I'd like to call the regular meeting of the Steuart City Commission to order on June 8th, 2026 at 400 pm. Roll call. >> Mayor Reed >> here. >> Commissioner Clark >> here. >> Commissioner Dobby >> here. >> Commissioner Rich >> here.
>> And we have a invocation from Chaplain Edward from the City of Stewart Police Department followed by the pledge of allegiance. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, city council members, and most importantly, the citizens of
citizen citizens of Stewart. I thank you for allowing me to come and and invite the presence of God into this this meeting. Uh I I got to thinking on my way here about some of the things I've done as a chaplain and I was up in Charleston
riding with an officer and a lady went whipping around us and another guy pulled in front of her and she reached out the window and gave him a one-finger salute. And uh the officer I was riding with said, "That's not right." And he pulled her over. I said, "What's he
pulling her over for?" He jumped out, went up to her. He said, "All right." Out of the car, hands against the car. And I said, "What's going on?" He said, "Look at the back bumper. It says, "I love Jesus. There's a big silver cross. Follow me to the downtown community church." He said, "After she did that, I
figured she stole the car. Let's go before the Lord." Our God and our father, great creator of the universe. You give us humor to keep us cheerful. Your word says, "A merry heart do with good like a medicine." And we try to
laugh whenever we can. Sometimes life overcomes us. Thank you, Lord, that you give us leadership that can help guide us through these difficult times. I thank you for this city council and for the men and women that you raise up. Put their heads above the crowd and
sometimes take the tomatoes that are thrown at them and many times take the accolades. They represent each one of us, Lord. And I ask you to to be here in this presence to give them your wisdom, your your guidance, your understanding so that all the issues that they come
that come before them can be done in accordance with your will. I thank you and praise you for this wonderful town of Stewart and for Martin County and for all that you do for us here. You you make this small place, this gem, a
shining light in the darkness. And we thank you for letting us be part of it. Bless us now in what we're about to do and be with us. In Jesus name I pray. Please join me now in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. >> Thank you. Please be seated. >> Next up, we have the arts moment. Brett
McCarron with the art presentation. Yes. Um, can you hear me? I open. Okay. My name is uh Brent McLaren. I'm a 38y year uh living here in Martin County from
Indianapolis in originally. Um, I've been given the uh I got my degree in Purdue University in visual design and I came down here to become a an artist because I was I thought I was
pretty good at it. Anyway, um I was asked here by Ula and Ula Clark and Mary uh to talk about uh the arts in Martin County and opportunities that I've had uh being part of it. Um forgive me
I brought examples of my work, my artwork and uh murals uh that I've created together with my son accomplished jazz singer and she and I I play drums and she and I will be
performing at the river. Artistically, I'm currently working with the Elliot Museum thanks to Deborah Deval and Rob Steel where I have painted murals, restored art work, restored sculptures, created a 4 foot egg for
their uh display. I'm also uh on my 13th year as a scenic artist at uh where I build sets, props, and costumes for Jennifer Yormack and Peter Jones at Star Children Theater
right down the road where we will be performing The Lion King. You must have to come see it. Anyway, uh that's just a sample. Um I wanted to step into uh
my here's a larger um statement of my award-winning arts fest piece that I got involved with the Martin Arts. I I actually won in 2019. My Ammy and I just painted this one at
Cedar Point of the Dolphins. We have turtle driveways that we've been opportunity. People just talk to people and they find us and I get to paint all these beautiful pieces in people's homes and in businesses. U baby mural in St.
Lucy West. Uh this is to show you the scale of the recent um house of refuge at the Elliott Museum. And this is my grandson with to show scale of my my art
that I've done. Uh the last piece been asked I was asked to paint a 27 foot limousine to look like an alligator for a customer in in Okachobee to take his clients out to airboat rides and
out there. Um, I want was nominated for a Marty award to the Martin County uh for my set for Into the Woods at Star. Um, some of my murals glow in the dark. So, I was trying to give you a representation of that. Uh, Circus 69
right over in Jensen Beach. I did with uh friends from Alchemy and Art. They I hire them, they hire me. So, it's a it's a big family of art. And uh this one, the last one is the Shark Shack Suites
in Palm City. I just showed you a sample, but there's it's big and it's got sharks fishing for humans with ice cream cones. Anyway, I've been lucky enough to be uh published in Steuart magazine for my murals uh
again for my the when I did the House of Refuge in 2023 and Martin Arts for winning the the arts fest. I was also winning $10,000 in first prize for my
Halloween costumes. So, in doing the costumes, that's how I got to do Starruck. Uh, finally, I'd like to mention Anthony Alberry and his uh was it River Creek
Walk uh art district in uh first Fridays of the month. >> And he and I were planning on trying to get a mural on the Johnson Avenue, 150 foot wall across from 901 hub and
Wawa. I want to do that one. And finally, as a if I get ever get the opportunity, my vision for the city of Stewart would be build a giant sculpture from US one down Colorado to downtown
Stewart of leaping sailfish with scattered fish jumping off the sides that you can drive your cars under to put us as the destination as the world sailish.
capital of the world. Anyway, thank you for your time. Thank you. You a lot. Thank you. >> My stuff at baranart.com and there's a couple cards outside. >> Brent, uh, we're gonna have to fix your certificate of appreciation. They wrote
Brett on it. We'll get you a new one then for >> I'll get a picture, though. We're keep it up. We're going to take a picture. >> Thank you so much. Next we have proclamations and we have
garden week and the recipient would be Mary Neil, president of Garden Club of Stewart. Lee, if you could read the proclamation for us. Absolutely. Whereas gardeners have a passion for nurturing the beauty and resources of the earth through the planting of seeds,
the care of all plants, and the riches of their efforts, gardeners seek to add beauty, splendor, fragrance, and nutrition to our lives through the growing of foliage, flowers, herbs, and vegetables. And whereas gardeners advocate the importance of all creatures
large and small that share our world and their roles in a balanced and productive ecology. Gardeners work to preserve our country's traditional spirit of independence and initiative through innovation and hard work. And whereas gardening furnishes a
challenging and productive activity for our citizens for those just learning as well as those having years of experience. Garden. Gardening promotes a healthy lifestyle that lasts a lifetime, helps reduce stress from other areas of our life, teaches the rewards that can
come from diligent efforts, and whereas gardening enables members of garden clubs across the nation and the world to make a world of difference in the communities where they reside and work. Now, therefore, I, Shawn Reed, mayor of the city of Steuart, Florida, do hereby
proclaim June 7th through the 13, 2026 as Garden Week. Mary Neil, did you have any comments for us or did you want to >> Yes. >> Good afternoon. I'm Mary Neil, president of Stewart Garden Club, and these fine
ladies in pink are members of our club. And I especially want to introduce Linda who is our chairman for National Garden Week. I want to thank Mayor Reid and the commissioners for honoring the Garden Club of Stewart with a proclamation for
National Garden Week. Gardeners and garden clubs throughout the country take this time to celebrate the art of nurturing and beautifying our environment through several select activities to bring about awareness of this great gift. Here in Steuart, we have placed a creative arrangement in
each of our libraries and include educ as to what plant material is used, what National Garden Week entails, information on gardening, and how and why to participate in garden clubs. Photos of these arrangements can be found on Facebook under the Garden Club
of Stewart with links to what other clubs in the country have done for this event. The mission of the garden public steward has been and always will be to educate the public about the various aspects and rewards of gardening including conservation, community pride, natural
resources and civic beautifification. We believe gardening envelops our whole being. Therefore, our theme is mental, physical and emotional health through gardening. Thank you. You want to take a photo with everyone
that's in attend? Yes. The next proclamation we have is for June Junth, freedom day, June 19th, 2026. The recipient would be Nina Douly, president of Afroamerican Citizens of East Stewart. Lee, if you could read the proclamation. Whereas Junth is the
oldest known celebration commemorating the abolition of slavery in the United States and the emancipation of African-American slaves and celebrates the successes gained through education and greater opportunity. And whereas Union soldiers landed at Galv
Galveastston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free. On that first Junth, the people of Texas were read General Order number three, which stated, "The people of Texas are informed that inordance in accordance
with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free." And whereas the first Junth celebration was a time for reassurance, prayer, and the gathering of family members, today Junth continues to grow with communities and organizations
throughout the country. Numerous local and national Juneenth organizations have arisen alongside older organizations with the common mission of promoting and cultivating knowledge and appreciation of African-American history and culture
while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all people and cultures. Whereas on a larger scale, a celebration of Junth reminds each of us of the precious promises of freedom, equality, and opportunity which are the core of the American dream. Now
therefore, I Shawn Reed, mayor of the city of Stewart, do hereby proclaim June 19th, 2026 as Junth Freedom Day. Thank you to Mayor Reed and the commissioners for this proclamations. My name is Nina
Douly. I'm the president of ASUS here in um East Stewart. And I would like to thank the city for partnering with us once again for this wonderful event. We are hosting our third annual Miss June Junior Teen Pageant. It's going to be at
the Boys and Girls Club on June 20th from 7 to 9:00. I encourage everyone to come out and take a look at these wonderful um kids, young women, and their talents. And so I would like to also thank you guys for this partnership once again.
