I call to order the regular session of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Tarpon Springs. Tuesday, December 16th, 6:30 p.m. Roll
call please. Mayor Giuliano's here. Vice Mayor Eisner here. Commissioner Coolio's here. Commissioner DiDonato here.
Commissioner Banther here. So let's our reflection tonight will be performed by the Reverend Chris Ireland of Compass Church. And to be
immediately followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand. You know, as I was preparing to come here tonight and thinking of you all, I think of something that Jesus
said in Scripture. He told the people, I did not come to be served, but to serve. So in the same spirit, on behalf of the chaplains and pastors here in
Tarpon Spring, thank you for your service to our community. And I pray that this season, however you celebrate, is filled with joy, peace, and
love. Let us pray. Father, we thank you so much for this time. We thank you for each and every man and woman here that you have called to serve you
through the people of Tarpon Springs. I pray that tonight you will give them wisdom as they seek how best to serve the
people, and that just guide them. And especially during this season, just let this time
be filled with peace. As we go through the end of this year. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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. Pastor. That was beautiful. Okay. Commissioner Eisner has requested that that we light
the candle for the third day of Hanukkah. And vice mayor. Thank you. Mayor. Do you kids want to
come up and sit with me or stay with me here? Because when I tell you, you can light the
candles, okay? So it's. Hanukkah. New home. Bozeman has.
So now you can take this and turn the little switch and put it over there. Okay. And you
can take the next one. Annie Rose salon. Who can. Al, honey, honey flows for all of. Zero
share. So new. So now you know more. So do you know the song? If I'll lead more or it's Rock of ages in Hebrew. That's all it is. I haven't done this
since I was bar mitzvahed. That's like last year or the year before. More so. Yeshua.
See, Elisha. Can see. That bar mitzvah because his mother. Ismail Haniyeh cause harm is
bad or. His mother is. My cause. Harm is bad. My voice changed a little bit from the time I was 13. Just a tad. Thank you and
Happy Hanukkah to all and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Thank you. Appreciate you.
Vice Mayor. Just briefly explain the significance of the menorah. I thought you'd never ask. So the first blessing is
praise our you, our God who rules the universe, instilling in us the holiness of the mitzvot, which is the doing good for one another by commanding us to light the
lights of Hanukkah. The second prayer was praise to you, our God, who rules the universe, accomplishing miracles for our ancestors from ancient days
until our time. So lighting the candle song was these lights, which Kindle recall the wondrous triumphs and the miraculous victories wrought through your holy name. For our
ancestors from ancient days until our time. These lights are sacred. Through all the eight days of Hanukkah, we may not use of their light, which you're not supposed to use the
light to give light to shine light. It is only to look upon them and thus be reminded to thank and praise you for the wondrous miracle of our
deliverance. And then rock of ages is Rock of ages. Let our song praise your saving power. You amid the ranging throng, the raging throng from where
our sheltering tower. Furious they assailed us. But your help availed us. And your word broke their sword. When our own strength failed us. And
truthfully, I, I not only wanted to do this today, but I want to. And we're going to do this again tomorrow at the sponge docks. And I just want
to make everybody know that we're not going to shy away from the tragedy that happened in Australia. We're going to shine a light on evil. And this
is one of the ways to show that we will not shy away from that. One other thing I did want to share the night that this all went on. My daughter and my son
in law and two grandkids were in Sydney, Australia, so it was kind of a scary night for me until my daughter texted me and said that they were all safe. So I wish you all safe and safe
holiday season and I love everybody. So love Tarpon Springs. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we have a special
presentation tonight. The retirements. It's a sad one, but we'll try to make it joyous because it is the retirement of our finance director, Ron
Herring. So, Ron, would you come on up?
So Ron is retiring from the city after 39 years of service. Actually have written down here. I'm glad you
reminded me. Now, after 39 years. And you know, everyone knows the just working. Yeah, everyone knows the significance
of Ron. You know, Ron is the rock in all of our city government. Nothing happens that doesn't affect and go
through Ron's office and you know, all the the services we provide and all of the. City
functions we have obviously at some point have to be quantified and paid for. And they go through Ron Herring and, you know, from a professional
standpoint, Ron, you know, every year we come up, the auditors come up and they give Ron kudos for never having to make an adjustment to any of
his of his books. And he gets an award. He's got plaques all up in up in the hallway up there outside of his office. And, you know, that's a heck of a thing. That year after year
after year, he has audits and not one thing. Do they find that he's done wrong, that they need to adjust? That's that's
something amazing. So Ron, but you know, it's I don't know if the chicken or the egg, but you know, Ron's a runner and he is disciplined. As a matter of
fact. When are you doing this, Ron? The next one is. January 8th. So listen to this. Ron's
going to run A5K, which is three miles a ten K which is six miles a half marathon. 22
sorry, a half marathon which is 13.1 and then followed by a full marathon of 26.2 miles. He's going to do all that in,
what, three days or four days in a row? He's going to run 50 miles worth of races. 40. Yeah.
So anyways, so he he's he he he is an amazing guy. So we got a few things Ron. We've got this beautiful sponge diver helmet,
a pair of shoes. Yeah. That's a, that's a side deal I actually tried to give Ron I, I actually tried to give Ron a pair of shoes last year and he wouldn't
take them because he's like, sober. I cannot take a gift from the mayor. Like, okay. Yeah. Or the commissioner or
whatever. I was so. I. But now that you're not in, I will make sure you get a new pair of shoes. So here's diver helmet
with Tarpon Springs and obviously goes on. Okay. Yeah, I know it wouldn't be official,
but didn't say so. Here's. And we have this plaque above. A
beautiful black as presented to Ron Herring, finance director, in recognition and appreciation of dedicated and devoted
service for 39 years. August 25th, 1986 to January 2nd, 2026. The City of Tarpon Springs Mayor John Collins, Vice Mayor Mike Eisner, Commissioner
Bonnie Kolias, Commissioner Frank DiDonato, and
Commissioner David Van. One more thing. I'm going to ask somebody special to come up.
Shoes. It's it's apropos that Ron is finishing with me as mayor, but he started 39 years ago with my brother Tom as
mayor. So, Tom, would you come on?
