like to call this meeting to order. Uh it's Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. Going to ask the mayor to lead us in the indication of life. Please follow me. Lord, thank you once again for the wonderful city that we live in. Thank you for the citizens that keep us moving
forward and the city council will give them uh good decision-m abilities tonight as we move into the Memorial Day weekend. Um it's it's not a real happy occasion, but it's a celebration of those men and women who
have passed fighting for our country and for our freedom. We ask that you watch over their families. We also ask ask that you watch over those that are in service, have been in service, and are planning to be in service. may continue to give us the freedom that we are so honored. We ask that you watch over our staff as they keep our city moving
forward and ask that you take care of our first responders and lay healing hands over them and protection everyday basis. We ask that all we do in your name, Jesus Christ. Amen. Pledge 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. Who's here? Can you uh take the role? Mayor here. Bishop
here. Avery here. Here. Stewart. Thank you. If there's anything that anybody wants to talk about that's not on the agenda, if you could see Clerk Haley, she has some paperwork for you to fill out. Mayor's report. John. Uh, a few things that happened uh over the last
since the last meeting. We uh the sheriff's department put on the peace officer memorial event. uh was very moving um and honored the past the uh police officers the peace officers that have passed uh during their duty and had a last call.
Uh we appreciate that and uh it was very moving and they did a great job. Uh congrats to the fire department putting on a bike rodeo Austin good job organizing that and everybody else that helped the whole department helped out. So it was pretty cool. Tons of kids were there and uh good service to the
community. Everybody had a good time. And also just to update a report in HGTV, we continue to have good attendance downtown. It's been phenomenal as far as it's lasted and and where it's going and and I think it's going to kind of continue at a at a good
speed, but it's really a lot of fun. Um coming up, we have the Memorial Day uh event coming up next Monday at the Sea Service Museum. It's at 2 o'clock. Everybody's invited to go attend that. Um, it's just we honor those, like I said, that uh sacrifice their lives for
our freedom and we appreciate that and those that are still serving and that have served. It's just an honor uh to be part of the United States of America. Couple other things. Got some great things to do. Go
to the podium. family. They only move here. retired. John whereas John was a business owner 203 years whereas Christmas lights for years and years to come. Whereas John has provided great
service to the citiz years of dedicated public [Applause] service. It's been an honor and a privilege Thank you. [Applause]
I don't want break. Right. I have one more exceptional honor. Uh this is really welld deserved over the years. I've got to thank Chief Per this idea. The uh this the fire chief's award is bestowed upon
individuals who demonstrate exceptional performance in extraordinary circumstances. This is first of many people first responders that protect us, help us out. So tonight, three members of the evening fire department are
receiving the chief's award for their extraordinary act of going above the call of duty at a medical call on April 5th, 2025. At 12:56 p.m. on April 5th, 2025, station 15 was alerted by central
to an active OB in progress and not to your station. It's a birth in progress coming to the station. Lieutenant Carlos Rivera, firefighter EMT, and intern firefighter Frank
Albero, all stationed at station 17, promptly responded to a vehicle arriving to station 15 and assisted the mother and safely delivered the Thank you. [Applause]
Thank you. Francisco. [Applause] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council members, uh, council, uh, concerns, comments, leaison reports. Going to start over left. No, no comments, no reports. Got
anything? Yeah, I have a couple things. Um, I did make it down to the bike thing Saturday and I think it was busier this year than last year. So, I'm thankful for that.
Um, my concern I have some concerns about our workshop that we had. Um, there was some things said that wasn't true, like the course wasn't going to be couldn't be played on the
following day, Tuesday, and it was open and playable on Tuesday. So, it that that wasn't not true. Um, I I visited the golf course this week, actually, uh, yesterday, and it's
it's looking really good, and they're working on the drainage each and every day, uh, making things better and better. uh the the the man that walked the uh course and and was talking about some of the things
that was wrong. That was very unprofessional because he did not tell Fred he was out there. He should have at least told Fred and let Fred go with him. That's not very professional to do that. You walk on a man where he's
working and doing his best and you walk around and show up to a meeting and run down what he's doing. Very unprofessional. So, and I also would like to recommend because uh Mr. Blackman did say that he didn't care if
we gave the uh Catty Shack a 5-year lease. I think I want to recommend that we give them a 5-year lease and that's up to the council. That's what I got to say. Thank you, Lord. I got nothing except both of you echoed with fire department and
putting on a great event over the weekend. So, fire department consent agenda. Do we have a motion to approve? I make a motion to the consent agenda as presented. Yes. Yes.
