Thank you. Welcome to the city of Palaca City Commission meeting on February 26, 2026 at 6 p.m. or just past 6 609. I'm calling this meeting to order, beginning with the invocation from Pastor Malbury, pledge of allegiance from Commissioner
Davis. Please stand if you're able. Father, we thank you again for another day. We thank you for your love and kindness and family mercy. We thank you for the opportunity to come before your presence. We pray God that you will bless this session tonight. We come
together to bid for the sick. We need your help. We need your strength. We need your understanding. God give us what to do and how to do and all things. Help us to find God what's necessary to further the cause moving this city in the right direction. We give you thanks
and praise for the leadership that you have provided. Pray your blessing upon them now. Ground their heads in wisdom. Give them understanding. It is in Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Please join me in saluting our flag. 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. >> Roll call, please. Madame clerk.
>> Commissioner Davis, present. Commissioner Campbell, >> present. >> Commissioner Jones, >> here. >> Commissioner Bor, >> present. >> Present. We have a quorum on to approval of the minutes. Has everybody had an opportunity to read the
minutes from February 12th, 2026? >> Mayor, motion to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion to second. All in favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. Public recognition presentations is limited to 5 minutes. No action taken on these items. In the spotlight, employee of the
month, Miss Jones. Madame Mayor, commissioners, um for the month of February, um I would like to say um thank you for all the employee um employees that do um took the time out to nominate um outstanding employees.
Um HR decided to human resource department decided to give an incentive so that we would have more people participate to um recognize co-workers as well as not putting all of the burden on the directors. So this month we did have a privilege of one of the
nominations that came in that was very unique because there were two employees from one department that was nominated at the same time for outstanding service and that's Mr. Thomas Jino at the airport and Mr. James Keeler. Good evening, mayor, commissioners.
>> Good evening, sir. >> Good evening. >> So, I guess after tonight, the cat's going to be out of the bag about the success of Twin AJ. >> Okay. So, hey, um I had a couple of notes, but I have spent so much time
with these two young men that I do not need any notes. >> All right. So, so the two things coming to mind for both of them since I've been here has been reliability and dependability. Okay, we got two team members that are on opposite spectrums,
but you got a unique setup here because Mr. Jino is probably as trained and as talented as they come. And for this community to have him at this caliber is really special. And it's not just special, but his specialty is fueling
operations. So if you recall, you know, a number of months ago, a while back, we had to shut down the entire system. Well, if you want to blame anybody, blame him. But, you know, in all seriousness, he came in, he made some
recommendations on additional tests, frequency of tests, and he identified the concerns. and those concerns, you know, we had to go through and he revamped the entire operation. Uh so we certainly credit and owe him a debt of
gratitude for that because clean field means people are enjoying the flights and all things are well. This young man here, Mr. Keley, I know he doesn't look too old, but he he has been around for a while. Okay,
over three years, believe it or not. All right. And believe it or not, this is a product of PCA High School. He started at the airport in 11th grade, okay? As I think my first intern. And he came and asked me to teach him airport
management. So, this young man has grown. He's reliable. He's dependable. Uh it's just not the day-to-day operation. Uh these guys are getting certified, but there are things that happen at the airport after hours. And
these are the guys that I know are going to be texting me saying, "Hey, we got this message. Let's go meet you there." Or we may have corporate uh travelers that come in after hours. These are the guys that are going to step up and say,
"Hey, we got it. Do a call out. We'll take care of them." So, uh I'm very very fortunate to have both of these guys on the team. Uh and to be frank with you, I know it's unusual. It's a employee of the month, but I got to the point I
could not submit individuals anymore. So, I had to go a twofer here. But, um, we need more team members like this. And I'm glad that we have a leader and Mr. Justino that's really bringing these younger team members up and getting them
qualified and certified. So, um, the employee of the month is not enough, but at least it's a step forward in recognizing how important these guys are to the 2018 team. >> Congratulations. >> Congrats. Congrats.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Legislative update back on Paw. >> That's what I figured. Welcome the audio. on the mute. >> Can you all hear me?
>> Yeah. >> Thank you. Welcome. >> How is everyone? >> Well, >> good. >> Good. Good. It's good to see everybody. Thank you so much for um having us on for this quick legislative update. Give me one second really quick. Um uh as you
all know I'm Latoya Shields the senior government relations consultant with Becker and Palia Coff and on the line I have also Yolanda Cash Jackson shareholder and my colleague Julia Wilder as well. Um we want to just take out the time to thank the city of Pala.
Um, a lot has happened since we have seen you all last week, but you guys had the opportunity to come for Putham County Days, which was a fun time. I hope you all enjoyed. We enjoyed having
you all present. And um, with that, we were able to send um, a legislative update to um, Madame Manager. Um, just kind of highlighting some of the things that were going on at that time. I think one of the highlights that I want to
point out is um uh the city manager and uh Commissioner Campbell had the opportunity to witness the property tax legislation being heard on the House floor um at that time and um
yeah, it was eventful. I'll leave it like that, but to say the least that they had the opportunity to to see that. And with that being said, u we do understand that property taxes is uh something that is important to the city and um on that particular day, that
particular measure passed off the floor um by a vote of 80 to30 and it is now has been referred to uh the Senate Appropriations Committee. So, um, you know, with that being said, moving, but
as you all know, with that particular measure, it is definitely still a process. The Senate has to take up something. Right now, a proposal has not been released. Um, and you know, it will probably have to go before the Supreme
Court before it gets on the ballot. It is layers to it, but we definitely want to, you know, got keep you all a breast of what is going on with the property tax measure. And currently we are in week seven, getting
ready to go into week eight. And as you know, we are scheduled to complete session Friday, March 13th, which will be week nine. Um, again, where we stand from the property tax standpoint, that is still just up in the air. So, putting
you on notice with that. Um, some of the other bills that we managed to, you know, just follow on that behalf and kind of discuss briefly with some of the commissioners were um the local business tax that also too had passed most recently
uh the house version by Representative Botana. It too has now been referred to Senate appropriations, but it has not been scheduled um at the time. the and still matter of fact um the uh Senate
version has not moved much. So um what we've noticed let me just start off by saying what we've noticed this session is that many bills have moved through the House but not through the Senate or many bills have moved through the Senate but not through the House. So we are
juggling on both sides. Um but anything can happen in this last little week. just about anything can happen. Impact fees were something that we actually um that we discussed and again the information that I provided in
the PowerPoint at that time is still the same thing. Nothing has really changed. The House version has been placed on the calendar for second reading and the Senate version still has not been scheduled to be heard. Um, some of
another big hot topic that we are aware of that affects municipalities obviously is the sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is something that was run last year. It did not make it through last year and we were kind of in a similar
boat this year. Um, the House passed its version off the floor a couple of weeks ago and it has now just been referred to um, I want to say Senate rules. um but it hasn't been scheduled yet. Rules is a committee that will continue to meet.
They are scheduled to meet next week and they may meet the last week of session or at least twice next week. So it is a possibility that it could be heard during that time. Um I I do know that the Senate many people like the Senate
version better than the House version. Um but at the moment the Senate version it just moved. Matter of fact, I just double checked that it just moved. So, um just kind of keeping our eyes and ears open as it relates to that and keeping you all updated. Um um for the
sovereign immunity portion, um some land use development uh uh legislation has been moving about as well. Some that has passed just recently. A lot of things again from when you all were here were actually heard this week. Some as early
as today or as late as today. Um, and different things are moving and have just been placed on calendars to be heard, but nothing has fully been scheduled as of yet. So, again, we will
keep you guys posted um on on that. Just a quick broad of where we are too, knowing that we are, like I said, we are in week seven going into week eight. Um, not much has moved in the grand scheme
of things. We have 85 bills out of the 1,800 that were filed that actually passed the House and 86 bills that have passed the Senate. Um, and there are currently seven bills that have been enrolled and have been sent to the governor. But again, no signatures,
nothing like that. Nothing has moved. We have had a conversation as it relates to the rural um rural communities bills which is the rural renaissance bill that was um presented last year um that did not move. It obviously passed last year
off the senate floor but the it did not get heard in the house. Currently there's a similar measure this year that is following almost in the same footsteps where it had passed off the senate floor a couple of weeks ago but the house has to take it up. So, um, we
are still keeping our eye out on that one as well. Um, just knowing the importance of the city of Palaca being a rural community and we are always keeping our eyes and ears open of what we see, hear, find, um, that will be
beneficial to the city. Um, and that is my quick rundown. Uh, Yolanda or Jalia, if you guys want to add anything, please do. I I don't have uh much to add. Thank you, Latoya. Uh there um we I am in a
place I I'm going to apologize for the background noise. Um but I don't have much to add. >> Um and I guess too I I will add just really quickly as we wind down this process, you all know um we do know that there are projects that have been
submitted by the city. um um as it relates to appropriations and um we are currently waiting to see um where we lie when it comes to that. Currently, I know I put in the um presentation there are
some projects that have been placed in both um either the House budget or the Senate budget and we will do our due diligence to move forward um through conference and make sure that those projects are secure. We're in constant communication with your House um member,
Representative Sap, as well as your senator, Senator Leak. Um but currently at this time, we're just waiting to see when we can begin budget negotiations, and that is definitely something that is up in the air right now. Um with us
having like a week and a half left. So, good luck to us. >> Maybe a week and a half left. >> Yeah, maybe a week and a half left. Yeah. So, do you all have any questions? >> Any questions? No.
>> No. Thank you. Thank you for your information. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor, >> yes. Go ahead. I would like to if if I'm permitted to just add uh additionally to our lobbyists, they did present to us
that of the three uh appropriation request was submitted. The one for the master sanitary lift station, which is 500,000. At this point, we did not uh get anything approved in the House, but
it's the Senate is still out. We don't know what will happen there. As it relates to the fire department ladder truck, we requested 375,000. The house did at this moment approved the 187500.
And also with the airport, the runway 927 extension, we asked for 900,000. The house did approve 450,000. I don't know if Michelle's would like to add anything further. >> Yes, I can um attest to those. Um thank
you. Uh Madame Manager, um one of the things for the house, a rule that is required is for them to fund a project at least by 50%, half of the amount. So when the city manager mentions that it was funded at, you know, 187 from the
375 or 450 for 900,000, that's because they're required to fund it at that particular amount. And so what we will do is continue to push um again for it to be um heard in the Senate, picked up
in the Senate, and then uh push for the full dollar amount that was requested. >> So the most important part is that your projects are all in play. >> Yes. >> And um some of it is strategy and talking to um Senator Leak for example,
uh his strategy is to work in conference. He's been the budget chairman uh before and I tell you what, if I was going to have any faith in anybody, it would be that. So, we're following their lead. We did the uh heavy lifting. Your staff did the heavy
lifting and getting those forms filled out, getting and continually uh providing information. We're also talking to uh the governor's staff to make sure that we can do whatever we can to alleviate veto and uh every we're
still in the game and that's what counts. >> Thank you. Any other comments or questions? No ma'am. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> It was our pleasure. Thank you. >> Ancharta review committee final report.
