Okay, we're going to open up February 3rd, 2026 meeting. We'll have the uh invocation by Mr. Hart and then we'll have the pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Oliver and then roll call. Please stand.
>> Dear heavenly father, we thank you through your abundant grace and mercy. You've allowed us to come together to conduct this city's business. And father, we pray that you help us to come in together in the spirit of unity. Even though we may disagree, let us not disrespect or disengage from one another, but continue to work together as brothers and sisters. We say a special prayer of all of our first
responders who are watching over us. Watch over them as they watch over us. We so carefully give you the praise, the honor, and the glory you do. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Commissioner Kennedy >> here. >> Commissioner Wilson >> here. >> Mayor Johnson >> here. >> Commissioner Fner >> here. >> Commissioner Oliver
>> here. All right, we have a proclamation here. I'll read it. Whereas this February across the United States and the state of Florida, Americans will join together to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments and lasting impact of
the great African-American leaders of our country's past and present. During this month, we applaud the transformational contributions of the African-American community, which has overcome tremendous adversity to build lasting change for generations to come.
Whereas, 2026 marks 100 years of national black history. Accommodations honoring the vision of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week, creating a
movement that transformed how America and the world recognized the contributions of people of African descent. What began is a week-long observance has grown into Black History Month, a cornerstone of America and global culture.
Whereas the city of Okcoy acknowledges the importance of understanding and recognizing its past, including the lessons and stories that have shaped our community and remains committed to fostering healing, unity, and continued progress. And whereas the city of Okcoy
established the human relations diversity board comprised of residents who volunteered to bring culture, awareness throughout our community. Since its inception 21 years ago, the HRDB has worked to promote
understanding, respect, goodwill, and equality among all citizens and businesses of the city of Okcoy. Whereas the city of Okcoy is proud to host its 21st annual Black History Month essay contest. The essay contest is open to
fifth grade students attending Okcoy schools. The winners will receive prizes and be recognized at an Oakcoy city commission meeting. Whereas residents can tune in to the Oakcoy TV Spectrum channel 493 during
the month of February to watch programs that highlight significant people and events from African-American history. Citizens may also visit city hall to see a Black History Month display with biographical portraits of notable
African-Americans. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city commission of the city of Ocoy does hereby declare the month of February, 2026 as Black History Month. This city shall celebrate the vibrant culture and achievements African-Americans have
contributed to our country. This month and throughout the year, we urge our residents to celebrate their heritage and continue to fight for equality and opportunity for all. In witness thereof, I have to set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Okcoy, Florida to be
affixed this third day of February, 2026. Rusty Johnson, mayor. All right. Now, we have a U young lady here. If I find the paper, Miss Pam Jones to come up. You want to
come up to the microphone? Works for Congressman Webster. >> Yes. >> Yes. My name is Pam Jones and I'm the community relations representative for Congressman Daniel Webster. So, I'm glad
to be here among the city of Akoi and the staff and the commission of Akoi. And we were uh the congressman was at the office with u Mr. Chadri and Mayor Johnson came as well and the congressman
presented an extension of remarks recognizing the 100year anniversary of the city of Akoi. So this was back in May and um later the Mr. Chad Ricks
said, "Could every one of our commissioners have a copy of the extension of remarks?" And I said, "Of course." An extension of remarks is a congressional record. You can look it up on Google. Um, it is filed with the Library of Congress forever. So, this
was a very special recognition for the city of Akoi. So, I'd like to have each one of you have this and I will hand it right here to your clerk. >> You want to you want to do that up front? Let everybody come up front. >> I would. Yeah, >> that'd be a great photo. >> That would be fantastic. >> You got somebody take the pictures out
back. >> I would love it. >> I'm sure. >> Let's Let's all come down front. >> No, I can't get up. >> He'll be out in a second, I'm sure. >> There he is. Thank you so much. >> Yes, I would love it if you would open
it. >> I would love it if you fold it back. You can fold the like this. >> Yes, it is. And I must say, you did an amazing job all through the year doing wonderful
things throughout the year to >> everywhere. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. We got that seat. Just all moved down one. >> All right. Staff report.
>> Um, yes, sir. I have a few items. I I'll try to move quickly. um announcement that at the February 17th city commission meeting, Orange County Public Schools will be providing the commission a brief presentation on the proposed
upgrades at Acoy Middle School. So, I want to encourage you to let your residents know. Um we'll have that posted online as well. Um, second item I have, u, we had a garbage truck malfunction today >> and the Wintermir Grove subdivision was
missed for pickup and will be recovered tomorrow morning. Um, the third thing I have is uh a a a quick little announcement. I want to encourage you all to to promote this as well. It's going to be hitting Facebook
uh tomorrow and flyers are going to be dropped off at all of our McCoy schools for our city of utilities uh poster contest. Um it's called the drop savers water conservation poster contest. Students are going to be encouraged to create a poster depicting a water
conservation idea in slogan and or drawing form. And this is a great way to inspire our next generation of water conservation ambassadors. Um, so I'll respectfully request that you guys help us promote this so we can get some good
entries and you'll get to recognize them um after the entries are due March 1st. So um we should be back in front of you shortly thereafter to announce the winners. And um the last thing I had is we had agreed to allow Mr. Gayler, our
city attorney, to provide a brief update and u discussion on some of our statutory changes um relating to Senate Bill 180. I'll turn it over to him. >> Sure. Uh you all will recall that in mid July we approved of envision 2045, our
new comprehensive plan. The Florida legislature adopted what is commonly known as SB80, which says that you cannot have a a a land use ordinance or comprehensive plan that is more burdensome or restrictive.