Ron, when you retired, you proved a point because back in 86, I told Bob not to hire you because you wouldn't stick it
out. I was right, you're leaving. Congratulations. Get Ron. So would anybody like to
come up and say a word about Ron? Come on guys. Anybody from the commission would like to say something? Eric, I'll say something good on the line. Ron, it's been a pleasure working
with you all these years, but I know anytime I needed anything, department wise, I could always come into your office. But I'm going to miss most is just walking and talking to you about life in general, families
and just cracking jokes with you and appreciate you every day and look forward to what you're telling me in retirement, life is like so I could I did notice on the back of your
shoes there there's Mickey Mouse ears and stuff. Those are pretty cool. Yeah, so very good, Ron. You deserve it. You deserve. They don't. I don't
even like driving 26 miles, so I run 26 miles. So. I appreciate you running. Ron. I just want to say thank you for
everything. I don't think we can put into words how much we owe you in gratitude. And I know on a personal level, it was 13 years ago. You helped a very new, naive, naive, naive commissioner myself understand
basic, you know, public accounting and and all that kind of stuff. And you've always been very neutral and just very helpful. So I hope your retirement is going to treat you well. It's well
deserved and I hope you keep running. All right. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to say thank you, Ron, for everything you've done these several decades here at the city. I've had a great relationship with
Ron. And just being able to go in there and really, you joke. You joke with him more than you talk about serious stuff because he's got it down. He's got it down to a T. He always
did. And he taught me a lot about understanding the budgets, understanding the process with the budget cycle and the importance at looking at the different departments and how
to look at everything. And I just the guy's amazing. He goes and runs his, you know, five K, ten K, you know, marathons every morning before he comes into work. And dude used to be
a linebacker in college. So I just yeah. Wow. Yeah very impressive. So thank you Ron so much. You're going to be greatly missed. And we really
appreciate you. Mr. Mayor. Ron I wish I had opportunity to work with you more. You could make it an even 40 if you're interested. Now it's not finished. We find somebody,
we're going to call on you. We're going to call on you. But you'll be greatly missed. So I have to speak about the important stuff. Who's filling up the candy dish when you're gone? That's what I want to
know. I gotta pay somebody. Okay, so on a serious note, it's very interesting. As I listen to all the commissioners speak, you're probably the easiest office to walk into.
You know, any question is always answered with the most articulate response. I don't even have ever have a question after that. It's like, I feel
like I got shut up with the question and answer to the fullest of of my thoughts. So and I always appreciate that you come up here and you are very eloquent in your delivery
to all of the questions that we throw at you. I don't ever see you get fearful or you just handle everything with a it's
like it's just the next question. So you'll be sorely missed. I didn't want you to leave. I told you I threatened you, but that didn't go very
well. And you're still going. But I really appreciate all that you've done and what you've done for the city. And, you know, I've only gotten to work with you for about 11 or
12 years for the last four years as a commissioner. But, you know, you've done a great job in balancing the the city budget. And, you know, it's not easy. I hope we could find
someone that could somewhat fill one of your Mickey Mouse shoes. Thank you, thank you. Commissioner. You know, Ron, I've been here for your whole, pretty much your whole career.
And one way or another, and I'm extremely grateful and very sad to see you go, but happy for your retirement. You have a unique way in in your level of
integrity and your knowledge level, and you have a great way to express that and explain to those of us that are learning city, city finance. And you've always been patient. Sometimes
I don't know where you got it all from, but I'm grateful that you were part of Tarpon Springs, and I still would ask you one more time. And I know it's been
several times already. Tell me it's not. So tell me we're just rehearsing this. Like. Like the city manager said you could make it around around 40. The gold watch comes at 50. So
you're you're almost there, right? Yeah. We can take it back. All right. Thanks, Ron. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, I appreciate it. It's been a
pleasure, Ron. You've been such a great help all these years. 20 plus years for myself. And hope you enjoy your retirement.
Thank you. Thanks, Scott. I just want to say, Ron. Thank you. Ron. Yeah. I spent a lot of time in Ron's office trying to find more money. But on that
note, you know, working with Ron has been nothing but a joy. He's a good friend. He was always easy to go in and talk to Ron when you had an issue or something came up within the
year that you didn't have budgeted, and you needed an idea of how to make it work, you always guided us, every department in the right way to make it happen without ever saying just plain no. So I
appreciate that making our jobs easier through the year. Don't look at me that way, but it's a day that I don't think anybody, any of us wanted to see come.
But it's here and we're happy for you and go enjoy what you well deserve. So you and your family. Thanks. You know, if I
may, thank you. Peter LAX, 514 Ashland Avenue. A lot of you don't know it. Or maybe
remember it, but due to Ron's integrity and his acumen, he saved us. 2008 Great Recession
came 910, property values were dropping and he found ways for us to keep functioning as a full service city and still maintain our reserves. And
we're in the shape we are in now and have been for these last decade or two due to you, Ron. So the citizens of Tarpon Springs, thank you for your
diligence, your honesty, your integrity, your ethics and morality. Those are the things that others should inspire. To
emulate. Thank you, thank you. Okay. Oh, did you want to say something? Well, is that okay or do you want the mic or something? No, I just, you know,
I don't do it on my own. I've always had excellent staff in the department, you know? So I say I'm very fortunate to have the staff I've had in the
department over the last, you know, 39 years here. So a lot of the credit goes to them. So
thank you very much. Okay. We're going to go to public comments. So anyone that wishes
to make a public comment on something that's not on the agenda, please come forward, state your name and your
address. Good evening. Peter 514 Ashland Avenue. I had to think long and hard about what
I was going to read today, and after going through last week's meeting. And I asked God to give me something to read by.