Mr. Hill. >> Mayor, commissioners, uh, madame manager, protocol haven't been established. It's with great pleasure that we stand before you today to give you the final report of the charter review committee. I want to take the opportunity, if I may, to recognize the members of the charter review committee
who are here with me today. If I could have them stand. And and just for the record, we started we had our first meeting back on March 26 of 2024. 17 public meetings were held. Uh this group has been extremely
dedicated. We've had some spirited conversations uh throughout that process. Staff has been wonderful. both the city manager, the clerk, as well as council, they have worked tirelessly for us to get to the point where we are. Uh
we've had uh Chief Shaw, uh Mr. Yule, Mr. Yule from the airport has been there with us. We've had the supervisor of election. We've had various individuals to come in and give input. We've had HR come in to give input as to certain aspects. Uh the clerk as well as council
and the city manager as it pertains to various areas where we were. As a result of those meetings, uh we were able to provide you with several questions um that were in place and with the and with the extensive work done by council and I have to give her individual kudos for
what she has done. Jane West has done an excellent job. And so there are several questions. I want to just run through those really quickly uh just to kind of let the commission know uh what conversations and the depth of the conversation that took place over the course of the two
year almost two-year period that we have and then I'll let Miss West give you the next steps as we move forward and where we are. Question one. Uh question one uh creates a preamble to the charter for the city of Palatka. Um and that's the first question that we have as it relates to where we are. And then we go
into question two. Many of these are housekeeping matters which changes um archaic language, the old English common law language. And it puts us into more of a modern language which becomes user friendly for people as we move forward. It gets rid of a lot of verbiage as it
relates to gender specific conversations because historically it had been male-dominated um in many ways. and it starts to get us to a point where we move forward. And we have to understand that Palaca has one of the oldest charters in the state of Florida. And so that's the first piece. So as we go into
question two, it's a revision and that revision basically abolishes the old municipality language and it it takes out uh new new municipality established uh the vesting the vesting pieces contract and debts language as well. So it's a housekeeping measure. Question
three, uh, as we look at it, it goes into adding a section defining the city's powers. And so this is general power section that comes from language from, uh, Martin charters. And so again, another housekeeping measure uh, as we move forward. Section question four
cleans up language for clarity and relevance as it relates to the form of government. And so it's another housekeeping measure that gets us back. We continually recommend our same form of government. Um, and so we move into question five, which establishes the
frame for commissioner's residency requirement and removes the language regarding the city running its own elections because historically in the charter, the city ran its own elections. Now we're operating off of uh an interlocal agreement where the supervisor of elections actually runs
the elections for the city. And so it takes out the language for the canvasing board and things of that nature. Um, and so that language gives us the time frame again, which was the six months, and both Commissioner Borum and Commissioner Campbell u are very familiar with the six-month rule that came into play after
the 2014 election. And so, moving into question six. Question six, it looks at it takes out the word same and it goes to majority constitutes a quorum, the number for adjournment, compelling physical attendance of members, uh, votes required for the adoption of
ordinances. So, one of the things that was very spirited as we went through our meetings was the conversation of compelling uh commissioners to be present and what was necessary to uh have presence not by way of not by way
of virtual attendance and making sure and and so the the outfall of what we had was that even if the when the quorum is present physically, commissioners will retain their right to vote and their vote will count in the same manner. if they have to appear virtually. There was a big concern um as
it related to virtual attendance and whether there was um a sense of believing that the the use of it was abused. So, I I wanted the commission to actually understand um that that was a major conversation piece for a few meetings as it related to as as it
related to making sure uh that commissioners uh were present and that you know not being present and appearing virtually was was kind of an a last alternative to being present. Uh because traditionally the state of emergency kind of dictated when a person was
appearing virtually. We know circumstances um will allow for um people not to be in place based upon what what other obligations may be there as well. Uh but we wanted to let you know that there was spirited conversation as it pertained to that. Question seven revised the timing
of taking office. If you recall our charter says that the a commissioner will after election will be sworn in on the first Monday. I think it's at 8:00 >> following the election which is very um you know which was to me was very frustrating to take that there's so many
things that happen in between such as the residential requirement all those things. So we we're trying to create a swift change of power when necessary. And so under the recommendation now commissioners would after they would take they can take office after the the fir at the first meeting or special call
meeting after an election is certified which is consistent with what the school district does um with all the other electing bodies within the county as a whole. So it gets rid of that that lull from November to January so that people will have an opportunity to come in and take take office and and transition from
there. Um question eight goes into uh it's a ballot proposal that deletes the word same out of the language for filling vacancies and commissions other than those resulting from recall and it's just a housekeeping measure. Question
nine adds the role of the vice mayor and updates language and corrects errors. So the mayor the vice mayor as you know um in your last in this last few months you've actually selected commissioner campbell as the vice mayor and so this outlines how the vice mayor is selected
places it in the charter and also identifies how that will take place through the commission's um vote on an annual basis. Next up is question 10 which goes into it corrects gender specific language in the charter and it says every office of
the city shall be entering upon the duties of his or her office taken described the oath or affirmation to be filed and kept in the office of the city clerk. Question 11 goes into candidate background checks.
One of the things that we wanted to make sure was that we we were seeing a trend around the state where people who were convicted felons were be were being elected and cities were having egg on their face for any other for lack of any other term because there was no scrutiny
in place for those who were applying for jobs. it it's not a violation of law for the city to require that a background check be put in place to make sure that we verify certain aspects or requirements that we have as it relates to taking office and it doesn't take away from anything that's there
statutoily and so we and so it says any person seeking to become an elected official of the city of Palaca must at or before filling the candidacy submit to a background investigation to be conducted by the designated city department or third party vendor failure by a candidate to undergo the required
background check shall render the candidacy invalid. If an elected official was later found to have provided false information or obstructed the process, the office may be vacated or otherwise forfeited as provided by the ordinance. And so that was one of the things that we put in place to make
sure that we verify all individuals who were seeking office. Question 12 adds a section of prohibiting interference with administration and it's a separation of powers clause which allows us to be able to clearly define the roles and duties of each piece. exists. Except for the purpose of inquiries, investigations,
the commission and its members shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the city manager solely through the city manager. And neither the commission nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee either publicly or privately.
Question 13 deletes the city manager's hiring and firing the city attorney. One of the things that we talked about early on was the fact that you've had multiple instances over the last couple of years where there's been conflicts between the city manager, the city commission and
the city attorney because the city attorney in the charter as it exists today works for the city manager and not for the city commission. the way we so now the city our recommendations that the city attorney will be selected and hired and be under the purview of the
commission just as the city manager so that it alleviates any chance of a conflict because the fiduciary duties will be to the city commission. Uh we put that language in place which caused us to have to delete the powers from the
city manager's um job description for lack of any other term. Question 14 asks the city manager's residency requirement. It will require that a city manager after taking office will have within one year has to become a permanent resident of the city of Pala.
Question 15 is a is the introduc is an introduction. It deletes irrelevant sections and it just it's a strike through as it relates to what we have in place. um as how elections are administered
um and that talks about the canvasing board. Question 16 adds a section related to the city attorney. The city commission shall appoint a city attorney who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and shall act as a legal adviser to the municipality and its
officers and matters related to their official duties. The city attorney may be removed by the commission by a majority vote which is which is actually parallel to what is in place for the city manager. Question 17.
This section uh gives the charter review may be amended as provided by journal law commencing the first regular meeting November 1st 2026 and every 10 years thereafter. The committee shall be composed of an odd number, not more than 11 members, plus one alternate. Each commissioner shall appoint one member.
Other members may be appointed by application or recommendation. The commission shall appoint an alternate. The committee shall appoint the chair and vice chair. To be eligible for the committee, you must be a qualified elector, a Putnham County resident, and or a city of Palaca business owner. And
so it gives it gives us a date certain so that we don't find ourselves with an extensive lag. So every decade you will have a charter review as it relates based upon the mandates in the charter if the commission so decides. Next up adds a citizen referendum process under
question 18. And that process shadows the Florida statutes. And so our referendum process is extensive. If I went through and read it all we'd be at another commission meeting. And so that gives all of our exhibits as it relates to where we are. Those are uh the
majority. This is all of the questions that you have before you as it relates to putting a referendum in place. Council will advise you as strategically where you need to be. She will also talk to you about um how we move forward with public meetings as well as deliberation
from the commission or whatever concerns are there um as you move forward into this process. And so it gives this gives the framework of where we're at. It also gives an opportunity for the commission as a whole to make suggestions or deletions as to the pieces that you want to put in place. And the critical piece
of it is it gives you approximately five months to get this all certified and the language in place before it goes on the ballot. um because the objective was to have it for the November 20 2026 election so that we wouldn't incur any
additional cost as it related to where we were from an election standpoint and interlocal agreements that she had in place. Uh there are other options and timelines, but council can talk to you on those. And I want to just give a moment for Miss West to add any comments
um for anything that I may have omitted throughout. >> No, you did a fantastic job. Thank you so much. Um, our next steps are at the next city commission meeting, there will be an opportunity for all of you to discuss uh which of these uh referendums
you would like to have placed on the November ballot. And after you make a decision, we will draft an ordinance that you will uh adopt. And at that time frame, uh we will have the opportunity. I think it's really critically important. This is a lot of language to
put on a ballot and so it's really important that we do outreach for the public to inform them and we are fortunate in that many of our uh charter review committee members they they've been exceptionally civically engaged in
this process and they have agreed um to go ahead and participate in those public outreach meetings so they can make themselves available to the public to answer the public's questions about each of these these uh referendum options. So those are the next steps.
>> Yes, Commissioner Camp. >> So I have a question related to um and it may be a little bit premature. Um you spoke about the discussion that's going to take place at the next meeting. And so from that discussion and I guess I'm
trying to get a timeline or how it looks so that we can make sure because sometimes we know how we get into those meetings and they can become lengthy and they just things of that nature. But I want to make sure that as we go into that meeting that we go in as a collective unit with some good direction
and I'm quite sure it's going to come um from Mr. Hill, but making sure that while we're there in that meeting that anything that needs to be discussed is discussed so that you will have the opportunity to maximize getting things
the way that they need to um so that it doesn't linger. >> Yes, we we have a a deadline of April to get this over to the supervisor of elections so they can start working on the the paperwork to place it on the ballot. So, this next meeting is critically important. Um, if any of you
have any questions before the meeting, I'm more than happy to meet with you or you can meet with any of the charter review committee members. They are as well-versed as I am on all of these issues and I would encourage you to do that to get a a wide perspective. Uh, and of course, Commissioner Davis even
sat on this committee for a period of time, so she also knows, but we should be going into that meeting very well informed so we can meet that April deadline for the supervisor of elections. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? >> Thank you, Mr. >> At this time, we uh
>> Yes, I'm sorry. I was going to say that um at this time, we really want to uh express our appreciation for the charter review committee. So, I'm asking that um the commission we are extending to every
person a uh certificate of appreciation >> and a goodie bag. >> Say it again. >> And a goodie bag. They're right underneath Mr. Hill. >> So, and we also have that we're going to give out. So, I would
like to call their names, please. >> And how do I do it? Please, >> I'll come down. Yeah. >> Yeah, I would like my >> So, this is from the uh commissions and city leadership expressing our
appreciation. Okay. >> And I'm going to call out his name and we're going to come up so we can take some photo once we go through this. Um, Cheryl Hill. Algra Kitchens, >> Matt Schuler,
Tom Dolan, >> Teresa Jackson. Tiffany Papa Flanders, Audrey Wise, Margaret Ellington, ANNIEY'S GOT Jeremy Davis, Lee Ryan. >> Oh, we will take a picture. Thank you
again everybody. Was a huge effort put forth by everybody. We truly appreciate it and it was certainly time to do it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> All right.
on to city manager and administrative reports. Fire department update on ladder truck. >> Yes. Uh, I would like to bring Chief Teller, please. >> Good evening, Madame Mayor, Commissioners. >> Um, >> good evening. >> As you may have heard, we have a new
ladder truck. Um, we did bring it out for you guys to look at it set up outside. I thought I'd run through a few things real quick if you don't mind. So, I wanted to make a a quick shout out to all of our shifts. Um, we had several
come group together last night on a rescue out of Melrose at the sand plant, the Vulcan sand plant. Our special operations team headed out there to help them. It took him two and a half hours to get him out of the sand. Um, he was
transported, so we'll maybe learn later what happened, but it was a pretty dire situation. Uh, but they did get him out and it's great work and really appreciate the hard work and the dedication. Um, can we go to the next slide? >> Sure.
