Good evening. Welcome to the board of commissioners regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, March the 4th, 2026, and it is 6 PM. City attorney, would you lead us in the invocation and pledge of allegiance, please? Our father in heaven, uh, give us the power to clearly
discern right from wrong. Allow our words and actions to be governed thereby and by the laws of this land. We ask for your inspiration to strive in our endeavors to serve the public. We also ask that you direct us so that above all things we will discharge the duties for the benefit of the people we serve. 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 call the role, please? >> Mayor Brooks >> here. >> Vice Mayor Kerr >> here. >> Commissioner Tagarini >> here. >> Commissioner McGee >> here. >> Bay >> here. >> All are present.
>> Do we have an approval of the agenda? Um, Madame Mayor, I just have one correction. Is that Do I wait for Oh, that's in the minutes. Never mind. I I approve. Make a motion to approve the agenda. Sorry. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please?
>> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Commissioner Tagarini, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gavay, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. >> Motion carry five. to zero. >> Next on the agend agenda is proclamation
flood awareness week March 9th through the 15 2026. Whereas the city of Madura Beach has experienced severe weather in the past in the form of extreme rainfall or tropical system events resulting in
flooding throughout the city of Madiraa Beach. And this flooding has caused damage and flood losses to homes and buildings in all areas whether they are high-risk special flood hazard areas or low to moderate risk flood zones. And
whereas the city of MadiRaa Beach is a voluntary participant in the National Flood Insurance Program that provides residents with the opportunity to protect themselves against flood loss through the purchase of flood insurance
at reduced insurance premium rates as well as setting higher regulatory standards to reduce the flood risk and potential flood damage to their property. And whereas the reduction of loss of life and property damage can be
achieved when appropriate flood preparedness, control and mitigation measures are taken before a flood. And whereas public education and awareness of potential weather hazards and methods of protection are critical
to the health, safety, and welfare of residents. The Florida Flood Plane Managers Association declared the week of March the 9th through the 15th, 2026 as Flood Awareness Week to promote awareness and increased knowledge of
flood risk, the availability of flood insurance, flood protection methods, and how to prepare for emergencies. Now therefore, Immarie Brooks, mayor of the city of Madiraa Beach, Florida, in coordination with FEMA and Penllis
County, do hereby proclaim March the 9th through the 15, 2026 as flood awareness week in the city of MadiRaa Beach and encourage the citizens of the city of MadiRaa Beach to increase their knowledge of how to protect themselves
and their property from flooding. We have no presentations. Next 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 five 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? Good evening, Chuck Dylan, 529 Lillian Drive. First of all, I'd like to thank
you for the uh opportunity to get four parking stalls and thank Megan and Clint or whoever was able to get the parking stalls marked. The residents were using it this weekend and thank you very much for that quick work. Secondly, um,
interestingly enough, I'm saying this now because I it's it's amazing how many people do not realize that everybody in the whole city. Doesn't matter what district you're in, everybody in the city votes for each commiss, each
commissioner. and I was on the beach Sunday with 20 people that were in district three and they didn't realize that they have to vote vote on March 10th. So I want to say that again. Everybody in the whole city votes on
March 10th. Thank you. Please come out and vote. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? Good evening, Tom Edwards. I'm District 1. Um, I was going to come talk about this flooding and and you had the
proclamation, so it's it's very appropriate. Um, we're a few months away from hurricane season again and thinking about what is the city doing to floodproof their buildings. So, I walked over to the library and uh I was told
they had about six inches of water that came in during the hurricane 24. Um they have now put a barrier up. I don't know if you know that they've put a couple bars up and then they'll be able to put slants in. Um what I'm noticing it's
only about three or four feet tall. So, if we had heavy rain coming in, all that water is going to come behind the barrier because they're not tall enough. And so you're going to have that water accumulating behind the barrier because it's it's several feet away from the
doors. So it's something to consider. They may want to uh raise the height on those so that you don't have that water intrusion coming in. And when I went down the recreation department, of course, their building is up higher, but they had rain coming in with 100 mph
winds driving that rain in through the doors. So, you know, what are we thinking about how we can go ahead and prevent that rain coming in through those seals? There there are different things that you can do to seal around the doors so you don't have that rain uh
coming in. Um we had obviously the community development group downstairs and and building department, they got flooded. You got two main doors there. I don't know if they were sealed up. I understand that we might have some
flooding problem that does water rise up from the floor or through the walls. I don't know what maybe Marcy can inform us, but uh it's it's wasted space down there. If we could go ahead and improve that area so that it can be used again,
uh whether it's for activities or or uh child care or something else, it should be something that could be used. and and if we did have a flood event, whether we can waterproof that or we can remove any necessary items from that building down there. Just just a thought on that area
there. The fire department I know is up high and uh but again, the storm we had was 100 miles off. If we have a direct hit, fire department very well could get flooded. And so it's it's something that you all might consider. I know we have a high water vehicle there. And at the
same time, I was thinking, you know, I've I've traveled around and some cities I've been to have these amphibious ducks. I don't know if you've seen them. So, they they act as a tourist attraction. So, you you get there, you take a tour of the city, they
tell you about the history, they drive down into the water, the lake or whatever, and they drive around, they see the houses, and they get they get the history of the city from the waterfront. Uh might be something to consider. You know, we we have this new property down there. Might be something. It would certainly be a tourist
attraction to have something like that. As I say, it seems there's always lines with people when I've been to other cities trying to get on those. Plus, you could use as a high water vehicle. I know the fire department has one, but now you have an amphibious vehicle that can go in the water, on the road, can
drive. So, something to consider uh as a choice attraction and something that you could use in a high water event. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? Next on the agenda is the approval of the minutes. If the commission has had
the opportunity to read the minutes. >> Madam Mayor, I have a correction or the page seven. Um, third paragraph from the bottom. Richard didn't have the last name. Uh,
LeBlanc, that's L E B L C. Repeat that. L E >> L E B is in boy. L A N C. >> Other than that, I don't have any corrections. >> Do we have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes as written. >> Do we have a second? >> No second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Don't you want that motion to be as written with that correction? With the correction of the last name? >> Yeah. So, the motion would be to approve
with the uh with the change >> with the correction >> instead of as written. >> Is there a second to that motion? >> I'll second. >> Sorry, Mayor. I just >> That's okay. Thank you very much. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Vice Mayor Kerr?
>> Yes. >> Commissioner McGee? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Tagler? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gavay? >> Yes. >> Mayor Brooks? >> Yes. >> The motion carried five to zero. Next on the agenda is the consent agenda. I will read the items on the
consent agenda. Any member of the board of commissioners can ask to pull a consent item for separate discussion and vote. A is the DSK law engagement letter renewal. B. Area 9 roadway and drainage improvement project engineering scope
approval. C. Authorization of the mayor's signature on FEMA category A final inspection report. Madam Mayor, I'd like I'd like to pull B just for >> Do you want to pull B for a question or for discussion?
>> Um, well, if you can answer my question. >> I think we if it's just a question, I think we can just answer the question and not >> depends on how the questions answered. >> Well, that's that's why I asked. Is it a question or discussion? The question is, does that approve it
being a sole source to the company that is named? >> Megan, can you answer that one question? >> Is that item 9B? >> Yes. >> Good evening, mayor and commissioners. I'm sure I'm not sure of your question.
Would approval of the consent agenda authorize the contract to the company that's currently is it advanced >> advanced engineering? >> Yeah, I'd like to have a discussion on that if that's the case. >> Are you asking how we procured advanced
engineering? >> No, I they're on your regular engineering per hourly. >> Correct. We have a contract with them. >> No, I understand that. >> Okay. I'm not sure of your question then. and then I'd like to pull it. >> Then we'll pull it. >> I I I have a question on that as well.
>> We're going to discuss it. So, do so do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda with A and C? >> I'll make I'll make a motion to approve with A and C. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role,
please? >> Vice Mayor Kerr? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Gavay? >> Yes. >> Commissioner McGee? >> Yes. Commissioner Tagalini. >> Yes. >> Mayor Brooks. >> Yes. >> The motion carried five to zero. >> Next on the agenda will be area 9
roadway and drainage improvement project engineering scope approval. >> You don't know. May I? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. I didn't know if you were going to go into a long discussion. >> I'm just going to wait for the questions. what it was. Um, the
contract's worth over $400,000, $435,450, whatever it is. Um, I personally wasn't comfortable with the presentation that was given at the at the workshop with a 6 in uh goal of raising the road 6 in.