Yes. Moving on to old business. Uh there is no old business unless anybody has anything. New business. uh L Shantel Paris is going to come over and talk about the community prayer gathering. So, you want to come on up? Tell us what
you got. Good evening everyone. Good evening. My name is Shantel Paris and I'm from Bountiful Blessings Church of God here in Sebring. I would like to propose to you all our community prayer gathering um which I'm recommending it is held every
first Friday of the month from 8 to 9 about an hour proposal is very simple which we respectfully propose establishing a monthly prayer event on the circle downtown Sebring first Friday of the month from 8 to 9. This event
will uh foster community, promote spiritual connection, prayer, togetherness, harmony for our community. Um and it's not just Sebring, it's for Avon Park Lake Placid us coming together on one accord. Um for our community, praying for our officials, praying for
our businesses, praying for our residents, our visitors, um just being the voice for our community. And I believe it should uh it could be a great thing um to expound. We have currently four churches with us. Um says bountiful blessings kasa there with Eug. We also
have house of change and [Music] community highlands community church with us. So we are welcoming everyone to come out and to um support first Fridays 8 to 9 about
Chantel. We have um several events that are planned that that maybe you know Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So you might have to move your Yes. service around that stuff. So explain that. Okay. Okay. Good. Okay. Good. Any comments for council? Why are you doing
it? Uh 8 89. Why not earlier? Why not earlier? Um there's another um gentleman that's there from I believe 5:30 to 7 I believe on Fridays. So we're right after.
Okay. Thank you. I make a motion we approve as as request yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. All right. Uh, going on to 10B, rescheduling of the future land use.
Scott, want to talk about this? Yes, sir. Background on this is planning and zoning uh her future land use and zoning changes uh for ordinances 1539. Scott, hang on just a second. You guys were approved under the consent agenda, by the way.
Okay. Do you hear me to sign into Adobe Acrobat? Sorry about that. So, agenda item 10B uh is a reschedule of future land use and zoning changes due to concern about noticing requirements for ordinances 1539, 1540,
1541, 1542, 1543, and 1544. Uh these were heard by the planning and zoning zoning board uh this past week. Uh they made a recommendation to deny
159 1539 and 1540. The applicant has withdrawn those um from their presentation and is seeking to reschedu um everything the Gapway Groves uh pure
land use and zoning changes for everything north of Sebring Parkway. The new schedule will be uh planning and zoning board June 10th. First reading for city council on June 17th and final reading which second
reading for city council on August 5th. So that will be the new schedule. They'll be going back through the entire process again with new noticing. So if you're here to talk about this today, uh best time is to come back June 10th for PNC and then
we'll be talking about it later in later in June. Anything else on that? All right. Uh, next thing we have, uh, Miss Aiden McGawan, uh, request for concerned citizens of Washington Heights. If you all come on up, talk us,
you pull that mic down. We can't hardly hear you. Thank you. Better. Yes, ma'am. Hall. So, uh, first I would like to start off by saying right now based on what we've, um, observed from the past couple of
weeks that there has been a small improvement on the cemetery. just the reason of us coming out here that we've seen the the trucks and everything have been coming trying to come and fill the the grounds a little bit better than what they were. Uh we
didn't have a space so nor did you guys I don't believe in where HGTV um did their they set up and their improvement. Um but we have a a sale what we do in Washington Heights. So, we have a few people that's willing to just
come out and want to make a difference in our area. And one of the largest areas we have is the cemetery uh the lakeside cemetery. So, by doing that, I did ask um Kathy and she did explain to
us that it had to be approved by family if we wanted to touch the votes or anything like that, which we had consent from many family members. We were just aware last week that there was one family member that that did not approve
of the painting that we u that was was done. Um and she explained it to me that she didn't approve of it because she was waiting to let all the fungus and everything grow on it because she has a grandson that is into environmental
things and they was going to take care of that themselves. However, there are graves out there and from the 1800s that has no family and this coming up to Veterans Day. So, we actually just wanted to make our um area just look
more presentable. Now, I of course don't know that much about it, but um call and um Teresa Hall sister and brother, they are more familiar with that area than I am. So, I'm going to allow them to actually just elaborate on everything
that I just said. We have been doing this at Lakeside Cemetery since 2010. Every about a month before Memorial Day, we will go out to clean up above ground vaults that had mold and
mildew and that was falling apart. We repaired them. Last week, Miss Haley came and told us that we couldn't do that. We had to have permission from the which we got. But then she gave me some runaround about you got to have written
permission or email and all this other stuff. Now I doubt very seriously that anybody on this commission has ever been to Lakeside Cemetery just to look. You
have you have seen the condition that it's in. So we tried to improve that. He told us about the rules and regulations of the cemetery which we had no knowledge of because like I say we've been doing this since
2010 and nobody ever made it an issue. Why now? That's what I would like to know. Why now? I mean it's coming up veteran for Memorial Day. We would like to improve out there. You know the
maintenance is contracted out is not Would you like me to answer you directly? Yeah. The the maintenance is done through our public works department. The mowing is contracted out but overseen by our public works department Mr. Steve Kramer who is our
public works director. But it is an outside mowing company for mowing only. Mr. Kramer's department of the public works handles all other maintenance and I handle the violations the at the lots the all that kind of okay we've been out there sometime it might be once every
other month that the morning has be been done but you guys sign off of it when time to come for them to get paid that they did the work which they do not do something I just want to say my name is Teresa and
