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that make our city special. >> And don't worry, Voices of Northport isn't going anywhere. I'll continue bringing you even more personal stories and interviews with residents who shaped our city. And last but not least, Northport Living. Cody and I will also rotate hosting this show, which is all

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about tips, events, and lifestyle ideas to help you make the most of life right here in Northport. Whether you're looking for familyfriendly activities, ways to get involved, or helpful home and garden tips, Northport Living has you covered. >> With breaking news, heartfelt stories,

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or practical tips, the Northport Podcast Network is your go-to source for all things Northport. >> Make sure to subscribe to the Northport Podcast Network wherever you listen and join us as we celebrate and connect with our amazing community. >> Northport Now will be released bi-weekly.

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>> Northport Stories and Living will be monthly. A schedule will be available on social media and our website. Hello everyone, Devon Pulis here, aquatics manager. Welcome to my crib. We have fun here at the crib. Programs

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included. Become a pass member. Play all year long. Payer at the crib. We do have rules. We take all payments here at the crib. Apple Pay, Mastercard, Visa, cash. You pay right here to enjoy the crib.

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So, enter through the gate. Childproof, most adult proof. Shade. What's that? Our newly installed sun shade available for rent all season long. Here at my crib, you don't have to worry

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about a place to find a seat. We've added more chairs than ever here at the crib. If you're coming to enjoy the cribs and you got little ones, we got the perfect area for them. Our Pelican playground, newly painted, fresh floor, fresh palm tree. It's looking clean.

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Looking for a place to work your upper body? Take a shot at here at our Stingray shuffle. Looking to relax? I got you covered here with our lazy river. Living more on the adventurous side. Check out the slides right behind me.

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Newly painted. All offer something individual and unique. Check it out. Check out the main pool kept at a wonderful 84 degrees all year long.

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I just want you to have a good time. We have safety covered. Lifeguards here, staff all day, every day when we're open for you to enjoy. Concession is open. Pizza, pretzels, nachos, ice cream. We got it all.

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>> My crib is your crib. Looking forward to seeing you here. >> Duty calls. Hello, my name is Jerome Fletcher, city manager of the city of Northport. I'm at the Northport Aquatic Center. I'm on the job today. Let's go.

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Jetty, come in. Hey, sir. >> Nice to see you. >> All right. Thanks for having me today. >> Of course. We're going to go through our opening checklist for this morning to make sure that the facility is safe and operational. >> All right, sounds good. Let's do it. Before anything else, the team walks the entire area to make sure everything is

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clean and in good shape. >> Our next part of our task is to make sure that our body of water is one clear. The water must remain clean. We must identify any possible materials that shouldn't be in the water. >> Then it was time to check the surge tanks. As you can see the glistening of the water down there, right?

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>> If the water is too deep and you hear a rushing of water, that means that this needs to be filled before we can begin operations for this. >> Okay, >> it's part science, part intuition. At the Relax Achie River, Jesse showed me the digital checklist system, the hydro app. As soon as I click yes on this

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checklist that let's say the water is clear and I do not identify that the water is cloudy or any sense that yes goes directly to my manager and lets them know that at this exact time I checked that water to make sure it was safe and clear. >> This technology being used at its best job.

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>> Now our rotations we have evolved to having our lifeguards into a more of a roving position >> with the competition pool. We still maintain the chairs for the height eligibility. Um, but here we have to have a minimum of five lifeguards just to run this body of water.

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>> Wow. >> And we actually have a lifeguard positioned in our catch pool over there to help our guests that are coming out of the slides at a barracuda tarp and twister. >> I've seen that person there. Then Jesse brought up something that most people might not think about. Pool skimming. >> Pool skimming is the sounds of the water

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being properly flowed. So with those drains, all the water has to constantly filter throughout our pool at least three to four times a day. So not only is the water continuously being pumped in, continuously flowing out, being cleansed through our sand filters, then

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being pumped back into the pool. It's a very long process, but it makes sure that the water stays to clear as possible. >> Then Jesse taught me about the zones. >> It helps maintain that their body of water is theirs to protect anybody that's in their zone. So lifeguard Brandon right now is actually scanning

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red one zone. So red one zone is here. Any part of this body of water that reaches let's say all the way from those stairs to the bulkhead and to the side of the corner. This entire zone is his right now to make sure that they are staying healthy and hydrated. We do have

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a 30 minute a rotation here for all of our lifeguards. And lifeguards are not meant to bypass more than one hour of continuous lifeguarding. So after every hour, the lifeguards must take either a visual break or an actual break. After

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Jesse's walkthrough, I met up with Matt, one of the pool technicians responsible for keeping the water clean and safe every single day. He started by showing me how they test the water across the park. Got comp pool, lazy river, kids pool. >> Each sample is dropped into small disc and loaded into a device and in just

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seconds it gives a full readout on the pool's chemistry. And before this little machine was created, this was a more of a manual model. >> Yeah, we um a lot of people will use tailored tests. So, it involves like a little different chemicals. You would fill up a container and drop them in

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like a certain amount and basically it'll calculate from there. Um what your pH and chlorine is. >> And this is the daily task. >> Yeah. This is what we do at the start of every day >> inside the control where they need to be anywhere between two parts per million

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or 10 parts. And then pH is somewhere between 7.2 and 7.8 for a healthy pool. >> There you go. >> Then came the back washing and wasting process. Flushing the filters to keep the water flowing freely or removing excess water from the system to keep the

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water levels balanced. >> And then it'll start coming out in this pit. >> So this this whole pit will fill in about 3 minutes. >> Really? Over there? >> Yep. Next, we changed out one of the strainer baskets, which help catch large debris before it can reach the pumps.

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>> I'll tra that one. Thank you. Then new one goes in just like that. And we usually let those dry out. I'll clean them later this week. >> Before joining the team in Northport, Matt worked as a lifeguard in Charlotte County under Trish Sturgis, our assistant director of parks and recreation.

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>> So, I've known Trish a very long time. So, that definitely was one of the influences of wanting to come work at the aquatic center. had me go out for an AFO course recently, which is aquatic facility operator course. Basically, anything and everything relating to a

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facility, like water chemistry, safety rules, that, this and that. So, I went there. I just passed that class. So, it's a little little bit of knowledge under my belt. It was definitely useful. >> Well, Matt, we're we're grateful for your time and your experience and all

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you put into your career here. and congratulates on your certification and you do amazing job here at sir. >> Thank you for joining me today at the Northport Aquatic Center. It's a great facility. I want to thank director Sandy Funheller, assistant director Trish Sturgis. I have learned so much amazing things today. I would like to say that

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the technical expertise that goes to keep the water safe as well as the people safe is an amazing combination. See you on the next job. Thanks for being here. Hey, city of Northport. My name is Sandra Budro. I am with AECOM and I'm

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representing the city of Northport on this glorious Price Boulevard project. We are here on Price Boulevard at the Blue Ridge Waterway. >> Good evening. >> Today is Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. We're in the city chambers and I call the city commission regular

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meeting to order. Commissioners present are Commissioner Dval, Commissioner Stokes, Mayor Emer, Vice Mayor Langden, and Commissioner Pro. There is a quorum present for this meeting. Also present are city manager Fletcher, city attorney Fino, Deputy Clerk Powell, Board

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Specialist Linder, um, Deputy Chief Morales is in the back, and Fire Chief Titus. I'm going to call on Mr. Omi Patel. Will you lead us in the pledge this evening, sir? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, sir. Moving on to approval of the agenda. Request a motion.

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>> So moved. um point of order. >> Go ahead. >> Would it be possible um with the concurrence of my fellow commissioners to move the item under uh general business uh discussion, possible action regarding

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mandatory vote of order to move it up so that folks who have come here don't have to sit here all night if they don't wish to. and we move it up to right after the first resolution, right after the quasi judicial. >> Okay. With that, I would need Commissioner Dval to move his remove his

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second and for you to move your motion. >> I >> if you wish to make a motion. >> Okay. You want to put that in motion for him, please? I'd like to make a motion to move item 26-0650 up in the agenda to right after

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resolution 2026-R20. >> Second. >> I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to move general business item A26-0650 after item the resolution 2026-R20. in quasi judicial proceeding. That

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motion is made by Commissioner Stoke, seconded by Commissioner Dval. Anything to that? Let's vote. That passes 5 to zero. That item will be moved forward. City clerk general public comment.

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>> Uh yes, we have some voicemails we'll start off with here. Raphael, R A P H I A L. Phone number is 941286454. The meeting until tomorrow on April 21st at 6 p.m. And I am just leaving a general public comment for that part of

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your agenda. I do believe that as a concerned resident of Northport, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, I have several questions and concerns about this mandatory wire hackup and I do believe we need a public workshop so we can answer these questions, concerns,

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and frankly some confusion. Thank you very much. >> Okay, a couple more. Hi, this is Dan Toar is calling 8609653749. Calling regarding uh the meeting on Tuesday, April 21st at 6 p.m. Agenda

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item 2026R-20. I'm calling to voice my concerns about the multi um reszoning a commercial property to multifamily on Wood Haven Drive and we resone the city to add more commercial. uh this multif family that's

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going to add more people to the area. Uh it should stay commercial. People that live down in the area do not have any commercial services available to them. And plus the fact across the street there's already been a multifamily uh project approved the uh serenity

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project which is going to add multif family homes to the area. So, this area should stay zoned commercial and um allow the city to get um their tax dollars that they need. Thank you. >> Okay, one more.

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>> This is TM tokars calling 8609653749. My comment is for Tuesday, April the 21st at 6 p.m. Commission meeting. Agenda item 26-0661 regarding um spending for capital improvement items and going to a judge to approve those items. Well, I do not

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agree on doing this because I still think that the uh residents should be involved in this, but if it has to be done to borrow for needed infrastructure projects and it's not going to increase our tax dollars and we'll be able to cover in the budget, then I would

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support it. However, I do not support the items that you are going to be borrowing on the police station with needing um a space or uh funding for an evidence room and the other items that they needed. I do agree with that one. However, there are other items on that

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CIP project that are more important. For instance, there's water control structures. Then those water control structures should be repaired first before any other items that uh that are on that uh list get approved. The water control

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uh project will support more residents in the city than the other two items that just select that just service a uh a select few residents. Still there was another one on there too, but uh in my opinion there are more important items

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that need to be done. Thank you. >> Okay, now on to e comments. First one is Holly Morgan. With the way our economy is today, making these connections mandatory is hurting people. If nothing is wrong with the wells and septic, it needs left alone. I don't

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know anyone can just come up with all that money. Slow down the building. There are thousands of houses sitting empty and have been for years. Grandfathering houses already built and make new construction mandatory if you want. Some that bought new houses in past 5 years paid for wild and septic including new purchase. Do that with new

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constructions and keep from hurting families here. Uh Steven Harrison, thank you for the opportunity to submit this comment regarding the Northport advisory boards. I recently completed a capstone project f focused on recruitment and retention for municipal advisory boards using

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Northport as the primary case study. My overall conclusion was that Northport already has a strong advisory board system in place, but there are realistic opportunities to improve how residents are recruited and how volunteers are retained over time. Advisory boards are one of the most important ways residents can participate in local government

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without running for office. They provide public input, professional expertise, and community perspective on issues such as planning, parks, charter review, art, and economic development. My research found several common challenges. First, many residents may be willing to serve but do not know openings exist or do not

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know how to apply. Second, applicants may not fully understand meeting schedules, attendance expectations, or responsibilities before appointment. Third, retaining experienced members is just as important as recruiting new ones because turnover creates delays and loss of institutional knowledge. The good

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news is these issues can be improved without major cost. My recommendations include clear public postings, stronger onboarding for new members, better communications, public recognition of volunteers, and broader outreach through schools, civic groups, and community organizations.

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There are practical administrative improvements, not expensive reforms. Strong advisory boards help create stronger local government by increasing participation, transparency, and trust. Northport already has the foundation. With thoughtful improvements, it can become a model city for civic engagement. Thank you for your time and

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service. Next, uh David Cancichic, mandatory connection to city water. Would like to discuss this and why we are being forced to connect now. Additionally, my home was built in 2023 and city water was out from prior to construction. need to discuss why

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Northport missed this. Next, Nicole Raphael. As a concerned resident of Northport, I believe there should be a public meeting on the mandatory water connection. I'm sure I'm not the only one with several questions or concerns on this issue.

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Next one, Robin San Vicente. I am commenting ahead of item 26-0650 regarding the mandatory potable water service connection so that my comments may be considered during your discussion. One, under Florida statute

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180, it is not statemandated. It only gives local municipalities the power. Two, the code of the city under chapter 78 provides for the following. Article 2, section 28-74V, extenduating cir circumstances. A request for waiver of any provision

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under this section may be submitted in writing to the utilities director for determination based on extenduating circumstances. Utilities director has complete discretion in their determination. Section 78-313G early connection early connection

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incentive. A customer who enters in a connection payment agreement before the expansion project makes the city's systems available to connect to the customer's property shall pay no line extension fee or any on-site cost to connect their property to the city system. This section was not me

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mentioned to the citizenry. Article 3, section 78-60 connection requirement. The city commission may for good cause extend the 365day requirement for a particular lot or parcel. I ask that you please seriously consider the following. One, given today's economic state and

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the impacts on individual homeowners, is it a really good time to mandate connections at this time? Two, consider the citizenry and the additional burdens this action will have on them at this time. Three, this commission has the authority to postpone until a later time period and show the citizenry that they really understand the hardships facing

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them. Thank you for your consideration. Next, Hannah Crosby. My name is Hannah Crosby. For over 20 years, our family has responsibly maintained our own well system. It has been a safe, reliable, and cost-effective. We've done exactly what responsible properties are supposed to do. Take care of what is ours. During

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that time, the city's water system has had repeated boil water notices. Residents have been told their water is not safe. We have never had that problem. Not once. And during hurricanes, when power is out and systems fail, we still have access to water. That is not a luxury in Florida. is a necessity. So why are we being

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forced to abandon a system that works, that we trust, and that has proven itself over decades only to be pushed into one that has shown it is not reliable. This is our property. This is our home and we are being told we have no say. What makes this worse is how this has been handled. The messaging has

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the messaging has lacked transparency and respect and at times has felt dismissive and pressurdriven. And this is not the first time residents have felt ignored by the individuals on the dis to include the city manager. Families are now being asked to take on over a $10,000 connection cost plus

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ongoing monthly bills at a time when property taxes and living expenses continue to rise due to the decisions this board keeps making. As the person who manages our household, I can say clearly there is no extra money for this. It is not feasible. This directly

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impacts a 100% disabled veteran, someone who has already given more than most and is now being told that none of that matters. If this city truly respects veterans and property owners, that respect should be reflected in your decisions. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking to be left alone to maintain what already works.

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Next, Chris Gearhart. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Chris Gearhart and I'm a resident of Northport. I am here to oppose the city mandatory water connection requirement. This policy raises serious concerns under the fifth amendment in Florida law. Homeowners with lawful functioning

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private well systems are being forced to abandon them and pay over $12,000 for a service they did not request. That goes beyond regulation. It removes the use and value of private property. Under the fifth amendment, private property cannot be taken for public use without compensation. Forcing residents to

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decommission wells they have already invested in effectively destroys that value without compensation. This also implicates the Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act section 70.001 Florida statutes which protects owners

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when a government action inordinately burdens an existing property use. For many, this mandate meets that definition. There are also due process concerns. This is a blanket policy with no clear exemption process and no individualized determination of actual

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risk. Residents are not opposing safe water. Are we opposing being forced into significant costs and loss of property rights with without adequate legal safeguards? I urge the commission to pause this mandate, allow exemptions for compliant wells, and evaluate the city's legal exposure. Thank you. Next, David

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Barah. Good evening. I wanted to begin by reading a short quote from the city website. Government transparency is crucial in Northport, promoting openness, accountability, and honesty. This transparency builds trust, ensures good governance, and aligns city projects with community needs. I will

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spare you the rest because it doesn't seem to really mean anything. Why did the city push through an ordinance last summer when many snowbirds were gone and people were on vacation to require approximately 500 homes to spend 12 to $15,000 to connect the city's water

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system with not so much as a postcard that cost a few cents? I have worked for Lee County, Collier County, and Sarasota County. have always had to provide a public workshop or hearing that required a bailout in the pasty to keep residents informed. We had just gotten a quote for

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a reverse osmosis system and we're starting the process when we received the mandatory connection notice. Please, please require more oversight when you are passing ordinances that cost your citizens so much, especially now with such high inflation. I would ask that you consider rescending the text

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amendment for article 5 section 78. faithfully. David Barrow. Next, William Assaurus. I'm one of the residents who received a letter stating that I'm being required to pay a $12,000 to connect to City Water. When I factor in the connection fee plus the cost of

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hiring a plumber, I'm looking at roughly $14,500. That's about 10% of what I originally paid for my entire home just for the privilege of connecting to the city's water. Even though my needs are already being fully met by my well and reverse osmosis system,

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this mandate feels excessive and unfair. It's hard to see how imposing such a costly requirement on fellow Northport residents reflects the values we expect in our community. My neighbor across the street is facing the same situation. She's a single mother of three daughters

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and is still recovering financially from Hurricane Ian with repairs on her own not yet complete. This requirement has caused her significant stress. I moved to this city after leaving the army in 2013 and I've always considered it a great place to live. However, this mandate feels like a slap in the face.

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For those who want to connect to the city water, that's their choice, but it shouldn't be forced on everyone, especially when existing systems are working just fine. It's frustrating to feel like residents are being penalized simply because the city chose to install infrastructure like a fire hydrant loop for its own convenience.

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Next, Faith Shaun Lynn. We received a letter saying that we had to pay $12,300 to tap into the city of Northport city's water. We have lived here since last July. We found out today the commissioner did not approve this. We do

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not approve this. This resonates shady politics and would like a rebuttal. Okay, now on to inperson public comments. Joseph Majorino Joseph Majorino, 2747 Rebel Lane, Northport, Florida.

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I'm sorry for everybody in this room that has to go through this. I'm sorry that you have to have a city manager and three three make sure Phil Stokes, Langon, and >> Pete Embridge, they're the cause of this. They will vote with this man. He

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will break laws. So, just to background on him because I looked into him because he tried to have me removed from the building. Um, this is my my issues of permit. It's different from what you guys are going through, but it's it's the same. We have a metal detector. The police are nice

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here. We have uh uh he has his own private security. Didn't you didn't know that. Um, he asked me to to to to stop talking to another resident, not for being loud, not for cursing, because he didn't like what I was saying, telling him there's a per a problem with a permit. He comes from Fairfax County,

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Virginia, where they were pulling parents out of the meetings. That's right. Right. That's where he's from for the books in the schools. That's exactly where he's from. Okay. Where they found this guy from wonder what rock he needs to go back to.

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Okay. This is a problem for the city of Northport and the three of them who keep voting with them. The other two commissioners we have are excellent. There's a problem here that exists and you have to go to the polls. You're going to have to because he will violate laws left and right. He'll do whatever

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he has to do. He doesn't care. You can beg, ask nice. He doesn't care. That's how he is. That's that's the kind of person you're dealing with. Thank you, Debbie McDonald. Good evening everyone. I'm Debbie McDowell. Um before I begin my public

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comment, I want to thank Jason for his tireless efforts and service to this city. He served the city for over 5 years. Today would have been his last uh commission meeting, but he's not here. So, thank you, Jason. I wish you the best. Now, my public comment.

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Certainly, there's a huge mess brewing in city hall these past few months. A comedy of errors, you might say. The record shows in January the city manager sent a memo to city Sarasota County administrator stating the city's desire

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to annex 3,000 acres into Northport's limits. This potentially is a huge change to our city. Yet, he acts on his own accord without consulting the commission or the community. When caught, he includes it in a PowerPoint presentation only to tell the

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commissioners they can't talk about it. He can. He has that audacity. Excuse me, but since when does a city manager dictate what a per what is permissible for a commissioner to discuss at a publicly noticed workshop

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when the information was included in the agenda? Then the commission grants city manager authority to go to the court to ask the court to interpret the city charter. So the city can borrow approximately $35,000 million $35 million for

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projects. Projects that include constructing buildings for nonprofits. I guess the billion dollar in CIP projects aren't a priority anymore. And I guess the nonprofits surpass everything. When the taxpayers found out

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the city manager and commission want to circumvent the charter, suddenly clarification is needed. And that's what's on the agenda tonight. You can paint this any way you want to make yourselves feel better, but the perception is the taxpayers's reality.

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When there's a then there's the city water mandatory hookup letters. Public records show that the city manager didn't get the memo to his boss until the community uproar on social media. Oops. I'm sorry. Today, the city

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manager is asking the commission to decide whether to proceed with the mandate or to pivot. He's known about this for months. Why the heck did he send the letters out without consulting with the commissioners and the community? They

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deserved a town hall. They deserved a Q&A before those letters went out. He is delusional to think that nobody would have noticed and just go ahead and connect. In the past, when I raised concerns about the decision-making of

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the city manager, my words were twisted and be and I became the fall guy. Go ahead and continue doing that to make yourselves comfortable. It won't change the truth. And don't even get me started on the continuous erosion of public

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trust in this room about the lack of transparency. >> Tim Doyle, >> I'm sorry that is not allowed here. If you agree with whatever spoken or said, give a thumbs up or a thumbs down. We have a hard time hearing up here with

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the way that the acoustics work in this room. It comes to us like a thunderstorm. So please respect us as we respect you while we listen to your comments or or we could take a 15minute break until everybody's comfortable enough to

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sit and move forward. Go ahead, sir. >> All right. There's nothing on this agenda that I'm looking for. So whatever I've been saying in this room hasn't even made it on the agenda. First off, I would like the lawyer to inform the police department about HB279.

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That's a law signed by Desantis on swatting people is I feel I was swatted and I've talked about it in this room. I know I was swatted by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department for calling Greg Stwie and

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complaining about this politics. Right. I believe they probably called the Northport Police, but the North Por police was north was smart enough to say, "Where's your evidence that he threatened his life?" And he probably listened to the phone calls and I never did. But the Sarasota County officer

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came to my house. One guy was in the woods with a rifle. The other guy was around the corner at my goddamn garage. And this guy, Mr. Tuck, was banging on my door. Tells me to walk outside.

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No warrant, no nothing. You wonder why I don't like the county? They take my tax money and they swatted me at my goddamn house. Now, I'm not I don't forget I forget the date, okay? So, this law might have been signed afterward, but when I was called in for that fence,

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they lied to you on 911. They didn't own that property. According to your police report, they don't even live there. And I know what was said on the phone. I didn't get a copy of the tapes, but I always can. They made claims that were not true. Your police department could

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have came to my house and shot me dead on my property. And you guys took guns to my head before, right? So if you wonder why I'm annoyed at the county, this is one reason, Mr. Tuck and Gray Scooby and Rick Scott, guess what? You're blowing up the whole goddamn

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world. I hope the bomb bombs hit their house and not mine. And people in Florida are getting arrested for speaking up. We have the police departments come to your house with guns, long rifles, and again, I want every cop in this town to have a shotgun

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in their car to shoot down the drones. is if we go into Cuba, those drones can reach this house. So where where are the air raid sirens, but I'll go back there later. This is stuff on the agenda. So if you wonder why I don't like the county, why I shouldn't pay taxes, everybody's complaining stuff like this.

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You can't even call people anymore and complain and tell them what to do. Next thing you know, you got a cop at your door with a goddamn gun. And this happened. How did I get this car? You think I'm a liar? Everything I ever said in this room up here is truth.

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I asked you to make peace with me. You have never made peace with me. And that's Donald Trump's fault. He doesn't know how to make a deal. He does not know how to make peace. Neither does Rick Scott or Greg Stwie. These people are going to get everybody killed. And I'll leave the rest for because there's

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a lot to talk about going on here. But please inform the police department about that law. >> Josh Smith. Josh Smith, resident of the city of Northport. I'm doing my best to never come back

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here. And and I mean the list of items you and I had a meeting, Vice Mayor, where we had a conversation about how disappointed we were in each other. Remember? You can't look at that and tell me that I'm on the wrong side of this one. I mean, come on now. Help me

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out here. This is just insanity. Five items for borrowing. Voted down. We all told you we don't trust you enough for this. The answer is, let's find a way to borrow the money anyways. That

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seems to have stalled. So, now we're coming out with a new way to borrow some money on stuff that doesn't need money borrowed on. There's water structures. There's roads. There's traffic signal issues. I I just Do any of you ever stop

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and talk to anybody outside of this building just once? Just wander on out into the street and ask somebody and maybe you'll start hearing how it sounds to us. It's craziness, people. I mean, just please start reading a room for

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once. That's all I'm asking. I if if you think that you can jump an entire CIP list to to try this, where where does that come from? It's got to be in this building. Please start talking to some people outside of here.

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Thank you very much for your time. >> Baldi, good evening. I am Baldi Olander. I am uh I come here in peace and I am not a criminal and I have had dignity. I am instruct you Ambridge to respect my

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dignity. I have instruct you Ambridge to remove policemen of my back. I'm waiting. Personal dignity refers to the intrins in intrinsing worth and respect that an

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individual possess which is reflected in their selfrespect, self-worth and and personal integrity. Human dignity adheres to the individual and not require the mediation

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of the others like you. It involves how a person value themsel and how they expect to be treated by others. My dignity I compare to the women to the women know

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not to be violated without her consent to be raped. What I observe here, we the people are what I compare to the king.

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All of you our servants. What I observe here is reinstituting reinstituting 15th 16th century feudalism master servant relationship. There is this saying, king that's been

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with the people may lose his crown, but he never lose his majest. So, stop raping me. Stokes, stop raping me.

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DUVAL, STOP RAPING ME. LONDON, STOP RAPING ME. PETRO, STOP RAPING ME. FLETCHER, STOP RAPING ME. FINO, stop raping me.

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MORALES, STOP RAPING ME. WASHINGTON, STOP RAPING ME. I am ashamed to be citizen of the United States of America in Northport, Florida under current regime.

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Are you acting like the white supremacy? Answer me. All spending by the city plus their employees comes to gross domestic product. That's what you're doing this, right? >> Call, Mr. Mayor.

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>> Thank you, sir. >> Announcements. City clerk. The current vacancies for the following boards and committees include art advisory board, auditor selection committee, charter review advisory board, citizen tax oversight committee, community economic development advisory

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board, debt management committee, environmental advisory board, historic and culture advisory board, joy management advisory board, police officer pension trust funded board of trustees, parks and recreation advisory board, planning and zoning advisory board, Sarasota County Advisory Council of vacancies include one resident of

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Northport to serve on the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning organization citizen advisory committee. One resident in Northport serve on the citizens oversight committee for school facility planning. If anyone would like more information, please see the city clerk's office. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir.

