Good afternoon. Welcome to the board of commissioners regular workshop meeting. Today is Wednesday, February 11th, 2026. It is 4 pm. City clerk, would you call the role, please? >> Mayor Brooks >> here. Vice Mayor Kerr >> here.
>> Commissioner Taglerini >> here. >> Commissioner McGee >> here. >> Commissioner Gavayi >> here. >> All are present. Prior to public comment, I would like to request that we if no one has any objection, move 8A up
to before 6. And the city manager would like to add a few items to the agenda. >> Two two items. Um, one is a special meeting for the last week in February for the city manager search. Uh, Renee
Rene's firm has requested that or Renee has requested it herself. And the second item is um the discussion about food trucks at Archaval Park. Our ordinance says no mobile vending. State statute says we cannot limit food trucks. So, we
need to talk through that. And those are those are the two items. So, we'll add those as E and F or I guess um sorry F and G. 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. Do we have any public comment? >> Good afternoon. How are you? I'm Stephanie Barry. I own a business down in John's Pass, Woody's Wports. Um I'm
speaking on behalf of uh the newly created John's Pass Committee. Uh I'm the treasurer for the committee and uh we just wanted to put something into your idea for when you're planning your budget for in March for the following
year. So I'm just going to read to you kind of what we all put together. So thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I am not here to request any funding but to request partnership. We respectfully ask that the city considering a line adding a line item in
the next year's budget similar in structure to how the parking garage initiative was planned, not as an expenditure, but as a framework that allows us to formally collaborate with the city to design, execute, and scale profitability community events. Our goal is simple, to help the city of Madera
Beach create revenue, generating events that attract more visitors, support local businesses, and build long-term economic strength. Events such as Final Friday, Seafood Fest, and future concepts we would like to develop together to have potential to do more
than just break even. With strategic planning, sponsorship development, marketing alignment, and professional execution, we believe these events can generate a surplus of revenue. We are not asking the city for money. We're just asking the city to allow us to help create new money. Anything above break
even would be intentionally structured with a significant portion ideally as much as possible placed into a designated fund earmarked for specifically of John's past beautifification strategic advertising and promotion infrastructure enhancements that directly support
tourism and local businesses. And this is just about sustainability. This is about creating a repeatable model. This is about transferring events from expenses into economic engines. Madera Beach is uniquely positioned in John's past as an asset that deserves continued
reinvestment. Rather relying on solely on tax revenue, we can build a self-supporting system where we successful events improvements that make future events and more successful. We believe public private collaboration is the path forward. Allow us to help you
increase attendance, increase sponsorship participation, increase tourism impact, increase measurable revenue. That is not a cost proposal. It is a revenue strategy. We are ready to work alongside the city to structure transparently,
responsibly, and alignment with your long-term vision. Thank you for your time and your cons continued service to our community. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? Hi, my name is Chris D. Giovani and I live at 601 South Bay Shore. Been a
resident for almost 19 years. I haven't been able to attend the recent meetings, but it's come to my attention that there's been some discussion about the use of Kitty Stewart Park. And I just want to state that um
I was here long before Catty's was. And I'm very very upset at the slightest possibility that that land might be appropriated or used for anything other than its original intent, which is a
public park. I'm hopefully hoping that nothing will come of that and that as soon as construction on the nearby businesses is completed that the park will return. Um, I remember when there were several parking spaces, a little
fountain to wash yourself off after being on the beach, and a little pavilion where you could have a picnic. I see this as an opportunity for a little slice of serenity uh inserted along the a very what's
becoming a very very busy Gulf Boulevard. Uh it also o opens opportunities for the city. Um the park could be uh furnished with native
plants. Perhaps one of the local garden societies might want to take over or help in the care. It could also serve as kind of a living learning project for the local school as far as recognizing
local flora and fauna. Anyway, that's all I've got to say. So, thank you for listening. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? With no additional public comment, we will move on to proclamations.
We have the proclamation for National 211 day which is today February 11th 2026. We have two representatives here. I will read the proclamation. Whereas 211 is a free confidential
three-digit helpline that connects residents and visitors to essential health and human services, including crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing
and utility payment assistance, employment services, veteran services, and child care and family supports. And whereas the city of MadiRaa Beach 211 services are provided by first contact,
ensuring individuals and families have access to compassionate, accurate, and timely information and referrals when they need help most. And whereas 211 provides expert caring assistance by
listening to callers, identifying underlying needs, and connecting people with appropriate community resources that help stabilize households and improve quality of life. And whereas in 2025,
211 responded to more than 62,000 calls, texts, emails, and online requests from Penllis County residents seeking assistance with critical needs. And whereas 211 addresses the root
causes of challenges facing individuals and families and identifying, presenting issues and connecting them to a wide range of available resources, not solely the service that prompted the initial contact.
And whereas 211 maintains a finger on the pulse of community needs by collecting and analyzing health and human services data which is used by local governments, emergency managers, and community planners to inform
decision making and improve services. And whereas 211 strengthens the efficiency and effectiveness of the local social services ecosystem by ensuring individuals are connected to the right
services at the right time, reducing duplication and barriers to care. Now therefore, I, Ann Marie Brooks, mayor of the city of MadiRaa Beach, Florida, do hereby proclaim February the 11th, 2026
as National 211 Day in the city of MadiRaa Beach and encourage all residents to recognize the vital role 211 plays in supporting health, safety, and well-being of our community. I would like to go down and I'm going to
present this. will stand here and take a picture with the commission. Um, and for the record, if no one knows what 211 is, look it up. It's a really fantastic organization. I did not know anything about it until I was at a
mayor's meeting and we received a presentation and the services that are provided are quite spectacular. I have a flyer that I will share with the commission at the end of this tonight's meeting. What are you doing? Still in that building,
I forgot to suck it in. Suck it in my belly. Next on the agenda is presentations. We have Teresa here with Duke Energy to give us a presentation on undergrounding. >> Well, good afternoon. Thank you for having me. I see some old friends and I
see some new friends. I hope I put the girl in a line truck and I can do just fine. but put me in front of computer and I'm a little stumped here. Um, today we have another big milestone. It's Thomas Edison's birthday and
um what I did is what uh Michelin is to fine dining the Edison Electrical Institute is for all things electrical. They are third party independent highly respected organization and they make recommendations. They do testing,
endless testing on all kinds of devices, including underground facilities. And this is basically their stance on underground. Um, it's costly. Um, it doesn't do that well with water intrusion as of yet, but I'm a hopeful
person. Technology gets better every single day. Um, you can see, you can look these up. These studies are available online, but uh, the Edison and Edison Electrical Institute is the beall end all on all things electrical. Um, I
can tell you what I've experienced. Um, I am a 26-year veteran of Florida Power, Progress Energy, and Duke Energy. I retired right before the big storm, and then this all happened. I worked for FEMA during the three storms, and then my Duke management called me back
because I was one that built these beaches and said, "Would you come back to get the beaches online?" And so I have a two-year contract. I hope I can survive that long, but we're on to it right now. Um, other than the cost, which is very it's it's expensive. Um,
the the water intrusion remains a problem. Um, I know I had secondary cables conducting all over the place following the water intrusion. Um, line department when all when in doubt, go ask the linemen. I walked on the dock the other day and they said, "We're still pulling up cable that's tracking,
that's full of water." And then the other issue in the type of storm we had was FEMA response. And I understand completely FEMA's number one goal is to clear Gulf Boulevard for emergency vehicles. Well, in that clearing, they tore up everything that feeds
underground. All the pull boxes, all the transformers, all the subups. So, that had to all be rebuilt. And even now with the Gulf Boulevard projects I have, we're still finding sand in lines. It's just the nature of that storm.
Um, probably the most difficult thing we have with undergrounding is easements. I think there was a term during the nuclear time that said nimi, not in my backyard. Nobody wants to grant an easement. Business or residential. Nobody wants a
4x6 green box on a pedestal in their front yard. Nobody wants a pull box in their front yard. But these things are necessary in order to run underground. There's no way around that. and it connects up somewhere. Even if it's onto the transmission system, it still
connects overhead somewhere. And the last item is street lights. If you want to put your street light conduit underground, that that incurs even more cost, and we all know how important street lights are to keeping our neighborhoods safe. Um, I look back on
my career, um, I I struggled with this one because I thought, what was the name of that storm? And I think I have PSTD about it. Sandy was my first storm. I went to Miami. That was not a water storm. That was a windstorm. Michael, I went to Mexico Beach there in
again. Not a lot of water, a lot of wind. And then Charlie in Lake Wales. It was supposed to hit us head-on and it was supposed to hit Orlando head on and it ended up in Lake Wales. So, go figure. That Lake Wales was devastated. It was flat.
