explorers or certainly back into John's Pass Village uh where what
is the a significant draw for a few million visitors every year. Uh so, we will continue to be mindful of that and provide this as as quickly as we can upon the conclusion of all of our events. And to add on to that, something that if
you look through like the supplies operations block that's on there, you see some of those things that are listed that don't have numbers next to them. So that gives you this is a spreadsheet that I've used. I copy paste every year and I kind of adjust and then so if you look like
we included cost for duct tape and concrete one year. So if I bought a roll of duct tape, it was in that category. So, it's we're we're getting down and you know, there were some that were missed, but like we're getting down and and dirty with that. You know, trash bags was included the one year that we used the trash cans. Well, we now
switched out using the existing city trash cans and a better method working with Megan and the sanitation department and we don't have that expense. So, it's it's little adjustments like that. It may not seem like a huge change, but it makes us more efficient. It keeps the event cleaner. It makes cost savings
more realistic and all that. So, >> yes, >> I really like seeing this spreadsheet. It's should be on every event. Um, I love it. How are your sponsors um for the upcoming event? >> Well, we we just put out the
information. What I sent to you all earlier today and what I sent to the John's Pass businesses was the first anybody's had eyes on it. So, >> we have that's a huge number. 63,000. >> Well, we have secured 50,000 in funding from doesn't say Clearwater. So,
>> okay. we have that number. Um, >> how are how are we um are we trying to get additional sponsors and how are we doing that? I mean, is that >> So, that's that's a conversation. Um, I've I've got a list of going to work off of um I just kind of there's some
people that have sponsored in the past, but I am also being very cognitive of we all just got hit by a storm, so I'm not going to go knocking on some doors. I I may have conversations with them, but it's I want to make sure it's the right conversation. Um, and we're going to
look at some different The big thing is cost cutting first and then some sponsors that'll come through. It's it's a lot of repeat that we get every year, but we've, you know, we've got to have the >> Are there any national sponsors that might like to get their names >> sometimes? That's typically like a
that's a long range like we've talked to uh publiclix about doing it and and I'm not picking on them but they they've got a specific set category and where the money goes to like what's the if a city's raising money it's one thing but
if it's a a third party nonprofit charity that's looking to raise money they're more apt to do that kind of stuff. So, we just have to find the right categories and the right people to get it interested. But, we're uh we're focused on our our big thing is is making this a a local supported event
that's driving as much business as we can in the past because, you know, there's still some businesses that aren't open and the ones that are open are still, you know, trying to recover. So, that's our big thing. I just I I want to be cognitive of, you know, I'm not going to go, "Oh, hey, I saw you guys just opened two weeks
ago. Can I get some money for >> I'm just Yeah, it's promoting tourism and that's why you know VS >> Yeah. And the countyy's always been good. They've adjusted. We've got >> it's uh so it's 50,000. We get 35,000 that we have to contribute to marketing dollars >> and then 15,000 that's a general
sponsorship plus they also sponsor the stage that is in front of the bell tower across from Delos is provided by the county for free with this deal. And then we do some sponsorship through that and visualization. So, we're coming up with some more ideas and some more and
especially with bringing back the kids trick-or-treating. We've got people interested in that. Bringing back the costume contest, we've got some people interested. So, it's I think it's going to reinvigorate some excitement from some people that may not have been involved the past, you know, seven or eight years.
>> Yeah, it's it's a huge event. So, um thank you for putting that together. >> Of course, >> comments. Thank you. Um, so I'm glad that you did the eclarian reconciliation because this would be
very much what I was talking about wanting to use a clarion. >> Um, I can't wait to see the spreadsheet how it comes out. Like I said, I think that you want to get the credit for the work you've done. I had a conversation with a couple of the business owners
down in John's Pass and with um the Chamber of Commerce about alcohol And I think there's an opportunity to get the alcohol and the soda donated. Um I'll share that with Robin and he can share that with you.
>> Okay, >> that's all. >> Yeah. Anything we could We'll certainly look at every area. Look for >> I mean that's a great expense, right? That's a big expense of the event is the is that. So to get a sponsor to donate that would be a big opportunity to make
a profit. >> Yes. Thank you very much. Next on the agenda is special event agreement Rock Park Drop Dead Beach Bash and I'm not sure who's presenting that. >> It's going to be
>> All right. So, um we have received a special event application for an event out on the event fields next to the rec center utilizing the stage. Um, this was a conversation with uh Rock Park as well as there's uh so it's it's called the
Drop Deadad Dangerous Beach Bash. The band is Drop Deadad Dangerous. So that's where the name comes from. Uh they've put together a uh it's going to be a 4-day festival. They're looking to utilize our space on Friday night, Saturday night, and then uh back area of
the patio on Sunday afternoon. And then they're going to utilize local bar on Thursday. So, it's going to be a 4-day event. It's uh it's it's more of a tourism event. It it's still open and available ticket sales-wise to residents and whoever else
they public, >> but yeah, to the public. But a lot of their uh popularity comes from the different places that they've toured. And it's an opportunity for people to come stay here and uh they they do a lot of like mingling and they're a lot closer with the artists and that gives them more access. So, um,
we kind of look at what they looked at what they were doing. We had discussions. Obviously, we've got little league out there. Uh, no challenges that we face with them. Um, and then we were looking at kind of how we could set the event up and make it something. And I guess the the big
point that I'm I'm not I haven't mentioned is the whole goal of this event is to raise money for Rock Park. I should have led with that. Not sure why I did, but so their intent, their they've got a love for the the mission of the organization. So they they've
done this on Madira Way. It got rained out one year and they've done it at other locations. They did it in Indian Rocks one year because we had issues here and we really just worked together to find a way to make it happen at our site in the park that they're looking to raise money for. So, um, that said, uh,
we took a look at the costs kind of similar to what we do with King of the Beach and some of the other events and, uh, put together a contract where essentially we're looking to to wave the the facility rental cost for the field and the rec center. Um, and then the hard cost, sanitation, and a few other
things comes out to what they're they're looking they're going to have to utilize police. Uh, FD is not going to be involved. They're not looking at a huge event. Uh, sanitation was the big thing again and I I kind of sharpened the pencil and made that an affordable number so we can utilize the trash cans
we already have, do normal sanitation dumps and all that stuff. So, um, basically putting it together to, you know, and it's not a huge number, looking to wave uh, $2,40 and then invoice $1,283.50 to the event. So, that would be the the
impact of that. Uh, and again, it's it's I actually use the framework of the contract that we use with King of the Beach, uh, and put this one together. So, figure it's, you know, they've always been trying to get some sort of event in there that supports the park. And this
is, you know, I figure the most appropriate way for us to help support that event and make it a make it realistic. So, >> do we have any public comment? Hi, Bill Karn's uh 400 150th Avenue
Madiraa Beach. Um pretty excited about this year's event. We have uh Grammy award-winning artist uh Kristen Bush who's a Nashville star upandcomer. He's going to headline the event. I think
we've got uh six different bands uh all from Nashville, all top notchotch. And it's going to be a very exciting event. We're really looking forward to getting public uh participation. I know a lot of people aren't here right now, but uh
hoping we can get them out, but uh it's a pretty cool event. The Sunday event is just like all of the artists get together and they and they uh will play out on the um on the space closest to to the fishing pier and they just get all
get together and and and really play their hearts out for for the people there. Um, I said it should be a great event and something we're looking to do annually here to um, raise money for local nonprofits and for uh, Rock Park.