And these are not, again, not my words. I just ask for guidance. So this is going to be Isaiah 54 through 11. The
sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary. He awakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to
listen, one to listen like one being taught. The sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious. I have not drawn back. I offered
my back to those who beat me. My cheeks. Cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting because the sovereign
Lord helps me. I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who
then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other. Who is my accuser? Let him confront me. It is a sovereign Lord who helps me. Who is he that
condemns me? They will wear out like a garment. The moths will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him
who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. But now all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive
from my hand. You will lie down and torment. Now I have to say, I was a little ticked off as the way I was treated at the
last meeting. I thought I explained to you all how the zoom works, and some people seem to be very impatient with the delays. So maybe one day you need to go on zoom and see
how it works. And then to cut me off before I even start speaking. That's absurd. And then at the end of the meeting, during public comments, Commissioner Banther says,
let's get rid of zoom. We got rid of emails being read. Now they go into a vacant hall. We don't know what you get unless we do records requests. And lastly, about the marine
commerce thing you tried to force through selections. Yet the city manager, in his memo and at the beginning of that thing, said it was for reestablishing an appointment.
Last week I did a records request. The only person in all that time you had to send in submissions was Commissioner and his two. There were four others besides myself on the
applicant list even. Thank you. Even Commissioner Eisner. Thank you. Also. Thank you. Stressed that he didn't have him. You didn't have. No. None of y'all put your turns into the city
manager to make the list. Y'all said you were going to do time. Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone
else? Okay, Austin? Got anybody up there? No, sir. There are no hands up. Okay, let's go to the
consent agenda. Okay. Item number two. Attorney fees. Eunice Saltzman, number three, approve Novation file for lift stations. Number four, award
file for manhole structure rehabilitation services. Number five Award file, single source. Purchase of golf shop resale merchandise. Number six. Award
file. Single source. Purchase of Pierce fire apparatus. Original equipment. Number seven Award file renewal for
HVAC equipment installation. Number eight Award file for utilizing the Florida Sheriffs Association. Number nine approval of the State of Florida Department of State
Public Library Construction Grant and number ten extend file for the single source purchase of on base software maintenance. Does any
Commissioner wish to pull any of these items? Okay. With that said, if there's no comments, roll call please. Okay, I need
a motion. So moved. Second. Okay. Now roll call. Commissioner Ganther. Yes, Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes. Vice mayor Eisner.
Yes. Mayor. Giuliano's. Yes. Okay. We have two business items. We have number 11, the job order contracting renewal.
Miss Lewis, please. Mr. Good evening, mayor. Commissioners. Good evening. Janina Lewis, procurement services director. Yes. The item you have before
you is the job ordering or the job order contracting services. This is just another tool that we use for our construction services. And it's basically the minor construction that we
have that come down that quick jobs that we can already have pre-qualified contractors in place to perform at this time. We brought this to you previously, and the contract
was only good for six months, and they've just renewed it. And that's what this is. This is asking to renew it for another year. Any questions? Commissioner Banther, do you
have any questions? No, sir. Commissioner Donato. No. Vice commissioner. Cool. Yes. No questions. Vice mayor, just a quick question. Do we have any problems or was it smooth as
ice? Okay, so this contract has a different list of contractors than we used on the previous one. We did have a few hiccups in the past with one of the contractors, but they have
finally been working out the issues. And that project will be complete hopefully within the next month. Are you able to give? Are you able to give us a little snippet of what went on?
Well, kind of. So the project was the Union Academy. Okay. We were working on it's called The Breezeway. I'm not an engineer expert, so I'm only telling you what I know of the scope. So
the breezeway had an issue they were going to do like sort of a renovation on the project there and eliminate some of the drainage issues along the
sidewalk. In the course of some of the work, we had issues because of the location. It's kind of hard to keep the contract moving along with
school going, traffic going. So we had those issues to work through, and then there were some issues with the air conditioner that was located on top as well of the breezeway
that they were going to reconstruct. So that was another issue that they had to work through. And then there's just some final punch items that are remaining. So just so
we it wasn't an issue with the contract, it was issue with the jobs. It was both. It was a miscommunication, I think of the the entire process and the
expectation from the contractors because they had subcontractors at the site as well, and they weren't communicating the job. So it's nothing. My question is really is did we have anything that we
wouldn't reuse that person again? Well, actually they are not on this new contract. So no, no, we prefer not to use them again at this time. You said
you've answered my question. Thank you. Okay. Is there any public comments on this item?
Austin? No, sir. There are no hands up. All right, let's let's come back for a motion. So moved. Second, if there's no further comment, roll call,
please. Commissioner Banther. Yes, Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Vice mayor Eisner. Yes. Mayor. Giuliano's. Yes. Let's go to
item number 12, recommendation for organizational changes to facilitate career progression in the water and wastewater
utilities. Mr. Kiger, thank you. Go ahead and pull this one up. Okay. Honorable mayor, board of
commission Thomas Kiger reporting for the Public Services Department today. We've got a a brief update or organizational change that we'd like to implement to help
facilitate employee retention and career development in the water and wastewater utility. Basically, what we're asking for is to start a pilot program
to facilitate a career ladder type of staffing plan within the water plant, wastewater plant, meter shop and the water distribution crews. These are all unique positions, and that
they have fdep licensure requirements that are tied to years of experience. And the past, we've had a very tight staffing plan that specifies
what types of licenses and how many trainees each group is supposed to have, and that sort of thing. And we've had some issues in the past where, you know, imagine a scenario where we have the water plant, it's
fully staffed, we have someone leave and we get a trainee, and we train up this trainee for a number of years, he or for a year or so, he gets his license. He's doing everything appropriate to facilitate his
career and learn the job and begins covering shifts. And he gets his license. But we don't have a position to promote him. So he has the title of trainee, and he's in the trainee wage grade for the foreseeable
future until someone above him moves to a different group or retires or resigns or something of that nature. So basically what this will allow us to do is to hire more appropriately
for the actual level of experience and licensure for the applicants, and also to allow folks to be sort of master of their own destiny for their careers with the city. If
you come in as a trainee, you shouldn't have to wait for folks to, you know, retire or move on in order to move your way up as you develop job skills and responsibilities. And this will also allow us to
pay those commensurately. It should help us avoid a lot of retraining costs, and we view this as a strategic plan to help us work on employee
retention and staff. Retainage. And this is definitely a little bit of a a window into like where we see going in the future. This mirrors what Dunedin and Oldsmar and
Pinellas County are doing on their staff retainage plans. And we think it's a worthwhile endeavor. And so we want to start off trying it with our Fdep license staff. And if it's very successful, we'll next
proceed to some of the other operational groups to, you know, help facilitate career advancement and employee retention in those groups as well. Thank you. Let's do Commissioner questions of Mr.