>> And how about the next one? So, just to go over some of the the the capabilities of this truck. It's a 100 foot ladder. We call it a straight stick. Um, it sets up in tighter spaces. It's quicker to set up and it's safer. It will complement our tower truck. Um, it helps
with rescues at heights, defensive operations for containment, and firefighting at heights. Um it has a 1500 gpm pump or gallons per minute and um so this is a great uh tool for us to use especially in our industrial contracted areas. Can we go to the next
next one? So just a couple pictures. We are working on a pushin ceremony which is being planned now. Uh we will finish our training about the middle of March on the truck. So at that point we will push the truck in to kind of celebrate the tradition from the old horse and
buggy days when they used to carry uh water on uh trailers and they would come back and put the horses in the stalls, wash them and put them away and then they do the same thing with the apparatus. So this is a hearkening back to that tradition. Um so we'll we'll have uh invitations for that and we
invite the whole community when it happens. Um we're still waiting on some equipment and we're still waiting on some training on the truck. Um, let me go to the next one. So, we had a couple grants come through for the fire department. We got um the hoods from the women's club. This is the
second time they've given us $5,000 to help us get the hoods. So, that was a real blessing. Um FM Global uh gave us $5,000 for iPads because we are just about paperless. Uh we are doing most everything especially on the operation
side through iPads and it's saving us a lot and helping us with our technology. Um, and then we closed our HMGP for the bay doors at the main station and we are now opening up another one for the for the other station. So, we're hoping that we can get that done. We're working with
the state now to get that grant. Uh, the next thing is we've had a lot going on with hazardous materials. We got a new contract with Georgia Pacific for training and for equipment and we have gone out and bought some. So some of these simulators for hazmat are very
necessary. Um and we are still negotiating with siminal to try and get some more money to help with that team because hazmat is just super expensive and everything is perishable. So along with that we did a advanced propane tactics class. We've done risk
bake for response and uh uh detection and also decontamination classes. And we now are putting our last two firefighters into the hazmat technician program and we will be fully staffed with technicians. So for the next slide, this is just a
dome simulator. So this is one of the things that we bought with that money. So that if we have a turned over uh semi-truck carrying gasoline or any other chemicals, food chemicals, we have ways of training on it now. We know the types of things that we will encounter and it's making us better for that
response. Uh the next one is the chlorine dome kit. If we if you may see there in that picture, if you can see it, well, that is chlorine spreading out from that train car because they have a leak. So, we have to get that kit to the top of
that train car. They weigh about 150 pounds. We have to carry it from wherever we're coming from to get there, get on top of that train, and we got to know how to put that on properly. So, we have this now training simulator to make sure these guys are well verssed in that. This is not something this is a
high-risk low frequency call. So we need to have the training uh in place. Next slide. We have because of our uh partnerships across the region with St. Augustine, St. John's, Clay, um
Jacksonville, Nassau through the uh local emergency planning committee. We get lots of free classes for hazmat technicians and any other training for hazmat that comes through the state. we're offering we're offered seats in it. So, this has been a real uh
moneysaver for the department and also keeping us up to date with our training on the training task force. That's every other kind of class except for hazmat. So, we're switching classes with Flaggler County Palm Coast. If we teach class, we take some of their people,
they put on classes, they take some of ours. So, this has been really good for all the departments involved. And then the last the last slide, I can't tell you who it is yet, but we have the state of the state of Florida VFW firefighter of the year.
>> Oh, COOL. >> SO, YES. SO, if you guys want to take just a couple minutes and uh walk through the truck. >> That's our normal thing, but it's up to you. >> Yeah. Just a couple of minutes, please. We're going to brief recess so we can go
see the new fire truck. resume the meeting. It's >> my one entertainment. >> Everybody, please quiet. We're going to resume the meeting onto the financial report. Hello everyone.
Um so before I begin, I would like to um give a special thanks to Commissioner Davis. this was her vision to present a financial dashboard and um speak from this report moving forward.
So basically the first page of the document is an overall picture of the citywide budget. Um the green the numbers in green represent that it the item is stable um and that it's moving
along as it should. We're in the fourth month of the year. We're 33% into the year. And the way we are um judging whether it's stable or not is versus right now we're 33% into the year. And if our revenues or expenditures are
within that range of 33 U% then it would be considered stable. Um and so this is the first sheet and the items that are um we're undertaking corrective action
would be for the golf course fund where we have um actual expenditures at the 210 811. We are currently in discussions with the Hertz Golf um company and we're
discussing how we can accommodate or make the this fund a operational fund where the revenues match expenditures. Um any questions regarding this first page?
>> Um I had a comment. >> Sure. um especially to the the golf course. I I know um prior to being elected in 2014, uh I know that there was a lot of issues around the golf course and the golf
course losing monies at 300 400,000 a year being transferred from the general fund. And um it got to the point to where 2016 2017 we made ultimatum to say, "Hey, we we either going to shut it down or we're going to um um put forth a
a different option to be able to carry it forward." And so we end up coming up with a public private partnership. That public private partnership uh has done us well to this point. uh we need to figure out um very quickly
uh why we're going the opposite way and what's causing that because again um uh we got we're we're we the public private partners and we supposed to be able to get um I guess um a certain percentage of the
profits is coming back to us and so if we're losing there we certainly going to be uh it's a bigger loss as it relates to even if we um made it even. So, whatever we need to do, we need to make sure we address that as uh quickly as
possible. >> Noted. Anybody else have any comments or questions? >> Thank you. >> Are you Is that the Are you done with the report or other. >> Oh, okay. Well, yeah, I was just missing you. I was thanking you for what had
happened, you know. >> I'm not asking you. Thank you. So, I thought >> No, no, no, no. I was just thanking you for that portion. Go ahead. >> Okay. >> Okay. The second page is our department.
>> Excuse me. I will ask, can you make that larger? So, our >> I'm on full screen right now. So, That's That's not full screen. That's full screen. >> Okay. >> It's okay. I was just asking maybe could
you go to like 150% or 110 or anything over 100? And if not, that's fine. I just was >> I'm just asking. >> It's okay. >> Maybe don't do it full screen. >> Remove the full screen. >> Yeah. And then
>> then increase >> increase the view size. >> Everybody sign let them finish fix it up. >> Yeah, that's it. Thank you. >> You can increase it again. You had it. Good.
>> Thanks. >> Perfect. Better. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, um, this is a dashboard for each of the departments in the general fund specifically.
And, uh, the items we have here in green are everything's fine. We're within the range, the healthy range, and the items that are outside of that range are highlighted in red or yellow. most of the the items in yellow or red,
it has to do with a project that where you have to pay for the cost upfront um for for not upfront but uh capital that we're either renovating. For example, the um Jenkins gymnasium is in red, but
there are renovations that were made starting in October. This is a cumulative report. So, the renovations that took place at Jenkins Gym are incorporated in that total, the 81,9.95.
Um, other government services. Um, the reason it's at that high percentage 4250 is because we're paying we're making quarterly um payments for liability insurance, which is normal. Um, so right
now we we paid for the first quarter and the second quarter and then just slightly above the 33% marker. And for city clerk, they have some software that recently was purchased
that kind of took them slightly over the 33%. Any questions regarding the dashboard? Commissioner Jones, do you have a question? >> No, the dashboard is is great. I like the concept. What I would like to see
unless it's broken out um like year to date as well. Can we get more information like what are some of the the big ticket items that are spent um for I don't want to give an example but
uh I look at some departments and I see they have some healthy budgets. I would like to know kind of like what they're spending the funds on. And I know we have line items, jail items where things are spelled out,
>> but even up to date, what what expenditures that they have. Is that asking too much? >> You can ask however you like. You're the commissioner, so if you would like something like that, then we can certainly do our best to accommodate your request.
>> Is that asking too much, Commissioner Davis? >> I'm just mean on big ticket items. So, for an example, I don't want to give an example. uh like uh information technology. I'm just so the budget is $400,000.
Um and I know it's broken out when they when we we look at it as salaries and things of that nature, but so if we are buying a amplifier that we need and if it was a big ticket item, I would like to see that expenditure and when we we purchase
those things. Um because we actually for example the the stuff that we utilized in here with the sound system and we don't really know what we put into it. I think we talked about in our last meeting what components we had already purchased to improve our sound system
and then we didn't want to duplicate it. So that we didn't want to come go back and scrap the stuff that we purchased and then go back and buy uh either replicate it or duplicate another purchase. we would be able to see what we have purchased in the past to improve
our system. That's just that's just was a random just pick uh information technology. I want to see it for every department as expenditures. Do we have that? Is there something I'm missing? I
don't see our expenditure. We >> I just ask >> I I mean I just would like to we have we have the detailed line by line GL but I will say that >> it's an amount but it's not >> but I want to say this just for just to
explain. So we have a procurement policy that states that anything above 25,000 has to be presented to you whether it's that that's through the budget or you'll get emergency which I'm sure that some of those items have been
brought forward to you where represented to all commissioners for emergency purchases that exceed 25,000 >> along with during the budget process where each department makes a presentation presents to the commission these are our
big ticketed items these are our projects for the upcoming fiscal year at which point you would have the input and say well that is unacceptable or not or make suggestions as needed I certainly
don't want to duplicate anything um as it as it comes to the budget process and what you're requesting because I feel like that's covered in the procurement policy along with the the anything above 25,000 is being presented to the
commission whether through the budget or individually on the on the um agenda at each commission meeting >> for the sake of of saving time. This is it's specific what I want to ask for and I would I won't do it in this form. I will do it directly to the city manager.
>> Okay. Thank you. And I'll make sure that we respond commission. >> Yeah. But I I really wanted the entire uh commission to know what I'm talking about, but >> I would yield at this time and maybe bring it back again. >> Yes. Okay. Commissioner, I >> I think I know what Commissioner Jones
is talking about. U it's I know I had asked for a report like that before prior to um from u Mr. the bail when he was here and he provided a report as it related to all of the month monthly expenditures by department and I think I
don't I think you were in the finance uh you was the finance director at the time so I think that's what we're talking about from expenditure and every and then then the receipts and everything as well as you receive um the funds as well
as what you expend on a monthly basis and at least you can see what's happening in those if this set to 25,000. That's just a trip I mean a trigger point to where you don't see everything below that unless you specifically start
asking. I think it's a it would be a good policy because that's I think what Muscogi used that particular report where the city manager provides all of the expenditures for each month >> and all of the receipts so that we can
also see everything that's coming in there. And then those those reports are are kind of regular across the state and and nationwide. So that's just my my my my two cents. >> Commissioner, may I ask a question please? You can.
>> Um in the packet, the agenda packet, the detailed information, uh for instance, with your machine, can you move like to page um 227, Miss Karen? any of those pages so we can look at just want to be
sure that we understand what you're requesting. Go. Yes, please go. More more more for keep going up up. We're trying to get to the Yeah, you can stop right there. So, is this sufficient for what you're asking? Cuz this is what
we normally make sure you have every month. All the detail. um that that carries some but that's we can get talk offline okay what what I'm specifically talking about >> thank you we'll we'll make sure the
finance director meet with you all >> so let's go back to the dashboard now I want to ask a question >> we had a million dollars in the budget for uh uh
I see better without the glass I don't Uh what's right there? Other governmental services. So other governmental services. That's a big umbrella. What what does cover >> insurance if we go to the I don't have that. Could you go to insurance?
>> That don't make sense. You know what I'm saying? >> I don't know the codes. >> Let's put money in. >> Okay. 04. >> 0104. It is. And I'll um refer you to the page number so we can we can take a look at it. It's on page
>> and 50% of that has already been spent. >> That's where I'm at. I I mean that's a big >> and that's coming from the liability insurance which I mentioned earlier. But we can go to page 238. >> And what page is it on the jail report of 59?
238 >> 602 or 603 >> 237 237 at the top um online we can go to line 56 67 on page 237 there you have the liability insurance that I mentioned ear excuse me
earlier where we were paying that quarterly we paid for the first quarter and the second quarter and that's what's bringing this um area slightly over >> and you can see that on line 567 um the liability insurance
>> the numbers don't match >> it says >> if you look at okay so what if we're looking at column E, that's the budget, the budget year right now that we're living in. >> Um, column F is for the current month. Column G is our year to date. That's the
number I'm referring to. That that's a cumulative number starting from October 1, 2024 to January 31st, 2026. And that shows that we've spent $278,936.18. >> Right. But what he's trying to get to is that million dollar amount.
>> Isn't that a an adding up of >> right? >> Okay. >> Um you know >> you have budgeted >> down >> the budgeted amount >> 65,000. >> Okay. The bulk of it is the liability. Keep going.
