Are we good online? >> Good evening. Welcome to Oido City Council Chambers. If everyone could please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Please join me in a moment of silence. I would like to call our meeting to order. It is January 5th, 2026 at approximately 6:30 p.m. and we have all members of council present. We're going to start off with our ceremonial items.
So, I believe we're going to go down there and I'll hand it over to the mayor. >> All right. As we head down here, want to draw your attention to Noah here on the front row, who is a state champion for diving. And Coach Getty is going to
share a little bit about him. But come on up here. Come on up here because we want to see who he's talking about as he is. >> Yeah. Face that way. Thank you. Okay. And I'm going to pass this to Coach Getty. >> Welcome everyone. And thank you for being here this evening. This fine young
gentleman, Noah Stac last year was our state runner up at Hagerty in diving. This year as he hits to the board again, he is a conference champion for the seminal athletic conference, a district three champion for the FHSAA, the region
one FHSAA champion and the 4A FHSA state champion. Noah also competes on some higher levels. He works with team USA and has competed both here in the United States and overseas and he will continue his career at the University of South
Carolina. He has been a blessing for our school. He is a super talented athlete. He's an even better student. We are happy to be able to call him ours and uh we wish him luck and thank you for having us in this evening. It's good to see a lot of familiar faces as well.
Thank you. We got got to add this in. So for him to practice, there's no pool that is safe for him to dive in. He goes down to iDrive to this pool that has a super deep well 5 days a week. It is an
incredible commitment, an incredible show of self-discipline, and we're just so proud of you. So let's go to the middle here so we can grab a picture. And your family, too. Everybody take a few pictures. So, Congratulations. family has a cell phone.
Instagram, Tik Tok. All All right, next up we have the uh 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Whereas July 4th, 2026 commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, proclaiming America's independence and absolving all allegiance to the all allegiance to the Kingdom of Great Britain and King George III. And whereas and declaring themselves free and independent states, the 13 colonies fundamentally altered
the political landscape of the Western Hemisphere, inaugurating an era of representative government that would reverberate across the world throughout the next two centuries. And whereas the revolutionary spirit ignited in 1776 was slow to reach the untamed, sparsely
populated British controlled colonies of East and West Florida, which Britain rested from Spain during the Seven Years War. And whereas following their return to Spain's control after the American Revolution, East and West Florida became
increasingly untenable possessions for a weakening uh empire. And whereas tumultuous events around the world and in east and west Florida led Spain to seed the territory to the fledgling United States in 1821.
And whereas Andrew Jackson, a provincial governor, who also happened to be Florida's first governor, it combined East and West Florida into the single territory of Florida, which attained statehood in 1845, with much of its lands remaining untamed until the late
1860s. And whereas at the 20th 27th state admitted to the union, Florida claimed its place among the free and independent states, eventually transforming from an untamed frontier into what would become
the nation's third most populous state. And whereas a century after the Declaration of Independence, intrepid pioneers embodying the same revolutionary spirit journey down the St. John's River into Florida's untamed wilderness to lay the foundations of
Ovido in the Lake Jessup community. And whereas today the city of Ovito, Florida joins communities across our state and nation in recognizing the importance of this milestone and in reaffirming our shared commitment to the ideals and values that continue to unite us as
Americans. And whereas the year 2026 offers an opportunity for all Americans to reflect upon and celebrate the enduring principles of freedom, representative government, and self-determination that have guided our nation since its founding in 1776.