um we have a brother out there we have a brother that was killed in Vietnam. We had a grandfather, we have a uncle, and we got a first cousin that buried out there. And we always go to make sure that these things are intact. And when
you look around um and and seeing the condition of things and and how the um headstones are falling over and I know she told us that those are private property and you
can't do anything about that. But the trees um the trees are old and and the root system is pushing the stones up and cracking a few bolts. And when you look
around, uh maybe one day you might go up there and something sitting on top of the ground that you wouldn't walk up there. And then when we walk the grounds, old old um oak trees that are
falling down the limbs, palm trees, they're laying in the aisles. I don't know how they could, you know, safely run their moss over there and not remove the debris. And then the um vegetation. I know she
told us that when people plant um flowers or trees or something out there that uh that's their responsibility, but I mean when it they're not they're not allowed to plant
trees or flowers or anything. You that is not allowable at the cemetery except under the direction of Mr. Kramer. The tree is to be planted to make sure that we don't have this problem that planting trees too close to the monuments or in between in between
monuments or too close to the the tombstones themselves. So that is not allowed for people to go out there and plant trees or bushes or flowers or anything because the only part that you own at that cemetery is your 5x10 space which is the amount of space
of your where your plot is where the where your vault is. Okay, we talking about lakeside cemetery and and I know it's the same Okay. The the difference to me is I mean for years like
um for almost 30 years there had not been a memorial service performed at Lakeside because when we contacted the BFW they told us that the changing of the guards is every other year, every
two years. And a lot of those people are from up north. They had no knowledge that a cemetery was back there. And almost 90 vets are buried back there. And you got vets from um most most of the stones that I saw was vets from
World War II. And I mean some 1800s and they don't have family here. There's no no one here. A lot of those stones we by us growing up here um we
don't even know never heard of the name but because they're best and they they since um in the past maybe last year was the first service I attended in about 30 years out there. It was a very beautiful
service and before then what we have been doing is just getting collections and from the community and we were buying flags and placing them on the um vets headstones still with no service
but we was doing it um you know as a commemorative item and um all I'm saying is this even if and I know there's some things like she said the only thing y'all really do out here is pull weeds,
uh uh pull moss, uh maybe um if you don't have a ladder then, but the trees are so tall, they're so old and they give off so much mold. That's why the headstones are are green and moldy and when you drive in, it even smell moldy
out there. And um so they said they put in sprinkler systems out there, but if you walk around the weeds have overtaking the grass. You can't hardly distinguish the grass from the weeds. And so we we just
we were just saying that we just want whatever the city has to do just just to be a little more diligent about it. And uh you know that's pretty
much one more thing I have to say. I'm pretty sure you guys have pictures of what the cemetery look like or have seen them. Some of the shrubbery that you seen as was not recently planted. They've been planted there for a lot of
years. You know, so all of a sudden last week we can't do that anymore. We trying to do something to make this place look presentable where you won't be ashamed to come out there and look and say this is where my uncle buried or
this is where my grandfather buried. Take the handcuffs off. Let us do some work out there that's constructive. That's all we asking. We ain't trying to break no rules or regulations or nothing like that. Just take the handcuffs
off. Thank you. One more thing to Miss Nancy Kernik, we apologize. This this was the family um that we painted her husband's tomb and she had already had some other things planned. But the other family members,
nobody complained or anything like that. So, um based on everything that we've gone over, we're not asking anyone to do any go above and beyond. We're just asking just to allow us to do it. I know there's guidelines. I know there's codes and statues and everything
like that. But um to me it seemed like there, you know, should be a statute of limitation on on how long it could be before anyone can just say, "Hey, nobody's attending this this grave." So, and apparently they don't have if we can
look for family and show proof that we was looking for family and we want want to do something with So, it should not be an issue that okay, y'all going because you're not being held out loud for this. I understand that there's a liability if y'all consent to us going
touching the headstones or if y'all touching the headstones. We understand that. But, but we want to clean it up. You know, we want to pick up whatever is out there. We want to do that. And we can't do that if if we start and then someone comes out and stop and stop us
in midair. But in the helpers, they get discouraged and they don't want to come back, you know. So that's we're not we're not asking anybody to to jump through loops just we'll jump. Just let me clarify when when I said that y'all could go out there and pull weeds and
take a broom and brush off tombstones or whatever and pull weeds or whatever, pull mossets hanging down without getting on a ladder. That to me is cleaning. When you talked about cleaning, you were talking about pressure cleaning. No, we never But but when you asked me about cleaning them,
you specifically said we want to pressure clean or power wash. What power? Yes. Okay. Okay. I said to pressure clean. We didn't say power. What did you say then? We said clean. We said we wanted to clean it off and we wanted You specifically said because that was the
whole thing because I said if you did that you could damage the tombstone because of that. Maybe you heard it but I didn't say it. I'm just saying maybe you heard it. I'm not saying you didn't hear it, but I know I didn't see it only because I don't know anything about you. Okay. I don't know anything about The challenge is it's private property. The
city cannot authorize someone to go uh do anything with somebody else's private property. I know Mr. Kramer may have some some comments to provide as well. We I asked him if he would come and clarify a lot of things for as well.
Scott did give us um the uh the codes that concerning the uh the cemetery did do that. So, and they do have we do have a copy of that as well. And again, we are aware that it is private property.