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Moving on to item four, consent agenda. City manager, has any items been pulled? >> No, sir, Mr. Mayor. >> All right, I'll attend a motion. >> Uh, we have public comment. >> Public comment. Sorry. >> Yeah. Um Tim Doyle,

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>> there's three items on the consent. I will talk about the first one. You know, I'm going to talk about because you got the Coast Guard station on here and we're improving it and we're spending money. You know what this does? This puts the Coastard station on all your TVs. It puts it on your computer. Do you

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know who knows there's a Coast Guard station there? The Ukraine. Do you know who else? The Russians. You know who else? China. You know who else? Iran. What did we do in Iran? We blew up all their military. We blew up their navy. They have no more navy, man. You believe

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that? But they're still blowing up boats. Guess what's going to get blown up if they come here? This Coast Guard station. So, I approve of them doing the improvements there because I've used it before. So, I'm not speaking out against

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improvement, but what I'm saying is that money should go towards an air raid siren in this community to protect ME WHEN THE DRONES COME because of the policies of Greg Stwie, DONALD TRUMP, AND RICK SCOTT. THEY'RE going to get us all killed.

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This is A FEDERAL FACILITY, ISN'T IT? IF IT'S A COAST GUARD STATION, maybe they should pick up the tab. You know what I'm saying here? This isn't nothing we have to discuss. I called Rick Scott's office. I asked him where the fallout shelters in Northport

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was. I asked him where the any bomb shelters. I never never got back. I've asked you. I've never heard a thing. You know why? Because there are none. And no one has a basement. Did you pass an ordinance where anybody could build a shelter in their backyard

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without a permit? A bomb shelter. Cuz guess what? If you get a permit, then everybody knows what your bomb shelter is. defeats the whole purpose, doesn't it? Ridiculous. You see this? I got this in

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the mail. And this IS WHAT MY TAXPAYERS PAY FOR COMING DOWN MY ROAD. I paid for this and THE TRILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN. I GOT A CABLE company down my road, but I don't have no air ra sirens. Talk about wasting money. They called me on the phone the other day. I can pull

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it up if you want to see it. So, I pay taxes to get this. What a joke. the dog. Okay, it's very important to have dogs to do certain type of work. So, I agree with the work of dogs using it for explosive detection and stuff.

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So, I'm in agreement with that. But the one thing I'm going to say about the dog, a police officer can't bite me. Then the dog should not be able to bite me. Walmart, five people got hurt. Two dogs bite me, right? Anglewood. Couple

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weeks ago, a woman was airlifted from one of those dog parks you approved to the hospital because she was attacked by a dog. Ridiculous. Now, the last one with giving the dog to the officer, that's humanity. That should happen is if that dog thinks

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that's the parent, then that dog should stay with the police officer. Thank you, >> Stephen Harrison. I know it's really easy to get lost when everyone comes up here and starts yelling at you guys. Hopefully I can get you to listen for just a couple minutes.

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Good evening, mayor, commissioners, and staff. My name is Steven Harrison. I recently completed my public policy capstone project on recruitment and retention for advisory boards using our city as a case study. I chose this topic because advisory boards are one of the

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most important ways residents can directly participate in local government. They give citizens the ability to serve their community, share expertise, and help shape decisions without having to run for office themselves. Northport has advisory boards that support important

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policy areas such as UNO. When these boards function well, they create real value. They increase transparency, provide informed recommendations, bring community voices into the process, and help elected officials make stronger

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decisions. My project asks one main question. Can Northport realistically improve how it recruits and retains advisory board members in a practical and yet affordable way? After review reviewing the research, conducting surveys, and

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interviewing individuals directly connected to Northport's board system, the answer was yes. I found that the biggest challenge are not a lack of community interest. The real challenge are awareness, communication, expectations, and long-term engagement.

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Many residents may be willing to serve, but they don't know how the openings they don't know where the openings exist. Some applicants may not fully understand the responsibilities, attendance requirements, or time commitment until after appointment.

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Some volunteers lose motivation if meetings feel unproductive or if they believe their contributions are not being taken seriously. The good news is that these issues can be improved without major costs for the city. My capstone recommendations

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have five key steps. First, make board openings easier to find and easier to understand. Second, clearly explain expectations before someone is appointed. Third, create stronger onboarding so new members understand their role and how

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recommendations move through the city process. Fourth, improve communication and recognition so volunteers feel supported and appreciated. And fifth, expand recruitment, outreach through schools, civic groups, neighborhood

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organizations, and programs like the Northport University. These are not expensive reforms. They are management improvements. Some advisory boards help build strong local government. They improve public

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trust and increase participation and create better outcomes for residents. Northport already has a strong foundation. With a few thoughtful improvements though, the city can become a model for how local governments engage citizens in a meaningful way. Thank you

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and God bless. >> Thank you. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Now, I'll entertain the motion. >> Make a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to accept the consent agenda as presented.

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>> Second. Seconded by Vice Mayor Langden. There's nothing to that. Please vote. >> And that passes 5 to zero. Moving on to public hearings. Uh resolution 2026-R20. Uh this is a quasi judicial hearing and

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deputy city clerk, can you read by title only, please? Uh resolution of the city commission of the city of Northport, Florida, granting a special exception to allow multif family residential use located generally at the southeast corner of South Toledo Blade Boulevard and Wood Haven Drive in the commercial

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general CG zoning district pursuant to the city of Northport Unified Land Development Code section 53-40 and 53-259 providing for incorporation of recital, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. Uh we also do have an agrieved

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party uh received uh by Ruby Morrison, Villis of Turnberry Trace, HOA president. >> Okay. And are they present? >> Okay. Okay. I just want to make sure before I moved on. >> All right. I now am to request a motion

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regarding determination ofstanding for agrieved party status requests. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. I move to approve the agreved party status requested for Ruby Morrison and find that the request meets the

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following requirements. The request complies with procedural requirements. The qu the requesttor resides within the 1320 ft notification boundary and sufficient evidence

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justification has been provided to support the requesters's assertion of a protected interest in effect on which it exceeds in kind degree or intensity compared with the general interest of

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the community shared by all persons. >> I'll second that. I have a motion on the floor made by vice mayor to approve the agreed party status request for Ruby Morrison and find that the request meets the below requirements. The request complies with procedural requirements.

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The requesttor resides or owns property within the 1320 ft notification boundary and sufficient evidence/justification has been provided to support the requesters's assertion of a protected interest. the effect on which exceeds in

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kind, degree, or intensity compared to the general interest in the community shared by all persons. And I believe that was seconded by Commissioner Dval. If there's nothing to that, please vote. That passes 5 to zero.

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Um, Mr. Powell, uh, swearing in, please. Can everyone wishing to provide testimony please stand and raise your right hand? And this includes anyone making a public comment under this item. The agreed parties as well.

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>> Yep. Agreed parties, applicant, staff, public commenters. Okay. Um, do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to provide is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge? So, help you God. >> Thank you.

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All right, I'm going to go for exparte communications. I'll start because we did have voicemails in the beginning. So that's the only exparte communication I have had on this item. Commissioner Dval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh the same exparte

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communications that way and also I have had discussion during my uh agenda briefing with staff. >> Commissioner Stokes. >> Yeah. Uh same thing. Um just my uh my briefing.

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>> What's that? >> It's on. >> Okay. Yeah, it's on. >> Yeah. My only exparte communications were my briefing. >> Vice Mayor. >> Um similar. Uh my only exparte was via

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email and voicemail. >> Commissioner Pro. Uh yes, I had uh agenda briefing where I asked a question and had a small discussion and also the voicemail as well. >> All right. Thank you. Now, we're going to move on to

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presentations. And I know that you probably haven't been here as an agrieved party before, but you're you're offered the same rights as the applicant staff, and you will have the same times and allowabilities to present your concerns

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as this process moves forward. Applicant, you're first. And you have 20 minutes. Thank you, mayor, vice mayor. Good evening, commissioners as well. Pull up

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my presentation. My name is Joe Menard. have been sworn in um with Genesis Planning and Development. This is XPX uh 23-05 fleet 3 called the Toledo Blade Center. It's a special exception to allow for a multifamily residential use in an

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existing commercial general zone district. It's on approximately 10.23 acres of a 15.97 acre uh property. The owners are Tavorb LLC, uh Joe Taverni. Again, I'm Joe Medford with Genesis Planning and Development uh project engineers

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associated with the application uh with Southwest Engineering and Design, Nicholas Browning, project engineer engineer, and Ed Lomsky, professional engineer. This is the area shown here on the right out of your staff report. It's approximately 15.97 acres located on the

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east side of Toledo Blade Boulevard. As you can see here, uh, Toledto Bay Boulevard, the major arterial, and at the corner of Wood Haven Drive, uh, collector. This is also Fairlane Drive, a local road on the eastern boundary, uh, of the site. But the proposed special exception is for multifamily residential

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community within a maximum potential of 155 dwelling units on approximately 10.34 acres, which I'll get into detail later. Uh, but it's on this eastern portion of the site, uh, out of the 15.97 acre parcel. The remaining 5.63

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acre acres located here along Toledo Blade Boulevard uh would remain for commercial uses and be connected uh to the proposed multif family to create a horizontal mixed juice development. This is the zoomed in aerial from the property appraiser. Again, the subject

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parcel outlined in green and shaded here. This is Toledo Blade Boulevard. Again, Wood Haven Drive and this is that Fairlane Drive. And what I'll touch on and what I want to point out is its proximity. It's a large 15.97 acre parcel and that proximity to these adjacent residential neighborhoods to

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the north, east, and to the south. Again, that 10.34 acres uh we'll touch on and show in the plan is on this portion uh of the site adjacent to those existing residential neighborhoods. Uh some background on uh the owners,

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it's a family-owned company that's has been in operation for over 13 years. The group has maintained a presence in the Northport area for many years. currently owns several properties in the local area. Uh the subject property has been under the company's ownership since 2012, a little almost 14 years now,

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reflecting a long-term commitment to the area. And the company strives uh to responsibly manage its properties and work collaborative collaboratively with local governments in the community. Some additional background on the application. Uh the special exception

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was submitted back in March of 2023. So a little over 3 years ago. Uh at that time that subject parcel was zoned CG. So we're happy to be here. It's been a long process. Uh some of the reasons as you know back in 2024 uh the city adopted amendments to the unified land development code. Uh corresponding

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amendments to the official zoning map uh which reszone the subject property uh after time of submittal from CG commercial general to CT corridor transitional. City staff confirmed uh in the staff report that because the special exception application was

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submitted under previous zoning regulations in the zoning map in effect at that time, the application may be reviewed under the CG development standards in effect at the time of submittal. Here's a aerial of the previous zoning map. You

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can see the subject parcel outlined in blue. The CG is the red. You can see um that uh it was detailed at that time uh adjacent to us that orange, brown and pink are those residential existing neighborhoods that exist.

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These are the CG permitted uses out of the uh previous zoning code uh section 53-38. Some of those uses that I've highlighted here are retail sales and service, restaurants, hotels, vehicle service and repair shops and rentals, car wash,

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equipment rentals about uh detailed a couple others uh that are typically multi-story adult living uh facilities, office parks as well as a plant nursery. These are the CG development standards. It allows a maximum density up to 15

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dwelling units per acre, which I'll detail later. We're far beyond far below that 15 dwelling units per acre. It permits a maximum lot coverage of 50% and a maximum building height of up to 70 ft and that would be applied on that 15.97 acres. The entire parcel this

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could be applied today. The subject parcel is designated as medium density corridor on the future land use plan on the right hand side here. Uh this is out of the future land use GOPS and it details medium density corridor and describes in and states

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that these lands are generally located along arterial and collector roadways and are designated to provide for medium density residential uses and various neighborhood neighborhoods serving retail service or light industrial uses. Again, that's policy uh out of your

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future land use policy 123. This proposed plan is consistent with that medium intensity corridor as the proposed plan requests under 15 dwelling units per acre and fall squarely within that 10 to 20 dwelling unit unit per acre range of medium intensity corridor.

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I've highlighted a couple of the examples that are permitted within that future land use designation uh residential medium and residential high again which allows 10 dwelling units and up to 20 dwelling units an acre. This is the proposed master development concept plan that was part of your staff report.

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I've got it dropped in on an aerial here that I'd like to go over with you um to orient you again. This is Toledo Blade Boulevard here on the west. This is Wood Haven Drive to the north and then this is uh Fairlane Drive here on the east.

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The uh proposed plan uh has a gated or has an access point here on Toledo Blade Boulevard across from Kenville Drive. They would be required to put uh turn lanes in on Toledo Blade. This would be if you're heading south on Toledo Blade, a turn lane uh would be uh required here

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uh to turn into the proposed entrance of the site. As well as if you're heading north, a right-hand turn lane would be uh required. Wood Haven Drive, there's an entrance point. There will also be a right-hand turn lane required off Woodhaven Drive. And these access points all uh the one along Toledo would come

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in go through the commercial uses and tie into the proposed multifamily development. The gate is shown here. Uh we've provided significant distance to provide any uh increased um queuing lane. Should uh the cars back up, they

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will not back up out onto uh the roadways on this 10.34 acres of the site. again that eastern portion we're proposing five three-story apartment buildings approximately up to 155 units. This is again 84 units below the maximum uh

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which would be be permitted uh which is up to 239. These buildings are positioned and oriented to increase setbacks and minimize direct orientation towards the existing neighborhoods. Again, we've been in this process for three years. We think we've worked with six different planners here and uh gone

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back and forth really tweaked the plan uh oriented these buildings away from the residential to the south, positioned the sides of the building adjacent to the residential to the east. And then we've got uh increased setbacks here from uh the residential to the north

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across from Wood Haven Drive. There is a 5,000q foot singlestory amenity building which includes a staff office shown right here uh as long as well as with a pool. And this is the uh proposed location of a 2.1 acre storm water pond located on that southern portion of the

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site which helps with this increased setbacks. I've added some setbacks here for illustration purposes. Uh again, over 225 ft to the nearest residence to the north across from Wood Haven Drive, 179 ft to the closest residence uh to

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the east, and over 300 ft away, a football field away from any residents to the south. We respectfully uh state that the proposed plan provides a transition in land use intensity creating a more compatible uh creating compatibility by

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locating residential and adjacent to existing residential. This proposed plan creates a step down in intensity by locating a residential uh use adjacent to existing residential those existing res residential neighborhoods along Fairlane and Wood Haven Drive rather

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than building full commercial on that 15.97 acres directly adjacent uh to those existing neighborhoods. We believe that the proposed plan creates a more compatible relationship with surrounding land uses while keeping the commercial uses again up there on that Toledo Blade

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Boulevard corridor on those 5.63 acres uh from the away from those existing neighborhoods uh where they should be located. Again, those remaining 5.3 5.63 63 acres located along Toledo Blade frontage will remain commercial uses and be connected to the proposed multifamily

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to create what we state is a horizontal mixeduse development. On the right hand side here, we did a trip comparison uh to uh break down the proposed which is at the top which is a 155 multif family uh development with

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approximately 73,500 square ft which is a modest shopping plaza remaining on the 5,000 acres. And this proposed development plan generates approximately 50% fewer daily trips than a full commercial site. As it's zone CG, it is permitted to do full commercial as

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it could today. We did a uh realistic breakdown of a shopping plaza which would could total up to 28,000 square ft. Those trips uh go over 14,086 uh daily trips. So the proposed uh commercial and residential is over six a

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little over 6,32 daily trips, but the full commercial could potentially allow 14,86 daily trips. That's an 8,000 trip reduction. listening to the call. I thought I'd add this in here. I think there's some uh been some statements about the the tax benefit for the proposed plan. I know

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that on scenario two, which is page seven of the staff report, it details our proposed uh scenario detailing 73,500 ft of commercial, but it estimated it at $55,450. Uh this estimate appears to be uh

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conservative when compared by a near to a nearby example of similar commercial development that Publix at price in Toledo Blade. Uh that Publix is 78,000 square ft. The Avalorm tax paid in 2025 was $219,000. That's more than doubled the estimated

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revenue. Uh grocery stores like Publix are permitted. Um here's the 2025 adorm tax bill shown here on the right. that $219,000 uh tax paid. And then this is a a screenshot of the subject parcel. You

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can see there's the public's price in Toledo Blade and the uh gross area shown on the property appraiser uh under AC is 72,000. Gross area is 78,000. As far as compatibility, on page eight of the staff report, uh staff notes that

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as to compat incompatible land uses, they state that residential development, regardless of unit type, is compatible development. The development master plan reflects the required buffers on the north, south, and eastern boundaries of the project site. Staff also uh finds no identifiable identifiable hazards

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associated with the proposed multif family project, providing emergency access only on that fair lane drive. uh entrance point and locating solid waste receptacles a significant distance from existing residential neighborhoods should minimize nuisances.

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I had uh outreach with uh adjacent neighborhoods um Bobcat Trail back on March 19th uh their CDD board. I met with Villas of Turnberry Trace HOA president back on March 11th as well as the Wood Haven Estates uh HOA president

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on on March 11th. The owners have profered back at the planning and zoning advisory board. Uh we profered stipulations to limit the total residential square footage and building height. These are those two proper stipulations. One, the total gross floor area for the proposed multif family

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residential development including the associated amenity building shall not exceed 185,000 square ft and those residential buildings shall be limited to a maximum of three stories. This is a 3 31.5% reduction approximately 85,320

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ft from the 275,000 270,320 detailed in the staff report. In summary, this request is not a resoning of commercial land. The commercial designation remains in place, preserving long-term commercial opportunities along

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that Toledo Blade Boulevard corridor. The proposed plan provides a thoughtful transition in decreasing land use intensity by locating residential adjacent to existing residential neighborhoods. And the proposal is significantly below the maximum density allowed and demonstrates a responsible

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balance approach to development, approximately 84 units fewer than the 239 permitted on the 15.97 acre parcel. That's a density just below 10 dwelling units an acre. 35% below the maximum density of 15 dwelling units per acre.

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Those residential buildings, as I detailed on that plan, uh are intentionally positioned and oriented to increase setbacks from adjacent homes, creating additional separation and enhancing compatibility. That layout maintains commercial opportunities along

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Toledo Blade corridor where while avoiding impacts of full commercial buildout that could be built there by right balancing residential and commercial uses. The layout will substantially reduce uh traffic generated trips by 57% uh compared to a full commercial

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development which again is permitted by Wright uh reducing traffic impacts on surrounding roadways and neighborhoods. With that, we would respectfully request approval of special exception sp23-053. Uh we request uh with the six conditions

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listed on page four of the staff report and the two profer stipulations below. And I'm available to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you, staff. Good evening. Lori Barnes, deputy director of development services and I

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have been sworn. I'm presenting the Toledo Blade Center multifamily special exception application petition number SPX2353. The applicant is Joe Med from Genesis Planning and Development. The property owner is Taborb LLC. The petition before

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you is consideration of a special exception to allow a multifamily residential use in the commercial general zoning district. The property is located at the southwest corner, southeast corner of South Toledo Blade Boulevard and Wood Haven Drive. The

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project area for the multifamily is a 10.34 acre portion of a 15.97 acre parcel. Pre-application meeting was held with the staff development review team on April on August 10th, 2022.

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The formal submittal was received by staff on March 17, 2023. As the application was submitted before the new unified land development code was effective in 2024, this petition has been reviewed pursuant to the 2010

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unified land development code and the 2017 comprehensive plan. The property subject to this request was previously disturbed land. It was formerly a three-part golf course and again it's located at the southeast corner of Toledo Blade Boulevard and

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Wood Haven Drive. The applicant is proposing a multifamily use with 155 units and an office amenity center under the 2010 unified land development code and future land use. The um adopted

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future land use map designation was commercial and the adopted zoning map designation was commercial general. The surrounding land use and zoning under the current zoning map is village

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residential medium and uh residential high. The property owner, Nola Tavern, did submit a written petition request for a special exception authorized the multifamily use with five three-story buildings, the maximum of 155 dwelling

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units per acre. And again, this is on a 10.34 acre portion of a 15.97 acre parcel. Under section 53255 of the 2010 ULDC,

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a special exception petition is required to include a development master plan uh showing the placement, square footage, height of proposed structures along with ingress, egress, off- streetet parking, off- streetet loading areas and refues.

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Uh the applicant's development master plan did not provide the square footage of the proposed buildings. However, the applicant did provide that information under separate cover. This development master plan shows the

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location of the multifamily on the eastern portion of that 15.97 acre parcel um and demonstrates future proposed commercial out parcels along the Toledo Blade frontage. uh the applicant had indicated that their

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density is below the maximum. Um in consideration of the 15.97 acre parcel, it would be below the maximum 15 dwelling units per acre. But on the basis of the 10.34 acres, the 155 units

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would be the maximum 15 units per acre. Staff development review. Other reviewing departments either had no objection to this petition or felt the petition met requirements provided conditions were applied. Planning and

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zoning is recommending denial. Staff did review this application in accordance with the 2017 comprehensive plan. Chapter 1, article one, planning vision, speaks to the availability of jobs and business opportunities and the

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availability of employment. Um, while it also speaks to affordable living homes, this application does not include affordable housing. And when it comes to diversified housing opportunities in the staff report appendix there was a

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planning study map and that planning study map rep represents a total of 3648 multifamily units within a 2 and a/4 mile radius of this property. So

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diversified housing options either currently exist are um entitled or permitted by right within a close proximity to this parcel and that figure does not include potential future mixeduse residential in the activity

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center district. Staff did find that the proposed project is not consistent with the planning vision. Uh the future land use element chapter 2 goal one includes a policy that basically speaks to balancing economic

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development with environmental protection. Uh your staff report incorporated an analysis of the economic benefit to the city and included two scenarios three scenarios under which the property could be developed. Um, the applicant's

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proposal does include the multifamily use and their transportation impact analysis speaks to a proposed 73,500 square ft of commercial development. But there's no um condition of approval that

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can be tied to this application to mandate that commercial development um be built at that intensity or that it be built at the same time as the multifamily development. Um because this is under the 2010 ULDC.

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Um staff found that the maximum development potential for this parcel under the 2010 uldc would align with a maximum of 50% residential as a guideline for the next

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policy we'll discuss and therefore found that this project does not maximize the economic development to the city. Notwithstanding that we didn't identify any compatibility issues with the residential development as proposed

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staff found that the proposed project is not consistent with goal one of the future land use element. Chapter 2 policy 1.1 identifies the intent for commercial lands under the future land use in element in 2017.

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Um, this policy does speak to a maximum of 15 dwelling units per acre in the commercial future land use designation. It also includes a guideline um not a regulation

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speaking to an intent to have a maximum of 50% of the floor area ratio. Um, some of the commission has been on the board in the past when this policy was discussed. Some of you have not. We believe that the intent when this guideline was incorporated in the

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comprehensive plan was to follow with a companion land development regulation in the ULDC to specifically regulate the maximum residential percentages in the commercial future land use and zoning districts. However, that regulation was

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never adopted. So because this is a guideline and not a codified regulation, staff must find that the application is consistent with the future land use element policy 1.1.

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Future land use element objective three and policy 3.3 speak to uh increasing the economic base and diversifying the city's tax base and also includes a policy um to provide for overall fiscal

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sustainability and um that the commissions should pursue a goal of at least 18% non-residential development. Um, in 2024, this commission worked very hard to bring the city from a 6%

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uh non-residential land area to 16%. And because using commercial zoned land for residential development would reduce the amount of non-residential land area available uh for development in the city. Staff finds that this project is

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not consistent with objective three and policy 3.3. uh other polic other um future land use policies that this project is not consistent with. I do not have a slide in the presentation um are chapter 8

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which is the housing element goal one objective 7 and policy 7.2 um which speak to mixeduse development and public amenities and live work space. uh this project is not consistent

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with those policies as stated in the comprehensive plan. Uh similarly, chapter 11, the economic development element policy objective 1.1 and policies 1.1.1 through 1.1.6

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of the comprehensive plan speak to uh business attraction and diversifying the tax base. and staff found that this project was not consistent with those economic development goals, objectives, and policies.

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Um, however, staff did find in our analysis that the proposed project is consistent with some of the other uh comprehensive plan elements, goals, objectives, and policies. Now, notwithstanding the consistency with

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these, the project overall is not fully consistent with the comprehensive plan. Staff also reviewed this application for consistency with the unified land development code section 53 to 59. Uh

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this section provides required findings for the planning and zoning advisory board and the city commission to approve a special exception um including 16 findings. Six the 16 findings um per the uldc uh stand on

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their own. So, in order for a special exception to be approved, the application must meet all 16 findings. The staff analysis in your in your staff report uh did find that this application

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is not consistent with three of the findings. It does not meet three of the required findings, including consistency with the comprehensive plan. Um the proposed use is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the public and is not an economic benefit to the

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economy of the city. Uh reduction of land area available for commercial development uh would be a detr detriment to the citizenry in this area of the city. Your staff report outlines that um with the

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known entitled or permitted by right multifamily development and the existing single family platted lots in the area. Um the population in that 2.25 miles will eventually exceed 58,000 people.

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And for those 58,000 people, as outlined in the staff report, 2.6 6 million square feet of retail space is necessary to serve the population in that area and currently there is less than 500,000 in

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that area. Um the final finding the proposed use adversely affects the traffic flow uh safety or control on the surrounding roadway system. Uh staff did find that because the application in the

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development master plan did not include a turn lane on Wood Haven Drive into the site as required by the transportation impact analysis that the project did not meet that finding. The applicant um just

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prior to the planning and zoning advisory board did provide an updated development master plan locating that turn lane. Um, however, it's policy for this for the city to present the same presentation to the commission as we do

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to the planning and zoning advisory board. So, if the commission does vote to approve this special exception, um, please include a condition that it is on the basis of the updated development master plan showing the turn lane at

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Wood Haven Drive. Notice of public hearings were mailed to the owner of the property and property owners within 1320 ft as required by the ULDC um as well as advertised in the newspaper. The city attorney reviewed

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resolution 2026R20 for form and correctness and has approved the resolution. Staff recommendation is to deny resolution 2026 R20. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to the agreed

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party. Miss Morrison, you can come up here and speak. >> There's really nobody that volunteered to speak. >> So, Miss Morrison, >> hold on, sir. Hold on. So, Miss Morrison

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is not here as the agrieved party. >> Okay. So, we then we don't have an agrieved party. Is that correct? >> Right. If if Miss Morrison is not present. Okay. You'll you'll all have your chance to speak in public comment then. This is just part of our legal

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proceedings that we must follow. Okay. All right. Uh rebuttal applicant. Thank you, Mayor. Um just want to touch on a couple things. Um, as far as some of the inconsistencies

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pointed out with the findings, um, again, as stated, as soon as we got the staff report, uh, that indicated prior to the zoning advisory board that the turn lane wasn't detailed, we fixed that. We went through a review with the city. It was reviewed and approved. This

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was just a a technicality almost like a scribers error. Um you can see here what we detailed. We just didn't put in the turn lane arrows. So it's required by code whether we showed it or not. Uh it would

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be required. Uh so wanted to touch on that. The other policies uh as far as economic benefit inconsistencies we're trying to show is that the site pull up the aerial. It's kind of looking the inconsistencies

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and policies in my opinion would be looking at a broad zoomed out version of the city and what exists today is residential neighborhoods again adjacent to a 15.97 acre parcel. That parcel

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the modest approach where we showed the traffic comparison of over 28,000 square ft would be permitted uh easily achieved on that site that could allow CG could allow heights up to 70 ft. Our proposed plan is putting adjacent next to those

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existing residential neighborhoods. Those uses are way more intense than what we're proposing. We've oriented those buildings um to lessen the any impact against those residential neighborhoods. Um when you zoom in and

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look at that, it's a unique site. I mean, it's wider than it is long. Um and it's still preserving that commercial, that economic benefit along uh for commercial along Toledo Blade. Those neighborhood commercial uses would serve

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the proposed residents, the residents in the neighborhood just provides a more commercial oriented or commercial neighborhood oriented uh site as well as they're going to be connected. The it is 15.97 acres and it's owned by one owner.