So, that's just my experience. I can't tell you how many storms I've worked because then you'd know how old I am. But that is just basically the the nuances of underground. It's not it's not an easy project. It's not an easy thing. So, does anybody have any questions for me in regards to
underground? >> Do we have access? I don't see it a link in my uh agenda to that. Did you get it printed? >> It's it's on Google. I'm on Google and you just uh you look up Edison Electrical Institute Underground. And
you can go deeper into all these files and you can find their research documents. >> Thank you. >> I just like to tell you that when you win an award from the Edison Institute, it's a really big deal. And we did Duke won for storm restoration this year from
the Edison Electrical Institute. So we're very proud of that. >> Got it. Thank you. >> So um Teresa >> Yes, sir. So from your presentation, I'm I'm taking that you don't recommend
undergrounding for the barrier islands. Is that is that what I >> No, because I'm it there's a difference in Gulf Boulevard and residential just because of the nature of the difference of when I work storms with like guys from Nova Scotia, they go, "Why did you
ever let people put stuff in their back lot line?" You know, that's not what we want to do anymore. Um it's just tricky right now. But I'm sort of an optimist. I mean, every year there's brand new technology, new cabling, new everything, new self-healing feeders, new circuitry,
um, you know, all kinds of good things are coming on. So, I think if if you can acrue the money and have patience, I think that would be a prudent thing to do because who knows, some 21-year-old from MIT could develop it tonight and we'd hear about it tomorrow. I'm I'm a
huge proponent to have the state work towards resiliency grants. I mean, after Hurricane Elen, we were without power for over a week. >> Oh, I understand. >> And um you know, except for the connections, I would think that the
cables themselves, if they're underwater, I mean, they run cables underneath the Atlantic Ocean. >> Those are different kinds of cables, though. I have >> Well, I'm just >> They're They're They're They're actually built to be sub aquous cables. >> I don't know what the cost difference is. It sounds like that's that's really
the main thing. >> Well, we have one at John's Pass, >> right, Megan that I'm having hives about because when you start dredging, you better not hit that cable. I'm just saying. I'm being facicious. But that's a very expensive cable. I'm I'm just um watching the
transformers overhead just uh corrode and um I I'm really looking for some sort of guidance on what we should be pushing for because I I would love to see everything underground. We walk
through communities uh just north of us and they're all underground and I don't know how long they they lost their power, but I I'd like someone to be able to some of those questions. So, but I appreciate the presentation. >> Well, you're certainly welcome. I mean, I I totally understand. I lived in
Penllis County all my life and I didn't know most of my life. I didn't know if my home was operational or not because I was in a line truck, >> but I know that there this was this was a doozy. It took down transmission lines. And you don't just put up a transmission tower in
>> No, of course. >> So, it was this is the worst I've seen. Thank thank you for your experience. >> If I can provide you any research, please feel to to reach out to me and I'll help you. >> That's wonderful. I have your card now. Watch out. >> Okay.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for joining us, Teresa. >> You're welcome. >> Been a while since I'd seen you. So, um, as, uh, Vice Mayor Kerr, uh, stated, you know, we all love to see the
power lines being under underground, but we also see a lot of unsightly power lines. We see power poles that are kind of tilted here and there. They create also dangerous situations. And we also understand that it's not
just the power lines, it's also cable lines that could belong to variety of operations. So, what sort of a maintenance responsibility does Duke Energy have to to fix the
on-site scenes? >> Well, if you if you can report it to us, we'll go out and do an investigate. But I know that we have a program that checks all our polls. I think it's every seven years. There's a company called Osmos that goes out there and and tests their stability. They can be slightly
listed, but they're still firmly in the ground. >> Well, yeah. I mean, mostly concerned about this the unsightly >> Well, the the thing that you see the most is the joint users, the big gigantic black cables that have boxes
and pulleys on them. Those belong to Frontier, Wow, and Verizon. >> Okay. >> And they they have joint use contracts with Duke. Now, that's another challenge is because they're telecommunications, they're very protected and getting them to go underground and abandoned with us
is also quite the feat. >> Um, Readington Shores for instance, they're undergrounded. >> That is correct. >> So, what sort of a an issue have you experienced, let's say, in that town, just as an example? Now, I didn't serve
Indian Shores in my former job and I just came back a few months ago, but I was with Melissa the other day and I said, refresh my memory because I'd heard this all my career at Duke. Do you remember there was a I don't know if he was a fire chief or a police chief that
started that project and before they even broke ground, he had he had acquired every easement. He walked from business to business to business. So, they started with all easements done. Well, yeah, easements is one thing,
legality of placing the, you know, the wires underground or on people's properties, but as far as um the undergrounding not being viable or having issues during storms,
that's really what I would like to sort of if see if you have any knowledge of what sort of an issue they had >> at Indian Shores. >> Yes, Indian shores. any city that's within, you know, within >> I but I could ask that mayor and I could guess their public works director and
get back to you. >> I've only been working on ongoing projects because I didn't work the storm. I I was working for >> I'm just curious what sort of a statistics we had with undergrounding as far as negative concerns.
>> Please don't misunderstand me. I don't want to be misconstrued. I don't think it's a bad thing. I just think with emerging technology there's going to be some really benefits coming up very quickly. Um especially with you know cell phones
because if you know you see all these towers now we try to get them to attach on our street light poles so they're not unsemly but basically they have the wherewithal to put those those towers or I call them a tower but they're the big gigantic poles. Um they can put them wherever
they want. I say come on attach to my street light pole. It would be a win-win for both of us. >> I know. Thank you. >> You're very welcome. But I'll keep looking because I'm sure that people have there's more entities than us that have had to do studies on this past
three storms. There's got to be some documentation somewhere that we could pull up. >> Yeah, definitely. The storms did a lot of damage, you know, to the coastal communities. Um, thank you very much for coming out today. I just want to say congratulations also on the award.
>> Oh, thank you. Thank you. That's for the whole company. It's not >> I wasn't working that storm, so I can't take the award. I was in the FEMA trailer. >> Can I be with y'all next time? I don't want to go back there. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> We had a mobile command here. >> I know you did. It was a Duke mobile
command. >> Yes, it was. It was fantastic. >> Yes. >> Thank you for coming. And >> Well, you're certainly welcome. And I I I don't want to be negative about underground. I'm just very hopeful for emerging technology because I mean who would have ever thought we'd have solar plants online and we're building 12 new
solar plants this year. I went to this I went downtown to the state of the union um yesterday to hear our corporate uh President Harry Sedaris and it was it was unbelievable. We replaced uh 2,000 transmission poles last year
and we have 271 in progress right now. >> That's huge. And we had less pole damage in this in Penllis County for prior year because we have a lot of steel and concrete poles that have replaced the wooden poles.
So, thank you for your time. I truly appreciate it. We can talk offline. >> Thank you. I'm not a lineman. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Teresa. Next on the agenda is I should ask does is there any public
comment in regards to the presentation? The next on the agenda is public works 8A area 9 roadway and drainage improvement project discussion. Good afternoon, mayor and commissioners.
I almost said good evening, but it's not five o'clock yet. So, this is fantastic. Um so we are discussing area 9. Um area 9 is Bayoint Causeway, Bayoint Drive, a portion of Puit Drive and Sunset Cove. And in your packet, you have the map
which shows that area kind of outlined for you. So with this project, we've been discussing for quite some time about this is our first road project that we are going to elevate the roadway. And the reason for that being is from what we found in our watershed management plan. So, I'm gonna I have
Justin Keller with me today. He's from Advanced Engineering. Their firm completed the watershed management plan. And um he's going to kind of explain the difference between this road project and previous road projects because as you see that this proposal is much higher
than what we've seen in the past and the major reason behind that is because of the elevation of the roadway. >> How you doing? Uh Justin Keller with Advanced Engineering uh spoken to the commission before um but we are uh we've uh had the opportunity to prepare the
wershed management plan um which also brought into uh some discussion about using Phil to elevate roadways um which um which we have been working with the city on um how to best utilize fill through uh private developments through coordination with uh with residents um
and also to um while not specifically with Madir Beach we have um healthy exper experience in roadway reconstruction and design. Um so I wanted to take this opportunity to first talk about um let's say uh what what what we're thinking from a construction
scope standpoint and also uh talk about some of the design elements that we have uh included within our proposal uh to provide a snapshot of some of the tasks that are uh let's say atypical to how the city has rehabed roadways in the past. Um so regarding the actual scope
for construction um right now um Bpoint is a is a very low roadway uh the elevations range from about elevation 2 and a half to about four. Um to the let's say to the um the south or to the
east I would say it is uh lower and to the west it is higher. Um there were multiple homes that were impacted um by the storms and that are in varying pro varying um phases of being rebuilt, elevated or or rehabbed. Um so naturally
we want to try to tackle uh tackle the roadway elevation challenge out there. Um right now we are um openly saying that six inches is the goal. Um and also the goal is to stay within the budget that that has been identified. So, what we're going to do is that um early on we
have a preliminary engineering report. Again, this is one of the initial tasks that typically um you know really probably hasn't been warranted in in future projects um in order to determine what's that sweet spot as far as is it 6 in, is it 8 in, is it nine, what can we
accomplish, what are the corresponding costs, and then give that to the city to allow that to be a pivot point at the project to determine, okay, how far do we go? Um we are we need to uh replace the seaw wall on Baypoint Drive. Um again this project is somewhat unique to
where you have roadway and seaw wall um incorporated in into the same uh scope of work. Uh that is something to where if we are doing it we would like to see what opportunities are there to elevate that seaw wall to elevate that stretch of beayhore. Um
due to the fact that we need to adhere um you know the best we can to that construction budget that's been outlined. Um it is possible that some areas of Puit and Sunset Cove um we we may not be able to realize the full uh fill abilities that we can that we can
do. Um our job is to give you everything we can from a fill standpoint within the budget and then also give you enough data to where if you want to come back um you know 10 20 30 years and elevate subsequently whether that's because of
cost or differing home elevations around there that you would have that that data to do that and essentially give you a foundation to um to build upon. So, uh, from a construction scope stamp standpoint, we are on Baypoint Drive.
Um, both the, um, the causeway section and the residential section as well as on Puit and Sunset Cove. Um, recognizing that there we we may not be able to hit all of these areas with that full fill goal that we've established early on. Um
so regarding not only is construction a bit different uh when we start looking at elevated roadways there are also some um additional design steps that need to be taken. Uh conventionally if I'm doing a roadway uh reconstruction project I'm stopping my survey um essentially the
documentation of elevations at the rightway and I'm saying okay I'm not going to garages. We're just staying within our sandbox here. um when you start to elevate, especially in lowline areas, there may be a need to extend outside of those boundaries. So,
normally if I'm doing curb and road work, I don't care what your garage is. I start to care now when I start using fill. So, what that means is that our our scope of survey expands to pretty much it's going to touch the homes, it's going to touch the garage because again, when we do this, we have to make sure
that we maintain positive fall towards the road. Um and then also too um because we are now getting outside of our sandbox, right? That's private property. So there's going to be resident coordination that is needed. Um if we determine that we can do the
filling that we want to and if the city approves of that. We still have another if and that's if the residents will let us in order to maximize that ability. And that's a step that we will have to go through. Um we do have public meetings within our scope. Um, we have renderings in order to um, you know, one
of the one of the concerns I understand we're probably going to get is you're gonna you're gonna dam up my property. I won't be able to drain. So, having, you know, kind of the old sentiment, a picture is worth a thousand words. Having that information um, to discuss with residents um, as as needed is is
something that we think will be um, a powerful tool to help us uh, accomplish some of the city's goals. Um and also with the um the watershed management plan identified some storm water deficiencies in these areas. Um
historically the scope of storm water repair has been limited based upon what is there now and what can fit based upon available easements and based upon um you know a project budget. Now we have a
watershed model that's already more or less been paid for and we can start to kind of use that um investment the city made in order to um fine-tune these areas and say, "Okay, well, what do we have to do to meet our level of service?" Um we envision that we're
going to be able to install um a dedicated outfall. We have the area on the causeway. Um that will require some additional permitting, but also we feel that this project will net greater storm water benefits. um than let's say the
city has has sought to get in in prior projects. Again, a lot of that is just luck of the draw because we do have a causeway and no one lives on the causeway. So, um we're not going in between two structures like a lot of times we have to um in coastal areas.
Um I talked about the new outfalls. Um unfortunately, um you know, when you do start uh going into the waters of the state, you have the Army Corps that's going to be involved. um you have a swift mud that's going to be involved not only from a stormwater standpoint but from environmental standpoint that
triggers the need for habitat assessments, seaggrass surveys, stuff like that. Um so it's important to have that information when you go to the permit entities to make sure that you are demonstrating that the project has not resulted in adverse impacts not only from a flooding standpoint but also from
an environmental standpoint. Um and then uh we mentioned the seaw wall design again that that would be done in conjunction with the roadway project. Um and then also the uh preliminary engineering report uh which certainly you know we we we will present to staff if we need to talk about it with with
the commission. Um that's something that that could be beneficial uh should the commission want to see me again. Um don't know why you would but I guess that's your cause. Um so um so yeah that kind of summarizes some of the some of the major differences. Um, and since
this is one of the first projects uh that the city is looking to strategically use, Phil, wanted to to be here to explain kind of how I saw it happening and um more or less um answer any questions that the commission may have. >> Do we have any public comment?