>> And I'll be a judge. >> And Ula's a judge. Yes, she is. Along with two others, she will be a judge um at the event. So again, thank you to the city of Stewart. >> You're welcome. Thank you. Next up, we have service awards from the
police department. And I'm going to have Chief Z introduce his personnel from the police department. Good afternoon, commissioners. Um, I'd like to take a moment to uh call up the following members. I'll make a note that Lieutenant Brian Bosio was scheduled to be here to be recognized
for his 15 years of service with the St Police Department, but he was approved for training late last week and it was there was an opening in the training class. So, he's he's had to attend that and can't be here today. So, I'd like to call up to the front of the room here uh Detective Kenneth Leemp in the corner. You just call up to the
front here. Detective David Jacobson, K9 Officer Chris Heightfeld and Officer Danielle Matuchi. So, if I could just share briefly that um Ken Lem has been with the Steuart Police Department for 15 years and he currently serves as our uh evidence and
crime scene detective assigned to the criminal investigations unit. Uh Ken is uh has prior uh law enforcement experience with the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office prior to joining Stewart PD 15 years ago. And he also serves with the Florida State Guard where he is a Ken, I apologize for not giving you the proper credit, lieutenant
commander with the Florida State Guard. And we have a very good partnership with the Florida State Guard. They help supply additional resources for our Fourth of July event and the Christmas parade every December. So, the last three years, I think they've sent as many as 50 uh Florida Guardsman to
Stewart to help us with security and ensuring a safe environment for our community event. Um, Detective David Jacobson is also a 15-year veteran of the Ste Police Department. He's currently assigned to the detective bureau and he normally uh works any type
of case that's given to him from a to a credit card fraud to an elder fraud or an occasional violent crime like a shooting or something more serious. Um, he does Jake stuff when it comes to looking and his nickname is Jake. He does Jake stuff when it comes to looking
into the weird and uh unique cases and has an ability to find those silver uh linings and evidence and information. So, he does a good job with his service for the police department. Um, he was he's been with the Stewart Police Department for 17 and a half years total. 15 of it full time police
officer. Before that, he was parttime. >> Um, K9 officer Chris Heightfeld, as you see him here, uh, he's assigned to, uh, patrol with his K9 partner, Jerry, for the last three years roughly. Uh, they worked the night shift from 6 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. So, he's, uh, he's one of the
crew that are out there ensuring our safety for the overnight patrol hours. Chris has been with us with us 15 years, and prior to that, he was with the Fort St. Lucy Police Department for a year and a half before coming to Steuart. And then we have last but not least, we have Danielle Matuchi. She is currently
assigned to our traffic unit with just over a year and a half in service as a police officer. Prior to that, she serves as a dispatcher in our communication center for three and a half years. So Danielle has been with the police department for five years total or with the city and uh serves a great role now in our new traffic unit.
So uh if you would just help me uh congratulate them on their service. Mayor, thank you for allowing me to recognize them. >> Picture recognize a dog. >> Dogs ever get recognition?
>> Jerry has to put up with him. >> Get him closer. Good job. Thank you. Next for service awards, we have Deborah Smith with 15 years of services with human resources. Good evening. I'm accepting on Debbie's behalf. She had a scheduling conflict
and regrets not being here. Debbie has actually been with us for 20 years. She spent five years part-time status as well in the police department in part. So we celebrate the 15 full and five and she's sorry she couldn't be here tonight. So thank you for on her.
>> Thank you Raj. Next we have Bobby Holiday with 15 years of services from utilities and engineering. Bobby will not be attending but we'll still give him a round of applause. Next we have Jose Nidato with five years of service from utilities and
engineering. Hold on. Can you come into the picture? You come into the picture. All right. Good job. Next we have Michael Redstone with five
years of community services. Next for service award, we have Suz Mallei with five years of service with the deputy city clerk. Holy Got. Good job.
>> Looks like his mother. >> No speech. >> For the next service award, we have Brian Shing with five years of services for utilities and engineering. speech speech.
>> Yes. Come on. Whoa. And a baby. Good job. >> Good job. Take care. >> Oh, we got Jerry. Oh, there he is. >> Good boy. >> Time to sit now.
>> Mayor, you want that picture? >> Sit. >> Sit. >> He's good. >> He's good. >> Does he have the airport? Finally, somebody gave a speech. >> Yeah, thank you, Chris. That's uh that's
his K9 partner, Jerry. He patrols with Chris. Uh when Chris is out in the patrol car, his partner is right with him. So, uh, very successful these last few weeks working the night shift, sniffing out drugs, narcotics, uh, specifically some cocaine and other hard drugs that have been found up in the Jensen Beach area, helping out the, uh,
the county with a sniff here and there. So, we have one other K9. Um, that's Ara with Officer Chase Dorman. He works on the other night shift, but these dogs are a vital tool for us. So, thank you, Chris. >> Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Jerry. Jerry, thank you.
next up we have comments by city commissioners, Commissioner Rich. Um so on Friday evening, late Friday afternoon, um I sit on the board of directors for
the Florida League of Cities on the big board on the corporate board. So the Florida League of City represents 411 different municipalities and just a few days before some of you may
be aware there the legislature has passed some of amendments which pose an existential threat to many of these communities. It was the most tense atmosphere I've been in in a long long time.
Uh we will be discussing this in the future between now and the election. Um I asked our city manager for some preliminary figures when I was speaking to Senator Harold and Representative Oberdorf and Representative Schneider.
Nobody's quite sure of the numbers, but the city may be between one and a half and three and a half million dollar reduction in revenues, which is not existential, but is serious. Um the joke going around was
that Florida will be stop being the free state and we will become the fee state because all these parks and beach parking areas and all these services that we provide, we're going to have to find a way to pay for them somehow and
it's probably going to be through fees. So, I don't need to be alarmist, but we're we're very concerned. The league is going to fight this very hard. Um, and hopefully we obtain the result that
we need to keep Steuart functioning properly and at the high level of service that we're all used to and that we can retain our staff, which is so important because the staff works for you. They don't work for us. They work for the citizens. Thank you, Mr.