And I appreciate your consideration on this. Thank you very much. >> Do we have any additional public comment commission questions or comments? I just I had I just we discussed this in our one to one city manager. I thought it was well organized. It seems like
there's some quality uh entertainment. Uh I love to provide these kind of services uh to our residents. >> Um yeah, I think it's a great idea. Um my only question would be okay, so it's to benefit the Rock Park. Um I know the
city um put a lot of money into that uh into the pool area. recently. Is it to keep those kind of costs off the cities do or, you know, to kind of keep the maintenance up on Rock Park, keep improvements up on Rock Park? I'm not
sure how that all works. >> So, um, obviously the two hurricanes caused a tremendous amount of damage throughout the park. Um, our our goal is there's literally 850 memorials for families like myself that have lost kids
throughout the park. many of those signs are gone, uh, destroyed. So, we're trying to raise some money to get all the memorial plaques back up and and, uh, and and especially the tree placards that over the years they've been run
over by the landscapers, I can't tell you how many times, and replaced and replaced and replaced. Uh we spend about $10,000 a year normally just maintaining the signs that get damaged or or whatever the weather gets to them. But
uh we're going to we're going to make an effort now to get all of the tree signs, which there used to be signs on just about every tree that's out in the park. But uh um thanks to Mayor Brooks, we found some uh uh screws that uh are made
specifically for trees. and we're going to attach those signs directly to the trees so they won't no longer get uh run over by the lawnmowers and that. So, >> we have uh considerable amount of expense for the organization just to replace all of the memorials. Like I
said, there's over 850 memorials unfortunately since 2015 when we opened the park. >> I didn't realize your organization even existed. >> So, it's great. No, it's great to hear. It's a learning experience for me. The organization raised about $1.8 million
to build the park. >> So, >> yeah, good. >> Good job. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Comments. >> Uh looking forward to the event. We um also do uh they're going to have
vendors, um food trucks, um beer, wine, liquor, anything like that. uh that any of the local >> should have should have stayed up here. Um yes uh all all of the mentioned uh we'll have some food vendors there will
uh be serving beer, wine, alcoholic beverages. >> Oh, okay. Fantastic. All right. Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Did you good? >> Thank you. >> I'm looking forward to it. >> Yes. Hope to see you all out there. We're really excited about it.
>> And no and no rain. >> No. or hurricane. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is >> Sorry. >> Yes. >> You need to approve. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So, do we have a motion? >> Thank you. >> Yeah.
>> I move that we approve the proposed contract. >> Do we have a second? >> A second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Kagarini? >> Yes. >> Commissioner McGee? >> Yes. >> Hold on.
Commissioner Gabay. >> Yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerr. >> Yes. >> Mayor Brooks. >> Yes. >> The motion carry 5 to zero. I got excited and got ahead of myself. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is agreement to
purchase property at 50 or 153rd Avenue. >> So, mayor and commission, we discussed the item at the workshop. Since then, there have been no changes. The items as presented are still um for your
consideration to purchase the listed property at uh 50 or 503rd Avenue. The three parcels totaling approximately.7 acres
for a purchase price of 4.4,600,000. A couple of the items the city has obtained one appraisal. we would obtain a second appraisal. Um, and the current occupant of the property would uh
continue to occupy the property for 6 months after closing. Um, and again, as I stated, there have been no changes since then. purpose for the city would be to utilize the property eventually to construct erect a facility to house
mainly our public works administration uh parks maintenance um partial our mechanic and part of the fleet to answer any questions. >> Robin, I just want to make sure that the current purchase price is 4,600.
>> I'm sorry. Yes. Yeah. Okay. >> Excuse me if I misstated that. Do we have any public comment, please? John Hendricks, 569 Normandy Road. Um, $4.6 million.
