Good evening everyone. Welcome to our regularly scheduled commission meeting um July 9th, 2025. The time is now 6:05. Madam clerk, roll call. Commissioner Bass, I'm here. Commissioner Irvin here. Vice Mayor Kelly
present. Commissioner Santiago here. Mayor Taylor here. As we stand by invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance led by Dr. Baz. Merciful father, as we come before you today, Father God, we just want to say thank you. We say thank you, Lord God, for our friends, our families. God, we
thank you for our community. We thank you, oh God, for our place of employment. We thank you, oh God, for the great city of Opalaka. Father God, may you continue to grant us grace, mercy, wisdom, and understanding in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. United States of America to the republic
for which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. As we go into our awards, proclamations, and acknowledgements, I don't see that we have any at this time. Um, we're going into the approval of the consent
agenda. Do we have any pulls, deletions, or deferrals at this time? Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor Kelly. Yes. I want to pull um number one.
Okay. Anyone else? All right. Hearing none. Madam clerk, roll call. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. That was 131 and and that's it. Okay. Do we have a motion and a second? Move it. Second. You have a motion and you have your
second. Madam clerk, roll call. Thank you. Commissioner Irvin, yes. Vice Mayor Kelly, yes. Commissioner Santiago, yes. Commissioner Bass, yes. Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 5-0. All right. Can I get a motion to approve tonight's agenda?
Move it. Moved by Commissioner Irvin. Second by Vice Mayor Kelly. Madame Clerk. Vice Mayor Kelly? Yes. Commissioner Santiago? Yes. Commissioner Baz? Yes. Commissioner Irvin? Yes. Mayor Taylor. Yes. Motion passes. 5. All right. We're going into the approval
of minutes for the rescheduled um regular commission meeting minutes June 23rd, 2025. It was moved by Vice May. Second by Commissioner Santiago. Madam clerk, Commissioner Santiago, yes. Commissioner Bass, yes. Commissioner Irvin, yes. Vice Mayor Kelly, yes.
Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 50. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes for the Sunshine Meeting minutes June 30th, 2025? It was moved by Vice May Kelly. Second, second by Commissioner Irvin. Madame Clerk. Commissioner Bass.
Yes. Commissioner Irvin, yes. Vice Mayor Kelly, yes. Commissioner Santiago, yes. Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 5. All right, madam clerk, do we have any district one, district two, or state report at this time? No, Mr. Mayor. Okay. All right. And I do see we have
Are we still doing both public presentations? Mr. Mayor, um, public presentation 102 is being deferred to the next regular city commission meeting. Got it. And I did you all tell me there was a add-on presentation by public Oh,
you moved it to the city manager report. Got it. Understood. All right. Um, we're going to turn it over to Miss Amy Vargas for the White House Group. Good to see you again. Uh, strategic planning. Hey, good evening. This on. Can you guys hear me? Okay.
Okay, good. Uh, good evening. Amy Vargas from White House Group. Hopefully most of you uh are ready for this because you have a new strategic plan. So, Commissioner Irvin, I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to see you at the visioning session. Yeah. Um, but hopefully everyone got a chance
to review, put input, and what I want to do tonight, since I my name was on the agenda, I'm going to introduce my colleague, uh, Joshua Simmons. He will run through where we've been, how we got to your strategic plan and then some of
the next steps for you so you're ready. If you have any questions, um, I'm I'm here as well, but I'll bring up Josh so he'll take you through the presentation. Okay, good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, uh the city staff. Thank
you for inviting us, White House Group, uh to come and give you guys the strategic plan, the official the official unveiling of the strategic plan. Uh and before we get started, I just want to give you guys props for the speed and efficiency for which uh you all are started off this meeting. Uh I
know some uh municipalities that could probably learn a lesson or two uh at uh how quickly you guys get things rolling. So uh let's go ahead and get this started. So thank you. Oh, okay. All right. Here we go. So I will I will be right here.
Okay. So overview of the strategic planning process. So February 22nd, a survey was distributed. By March 13th, we got those answers back. We analyzed uh those results and build and built a guidelines
for success to help guide us for when we go when we went into our strategic um plan visioning retreat which was held on March 15th. And at that time I was a baby um associate at White House group but I was able to spend time with you all as one of my first for foray out
into uh this uh universe. So March 19th we put together the retreat results. uh we delivered that report as well and then on April 9th uh we delivered the focus area and goal development and then April 25th the strategic plan was
officially put together and delivered to the city of Opaaka. So those products that were delivered throughout this and it was a very extensive process. A lot of times uh we spend uh time and attention on just the visioning retreat but there's a lot that goes on before and after. So some of the
products that were delivered was a strategic planning outreach survey results. So that showed everyone who participated in the survey all of the different uh items that people wanted to address during the vision retreat what people were hoping to see, discuss, and get out of that retreat. After that, um
we also analyzed those results and sent out a statement on guidelines and examples to show how we were going to develop the city's vision uh and mission statements as well as the core values. Then after we held the visioning retreat, we delivered a visioning
retreat results report. Uh and then after that, the strategic plan, which we're presenting today. And I do want to appreciate and I I do hate that we missed you at that event. I know that you really wanted to be there, but you had some uh obligations that you were taking care of, but I appreciate
everyone from the commission to city staff uh to also the caterer because that food I've been thinking about it every day. And mayor, I got to come back and uh we might need to have some lunch as we discuss maybe future opportunities with the White House group. Um but thank
you because participating in those couple hours, maybe you walked away feeling great. Maybe you weren't quite sure everything that happened or what went down, but that's participating in that retreat was one of the most important things you could do as a commission uh to help come together to collaborate to have a shared vision and
to set the direction uh for this city's uh course under your leadership. All right, so survey results just a quick run through. Uh this is what we, you know, put out to you all and everyone uh responded for the most part.