However, there are properties that's that's no family uh is is available. So, we're just asking if we can clean the ones that that does not have a family at all. Do we just let it sit there and dry rod and
just face, you know, the value of Well, thank you for honoring the veterans. Thank you, Mr. Mrs. Hall. Steve, you want to come up and talk about the cemetery? City of Sebring public works department values the concerns voiced by residents
regarding its conditions and management of Lakeside Cemetery. We fully recognize the significance of this site not only as a final resting place for loved ones but as a historical cultural landmark with deep meaning for many especially within
the Washington Heights community. We are and have been committed to maintaining our cemeteries along with any other city facility with respect, dignity, transparency, and we appreciate the opportunity to address the recent
concerns brought brought forward by the concerned citizens of Washington Heights. As many of you know, our department tends to speak through actions rather than words. As the director and as our public works staff can confirm, I often remind our
team that we all put our pants on the same way. That means no individual, no location is treated as more or less important than any other. Every employee and every site we maintain is approached with equal respect and commitment. We understand that everybody
has different expectations and outcomes they hope to see. The public works department is committed to listening to the concerns of Washington Heights residents and making decisions in the best interest of the entire community. While we may not be able to meet every
individual request, we are working to ensure that all actions, including those related to Lakeside Cemetery, are guided by fairness, safety, and long-term community stewardship. In April 2023, purchase order
230338 was issued by Cross was cross in the amount of $18,000. Scope of work included elevating canopies, trimming palms, thinning tree crowns, rem moving any dead trees, and grinding stumps at
Lakeside Cemetery. This effort was undertaken to bring the site to a manageable condition for ongoing maintenance by the public works department. As part of our expectations and goals, the public works department underwent a restructuring in October of
2024. This change enabled us to divide the city into district zones, allowing our employees to visit each area at least once a day. They are responsible they are responsible for conducting routine maintenance as mowing and trimming are handled by the contractor
Jack's lawn care under the direction of myself. These activities are documented in daily work orders submitted by employees for those for the locations they maintain. Since that time, the committed employees of the public works department
have m have been maintaining lakeside/pineer crest through regular inspections which include checking for fallen trees, branches, and irrigation issues. At Lakeside alone, we have replaced approximately 75 sprinkler heads along with addressing any other
concerns that arise. From 623 of 2024 to 58 of 2025, we have completed 384 work orders related to maintenance and repairs of Lakeside/Pinerrest
Cemeteries. In conclusion, city remains committed to the continued care and renovation of Lakeside Cemetery through the diligent efforts of the public works department and the support of concerned citizens. We strive to maintain all city facilities with respect and attention it
deserves. We thank the community for its ongoing involvement and remain open to any further input or concerns to ensure the cemetery continues to reflect the values and dignity of those at our guys. I just want to thank everyone in the public works department. I think
they do an awesome job when we restructured and set up in the different We had a work order system implemented. Every day the guys have to log what they do. They take pictures, timestamps, so everything's documented
to to show the progress that we make, not only for budgetary purposes to show that we're, you know, using tax dollars wisely, but also to kind of show what these guys do. And there's a couple of them that have come tonight to, you know, show support for our fellow
workers in the public works department. We're a group that We're here to work with people. We're not here to work against people. We're here to do the best job that we can for the citizens of city of Sebring. Whether it's Washington Heights, Lake View Drive,
Circle, our guys are all over the place. We're here to serve the residents. So, I just felt that I needed to to speak tonight. Like I said, I usually usually a man of few words and I don't like uh the attention, but I felt
tonight was very important. Number one, to stand up for our department and uh number two, to recognize the guys that that do. So, thanks, Steve. You have any questions or concerns?
What what do you think you could do to u change what they're they're saying needs to be done? Steve, I don't have access to private lots. Okay. Well, I say a lot of that growth. Is that on
somebody's lot? I'm not going to disagree that there's growth out there. I'm not Oh, no. No. I'm asking is that on somebody's particular lot. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm just asking questions, you know, and that one picture of that oak tree and the
headstone, right? That oak tree is like huge. They're on both sides. Huh. There's a couple on pine crest as well that have the same Yeah. But we can go in and remove that tree and that stump grind is unaware of where things Yeah. Right.
Yeah. Well, I understand you can't touch the grave site. That's what I was asking. Was that growth on a grave site. You know, once it's someone buried there, that's their piece
of property. And a huge addition would you allow us to purchase that that's been out there several several times. It's been throughout the city. Matter of fact, last week when we had that big storm last week and the week
before, there's a tree that fell on the front for that along with wait for both to trim the the fence line. So, we are pro we try to be proactive. That's kind of been my since I've been here. I try to and people that
work for got them out. Let's be a little proactive. And I think you're getting that. Well, I agree with you. You guys do a great job. I think all of our city employees, golf course, you guys, you
all do a great job at maintaining what you can. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks. Any other comment from community? I would like to I would like to just one
more time that we never um meant to say that no one wasn't doing their complete job. I we also appreciate um Steve and public works for what they have accomplished and what they've done
recently. However, we're looking at the the bushes that have the tombs underneath the deck. If that's the city, then the city can trim those trim that down. That's not that's nobody's private property where
the tombstone is saying and and bushes are over. That's not that Well, I think that's what we are saying to say too that that is that's not our responsibility as a city if it's on the that 5x10 space. So you're saying that the bush that they didn't that's that's
over the the the grave site if it's covering it then based on what I saw this morning when I went out there with Steve I think that would be the case that that a lot of those um sites that I saw it was covered within that 5 to 10 foot space that we can't at the as a
city cannot it's hiding but they're h you have pictures where they're hiding the the u the grave site and that's okay that the to say the city can't touch that if it's on that block. Well, this is Florida. Things grow, you know, birds drop droppings. I mean, plants grow
without us planting them. So, then who who upkeeps the ground? You're not you're not touching the private property. It's within their property. So, yes, we as city council can't ask the ask public works to maintain that because it's not ours to
maintain in that plot in that section. In that section. So, who who's supposed to take care of it if if Ayah I go out and and do my my parents and my brothers right because I can't they're they're
family but if if if they're not family unless you have permission you can't we can't do it as a city and that was what uh Miss Haley was trying to explain to y'all you have to get permission and And
we we realize that some of these people you don't probably don't know or know how to get permission, but you know, it's kind of like our hands are tied, too. This is just not the city of Sebring issue. My wife's family is from Arcadia.