>> Chuck Dylan 529 Lillian. Uh, one thing that I would ask definitely is do they have the ability to oversee the project where it sounds like this is very similar to the Crystal Island project and you I don't know that any of these
issues were really approached then uh but I mean it brings up a lot of very interesting questions. So, uh, as as, uh, they had the ability to oversee the project once it was designed and
engineered, and I know Megan can protest to this, if they have the testing people and people to be able to uh, make sure it gets done. Thank you. >> Do we have any additional public comment? Hi, I'm Jim Caprero, 904 Bay Point
Drive. Uh, we've been living here for five years. I'm I'm glad you have a report there that shows that is the cost was how much on the estimate? >> What what's the estimated cost?
>> Yeah. >> 439. Okay. I I can tell you right now there is a challenge that we're all facing and the road is undrivable now for my in front of my house. You're coming
multiple times per year filling in ruts. There's potholes. We have people riding bikes and walking on those streets. Easily someone can break a lake. This is not only an issue related to
storm water, wastewater, but there's liability at stake. You have visitors in town and you can watch the bikes go and they don't know that there's potholes there. The potholes in front of my house have
been fixed at least three times a year, maybe four. It doesn't last. Um, it's really something that needs to be addressed for the entire city. It it's it's disgraceful. The road is
disgraceful. If you haven't been down Bayoint Drive, you need to go there. And I don't know if anybody wants to walk with me, I'll walk with you. The causeway bridge is falling apart. So again, we're not talking about doing something that's unnecessary, but
I think it's something that need I mean, I don't know what the option is. So to each of you, I'm saying this is something we need to do. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? Megan, um I'd like to just start off if
you could because I've had quite a bit of communication with the community on the condition of the road and I know that the time for repair is going to be long for the not repair for the elevation. Could you speak to the mill
and resurface that we are going to do so that the road is traversible? >> Yes. So, we do know that engineering services take anywhere from three to five years before you actually get a shovel in the ground and start construction. So, we are looking to piggyback off of either a county
contract, a local contract, or our next area project for to mill and resurface Bayoint Causeway and Bayoint Drive just in the interim to get us through until we can rebuild that roadway. >> And that will be eight monthsish is what I plan for that.
>> Okay. So, eight months to pave the road. And I'm sure if there's any expedient way that'll happen, but eight months is a realistic time frame. Could be shorter, but that's really a realistic time. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I know that that'll be
appreciated information. Commission, do you have any questions? >> Uh, can I ask uh so this is a new pro a new something new for me. So, you mentioned getting uh residents approval. What do you need their approval to do? If you could be very specific for me so
I can wrap my head around that. >> So, as Justin stated, this is a whole different road project. We're not just going in the rightway. If you go through area three, >> by rightway, you mean the road itself. >> The rideway can range from five feet behind the curb to somewhere sometimes
is 15 feet behind the curb. >> Okay. >> Whereas in this road project, we're going to be going sometimes all the way up to the garages. So, if you look at any of the driveways within this area, you can see that we're going to have to we're going to have to repave their driveways. We're going to have to pull
up and regrade to ensure that they can drain properly to the new elevated roadway because their driveway was built to the elevation the road is at currently. >> And what would So, what's to prevent it from just going into their h into their garage? >> To prevent the water from going into the
garage. >> If you're raising up the driveway, why wouldn't I? I'm just trying >> if on Bayoint >> because I see, you know, I'm I'm not an engineer obviously. I see the road going up and the water going into the house. So, >> I would say 95% of the houses on Bayoint
are elevated, >> but the garage is still there. >> On a lot of them, they're also elevated. So, that's part of the design that we're going to have to look at. >> Yeah, that's I just want to get my head around that. When residents ask, are you going to flood my house? >> The official hand motions. Um, so, so
generally speaking, you know, you have a garage here and you, you know, you have a road here. We are not looking to alter the relationship to where the road drains into the garage. That's a kiss of death. We're not doing that. But if it's like this and we want to elevate this much of the roadway, we soften that
slope. >> And what we do is we soften the slope to where you still have gradient downwards, but it's just not as steep. >> Sure. Okay. and and and as you can go into somebody's property and reconstruct that driveway and you imagine as you go up that driveway you're getting more and
more elevation. >> So if you go ahead and you know the higher you can tie in the greater the opportunity you have in order to maximize the elevation within the road. >> Got it. >> Um one thing that I can promise this project will not do is the road will be lower than the garages come hell or high
water. Megan will kill me if I don't do if I don't do that. So that's >> that was probably a given. And I just needed to make sure I didn't I mean even if it is their garage I mean that's what I have. I have an elevated house but I would not want the road draining into my garage. No >> every time there's bad storms. And I
mean really I I think you organically brought up um one of the reasons why the team saw it beneficial to get a rendering in order to make sure that we are kind of clearly depicting that although we do use the term like elevated roadways and going and scary concepts of the government going into
your yard and digging up stuff you know um we want to make sure that that that everybody recognizes that the relationship between your property and the road will this will remain the same. it just will not be as >> that's what I wanted to say with confidence to net residents that your your garage will not be lower than the
road. >> Yes. And then one thing also too um because I failed to hit on it. Um there is the resilient Florida program that is through the DP that um provides funding for um provides funding 50% on the
dollar for construction projects that are resilient. Um this is a project that will increase the city resilience and we do intend um to seeing if there's an opportunity to leverage the money that's already been budgeted or reduce them out. We you know we'll see how the city wants to go. Um but to apply for uh
matching funds through the grant program and that will occur in September of this year. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Don't sit down yet. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. So you said your your public goal right now is 6 in may it may
increase to eight inches or nine inches of elevation but you've also said that that is 5% of the homes are what is restricting that number that elevation. >> Oh yeah. So, so you know, always, you
know, I we have to recognize that if I sit up here and I say the road will be lower than your garage, that means that the lowest home on the block will be the limiting factor to what we can do, >> right?
>> Yeah. and and so um you know there um while I certainly don't want to make light of this you know the um the reconstruction going on from a roadway elevation standpoint does present the city with an opportunity to possibly maximize or or work with the resident to
see hey if you want to go up a little bit more maybe we could go up a little bit more. Um we are working um with with property owners through the permitting process um to support whatever elevation goals that they have um knowing that they will directly benefit this project.
>> Okay. Um not this community but community north of us. Uh the garage level is it I'm going to call it even with the roadway. the roadway.
From the roadway towards the property, it goes down and from the garage to it creates what I I'll call a channel. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like a V in the in the driveway >> closer to the to the road.
>> And that that all drains into a a big to to get to the storm >> water. Um, I'd like to see the roads elevated as much as possible and to be restricted on elevation by just a few
homes, even the new homes. I've said publicly here. Um, it breaks my heart to see some of these new homes being constructed without the garages being elevated. Um, >> especially since your code does support
it. >> Yeah. So, but it but unless it's in the design, it's it's, you know, it's being approved. Um, so with that being said, the roads are elevation will always be restricted by
that one home that's on the roadway. You know, why do the roads have to be the conduit for 100% of the drainage for those isolated in cases? Can't we deliver a solution? In my mind, I have
some solutions, but >> why can't we deliver a solution to be able to get to that 9 inch elevation increase? >> So certain, you know, one one of the one of the main points we have to make sure is that um you know, we have to thread the needle between maximizing the
elevation goal and staying within the budget that's been allowed, you know, kind of allotted for us. uh from from from a construction standpoint, um if we're able to leverage these funds for grant funds, then heck yeah, let's let's
do what we can to go to go bigger. Um when you are talking about using fill in a community um that is a um a choice that is being made for the long term which means that there are you know that that kind of my
goal at least would be that this won't be the first project like this that we elevate roadways. Um, that means that the first one is always going to be heavily scrutinized. And so I agree. I I grew up in Shore Acres, a low-line area
in Penllis County. Um, I know that I I know roadways. Actually, my old boss used to live on a roadway that was elevated. And what they did in order to maximize the roadway elevation, they put the point of collection in in the parkway, you know, which is a lot of times to the resident, that's their
yard. It's really public lands, but um, you know, we understand that. Um, so I would like to avoid that if possible because um because of the optics, but if it turns out that there's an opportunity and it's within budget and
we clearly communicate that to the city and we clearly communicate that to the commission and that's the direction that you want to go, then I don't I I certainly don't mean to this to mean that we are saying heck no to that right
now. I just don't know um how how much more we're going to gain from a roadway standpoint if we put that point of collection in the in the yards. >> Okay. We're just setting precedents though. And >> yeah, >> it bothers me that 5% or less of the
community would would restrict the elevation of that roadway >> so that everyone else has free and clear access on a sunny day when it floods. you are
getting to a a more impactful discussion, I think, about how to work your codes with that sentiment. >> Yeah. I just like to >> see the
I I I feel like I've been preaching that for four years and no one wants to hear. >> So, um >> my thoughts on that. >> You will be >> there's no solution. Yeah, >> it's always the this the road is the conduit. It comes from the home >> into the road
>> down into the storm water >> for those isolated instances. I mean, so many of these homes are right on the water >> could change some of the degrading and take it out the seaw wall. Regardless, I'm not saying I'm not the engineer.
>> I'm just saying I can't believe there's not some solutions to do it. So, I I'm not going to belabor but but thank you. Thank you. I I support what you're doing 100%. >> I've listened to many of your talks and and um >> I support it
>> trying to get our roadways as elevated as possible >> or we're going to be written off one day from the federal government saying no they're underwater. >> I mean that's a that's what we're trying to get out ahead of. >> Thank you
>> commissioners. So, um, area nine, that was, uh, that's definitely a velocity zone right there in that area. Um, is that why that area was chosen first for the city as far as moving forward? So
the difference with Bayoint is that well it was one of the next areas per our CIP but also with the amount of homes that are already elevated and with what we had found in our wershed management plan that we could go six in without
negatively impacting what was currently there. So that was kind of the reason for initiating this and having the discussions and then after Helen of course made you know some serious impacts on things. I'm looking forward to it. And also, you said um >> we're going to have uh town hall
meetings also uh to discuss this as well, right? >> Yes, I believe there's two. >> Yeah, >> two. Okay, great. All right. Thank you. >> And there's also going to be some um organic check-ins on adjacent topics um through through some other activities
that we're working on with the city. So this is, you know, kind of how I see it is there's going to be these conceptual discussions going on with this real world application of what we're talking about. >> Um, and it will be an opportunity to kind of sync the um the logic with the
with the product. >> Perfect. >> Justin, do you all provide construction administration for your projects? >> Yes. >> Okay. So once the project is finished, you come up with an asbuilt and certify
that the project was built according to the plans. >> Yeah. Yeah. So from from a uh from a logistical standpoint, we actually require that the contractor hire the surveyor provide that, but we certainly do review it and con and and issue it as
a record drawing to confirm that we that it is in compliance with the plans and specifications. And uh for this project, for the permitting, we're going to have to do that as well because we're gonna have to close out the permits also. >> Okay. Um do you think the existing roads road base may be lime rock versus
crushed concrete? >> I did do borings. >> Okay. I >> borings is what we want to do. Um as we look at lowline roadways, um admittedly I tend to go towards crushed concrete. It's a bit more resilient. Um versus like a lime rock. Lime rock. >> I wouldn't suggest that. But I'm just
saying existing base. Okay. >> Is the existing base lime rock? I think based on history it probably is. >> It's probably mixture >> and and I've I've seen in beach communities that there's a sand shell mixture that have been used sometimes as well.