Uh three of the five elected officials completed the survey. Three of the uh three of the three appointed officials completed the survey and 10 of the 11 department directors responded to the survey survey results. So these are just some of the word clouds that came out of that. How you all describe the city uh
some of the words that jump out growing potential industrial opportunity creative. how you all envision the the city, modern, safe, uh, communitydriven, residential, thriving, and how would you get there? Policym, foster affordability, accessibility, but the
biggest one was invest. What core values were important? And this came out of the survey results. So, attentiveness, competence, creativity, empathy, integrity, patience, reliability, responsiveness, and other
words. But one of the one that got the biggest uh response was responsiveness response responsiveness. Uh attentiveness and compet competence was right behind that. So the visioning retreat and results uh
we participated in a full day retreat. Um that's our principal and founder Todd Brower if you all remember him. Um he led our retreat. Amy was there and I was there as well. Guidelines for success. not going to go through this whole entire thing, but that's in that one of
those products we delivered to you that showed what everyone's role was going to be going into this retreat. So, elected officials, your job was to make sure you were in charge of decision-m appointed officials, operations, department directors, your service delivery of
everything that comes down from the commission and and the appointed officials. Core values. All right. accountability, integrity, communication, responsiveness, trust, and respect.
When those words are put up, this is what was selected. So, the dark blue or the turquoise elected officials, the uh pink or coral appointed officials, the light blue was your department director. So, you can kind of see who selected
what when we had that activity where you went around and you had dots and you put them next to words. Guys, remember that was a while ago. Vision and mission statements. All right, vision statements are what we are working towards. And the miss and the vision statement that came out is we strive to be a culturally
welcoming, innovative gateway where everyone thrives. The mission statement, why we exist, why does the city of Opaaka exist? To create a vibrant community for our families and businesses.
And also there were a few other things that didn't quite fit into the categories of core values or the mission statements but these were some things that we wanted to make sure or you all wanted to make sure were incorporated in the overall strategic plan. So
incorporate safety into the plan um goal development to be completed by the appointed officials and then objectives to be created and completed by the department directors. So those are your opportunities for enhancement to take what we did at the retreat and add it
into the strategic plan. So after the retreat and we compiled all the information, all the the items that we created together, your vision statement, your mission statement, your six core values, your seven strategic
focus areas, which we'll touch on in a second, and then 23 goals that go that were broken out into each of those seven strategic focus areas. So again, the vision statement, the mission statement, and your core values,
those are your items that are driving your direction. So your strategic focus areas, economic growth, infrastructure and public safety, effective and responsive government, long-term sustainability and resilience, cultural preservation,
community engagement, and community development. Now, some I'm not going to read every single goal, but I want to touch on one for each of the the strategic focus areas. So, for e economic growth, create and diversify the local economic
development. Under infrastructure and public safety, you got improve transportation systems. That's on the infrastructure side. But on the public safety side, you have provide effective emergency response and law enforcement. under effective and responsive government. Enhance citizen satisfaction
with government services through increased transparency and accountability. Long-term sustainability and resilience to optimize the stability of natural and environmental resources while reducing the negative impact to ensure the quality of life for future generations
is sustainable. cultural preservation, preserve and promote local cultural heritage. And just a side note, I know you all were trying to do that during this latest session. Keep trying, keep chugging, keep doing what we got to do to make sure that um all the items that you guys
need to be, you know, assisted with from the state and federal opportunities that you keep plugging away at it. Community engagement, increase community participation in decision-making processes, community development, develop affordable housing while maintaining environmental standards. So,
it' be worth to go through and look at all those goals because those were the ones that were created by city staff, by city management uh and to assist in the strategic focus areas. So, we also included a decision uh tree for when to update the plan.
And you have a number, you have three scenarios at the top that if they happen, it can trigger a yes. Moving down to all right, the commission needs to vote to reaffirm the strategic plan or if they don't vote to affirm it, then
we got to go through the process of implementing a new strategic plan or changing parts of the plan because you have to understand, we do have this document in front of you, but it's dynamic. What's in those papers are what we came up with together, but things happen. Things need to change.
That's what you're supposed to do with your strategic plan. It's a guideline, but it can also be changed when need to. And there's also events that may lead in updating the strategic focus areas and goals. So, you also have to take a look at that. Those are the things that will guide you in terms of what needs to
change or when it needs to change when updating the plan. So next steps. So we went over this matrix um during the visioning retreat. Your high impact versus you know uh low feasibility and and such you know weighing the
opportunity costs for goals that you're implementing. So goals need to be prioritized. You also have to make sure that what you developed in the strategic plan, your goals, your strategic focus areas are tied to your budget
and what you put into your budget will shape going down the strategic plan. So you have the up arrow and the down arrows in terms of how that all works together. Your action plan. So we went through the survey, the retreat, the strategic plan.
We developed the vision statement, mission statement, core values. The appointed officials developed the strategic focus areas and strategic goals. So now the next steps is your strategic goal prioritization which goes into the action uh which goes into the action plan where department directors
will have objectives. There will be reporting and monitoring and the appointed officials will be making sure that performance measures are taken into account when it comes to following the action plan. And as you can see, there's an arrow that goes up and down from appointed officials to the department
directors to the elected officials because although we have participated in this, we still have work to do. And it's a constant and communal type of situation when it comes to making sure that the action plan and strategic plan is being followed by everyone that has a
stake in uh our city government. Performance reporting. What is the best way to report our progress to our residents? These are questions to consider. How and should we report ongoing challenges and areas of improvement and what tools are available and what communicates your progress to
your residents because this is much their do their document as well. They elected you, you make decisions for the city, for the residents, but they should also be involved in the direction and what we are doing with the strategic plan.