And whereas the United States semiis semiquincentennial provides a historic occasion to honor the vision, courage, and sacrifices of the patriots who secured our independence, as well as the generations that have since worked to expand and
protect the blessings of liberty for all. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Ovidito, Florida, that 2026 is hereby designated as a year of celebration in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the
United States of America. And I think we might have some people from the committee here to accept this resolution. That is quite lengthy, but Oto does have a very specific place in the history of the United States. It took us a while to get in the whole
situation, but here we are. It's okay. All right, this next one is so long that I'm not going to read the entire thing because it's kind of technical, but I want to talk about what it is. And our last meeting was the Hanukkah
celebration here in the city of Ovida. It wasn't put on by the city. It was put on by uh the Ovito Winter Springs Habad. And I can't say it quite right because I can't do the Habad thing, but I'm trying. Uh so hoping that Rabbi Dubov and anyone who may be part of his
community might be willing to join us up here to uh talk a little bit about why it is important for the city of Ovido to be adopting a definition of what anti-semitism means. uh in light of the events in Australia, we wanted to make
sure that there's no confusion about what what what hate looks like and that people know how to that all of our police officers and all of our residents know how to say, you know, that's not just a little bit of that that's not that's beyond a joke. That's just not
okay. So um read a just a few few of the most interesting ones from here but they are all from a legal perspective and from a welcoming perspective. I hope everyone will read this and that we can get this put on our social media because it is worth every word reading it. uh
whereas anti-semitism including harassment on the basis of actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, identity, affiliation or faith remains a persistent, pervasive and disturbing problem in American
society. And whereas the Jewish community continues to be a targeted minority in the United States and is consistently the most likely of all religious groups to be victimized by incidents of hate. And such incidents are increasing at an alarming rate. And
whereas in 1998, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persan in initiated the task force for international cooper cooperation on Holocaust education, remembrance, and research. And whereas an international
forum was held January 19th through 29th 2000, so this month 26 years ago, and was attended by representatives of 46 governments, including 23 heads of state or prime ministers and 14 deputy prime
ministers. And whereas the task force issued a declaration of the Stockholm International Forum on Holocaust, also known as the Stockholm Declaration. And whereas the Stockholm Declaration is the founding document for the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, IH, the successor organization to the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research. We are adopting their definition. It goes on for about a page and a half,
but there was a definition that all of these heads of states came up with that everybody agreed on we would we would abide by and that's what we're going to use here in the city of Ovido. So, thank you for being part of our community for helping organize Hanukkah. Thank you for being at Hanukkah celebration with your
dad and mom and sisters and brother too like one brother and one brother and sister one brother one sister but you know Oita is for everybody and so glad that you're here >> thank you thank you and passile
There you go. >> All right. And back up we go. Good start here. >> Okay. All right. We will move on to item number four which is the approval of the minutes. What is the pleasure of council? >> I make a motion to approve the minutes for December 1st, 2025 regular session.
>> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> No. >> All right. Uh all in favor? Please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any against? Motion carries. We'll move on to public comment. I do not have any
written request to speak. Is there anybody in the audience that would like to address council at this time? Hearing none, I will close public comment and we will move on to the consent agenda. What is the pleasure of council? >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda.
>> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> No. >> Thank you to staff for sending me a picture of what an F240 looks like. I needed to see that it was different than a 150. So, I I do agree that probably
that shape makes a difference. Anybody else? Good. Okay. I'll ask the clerk to call the role. >> Council member Bterford. >> I. >> Mayor Slick. >> I. >> Deputy Mayor Tukurtkirt. >> I. >> Council member Britain. >> I. >> Council member >> I.
>> The motion carries. We do not have any public hearings, first reading ordinances or resolutions. So we'll move on to item number 12, a discussion item, which is the committee assignment for city council members. Mr. Cobb. >> Hi. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. This is we do this annually. Uh these are the
committees that you as as elected officials serve on that with other elected officials from other local governments as well as uh parts of other committees that are community oriented. Uh tonight, we just need direction on if
you're if you're going to continue serving on the committees that you currently serve on or if there's anybody any changes are going to be made. >> I'm good with mine. >> I'm good with mine. I was going to say we've had the same seats for a while and we can keep them as is, but I guess is anybody looking to
change their seat? >> No. >> Nope. Any alternates want to swap? >> I guess we'll make it easy then. We'll just keep it as is. >> Can I ask you a question? Are um >> some of them have alternates and some of them don't. Is that something that is uh
set by the >> It depends on the board. the board itself. >> So, like no, the alternate like that's an official alternate. >> Okay. >> Um I think some of them don't. It doesn't matter. >> Don't have an official alternate, >> right? But I I I think as far as any of these meetings, we could all show if we
wanted to as long as you notice ahead of time if that's that's correct. We just have a main contact. >> Um so, um and then I will say thank you for getting us all the dates of all these meetings because I just get to this and when we ask if we want to change it up,
I don't know availability. though. Okay, I guess we'll we'll keep it as is. Um, moving on to item number 13, the 2026 Chamber of Commerce dues and participation level. Mr. Cop, >> uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor. We received the invoice from the Chamber of
Commerce. Uh, it's for $5,000. We in your in your agenda memorandum, we put all of the, uh, benefits that the city does receive for this $5,000 membership. Uh we do have $5,000 allocated in the city budget for this year. And uh we just wanted to make sure before we paid
that invoice that uh the city council wanted to continue at the same membership level that or if you wanted us to change the membership level in any way. I believe one of your attachments also provides the other membership levels that the chamber provides. So we just need direction.