That property was appraised at 2.5 million. We have property at the marina that we spent quite a bit of money to already have the engineering done. You don't need to spend $4.5 million on a $2.5
million piece of property. What you need to do, if you buy any property at all, is get it off the island on high ground so that we don't have uh equipment ruined again. On top of
this $4.5 million, you're going to continue to rent property on 95th Avenue across from the VA hospital. This makes no sense at all. I don't know who came up with this, but but it's way out of
line and this is more of this spending that is just out of control to be considering buying this property. It's a bad deal for the city. It's a great deal for the church. In fact, they've talked about how great it is for them. Uh,
y'all are really making a big mistake to buy that property. Then you've got to demo those buildings and build a new facility over there. This is going to end up being a $7 million project at least. So, you're you're way out of line
if you buy this piece of property. Go off the island, get it on high ground. Thank you. >> Do we have any additional public comment commission? >> I agree. I I don't feel this is a good
property for the the particular use. Um I think this land is good for to bring tourism. It should be really owned by a private company to place a hotel, restaurant,
stores there so they can bring more tourism to our town. It's right on the beach. It's, you know, you don't you don't park trucks and vehicles and so forth and so on in a very pristine piece of property. Of course, the the cost of it is just
definitely way way too much. But the use of that land to be just given up to storing trucks and mechanics and so forth and so on, I think it's just not a good idea. >> Mr.
>> I spoke with uh some people in my district, district three, and um they weren't too excited about the purchase of a $4.6 $6 million piece of property there. It's still in the flood zone. Um, you know,
knock on wood. But, um, the original, uh, appraise value of that was, like I said, 2.56 million. 4.6 million is just too much. >> Commissioners,
>> I support it. I support buying the property. It's um local to the beaches. It's local to city hall. It's um we've been wanting to find a piece of property on the island for public works building um for years.
Uh it's been appraised for 2.5, but it's also been appraised for 5.2. Um, so it would allow us to save our marina, to put a public works building over at the marina. I'm totally opposed to. Um,
there's so much more. That's a jewel um that we need to develop and not with not with a public works building and not with um equipment. I I support it. >> Yeah, I've gone back and forth with this. My initial uh reaction was we have
a piece of property and then I found out it's it's not nearly big enough. Um we will still have to rent a space with the church property. Um I would love to say have we exhausted
all our options? I know nobody wants to hear that, but is there is there another space that we could uh we could explore um in this area? Um it does seem like an odd place for
public works, but uh I would tend not to support it, but uh I'm not thrilled with the marina either to be honest. It's smaller and I think it could be put to better use.
That's that's where I am. Also, real quick, I just want to also add um that we're giving the church a half a year, 6 months rentree while they look for another place.
So, that just doesn't make sense to me. And um that's another thing why I'm not I'm not for it. So, >> so originally I was for it. Um, however, I feel like we received
not transparent information about the property. The appraisal that was over $5 million was at highest and best use of the land that would require a PD. So, that's not a real value of the property because there's no guarantee that they
could get a PD on that property and that they would be able to build at that highest and best use. And I really want to see public works have a building somewhere other than over at the marina,
but I just I've had too many conversations with too many residents and business owners that were really appalled that we were willing to pay that much more than appraised value and that we didn't try
to negotiate a better deal. And I personally took a real issue with that they couldn't even pay $1,000 a month rent for six months if we paid them above and beyond premium for the property. So,
I want the city to purchase something, but I just post our last meeting and the additional information that I received and the gossip that I heard, it just makes me not able to support the
purchase. I think that it would not be in the best interest of the of the residents for us to purchase that piece of property and build a public works building there is my opinion. >> Additional comments. So, mayor, let me just jump in. Um, the
contract has already been signed. There is a 60-day due diligence period. We're in that 60-day due diligence period. The 60 days will run 60 days after the last person to sign the contract. The last person signed the contract was signed on June 20th. And so we've got a very short
time frame here in the next five or six days in which we have to notify uh the seller that the property um does not meet the needs of the city. Um and that has to be done by a letter. And so I think the appropriate motion at this point based upon the consensus that I've
heard is is that a motion to direct the city manager to write that letter to the property owner, the seller, that the city um have found it to be um not acceptable or suitable for the city's needs. Uh and therefore we're backing out of the contract. Um and um any
monies that were placed in the escrow account would be uh dispersed back to the city. >> No motion. You don't you don't need a motion. >> We need a motion. >> We need a motion. Okay. >> I move that we instruct the city manager to send a letter to the
seller to break the contract to end the contract. >> Second. City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Kagarini. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gavayagi. >> Yes.
>> Vice Mayor Kerr. >> Yes. >> Commissioner McGee. >> Yes. >> Mayor Brooks. >> Yes. >> The motion carried five to zero. Next on the agenda is new business resolution 2025-08
plat approvals. >> Thank you mayor. I'm going to go ahead and read this resolution by title only. This is resolution 2025-08. Resolution of the board of commissioners of the city of Madera Beach, Florida, providing for the designation of the community development department and the
community development director and any successor department or division as the administrative authority with the power and duty to receive, review, process, approve, and deny the submission of applications for plats and replplats in
the city of MadiRaa Beach providing for severability conflicts and effective date. Andrew, are you going to handle the staffing on that? >> Uh, yes, I am. >> Senate Senate Bill 784 took effect on
July 1st, 2025 and amended section 177.071 of Florida statutes. This new law requires municipalities to designate by ordinance or resolution an administrative authority to receive, review, and process a plat or replat submission and designate an
administrative official responsible for approving proving conditions or denying a proposed plat or or replat. As a governing body for the city of Madiraa Beach, the board of commissioners may designate the community development department as administrative authority and the community development director
or their authorized design as the official responsible for the receive review and processing and final action approval approval with conditions or denial of plats or re plats in the city of Madira Beach. The proposed resolution 2025-08
PL approvals formalizes this designation and brings the city into compliance with Senate Senate Bill 784. Um it's not foreseen this would create a fiscal impact since additional staff would not be required. Staff recommends the approval of resolution 2025-08
plat approvals and attached as a resolution and in the section of Florida statutes. Bottom line, this is absolutely legally required for the city to do. Um, it's just who is going to be the person or persons that are going to be reviewing these. And obviously my recommendation
that the community development department be that designated department and individual. >> Do we have any public comment commission comments? Questions? Shouldn't a surveyor be reviewing the
plaque and make recommendations to a community department? >> There are other uh provisions of the statute that requires the overview and review and the answer is yes. It it will require an independent person to review the plat. >> Okay.