And with that, I am open for any questions. Okay. So, do we have any questions for the White House group on this evening? All right. Hearing none. So, I just want to say thank you all for the job well done on this strategic plan. Madame
manager, your staff for working diligently to make sure that we actually have this. The only question that you do have a question. Yeah, very short question. Okay. I'll yield to my colleague, Commissioner Santiago. Thank you. Yeah, before you leave. Um yet I love the presentation and the
workshop that we have you know months ago and one of the uh words that you say when you do the presentation today is how do we going to started to do all that you're talking about investment
what do you uh I don't understand your question I'm sorry my question is in investment is me they have to come you know company from outside you know people that they you know uh make a better see the city and businesses business new horizons new uh
facility for people to live here in Opalaka. No. So I mean invest I mean that's yeah invest money. Well yeah money or I mean it could be resources. I mean depends on what city administration and you all decide on
what is that investment for a particular area. But you don't Yeah. think that for growing the way that we planning to do and we need you know private investment from outside that is not to make the city growing
that is not for me to answer ah okay that is for you all to answer that okay all right well thank you sorry thank you for the question okay I'm just gonna I'm gonna step in just really quick um because what I would
like to grow a couple inches is what I'd like to do what I would like to just on top of that um is right now you guys have a dynamic document like Josh said in front of you with your your new strategic plan. Some
of the next steps for you are prioritizing those goals set out by your city staff, your city management. That's your next role. So when we talk about next steps, prioritizing those goals as they are right now within this
presentation, they are not prioritized within your strategic plan. They are not prioritized. They are just set out as they come. So your goals, your next objective is to prioritize that. So commissioner, when you ask about
investment and what you should do and where you should go, Josh is 100% right. Those are for you to decide, but that comes out of your goal prioritization. So when you begin to evaluate your values and your goals, that's when you
tie it to your budget because that's where whatever floats down from your vision should be guiding your budget just like your budget should reflect your values and your your vision. That's
a good point. Okay. Our budget here in the city. Yes. Yeah. We have to make him grow growing and have more revenue coming from outside. Well, I mean I'm I think we we certainly understand that nothing comes free, but
those are all prioritizations within your own budget. Okay. So, that's where that strategic plan so that it allows you all to focus what you want to do next. you are the guiding you are the guiding lights for that. So then
once you've determined what those prioritization items are within the goals, then you hand it off. You hand it off and they begin to do performance measures. They set up what needs to be monitored and
managed and then ultimately it if it works the way it's supposed to, it comes back to you in performance metrics, but once you've prioritized, it becomes your staff's responsibility to implement
those those items. So, I appreciate you letting me jump in there, but I once you said that, I thought I I better just fill in some of the gaps. I really like the explanation that you that you're doing to me.
Well, love it. Okay. Maybe you do, maybe maybe others don't. I always going to remember that nothing is free. Nothing is free. That is for sure. But I I genuinely appreciate um everyone up there and all of your insight. It was
really fun to be a part of of your visioning session and participate in the strategic planning with you. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So thank you Josh and Miss Amy for the strategic plan. So my next question you opposite is
directed to the manager. So I want to make sure well I know we're bring we're right on time because we're going into our budget workshop on tomorrow. So the the document is right on time. However, I just want to make sure if no objection from the commission that we bring it
forth for adoption um by next meeting as I said if no objection from the commission that we adopt this by next meeting which is what's I believe it's 23rd. 23rd that commissioner meeting if you all okay
with that. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you again. All right. So, we're moving on to our citizens forum. Madame clerk, can you please state for the record how to participate in citizens form?
Yes. Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening. City of Opalaka Commission meetings are held in person at the Opalaka Government Center, City Commission Chamber, 780 Fisherman Street, Opalaka, Florida. Members of the public wishing to address the commission
may do so in person or virtually. Those persons wishing to participate virtually should register prior to the scheduled meeting time on the city's website at www.opalaka.gov. When speaking before the commission, please make sure to give your full name
and address for the record. There is a three minute time limit for public comments. Please adhere to the decorum policy which is a part of the commission meeting agenda. City commission meetings are aired through live stream at www.youtube.com/user
city of Opalaka. And Mr. Mayor, at this time we do not have any virtual public comments. Okay. So, citizens form is open for those of you that are in the chambers. Citizens form is open.
Citizens form is closed. Moving on. Madame clerk, may madam attorney. Item 13 one one. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Opalaka, Florida, authorizing the interim city manager to
accept the conveyance of the water meter manifold system excluding the service lines from the water main to the individual buildings at the Opa Park LLC facility located at 1951 Northwest 141st
Street Opaaka from this facility manager and enter into an agreement with owner attached here too as exhibit A for same providing for a corporation. of recitals providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by the interim city manager. Move it for discussion. Moved by vice may
second. Second by commissioner Santiago. Madam manager, go ahead and present. The city wishes to accept ownership and subsequent operation and maintenance of water meter infrastructure built to facilitate individual utility mill billing of tenants at the Opal Park LLC
facility. Also, Mr. Austin is here should you have any questions. Okay, I'm going to yield to Vice Mayor Kelly. I know you say he had an amendment for the item. Vice Mayor, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh I hope the attorney's office has the amendment that
I had um asked during my briefing. really just ensure that before we actually take uh ownership or conveyance of this um facility, this this uh system that we make sure it's okay before we
assume the responsibility and the liability. And so in my briefing and discussing with attorney's office, um I thought it best to add some language to ensure that it takes place so that we don't get it conveyed to us and then there's a problem the day after. I think
mentioning there was a um some language in there about uh days to correct etc. But I wanted to ensure that so uh madam mr mayor to the attorney we can get that. Yes, vice mayor through the mayor. Um the language that we have as we
understood your comments uh have come up with it will be in the not in the agreement because that's with the um with the owner but it would be as a part of the resolution because it lies on the city side and um we have uh whereas the
interim city manager shall ensure that conveyed utility system is inspected prior to the expiration of the owner's warranty. And so that is the language that we've come up with. So anytime prior if you wanted it, you know, within so many days prior, we could add that.
Okay. Uh Mr. Mayor, I want to move that amendment. Okay. So the amendment was moved by Vice Mayor. Seconded. Seconded by Commissioner Bass. Madame, Madam Clerk, on the amendment. Vice Mayor Kelly? Yes. Commissioner Santiago?