It was um described as an elevation of two and a half feet on the is that the east end I guess and up to four feet on the west end. If we can't if we can't elevate two and a two
and a half feet up to we have to have a goal and I would suggest that that goal be four feet. If we can't substantially increase uh the elevation of that roadway, I think we're we're we're throwing our money away. We have
to we have to look at um we have to look at, you know, why we want to elevate this. And of course, it's for residents to get in and out, but it's also for emergency vehicles and whatnot. I know where I live on John's
Pass Avenue, it the elevation's at least four feet and it floods on on certain sunny day events, flooding events. Um, I'm I would like to have another I would like to have another engineering firm uh
take a look or advance tell the commission how it would raise the road um when you have properties even if it's just one or two properties below the center line of that road and he couldn't
do that. So, I' I'd like to have that discussion before we before we just uh award a $450,000 engineering contract. >> So, without the prior notification of this, we were not obviously able to get
Justin from advanced engineering here to discuss. >> I understand we don't have to make a and and we can table this so that he can um >> if I can >> if you if you if you can. So, you can't make a promise to elevate a road a
certain height without doing the survey and without doing all the proper work that needs to be done because we are talking about raising the roadway which messes with the elevation of every single home that is out there. We are not just talking about just doing what we've done previously where raising the
road a little bit and going to the rightway line. We are talking if you raise the road and we know the the six inches that we've referred to. We know that we can raise the road six inches without negatively impacting the residents. And this was completed prior
to Helen. So that's whenever there were more singlestory homes out there on Bayoint now of which most of those have been demoed and if not going to be demoed. So the six inches was just to give a a notification of we can elevate
the road. We know that we can do that. But if if we're looking to go from this elevation to four feet, I think a lot of people would tell you that that's unheard of. That you have to gradually elevate. That you can't just go from one extreme to the next because you're
negatively impacting more homes than than I don't I don't think we would ever have the budget to be able to restore those homes and to be able to do that project. So 6 in is just what we know from the wershed management plan that we've already completed.
And whenever we get that survey back, we'll know what we can do from there. But we can't make any promises until we have that information and how the city wants to have the liability of possibly negatively affecting homes and flooding homes. >> Exactly. That's why I'm saying I'd like
a second opinion from Kimley Horn or some another engineering firm because I believe that there are ways to do it. So, so >> they did it they did it in Miami. >> Yeah. So, what I was going to say to
that is the the phase that we're going through now with the engineering that they do and this the more detailed survey work that they talked about with that they will be able to to look at this and optimize the best that we can do at this stage at this moment in time. So their
engineering analysis will drive what we can do and where we can do it. So that's the goal with with part of their process is to say okay we can six inches here you know seven and a half here and they'll run those analysis but most all of the projects that involve the
long-term goal of elevation it's you know 80 to 100 years. So during the first elevation you get as much as you can and then when the road dies in 20 plus years and it's time to be replaced you re-evaluate it and see if you can get another 6 8 in. So that's the
process and that that requires the engineering to figure out how to optimize what we have and what we can do. So that's what they'll be doing is they're not going oh six inches and that's it. they're going to go where this where the engineering takes them and maximize those opportunities to the
best of their ability with what's out there now. >> Again, I I understand that, but I I' I'd like a second opinion. Um, we were told when when they redid Crystal Island Flamingo, um, it it sun sunshine flooding. Uh I
actually sunny day flank I actually had Al Carrier uh whoever was in charge of that at that time in charge of the project I can't it was a young gentleman he's not with us anymore I had Bob Daniels I had residents out there and
they they told me um we could not raise the seaw wall uh on Flamingo and we couldn't because the seaw walls on either side were not elevated. Well, you know what we have now? Both sides of the seaw wall are elevated. They never went
and talked to the to the residents to see what their plans were. We still flood on Flamingo on a sunny day event. It's still in the red when it when you do the flood flood assessment. I'm afraid we're going to be in the same
position here that you're going to raise the elevation and not not get the the maximum benefit that you can. That they're not looking at this. It's it's the easy way. And I I'm not an
engineer, but I I can I can see in my mind's eye how this can be done. And and if the road is always the lowest point of every house on the street, >> I have an issue with that. That's all. And I've had an issue with that for six years.
>> So the second opinion we get would wouldn't really be an opinion. It would just be a second bid on the same stuff to get to the same. No, I that's why I'm concerned. >> They can't make you any promises on how high the road can go until the surveying is complete. >> Okay. The engineering
>> have they have they ever done a project where where the road is not the lowest point for every home on the street. >> Advanced engineering is very familiar with our city and with barrier islands. And they've also, as I've stated, have done the watershed management plan, which went through all of our flooding
scenarios and also went out 20, 30 years to see what the city would look like. >> I I understand all that. Have you ever done a project where every where the road is lower than where if there's a house on that road, it's not
high? I'm not saying it right. Have they ever done a project where the uh the road is not the lowest point in the entire on the entire neighborhood? >> I can't answer that. >> Commissioner or vice mayor, excuse me. If I believe you're asking Megan questions that she's just not able to
answer. She I let's just table this until I advance can can make his presentation. >> Madame Mayor. >> Yes, sir. >> My concern is not really designed. My concern is the cost. We're spending
close to a half a million dollars design fees. I don't did we get did we get any competitive bid? >> So, we don't have to do competitive bids because we have them under contract. >> I don't believe I would refer to Mr.
Tras, but >> I don't believe that we can do competitive bids with our consultants. I don't know how that works. if you could put it out for competitive bid, but the purpose of your continuing contracts is to avoid that possibility. That's why you do your continuing contracts to get
them all lined up. If you can't negotiate a contract under uh the continuing contract aspect of it, in other words, you think that they're charging you too much, then you can negotiate with the next the next firm that has a continuing contract with the city. But ultimately, this this is what
has been negotiated to this point. Um, >> all right. So, so I understand that. I I really firmly believe that this close to half a million dollar fee is just way way excessive. I think we're being taken advantage of. If if we can get another
quote from the second um company in line or maybe a third if it needs to be. In my opinion, this should be h, you know, $200,000, not not a half a million, not not, you know, because let me just ask you this. If we didn't do any
improvements, if we just milled and resurfaced, we would be saving $439,000. Just get a contractor. Now, I understand the road will be where it is. You know, we've been we've lived with this forever. We may be overreacting,
but spending half a million dollars just for just for design fees plus the cost of construction, this will be way out of hand. So, I I would like to recommend to get us get get the second uh company in
line and get a second quote from them. >> Megan, can I ask you a question? >> Sure. um for the general public because we all workshopped this. So, it's a little disappointing that we're having a discussion on these topics today when we workshopped it and should have really
been asking these questions at that time because we did have someone here from the the company to answer any questions that we had. But could you for the for the benefit of the public give like a for the half a
million dollars what are we getting a breakdown kind of a >> so I think we discussed this in the workshop >> this is not like any road project we've done before so this is not a simple design where we are swapping out the storm drains and we are putting in the
same size maybe a little bit bigger if we have the same space replacing curb and asphalt that's what we're in an area 3. So that design absolutely is less than $200,000. But whenever we get into talking about elevating the roadway, we are talking about doing a lot more
permitting because we're putting in we're changing the systems. We're changing the storm drain systems. We're rebuilding the roadway. So there is a lot more permitting through SwiftM through Army Corps. Um prompts a lot more neighborhood meetings. We have a lot more um
60% design plans, which you typically do, but this is much much much different. So, at every step of the way, we're talking about having neighborhood meetings to meet with the residents for further surveying than we've ever done before. As I've already stated, the surveying typically goes to the rightway. We have to go all the way back
up to the homes to ensure that we have the right slope for the new driveways. We then will have to redesign the driveways that are all out there because we can't tear up their driveway and not give them a driveway back. So that is also has to be included in the design plans. So the final preparation, the
bidding services, this has bidding services in it, which is only I believe it's8 $8,300 typically. Oh, and the construction administration services which is almost $50,000. Typically that's not on this.