So, we were faced with doing away with 5 years worth of work or the solution we came up with was we're going to have an opt out. So if a developer does not want to proceed under envision 2045 and all the benefits that it would uh give that
developer, they could instead opt to go under the existing comprehensive plan that's been in place forever and ever. In that with that type of setup, no one could with a straight face say that our envision 2045 was more restrictive or
burdensome. Regardless, we received a letter uh and similar letters were sent to municipalities throughout Florida. We found more than 20 of these letters issued by the Department of of of Commerce which stated that our envision
2045 was null and void. We disagreed with that strongly and we made multiple efforts to have the Department of Commerce resend their null and void letter. They refused or declined to do
so. Needless to say that there was substantial uncertainty about the legality of Envision 2045. So, we had no choice but to file an administrative proceeding uh in what's known as DOA, the Florida Department of Administrative
Hearings. And the intention of doing this was to flush out the department's position with respect to the legality of of Envision 2045. And we managed to do that. Even though the administrative law
judge ultimately ruled against us on a technicality, we got what we were looking for here. So the department uh had to say because they had to respond to us. They said that this quote null and void letter does not create rights,
require compliance or compel the city to do or not do anything that at most it expresses the department's view of the law without any without any binding legal effect. The department admitted that it did not challenge envision 2045
before it legally became effective uh which would have been on August 28th, 2025. H in addition, the administrative law judge's order held that the department does not have legal authority to declare
comprehensive plan amendments null and void under the enabling legislation that was approved by the Florida legislature. So, it is our opinion and we've expressed this uh to the to the city commission uh during the holiday season.
And I'm now reporting to the public that it is our opinion that Envision 204 2045 is effective as of August 28th, 2025 and that the city should proceed accordingly. >> And we have been doing so. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Nothing further, Mayor. >> Huh? >> I don't have anything further. >> Thank you, sir. All right. Public comments. I have Dr. Jim Moyer. >> Thank you, Marabel.
>> Of course. >> Shut off her there. Got to go back. What's wrong with the system? >> Sorry. Thank you. And then I just click right.
>> Oh, this one. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Dr. Jim Moyer. I'm the elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. This is our board. >> Go ahead. I'm trying.
>> Three minutes. Yeah. This is our board. Uh since the last time I was here, this is some of the act recent activities. I had a very informative meeting with the COE public works. I thank them for that. I sent an email to the state county OCPS
COE elected officials and key staff. I made a public presentation to Orange County PCC and I had a productive meeting afterwards with the OC Orange County EPD acting manager Liz Johnson.
And I've had a discussion about the possibility of having a cleanup on just certain streets right prior to spring into conservation. Maybe with some students from a Koi Elementary School.
Um I'm commending the city for Uni Park. It prevents pollutants into Stark Lake from the west. the AOE website star clay white paper part two is excellent in my view. Uh initiating a three-year plan to
reduce the pollutants is outstanding and discussing as I did with public works complimentary initiatives. Uh there is a difference between cleanup and protect anything including our
lakes. Uh cleaning up is reactive, such as dealing with pollutants currently in the lake. Protecting is proactive. Uni Park, for example, protects from the west side, uh prohibiting pollutants
from going in there and focuses on our children's future. Um these are some suggestions. They have been discussed, not finalized, just for consideration. Some thoughts on the north side, possibility of four baffle box similar
to what the state paid for at Lake Olympia. Um on the east side, possible public resident partnership to plant the right native vegetation and I handed out uh flyers that came from Orange County
EPD that they generously provided. On the south side, it'd be a combination partnership with the farm, the residents, OCPS, possible uh ad grant, and possible public uh
resident uh OCP partnership to plant the right native vegetation. When we come together, it's a beginning. When we keep together, it's progress. When we work together, it's success. Henry Ford, thank you for your time and God bless
all of you. Thank you, Dr. Moore. Mr. A's heart. A man much wiser than me once told me when that people don't always have to be kind to you. So, when they do, the least you could do is go back and tell them thank you. So, I'd like to thank uh city
commission, mayor, and city staff for giving me the opportunity to do something I've always wanted to do. You gave me the opportunity to um be the keynote speaker at a man I have the utmost respect for, Martin Luther King. It was a joy and an honor to do so. I remember carrying my daughters on my
should my shoulders when they were little babies and I was so proud that Okoy of all places would honor Martin Luther King. So I want to thank the city once again and success doesn't happen by accident and it doesn't happen in a vacuum. It work it happens because people came together with a plan and for
21 years the city has invested in the human relations diversity board and now that fruit is now those those seeds are bearing fruit. I used to work at Disney. One of my first jobs, I was a janitor out there between high school and college. And I worked in this fantasy land. And of course, in Fantasy Land, they have a ride called It's a Small
World. And it shows the seven continents and all the diversity in the world. Well, Disney may think they own diversity, but they don't. Or is more diverse than any place around here. So, in the words of MC Hammer, when it comes to diversity, you can't touch this. God bless you. Thank you for the
opportunity. Have a great night. Take care. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for appreciate it. did a great job that day. Thank you. >> That's all the public comments I've got forms for. So, we'll go through the uh consent agenda.
>> Mayor, I just need one thing corrected on it. Item number three, it says district one to be district. >> Say it. I >> Okay, >> say it again. >> Okay. Item number three says district one, it's district two. just to correct
the uh verbiage on the item. That's all I wanted. I asked it when we approve if we approve it to correct that >> on the staff report. >> Uh it is on the agenda item staff report. It says district one. It should be district two. >> Yeah.
All right. Whoever makes the motion to put that in >> um I'll be happy to make the motion to approve with the um change of district three. of change in district number on item three. >> All right, I hear a second. >> Second.