>> Um so um I have learned never guess on geotech. So so I'm I'm a bit timid to do that. But um I I wouldn't be you know looking at some of the failures that are out there. um it would not be crazy to suggest that the base failure is associated with a product that does not
respond well to wet dry cycles. >> So if that's the case, would you recommend to remove the lime rock and fill it with fill and then 8 in of crushed concrete? >> Yeah, we we would you know I think what we would do is that part of what we need
to look at is how we blend importing new material and stabilizing what's there. Um, and that's one thing through the per process and the design process we're going to have to vet. Um, obviously the more clean material we truck in, the better, but that also correlates to
cost. So, it's like, is there a way for us to again, um, kind of repurpose what's there through using stabilizing agents and stabilizing like you would on like a major highway? Um, is it worthwhile to have that equipment brought in here? Is it cost effective? Th those are some of the big questions
that I think we need to answer to the city. >> Okay. Um you had alluded that some of the roadways are 2 and 12 to 4 feet elevation difference from point A to point B. >> Yes. So this this road actually um it kind of surprised me to where when when
you look at a profile because we plotted a profile just using digital elevation model you have 18 inches of about 18 inches of gradient change from one side to the other which is really kind of unique for a coastal built out island.
Uh to Vice Mayor Kerr's um concern, I also would like to suggest to to keep a certain minimum elevation for the roadways. >> Yeah. >> You know, not for instance, if the roadway is two and a half, don't say,
"All right, let this be three." And you know, because three certainly won't cut it and it'd be too low. So, we don't want to spend money um right now and then, you know, have issues later down the road. So, I also would like to
recommend that. Now, a couple of other questions. Forgive me for elaborating too much. Are you also looking at existing infrastructure out there such as sewer lines, water lines to be sure that they are in good shape and they don't need to be replaced while you're
building the roads? first call we make first call we make is to Penelis County Utilities and figure out what what's going on there and um because even if everything's perfect out there, we still have to elevate the um isolation valves for the water system and the sanitary
sewer uh manholes. So, um on once we get the okay to proceed, that's that's literally one of the first calls we're going to make >> and to do. So I I would highly recommend to camera the sewer lines. Uh if they're VC pipes, it's basically no good. They
need to be converted to PVC. And so I wouldn't necessarily depend on Penol County to say, "Yeah, we have good lines or we don't." I would truly want to request to TV, especially the sewer lines and possibly storm lines just to have a good indication of what's failing
and what's not. >> Yeah. And and I know Megan through all her roadway projects, I know you have a good relationship with the county and getting them to kind of dovetail these projects. Worst thing you want to do is pay a bunch of money to rebuild a road and a utility company comes in behind
you and digs up something. That's not a good look. >> And uh we could possibly maybe put some uh sleeves across the roadways for possible utility extension. Would that
>> I think it's a great idea. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well, thank you for coming and and doing the presentation. I know that there are a lot of residents who live in area 9 who will be happy to hear the update even though the time frame they're
looking for that and the paving. Megan, thank you. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is board of commissioners key to the city and I believe this was a request by Commissioner
Good evening. Thank you, Madame Mayor. >> Um, just walking around town and driving around town. I've lived in Mida Beach now for about maybe a little more than 22 years and uh I have um noticed that uh there are a lot of wonderful people out there that just give of their time and their
talent and their treasure to better this town. So we had talked about coming up with ideas to recognize and encourage those folks and possibly even encourage more people to to want to join
in because Madura Beach is home. We should all of us be a party to betterment of this town. So um the idea was to come up with the key um at least one one one
element would be key and There are other elements like coins and so forth and so on, but I specifically wanted to um to bring up the um um uh the the key to this town for trash
pirates. I I have been out there. I know all the board members have been helping Candi and her team to remove trash, cigarette butts from the beach, from the roadways, from you know all all around town. and uh wanted to bring that uh attention
to this board. Uh talking to our chief uh he alluded that maybe we should uh expand that on the team that have created or a part of that trash pirate and I think that's that's a good idea to to bring the whole team. So I
would love to suggest this board to approve my recommendation to give the first key of the city to the trash pirate team. >> Do we have any public comment
commissioners? >> I think that's a great idea. Um I've been out there a couple times with the trash buyers myself and it's just a fantastic idea and they are so great with our community. I believe after we
disallowed um cigarette smoking and vaping on our beaches, the cigarette butt um litter, as you could say, it went down about 90%, but that's along with the trash pirates help. That's fantastic
for our sea turtles and also just for the overall welfare of our beaches. Um so yes, I would totally be in agreement with that um whenever that comes around. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> commissioners. >> Candy and her team are self-driven.
They're they're they're amazing. If anyone is due recognition in this city, it would be um the trash pirates. >> Awesome. >> We we owe a lot to that to the trash pirates. Uh, I think this is ex perfect
example of someone and some and people who go out of their way at no uh they get nothing back for it and it's definitely benefits the city. I I would like to see if it could be worded Candy
uh sorry I forget her last name and and the trash pirates is I think she she organizes it. She's the director is what's her exact role with the trash pirates? So, she is one of the founding Yes, there are two founding
um people for the trash pirates, Candy and Audrey. >> Well, I'm I'm certainly in favor of this. However we word it, trash pirates deserve a lot of credit. >> I agree. >> So, where do we go from here?
>> We have to vote. >> Attorney Tra, >> we just have to workshop this. We don't have to take it to a board of commissioners meeting and vote, do we? We just if we workshop it, then we can present it. >> You can put it on the agenda. Um what
does they put it on the consent agenda for uh authorization to issue the key to the city and then even at the same meeting or the next meeting actually have everybody there to actually receive the key to the city. So that that would be my suggestion. Put
it on the consent agenda for approval and then provide a ceremony at that meeting or some other meeting >> or presentation. >> Yeah. >> Is it is it your intent to present more than one key or one key? You know, you
have two people, Audrey and >> um >> that's a good question. It's the organization. I mean, if we're if we're giving it to the organization, it's one thing. if we're giving it to individuals. So, um I I don't think that
there is a an office for for the trash pirates. So, >> could it be it could could it be displayed at city hall somewhere? >> Obviously, they're not going to carry it around, but if it was I don't know if it's got a plaque where it has the key.
I'm just envisioning where would where would they put it? Who would who would keep it? I I wouldn't object to having more than one key. U we can look into see who the main operators are and uh maybe do more keys because again this is
just um extending our appreciation to um the residents that are going over and above um >> just possibly and I'm just brainstorming here. I've uh I've seen a plaque with a
key and there's multiple plates in where you engrave the most recent recipient and the first one could be trash pirates 2026 uh and and a a physical key to give to
the current uh participants something along or maybe the founder something along those lines. Then next time we have a key to a city, we just engrave the next plaque and give out more keys. >> So this will not be the first key the city's ever given. The city has given We
actually have keys already here framed that were purchased years ago. So this is not the first key that the city has given out to someone. But I mean, keeping a record of who's received the keys, I think, is is a
>> Maybe it's time we do some research on that and get something organized to display possible to I mean, it's a pretty big thing. >> Great idea. >> So, do I do we need to reach out to Candy and ask her to possibly attend one of the meetings that we would
be we'll have to determine when we would present her or the team >> or the team >> the key. And so, they would need to know You might be getting ahead of yourself a little bit, right? Sounds like we have to put we have to put it on agenda and then and then create a date for that.
>> So, it potentially could go on our next meeting agenda in March in our voting meeting on the consent agenda and the key could be presented that day ceremonially or at a later date. That's um it's going to be on the consent
agenda for the next meeting. So, uh, city manager chief, you could work on that with the commissioner since it's his nomination for what type of, um, and how to present it, whether we do it on the voting day or a different day.
>> Yeah, absolutely. I'll work. We're all in agreement. And just thinking out loud as well, we in this city store, we have the Trash Pirates um retail store in there as well. So if
we only want to present one, we could kind of house it here with both of their names on a on a plaque >> as an extra as an extra. >> Yeah, sure. >> And also the verbiage that goes along with the keys >> because there would have to be engraving to
>> to keep it to keep it simple. You might just want the one key to the trash pirates and let them jointly receive it. But that's just my >> Thank you. >> Do we have a clear direction on that, Chief?
>> Yes, ma'am. I'll work with Commissioner Hooch. >> Okay. Just to make sure that we're not just leaving it open-ended. Next on the agenda is Office for Board of Commissioners at City Hall. And I believe this was um brought up by Commissioner McGee.
>> Well, yes, this is basically a a minor issue or um something we had talked about. Um I was recently talking with the city manager. Um I believe we really that's not really a big necessity right now. We can float around like everyone
else does. So u we can work on that in the in the future. So just along those lines, I was thinking if there's no nothing going on in here, couldn't >> theoretically a commissioner come up here with his assigned computer and do work from here?
>> Yeah. In our one-on- ones earlier, we discussed that and if he wanted to, you know, reach out to me or or Megan Powers and see if the conference room was available or the chambers was available, then he could come in here, work. >> Yeah. One of the things that I'm hoping
for is to get more community involvement, you know, um one-on ones here and >> office hours. >> Office hours. Yes. But uh get more community involvement and have them come up and talk and and chat and uh you
know, something like that. That's what my future vision is for that. Um so there we go. >> Awesome. Next on the agenda agenda is sanitation services discussion. Vice Mayor.
>> Yeah. Um thank you. Um Madame Mayor, I asked this to be on the agenda. um with the recent discussions of public works and and what it's used for and the trucks and then it
came to my attention that Treasure Island has recently transitioned and I'm told and I I I would ask that um um there's some research on that. I've
tried to re reach out, but I think city staff needs to. Um, and there's significant savings that Treasure Island has been able to achieve and the residents are also achieving savings.