Yes. Commissioner Baz? Yes. Commissioner Irvin? Yes. Mayor Taylor? Yes. Motion passes on the amendment 5-0. All right, sir. There are no other discussion on this item. We can go ahead and call the question. Madam clerk, Commissioner Irvin, yes. Vice Mayor Kelly, yes. Commissioner Santiago,
yes. Commissioner Bass, yes. Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 50. Right. Moving on to our ordinances. The first one 1681. An ordinance of the city commission of
the city of Opaaka, Florida, amending article 11, division 3 of the city of Opalaka code of ordinances entitled planning and zoning board specifically section 2-497 entitled created composition term of office qualifications
organization meeting records to reduce board membership from seven members to five members to coincide with the term of office for city commissioners providing for two alternate members. ers to be recommended by the city manager and approved by the city commission for a
term of 2year. reducing the requirement for city residents to serve from four residents to three residents, amending chapter 22, article 2, section 22-34 of the city of Opalaka's land development regulations entitled
planning and zoning board to provide for two alternate members to be appointed by the city commission for a term of two years. Clarifying that alternate members shall replace a regular member when a regular member is unavailable to attend a meeting. Providing for conflict and
repealer, providing for severability, providing for inclusion in the code, rescending all ordinances in conflict, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by the interim city manager. Move it. This is a public hearing item. Can I get a motion? Moved by Commissioner B,
second by Commissioner Irvin. This is a public hearing item. Madam manager, I'll let you go ahead and present and then we'll open up the public hearing. The board is seeking to reduce its total number of members from seven to five with two alternates. This will en enable the board to establish a quorum with
three members. Board members will also be appointed by the city commission and will serve for the term as the commissioner that the elected official that appointed them and the alternate will the alternates will be um recommended by myself and ultimately
approved by the city commission. Mr. Mr. Gay is also available should you have any questions regarding this item. All right. Again, this is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. All right. Any
questions or concerns to Mr. Gay? Hearing none. Madam clerk, go ahead. Commissioner Santiago? Yes. Commissioner Baz? Yes. Commissioner Irvin? Yes. Vice Mayor Kelly? Yes. Mayor Taylor? Yes. Motion passes 50. First reading.
All right. Moving on to 16 A2, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opalaka, Florida, amending article 11, division 13 entitled historic environmental preservation board, specifically section 2-570.81 entitled created, composition, term of
office, qualifications, organization, meetings, records to reduce the board membership from seven members to five members. Clarifying that alternate members shall replace a regular member when a regular member is unavailable to attend a me a meeting.
Providing for a conflict of repealer. Providing that three of the members be Opaaka city residents with the two remaining members being professionals in certain specified fields. Providing for severability, providing for inclusion in the code, rescending all ordinances in
conflict, providing for an effective date. This is sponsored by the interim city manager. All right. Can I get a motion? Move it. Moved by Commissioner B, second by Commissioner Irvin. Um, Madam Manager, go ahead and present. We'll open up a public hearing. This item also will um reduce the number
of members from 7 to 5 with two alternates to allow the board to be able to meet with a quorum of three members. All right. This is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. Any questions
or concern to Mr. Gay are the manager at this moment hearing none. Madam clerk, Commissioner Bass, yes. Commissioner Irvin, yes. Vice Mayor Kelly, yes. Commissioner Santiago, yes. Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 50. First reading. All
right, we're moving on to six item 16B1, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opalaka, Florida, amending the annual adopted general, proprietary, and special revenue funds budgets for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025.
Adjusting revenues and expenditures as reflected in exhibit A. Providing for the expenditure of funds established by the budget. Authorizing the interim city manager to take certain actions. Providing for all for appropriation of all budgets and expenditures. Providing
for fees consistent with appropriations and amendment. Providing for a corporation of recitals. Providing for conflict and repealer. Providing for severability. Providing for an effective date. First reading public hearing was held on June 23rd, 2025. This is sponsored by the interim city manager.
All right. Can I get a motion? Move it. Moved by Commissioner B. Second. Second by Commissioner Irvin. Madam manager, go ahead and present. This is the second reading of budget amendment two for fiscal year 25. This will align the city's expenditures and
revenues while identifying operational concerns and the current fund balance. Mr. Robert Anathan is available should you have any questions. All right. This is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. Any questions
for the manager or Mr. Anathan at this time? All right. Hearing none. Madam clerk, Commissioner Irvin, yes. Vice Mayor Kelly, yes. Commissioner Santiago, yes. Commissioner Baz, yes. Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 50.
All right, moving on to item 16B 2. An ordinance of the city commission of the city of Opaaka, Florida. Repealing ordinance 07-03 of the city of Opaaka's code of ordinances providing for severability conflict and repealer and providing for
an effective date. The first reading public hearing was held on June 23rd, 2025. This is sponsored by the interim city manager. I get a motion. Move it. Moved by Commissioner Irvin. Second. Second by Commissioner Baz. Madame manager,
the 2025 employee handbook has been adopted. City administration recommends the repeal of ordinance 07-03 and all corresponding language representing the previous policies, procedures, and regulations to ensure the revised handbook is the governing
manual citywide. Also, the HR director, Miss Adams, is available should you have any questions. All right, this is a public hearing item. Public hearing is open. Public hearing is closed. Any questions
for the manager or um HR director at this moment? Hearing none. Madam clerk, Vice Mayor Kelly, yes. Commissioner Santiago, yes. Commissioner Bass, yes. Commissioner Irvin, yes. Mayor Taylor, yes. Motion passes 5.
All right, moving on to our Okay, so we have the city manager support under the city manager support. Madam Mor, you going to go first or you going to um turn it over to Mr. Austin? I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Austin, but I would also like to inform you that I did submit a written report to you and at the end of Mr. Austin's presentation,
if you have any questions or concerns, I'll be more than happy to answer them. All right, Mr. Austin, you have the floor. They'll turn it on. They'll turn it. Good afternoon, Ara Austin, public works director. Um, this item is for the service areas
currently being served by the city of Opaaka. Um, to keep it brief, I'm just going to go directly into the external service areas. Uh, first service area outside the city limits is Miami Gardens. Uh, we
have 940 customers served in that area. Second is Nicholls to the south of uh 135th Street bound boundered by 19th Avenue, 22nd Avenue, 119 and 135th
Street. That's our service area down there. And that's 288 customers. And to the south we have Miami date community college. The entire campus is
uh served by the city of Opalaka water services. The park Amelia Airhart Park which is worth mentioning that it's 90% of the usable park is inside the city of
Opalaka city limits. Um that park is served 100% by the city water services. Miami date county currently provides the sanitary sewer services for that park.