They go back six generations and their family plot has a big oak tree right in the middle of it that's pushing everything around. And then there's a concrete barrier and the city will not go inside that barrier to clean up anything. So, we've got to do the same thing. It's
just when you purchase a plot, that's your plot. It's like the deed to your house. You know, nobody can come to your house and fix it unless you let them in. And it's that's just like these plots. So, it's just not it's just not the city of Sebring put this ordinance together
to say we're not going to touch it. This is pretty much a nation. I don't know if it's federal, but it's it's an ordinance that's just not to hear. Yeah. It's property rights is what it is. There is the exception if there's violations on that plot when they put the solar lights and things like that.
The city has the authority because that's a violation without notice to the family. We are we have the authority to go there and we Tiffany Hill who's my assistant. We manually walk those those you guys go out there and we go out there and we manually take care. So we
as the city staff are allowed to go out there and remove any violations without permission from the family without we just go out there and do it. Um, so that is an exception to that if it's a violation of our ordinance and they put things
because it was in the agreement of purchase when they purchased that lot that was in the agreement. Well, that ordinance has been in place from the beginning probably of time. So people are made aware of that. But when they come in and purchase lots and that's been for several several several several
years that they sign a form or they are made aware every time that they buy a lot of the rules and regulations and they are asked if they want a copy of this. So they are fully aware of um our rules and regulations that have been placed but that is the only time that we manually touch the graves themselves is
if there's a violation and the ordinance specifically provides Yes sir. Right. for the an exception about us touching that basically protected space if there's a violation and we do understand the need to make it look
better. So because you're not touching the grid you're you're still you'reing the grounds that the the people that you said um you hired to do that then are they not supposed
to do any edging or anything like that? The the ordinance says raking and cleaning of the grounds and pruning of any shrub trees placed on the premises by the city. Mr. Address what? Because they do do that. But he's no he's with
the public works but right he oversees the mowing contract. Okay. So what you got this big bush that's over this this um you were talking about you were talking about edging and stuff and that's okay. That's what I think he was going to address as far as the landscape
the mowing the mowing contract covers trim around. I believe the location you're talking about is come into the light see it every time I walk in there there's a grave. So we can
I'd love trust me I'd love when I drive in there I see that I think it's a tree falling over the fence but I can't legally I can't go and trim so much that's all She's talking about the one that's
been planted. No. Well, that's one you should be. Is that it? Not one of them. That's one of them. That's one of them right there. Just touch the bush. That's all. And that's it.
the bushes, not the bushes. That's all we ask. And it's like three of them. Steve, can you make an effort to go out and look at those pots that they're looking at and then see if it, you know, what what dimensions, you know, which space may be able to see if that's
something that you can trim. say that too. We don't know what what that was necessarily planted years ago when it comes to shrubs or bushes or plants either. So it's what we don't want to do as a city too is to take down a bush or a plant somebody planted intentionally just because maybe it's
not completely maintained that that it's a very fine line in everything that you're saying though of what the responsibility is for the city versus what's the responsibility of the plot owner and the family and we're we're very well intentioned. There's no
question about that. Not everybody would want for you to do something on their their relatives, you know, burial site or even stand on it. Any other comments from the audience? Come on up. Can you say your name for the
record, too? Good evening. Council members, my name is Nancy Kern, I'm here because I'm concerned. Number one, I want to thank the committee young people who for what
they're doing in the cemetery. However, when I visited the cemetery on Mother's Day and saw my grandfather's boat painted, I was devastated. But number one, I thought that the city And when I
went to the city for some other business last week and made an inquiry about it, I was told that no, this it hadn't been painted. The city hadn't done it. And then they told me said there's a group of people out there with Adah McGawan and they're doing some work and blah
blah blah. But at any rate, I was disappointed because I have a grandson who studied environmental issues and the last time he and his mom were here, we were at the and made a decision to let the fungus
grow on the ball because he wanted to study. We wanted to see he wanted to see how far it was going to grow, what the effects of it would be. And then when I went out there and found out that it had been cleaned off and painted number one, that was kind of upsetting to me. And
secondly, I didn't like the color of the that it was used to paint. So when I went to city hall for some other business, came in for some other business, I asked I thought the city had done it. So I asked, "Well, why didn't you all contact the owners before you
painted?" I can't speak about other owners, but for my grandfather, I have a father out there, grandfather, grandmother, daughter, uncle. So I have a lot of people out there. Plus, everybody know I've been in the funeral industry business. So, I know all about
the cemetery and almost he was buried away. And when I was told what was going on, I I voiced my displeasure at that tombstone that I own being being painted. I don't have anything to do
with what somebody else's family has given permission or whether they like but I'm just saying for me and my family which my grandson went to study the the growth of the mold it was upsetting that nobody tried to contact me to find out
is this what you want us to do to which I would have told them no I'm not here to excuse me try to bash anybody but I'm just saying the family member should be uh contacted before anything is done on
a family member's plot and without them giving permission. People know I live here. You all know I live here. Somebody could have gotten in touch with me and say is it okay? But you didn't. So that being the set of circumstances, the damage to
has been done and I'm voicing my sentiment because I was upset about I'm not mad. I'm ups I was upset. Adah and I are very good friends and so are the the halls. I'm I don't have anything against them personally. I just didn't like the
way it was done. Thank you very much for listening to Thank you. Thank you. And we understand what Cat was saying as far as letting the family make a decision. But um without Miss Miss
Nancy, there were others that did concrete that we could do um actually we had Miss Marie Daniel was out there, her and her grandsons, you know. So we had people out there taking care of their
grave sites along with us. um never uh intent to uh diminish anybody's uh personal property. We were just only trying to um make the place more
presentable, especially in this coming around Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and everything like that. So, I mean, we can go back and forth all day, the same thing. But I'm understanding and I'm sure you guys going to say the same thing, you know.