>> Second. Motion made by Commissioner Wilson's with themsions on it and then the second was by Commissioner Fner. Any more comments? Let's vote. Okay, let's go down to number 11. Y
>> second read of ordinance. Second read of annexation ordinance 2277 Fuller Crossroad Baragan property project uh AX0725-07 Planner Bellazair. Okay,
>> there it is. Okay, good evening everyone. Tonight I'll be presenting the annexation application for the property located at 227 Flores Crossroad. For issues, it is whether or not the honorable mayor and city commission should approve the proposed annexation
from >> Let's speak. Pull that mic up a little bit and speak into it. Okay. Thank you. >> May not be on. >> Is it on? >> Can you guys hear me? >> Okay. >> Is this good? Okay. >> Um Okay, cool. I'll just start over.
Sorry about that, guys. Um, so I'll be presenting the annexation application for the property located at 22774. Now I can hear my voice. >> There you go. >> 22774 Cross Road. Okay. For issues, it is whether or not
the honorable mayor and city commission should approve the proposed annexation from Orange County into the city of Akoi for the property located at 2277 Fuller's Cross Road. For background, the property is located on the northwest corner of Fuller's Cross Road and North Lakewood Avenue
intersection. It's one parcel and a little bit over 5 acres large. Um, currently the lot remains as vacant and it is within the State Road 429 overlay district in which it' be subject to the interchange village character area design plan.
Here we have the aerial photography of the lot. This is the future land use map indicating the lowdensity residential designation and this is the surrounding zoning map showing those adjacent city properties.
So both the development review committee as well as the planning and zoning commission met during their respective meetings and made a unanimous recommendation of approval for the proposed annexation. And similarly staff is also making the recommendation of approval of the annexation of the property from the county into the city
um for 2277 floors crossroad. And that concludes my presentation. Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Yes. An ordinance of the city of Akoi, Florida, annexing into the corporate limits of the city of Akoi, Florida.
Certain real property containing approximately 5.09 09 acres located at 2277 Fuller's Cross Road in the northwest corner of Fuller's Cross Road and North Lakewood Avenue intersection pursuant to the application submitted by the property owner finding set
annexation to be consistent with the envision 2045 AOE comprehensive plan the Koi city code and the joint planning area agreement providing for and authorizing the update of official city maps providing direction to the city clerk providing for severability prevailing in the event of any
inconsistency and providing for an effective date. >> All right, I'm going to open the public hearing for item number 11, second reading of annexation ordinance 2277 Fuller's Crossroad, Barrian property. All right, I'll close the public here
and bring it back up for the DIS. We need a motion or comments. >> I'll make the motion. >> Motion made by Commissioner >> Kennedy. >> Kennedy. >> I'll second it. Second by Commissioner Oliver. All right. Any more comments?
Now, let's vote. >> It happens to all of us. >> Motion carries unanimously. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Um number 12 is regular agenda, code enforcement,
foreclosure, and policy recommendation. Please, Chief Agburn. How you get up there? >> Good evening, mayor and commissioners. uh early part of December, you all wanted staff to go back and bring back some recommendations for code enforcement fines. And uh since then,
we've been busy. Um, and the purpose of this briefing is to present strengthened foreclosure framework within the city of Aoy to recommend some thresholds and timelines to align with other regional agencies in the central Florida area and
to increase fairness and cost recovery and finally to request commission's approval on the recommendations. So why the polit upate why the policy updates are needed to increase and chronic chronic violations that are
occurring throughout the city um to kind of clean up the abandoned and deteriorating properties within the city. And currently the city's absorbent enforcement cost is dealing with abatements, mailing fees, and staffing fees to um send letters out to these
property owners. Currently, we have no defined foreclosure timeline and there is a need for consistency and accountability in the way we enforce these violations. Our regional benchmarking was the city of Apopka, the city of Winter Garden,
Orlando, Orange County, and of course, US. Recommendation number one is to implement a $500 day minimum threshold. This promotes early compliance with the uh violations. It prevents excessive
lean buildup and it aligns with regional practices. It also improves safety and eliminates nuisance concerns with these properties and again it ensures fairness and predictable enforcement. Recommendation number two is a
requirements for clo foreclosure review. We would begin the foreclosure review 6 months after a lean recording if the lean is greater than $15,000, the property is nonh homesteaded, and we don't get a response from the owner from
all the mailings that we send out. Recommendation number three, it's a structured preforeclosure process. Step one would be a lean requirement letter being sent out. Step two would be a settlement conference with the property owner and
uh the code enforcement uh administration. Step three would be code board or magistrate review and their recommendation. Step four is the commission's authorization of the foreclosure. And step five, we would send notice of
the hearing. Recommendation number four, we would establish a foreclosure and cost recovery fund. As I said earlier, we have to come out of our budget for that. This foreclosure cost recovery fund will
cover upfront legal and filing expenses. The funds would be red um reimbured to this fund through the settlements and the sale of the properties. Recommendation number five is to reconsider the magistrate to hear these
cases. reconsidering using a magistrate to hear the proceedings as opposed to a code enforcement board. And by using a magistrate that avoids decisions being overturned on appeals and a member of the prevailing side can also introduce a motion to reconsider the previous
decision that was made to have a code board hear these cases. The fiscal and community impact of this uh recommendation is accelerates compliance, reduces long-term conditions that deteriorate a property or neighborhood,
and improves neighborhood appearance and safety. The requested commission actions. One, we would request a $250 day maximum fine threshold. Recommend that minimum fines acrew 15,000.
Set a six-month foreclosure review start. Approve structured pre-foreclosure workflow to authorize a city attorney filings. Establish foreclosure recovery fund. And lastly, request reconsideration from
the commission to have the code enforcement cases heard by a magistrate. And that is my recommendations. Staff. >> All right. Commissioners comments if you have them.