The intent here is to the county is asking the city of Opaaka to release the service area to the city of Hyia. In my no in my opinion instead of that being a slippery slope it creates a cliff
because once we do that any growth at that park will now go to the city of Hyatt and um currently we and these these numbers are old numbers because the county is undergoing an upgrade of their database and I
couldn't get the current numbers for what we what they uh charge the customers, they currently pay approximately $38,000 annually for one meter and the second meter is currently $70,000
annually. Um, this is a low number compared to some of the months where leadings on their meters were $29,000 for a single month. With the with the advent of a community
center at that facility, these numbers are uh liable to increase exponentially where um another comp another jurisdiction will be getting those revenues instead of the city. When we
developed the city, these areas were specifically chartered to allow for sustainability of our water service network. uh breaking it off to another jurisdiction would be detrimental to the
city's water infrastructure and our service needs. Um, I would ask that you consider this closely before a decision is made on whether or not we're going to and according to the state law,
only a friendly memorandum could set aside a service area or a uh a consent of eminent domain in between governments. There are no there are no cases of eminent domain for such a such
an asset. So that's open to your consideration. Okay. Um so madame manager I think there was a a question in there somewhere what I was g asking us to make a decision. No I'm not asking you to make a decision tonight but I wanted to bring it to the
city commission's attention. The county has sent Mr. Austin sent several emails requesting that we um give this area to them and they will ultimately give it to the city of Hyia. I've responded on several occasions saying no. Um they
have not stopped asking. So my my latest response was that I will send it I will um present it to the mayor and city commission um for discussion and we'll move forward. But my um position on it is no. Okay,
Mr. Mayor. Um, Commissioner Irving, um, I I I honestly don't see a reason to prolong this because I could vote right now. Exactly. Me, too. Right now. And then give her some marching orders. What? What did I miss? Wait a minute.
Can you say it again? Yeah, please. No, because I'm be showing something that Let me Let me say that. Okay. That part of Amelia Park, yes. Is in our territory for the four and a half miles that we have. Yes, it is. Okay. And I want to I want
to be one of the person that going to I going to fight him all the way to the end because it's not going to be part of Hay Aliyah. The war is ours and we're going to fighting for that sit. And that's what I mean that we're going to be together because we're not going to let you know
they county to do whatever they want with us no more. And I have a question uh uh Mr. mayor and to the manager from November, what is the day that I take over the sea? I think November 16mber
in November. Yeah, November. I never see any representative here for district one or district two. Okay. It ask me there's something going on that they don't like us at all and I want to stop that. If he the next time I don't see you can send in the message to them a representative
here for district one and district two I want explanation for them and I want to see him there we opalaka we a city and we are human we are people and this is part of day county and we're going to be 100 years old and nobody
going to take him from us. Okay, I have one more question. Um, when you say I'm I'm looking here, um, don't have a page number, but it says previous balance. Yeah, that's
says $190,867.30. This is what is owed to us by somebody. They they owe money to us. It was owed by the park, but they have subsequently made the payment and h and hence the reason why they're amplifying their request to get the services.
Okay. So, Mr. Mayor, I think we need to go ahead and take that vote tonight. If we're comfortable with it, take that vote tonight so that we won't be harassed about it and our manager can continue doing the work of the city and
not deal with countless emails and senseless conversations. Okay. So, I know can you bring it forward next commission meeting as a resolution? Yes. And then that way you can submit that resolution to the county, that decision
to the county. Yes. And that way, like Commissioner Irvin said, and we're going to see D31 here at you soon. You're going to see it. All right. So, you any other concerns or questions to Mr. Austin?
Yeah. Yeah. To I want to be clear when that situation um you say you say that part of the that session there. Okay. They owe money to us. Not any not any longer. They paid they paid. Oh, they already pay. Oh, that's good.
Okay. when when the first why it's always late that that I can ask the technology. Okay. Thank you. I do have one question, Mr. Austin. So I I see meter 1, meter 2. So them and I know you talked about them building a
facility on the which would be meter three if okay that that's what I wanted to know and that's why you said it' be more even more more revenue for the city. So their proposal is for us to give meter one, meter two, and the potential meter three
to the city of Halia, Mr. Mayor, if I may. And who's Mr. Mayor? If I may, to the manager. And who's requesting this? Um, do you have the exact name? I do not have the exact name, but it's Miami date county parks department.
Okay. All right. So, madam manager, put it in resolution form and bring it to the commission if the commission doesn't oppose to that. We'll do and we'll vote. Um I'm sorry. Before we before you leave, vice mayor. Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to address because in a presentation to my
colleague, it's um Angus M. Langley, who's the budget chief of parks, recreation, open spaces. Um this correspondent says June the 11th asking for the letter of um release. So that's
actually who sent the letter to Mr. um Austin. Yes, correct, Mr. Austin, Mr. Austin. That's correct. That's correct. Okay, that's correct. So she'll know. Okay. Thank you for that advice, ma'am. All right. Any other concerns? Go ahead,
Miss Austin. Just some background on I know we no longer have a water plant in the city but now current developments would make a water plant feasible because it's a lot smaller technology more more efficient and once if we could
go back to that giving up our service area would not be conducive to doing that in the future. Are you suggesting that Opalaka is ready to take back on its water? Yes, mayor. What a water. Go ahead.
I I I I'm working on that. So that's why I don't want to say much about that. Yes, sir. Um yeah, I don't want to say much about that because I'm okay working on that. Got it. Thank you. Thank you. All right, madam manager. You have your marching orders. All right. So, and we're going to yield back to you
so that you can go ahead and No, you said the report was given. Any questions for the manager about her report? All right. Yeah. Did we already talked to the manager? No. For the manager report. Okay. Questions that we have for That's why I say any questions to the manager on her report.