The businesses are are um receiving savings. So, financially, it it sounds like it's it's it sounds like it's a good idea. Um, Mr. Laughlin did a back of the napkin study basically and
suggested that he he thought and may don't take offense to that um that he thought that there would be some savings but no no formal bids were were put out at the time and I think that was maybe a year or two ago um
but I think it it could achieve uh a lot of different goals and you know it used to be that we had the best sanitation staff ever. I mean, everybody loved it. You'd go away for a weekend and come back and forget to take your trash out
and find out that they went in your backyard and and emptied it. It was just it was it was amazing. Um, but that's all transitioned. We're using different types of trucks, um, less people on the road. So, I think that that advantage is
has disappeared. Um, and um, as far as personnel that are currently working in sanitation, I understand a lot of those people for Treasure Island transition to the company taking over the contract because you need drivers. I don't care who's
driving the trucks or who's who's writing the paycheck. Um, and as far as the equipment that they had invested in, the company purchased um, a lot of that. So, it's not like someone's necessarily
going to be out of a job. So, I I wanted to get the conversation started and ask if staff could research this so we could bring it back to a later workshop with more clear understanding of of what our what our neighbors are doing up and down
the barrier islands. Um, and and and see how they feel about it. Best best practices, basically. Do we have any public comment? So, I'll start. I feel like this is a solution that we
are searching for a problem. Um, I spoke to several different communities. I spoke to a number of citizens in Madrid Beach and I just don't see it. Even looking at the numbers, I did a lot of digging. I sat
with um finance to talk numbers and our san sanitation department is profitable. It's self-funded. It is a it is a enterprise fund. Our general fund
does not fund any of our public works at all. And there's a couple different ways. They did do a study in 2023 and looking over those numbers, if we redid those numbers, the profit for
outsourcing would be much less. So there's two ways you can outsource. You can either outsource it where the company that you hire takes over doing your trash service and they build the resident directly or you can outsource
it where they bill us and then we bill the residents. Not a lot of savings in that. We're still having to carry the load. But regardless of which way you go, based on the conversations I've had, it
comes down to quality of service. And there are a lot of things that our sanitation department does that we would not get if we were outsourcing either way, either one of those ways. But if we were to outsource
sanitation and hire ABC Trash Company to come in and do all the trash service, they would come in um do the services as needed and
build a customer direct. We still need sanitation because they're not going to clean our parks. They're not going to sweep our beach. They're not going to take the trash cans out of Rock Park and pull them out to be dumped
and then put them back. They're not going to clean the trash recepticles down in John's Pass. Um, and and that's just a short list of things that are done that are side work. We'll call it and I believe that is what sanitation
calls it is side work. So when I looked at the cost of what that would cost the city, so we get rid of our say we get rid of sanitation fund, but we still
have to keep two staff members, two or two employees would have to stay on staff to do that side work. And that's being generous, right? Two people, it's a lot of work. There are a lot of things to do. There are a lot of restrictions that come along with
outsourcing your sanitation of of what they require that's done. You can't just put your palm frrons out by the road. You have to bundle them. Um not saying that people couldn't learn to do that. You don't get a dedicated day for lawn trash pickup. It's the same day as your
garbage. Um you don't get gobacks if they if you forget to put your can out and you call public works and you say, "Oh, I forgot my can." and they say, "Okay, you know, we'll be back out there tomorrow. We'll pick it up." That's not going to happen. That's the customer
service side that we get to provide because we control the service. But going back to the money, so we have to keep the two people and 30% of our public works director and 30%
of her assistants pay is paid out of that fund out of our sanitation fund out of that. So, it's about $200,000 between those two 30% salaries and the
two salaries that would be required to keep two staff members to do all of that side work that we need done to keep our city as it's a custom. And I don't believe anybody here is willing to give up the service of a clean beach, clean
parks, etc. So, you're looking at about $200,000. That doesn't include the maintenance of vehicles that would be required for that. The brill the cleaner, all these different things, the
claw truck that you're going to use. It also does not account for well, I won't even go there. So, you've got about $200,000 in salaries. And I was having the conversation with finance today and said, "Okay, so for vehicles and
um supplies, I'm just going to be let's just go on the low side and say that that's only going to be up to 220 a year, which I'm sure would be more because of the maintenance and what have you.
So, say you're at $220,000. You no longer have an enterprise fund that is generating revenue to pay any of that $220,000. So, now that $220,000 is going to have to come out of the general fund, which is your advorum tax, which is on the
chopping block in Tallahassee. So any change that we make to our sanitation is going to directly affect the bottom line of our general fund
because money will have to come out of general fund to pay for those services. And I understand the the desire to look at the numbers and discuss it. What I don't understand
is with no operational deficiencies and we have a work we're working profitability, why would we want to change the level of service in our city that's going to end up in the long run costing the residents money? >> May I respond?
>> Absolutely. >> Okay. The side work. I'm not talking about the side work. So maybe sanitation is not the correct word. trash pickup, the commercial, the residential, the trash pickup. I don't mind. I don't think anyone minds if the public works
department keeps the call truck to pick up items, keep staff to be able to do um cleaning of the of the uh containers in John's Pass Village and throughout
or I'm talking about what's done with the with the dumpsters and the side pickup sanitation trucks that could be in our public works department daily.
We're trying to develop 10 acres of property at the marina and this becomes an issue. Um if it's profitability, if it's if it's profitable, well, it's profitable from the residents, so and from the
commercial. So what do those look like? So, it's profitable in that it sustains itself. An enterprise fund is a self- sustaining fund. And when I called and spoke with other municipalities, the cost saving from the resident would be
between $6 and $9 a month is what a resident would save on their sanitation services. So, I understand what you're saying. You're trying to talk just trash, but it's not just trash pickup. The trash pickup pays for all the
services. So when we charge a resident $38.74, that's not just they're not just paying for their trash to be picked up and and their recycle. They're also paying for the parks to be cleaned, for the beach
to be swept. They're paying for all of that. So, if you take the trash out and you say, "Okay, we're going to outsource trash because we're going to save you $9 a month. We'll go on the high side. We're going to save you $9 a month, but because we saved you the $9 a month,
we have $220,000 over here. >> I'd like to see the figures >> that we've got to I think it is a waste of staff's time based off of hard factual numbers that are available. I mean, I looked up the contracts with other cities. their public record. I I
pulled them and looked what they're paying, what they're getting, and I think it's a waste of staff's time. >> The the other barrier islands have the same challenges. How do they address it? Best practices. I I'm none of those, I think, with the exception of maybe
Indian Shores collects their own trash. I think we discussed this a couple years ago and um at that time nobody sitting here that was on the commission at that time was in favor of outsourcing our sanitation. I think the greatest thing in saying we
want to outsource sanitation is we're telling our sanitation department of seven people that we just want to get rid of them. And the commitment be it is not an emotional conversation. It is a service related conversation. And the service that we
provide and control by doing our sanitation inhouse is above and beyond a $9 a month costsaving to a resident that will cost the city more money. and in the long term will cost the resident
more money and we again lose all of the control of quality of service. Commissioners, >> I I would miss being able to pick up the phone and call public works to talk about uh an issue I'm having. Hey, I've
got this. Do I can you come pick this up? Yes, put that out. We'll make sure we get that. I I I I love having someone answer the phone. I don't know that I would have that if we outsourced. Uh, I didn't do uh I'm sorry I didn't do the the due diligence regarding the numbers, but if that's true, it makes sense to
continue the way we are. In general, I'm in favor of keeping things like this uh local, keep it keep it with us because they get to know us. They know our streets, they know our addresses, they know who we are most of the time. Uh, and I I like the way that feels. I know
that's a touchyfey thing, but I would miss that. >> Definitely. I I believe uh agreeing with the mayor on this one. Uh I do like our community um uh
uh people that go around and and help us and and the turnaround is not that bad, is it? Like we retain those employees, right? So we have the same people every month, every week coming trusted
and you would know them. You know, if we go a different direction, you don't know who's coming into your neighborhood, who's going to pick up your trash or how long they've been working. Have they been vetted or have they had a background check? I personally like the
small town feel of having our own team. So that's what I like objective ideas. Um vice mayor occurrings ideas to the table that may not necessarily be popular but it's
important to to discuss um options. Um, I appreciate the way Vice Mayor Kerr thinks in this particular case. I'm staying with the rest of the team. I think there, you know, they have a
little bit uh not a lot a little bit but a lot more um um knowledge with regards to how our operation is. So, I'm I'm I'm good with the rest of the team. But I also like to thank Vice Mayor Curr for
um his objective ideas. >> I do think that there is probably an opportunity for us to save money in the city somewhere. Um I I just don't think it's here. Not at the risk of the quality for the residents.
>> It's not just financial. You saw 60 people here saying that you don't want they don't want trash trucks in their neighborhood, so we're going to put them in another neighborhood. We're trying to develop 10 acres of property that people want to actually come to visit. That's the overriding
concern and I don't I don't want my name on it. >> All right, we will move on to next on the agenda is Purple Heart recipient, the progress update with the American Legion. Commissioner McGee.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Um I'm giving everyone a progress update. I have spoken with um Anthony Tor Grosa. She he's a commander with the American Legion. Also, I would like to uh get the
ball rolling with the BFW. This is important um very important to me as a veteran to recognize our our community that has served our country. And the Purple Heart is the United States military's oldest military decoration
dating back to 1782. It is awarded to the members of the armed forces of the United States who have been wounded or killed while serving the in the line of duty with the US military. I believe that it's uh important for us to recognize them. So,
in the near future, I'm going to we are going to work with the American Legion and the VFW. And I would like to see u a a plaque and here at city hall uh one purple heart honore a year would be fine
and maybe even free parking for the whole year. Uh something that we can give back to those that served. So, thank you very much. >> Do we have any public comment? Um, Commissioner McGee, were they Have you had any identified residents yet
that have received the Purple Heart that live in MadiRaa? >> Not yet. But also, um, the commander said they are going through elections right now. >> Y >> and so as soon as their newly elected officials are in office, then we're
going to progress with that. Um so it will be a couple of months but um that way everyone will be involved and also with the BFW as well. >> That's awesome. Any comments? >> Wonderful, wonderful idea. Um, I would
suggest to possibly reach out to uh, Father Bob in Dun Eden. As you know, they started the Purple Heart a few years back and get some um, get some ideas and advice from them.
>> Love the idea. Thank you for following up on that, Commissioner. >> Thank you, Commissioner. >> Do you have any public comment? Next on the agenda is meeting schedule setting to streamline items on the agenda.
Um I think this got added just because it was part of our discussion in the last meeting. >> Yes. >> So if the commissioners have any input on that? >> My understanding that we're not going to discuss the schedule. The >> we are not discussing the schedule. If
that's what the uh consensus is, I'm in favor of that. >> Do we have any public comment? >> Hey, mayor. >> Um, in April, you'll be discussing it as part of your BOC policy handbook. At that time, you can change your schedule.
You can do whatever. It's very important to read that. We don't have much comment on it. I guess everything is going well, but I'm going to give it send it out early and um after the election and everybody take the time to read that and mark up anything that you think would
need to be changed because we have to uh adopt that within 90 days of the election. But uh now just just to for clarification, if we're only going to look at it once or twice a year, that doesn't mean that if something comes up six months later,
we couldn't bring it up. >> Change at any time and it says in the handbook and it'll be incorporate. You change it by resolution and it incorporates into the next one that you you adopt. >> Thank you. Then next on the agenda is
the special meeting. City manager. >> All right. Mayor and commission. um speaking with um Renee Narlock and her firm, they want to they didn't realize that this meeting had been moved up from next week. So, they would like to
schedule a meeting to present city manager candidates to the board and they would like to schedule that the last week of February. So whether uh you you all decide now on a date or if you want to email myself
and Megan Powers some dates that that's fine as well but completely up to the board. >> Did she have a time of day that she was wanting to do the meeting or >> I would she didn't give me a specific time just a date but I would assume she would she would guess that our
meetings start at 6 or she knows they do actually. she's been here. So, I'm sure we could reach out to her and get a time frame of when she would like to do the meeting, have the meeting. >> So, the meeting is going to be to present us with the applicants.