>> But it's the approval. Some cities like for example the city of Baltimore it requires a public hearing and it goes before the commission and commission considers it and approves it. Well, this particular change in the law says that's not necessary. You can designate someone to do it
administratively and you are uh required to do that now effective July 1st. >> Who would be signing the plot from the board? Would the mayor still be mayor? >> No. The administrative person that is reviewing and approving it. For example, in our case right now, Jenny would be
the one that would be doing it if you if you appoint her tonight. And if she retires at some point, then it would be whoever takes her position. >> So, as is listed in the item, the community development director would be the one to sign.
>> Okay. And the Senate bill is on page 389 of the packet, too. It's pretty straightforward. You have any additional questions? Questions, comments? >> Questions, comments. It's mandated.
>> Yes. So then do we have a motion? >> I move we uh approve resolution 2025-08 flat approvals. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Taglerini? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gabbay? >> Yes.
>> Vice Mayor Kerr? >> Yes. >> Commissioner McIn? >> Yes. >> Mayor Brooks? >> Yes. >> The motion carry five to zero. Next on the agenda is the 2026 Florida legislative session. >> Thank you. Uh mayor and commission uh
commissioners, excuse me. As we begin preparing uh we have our working to finalize our budget for next year. Uh we have a capital improvement uh project also for next year. Uh we are at the
point in time where to begin some discussion as to what uh funding we would look for uh appropriations in the 2026 Florida legislative session as well as any specific legislation that you would like to see
or that we would like to have our delegation support. Uh I put in the agenda items that between the city the city's uh lobbyist firm um Shoemaker Adviserss our
uh state firm that lobbies this works with the state and our legislative delegation for legislative matters as well as our legislative delegation um headed representative Linda Cheney um and our senator Nick Digglia. uh what
areas you would like for the city to focus on. Um again, we've looked for appropriations mainly. Um but certainly legislation is important as all of you are aware and certainly there has been considerable media coverage um and attempts by the legislature
to alter uh specifically some revenues that cities are had have historically depended on um as well as other what I think would be for cities and counties to preserve our home rule and our ability to raise revenue to regulate
certain things. Um but also looking for continued assistance for our mitigation resiliency and those specific actions and projects to further uh protect our
city um physic particularly from storms, flooding, etc. Um so that's the purpose of this discussion. We did receive from Senator, excuse me, Representative Cheny's office a kind of the
preliminary or the schedule of filing um and for the legislative session. It's in the packet. Um and so kind of a little the reason behind having this item at this time. Um I did speak with um Shoemaker
earlier this week. They could not be here today. they will they may attend um on the 27th. I will try to have them here at our workshop um to provide some additional information as well as in the September um workshop. Um but again, this is that's the purpose of this item
um for anything that you would like um to review, discuss, and look to submit for the 2026 legislative session. >> Do we have any public comment? Commissioners, do you have any comments? >> So, are you asking for um ideas for the
2026 legislative session? >> Yes. Yeah. And and again, we've discussed and gone over certainly a lot of our capital projects. I did ask kind of staff or the department heads what else we could be um looking to add. But again, our capital project is kind of
heavy on our road um drainage projects over the next couple of years, but certainly other items that we can utilize for again some of the flooding mitigation. We did receive some funding for title control valves that we will
look to use over the next year to two. Um but any other uh items or areas of interest? Um u I mean our fortunately our generators are still working well in this building and the fire department. Um we don't we do not have one in the recreation
center. I mean just kind of thinking out loud. Um certainly areas undergrounding assistance into the future for undergrounding utilities. um seaw wall replacements and other efforts to help again mitigate any future flooding
and those types of issues that we're facing. Um undergrounding utilities is a big one for me, but even bigger is um and I know it's from federal and comes down through the state, but the increased in property
insurance cost um due to the new uh 2.0 know from FEMA um when you raise your home you don't get any discount any longer and um I think as as a city or as cities
with big C and any any coastal city in the latest state of Florida I my understanding is that Louisiana is suing FEMA and that uh the state of Florida has signed on to that suit but I I think um
through our lobbyist at the state level, I think we need to push that to see what what can be done. It's just not fair that a single family
home at grade would pay the uh same amount of of flood insurance that one that complies that had been elevated or rebuilt uh to FEMA standards and not get
any discount for that elevation. Just kind of jump on the undergrounding. That would have been the one thing that I would be very interested in. >> I think it would be interesting to understand if to ask the question if
funds for undergrounding for private is even attainable private because when you're in a neighborhood that's residential undergrounding. Um maybe hopefully Shoemaker can come here and we can ask those types of
questions of him. But this is about specifically when Linda's office sent the email giving this telling he sent the email to myself and Robin that it would be open for us to start submitting this week things that we want and she
has to submit if you look at the schedule she has until November to finish. um she can start filing on the 18th. Representative Cheney, and I would tell you that we've not done a good job of
being mindfully respectful to her by any stretch of the imagination and that we need to decide what we want to ask for sooner than later. I had hoped that when we came here tonight there was
going to be a list from staff specific to what they want because when you start talking well look at the budget that's not that's not what I'm think that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about specific things that we want to
have our that we want to advocate to get monies that we want. What is that we want? Right? because then we want to have those conversations and push for that. And it it I don't really I I think
I asked Robin what went to Representative Luna because she reached out and I never really understood what we asked her to get for us. She had reached out to us and um he sent a or I whatever he sent her the list, put it in the portal, but I don't know what
actually went in there. Um, so I think we need to collectively we should have a voice in what we're asking for for the city. I think it would be important for staff to come and say,