Yeah. Go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I have like six question or five question tonight for Okay. And one of them I want to started um
to say the the good job that you and your department do in the city. Okay. In the uh part of the beautifification and clean I be receiving a lot of calls from yesterday for the neighborhood. They say
you know uh thank you to me. I say no it's not for me. is from my manager because he's the one working very hard to make that city look better. I know I see a lot of trucks from out day county, you know, pick up the garbage that they have to pick up, okay, in our
neighborhood. And that's something good to see that you pushing them to do the right things in our city. And also people they call me, they very happy when they clean up for the drainers, okay? They they see the truck all over
the city working hard. Okay, because I know that we already in in the hurricane season, we're going to have a lot of rain. But people call me to say thank you. And I say just call the manager and say thank you to the manager to the city staff that they working very hard for that. Um, another question that I have,
I know that we're going to have tomorrow um uh the boy workshop. Okay, that's a very inter uh event that we're going to have tomorrow and we're going to discuss in a lot of things there about the next um year
fiscal year budget that is around the corner. Okay. And one of the more important point that I have in interest is in our police department to make the city the way that we want to
doing it with all strategic plans. One of the goals there is the safety of the city. Safety of the city. And I want to start into asking uh the city manager how we doing there.
The we be following before to see how can we make better the payments of the salary for the our police officer. We started our PBA negotiations on last Thursday. Um we're not done. Of course,
that was just the first meeting. We'll reconvene um in August. So, we are making some strides, but we're not we're not complete at this time. You're not completing that? No. No. Not yet. No. Okay. But we there because I like to be sure that we that
we take care of that situation for the you know, and putting there in the next uh fiscal year budget. That's very important and also I see that we have enough uniforms for our police officer here in
Opalaka because I see many of them but I see a lot of them you know in civilian clothes and they don't be you know identify that they a police officer that we can put the police to see that people see more police in the street you know with uniform. So that's probably our investigative
unit. They are in regular clothes and even the investigators are in uniforms. um once to one or twice per um week. So you will see them in in regular uniforms as well. Okay. All right. And
my my last point here in that situation with the uh budget and the police department, madame manager, you are the one running this city. Okay? You are the one have to take care any decision that
you have that you have to do is you and not Yeah. And I go to nobody else and ask him why you say that, why you do that? You okay? You the manager, you in charge in the city and I support you
100% because I know you're doing a great job and I want to keep the confidence that I have in you that you're going to keep in doing a good job. But you the one here running the city, nobody else. Please be I am.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And tomorrow we're going to be in that workshop and for please just doing an an invitation and I know when they send in the resolution that we're going to do for the next commission and meeting I know that we're going to have some
people here from this 31 and D32. Okay. Yeah. Enough is enough madame manager. Enough is enough for them. And what else? I like to, you know, to talk in a lot, but that's my the more important point that I have today. Just
remember that we we give you the authority to run in this city, only you. Thank you. All right. Any other questions or concerns to the manager? All right, madame manager. Um, just a Oh, I'm sorry, Vice Mayor. Um, Madame
Manager, I know um we need to look at um our our housing. I know we passed some some money um for it, but I know we need to also look at where we're going to put it at or whatever. So, but I'll speak to you more
on that. I'll speak to more. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. All right, Madam Manager. Um All right. So, the only questions that I have, I saw that you have the Mary Alice Brown phase one completion. That's just the the design. Yes. Okay. So, when do you think we would do
something maybe a temporary fix to mitigate that area? Because I know we are in hurricane season and that's one of our areas that flood bad. Good afternoon. Adina, CIP division manager. Um
mayor uh the Maris Brown. Yes, that's the design part that we are under contract um in the contract currently. Uh for temporary fix uh public works department will be cleaning the area uh
with the back truck to mitigate and clear the lines in the meantime. Okay. And I just want us to be proactive. So, do we have a contract with an or uh with a company for I know the um we do with the county, I'm sorry, for the truck's
called the water pump truck to pump the water out. It was just passed today where we going to award the bid for storm drain inspection, cleaning, and repair. So, that's inclusive of that. That that's going to address that. Okay. I didn't know that. All right.
Well, I'm happy to know that. And the last but not least, uh, Cairo lane completion. I saw that on here as well and that's been coming up a lot. So, I want to make see where we are with that. Uh, Gaid lane, we are in the process of
changing um the water manes and the meters in the in the area that are buried. Uh, we are also working on the fire hydrants and habilitating them. And that's what we are completing right now besides the cleaning and growing of the area. After that is completed and we are
just awaiting for the county to issue the final drainage um permit. We submitted the final addendum to the report that they requested and we are ready to go. That's the only thing we are missing. Do we have an anticipated completion
date for Kairo land? December 2026. Okay. So, we about a year and some some change up. Yes. All right. All right. Well, I've been waiting for like 10 years already for that. And the only thing I'm going to ask and I asked this before and I think all of us asked this
that we put some parameters in place for that I we wanted to do a special taxing district in that area to make sure that once we spend those multi-millions of dollars for that area that if they break it
that's a lot of money from the cities that the city that our residents are paying for that street. So I just want to make sure that we do that. And last but not least, and I saw this and I was really excited about that because it's finally that you all are trying to get the police department accredited.
You know, I've been asking about that for the longest. So, I'm happy to see that. So, shout out to you and Chief Starks in the back for that. So, outside of that, okay. Oh, I love that, man. Yeah, you calling chief.