You're welcome. Uh, just for clarification, was it two and a half or three and a half on the high end of the range? >> Three and a half. >> I thought it was two and a half. >> Well, yeah, maybe you guys were different. But
regardless, moving on. Uh, Commissioner Gio. >> Yes. Good evening, everyone. As always, it's great to see everyone here. And on a positive note for our city, um it really is in the hands of the voters. So it's really your decision to decide whether to go with this. You know, just
because Tallahassee put it out doesn't mean you have to vote for it. And we will certainly at the city level be working to work all those numbers and work to the best of the city, what's best for the people in the city. Uh and I want to thank all the people who sent me emails uh and one sent the letter and the people who are here today uh
supporting one of the items on the agenda, which would be um chickens. So, just want to say thank you very much for your support. That's all. Thank you, >> uh, Commissioner Clark. >> Thank you so much. >> I just want to say that I'm really
appreciative. Uh, this was one of the days when I saw the arts moment come together because, you know, sometimes we have readings or dance or poetry or singing and to see the breadth and depth of Mr. Karen's community involvement,
art involvement, his family's involvement. It really shows how important the arts is to his life and his well-being as well as to our community. And I just want to thank him and I'm glad that he mentioned the Creek
District. Uh there are people who are dedicating their whole lives, their whole businesses to improving that area and making it a destination. And I'm hoping that I'm glad that you mentioned that about a destination plan so we can do some art planning for Steuart. So, um
it's long term and it's a good idea and I'm hope that we'll continue to hear from you and to work with you and to work with others in the community. Stewart is a art t in Stewart and we really mean it and I really appreciate
your participating in the arts moment today and for all the others in Stewart who really work on that. I think it is so important and that's a good thing. Kids are out for the summer in school, out of school, and they need so many
things to keep them occupied. And I think the arts is a big thing. And I hope that those who have opportunities to support children during the summer will support them with any type of assistance or some type of art or music program. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Clark. Moving on to comments by city manager. >> Thank you, Mayor. the uh I was contacted by our audit team who then shared some information.
They've adjusted the audit schedule for fiscal year 25 um to be done no later than August 31st according to their letter. Uh when I found out this information, I met with the uh managing partner and I met with
the field uh auditor and uh just to establish a relationship and to ensure that they knew how to get a hold of me and uh to ensure that we were providing everything that needed to be done. They attributed the adjustment to the
calendar uh due to the turnover in the finance department and I accepted that explanation and I wasn't happy about it because I I believe an audit should be done on time and uh it will be done on
time in the future. Um, so just established that relationship and made sure that they have everything that they need to conclude the audit for fiscal year 25 and u they they assured me they
do. So that'll begin next week. Um, on a positive note, not that that wasn't positive because we're always moving forward. Uh I have had in my queue uh some of what are called what's good and
um what's good turned over by the um interim city manager uh some time ago and I apologize for the delay but um Jim Miner, a battalion chief with our fire department. He um accomplished uh
getting a master of public administration and um that was done uh some time ago, a couple months ago, but I wanted to make sure that we're um pointing things out and and
reporting to you and to the public that our staff is always, you know, on duty, but they're also off duty getting uh master's degrees and other furthering educational opportunities, uh which is fabulous. And this particular master's degree had an
emphasis in government and policy. So, um, and as you get further up the chain of command, although a firefighter never stops being a firefighter, there are administrative duties and government uh, duties that um, I'm sure this education
will benefit our battalion chief. So, I wanted to recognize James Dennis Miner. Also uh want to also recognize um two of our uh folks uh in the police
department. Um crime analyst Kayn Brown and Eileen Finley graduated from the Florida Law Enforcement Analyst Academy class 40. Uh this is administered from by the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement and provides training to analysts from across the state. Eileen and Caitlyn attended training in Palm Beach County for one week a month for six straight months and we're very proud of them achieving this um and becoming
certified crime analysts. So those are that's what's good on the staff. Next uh we begin budget meetings with department heads starting on Monday. So I'm looking forward to that. We are putting together the budget. We have
been putting together the budget, but we're we're getting down into where I will sit with department heads and they will defend their budgets to the city manager and we'll go over that process that begins next Monday. and a story uh
from the new guy who moved here hopefully on his last move and my wife reminds me of um it's been 16 moves and this will be 17 and hope hopefully the last. Uh a gentleman helped me today at at the
house while uh doing some things and the gentleman said to me that uh he moved to Steuart some time ago reluctantly reluctantly told the real estate agent keep my car or you know keep keep us on hold because um we're probably going to
sell this house in two years. Um that gentleman told me today that um although he and his wife parted ways and she moved away that he stayed and he stayed for good and he is a proud city
resident of Stewart and uh thinks it's a fabulous place and I think that too and it just goes to show you uh what a what a great city we have and uh we're going to make it even better. So thank you mayor. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mike. And thank you for upholding uh the transparency in the city of Stewart by letting the public know about the financial audit. To further touch base on transparency, uh we have a mayor signatures log on the
city website. So things that I sign administratively, administratively, they never used to come in front of this board until that was something that I pushed for. So things that I sign administratively, the public will become aware of those things. If you go on the city website
under city commissioners, at the bottom there's a mayor's signature log to keep track of things. Um, I also wanted to state there's been two controversial agenda items that have come through this board through the last two meetings that have gone nowhere for
the public. Uh what I ask for from fellow board members, we have one on the agenda tonight regarding the chicken ordinance. Instead of letting things potentially die here tonight and maybe not move it to a second reading, if we could at least have a motion to
table to a date certain to where we have that fifth board member so they could decide the future for the public instead of just letting things die here tonight. That's all I have to say for my comments. Can I get a motion for approval of the
agenda? >> Move approval of the agenda is published. >> I'll second the motion. >> We have a motion for approval of the agenda from Commissioner Clark and seconded by Commissioner Gio. Is there any public comment on this motion?
Seeing no public comment, all those in favor? >> I. Motion passes unanimously. Comments from the public on nonaggenda items. Please remember it's limited to three minutes.
>> Jeff Crossoff. >> Welcome Jeff. >> Ladies and gentlemen, uh Mr. Mayor, commissioners Jeffoff Stewart. Uh there was an article in the paper where there was a two issue, if you will, and it was
regarding the 2acre paral north on US1 on uh the bridge and its ability to generate revenue as an offset to the costs of maintaining the Haney Creek wershed project. Rest
assured, the public has already approved. really doesn't need to go out again. That was a very complex project that was put together and uh took a lot of effort. As architect of the project, I know your control rests in site plan
approval. That's that's a good thing. Environmental sensitivity was always first and foremost considered in that we put in there that there should be no gas stations.
close to what we were trying to protect. The planning department file on this uh with all the iterations in it is uh it has quite a few. I don't know if you've looked at it or taken the time,
but it um there were a number of them in there to generate revenue and that was not wrapped up. That was one of the things I was unable to wrap up before it retired.
I encourage you to move forward with the project, especially in light of what you mentioned, upcoming restraints that very well may pass in Florida limiting revenue. And I know Milton has
boardlocks in the area and maintenance to do. So, you should never pass up the opportunity to lease property, not necessarily the county. And I'm I'm happy to meet with each one of you individually
to give you historical context or some of the ideas that constructive ideas that we had in order to gain revenue not only there but if there's anything else I'll be happy to help you with that
historical Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate it. >> Thank you, Jeff. I'll be reaching out as well. >> Robert Mayons, Robert. Good afternoon.
Robert Mayon, 4461 Southeast Federal Highway. I'm here today respectfully request a pause of the enforcement actions against my property. I've done business in Stewart for 26 years and care deeply about this city. Unfortunately, many attorneys, business owners, and re residents are saying the
city's current government processes are in disarray. My property has become a clear example. Staff obtained a special magistrate order with deadlines and fines based on incomplete and misleading information. At the hearing, key questions were referred to the city attorney, but left unanswered. The
special magistrate still issued the decision and order without those answers and relied on misinformation from staff. Weeks later, the city's own emails confirm serious ambiguities in what rules actually apply to my property. The city cannot lawfully enforce regulations while its own legal council admits the
regulatory groundwork is unclear. That is significant. In 2007, I helped the city annex the 25 overgrown acres to the south. That history cannot now be ignored, including the concessions, zoning history, prior allowed uses, decades of parking and storage, grandfathering, vested rights, equitable
estoppel, and the city's own conduct over many years. These are not minor issues. They go to the heart of whether these enforcement actions are even valid. The same uncertainty affects the sign and sanitation demands. I am now being told they need a permit and a sign company just to change a copy on an existing accepted and grandfather sign
faces. Changes that I've made for two two decades and several local sign companies confirm have never been required for nearly four decades. Similarly, staff pushed for aggressively for unnecessary recycling dumpster before backing off as if they were doing me a favor when in reality it was a
fabricated requirement. The city has no history of my garbage collection needs. So, I offered a common sense initial approach to established service that does not waste the city's resources, my space, or money. These examples show why staff's demands need independent review before more costs and fines are imposed.
