[Music] Hey, Hey, hey, hey. [Music]
[Music] Hey, hey, [Music] [Music] Hey,
hey, hey. [Music] Hey, [Music] good. City clerk, are we ready? We're ready. Okay. I'd like to call the
meeting to order. Welcome everybody to the May 20th meeting of the Temple Terrace Community Redevelopment Agency. Uh first order of business is the approval of the minutes. Has everybody had an opportunity to review the minutes of our February 18th meeting? And if so,
is there a motion? Move to approve. Second. Motion um by the vice mayor, seconded. I think council member Fernandez beered. Okay. Council member Fernandez. Any discussion, corrections to the minutes? All those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. No nays. Minutes are
adopted. Second item of business is a resolution approving the CRA annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30th of 2024. And our finance director Jim Ingram is here to explain. Good evening.
Good evening. Good afternoon. And board members. Yes. We have a resolution to approve the CRA annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30th,
2024. Um, Porvvis Mazars, the city's auditor, has completed the annual CRA audit and I am here to answer any questions. We also have Jeff Wolf, our lead auditor for Forus
Mazars who can uh answer any questions directed to him either. So very good. Thank you, Mr. Ingram. Council members, board members, are there questions? Uh board member Fernandez for this audit? Um because we have an
audit, an overall audit of the city every year. Is this audit conducted separate from I mean meaning do we keep these financial statements um completely separate from the rest of the city's financial rep reporting and reporting or
is this just a sub audit of the larger audit? I guess you would call it a sub audit. Um it's it is included as part of the regular audit of the city and there is also for reporting requirements. Do
you want to sure like address that? Good evening. Yeah. So, it it is a separate fund within the city. It is part of the city's audit. Um so, it's part of the city's act. For 3 four years ago, there was some legislation that came down that required them to be separately audited standalone financial statements. So,
it's really a compliance audit. You know, is is the money being or is the tiff being calculated correctly and received? Then is the money being spent in accordance with the CRA plan? So, you know, no, there was no findings, no issues noted with our audit. So, um ultimately you you being sure that the
CRA is being spent, you know, as part of your plan, but it it is part of the city audit as well. But, um it's just it gets a higher focus when it's a standalone financial statements. And I just have another question, and this this isn't
necessarily specific to the audit, but more the overall financial ability of the CRA. and that is the CRA able to receive grants either from county or other governments like federal governments
um and and then that would necessitate a a separate audit if we are able to do that. But how are what sources of funds are we allowed to bring into the CRA besides the TIFF revenue? Typically, I mean, it's the the the
grant would most likely go through the city and then if it's eligible expenditure, it could be funneled through the CRA. So, we could still go there, but typically the city most like would be the the recipient. Um, not saying that can't, you know, be directly
through the CRA, but, um, typically we don't see too much grant revenue, you know, coming through directly to the CRA. Thank you. Okay, I don't have any questions of either of you. Thank you for being here. It's always makes us a little nervous when you come,
but thank you, Mr. Ingram. I don't have any questions that conclude your report. Yep. Good. Thank you very much. We need a resolution for this. We do. Um board members, if the the annual comprehensive
financial report for year ending September 30th, 2024 is acceptable. Is there a motion? Move to approve the uh CRA annual comprehensive financial report fiscal year ending September 30th, 2024. Second. Motion by Council
Member Chambers, seconded by Vice Mayor Schisler. Any discussion of the motion? Just one question. Board member. Um, and I just want for for people in the public to know, is this document already accessible online?
Yes, it is on our this document is uh accessible online on our finance department website. Uh it'll say 2024 annual compre uh I'm sorry CRA annual compreh there's we have
two annual comprehensive reports. Thank you. Any other discussion? If not all those in favor say I. I opposed. No nazs. Thank you Mr. Ingram. Next we have a status update on the CRA and our community development Greg Paulie is here to explain. Good evening Mr.
Paulie. Good evening, chair, board members. Uh once again, Greg Paulie here this evening to provide you a quick update on some of the activities that have occurred since we last met to discuss the CRA parcels. If you recall, we met
last at a workshop on the 8th of April. This this warrants a pause. How are you, sir? I thought the meeting started. This is a CRA. Oh, excuse me. Please bear with me. Um,
we had a workshop on the 8th of last month. We talked about a lot of things. You provided some guidance and feedback and um, shortly after that meeting, I did meet with um, our uh, liaison from Florida ROI, u, Mr. John Lochner, who's
in the audience with us this evening. and we uh talked about a couple of key uh takeaways that we uh pulled out of that meeting. Um the first was to provide an updated range of guidance to Mr. Lochner and his team to better help
them uh market and promote our CRA properties for sale. The uh the second takeaway that we uh mentioned there was um loosening the restrictions on speculative development.