Kiger. I'll go first. And I think I asked you this question earlier. Do we do you foresee this having any adverse budgetary effects in the short
run? No, this doesn't create any new positions. It doesn't retitle any staff currently that in a way that would result in any operational cost changes
over time. You know, as people have the ability to move up hypothetically, it would allow us a little bit more flexibility if we have an opportunity to hire a very senior staff member from, like another utility or something of
that nature. But immediately the budget, the budget impact is zero. Okay. Commissioner, do you have any questions? No, sir. Commissioner Donato. No, sir. Commissioner. Yes, yes. Mr.
Carter, does this allow the current employees to have an opportunity to move up or down based off the credentials and certifications? Yes. That's the goal, right? No, I appreciate
it because there's been that assumption that, you know, people can elevate within certain departments because of individuals being there or until they retire, whatnot. And this really changes a lot and
believes a good motivational tool for for those wanting to work for the city and develop themselves. So I appreciate it. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Thank you. Mayor. You know, it was
interesting when I looked through this. Tom, I've had so many conversations with you that I rather than ask you questions on it, I actually took my hat off and said, I'm
going to let you run with this without asking you a question, because I'm usually so impressed with all your answers. And that's how complimentary I want to make this, that this is
something that you, more than anybody else, know what's best for your organization. And I said, it's far from me to sit there and micromanage what you
do. So I take my hat off to you. You always answer professionally with quality answers. And this one, I'm not going to ask a question. I'm going to just agree with you
and you've earned my respect. Thank you, thank you. Are there any public comments on this
item? Peter Lack is 514 Ashland Avenue. As you saw earlier with Mr. Herring, the value and
importance of having an employee work up the chain, the institutional knowledge both of our chiefs have worked up through the chain. We try to.
The biggest thing is the retention to give people an opportunity. That's been our philosophy in Tarpon for years. Give our people come in. If they're good people, we're going to give them
opportunities. And I just want to thank Tommy and his staff because it was a very thorough it doesn't change the budget. It gives them the flexibility where it has those FTE. I'm not
sure how that juggles, but taking it out of having certain requirements versus time and qualifications is a no brainer. So thank you. I welcome this
change because I think it will help. The city and tarpon for what we depend on our sewer, our waters and all those things.
Thank you. Any other comments? Austin? No sir. There are no hands up. Okay. Thank you. Let's come back to the board
for a motion. So moved second. Okay. There's no further comment. Roll call please. Commissioner. Yes, Commissioner. DiDonato. Yes, Commissioner.
Coolio's. Yes. Vice mayor. Yes. And mayor Giuliano's. Yes. Okay. Number item number 13 has been withdrawn by the applicant. So let's go to item number 14.
City attorney, will you please read the ordinance by title ordinance 2025 Dash 18, An ordinance of the City of Tarpon Springs, Florida, amending the
official zoning atlas for 7.72 acres, more or less of real property located at 475 North Highland Avenue on the east side of North Highland Avenue, approximately 500ft north of
the intersection of North Highland Avenue and Keystone Road. Application 2579 from Agricultural District A and Residential Plan Development
District to Agricultural District A, providing for findings and providing for an effective date. Legal advertising was published in the Tampa Bay times by title
with a map on October 29th of 2025 and December 3rd of 2025. This is a quasi judicial proceeding. As a reminder, a
quasi judicial proceeding is where the Board of Commissioners acts in a quasi judicial rather than legislative capacity at a quasi judicial hearing, and is not the board's function to make laws, but rather to apply law
that has already been established and a quasi judicial hearing. The board is required by law to make findings of fact based upon the evidence presented at the hearing, and apply those findings of fact to previously
established criteria contained in the Court of Ordinances in order to make a legal decision regarding the application before it. The board made only consider the evidence at the hearing, and the law considers
the competent, substantial and relevant relevant to the issues. If the competent, substantial and relevant evidence at the hearing demonstrates that the
applicant has met the criteria established in the Code of Ordinance, then the board is required by law to find in favor of the applicant. By the same token, if the competent, substantial and relevant
evidence at the hearing demonstrates that the applicant has failed to meet the criteria established in the Code of Ordinances, and the board is required by law to find against
the applicant. The board must disclose any ex parte communications. If there's any witnesses here, please raise your right hand. Do you swear
or affirm that the testimony you're about to give in this proceeding is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do thank you. Does
anyone have any ex parte? Okay. Miss Vincent, thank you again. This is ordinance 2025 Dash 18. This is a rezoning. This is
second reading. The rezoning is from agricultural and residential plan development to straight agricultural district. This really is a resolving a kind of a holdover. This old
RPD portion of the property. Just abandoning that and taking it back to match the rest of the property and agricultural. We've been no new information since. Second reading staff recommendation is to approve,
as previously presented, no. Enter all of the evidence in the in the record. Thank you, thank you. Does any commissioner have any questions
of Miss Vincent? Would the applicant have does the applicant have any questions of Miss Vincent or. And do you want to make a presentation? I do not have any pets. For the record, representing the
property owner. I do not have any questions for staff, and I have nothing additional to add to the record, but I'm here if you have questions. Thank you. Does anybody have any questions
of the applicant? Okay. Let's do are there any public comments on this item. Thank
you. Appear like us 514 Ashland Avenue. Again the last time when you heard this, you asked for opposing comments. Now,
again, when I'm listening or anybody's listening, you got to push star nine to raise your hand. So you got to raise your hand a little ahead of time. Do you have anything to say about this? I'm trying to get to it.