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It's not parcelled out. It will forever be tied together as far as a um uh joint use because the storm water associated that we're proposing on the southern part of the site is for the commercial portion. We have

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an access point, shared access points. It's under unified control. Um so, uh we really have again worked for three years going back and forth. Um they're proposing to reduce uh the square footage. Uh they're proposing to limit

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those heights. Um they're trying to be a good neighbor. Um no access point to Fairlane Drive, which is just going to be used for emergency access only. Should the site been built fully commercial, you would have an access point onto Fairlane Drive. So I think

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again as respectfully as I can it's it's a large commercial property adjacent to to these residents and I strongly believe that this would be a less intense use a lower traffic generator than if it was completely built out with commercial. Uh so with that again we

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respectfully request approval uh with the proposed uh stipulations. Thank you. >> Thank you staff. Again, Lori Barnes, deputy director, development services. I have been sworn.

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Um, I wanted to point out a couple of items from the applicant's presentation. Uh first the applicant mentioned um our future land use element the corridor the highintensity medium intensity

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corridor future land use and the commercial transitional CT zoning district. Um those are the current designations but this application is not being considered under the current comprehensive plan or the current zoning

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district. um it is being considered under the former zoning and the former comprehensive plan. Um that being said, if this application had been submitted under the current comprehensive plan

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and the current unified land development code, this project would not be consistent with the regulations for those corridor transitional districts. The comprehensive plan provides a maximum of 25%

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of a minimum of 25% of commercial in a mixeduse district. The Unified Land Development Code requires 35% in that mixeduse district. So, you wouldn't be able to get to 25% without a waiver to

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the ULDC. >> The applicant's proposed plan as submitted includes 78.6 6% residential square footage versus 21.4% commercial square footage. And again,

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there is no mandate for that 73,500 square ft to be developed per the the former ULDC. It cannot be a condition of approval and it cannot be required to be constructed in the two-year development

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order time frame under the former ULDC. Um this this project um also wouldn't meet the horizontal mixeduse requirements under our current

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regulations. Horiz horizontal mixeduse requirements under our current regulations require two distinct housing types and they require the non-residential component to be constructed at the same time and be

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physically and functionally integrated uh with pedestrian connections, shared amenities, vehicular connections, etc. So, I wanted to point that out. Another thing that uh the applicant mentioned was the permitted uses for commercial

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development under the commercial general zoning district. If an application proceeded forward for development on this site tomorrow, those commercial general permitted uses would not apply. Only the corridor

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transitional uses under the current would apply. And this commission knows that we carefully reviewed all of the permitted uses in the corridor transitional districts to ensure compatibility with surrounding

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residential neighborhoods and that the current regulations include compatibility standards and additional buffering for properties that were reszoned uh through the adoption of the new zoning map.

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Uh finally as to the tax comparison uh the tax comparison in your staff report um was developed on the basis of anticipated construction type and square

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footage not end use. Um we can only evaluate based on the limited information that we have available to us. Now the public's comparison that the applicant provided, we don't know if that

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advorum tax revenue amount is influenced by the type of commercial development on the site and the value of that property based on that particular use. Um, so

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again, I wanted to mention that we base our estimates on conservative and available information. Uh, staff has nothing further for rebuttal. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. Okay, I'm going to move on to public comment. City clerk.

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>> Uh, yes, sir. We do have a few public comments. Uh, when you come up, please state your name and that you have been sworn. If you have not been sworn, please let me know. We will swear you in. Tim Doyle. >> I was sworn in. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir.

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>> Oops. Thank you, sir. >> Okay. When you're ready. >> All right. This isn't too far from my house. First off, I'll say by like like I say every time, if someone owns the property, they own the property. They should do what they want on their own property. So, I'll start off with that.

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But you guys have laws and regulations. So when I look at this project, I agree with some of the statements, the 155 units is only going on the 10 acres. So I don't buy that jargon that it it meets it because you're taking five acres

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away. You you have to have the whole 15 acres to do that. Waiting for later. You guys put commercial on here, this property to bring in more money. When I was here a couple weeks ago, you you did a meeting for a commercial property. It was just a

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parking lot. I didn't feel that met the codes either because it didn't create any jobs. That's one of the considerations you guys talked about. An empty parking lot with boats parked on it doesn't. So, you know, I don't know how many jobs this is going to create.

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It's going to create jobs when it's building. You know what I mean? But if they don't build anything out front, maybe someone sitting in that building out back, you know, taking care of the pool or something. But really, no jobs I see. I didn't hear what school these people would be going to. I think when

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they make a presentation, people should know what grammar school the people would be going here. That's 155 units. I know right down the street from here, we talked about this at the last morning. There's big signs up free rent. remember we're talking about you guys bought up

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the, you know, cost of living and and there's no uh this isn't cheap rent. I don't know what the proper word is. I don't know what affordable rent is. I'm going to be honest with you, but people down the street can't fill up their apartments now and they have the signs up free rent. I don't know how much this

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is needed in our area is what I'm saying. You go I'm going by what your laws are. So, I don't know if it meets that. But again, they own the property, so they should be able to do something. That's why some of these laws don't make sense. But if you're going to hold some parties

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where they don't have to create jobs on commercial property and let them just put down a parking lot, then I don't know how you can turn this down because this definitely brings in more tax money than that commercial property ever would. And that was on five acres, I think, or something. I could be wrong as

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I didn't pay attention how big that lot was. And I don't know how much money a parking lot brings in compared to a building. I bet you originally that plot was supposed to be a hotel or something next to the highway. So I I don't know what the right usage of this property is.

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They own the property. They should be able to do what they want. But if you're going to have these laws, you have to follow. And I think that's why a lot of people are mad at you is there's a lot of laws that you don't follow and some you follow and some you give up. And that's the problem here. That's all I have to say.

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Debbie Mcdow. >> Good evening again, Debbie McDall. And yes, I have been sworn. Commissioners, Miss Elena, um, Miss Lori, hold on to your seat, please. I agree with the presentation

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given by staff 100%. This property is zoned commercial. The permit was put in before the reszone. The purpose of the reszone was to get more commercial. If this special

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exception is granted, you just contradicted yourselves. We do not need 155 residential properties, dwelling units on commercial property. There is no guarantee that the

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commercial component, those four acres is ever going to be built because there is no timeline. There's no requirement. Just because a developer is here requesting a special favor because that's what a special exception is, does

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not mean the commission has to approve it. There are reasons that staff gave you that you can deny it and I truly hope you guys will deny this application just like PAP recommended

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you do. >> Raj, >> I am not warned. >> Okay, no problem. Where are you in? Um, can you please raise your right hand? Um, do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to provide is true and accurate to the best

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of your knowledge to help you God? >> I do. >> Thank you. >> Uh, my name is Raymond Jarus. I live on Fair Lane. I drive by this property probably twice or three times a day to get to my doctor, to get to public's grocery store, to get where I need to

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go. This is a residential neighborhood. It's been residential for 25 years, as long as I've been there. We have empty houses that were permitted and built before the Hurricane Ian that are still empty and sitting on my street. To put

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150 units of apartment buildings there will totally change the neighborhood. It'll be a different neighborhood. I can't move. I'm too old. I'm too set. I have my house and it's paid for and I'm not moving. But if you do this, you're going to destroy the neighborhood. This

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property has waterfront on not waterfront has wetland on it. It has drainage on it. The last hurricane we had 3 ft of water in a street that's never flooded before by my house. I was that far from having my

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house flooding. The more you cover with concrete, the more you're going to destroy the drainage in that area. And the more apartment buildings you put, the more you're going to ruin that neighborhood. Period. It'll never be the same. It'll be horrendous traffic. You

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can't get down uh Toledo Blade now. You can't get back up. If somebody comes off the freeway at 5:00 at night, there's a probably a mile long traffic jam at Price and Toledo Blade. And that traffic

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continues all the way up to 41. And I I can't go anywhere. Can you go down 41? any of you can you go down 41 during rush hour or I75 for that matter? My doctor is on I75 in Laurel. I can't get

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there anymore because every day there's an accident on I75 due to the overpopulation and overdevelopment to this area. I can't get down 41 for the same reason. And now you want to bring more people, more development, more apartment buildings. I understand that

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Northport has the highest rate of permitted apartment buildings in the country. Not Florida, in the country. Is this what we really need for our quality of life? When I first moved here, I could sit outside, have coffee on my lai, and listen to the birds and have

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peace and quiet. Now, all I hear is dump trucks going up and down my street, up and down uh Cleo Blade, up and down Hillsboro. my fire station. I don't have a fire station by my house. You closed the fire station. You closed Price Road most of the time there. If I had a fire

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by house, who's going to put my fire out? Who's going to handle this apartment build complex? There's no fire stations there. You have to build another fire station. Do you want that expense? Uh this gentleman said that they could build a strip center there.

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If it was so profitable, why don't they? It's actually more profitable to put up apartment buildings and uh just to get the rent for the apartment buildings and just build a strict. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. >> That is all the cards I received. However, I thought we had some other

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parties that maybe wanted to comment. >> No, nobody's really prepared to read the petition if you guys want. >> You you can submit a public comment card if you like. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I thought we had some other uh

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just you just fill out the comment card >> and I know she stood to be sworn in the beginning of the meeting. So, >> perfect. Thank you. >> Um my name is Michelle Buckston and I am one of the owners of um Turnberry Trace and I I understand

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you know we want growth and we want you know to keep the city building and it's wonderful. We love it here, but I have to agree with two things. With the safety, it is hard to get down these streets. Are you going to come up with a plan to

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make sure that you can get us in and out of our area? And the other thing I'm really concerned about is our water. We have no water in our retention pond. You're going to put in another apartment building. And again, the concrete. We What are we going to do about our water?

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Again, I'm worried about fires. I'm worried about this stuff. And I'm also wondering if anyone's even done a study to see how many of the apartment buildings that are in Northport are actually filled. If there are that many that I, you know, we need it, we need it, but do we? And I I would really love

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to know if that was found out first before we agree to more apartments. That's that's all I really have. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. Thank you. That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. Moving on to commission questions and discussions.

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Commissioner Stokes, you're in the queue first. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Miss Barnes, for your presentation. Thank you, applicant, for yours. Thank you for all the public commenters on this item. Uh, I'll be real brief. Um,

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this doesn't comply with the old comp plan orc. It doesn't comply with the new or comp plan. And I will not be supporting this applicant's request. Thank you. That's all I have, mayor. Thank you, Vice Mayor. You're next.

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>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, the need for commercial development in this city to serve our residents is so overwhelmingly competitive and required that I I have

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to agree with our planning and zoning advisory board and with staff that that this resoning application should not move forward. So, I will not be supporting it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Dval.

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>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, our key staff met and discussed this and they recommended denial. Our staff recommends denial. It is an exception.

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We have rules and making exceptions. And with all the things I look at like uh 155 new residences, but no new jobs to go with them.

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When I campaigned for office, I stood on the corner of Toledo Bleed at the last stoplight before he got on 75 and I watched thousands of people leave this city to go to work every day.

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We need jobs in here and we have concentrated on that idea of getting a higher percentage of commercial here so that the people who live here can stay here which will help cut down on traffic on

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75 and the other major thoroughares. So I also will not be supporting this exception. Thank you. >> All right, that's all I see in the queue. and move on to closing arguments.

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Staff, you're first. >> Thank you, mayor. >> Um, as per the comprehensive staff report, uh, staff is recommending denial, uh, the proposed use is not consistent with the comprehensive plan. Uh the proposed use is

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is detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, morals, order, comfort, convenience, appearance, or prosperity of the neighborhood or adjacent uses and is not an economic benefit to the city. Um and as submitted, without the Wood

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Haven Drive turn lane, the proposed use would affect traffic flow, safety, or control on the surrounding roadway system. Uh so staff does appreciate your consideration and uh recommendation for denial for this project. Thank you. >> Thank you ma'am.

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>> Applicant closing argument. >> Thank you mayor uh madam assistant mayor uh commissioners and just want to say appreciate uh staff being so helpful. It's been a long process. Uh I will we do understand uh your comments. Again,

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just we think that it it's a more compatible use instead of going all commercial. I would note that we did go back and forth with staff over the years about just applying the CT standards. It is large enough to accommodate. I know

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that staff stated that it can't achieve the CG st or excuse me, the CT current standards. We just didn't design it that way. As we moved forward with the CG, there was points in time that certain staff said stay with CG. Then we had

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another one that would say go with commercial trans uh CT. So it went back and forth and then it just got so far along that we wanted to stay the path that was proposed. Um we do uh we did appreciate staff working with us. It's been so long. I would note again that it

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is permitted uh for commercial as staff stated if they want to apply the CC ct standards they can achieve that for mixed use it would come back before the board as well as corridor transitional uses do allow up to 50 ft in height um

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it is a large site and and for what it's worth they are proposing market rate uh special exceptions have time limits here in the city if for some reason they did a market study and they wasn't worth building, you retain that commercial designation. It's not being reszoned,

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it's a special exception to allow multif family residential use on that. So, should they not move forward, if didn't make sense, they wouldn't build it and it would go back to commercial. The proposed plan creates a binding effect for that uh portion of the property to

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build residential. uh believe it's an 18-month time limit. Should they not uh move forward, that would expire and it remains commercial. So, we're not changing that. And then just for what it's worth, it does qualify for live local. They're proposing m as you know

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what can be proposed with that as far as mixeduse development approved by Wright uh higher densities, higher building heights. It does meet that criteria. It would qualify. This is a modest approach uh to what could be uh built there today

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and realistically get what could be built in the future. Uh but respectfully request approval and appreciate your time this evening. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this public hearing and request a motion. Take it. Go ahead. >> I move to deny resolution number

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2026-R20 as presented. >> Second. I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to deny resolution number 2026-R20 as presented. And I know it was a coin toss, but I did hear vice mayor second

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that. So, if there's nothing to that, please vote. And that passes 5 to zero. The has been denied. All right, we're going to take a 10-minute break before we get into the next one because I'm sure we're going to

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have lots of comments and stuff. So, if anybody needs to use the restroom, um, All right, back in business. >> We're back in session. Uh, moving on to general business. Item A26-0650.

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Um, discussion and possible action regarding mandatory portable water service connection. City manager, this is your item, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I appreciate the opportunity to talk about this item. First, I want to apologize to the commission for our memo dated March 26th

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that did not reach you from my office prior to the community receiving their notifications. Staff prepared communication on this process and this should have come to you before it went to our residents and it didn't and that breakdown is on myself. A second to our residents, many of whom are here or

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watching, I understand the frustration. My apologies for not providing better communication to you as well. Hurricane Ian recovery dominated city operations for a long time and now that staff is restarting this process. The communication sequence mistake has made the timing feel harsher than it needed

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to. The letter felt abrupt and I understand why it did not sit well. Let me separate what has become two blended conversations on the letter. This item tonight is not the septic to sewer expansion program. That expansion project remains in design and has its

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own funding strategy, incentives, and future decisions. Tonight's discussion is about something different. It's about the mandatory portable water connection once service becomes available tied to water distribution or looping projects as we call them, some of which date back

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to 2016. It's not a new policy. The requirement to connect when water is available has existed in the city code for years since 1992. Our city code mandates it, not the actual state. What is new in this process is that the

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process was restarted after a long recovery period when the end of the state of the emergency of the city ended from hurricane Ian which lasted a very long amount of time but it just ended a few months ago. So once it ended staff started and restarted the outreach and

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we did not execute communication in the sequence that we should have. So, prior to sending out the letters to approximately 500 residents, utilities and communications work together to develop the letter, update our web page, and frequently asked questions in preparation for your questions. So, let

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me clarify what residents are being asked to do. So, when portable water becomes available, property owners have 365 days to connect with the city to come up with a plan for how you want to move forward. That current cost is approximately $12,600,

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which does include capacity fees, line extension fees, and meter installation. The capacity fees support long-term systems infrastructure, and the line extension fees are recovering for install previously infrastructure costs. Residents are also responsible for the

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private side of plumbing costs. But to offset this, the city offers 30-year financing, online extension, and capacity fees, a one-year financing option for the meter fee, and there are deferral options for qualifying homeowners under hardship provisions.

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It's important to note that every home that has connected in the past, and every new home being built today pays these same categories of fees. It's not a new charge structure, but the residents feeling justifiedly frustrated. I understand the question is

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what level of relief can we responsibly provide while still protecting the financial integrity of the utility system. So staff is asking for commission direction on practical targeted relief options. There can be an extension of the compliance period. There can be waving of the

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administrative fees tied to financing and we hope hope that they will evaluate whether to reduce or wave a portion of the line extension fee in this specific situation. What we do not recommend at this time is broadly waving the capacity fees as those are directly tied to

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maintaining and expanding the system and will require further legal and financial analysis. If the commission does choose to modify the fees, we need some direction on who qualifies, what the criteria are, who approves those determinations, whether this only applies to uh this group or future

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projects, and how we address equity with residents who have already paid. uh and we will execute that direction the right way this time with the proper communication sequence handled. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Um >> thank you. >> That was my team. Yes.

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>> Um we're moving on to commissioner questions and discussion and I know that Commissioner Stokes was the one that put this on this agenda. So you have the floor first, sir. >> Thank you, mayor. Um yeah, I mean this is tough. This as city

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manager explained is separate apart from the water sewer expansion program. This is a looping system which addresses water quality. There are a whole lot of good technical reasons why this is not a bad idea for those people who like

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public water and sewer. Um my problem with it is um that's being mandated um prior to my getting on this commission. I believe it was October of 22, a month before I believe this came

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before commission and it bothered me at the time that people were being mandated. What about that person or that family who spends a lot of money on their septic and wells and they're operating fine? Where's the compensation for that?

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Why should they be required? I appreciate that the state has mandated by law one day we will all be on public water and sewer. And I get the reasons why they did it. Let them pay for it, not us.

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But that said, my problem is in the here and now, we're asking people in this economy, unlike four or five years ago where the world was a different world than it is today, I think it's way honorous. I would like

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to see that for anybody who voluntarily wanted to within the next 365 days could add at a cost 1/ half of the 12,000 the city's asking cuz after all if you're in an area where water and sewer expansion

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is going to take place. I believe the cost is capped somewhere around 56,000 here. We're asking folks to pay twice that. So, I would suggest and and certainly would love to hear what my fellow commissioners have to say about cutting this number in half. I don't care how you divide it up among the

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three fees. That's for staff to figure out. Half the price optional for the first 365 days. If you wish to, you can. And you reap the benefit of this discounted 50% off. If not, at some

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point in time, if if future commissions ever decide they're going to mandate it, so be it. This, as I understand it, is code. We actually have the ability to change that code. It's not state law. So, that's my recommendation. That's the

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way I see a pathway forward to be a little more reasonable. And it allows people to opt in or not opt in. Um, and I appreciate that some of the money that these fees would go to would be to help

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maintain these systems. So, I I question whether or not when the calculations were made, did they include just rooftops that exist or did they include every lot?

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I'd love to hear from utilities on that. Trish, did you I mean, do you know the question I'm asking? >> In other words, when say the capacity fee was calculated, was it based on saying, "All right, it takes so many years

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to retrofit, refix, upgrade, or whatever. So let's say there's x amount of dollars and the life of this system the the pipes that have been run already are so many years based on the number of households of properties that presently

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exist. If you figure it all out, it came up with the number. Did it take into account every empty lot as well that has not yet been built on? >> Yes, sir. It took into account and Trisha was our utilities director. Uh we recently had that rate study. When we

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did the presentation, the rate study looked at the next so many years and based upon what we forecasted to be the demand on the system and what the plant would need to do to produce the water to meet that demand that was what was

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calcul calculated into the capacity fees. So the capacity fees go to maintaining the plant. The line extension fees are for the work to design and implement and install the pipes that are in the ground

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>> and those are different. >> But but when the capacity fee calculation was made >> and you figured out how many dollars it would take to maintain and upgrade or maintain that system and you had to figure out

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how much each individual property owner was going to be charged. Was it based on the number of properties that exist right now or based on the potential full buildout of this loop? >> It was based on what the cost is to

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supply a normal house with water. So it's it's it's the equivalent residential unit. So when they look at how much water a house typically takes and the work to bring the water in, clean the water, pump it back out, get

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it to the house, all of the machinery in in the route, that's the fair share for that much water in the pieces and parts of the system. So So we weren't calculating to get to an end dollar amount. We were calculating to cover

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costs. So it's not quite based on rooftops. It's based on how much it costs to build a system that would provide that much water to a home. >> But when you look at the the lines are already run, >> so they're not connected to houses, but

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they're run. >> That's different. If I may, that's the line extension fee. That's a different fee. So, you're talking capacity fees. The line extension fee was set by this commission in the ordinance of 2022-24. That's a different fee. That's that

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$7,000 fee. That's that's a different fee. The capacity fee that you're discussing is similar to impact fees. That was created through the methodology, the rate study where they evaluated the cost to serve. Basically,

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how much does it cost for us to make enough water at the plant to make sure the plant is functioning, to make sure all of the pieces and parts of the house are functioning to serve a normal resident. Um, the fee is different. A capacity fee is different for a resident than it is for a commercial property

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because there's more demand. So that's where it kind of stacks up just very similar to an impact fee, but it's called capacity fee because it makes sure that there's going to be room in the plant when we need to serve water.

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Again, that said, you know, I I have to say that the number is just too way. If it were me, I would be going out of my mind just like these people are going out of their minds. I I I do not support this. I don't care if we have to change

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the code. I don't know what we need to do, but I have to say my I would love to hear what my fellow commissioners have to say cuz because my thoughts run along the line of making this one voluntary. Two, you got 365

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days to opt in at a 50% of the 126. The city will have to figure it out. Future commissions will have to figure out where the money will come from. I still don't understand all the math here. Okay? And I'm not sure I'm convinced on all the math here, but the bottom line

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is I can tell you I couldn't afford it. I wouldn't pay it. And I don't expect these people to pay it. And I'm not going to support it. So I want to hear, city manager, you're in the queue. >> So mayor, just one clarification. The

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state did not mandate water and sewer. They only mandated sewer. >> Correct. >> Right. clarifying with David that was just a >> All right. Thank you. They can pay for that. Vice Mayor, you're next. >> Thank you, mayor.

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Ideally, the hookup to city water or sewer for that matter should take place at the time the dwelling is built. And that way, the cost is incorporated into the price of the home. just in the same

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way a well or a septic system the cost of that is um built into the price of the home. But the way I look at it, we have a very we have three different scenarios going

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on here somewhat simultaneously. So I feel the need to split some hairs. So bear with me. First off, we have homes that were built before water was available in in this situation. I agree with

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Commissioner Stokes 100% that the tiein should be optional. I I'm sure there are some homes in those 400 homes that would love to be on city water and they'll opt in uh to tie in. That's great. Some

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won't. I I don't believe we should force them. Now, when that property changes hands, when it's sold, when the title changes, then something needs to happen at that point to cover the costs of

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providing um water and and utilities to city residents. The second situation is homes that haven't been built yet. Empty lots where water is available. Definitely mandatory

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ti tie in. No wells. They'll have access to water. They'll need to tie in to water. That's very, very clean in my mind. But then we have this odd situation of homes that were built after the water

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was available and they didn't tie in. I don't know how many homes that is of the 400 and I have no desire to play a blame game at this point, but I look at that

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group of residents or or homes as being similar to group one. I don't believe they should be forced to tie in. The homes are relatively new and the price of their homes, they already paid for for um a well and and septic. How do we

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compensate them for that? This is a sticky situation in my mind. So, I I'll let smarter people than me to figure that one out. But I also don't believe that those folks should be

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required to tie in or there should be a time frame or a trigger. Let's say their well fails at at that point. Again, I don't know the legalities of it, Trish. You're a

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lot smarter than I am in this area, but you know, maybe if the well fails, then there's a requirement to tie in. And if I may, um, you know, the question is why are we doing this now, right? There's been a lot of looping projects. And if we can just step back a second for a

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little bit of context. So we blame GDC for a lot of things, but this is GDU uh GDC kind of um when they were building the city, they built the the water distribution system kind of in

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spurs. So instead of being a nice systematic system where it's thoughtful, they kind of jut it off into different places that ended in a bunch of dead ends. The dead ends unfortunately result in poor water quality. So when you drive around the city and you see the fire

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hydrants going at full blast for 2 days, that's because we're forced to take water that we have cleaned and pumped and put money into and we're dumping it on the ground, which is really not a great resource use. Um, so we've done some of these looping projects. The

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looping projects themselves help. However, if you're not drawing the water from that loop, really not making the benefit. We'll still have to be dumping a lot of water. Maybe not as much, but we will be dumping water because we're not having the movement within the loop.