can't do anything for personal understood but anything that belongs to this city that can't we appreciate great thank you and I want to say too uh when I first got elected uh one of my
first visits to was was both sites and both cemeteries going around all the city too and just to see the difference I think just two years ago to now I've been there several times throughout the last couple years and even a couple times this month, last couple months. Um, I think it is looking better and
better, especially when Crossing and Payne came by and did all that tree work and then the consistent maintenance uh that Steve and the team has been doing. They showed me that uh work order list and it was a very long list. So, um I think we were saying the same thing just
maybe a few of the little details. So, and I think if there's correct me if we're wrong Steve, but anything that you see too, Steve is one of the the guys who's going to get it done. He's He's quick. So, if there is anything on the city property that we need to be aware of, please let us know.
I think for future if you are clearing someone's property that has given you right to do that, I would get that in writing so that we know for sure that you've um in case someone else comes to complain, you have documentation that says that you were given that that opportunity. Anybody else?
Would you state your name for the record when you get up? Thank you for letting me speak. I want to say in cleaning off private property. I was out there with my
grandson and we did just that. And to my surprise, when I went to clean off my father's grave, I couldn't find simply because of the improvements that the city made by adding extra dirt
and grass. For some reason, it has overtaken it. I can't even find the head stone, and it was a ground headstone. So, my point is this. If you're going to get permission to improve private
property, which is my private property, nobody did that. And it's a hurt and disappointment to me that I can't find the grave. And it was on the west side of the cemetery. So, I will ask the city
to always be cognizant of when you do improvements at least Let us know if you have covered up the headstones so that the family know we can't find I will I will make a quick comment to that. M Daniels obviously um
public works if they replaced any sod or whatever they know where those um they know where the graves are. They know they have we have a map and we know where those graves are. So they don't ever mark they would never put grass in where graves are going to be done. They
might replace graves and walkways and um roadways but well I definitely have roadways. Pine has roadways but replace grass there but never where monuments are. I will tell you that um the headstones requirements are different
now. Headstones sink. My parents have four Ks that they did back in the early 90s and I have if I don't go out there very often I can't find the Ks. I literally have to take something and dig and dig until I find it and then I have
to unberry it. So I don't know how often you were going out there were able to go out there but it that could have been the case that they have sung by the time um my father passed the regulations were changed and they are different requirements of how they do the
regulations now with monuments and headstones. Their headstone will never sink because of the regulations that are in now. But back in the early 90s when they did the case, they sink all the time and I can't if I don't go out there and we've had a lot of you can't find them. They're completely covered over
with grass and it's not grass that the city put out there. It's just overgrown grass and um so I have the same problem specifically with with my parents and a lot of it is just because they have they they sunk. This was in 2000
200 2004 I believe if my memory serves me right. And the first time I went out there, it was plain dirt over that whole area as if to recede it or something. But I would just like to know uh and
I'll be down to the office to get the plot number so we can go out there and find I'll just let you know that when public work when they replace the grass, we don't we don't do it in the middle of where there's Well, it is grown open. We can't find. All right. Thank you. Thank
you, Ms. Anybody else? All right. Uh, business from the audience. There is none. So, let's move over to the city attorney's business. Bob, uh, let's turn it over to you. Ordinance number 1545 is entitled an ordinance of the
city of Sebring, Florida, amending the city of Sebring police officers retirement trust fund adopted pursuant to ordinance number 104 as subsequently amended amending section 29 reemployment after retirement providing for codification providing for severability
of provisions repealing all ordinances in conflict here with and providing an effective date. Okay, this is on council's agenda for first reading. Okay. So, look for a motion. You want a motion?
Look for a motion to approve. Yeah. I make a motion we approve ordinance 1545 on first reading and schedule second reading and following reading for June the 3, 2025.