>> I have some. >> Let's start with Commissioner Kennedy. >> Yeah. >> I'm a little confused to be honest. It's probably me. It seems like
this addresses a mix of both residential and commercial violations. >> This is commercial. I'm sorry. residential. This is residential here. >> Okay. So, it's my understanding that we can't foreclose the residential because of homestead.
>> Homestead are exempt. >> Okay. Uh that's what I thought. So, when we started, I thought we were talking commercial. Uh you have So, there you have the $250 a day maximum fine threshold. On the f first or second
slide, there was a $500 threshold. I think commissioner, you're correct. That should be a minimum fine threshold on the request of commission action >> of 500. >> No, 500 max. >> 500 max >> and 250 minimum.
>> Okay. So, if we're at the 500, you reach the 15,000 in 30 days. Would you still wait for 6 months or would you in in my opinion if you hit 15,000 start the band? But um is there a logic behind
the six months? >> We kind of want to give the property owner an opportunity to come forth and plead their case. >> I mean like you said within 30 days that would be kind of harsh. So we want to give them a little time to to ple >> 500. No offense I don't mean to be.
But I like it. I like I mean I personally like harsh for this. Um, the second thing I wanted to know, uh, is about enforcement. I know you all did some
I I know there's things about patrolling. I know y'all did like a targeted area cleanup to kind of work around some of those things. >> Yes, sir. Is there like what is the guidance on and what
like specifically like what's the penalty if we patrol code enforcement? Do we know have we looked at what that looks like? >> Actually the penalty for patrol >> actively patrolling code enforcement officers actively patrolling the city
rather than responding to complaints. Well, they are out commissioners. Most of our code in the past have been complaint driven, but now they have taken a more proactive approach into going out to um >> um >> Commissioner, you mind he?
>> No, I comment. Oh, I just wanted to shed some light on the uh there there under chapter 162, I think it's 16209, Florida statutes, uh a code board or special magistrate can impose a fine of up to
$250 per day per violation. If it is a repeat violation, then the fines can go to $500 per day per violation. So, if the intent here is to go with the maximum, that would be the maximum that you could do under the Florida statutes.
Okay. Okay. Mr. Geller, um, mayor, permission. Thank you. Um, I would like for Mr. Geller to weigh in because of the discussion with regard to active versus passive code enforcement. We have a code that um, promotes a complaint
driven. We are allowed under a statute to sweep areas, which we have done and are doing more so. Um, but we we do Can you speak to that, please? Well, well, certainly um you can have
code officers or whoever is designated to do so to uh patrol the city and when they find violations to uh bring that to either the code enforcement board or the special magistrate as the case may be. Um, I I I did want to um if you just
indulge me, I I serve as a special magistrate for the city of Cape Canaveral, and I just wanted to share my perspective on this on on whether you reconsider your your prior decision,
which was to keep a code enforcement board for residential and then keep the special magistrate for commercial. Um, I handle both uh for for that particular city. And there there are certain I guess there's the disadvantage is that then you lose some citizen
participation. The advantage is that you don't have a quorum issue. Um I can be very efficient in making decisions. Uh I know the law. I know I know chapter 162. Uh I'm pretty sure about that that code
citation I gave just a second ago. And I know the city codes of of the city that I serve. So, there's an advantage to knowing the law and there's an advantage to having someone who knows how to write
written decisions to make them bulletproof on appeal. In doing so, a municipality can save the expense of appeals because someone gets the written opinion and they know there's nowhere to go with an appeal.
And so, you just avoid an appeal altogether or you're going to win the appeal. Chances are, And then the last the the last advantage uh with a special magistrate is that when I hear cases, I do so very dispassionately. I'm not
elected by anyone. I was just appointed by by that particular city council. I do not feel conflicted when someone appears before me because I'm not that person's neighbor and I am not uh disincined to
cut someone a break if they're violating the code. So you don't have any kind of conflicts of interest. You don't have any kinds of perceived or or actual favoritism and and I'm not saying that that is happening here uh in in our city here. Um, but you you certainly avoid
that from from ever happening when you have a a dispassionate special magistrate looking at these things. >> All right. >> Um, mayor, I'm sorry. >> Um, I I I wanted to >> finish up on that. What we are actively
doing is trying to educate people in the public and that's one thing that, you know, direction from the mayor and commission has been very clear on. So, we are taking a more active role in the public to talk to people that we see violations with and say, "Hey, you know, you could get cited for this. Um, why
don't you go ahead and think about cleaning it up?" And and it's it's more about that. Our goal is to bring about compliance >> and also equity and fairness to neighbors of places that are are being allowed to um fall into a a very
neglected state in many cases in the city. And um um we are seeing um some fruits of the the labor that the commission undertook to direct us to to be more proactive already. We have had a number of um leans um resolved and
people have come and paid in full. Um and that's due to our letter campaign that we sent out. Um, but we do recommend that you direct me to uh continue with what the chief just presented to you. Um, because it helps us once the word gets out, you know,
that we're serious and we will foreclose if we need to. Um, that will help bring about the word spreads very quickly. And so, um, but up to this point, we've never really except for one instance, um, foreclosed anyone. So, and and the
chief was very clear. We we can't foreclose a homesteaded property, which we would not intend to do that, but there are a number of them that are not homesteaded that, you know, have been acrewing fines that um we can prompt some of these property owners to try and
clean their properties up. And this is after we've exhausted education, going over and talking to them and >> um going through the due process under the code. >> All right. Commissioner, you got any more? Yes sir. Thank you. Um
I appreciate the explanation and just to clarify what I meant by harsh. Um the discretion in the process in my opinion belongs with your officers. Um we all know the code enforcement officers go out, they talk to them, they educate
them, and by the time they write someone up, they know they have a serious problem. And what I don't like seeing is multiple levels of discretion that delay and dilute the enforcement. Um so I'm
totally in support of a magistrate. Um because as we know by the time it gets to that point it's been going on for a long time. Um my problem and I'll close with this with the patrolling. I saw something tonight. I
saw uh what is supposed to be a luxury apartment complex. Um last week I saw it. There's a whole bunch of construction vehicles and bucket trucks and things that are parked in the resident parking spaces at night.