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So, we've completed capital improvement projects with funding from SwiftMUD to improve our water, use our water quality, and reduce our loss water. And by not having these connections, we are very much negating the improvements that

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we have put in place. So that's one thing to keep in mind. Another thing is as we're developing throughout the city and more and more wells are going in, those wells are, you know, maybe 30 ft deep. Our water supply is a 300t deep well and we're also getting water from

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the Maka Creek. The city has resources that will provide water to residents as needed. However, if you're on a well and your well goes dry, it's not likely that you'll be right next to a line that's

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already been installed. It's more likely that you might be 3 miles away from a line and we won't be able to be installing that line to you. So, that means you are now in a situation where there may not be a viable well for you. And as we continue to draw from the aquifers, we're going to start to see

447
02:17:46.880 --> 02:18:04.479
this more and more. That is a concern. That is one of the reasons for this. Um this by having people that are within the area that we can serve use this water, it does leave water for the residents that we do not currently have

448
02:18:04.479 --> 02:18:21.920
the ability to serve. So keeping all those things in mind, we understand this is a difficult conversation. We understand this is an expense. There are values that come from having water, city water, including not having to work on your well, replace pumps, and there's

449
02:18:21.920 --> 02:18:38.559
typically a value for resale for your home value, but we're open to suggestions. >> I I appreciate that, Miss Wisner. And typically I'm a big supporter of the city really covering its costs for

450
02:18:38.559 --> 02:18:55.920
delivering services, but I just have a really tough time of forcing it on people who don't want it, particularly those whose homes were built before the water was available in

451
02:18:55.920 --> 02:19:16.399
their area. So, um, I would much prefer to, you know, again, new homes being built should have to tie in, no question. But for the other two groups, I would rather see more educational

452
02:19:16.399 --> 02:19:32.319
outreach. Um I I think in the concern about having these costs forced on them, I think a lot of people really didn't look at some of the options, the ability to finance

453
02:19:32.319 --> 02:19:51.120
it over a long period of time. Um, and and I think when when people stop to think about it, homes that are already hooked up will sell faster and at a higher price to a comparable home that's

454
02:19:51.120 --> 02:20:07.760
still on a well and and I I understand the cost requirements to the city. I think part of the reason we're in the pickle we are with our infrastructure is in the past we didn't collect enough through impact fees and other fees to

455
02:20:07.760 --> 02:20:24.160
keep the costs whole. But I look at it as my job to try to balance the being fair to the community and trying to keep the city whole in terms

456
02:20:24.160 --> 02:20:40.800
of what it spends to deliver quality service. Um I I know that people who have city water, I I always think of Commissioner White. uh every time she had the opportunity to say she's so happy she's on city water and I think

457
02:20:40.800 --> 02:20:56.319
other people will be too if if they have the time to really consider it and think about it and have conversations with staff about it but just I just can't

458
02:20:56.319 --> 02:21:12.720
support mandating it. Um, now I would be open to incentives if maybe for people who connect within a certain period of time they get a discount. I'm not sure it's 50%. I'm not sure that that deep a

459
02:21:12.720 --> 02:21:28.960
discount keeps the city whole or or even 80% whole. But I would be very open to our taking a look at other incentives that would make it easier for people

460
02:21:28.960 --> 02:21:46.800
financially to consider um uh hooking in. So I suspect if if we give people time to consider it, do more informational sessions with people so that they really understand the benefits

461
02:21:46.800 --> 02:22:03.439
and the importance of going to city water um and maybe provide some incentives and and make it more optional. I suspect I I don't know about you, but I think for me the being forced

462
02:22:03.439 --> 02:22:20.640
is is worse than figuring out the cost of it and the benefit to me as a homeowner to do it. Uh, so I I'm not going to repeat myself. I think I got my point across. Um, but I'm I'm not quite

463
02:22:20.640 --> 02:22:37.840
where Commissioner Stokes is, but I'm I'm much more open to incentives and just keep giving people time to consider it and not really making it mandatory. I can't imagine, you know, when I do my

464
02:22:37.840 --> 02:22:53.439
morning walks, I want smell as rotten eggs, people irrigating their lawns with well water. I can't imagine someone not wanting to stay on a well, but I know people have put in reverse osmos osmosious.

465
02:22:53.439 --> 02:23:09.439
I hate these late meetings. I lose my tongue. Um, you know, a lot of cost to try to mitigate the awful wellwater. Um, but again, I think with time and, you know, working with people individually,

466
02:23:09.439 --> 02:23:26.960
I think most people would get there. I don't know. Am I wrong? Um anyway, I've talked in >> question. >> Yes, sir. >> Hopefully you have the answer. When these looping projects began with the line extensions, why were those lines

467
02:23:26.960 --> 02:23:42.720
extended in the first place? >> They were not they were identified as areas that would increase the water quality and reduce water loss by making that connection. So, it wouldn't have anything to do with any developments or

468
02:23:42.720 --> 02:23:58.240
schools or anything like that needing city water to have those lines put out there. And the reason I asked that is I looked at the maps and specifically looked at Habberland. We have development out there. We have

469
02:23:58.240 --> 02:24:13.680
schools out there. They're on city water. And now the residents that are abudding that are now being forced to add into that looping project. So I'm just curious and maybe something to look at

470
02:24:13.680 --> 02:24:29.439
in the future whenever a development takes place then maybe they should make the cost of the line extension and at no cost to the citizens whatsoever. And and another thing about the line extension, I believe that's

471
02:24:29.439 --> 02:24:47.359
$7,000 in in approximately on what the cost factors was. Each house is either 80 by120 or let's say 100 foot of line in front of their house is now costing them $7,000.

472
02:24:47.359 --> 02:25:04.640
To me, I and this goes back to where Commissioner Stokes was talking about 50%. I would eliminate the line extension fee because it's way free because it's already existing. It's not that we're putting it out there now. It's there. It's been there. We're

473
02:25:04.640 --> 02:25:19.840
forcing well trying to mandate the citizens to hook up to it at this point. So, yes, capacity fees, hookup fees, that's fine. But let's get back to the city water city sewer that we're talking about that the state has mandated the

474
02:25:19.840 --> 02:25:35.760
sewer part of it. We had commission discussions up here and I believe we brought it down with grants this that and the other to $5,400ish. Some commissioner Stokes said between five and six grand. So if we were to mandate these individuals to be put on

475
02:25:35.760 --> 02:25:51.520
city water at this time, it should be in my opinion at the same exact price and then when sewer is available that's already included. They've already paid for it. So if they're paying $5,400 just like city water city sewer that we

476
02:25:51.520 --> 02:26:08.880
mandated at a discount, these citizens should have that same exact benefit because what are we really doing? We're expanding our services to new customers. So that's where I'm at on this. I mean, and another thing I I am not in

477
02:26:08.880 --> 02:26:24.560
agreement of the administration fee of $10 a month for the utility department to do their job in billing. I'm sorry. I just I can't sit with that either. So, and I'm not picking on nutrition. It's picking on it's picking on everything that's in this because believe me, when

478
02:26:24.560 --> 02:26:41.280
I went to Walmart, I got an earful. So, so I just wanted to let you know this is where I stand and I I want the rest of the commissioners to, >> you know, put their ideas together and hopefully we can come up with some sort of solution. >> So, that's all I had. Uh Dimmitri or

479
02:26:41.280 --> 02:26:57.840
Commissioner Pro, you're next. >> Thank you, Mayor. Where's the notification letters were sent out to nearly 400 people, I believe, um about the mandator mandatory water hookup. The commission had no idea about this. Um the commission still was uninformed

480
02:26:57.840 --> 02:27:15.040
until mid of April. Um sadly to say, I've learned a lot about this issue from the residents and not from the city manager or his office. So my question is why do we have this discussion now and not before?

481
02:27:15.040 --> 02:27:30.720
>> That's a great question. Um first you have made this a strategic pillar within it's number six within the infrastructure and facilities integrity section of the strategic plan is to continue the looping projects. The

482
02:27:30.720 --> 02:27:44.960
looping projects have come before the commission as capital improvement projects for many many years with the discussion that there would be connection associated with that. Um they have also come forward when we would

483
02:27:44.960 --> 02:28:02.720
bring forward the construction contracts and agreements for approval. So, all of those items have come before commission. Commission in um 2022 through ordinance 2022-24

484
02:28:02.720 --> 02:28:18.160
discussed the fees and charges associated with these kinds of connections. Um so in total providing the fees and charges providing that it's a strategic plan initiative a priority

485
02:28:18.160 --> 02:28:35.359
providing guidance on the capital improvement plans really provided the outline for the goal for the commission to increase people connected to water in this case and water and sewer through the um strategic

486
02:28:35.359 --> 02:28:52.000
plan. Thank you. It's just by looking at the memo that was sent out to commission. I think the date was March 19th. Um but we didn't get the memo until midappril and that's the question I have. But it shouldn't be a proper order

487
02:28:52.000 --> 02:29:08.479
of events. First, we have this agenda item before the mandatory uh letters. Um but I appreciate the apology uh city manager. I really do because um it's it should be a proper order of

488
02:29:08.479 --> 02:29:25.040
events. Um but I just wanted to be clear that this codification of this mandatory hookup was I believe 2022. You said >> no sir commissioner that was the last time we talked about it publicly. It's been in your code since 1992.

489
02:29:25.040 --> 02:29:40.399
>> Mhm. >> And it says shall hook up not may shall. And that's a code that the city commission is responsible for, not city staff. >> So we as the board, we can make, as

490
02:29:40.399 --> 02:29:56.160
Commissioner Stokes said, we can make our own adjustment to that code if I understood correctly. >> Um but um I do believe that I do believe in options. I do believe in options and um

491
02:29:56.160 --> 02:30:13.760
reading the legislative text and looking at the pros and cons I I couldn't help but notice that you know there are three options and uh I'll go with this option number two and it says eliminate

492
02:30:13.760 --> 02:30:28.800
mandatory portal connection requirement. So if anyone wants to be connected as the line goes past his or her house, let them do it. If people don't want it, let them use the well that they have that

493
02:30:28.800 --> 02:30:44.479
they invested in. And this is just my take and this is my view. Um I did a study and look at the pros and cons. Um and you are correct by saying it has to be flushed.

494
02:30:44.479 --> 02:31:01.280
hydrants would have to be flushed, but the residential units would not be in that capacity to do so. You still have to do flushing. Um, if it's a dead end flushing or if the line stops at the

495
02:31:01.280 --> 02:31:17.760
dead end, you still have to flush it. It might not be as much. Um but uh it is to protect water quality maintenance um and hydrant functionality preventing stagnation. Um and that

496
02:31:17.760 --> 02:31:33.840
you know the amount um and I wrote down something flushing pushes these materials out at a high speed to keep uh the water safe and clear which is not possible to do at the residential level. Um

497
02:31:33.840 --> 02:31:49.920
there are not many capacities you know all the showerheads and all the faucets they have the control of a flow regulated by EPA. So >> if I may >> sure >> we wouldn't expect the water pressure

498
02:31:49.920 --> 02:32:07.600
and water use from one resident to equal when we're flushing a hydrant. What happens is because there's constant movement throughout the line instead of the dead end stagnation, we don't have the need to we don't have the water

499
02:32:07.600 --> 02:32:24.479
quality issue that requires that kind of flushing. It's just the it's just the actual movement that keeps it going instead of the dead end. So, it doesn't need to be the same volume or velocity. It just needs to keep moving. >> Correct. And if people do not tap into

500
02:32:24.479 --> 02:32:40.080
the main, the water just keeps flowing. That's my take. I maybe I'm I'm not an engineer. Uh but >> it's a demand system. So it would still it would come when it's being pulled. So if there's no pull on the line, it's

501
02:32:40.080 --> 02:32:58.479
going to stop and stagnate again. So in conclusion, I can say that I'm in um in agreement with Commissioner Stokes, Commission uh the mayor um to some extent u vice mayor, I would not charge even the house that is up on for

502
02:32:58.479 --> 02:33:15.439
sale and would not mandate even that only if they choose. Um and we can go even further and make an ordinance saying that it is volunteer connection if people choose. Let let it

503
02:33:15.439 --> 02:33:33.680
be protected because you know down the line the commission says yes, let's do mandatory again and we're going to be at the same spot as we are right now. So, I'm I'm going a step further to protect our citizens and residents from uh being

504
02:33:33.680 --> 02:33:49.600
mandated and forcing against their will to connect. But if they choose so, let them let them do it. But that's my my take on this. Thank you,

505
02:33:49.600 --> 02:34:06.000
>> Mr. Duval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I agree and disagree with a lot of statements that have been made out so far. Uh, Trish, I have one question for you, and this is for the

506
02:34:06.000 --> 02:34:24.800
members of the public that are here. We have city code 78-31. That's what covers this. And in there, my question to you, as I followed it through reading it, I

507
02:34:24.800 --> 02:34:43.760
got down to to a 7831 parenthesis B, parenthesis 3, small letter G, parenthesis I, and it talks about early connection incentive. And that incentive said

508
02:34:43.760 --> 02:35:04.240
that that $7,000, you know, dollar fee for the piping, if people signed up early, that would go away. And

509
02:35:04.240 --> 02:35:21.280
it's hard for me to say that, gee, if people knew about this early and they could have applied early and they wouldn't have to pay this fee. That just doesn't it doesn't compute with me. >> If I may, there's a there's a couple

510
02:35:21.280 --> 02:35:37.920
nuances that need to be evaluated when you're looking at the code. First, the section of >> We can't hear. >> I'm sorry. If I may, there's a couple nuances that need to be considered when you're looking at that section of code. First, most of this most of the projects were done before this part of the code

511
02:35:37.920 --> 02:35:53.439
was implemented on October 25th of 2022. So, it would be a moot point for those. However, while it's not clean and we're working on code revisions, um the term

512
02:35:53.439 --> 02:36:10.960
expansion project is defined up above where it talks about the line extension charge and it states that the expansion project basically is that sewer project that was really being talked about at the time when this ordinance came forward. If you

513
02:36:10.960 --> 02:36:27.760
look at the whereas clauses in the ordinance, the wear clauses in the ordinance really talked to the 44,000 septic tanks and that was what the commission was considering when they did this. Unfortunately, they said the expansion project in the code in quotes

514
02:36:27.760 --> 02:36:46.240
making it reference back to that septic expansion project. That's what's been called the neighborhood expansion project. All of that has really been about the sewer or the septic to sewer project. These are little looping projects. They are not the same thing.

515
02:36:46.240 --> 02:37:02.080
They are not that 900year expansion plan that has been accepted by the commission. That is a wholly different plan. These are small CIP projects to address water quality. So, while there's

516
02:37:02.080 --> 02:37:19.920
some room for improvement in the code, if you look through it, it appears that those that wouldn't have applied here anyway. But first and foremost, this code wasn't in place when the projects happened. There would be no way to provide forward notice because there was

517
02:37:19.920 --> 02:37:35.920
no need for forward notice at the time the projects happened. So, kind of a dual discussion point there lets us know that we need to clean up the code. Um, but it could be something that would be considered in the future. >> Thank you. Um,

518
02:37:35.920 --> 02:37:52.800
and again, someone's already mentioned this, you know, the uh the way the letter went out to the to the public, you know, they're offered the ability to finance this for 30 years with no

519
02:37:52.800 --> 02:38:09.600
interest, but there is that $10 a month maintenance fee, which, you know, over 30 years comes to $3,000. You know, that's that sounds like interest to me. >> Yeah. Um, >> I'd like to see that go away. Um, and if

520
02:38:09.600 --> 02:38:25.040
there is, you know, that early connection incentive in some place in our code for some places, then I think, you know, that should be available to some people here. Also, for the people that are here listening,

521
02:38:25.040 --> 02:38:42.319
um, there are programs available to help. >> There is a ship program primary, >> which is a possibility there. My point being here is to

522
02:38:42.319 --> 02:39:00.080
have people that need help ask for it. Um, I don't know if my fellow commissioners got all the same emails I did, but I got one from a lady who has autoimmune diseases. She can't drink water out of a

523
02:39:00.080 --> 02:39:16.160
plastic bottle. she has the RORO, the you know reverse osmosis system installed in her home. And so this is something that, you know, city water she wouldn't be able to to use.

524
02:39:16.160 --> 02:39:31.359
You know, for a woman for a person like that, you know, I have sympathy and and I'd like for them to have some options. And from the city's viewpoint, I understand, you know, one of the worst things for

525
02:39:31.359 --> 02:39:47.840
anything mechanical and even some electrical things is to not be used. You put your car in a garage for 30 years, just leave it there and don't use it. I guarantee you it will not start when you try.

526
02:39:47.840 --> 02:40:03.680
And with the water, the flow, okay, we need that flow to help keep that water at good quality. And water in this state is going to be at a premium in the future years,

527
02:40:03.680 --> 02:40:20.720
you know, and for us to be flushing if we do not need to and wasting water in that way. Um, I'd like to see that avoided. I also see like Commissioner Stokes mentioned in the beginning, uh, this is expensive.

528
02:40:20.720 --> 02:40:37.359
Cutting this in half, you know, which comes back to that $7,000 piping fee, you know, to get rid of that would make it a lot more palatable to me. you know, cutting down the fees,

529
02:40:37.359 --> 02:40:55.200
offering that option of the 30 years as vice mayor mentioned, I believe it was. Um, getting to the point of when the house is sold, okay, not connect now, but when that house is sold to a new owner, then those

530
02:40:55.200 --> 02:41:12.240
fees have to be paid. Then that connection has to be made. Those are my thoughts on it. Thank you. Thank you. >> Before I move back to you, Commissioner Stokes, I had a quick question that popped in because there was a lot of rumors going around to where if this was

531
02:41:12.240 --> 02:41:28.560
mandated and they were hooking up to city water, a lot of people were discussing that their wells had to be capped and they could no longer use them. And I know that when we discussed the wastewater sewer, they could keep their wells for irrigation and such and stuff like that. I just wanted that on

532
02:41:28.560 --> 02:41:43.439
the record. >> Yes, sir. for clarification, they would complete a permit to switch it from a portable well to an irrigation well and would be able to continue to use that well. >> Okay. Commissioner Stokes. Yeah. Um to try to pull this all together a little

533
02:41:43.439 --> 02:42:01.040
bit. Obviously, um the communication a city manager said could have certainly been better than it was. There was a long lag time. This is a longstanding program. That does not mean after x amount of years of dormcancy it should

534
02:42:01.040 --> 02:42:17.760
be launched on everybody with a letter. Um and certainly commission should have been briefed ahead. That was an error, mistake, whatever. All that said that doesn't address the issue at hand. The issue at hand is simple. You made a

535
02:42:17.760 --> 02:42:32.640
compelling argument for why loop systems are important. Water quality is important for the same reasons Commissioner Duval mentioned. I got no problem with any of that. But the people

536
02:42:32.640 --> 02:42:49.680
who are being forced who are potentially being forced to hook up to this shouldn't have to pay for it as far as I'm concerned. Find another find another way to maintain your system to do whatever we got to do here. But the reality is, if you want to

537
02:42:49.680 --> 02:43:04.800
voluntarily hook up, it shouldn't cost you any more than it would cost you if you were in some other area that didn't have water and sewer and all of a sudden we're putting in water and sewer and we cap the fee at five or six grand. The

538
02:43:04.800 --> 02:43:20.080
cost double doesn't in my mind make any sense at all. And you know, yet I appreciate the value of why it's important to do this. I just don't think anybody should be forced to have to do this if they don't want to do it. And so

539
02:43:20.080 --> 02:43:36.160
I will be making a motion after we hear public comment. Um and then we can beat it to death and try to figure out something that's a fair, reasonable compromise. But you know, we will deal with this. That's all I got.

540
02:43:36.160 --> 02:43:53.359
>> Oh, Vice Mayor. >> Thank you, Mayor. I I'm really uncomfortable comparing the cost of this project with what we discussed with the neighborhood expansion many years ago. I

541
02:43:53.359 --> 02:44:10.399
in all honesty, while I loved the $5,000 price tag and wished that my neighborhood that I think we'll get to in 2153 was first on the list, I always

542
02:44:10.399 --> 02:44:27.520
questioned our ability to deliver on that promise. And given what has happened with inflation and and all the things that have occurred in the past three or four years, I highly doubt that

543
02:44:27.520 --> 02:44:42.479
at some point when a future commission takes a look at that program that they're going to be able to to meet that number. I'm also I'm really concerned because I know in the past

544
02:44:42.479 --> 02:45:00.560
commissioners with were all good people with good hearts and wanted to give our residents the very best deal they could for um services and programs from the city

545
02:45:00.560 --> 02:45:16.800
over the years. We didn't do ourselves any favor. I mean, any resident who's looked at our CIP lists and and how much the the the need to improve our infrastructure.

546
02:45:16.800 --> 02:45:34.399
I just I I want to make this as easy and affordable as our res for our residents as possible. But I don't want to do something today that forces the city to incur costs that

547
02:45:34.399 --> 02:45:51.120
we can't even be near to recouping. So for me, I'm I'm way open to incentives and maybe reducing some of the costs for people who take the leap and make their decision of what they

548
02:45:51.120 --> 02:46:08.800
want to do in the first 365 days. I'd love to give those people a big break, but I don't want to do something that is going to handicap the city to continue to provide

549
02:46:08.800 --> 02:46:24.960
water at a high quality a and at um a good level of intensity. And I fear that we would be doing that if we get too aggressive. But something that

550
02:46:24.960 --> 02:46:41.040
balances things a little bit. Maybe the, you know, the city cuts some of those costs for people who connect early. I'm wide open to that. I don't I really don't want to specify that tonight. Um I

551
02:46:41.040 --> 02:46:56.319
I would like to see some suggestions and maybe a couple of financial models. What would it look like? I also would like to see us do some mini

552
02:46:56.319 --> 02:47:12.800
workshops and and offer them to the 400 households that are impacted. You know, when we first um found the funding and really started moving ahead with the price widening project, wow, was was

553
02:47:12.800 --> 02:47:27.920
there an upheaval of people worried and concerned about that. But we did a bunch of community workshops where people could really see where they were living and and had all of their questions

554
02:47:27.920 --> 02:47:45.200
answered. And so for a lot of folks, the concerns that they had going in were addressed and they felt a lot more comfortable. So again, this is 400 households. It doesn't quite have the same range of impact as the widening of

555
02:47:45.200 --> 02:48:02.160
price, but to offer an opportunity for our residents to sit down with utilities and in the way they could um when we did the road expansion, I think would be enormously helpful in helping

556
02:48:02.160 --> 02:48:17.520
people decide how to proceed and and allaying their concerns. So again, I I I wouldn't want to mandate what that incentive would be or to what level would we cut the cost of it because

557
02:48:17.520 --> 02:48:36.880
again, I I don't want to impair the city's ability to continue to provide a high quality of water to its customers and and my fear is we would be doing that. Okay.

558
02:48:36.880 --> 02:48:50.240
Commissioner Stokes. >> Yeah, I mean certainly um having community eng remembering that that this goes back this code goes back to the '9s.

559
02:48:50.240 --> 02:49:08.080
Okay. Recognizing that I have no real conceptual problem with community gettogethers and and town halls and workshops and you name it. But when the day is done and all the discussions are

560
02:49:08.080 --> 02:49:25.600
finished, even if all those folks who have come out to listen agree that by God, these closed loop systems are really a darn good thing to do and as far as your water quality goes, this is the right thing for the city to want to

561
02:49:25.600 --> 02:49:42.720
do. I don't want to pay for it and I shouldn't have to pay for it and I shouldn't have to pay more than what someone's going to pay if they're brand new somewhere else in the city and are getting hooked up for the first time at a cap of $6,500 or whatever the number

562
02:49:42.720 --> 02:49:59.760
is. It's just not right. It should be voluntary. We need to change the code. That's what we need to do is change the code. You want to spend the next 365 days having workshops. I'm good with that.

563
02:49:59.760 --> 02:50:16.560
That's all I do is work for the city. I'll go to workshop every day. I'm good with it. But for 365 days, anyone who wants to opt in ought to be able to do it at half the price or whatever number we come up with. But it shouldn't be mandatory. And we need to change the

564
02:50:16.560 --> 02:50:34.640
code because otherwise, as vice mayor said, some other commission is going to come along here maybe not feeling like I do and might decide, no, we're just going to force you all to do it and we're going to be back right where we are now. So, I say we need to fix this.

565
02:50:34.640 --> 02:50:50.800
That's just my opinion. Thank you, Commissioner Pro. Surprisingly, I in agreement with Commissioner Stokes 100%. >> I'd like to check I'm sorry. I just need a little levity here.

566
02:50:50.800 --> 02:51:05.920
>> Check. >> It's just, you know, government likes to over complicate things to me. >> That's true. Uh just give people options and make sure those options are

567
02:51:05.920 --> 02:51:23.279
codified. um that if they want it, they can do it. If they don't want to do it, they don't have to do it. As far as the cost, I looked at that $10 fee. It's just a money-m thing. Uh I I'm

568
02:51:23.279 --> 02:51:40.240
sorry if if it was mandated. Um and as and a lot of people are not sure how the board operates, but the board operates by the majority. So if I'm against and four commissioners are four, it's still going to go for that mandate for

569
02:51:40.240 --> 02:51:58.080
example. Um so but I do want to speak on the $10 fee. I don't think it's it should be done even for the people who do voluntarily want to connect. Um it's just adds so much money at like

570
02:51:58.080 --> 02:52:13.200
Commissioner Dval said it's over $3,000. But also I want to um propose an ordinance and not just to eliminate mandatory portable connection requirement but make an ordinance um and

571
02:52:13.200 --> 02:52:29.439
codify that it should be optional. Uh for the server it's a different story because it's mandated by the state. uh we have no control over um but as far as the local level we represent the people

572
02:52:29.439 --> 02:52:45.359
and I have not met anyone on this issue not a single person who told me I would love to connect and pay that fee not a single one and if you find somebody refer them to me I would be

573
02:52:45.359 --> 02:53:02.800
happy to talk to them um but if if people would wanted to connect um I want to address the issue of the fees piece and um you know it's uh connecting to the uh meter and it's called lateral right first it doesn't have to be that

574
02:53:02.800 --> 02:53:19.439
deep as up north uh where most of the commissioners are from um below 4T but it has to be at least 18 or whatever 20 in so it's not a lot of so to me when I look at those cost which is over

575
02:53:19.439 --> 02:53:34.960
$16,000 Um I do get I understand there's a capacity and all that stuff and um director mentioned about the pressure pressure can be adjusted and it it's always adjusted by the number of users.