Second. Any uh questions from the audience? Yes. Yes. Yes. Passing that. Uh let's see. Uh going to city administration business. Scott, what you got for a project report? So on
the project report, uh only a couple of material changes. Relocation of public works utilities contract for land purchase that is in final stages being closed upon.
We should be closing up on that by later than mid June. McBth attorney reach out to us and finish. Next one is the property located 1.6 West
Center elevators have been inspected. company that did the inspection provided the report. They've indicated and there are three elevators in the building as you all may know. Elevator one has been decommissioned, no longer there, if you
will. Uh elevator number two, uh does require some work, but it should be operational. is he has an estimate to to do that and to decommission elevator number three.
Elevator number three is a smaller elevator. It's not ADA compliant. Has some older parts in it. Does not believe that we could decommission it. So his recommendation would be to decommission that elevator
and the total cost of doing repairs to Elevator number two in decommissioning. Elevator number three should be in the range of 70 to $85,000. I think I've spoken to you all in the past about
the roof. Cost of the roof can be anywhere from a renovation of the existing roof that would provide like a 10-year warranty or in the neighborhood of 180 to $200,000 all the way up to putting a new
roof on that would gain us a 32-year warranty. And his estimate of that would be somewhere in the range of $600,000. Uh the only other large item we're talking about would be the air
conditioning system. Uh that would require a new chiller, new air handlers, and that cost we given an estimate of roughly half a million dollars for that
equipment. So the due diligence period uh is ending on Thursday of this week. Uh we want to move forward with the purchase of that property. I think the contract is written allows us to do so.
If we wish to ask the property owner to do anything else in reference to this, then we would correct me if wrong too, but it looks like you and Bob want to some
additional guidance from council to make a motion to move forward with this to with all the new information that we have. If you want to cancel it, we need to know so we can cancel it within the inspection period. if you're comfortable moving forward with the city acquiring it. The purchase price is 1.4 million. U
a motion to give us direction on how you'd like us to to go forward. So, do we want to see a motion to continue as presented for the purchase price $1.4 million? I'll make that motion. I'll second. The property
is valuable. Uh any public Uh comment. Got a motion. Got a second. No more discussion here other than it's a great investment. Looking forward to it. Yes.
Sorry. Are we joining? No, not yet. I just wanted to invite you all for um June 6 at 8 p.m. Thank you. Yes. hats. Yes. Motion approved. All right. Uh Scott,
you're up again for the pop-up reservation application to attach this proposed special event application for use of the vendor popup on the circle. At this time, we're not recommending
um any rental feed for it, just scheduling it. Um, we're seeking council guidance on whether or not you all would like us to collect liability insurance listing the city additional insured. Uh, when somebody schedules
it, perhaps also maybe the number of times, whether it's per month, per year that uh an entity could schedule uh the popup. Um kind of listed out a few items right
now. Um we're indicating no food or beverage vendors would be accepted for it. Um as you know they would be in competition with the food vendors downtown. Um and then scheduling scheduling of it.
Um we're looking to maybe get concurrence that they can schedule it within a month of use. That would be good. Um, we wouldn't want people scheduling it well in advance. Um, and then an event popping
up, if you will, a special event on the circle and then us telling them they have to, you know, schedule. I guess another alternative to that is justate potentially that it's subject to
scheduling of events. So those are the items we're looking for on it forward. Um my only thought was to make sure um put in somewhere that people are not able to reserve it consecutively like
they can't you know out request like four weeks in a row you know that there should be some availability for other people to um move forward and um and potentially limit per
year if we get a lot of interest. Say not consecutively. Could they do like two to three days? Um yeah, I would think there would be some limit, you know, just to have somewhere they're if they're doing it during the week. Um, but if they're like wanting every Saturday for the whole for
like five, if you have five times a year and they're able to do five Saturdays in a row, that's limiting other people's ability to have a Saturday. That's that's a good idea. Why don't because we talked a little bit about that. Why don't we say like, okay, you can rent it six month six times a year up to four
days in a row or three or four days in a row, but if there's an availability that opens up and you want to rent it again, you can. But you know that's that you're kind of limited unless there's an opening. Yes. And then it's and then it's subject to events and that also I
think with we need to have liability insurance um because I went on Eventbrite and you can for a common store basically a popup for a two to three day it's 105 bucks. So it's not but I really think it needs to be in
case something does happen that it doesn't fall back on the city. I agree with the insurance you No, that's good. We're talking about the spokes too, right? Not just No, just that little popup. That
thing, that little bar that's in the middle. Oh, okay. Okay. This is just for that popup. And advertised on HTV. Okay. So, I'm fine with it. We've had inquiries from businesses and
we've had inquiries six times. Yeah. But she was saying consequently. So are you saying consecutively? No, you can't can't do it consecutive. But you can do it six times through the year.
And is there will there be a a day max? So can they reserve it for seven days? Can they reserve it for three days? You know, so in a row. So if they wanted to um come into the city for three days and set up that would that be okay but can they do that for seven days in a row you
know so there got to be some guideline there on how much they can reserve that space three days I think three days would be I would think three days what four weeks I mean this this can be we can figure out somebody says hey do it
for seven days we can adjust this to you know I mean this is kind of trial because I looked all over and I couldn't find anything popup type thing without you know some semi-permanent. Yeah, it's something we'll probably need to revisit at some point.