This isn't the show. Well, just say three minutes to say something I'm leading into. It has to do with this issue. Otherwise I'll cut you off. I was trying to express. I don't need that. I have a lecture
from your proponent of this application, but it didn't get to that point. So what I was trying to say at the time was I do you have anything to say about this? Yes I am, if you stop interrupting me, get to
the point I am. Go ahead. So what I was trying to say before was I appreciated the way this applicant is processing this zoning change. He's respecting
the area. We've been through years of where the mcalpin's and all this property has been coming back and forth to us for changes. And this finally, as Rene said, settles it. And this
is the proper use of the property in this particular area because it is agricultural, you've got kennels and you've got other large spaces nearby. So I appreciate the fact that
it's just going to be two homes and not a subdivision. Lastly, as he mentioned, they have respected the wetland delineation lines. They had changed some. So that's appreciated. He's going to
create the boundaries. He's going to maintain what I appear. From what I heard, the natural, wooded, pristine environment that he's able to be on, what
was agriculturally disturbed previously. So I thank the applicant for what he's proposing. It's a good use for that particular property. Thank
you for your time. Thank you. Any other any other public comments? Austin? No, sir. There are no hands up. All right, let's come back to the
board for a motion. So moved. Second. Okay. There's no further comment. Roll call. Commissioner. Yes, Commissioner. DiDonato. Yes, Commissioner.
Yes. Yes. Vice mayor. Eisner. Yes. Mayor. Giuliano's. Yes. So let's go to item number 15. Would you please, city attorney, will you please read the
resolution? Resolution 20 2567, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Tarpon Springs to co-sponsor a candidate forum for candidates for the city office to be held on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026,
and providing for rules and procedures for the conduct of the Candidate Forum and providing for an effective date.
Okay. Do you need our Acting City Clerk? Do you have anything? Irene, I don't know if she had mentioned here earlier. This is basically
standard rules for upcoming the upcoming election. And just to let everyone know, the forum will be January 20th. The meet
and greet is from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and then 630 to 8:00 would be the questions from for the audience. And this would is being hosted by the North
Pinellas County League of Women Voters. Okay. Thank you very much. So are there any questions of miss DiNardo or
the city attorney regarding this? Mayor? I just like to make a couple comments. I'm happy to see this debate, but I would ask the city manager, can you look into and see if the
the greater Democratic Party of Tarpon Springs, if they're going to they're interested in doing a debate sometime in February. And if not, are we, as a city, allowed to have a
debate? I just feel like there needs to be at least two public publicly in the future before the election. I can look into that, certainly. Thank you sir. Just for the record, mayor,
also, I did tell I read this. I know that I'm that I'm, you know, elected unopposed, but it's been done in the past. If any forum wants me to attend, I'm happy to. I felt and I and I do agree that the focus
should be on the choices people have, but if anybody wants to have me there, I'm happy to be there. So thank you. Yeah. All right. I didn't ask you. Vice.
Over there. All right. Okay. Are there any public comments on this item? Okay. Austin. No,
sir. There are no hands up. Okay. Come back for a motion to approve the resolution. So moved second. Okay. There's no further questions. Roll call
please. Commissioner. Yes, Commissioner. DiDonato. Yes, Commissioner. Yes. Yes. Vice mayor. Eisner. Yes. Mayor. Giuliano's. Yes. Okay. That concludes our regular business.
Let's go to board and staff comments. Chief. City attorney, no comments. City manager. Just
merry Christmas to everyone and happy New Year. We won't see you again until after the New Year. And Happy Hanukkah. And I'll be out of town out of the office next week. But Scott
Young will have the helm. Okay. And, Carol Rinaldo, you did a great job. I want to thank you. Thank you so much for filling in. Do you have anything you'd
like to say? No. Thank you. Oh. I'm good. All right. Commissioner Banther. Thank you. I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas. And I'm thankful that we're incorporating
Hanukkah and the Jewish holidays into our festivities. And hope next year we can do the same. Thank you. Commissioner DiNardo. I, too, wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year
and Happy Hanukkah and enjoy the season. Commissioner Coleus. Yeah, I just want to wish everyone a merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Please enjoy it with your family, friends and
loved ones. Snow place this past Friday was amazing. Seems like we've become now the regional attraction for that Friday, which is an awesome thing and the exposure for the
community. And like I mentioned, there must have been like 50 plus boats out there for the event, so it was awesome. Hats off to Public Works director,
City manager, everyone involved and last regular session until next year. So see you next year okay vice mayor. So I have to second what commissioner said.
The. I've never seen so many people on Tarpon Avenue. I thought it was actually going to sink a couple inches. It was that many people there. You
couldn't walk down the street and the crowd around the bayou. The feedback I got, it was probably one of the best performances by the boats. It
was just an incredible event, incredible night. Everybody that was at the dock at the Tarpon Avenue really enjoyed it.
The vendors enjoyed it. It was really nice. On a sad note, I did want to share that we should be speaking about free
speech and ridding the world of hate speech. Hate speech only creates problems, and that's what led to the massacre in
Australia. And we should all stand up for freedom and loving one another and accepting people's beliefs and religions
and different than theirs. We should live and let live. And tomorrow I will be doing the lighting of the candle and the
prayers at the sponge docks for the Chabad, which wants to incorporate. They used to do it here years ago at the sponge docks, and they're now wanting
to return. And they just spoke to me. They just want to do one more event that didn't get shut down, like got shut down in Australia. So I was happy. And
I just want to thank the police chief and all of his employees that gave I gave them two days notice to, you know, scramble
to get this done. I personally thought the staff has done an amazing job here. I just can't overemphasize how how great
they are. And I have to say, it's all under the leadership of our city manager. I constantly I'm getting tired of complimenting him and saying,
this is you, this is you, this is you. We went to a a mayoral lunch and, you know, I just was just so happy that he was there.
He got to see all the people that were there. It was a good showing for Tarpon Springs that we were there to represent. And I thank you for going to that as well. And I just wish
everybody a merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and happy, Healthy New Year. And this town is going to get it knocked out of the park. I see only good
things. I'll hold my tongue for what's to come in the next CRA meeting, but it's only good things. So. And I love working with this board. Even you. Even
you. Dave. I appreciate that, Mike. Really. Honestly. You're a good man. Thank you. Mike. You know, it's all it's all. It's all a mutual feeling, sir.