576
02:53:34.960 --> 02:53:51.840
So um but I do believe those fees are ex excessive to say the least. Um and we can find efficiencies to reduce those fees. Um and I not only I want to codify

577
02:53:51.840 --> 02:54:07.439
and make it more simple and optional. I also want to address the fees um which might not be the topic of today today's discussion uh for the time sake um but I don't think

578
02:54:07.439 --> 02:54:23.200
we should go on and on and on uh but we should make a decision on making this um totally optional and eliminate mandatory requirement um this is not fair to

579
02:54:23.200 --> 02:54:40.399
everybody for that you know if people want it they will do it If they don't want it, let them not. Um, and I'm going in circles, but that's where I stand and that's what I want. Thank you. >> Yes. >> All right. Well, you all have listened

580
02:54:40.399 --> 02:54:57.279
to us. It's now for public comment. City clerk. >> All right. We'll start with e comments here. Uh, Kowanas Club Commissioner in doing hours of research on alter alternative ways water supply grants. It shows

581
02:54:57.279 --> 02:55:14.000
Governor Dantis invested more than 335 million in water supply projects. It shows Lee County received hundreds of millions of dollars in grants. Has the city applied for this or other grants through Department of Environmental Protection to reduce the cost to customers asked to link to into the city's water system? If not, please

582
02:55:14.000 --> 02:55:29.359
postpone this mandatory ordinance. If you can't, please extend the time to hook up for three years along with three years to pay the $2,000. Most importantly, please hold a community meeting at the Shannon Stop Library for questions and answers. Live stream it

583
02:55:29.359 --> 02:55:45.439
for others who can't attend. Please explain everything to to the residents, including a list of licensed plumbers to safeguard them from scams. The neighborhoods impacted have elementary and middle schools with more than 60% of students on free or reduced lunch. Please remember the cost of food, gas,

584
02:55:45.439 --> 02:56:01.760
homeowners insurance, healthcare, and much more is up right now. People don't have an extra $2,000. Perhaps that's where the grants can be utilized. Please, commissioners, you could also ask our statewide elected officials to add this to the appropriations list next year while in Tal Tallahassee. Thanks

585
02:56:01.760 --> 02:56:16.960
for your consideration of these ideas to help those in need. Next one. W Doh when will additional loops be added? We need an updated map so people can prepare. It seems that we can no longer go by the zones on the map online. Also, what happened to the cost

586
02:56:16.960 --> 02:56:33.120
going up so much? What is the $10 fee paying for? Next one. Lucas Livingston. I am a Northport property owner writing in strong opposition to the mandatory water connection requirement. While I did not personally receive a letter, I stand firmly with my 450 neighbors who

587
02:56:33.120 --> 02:56:49.040
did and I am deeply concerned about the precedent this sets for all of us. $12,300 is not a small sum. It is not affordable for families on fixed incomes or tight budgets, especially when they already have functioning wellwater. A 30-year financing plan added to a monthly bill is not a relief. It is a

588
02:56:49.040 --> 02:57:05.279
long-term financial obligation imposed without consent. The city's own admission that the original water system was built without a cohesive plan should not become my neighbor's financial punishment. Residents did not create the dead end problem. The city did. It is deeply unfair to shift the cost of

589
02:57:05.279 --> 02:57:21.040
correcting that planning failure onto private homeowners. Private wells are not a public health threat. Forcing abandonment of working clean water systems to solve an infrastructure inefficiency the city created at the homeowner's expense is wrong. I urge the commission to suspend this mandate,

590
02:57:21.040 --> 02:57:37.120
revisit the city code, and pursue voluntary connection incentives instead. Next one, anonymous. Why are 500 homes being selected and forced to pay for infrastructure in extension of the city water system? The selection seemed random. The bottom line cost to a

591
02:57:37.120 --> 02:57:54.080
homeowner is a hardship and would be a $1,355 meter, $5,000 plumber, and any other cost to be determined upon installment for a total of $6,300 and repairs to property after dig. I have a fire hydrant within 100 ft of my house, so

592
02:57:54.080 --> 02:58:10.800
that is not a valid argument, and great well water, so none of the pros and cons of in the memorandum are applicable. nor do I benefit for this cost costly infrastructure expansion and having to go into debt to foot the costs and of course now a monthly bill. There must be a better way to fund this without

593
02:58:10.800 --> 02:58:26.800
forcing it on 500 residents and require them to carry debt and a financial burden ongoing. Total cost estimate with these figures at best guess are about $17,000. Thank you for your attention. Next one. William Esource. I'm one of the residents who received a

594
02:58:26.800 --> 02:58:42.080
letter stating that I'm being required to pay $12,000 to connect to City Water. When I factor in the connection fee plus the cost of hiring a plumber, I'm looking at roughly $14,500. That's about 10% of what I originally paid for my entire home just for the

595
02:58:42.080 --> 02:58:57.920
privilege of connecting to city water. Even though my needs are already being fully met by my well and reverse osmosis system, this mandate feels excessive and unfair. It's hard to see how imposing such a costly requirement on fellow Northport residents reflect the values we expect in our community. My neighbor

596
02:58:57.920 --> 02:59:13.680
across the street is facing the same situation. She's a single mother of three daughters and is still recovering financially from Hurricane Ian when repairs on her home are not complete. This requirement has caused her significant stress. I moved to the city after leaving the army in 2013 and I've

597
02:59:13.680 --> 02:59:28.479
always considered it a great place to live. However, this mandate feels like a slap in the face. For those who want to connect to the city water, that's their choice, but it shouldn't be forced on everyone, especially when existing systems are working just fine. It's frustrating to feel like residents are

598
02:59:28.479 --> 02:59:50.479
being penalized simply because the city chose to install infrastructure like a fire hydrant loop for its own convenience. That's it for e- comment. Next, we have in person, Tim Doyle. It would be 16% of what I paid for my house.

599
02:59:50.479 --> 03:00:07.279
Couple of things that were bought up to get rid of the uh smell. All you need is a charcoal filter outside and you'll get rid of that uh smell. Very easy to do. Very low cost. I don't know why you're charging for a meter. A meter is part of the system

600
03:00:07.279 --> 03:00:22.640
that should be built in just like the pump at the station. So, if the person is paying you $1,300 for that meter, do they own it? If the people are paying for the pipes in the ground, do they own it?

601
03:00:22.640 --> 03:00:39.680
They're paying for it. But no, you're going to take it. So, that's really an eighth amendment violation if you ask me. Okay? See that sign up there? It says incorporated. Do you know why you're incorporated? because you own a water company and a

602
03:00:39.680 --> 03:00:55.840
sewer company. You know how you get rid of this? Sell it to the private sector. Let them invest the money and let them charge the fees that it actually cost. See, that's your problem. You're trying to make people pay for their own pipes

603
03:00:55.840 --> 03:01:11.200
and then you're charging them fees. The fees should cover the expansion. Whatever you bring in every month should pay for this stuff, not large sums. I own 320 ft of road frontage. How much would you going to cost me when you

604
03:01:11.200 --> 03:01:28.000
bring your water and sort out my street? It's a joke. I've been in this room. I think you'll probably charge me over 100 grand. What a joke. And you putting it on someone when I sell my house, you just killed my value in my house. That drops

605
03:01:28.000 --> 03:01:45.040
the value of my house what? $50,000. What gives you the right to take $50,000 when I go to take my house? Again, an eighth amendment violation. My electric bill in the winter times about 100 bucks, 80 bucks. In the

606
03:01:45.040 --> 03:02:00.720
summer, it's 180. I don't use heat. I'm from New Hampshire. I don't I It's not cold enough for heat down here. Okay. So, how much of that bill is for my well and sore? 10 bucks a month. So excessive fees and fine comes here

607
03:02:00.720 --> 03:02:18.720
under the eth amendment. How much are you charging me? That's excessive. We need to take these laws to court and break them with the constitution. You guys are ridiculous. And a permit. I already have a well.

608
03:02:18.720 --> 03:02:34.319
You're going to tell me I have to go file a permit to use my damn well to water my lawn. Sell the water company. sell the sword company because we're paying pensions for those people. We're paying their salaries. That's in the fee every month

609
03:02:34.319 --> 03:02:58.200
too for their pensions, right? Why don't you let a private company worry about their darn pensions and not us? Is that's what you're doing. You're working for the people in the water company and not the people in the town. AOS. H A Y O S.

610
03:03:09.840 --> 03:03:25.439
>> Susan Hayes on San Matteo Road. Um, I'm obviously against mandatory. I'm obviously against the fact for $10. I'm obviously against the fact it is $12,000.

611
03:03:25.439 --> 03:03:40.880
I'm also against the fact that they were in front of my house for 13 months building a water line across San Mateo, which is maybe two miles. It took them

612
03:03:40.880 --> 03:03:58.560
13 months. My entire front lawn was completely ruined. for that whole time. We never got notice. All of a sudden, people appeared and started digging. This whole thing has been handled

613
03:03:58.560 --> 03:04:13.279
improperly. I agree with the fact that it Barbara said something about when you have a house and it's got the water line there, that's one thing. If you've got a a

614
03:04:13.279 --> 03:04:28.560
house that you want to buy, then you should put it do it right up front. That's good. But as far as charging people for getting this water line put in, it's ridiculous. The town has a responsibility

615
03:04:28.560 --> 03:04:46.399
by law to provide water. You defaulted on that obligation when my house was built. It's now time for you to pay the bill. >> Thank you, ma'am.

616
03:04:46.399 --> 03:05:16.800
>> Joseph Majorino, Joseph Majorino, 2747 Rebel Lane. Um, maybe you guys need to you, Mr. city attorney. They You guys are They're not allowed to talk to each other. That's sunshine law. Correct. Yeah. They also

617
03:05:16.800 --> 03:05:33.120
aren't allowed to talk to employees or he'll sanction them. Is that sunshine law? Because I'm I'm failing to understand how these things get here. Nobody seems to know. The only way is the city manager tells the employee. The employee comes up, puts the thing up,

618
03:05:33.120 --> 03:05:48.080
and bang, it's all of a sudden law. It seems like they're digging in like they dig into the Constitution and they have their own interpretation of what's going on. I.e. I'll tell you the uh geological surveys. You're the attorney. How'd that get passed?

619
03:05:48.080 --> 03:06:05.359
Don't know. He made me get a a a an engineer's drawing for my home cuz they refused to give the concrete guy his permit. Again, Elena Ray lied. It's not state law until the building goes up. So, I may have to pay for that twice

620
03:06:05.359 --> 03:06:20.479
now, which he's going to pay for because I'm going to sue him. Maybe you need to pass a thing. Maybe you guys need to pick up the phone once in a while, Mr. Stokes. I agree with some of the stuff you said. You should pick up the phone and and and maybe straighten out. Maybe there needs to be something else passed.

621
03:06:20.479 --> 03:06:36.640
I agree with the water stuff like that. But how did we get here? >> It's an out of control person that you have and you refuse to stand up and and have a spine. That's the problem I have. You don't have broken fingers and you don't have too

622
03:06:36.640 --> 03:06:52.240
much arthritis in your fingers. You could have picked up the phone. Even with my issue, I didn't have to have the assistant city manager try to throw me out of the building. And by the way, he got rid of him for two reasons. Me and he got rid of him cuz now there's nobody to take his spot if you get rid of him. Thank you,

623
03:06:52.240 --> 03:07:15.920
>> Lorine Plant. I don't really have any statements to make other than I am against the mandate. Um I think it's a crime to force something on people that have a working system. You want to put it on to new

624
03:07:15.920 --> 03:07:33.600
builds, that's one thing. If you want to provide the piping and let the option of the residents hook in, that's another. That's fine. let them have the option. My question is with the letter that went

625
03:07:33.600 --> 03:07:52.319
out, what is the timeline after that? Uh say you know for for people to pay what is the timeline of the construction? That is one one thing I want to know and I also want to know that I want to see the transparency

626
03:07:52.319 --> 03:08:10.240
of the costs of the actual project um presented to the residents. The amount of $12,000 is astronomical for piping and meters for everyone's

627
03:08:10.240 --> 03:08:25.920
home. Um the administration fee uh over the life of the loan, this $10 fee a month, that's 40 450 homes,

628
03:08:25.920 --> 03:08:42.080
that's somebody's salary every month. What what what administration fee is there? Computer, electronic, that's ridiculous. Um, also if this is mandated,

629
03:08:42.080 --> 03:08:57.680
um, and say these 450 homes pay the $12,000, where will the funds be deposited that they will be used for the project? How soon after the funds are deposited will

630
03:08:57.680 --> 03:09:14.600
the project start? And who benefits from the interest made on that on all those funds? These are the questions that I have that I would like to have answered. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> David Casianic.

631
03:09:22.319 --> 03:09:37.520
>> Hi there. I don't know what the cut off is to say good night. I don't know if it's past good evening. Uh Dave Cassantic, resident of Northport. I wanted to say that this uh letter literally made me sick to my stomach. It even made some of my neighbors cry. Our home was one of those that was a new

632
03:09:37.520 --> 03:09:53.040
construction. It was built in 2023, hel had wells put in and my neighbor as well after the looping project was completed. >> I've spoken to the utilities department and they have confirmed that this was a mistake that this should have been uh mandatorily connected when the house was

633
03:09:53.040 --> 03:10:08.319
being built. They apologized for this error but still insisted I have to pay. Northport messed up and they want me to pay for it. I along with all my neighbors believe this connection to be first of all unnecessary and secondly too expensive for all of us. I have a third child on the way and we are a

634
03:10:08.319 --> 03:10:25.359
one-inccome family. Uh many of my neighbors are on a fixed income. A water bill is not stable. Some people I have spoken to are paying hundreds of dollars a month and those who have connected have had their water bills double at a minimum. And many of us have new systems and reverse osmosis and cannot afford to

635
03:10:25.359 --> 03:10:42.319
pay and connect to city water. We believe our water to be a better quality, more reliable um free hookup is still too expensive for those who do not want it and we do not want city water. My uh kids have eczema and we have autoimmune issues and we cannot bathe or

636
03:10:42.319 --> 03:10:58.720
uh consume any highly chlorinated water and I would need to install an additional system to be able to use this water and it would be an additional financial burden on top of the connection plus the plumbers. Uh this was one of the many reasons we needed a house on well. Uh there is no help with

637
03:10:58.720 --> 03:11:14.479
payments or any programs. I have emailed Sarasota County about ship. They said this does not qualify. Uh they stated that they will not cover the cost of the connection. Why not let people choose? This is not manded by mandated by the state only sewer. You

638
03:11:14.479 --> 03:11:36.240
have the power not to do this. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. >> Uh is Steven Harrison still here? Steven Le. Okay. Debbie Dwight. >> Hi. Can I speak over here? Is >> that microphone on? >> It should be. Yeah, it should be. Yes,

639
03:11:36.240 --> 03:11:53.200
ma'am. If the microphone's on. >> Hi, I'm Debbie Dwight and I live on Lapidus Road. Um, the builder built the house with the owner of the property in 2017. We bought it in 2018.

640
03:11:53.200 --> 03:12:10.319
We did have we had the well, it stunk. We invested. We've been paying for six years on the reverse osmosis system. We finally paid that off. We got another loan for the damage from

641
03:12:10.319 --> 03:12:28.720
Ian. We lost our home over in Harbor Cove. So, we moved into the city thinking this is great. We didn't we didn't do anything more with the property that you guys approved. Um the builder got the COO certificate

642
03:12:28.720 --> 03:12:46.720
of occupancy. Why would I have to go pay all this? Why didn't you guys put it in your codes for the all these builders to get a certificate of occupancy with that water

643
03:12:46.720 --> 03:13:03.520
system? So now I live some of our property is on hornbuckle and some is on lapidus. My address is lapidous but because our property borders hornbuckle now we have to pay for it. It's not

644
03:13:03.520 --> 03:13:19.920
improved all around us. My husband said he'll dig it up. There's a 100 ft of trench we have to dig. >> 150, excuse me. And another thing of pipe. You guys, when I got that letter,

645
03:13:19.920 --> 03:13:37.760
I have been up till 3:00 in the morning trying to go through all your addendums and all your pages on my little iPhone cuz I don't have a computer and I'm 71 years old. It's a joke to give me a 30 year loan unless they come

646
03:13:37.760 --> 03:13:54.800
up with some medicine. So, that's my opinion on all this and we're in our 70s. We don't know what to do. That's all I got to say. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am.

647
03:13:54.800 --> 03:14:22.160
>> Mark Wesner. >> Yes. My name is Mark Wesner and uh my wife and I live on North Salford Boulevard. We bought our house in 2018 and um we uh you know did the TDS test

648
03:14:22.160 --> 03:14:39.439
uh had that done on our water cuz we're on a well and it was 1440 which is pretty high as far as water quality goes. So, we thought, okay, let's uh let's bite the bullet and go for a reverse osmosis system. And so, we did

649
03:14:39.439 --> 03:14:55.920
that. And uh the the water uh quality went went down to 25, which is great. We love it. Excellent water. We spent $10,000 for that RO whole house system.

650
03:14:55.920 --> 03:15:12.640
And then we got the letter. And uh frankly, I've been relieved to hear all of you, each of you commissioners, say, "There's got to be a better way. There's got to be a better way." I picked my wife up from the uh uh

651
03:15:12.640 --> 03:15:29.840
from the the airport today. Uh she'd been up north with uh her elderly uh parents and uh I said, "Honey, we got this letter, $12,300 to hook. It's mandatory.

652
03:15:29.840 --> 03:15:46.640
We have to hook up to the city water. And then I read on, that's not only just not that, >> but how about this? Homeowners will also be responsible for installation of the water service between the meter and the residence. The home owner must hire a

653
03:15:46.640 --> 03:16:02.880
licensed plumber to make the connection to the meter and and a certified backflow installer must install and test the backflow pre. and she's she's going, "You got to be kidding me." So, I'm glad

654
03:16:02.880 --> 03:16:20.319
to hear you talk about, "Hey, look, let's let's for those that want it, great. They can they can buy it. But for those of us that are happy with our water the way it is, uh, could we be exempt from that?" I ask

655
03:16:20.319 --> 03:16:42.960
you to consider that, please. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Debbie McDow. The code's the code. Code's the code. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it's the code. Only you guys can change the code, not him.

656
03:16:42.960 --> 03:17:00.479
He put those letters out without asking you, the commission, if this is something you truly want to do. Because it had been over what, four years since the commission has had any public input or any public discussion on the code.

657
03:17:00.479 --> 03:17:18.000
The citizens don't know about it. It's been four years, but the city manager went ahead and put that letter out without telling you and without telling them. His apology, great. He apologized.

658
03:17:18.000 --> 03:17:37.439
It still doesn't absolve the fact that this mess was created. It could have been avoided. it budget is around the corner and I I'm almost positive the utilities

659
03:17:37.439 --> 03:17:52.640
department is relying on some of this money for their budget. So when and you have to take it into consideration because if you're going to change a code, how is it going to affect their budget?

660
03:17:52.640 --> 03:18:08.960
You need that side of the equation, too. I know it's not popular to hear that and I know you guys don't want to hear that, but eventually the people that have city water and city sewer are going to pick up the tab. Is that fair to them? Because you're going to have to increase

661
03:18:08.960 --> 03:18:26.239
the costs. As far as ship goes, when the commission at the time, yes, we were on the board, we figured that this would be a good solution for those that have hardship. I don't know how that changed between 2122 when that was discussed and today but

662
03:18:26.239 --> 03:18:42.319
it's not available. I don't know why requiring a mandatory hookup that for the vacant properties when they're building absolutely that makes sense. The state mandates sewer

663
03:18:42.319 --> 03:18:58.960
and sewer requires water, which now requires a mandate for the city water. You can't have sewer without the water. So, you have to take that into consideration when you're making these decisions. I definitely see a workshop on the

664
03:18:58.960 --> 03:19:19.359
horizon and hopefully a few town halls once the if you guys are going to change the code. How are you going to notify those 400 or 500 people that received a letter? They're already trying to figure out how to make this happen because they have a mandatory letter. you have a

665
03:19:19.359 --> 03:19:36.000
responsibility to notify them sooner rather than later of your plans, even if the code isn't codified yet. But I don't know if that's even legally possible. That's something you're going to have to talk to city attorney about. Remove the damn $10 fee. It's It's a

666
03:19:36.000 --> 03:20:12.960
money grab. Jesse Johnson. Um, I just wanted to try and address some of the other issues that I haven't heard a lot to talk about until actually just recently with Miss uh McDow, I believe. Um,

667
03:20:12.960 --> 03:20:29.760
what are you going to do about all these vacant lots? You going to charge them $12,000 and then they I understand they wouldn't have to hook up until they build, but the lines still run through. You're going to charge a a $15,000 lot 12 grand. What are they going to do with

668
03:20:29.760 --> 03:20:46.000
that lot? Nobody's going to pay that. Or they're going to sell to a builder cuz that value of that lot's never going to go to 35,000 from that. Just something I was just curious about. I haven't heard anybody really talking about it. Um I

669
03:20:46.000 --> 03:21:01.760
just bought the lot next door to my house, so I was kind of curious. I didn't know. Do I have to combine it right now? I mean, you know, something something that I need to know. I'm sure there's other people with vacant lots out there. The homeowners obviously are

670
03:21:01.760 --> 03:21:33.920
the most important. However, just another thing I'd like to hear more about. Thank Thank you, sir. >> Colleen Hibbit. Hi, good evening. I'm Colleen Hibbitz. I haven't been sworn in. Is that something I need to do? I'm not sure.

671
03:21:33.920 --> 03:21:51.359
>> Great. Fantastic. Um, so I did receive the mandatory letter. I live in the pilot program off of Garyland Avenue um over by Memorial Mark. Gary where the initial pilot was um probably six, seven, eight years ago. Um the questions I have are, you know, getting the letter

672
03:21:51.359 --> 03:22:06.640
I thought that it was already approved through commission. I thought it was mandatory. I am a supporter of utilities and the people that work there and the fine water quality that we have and I understand the the benefit of of getting on the utility. Um however, um my well

673
03:22:06.640 --> 03:22:21.760
pump failed right at the time I got that letter. So, it was either going to be a roughly a $1,300 fix to repump my or to replplum my well, but I called utilities to say, "Hey, what's coming up? Is what do I do with this mandatory thing and

674
03:22:21.760 --> 03:22:37.840
how much is the cost going to be?" So, I went from having a $1,300 fix just to replace my well and have my water back on in my house or I opted because I'd figure I'd have to do this anyway is I contracted with a plumber for $3,000 to

675
03:22:37.840 --> 03:22:53.359
run the line to my house and install the backflow. I also had to pay the meter set and now I have a $12,000 loan. I will soon have an $80 a month bill, which is typical of the capacity fee as well as the finance fee, which comes out

676
03:22:53.359 --> 03:23:10.000
to about $960 annually. So again, I went from about a $1,300 fix to a $960 annual bill and a $12,000 loan against my house or against me. So, now that I'm hearing you say that it may or may not be

677
03:23:10.000 --> 03:23:26.880
mandatory, kind of uncomfortable that now that I hear that you say maybe we should reduce this if you connect soon, am I getting a rebate on that or a credit towards this loan that I have? So, I have questions and I hope the utilities can follow up with me in the future to let me know any

678
03:23:26.880 --> 03:23:42.399
further commission decisions that come up. Um, also some of the things that some of my neighbors have been asking me are about are they paying line extension fees for their frontage, which can if they have two lots and mind on one and have one house on that lot, are they

679
03:23:42.399 --> 03:23:58.960
paying for the whole 120 ft or is it per ERC? And I couldn't answer that question for them. Also, something that utilities talked about a long time ago, which I don't know if you've know about or have addressed, is if a homeowner has um has installed a new water system,

680
03:23:58.960 --> 03:24:16.439
like some of these people were talking about, they put in a new RO or they put a new system, will they get a credit for that if they have installed that in the in the year prior to this letter coming out? So, those are my questions. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you, ma'am. Larry Santiago.

681
03:24:23.600 --> 03:24:47.040
Oh, it's another 15 already. I'm going to keep this short and simple. I didn't get a letter. So, but I heard about this and concerns me. This has a air of socialism and communism for me and I think everybody

682
03:24:47.040 --> 03:25:04.319
feels this way mandate. I have a reverse osmosis system throughout my whole house. My water is cleaner than the city water. And I know this because my friend has the city water. I've tested my water against his. Mine came out cleaner. Why I got to why

683
03:25:04.319 --> 03:25:20.479
I got to pay $12,000 in the future or my kid for dirty water? Why can't they just lower the pressure if it's so much water being wasted? Simple solution, right? Just lower the tap, lower the pressure. You don't have

684
03:25:20.479 --> 03:25:37.200
to pull full throttle on water. You just got to keep the water moving through the pipe so it can keep working. I'm not a plumber. I know that. Now, I'm going to say something because I see a lot of people on social media and all this and that very concerned about this.

685
03:25:37.200 --> 03:25:53.920
Everybody's talking primary this, primary that. think it's going to happen. People are going to be watching this. I'm getting text message after text messages. What are they saying? I say it looks good. It looks good. There's some people that

686
03:25:53.920 --> 03:26:08.640
are for the people. I guess they're hearing your voices. Maybe a little more harassment in Walmart. Who knows? Do it because they're listening and I'm not gonna want to pay that $10.

687
03:26:08.640 --> 03:26:25.960
You know what I will do? Pay $10 for to whoever votes for this. Get them on. That's what I'll pay the $10 for. I I'll back up any candidate. That young man right there. You seem like a smart guy. Run for something.

688
03:26:26.239 --> 03:26:51.600
That's it. I got one more minute. I could talk about what? I'm joking. >> Thank you, sir. Shel, you want to talk? I have not been sworn in. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. I'm here for two for two reasons. One,

689
03:26:51.600 --> 03:27:08.319
because we also received the letter. My husband and I are both realtors. I've been a realtor for 36 years, 21 years here in the Northport area. We started receiving phone calls from our customers crying. I'm literally crying. In fact, I'm going to read you a

690
03:27:08.319 --> 03:27:24.239
text that we received today from an elderly lady. She says, "Has everyone received a notice that it's mandatory to hook up to city water at the cost of $12,000? I am losing sleep over this. I simply can't afford it plus a monthly upkeep. I

691
03:27:24.239 --> 03:27:38.800
will fight it, but the bottom line is I can't win. I will have to sell the house. I would probably have to move back to New York with my kids. I'm 84 now and on a fixed income. Just wondering whether I'm the only one in this boat. I've been comfortable in this

692
03:27:38.800 --> 03:27:54.080
house for 26 years and this is really tearing me up. Sorry, I'm just venting. Love you both for helping me whenever you can. We've watched this lady. She lost her husband. She's maintained two lots

693
03:27:54.080 --> 03:28:10.239
because she can't sell her corner lot because Wells Fargo will not allow her to separate it from her deed. She owes $60,000 on her house and so consequently she personally maintains it because she can't afford for somebody else to

694
03:28:10.239 --> 03:28:25.760
maintain that lot and the city of Northport has gone to her and said you need to maintain this. So she personally does it herself and we help her whenever we can. Now in the last week the number of homes that have gone on the market in

695
03:28:25.760 --> 03:28:44.000
Northport is astronomical. 32 today. What people are worried that they this lean is going to be put against their house. What's that doing to all anybody's property that lives in Northport? If all these homes are going on the market, people are concerned about the cost of this lean going

696
03:28:44.000 --> 03:29:00.399
against their house and when they go to sell now, they'll have that much less equity. It's not going to do anything but devalue the price of the value of everybody's homes at Northport. Um, and to top it all off, four years ago in

697
03:29:00.399 --> 03:29:15.040
2022, we were put on the loop. Our house was put on the loop. We were told that we were get city water. It was $8,000. Then we told them, we were told we needed to do it. So, we started budgeting to do

698
03:29:15.040 --> 03:29:31.680
it. We called several times because the hole that the meter is going into disappeared after Ian. and we called several times for them to come to it. Trish had it taken care of yesterday finally this many years later. We were

699
03:29:31.680 --> 03:29:47.200
worried either a person or an animal would fall into that hole. And now we're back to square one. And if we had done it four four years ago when they told us what it needed to be done, it would have cost us a lot less money. So, I you know, I'm I'm really here for us, but

700
03:29:47.200 --> 03:30:02.160
mostly for our customers because I'm concerned about how many people cannot afford to do this if they don't have a choice. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you, sir. All right. I'm going to request a motion.