"Here's the projects that I'm working on." Understanding they're in the budget. I understand that. Here's the projects I'm working on. Pitch me. Why does your project deserve us to fight for money from, you know what I mean? to make it a priority because the budget explodes
in part because we have all these projects and what and you've asked for this in the past on the budget. What does it cost for the day-to-day operations of the city? Separate that out from all the other minutiae that we're doing that is grants and that is
um projects. Take all that away and show me what it costs to run the city just to run it to pay the staff run the city day in day out. Um, but this is this is very important that we get this right and
that we make the right choices because it's not just for today. This will be for it'll be years of projects. The money will be >> this one is this on the work next workshop agenda. >> It should I wrote it down to ask for it
to be added. Yes. I think it's a workshop. I mean, we needed to start the discussion here so that everyone could start um having that, you know, thinking about that. But um I mean, there's there's been floated different things to
do within our community over the last 2 and 1/2 years that different departments have come and presented things that they wanted. And in my mind, some of those things are never going to happen unless we get funding. We're never we're not
building a basketball court and walkovers and that was a plan I saw um several several months ago prior to the hurricane. That's never going to happen without funding. Our taxpayers money is not going to pay for that. Not out of pocket. So um
>> did did were you instrumental in putting this on the agenda? >> It it came to it came the email just came to Robin and I >> I just wanted to thank you. >> Well, it's a big deal. >> It is a big deal. a big deal. >> The relationships that we have with our state and federal elected officials are
very very important because those are the people who can do for us at a much I mean they they're the ones that can put money in our pocket >> to be able to fund what our city needs. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you.
Um, Robin, on that, do we have a dredging update? >> So, our contractor, Aptim, met with uh and I listened in with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and it's been going back and forth now
for several weeks on the processes that APIM has described for the turbidity monitoring. So once the dredging begins, you are required to have monitors to keep sediment and anything else from
going into areas that may negatively impact other marine life or seaggrass, which is very important, or anything that is beyond the actual dredging area. So that was the the 20 minutes discussion back and forth. What shall we
use? Aptim stated what they submitted uh which are these turbidity type currents designed for a certain uh to withstand a certain speed of the flow of the current plus anything that may increase. FD is wanting something much different. They
didn't go into the specifics of what they're looking for, but they're working FD is going to review what has been submitted and then get back to API to say whether that is or is not acceptable. Aptum stated that there these the methods that they've proposed
have been approved by FD as recent as the most recent dredging in the Grand Canal area apparently. But so that was the the discussion and that's where they are now trying to resolve that what appears to be the final component of the
FD permit permit from you. The core says once we receive your permit from FD the core is will issue the permit. Um there is a permit issued from FDOT. The spec the specifications for the dredging are
completed by APTIM and once the permit is issued from FD and the core will issue their permit and then the the bid will go out. >> Okay. Any additional questions about the legislative? >> I just would love to go to Tallahassee
with our group once a year. I think uh talking about building relationships can make such a big difference. I go there every year and I know how impactful it is when you go up there and you shake hands, you go and talk to them
in their offices. It just it just connects us with them and they would be willing to do more for us if they know at least we're taking a step to go and meet them up there. >> Any additional comments?
Okay, then we will move on to the agenda setting. Robin, could we add legislative session and dredging to that? >> Yes. Yeah. We give an update on the on the dredging at each workshop. There'll be the 2026 legislative session. I'll provide also
an update on grants uh and other code violation fines, the processes as we discussed earlier. Um, and then the items listed on the agenda in tonight's agenda, the terrain modification update, uh, building permit
fees, the waiver review and possible extension, the America 250, um, celebration, frontier communications infrastructure repair removal, um, noise ordinance, and Florida Department of Transportation debris staging agreement.
And anything else the commission would like to add? Could uh could we add Purple Heart to it? A lot of cities are adopting Per Pearl Heart to to be the city to be a Purple Heart city. So >> Oh, designated as a Purple Heart. Okay.
Purple Heart. >> Do we have any public comment? >> Of course. You knew I would have public comment. John Hendricks, 569 Normandy Road. Um, something I would like for you to put on the workshop.
Um, I have no skin in the game. I have shown our mayor a piece of property that is on high ground that has a functioning building
that is very close to the city. I know the owner. It is on the market for 2.1 million. The owner has told me that if the city is interested, they would be willing to
sell it to the city for 1.8. I would like to take y'all individually to see that property and then have it discussed on the workshop so that the city can move forward. So, if y'all want
>> Okay. How big is the property? It's a city block wide, probably 100 150 ft deep. So, >> as vice mayor said, sign me up. >> It uh it can't hurt to look. there. It
doesn't cost anything to look, but I'd like to see the city make a good decision if they're going to purchase property. And I, you know, and something that has an existing building that may or may
need some work, probably more cosmetic than anything. Um, I think it would fit into what the city needs. Uh, Mr. Gomez, you're welcome to go up there also and take a look.
>> So, maybe we could just have a line item. Oh, I'm sorry. Are you done? >> No, that'd be great. But I would like to do that with y'all individually before the workshop so that you can have
a chance to think about it and and, you know, see what your feelings are on it. But certainly it would be, you know, if y'all are bound and determined to get another
piece of property to put a building on, this is a great alternative. You know, it leaves the marine open. If you've decided you're going don't want to go the route that previous commission did want to go and that that uh we've
already spent a ton of money on engineering and drawings and all that. But uh think about it if you want to put it on there. I'm more than happy to to uh take y'all up there and show you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Do you have any additional public comment? >> So, Robin, maybe we could just put on the agenda a line item to discuss property in general. >> Any other comments or questions?