That's supposed to be a violation. And what I don't like and the feedback I get from residents in my district is, you know, we drive by, we see it. We assume officers drive by and see it. And we would like to assume that if we see
something, it's been written up or being handled. And I think the process that we have today, and that's I like your recommendations, is we don't I don't have that. I routinely call staff and I'm like, "Do you have a do you have a
case on this?" And no, nobody's reported it. And they go out and they check. >> Yeah. >> And I I just I think as a as a resident, I'd like to have more confidence that when I drive down the road and I see something that is clearly wrong and is
clearly highly visible, and I know I'm not the only one seeing it, that your officers are writing it up. And at the moment, I I just don't have that confidence. I think the changes uh made to pull enforcement into uh the police
department have been great, and I love where you're going with that. I support the recommendations and being stricter, and I support the magistrate. Thank you, mayor. >> All right. Commissioner, >> are you find Chief, are you finding that um with the board that they're reducing
fines that they're saying, you know, it's oh, we're only going to charge you $50 a day? >> Yes. >> And that's a problem because again, I feel like I'm very loud. >> Okay. Are we we back >> back up a little bit? >> Back up a little bit. Okay. Thank you.
I might need to turn it off. I can probably speak very loud. Um, that's a problem with me because we have folks that call each one of us and complain about the neighbors, but legislature didn't do us any favors when they put in
that you could not be anonymous. Um, I we were in Tallahassee last week and I even mentioned that to a few of them. What a disservice they provided to our community by doing that because folks do not want to call on their neighbor, but they'll call us and complain about their neighbor. parking
on the grass, parking, you know, for whatever. Um, they don't want to call, but when they get to the code board, it's like a slap on the hand. I'm assuming it's not let's $250 a day. Thank you very much. Straighten your act out. >> That's where our inconsistencies are
coming into play. >> And that and I understand with Mr. Geller, that's where it's he's not acting as a neighbor. He's acting as the attorney. >> That's right. And that and that's an issue because we have things, you know, people maybe have motor homes in front
of their yard. If somebody says $15 a day, it might be cheaper to pay my $15 a day than to pay to have it put into storage somewhere. Just using that as an example. Or a a car, whatever they have in their front yard or the tires are flat. It's cheaper to pay the $15 a day
than put four new tires on. Um, those are issues that I think that when they get I'm guessing when they get to the code board, are we saying, "Oh, I feel sorry for you. You've told me a sad story." But it's not it's a sad story, but yet the neighbor next door has to live with
that. And unless you tell someone, they're going to have to either pony up the money or um fix whatever the problem is. And we used to have years ago, we used to have folks come up to us to get the phones the fines reduced because they were
doing um refinancing. But the neighbor had to live with this next door to them for years. And now we're going to clean it up because we want to refinance. That was an issue that we were dealing with here as the commission >> or sell >> or sell it. They you know they had to fix it now. But that poor neighbor had
to live next to that junkyard. I don't mean I'm just using as an example. um for years because they were charged what $10 a day. That wasn't enough. So, I understand the magistrate issue. I hate putting a a group of citizens,
residents, out of a their duty, but we have a quorum issue with them. We have had quorum issues. Um and again, that's a neighbor living another 30 days without something being done. And so, I you know, I am I think the last time I was interested in a magistrate also
because of that. Let's disconnect ourselves from being the neighbor who actually someone who is enforcing this. And every one of us, I'm sure, has a neighbor in their neighborhood who every neighborhood has problems. So,
and I I'm just going I'm sorry I'm preaching here, but I just don't like the idea that we get the privilege of let's only charge you $15 a day instead of $250 a day because someone has to live next to that. >> Thank you, Commissioner. So, sorry that Thank you.
>> I'm going to have to put a time limit on everybody here. >> I just want to um while while you're waiting to someone else to speak, uh city manager Shadri brought up the lean reduction program. Since we uh implemented that at the beginning of January, we've collected like $28,000
that they are paying those fines. >> How does that work, Chief? the lean reduction. >> It's a formula that's it was implemented back in 2015. Um I could show it to you, but there's a formula and it comes down
uh they reduce it. >> Let me find it here. >> Just send him. >> It reduces the actual >> I will send you the format. If if someone comes in um with their property in compliance and it uh the
commission in 2015 had um adopted a uh formula allowing me the authority to reduce it. Okay. And that's been very successful. We've had a number of those come in. Um we wanted to the formula takes into consideration staff cost,
time and materials, etc. so that we're not out any any abatement costs or or anything like that. So >> So it basically if it warrants it, it will cover the city's administrative cost. >> Yes. >> Good.
>> For that particular property. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I'll keep it short. >> Oh, you look at it like you were done. I was going >> No, no, no, no, no. Um, >> moving on. I like the idea of having a magistrate.
I think that that is going to reduce at least the inconsistencies in the fines. And uh can we use the same magistrate that we have now that's doing the commercial properties to do both? >> You could if you want.
>> We um just went through the process. a former magistrate retired and we just reacquired another uh magistrate and we will be meeting with them next week just to give them a rundown of what their duties and responsibilities will be.