701
03:30:02.160 --> 03:30:18.560
>> I'd like to try it. We'll see where we go here. like to make a motion to direct staff to first notify all those who received a letter that this project is being paused. Two, to then work on a

702
03:30:18.560 --> 03:30:36.319
change in the code to make this service connection voluntary for those who want to opt in voluntarily within 365 days. cost will be capped at an amount to be determined and approved by commission.

703
03:30:36.319 --> 03:30:53.520
>> Period. >> I'll second for discussion. >> Do you mind repeating that if you don't? That was a long one. >> You got me on that one. >> I actually can do this again. >> Thank you, sir. >> Uh, I'd like to make a motion to direct staff to first notify all those who

704
03:30:53.520 --> 03:31:08.239
received the letter that this project is being paused. and secondarily to work on a change in the code to make this service connection voluntary. For those who want to opt in

705
03:31:08.239 --> 03:31:27.840
voluntarily within 365 days, cost will be capped at an amount to be determined and approved by commission. Period. >> Thank you, sir. I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice

706
03:31:27.840 --> 03:31:44.800
Mayor. Would you read that back to me, sir, since you've now got it? >> Yes, sir. To direct the city manager to notify all those that received the letter that this project is being paused. Second, to work on a change in the code to make the service connection voluntary. And for those who want to opt

707
03:31:44.800 --> 03:32:01.040
in voluntarily within 365 days, the cost will be capped at an amount to be determined and approved by commission. >> Okay. Uh vice mayor has seconded that for discussion. Vice mayor discuss. >> Yes. Thank you. I I really like the

708
03:32:01.040 --> 03:32:16.960
motion. Um I'd like to suggest two amendments. One >> only one. two, that the connection be optional for already constructed

709
03:32:16.960 --> 03:32:41.200
homes. And then to add that for new construction, the it is a mandatory connection to city water. I can agree with those um for the main

710
03:32:41.200 --> 03:32:58.080
purposes is that new construction >> if there is city water available >> yes >> should automatically be put on the city water and sewer if that's available >> for new construction this way they're not putting an investment into wells and septic and following the state mandates

711
03:32:58.080 --> 03:33:14.479
and >> everything like that so yeah I would agree with that u go ahead uh commissioner Metro. >> What if it's not available for new construction and there's no line running on this street? >> They don't hook up. So they

712
03:33:14.479 --> 03:33:33.760
>> will be they obligated when the line is available and the house is constructed. >> I would say it would default to the current thing. So for any house that's already constructed constructed,

713
03:33:33.760 --> 03:33:50.239
the hookup would be optional. But if it's five years from now, 10 years from now, the terms of that could change as costs change. >> Well, I think it could change by commissions, too. But right with your question is

714
03:33:50.239 --> 03:34:06.080
>> if they've already invested into the well and everything prior to that water line being put out there then it would follow the original motion saying it was be voluntary not mandatory because they've already made that

715
03:34:06.080 --> 03:34:22.080
investment. We're just talking new construction and different avenues to go. then we would have to stipulate or define that in in your amendment somehow. I guess that's just my I don't know. We have to consult the city

716
03:34:22.080 --> 03:34:37.359
attorney on that. >> I don't know. The whole frame of this, if I may, is hooking up to water if it's available. So, I mean, we can add it in certainly if it helps clarity, but to require someone to hook up to something

717
03:34:37.359 --> 03:34:53.600
that's not available makes no sense. But later down the road it will be available. So >> then it would be an already constructed home and it would default to the policy of an already constructed home before water was available.

718
03:34:53.600 --> 03:35:07.520
>> Okay. >> And I think what we're trying to get to here is to try and make make some sense out of this to where we're either going to make it mandatory, voluntary. We'll get to the specifics I believe in a in a future

719
03:35:07.520 --> 03:35:23.760
meeting to discover and you know exactly what charges we'd like to produce because I don't want utilities to come up and say hey this is this this this evening. we can go ahead and workshop it, you know, make it available to the public, be able to discuss those

720
03:35:23.760 --> 03:35:42.000
parameters. But I think tonight is to let's see where we're going to go and and that's why, you know, with some of your amendments, it's like it's getting into the weeds a little bit, but a little bit, >> but not as much. So, I mean, that's what we got going.

721
03:35:42.000 --> 03:35:57.120
>> Anything else, Commissioner? >> Thanks. The one uh the one other thing I don't know if your second >> Oh, she hasn't made an amendment yet. She was discussing that. >> Okay. For the $10.

722
03:35:57.120 --> 03:36:14.399
>> Well, did you you didn't cover that? >> No, I didn't. >> Okay. So, let me phrase a formal >> formal amendment. >> Amendment. Yes, ma'am. >> Um eliminate the $10 service fee. >> Okay. Is that one amendment? I'm I'm

723
03:36:14.399 --> 03:36:32.680
doing >> just one. Okay. >> Amendment. >> So, eliminate the $10 service fee, require a mandatory connection to city water for new construction.

724
03:36:36.080 --> 03:36:58.399
What was the other one? Yeah. So require mandatory water hookup for new construction. >> You said previously >> you said previously for optional for already constructed homes. >> Is that what you were going >> already constructed home? >> But I thought that was covered.

725
03:36:58.399 --> 03:37:13.840
>> That's already covered in the >> covered in the original motion. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh >> okay. City clerk, you want to read back the motion for that amendment?

726
03:37:13.840 --> 03:37:30.080
>> Sure. Do you want the amendment or you want the whole motion? >> I want the amendment first. >> Okay. To eliminate the $10 service fee and require a mandatory connection to city water for new construction. >> Okay. That motion was made by Vice Mayor. Do I have a second?

727
03:37:30.080 --> 03:37:59.120
>> I have a second from Commissioner Duval. Is there anything to that? If not, please vote >> on the amendment. >> On the amendment >> on the amendment and that passes 4 to one with Commissioner Pro dissenting. Anything to

728
03:37:59.120 --> 03:38:25.200
that, Commissioner Pro? >> Just I believe in options. >> Okay. And now we're going to go to the original motion as amended. >> If there's nothing to that, please vote. And that passes five to zero.

729
03:38:25.200 --> 03:50:44.160
>> Thank you. >> All righty. That's it for that one. We're gonna move on about you want potty birds. All right, we're going to take a 10-minute break and then we'll come back and Moving on to ordinance first reading item B ordinance number 20 2026

730
03:50:44.160 --> 03:51:03.319
or 2026-14 and I request a motion to have the deputy city clerk to read by title only. >> Second. >> I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes, seconded by Vice Mayor to have and read by total only. Please vote.

731
03:51:07.840 --> 03:51:24.880
And that passes 5 to zero. City Clerk, >> an ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, amending the non-district budget capital improvement budget for fiscal year 2025 to 2026 to increase park impact fee funded project P24LTC Legacy Trail Connection to Warm Mineral

732
03:51:24.880 --> 03:51:42.479
Springs in the amount of $125,000 providing for findings, providing for posting, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, city manager. This is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The parks and reccks department seeks to amend the fiscal year 202526 nond district budget

733
03:51:42.479 --> 03:51:58.800
and capital improvement budget to appropriate an additional $125,000 to the legacy trail connection to Warm Mill Springs project P24 LTC. This funding is needed for additional services outside the current scope of work to meet permit requirements as well as complete

734
03:51:58.800 --> 03:52:13.840
engineering and design of the legacy trail connection project. An amendment to agreement 2017-40 with Kimley Horn and Associates will be brought to commissioner for approval upon adoption of this ordinance. We recommend that you approve ordinance

735
03:52:13.840 --> 03:52:30.479
number 2026-14 as presented and move for second reading on May 5th, 2026. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, sir. Commissioner, questions, discussions? >> Commissioner Stokes. >> Yeah, I'll try to be brief on this one.

736
03:52:30.479 --> 03:52:45.520
Quick question for staff. Um and and this particular item is dependent for for me at least on the answer to this question. Um I'd like to understand right now when it comes to

737
03:52:45.520 --> 03:53:03.040
the project to to fix the 20 acres, okay, to to run utilities to that location. Okay. Is it still the intent of the city? Okay. has nothing's changed that

738
03:53:03.040 --> 03:53:18.880
utilities are going to run down the length of Ortiz from 41 to Ortiz. I know it's not funded. Okay. I know we don't have the money for it yet or haven't figured that out, but I in order for me to make a decision on

739
03:53:18.880 --> 03:53:34.479
this agenda item, I need to know the answer to that question. That's why I'm asking. >> Sure. Sandy Funheller, parks and recreation director. Um that is a different project than this. This is the Warm Mineral Springs connector to the Legacy Trail, which is um the second

740
03:53:34.479 --> 03:53:50.479
phase of that project. Um the Warm Mineral Springs Park building renovations do include that in the scope, the connection of the utilities down Ortiz. >> Thanks Andy very much. That's all I got. Thanks, Mayor. Vice Mayor.

741
03:53:50.479 --> 03:54:07.120
>> Yes, Andy. Don't run away. I understand from the CIP project description that the funding that's already been allocated in this particular request is coming out of park impact fees. Correct.

742
03:54:07.120 --> 03:54:21.840
>> Correct. >> Then I'm not going to object to that. But I also understand that $4 million of this project is currently unfunded. Correct. >> The construction of the project. Correct. >> Okay. So, I I'm not going to be a

743
03:54:21.840 --> 03:54:39.439
stickler for this specific request because it's all park impact fees, but depending upon how we approach the unfunded portion of this project, I in good conscience cannot support any

744
03:54:39.439 --> 03:54:57.120
further investment in War Mineral Springs if I don't see an immediate opportunity for that investment. to help the city from an economic point of view. And right now, I don't see it.

745
03:54:57.120 --> 03:55:13.040
I I just see us pouring millions after millions or potentially pouring millions without any plan to use a 60 60 acres or a portion of that to provide economic

746
03:55:13.040 --> 03:55:28.800
benefit or at what Commissioner Stokes poked at uh seeing an opportunity to bring the properties along Ortiz into the city so that we can ensure they're developed. in such a way that we begin

747
03:55:28.800 --> 03:55:47.199
to realize some economic benefit from our investment in warm mineral springs. So that's where I'm at. >> Commissioner Stokes, you promise to be brief. >> I am. And just and just to clarify again, I asked my questions for a

748
03:55:47.199 --> 03:56:04.880
separate reason. The 125,000 here is in order for us to be able to cover the cost of design. Am I correct? There's additional permitting requirements that were not included in the initial scope. >> Uh once we do this, we'll come back with the amendment to the contract. Uh and

749
03:56:04.880 --> 03:56:21.279
then when it's complete, we'll have a shovel ready project. >> Yep. Perfect. All right. Um you know, the other the other subject, you know, regarding the springs itself is a conversation for another day. Absolutely.

750
03:56:21.279 --> 03:56:45.920
>> All right. City clerk, public comment. Tim Doyle. I guess the warm mil mineral springs could be a draw for the city if it was um marketed right. I don't know how you market it.

751
03:56:45.920 --> 03:57:01.359
If this is some of you at the last meeting spoke about this and you think it's a good thing for the city, it will bring people to the city. It will be an outdoors type of thing. People can enjoy it. I think you guys said it goes from

752
03:57:01.359 --> 03:57:20.880
Sarasota all the way. I don't know where it ends. Maybe it'll go the whole length of the state one day like the Appalachian Trail. Who knows? But you know the money if you don't fund the project are you wasting the 125 grand.

753
03:57:20.880 --> 03:57:37.520
So I think if you're voting on this and you're voting for it then you're voting to fund it as well cuz why throw away 125,000 if you're not going to do it. The only other thing I really have to say on it is the fees

754
03:57:37.520 --> 03:57:54.479
impact fees. fees at the places at the parks, they're all going up. Your water fees are going up. Everything's going up. It's going up because you keep giving out raises.

755
03:57:54.479 --> 03:58:14.439
Maybe one year someone doesn't get a raise. You're telling me every year of your life you got a race. every job you ever had. Raises should be based on the ability to pay.

756
03:58:14.640 --> 03:58:31.760
You just can't always go back to people and raise their fees and taxes to pay for this stuff. There's a lot of pain right now going on out there with gas and everything. So, I understand people want pay, but somehow the a lot of the public um

757
03:58:31.760 --> 03:58:47.120
jobs now pay more than the private sector. and the benefits they get you can't get in the private sector. When I was a kid, the public job

758
03:58:47.120 --> 03:59:02.960
didn't pay a lot. That's why I know so many cops in my life. They used to stand door at the funeral home. Civil service jobs didn't pay a lot, but they always came with pensions and other fees. Now they're the highest paid

759
03:59:02.960 --> 03:59:19.000
people in town. You guys are talking about jobs. You working at Publix. You tell me the counter people publiclix make what these people make. >> And that's why the fees keep going up. You need to address salaries.

760
03:59:20.160 --> 03:59:36.640
>> That is all. Mr. Mayor, >> close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Uh, let me make sure I'm on the right line. Uh, I move to continue ordinance 2026-14. a second reading on May 5th, 2026.

761
03:59:36.640 --> 03:59:52.760
>> Second. >> Have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to continue ordinance number 2026-14 to second reading on May 5th, 2026. That was seconded by Commissioner Duval. If there's nothing to that, please vote.

762
03:59:58.239 --> 04:00:15.680
And that passes 5 to Z. Moving on to second readings. Ordinance number 2026-08. Deputy city clerk, can you read by title only, please? >> An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, adopting the fiscal year 2026, fiscal year 2030 5-year schedule of

763
04:00:15.680 --> 04:00:30.880
capital improvement components of the capital improvement element of the city of Northport comprehensive plan. adopting by reference the Sarasota County School District's 2024 to 2025 5ear year facilities work plan providing for findings providing for conflicts providing for severability and providing

764
04:00:30.880 --> 04:00:48.560
an effective date. >> Thank you city manager. This is your item. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. During the city commission regular meeting held on April 7th 2026 ordinance number 20268 was forwarded to the second reading with a 50 vote. We ask that you take option one

765
04:00:48.560 --> 04:01:05.880
and approve ordinance number 2026 as 20 2026 D-Ray as presented today. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> I see nobody in the queue. City clerk, do we have any public comment? >> Tim Doyle.

766
04:01:07.840 --> 04:01:22.640
>> Mr. Mayor, >> since uh this was at the last meeting, I saw something. >> Hold on. We got to go back. Commissioner Dval was a little lagging. I'm putting it in himself into the queue, so I apologize. >> No, you're good.

767
04:01:22.640 --> 04:01:38.960
>> All right. Sorry about that. Um, this is the second reading at first time and the basic two words for this are it's statutory compliance.

768
04:01:38.960 --> 04:01:55.359
So, I cannot, you know, so I have to support this. That's all. >> Okay. Nobody else. Mr. Doyle. >> All right. Since the first reading, I saw something in the news. I don't know

769
04:01:55.359 --> 04:02:11.439
if you guys saw it or not. And you know, the legislature up there in Tallahassy, they say a lot of things, but who knows what's going to be passed. You know what I mean? Especially with the property tax. But I saw that someone introduced a bill to take the school funding off the

770
04:02:11.439 --> 04:02:26.640
property tax bill. Did you I don't know if any of you saw that. So I don't know if all these things do make it through committee make it through there and we get the vote on it. I'm going to be quite frank with you. I don't think I should have to pay for

771
04:02:26.640 --> 04:02:43.040
the schools. Number one, the child that would be graduating this year is dead because of you people. So, I never got to use the schools and I've been paying for 17 years for a

772
04:02:43.040 --> 04:03:02.720
school that I was never able to use and you want me to pay for it for the rest of my life. So, I guarantee you what I'm voting and the other reason is I called the Sarasota County Schools and asked them a simple question and they couldn't answer

773
04:03:02.720 --> 04:03:18.479
it. I asked them if 1984 was being taught in any grade level in their school system. You know what they asked me? Do I have a child in the school?

774
04:03:18.479 --> 04:03:33.120
Can you imagine what my reaction to that woman on the phone was? She wouldn't give me an answer because I don't have a child in the school. The woman didn't know your cops killed my kid the way I see it.

775
04:03:33.120 --> 04:03:50.399
you know that she wouldn't give me an answer. Why should I pay a salary to anybody in that school district or pay for any upkeep for those schools if they can't even tell me if the book's on the reading list? It was taught in school when I went to

776
04:03:50.399 --> 04:04:08.640
school. And that's why we're in so much trouble in this country. So, you have to do it. But what I'm telling you, down the road here, if all these bills get passed, you ain't going to have the money to fund it.

777
04:04:08.640 --> 04:04:24.080
>> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I close this public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. >> I move to adopt ordinance number 2026-8 as presented. >> Second. >> I have a motion on the floor made by Commissioner Stokes to adopt ordinance

778
04:04:24.080 --> 04:04:44.560
number 2026-08 as presented. seconded by vice mayor. If there's nothing to that, please vote. That passes 5 to zero. Moving on to ordinance 2026-10. City clerk, can you read by title only,

779
04:04:44.560 --> 04:05:00.640
please? An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida relating to impact fee collection and impact fee deferral program amending and renumbering chap chapter 58 of the code of the city of Northport, Florida provided for impact fees, purpose and authority definitions, payment of fees, impact fee schedules,

780
04:05:00.640 --> 04:05:16.000
exemptions, appeals, reporting and reviewing of fees, refunds, developer reimbursement and credits. Amending the deferral program, providing for eligible development, timing of application, application contents, agreement and payment schedule. providing for findings, providing for conflict,

781
04:05:16.000 --> 04:05:31.600
providing for severability, providing for codification, and providing an effective date. >> Thank you, sir. City manager, this is your item. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. During the city commission regular meeting held on April the 7th, 2026, ordinance number 2026-10

782
04:05:31.600 --> 04:05:47.359
was forwarded second reading with a 32 vote. Uh there were no questions or outstanding issues related to staff, so nothing has changed on our end. We recommend for the second reading today that you approve ordinance number 2026-10 as presented and we're happy to answer any questions you may have.

783
04:05:47.359 --> 04:06:01.600
>> Thank you, sir. Commissioner Stokes. >> Yep. Disagreed with this one last time, going to disagree with it again this time. Um, we are incentivizing businesses that are already planning on coming here, industries that are already

784
04:06:01.600 --> 04:06:18.080
coming here to grant deferrals of impact fees for healthc care related businesses with three to four hospitals up or springing up throughout this city. to me

785
04:06:18.080 --> 04:06:36.239
is is beyond my comprehension that we would just kick that money down the road for years to come before we reap the benefit of it. This is a poor plan. It was a poor plan for years. It got in how

786
04:06:36.239 --> 04:06:52.880
many years? One applicant. Doing what's recommended here won't attract, in my opinion, anybody except small businesses that aren't going to in employ a lot of people. This is the wrong direction to go. I'm going to vote against it again.

787
04:06:52.880 --> 04:07:07.680
>> Thank you, Mayor. >> All righty. Uh, Commissioner Dval. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I also voted against this the last time and I didn't have anything to say about it last time, >> but

788
04:07:07.680 --> 04:07:23.279
this time I I do have a few words about it. When it comes to impact fees, you know, this wants to change it from three years to five years. Now, if we set an impact fee for building a house at say

789
04:07:23.279 --> 04:07:38.399
$10,000 and we don't collect that money for 5 years, is that $10,000 still going to buy as much as it does today? I don't think so.

790
04:07:38.399 --> 04:07:58.319
if you want to do some kind of a and when we talked about the the water there was that $10 admin admin fee. Uh if you want to have some kind of a referral put an admin admin fee on that.

791
04:07:58.319 --> 04:08:14.720
My other thought on this is if we want to do some kind of a deferral, pay that $10,000 impact fee instead of waiting five years for them to pay it. Well, maybe we could

792
04:08:14.720 --> 04:08:34.080
put them on an option plan where they'll pay us like a loan for the next five years. You know, they'll be paying with a slight interest fee on there. Um those those are my thoughts uh

793
04:08:34.080 --> 04:08:50.640
to give away that money for 5 years. This this city got behind for years by not having the the correct numbers on impact fees uh being collected. And

794
04:08:50.640 --> 04:09:05.439
now we're just on on the pathway of of getting back getting back to where it should be. Um I'm still saying no. Thank you, >> Vice Mayor.

795
04:09:05.439 --> 04:09:23.040
>> Thank you, mayor. Um there's a lot more in this ordinance than just the deferral program. So I agree. I also had issues with the deferral program. Was it really necessary? It hadn't been utilized. I

796
04:09:23.040 --> 04:09:40.000
certainly didn't want to incent businesses that would come here anyway. And I think the the healthc care example that Commissioner Stokes mentioned is a good one. Um I personally wanted to see if we if we were going to move forward with the deferral program, a jobs

797
04:09:40.000 --> 04:09:58.560
requirement. how many jobs um was the company um planning, you know, how many people were they planning to hire? So, I'm thinking just for clarification that we should

798
04:09:58.560 --> 04:10:16.239
approve the ordinance removing the deferral program altogether because otherwise wouldn't we be maybe this is clarification for city manager If if we don't adopt the ordinance

799
04:10:16.239 --> 04:10:33.840
blanket, we're not adopting all of the deferral fee information that's in it because what I'm hearing um I mean the all the impact information that's already in there. I think what we have opposition to is the deferral program

800
04:10:33.840 --> 04:10:50.160
part of it >> as it is written. Oh, Randy Bowling the impact fee administrator at is written just article 2 is the current in the ordinance the deferral program in current code that deferral program is still in article one

801
04:10:50.160 --> 04:11:06.080
>> it's still I'm sorry >> in article one in the current code so if you passed article one as written today in this ordinance the deferral program would not be in it >> would not be there >> correct >> say that again

802
04:11:06.080 --> 04:11:31.920
>> if you pass Just article one of this ordinance. The deferral program is not in there. Article two is the deferral program. Everybody good? >> City clerk public comment. >> Uh we do we have some e comments as

803
04:11:31.920 --> 04:11:47.600
well. Uh, Connor Ashley, I'm a realtor that sells primarily outside of the city. The process for charging impact fees is a lot clearer than what I see in other cities and will make my life easier when selling my next vacant lot in Northport. Next one, Nicolino

804
04:11:47.600 --> 04:12:03.520
Carmosino. As a remote worker, I get a chance to see a lot of the city when most other folks don't. I don't travel too far outside of Northport because everything I like is here. But one thing I have seen is that the city needs more commercial development, especially on the east side of town. I would love to

805
04:12:03.520 --> 04:12:24.560
see commercial spaces here and the ones that we already have are incredibly busy. More commercial, please. That would help the city continue to support its growing population. And in person, Tim Doyle, impact fees are important. When we went

806
04:12:24.560 --> 04:12:41.040
to go do the police station in this room, I asked how much was in the bank account from the impact fees that we could use to build the police station. Do you know what the answer was? I think it was like 260 grand.

807
04:12:41.040 --> 04:12:59.040
What a joke. So, um, impact fees are important. You got to have the right price. You got to do the right thing with them. Sometimes you also need enticed businesses to come here. I do understand that. But there's a small problem. If you go 5

808
04:12:59.040 --> 04:13:15.680
years out to try to collect the money, the business might not be there. Ask Celindra up in Rochester, New York. What happened there? That was my taxpayer money. So what I would say that something needs

809
04:13:15.680 --> 04:13:31.199
to be done with this is really when you look at it, you need them to get a bond or insurance that you will be paid in whatever time frame that is going to allow. That's what I I don't know if you can do

810
04:13:31.199 --> 04:13:47.439
anything about that now or make a substitution, but I I would say any company get them in here. you're gonna break and give them a three or five year to pay it. They should have a bond or they should have an insurance policy saying at that time we will get that

811
04:13:47.439 --> 04:14:04.080
money whether they are in business or not because you guys know what you do 10 grand. You write it down on your ledger. We have that money. But you don't have that money if it's a cylindra

812
04:14:04.080 --> 04:14:19.199
because the business won't be there. So, anybody you do this with, you got to have means to collect the money whether they're in business or not. And I'll leave it at that. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. I'm going to close this

813
04:14:19.199 --> 04:14:39.199
public hearing and request a motion. >> I'll give it a shot. I move to adopt ordinance number 2026-10 eliminating article 2 in its totality. >> I have a motion on the floor made by the

814
04:14:39.199 --> 04:14:54.880
vice mayor. You want to say that again please? >> Uh to adopt ordinance number 2026-10 eliminating article 2 in its entirety. >> Thank you. Do I have a second >> for discussion?

815
04:14:54.880 --> 04:15:09.520
>> Have a second for discussion. >> And my question is this. So if article two is excluded, that means there are no there is no deferral program. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> It's gone. >> Correct. >> Finished. Good. >> Correct.

816
04:15:09.520 --> 04:15:26.720
>> Everything else though that was in this reading is there which we need there. >> So okay, I'm good. >> Yeah, it was still the second time you asked him. >> Thanks. Go ahead. I want to make sure. >> Yeah. I'd just like to comment that um

817
04:15:26.720 --> 04:15:56.000
about the bonds uh that actually was written in there. I read that. >> Yep. >> All right. Nothing else. Please vote. And that passes five to zero. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, sir. Moving on to ordinance

818
04:15:56.000 --> 04:16:13.040
2026-12. Uh, city clerk, can you read by title only? >> An ordinance of the city of Northport, Florida, amending the code of the city of Northport, Florida, chapter 4, boards and committees to create article 8, Northport Youth Council, providing for findings, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing

819
04:16:13.040 --> 04:16:29.359
for codification, and providing an effective date. And this item was continued to second reading with no changes on April 7th, 2026. >> OMI's been waiting for this for quite a while. Quite a while. >> All right. Uh, commissioners, questions,

820
04:16:29.359 --> 04:16:44.159
discussion. >> I have a comment. >> Why is your name not here? Go ahead. >> I didn't feel like putting it in. >> Go ahead. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. That's it. >> Seriously.

821
04:16:44.159 --> 04:17:06.800
>> Seriously. Yeah. >> City clerk, >> do we have any I mean any public comment out there? >> We might have one or two. >> Okay. >> Uh Mr. Omi Patel. >> Thank you so much you guys. >> Good evening Mayor, vice mayor, and

822
04:17:06.800 --> 04:17:21.680
members of the commission. My name is Omi Patel, and I come before you this evening with a simple belief. When a city chooses to believe in its young people, it chooses to believe in its own future. The future of Northport is an abstract and it's not years from now.