>> Okay. Um I guess I'll just open this up for discussion. Well, we're we're a $375 level member for the Semino County Chamber and there is a 400 level $400 level for the Ovido
Chamber. And looking at the benefits, we don't we don't really use those. So in addition to giving them $10,800 for Taste of Oto, this is an additional $5,000 for benefits that create extra
work for our staff. And I think that staff probably doesn't want to have the extra work which is built as a benefit of being for example the lead mentor for a young prof professionals workshop or
um having a speaking opportunity at the quarterly lunchon. Right. We're the sole source provider of water and first responder services. So you know I'm not sure it's a benefit. We actually have the uh the president of the chamber if she want to come up and
say a few words. >> Yeah. Did you want to come up? You're more than welcome. >> Sure. Thank you. >> If you just come to the mic and state your name. >> Well, first of all, I want to thank you for the for the membership uh all these
years. Uh we share goals together, the chamber and the city alignment. We share economic development, we share business retention and attraction, we share community engagement, we share workforce development, and we share city prom uh city promotion. What the chamber has to
offer to the city is basically visibility and promotion, civic engagement, business and workforce development, event collaboration, and recognition. A $5,000 tiers allow the speaking opportunities, allow all these
interaction with the Chamber of Commerce, and it help us allocate all these resources for our mission that is economic development, empower businesses and growth. >> Thank you. Thank you. That's it. Thank you, S. Does anybody have questions?
>> No, I mean, I'm fine with the chamber. I mean, we've had a great partnership then with many, many years. Um, uh, I went to the Ovations Gala. I mean, there was a great turnout for that. Uh, nicely done. Um, I'm fine with us continuing what we're doing with them. I mean, again, they
have a signature event, uh, that is well known throughout the community, uh, the taste of a veto. And again, appreciate the partnership both ways. I know we have a couple members up here that make every ribbon cutting that they can so they can get their photo in. I think that's great, too. You know, showing the
community that, you know, as the local government again is is there for them. So, I'm fine with the level that we're at. >> I think it's really hard for the city on its own to support small businesses in the way that the chamber does. And I I love that they I I mean, I have a small
business. They do a great job ribbon cutting new businesses, networking them to others, and and supporting that community. So, um I appreciate all that they do as well. So, I would like to keep where we're at with them as well. you I I think there is value in the uh
in the chamber. You know, I don't think there's a value a dollar value you can put on it. We as a city need to be engaged with the business community and we need to support them and this is this is one way that we can do that. I don't think it's
something you put a dollar value on. Well, uh, I mean, that being said, there there is a dollar value. Um, >> in my mind, I think it's worth much more than that. >> $15,800 is the dollar value. >> I mean, we get to decide what the dollar value is. Um, and and I mean, we could go up, right? I mean, we could go up to
the $10,000 level. >> Yeah, that's a good idea. >> Uh, I don't know. To to me, I I look at this uh a couple of different ways. I mean for for the most part I mean I look at it from the perspective of the
residents. So you know while the chamber does of course support small businesses the you know the question is to the average resident is this um something that affects them right because it's you know ultimately they're the ones paying for it out of their um you know their
their property taxes and other taxes. We also collect uh I think it's 40,000 is that right Mr. top of uh local business tax um for business licenses. I looked it up last year about this time and I >> I think it's around 140,000. >> Oh, it's 140,000. Yes, sir. Okay.