>> Good. That would be helpful if we could use the same individual to do this. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Um nonhomestead properties, how many are we talking about in the city? Is it a great deal number-wise? I I don't have that number
off the top of my head, Commissioner. >> We have a we have a spreadsheet um that we can share with the commission or maybe a a chart, you know, that summarizes it, but there's a significant number. And you know, again, this is not
about Acoy getting in the code police business and going after this is about bringing about compliance and creating a community that understands we want to work with you, but we want your property looking nice because it's not fair to your neighbor. So, um there's a pretty
good list that we've looked at um that we would be able to start with right away. And I I think one or two of those and >> word's going to get out really quick. Yeah, there's nothing worse than having a house that's been more or less
abandoned in a neighborhood that the property owner just ignores and it keeps deteriorating and bringing the values of that neighborhood down and you have to live there and look at the thing every day. So that that is important to
control that. Um, I like the $250 to $500 per day fine. I think that will get people's attention real fast. And if
we uphold that and not bargain with them up front, I think that'll get them to uh react a lot faster than if they think, well, maybe I can, you know, hold out and they'll reduce it on me and everything. So, I'm all for it all. I
think you did a very good job, Chief. >> Thank you. >> You're the man. >> Yeah. Just just a couple things. Um on the staff report, I would have loved to seen this your presentation on the staff report. It just doesn't show anything on
on the report itself. I I would have liked to seen this before the presentation. Uh because I'm sure I would have had a few more questions I could have gotten uh answered before we got here tonight. But nonetheless, um, one of the things I also would like have
would have have liked to seen in that in your presentation just without encroaching upon anyone's uh, privacy rights, I would like to see some what these properties really look like. >> Well, I mean I mean I can only imagine based on on on what we discuss here and and doing in lean foreclosures. So I
thought it' be more effective if we can actually physically see what we're talking about. Um, >> right around >> right around I've seen a few things, but I >> I know >> again wouldn't know if it's homesteaded or not. >> But nonetheless, um
>> I also uh um in addition to seeing the pictures, um it seems to me that the the key to to code enforcement is always compliance. And uh it sounds like when we get to this point uh of of putting leans and
foreclosures, they've had the opportunity to come in compliance. So we're beyond that step. >> Correct. >> So right now the conversation we have right now is beyond compliance. If that's the case, then um it sounds like we've been kicking this can down the road here for a while. Until we can
actually pull the trigger and and hold uh these owners accountable at the highest standard, then nothing's going to happen and everyone's going to continue to to do what they've always done and they're going to continue to
get the same results. So, I I I say we need to adopt a plan tonight that is going to uh put some some bite into the bark and um and hold these guys accountable for um uh these these uh properties that have been either a
abandoned or just just they just they're not keeping them up. And that's all I got. >> Okay. First of all, um, with having our code enforcement board, it puts emphasis on them when they face their neighbors
or face anybody else in the city that they've got to make the decision to say that. And I've set in some of them and the fines get cut in half or down to almost nothing. So, which doesn't even cover really the cost of what we do. But
in a rental house, maybe the lawyer can answer this. The landlords have these houses that are getting or code issues. There's not that they're not using as a homestead. They're using as a rental. Can we not foreclose those houses? >> You may foreclose a rental house. It is
not homestead. >> There's a lot of those rental houses where the problems are at. So, that's one of the major points. Find the ones or the landlords chief on the Orange County. And if it's rentals, they get we
get to take the fine and they get they got to pay or go. I mean, it it's got to stop. The other thing, how many code enforcement officers do we have? >> We currently have two. One resign u is resigning this week. We had four. Two retired,
>> we replaced one, and now one's resigning. So, we're in the process of hiring more. >> Do you if we get say the right number, you going to put them in sections? >> Yes. Well, if they ride around in that section, they got to see it. They're every day. I mean, don't sit at the
office. Don't go somewhere else. Go out and those seame with the police officers. Aren't they in quadrants? >> Yes, in districts. >> So, I I often I ride around every day in this city all everywhere around here. I was up on the hill a while ago picking
up my granddaughter somewhere and I see every one of them. And it's just like the one I've told you about. there was something else going on there today. I mean, how people can live that way. I don't understand it. But the poor neighbor is one I worry about. And then
the other thing is is we we need to make it where it'll hurt them in the pocket. And the problem is with the law says with Homestead, you can't do it. But if our rules say you cannot park five cars in the front yard,
then we ought to enforce it. You can go up on this up Silver Star Road, go up Flewelling and go through and I'm not trying I don't understand why there's five or six. Some of them's got five or six. They got them backed in over to the side, but there's four or five cars in
the front yard. And there's an ordinance that says you can't do that. Besides that, a lot of those houses up on the hill have sept tanks in the front yard. >> That's a scary thing. which and I you can go by some of those areas and smell where they've been broke. >> But I'm I'm I'm just saying it it
like the one I turned in out at the the the people in the industrial park called me. They had a hund and something cars I think lying down through the rideway and we never went out there and rode them up till finally you guys went out and wrote what 30 >> almost 30. >> Now are they going back every week
>> check riding through there? >> They should be there should be and would be is a different thing. I I'm somebody who who is going to be the one in charge of the code enforcement cuz I've called twice and every time I call there's a different sergeant. >> But that's that's a traffic that's not a
code enforcement. That's our traffic. >> No, but I'm saying turn the complaint in. Yes. So they going to get wrote. But we need just like that. We need to constantly go through those areas and find that. So uh I just think the majest is the way to go. Let it be legal. that
doesn't put any onus on anybody to do uh have to put citizens. We can take the volunteer citizens off that board and try to make sure if they want another board, we'll put them on another board first time the opening comes so we won't lose them as volunteers.
But I I I just think it's just like the commercial. We got a couple places here. If we do not do this process, they're not going to quit, >> right? And then and that means we have to stand up just like we did with that other one and go to it and do the
process. So because it just keeps rolling and we we cannot spend the money we spent on Oakland and other places to make the place beautified. Then we got the problems with this other stuff. So I I
ask the commissioners let's let's make sure we try to where we can enforce this stuff and do it the way it's supposed to be done. >> All right. >> Ask a question. Yes, ma'am. Mayor, >> do we have to turn this >> if we change that? Do we have to um notice it and is that come on another agenda?