823
04:17:21.680 --> 04:17:38.239
It's here. And it started with Northport students who are ready to serve something greater than themselves. This evening, you have the decision-making tools to give them that chance. You have the opportunity to say that in Northport, leadership is cultivated, service is encouraged. Civic engagement

824
04:17:38.239 --> 04:17:53.760
will not be reserved for a select few, but it's open to those of all ages and who are willing to take responsibility in the community that they call home. That is why this ordinance is imperative. The Northport Youth Advisory Council allows young people to be given a real seat at the table and to flourish

825
04:17:53.760 --> 04:18:09.680
into adults who want to give back to their communities. This is an opportunity to invest in students that will grow into citizens who work towards change. I know that is true because I've experienced what happens when young people can pursue leadership roles in my community. Through my experience in the

826
04:18:09.680 --> 04:18:24.239
STAR leadership training program at the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and Dysotto counties, I've had the chance to take my leadership skills to the next level through board service, serving as a member of the parks and recreations board. As a star alum, I've had the chance to serve on the Parks and

827
04:18:24.239 --> 04:18:40.720
Recreation Oh, through my involvement at the club. I'm also a finalist for the Boys and Girls Club of America National Youth Advisory Council who appoint 12 members in the nation. I'm and it's thanks to these experiences and programs that I've had the opportunity to exercise my leadership skills,

828
04:18:40.720 --> 04:18:56.399
practicing my public speaking, and pursue my passion for community service. That is the call before us this morning or this evening. It's that youth voice matters. Now is the time to invest in the students who are ready to lead. And now is the time to build a stronger Northport by empowering the young people

829
04:18:56.399 --> 04:19:12.479
who will inherit it. And just to clarify for anyone on the committee who has reservations about this, rising eighth graders to 12th graders can join STAR. It's an all-inclusive program. You don't need to be in any part of organization except uh just being a high school

830
04:19:12.479 --> 04:19:28.560
student in Northport. And it's open to Sarasota and Dotto counties. My hope is for the community to be involved through the action-based projects with the Northport Youth Advisory Council and they can do so without being in STAR. To volunteer on the action-based projects,

831
04:19:28.560 --> 04:19:44.560
you don't need to be in STAR and you can be any age, elementary, middle, and high schoolers. But anyone that wants to join the board must complete STAR by being either a rising eighth grader to 12th grader. One day when people t took back and asked where the future began, the

832
04:19:44.560 --> 04:20:00.080
answer will be in Northport. In this chamber, in this decision, in this moment, Northport will choose to open the doors. Vote yes on this ordinance. Vote yes to youth choices. Vote yes to leadership. And vote yes to a Northport that is bold enough to invest in the

833
04:20:00.080 --> 04:20:26.000
next generation. Thank you. >> Well, Vice Mayor, looks like you missed a yes. >> Elizabeth Ma Good evening, commission. I am reading on behalf of one of our other students who was actually not able to be here today. Her name is Savannah and she is a

834
04:20:26.000 --> 04:20:42.479
junior at Northport High School. Um, she spoke at the first hearing and so she would like to say that the decisions being made right now will shape this city for decades to come. Young people are not just watching that growth happen. It is also impacting us directly. We are the students in overcrowded classrooms, the teenagers

835
04:20:42.479 --> 04:20:59.600
navigating new developments, the future residents who will inherent what this commission builds. This is why the Northport Youth Advisory Board matters. The STAR leadership training program offers local teens the skills and training to be prepared to take their leadership to the next level and to give back to their community meaningfully.

836
04:20:59.600 --> 04:21:14.960
Through my time on the superintendent student advisory council made possible by the Boys and Girls Club and the STAR program, I have seen what happens when students are given real influence. We helped create principal cabinets in our schools across Sarasota County. And because of the structure of our council,

837
04:21:14.960 --> 04:21:31.199
it made genuine input possible. A youth board for Northport needs to be built the same way with real responsibilities and a commitment from this commission. Northport has an opportunity to grow with its youth. When you say yes to this board, you are saying yes to the student voices of Northport. You are saying yes

838
04:21:31.199 --> 04:21:51.680
to giving them an ear to listen to and a help and a hand to help. Vote yes to our youth advisory board. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, ma'am. Tim Doyle. >> Obviously, I'm in full support of this one. Does a couple of things. Gets kids off

839
04:21:51.680 --> 04:22:08.000
the streets. Gets them involved. makes this guy behind me jobs easier. Doesn't have to chase after the kids. So, I hope you support it and that's all I got to say. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor.

840
04:22:08.000 --> 04:22:23.920
>> Thank you, sir. Going to close this public hearing and uh request a motion. >> I'll make it. >> Go ahead. >> I move to adopt ordinance number 2026-12 as presented. And I thank the youth of

841
04:22:23.920 --> 04:22:39.680
our community for making this happen. I think it's fair to say that if it was up to us, it wouldn't have happened. It happened because of you. So, thank you. >> A second. >> I have a motion on the floor made by

842
04:22:39.680 --> 04:23:02.960
Vice Mayor to adopt ordinance number 2026-12 as presented, seconded by Commissioner Duval. Let's vote. And that passes four to zero. Uh, Commissioner Stokes is in the potty

843
04:23:02.960 --> 04:23:23.439
right now. So, it would have been unanimous, but he's absent. >> Still pass. >> Thank you very, very much. All right. Moving on to presentations. 26-0661. City manager, this is your hot topic. Go

844
04:23:23.439 --> 04:23:39.680
right ahead, sir, and inform us. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this is a presentation regarding city manager update on borrowing authority. Uh, just to be brief, we put together a few slides to sort of um bring together the conversation that we had at our last meeting on April the 7th

845
04:23:39.680 --> 04:23:57.040
as we talked about borrowing authority and we ended up on three different projects. Uh, one was which was a a phased in approach of the police headquarters and two other two of them were two other buildings, two other community buildings that the city is responsible for for taking care of. A

846
04:23:57.040 --> 04:24:12.880
lot of people understood where we were at and what we were going through and they understood that we heard them from prior conversations that the city staff and commission have had with our community. But we put this together if we could go through the slide deck and I'm going to go to slide number two now.

847
04:24:12.880 --> 04:24:28.800
Thank you, please. And as we talk about those um decisions that were made, we are moving forward with the process of judicial clarity to see what we can borrow if so through our own means without raising any taxes for our

848
04:24:28.800 --> 04:24:45.920
citizens. A a court and a judge are going to make that decision. That is not going to be a decision that we take lightly. Uh when you look on our next slide, it talks about what our charter actually says about borrowing. Um, our section 1.02B, it says the city may

849
04:24:45.920 --> 04:25:02.319
borrow money, contract loans, and issue bonds, uh, general obligation or revenue from time to time. I think that's a very strong statement. And then it talks about how we pledge as this city would, any other city would, um, it's taxing power, credit, and property, etc. It

850
04:25:02.319 --> 04:25:17.600
then goes on to say that no general obligation or revenue bond shall be issued by the city unless approved by majority vote of the voters. This has always been interpreted per my understanding at least since I've been here. Uh and I know I know it actually

851
04:25:17.600 --> 04:25:34.640
does include since before I was here as well. But the legal advice has always been the debt is a debt is a debt. And you know I believe that um I'm not a lawyer. So, I'm definitely not saying that this is 100% going to be successful, but from the advice I've

852
04:25:34.640 --> 04:25:50.720
been given from internal and outside um legal counsel, there is a chance that this interpretation could allow us to borrow under the right circumstances. Um, and we did go through some of that process last week. I'll talk about that

853
04:25:50.720 --> 04:26:07.040
more in a second. Uh on the next slide we talked about how we actually arrived at the three projects that you selected. Um the summary that we did for you was very comprehensive and on the bottom of this slide you can see that we did have a very good criteria for selecting and

854
04:26:07.040 --> 04:26:23.040
ranking those projects. The conversation and comments have been well why did you not pick the projects as you had them ranked? And as you can see now, all of these are coming from the general fund. But more importantly, the projects that were picked were the ones that we could

855
04:26:23.040 --> 04:26:39.120
afford. That was the entire purpose of the exercise was to see if we could borrow and then pick the ones that we could afford. People who have made comments and said, "Well, they don't want to fund nonprofits in the city and that we shouldn't build buildings for

856
04:26:39.120 --> 04:26:56.239
them." These are community buildings that are for the city. The city commission will determine who is the occupant of those buildings. We have referenced the former occupants of the um the Dallas White building which was the art center and we referenced the current occupant which is the Waken

857
04:26:56.239 --> 04:27:11.920
Outreach Church at the um the CEC. It is up to this commission to decide once the buildings are um reestablished who the tenant will be and how you will decide that. That has not been predetermined. No one would take that

858
04:27:11.920 --> 04:27:28.239
authority away from our commission. But you are moving forward in a way that if we are successful in our um attempt to borrow that you are taking care of the city and I believe that is the correct obligation for the roles that you are in and it's our obligation to give you

859
04:27:28.239 --> 04:27:44.560
options to get there until you tell me to do otherwise. Uh when you look at the next slide, it gives a little bit more detail about the Dallas White um building. is one of the two that were on as I said that one is still standing and one is one was demolished. Um they are funded through the city's general fund.

860
04:27:44.560 --> 04:28:01.840
So us and our budget process are connecting those two together and when they're in sync as we go through our budget process the goal from our reductions in our current budget is to allow for those debt service payments which would be uh close to $3 million in

861
04:28:01.840 --> 04:28:19.279
the information that we have given you. um the city has the obligation to actually repair them because they are our buildings that that they are occupied by nonprofits. It's something I believe that uh happened over time and again it is your decision on how you

862
04:28:19.279 --> 04:28:34.720
move forward with that knowing the history of those buildings and who currently occupies them. The next slide just shows you a few examples of some pictures inside the community education center of the CEC. We've had this conversation publicly. These are not new photos. There are photos that show the

863
04:28:34.720 --> 04:28:52.239
need for repair and the repair process. We know that is only going to be temporary if we do that as opposed to a more longerterm solution. Um if we are successful in borrowing. If we're not successful in borrowing, then we go back and we'll bring you back another option to get your direction on how you want us

864
04:28:52.239 --> 04:29:08.560
to proceed. Um but as we go to the next slide, you see that that's not really an option for the building that housed the art center because it is no longer there. Um, but putting a building back on that footprint would continue to serve community needs and community um,

865
04:29:08.560 --> 04:29:25.760
desires uh, overall. And I believe that the building that we would put back there would have much larger footprint that would give you more options on what you wanted to do. The next and last the next two last slide uh, is the police department headquarters. Uh, we've talked about this for quite some time.

866
04:29:25.760 --> 04:29:42.399
We did fail in a referendum publicly to get the 100 plus million dollar building built and commission made a compromise at our last meeting on April the 7th and decided to move forward with the possibility of uh getting the building

867
04:29:42.399 --> 04:29:58.319
done or begun I should say um without increasing any effort to our taxpayers. The main feedback we received when we lost this referendum in 2025 was that the cost was too much. Um, overwhelmingly people said they

868
04:29:58.319 --> 04:30:13.840
supported our police department, which we do believe to be true. But knowing that they could not afford an issue that we put in front of them that we didn't properly uh budget for or plan for, this seemed to be a a a wonderful um way to

869
04:30:13.840 --> 04:30:30.800
say we heard our our citizens and residents to say, "Hey, we want the police headquarters figure out a different way to pay for it. This is what that looks like." Um, I do believe that we've also heard from people who don't believe that we should even go for this even though they support the police headquarters and now we found a

870
04:30:30.800 --> 04:30:46.000
different way to pay for it. I believe that is a a version of control that we are trying to manage through this city so that we can let them understand that we have heard them and we understand they don't want to pay for it and we're trying to find a different way that will not harm them during these um very

871
04:30:46.000 --> 04:31:01.840
uncertain financial times. So we are we are moving forward and the last slide talks about the the process that we're moving forward with with bond validation. U myself and city attorney Fino um met with our finance team our PFM financial adviserss as well as our

872
04:31:01.840 --> 04:31:18.560
outside legal counsel Steve Miller. Uh it was a very good conversation. We talked about the three building and three buildings and the resolution that will come in front of you as we move forward. Uh I believe I have said this uh publicly but let me say it again. There there will absolutely be a

873
04:31:18.560 --> 04:31:35.840
community engagement portion of this particular project. Um we do need to hear from our community. They have a lot invested and have given a lot and time and effort in um these particular areas of how we want to borrow and do it responsibly, do it well, have a debt

874
04:31:35.840 --> 04:31:51.359
service committee and team together and put all the right controls and safeguards in place so that we can um do whatever we do to go forward with a level of confidence. Uh all of this is contingent upon the court decision of course and we will keep you posted uh as

875
04:31:51.359 --> 04:32:07.840
we move through the process and the community posted as we move through the process and make sure that we communicate and transparent with what we're trying to accomplish and the status of those accomplishments. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just wanted to update you. Uh we do not need any direction or action today. It is truly just to

876
04:32:07.840 --> 04:32:22.399
clarify some things that were presented at last meeting because it was a little back and forth between all the different topics that were discussed. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Stokes. >> Yeah. Two points. Uh, city manager

877
04:32:22.399 --> 04:32:37.760
touched on most of them, but to be a bit redundant. First point, the reason to move forward and ask for court validation is to

878
04:32:37.760 --> 04:32:56.159
determine whether or not the court after reviewing our charter determines that borrowing other than general obligation and revenue bonds are permissible under our charter. We need to know that

879
04:32:56.159 --> 04:33:12.400
before we can do anything else. And as he said, once we know that, this has to come back before us. It has community engagement. It has a review of the debt management committee, if that's what

880
04:33:12.400 --> 04:33:28.240
it's called. I don't even remember. But there's a whole process that has to go through before we get to the point where we're ready to vote on this and approve this and then go out and borrow money if it is in fact legally allowable under

881
04:33:28.240 --> 04:33:45.039
our charter. The second point is that the projects identified for this type of potential borrowing were not the projects that were the most important projects in the city as I've heard many people criticize. Well, why wasn't it

882
04:33:45.039 --> 04:34:01.279
this and that? What about the water structures? What about this? For 2 years, staff has worked to analyze the CIP list of projects and identified pathways to

883
04:34:01.279 --> 04:34:19.920
funding for many of these projects. Water structures and a variety of other critical infrastructure projects have pathways for funding. The idea here was to identify those that had either no pathway for funding or a sub a

884
04:34:19.920 --> 04:34:36.561
substantial portion of that cost had no pathway for funding. And that's how we got to this abbreviated list. All the projects on the CIP list are important. They are all critical. They are all projects that prior commissions should

885
04:34:36.561 --> 04:34:51.600
have taken a hard look at a long, long time ago, but couldn't figure out how to fund. Now, we have to start biting the bullet. What we're looking at here is finding a potential pathway to fund some of them. That's all this is. People need

886
04:34:51.600 --> 04:35:08.879
to understand it's a process. So, there's a lot of misinformation out here. You You don't know what you don't know. And without finding out whether this is legally permissible, we can't move forward on some of these projects. If the answer is no, we need to find alternative pathways to fund it. That's

887
04:35:08.879 --> 04:35:25.359
why we're doing this. Thank you, Mayor. >> Vice Mayor. >> Thanks, Mayor. Just to um expound a little bit on what Commissioner Stokes mentioned. Part of what went into the decision-making process of what projects

888
04:35:25.359 --> 04:35:40.400
went on this list was did they have another pathway to funding? There are district funds, there are impact fees, there's certax, there are grants. some projects lend themselves much more

889
04:35:40.400 --> 04:35:56.320
easily to securing grant monies um and and that type of thing. So, uh again, I I concur with Commissioner Stokes. Um the projects we selected were things we

890
04:35:56.320 --> 04:36:11.600
heard were very important to the community by members of the community and had no other way to fund them. I'm done. >> Thank you, Commissioner Pro. >> Yes, I will start and gonna go

891
04:36:11.600 --> 04:36:28.080
backwards. Um, it's worth noting that those two nonforprofit buildings, uh, they were never included in the CIP projects project list, uh, but suddenly appeared on the list few weeks ago. Um,

892
04:36:28.080 --> 04:36:43.680
and I'm not sure if it if this is a correct way to do that. uh asked for the workshop last meeting and um I was told we're not going to have it and we have to decide it now and right now on the

893
04:36:43.680 --> 04:36:59.359
spur of the moment. So I'm a little bit unease to decide or go forward but and I know there's no action required at this agenda item but what I wanted to say is you know these were not included in the

894
04:36:59.359 --> 04:37:14.959
CIP projects and why are there on the CIP project list suddenly that's one question which might not be answered um but also I want to find out the more about process of this court court

895
04:37:14.959 --> 04:37:30.400
validation. How long does it take and how much money would it cost for the city? Um because ultimately the taxpayers are paying for that. Um if uh if you can answer that. Um the other question I

896
04:37:30.400 --> 04:37:47.439
have is um I looked up at the city commission workshop which was on December one December 1st 20125 and there was a consensus uh to direct the city manager to work with awakened food pantry and outreach center to explore

897
04:37:47.439 --> 04:38:04.799
repairing the deficiencies at the existing community educational center. That is that building which is one of those two buildings that we are talking about now. um and it was unanimously um voted to work and patch it up if you

898
04:38:04.799 --> 04:38:22.080
will that building. But right now we suddenly there was nothing in between. So, and then at the meeting of uh April 7th, I believe it's a priority and it's the highest priority and we're going to

899
04:38:22.080 --> 04:38:39.279
go and borrow the money for that through the court validation. So, that is I have to voice out that concern. uh even though I'm in the minority, uh I don't think it's proper because the commission directed the city manager to work and repair that building

900
04:38:39.279 --> 04:38:53.920
and yet right now it's going to be demolished. Um to me that's not really logical. Um so also I want to bring up the question about

901
04:38:53.920 --> 04:39:11.119
I understand that the servicing the debt would be um from the savings that we are proposing to cut for the budget that we are in uh working on and that is how do how do those savings would be

902
04:39:11.119 --> 04:39:38.958
appropriated on an annual basis because that would be for 20 years if I'm not mistaken. Um, so and I see the directors coming down. So my question is how do we how do we

903
04:39:38.958 --> 04:39:54.160
appropriate those savings that we're going to incur by cutting the cost uh in this current budget yet the cost is going to be for 20 years. Are we going to cut the budget every year for 5%. Or

904
04:39:54.160 --> 04:40:11.760
how it's going to be done? And what if the property taxes would be repealed for homesteaded properties? That's going to be a big effect if it passes. Um, if I'm not mistaken, I do believe it's about $30 million we get

905
04:40:11.760 --> 04:40:29.360
from homesteaded properties. So, all sorts of questions that are not answered. And obviously if I have those questions, I know the public has even more questions because I get to I get those questions from the community. Uh

906
04:40:29.360 --> 04:40:45.440
and yet another point from what we've heard about public comment people um trying to circumvent the voters again and we trying to do it again and again and again even if it doesn't work. Um so

907
04:40:45.440 --> 04:41:02.080
just a thought. uh because the public is watching. So we have to be mindful of that. How do we address that? Uh do we wait for another referendum in 2028 or we go to court? If we go to court,

908
04:41:02.080 --> 04:41:19.040
how much is going to be uh costing the city and what what is the time frame for that? I don't think I have the answers for the time frame. Sir, you had a lot of questions in that. >> Yes.

909
04:41:19.040 --> 04:41:35.440
>> Conversation. Can you name them one by one? What you would like us to answer today? >> Oh, yeah. I have a list. I wrote them down. But, uh, >> one one at a time. >> And that's why the reason why I was asking to to get a workshop for this. It's such an important topic. And yet we

910
04:41:35.440 --> 04:41:51.600
turned that meeting into a workshop but it was selectively it was a horse trading during that meeting between two commissioners which was very entertaining at the very least and I was silent because I mean I was ask I was

911
04:41:51.600 --> 04:42:07.680
asking for a workshop but I couldn't get any you know first how did we come up with a priority list when those two projects were never on the list. So, >> as far as CIP project list, CIP project

912
04:42:07.680 --> 04:42:23.600
lists, >> so we believe they were on the list. To say they were not on the list is not accurate. To say they were not at the top of the list might be more accurate. I think we've explained why they are at the top of the list, which is their disrepair status. They are two buildings

913
04:42:23.600 --> 04:42:39.200
that you had current tenants in that provided a community value that we said needed to be made whole. That was the first step and why they were chosen. >> What was your next question? >> Well, my primarily December 1st

914
04:42:39.200 --> 04:42:55.920
workshop, we talked about the community center building and we directed the city manager that is you um to explore repairing the deficiencies and how much the nonforprofits can contribute. >> Correct. So that that process will not

915
04:42:55.920 --> 04:43:12.320
change unless this commission changes it. The exploration of the borrowing is an opportunity to say instead of putting a band-aid on something for $700,000, you could get a you can knock that down and create a new building for $2 million. That will stop you from being in the same position in the very few

916
04:43:12.320 --> 04:43:27.520
years. We didn't have that option in front of you when we put it in front of you that you could repair the building for $700,000. It is still your choice that you will vote on if you decide to change the pathway that you've already voted on.

917
04:43:27.520 --> 04:43:44.000
Next question. >> I know it's getting late. It's just, you know, what if the property taxes are going to be repealed? How are we going to is that how much effect would be that to to that? >> You listed a number of property tax at homestead. It was about I forgot what

918
04:43:44.000 --> 04:43:59.200
you said. It I think you said 30 some odd million. It would be 18 million. Not >> 18 million. If that if that um if that passes, the least of your worries is going to be $2 million that you looking for to borrow. You're going to be looking for a lot

919
04:43:59.200 --> 04:44:14.480
more money in a lot of different places. >> We can't make our decisions based on the fear of what might happen. I believe that's what you normally gravitate towards is this fear of government and what we're going to do and why we're doing it as opposed to handling what we are charged to do, which is the

920
04:44:14.480 --> 04:44:30.320
day-to-day success of this city. We can we have to deal with what we have the challenges we have today not the challenges that might be here tomorrow next week. >> Absolutely correct. >> Next question. >> Although we do have to service the debt and how we serve the debt for 20 years

921
04:44:30.320 --> 04:44:46.560
and if we cut if we uh the savings that we getting it from this uh budget that is 5%. What are we going to do next year? cut again or >> so when we service debt in a normal municipality what you do is you allocate

922
04:44:46.560 --> 04:45:01.920
for that debt in the beginning of your budgeting process just like you allocate for your salaries in the beginning you know they're going to be there and then you build your budget around that based on what you can afford and that's how the other expenses that you can do that year fit into your your budgeting process.

923
04:45:01.920 --> 04:45:19.120
>> Yes, it's just I have accounting degree as well. It's just at the beginning of a budget cycle, you have a scenario and what if the that income is never going to be um provided or sufficed. So what do we do then? I mean

924
04:45:19.120 --> 04:45:34.000
it's it's it's a big >> what income are you talking about sir? You talking about the 18 revenue for the servicing of the debt if we allocate at the beginning of the cycle budget how do we do it next year? you you do it, sir. You would do it the same

925
04:45:34.000 --> 04:45:51.040
way. You would you would allocate that money every single year. Every single year, we have expenses that are contingent on the city's ability to have that revenue available to expend. 99% of those agreements are built upon

926
04:45:51.040 --> 04:46:08.480
the history and credit of the city being the city and being in existence. But if the city were to falter or fail financially, then all of those would be in jeopardy, not just the one that we're talking about today. >> And what is the time frame and how much would it cost the city for the

927
04:46:08.480 --> 04:46:24.480
validation since >> Yeah. >> After the commission passes a resolution, the file a complaint complaint will um the court will issue what's known as an order show cause. The

928
04:46:24.480 --> 04:46:40.878
order of short cause has to be published for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper with the first reading with the first publication 20 days before the hearing and then you have a hearing. So typically we will look at anywhere from

929
04:46:40.878 --> 04:46:57.120
two to three months after the um commission passes the resolution. >> And I apologize for being so thorough. It's just, you know, I'm looking at my fellow commissioners nodding their heads. It's just, you know, this is the only time we can talk about it, right?

930
04:46:57.120 --> 04:47:14.160
Because it's a discussion, but my question is, how can it be challenged if it's going to be legally challenged and what are the repercussions of that? >> You're asking me to argue the opposing viewpoint of someone who would challenge

931
04:47:14.160 --> 04:47:31.200
our bond validation or loan validation. >> Yeah. like in the court uh I do believe uh at the April 7th meeting >> there was a mentioning of that if it's not challenged if it's challenged and how

932
04:47:31.200 --> 04:47:47.280
can it be challenged >> it's challenged by well the only indispensable party to a validation proceeding is the state attorney attorney will be served with a copy of the complaint state attorney can decide whether or not he wants to show up and argue on behalf of the property owner

933
04:47:47.280 --> 04:48:04.878
and then any other property owner can move to intervene by the court and be given a set. >> So that means the constituents can challenge it to >> okay >> that that would be all I mean I I

934
04:48:04.878 --> 04:48:21.520
>> but but you can challenge it which is where I think you're going because you're going to be the one to challenge it and you will have your voice up here with your colleagues to be able to challenge it during that process. And then there's also a public process where if you want to challenge it that way, you could challenge it and go to court

935
04:48:21.520 --> 04:48:35.680
while we are in court trying to move it forward. It will be a very public and transparent process. >> I mean the resolution was passed so that that's the start. >> No, what resolution was passed?

936
04:48:35.680 --> 04:48:51.760
>> We didn't on April 7th was resolution. >> That wasn't a resolution. >> No, the resolution but the list of projects. I'm sorry. And that will be part of your public conversation that I think the manager is referring to where people will be able

937
04:48:51.760 --> 04:49:06.878
to challenge, for lack of a better term, whether or not you want to bomb in the first place. I'm speaking to the ability for someone to court challenge your decision to validate validate the law.

938
04:49:06.878 --> 04:49:23.600
>> That would be all. Thank you, Mayor. >> Commissioner Dval. Thank you, mayor. Um, part two about the different projects, you know, that could be funded by this.

939
04:49:23.600 --> 04:49:40.160
I can't get that far. I'm glad that we do things. You know, we have one meeting about things, then two weeks later, we have another meeting. That gives me the time to look at things. And initially I thought that this was going

940
04:49:40.160 --> 04:49:56.878
to be uh on the idea of finding a way that we could possibly borrow things. But now as I'm looking at it and I've got that slide right in front of me

941
04:49:56.878 --> 04:50:13.920
right now. I'm looking at section 1.02 02 parentheses B of the city charter. And basically what we're trying to do through this process is challenge our

942
04:50:13.920 --> 04:50:30.840
own city charter. Art City Charter says, "Now, we can borrow money from time to time, but it says not unless we get the permission of the

943
04:50:31.120 --> 04:50:46.480
citizens." And I'm looking at if we do this and a judge says, "Yeah, I'll go along with you on this." Um, it's going to open up a door

944
04:50:46.480 --> 04:51:04.200
And once that door is open, you know, may be able to get some money for some things, but the confidence in the public is going to be damaged.