>> You did add the Florida legislative session. Okay. >> Yep. >> Great. >> Thank you, >> Madam Mayor. I just wanted to thank our previous mayor John Henrix to be here to give us some of his feedback. I think it has been extremely helpful.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so next on the agenda is reports and correspondence um board of commissioners 2025 BOC meeting schedule. Just wanted to um just to make everyone
aware we um as we're approaching kind of this the the second half of the year um we are in October uh well we have a workshop on the 27th of this month then our two regular meetings on the 10th and the 24th which also include our uh first
and second readings for the budget um first and second readings public hearings for our fiscal 26 budget. Then our next regular meeting will be on on October the 1st and not the regular October the 8th. So Wednesday, October
the 1st as is listed on the schedule with the workshop on the regular uh the regular 22nd of October. And then in November, we only have one uh date with both the regular meeting and the workshop, excuse me, the workshop
followed by the regular meeting um in November and then the same um in December on December the 10th. So just to go over those for the rest of this calendar year and if any changes um now would be a
good time if anybody's proposing any changes. If not, it stays uh for the time being as I just stated. >> I'd like to propose a change >> for for this year >> for 2026. >> Oh, we're not to that yet. >> Oh, okay. >> We're on 2025 first. >> Sorry, that's the next. >> That's okay.
>> I'm sorry. >> Is 2025 good with everybody? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. So 2020. Sorry, mayor. I took here. >> So then next on the agenda is 2026 VOCC meeting schedule
>> and we did uh update the schedule to reflect some changes from the last uh discussion of this and I believe that was for April. We are meeting on April the 8th um
excuse me the 29th instead of the 22nd for the workshop. Excuse me. But sure. Any other changes? >> I would like to propose that in March
that we move both meetings um up by week. So it would be March 4th. Oops, sorry. March 4th and March 18th. So, you'd still have the two weeks between,
but it would just work out with my schedule. >> I don't have an issue with that. >> It' be March 4th and March 18th. So, it still has plenty of time between if you meetings. So, if that's okay.
>> And just a question, Clara, with the election, the 18th is fine. I believe >> March the 18th. The um >> is the election is on the 10th >> 10th and I don't think so. Um
>> we should get the certification by that Thursday >> by the 12th 13th at the latest. >> We can read the results at the next meeting. Okay. That work perfect for March. Should >> be okay. >> Yeah, should be okay. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Want to let the commission know that I
do have a conflict. I have Safety Harbor that night on the 18th and so I'll be sending a different lawyer here for this meeting. >> You're going to send somebody in your place? >> Yes, ma'am. >> What if we like them better? >> That's a big possibility. I understand. >> Just let me know.
>> I very much doubt that. But >> I didn't ask if we had any any public comment on either one of those items. >> No public comment. >> Mayor, >> yes. >> I just want to add one thing. Now, depending on when we get that election
results, there are reason only reason uh there's not because our meet regular meeting's on the 11th. That's the only reason there's not a special meeting on there yet. Right. After that, >> right? >> Yeah. for uh swearing in the new commissioners.
>> Okay, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Next on the agenda is board of commissioners reports correspondence. I have something that I would like to report or correspond with you all. Um I would like to address performance
of our city manager. When I first joined the commission, my impression of Robin was from outside looking in and it was very positive. Unfortunately, my experience since since then has become very different.
I feel that we now have a city manager who does not lead his team and will not acknowledge the need for leadership. I personally have lost confidence in his ability to fulfill his role. Over my over my time on the commission, I've raised numerous concerns and
brought forward issues within the city to this day. Just a few examples that have led to my decision to tell you this tonight is the dredging project, the jetty, the lack of updates as requested, inaccurate information provided to the
commission, as an example, the wreck truck, the condition of the jetty, the staff that work from home or do not. There are many other items that I could add to that list. Failure to prioritize critical city needs, including post
hurricane recovery efforts, not adhering to the city's purchasing policy. As an example, installing the pilings out in the water, and then removing them, even though he was asked by commissioners to please not do that
until we had a meeting. I'm sure that none of you here tonight were prepared for this conversation or for me to bring this to light. I would like to have additional conversation on the matter. Um,
I would like to see us go out and search for a new city manager. Whether it's an intern city manager temporarily and then a full-time, I don't know. That's that's for a um I believe a workshop or a special meeting conversation.
And at that time, I'd welcome Robin to apply for the position in my opinion, but I feel very strongly that it is our responsibility to ensure that we have leadership in our city and the and the
leadership that our city deserves. So I would like in in um inquiring into the process of this and what we are required to do. Um we need to have a meeting where this is
agenda so that we can have a discussion and the public can have the opportunity to attend and share their opinions if they so choose. And we can do that by calling a special meeting, which I would prefer to do, um,
than to just let it sit for two weeks until we have a workshop. So, do we have any public comment, commissioners? >> Before we do anything hasty, I certainly
would like to get uh other opinions. city workers, residents, uh, businesses. Um, I I I would like to not have this happen like it's happened in the past. Let's make a thoughtful decision and give city
staff and uh, city manager an opportunity to respond. >> Absolutely. >> I not prepared to have this conversation. >> That's why I'm bringing it up so that we can schedule a meeting and have the conversation. It never hurts. >> It never hurts to discuss this. So, I
mean, I'm I'm for having a conversation. Why not? >> I think a lot of the u issues that you brought up um are very important to the city. They're very important to the residents. Um I'm not quite sure
um where we go from here. Um I think the discussion the meeting is very important. I know that um some of the issues that have been brought up are are are very important to a lot of the residents.
>> So I think my understanding from asking the city attorney is that we can schedule a meeting. >> That's fine. Is there input from the commission on when that would work for your schedules.