Thank you. Yeah I concur I think this is a good board. And I had I had a great time and my family had a great time at the
snow place. And again, I want to reiterate. Thank you. The town has not as I don't think it's ever looked better. It's
clean and the, the lights and just everything and and it was an amazing success. There were so many people there, almost 15,000 people there. 15,000 almost. Wow, wow. So that's
that's that's epiphany size. Yeah. So that's amazing. And I was fortunate to have lunch. The consulate general from
Tampa put together a lunch for myself and the the mayor of Tampa, Mayor Castor. And she walked around Tarpon. She
actually we spent three hours. We walked all over Tarpon. She loved it. She wants to come for epiphany. And we'll we have a meeting on Thursday with the
church people to see if we can make that happen. And but I was I was so proud of our city just walking around and showing it
off to, you know, the big city mayor. And I wouldn't want to change places with her. I like this place better. So anyways,
we're going to have a I guess we'll just take a eight minute break. We'll get back here at 730, and then we'll do have the CRA meeting. So thank you very
much and Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and wish everybody the best and Happy New Year. We don't want to change mayors
with her either. She's got too much pressure. Okay. What's up.
I call to order the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting for the downtown Tarpon Springs redevelopment area. Tuesday,
December 16th at 7:30 p.m. Roll call please. Your honor. Here, vice chair. Eisner. Here. Commissioner. Here,
Commissioner Donato here. And Commissioner Bender here. Okay. Our first item is on the agenda
is the Tarpon registry. We have all met with. I think we've had what? How many? Two readings at a workshop. Two workshop, a
workshop, one meetings. Yeah. We've all had private meetings. Do you want to come forward and. Go over anything? And if any of
the commissioners have any final questions for you? Yeah, sure. I just want to say thank you. This has been a great opportunity meeting with everybody and working through everything, and we're super
excited to get started. Okay, Commissioner, do you have any questions? I just I just want to say thank you. This has been a very upfront and transparent process by by, by, by you all and your willingness to meet
with us both here several times and personally several times in our workshops. So I don't think this could be any more public if possible. So I think we're all looking forward to this
project. And it has my, you know, and it has my, you know, you know, full, full, full support. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioner Donato. I too would like to thank both of you for bringing this project to
Tarpon and for your patience and due diligence. I'm excited about it and wish you nothing but success in the future. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Coleus. Yes, I got a couple questions and I just
want to get them verified. I mean, I appreciate the project, but I still think we rushed this process too fast to be able to actually negotiate with them. And but the negotiations
I wanted, I don't think I would have had full support from the board. Anyways, I do have a question regarding. We're given a lot of value and property and equity towards this project,
and my concern is, you know, if the building sells a few years out and we've helped generate this equity for you in this building, what is the city get out of it. And so I would like
some type of stipulation that we got to get something back and value and equity from the property we've given away. Well my my feeling once it's complete, certainly when it's
not yet complete, if they fail to to they quit the project whatever. We have the opportunity to purchase it back either just the land of the price we gave it to them, we sold it for or at the appraised
value of any improvements. Or we could call the bond and have it completed, the project completed. But once it's complete, I feel like the value we get is not only that ad
valorem, it'll then be taxable property forever, so we will on out in the future no matter who owns it will be getting that value. And then the ripple effect I believe it will have on the downtown is permanent.
So the improvements the the I think it will encourage more development downtown. So we we get to retain all those improvements. We have the we'll have the beautiful building there. There's a new owner. They'll they'll be doing business there. We'll be
collecting taxes. So I think our, our benefits are going to go on and on and on. And for them, they're going to be putting in upwards of four or
more million dollars, kind of on the line and working to recoup that, you know, to to make it profitable over the years to come. So I think they're taking the risk and
we're we stand nothing but to gain the benefits going to be ours. Okay. And that's fine. I know I'm not going to get the support from the board anyways,
but miss, miss Mrs. Smith, we come up to the mic for a second. We had a very good serious talk about what I expect. And you know, just anything happens in
the future. I do want you to stay away business wise from any board member or firms and this property management or anything with that. So I've been frank with you about it and as well as the board
members know. So I'm supporting this and ready to move forward. Thank you. Okay. Vice mayor, I need before I even say anything, I need some clarification. What
you just said when you said that she needs to stay away from this board. I didn't understand what that meant. I think he's referring to my firm, if I'm not mistaken. Just in
general. I just want that to be a clean look for the city. And you know, if there are the big decision when you're making decisions up here about stuff like that. And so I just want to make sure that appearance is
completely wiped away. I disagree with the premise, but we don't manage hotels, so you're mark safe. Okay. Perfect. And once you step down off this
board, though, you're pretty much free to do whatever you want. I mean, I don't know, I know it doesn't have a good look, I understand that. I just I don't understand why you're making that statement. I don't
think anybody here is looking to, you know, prosper off of that decision. This prosper this decision was made to prosper for Tarpon Springs, not for us. I agree, sir, but all
I'm saying is, when you come up here, you make negotiations and you're giving stipulations, and I just don't want to see anything like that in the future. We all know what we're
talking about. I don't need to bring a list of items up to well aware. Okay? So you're free to bring it up. I don't want to see it back and forth.
Go ahead. No, no, I understand, I won't answer that anymore. You know, the only thing I could sit there and say is that every decision we make, we could come back and be, you
know, something to every project we do. But I just want to thank you for what you did and doing. I did get a couple of negative feedback, and
people didn't know that we were selling it to you for the price. We sold it. And what I tried to explain is this wasn't a you
buying a property in a worth so much more than what you paid for it. What I also what I tried to explain to each and every person and I don't always I'm not always successful.
Getting the message out is we sold you a a a project and the project. It's not the price, it's the project of what you're going to put there. And I
believe with what the city manager says, as long as we have a guarantee that you're going to go through with the project, if you don't go through with the project, we get the property back and to
whatever point it's been built with the bond, once it is built, we would then be able to get the the tax base on it. So if you did want to sell it, first of all, I don't think you're
going to go through all this headache to try to sell it immediately. It's this is not something this is not a flipper. So but but should that happen somebody has to pay the taxes on it. So if you do sell it
that's your business. But I just want to be supportive. And I only got good feedback except for the couple of people that thought we were just giving this, you know, free free Willy
thing away. But that's not what happened. And like I said, the board, if you need any sort of help while we're board members,
I'm happy to bring this back. You know, if there's something that needs to be brought up, maybe it's a you find that there's something down the road that you need to change, that you need to bring back to us.