Typically, I go out to bid and then I come back before you all and I get a second scope of CI services approved. So, you have 50 almost $60,000 worth of money in this bid that is typically comes to you at a later date. So, more
surveying, more we we don't have neighborhood meetings and our current roadway projects because we're not changing we're not changing the elevation. If the consensus of the board is to not move in the direction to be more resilient within MadiRaa Beach and
to leave the roads at the same elevation and just mill and resurface, I can absolutely do that. I just need the direction. >> Let's not forget too, we have to adjust all the utilities to match what we've done with the roadway. Yes. So that that also is I mean you're talking about you know the
>> just every everything gets touched in this project stuff that we don't normally have to do and to her point it's a significant more heavy lift with all the surveying data that you will have to obtain up into and outside of the ride ofway and all all of those
aspects of it. This is a much more design intense data driven process includes us Bayoint causeway. Let me just say surveying is not included in this price. Review of the survey work which is $1,794 has been provided. So survey will be
separate >> and the data collection. >> Yeah, >> it it is included in there. In the data collection it is um survey scoping, review of survey and corporate findings. They have the watershed base sheet
preparations. It's It's built in there somewhere. We're not going to do a project without having survey >> included. You have to you have to pay someone else to do the survey. >> No, it's included in on this. >> Okay. >> So, and just for clarification, it is not half a million dollars. It's
$439,4944 because that is a big difference. 440 to 500 is quite a um I personally from the workshop that we did, the information that we received, I don't I understand Vice Mayor's
concern about elevating the road as high as we can. I think that was what we were told when he was here was that we would elevate as high as we could. I agree. If I lived on that road and you elevated the road four feet, I would not be very happy to be sitting four feet below the
roadway and that knowing and understanding that raising the road has to be incrementally done and we're talking about 6 in being as high as we could go now and there is the possibility of higher. I feel like we should move forward with
the work and get the survey and then make the decision. Are we for this particular road project? Do we have grant money for it yet? >> This is one of the ones we >> 50,000 it appears.
>> Okay, that's what I thought. I just wanted to put that on the record. >> We're going for implementation for Resilient Florida, which is due September. So, if we don't meet that September deadline, then >> it for this year. >> My my my opinion is to move forward.
>> Mayor, my uh I was satisfied with the discussion at the workshop. I feel like uh I would I would also be disappointed if it if the uh RA road was raised so high that my house even in my garage. I would like to make a motion that we uh approve the staff's recommendation to
proceed with the surveying preliminary engineering public outreach environmental evaluation and permitting for the area 9 roadway and drainage improvement project using advanced engineering as the design consultant. >> Do we have a second? >> A second. City clerk, would you call the
role, please? >> Commissioner Tagarini, >> yes. >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> no. >> Commissioner McGin, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gabbay, >> no. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes.
>> The motion carried three to two. Next on the agenda is public hearings ordinance 2026-02 non-conforming time limitations second reading and public hearing. I'll hand this to the city attorney. >> Thank you mayor. This is um ordinance
2026-2. I'm going to read it by title only. Uh ordinance 2026-02 an ordinance of the city of Madira Beach, Florida amending article 3 non-conformances of chapter 110 zoning of the code of ordinances to clarify when such sections
apply. to clarify the deadline for non-conforming structures to be repaired to extend such deadline for hurricanes Haleen and Milton related damage to clarify that section 110-95 and 110-96 do not have time limitations providing
for conflict providing for severability providing for codification and providing for an effective date. That was the second and final reading of ordinance 2026-02 by title only and there have been no changes since the uh first reading. Hello everyone. Uh, as discussed
previously, the current city ordinance currently requires that any structure that was damaged less than 50% has to be repaired within 18 months for Helena and Milton. That's coming up this month. Uh, so
passing this ordinance would allow for an additional 6 months up until September 25th for people to repair the non-conforming pre-firm structures. Um, we also added a few things that clarify if you're rebuilding, there's no time
limitation, uh, assuming you meet other code provisions. Um, and then since our last meeting, city staff have started working on some proactive ways to inform the public that this deadline is approaching. Um, we've drafted a letter
that we plan to send to properties that we've identified definitely need to take action. Um, we're going to also be sending that with lean requests. when people are selling and or buying properties that are subject to this time limitation, they'll be sent a copy of
the letter. Um, we're also going to be putting it in our email signatures. Um, we've started working with 4ERunner, our flood plane software, to help track how we're going to manage all the properties that haven't pulled their required permits.
Um, and then I'll work with uh the city manager's office to get something on our website as well. Do we have any public comment, commissioners? >> Uh, I had I had a I think I know the answer to this, but I had a resident
call me concerning uh permit fees. This doesn't change our our permit fee policy at this point. Right. The permit fees are still only waved for 18 months. >> Correct. There's no impact on permit fees with this ordinance. >> Thank you. >> And there's no uh fiscal impact pretty
much either, right? Uh we haven't really anticipated one because the the deadline exists right now. So extending it, we don't anticipate that there's going to be a fiscal impact since we it would be the same. >> I think it's a great idea to to extend
it also though. Um the pole situation in some of these the homes that have been abandoned is uh just terrible. Like the residents complain like these are mosquito breeders. I think we need to uh get a
hold of the property owners and and make sure that they they clean their pools up, you know. Um some of those are just terrible, you know, where people can't even sit outside, you know. >> Yeah, we do get complaints about that. That would probably this would help a
little bit in the fact that it'll get people that are leaving their properties abandoned to take some action. Um, it won't help directly because that would be covered under a different section of the code for not maintaining your property. Um, but we do anticipate that
keeping the time limitation in there and not completely getting rid of it will help get the ball moving to help with that situation at least a little bit. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any additional comments? Um, governor's state of emergency expires I think end of March, but if he has another
executive order, would that trump our limitation for extension? >> I don't believe so. Um, I know since we're in a state of emergency, we can't expire permits. Um, we did confirm with the city attorney even if a permit does
expire, say that it didn't extend the u the deadline for the emergency, we can still reopen permits for people that met the deadline. Um, I'm not sure if that answers your question.
>> It did. Thank you. >> Well, this is the second reading, so I don't have any additional questions. So, we did public comment already. Do you have a comment? >> Please. >> I hear a lot of
downing these homes that are >> Would you please speak to the microphone? >> So, I hear a lot of like put down the homes that aren't living right now. >> No one is living in. But it's it's not something that any of us planned for. I lived there for over 33 years and I I
still think I'm in a state of shock and uh it's it's not something that when you happens you have a immediate plan direction or or the money or anything else. So, uh, I appreciate the extensions that you've
done, but I I really think, uh, I see so many times when in my time here that the city has no problem going way beyond things for developers and other special interests
that I think it's time for them to maybe extend something for the residents. beyond what you feel is good. It's what's good for them. It's quite a it's quite a process to get your life back together and then get a direction. And I
just want to express my feelings on that. >> Name an address. We didn't get >> 100 140th Avenue, Bruce Mckendry. >> Thank you. >> Commissioners, do we have a motion?
I move we approve uh adoption of ordinance 2026-02. >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner Tagarini, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gabay, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes.
>> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes. >> The motion carry 5 to zero. Next on the agenda is special magistrate lean at 703 Sunset Cove, MadiRaa Beach, case number 24-233. City attorney.
>> Thank you, mayor. This is um the code enforcement lean uh that has been discussed on a couple of different work session meetings. Uh this there is a request to reduce the lean on this property, 703 Sunset Cove. The lean is
in the amount of $8,85422 as of October of last year. City staff is recommending that the uh lean be reduced uh to $2,000 if paid within 30 days.
>> Do we have any public comment? Commission, do you have any questions or comments? >> No questions. I think we workshopped this pretty well. >> I only have one question. Has the contractor who who um did this to this gentleman been reported.
>> We will be going through that process. Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> I don't know what that process is, but I think it's important for his benefit and for all the other residents in the city. >> Agreed. >> So, do we have a motion? Um, I'll make a motion to reduce the fine
to $2,000 on $2,000 on the lean for 703 Sunset Cove, Mad Deer Beach, case number 24-233. >> Do we have a second? >> A second. >> Can for clarity sake, is that to be paid within a date certain? >> Paid within 30 days.
>> Okay, understood. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Commissioner McGin, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gavayagi, >> yes. >> Commissioner Taglerini, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks, >> yes.