Would you s suggest a date that we already have on the calendar and just an earlier time? >> I would rather not wait two weeks to have the discussion. I am personally available any day next week.
>> Next Wednesday. >> I can do next Wednesday. >> I'm free. >> Well, I have conversations with the mayor at 5:00, so we'd have to do it earlier in the day if we did it on Wednesday. Wednesday's uh all day is good for me.
>> I can make it work. >> I'm fine on Wednesday. >> So, an earlier what time? >> Just uh I want to jump in. I am not available at all that day. >> That's right. If you want me to be present at the meeting, I I cannot make
it that day. I have >> Tampa Special Magistrate hearings all day and then Safety Harbor that night. So, >> could you do could Thursday work or Tuesday? >> Thursday is fine. >> Tuesday night. I've got Oldsar. So,
Thursday would work best. If you're going to have a workshop or a special meeting for me, >> Thursday the 21st, I have I have work I have to work on the 21st at 6 p.m. So, um, daytime would work. >> Daytime. >> Yeah. >> Do something in the daytime on the 21st.
>> I'll make myself available. Does that work? So, what time? >> Yes. >> I make myself available >> Tom. What time would >> Anytime. >> Really? Ask Commissioner Tag Larini.
>> Yes. >> Well, I mean, the earlier the better so I don't run the risk of >> 2 o'clock. >> Yeah, that's good. >> So, 2 p.m. >> Yes. 2 p.m. >> on the 21st. And is this going to be a special meeting or is this going to be a
workshop meeting because that that makes a difference. >> Um what should it be preferably Tom? >> Open discussion uh items like this it would normally be a workshop meeting. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Then a workshop. >> So that's on the 21st at 2 p.m.
>> At 2 p.m. Are we going to I mean obviously it's going to be open to the employees and the public, right? Right. >> Yes. >> Will it need to be advertised?
>> It will be. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Anything additional? Do you have any comments? >> No. >> To share >> regarding that? >> Anything? >> Waiting for the next item 16.
>> Oh. Oh, me too. But all right. So, next on the agenda is city attorney. >> I have nothing tonight. Thank you. You've handled all my issues tonight. >> Next on the agenda then is city clerk board of commissioners meeting report. Yes, ma'am. U the report is through um
July 31st. It's complete and I apologize for earlier. I couldn't really hardly hear because of the overhead sound. This vent doesn't go off. >> It's loud. >> It does. I don't think it even shut off at all tonight.
>> It's just now getting cool in here. >> Yeah, right. >> It's been hot. >> Well, it was doing that in my office for the last couple years. It would just not stop. And the AC person had found that something had broke that caused all the
all that noise and air to come right into my office and I was like freezing and I'm just wondering if that might be what might be happening here. I don't know. >> Thank you. >> They fixed it though and it's I'm comfortable.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Next on the agenda is the city manager report July 2025. So, mayor and commission and just to give you updates on for the month of July, a lot of reminders uh residents regarding
the time of year with the heat, the humidity, making sure that people are avoid going out when thunderstorms, etc. Stay hydrated. Remember the pets. Uh but reminders of we're obviously during hurricane season. Make sure people have
their supplies and are ready. Fortunately, I guess the one tropical storm that's out there appears to be moving away, but still kind of early to make that determination. Reminding people to sign up for Penllis Ready
Penllis to be updated on emergency planning and emergency situations at the county. Updates, other reminders on when post disaster for numbers to reach city hall and different departments. um our disposal.
There's still uh for as part of storm preparation, there are exemptions for various uh exemptions from sales tax for various items that could be used including batteries and tarps, uh gas cans, etc. Um also more reminders about
sea turtle nesting. Earlier today, I counted about 12 or 13 nests out on the sand. So just reminding again be mindful and of the nests and not u go you know touch them or alter them in any way. Um
also folks can sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming city meetings city events. Uh we continue advertising for the citizens academy that is slated to begin on October 1. Um at the end of this month, the selections will are
depending on the number of applicants. Um we will have a uh class hopefully to begin October 1. Uh also we continue providing weekly updates on our permitting. Um the data of the number of permits issued as of um last week. We
were up over um 2500 permits that had been um issued, excuse me, 2,800 permits that had been issued. Obviously that's grown since last week. Um our consultant for the master plan again is getting close to
completing the plan. Um so we'll have updates over the continue to have updates over the next week. Um also information on our fiscal 26 budget uh for the next year. Again looking to keep the millage rate the same. Um but again
having the last uh public hearing, excuse me, the next workshop on the budget on the 27th. Uh but also listed similar to the prior month information on our financial transparency, the online portal that a clarion where folks
can look up for budget information, actual revenues, expenditures, uh reminding folks of keeping our beach clean. We continue to the thanks to the trash pirates and the coastal crusaders keeping Ellis beautiful for having the monthly cleanups and helping to keep our
city clean. Uh we have included in here the public works update on our existing projects from the military court of honor to u the some of the storm uh preparations. As I mentioned to all of you, we did
have the MOI mat installed at uh next to the jetty out at John's Pass Park. Um, also I didn't list in here, but also the county installed a mo mobility mat at the county park um that reopened on August the 1st.
And just the reminders about mosquito control. We had a Penelis County mosquito control out here um on the last meeting. And just to give updates for continue to remind folks that they can call them, they can email them and they will go out and look at at properties.
Um, thank you to our fire department, um, and the mayor for participating on back to school day, which was this past Monday, just reminding folks of the school zones and to watch out for obviously folks walking to school and obey the the marked crosswalks, um, etc.