You know, because the bottom line is, I know everybody up here wants you to be wants you and that hotel to be successful because it only it only helps Tarpon Springs. So thank you
for what you do. Thank you. And I, I overlooked myself, but I'm excited about it. It's it's a great thing. I don't want you
to leave here with any dampened feelings. This is a positive day. The city's going to get a great building, great tenants.
And we're I'm excited about it. So thank you so much. Thank you. All right. So you need a motion. Well let's go to any public
comments on this item. Anybody here. Austin. No, sir. There are no hands up okay. All right.
Let's come back for a motion. So moved. Second, is there any further comments? Yeah, I think I do appreciate the applicant doing their best to try to bring a change into the
downtown and actually switching the downstairs floor to more of a, I guess, a restaurant as opposed to some storefronts and retail to help bring a little
variety to the area. So I do appreciate all that and just see how this building turns out. Thank you. Anybody else? No further comments. Roll call
please. Commissioner. Yes, Commissioner. DiDonato. Yes, Commissioner. Yes. Yes. Vice chair. Eisner. Yes. And chair. Giuliano's. Yes.
Congratulations. Okay, let's go to item number two, which is to approve the purchase of downtown shuttle cart or carts in plural. Who is going to make.
I'm going to present and Jake is here to answer any questions you may have. We have the information in your packet. Staff put together round hours,
staffing. Do recommend the two smaller carts because the big one isn't roadworthy. So we want to make sure we can. The route does include Pinellas
Avenue and then in the future if it doesn't quite. Work out, we can we can make a change to the cards, we can change the route and so forth. So we're requesting approval for this to
go forward as, as laid out for you. And then we understand that we'll have to try this out and and then kind of tweak it as we go. Staff recommends approval. Is it possible to put
the carts up on the screen? We haven't got enough room. You
can't see the writing. Under
the cards I want to be right there. The.
You can move. So the recommendation is for two of those the top cart there are
Ada accessible. Let's let's have questions of I guess the city manager and and staff. So
let me let me start off now, you know concern when you have a golf cart operation like that
is people being able either to jump off or on, either when it's not completely stopped or jumping on while it's actually
has, is moving. So I'm a little concerned about that. What what is there to protect. Scroll down. Let's do that. Second. Thank you. So there are
restraint devices, seat belts for every seat. Obviously the Ada ramp there folds up, keeps that area secure. And there's a harness to keep the the
wheelchair secure. Okay. So which one? Which one are we talking about? This guy here. Okay. So okay. The the guy facing backwards on the back.
Yes. Okay. There's a seat belt there that doesn't stop them from taking the seat belt off and jumping off. Like when the carts like, slowing down and then having a problem. No. Yeah.
If they decide not to wear the seat belt, there's nothing secondary to keep them in the vehicle. And. City attorney,
you see any issues with with that? I mean that could be an issue. Can you pull your microphone down and turn it on? Okay. Yeah. So that could be an
issue. I mean, it's obviously the argument would be that they have a duty to keep the seatbelt on. The other thing is
if the wheelchair is going on the ramp, who is ensuring it that it's in place? Is that left up to, you know, an employee, which can also be an
issue sometimes, and you're going to have people with children as well? Yeah, it would be anyone, any citizens
that choose to ride it. And and do they need a car seat? Yeah, things like that. I do have a question. I'm a little nervous
about it, but I mean, I like the whole concept. I think we should get I in all in favor of a shuttle cart, but just a golf
cart type cart concerns me. So, Commissioner Banther, do you have any? Yes, and obviously I, I support this idea. I just want to figure out the best way to do it. I was envisioning in
my mind more of like the Disney tram, if you will, not something that big, but just little half doors or. Yeah, I mean, I at first one looks like with me on there, there, you
know, you don't have much weight for anybody else. I mean, it doesn't, you know, look very I mean, I assume we have to offer wheelchair Maria. Correct. We don't have a choice in that.
Yeah. And I think what we see a lot of times with these public transit is the duty the drivers have to make sure that they're secured properly in there. And
it seems like this could be a little bit more problematic, just since there's so many open spaces. I would just I think we'd be money ahead, like legally, technically speaking,
to get something more beefed up. It might cost more money, but I just, you know, that first one, I personally wouldn't ride on that. I mean, you know, I think we need something with some,
some kind of, you know, secondary restraint as, as, as, as he mentioned. And then also, I think a good route for this and I would defer to the chief is down Safford Avenue. I think
this needs to stay off all 19 if possible. I mean, that's just, you know, that's just extra layer of safety that can go super slow on Safford. No one's going to get off. It's by the trail. It can go Safford.
And then they got to do live oak, which can be iffy sometimes. But I think if we mandated that route from downtown, I think that's going to be safer. I defer to the chief, of course, but so I
think we should get something a little more beefier and and designate a specifically safe, safe, safe route to minimize problems. Thank you.