So, we're moving on to the next item on the agenda, which is our official board reports. I don't think we have any at this moment. Um,
the commission reports. Mayor commission reports. We can start from left to right. Commissioner Bass, no report. Commissioner Santiago. Yes. Thank you. Um, Mr. Mayor, how come you don't have no report today? You don't have nothing to say about Oh,
never. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And my my report I want to, you know, uh adding to uh tomorrow workshop the I think there's
going to be a very good event, okay, for the whole city. Um I I come in with new ideas with new ideas a lot of idea good idea that people going to like it and you're going to see how could we going to uh reduce a lot of cost and and we
going to have more revenue and we going to you know uh be be more successful in the next fiscal year uh madame manager. Okay. uh for fourth of July. I know I going to let my Cali by the end to explaining you know what happened but I
think that we going to uh keeping uh you know to see how can we doing that again very soon and I have a plan already in my agenda to bring uh for the labor day
labor day celebration in Ingram Park. I know it's Nabaji, but we gonna have a very good show there and I want asking my colleague uh Commissioner Irvy uh that I going to need your help there uh
to see if we can bring the fireworks that day to Ingram Park. Okay? And we're going to make something similar, but we're going to have uh auto shows there. We're going to have a lot of uh events, food trucks, and it's not going to cost
nothing to the city mad manager. Okay, we not budgeted. Commissioner, I don't have no budget money for that. Okay. And also I know that we um uh uh we suspending the fourth July for because
the weather and that time and we going to have that event soon. Okay. We're going to be talking and it's going to be a nice event uh for the city. Also we planning to to uh you know help the city the school for
the city of Opalaka uh together with my colleague uh commissioner Bass and we have a plan that we already be okay see how we going to receive a help for a company uh we like to uh giving the uniforms the the children
for opalaka need to go back to school that's one others you know idea that we have for the for the coming uh open school year and finally I want to say thank you to all my
colleague I passing very good in my house the photo you like sleeping under the rain and I'm ready to go for labor day okay thank you very much
thank you vice mayor Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I want to commend our chief and the police department for their uh professional uh representation at the Day County
dinner. Glad to be able to support that. Um, we supported the monthly bingo which we moved um because of um scheduling as always was a great turnout. Shout out to Commissioner Irvin for her 70s uh
concept, but even though we moved it, it was still a a good turnout. And I'm quite sure she will elaborate more on the big winner because that was a moving moment as well. We also hosted our monthly farm share uh distribution on last Wednesday. Uh we serviced almost
300 families in less than three hours. Um, and so thanks always to the clerk's office, the manager's office, um, police department, um, and all of those who helped to make it work, including our volunteers. I also want to share several, um, upcoming
outreach, uh, resource opportunities. Our emergency response team, our search training, uh, takes place this Friday and Saturday and July 26. The training will ensure that our city has additional
manpower to assist in natural disasters that may impact our community. I know the manager has some staff from various departments. We have some um residents as well and the clerk's office participating. Um that's this Friday and
Saturday morning 9 to5 and on the 26th of July as well. And so we're um thankful for that to be able to host that and to have that. It's a part of our system city. Um, nobody wants natural disasters or challenges, but when they occur, it's good to have folks
from your city that's able to help out and assist. Uh, we'll also host on next Friday, uh, July the 18th, day county clerk of the courts, mobile unit services, uh, collecting court fees, payment plans for traffic cases,
reinstatement of driver license, affidavit. Uh you can go to the uh city's website for all of the mobile unit services that they provide. They're going to be at Helen Miller Center next Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We'll also be having a uh I want to call it a
special edition of Feeding South Florida at Seagull at 10:00 a.m. while supplies last. And I want to thank the manager and the clerk's office for helping uh facilitate that as well. Uh we also invite the community to take part in our family uh fishing tournament on
Saturday, July the 19th at Ingram Park uh lakefront from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Uh you can call to sign up. We're going to be giving uh for not only the biggest fish, most fish, but also the most family members that have folks fishing to acknowledge them as well. So,
if you're not busy, please come out um for that at Ingret Park Lakefront on July the 19th. Also, there will be no Meet Me Monday uh this month. Um take a break. We'll resume uh August 11th with Dr. uh Steve Gallon from District 1 as
our special guest for that special edition of Meet Me Monday, which will take place on August 11th at the Helen Miller Center. Uh that concludes my um report. Uh Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. All right. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Commissioner Irvin,
thank you. Um, yes, we did have to post um postpone our July 4th event. the manager and um Commissioner Santiago and I carefully watched the news and it was in our best interest not to go on with
it because we didn't have money to waste and uh I thought it would be best for us to air on the sides of cautiousness and we did and so it it will come back. It will be um we're going to get our fireworks. It's
it's it's there. just got to plan um another day. Um and also I know it's early. I could wait, but August 12th is going to be our book bag giveaway. I know initially we said August 9th, but it's going to be August 12th as we join
with the police um night out. So um I think that time is 6 PM. I didn't have the right time. I think it's 5:00 PM. Oh, sorry. 5:00 pm. We're going to get started. So parents, you know, August 12th book bag giveaway,
um we had a nice time at bingo um this last bingo and what made that bingo so special is that at the end of the night we always give away a television and uh one of our seniors actually won um the
TV and you had to kind of be there to understand what happened. Um, we didn't have a translator there, so we were c Well, we did, but we uh there was a her friend, she had her friend to check her
ticket, and as her friend is checking a ticket, she nearly pushes her out the chair to say, "That's your that's that's your ticket. That's your ticket." And for the first time ever, and I've been with Bingo for years and years, even
before being on the commission, it brought the resident, the senior resident, to tears because she did not have a television. And she said, "Now I can drink coffee and watch the news." And that was like
literally serious tears. And that was very um showing her gratitude was really um made it all worth what we do for Pink Bingo. Um and that was very special. Um
and I think that's um all I have to say. Um oh, I'm going to Miss Bingo this Friday. I won't be here unfortunately, but I'm cheering. If I was here, I was going to cheer my Dolphins on. Um, I was going to wear my jaw in jersey, but maybe I'll send it by somebody just to
put over the chair. Um, so hopefully you all have a good time. And if to my colleagues, if you guys can find it in your schedule to come and give Commission um, Vice Mayor Kelly a hand at bingo, that will be great in my absence. That's what I'm asking. And,
uh, that's it. Thank you. All right. Thank you very Thank you, Commissioner Irving. Sorry. All right, so moving on. I'll close it out. Um, madame manager and the attorney. I know
Florida is doing this whole doge thing. So, is it possible that you all can get together and give a report to the commission so that we know how it actually would affect the city of Opalaka? I know we're on the financial oversight. So, we've been Doge since 2015, but this is a different process.