>> So, I mean another way to look at it is, you know, we collect this tax from businesses and then we give it to an organization that supports businesses. So, you know, in that case, maybe um maybe that does make sense. Um you know the other thing I look at with it is um
there are multiple chambers and we support one with um you know considerable amount more money than um than the other and you know is it the job of government to be picking winners
and losers in that way right? Um, I feel like if we want to support small businesses, we could do things like uh getting rid of the local business tax, right? I mean, to me, that is a uh it's a junk fee as far as I'm
concerned. Um, I'm not sure what local businesses get for that except for, you know, the right to conduct business in the city. Um, so you know, and if we did something like that, then that's a way that we could support, you know, every small business regardless of what uh chamber
or other business organization that that they were a part of. So, um, I don't know, there's a lot of ways to look at it. I mean, and we have we have three people who want to keep it the same, so it looks like that's what we'll probably end up doing. But I I think things like
this are always worth the conversation of, you know, we've been doing this for a long time. Is this the right way? Is this the best way? Um, you know, are there other organizations or, you know, all those kinds of things. >> Okay. If I could just add, I I appreciate that the chamber has made it
clear that they only help people who pay to be chamber members. And I did run the math and 9% 8 to 9% of Ovito small businesses are chamber members. So 8% of the small businesses at Ovido are eligible to receive the services offered
by the chamber. That 15 heard that number is not accurate that it was misinterpreted. Uh so I don't know. Do you know what the actual number is? >> The number changes every day. So I I didn't bring the number today. I'm sorry.
>> Well, I I sent the information to Mr. Cobb. So we do have that number from the Semino County Chamber, which is a lower number. and we have what was reported from the Ovita Whitter Springs Chamber and you know so there there it is
substantially smaller than all of the businesses being served. So I think that's an important thing for us to state from here as there is consensus to move forward with continuing to subsidize this private organization's operational expenses to
the tune of $15,800. >> Okay. Do we have a consensus? >> Yep, we have consensus. So, um, Mr. Crab, you understand? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, we'll move on to the city manager report. >> Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year.
>> Okay. City attorney's report. >> Happy New Year. >> Mayor Slated. All right. Every few years I bring up the idea of putting a conservation easement on the Twin Rivers golf course, and we have a little bit different composition up here than we ever have
before. Is there interest in putting a conservation easement on this? Since that is that though that that is the pretense on which we purchased the golf course, I would like to put a >> how we purchased it. We purchased it for a flood plane. >> We purchased it to be never developed,
which is why we can put a conser to that's why we need a conservation easement. >> I would like to put a conservation easement on it. I get that you would like to build something on it. >> Well, hold on. We're in reports. So, if you want consensus to discuss this at a future meeting, we can do that. But we're not discussing right now.
>> All right. There is there consensus to discuss a conservation easement at a later date? >> We can discuss it. >> I'll discuss it. >> Okay. Um also wanted to bring up that there have been some scientists over the years and this is going back to like
2018ish. Um, it is possible that we used some funding for the acquisition of Riverwoods Park that requires it to be managed and possibly the land adjacent to Shane Kelly Park. Uh, and by managed,
I mean prescribed burns. And if you go look at where fire is burning in the state of Florida at any given time, it's somewhere. And if we do not proactively manage the lands in ways that will keep it from setting on fire unpredictably,
we could we could create a situation that is less ideal. So just wanted to throw it out there. I don't know if that this isn't really a discussion item so much as making sure that all of us up here are aware that well yeah I I guess maybe it is ask for a discussion item. I
would like an update on which of our lands uh we used state level funding for that requires us to do prescribed burns or any specific management activities. And I know we have management plans on a lot of our parks that we use F FRS money for or not not FRS what is it called?