>> Mhm. Yeah. And she we again there was approximately 40 applicants and some of them she was not familiar with. So, the vetting process is taking a little longer and I'm okay with that as long as they're all being properly vetted and
they're qualified candidates. >> Does the commission have any uh constraints for that week? >> I I just So, is this this is not to look at 40 applications? No, she's how many she >> I'm not sure how many she's going to
present, but she's going to give give the board or present to the board a number of qualified candidates. And I believe they're going to be her top choices. And then at that point, if you you're happy with those choices, you can say, "Okay, let's move on to the interviews, which would be the next
step." Or >> so we're approving her her f her top five or six or however many there are. Um I I would like to be able to email my availability. Okay. >> Uh, and uh, that way because it just so happens Wednesday at 6 I have to work,
but I have other days during the week and times. So, I could I could send my email a availability and and we can y'all can sort it out. Thank you. >> So, if it's going to be like a workshop style meeting, that will be the only thing on the agenda.
>> Yes. >> Right. >> So, then maybe we don't have to do it at six o'clock. We could do it earlier in the day, which might would be more accommodating. Absolutely. >> Um, >> yeah, I I I could do just about any time
on Wednesday and then the the other days of the week if it suited the commission. I could I'm pretty flexible that week. So, >> okay. I'll >> work that out and then >> I'll send the board an email and just everybody respond individually just to myself with some and I'll I'll give you the information of of a time before I
send that email. I'll reach out to her. >> Okay. >> Thank you. You're welcome. commissioners. >> Um I um I would like to get the name of all the candidates and not just depend on her. I mean I know she's very professional. she knows
what she's doing. But I I I think I still would love to see the name of the candidates and see who has applied and >> maybe, you know, there there are times that you're kind of on the border with the number six and number seven. And so,
um, just like to be be able to maybe take another look of the rest of the >> I'll ask I'll ask Renee her her thoughts on that. And just again thinking I this the reason why we hired her is to not
have to review 40 applications ourselves but again I will reach out to her and see. >> I wasn't insinuating to review 40 but uh just to know who has applied. >> Sure. And it'll all be public record at some point once it once she's
>> presented. >> Yes. And we're working on getting those now because we have to redact them and everything before we send copies to the commission to start reviewing before the meeting. So we want to make sure nothing gets out without being redacted certain
information. >> Do we have any public comment? >> I'm sorry I do. I have one question. Can she give you an idea how long she expects the meeting to be? Two hours, four hours? >> Yeah, I can I can find out. See if >> that might determine what time we want to get started.
>> Sure. >> Okay. Then next on the agenda is the food truck discussion. >> All right. Mayor and commission. This is regarding um Archer Ball Park having a food truck there at Snack Shack. I'm I don't want to misspeak. I I might have misspoken a little bit earlier. I'm
going to defer to Marcy and on exactly the the code and the ordinance and the Florida state statute. So, I wasn't fully prepared to dive deep into this, but I I do think there's a been a kind of a misconception or um
that we don't allow for food trucks. We do allow for them in the code, but there are certain requirements that we found I think over the years when people were requesting they weren't necessarily meeting those requirements. So over time it kind of got you know a little misconstrued but we do allow for for
food trucks. Um there are like parking requirements, location requirements. There's NFPA fire inspection requirements and they have to get a BTR here. They have to be road ready um and other things like that. So we do there is an opportunity to allow for them. So
we we are compliant with the Florida statute as far as we we do provide an option for them. the nuances of all the requirements and where they can be located. That'll be kind of a case- by case basis as requested, but we do a lot for them. So, they they can be, but it's just I think proven to be very difficult
over the years for them to get the right location to do that. That means that um we could move forward with putting a food truck on the property
or we need to so by the property on Arch. Okay. Oh, sorry. Yeah, that sounds prepared. Um, so with Archabald Park, I think that we would just have to be careful like with whatever the deed restrictions are. And as long as we adhere to that, then yes, we'd be willing to, you know, make sure
we're properly spaced, the number of spaces we're blocking off and and meet that. But yes, Archbald Park would be a location where I would foresee again provided no deed restrictions that are associated with Archald Park, it would be an okay thing. It would be permittable.
>> Do they need permit? >> They would need a BTR. Um, and we would I I could have to double check and see how it's worded as to how we document their presence here. So, I'm not sure if it's via permit or just we issue the BTR based on the location and it's specific to where they want to be and their
business tax receipts specific to that location. So, I'd have to look at the nuances of of how how we document that. >> Do they pay the city for the parking spot or spots that they take up? that is
maybe up to y'all's discretion of the city managers. I don't think we I don't think it goes that deep in the code as far as reimbursement for use of public spaces or anything like that. So, I think that would have to be something we would discuss. >> Well, during peak season that you can't get a parking spot in there. So, it's
definitely going to impact revenue. And if you have one truck in there, that means you can have 10 trucks in there. So, we don't want it to become all food trucks and not have any revenue. So, >> right, >> something I'd like to have investigated. >> No, understood. I think yeah, there's a
probably a bigger discussion. So, if I recall, the conversation that we had that brought this about was um due to the fact that we're going to have an extended period of time of the snack shack not being opened and the park is open and the beach is open and
spring break is coming. Could we put a food truck there, rotate trucks through, have them Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 11 to whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever that is. Because that's not really our decision. It's
more um staff level to determine, you know, would they rotate through? Is there 10 different trucks that would want to come and rotate through? What would be the best hours for them to be there? I'm sure the food truck vendor and staff would be much better equipped to determine that part of it. But the
idea wasn't to have a lot of food trucks. It was to have a food truck. And if we lost a couple parking spaces, I I don't I don't understand that that would be a huge issue in given what the intent was to give something for the community
to be able to get something to eat and drink as if the snack shack was there but without it. So it wasn't really about um like having lots of them there. It would only have been per our previous conversation one at a time and location
was to be determined on what was the safest area for the food truck to be >> correct >> Marcy will we be be able to police that so there is only one because what if another one just wanted to show up what do we >> that's what we have to figure out is what by what process do we want to
initiate this and that's what I think we have to figure out and then do we want to put them on a calendar schedule and they agree to it that's those are the nuances that we have to we have to have more conversation >> staff will work through that. >> So it seems to me like that is what you
would want. You would want a schedule. You'd want a commitment and you'd you'd rotate. I I believe that in our previous conversation we talked about the recreation department works with food trucks and they're well equipped in knowledge to be able to determine who would who would go there to make the
phone calls and rotate through for the community. I I would also think that when you had them there uh with input from the community, you'd quickly learn who people love and who they and if you don't love them, they're not going to be profitable. They won't want to come back. They'd want to get off the
rotation. So, I'm in favor of letting staff move forward with making all of those decisions at a staff level. >> Yeah. Well, >> I'm I'm not I'm not opposed to hearing a plan. I'm bringing bringing back a plan, but I'm trying to figure out how this
helps residents. >> It helps our >> our tour are people that are coming here for the day >> because that's where they tend to to migrate is anywhere where they can get sufficient parking, archall
uh down at South Beach. But I'm trying to figure out how it it it impacts or benefits the resident. It's only it's only taking away revenue if we're if they're not compensating for the spaces that they're taking away. We
>> we'll discuss all of that. We'll come back with a plan. If there needs to be any changes to any any ordinances or what have you, but if we can do it at a staff level, make the decision and implement a plan, then that's what we'll do. And the next thing you know, you'll
see a food truck at a snack shack. >> Also, I think two things. Um, it has to be regulated, right? Has to be checks and balances. U don't want to go to Arch Ball Park, you know, and not playing the devil's advocate, but what happens if one truck
shows up, then all of a sudden you have two or three or four showing up? Also, I I would be in favor of some sort of a charge. I mean, I I believe that they're They're taking away some of the revenue from our parking spots. I think that
they should be charged $100, $100 a day. That's not much. Uh, and all that could go towards a special fund for the dog park or whatever we want to put it towards. Uh, but I don't think they would be bulking it like something like that. So, that's just my two cents
worth. >> I am with you. Sorry. Sorry. I'm with you, Commissioner McGee. I think uh food trucks are for profit. they are making a profit. Um so um and they will be utilizing
public land. We should give them a temporary easement and put a bid out for the highest bid for a certain duration, maybe six months, maybe eight months or whatever it takes that we may
um will be under construction with the with the Archa Park. uh store. So uh I think ownership is extremely important. We're we are hypothetically the owner of the land. We should write up a lease. They
should sign it and they should agree to pay so much and that can be determined by a bid and they can commit themselves for six to eight months. >> Uh we're not we're not allowed to do that. And we're not allowed to do that because the park service doesn't allow
leases of that property. It has to be done by a concession agreement and if we did any type of agreement we would need authorization from the park service and that it is monthsl long process to get that reviewed. So, if you did it on a oneoff kind of thing, you don't have a
lease, you don't have an easement, you don't have any legal documents other than an understanding by way of an adopted resolution or something like that, that will probably fly. You wouldn't necessarily need approval from the National Park Service because it's kind of like a one-off thing. But the
the more you nail down to someone having some space on that property for a significant period of time, the park service is going to comment on that and they're going to more than likely object. Um I remember uh negotiating those concession agreements a couple of
times over the years. It is not easy and they are very interested in what is happening out there. >> So we could adopt an ordinance. >> Resolution is what I would suggest. Once you determine what you want to do, if you want to get it in writing, you can do it by resolution or you can just at a meeting give direction to the city
manager. This is what we'd like and let him handle it um and go from there. But I would kind of lead you away from something more of a permanent nature like a lease. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Uh I don't have a strong feeling yet
about uh what the trucks would pay. Uh except this is going to you probably get laughed out of here. maybe just the cost of the spaces that they occupy for that amount of time because they are providing a service. Our our tourists expect they expect this uh Archabald
Park has had the snacks track forever and I think they'd be sort of doing us a favor providing I mean they're going to make money. I get it. But they would be providing a service for our tourists who expect to be the to have a a concession stand there of some sort. uh people love
food trucks and I think we always have to strike a balance between residents needs and our tourists who our tourist industry which is a huge part of our of our revenue. So I think that uh this if if we're worried about revenue from
our parking just charge them what it would cost to park in that space for that amount of time and then whatever details need to be worked out just for them to be here. I I I'm strongly in favor of having those food trucks here.
>> Megan did provide me with some information. So, uh she looked into like what municipalities cannot do. Um so, it does look like we the state also has some limitations as far as what we're allowed to charge, licensing fees, and things like that. So, we're very early
in the conversation. We will have to figure out what boundaries we have to exist in. And I think once we can set those boundaries and knowing the location where we want to be, we can better further identify the best path forward and making it as least
cumbersome as possible. And food trucks live and die by being where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there. So I think if we set a schedule, they're going to be there when they're supposed to be there. And we probably won't have too much trouble with that. But we will have to set some guard rails and some clear um you know
boundaries that we are going to work within and figure out how to back into getting them in into the location. So that's kind of what I'm seeing so far. >> And insurance too, right? >> Uh correct. I think with the state licensing that comes with the insurance and then we would check the state licensing and that would indicate having
the the appropriate insurance and stuff as well. Yes, sir. So Marcy, when we talked about this originally um a month or so ago, at that time there was some conversation about possibly having the food truck truck
planted in front of the snack shack on the pavers where it wouldn't have taken up parking spaces. But there it's my understanding that may not be feasible.