>> Okay. The bulk of the million dollars is the liability insurance. >> I see the bulk. >> Okay. And so >> if we want to get specific, what else is under that? Okay, we can go we can go line by line. We have the professional services um
which we see the 30,000 that's there. We have that 75,000 that's for special events um festivals. >> I don't know if Mr. Cutright is here but he can give the breakdown of the >> No, no. Why don't we do it offline so be
more thorough in responding >> because that's a combination from my memory. So I think >> you have two special events as well on that line. But >> I think that both um Mr. uh Commissioner Jones and Commissioner Borum has stated that they will get
>> get together with you outside of the meet with the >> and I think it'll be an opportunity for them to respectively collect you know individually give their feedback so that they can bring back something to the collective. >> Exactly. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions of Miss
Pia? Thank you. >> Oh, there there is another page unless >> Okay, go ahead. Go ahead. >> Go ahead. Okay. So, we're going to look at reserves. The reserves for the general fund is in
in good good shape. Um, we have the airport fund which we haven't focused on, but that's an area that we're we need to address and I'll have to get with the city manager and the airport
manager um to collaborate and discuss a plan to bring that reserves um up. the utilities is great and for sanitation it could use some work and and some improvement and we'll um make
suggestions on that. Any questions regarding Okay. >> Right. Well, I just make got a comment more of a comment and and to speak to that point again um we got our like our utility funds. Um, we want to make sure that each one of those funds have a
special account that they goes they go to as opposed to any of those particularly maybe hitting in the general fund or what have you. But um I have something already drafted that I was going to be submitting out to making
that request because again from a um compliance standpoint, we would uh be in trouble if any of those funds, we know that the Palaca Gas Authority has its own account. Everything, all the
receivables and expenses goes in there. um the uh airport fund. I'm not sure if that is cor like that at this particular time. >> Okay. >> And we know maybe the utilities and the sanitation. I think those are proper. So
from a compliance standpoint, we could particularly partic particularly have um some issues around those type things. But I'll be submitting my request to um help address those things, especially if it doesn't have its own account.
that receive and uh receipts and expenses. >> Commissioner Jones. >> Yeah, I don't have anything. >> Okay. >> Well, now I do have a question because Commissioner Bora made a statement if
and so I'm going to ask the question directly. >> Does the airport fund have its own account? Is it how is that managed? >> So, okay. City manager looked like she wanted to respond. But you're the finance finance. >> It doesn't matter. I don't >> I'll say okay as the
>> but I prefer as finance. >> Okay. So the airport as you know has its own fund. The funds are the um receing for airport goes into the airport fund. It is recorded in the airport fund. There there's no co-mingling of funds
whatsoever when it comes to the airport. The airport has its own general ledger account funds which we are presented to you all every month. There are other reports that bring out more details explaining and showing how much revenue the airport is collecting and how much
um expenses the airport is collecting. >> Right. But does it have have its own account? >> Account where the monies it doesn't touch any other it has its own account >> its own individual account separate from general fun. That's what you're asking.
>> And where and where the funds where where what where does the where's the money land at? Where is the money land in that? It doesn't have its own bank account. >> That's what I'm talking about. >> Okay. So from a so I would relish the opportunity, >> right? And that's why I'm we going to talk offline for this.
>> Yeah. I feel like we've got to go through some financial things that so everyone can be informed properly informed on um what you're talking about and what we actually do is what we call pulled fund which is a best practice in
in in in governmental accounting which I can go more in detail if allotted more time. Um, and I think it would be uh proper and probably beneficial for all parties involved that we explain pulled cash and how all that is handled. Um,
and that's a that's a best practice standard practice among >> all governments. Um it because when it comes to efficiency, we're using that poolled cash concept to save time and money and and also properly appropriate
staff's time. So if we had a bank account for every single fund, that would require more work load on the staff. But I can go more in detail on that if given a loted time to explain and go through that whole process. We
only have four special funds but that I know of. So, but that's we can talk offline about that. >> So, thank you. >> Mayor, >> go ahead. Commissioner, >> if I may, um I feel that what Miss Pierre just stated if she feels that
it'll be beneficial for the commission to have that discussion. I personally would make the recommendation that it be placed on the agenda and allow her the aotted time um to present that kind of information because if it'll make us get a better
understanding of what it is that she does in aside of what Commissioner Borne is requesting of her, I think it's an educational opportunity and who are we not to be educated when we can be >> as well as the community which is equally important. Commissioner Davis.
>> And I want to um point of clarification. Um, I did make a recommendation that we in commission meetings get these dashboard reports, summary reports, because I'm of the opinion that as a
commission we're looking for outliers, preferably when they are yellow, not when they're red, but we need to be made aware of those in general. Now the reason is because typically with executive level reporting or the
reporting we do in commission meetings, we need to look for trends and overall um overall trends trusting that our finance director is as in doing her job is managing the details behind it which we also have detailed
information as well in the reports. And so that was the um recommendation that I made to our city manager and um she did just allow me to give some examples. One of the reasons I did that is because in our audience when we're looking at
numbers in spreadsheets that are 25 pages long, it's really not painting a picture of where we are. >> So I did want to bring that clarification. Um, and if something else is needed other than um, then I think we
can just speak to our city manager. But for me personally, I don't want details. I look at it before the meeting. And if I have questions, I typically during my one-on-one meeting with the city manager ask for that clarification. And if it's something out of the
ordinary, I will also ask that question in a public forum so we can all be informed. So far from my review, I have not had that indication, which is why I haven't had to ask any specific questions. Not discounting everyone. I want you to understand the
recommendation for the um dashboards for clarity at this level meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Any further information or questions? That's it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> City manager report. >> Uh yes. Uh, Miss Karen, can I >> uh I just basically would like to give a legislative update. I want to uh reflect that the Putinham >> legislative. >> Did we just have to
>> I'm sorry. >> Our leg uh lobbyist just presented. Right. >> Right. I'm going to go through my city manager report if it's okay. >> Could you please uh Karen? >> What's up? move to the next page right quick.
>> Okay, it's just two items. Uh go to the next page and that was just showing that it was very successful that uh Putinham County Day major achievement gave us an opportunity to interact with business
owners and uh other and the different municipal government to staff. Next page. Um just showing that we met with our various um legislators. Next page. And then just letting um our
city the commissioners having an understanding that currently uh we're managing about 56 million and uh grant projects and city match of that 56 million is 3.9 million. And that is it
for my report. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions of Miss K? >> No, but I would like to make a comment regarding Putnham Days. Um, I want to give um kudos to our city team for representing our city very well um at
Putnham County Days. I thought it was very effective. I thought the entire event was very effective and Palaca and Putnham County um showed up really well in Tallahassee. So, we are on their radar and I think you're going to see
more positive outcomes because of those ongoing relationships. And I do want to give a special thanks to our city manager who is um definitely making progress in uh working with our legislators as well as our fellow
commissioners. So, um kudos to our city. >> And I meant to say thank you. I wanted to really uh give thanks to Greta Hall and um Simone and uh Lenor and Chief Taylor and Eli because they really went
we only had one day to prepare for what you saw the output you saw. It took us like one full day maybe two days to do the preparation. So thank you guys very very much. Thank you. >> Thank you.
on to discussion direction grievance policy. M Jones, Madame Mayor, commissioners, the policy um that's before you um was adopted on April 24th of 2025 and included a
provision regarding the city manager grievous reporting and in investigatory procedure. During a subsequent commission meeting, the city attorney identified a correction that was necessary due to a conflict between the policy language and the city charter. The noted corrections have since been
made and the policy has been updated accordingly on page four and five, items six, items six and seven. It was one word um stating supermajority versus majority and that has been changed in the policy. So, what's before you now is
to just have with those changes made um for the commission to readopt that policy. >> Any questions, Miss Jones? Do we have a motion? >> So, move. >> Second. >> Second.
>> We have a motion in a second. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. workshop meetings March 11th 5: Develop policy regarding staff and elected officials relations. Is there any more to Miss Cotti? Do you
want to say more about that or anybody else? >> Um I think this was because of the uh meeting the last commission meeting where uh staff presented policy. We did change our process of making sure that it come to you all first and before we
presented on the agenda, but at that meeting uh we our understanding was that you all wanted the commissioners wanted to have a meeting workshop meeting simply addressing that policy and uh so we are asking for potential
dates. Also, uh we thought that we understood that there was should be a workshop on board governance and so uh the clerk is asking if that's the date March 18th. So, we're just asking for
dates for a workshop really. That's it. Is March 11th or the 18th a good date or >> Well, I I'll speak. Um March 11th works for Is are you asking for both days or
one or the other? >> I I really do. We have to have both. Can we put two items on one? >> Seems like that's for a single. It was asked that each one of these two items personally were by themselves because it
might contain lengthy length of conversation. So the other ones there's like four or five more other ones that we can double up on. But these two are the major ones that you wanted to take care of. >> Let me bring clarity because I was the one who made the statement. Um
>> I stated that if we have these meetings sometimes the conversation can be lengthy and we tend to >> shut down at a certain time >> if this is something feasible that we think that we would be able to have the
discussion um of both because I mean me relatively speaking an hour and 30 minutes two hours max would be able to cover both of those. I would make that we move forward with securing one. Um,
but that's just me. But I did want to bring clarity to my statement because I was the one that made it. >> Thank you. >> And if I could suggest the date for the preference, I would prefer the 18th. I have I would have I have a prior arrangement on the um 11th
>> and I would rep I would say the 18th as well because we have a commission meeting that following night. um if we do the 11th. So that'll be two meetings back to back. >> I'll be flexible. I mean, whatever.
>> The 18th is fine for me as well. So I I guess in summary, we're saying the 18th. >> Thank you. you >> and and just for clarification, we'll have both items on the agenda. >> I would suggest that. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes,
>> we will. The next item, >> next item, team leadership leadership venue date. >> M. U madame mayor commissioners um I it was at your request that we create a team leadership between the department heads
as well as that I did provide the 2024 um team building um in the packet from 2024 that we had um we need to I did provide to the city manager a scope that I created of work um for this um team
building session but it's up to the venue um the commission um needs to decide where at and then we can find the facilitators for this event for and so the date and the venue of where it's going to take place. Um they will need
to know as well as and I'm not sure whether the city manager gave you the scope because you all may have a different um idea about what scope but if you look at what's contained in the previous the scope is kind of sim kind of similar to that. Um, so that was a
report from Witson and Witson, I think their names was in 2024 that we did at Topgolf in um, Jacksonville. >> Okay, Commissioner Davis, I >> I'm going to say that I would be looking for recommendations for location,
time frames. I I don't know how we can give that or is that typically how it has this process has worked this would be >> for me I would be looking for recommendations of where we can go >> and
>> dates times >> yeah dates and times okay >> go ahead commissioner camp >> this would be the second time to answer your question that we've done something like this um and I'm of your uh thought process of coming up with some suggested
venues because our time frame may not be the venue's time frame and we are approaching a season where um a lot of venues may be being booked for a lot of different things, weddings and all of that depending on what type of venue
we're looking at having. Um, so I would make that recommendation to look at to two or three options. Um, so that you won't just be on the phone calling everyone in the blue book, but um, take a look and give us three options with projected or um,
>> potential dates, >> potential dates that we would be able to get it done. So that way we would be able to move a little bit, >> right? >> And we'll also I'm sorry. May go please. And um I think a question to the
commissioner when I looked at the what happened in the last event it looked effective to me. I mean I don't I think the scope is some team >> team building scope. >> I think it was I think what was presented was beneficial. Um
implementation probably could look a little bit different this time around but we'll talk about that. >> Facilitate the right facilitator but we don't facilitate our own. >> Right. Exactly. >> I will make certain that uh the
suggested scope from our HR manager is sent to you. It included governance versus management uh communication, strategic alignment, conflict resolution and consensus building. Uh that that was the core of
the scope. >> Did you have something to say, Commissioner Joseph? >> Yes. I recommend that we do not do not have the same vendor. >> We knew that. Yes, sir. >> And I would also like to make sure that this is something that comes back before
the commissioner within the next two weeks. >> Oh, it will come back next time. >> And that's and if you don't have anything by then, let us know. >> So, just give us an update. Okay. >> And then if we need to extend. >> Got it. Thank you.
>> Anything else? Okay. Um, assistant city manager. >> Okay. Um, what about the staff report? You can't get that up there. Okay. So, um during our meeting, um our last
commission meeting, um what I was looking at was whether or not, uh we were making the correct decision moving on with the assistant city manager. Um, I looked at the fact that, uh, Doge is, uh, being implemented
throughout the state of Florida and, uh, so I decided to, um, go back and look at the cost per our, um, salary scale that the city of, uh, Palak is under right now currently.