>> I'll ask you. >> That's okay. >> I take my horses. I >> mean, if if we want to change that, is that something that we have to This is just an information. >> This is this is this is an in Well, >> what I'm sorry
>> if you're to change if you're going to change this. This is like an internal policy. I think the city manager is dying to say something. >> Well, we anticipate bringing back a subsequent agenda item to any code changes that would would be necessary.
Um and um this we wanted to place this on the regular agenda because we're soliciting direction from the commission having this discussion and um with regard to the comments regarding the magistrate that have come up um because
you all at a previous meeting voted to continue with the code board. Can you apprise them of >> Yeah, I I would just >> rule with regard to how that can be right >> handled please. So, I think what we need is a motion uh that is brought by someone who was on the prevailing side
of the prior vote to keep the code board for residential >> code violations. So, whoever was on the >> You weren't. >> Who? >> I wasn't here. >> Oh, you weren't here. >> So, whoever was on the prevailing side should bring the motion and it should be direction. >> I was in danger.
>> He was he was absent from that meeting. You you you were on the >> I don't know which honestly I think I was on the issue I wanted to go with the magistrate. So was that the pre that was not the prevailing side. >> You sure >> that was not >> I'm >> the prevailing side was to keep status
quo. >> Somebody I don't know who it was. Somebody said >> but keep it with the citizens because that they're volunteering their time. It may have been, but I >> anybody mo I don't know. >> That's we we all turn to look over. I I I remember that meeting. There was a
me there was a president of the board that came before us and he spoke about the board and and the different issues that they had and then we voted to allow them to continue to move forward uh until we decided otherwise uh because they had they had issues with um uh meeting
>> quorum >> and um we decided to let them continue on until we get to this point right here tonight. So now we have to make a decision. So, you voted for that? >> I vote I think we majority voted for that. Yes. >> But, you know, you did you can make the motion.
>> Yeah. I'm not I'm not sure what I >> She's not sure. They're not sure who was on the prevailing side. But if you're sure you >> Well, that was that was the prevailing side. Yes. >> Yeah. >> If you're sure you were make the motion three to one that was >> that motion. What should that motion? Yes, you called a motion to reconsider
the prior vote to keep the code enforcement board as the body that adjudicates uh code enforcement uh complaints against residential uh properties. >> Can you say that real fast three times?
>> A motion to rec say I I agree. Or >> you could just say I agree with what I just said. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I agree with the city attorney's >> proposed motion. >> Does that have to be a second from the commission? >> Does that have to be a second? Who was in the prevailing or the second could be any of us?
>> Second be can be anyone. >> I need a second. >> So So how about this? How about you restate that? I will support that that motion. >> The motion >> and second the motion. >> All right. He made Commissioner Oliver made the motion. Commission seconded the
motion. All no more talk. Let's move. >> I will make a comment. It's >> yours. I don't think >> to make sure we give them notice to the board members >> notice of what we're doing because it's
probably going to take month or something, Craig, to get that lined up. >> No, sir. Um, we meet with the magistrate next week. Um, >> when's the next code board? >> Uh, I think it's the 20th. No, it's No, it's uh
>> I thought it was the 10th. >> The 19th meeting. >> Yeah. So, I I make sure we send out official letters from the city. >> We will >> telling them what we're doing. >> Well, well, there will be an ordinance that we will prepare that changes the
responsibilities for residential code violations to a special magistrate from the board and that will require two readings. So that they'll actually have the 19th will go on as normal because we have >> correct because the earliest we could do it pinning advertising requirements
would be the 17th. >> All right. >> Of March. >> Okay. >> So it's in the process now. >> 17th of February. >> It still wouldn't hurt to go ahead and give them a notice saying this is what we're doing. It's going through the process. All right. All right.
Let's see here. Comments from commissioners. Commissioner Oliver. >> Okay. The first thing I I have to I I have a very small um few just a couple items I want to cover. One, since we talked, Chief, you might want to come back up because this is my code
enforcement. I'm sorry. >> Don't sit down. >> But I I need to I need to uh address an issue of uh illegally parked vehicles uh that happens in in my district itself. I'll say this. I received a phone call
from about a month ago from a parent and she called me and she was kind of in disarray and she said that um her daughter's car had been booted and I said, "Well, where was the car?" It was at the high school. She says, "Can you help me with this?" I'm like, "Wait a minute." So, I called the principal. I
said, "Are you booting cars at the high school?" He says, "Yes, I am." So, this is what he did. He actually gave them notice at the beginning of the school year, at least three notices up until he started doing it. And then he actually purchased boots and he actually put a boot on a student's car which they actually had to go and pay. They
actually paid the school to get the car from the lot. So I see this happening at our high school. I I I see it at downtown Orlando, all these different places. Uh even looking at the Florida statutes, it just it states that um primarily when you talk talk about booting vehicles, it is up to the
municipality or the county ordinance rather than a single sweeping uh state statute. However, state there is a state statute that that regulates towing, but but booting, it's actually up to us to actually determine if we're going to actually boot cars. So, I noticed we've
been actually given a lot of notices saying uh you know, just uh um giving them warnings, a lot of warning, a lot of notices. What would it take for us to purchase boots and start booting these vehicles? Um, particularly I have one one resident who's sitting out here tonight who's been emailing back and
forth for months and months, maybe maybe a year or two about illegally parked vehicles in his neighborhood and showing pictures, everything, but nothing has been done. It's like a cat and mouse. So, when do we get to the point we can actually start booting these illegal
vehicles parked in our neighborhoods? >> Well, boots usually come with fines, meaning that you've gotten x amount of citations, but I would love to get that address. so that we can go out there. If the email goes to you, it never comes to us so that we can go out and start this
process. Oh, >> you've gotten plenty of notices. We we've I I have a long list of emails that that I've traced for at least six six months or more. But what I'm saying is um are you saying our ordinance the ordinance that that's currently in place
right now requires that we uh give them notice uh as opposed to just putting aside them and say this illegal parking and say your car could be booted and just booted >> was no parking sign. That's first let them know they can't park there. Once you are issued a citation, you fail to
issue, I'm sorry, fail to pay your citation, it falls into some type of default and we go there and it's a re eg agregious or repeat offender. We can boot the vehicle, but the agency doesn't have boots. We have to work with our towing company to see if they have the boots.