FRDAP. I'm mixing all my state level acronyms. Uh but the FRDA app grants require management plan. Not not necessarily prescribed burns but some sort of management plan. And if any of them require burning, let's let's talk about that. Is everybody okay getting an
update on that at a later meeting? That's okay. Um, and earlier this afternoon invited everybody on council to come to this space right here at 12:00 on Wednesday to uh watch a webinar from the Thousand Friends of Florida on
the legislative uh all all the things that have been filed with the legislature so far and just sort of a jump start thing. So the entire public is welcome to attend. It's going to be somehow maybe we'll figure out how to get it on a big screen, but worst case scenario, we'll huddle around my computer, which will live stream it from
there. Um, and following up on Mr.'s idea, I I've been wanting to eliminate the local business tax forever. Um, in talking with the chamber u president, uh, I I think she I don't know that she's allowed to enter. I don't know the extent to which you're allowed to
interact with me or others are, but uh I got the impression from the chamber that they're not interested in eliminating the business tax, but I think we should do that anyway because it's the right thing for local businesses, even if that's the way we fund
a an organization's salaries. So, is can we at a later date have a discussion about eliminating the business tax? It always comes up at the state level. I'd like to get rid of it proactively even if the state does not because it is a junk fee. >> I'm okay with it the way it is.
>> Can we discuss it though? Does anybody else want to discuss it? >> I have this label. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Do we have a consensus? >> I mean, you're talking about the like the $25 business tax receipt. >> Well, I'm talking about the $195 I pay because I'm a regulated business.
So, because I'm regulated by the state, I have to pay extra lots. So yeah, a lot of people pay I and I pay three different business taxes because I have different >> businesses running out of my house. >> I'm not interested in discussing it right now.
>> I'm not interested. Okay. >> All right. Well, the tax the junk fee stays. All right. That's all I've got for now. Thank you. >> All right. Council member Rat. >> Uh nothing further. Happy New Year. >> Council member Bford.
>> Yes. Uh happy new year. Um, again, shout out to our parks and recck team for a great job they did for the for the holiday season and uh all the events that they pulled off. There was a great turnout by everybody out there. Um, it's great to have that in the community and to see the people get out there and really kind of get together and come
together as a community. So, that was great to see. Also, I attended the uh Christmas in the city. I know all you were there as well. U think you might have missed when I got hit by the car, but that was interesting. So, >> um, you're okay.
so to speak. Yes. Physically, mentally we'll do questionable. But uh great great job by that. Also want to commend um what uh both uh Lisa and Chief you guys doing with the uh ebikes and the mobility. I think I thought saw the
articles out there. I saw the news. I saw what you put out there in social media again that the officers are actually doing education. So, you know, and talking to the kids uh unless they're, you know, way out of line. I mean, you guys are trying to, you know, navigate them to to be reasonable and
then uh and safe when they're out there. So, I know it's a lot going on with that right now. So, again, appreciate everything that you guys are are doing with that. So, and then again, happy new year and uh we're off to a new year and we had a great start to the meeting
today. >> Councilman Britain, >> um happy new year also. And I just want to clarify on the uh the uh the burning the controlled burning. Brian, if if you're going to give information on that, could you give us an idea what
size area that usually gets controlled burn? I know at the during the years I was at the space center, it was usually thousands of acres or a thousand acres or more that they would set on fire. And if I remember the SNID park, I guess that's Riverwoods
between the two neighborhoods. That's What? Five acres at the most? >> It's 34. >> 34 acres. Yes. I'm not sure going in there and burning 34 acres next to houses is a good idea. So, just find out what what the state uses as their criteria.
>> And while you're at it, on the golf course, could could you reiterate that the golf course is designated as a as a golf course and not a park? So overlaying a uh easement over it is not is not appropriate.
That's all I have. >> Okay. Uh I'm up next and all I have to say is I want to say thank you to our staff who work the holidays. You know, we do work in government. So I appreciate all the the police and firefighters and our core staff who work the holidays for us. And happy new year.
Is there anything else for the good of the order? It is 7:03 p.m. or 7:02 p.m. And this meeting is not adjourned till I read that our next meeting is not on a Monday. It's on Tuesday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Uh so
January 20th at 6:30 p.m. is a regular session. Monday, January 26 at 5:30 p.m. is a work session and Monday, February 2nd at 6:30 p.m. is a regular session. Now it is 7:03 p.m. and this meeting is adjourned.