So, it's financial oversight plus Doge. So, I would like to know how that would directly affect the city of Opaaka. Also, and I should have brought this up during the manager report. Madam manager, if you drive around the city, there are a lot of down like road signs. Some are on the ground, some are
leaning, but they're down. Can we, you know, go out and address that? Yes, we Vice Mayor Kelly has been on it for quite some time. We have Yes, we have been sending constant emails to the county. Um, Miss Walker sent an uh
update email to the county on yesterday after our agenda briefing. So, we have a list of them. We know where they are. We know the signs, but we are send them to the county. Can we lift them? If they're if they're leaning, they're there. We can definitely straighten them up, but if they're just completely gone,
then we will need the county. Okay. All right. Mr. Mayor, come. No, no. It's something to you that I want to tell to you. Um, did I say something? I noticed something today by the east side. Um, now that you're talking about traffic signs and all that
and why do we have a speed bumper in the east side and we cannot have it here in the west side. He said that why do we have speed bumps on the east side? We can't have it on the west side. Those speed bumpers have been there for years. They've been there. They've been there. They've been there.
You can't do any more. Yeah. If I can address that, you can't do any more new. Some of them you have u on the east side because they were put there many years ago and um but you can't do any more new ones in that same fashion.
um to answer your question um commissioner, but I think as that legislation was passed and that report was given about the traffic and safety and roadways, I think that's going to encompass um some of the areas that need
traffic calming devices and the like which the managers um proposed and I know they're working on that, but that's the the reason you just can't do them like you used to uh anymore. And Mr. Mayor, to your point about the signs, I I'm at the point now and I know the
manager has to go through this process because I do see some down that have been down and we're about to enter school time again and I wanted us to just put them back and send the county a bill, but we really can't do that. So hopefully you just sent them another email. So maybe that's something else
you can capture in your meeting with the District One County Commissioner. Um, that's why you the mayor. Um, add that to your to your list. I just can't wait to meet Nova. I want
to, you know, soon as it's over, please. But that that's something in all seriousness. And we do see the signs. All of us see them. So, I'm glad you mentioned it as well. Um, and madam manager, there are some that are leaning, but they might break each other try to straighten them up. So, I don't
know um if that's even worth trying to do, but as the mayor uh mentioned, I mentioned to you before, there are some that are down and if you don't know that it's there or a stop sign or whatever, you'll just run it and that becomes a bigger issue. So, hopefully you'll get some traction on it and the mayor will
follow up in his his meeting. Thank you for allowing me to interject that, Mr. Mayor. No problem. And the other thing, madam manager, um we've been getting a lot of calls. I have um about balloon water bills that seem to have started back up.
So is there I can forward you the emails and Yes, please. I forward it to you. Um I need to I would have to see it and and see what we can do and communicate with the county to see what's going on. Okay. All right. And hurricane prep
preparedness drive. I know you talked about it a couple months ago, but we are we're here. We are here. Um, we have the student workers here. They are packing the bags every day as we speak. Um, the bags will be ready and I will be trying
to put together something so we can distribute those bags. All right, perfect. And last but not least, uh, well, I got to ask this to Commissioner Kelly. Um, how we could do it. The amnesty program, we voted to get rid of it. Is there a plan? you bringing something back a plan going forward for
that? Uh yes, the legislation calls for the manager to um come up was to look at the plan, reevaluate and come back to the commission with her recommendation on how to best utilize the plan. So yes, the legislation calls for it to come
back um after the manager reviews all the components and makes recommendations commission and we would I guess pass whatever in its final totality. Got it. But to answer your question, yes, it will come back. And and mayor, if I can just add, um myself and Miss Walker, Miss Ashley
Walker, have been working looking at other neighboring cities to see how they handle their amnesty program. We are preparing something to bring back to the commission in September. Okay. All right. Thank you, Madam Manager. All right. And so I just want to let everybody know on the 19th next
week, we still have opening slots. We're doing the mayor's free back to school clinic for those children in need with no insurance that need to get their physical and their vaccinations. Um you can call Miss M and spread the word. It's free to all. Also, we were not able
to go to the last being myself and Commissioner Bass. We attended the um the memorial service for Mr. Anthony King Brown at the site where he passed. So, we ask that you keep his family in prayer. I believe his the mother left
this week to go to the funeral in the Bahamas. Yeah, we spoke too. Yeah, you supposed to. Okay, so we asked her to keep that family in prayer and we got some Oh, sorry. Unfortunately, you all, the city of Opalaka did not get our
appropriations through the state of Florida. We made it through the to the budget to the budget. However, the governor vetoed the items that were on the his desk for the city of Opalaka. But I still want to say kudos to Madame
Manager, um our finance director, to Adelina Gross. Job well done. We we got that far. So maybe next year we can actually get it in, you know, through. And the good news is Opaaka has I'm
going just say we we are honoral city. Y'all, Nathan B. Young an A school, Roberta B. Ingram a B school, and Beacon College, College Prep, an A school. So, all of our schools in the city of Opalaka got
an A or a B on their um you know, status for the grade for the year. So, shout out to those principles, those staff, and to everybody that helped those students reach that goal. All right. So, we're moving on to
our official board appointments. I see that I have one. Yeah, you the one. I'm not the one. I I appointed one, but but you do have a quorum. Does that But does that hold up quorum? You said we have quum, right?
Yes, Mr. Mayor. We do have enough members to meet a quorum. Okay. All right. So, I'll get with you, madam clerk, this week sometime um to appoint someone. All right. So, look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at our budget workshop um here in the
chamber at 1:30. Can I get a motion to adjourn this meeting? Move it. Second. Yeah. All right. Moved by Vice Mayor Kelly, second by Commissioner Santiago. This meeting is adjourned.