>> Motion carry 5 to zero. >> Next. Thank you. Next on the agenda is special application for mobile food vending at Archeald Park. And I believe this will go to city staff. >> Good afternoon, commission. Um, so as requested, city staff has reviewed the
process by which mobile food vending trucks can operate out of the Archerald Park while the snack shack is being repaired. For this request, city staff reviewed and applied section 58 58-3 which allows outside vending but as an exception which allows for quote the
board of commissioners may upon special application permit outdoor cells or displays during other appropriate times. Therefore, approval of this special application for mobile food vending at Archbald Park memorandum will allow for the recreation department and applicable
supporting departments to facilitate a method by which vendors can apply to provide mobile food services on a reserved weekly basis until such time that the snack shack has reopened and is serving food. Vendors will be required to provide food that is equivalent to the type and style which has
historically been provided by the snack shack. City staff anticipates one food truck during a reserved period unless discussed otherwise during this meeting. Upon application, food vendors will be provided a map defining the location where they can operate in the orientation of the vending apparatus
such that traffic is not impeded. The vendor must be self-contained and leave no trace. The vendors will be required to adhere to all state and local requirements including the NF NFPA fire safety guidelines attached. The food vending special event application will
provide clear guidelines and expectations to include but not be limited to insurance requirement, state licensing, fuel source, operating hours, etc. Fiscal impact. Anticipated vendor costs for occupying public parking spaces will be assessed at $25 for
occupying up to two spaces per day, $50 for three to five spaces per day, and the required annual fire inspection fee of $100. All fees will be paid will be due upon application and/or inspection. Recommendations. City staff recommends
discussion and approval of this application including any requested changes or clarifications that you guys may add. >> Do we have any public comment commissioners? So the ne the next step we don't have
someone already in mind. Are we going to are we going to recruit or uh seek out vending? Uh >> yeah. So that is correct. So once we once we get this memorandum from you guys today, we've been we've been talking with recreation about the best process by which to go about this. Um we
don't intend to reinvent the wheel. We will let them use the special event application process. We do not have anybody lined up and that is part of kind of what we've been discussing as to how the process will go. We do anticipate there was some discussion
about obviously like a a food vendor that has a cart takes up much less area than a truck food vending, but would we want to open up the opportunity for two to be there or do we want to just stick to one? Um, one of the things we also discussed too was doing it on a a weekly
basis. That way we're not every other day having to to track down and figure out what what food vending person will be there. But as of right now, we've not signed anybody up. We haven't advertised it and asked people to start applying. This was our first step getting feedback
from you guys and then we will be working through that process. So, >> and would it would it have to be the same uh food truck all the time? Could we have more than one? Could we alternate or? >> So that would be our anticipation is that from week to week you could have
varying food vendors. Um and the goal with having the same style of food was just to kind of ensure that we did get like the goal is to have some food vending there for for people. So we really wanted to kind of achieve that that same service. >> Who will make that decision
>> about the the the menu? Hopefully, we won't come to to that point, but it it would be we we could review it as a as a staff, the recreation department and and yeah, to obviously include the the city manager in those decisions as we kind of iron out.
>> We've never done this before, so I expect there'll be a few hiccups in the beginning and as we get the process down, we'll we'll iron it out. And >> so, we're just approving the application process. We could refine it to say that they're coming just on weekends or maybe
uh few times a week or some busy busy beach days. >> Correct. So what we're asking you guys today is by approving this memorandum you're you're allowing us to then come up with a means and methods by which we can start having the food vendors there. So that's what this is. Um we wanted the
opportunity to learn and grow as this unfolded. So we kind of wanted to be open with for instance the location and orientation. um if we picked a spot and had you guys vote on that and it just wasn't working for some unforeseen reason. We wanted the flexibility to
relocate that. So there could be some variability like I said as we learn and grow from the process that we'll be going through. >> So we're not voting on sushi or hot dogs yet. >> That is correct. Yes, you're not voting. >> I think it's a good idea to get started with this. Yeah. >> While we're on this subject, um I've had
some residents reach out and suggest local restaurants first. um keep it local first and then we can reach out to other companies at a later time. Uh one of the companies that um particularly one of the companies was
Fruit Floats um that people have emailed me about also. So just keep that keep that in mind. um as a part of the contract um do we have any um items that describe the um
grease and and solid waste management s >> that's all self-contained within that truck itself? >> Yeah. >> So so I mean as a part of the contract I mean that's stipulated in the contract or is that an assumption we're making? >> We don't have it in this agreement that they have to dispose of their grease. I
mean, I think that's pretty much standard process. >> So, I would say guidelines attached. >> I would say that um recreation is uniquely qualified to handle this. They've done it. They do it for John's Pass Seafood Festival. They do it for
the events that they hold at Rock Park. So, I don't think that we need to be so much concerned with the details. It is us approving that we can have a food truck and they are the professionals to be able to manage whether it's going to be sushi or hamburgers or hot dogs or
>> but that's additional burden on our people right >> that that's >> that's additional burden >> so >> it's all in the scope of a day's work in the city of Madira Beach to not just say it's their job it's it's their job and this is a service for the community since we don't have the snack shack
which we hashed that out in the workshop but the detail details on the the um whether they have grease traps and all of that. I think that staff is very well verssed in all that, >> right? >> They'll handle that. >> And also a termination contract uh
clause termination. >> We're not entering into a contract or filling out a a special event permit >> for a specific time frame. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That's a good question. Thank you. >> Um I'm generally okay with it. just um
wanted to let everyone know that when the snack shack is operational again, this this goes away. >> Correct. That is correct. >> Then do we have a motion? >> So on that note, I'll make a motion to approve the special application for the
mobile food vending at Arch Park. >> Second. >> City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Commissioner McGee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Gabbay, >> yes. Commissioner Taglerini. >> Yes. May >> Vice Mayor Kerr, >> yes. >> Mayor Brooks,
>> yes. >> The motion carried five to zero. >> Next on the agenda is public works, building and zoning. And I believe that Vice Mayor Kerr put this on. >> Correct. Mayor Commissioner, this is Vice Mayor Kerr's uh discussion topic and I will turn it over to him.
>> Yeah, I want to I want to thank um uh the chief for uh allowing me to put this on the agenda. Um, this was I met with um the chief and Marcy and and uh Andrew about this. Um,
it's not a secret that I'm against having the public works building at the marina. So, I'll just put that out there to begin with. But during this whole entire process when we talked about well different locations whether it be the church or behind the kabash shack um
when we started to when we had the conversation at the kava shack it was no we can't do this because it's going to take at least a year for the zoning to change be beyond the C3s and that just had me from C3 and we wouldn't we wouldn't allow that. So, I was just
thinking, well, the city marina is C4. Let's look at the zoning between Z C3 and Z C4. And again, public works would not be allowed at the marina property. So, um there was some investigation done and it comes
down to the um Mader Beach Town Center special area plan. Um, now I don't know if that plan is submitted to Penllis County for approval. I know resoning is or if this was just a plan that was
approved by the um by the board back in 2014 that was an internal document um much like the master plan I would imagine. Um and now that I mentioned that public works is
not in the master plan either the Dwani plan of 2002 or the current master plan of 2025. So my question still remains, would the public works building
be allowed to violate the zoning of C4 uh due to that outdated uh special area plan. Um, while I have uh the floor, um,
I want to put out it as part of part of this agenda package. In my mind, I'm wondering, do I do I stand alone on not wanting the public works building at the marina? So, I put out I I I contacted attorney Tras and
asked him about the sunshine law. am I allowed to put something out on social media uh and not without violating the sunshine law? And his direction was, you're allowed to do that, but as soon as one other commissioner or board
member uh replies to that post, then not only is are they in violation of the sunshine law, but you're also in in violation. So
after consideration, I decided it was worth it. I'm going to put it out and determine, do I stand alone? Am I the only one that doesn't want the the marina out there? So I put the question I tried to put it out as evenly as the question as evenly as possible. I did
mention that um the city plans to have sanitation, trash services and that it maintenance service staging would happen at the marina. However, overnight
storage would be offsite when possible when when they're not in for service or maintenance, I guess. Um I put that out 48 hours. I took took it down after 48 hours the comment section because I didn't want to be in in
violation of the sunshine law. I received 22 comments during that period and they were overwhelmingly deni in support of not having the public works at the marina property. So um I I
put that in correlation to when we were talking about having it behind the Cava shack. We had MadiRaa Cove come in. It was an isolated community and they were opposed, but that public pressure
uh quickly um turn the board against even talking about that idea. So, so you know, why why don't we want it down want it there? Um the the zoning, public
opinion, and revenue. So that Placing the public works there would take approximately an acre of property from the from the 10 acres, not the four and a half, from the 10 acres that we have that's largely undeveloped. And I call
that the marina property and and the new property, the H Hotton property that we just purchased. It's my belief that the entire 10 acres needs to be have a plan from and and a company that
does marina planning. And if they tell us that the marina needs to or the public works need building needs to be there, that would be a scenario that the public would would cons would have to look at. In my opinion, they're not going to do it because we need the we need the revenue
that's going to be that we're going to lose with the property taxes. And by doing this, this is this would set MadiRaa Beach uh apart from every other community and and
have a uh sustainable revenue generating asset in perpetuity. And um I feel strongly on this and just just the just the parking I think would overcome the what we're going to lose in
the Avalorum taxes if we if we lose our property taxes. So that's my stance. >> Do we have any public comment? >> Hi, my name is Jim Russell. Uh my address is 150131st Avenue East. Um, I
would uh tend to concur with Vice Mayor Kerr. Uh, I don't know why we would build a public works building on a piece of property as valuable as that when there are other properties that are obviously less uh expensive.