And the conclusion is that um the general service director uh and the assistant city manager, their uh duties are very very similar. Uh however, being honest, the assistant city manager does
allow for a uh secession plan. Um but the cost is 22 to 26 more than the general service director. So my recommendation was that uh since I had gotten um even
though from that I did get the direction to uh pursue hiring an assistant city manager and we did move forward. We did place the ad out there and we received about 24 applications.
But I just paused for a moment to do a uh financial assessment to just determine if we were headed the right track on the right path. Uh we to that point the operational audit will be
starting in maybe two to three weeks and uh by May 31 we will have a completed the plan is to have a completed report from the operational auditors and one of the areas that they will look at is
staffing uh for outside government population and so forth. So um that is the analysis that I completed. >> Go ahead. Commissioner, >> could you repeat the date for the
operational audit target date? >> Okay. Tent to please. >> Yeah. Just >> Yeah. Come on, please. Thank you. >> We're in discussions with the um company aid Bailey on the contract. We're at the point where we have a contract drawn up. We've discussed the contract. We've
discussed the terms of the contract. We want to ensure that the product that they provide is sufficient um to the commission and exactly what is needed. Um our their goal was to give us a response by the end of this week >> and by that time we'll have um definite
dates, but the goal was to start um the third week, the second week of of March, >> right? um which would be I believe the the 9th or the 17th of March is where they would want to start. But that's all depending on the the contract. It hasn't
been signed yet. >> Okay. So we're we're very close to finalization. >> So the plan also is to have the completed report by May 31. So I think um in essence what I'm
recommending is um I I just want to do in a way what is best for the city at this point. So, if we move forward with the assistant city manager position, just um wanted you all to understand
that the cost will be about 22 to 26% more than if we did fill the general service director position, but there is a consideration with the assistant city manager in that it does allow us to develop a plan for
secession. And that is ahead, >> Commissioner David. Okay, I'm going to make some statements and some of them are what I believe and some I'm looking to get clarification and feedback from my fellow commissioners.
>> So, as the city manager, you have authority to hire staff. >> Yes, >> that is your role and responsibility. um and with information to the commission or updates as you're giving. One of the things I want to um say is it
looks like you've started doing some um evaluations as to what direction you may want to move and what's best for the city. So I will say that we are definitely depending on you to make that
decision and come up with that information. Um, I've thought about because I know we gave direction before about moving forward hiring an assistant city manager and I want to speak for myself in that especially after going to Tallahassee,
you know, we talked to other cities, get other information considering that potentially we may not get um um tax funds um in the future.
that we need to look at efficiencies. And what I want to recommend is we're looking at getting this operational audit instead of just adding staff, adding staff, adding staff where we think we need it or based on decisions
that were previously made um and potentially duplicating efforts. I am I would like for us to get feedback to understand what we need from a true
operational audit so that we are efficient and effective because what I'm not sure of is how do we know that we have positions that could be better suited um you know in collaboration with what
you're thinking. I mean, I just don't want to keep hiring, hiring, hiring without a full review of where we are as a city, where we're going, understanding that resources could potentially be even more
constrained than they are now, and making sure we're putting the money where we need it at the right time. So, I do want to say that. Um, so cuz in case it comes across as a difference from what I said before about secession, the other thing I did do a little bit
more investigation and having an assistant city manager potentially is a secession plan. May or may not be depending on who's in the position and what they do. Um, we would think it would be, but I don't want to make an absolute of that. So that is the other
thing I want to change my mind about. And in talking to other cities, even larger than we are, many of them do not even have an assistant city manager. So, I do want to just make sure we're looking at that and making decisions. And the decision may be that we need to
hold off on either one of the positions. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else have any feedback? >> I just I just concur with Commissioner Davis as it relates to that. I um support that wholeheartly. Um, again, like we say, we got a number of
different things that's going to potentially be impacting our our revenue streams, uh, as it relates from local business tax receipts. Um, we got, um, also they're going to be probably pushing us down to the, um, roll back
rate or, what have you, if you, if you try to raise your tax by one penny, you got to really explain. and that's Doge coming in doing all those things in addition to the property tax and then the additional exemptions that we are
facing. So, we got a number of different things that we need to be looking at in addition to what we've gotten tonight with the um the golf course, looking at the the loss on the golf course, looking at what was presented by the airport, which I'm not sure if that's that number
um I I need to dig into that one a little bit more. But those are the things that we really truly need to consider as it relates to that and not just filling positions. And I thank you, Commissioner Davis, for that analysis. Anybody else?
>> It appears. >> Go ahead. >> Oh, did you >> I was gonna go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Um, it appears based on the conversation and I won't rehash what has already been stated, but I definitely agree. Um, and I see Commissioner uh Jones, his head is
shaking. So at this moment, if they're are looking for official action, I would make the recommendation that we at least wait or table this discussion until after we have had the audit um which would be around the May time um to bring
that back to the commission um for consideration and that would be my motion. >> I second. >> Any further comments? Motion is second. All in favor? Go ahead. >> Go ahead. and it is related to the motion and I do want to assure our
citizens that there is a plan if we did not have a city manager we are members of the Florida League of Cities and they do have interim city managers so I you know I know with our history I want to make sure we have there's always a
contingency plan >> whether we have implemented them or not but there is a plan so I do want to say that that we're not looking at this just haphazardly Thanks. >> Thank you. So, motion a second. All in favor?
>> I. Any opposition? Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to open the floor to public comments. This is for items um not specifically listed on the agenda. General items of concern or interest. That's three minutes, please. And give your name and town or city of residence.
I do have some yellow cards already submitted. Miss Kitchens. Allegri Kitchens for lack of Florida and I don't need you all to discuss this tonight but I just want you to think about in the future the when somebody presents to you they're on the agenda and they make a presentation they have roughly five minutes when we the public
get up and we have to put our information in to what they said we've got three minutes I think it would be only fair if you would allow the citizens at least five minutes to respond to the presenters and to you all three minutes is very hard to get what you need to say into three minutes and I know that you don't want to hear people repeat stuff. When I was on the
commission, we had basically unlimited comment, which should be under the Constitution of the United States, but yes, it got tiring. However, I would request that you think about in the future making make it an agenda discussion item uh allowing the public to speak for five minutes instead of three. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Garris. Good evening. Um, I'm glad that the city has formed a Pam Garris. Let me make sure everybody remembers that. I am glad that the city has formed a committee to oversee the installation
of art projects in the city. The guiding principles of such installations should be determined by an overall theme for the aesthetic of our historic river city which should be established before any art is commissioned. The art should be of enduring nature not trendy or garish.
Just as there should be an art committee, there should also be a committee to oversee the installation of landscaping, maintenance of it, and maintenance of trees in the city. There should be a line item in the budget to fund the recommendations of the landscape maintenance committee and
the landscape tree maintenance professionals hired to advise them. The work of these two committees would work hand in hand to improve and perfect the overall aesthetic of the city. These are the details which will make our city shine. Thank you for your time and all
that you do to make a positive lasting impact on our beloved city of Palka. >> Excuse me, Mr. Klanch. Good evening, Madame Mayor um commission. Um, I'm standing before you tonight in regards to a public records
request um that I originally submitted on December 29th, 2025. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Robbie. Um, Palaka, Florida. Um, Robbie Clunch. Um, after receiving
not receiving the the public records request, on the 22nd, I attended the meeting. I handed everybody a copy of the public records request. Um, on the 30th of January, I received my public records requests or
at least received a email stating that they were fulfilled. After reviewing those, I um came to the conclusion that there were several items missing from the public records. I um notified the city manager. I notified
the city clerk that I felt that there was items missing. Um, on February the 4th, the city clerk emailed me asking me to um clarify what um items were missing. I stated that
number two on that list, number four and number seven were completely missing and that there was also emails missing um email communication or text messages or so forth, however the communication was done.
Um, in reviewing these documents, I found multiple emails that have either the original email with no response or a response with no email. Um, I have two examples here. Um, I want to clarify on
December 11th, it was stated that there was no water in the cemetery. Um, after that, I notified the city manager and I notified the mayor that there absolutely was water in the cemetery. Um, on
December 26th, Joe sent an email to the city manager stating, "Please allow me to clarify, um, Oakill has fresh water running to the building on site for bathrooms and the water spet. This is a small line. He cannot handle an
irrigation system. That was sent on the 26th. Who sent it to him? Because there's absolutely nothing in my original documents that would have made him want to clarify that. So, somebody contacted him that I contacted them about the water
situation. So, he was clarifying. That's what I believe, but there's no original email to that. Um, number four is complaints on the cemetery. Um, just a couple years ago there was some ladies that were complaining about
vandalism. Um, they had put some cameras out there, so on and so forth. Sure, y'all remember that. Um, I was told that there was no complaints. Um, didn't know how it was handled previously, but as far as they knew, there was no complaints. Um, I personally filed
multiple complaints. Um, the other email is an email requesting for additional services from those complaints. Um, it asks for a quote >> and finish up, please. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. Um, it asked for a quote and
um, additional services to be done. There's no response to that email. Um, I do appreciate y'all's time. I understand my time's up. I have more to say, but that's fine. >> Thank you. >> Have a wonderful evening. >> Is there anybody else here for public comment? Oh, I have Mr. Sheffield. So,
sorry. Come on up, Mr. >> Good evening, commissioners, city manager, everyone. Very quickly, I'm very very encouraged and excited by the >> Give your name, please. >> Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. >> Alan Sheffield Paka. um
excited about the energy uh that I see um uh up there because uh with what you've gone through and done and how you're looking forward. Uh, I just wanted to come up because I still want to remind you we're a third of the year
into the year now and what I reminded you about was at the time we were looking at tax rates and all of that stuff said it is not the time at that time where you're trying to make a decision where you have to hold or or raise. This is the time during the year
to figure out how we get to a goal of having our our property taxes not go up um or even uh decrease. And I know I'm hearing about what may be shrinking in terms of resources. So with that, I
actually wanted to get up now instead of later um and see if you have put something on the uh uh the docket of the city manager or finance um as a project to really go through and look through uh
and see how we can make sure we're doing what we need to do. I'm excited about the operational audit that should glean a lot of things. We don't have to do things the same way. Uh there are very creative ways to manage as all of you as all of you know. So excited. Commend
you. Don't forget about getting something in action to see how we can get to the uh where we want to be at the end of this budget year. >> Thank you. Is there anybody else here for public comment at this time? Seeing no, we'll close public comment. Do we want to respond to any of the >> Yes, I would. Concerns. Um
>> I would like to respond quickly to Mr. Sheffield that yes we have already started preparing analysis uh even in prior uh commission meeting we did give some information on Abalorum and the impact if we lost it how it represents
uh 25% of general fund and 10% of our operating budget. Um, so we have begun, just for the record, we have begun looking at strategies and and so forth and we will invest a whole lot more time in that effort. Uh, as it relates to I
wanted public works utilities to come up uh related to um the your to your uh question please. Um, can you come up and just say anything related to the warden in the cemetery?
And I know that you all have talked about trying to assist and so forth. >> Uh, yeah, the statement that was made about no water there. I mean, there was obviously water. All it's for is for the bathrooms. It's a small line where it wouldn't sustain any kind of irrigation
system. And the complaint as far as the camera goes, I believe that was just a verbal complaint that was made at a commission meeting. There was never any transaction. That's really all I got. >> Right. And
>> they provided everything that we have >> as far as we know. >> And as it relates to Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner. Go ahead. I am I'm more concerned
with trying to get to the bottom of what is try what is he trying to accomplish? um because this has been something that has been or has come before the commission for quite some
time and it appears that we are or have from what I'm hearing um have exhausted everything and so I'm ultimately just and I know that he met with uh city
manager um at some point and in those conversations what was the ultimate goal or what was the bottom line of something that was trying to be achieved. >> So, one of the concerns that I clearly understood was that he wanted to have
water to be, you know, uh, transferred to where his loved one is. So, that that part and I remember we were supposed to work with him with that, >> which we did. We put a spot out by section of the cemetery to help
accommodate his situation. So that is first I understand has been resolved. The other item was the um public records request. I did have Miss uh Karen to go back through everything to possib to
find everything that we have that we can find that and Miss uh city clerk what's what was the status of that? >> I gave him everything we have. The last email that I sent him um the last email I sent him was Monday.