I am not ignoring the city. My current approved compliance work proves my good faith. I've spent significant money, absorbed business interruptions, and worked seven days a week to improve the property. I should not face daily fines, costly changes, or further business interruption, while the city is still sorting out what lawfully applies and
the consequences of unresolved problems in its own annexation process. Even now, staff has refused to answer legitimate written questions that would either clarify the city's position or expose the overly aggressive and misinformed assertions behind these violations. I respectfully ask that the current order,
deadlines, and fines be placed on hold until the city issues a clear written determination of what lawfully applies to my property. That determination must address the annexation history, zoning status, allowed uses, BTR, sign authority, sanitation requirements, grandfather rights, lawful limits of
inspection, and the proper scope of enforcement. This is the fair and responsible path. Thank you. >> Thank you, Robert. I'm going to shoot you an email as well just to follow up to get more information with you and um if Mike and Lee can look into this and
from what I understand the the magistrate board is the one that would be handling any code enforcement stuff as well, not necessarily this board majority and Lee might be able to correct me if I'm wrong on that. >> Yeah, correct. It's in the magistrate's hands and you guys are not allowed to
interject into that process. So, the petition he's making, he needs to make it before the magistrate and and he's not been fined yet. He's been given time to get in compliance. And my understanding he's he's done a good job at doing what all he can. Um, if you want me to go into more details,
I can. I think the the point, if I may, I think the point is that the special magistrate acted upon misinformation and lack of proper information. When Mr. Bagot was addressed by the special magistrate. He had no knowledge of the ambiguity that was actually occurring
surrounding my property. So he referred to Miss Cougler who further uh led to miss more misinformation to the special magistrate and he made his decision based on that misinformation. So I I think that's my main beef is
>> Well, I appreciate your feedback and hopefully the city can resolve this with you. Like I said, I'll follow up with an email just so I can follow along the process with you. >> Okay. >> Thank you for your time. I'll be happy to meet with anyone that in individually or separately if so desired. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Robert >> Alan Marcus. Hello. What I'm about to talk to you about uh affects that we uh sign in this uh town. I've been a sign contractor here for
almost 36 years. Um I do work for the city which I'm very grateful for. I do a lot of work for the city. I helped write the codes for the city uh Martin County and Port St. as a signed contractor.
Many things in the current sign code needs to be updated. Uh things that are in the sign code shouldn't have been in there from the start and uh they were acknowledged at the time saying that we'll get back to that. Well, I think this is the time to get that straightened out. Uh but for the most
pressing thing right now is face and copy changes. Uh for over 34 years, no sign permit was needed. Last year, out of nowhere, we were told that you need a permit to change copy on a sign face at
Piranha Pats. We removed the sign face, stripped the old sign face from Frankenstein's, um, resprayed the back, put new copy on it, put it back in, and all of a sudden they said, "You need a permit." That
came after over 34 years of not needing a permit out of nowhere. The code did not change. The interpretation by one person did. In Martin, St. Lucy and Port St. Lucy, SS
Point, all do not require a permit. All the sign companies in town are not aware of this change. Um, this is not a structural change whatsoever. Uh,
I have probably installed over 500 signs in this town over 34 years. Are you going to go back to 500 places and start finding them? They started finding somebody I had to pull a permit for a couple weeks ago just to help him out
because he was frantic. It cost them $600 for actually over $1,000 for the permit. uh $600 in uh back fines. Um like I said in the past, we never needed
a permit. Um many issues come with this. It's not transparent. No sign companies are aware of this. Permit cost sometimes costs more than the actual copy change.
We don't know if it only is only for a wall sign on monuments or replacing old vinyl. Only a contractor like myself, which I'm state licensed, um online can get a permit. Um if you're
changing a copy, can I proceed? >> Three minutes, sir. comments are limited to three minutes, but I I do have something to say. It won't be a back and forth exchange necessary, Allan, but um my comments regarding this would be I met with city
staff. I met with Mike and and Jody. Um my comments would be for this to come back as a discussion item based off the consensus from this board to get more information on how other municipalities operate and why it changed and just have the discussion publicly. >> Excuse me.
>> Hang on one sec, Alan. We're not going to go back and forth with public comment, but I just wanted to see where the commissioners were if they wanted this back as a discussion, a D&D item for us to give a consensus to the city manager to bring it back. >> Hang on, Alan.
>> I think it's certainly important, >> Commissioner Reg. >> Um, sure. I would like the city manager, however, to >> look into this initially. >> Perhaps he can resolve it. Correct. So I I believe there's been discussion and
meetings with uh the public comment and city manager and potentially city attorney. Um >> there's a real easy solution. >> Hang on, Alan. >> As long as we city attorney and manager can talk with development director.
That's administrative things and we just need to make sure that staff has the opportunity to to use their whatever power administrative rule they have to do that and then if there's something that needs to be changed I know we're going to be working on the comprehensive
plan and adding some things and I did talk to Mr. Marcus so I just let city manager work with it and if we need to have a discussion deliberation they come back to us. >> Okay. So do you guys Then it sounds like two of us support it and two might not.
They want staff to figure it out if they need us. >> Yeah, there might be any regulation change. So, >> uh, yes, Commissioner Go. >> Yes, I agree that staff should look at it, but I think that we should have the right to deliberate once we have the information because this is one
individual who knows, but the rest of the community may not know how that code affects them. if we need to change or do something to the real simple solution. >> So Alan, I I I understand you're trying to provide comment back and forth, but your three minutes were up and I was trying to get a consensus from the
board. You can see two of us support it coming back as a DND item. The other two do not. I need majority, I believe, for consensus. They want staff to talk about it if they need us. >> I'm in solutions. >> I like solutions.
>> I understand. your your public comments for three minutes though. I'm sorry. >> Commissioner, >> I was just going to suggest to gentleman that he can send his solution via email. >> Thanks, Alan.
>> I'm sorry. Did this did he fill out a card? >> Next, I have Bob Zakio. >> Welcome, Bob. >> Sorry. I hope everything's okay. jump up and down. >> I just I'll keep it keep it brief and um
and definitely um in the positive for sure. I just want to say thank you to the to the commissioners, mayor, uh all of you that have come out seen project involved in the community uh programming and the community engagements that we're doing.
Um, for the record, Bob Zakio, CEO of Project Lift, and certainly very impressed with the um the city staff. Certainly, I know some of us are in the crowd that are that are working on this project over Stewart. Um, but I just
wanted to say thank you uh to the uh to the commission for all the hard work that they put into it and um and the support they've given. also uh you know making a shout out to Canal for her steadfast uh work that she's put in over this past couple months and Lee as well.
Thank you so much sir for all the work of going back and forth making sure this is a good project. Um also extending a warm welcome to to Michael GR >> right I get it. >> Nice to welcome to Stuart. I hope you
stay longer than and no divorces or anything like that end up in it. So, but uh we're we're glad to have you. We're glad to have you. Welcome. I welcome the opportunity to come see you or come meet you um when the when the time is right and certainly the rest of the the commission. But again, thank you all
very much. Project is moving forward uh really really well. And again, hats off to the to the city staff for all the work that they've put into this and the changes that they've had to go through over the past year or two to be able to still move projects forward. It's awesome. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Bob. I hope all grand opening >> same thing in the time >> you know we're looking for program launches first quarter of 2027 construction is doing a great job by the way >> and also the CDBG
manager I think it's doing that doing a great job too staying stay in touch with everything we do I know that there's been some pieces to that in the past that I think are important to know that we got a good one appate Next I have Reginald Floyd.