945
04:51:04.480 --> 04:51:22.400
The confidence from the public is going to be damaged. I've already heard a number of times in the last year and a half that we said no and they said they're going to do it anyway.

946
04:51:22.400 --> 04:51:39.040
And I think this will be used as another example of that. So I I just can't support it. Thank you, >> city manager. I see you're in the queue again. >> I hear enjoying your voice. Uh just to

947
04:51:39.040 --> 04:51:54.958
be clear, I know we're reading it directly from the screen, but make sure we read it correctly. It says the first part says that we could borrow. The second part tells you how you cannot borrow these specific ways. It says no general obligation or revenue bonds. It's very specific. So it doesn't say

948
04:51:54.958 --> 04:52:10.638
that you can't borrow. It says you cannot borrow in those ways. So I know that it's hard to read, but it's right in front of us. And it was written by a lawyer and it is legal writing. So, I'm not trying to say that my interpretation of it is correct because clearly the

949
04:52:10.638 --> 04:52:25.440
prior city attorneys have said that I'm reading it wrong. If you as a board do not want us to go through the process, we will stop the process. The obligation to educate and get our community to

950
04:52:25.440 --> 04:52:42.958
understand is ours and we have to do that if we want to continue to move the city forward. They have told you they do not want to get taxed for it or pay for it. And some would even tell you that they disagree with the order that the projects are in, but that is up to the commission. And the they the community

951
04:52:42.958 --> 04:52:59.920
voted to commission in order to represent the people. The job is to represent the people, all 100,000 of the people. And moving the city forward to make sure that we're not in a financial or an infrastructure crisis in the future is part of that process. We will

952
04:52:59.920 --> 04:53:16.638
have to communicate and engage and hear and listen to the public along those pathways. The question in front of you, not you, the question in front of us today is, is our charter reading the way that we all are looking at it. And once

953
04:53:16.638 --> 04:53:32.798
we get that judicial clarity, then you will have to make a decision in the near future if you want to follow that clarity or if you you do not want to follow that clarity. But to sit here and say that, well, it says we can borrow, but then it says we can't borrow. That's incomplete. It's we can't borrow in

954
04:53:32.798 --> 04:53:49.840
those ways. And that's the interpretation that we're trying to seek. No one's tying your hands or making decisions for you today. >> Thank you, city attorney. I see you have put yourself in. >> Thank you, mayor. And just to build off a little bit of what the manager said,

955
04:53:49.840 --> 04:54:06.320
paragraph A of section 102 of the charter is a broad grant of authority to the city to do everything that it can possibly do under the law. And section 1.03 says that the powers of the city

956
04:54:06.320 --> 04:54:21.440
should be liberally construed in favor of the city. Without getting too technical about it, the reason I raised those up because in 2001, there was a Supreme Court case, large Supreme Court case. It's called Bion versus happens to be the city of Clear Water where I come

957
04:54:21.440 --> 04:54:36.560
from. My old boss argued it and there was a restriction in the Clearwater charter. Not quite as restricted as we have here, but there was a restriction against bond offerings without referenda for Clearwater at the time. And one of

958
04:54:36.560 --> 04:54:53.440
the reasons that the Supreme Court said that the city clear order could borrow was because of identical charter grants of broad grants of authority to clear water at the time. So I am a lawyer and

959
04:54:53.440 --> 04:55:10.320
I can't say for certain whether or not the court will come back and forth with it. That's why you have courts in this country and the judge will be the one who's decided that's the third party legal opinion that you need if you want to go this path. I can say as your attorney I'm comfortable with the

960
04:55:10.320 --> 04:55:28.878
argument. I it's a straightfaced argument and it's a relatively strong argument if this is the path you want to pursue. >> City manager, one more attempt to beat this horse to death, please. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Last question for

961
04:55:28.878 --> 04:55:45.360
Commissioner Dubal and Commissioner Petro. I have a question for you. If we can't borrow through asking the public because they don't want to pay for it and we can't go get judicial clarity to figure out if we can pay for some things ourselves, what is your plan to pay for the infrastructure and the needs of this

962
04:55:45.360 --> 04:56:02.320
city as we go forward? >> Think how would you like to do it? How do you plan to do it? >> What if the court says no? What do we do then? >> What have I what have you lost? That's a question. >> You're in the same spot you're in today. >> But what is your plan if you you we I

963
04:56:02.320 --> 04:56:19.360
keep hearing that this is a bad plan. The public told you the first wave was a bad plan because they don't want to pay for it. What is your plan to pay for it? How do you pay for the city? We have we have a billion dollars in No, we have a

964
04:56:19.360 --> 04:56:33.840
billion dollars in capital, half a billion in unfunded. That's $500 million and we can't get out of the gate with with you and your support for $30 million. How how do you plan to pay for that?

965
04:56:33.840 --> 04:56:50.798
>> That's a valid question. To answer that question requires some diligent >> diligence. >> And my my my first question to that due diligence processes to pay for what we have to we have to agree on what to pay

966
04:56:50.798 --> 04:57:06.240
>> and uh that would be the first step. >> We gave you a list last year at least a year ago of 100 >> I mean a lot of projects that total $500 million of unpaid. That was a year ago. So in theory, you've had a year to look

967
04:57:06.240 --> 04:57:24.638
at that and pay for it. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dval, I know that you just made your comment regarding what we were doing. Do you have a backup plan? >> Not at this time. It's just to me if I answer if if I may

968
04:57:24.638 --> 04:57:42.798
uh to to finish up my my answer these two projects I mean these two buildings and I'm all in support for nonforprofits uh I do think they are integral part of our city

969
04:57:42.798 --> 04:58:00.480
but yet we we contradict ourselves when we wanted to patch up the building why are we going to demolish it so That's that's the question of a due diligence. At this time, I don't know how to pay it, but we need to agree on what to pay for. At this time, it appears that we

970
04:58:00.480 --> 04:58:17.200
have differences of opinion of what projects to choose. >> But, Commissioner, you asked that earlier. Yes, >> it was it was answered to where we can patch it for700,000

971
04:58:17.200 --> 04:58:31.920
or we can fix it permanently for many years of use for 2 million. And that's what we discussed and said, "No, we'd rather fix it permanently rather than just patch it because who knows the next

972
04:58:31.920 --> 04:58:50.000
year maybe another 700,000 then another within 3 years time you've already paid that 2 million for patch jobs to keep it just barely running instead of fixing it in in whole totality." So, I mean, this is this is where you

973
04:58:50.000 --> 04:59:07.520
asked, it was answered, but now you asked again. So, >> Commissioner Langden or Vice Mayor Langden. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, wow. The two buildings in question, we we

974
04:59:07.520 --> 04:59:25.360
keep referencing them as buildings for nonprofits. those were or are the current residents or um really it's like what time is it? >> Yeah. Occupants of those buildings. I

975
04:59:25.360 --> 04:59:41.280
look at it at a little differently. Those buildings are for community use. So whether it's a nonprofit or someone maybe it's the chamber or a club

976
04:59:41.280 --> 04:59:56.160
in town and they need space. I mean one of the things we hear all the time is there is inadequate space in this city to hold small events blah blah blah blah blah blah. I I see all of those needs

977
04:59:56.160 --> 05:00:11.920
potentially being addressed by these buildings. These were buildings that were city buildings. They were important to the community. Um, and and we talk about sometimes I

978
05:00:11.920 --> 05:00:28.000
feel like when people talk about nonprofits, it's like they just suck the life out of our budget. They serve large constituencies in this city. And because they serve

979
05:00:28.000 --> 05:00:45.040
them, we all don't have to feel the obligation of satisfying those needs. So I really resent sort of this attitude of nonprofits being a drain on this city.

980
05:00:45.040 --> 05:01:02.638
They are not a drain on this city. They help us serve various groups, whatever their missions and charters are. We don't have to worry about that need. We have nonprofits satisfying that. And I'm not going to say anymore. I mean,

981
05:01:02.638 --> 05:01:17.920
it's you know what? We're we're not voting on this tonight. And I would just encourage I won't pick on anyone. I would encourage all of us pay attention during meetings. Do your work prior to

982
05:01:17.920 --> 05:01:36.638
meetings. Use your one-on- ons with city manager and your agenda briefings to get your questions answered. Come here prepared. I'm done.

983
05:01:36.638 --> 05:01:53.520
>> Commissioner Pro, >> I'll finish quickly to answer that statement and to answer some other statements or questions. I do come prepared and when I ask a question that doesn't mean that I'm asking for myself. So it's a public meeting and

984
05:01:53.520 --> 05:02:09.280
when I'm asking a question I want to hear the fellow commissioners first and the most important part is for my constituents so they can hear it publicly. There was a time when the hospital thing was going on and we voted on consent

985
05:02:09.280 --> 05:02:26.160
agenda about the pouring concrete. I got like 10 people asking me and telling me all you had to do is pull the agenda item and we would be okay with the information and I didn't pull the

986
05:02:26.160 --> 05:02:42.320
agenda um item because I had one-on-one with the city manager and agenda briefing. So that was addressed but it was addressed to me. The public had no idea about this. And then we got a I got at least 10 complaints personally. Uh

987
05:02:42.320 --> 05:02:58.638
but that's the addressing the come prepared thing. >> But commissioner, we had a presentation by Sarasota Memorial Hospital in a public meeting discussing why they needed to do that

988
05:02:58.638 --> 05:03:16.480
sort of over the nighttime hours pouring of the concrete. That information was out there. Um what what I'm pointing to is covering repeatedly covering ground that we've already covered in public

989
05:03:16.480 --> 05:03:32.560
settings. >> Uh we we've never discussed what is the timeline of the court validation, how much would it cost, what if somebody can challenge these are my questions I'm reading. How do we do how how do those savings would be appropriated? I had answers to all of those questions

990
05:03:32.560 --> 05:03:50.080
because I asked them in my one- on-one with city attorney and my city manager. >> But the and so did I. But the public has no idea. So >> maybe you should hold some town halls, sir. Maybe you should go out there and talk more. Just the peeps that talk and whisper in your ear, sir,

991
05:03:50.080 --> 05:04:07.040
>> like the rest of us do like I do. >> Relax. >> Was my >> Please. It was my time to speak, so I >> Yeah, >> I'll finish quickly. Um, I don't appreciate that, by the way. But >> I don't appreciate you either.

992
05:04:07.040 --> 05:04:23.920
>> Please, enough. >> But, uh, I tore the building of a community center. Um, and have some sort of a construction knowledge and the building was repaired after the

993
05:04:23.920 --> 05:04:40.320
hurricane Ian. um and subsequently to me that these pictures were pretty um but I just wanted to say that you know mechanicals were were in good shape and I think we could

994
05:04:40.320 --> 05:05:02.000
get a a long live use of that building. Uh but again like vice mayor said there's no voting on it. So I'll end with that. All right. >> Thank you sir. City clerk.

995
05:05:02.000 --> 05:05:17.360
>> Other comment, please. >> Uh, yes, we do have some e comments. First, we the pe uh w do. We the people voted against spending, but the city manager wants to spend anyway. We do not need our taxes paying for an art center. That is not a necessity or the

996
05:05:17.360 --> 05:05:33.360
government's job. We do not need a new police headquarters either. Make do with what you have or find cheaper alternatives like opening satellite. stop the spending. Next is Debbie McDow. Just two weeks ago, the commission gave the city manager authority to have the courts decided the intent of the city

997
05:05:33.360 --> 05:05:49.920
charter and giving the city the green light to circumvent the voters's ability to approve bonds. Not one person explained how the budget savings can be used for bond repayment over the next 20 years. Are you able to guarantee future commissions will not need to raise the millage rate to meet this bond obligation? Of course not. Budget

998
05:05:49.920 --> 05:06:06.000
savings is not a guaranteed revenue stream like general obligation or revenue bonds are. This is another example of the tone deafness coming out of city hall. The citizens already spoke and now you want to take the issue to court. Great way to garner the trust of the voters for any future referendum. The bond validation process is also

999
05:06:06.000 --> 05:06:21.840
missing from the discussion. How long will it take? How much will it cost the taxpayers? Not just in attorney fees, but court cost and staff time. just because it may have been explained to you during a one-on-one. There's nothing in the backup materials explaining these steps to the taxpayers. So much for transparency, huh? Out of billion

1000
05:06:21.840 --> 05:06:37.520
dollars worth of CIP projects, the commission chose phase one for the North Court Police Department headquarters and construction of two buildings for nonprofit used to be on the list for the court validation process. Constructing two new buildings for nonprofits to use. Will they repay the debt through their

1001
05:06:37.520 --> 05:06:52.798
lease? Of course not. That will be completely unaffordable to them. During the meeting, the commission and the city manager said the Northport Police Department needs a new AC system. The roof leaks and there's mold. With all these repairs needed, why would the city build new buildings for nonprofits instead of using the $7 million for

1002
05:06:52.798 --> 05:07:08.240
maintaining the existing Northport Police Department? By the way, these nonprofit buildings are not commission approved CIP projects. So, why are they not why are they moved to the top of the list? Do you hear yourselves? Make this make sense to the taxpayers. Next is Robin San Vicente. In reviewing the city

1003
05:07:08.240 --> 05:07:25.040
charter language, I personally do not see any inconsistencies in the language for borrowing authority. It should have been worded better by connecting the two statements into one and then state the purpose such as the city of Northport may borrow money and contract loans or issue bonds, general obligation or revenue from time to time to finance the

1004
05:07:25.040 --> 05:07:40.080
undertaking of any capital or other project for purposes permitted by the state constitution and may pledge the funds, credit, property and taxing power of the mun municipality for the payment of such bonds and bonds by approval of majority vote of the voters of the city

1005
05:07:40.080 --> 05:07:55.600
of Northport voting on the issuance of those bonds in the primary, general, or special election. The same inconsistent wording argument was brought up to the commission last year when a determination was needed on the charter language for commission staff interaction. It was then internally determined that there was no

1006
05:07:55.600 --> 05:08:12.638
discrepancy, which I still say there is. Maybe this should have went to the judicial route as well as asking for their judicial interpretation. Regardless of the above statements, our city is lacking the adequate infrastructure to properly service the community and needs to find a way to do that. and I understand the frustration.

1007
05:08:12.638 --> 05:08:29.200
However, the community education center in Dallas White Cultural Center is not a priority given the extensive list provided. Don't get me wrong, I support and am very thankful for the services provided by our nonprofits. They are an integral part of the community. However, is this really a

1008
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priority or can we find another way to temporarily fix support them and focus on the immediate needs at hand such as health and safety? Thank you. And in person we have Tim Doyle. Someone with the phone. >> Um,

1009
05:08:56.160 --> 05:09:12.718
you read it. I didn't read that until I got here when you put it up there. But if I were to read that, that was written by a lawyer cuz it gave you an out. You can borrow money. Words have meanings. Just read it. But just remember one thing.

1010
05:09:12.718 --> 05:09:27.920
You'll take it to one judge and one judge will say one thing and then someone will appeal it and it'll go to another judge and that judge will say something else. Is that's the American way. But that was one of the worst worded things I ever seen in front of me. I

1011
05:09:27.920 --> 05:09:43.840
want to go back to the two and $3 million that you guys said you saved on the budget because when that was going down, I didn't have enough time to ask this question. You guys claim you saved two to three million on your budget to come up with this money, but when they sat down there

1012
05:09:43.840 --> 05:09:59.360
and they gave the budget, they said they were going to go get 2 to 3 million that was owed to you from people who you guys ripped off with your code departments and stuff. So my question is, is that 2 to 3 million

1013
05:09:59.360 --> 05:10:16.638
really savings or that 2 to 3 million is the money you think you're going to be able to pull in from all the people you think owe you money? I don't know the answer to that. You guys are going to have to figure that out. But maybe you should start looking into that

1014
05:10:16.638 --> 05:10:32.718
now. Going to the police station. This town's growing. I don't know if you saw it, but uh I saw a news article. Charlotte County is the number one county in the nation for foreclosures.

1015
05:10:32.718 --> 05:10:48.638
I'll repeat that. Charlotte County, the article I read a week ago, is number one in the nation for repost. Call it whatever you want. So, obviously, people don't have money.

1016
05:10:48.638 --> 05:11:03.760
That's one town over. I see all the empty places in here. You got to be careful. But we need the police station cuz I don't think it's big enough for the town. What I don't like about the police station is all spyware.

1017
05:11:03.760 --> 05:11:19.680
You want 130 million for a building. Sand and waters all the place around here. Cement shouldn't be that much. You should be able to build a big police station for a heck of a lot less. You need to look at what you're putting in that building, not what the building

1018
05:11:19.680 --> 05:11:36.160
costs. Do we need the flock cameras? Do we need all this stuff that violates everybody's constitutional rights in this country? Do we need a basement room full of cameras watching me? That basement should be a fallout shelter in that

1019
05:11:36.160 --> 05:11:52.240
building. That's why you need to build it. Do you have one city building you could use for a fallout shelter? You haven't answered that question for me yet, have you? Where I used to live, they have on the building fallout shelter. >> That is all, Mr. Mayor.

1020
05:11:52.240 --> 05:12:09.520
>> Thank you, sir. Moving on to item 260581, discussion and possible action regarding the city attorney 6 month performance evaluation. It says, "This is your item, Mr. Fletcher, but I'm going to turn it over

1021
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to the city attorney. I'm tired of listening to you, sir, this evening. >> It's all yours, Mr. Fo. >> So, uh, my my contract requires a six-month review and, um, I'll turn it over to you because you're all good.

1022
05:12:33.120 --> 05:12:47.680
>> You did >> 11:03 at night. up. >> He did review all the um evaluations and everything and they're they're all listed in the backup. So, I just wanted to congratulate you on a good job your first six months and you still want to

1023
05:12:47.680 --> 05:13:20.000
stay. >> All right, commissioners. Anything to this? Questions, discussions, any comments? I am not seeing any. Uh, public comment. >> Tim Doyle. I don't know what type of job he does. I

1024
05:13:20.000 --> 05:13:36.240
saw your ratings, you know, three to five, whatever you guys were doing. You know what I noticed on that paper? He makes $25,000 a year. I think that's more than a senator or a congressman in this country.

1025
05:13:36.240 --> 05:13:52.638
We got to get away from paying city employees more than senators, congressmen, presidents. I I mean that's that's why our taxes are too much. And I'm not saying a lawyer isn't worth 200 grand is if he was in the

1026
05:13:52.638 --> 05:14:07.760
private sector, he probably could make a lot more money. I'm not debating that. Do you follow me? But if you pay him 205,000, what are you paying everybody else? That's public information. It was on

1027
05:14:07.760 --> 05:14:24.560
your agenda. You had to go online to look at it. It's not written on here, but you hit the tab and comes right up. So, I hope he does a great job for 205,000. I've been looking for a lot of things on

1028
05:14:24.560 --> 05:14:40.878
this agenda and I haven't seen a darn thing. If he was a smart lawyer, he'd start talking to you guys, try to make peace with me, but you won't. So, I'll just keep coming.

1029
05:14:40.878 --> 05:15:04.000
So, $25,000 makes more than all you, don't it? >> That is all, Mr. Mayor. All right. And uh close this and uh request a motion. I'll make it.

1030
05:15:04.000 --> 05:15:19.520
The hour is late and I apologize to the attorney that the topic of your performance has gotten a little short shrifted. Is that the the statement? So I do apologize for that. Um, I would

1031
05:15:19.520 --> 05:15:37.000
move to conclude the six-month evaluation for city attorney Mike Fuo and give uh I'm looking at 5%. So, whoever has the smoking uh calculator, it's $10,256

1032
05:15:37.920 --> 05:15:54.718
or whatever the math is, but I'm suggesting a 5% increase um at this point in time. I'm going to second that for discussion. And the reason being in my part of the

1033
05:15:54.718 --> 05:16:09.440
discussion, you said that was what 12,000 on on the seller? >> 10250. >> 10250. >> 10250. >> 10250. >> Sorry. >> Okay. In the contract that we had signed with Mr. Fuino, this is a six-month evaluation.

1034
05:16:09.440 --> 05:16:24.798
It said we could give him, if everything was good, was up to 5,000. We still have a yearly evaluation coming up 6 months from now. So, I would be very firm on sticking with the 5,000,

1035
05:16:24.798 --> 05:16:41.600
revisiting another pay increase at the one-year mark. That's that's where I would be starting on Commissioner Stokes. >> I'm with the mayor. >> Commissioner Pro.

1036
05:16:41.600 --> 05:17:01.240
>> I'm with mayor. That's the quickest you two have ever talked. Okay. So, got the one motion on the floor. We can vote on that. Please vote.

1037
05:17:15.600 --> 05:17:33.680
And that fails four to one. All right. Looking for another motion. I'll make it if you want. Vice Mayor, >> I move to conclude the six-month evaluation for city attorney Michael Fino and give a $5,000 salary increase

1038
05:17:33.680 --> 05:17:53.280
effective April 21st, 2026. We have a motion on the floor made by um our our mayor uh Emirich and seconded. I heard commissioner um Stokes before I heard commissioner um

1039
05:17:53.280 --> 05:18:11.440
the other commissioners. So, uh, we have a motion on the floor to conclude the six-month evaluation for city attorney Michael Fuino and give a $5,000 salary increase effective April 21st, 2026.

1040
05:18:11.440 --> 05:18:35.600
Let's vote. We need to clear the vote. Got it. And that motion passes five to zero. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> You're welcome. Anytime. >> All right, moving on. Final public comment.

1041
05:18:35.600 --> 05:18:52.718
Yes, we do have e comment and person. Stephen Harrison, thank you again for allowing public input tonight. Due to the character restriction, I had to submit two separate e comments. I would like to close by emphasizing that strengthening my advisory boards should be viewed as an opportunity, not

1042
05:18:52.718 --> 05:19:08.560
criticism of the current system. My research found that Northport already has many strengths. Dedicated staff, active volunteers, formal appointment processes, and residents who care about their community. The purpose of my project was not to say the system is broken. It was to ask whether a good system can become even better through

1043
05:19:08.560 --> 05:19:24.240
realistic and sustainable improvements. The answer is yes. Small changes can create meaningful long-term results. Better communication with members, easier access to openings, clearer expectations before appointments, stronger onboarding, and more visible recognition of volunteer service can improve both recruitment and retention.

1044
05:19:24.240 --> 05:19:40.560
These changes also help build trust in local government. When residents see o open opportunities to serve, they feel included. When volunteers feel respected, they remain engaged. When boards are active and productive, the public has greater confidence in the process. Advisory boards also help develop future community leaders. Many

1045
05:19:40.560 --> 05:19:55.680
people first become involved in government through volunteer board service before taking on larger civic roles later. Cities often focus on physical infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and buildings. Those investments are important, but civic infrastructure matters, too. Advisory boards are part of that civic

1046
05:19:55.680 --> 05:20:14.958
infrastructure because they connect residents to the decisions that affect their lives. Northport has an opportunity to continue strengthen that connection. Thank you for your leadership, your time, and your service to the residents of Northport. First, Tim Doyle. You might have ordered that last thing

1047
05:20:14.958 --> 05:20:30.320
wrong because you just gave him a $5,000 raise. You didn't say whether it was weekly, monthly, or yearly in your thing. That's a lawyer move, just so you know. You might want to read that back later on and make sure he knows it's a

1048
05:20:30.320 --> 05:20:48.320
year, not not a week, not a month. You usually have to sign a piece of paper when you give out raises and stuff. So, what are we going to do here, boys and girls? We got a lot of problems in this world. God knows what's going on right now. I haven't watched news. I'm

1049
05:20:48.320 --> 05:21:06.000
usually in bed at 8:00. It's 11:11. I've been in these meetings to 2:30 in the morning. So, to me, this isn't late at a meeting like this. This was another soap ropper today. It was

1050
05:21:06.000 --> 05:21:21.280
rehashing the stuff, beating everybody up, arguing. If I ever use foul language here, I don't want to hear about it. No one better pull me out of here because I just heard the foul language behind the counter. And I really do try to bite my tongue

1051
05:21:21.280 --> 05:21:37.200
here. You should hear what I say to Rick Stock on the tea, on the phone, or Greg Stwie. Why do you think the cops came to my house? But there's only one problem, gentlemen. It's for called free speech. I speak the truth.

1052
05:21:37.200 --> 05:21:55.360
Sometimes you guys can't handle that. You bury your heads in the sand. We got problems. So I I don't know. We can keep this going forever. forever cuz there's no reason for me to go to my

1053
05:21:55.360 --> 05:22:12.958
house in New Hampshire this year. Cuz if the bombs start hitting the Midwest, I remember the 1970s with the acid rain. I'm safer here. My air comes from Mexico. And plus, I don't vote there. I vote

1054
05:22:12.958 --> 05:22:30.638
here. So, you guys got to make some changes here. You got to do something. I'm not calling for anybody's job like some people in the room are. I want you to treat people fair.

1055
05:22:30.638 --> 05:22:46.560
I want you to pass laws that are fair and ordinances that are fair. If this war breaks out, can I have a cow in my yard? Huh? I have enough land to have a cow.

1056
05:22:46.560 --> 05:23:02.718
You guys bought off all the ranches and sent all the cows packing. That's why we go to Argentina now, right? And Brazil for cattle. What do you think's going to happen after the war starts? You think you're getting those cattle from Argentina? Better think about what you're doing

1057
05:23:02.718 --> 05:23:19.360
here, boys and girls. And I want to know where the air sirens are. And you should be on the phone with Rick Scott, Donald Trump, and Eric Stewie or all these boneheads. They're going to spend trillions of dollars and might as well get something for it. That is all, Mr. Mayor.

1058
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>> Thank you, sir. Moving on to commission communications. Commissioner Dval, >> nothing to report at this time. >> Commissioner Stokes, nothing to report at this time. >> I got nothing. Vice Mayor, >> clerk's office was kind enough to attach my activity report to tonight's agenda

1059
05:23:37.120 --> 05:23:54.760
for anyone who is interested. >> Commissioner Pro, >> not for me. Deputy City Clerk report. >> No, sir. >> City attorney report. >> Second there. >> Not even a thank you, sir. I'm just kidding.

1060
05:23:55.600 --> 05:24:11.920
>> City manager report. >> I was thinking it, but I didn't say it. >> No, Mr. >> is a message. Let's not let the meetings go to 11:15. Okay. >> And we we are injured now. I know that

1061
05:24:11.920 --> 05:24:15.400
11:15 14.