Uh, just jumping listed some of our uh, revenues for the marina um, which are stabilizing posttorm. We continue to see positive sales on fuel and other sunundry items that are sold at the marina. Um our parking revenue also has
um increased or s surpassed the same time period for the prior month. July was actually our largest grossing month. Uh but keep in mind we did increase the rate from $3 to $4 an hour. Um so that's a positive. We hope
to end up the year with over 3 million in collections. Um last year we were at just over 3.8 million. So we would be a little bit less in the the what we had projected for the parking revenue. And just other reminders and information on
our Gulf Beaches public library and the barrier islands governmental council or the big C. Um with the next meeting being uh the 27th of August at at the city of St. P Beach is um hosting at
their community center. And then lastly, just update on upcoming events, including these meetings, the conversations with the mayor, village Fridays, and the village Friday, which is this Friday, and then burger week, which also begins this week, and runs
through August the 24th. So, happy to answer any questions you may have. Public comment, commissioners, comments, questions. >> Um, real quick on the county park across uh um on G Boulevard, I've noticed they
still have a lot of fencing up um they're when will they be completely done? Do you know >> they didn't The last update was it would be several months upwards of 6 months before they complete. They have to
repair the that row of parking. So that asphalt, the sidewalk that was there and that's where the two showers were loc well currently where one shower was located and then the se the wall that was there that all needs to be redone completely.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything >> you go >> anything comment? No, >> not on the city manager report. >> Okay. So then next on the agenda is respond to public comments questions. >> Mayor, I'd like to respond to a comment
that was made u a member of the that was in the audience earlier regarding people staying at city hall after the hurricane. Uh frankly, I'm I'm disappointed that that gibberish is still going around. I'll call it just
that. I was here on the night of the flood. I this place was as as many of you were. It was a disaster, a catastrophe. I had to hike out with all my belongings because my cars were destroyed. And I watched all the down
the streets the devastation. It wasn't just a hurricane. It was a 150year event. I wonder how many city managers would have whose houses were destroyed would have stayed and continued to work 24/7
for several weeks. I don't know, m maybe all of them, maybe none of them. During that time, a few residents popped up asking questions and they were offered a place to stay and some did. So, the idea that some people have special privileges, no, we had an employee
who who sacrificed his time with his family and and his family did stay here for a short time. they were they it was made it easier for him to do his job without charging any overtime without asking for any wages just for his regular salary for for weeks and weeks
and weeks. So I just wanted to say I felt that comment was out of line. >> So one of the purposes to me of doing this is to I take notes on what people said so that we can address it. And there was a comment made about our
budget and I did bring that up in a previous discussion about having it separated out where not only us but the public can look at what is the actual day-to-day operating budget separating out projects.
Um the roll back rate just usually that's lower, but we know from our budgets that if we had opted for the roll back rate, taxes would have actually gone up because of the hurricane and the things that happened
with property tax. And um that when we look at our budget, I would like to be mindful of although we do only have less than 100 employees and we do only have 4,000
residents, we do have over three and a half million people a year who come here. So when we're staffing and we look at the staff that we have and what they do, they're really servicing many more people than just the residents. So I
would like to I would like for us to have at our budget meeting a a better understanding of that clear down the line. I think the community would like to see it. We've asked for it. Um, we've asked for other budget. I we've I asked I've asked over
and over and over for the list of how many employees work for each department, each department head, how many employees does director have, how many employees does director um Hatch have, so on and so forth. And I know that um I believe
that will be a part of our packet next in our budget meeting. Um but that's taken a long time to get that there and a lot of a lot of asks. Um, so I think that'll be really good. The the the second person who spoke um talked about
our millage rate being so high. We haven't raised our millage rate in a really long time. And I think that when you think about what you're putting in reserves, you have to think about long term. You're not thinking about how much money you need for this year, but how much money are you going to need in 10
years for road projects and whatnot. and that we don't look that far out when we're budgeting, but I I do think that we're mindful of that that we need the money to acrue to be able to pay for the road projects that are needed if we don't get the funding from the the
government, right? Um and then post storm, the city manager stayed here and he worked. So, it it is a shame that in the media somebody or in the public somebody picked that up and made an issue out of
that because that wasn't a fair um that wasn't a fair thing to do. Just But I really would like to understand the dollars because it's hard to explain the dollars when you
can't see the numbers. I sent an email this morning to and well, I got it wrong. It was corrected because I I copied uh the city manager. I sent it meant to send it to Andrew Laughlin. Oh, and I sent it to Andrew
Morris, but he he quickly after Andrew Morris had a heart attack. Um >> it was it was it was corrected and sent sent to Mr. Laughlin. >> You did that on purpose, didn't you? But it's it's to that
>> matter. It was a couple other things >> um that I won't go into here, but it was mainly that perception that our budget and maybe it has >> I would say
>> but it's it's hard to it's hard to say. We expect an operating budget that's going to increase incrementally and also our revenues are going to increase incrementally. Well, what's that really look like? We've asked for it >> and we've never got
>> many times >> and we have not received it. Um hopefully Mr. Laughlin's will res respond to that with our next budget um meeting and we'll have a better understanding. I mean, it's it's
a lot of detailed information in in those budgets. It kind of it gets you kind of glassy eyed after a while. And then when you ask a question on an item, it's and it's explained away.
But, you know, we we do this some of us do it full-time, some of us do it part time, but you you can't you can't expect residents that have, you know, so many
hours that they can each month to really comprehend and bring that to together. It should be a better way to present it to us. >> I I could not agree more. >> So, um and in regards to uh city manager
staying here um and sleeping here, he worked for the city. If he was awake, he was working for the city. So, I I I take personal offense to people making that comment. You know, I understand every
everyone was displaced. You can't put a whole city in city hall. He has he had to work here. And, you know, I I give accolades um to his response over the weeks and months
following the storm. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any additional comments? Um, one night I came here around 11:00 during that hurricane and I was just walking and our city manager was at work 11:00 at night.
Not only him but also he engaged his family. Commendable. >> If we have nothing further, it is 9:25 and we are adjourned.