This previous Monday, the email before that was in February of 16 with the answers. Um that he asked for 2, four, and seven and seven. It specifically says I do not have records for this. And number two,
and number four, these all these all came from public works department. So he specifically asked for complaints. She didn't have any complaints because it was before her time >> and she doesn't know how they did their
complaint department at that particular time. >> So I forward her answers to him >> and that was 2.7. So uh so commissioner to to your question at our level we feel we've done
everything that we can understand to do but I have no problem bringing Mr. Robin in and just trying once more to be certain. You know if there's anything that is outstanding but we've done all we understand >> and I will meet with him again. I have
no problem with that. >> Commissioner Borum has something. Sir. So, uh, thanks, Mayor. But, um, when we talk about the emails and I think I briefly spoke with, um, Robin and also spoke with, uh, the city
clerk, not specifically, we just happened to have a general conversation about it or whatever. But anyways, uh from from when you think about it and you talking about records, uh then the records retention
as if it was within the last two years, normal record retention goes general 5 to seven years. So, >> um, if it's in an email and you had people who were recipients, additional people who was in the two or CC,
um, you should be able to have your database or your your email administrator should be able to be able to glean those. Even if it was deleted, it should be able to be recovered. So I that's the issue he's having and that's
what I kind of understood and heard from our our city clerk as it relates to that and that's what he's talking about. There was some where it generated from who it came from. So you look at those dates, you have your email administrator to kind of look into that and see what
they come back with. >> We will follow up again, but I was certain we had done that. But I will follow up. If you if you've done it, then don't do it again. No, I'm going to confirm it again. Okay. >> Okay. Please. Thank you. No, we can't do that now. Sorry. Public comments closed. I'm so sorry.
>> Well, they both just >> No, please. Please, sir. >> I have the email right here on >> Okay. Please, sir. >> There was a record. >> Chief. >> Chief, please stop. I know it's a difficult issue for you. Please stop. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I mean, that's all I'm asking. >> Yes, sir. I I will follow up again
because he's showing. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anybody here for additional public comments? Seeing none, we'll close public comments and we'll move on. Consent agenda. We already close. Am I doing >> I got a item 8 B to be
>> pull 8B. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I'd like to pull G and K. Okay. >> She She said G. GK. >> GJK. >> GJK and B. >> Okay.
>> Anybody else? I can't believe that. >> Hey, I also have a question on a >> a Okay. >> A a JK. >> ABG. >> AB GK AB >> AB2 JK >> AB. >> Anything else? >> AB GK. >> With that, do we have a motion?
>> Move to approve the consent agenda with the exception of items AB GK. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Have a motion to second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any o any any opposition? Thank you. Um, a a resolution of the city of Palaca
granting approval to hire R&M's service solutions to replace a broken 24 in water valve on the main water line from the water plant for $182,255. Mr. Higenbuff. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I'm here to answer uh any questions you
have about that. >> $182,255. >> Yes, sir. >> 24 in valve. >> Yes, sir. I mean, they need a special crane or something to make that happen or the valve cost that much money. That's >> uh the valve is very expensive. I don't
have the um the breakdown in front of me, but I believe I added it to the resolution. Um it is the main trunk line coming out of the water plant going towards the uh water tower. Um and the valve is
broken partially closed. um which means that the water plant has to work harder to push the same amount of water and we need it closed so that the water plant can change out valves inside the water plant. 24 is our biggest main in the city and so the valve itself is very
expensive. The 24-in main is quite deep um which adds another layer of expense to it. Um, and because it's the main trunk line coming out of the water plant going to the water tower, they have to install two line stops, one on one side
of Moody and one next to the valve. That way, we can continue to serve water to the city without an interruption. Um, it will be a smaller line that's serving the city. So, it'll be an 8 in coming out and then feeding the entire city as opposed to the 24 going to the water
tower and then out. Uh so we may experience some you know some less pressure but it's a long process could be anywhere from like 12 to 48 hours depending on what they
run into down there. So it's a little more expensive than just replacing the valve itself. It adds a little bit to it in order to continue to serve water to the community. >> Any additional questions? I just I want
that explained because I was >> also we budget >> for it um >> not that it's budgeted but when I have those questions I like for explain that then I'm asked why did we spend that
much money on a vow it don't look I know it's important but it don't >> 24 >> I saw the breakdown >> okay >> I just wanted you to explain >> oh okay >> I wanted Joe to explain I think >> but I appreciate you. >> Eli did a fine job. Thank you.
>> Great. Eli, >> any other questions for Mr. Numbath? Do we have anybody here for public comment on this item? >> I got another question. >> Oh, we got another question. Okay. >> Um, it's not related to that, but we we purchased a uh a lift
that lift that 100 foot uh lift. Uh, is that one? Is that the right thing I'm saying? Lift. >> Talk about the one that got it can do different move. uh um articulating come up. Mr. President, >> where is that? What have we done with
that in the last year? >> But that's not on the agenda. >> I'll just ask a question. >> Uh we we we have used it quite a bit uh all throughout the city. We change several lights on going over the bridge, which required us to hit them from another lane. That was the original uh public works director's plan is
sometimes in order for us to change those lights that are 60 ft or 50 ft can't be changed from right under them. you have to move over. So it that is the main use for it for that height sir. U but we have utilized it for all kinds of things getting under trees and
>> thank you. >> Thank you. >> I already know somebody was going to say point. I was about to say that so please. >> Thank you. Thank you commission. >> Thank you. We have nobody here for public comment on this item. Do we have a motion? >> Move to accept consent. >> Second >> agenda item A. >> Second. >> We have a motion to second. All in
favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. B. Adopt resolution 2026R25 granting a special events permit to Lee all junior for the welcome home birthday bash which will be held on
425 2026 at Booka Park Pavilion. Who pulled that? Did you pull that? >> No, no. Um I was pulling the item for >> public. >> No, for Miss K. She asked me to pull >> public comment >> for public comment. pulling it for
public comment for Miss Kitchen. >> Is a Was that the right one I pulled for you, Miss Kitchen? >> No, sir. >> No, it was not. >> Okay. I'm sorry. So, that that that's my fault. Uh, so we don't do we don't need you for that. B, I thought it was. >> Is there anybody here for public comment
on this item? >> EDIC, right? 1900 Poland. >> Madame Mayor. >> Thank you. No public comment. Do we have a motion to approve? Motion >> approve. We have a second. >> A second.
>> All in favor? I. Any opposition? Thank you. >> Okay. >> On to G. Adopt resolution 2026 R31 establishing a public arts advisory committee and um that was a request from Miss Kitchens as well as Miss Duke.
>> Okay. >> So, if we can have some information on that please, Miss Miss. >> Sure. This was uh actually at the direction of the CRA board, a discussion that you had that um the CRA board or
the city commission shouldn't be unilaterally making decisions on public art projects now that you have transferred funds over for that specific need and instead that a committee should be established and so this basically
establishes that committee for your direction. >> Thank you. Duke any. So we have public comment on this. Miss Duke and then it'll be filed by Miss Kens Duke Paka Florida. I just wanted on this
particular issue that we have a workshop. We have three we have three very active art leagues or groups here in town. And I think it's a workshop for us to work together to come up with a plan and a goal
um for this kind of thing and you know and help help with setting up the committee itself. Thank you >> Miss Kitchens Kitchens Latin Florida. I'm asking I ask for this be pulled because you need to table. The ordinance uh up under item
nine um C I think it is is the mural ordinance. The mural ordinance says you may establish an arts committee. Once again the card is before the horse on the consent agenda. You have been asked to approve the arts
committee in probably 30 minutes to an hour. You'll be asked to approve the ordinance that actually set gives you the authority to set it up. My request is you table the request to do the committee the arts advisory committee until and I'll be talking on the actual
ordinance itself until you hold a public workshop on the ordinance itself with the general public all the art groups including the three major art groups that have been here for a total of 125 years working in the city of Palactum and overseeing everything that
you are now trying to oversee. But the main thing is don't vote on this right now. I don't see how you can when the ordinance that gives you the permission to set it up has not been passed yet and it's just first hearing tonight. Assuming you even pass it tonight, then it's got to go to secondary before it even passes. But yet, you've been asked
to approve the committee, the horse before the the cart before the horse. So, please table this until the issue of the ordinance has been settled and then come back with this. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else here for public comment on this item?
Seeing none, we'll close public comment. >> Yeah. Can just clarification. >> Absolutely. >> Because I think we are mixing. I want to make sure. >> Correct. Um these two are not mutually
dependent on one another. You can have a public arts committee without the passage of the ordinance. And by the same token, you can have the passage of a mural ordinance without reliance on the public arts committee. They they are not mutually dependent on one another.
>> But if it's the will of the commission to have a workshop, >> so I I'd like to give some personal experience context. In a previous city, I was a member of the public arts commission for our city
and we came together and we established the scope of how we would support the city based on the guidelines the general guidelines presented and what it ended up being is for public art to enhance
the city. So there was a specific scope of when new businesses came or new builders came that we would ask them to voluntarily include a piece of art in
their whatever they're establishing their um their office building or whatever just put a piece of public art. The com what the commission did is they provided a service if they agreed to um
provide a portion of their budget to do that. You know, their building budget or whatever they're doing to develop. And what the commission did is we that we work with them to ensure that the any guidelines or any um laws or
ordinances that they were in line with them. But creatively we were not telling them what they could and could not put. So it wasn't a uh that the other thing we did is we offered a first
consultation with a U professional because many times those companies did not have someone to assist them with that developing any kind of public art or looking at what that would look like. So, I just want to
offer context of how a committee could be used in that instance and that the goal is not to supersede our existing mural committee um or to
>> really control the artistic expression of any one or anything if that makes sense. It does. And so all those organizations will still be free to present and do what they do. >> This would just be an overall
>> effort to have more information to this group and everybody else. With that said, how do we want to move forward? >> I do want to ask another question. Go ahead. Could you um Miss West read I
believe we had a recommendation as to the makeup of this committee. Could you read that please? Says G. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. I had >> it's okay. It's it's in the resolution.
Um so the makeup of the committee shall be a seven member committee appointed by the city commission. Membership shall reflect a diversity of professional expertise, artistic background and community representation and shall include one professional visual artist,
muralist, sculptor or arts administrator. One individual with experience in historic preservation, local history of or cultural heritage. one representative of the business, tourism, or economic development community. One member representing
Palaca's African-American community with demonstrated involvement in cultural or civic initiatives. One faculty member or administrator from St. John's River State College, preferably from an art, humanities, history, or related discipline. And two art students
enrolled at the St. John's River State College, preferably with an interest in visual arts, design, public art, or art history. Um, there is a clause on residency. Membership is not limited to the
residents of the city of Pala. Appees may reside within or outside the city provided they demonstrate relevant ex expertise or a meaningful connection to the plaque community. Although the the provisions on membership with the St. John's River
State College do kind of limit that a little bit. >> So I will say that I am in favor of this resolution with the exception I believe it should only be one art student if an art student not two. Um I just
want to put that out for consideration before we move forward and um hear from my fellow commissioners. So you can make a motion with that change. >> I move that we >> just just a bit of advice. Um currently
it's seven members. Would you like to that other person >> a me? I was just thinking I was really just thinking a member of the committee who may be >> I'm sorry >> the community a community member >> general
>> a general member >> you want to make >> do you want to make a motion to that >> I move that we accept the resolution as presented with the exception of the committee makeup
to be as read but with one art student and one general community member. >> Second. >> Motion is second. All in favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. On to J.