Commissioner Donato. I am more comfortable with the second. I know there's a little difference in cost. I, I, I just have some concerns about the, the the top one. It may
work just as well in the end, but I just feel safer. And I think it looks more like the purpose. I mean, we're seeing a lot of golf carts downtown as
it is. I also agree that that the route should should be probably Safford and and the other side streets on the, on the west side of Tarpon. I would suggest that the city
parking lot that we have back behind the old bank building be a hub or at least go by there so that people that can be encouraged to park there and
then get on the the cart and ride, I just would rather I just feel better with the second one than I do the first one. Okay, Commissioner Coleus,
I say maybe this board should just agree to approve on what the purchases are going to be, and then have them come back for rules. And maybe they can look at other cities that have these golf carts and what their
insurance and you know, what their what the requirements are just in case to give us another safe idea, then have this come back for rules as soon as possible, you know. But I think
we need to purchase the two bigger ones. Can you address that? The the roadworthy issue. So the bigger units, the 11 passengers there for private
lots. They're not they can't be registered. They don't have Vin numbers. So to get them registered and get a Vin number, you'd have to classify them as a low speed vehicle. And they don't meet the requirements for
that. They would have to be under 3,000 pounds and 3,500 pounds. A New Port Richey uses that, but it's on city streets. So, chief, with a possible we could keep it off of the state
highway and use it on our city streets, looking at the routing and stuff if we want, with that what the commissioner is recommending. But we don't have it. They have an ordinance up in Newport Beach that allows
golf carts on their their city streets. We do not allow golf carts here. It's not that drive ability in that community. So what you see downtown where somebody just said see a lot of
golf carts downtown, they're they're low speed vehicles. So they meet the safety criteria. They have seatbelts, headlights, you know, brake lights, all the things that need that. And then
they're required to have a license plate. So all those that are out there to driving around without a license plate, please don't drive on our city streets. That's illegal. And,
you know, so I wouldn't be in favor of of having a golf cart ruling here because I did a presentation on that several years back. And looking into it, first of all, we have a lot of
county road areas in our in our city and stuff. So we'd have islands amongst themselves, certain districts. You might be able to do it, but you can't be on a state road where it's 40 miles an hour or greater. So
north of alternate 19, you can't be on it anyway. But a low speed vehicle, you could be on a roadway 40 miles an hour or below. You could traverse across an intersection, like at
a lighted intersection going across US 19 and the low speed vehicle. But you just cannot travel on that roadway. So
we'll need to find a completely different vehicle than. Sure. This not to sound funny, but should we just get like a van or something? I mean, I just I
love this concept. I'm glad the Vice mayor brought up and I want to make this work. And again, I was picturing Disney in my head for some reason. That's my fault. But I mean, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Yeah. Up there. But if
we can we get a van and then that pretty much standard insurance. I mean, it's not that expensive. If you compare what our risk would be with that golf cart and our restrictions, we can use it. We
could use it to shuttle people. Sunset beach for music on the what's that thing We Do concert at Sunset Beach. I mean, it could be a little bit more multi-purpose if we get a not
like an old church van, but you know what I'm talking about. Yeah, just in that way, there's just no worries about it. We can put advertising on the side for tarpon and whatnot, and I know that's more money, but I mean, I think that would
accomplish the goal and be a lot safer. We might be able to find something that looks more like the trolley, the Jolly trolley. It's a trolley looking van because then people kind of know that's there to get on it,
not just a passenger van. You're never going to be seen again. Again? Yeah. Let's let Vice Mayor chimed in. So listening to everything that's
been said, I am also in agreement. This is not the idea of what I thought I was going to be looking at. When I first looked at it, I wanted to make
the handicapped access removable, where we could possibly have a storage piece on top. That was my first idea, but then looking at the back of
it, unless you could slide those seats forward where it would make it safer, I'm not comfortable with it either. At
the at the Christmas parade, my wife was getting into the back on that specific seat and the driver just tapped the gas and
she almost flew out the back. So it was and it was scary. So, you know, I first of all, if we're going to do that, I would not have any children back there. Even though regular
parents do keep their kids back there, I would keep them on the inside. And I would specifically tell anybody sitting back there that they cannot get out while this vehicle is moving, but people
do and it is a scary thing. I would also like to see if we could possibly get. We don't need a full size van, but we could get a, you know, a little mini van. You know, that's
that's the route. I would like to see something where, you know, they're not getting soaking wet if the rain should hit also. So, you know, you might want to be able to have I
don't see it being that much difference in price, you know, to get a little mini van and you could have six, seven, eight people in that, you know.
So that's the route I would like to see. Even though this is adorable, it's not feasible for what we're trying to do in order to keep people safe.
That's that's my guys. I mean, what's the procedure? It appears that this isn't really what we're looking for. Do you guys want to just defer this and let staff come back with some more options next month?
We can come back with some more options. We need to make a motion to defer. Or do you want to make a motion? Vice mayor, do we need it? But what can
what are our instructions? We're a little bit all over the place. I think they wanted us to make a decision between these items here, but it doesn't appear what it seemed
like. The second one is a no go to start with, right? Yes. Okay. So the only decision is, is that one on top? It doesn't appear that there's consensus to get I do I do need a
rejection to the bid. This was a bid that was offered. So I need the board to go ahead and reject that. And then you can direct staff to come back with another plan or report. Do I
have a motion to reject this motion to reject and instruct staff to come back with another option? Second. Okay. And I'd like them for them to dig into
some other municipalities nearby, see what their insurance requirements are for what the vehicles they have. And that way we may be able to piggyback or just get a direction on on how to move
with this forward. But also we got to get this ball rolling and have these vehicles out there as soon as possible because the season is starting to pick up. And that was the ultimate intent to see how it
would move people during the busy time of the season. Then we'd get to see what it would do shortly after. Thank you. All right, so let me just go
ahead and and call the question and let's have a vote. Okay. Commissioner Banther, we're voting yes to reject. Yes. That was the motion to reject. Yes.
And staff to come back. Yes, ma'am. Yes. Okay. Mr. DiDonato. Yes, Commissioner. Yes. Yes. Vice chair. Eisner. Yes. And chair. Giuliano's. Yes. Okay.
That concludes the general business. Can I just make a quick comment? We're going to go to comments. Oh, that's what this is about this I just quickly looked it up. You could
get a minivan that seats six and seven for $22,000. There you go. Okay, so. Let's let's
go to board and staff comments. Chief, since I didn't say before Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy holidays, everybody. Stay safe. Mister Panther. I forgot to include it in my motion that the vice
mayor cannot drive this vehicle, but I will. I will go back on that. Thank you. It's too late. Sorry. All right, Commissioner Donato, happy holidays everyone.
Commissioner. No comments. Okay, vice mayor, no comments. And. Oh, we didn't go to. Did you have anything? No additional comments? No. Okay. Merry
Christmas, happy Hanukkah and Mary happy new year. And this meeting is adjourned at 756
next year. Move a lot more choices in gas.