Good evening, Mayor Commissioners. I have a partner who's also making this presentation. I'm Reginald Floyd with the Genesis Group 1906 and Mr. David Myers who the president of this group also he's going to also be assisting in the presentation
this afternoon. uh to the mayor and to the uh commissioners. We appreciate and thank you humbly submitted opportunity to speak represent Alpha Fernity Incorporated. Uh we're the oldest existing uh Greek
letter fraternity for African-Americans. Uh we plan on bringing a chapter of Alpha Falaternity Incorporated to Martin County. our our fraternity believes in um manly deeds, scholarship and love of
all mankind. Some of the programs that we happen to support as a fraternity or march of dimes, big brothers, uh big sisters, go to high school, go to college, and a voteless people as hopeless people. Uh part of that is one
of the things that we'd like uh to ask is a letter of support from uh from the city uh welcoming us to to come in and continue our mentoring program. Our mentoring program is called EGO. EGO
stands for the educated gentleman organization. Uh historically we've served some 270 young men. uh those young men that once they're in our program, we have a 84% completion rate of our program, we have a 100% uh
participant graduation rate uh if they stay throughout the 12th grade. We have a 100% uh all participants receive uh scholarships. Uh we have a 77% uh those that are in our program are
accepted to colleges and universities and we have a 82% rate of those that were in our program that went on to college go on to receive college degrees. Either AA bachelors are are going down the line. Uh we've had
participants from uh go on to Florida&M, Bthoon Cooking, Alabama State, Tuskegee, Clapton, Vald Dosta, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, University of Miami, Full Cell, Emory Riddle, University of Florida, University of South Florida, University of Central
Florida, uh University of Massachusetts, Indian River State College, uh St. Augustine, Clifton, and several others. Mayor, uh, commissioners, we come in humbly wanting to help. Uh, we want to work with young people and we'd love to
have a letter of support from you, from commissioners welcoming us to come in and thank you for your time. >> Thank you. So, to the board, I was the one that instructed uh the clerk's office to send Mr. Lloyd an email back to instruct them
to provide public comment asking for a letter of support. to get a board consensus. >> Just get a little more specific. >> You can so you can ask them for clarification purposes during public comment or it could come back as a DND item.
>> Yeah, I just like a little more fully anticipating supporting >> their efforts. I'd just like a little more specificity as to >> Can ask them while they're here or >> I thought you didn't back and forth during public comment. >> Uh you can ask questions for clarification.
So yes, I will allow that. >> Yes, sir. >> So what age? >> Uh the young men in our program, we accept them as early as the eighth grade all the way through 12th grade. Basically 13 to 18.
>> Okay. I was just I was I was just approached by an individual who was expressing frustration that we weren't reaching out to this specific age group and how dire the need is and how much impact you can have. So I'm
delighted to hear that. Um Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. No problem. >> All right. So you have your consensus for a letter of support to the city manager. Perfect. Thank you.
>> Welcome, Mark. >> Mark Buckville, 406 Southeast Finy Drive, Stewart, Florida, 34996. And um I'm I'm glad I ended up coming today because it turned out what I wanted to mention. Um, I was glad Jeff Croskoff came in because what I was
going to suggest is that we're all going to be facing budget uh I think some budget constraints coming up and um you know we have a lot of money that's in the CRA and not any money hardly that's in the general fund and what I'm asking
is that we take a look whether that whether we bring somebody in to help us with it but we take a look at ways that we might be able to redirect direct services to the CRA that they could be funded by CRA money instead of directing that having that money come out of uh
city pockets. For example, and I'm not saying if we had a park that was in the CRA and that park was supported for the CRA now other residents can use that park, right? But that would I would
think and that's why I say we may need to bring somebody in would be the potential to fund that out of CRA and we hear these big projects and those big projects the taxes they're paying well let's get some of their money in helping out city residents. So so there's things
like that that I think that for example um fund in fund accounting you can have uh personnel and that personnel can be funded out of that fund. So, you know, I I think looking at who's doing what and
how much of that maybe is concentrated for for per CRA instead of just the city. You know, we may be doing an allocation. We may need to do actual people. But just to take a look at that. And I think that um you know, since Jeff was here, maybe he'd be willing to he's, as many of you know, he was always kind
of our go-to guy on budget and um for years. But um I I just think it's something that we should look at as a way to potentially and I And I don't know if this would qualify or not, but I'll give you one other example. The fire station that's over on
that's o, you know, over on U MLK, right? That station has to have certain types of equipment. It has to be in a certain location because of something that Collier once told me called confflaggeration or something. So confflaguration means that the downtown
will burn instantaneously. That's what it means. that anything that's much further out than that you won't the downtown area is vulnerable to that type of thing because of how they're built, how it's constructed, what's there. So if that's the case, that's a CRA activity, you
know, so if we have to have equipment and items there because of this, I think there's an opportunity there to move the funding with it. Anyway, so those are just some suggestions I wanted to uh to make. And then the other thing is since Bob was here, um, his project, you know,
and what they do is great and there's a serious suicide problem going on right now in the middle school to high school. So, um, take a look at that. We may need to do so. >> Thank you. >> Thank you as always, Mark.
>> Sherry White, >> good evening, mayor, commissioners. Um, just want to comment on the gentleman who was speaking from the sign company. Um, being a former planning and zoning board member for the city of Port St. Lucy, we I was one of the persons that
went through the whole sign code and the planning and zoning board was instrumental in in looking at that code. So, if that helps any. >> I have no further public comment. >> All right. Seeing no further public comment, we're going to move on to
approval of the consent calendar. >> Move approval of the consent calendar. >> Second. >> So, we have a motion for approval of the consent calendar from Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Clark. Are there any public comments on this motion?
>> Seeing none, Mary. Roll call. >> Commissioner Clark. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rich? Yes. >> Commissioner Dob. >> Yes. Mayor Reed. >> Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Moving on to commission action.
Agenda item eight. Lee, if you could read that for us. Resolution number 41-2026, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Stewart, Florida, authorizing the city of Stewart Police Department to provide services to the Martin County School Board for teaching
the Phoenix curriculum at Spectrum Academy, JD Parker Elementary School and any other Martin County school within the city, requesting the curriculum, authorizing the mayor to execute the attached interlocal agreement between Martin County School Board and the city
of Stewart for the Steuart Police Department Youth Crime Prevention Intervention Program providing for an effective date and for other purposes. >> Chief, you had some comments on it? >> Yes, mayor. Thank you, commissioners. Um, this was placed on the commission uh
for commission action. It was probably better suited for the consent agenda. This is a uh ILA that has been in place for almost nine years prior to this renewal. And the Phoenix curriculum is a curriculum that our crime prevention intervention specialist, our youth,
she's a youth counselor, Kathleen Lannon, who's been with the city of Stewart for 26 years. She teaches this program. She's certified to teach it and has been cooperatively teaching it at uh at the school at JD Parker and at Spectrum this past school year. Prior to
that, she was uh teaching it at the East Stewart uh youth initiative, the after school program, but that was later rolled into the Boys and Girls Club. Um, however, we're the school board and Kathleen are just looking to expand opportunity to allow her to teach this in other schools to fourth and fifth
graders and up as a deterrent uh to gang and drug activity in the community. It's a very past proven effective program. She teaches it one hour once a week for six weeks in with in the schools and she
can do different grades throughout the school year. So this past school year, she taught it to about 170 approximately 170 uh children and is continuing to expand to other schools or looking to expand. So this would just allow us to clean up some language in the prior ILA
and allow her to teach if other schools in the district especially the ones in the city would like her to come teach that to to the youth for a um you know to to better educate them on these areas. >> Question chief with this ILA. This is
just us authorizing us Steuart police department to work with the school district for the curriculum I guess. >> Yes, mayor. And if they if the school's request through Mr. Maine through the pre through the uh school district that they would like Kathleen to Kathleen
Landon to come teach this curriculum. She'll expand it to other schools, but she is currently teaching it at JD Parker and Spectrum. Does the school district uh pay for the curriculum or is it police department or is it collaboration? >> Yeah. So there's no money that exchanges
hands. Uh it's a very uh you know it's a she learned it has the curriculum. There isn't much cost associated with it other than providing her as the subject matter expert to be able to teach it for the one hour increments over the six week period of time. Uh, Commissioner Giovi,
>> I'd like to make a motion to accept resolution 412026, a resolution of the city commission of the city of Stewart, Florida, authorizing the city of Stewart Police Department to provide services to the Martin County School Board for teaching the Phoenix Curriculum at Spectrum Academy. >> Second.