Also, this is a potential revenue producing property. If you have a public works building on that property, you lose the potential revenue from that property. I mean, that just makes no sense to me. The city of Mader Beach spent a lot of money for this property.
I don't think they spent it for a public works building to be on that property. I don't know why we have to have waterfront for a public's work public works building. So, uh to me that is
just not a good use of city uh resources of potential city revenues. Um I I I just can't imagine why we would do such a thing. So that's my uh that's my
two cents. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? >> Hi, I'm Ruth Henry. I live at 502 Lillian Drive uh in MadiRaa Beach here. And I basically uh want to second this fellow's um comment. Um I don't know if
in the state of Florida um you have this term I decades ago did appraisals in New York and there was something called highest and best use uh and for any property you would consider the value of it according to the highest and best use. So, you know, when we look at this
waterfront property, um I think, you know, I really encourage you all to consider what would be the highest and best use of this waterfront property. Um so, just um you know, I I don't believe that it is a storage facility. I think
there are a lot of other places that aren't waterfront um that would serve that very well, whether it's in this town or just a short hop, skip, and a jump uh you know, in the surrounding areas. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional
public comment >> Chuck Dylan 529 Lillian? As I'm looking, I think there's a lot of confusion. Everybody's thinking that you're going to be putting that public works on the new PO property we bought. I believe the public works is going back
into the existing property where the public works was. It's not changing. And you talk about the 10 acres and I believe that 10 acres includes property that we don't own. And will we own it?
And so as I'm looking at the comments and everything, everybody's thinking that you're they're talking about the new property that we bought. And it's obviously it's two people. It's not that property. It's not the $18 million property. It's the property where the
public works buildings has been forever. And and you have the and and this is once again some of the confusion. You know, people are confused about this stuff. And if you look at social media that the city had to put out that you
are indeed a resident. So, I mean, you know, it it's it's confusion and I think the public works was approved a year ago and so go with it. I mean, I don't understand why you're trying to change in the middle
stream. That's my opinion. >> Thank you. Do you have any additional public com? >> No, sir. You've already had your public comment. words in my mouth. >> We have >> That's okay. >> I'm Patian, 580 John's Pass Avenue. I do understand we already own this piece of
property that we're talking about and the new piece of property that we've purchased. Um, I've seen several renditions of what we want to do with the new property, which is wonderful. and this property that we're talking about building this public works piece
on. I just feel with the new development we're doing down this little path here with this new big hotel with all the new uh people that are going to be coming in with weddings and everything and all the parking problems we have in the area and
all this new development we want to do and also with the lack of taxes that are coming in. this piece of property that we're talking about building this public building on could be used so much more for a revenue producing whatever parking
lot anything else rather than a public's work building. I understand that it's been there. It's our property and I understand that we've been using it for this but maybe it's time that we look at the whole parcel and what we could do to improve the whole area to make money for
the city. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Do we have any addition >> Excuse me, mayor, but that gentleman stated that I said something that I did not state. >> Do we have any additional public comment? >> We have some eloquent speakers here. So,
um I I agree with Commissioner Kerr on the issue. I mean, we have the gateway of our city coming in on 150th. This past weekend, we had eight trucks out there with trailers on them parked on
the public rideway out there. So, there's a a need to have additional parking. If you put the public works building there, you're losing revenue. We We've lost revenue when we bought this large piece of property down there for 18 mill $18 million. We need
revenue. So there is a need if you got people out there parking. I'm not sure they should be parking out there in front of the marina out on the which I think is FOT property out there. And if you in a commercial area and you got a parking area, it's supposed to be paved.
But at the at the same time, are we meeting the landscaping requirements within the marina? I don't think we are meeting the current landscaping requirements that the city has within the marina area. So, if if you're going to start putting buildings there and we've got a we're not meeting our
landscaping requirements, how can we require for the citizens if the city isn't following the rules? Also, I'm not sure that it meets the zoning requirement for the marina district to go ahead and and put a public works building there. I know where they keep
the the garbage trucks down near the Bay Pines area there. And it's we we are renting, my understanding, I think half the big blue building down there. So, if we can find a piece of property, if it's going to be too much to purchase, you could always do a a land lease option
for 50 years and put a building there or 100 years. I've seen buildings do that where they lease the property and they can put a building there. with hurricanes and where we're at, it would be good to have our maintenance vehicles and everything like that, our equipment
offsite and and being over perhaps in Bay Pines, which is not that far away, we can utilize it and and I think we should keep this property just as a marina, there's a vast need for it because people continually park out there. So, just something to consider.
Um, as I say, I agree with these folks here that that we do need additional revenue. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Tom Edwards, District One. >> Do we have any additional public
comments? >> Commission, >> I can start. So, I did um quite a bit of research on number one, this commission has voted two times on the building. We
voted on February the 12th, 2025, and we approved the design concept and the location of the public works building in a 4 to1 vote. Then it came back to us on April 2nd, 2025, and we voted to amend the amount of money for the design, and it passed
in a three a three to two vote. On October 22nd, we had a workshop where we talked about the location again because we had purchased the property at 555,
which is the new land. and public works director wanted to make sure in all transparency for the public and the commission that this building was not going to be placed on the new property that it would stay in the existing
property that is dedicated to public works and I asked and researched that the public works facility is grandfathered in. It can be built at that location. Um, that building that was torn down in the early 2000s
was built in the early 50s. Public works has been on that piece of property in that footprint since 50 I believe the building was built in 1952 and the city took it moved into it in 1953. Um, one of the issues that has been
brought up is how it would look. If anyone had seen the building renditions that were brought to us that we approved, the building's very attractive. It's very coastal. It's going to fit in. It will give a place for all of the equipment to be housed
in. There was a question from uh Vice Mayor Kerr about why the building was torn down to begin with in going back and reading the minutes, which I don't thank you for this discussion today, Vice Mayor Ker, but I do thank you for the research that I did
because I actually ended up reading some really cool stuff and learned some things that um happened well before my time and then was reminded of other things like impact fees and different things that were part of the minutes I was reading. So that um was quite
interesting. But what I did find was that um in the 50s when they built the building when the roof became an issue, it originally became an issue in 1986, they did an emergency roof repair. And
then fast forward to 2011, they came before the commission that it needed a new roof membrane. Um, reading through all of the minutes, it said they talked about the building was 5,700 square feet and that only a thousand
square feet of the roof was damaged. The commission at the time had a new public works director that was also the marina director. And by reading the minutes, it appears that the focus was really on wanting to expand the marina but keep
public works there. So, they decided to tear the building down because um some of the comments were that the um roof trusses were farther apart. The building wasn't built to current building code, but there was no reason to really tear
it down other than that was the decision that got made at the time based off the staff recommendation. Um in 2011, excuse me, that was 2011. In 2020, a
high and dry discussion was brought back by then Mayor Hendrickx. And in the original discussion of that high and dry, it was discussed that they wanted to do a high and dry, a restaurant, and include public works in that high and dry. So, public works was not going to
leave. To go back to the building that was torn down, one of the other things that they said was the bays weren't big enough for the fire trucks to get in to be able to do repairs. Sorry about that. But as I read through the minutes of the early 2020s,
the high and dry discussion started in May of 2020. In September, um, and and at that time, the discussion was that if we could not do a high and dry, we needed to get the public works building built back. And then in
September of 2020, we approved, we being the commission at the time, and they approved $58,500 to do a proposal for a high and dry study. So they spent almost $60,000 on a high and dry study to find out that the
land was not able to be built on in that fashion, that the properties deeded, that the high and dry could not go on the portion that they were looking to build it on. And so and and the cost came in so high
to build the high and dry that they wanted to do a public private partnership and you couldn't do that because the property where the high and dry would be um the city could build it if they could have afforded it but the price was too high but you couldn't do a
private public partnership because the deed doesn't allow you to do that is what I read in the minutes. So that went away. It was reiterated on July 28th, 2021 that public works needed to stay at the marina and they wanted to
move forward with the RFP to build the high and dry in the public works. So, I understand I read through the um next door comments. I do think that there were some people that did not understand exactly where you were talking about it
going. I don't think that's neither here nor there. I go back to we have voted two times on this and two times it passed to be to move forward with the design and build and here we sit again
discussing it and my understanding is with Robert's rules of order all you have to do is slightly change your question and you can bring it back even after you voted no twice. So, I do support moving forward with public works. Um, the building that they have
been in since they tore down the previous building. And even when they tore it down, from that day, they continued to talk about rebuilding a new building there. But I have gone over and had lunch with public works in the building that
they're in. And it is sad that we have them sitting in a building that they are in and we expect them to work out of it and have their lunch out of it. And I will agree with you that the city has looked for alternative locations. It's
just not feasible to move public works. And to just touch on taking it off the island, if you take public works off the island, then you have to buy larger trucks and trailers to trailer all the equipment and bring that equipment onto
the island every day to work. So that means that every day staff has to load equipment, then they have to drive it to the island, they have to unload it. All of the labor that is involved in that and the chance for injury
does not in my mind make good use of our staff. So I am in favor of what we've already voted on two times. >> May I have the floor before? >> Absolutely. >> I'd like I just need to rebut a couple
of things. Um Mr. Dylan first. I think everyone understands. You don't understand. The Marina property is 5 and a half acres. The newly acquired property is 4 and a half acres.