>> Correct. So, um, I don't disagree with, well, I don't disagree with anything that's been said particularly, but attorney Tras, if we allow the food truck to park on the parking lot and they take up three
parking places, can we charge them parking fees for whatever a car would park in those three spaces for the day? Absolutely. >> So if the commission says today in this workshop, we agree with that and we
would like to direct the city manager to move forward with making that happen, getting food trucks, whatever, however staff wants to coordinate that because I don't believe any of us want to coordinate that or that we are uniquely qualified to have
input on it other than we either like the food or we don't, right? Fair. >> Fair. >> Um, can we give direction today to move that forward? And it doesn't have to be at a voting meeting. It can be at this workshop that we all are in agreeance to that or um the majority is so that we
can get this moving forward. I had thought we gave that direction when we had this discussion before to go ahead and move forward with a truck to provide food at Archabald. So when we got into the conversation again, I'm like, "Okay, well that's that's kind of what I
thought we did." But just to be clear because it is empty and and I I don't read everything that's on social media, but I think I have a feel that people would enjoy that. >> Yeah, we were residents. >> We were moving forward with with that, but then we stumbled across in
discussions the longheld belief that food trucks just weren't allowed. And it's my own fault because I didn't do my own due diligence into that. I just took the word that was provided me and so I do apologize for that. But um then I knew there about the
Florida state statute because the fire marshall does >> abide by that make them abide by that as well. So that's why it was stalled. That's why it was brought back to >> Okay. So does the commission agree with that or do you do you not agree that if
we move let them move forward charge whatever the spots would be for the day and move forward with >> just need a consensus I believe >> yeah all you need is a consensus you don't need to take a vote to the mayor's point if you if you can find a spot that's not taking up >> revenue producing spots
>> I'm great with that >> okay so we all >> I I do have one question so food trucks are allowed in the city, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, we are in conformance with the state regulation. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Would we need to do a resolution to um
for the city to have to So, to the comment that came up, you have one that pulls up. What if another one pulls up and parks next to it? >> Then you call the sheriff and you have the sheriff remove them >> because they're operating on private or public property that they're not authorized to operate. >> Yeah,
>> that's what I thought I knew. So, thank you for saying that out loud. Okay. So, >> so >> getting back to what you were saying, so >> they would pay for >> like >> the parking spaces, >> three spaces that they're taking up. >> They maybe only take up one >> or two >> or two. So, the point is they're we're
going to charge for the parking. We are all We are hopefully all of us are agreeing to hand it over to city staff and let them make it happen. >> How do you pick one after? >> We we don't we don't care. The five of us, we are not choosing. >> Okay. >> They are. City staff is going to take care of the
of who it is coordinating all that. That's that's their gift. >> Okay. >> Makes it easy. >> Make it so. >> Well, maybe not for them. >> I definitely would like to see a food truck out there, but I definitely don't want them taking up any parking spaces
that can be used for city revenue. That's my opinion. >> Well, they're going to pay. >> Well, then if they're going to pay, then bring them on. I don't care. >> Thank you. You do like the lottery balls and whoever gets >> That's exactly what I was thinking through my head. We'll do a We'll do a
live feed for that so everybody knows. >> Do we have any public comment? >> Chuck Dylan 529. Excuse me. Um, once again, I I recall the uh John's Pass people that they were
talking about doing a joint venture. Well, why not do something like that? that you know I had thought originally like a hundred bucks and if they don't make that and then they give a portion of the profit that they make back to the city and basically that's going to be
going to the Archbald fund because anything generated at Archbald has to stay within that fund I believe. So and then doing the math three parking spots is $108. I had thought a h 100red bucks. So but like you know one way or the
other you know a h 100red bucks and if they don't come back if they don't make that so what but they are a profitable company or profitable profitable business so why not get a piece of their cut and anything over the hundred bucks
you get I don't know two cents whatever on whatever it is they're charging and if they're very profitable then Archable becomes profitable And then you potentially looking at the idea of maybe two and and and you know basically
you're losing three spots is $100 if you're going to be charging them for the eight hours. Three spots and that. But once again, as the mayor said, I think it's a great idea. Put the ball in the staff's hand. They know what they're doing and it's just going to increase
the Archabald fund. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do we have any additional public comment? Next on the agenda is city attorney special special magistrate lean at 703 Sunset Cove, MadiRaa Beach, case number 24-233.
City attorney. >> Okay, you remember we were talking about this at the last workshop meeting. Um and uh Mr. Baker and his attorney were going to be providing additional information that would be helpful to you. Um I haven't received any of that information. I know it's been a very
short period of time, so I don't really have any input on this other than the fact that um I did receive an email um yesterday from the attorney, Mr. Gilman, asking, "Hey, are we on the agenda for tomorrow or not?" Uh so I don't think
that they actually knew they were going to be placed on the agenda. Um so it may be a little bit premature. I see Mr. Baker standing at the podium. maybe have something to add, but um you know, that's kind of where I'm at. But the
bottom line is is that this is an outstanding special magistrate lean. The value of the lean is about a little over uh $8,800. Uh city staff is recommending um reducing the fine no less than $2,000 to to no less than $2,000 uh as long as
it's paid within 30 days. And if it's not paid within 30 days, have it revert back to the original dollar amount. So, we did get some correspondence on this. Um I I was I pulled up um
>> Oh, >> how did you receive that? >> So, um Mr. Gilman sent a copy of the contract to myself and Marcy and um copied Kent Richard Baker,
Samantha Sanchez, and Brian UNS, the attorney. And what he sent was, and I did not realize that it wasn't the whole commission that got it, but what he sent was the a copy of the contract that um
Mr. Baker signed. And in the contract, it has a section that says um that they would provide all required
permits. So, it says your new equipment includes. So, it's got the proposal contract, has the address, checks off all the different things that he was purchasing, and it checks off that his new equipment includes all labor, sales tax, all
required permits, MADX seal, plenum, pleniums, plenums, I said that wrong. Disposal and removal of the old system, hurricane anchors, clean work areas, protect floors and work area, vacuum refrigerant lines, clean drain lines, charge to manufacturer specification,
and water overflow protection. The only thing that I particularly cared about was that this contractor, this heating and cooling contractor, sold this gentleman a air conditioner, and I believe that the the resident
purchased the air conditioner, signed a contract, and the contractor stated that he would pull all the required permits. I am of the opinion, and I I was not of the opinion of reducing it to $2,000, even though that's what staff recommended. However, I did I did say
that I wanted to see the contract and having seen the contract that says that the contractor stated he would pull all permits, I think the contractor should be reported to the state and I would tend to agree now with staff's
recommendation of the $2,000 because I feel that the resident did not act in bad faith and that the contractor did because the fact of the matter is the contractor stated he would pull a permit. He put in the air conditioner,
only attempted to pull the permit after he got caught. And so I don't believe that the resident is responsible for a deception from a contractor, but I do think the contractor should be reported to the
state. >> That's my opinion. >> My support of this was based exactly on that and uh based on the fact that he was misinformed. I'm I'm in favor of that as well. >> Um
I'm in favor as well, but I I I wanted to add one more thought. Um when this first became came in front of the board and we compared it to the a previous 50% reduction.
Um that was by physically placing a kitchen in the backyard. Um, and at the time it was not allowed. This violation was a clerical violation.
He didn't do anything wrong. If he would have pulled the permit, it would never been an issue. It was a clerical issue. It was stated, and I'm can only assume that it's correct or true, that you tried to pull an after the-act permit,
but were rejected by the city because they they wouldn't allow it. I'm I have an issue with that. I have a problem with that. Um, not your problem. I have a problem that you were,
if that's true, that that I I have I just I don't know how that could have happened. Um and then get in front of the special magistrate. So anyway, I'm the 2000 that was probably close to the five times. I have no idea
regardless, but I I um I I I agree. But there is a difference. That's the only thing I wanted to point out. >> Oh, 100%. This is a if someone comes back to us and says, "Well, you reduced his fine by whatever the percentage is from the 8,000 to the 2,000, you should
do that for me." Totally different. >> You're one% right. There's no comparison. >> He didn't do any >> Well, it's not so much clerical. He didn't do anything. He hired a contractor. Contractor was deceptive. >> I'm just saying if if his buddy would have put it in and >> and wasn't going to pull permit and he
knew about it or whatever, okay, shame on him. And five times >> Yep. But that's why my first initial was why did they pull it out? They couldn't get a permit after the fact and pay all the fines and and go go in front of the special magistrate. So, but regardless,
>> Marcy, did you want to add to this? >> So, I did I did want to fly some clarity around the permitting process. So post storm what we were finding is people um they're doing their baseboards, their drywall, their
flooring, they're doing all that without a permit. The only the the trades that typically trigger a requirement and know they need a permit are your roofing contractors, your HVAC contractors. Even the electrical and plumbing was kind of hit or miss. So what was happening is we
were getting permits for trades, but we had no corresponding interior remodel permit. So, we know their HVAC has been damaged. They have to replace that. So, what we were doing is when we're getting a trade permit, we were reaching back out saying, "This will need to accompany we need to see an interior remodel permit with that." In this gentleman's
particular case, had we had communication that, you know, here's my plan. I need this permit, and then I'm going to sell the property. Well, we we we would schedule his courtesy inspection, confirm that no interior remodel work had been performed, and at that point in time, we would go ahead and issue the HVAC understanding that
this gentleman wasn't going hadn't done any interior work and wasn't going to. But this was one of our um stop gaps to help catch that. And that would be one of the expectations that we would also get during an audit is how come you issued an HVAC permit, but you have no
interior remodel permit? That's kind of like a little bit of a red flag. So that was the checks and balances for us and we're, you know, we're still kind of dealing with it today where people are where we're were having that issue. So that's why those things were happening. We were communicating that you need an interior remodel permit. This is how
we're doing checks and balances and typically it just takes a conversation to get past that one, but it was a stop gap for us and it's actually worked pretty pretty well. So >> I understand that. I don't want to get into the debate of all that, but I'm just saying that, okay,
>> it was after the fact. Here you go. We have a red flag in the system on your property. And way I understand in another six months, a year, we're all those properties, not that were flooded that we know were flooded are
going to get a knock on the door by somebody. And I don't know where that's all. So, they already have red flags, but I'm just supporting the 2000. >> I agree with the uh staff and the board and and the mayor. Um so, yes, I'm on
board as well. >> Okay. So, we'll put this on the next regular commission meeting for approval for a fine reduction down to $2,000 so long as it's paid within 30 days. >> Okay. the permitting. What would happen to the permitting, the interior
remodeling? Would that How would you address that? >> We don't care. That's not what we're discussing. >> That's not That's not part of the discussion. That's that's for city staff to work through. >> Okay. >> Do we have any public comment?
Then next on Thank you very much for coming. Next on the agenda is to respond to public comments. And the first public comment was from Stephanie Barry on the John's Pass. Um, and Commissioner Taglerini, would you like to speak to
that to the commission at all? This is it took me a little bit to understand. Uh, I asked the question uh at the meeting, well, where how do we make profit at these events? And it turns out that if we don't have to provide certain things, we actually save money. And this money that we save would
be considered revenue would be put into a fund. But we have to have a line item on our budget in order to dedicated to supporting events and projects at John's Pass Village. Anything above break even placed into this designated fund uh dedicated to supporting these events.