>> We have a motion for resolution number 412026 by Commissioner Gio and seconded by Commissioner Clark. Are there any public comments on this motion? Seeing none. Mary roll call. >> Mayor Reed. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Clark. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rich. >> Yes. >> Commissioner G. >> Yes. >> Motion passes unanimously. Moving on to believe. Do I have to read this second reading if it has a date certain? >> No. So um we we we put it in place just
u for advertising purposes so we don't incur more advertising costs. since it was continued to a date certain and announced at the last meeting that this item came up and and it was date to a date certain the next agenda the next regular commission we don't have to read it.
>> Okay. Uh all right so moving on to ordinance first reading regarding backyard chickens and residential zoning districts. Lee if you could read that. >> Sure. >> Ordinance. Ordinance number 2552-2026, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Steuart, Florida, amending
the city's land development code, chapter 2, zoning districts, uses allowed, density, intensity, section 2.06.00 supplemental use standards to add a new section 2.06.24,
24 backyard chickens in certain residential zoning districts and to amend the city's code of ordinances chapter 8-animals article one in general section 8.2 to livestock prohibited in the Stewart in
in the Stewart's code of ordinances by removing certain provisions relating related to allow backyard chickens in certain residential zoning districts providing for the repeal of prior ordinances and resolutions and conflict providing for codification providing for
severability providing for an effective date and for other purposes. >> Thanks Good evening, uh, mayor and, uh, commissioners. My name is Jody Cougler with the development department. Um, just to give you a little bit of
background, on February 23rd, 2026, the city commission directed staff to prepare the necessary ordinance to allow backyard chickens within certain residential districts. The city commission recognizes a growing trend toward sustainable living practices,
including the desire to incorporate fresher local locally sourced project products into daily diets. Additionally, there is an increasing interest in providing residents with opportunities to engage in a smallcale backyard food production. Allowing a limited number of
chickens on residential properties supports these objectives by enabling property owners to produce eggs for personal consumption. The proposed amendment would permit the keeping of up to four chickens as accessory use on an occupied detached single family and
duplex properties within the R1A, R1, R2, urban neighborhood and single family detached zoning districts within the East Stewart neighborhood. then use would be subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the attached draft ordinance. This item was heard at
the uh CRB on March on May 5th, 2025. The the uh CRB held a public hearing and remind recommended approval to the city commission with the following amendment recommendations. Consider a hedge in lie of a fence. Increase the height of a chicken coop to
seven feet. And consider a 5-ft fence in lie of a six-foot fence. Uh this item was also taken to the uh local planning agency on May 14, 2025 where the LPA held a public hearing and recommended approval for the city commission with the caveat that the city commission
considered an annual fee in lie of a permit of $65. And additionally, the LPA recommended a yearly license renewal fee of $10. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. This concludes staff representation. >> Thank you. Uh, Commissioner Goi.
>> Yes. I'd like to make a motion to move U ordinance 2552 2026 to the second reading. 52 2026. A motion was made by Commissioner Gio to move it to second reading and seconded by Commissioner
Clark. Are there any public comments on this motion? >> Yes, I have a comment. Samantha Smith, >> welcome Samantha. >> Welcome. >> Um, I'll keep it brief because you have
the letter in your email. I am one of the constituents that's reached out to you. I'm sure there were probably Um, I took some personal time today to be here. Unfortunately, the timing is a little tough, so you don't you might not see too many more supporters in the audience, but um, I just want to say
that this was a concerted and organized grassroots effort to get something put in front of you that balances both private property rights and public health and safety concerns. It allows for people to connect with their food, to have a sense of sustenance and also
achievement and raising these animals. And the concerns that most folks have are not much different than concerns you might have with managing your own pets or you know pets. Um I do think that the city of Stewart has wonderful
constituents and residents and I do have full faith in folks to responsibly manage their households as well as the things that they choose to do in their backyards. Um, and through this program there is good balance. We have some skin in the game. We're asking for uh a
registration fee of $65 and then an annual renewal fee of 10. So when we talk about cost cutting, um, this is actually a way to generate revenue in some cases. If there are 8,60 residences in city of Stewart that qualify for this program with an initial registration fee
of $65, that is 5,000 or $523,900 at initial registration with an annual rollover of $10,000. A household, that's another 80,000. Even if you cut that in half, those are still attractive numbers. That's a quart of a million dollars and then an additional 40k a
year. So I think that this is balanced. It addresses concerns. It provides for recourse. It provides for responsible management. And I would just appreciate it if you would consider all information when you make your decision. Um, if this does make a decision,
>> thank you. >> So, that was all the public comments. Uh, do any of the board members have any comments for staff? Commissioner. >> Um, >> yeah, it didn't take long for this ordinance to go off the rails here with
the language. So, attached at the very end of this agenda item was on page 187 was a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences article exploring the
possibilities of backyard chickens locally. If you go to the last three pages of that two or three pages, there's lots of links and I started going through clicking all those links and reading those articles and I came upon one
that at the end near the end rather and it's titled raising backyard chickens for eggs from the University of Florida IFAS extension and it talks about it says give a hoot Don't pollute.
Do not store waste or compost in proximity to water bodies and consider the effect of runoff from your coupe. Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients that can lead to excessive plant and algae growth in water. As microbes decompose the
increased organic matter, they can deplete the available oxygen in the water leading to fish kills. Florida has many water bodies considered impaired due to excessive nutrients. Runoff containing waste from your
chickens can contribute to pollution. It says in our comprehensive plan which is cited in the very first item in the ordinance policy 5.82.5 A2.5. No activity shall be permitted which
would adversely affect the quantity or quality of recharge entering the city's aquifers or within the city's watershed basins. We simply cannot do this. According to the comp plan, there is no survey of
water bodies in there in this ordinance. There's no survey of homes that may potentially be too close to those water bodies and should be excluded. If you look at Frasier Creek and Pppleton Creeks, there are homes all along that. We're going to hopefully
receive a substantial grant and spend quite a bit of money to clean up Pleton Creek. If we have coups polluting it right above it, what's the point? This ordinance is premature
and should not be considered at this time unless we pay much closer attention to our responsibility under not polluting our own waters. for the municipality. That is the only environmental attorney dedicated solely
to holding all others to uh runoff requirements. We should hold ourselves to the highest standards. And this is just I find it unacceptable that we've overlooked this
obligation under the comprehensive plan. Um, for clarification for staff, is staff comfortable addressing Commissioner Rich's comments or would that be addressed at the second reading? >> Mayor Reed, if uh staff can address this
at the second reading, there is ways to manage the waste. Um, so there is things that you can buy on Amazon that does have a waste contrament that are made for chickens. Um so there is ways that we could um look at it to where they
would have to to uh manage that waste. Um also they can compost it as well which is most people do compost a lot of the chicken waste and use it for their plants. Um it is a very good nutrients for the plants. Um, so there's a lot of that and and those are the part of the
process that if this was to go forward that the city staff would educate uh anybody who comes in for a permitting. Um, show them what they can do as far as keeping the waste within their the runoffs within their confined area. Um, we can certainly draft some some
language in there as well. Um, so there is opportunities if you're close to an inlet or next to a storm drainage um that we can um provide them some information or some things that they would have to obtain. >> And and also for historical purposes,
this this ordinance passed back in 2017. Is this the original language from that ordinance as well and it hasn't been amended? Uh, Mayor Reed, that that ordinance was not part this was drafted through strictly through uh the attorney uh Baguette and um this we did not go
back to the original language. Uh but there is a lot of um information out there that when you're writing these chicken ordinances of what you want to make sure that's captured in there. Um again, I'm not um I am very familiar with writing chicken ordinances. Um I'm not an expert, but I did work for St.