Appoint Sarah Maxfield to the airport advisory board. Who pulled that? >> Oh, I I >> Okay. No, I was just asking. >> I apologize. I'm sorry. The reason I pull these two um applications because
we had such um a an exciting discussion in our last meeting about boards and board membership. One of the things I noticed is that when we get these application, we tip applications, we typically look at them
because they're voluntary board um positions and we haven't really had a way to vet those who are applying. Why do they want to be on the board? Do they understand the responsibility?
um because it came up that some boards were having difficulty acquiring quorums before meetings. So in the absence of a process other than the commission approving these applications,
I just wanted to get some feedback. Um are you familiar with the applicants, Mr. McNair? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So that's what I'm asking. >> Okay. If I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. Um so these two particular individuals uh are
individuals that I have dealt with as the airport operator. Um economic development with the chamber and the other individual is the executive for GP. So you know there that type of input
and feedback is what we're looking for. uh these are folks that are are you know committed to improving the community and you know so I was comfortable uh in receiving the application as well as you know dealing with them on
oneonone basis. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Yes sir. >> Um is there anybody here for public comment on this item? >> Seeing no one close com closed public comment. Do we have a motion? >> Um yes. May I combine accepting items J
and K? >> Yes. >> Second. >> Motion is second. All in favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. >> Do we want to take a do we want to break or keep going? Okay. City commission
city manager evaluation and conclusion. Miss Jones coming up. So I think this is probably um but what um mayor is doing is at the request of the commission sorry that's not on at the request of the commission
the two um reprimands that were going to be issued for to the city manager which um I have um also gave each of you have been presented with um copies of the diff two different styles um for you all to um for the mayor to
actually um permit present those or give I should say to the city manager tonight. >> Go ahead. >> Do you need to read something? >> I I can read. So again, as Miss Jones stated, there's two versions of each
letter, so to speak. Um go ahead. What you say? So, so I will go if you um madame mayor um number one, I would like to um I want to make this statement um and
it really goes back to what I alluded to when I was talking about the city manager's ability to hire for positions with information to the uh commission. So, while we did agree that a letter would go into the city manager's file
regarding two items that were not done timely, I'd really like to clarify that I'd see those as points of correction versus reprimands because they were both completed. They were not completed
timely. So, there was a cor I think it's a corrective action that needs to be noted and duly noted. um because we won voted to make that happen. But I want to make sure too that we um
definitely stay focused moving forward on items that do not seem to be um appropriate for her position, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. The two items I believe was one was not finishing a
class timely correctly that she was mandated to do and the second item was the ethics issue involving um >> yeah taking requesting an employee. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And so I'm going to recommend that we place two letters.
This I think I saw the second option for corrective a corrective note with the note that they had both been resolved. Anybody else have any important thoughts? That was
>> that was my recommendation. I mean, she has an opinion. Um, but there was discussion. There have been discussion and we did vote. I don't think the matter should should change based on being at the point of >> Are you talking to your mic?
>> I'm sorry. Of being where we are as of now. Um I mean you can't I mean yeah you corrected it but there was ample enough opportunity to when I had questioned that there was
not an answer that was straightforward versus had there been no it wasn't completed then of course but there just the truth was not there at that time hence the reason why I made that recommendation >> and and mayor >> and I want to make sure I clarify. I'm
not saying to not do it. I'm agreeing because we agreed that we should. I was just really trying to speak to which version of the letter that needed to go into file. That was all. >> Yeah. I just got a comment on that particular thing. And then and it's
basically on both. Um and I think they said there was the recommendation as opposed to you're going to be mandated to complete these trainings. uh you know and so if if if it's in that
regard and it was not super clear to her and that's my only pause as it relates to that. This is a serious thing as it relates to just something that is I don't think is serious enough to be able to put that in her file just because she
missed a training or what have you because it was recommended. That's just my position on that. And the same thing with the ethics thing as it relates to um because she did rebut the uh statements as it related to what was
requested um what she what what was alleged that was u requested to have some work done at her house. So those things were rebutted. So, I took those things in consideration and that's my pause for not willing to move to put
that in in in her file. Right. Based on that, >> Commissioner Campbell, >> I don't want to keep hashing the point, but the recommend it was not a recommendation. It was a requirement in order to close out a previous grievance
that had came before the commission. So, it wasn't a recommendation. and it was a requirement that had not been met. >> Okay. And with that said, it sound Go ahead. >> Do you have anything, Commissioner Jones, that you want to add to this? Okay. Um, I'm getting that the consensus
is that it not be a letter reprimand, but that do go it does go into her personal file as a memorandum. >> I do have something. >> Go ahead. We already voted on it and and it's supposed to be in there. So I don't understand going backwards at this point. >> I don't >> we voted on it and only thing you got
right now is >> the actual letter. >> So there's no going back from that. >> Right. Correct. That's what I'm saying. So which version is the question. >> Yeah. That's that's for us. >> Right. So what I heard from Commissioner Davis was different than a letter of recommend recommend. That's what I
understood. >> That's what I'm asking. Which so we're going to go in the direction of Yes. >> the memorandum for personnel file versus a letter of recommend. >> Um Madame Mayor, >> go ahead.
>> This I mean just because we had passed this already. We voted on it. Commissioner Campbell bought it up. We all voted in favor of putting that reprimand in the file. So I'm really
whether you call it a letter or recommend which if you go back I think that's what it was what it said. You just got two different versions of how you want to put it. Why that I don't know. I've read it as a correction. It said a correction
if I'm not mistaken. That's what was going to be done tonight. A corrected version. And so when I looked at it in the packet earlier I thought they was just making a correction. So, it's a correction saying reprimand versus uh let me see you have it right here.
>> So, that's >> both letters were sent to us though, >> right? So, I thought there were and they are two reprimands and commission straight. >> I I guess here's the question and and I'm going to go back to something I've
said before. when we ask for something, we need the experts to give us what need what we're asking for, I think, is what what I what I hear us saying. Um, we did receive two
versions, two letters. The first letter, I will tell you when I received it, I believe it asked for feedback. >> Absolutely. >> I gave feedback. I don't know if anybody else did. I gave feedback. The reason
for my feedback simply was based on the fact that when I look at what we're trying to do is I'm looking at paperwork in a file versus a long-term relationship with the commission, the city manager. Now, I'm not excusing what
did or did not happen. What I'm saying is that we need to look at what culture we're attempting to set. As the commission, we are the city manager's supervisor.
So, we have a responsibility to supervise and support. Yes, we voted to have document a document put in her file. I'm not negating that because it passed. Whether we do it or not is not what we're here
to talk about. I was just simply asking what direction do we need to take so that the letter can go in her file. I don't So the first letter I thought was not
complete and painted the proper documentation of what occurred. So I offered just additional information. It's really the same letter but with additional information with an update that while the class was not
documentation to show that the class was um completed timely was not given to us at this point since the letter is late that the class has been completed. So, I just put an update on there or requested
that an update be put on the letter to show that corrective action was taken and that it was completed, but the letters um are virtually the same with proper language. >> And so, what is the pleasure of this
commission? >> I move that we accept the updated letter, the second letter received to place in the city manager's file. We have a motion.
>> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. But the reason I'm second it is because the heading of the letter, whether it's the second or the first, still states letter of reprimand. >> It does.
>> Yes, it does. >> Discussion. So I'm just saying I I'm just my motion was that we accept the second letter >> which is not title letter recommend. >> Sure is. >> Okay. So that means the letter that is a part of the package.
>> Oh >> is not >> you want to look at them? >> Yes >> that's what I'm think that's what I'm saying but reference. Are these different from what we received? >> What I'm looking at in the packet versus
>> and madam clif adise me if I'm wrong. I mean the there are two letters that's placed in the packet. Oh, she plays the same. >> Someone is not labeled letter of reprimand. >> Well,
>> oh, to one version, I should say. >> That's the first letter, >> right? That's the first version. And then the next version Go to the >> This is the first one. >> Those two are the first version. Yes.
>> So that means that it's not in the agenda. >> It's not in the package. >> Well, that's why that's what the confusion. >> Got it. >> Cuz I'm that's why I was confused what you were saying. >> So listen, let's for sake of because again that's not a part of the agenda
and that's I was going by what >> I see. So, I would make a motion that we table this finally um and make a time certain because I'm not familiar with and I'm not going to make a decision based on >> what's not presented in the agenda.
>> Huh? >> So, we already have a motion. >> Well, there was already a motion on the table. >> There's already a motion to second on the table. I need to >> Well, the motion's not relevant be because >> call the vote and then we'll move on to the next thing. Um
>> I I can withdraw my motion. >> I'm following the advice of the attorney. >> Do you want to amend it? Do you want to >> I'm sorry. Are you saying I cannot withdraw my motion? >> No, you can. >> I know I can't. Sure.
>> Okay. I want to withdraw the motion because we do not all have access to the information needed to make a vote tonight. >> Second. Well, now I don't have the second. >> One second. All in favor? Uh,
>> all right. We don't even need to vote. >> You know, she she was Well, don't we have to don't we have to? >> No. No. >> Okay. Let's stay with business. We're going on to public hearings. >> Second reading. Ordinance 2026-15
and ordinance of city paka adopting a pre-approved exterior color palette for properties located within the designated historic districts. Mr. >> Second hearing. >> Yes. Motion to approve. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> We have a motion, a second. All in favor?
>> I. Anybody here have for public hearing? I should have done that first. Seeing now close public hearing. Um second reading ordinance 2026-16 general employee pension ordinance. >> Motion to approve. Second.
>> Motion to second. Anybody here for public comment? Seeing no public comment. All in favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. Second reading request to annex a resone 500 Browning Avenue and 2011 North
Highway 17 that include includes >> I missed the turn. >> Okay, sorry. First reading, adopt ordinance 2026-18, ordinance of the city of Palaca, amending the Palaca Municipal Code to establish regulations for public
murals, providing definition, purpose, permit requirements, design, review, maintenance standards, long-term care, and removal, restoration procedures, providing for enforcement, penalties, servability, scrivenness, errors, and an effective date. Miss West. Sure. So currently um the city of Galacta does
not have any sort of regulations as it pertains to murals uh which are considered signs. So they do have to be um contentneutral in order to not violate the first amendment of the constitution. So this ordinance has been
drafted in such a manner that does allow for um the installation of murals with some guidance as to the nature of the murals. As you can see in the ordinance um it gives a nod to
history and culture um and nature-based communities. So you have any questions? Any questions? If not, I'll move to public comment. Um, I'm opening the floor to public comment. Miss Kitchens,
Alibria Kitchens, Palat of Florida. And I'm asking you to table this until you can have a advertised advertised as on the radio stations and maybe letters sent to the art groups, the three original art groups. The Connelly Snder Mural Committee, which has been here for 25 years, started in 98. The Plaque Art
League, 49 years, started in 77. and the Arts Council of Greater PLA have been here for 51 years started in 75. None of these organizations were aware of this ordinance as far as I know. I know the art league wasn't and the Connelly Snder Mural Committee was not. I think it would behoove the city to have a public
workshop, standalone public workshop to notify the three original groups, the two new groups, the arts alliance of Putton County and the Gathering Artists of Putin County and the general public so that we can all come together and talk about this ordinance. Basically, I don't have any problem with it except under section three applicability and
scope. It says this ordinance applies to all, hear my word, all new murals proposed on exterior walls of both public and private buildings. So, if I want to draw put a drawing on the side of my house, I can't do it. And if Connie Snder wants
to put a new mural up because we've already got one, we've got murals commissioned that people have want us to put up. We can't do that now. We've got to have the committee to approve it. And the problem I had with the committee is not the committee per se, but because it said the committee says the same thing.
The purpose of the committee is to advise the city on the planning, acquisition, placement, preservation, promotion of all public art, doesn't say murals, all public art within the city, whether located on public p public or private property.
This ordinance says you may you may you may establish the uh the committee which Miss West said that it doesn't matter because you you could already establish it ahead of time. That's fine. You've established a committee that says that we can't do that we have to get permission to do any public art on private property as well as public. I
can understand public. Now you got an ordinance that says basically the same thing. And I'm asking you to table this number one. And if you're not inclined to do that, and I suspect you aren't, then would you please remove the the one word under section three and have this say this ordinance applies to new
murals, not all new murals. That way, if the Conly Snider Mural Committee, we can continue with the murals that we've already been commissioned to do. We've got and if this passes, it ties Connly Snider's hands. We're a 301c3 nonprofit in the city of in the state of
Florida. We have money in our bank account. This says we can't do anything without a committee to approve it. And that's the way it's worded and even a blind person could see that. But if you don't do anything else, at least remove the word that this applies to all new murals. Now, of course, we're still tied under the our arts advisory committee,
which says all public art. Again, the all in that word ties us down, but at least this gives us a little bit of wiggle room. But I would ask that you do that. Either hold the public meetings and so it it was only fair to have citizens notified. And I don't want to hear Well, it's on the website. You can go to it. How many
people, including you, commissioners, go to that website 10 times a day to find out what's going on? I'm asking you to table this or remove the word all from section three. Thank you very much, >> Miss Duke. I don't have anything. >> Okay. Thank you. Is there anybody else
here for public comment on this item? Seeing none close public comment, what is the will of the board? Do we have a motion? >> I'd like to hear from legal based on, you know, I want like like to hear her.