>> So, I would like to eliminate that part right there, that middle part about giving them notice and all that stuff. I would put a sign up say if you park here, you're going to be booted. I mean, there's so many places I've been and the sign is just there. And if you're legally parked there, you there's no I don't get a fine. I don't get a notice.
All I get is a boot. >> But is there a sign there? That's what I'm trying to figure out, commissioner. Is there a sign? >> Well, that that's what I'm that's what I'm trying to get at. How do we start putting up signs of places that uh these commercial vehicles should not be parking and then just boot them just a
I'm just trying to get to a simple solution. I'm hearing a real simple problem. Should be a simple problem. What I'm hearing is is with if the commission has no objection, we'll bring this back as a program based on these
comments and um we can we can report back to you at the next commission meeting on this >> works for me. If the commission is okay with that. >> Yeah, that's up to the commission. >> I don't have an objection to discussing. >> No. >> Okay. >> Yep.
>> Well, um that's all I have, but I have one last thing. my my my reflection which is really a message to myself and it's counterproductive of what I just said. >> Is it for me commissioner? >> Not for you. >> Okay. All right. >> But this is this message is more for myself.
>> Let's hear your words. >> You're going to hear this one here. Right. >> I'm looking. >> Here we go. Learning. Learning comes before leading. To be a good leader, you must listen more than you speak. I'm committed to listening more so that I can be more a more effective leader.
>> I'm going to remember that. >> That's it. Commissioner, >> that's it. >> Commissioner Fner. >> No, I don't have any comments. Commissioner Wilson. >> Real life parking wars right here. Um, never thought about the boots.
Okay. Um, March 7th there's gonna, please mark your calendar. We're going to have the spring into conservation event. >> That's all. >> See, usually you beat me to this. >> Well, I was going to, but you >> you didn't get >> Go ahead. Go ahead.
>> Spring into conservation March 7th. Um, there's flyer. There's a flyer on the website. We hope to see you. It's a great going to be a great event with a lot of information right here at Lakeshore in front of Lakeshore Center. It's put on by the city utilities department. So that should be an
exciting event. So please mark your calendar. The other event that we're pl we're in the process of planning is another shred event hopefully for March 14th if things go well. So we're asking you to start saving your specific your documents that you want shredded in a
safe manner in front of the police department. Um there'll be more coming on that. And um again that is going to be sponsored by the Akoi Police Department along with the Akoi Lions Club and the Women's Club of Akoi. So
they do ask for a donation if you feel inclined to um while they're there and they each club has different events they put on that benefit the city residents. So again, March 14th and then March 7th. It'll be a busy time coming up for us. I
won't say anymore because I think the mayor's already got >> that was your that's your deal you do anyway. So >> it the March the March March 7th conservation and I'm also since I'm also a member of the Lions Club and the women's club. I am involved with the um
shred event. >> Yeah. >> So but I thought you'd jump ahead of me first. >> No, I was going to wait. >> Okay, that's it. Thank you, >> Commissioner Kennedy. >> Well, that that's good because I got a big stack of parking tickets.
first. >> I have no additional comment. Thank you. >> All right. February events will take place Friday, February the 13th from 6:00 p.m. through 900 p.m. at Oakway Lake Shore Center in Bill Breeze Park.
The event will feature live music, food trucks, games, dancing, crafts, cookie, decorating, and more. March events. Skip the one she said and go to featuring educational and sustainability exhibits, wildlife encounters, giveaways, and the
fun. Is that yours, too? >> Well, that's spring into the conservation. >> You went to more depth. Please go ahead. >> Well, you didn't say that. >> Well, that's why I left. >> Okay. There will also be a plant giveaway and rain barrel. Still giving them rain barrels away, huh? Rain barrel workshop residents. You must register in
advance for the rain barrel workshops at okcoy.org. Now, u parking signs on blueford. I know the chief might still here, but I asked about that for a month, six weeks ago about u parking signs and somebody said
they had to order them. It's been how long does it take to order them? >> Down on blueford there where they put in that grass and put the new buildings there. They're parking this truck that brings in cars to dump them, get rid of them. They park on the blueford on the on the road there in the afternoon
during travel time and they're parking there and it's killed the grass. They burnt the grass up cuz they got a big truck. That's another thing about park uh v we got signs in this city that says trucks semiis aren't supposed to be on those roads. I mean that's another thing
we need to watch out for because the semis are driving through downtown Blofford on the uh the main roads. So we we did ordinance years ago and I don't think we changed it. It says you cannot drive the semi-truck trailers down through the city and we can check on
that too. Um that I think let's see it was like I said uh I congratulate the police last night for all the different awards chief. It was really a the lady. It was
nice to hear that you guys put the time out to give an award to the girl that works for the young lady that works for Winter Garden Police Department that helped find a a lady 92 or 93 years old that had got lost and that they found her out by the 429 in a c in a culvert.
So that that was really a nice way to do that. Thank you. That was great. So that'll be it to the next meeting. Have a great evening.