county at the time and we did adopt a chicken uh backyard chicken and it was very successful. Um there are still people obtaining permits and their staff is a little bit larger than ours but if there is an issue um our code enforcement will be knowledgeable and also our department will be
knowledgeable of what we're looking for and what we be anything that's proactive or pre or reactive. >> Awesome. Thank you Jody. Uh Commissioner Clark, you had your light on. >> Andrew had Okay, good. Thanks. >> Yep. So, um, I grew up with chickens, so
I know them, but I was in a rural area and I I love chickens and I agree with them, but my main concerns were, of course, the any type of pollution or any lack of responsibility from um a
homeowner. So, I did talk to our um >> homes or u make sure Ruth Holmes are our or attorney and we talked about the possibility of any type of language with
regard to distance from waterways. I know when we had the urban floor urban ground floor farms which was a urban district of agriculture or what I don't know what the actual
>> yeah and it was right by Frasier Creek um right or Bruno Pond and Frasier Creek all the same difference. one flows into the other. But um they so they were right there, but they had very strict guidelines how they were going to control uh any type of waste that came
down or if it even came to the actual earth. It was a way to collect it before it um it got to the earth so that nothing seeped into the earth and got washed away during rains and so on. So there was guidelines for that and that's
a good example that it was there beside a water body or a couple of water bodies that converge into each other. But when we have residents who we're not watching and that was a very special um land use and that was a very special um uh
project and business that they had in that location and so they were um watched carefully. Um we just want to make I know that the fee the the 50 or $60 fee and the $10 any whatever the number of the fee is and doing it every
year but whatever it is that we have to do to make sure that people control it and I had some people who actually came to the last meeting but we didn't discuss it. I don't see them here today and I know that there are people in Stewart who have chickens now uh even
though it's not allowed but I wanted our um environmental attorney to look at some other to see anybody in the treasure coast which are municipalities not rural areas or um in within the county but
anything that's within a municipality and especially a municipality that has creek rivers or any type of water bodies um there if there were any descriptions and I'm glad that um Commissioner Rich brought up the University of Florida um
guidelines, but it's it's a no-brainer that we have to look at these things and make sure that we're careful and if it's going to be burdensome on us and if we're not setting the right example, if we're not getting the the bar high enough, I think we need to make sure
that by another reading that there's enough outreach and information from our environmental attorney that gives us some clear guidelines because we know that if we do this, we're going to be um the um example that a lot of probably
other small cities along the coast look at and we're going to be the one that has it. I I couldn't find anybody. I found Okachobee and St. Lucy. They're all counties. I didn't find any of our cities along the the east coast that had chickens, but maybe I didn't look hard
enough, but I just want to make sure that we have everything from our environmental attorney. And if we need to add those guidelines and distances and details as to disposal and additional fines or anything like that,
I want to make sure that's in there. >> Does that? >> Yeah, for right now. >> Commissioner, >> wait. I'd like to make a motion to move this to the first reading to August 18th. Are we going to meet on the August 18th?
>> Or is it the 17th? >> Yeah, it's make it the second meeting in office. But why we rush in though? Why don't we just um wait until if we have new people here, they can always >> believe that's the date.
>> August 18th is election date. >> I'm sorry. Then what is the >> August 17th? The second week meeting in the first meeting after election. >> Yes. The second meeting in office.
>> Uh Commissioner Rich, you had Yeah, I still think we're going to have to amend the comp plan, which is not a big deal, folks, because we have to amend the comp plan. We still haven't amended the comp plan since the second zip, and we've changed those ordinances, and they're actually going to expire
because we've waited so long. So, um, so to include this, I appreciate Commissioner Gobi making the amendment because I'm I'm very discouraged that the staff made no
recognition of the obligation of this city to protect its water. I don't understand how that happened. Um, so to me, you should have to start all over again. Um,
and there's nothing wrong with, you know, getting a survey, you know, it may turn out like the pond that's over on um over by the Ottabon Park there that's surrounded by homes. >> You know, you might,
you know, 10 chicken coops may create too much of a load. We haven't done any of that assessment. We've shown no I I just I'm I'm very upset that we ignored our responsibility
to adhere to one of our most important comp plan policies. So I would like the city to start all over again do much more comprehensive uh analysis. There's nothing in here about rats. I don't know about you, but
there's rat problems in my neighborhood and there's nothing talked and these do attract rats and we need a whole different type of fencing. You need a whole different type of compost protection. You need a whole different type of bagging of the waste.
It's not to say it can't be done, but it needs to be done right. And there's there is no hurry at all here. Those are my comments. >> Thank you, Commissioner Rich. Uh, my comments are I I have full faith in
the homeowners to take care of their own property. Um, I don't sitting up here, I uh my job is not to police law-abiding citizens that can follow common sense rules. Um, that's something that's taught from your parents. Um, Jody, are
you able to show us on the GIS map where you would be able to even have chickens based off of how the ordinance is written now? >> I believe it's not pull it up for you. >> Yeah, no worries. And as far as the comp plan, was that with language in there the first time the ordinance passed for
a week in the city back in 2017? >> And I I know it's a lot. >> Mayor Reed, I don't have that answer for you today, but I can I can get that answer for you. >> Okay. Um, my other comments would be as far as in the the ordinance, I think the coupe
height should be higher than six foot. Um, some people that are taller than six. I'm six foot myself, so you're going to duck going into a chicken cube. I think it should be seven foot, um, in my opinion. And there's people even taller than myself that might want chickens. As far as property value, I
think that might be negated. You can look at uh, Key West in the Keys. I don't think it affects their property values one bit. Um, I can't afford a house down there, but I can afford one in the city of Stewart. As far as a rodent issue, uh, would this potentially
attribute to more? I don't know. There's rats in downtown Stewart currently. >> And there's no chickens. Um, >> you you see um you see some homeowners in multif family. They have dogs. I'm not sure where they walk their dogs. Um,
so I think for homeowners, they have a backyard, they should be able to use it how they feel necessary. Um, and hopefully staff can answer all the questions and concerns that we have as board members. As far as rushing something, um, I've I've seen things
done much faster in the city, even prior to myself getting here. I don't think anything from this ordinance is being rushed. It it was voted on and approved back in 2017 and rescended after a week. There's still property owners that
probably still currently have chickens in the city and the county and they might be out of compliance, but you know, I don't get calls about that. I don't know about staff if they can attest to that for homeowners unless your neighbors calling on you.
But this is property rights and I think the city deserves it. So, if you see the um the gold colors um that is your R1 your R R1A is your yellow properties your >> and did you filter out the GIS for where
you're allowed where based off of how the ordinance is written now where they would be able to be Jod? >> Um I would have to go through the other side. um if I could do that >> and provide that information to you um just to show those locations of where >> those um this proposed ordinance. Um
>> so one of the other things too when we bring this back you could even look at a pilot program. Um I know a lot of places started out with pilot programs. So that's something you may want to uh if if this is something you want to test before you actually move forward with a type this type of uh ordinance you can
also do a pilot program for a year. Um, a lot of places have done that in the beginning. Um, so it's just something I can bring back both options. Just so you can look at that as well. >> So when you say like the pilot program, Jody, it would be an ordinance that would sunshine out after a year or it be renewed.