That's that's my understanding of it. Does that sound >> So, um, the ask is, so, uh, Commissioner Taglerini is serving as a representative for the city down at the John's Pass
Merchants, uh, meeting, and the John's Pass merchants are trying to be partners with the city and their ask is they want to partner with us. They want to help us get sponsorship. So like we
do the seafood festival. We don't we do not make any money. We lose money some years. And the merchants all have connections whether it's to alcohol or beer or music or different things like
that. And what they're proposing is we will help make these events in John's Pass profitable, but we want you to put some of that money back into John's Pass via marketing, um, signage or what have you. So,
they're not asking the city for additional funds from what we already do down there. They're asking if they help champion the events and make them more profitable by bringing in the um the sponsors so that there's more profit,
will we dedicate a percentage of that money to a line item in our budget to be spent specifically like they've been working quote unquote with Megan on new signage, directory signage. So the the idea is
that would help to fund it or or other things. It could be what >> market Jay has a great spreadsheet uh that shows exactly where we spend money, where we can save money on these things. And I think that if once once we put
this up at a if we bring this up at a budget meeting, Jay would need to be here to explain where that revenue comes from and where we could put it and what we could spend it on in the future. I thought it was I thought it was a good idea. It seemed like a collaboration uh which I'm very much in favor of the merchants collaborating with the city
working together in tandem. >> They want they want to they want to um put in the effort and the work to make the events profitable but they want to see something back on it. To me they want a return on their investment which
I think if it's legal for us to do to say and it's not it's not a per event. It has to be per year of the events that are held in John's Pass because when we hold a village Friday, we don't make any
money on a village Friday. We spend money because there are zero sponsors for that event. We used to have sponsorship, but we no longer get any sponsorship for that event. So their propose is that if they can get sponsorships for the events that are
held in the pass work with the city through the committee then so you would take all in my mind the way it would work is you would take all the events and you would look at the cost and you would look at the profit and then the city would decide okay we're going to go this much percentage of the profit to
the fund that would do marketing for John's Pass or would do the directory for John's Pass. or whatever. Is that legal for the city to do? >> I would that there's no public purpose involved in providing a benefit like that to these these commercial entities,
these businesses. If you were going to take the money and set it aside and for use it, for example, power washing sidewalks or painting or parking lot replacement or repairs, then obviously then that would be something that would
be very much acceptable. I would stay the heck away from raising money and having it give give the money to John's past businesses. There's no public purpose. >> No, I'm not saying give the money to John's past businesses. I'm not saying
that. I'm trying to make that clear. I'm saying you have a line item that is from the profit of the events that we would spend within John's pass. It could be pressure washing. It could be directory signage. It could be
that. So that's what I wanted out of this was clarification of what would be legal for the city to do and not. >> Right. I So I think that you and I are on the same page with that. But an example that would not suggest is is
that you have $500 in marketing and and you pay for a huge banner that promotes one of the restaurants down there. That is not for a public purpose. That's for a business purpose. >> What if what if the what if the sign
was for the event was to support the event, not a specific? >> No, that's that is for a city event. And so you can purchase any banners that you want >> and if you want to put on there that there is a sponsor and it's all the
businesses, then that's fine, too. But I'm just saying don't use the money so it's beneficial to only one business or another business. Yeah. So, I don't think that was even their goal. I think their goal was to um for the entire John's Pass. So, if you did if you did a
um promotional advertisement, an ad, that ad wouldn't be for Scullies or for um Pirates Pub or for Hubards. It would be for John's Pass. >> So, so again, that's not a public
purpose. that is marketing for all of the businesses versus one business. So I again I would stay away from that. There's no public purpose there. There's only business purposes. So now if you had a directory, for example, in your
parking lot, an arrow pointing to the ice cream shop this way and the pizza place that way, that's a directory. That is obviously something that you would want, okay? and you could pay for, but I would stay away from anything that's promoting the businesses.
>> It It sounds like maybe at the next meeting if we could ask uh one of the members provide for us a a list of things you you think that the money from this line item you would ideally like it to be spent on and then let's bring this
back and see uh with attorney Tras what what of this is makes sense and what's not possible. That way we could make sure that >> that's a great idea. >> Yeah. So you do that. >> I'll do that. Yeah. >> So then for our um chief for our next
workshop, could we have a line item to discuss this and see what um Commissioner Tagalini brings back? >> Absolutely. >> Next meeting's not till >> March 4th. Uh >> I mean our John's Pass Village meeting. Oh.
>> Oh, I'm not sure. It's us. It's on a Tuesday. Is it the first Tuesday? >> Yeah, it's we're the third. March 3rd. >> That'll work. >> I don't know if I can. Maybe I can meet with uh Dylan, Captain Hubard, and see if I can get that ball rolling uh w
without having a meeting. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> I'm sure you could. Well, I mean, then we can talk clarity whatever we're doing because I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> No, I just want to make sure that whatever we do is right. If we're adding a line item in the budget and they want to pressure wash the sidewalks and
director Wetford has already got it in the budget to do that and a time frame to do that and who's going to you know we we really need to deep dive this. >> That's why that is why we do these discussions at the end of the meeting so that we can have deeper discussions for more clarity and understanding.
>> Yeah. >> I'm going to contact uh Captain Hubard tomorrow find out have a conversation. What items were what what sort of things were you thinking that this line item would fund? Right. What would we use? >> I think that's a great idea. >> I was just going to add in that I know that there was a bit of confusion um
because I had a conversation with um Stephanie earlier. >> So I want to make it very clear that we do have a in the general fund there is a John's pass and yes within that is a maintenance grounds and parks which covers John's pass village and all of the right away. So, I just want to make
that very clear. >> Say, say that again. What is it called? >> It's called maintenance grounds and parks. And then there is within that same budget, there is another line item for maintenance of John's Pass Park.
And that covers all of the grounds, the pavers. I do have the pavers pressure washed every quarter. Um, and that is our pavers. Not all of the pavers down there, even though they match, are the city's pavers. Thank you, Megan. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> So, the other public comment that we got was Megan, you could stay on Kitty Stewart Park >> and clarifying the use of the property and public Oh, I wrote that down. So, I wanted to just speak out loud. There has been quite a bit on social media about
Kitty Stewart Park and we've talked about Kitty Stewart Park many, many times. Um, and for the record, and Megan, you correct me if I'm wrong, the agreement for the restaurant that is currently located adjacent to Kitty
Stewart Park was done years before the current restaurant owner purchased that property and that agreement. Isn't that correct? >> So, the answer is yes, that's correct. It was negotiated and that development agreement was either assigned or it was
amended to add the new owner, but it was negotiated a number of years ago. >> So, what I wanted to point out is we are actively, and we've spoke about it many times up here, we are actively working
to restore Kitty Stewart Park. Um, prior to the renovation of the park, there were five parking places >> and there are now it's very revenue generating for the
city. >> 17 >> 17 parking spaces >> that the city has and there's been um conversation within the community that it is not a park and I would beg to differ. It is a park.
It has parking places. It has access to the beach. The bathroom will be restored. It is a park very similar to the county park. The county park is a park. Has parking and bathrooms. It is a park. That is all that is there. And it
is a park. And we ha just to reiterate for conversation, the city has worked with the adjacent property owner to beautify the park when we build it back from the storm. So
there will be additional foliage of whatever kind. I I don't know at this time, but there will be plantings. There will be a bathroom that will not be built for caddies. It will be built for the community because it is the
community that will access the beach and use that restroom. So, there'll be a very nice elevated restroom that the community can use, the community needs. Um, and I mean, city staff has worked a lot a long and
hard hours on getting that back. It was destroyed during the storm and there were a lot of things going on and there were a lot of moving pieces to try to determine whether or not and how we could put a bathroom back. And they came
up with a solution that appears presumably will survive a storm if we had a storm. It's it's going to be hurricane rated. It's going to be elevated. All of the things. So if the patients could be found within the
community when the park is done and the reason I wanted you Megan is to give the timeline. You had given us the timeline previously on the park. If you could give it again just for the record. >> Yes, we have the approval for the bathroom. I'm still waiting for the
contractor to fill out the vendor form to send the PO. Um but we should have the site plan completed. It was supposed to be done this week, but it's not done yet. and then it will be out to bid within a week of me receiving that. The timeline for that is probably
um I I can try to get it done in three months, but that's going to be really hard. So, I'm going to I'm going to give myself four months to have a contracted in place and discussions before you all for the pricing because when we bid this out, we are bidding this out as the seaw wall. We are bidding this out as all the
sidewalk replacements, the paver driveway. Um the sanitary line was spared but the water line was completely ripped out. Um we do have to increase the water meter. We found that out. So we are working with the county to increase that. Not a big deal. We can
get that done in a time frame. But I would say before we have shovels in the ground, we're looking at about four and a half months. But once we get the contract in place, the seaw wall will go in and then they'll start building the parking lot back which shouldn't take
more than 90 days at most. >> So July, August. >> Yes, realistically. >> Yeah. >> Was there a discussion recently about trying to get a picnic table put back in or maybe a covered? It was asked if we could put a picnic table back in there
whenever the park is remodeled. And I think we can probably make that happen. >> But as far as having a pavilion in there, that was not part of the discussion with you all. We traded when the park was remodeled, >> we traded the pavilion >> for a bathroom basically essentially.
And the only difference from the park from I mean I I'm not sure if Tom can give me the screen so I can show you all just to remind everyone what Tom and Kitty Stewart Park looked like. >> No, I I get it. I
>> um so the only difference is we increased parking. Yes, there is a drive-thru for Caddies, but that was part of the agreement. And we swapped out a pavilion for a restroom. And there there was talk of putting some palm trees in. And
>> we are absolutely going to put landscaping in. Yes. So >> that that'll soften it up and I think that'll make a big difference. >> Yes. And the property that is to the south, the uh beach flower is also going to put in a landscape buffer on their
side. So they're going to have different palm trees. I can't remember what that looks like, but we will have landscaping in the front. We're going to have a 4 foot barrier on our side as well that we can put in different palm trees. I can look at putting palm trees on the beach like we have at Archabald. We have lots
of different ideas and opportunities. >> I think that's probably the main push back is just softening it up and getting some landscaping in and soften it up. Yeah, >> absolutely. The park before Helen took it, I had the landscaping beautiful and
then Helen took it out. >> All right. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Madame Mayor. Yes, if I may uh just like to add that uh people that typically would enjoy this park would want to walk to the beach.
So, I I wouldn't think that somebody would want to just go to this park and just sit there under a tree and forget the beach. So um so this park basically creates the opportunity and the access
>> correct >> to the beach. Now, if we want to and need to and should, you know, put put a bench out there, maybe a picnic table, then, you know, if that satisfied some of the neighbors, I think
that that's fine in my opinion. But I I wouldn't want to go to this park and just sit there and under a tree and just have a sandwich. I would want to go and enjoy the beach. >> Okay. So, it is that is the last thing on our agenda. It is 6:17 and we are
adjourned. >> Thank you.