The city owns both. The 5 1/2 acre marina property is largely undeveloped. The Holton property is completely undeveloped. The only developed building is the ship store on both
properties. They're conti they're contiguous. It's my opinion that we need to have someone that does this for a living, a design consultant, come in and provide the residents with several options on
how to build out 10 acres of waterfront property to the best and highest and best use for the residents. and the and the and the revenue that could be
uh generated in my um I want to thank the the madame mayor for her research. I did make a note here. I in what I printed out. I printed out that October
1st the commission unanimously voted 50 to approve the um well they did on the on the purchase of the property but I but I kept lack to put in the workshop on 1022
where public works wanted to move the building to the newly acquired property and it was rejected. Um the high and dry study the make I remember that meeting like it was
yesterday. High and dry was rejected because of the $30 million cost. Now since then they have found that the marina property is seven parcels. Some of those are restricted. The city was supposed to
uh send a letter last year to release some of those restrictions. They never did. I'm still calling on the city to do that. As far as as far as uh designing a high and dry or rack storage of some sort,
that is a huge revenue generator for whatever we build out on the four and a half acres the the newly acquired property. And We need to have every bit of that for attractions, restaurants, shops,
whatever event space, whatever that whatever that design looks like to keep people in the in a in a park in a parking garage at that property. Not in my mind on the marina property where
it's going to generate $4 an hour for every car in it in perpetuity. Um why it was torn down, I really don't know. I really don't
care. It was 2013. It's been 13 years since we've had it. I I support public works. You know, you you wouldn't believe it by this. I I gave solutions.
We could have an office right across the street here at the Kavashack in a in a number of months to meet office needs, meeting needs. You want a place to have lunch, storage. We're going to use this brand
new $2.5 million building for storage and maintenance and service. Well, storage, we're going to if we build a parking garage at the marina and we build a build a parking garage at John's Pass Village, there's no reason
we can't use the ground floor of that for storage for trailers. There's no reason to trailer equipment from off off site off the island. Um, if it's used for the beach, use the parking garage we're going to
build in John's Pass Village. If it's throughout the city, vehicles, whatever, there's no reason. It's not a novel idea. Cities do it. You use the ground floor or a portion thereof for storage for public works.
As far as service and maintenance, there's no reason that service and maintenance of vehicles needs to be on the island. We have a that half of that that big blue building is is huge. Uh having half of that is is more than we'd ever need
for repair. Um there was talk about buying uh Keller's garage up on Seol for service and repair. There's no reason it has to be on the island. So, um, that's that's my opinion. I'm sorry
to take up the floor. C >> can I ask a couple of questions of staff? Is it this time? Um, Marcy, the C4 uh zoning, can you give us a definitive answer on that? So both the C4 and C3 have avenues by
which um the public works building could be constructed there just different slightly different paths. As far as where it's located now, that area has been utilized for public works since the 50s. So the use of that has never
stopped. So I believe it's been staff's opinion that they still have a building there. They're just putting a new building there. So, the use has been historical and I don't believe anything beyond beyond it being able to be built there with the building was was in
question or ever ever asked before. So, to my knowledge, it's it's allowed to be built there because it's always it's been there. It's always been used as public works. And so, that's not changing. The use isn't changing. And >> and it's my understanding that the structure we approve is going on the exact footprint of of the prior
building. >> I I don't know if it's in the exact footprint. So, yeah. making say no. So, no, it's not going to be in the exact footprint of the previous building. It's being but it's in the same area that's always been utilized for public works, whether it's the equipment or whatever.
It's still within that same approximate area, but the footprint apparently is is not in the exact same one as previous building. I never saw the previous one. >> Thank you, Miss Miss Webford. Can I ask you a couple questions? Sorry to put you on the spot, but I just think we need definitive answers
from people who are informed. >> Uh, regarding prop on on onsite or off island, um, what are the advantages to having uh, public works on on on the island? Well, your public works is responsible for your street maintenance, your beach
maintenance, your facility maintenance, everything that is outside of of the maintenance of this building. And even the inside of this building, the public works department handles. So, every day we use the beach tractor out on the beach. So, that would be one piece of equipment that we would have to figure
out how to get it because if we're not inside the city limits, we cannot drive it on the road. So, that is one thing. We have several UTVs. Um, we have vehicles. I mean, just as an example, right now, the Blue Barn, which
we all refer to as where sanitation is housed. If we have something that is over there, and we are at John's Pass Village, you better take out an hour of your day, if not more than that, depending on traffic, to travel over there to get what you need to then come back. So your the public works
department would be way less the hours of work would be way less for anything that we would need to do. >> So just to be clear sanitation is is just a part of what public's works does. >> That is correct. >> Trash pickup is a part of it. Uh how often are trash loaded trash trucks
stored on the island? >> So currently there I there are trucks that will sit in our yard. There's nothing different of what is going to change rather than them being worked on as the mechanic would need to work on them. So >> when I say I mean with trash in them,
>> it happens currently right now and I don't think anyone has ever noticed. So usually Mondays and sometimes even Fridays there's an extra truck sitting in our public works yard and you can't see it because it is shielded by the road. >> Um sitting full if something happens. I
I mean I can't really give you a number on that. the area that's been commented on as as being waterfront. Is there a beach there? >> No, sir. There are mangroves there that you that are 20 plus feet tall that are in between us and uh Dean Puit's
property. >> Right. Right. So, it's it's not open water. >> No, sir. >> It's a Is it Would you describe it as like a boat slip? It's like a a canal almost. >> The canal is maybe 15 feet from where our fence line is, if not further than that because of the amount of mangroves
in there. Is it appropriate for a a restaurant to be built there and have an outdoor seating on that? >> So, I just want to remind everyone that the main sewer station for MadiRaa Beach and all of the beaches is directly in front of our public works yard. So, if you can imagine that smell that you smell when you're driving over the
causeway in the dead heat of summer, we smell that on a daily basis. >> So, that's going to be their whether uh public works is there or not. >> That is correct. >> Right. Um, have you has there any been any friction between you and the department chair of the marina of of Krabby regarding the getting in and out
of that of that space? >> Absolutely not. I think as the mayor had mentioned that back in 2011, the departments were separated in 2011 and then there was a director that had left for public works and then the marina director took over both marina and
public works. So then it became public works and marina. So when I first started for the city in 2015, that was under one director. Then fast forward to 2021, I believe it was, it separated back to marina was its own and then
public works was its own. So when that that merge happened back in 2011, it became that that public works yard became more of a shared space and boats then became into the public works yard whereas before that it was strictly for public works. So, so there there's been
cohesiveness in >> Absolutely. So, if you could just sit tight, uh, uh, Chief Bel, if I could ask you, to your knowledge, is there any other space available on the beach on our island where that would that we don't that we own that we could move
public works to >> that we currently own? No, there is not >> any in the works that we're discussing that that's not prime real estate. No, no, I have not been directed to um explore any other property purchases. I know there was talk about the church
right over here on 150 at some point and >> um we did not follow through with that one. >> I believe the the 555150th property was purchased at that point in time >> and that was the one where the the condominium said you can't use our road.
No, that that was Yeah, that was 217 150th and um >> I don't want to misspeak, but >> I believe that's that property is part of the town center plan development. So the the zoning on that it it dictates what you can do there. And right now as
it sits, you have to have retail on the first floor. >> So even if you want to do a parking garage there, it has to be at least on the second floor, third or fourth, whatever it may be. But as of right now, the way it's It's zoned. It has to have commercial retail.