>> It would be sunshined out. Um, and you can be it could be a year, two years. Um, but it was be something to um, then we can collect the data that uh, Commissioner Rich is referring to. Um, but there is other options that we could do, but I can bring back both. So you can look at those as well.
>> Okay. >> If that's something the board would be inclined uh be >> wanting to hear. >> And uh my statement to the board would be this is this is what we do up here. We set policy. So the questions and concerns that we have, they don't have
to be resolved in first reading, second reading. You can ask for a third, fourth, fifth, sixth reading. So nothing is quote unquote rushed. Um, so any questions or concerns you have, I would ask them now for staff and then when it comes back at second reading, I know
there is a motion. And Commissioner Joy, you're talking about potentially amending your motion to a date certain. My suggestion would be to go from first reading to second reading and see if we can get these concerns addressed that the board has currently brought up for
staff. And if they get addressed, then we decide what we want to do. If there's more new concerns that are brought up at second reading, you can always ask for a third reading. So, like I said, it's not rushed as some like to say. Uh,
Commissioner Clark, you have a comment. >> Whatever we go to, we should at least um have I don't know, Mr. Cross or somebody or city manager put a little blurp somewhere in one of our um newsletters so that people know that this is being
considered. It's not just the people who are interested But everybody needs to know them. We have more time to get comments and uh invite people to learn more. And I'd also like to ask just to come up just to
say even if it's just hello, but I just want to make sure that we have the ears of our um environmental attorney Ruth Holmes. So I did talk to her earlier. >> Yeah. Uh thank you, commissioners. Um
Commissioner Clark and I did speak this afternoon um a little bit about the ordinance and uh in ways that it it could be improved upon and you know to Commissioner Rich's comments um you know
it's those are valid comments he's making. Um, but you know, also the state of Florida has developed very sophisticated storm water rules over the years. And you know, a lot of these types of, you know, real industrial
polluters or commercial polluters are required to keep their um their uh storm water on site. And um there could be some ways that we could apply those types of principles to this type of ordinance. But I I do think that, you
know, looking into what other communities have done. Sometimes we don't have to create the wheel ourselves. Um other communities that may have uh sought out or have in-house expertise in raising chickens. I don't know that
that's true, but it could be true and it's something that we could apply. But we we definitely don't want it to affect the waterways there. You know, there are setback requirements in and the language that we the existing language um that's meant for, you know, to keep it from being a nuisance to your neighbors. Same
thing could be said for required setbacks for uh ditches and waterways, >> right? >> Yeah, they that's right. They should be. And so we we need to think about that. So, you know, the city of Stewart is also a stakeholder in the basin management action plan, right? And we
don't want something like this to to affect our uh our very good score right now. So we and maybe if we do some if we do uh a bangup job and have some really good requirements that really aren't intended to burden the homeowner but the
property owner but what they're intended to do is make sure that the property owner's actions don't have unintended consequences on the city on the waters on the neighbors things like that. So there's a lot that we could do and maybe we could get more credit in our basin management action plan going forward if
we were to do something. Just a thought. >> Thank you. Thank you. This might be for Rivers Coalition. Has it ever been presented before? >> And maybe even find out if chicken poop versus dog or cat poop is more nutrient
rich because there's homeowners that have dogs that don't clean up their dog food. So, does that attribute to the nutrient rich as well? I guess it's like where do you draw the line on what people can have on their own property as far as
or whatnot. Like I said, it goes back to common sense. Any other board members have any comments or questions um for staff? Any public comment? >> Sure. But
>> yep, you got to come to the mic. the way that is being presented seems like everybody and their grandmother's going to have chickens >> and we're going to have a poop state and I don't understand that. >> You're just saying okay to somebody that
wants to >> produce their own food and take care of and limited the numbers. It's not going to be 400 chickens consume. You know, that's all I wanted to say. Thank you. I appreciate it.
>> There was one other thing too. I I saw a a comment in my research. I know in the ordinance currently as it's written, they wanted a number of four maximum. I read where six maximum was better, I guess, for the chickens. >> Oh, that's a good idea. >> So that'd be a nice number to hit then,
too. >> Some have five, I think, in Okobee or somewhere. >> So, we have a motion from Commissioner Gobi to move it. >> Oh, hang on. Yes, Missy, do you have a comment? Sorry, it's a slow night. I have no
problem with public comment. We work for you. >> I don't either. That's why they're here. >> Thank you. I am a gardener. I have a vegetable garden. I have to pay $25
for chicken manure that you dilute to fertilize your plants. I have tomatoes this big. I just want to tell you that it's gold. The manure is gold. It is not trash.
It's not going to go into the system. Trust me. And I just want to say I was here. What year was the first voted on? >> 2017. >> 2017. It was approved. The first
So, I just want to say that it's a win-win. So, thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. Commissioner Gio, you had a comment. >> Yeah. Well, I just wanted to amend my motion. >> Okay. Based on the conversation that all of the commissioners had input from our
environmental attorney, Miss Holmes, um I'd like to move this forward to the second reading, but at the second reading, as the mayor stated, we can do a third and fourth reading. have a lot of this information available and that we can then make a decision then.
>> Well, no, I'm I'm I'm saying I I'd like to amend it to say I'd like to move it now to the second reading. >> Okay, >> that's the original motion, but I but I wanted to say >> just for Could you have a third and fourth reading, Mr. Bagot? >> Well, technically it could be a third
and fourth, but it would still be the second reading. If you want to continue the second reading, you can continue the conversation to the next meeting if you'd like. >> So, you wouldn't have a discussion. You would just agree to >> Yeah. You you're not done. And >> sort of like what we did on the prior motion. Just say we're
>> right. I mean, let's say we're having an exhaustive discussion. You guys have a lot of still questions out there the staff can't answer and we've gone for three or four hours. You can say, "Let's just continue this to the next agenda meeting." And then it's the second reading. It's just continued. But you don't call it third, fourth.
>> The statute, the statute just requires >> continuously called the second reading. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So the the current motion is to move this to second reading. So it wouldn't
be amended unless you would at the end of this month or >> next city. Second reading. >> Well, you're wanting to have second reading. I thought you were talking about August is what you were talking about. >> Originally, I was going to make a sub
menu since we hadn't voted, >> but I think that with all of the commissioner's input and with the environmental attorney, I think for the second reading, we certainly could have the information that Commissioner Rich, Commissioner Clark, and Mayor.
So, I'd like to be able to move this one to the second >> that that's how I interpret the motion to move it to second reading and hold all of our concerns to get answered. >> So, was that your original motion, Commissioner? >> Yes, it was.
>> I thought I would have to amend it in the sense of saying we'd need all that information at the second reading, but I'm sure that the staff will have that. >> Yeah. So to restate the motion, >> sure. >> It's uh ordinance number 2552 2026. There was a motion by Commissioner Goi
to move it to second reading and it was seconded by Commissioner Clark. So hopefully all of our concerns will be addressed at the second reading. And like I stated, if there's any more concerns, we can always move it to another reading and hopefully we can get everything addressed. But that's the
current motion. Seeing no further discussion, Mary, roll call. >> Commissioner go. >> Yes. >> Hold on one second. >> Oh, sorry. >> Was it seconded? >> It was. >> All right. Commissioner Clark. >> Commissioner Clark. So, Commissioner Go. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Clark. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Rich. >> No. >> Mayor Reed. >> Absolutely. Yes. Motion passes with Commissioner Rich descending. Um >> um seeing no is there any further
discussion or deliberation from this board? I'm going to adjourn this meeting then.