I would say let's test this out for the next six months and then reevaluate maybe early December based on what has happened feedback that we get from the vendors. So Scott, what do you need? Do you want do you want a motion or just more guidance to revise that based on those
those adjustments? Um just I think uh motion approving the vendor pop that make a motion to approve are we making those actual recommendations but not consecutive
you could author Mr. Nag to come up with an initial batch of Yeah, why don't we do that? Turn over to staff to come up with a guideline and then we'll vote on it. Um, during the day, 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Yeah, I think I'd go to full day. Go to nine. 9 p.m. What about events that are going on? So, it should be available during a special
event. So, somebody does a regular special event. So, if somebody's doing a regular special event, generally they want You said yeah. It wouldn't be that during that time that that really causes people to get upset.
The only way I think I permit that is if they worked out something organizer directly and then proceed. Are the event organizers able to rent that space if
they have already reserved? So I might Okay. But we could have them fill out a special event popup application as well. Will they use it though special events? Yeah. And I was wondering if they could
then rent it, you know, like can they get I think they I think they've done that on a couple of them. They can use the space and they use it as a rental. It's just like putting a booth on a server. Right. Did you say you want to come back? Yeah. He can. Yeah. Just come back with with
guidelines. I Well, I'd like to get that started as soon as possible. Yeah, I think we should. It's all right. Just give him the authority to make the guidelines and yeah, we'll start. They'll revisit after some months to see
how it's going. Clear as we Okay, got a motion from Got a motion. We have a second. What is the motion? The motion? Yes, the motion is to authorize Scott to come up with the guidelines and for us to revisit it
in six months. Okay, I second that. So then that means you can't do that. Maybe you're just coming up with guidelines and are you authorizing use for it or just confused? Because yes, it's the guidelines to authorize the use for it. If you didn't say you just said
make the guidelines so authorize, go ahead and authorize. Yes, ma'am. I second the had changed use authorized to use. Nobody said use and that's what was throwing me off. So, well, sorry. You didn't use the right word. That's right. Anybody Anybody from the audience want
to talk about the popup? Yeah, please. Uh oh. We got a motion. Oh, Miss Fetty, could you come up and and say your name? Nothing. Okay, we got a motion. No, we got
there are some guidelines up on the board if you'd like to on the TV if you'd like to read them. Okay. Yeah, sure. Good evening. Good evening. Hi. How are you? What kind of vendors are you going to your name? Isa. How are
you? Do you have a last name? What is it? Perez. Might as well say the whole thing, right? Perez. Um, I heard no food uh and drink, right? So, vendors, clothing vendors, anything else is okay. Jewelry vendors like what
if it's um entertainment? What if it's like a singer or like a comedian up there or something? Would that kind of thing be allowed? This is like retail vendors. I think what HGTV is looking for is more like a business incubator startup. So, not
really on the entertainment, but more more the smaller retail actually selling items, right? Yeah. There's some acceptable vendors too and some kind of guidelines. So, so the inquiries that have come forth are sales of items
or not necessarily sales up there, but maybe pushing items that somebody has for sale elsewhere. And then we've also had some inquiries by nonprofits such as the art league or
side theater or even a historical society where they'd like to come up and encourage people to come down to their businesses. That would actually be great for those. So, so I think what about u and I'm sorry to interrupt you. What about things like more so more kind of
on the fringes like uh tarot readings uh which is you're not selling an item but you're selling a service it's covered elsewhere under the ordinance the table would not be available for that I don't have tarot readings well services that they're selling services
what if it's it could be something else like a massage chair for example okay so that would be like what if a massage therapist wanted to put a chair out there and I think we could go into the weeds on a lot of this. What what is what is it? But I think the first thing is let's let's start with the foundation and
baseline. We can start with this and then Well, I want to call and schedule and reserve it. So, I need to know. Yeah. So, I sell services. I don't sell goods. So, that's why I'm asking. And what do you sell? Tarot readings. The one that he was pitching that that
it's okay. It's entertainment. So, yeah, we do have I think we've got some code that deals with terror. for for so Mr. Oh, he's looking because I don't know. I I really think that's more retail.
I think nothing against par reading, but No, no. I don't I'm just trying to figure I something else. I'll make I think it's I think this is more of a retail. I just want to have a clear picture of what can go into it and what can't and that's what he's going to work on is having a clearer When can I call
in and start reserving? And there needs to be liability insurance. Is that right? Yes. And when can I call in and reserve? When can Well, when he comes out with a guideline, probably about a month. Yeah. In about in 30 days or so. Okay. You can call and see if it's available.
Well, thank you. It's going to be hot out there in the summer time, though. I'm excited. There's two umbrellas. So, there's two umbrellas. I also saw that they had a little bakery thing on the front in the episode. Yeah, I think that
was only for the episode. That was for that episode. I think that that was brought in. That was brought in. Thank you. Thank you. We got a second. Yeah. Let's uh take a vote. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Motion approved. All right. Kathy, your time shine. So move second since Harrison can't do it. Can't do it. All right. Got a motion. We got a second. It's called R. Unless anybody else doesn't want to pay the bills for the city.
Yes. Yes. Yes.