>> So there's to your knowledge there's really no other place to put it at this time. >> At this time though, >> does the city own I read one of the comments in next door madiraa. Does the city own that property next to the elementary school where they have the the those science buildings
>> the >> No, that's SPC. That's the SBC. >> Thank you. We don't we don't own that. >> We do not own that. >> We don't have a contract for SPC to put our public works there. >> We do not. >> Okay. Um, what would be the disadvantages of having uh public works completely off
island? >> You would have travel time. You would have wasted staff time by getting parts. We would need I would come before you all and request more money for trailers, for vehicles to be able to pull the equipment. Um,
I that I'm being put on the spot right now, so I don't have all the answers, but it would if you think about all the barrier islands, think of one that may have their public works department off the island and don't consider Clear Water and one of those because Clear Water is much larger. Every other public
works department is on the island. We are the main ones that take care of that do everything on the island. So, taking us off the island would be a huge burden. It was mentioned in an email to me that uh the that a ton of damage was done to our equipment during last year's
flood. What was what was damaged? >> So that is not a correct statement. We did lose the street sweeper, but I believe we've already >> wasn't that already not functioning. >> That is correct. The street sweeper was already set to be replaced because it was completely rusted out. So the reason why that did not get off the island
because everything else did and the public works department >> because it blew oil off. Yeah, it blew an oil gasket and we couldn't move it. >> Couldn't move it. >> So, um, the only other item that I lost was truck number 19, which was already declared surplus because we had already replaced it, but we were trying to
repurpose it in the public works department because we are low on vehicles. So, >> it's my understanding that the building that we approve, the design we approve is is higher. >> It will be elevated. Yes. >> Right. Okay. I I I I have to say, as I've said before, I'm I'm in favor of
leaving public works right where it is, not on the new property where it's been since the 50s. >> Um I am on the same page as vice mayor Kerr. When the project first came in before this board, I think we were the
two votes that said no. However, you know, three voted yes. And in my mind, Three to two basically trumps three trumps to two. So the project needs to move forward even though you
know we we agreed that it shouldn't be there. We have to respect this board and its vote. So we need to move forward with where the building is designed. So, can we get a motion?
>> It's It's not an act. It's >> not really a motion. >> You don't need to do anything on this. >> So, I'd like to put it to bed and quit discussing it only because the amount of staff time that has been expended on researching. Um, we keep hopping around to different
properties and we made a decision at the beginning of the year last year to move forward with the design and build and to keep having staff doing research to defend themselves, to defend what they're doing, their property.
I just don't think it's a good use of staff time and it's pretty disrespectful since it's a vote that we voted on and to keep them working on it. And I know that they have spent a lot of time. I know I have because I wanted to be able to come and speak to how long it's been there, you know, and all all of the
things that I spoke of and many other things that I didn't even say. Um, and just to make a comment on the um marina, the marina is a revenue producing property. It makes money. It is very
profitable. So to to imply that it's not or that it could be more or should be more um it is revenue generating and when we build the new public works building my understanding is that there will be some beautifification of that
property in paving and plantings and the things that I've heard from the community they'd like to see there. I agree on the p the paving needs to be done. We need to hold our marina accountable to the same things we would any other parking lot in the city. So, I
don't think that anyone on staff disagrees with that. It's just a matter of getting it moved forward. So, if >> I'd like to see it be put to bed today so that we move on and staff can move on. Fi >> finally, I meant I meant to say public works, as I've said before, is the
lifeblood of the city and they do their job every day >> whether they have a building or not. And I think we need to continue to support that. >> I believe we are being very disrespectful of the public of the residents which is and I believe that um
many of the questions that that Commissioner Taglerini asked of uh Director Webford about storage of equipment off site. I've already given solutions for storage actually at the beach at John's Pass
Village and at the marina. So that that falls on deaf ears as far as I'm concerned. Um we need we need to have this 10 acres designed by by a professional and if it comes to a petition from the public that maybe for
the this commission to listen maybe that's what it's going to have to come down to. Thank you. Then we will move on. There are no contracts and agreements, no new business. So, agenda setting for the March 18th, 2026 BOC regular workshop,
city manager, >> uh the agenda setting items that a couple of them might be removed, but as of right now, we have the recognition and appreciation forms for um and how to um approach that and to receive a recognition. uh John's past village park
and garage discussion. Um in our staff meeting, we were not exactly sure what that subject was. We were assuming it was uh the feasibility study request. So that's what we're planning to have in the agenda. Um just for conversation
sake, we have received uh two bids or two quotes. So we'll be able to move forward with that quickly. Uh grant works piggyback contract with Texas Standard. It just expands the the type of grants that grant works will be able
to explore for us and that's piggybacked with Texas Standard. Um the 555th Avenue reszoning to C4 uh Marine Commercial that's part of the zoning process to get the uh property
developed. Um invitation to bid for the city hall elevator. It is back up and running. It took a very long time to get it to to that point. Um the uh technicians said that they were shocked that it's actually still functioning
because again it is an indoor elevator outside. So the IND uh the ITB for the city hall elevator is related to just completely replacing the elev elevator with the appropriate elevator. um holiday decorations throughout the
city. That's again uh going out to bid RFP and see um what we get coming back. The lot mowing lean, special magistrate lean. That's uh the request for a lean reduction. Uh that was at the uh it was
vote or uh the special magistrate made their determination on that property and now this is the next step in um the lean reduction process. if the board decides to do so. And then the Gulf Beaches Public Library, that's just their
audited financial statements. >> Thank you. Next on the agenda, do we have any public comment? Commission, do you have any comments on the agendas? >> Not on the agenda. for the workshop.
>> Not for the work. >> Comments. >> No comments on the workshop. >> Next on the agenda is the reports and correspondence. Board of Commissioners reports and correspondence. >> I do have something for this. Um,
this may be my last board meeting. You never know. We have our elections on the 10th, which is next next Tuesday. Um, I just wanted to uh give my appreciation to the board, to the mayor.
Even though we do get contentious and we do disagree from time to time, if you look at our voting record, we're largely unified. It's just that the things that we don't agree on, we're passionate about and I'm passionate about. Um,
I um plan to do everything I can to get reelected. However, if I don't, um, it's been a great four years and I appreciate working with city staff and and Tom and Andrew. Um,
but if I'm not reelected, you're going to see me right there. So, >> I would expect that. You were right there before you were elected. >> There you go. So, thank you. you um on the agenda and and it has been a pleasure serving with you. If this is
the last meeting, it will be nice to see you there or here. Um next or what I is in the um packet, the big C meeting, Penelis County came and gave a presentation on the critical infrastructure flood vulnerability assessment. And so Clara included that
just so that the commission could see what was presented that day and you could read through it. Um, I'm not going to present it to you because Panelis County did a really fantastic job in writing it and the um representative that presented it, >> it's online.
>> Yeah, it's it's a good um it was good information. Not all of it obtains or not all of it um is relevant to us. As we all know, we're not included in everything that happens within the county. So, but it's a very good read.
Commissioner, I believe you had something. >> Yes, just a couple. So, um, I think we need to pay a bit more attention to our website and the IT person that's in charge. Um, I would just like to recommend to spend a little more time
and keep the website up to date. Um, I've seen a couple of just a couple, not too many inconsistencies. So, just love to ask our staff to pay more attention to that. Item number
two um is services and contracts. Um I I feel that in in a lot of cases we're spending way too much money for the fees, the design, um even construction, things in that
nature. So, I just want to put that out there to possibly >> um maybe workshop this and and see how we can keep the cost down when it comes to design, when it comes to construction. I I just uh you know, I'm in that environment myself. I've been
doing this kind of work for 47 years. So, I can see that the prices can be much reduced. So, I just wanted to basically pay a little bit more attention to that to to you know to projects that we would be contracting
and and and hiring. Um the other item and I think mayor already knows that uh I'm not sure but uh you know March 10th is is general ele is is our election. Um, and uh, you
know, for even one person, I think the city has to spend about $10,000 for this election based on what I've read and seen. So, just wondered if we could uh change the election date from from March
to November. You know, I'm just putting that out there to see if that's even possible. Maybe it's not. And last but not least, um I had I met with the Bay News9 reporter, um Josh
Roas last week and um discuss the Kitty Park and um you know I I just love to see if we can set up a neighborhood meeting, just invite the neighbors that
have ideas. um so we can all get together and put our heads together and come up with a solution that generally speaking 90% of people are happy. Not everybody will be happy but at least majority will be. So, we're I'd like to to make every effort
to to bring neighborhood out there in a park possibly or even in the chambers here to discuss the the design and just be sure that uh we have listened to to the neighbors and uh we're moving forward the right direction.