Um, >> sure. I right now as it stands, anyone can put up a mural along the side of a building that is not going to be regulated in any manner because if you read our sign ordinance, it doesn't
apply. So, this provides some guidance to those who do want to put a mural up. Um, in terms of yes, they would need to get a permit through the the planning department. Uh, it is not meant to be restrictive. It is meant to provide some
guidance in terms of permitting because otherwise you can end up with a mural that might not exactly portray images that this city would like. Um, and we would have no way to regulate that.
>> Speaking to that, so what about offensive some that something that may be offensive to one group or another? Um, there's no language in there. Is there language in there that states that? Because I think it should be stated. Um, and if it comes to the commission, we should have the authority
to deny or make them, >> right? >> Um, so it it does pertain to reflective themes that are basically are are duplicative of what you see now in the murals. So again, it goes to Placa's history, cultural, uh, natural
resources, uh, like our riverfront heritage, our local ecosystems, our notable residents that have contributed to the history of Palaca. We can't regulate the content specifically in the way that you want because then we will
run a foul of the first amendment. So it's a very fine line that we're walking. But right now we have nothing. >> But yeah, but why put something that doesn't have teeth in it? So it at some point offensive
is interpreted by the individual. However, I think that saying something about it. give us a little bit of leverage and authority some kind of way. Um, >> so that's a thought. That's a thought. >> We will get sued if we try to regulate
the content. That's why we have vague general buckets of history, natural resources, important characters, but we we can't regulate the actual content. It it is a little tricky. Um but at least
here you have the opportunity to see through the permitting process of what is going to be proposed and also another aspect here that has come up with the murals is there's a maintenance plan that is required which is not currently
uh the the situation. So you know again if it's the will of the commission to have a workshop that that's fine we can certainly do that. This was properly advertised and the whole point of having two hearings on ordinances is to hear from members of the public. >> And yes, the mural committee to date has
maintained murals historically, but another entity could come forward if we didn't have this in place and put and have a mural constructed or painted and not maintain it. So it brings that continuity for everyone. Go ahead. >> Move to accept. >> Second
>> motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. >> Nay. >> No, we have one nay. Sorry. Um, >> second reading request to annex and resone 500 Browning Avenue and 2011
North Highway 17 ordinance number 202609 202611. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion to second. Is anybody here for public comment on this item? Seeing none, we'll close public comment.
All in favor? >> I I Any opposition? Thank you. Second reading request to annex and reszone 3129 Reed Street. Ordinance number 202612. Ordinance number 202614. >> Motion to approve.
>> Second. Have >> a motion to second. Anybody here for public comment on this item? Seeing none, we close public comment. All in favor? >> I. Any opposition? Thank you. And now on to appeal to city commission
demolition of chim chimney HBP case 25-38120 Kirkland Street. >> Okay. It has uh been a while since we've had an appeal um from the historic planning board. You have a template here in your agenda packet. Um, this won't be
quite as lengthy as is in the past um because the city will not be putting forward um any witnesses here. Um, Mr. Regimo, I'm going to run through the template so the commissioners have an understanding. Um first we need to have uh any experte
disclosures if you have communicated with any member of the historic planning board or um the appellant here and >> does anybody have >> I've had conversation with the uh the appellant >> okay
>> uh on our recess but to try to prolong this just asked a picture of a before and after so to clarify that and so I'll disclose Anybody else? Any experte? >> No, I don't have any. >> I have Okay, go on. >> All right. At this time, I would request
that the clerk please move forward with swearing in all witnesses that will be testifying in this quasi judicial hearing. >> If I may, before we do that, I would just give a little better background. >> Okay. Yes, please go ahead. >> Oh, I was going to do that in staff
presentation. >> It's just an introduction to that. Uh basically what it is is an appeal of the Historic Preservation Board decision to deny the demolition of the exterior chimney um at 120 KN Street.
Uh the applicant submitted an application for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish this chimney and the request was heard by the historic preservation board at their meeting January 8th and they denied the request.
I just want to point out that staff makes no recommendation on application for historic preservation board items because we don't we like the expertise >> that is required to make a recommendation and with that I just let the process go.
>> Okay, >> sounds good. >> Uh clerk if you could please swear in all witnesses. >> So everyone who will be testifying in this quasi judicial hearing if you could please stand. Thank you. >> Right. Um, Mr. Barry, if you'd like to
>> to come up to the podium podium and present your case and chief and you have a time limit of 15 minutes. >> Good evening. >> My name is Warren Barry. I'm the homeowner at 120 Kirkland Street. Um,
and I'm appealing this cuz I um would like permission to move forward and remove this thing based on safety and the fact that it is not original. Um, shown the pictures. You can see the gap behind it there with the siding was all done first and this chimney was done
later on after the fact. When they're done like at the same time, the chimney is built to the framing with brick ties that hold it back and then the sidings run up to it so it can be flashed properly. Um, and then down to If you go on to the next. So if you
look, that's the wall where the chimney is now in the back there. >> And if you come on down to the next picture, that is actually the old chimney. So when I originally came here to get my COA, I met a Mr. Laren. He was explaining to me that there was
originally two chimney chases on top of the roof, not this one. And that's the proof of it because that's the actual interior chimney. um which I found as we were opening up and remodeling this place. I'm in the process right now of restoring this
place back to its original like look completely. I've completed everything else to board's recommendations or in the process of it. You can see with the old with big grout lines and everything also like it wasn't done professionally. The really old
stuff was done really well. Like the quality is real good. You can tell when you're looking at it. That's an after the fact job at some point. I'm not sure when it happened, but >> I've heard enough. >> Okay. Um, thank you,
>> Mr. West. Moving forward. >> The city uh does not have any expert witnesses or any lay witnesses to present on this matter. Okay. Refer the testimony. Thank you. Is it up for
>> Go ahead. >> So, what's the next step if there's >> The next step is public comment. >> I'm going to open the floor to public comment. Is anybody here for public comment on this agenda item? >> Seeing none, we'll close public comment. >> Question. >> We'll go ahead because I'm ready to move
forward. >> What was the rationale? What was the reason they gave you for not approving? Um, they said that it made the house look old. Nobody could really determine when it was built, but they liked it. >> Okay. >> Can I make a motion?
>> Yes. Go ahead. >> I'll make a motion that we let >> Oh, you want another comment? >> I Well, I didn't never had one, but I want to make a comment. >> Okay. >> Go ahead. Sorry. My only comment is that the the the planning commission did I mean the historic historic preservation
board >> they denied your destruction of this? >> Yes. demolition. Y >> So why I'm trying to understand why why does the commission have to come in and do cleanup work for boards that
specialize in this stuff and and do things um that they are more tied to than we are. and we're coming in, we're going to overrule a board that we put in place to say, "Hey, so I my my opinion, I think it should be kicked back to the
board and have the board to um justify the reason why they can't do it as opposed to it being so easily just dropped on the commission's lap." That's just my opinion. >> Can I say anything, please? Um, in doing some research on this thing, the
secretary of the interiors for standards of treatment of historic properties is what the historic preservation boards are supposed to follow. And in their guidelines, it says restoration means the active process of act accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared
at a particular period of time. So, it's not just picking a period of time. It's the original period of time. So, this is clearly built after the fact. So it's not >> in my opinion they didn't really follow the guidelines that they should. >> Thank you. So here's why that's why my
point is why does why does it just fall on the commission's lap and we're going to have to overrule what they ruled on. >> So it just doesn't make any sense. Well, not tonight cuz we're going to overrule it anyway. I'd like to make a motion that we >> can we let Miss West speak.
>> Sure. I I will say that the historic preservation board meets monthly and hears many many cases which never make it up to you. So for the overwhelming majority of the cases that go before them, they think through thoughtfully and they make good decisions that are
not appealed. Every once in a while, I believe this is the third appeal since I've been here. It's very rare. Um, sometimes they make decisions that they even know will be appealed, but they feel very strongly about uh preserving
the historical integrity of certain buildings within the historic district. And that is their job knowing full well that they may be uh overturned by the city commission. >> Okay. With that, shall we have a motion? a motion to allow demolition of the
chimney because it is not the original structure >> and that's the reason why >> I second. >> The motion is second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposition? >> I'm saying no only because that's the
the the historic preservation board's job. If they if we' have pushed it back and then they would have denied it on that time, then I'd have probably said yes. But I'm I want I want them to do their job. No. >> Thank you. So we majority 441.
Any commissioner comments for Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you everybody. >> I I I have a question. >> Comments. >> Yes. And this is for city manager. Um, we talked about Doge and stuff like that today that which sparked a uh
a memory of we hired someone we approved the hire to hire someone to do archives and records filing because we were way behind. Uh, what's the status on that that person and who who's tasked with that
currently? Okay. So, we have a um situation or a lot an accumulation of records sitting over in the annex. So, the approach for that
is a lot of that uh paperwork. Well, first of all, we have to sort it and uh well well maybe I'm not I'm tired. >> No, ma'am. I just ask who was hired who's tasked with that because one of those one of those positions >> here
>> were uh for that task and >> as we talked about labor and you know those >> uh >> we've already made that high. I just want to know who's doing who's tasked with it >> at this point. Ma'am, >> you want to know who's tasked with
>> archive and filing the same documents you're talking about. Mhm. >> Because it just was, you know, it seems that they're not moving. So, who's tasked with it and where are we with it? >> Okay. So, I have um I'm going to hire in
a u temporary group to attack that over there. And who's been tasked with record keeping? I believe Miss West, you're our records person. am the uh RMLLO for the city, the record management liaison
officer designated by the state. >> Exactly. >> So, we hired someone because it was administrative position that we put in the budget, you guys hired them, and one of the biggest pushes were because we
need to get that task done. Am I'm if I'm >> Yeah, I'm >> We didn't hire. So, you're telling me we haven't hired that person? >> Yeah, I we haven't hired anyone just for records that I'm aware of. >> No, be a little That's why it's difficult for me to answer you.
>> Yeah, but they point >> in his reference there was a person that was hired prior to you that was hired to be the records custodian. That person is no longer with us. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> So,
So, >> yeah, >> Sunonny Sunonny Crants led the process. >> Yes. um and and working through that. And she had I think two part-time staff um that was working on the project to um
do all of the archiving of um uh records that's been stored and then new things that come in for um the clerk's office >> cuz they were all stored in the annex and they were all just collecting there and very disorganized, >> right? Getting destroyed. So I I want to know who responds before getting that
done cuz we we we get further behind if we don't do it. And that's been almost a year and a half ago. >> And some things have um compliance related to compliance and you know from a time and regulation standpoint. >> Right. >> Exactly.
>> And second question um is uh the the takeaway from the city county meeting. We talked about the Baylorville area and annexing it in or providing the water and sewer services in the in the Baylorville area. When we said we wanted to have an update, that's why I want to
ask in this forum. When will we get an update on where we are with trying to incorporate some kind of communication to the citizens in that area that would like to have city water and sewer and explaining
the pros and cons of getting such. Where are we with that? >> Okay, >> because we promise we'll get it >> right. Uh, Commissioner, I would like to come back next uh meeting with an update and we are in fact working on it, but I prefer to give an update next meeting.
>> Thank you. And real quickly, just to piggyback off Commissioner Jones and what he said about the Baylorville area, there's an um uh individual in the group that um had complaints about um low-lying airplanes
well below the altitude that they need to be, wrote up letters as it relates to that. In addition to that, dumping as well. So all of that right there is just right there adjacent to city limits, city lines. But these people are within palaca and that's the same thing that he's talking about as it relates to
those enclaves and so if we can put a little bit more energy around that that I think help our citizen out greatly. >> Thank you. Anybody else have any comments? >> Just lastly, I know that we had our meeting um in January with the county. We are almost are approaching our uh three-month mark. I want to make sure
that we continue to stay on top of that and make preparations for our next meeting. Aelia festival this weekend and mayor's reception tomorrow night. Thank you. Motion to adjurnn. >> Right.