>> So, um I I'll make a comment on Kitty Stewart Park. >> We've had exhaustive conversation up here about Kitty Stewart Park. Um and um have talked about the residence and what was approved and what is there and what
the what the city gained by the design of what the park is there now. Me uh director we has it's going back with a restroom a permanent structure restroom
landscaping. um she's attempting to put in a park bench or not park bench but a um picnic table. So I think that it's unfortunate for us that we have someone in our community who is
rallying so much dissension over a park that it is a park and we're posttorm. We've had issues. staff is doing all they can to get
things going and moving and build back something better, but the design of the park and what is there, that's that's all was approved long before any of us sat here. And and the those of us that sit here that went
to that park know that it I mean there was a time when as a woman you couldn't walk through that park because of who would be sitting at the pavilion. So, I think that there's varying opinions on what should be there or shouldn't be there, but I do think
that as a commission, since I've been up here, we have worked to try to um do the things and and beautify and make things better. And it's unfortunate because sometimes the loudest voices that speak against us in
the worst ways could use those voices to be partners to the city. And I always think it's a shame when you have someone that has a voice and they choose to work to use that voice to tear us apart instead of build us up. And I I for one
have from the day I was elected and I sat in that chair that you're sitting in, I have preached kindness. And if you want to come here and have a conversation and you want to be heard, this commission has always devoted
to listening. It doesn't mean that we always make everybody happy, but we've always listened. You get to speak for five minutes. You can come before, during, after. We all have phones. We're all available for the conversation. We do conversations with the mayor once a
month. It's open to the public. It's greatly attended. And it's greatly attended by people who come with ideas and solutions, not complaints. So, I don't know that I I'm not saying that we can't have a town hall meeting,
but I don't know that you're going to fix the social media eruption that is going on right now in our town. It is a singular person, and that singular person attacks each and every one of us on a regular basis. And as Vice Mayor
Kerr said, we don't always agree together, but we respect each other. I don't agree with maybe all of you. I've disagreed with you. I've disagreed with Commissioner McGee. I've disag disagreed with Commissioner Taglerini, with Vice Mayor Kerr. But I respect each and every
one of you and would not disrespect you publicly. I don't even have it within me. >> So, it's a shame. It's just such a shame. >> Well, I I echo exactly what you said, Mayor. Um I I however I believe that this particular meeting will be
dedicated only to that subject and if nobody shows up you know let it be. This will be the last ditch effort for those that are negative to come out and express their opinion ideas and I figured let's meet at the park so it'll
be in a neutral ground where you know doesn't have to be in this town. So I >> don't let's let's um city attorney meeting at the park would be a >> it would be very very difficult because you you remember part of the sunshine law is is that you have to notice the meeting.
>> You have to make sure it's open to the public and minutes have to be taken and that may be very difficult in that kind of situation. And it'd be better to do it in a room like this where we have audio or video so that we're compliance with the law and we don't have to worry about somebody complaining and
eventually have to deal with a technical issue like that. So, >> all right. Point point well taken. Uh we'll with everybody's permission, I'll work with staff to set that meeting up and we make sure we have at least 30 days notice ahead of time. If I can make
a suggestion, you might reach out to whoever's um interested and meet with them independently and find out what their what their solution would look like. >> There are not that many people. They're just just a few. And
>> I mean, we've already in the plans we have um softening up with um landscaping and perhaps a palm tree and picnic table. So what they see today is not what will they will see in six months from now.
>> Well, the attraction is the beach, not the parking lot. >> But but but it's always going to be a parking lot. That's not the solution. I don't you have meetings forever. The parking lot's going to remain the parking lot.
>> And I want to commend our staff, by the way, to to immediately convert those four spaces to residents only. I was extremely surprised and extremely happy to to see that. It was it was amazing. >> Thank you. And that was uh Jamal with
the parking supervisor and Megan and her staff. They were able to get the the um wording painted on the on each spot and then have the two signs installed. That was done the very next day. >> Thank you. Thank you for that. >> Absolutely. >> Definitely. Go ahead. I was just going
to say just to just to close my portion of it is that I'll work with staff to set that meeting up in this very office. It would probably be on a Saturday morning if that's okay and we make sure that it's 30 days minimum 30 days out. >> Yeah, we could we could have it we could
have it here. So, >> this is where it would have to be. >> Yes. Yes, definitely. And and Tom Kitty Stewart Park has come along. Great, Megan. Correct. Absolutely. And great job. And
the last three years has been a pleasure working alongside Vice Mayor Kerr. Um like the mayor said, you know, we may not always agree, but we leave shaken hands and uh and and I think that's a
great amazing positive thing for the city. We've gone through some catastrophic events. So, I don't know who's going to win the election, but I want to reach out to you and say it's been a great pleasure working alongside of you. >> Thank you.
>> Next on the agenda is board of commissioners 2026 meeting report January to Februaryformational. City clerk puts this together. >> Yeah, that's justformational. Yep. >> You keep up with the um what we do at
the meetings in there. And next is city clerk. Do you have anything? >> Invite everybody to register voters. It's hard to get everybody out, but they get we do advertisements and everything. If they receive their ballot in the
mail, they know they have an opportunity to vote. And of course, they changed it a couple years ago where you got to call again to get your next set of ballots mailed to you, mail in ballots. So, um, we want to remember to do that. And so
everybody come out and vote. >> City attorney, >> I have nothing tonight. Thank you. Appreciate it though. >> City manager, >> uh, I have nothing to add other outside of the, uh, Friday updates I send. >> Do we have any public comment on our
reports and correspondence? Then next is respond to public comment. So, we had two public comments. One was Mr. Dylan thanking for the parking spots and the voting. So I don't I don't believe that there's any further discussion on that. And then um the
hurricane season about what the city is doing to floodp proof. Um I think well Marcy's gone but I think we can kind of speak to this. Um the city is not moving back in downstairs.
the library is they did their own flood proofing. That's not in the city did not have any input on that. Um I'm not sure what the recck department did in regards to sealing their windows after that hurricane. If they did that I would be interested to know that also.
Um >> I can I can speak for the fire department. You know when we're we're 13t above elevation. If if we flood, then we're in bad shape. >> But as far as um blocking the wind
driven rain out from we replace doors, it it still gets through. >> Yeah, that's I know that there um from the community that there were um several if not many homes that had flooding through their windows and doors because
of that driving rain. So, I don't know, but but I would be curious to know if when they did all of the repairs down there, if there was anything done with the windows >> where the water came through. Um, and then the amphibious duck for tourist attraction. I got to look that up because I think that's kind of cool.
>> That would be using them for dual purpose, for recreation, and also for necessity. >> Yeah, that would be. So, I I will >> I did some research on a a similar vehicle. Wasn't a duck. It was one of the um M wrap type style vehicles with
the giant tires and and um actually Megan, Marcy, and myself, we looked at one at the governor's hurricane conference last year >> and it looks like it would work. It's just the the issue is is it's not a pond out here. It's flowing water and that thing
travels at 7 miles per hour. >> So, I actually asked the the company the the person making the sales pitch. I said, "If if you come to Madira Beach and you make it across John's Pass and back in a straight line, we'll look we'll look into it." I never heard back from him.
>> Well, I think that um being on a lake is much different than being on the the Gulf or the inter coastal. And I mean, the water in John's Pass moves so fast. What what what came to mind though was that uh after her
during Hurricane Elen when we had the high water, I know that the fire department and all sorts of emergency services were trying to get to people who were trapped, you know, up on their roof on their high up. That would have been a way to get to them.
Unfortunately, uh, when you get a mandatory evacuation, we have so many people that don't evacuate. And that's unfortunate because it once it's there, they can't come help you. And that's I know that's scary for the people that are left behind, but anything for their
>> Yeah. to speak to Tom's question about downstairs. We don't plan to um have offices down there, but I think that his point is could it be used for daily type events? Um events that did not require
equipment that's going to get uh ruined if it does flood >> or I don't think it can. >> No, the if I remember correctly that we were told that it could only be used as storage. It's a real shame that millions of
dollars were spent >> um on something that should have never been built. Should have never >> They had the fl the flood panels up. They I remember them being up and um the water was just so much it still managed
to leak through the flood panels. >> All right, if we have nothing further, it is 7:49 and we are adjourned.