Um the the primary piece of that was that possibly to to be more open to speculative development provided that there are some parameters on those endusers. And we also talked about um where the
opportunity presents itself allowing for negotiating a possibility of a public space to be developed in conjunction with um a commercial property uh specifically at the 8901 piece. Now, a lot of what I'm going to talk about here
this evening is focused on the 8901 piece, but as you see when we get into this, um, much of it applies to 8447, also the old restaurant piece fur a little further down the street. Could I get the slides back up, please? Okay, here again, we've got the
8901 piece showed just to the south of the fountain shops. Now, for comparison, um the southernmost building there on the fountain shops, I'm sure most of you are familiar, that is one building that houses a small sandwich shop and a and a
national chain coffee shop. It's not a very big building. Um it's about 3500 square ft. So, in order to house a restaurant type there, I know there was some discussion about if we were
to subdivide the 8901 parcel, how would that really look? How would that really fit? Um, realistically, you probably wouldn't be looking at constructing buildings much smaller than what you see on the screen here to the picture to the north. Um, I can tell you that I've
looked at this piece of property both subdividing it um from the a north south bilateral and also an east west bilateral. Um, with the north south bilateral, it provides the westernmost narrow piece to have all roadway
frontage. And I know we talked about roadway roadway frontage being prime real estate for a commercial developer. However, I will um throw out for consideration dividing the parcel in that direction gives you almost insufficient space for additional
parking to satisfy those uh satisfy any businesses on that piece. Um dividing it on an east west lateral would basically be cutting it into two relatively square parcels and would allow for more options
with regards to um if we did find a developer there a developer that wished to include a public space component. Um, the next thing we hit on is we just talked about negotiating
possibilities for public space. And the next thing is to prioritize overall community value of any given project over other considerations. This allows um our brokerage team to look at the true value that a project brings to the
table and um consider other consider or consider other options within the proposal. And you've heard us talk about the downtown overlay district, the DoD. This is just a quick summary snapshot um
of some of the permitted uses within that space. Um the text is quite lengthy, so it's hard for me to provide all of the text in the form of a of a slide, but here's a general um outline of some of those permitted uses. And the
map chart to the right shows the boundaries of the DoD. You can see that it's um it's made up in the southeast quadrant of the CRA. Um, it starts at Bullard Parkway along the east side of 56th Street, continues south until you get to the Windixie Plaza. The big void
there in the middle is the Windixie Plaza, and then it it breaks there, and then it starts over again when you get to Chicago, and it continues south to River Hills, minus the little corner piece right there on the north east corner of the intersection. So, again, I'm not going to read all of those. I'll
leave them on screen for a second or two, let everybody kind of um take them in. And just know that those are permitted uses as they apply to those two shaded areas on the map. And here is some of the prohibited uses in that same space, that same those
same two shaded spaces. You'll see um there's a lot of pro prohibitions on auto related activities. Um, and then there's some kind of random uh prohibitions uh that address other areas, other industries. Um, you will
see I put an asterk next to drive-thru because there is a prohibition for drive-throughs, but as as I'm sure you are aware, uh, the city has made exceptions in the past uh for drive-throughs in that space. Now, this area here shaded on
this map is the REOA. The ROA is not actually part of any underlying zoning or development district, but it is an agreement between the property owners in that space. Um, here are some of the prohibited uses uh that are called out
within the REOA. And again, I'm not going to read these. Um, I do have an asterric there at the top. Um, massage parlors are called out as a prohibition, but they are allowed if they are in conjunction with a day spa, medical office, or a
therapeutic facility that provides those services. And I'll leave those up for just a moment. Stockyard. Believe it or not, it's in there. I I I haven't seen any cattle in that area, but it's in there. And lastly, I have a slide up here and
I'll I'll preface this slide by saying I realize that some of these um ideas are just a summary, just a snapshot of things that uh maybe some of the members here have discussed. Um
things that have staff has discussed, things that we hear just from applicants within the community. Um there's no um formal list here. This is just an idea of things that you may want to consider. And in all reality, this is
that section that's probably going to possibly require a follow-up meeting where we can uh workshop some of these ideas to discuss these items or maybe some items that aren't even on the list. So, hotel motel, I can tell you that we do have
um and and these these proposals are not formalized, so I can't discuss them publicly. I can only speak very generically. We do have a couple of parties that are interested for two completely separate projects and
um both of those projects would require some tweaking and modification of the allowed uses. And without tipping my hand on current deals that are in the making, um
I can't unfortunately I can't really call them out specifically. Um but you see here hotel, motel, bars, lounges, nightclubs. I believe uh at the last meeting uh the mayor actually mentioned, do we want bars in that space? Do we want these types of uh businesses in
that space? And these are things that are not currently considered on the approved uses, but they could be depending on the direction that uh this board and the city council wants to provide. Uh smoke and vape shops, hookah lounges, um some of these are on the
list because we um have heard um throughout the community that we seem to have an overabundance of some of these locations. Um the hair, beauty um supplies, the wig shops, things of that nature. Sometimes there's an overabundance of some of these businesses and that's how some of them
made it onto the list. The sporting activities, these this could include um you know a a sporting activity that's built on site. Um, we would obviously want to see that accompanied by um maybe a restaurant function, something that
provides food and beverage and um turns it more into a destination spot as opposed to um just a place for someone to go and play a given sport. And then finally, I know this comes up from time to time with regards to um some of the
consumable edibles and the topicals and things of that nature. Some people are uh vehemently opposed to businesses that sell these items and this is something that we simply may want to discuss and consider um in more detail at a later
time. And with that, I did rush through it. So, I'm more than happy to back up the slides and talk about anything. I know we don't have a lot of time in our CRA, but uh I at least wanted to tee up some ideas and maybe um uh collect some
feedback on things that you may want to see added to the list of items to discuss at a future engagement. Word members, Vice Mayor Schiser. Yeah. Um you said you have some potential deals in the
works. Um at what stage are these in in in in the life cycle. Um, one of them is currently trying to satisfy um some layout constrictions. Um, as you know, all I'm
talking about here are business types and uses. Um but the CRA also has a variety of standards um development standards to include the way a site is laid out um the way and location that uh
structures are are constructed and things of that nature. So one of them is trying to work out those details. Um another one is in uh verbal negotiations with our broker and has not provided anything as of yet. I guess my court my
that leads me to my my second part. Do we need to we're not going to meet again till what? August I think is the next CRA. That's correct. But um I might be a little um more aggressive with requesting special meetings if those opportunities present themselves sooner
which is the advantage of course of having our CRA immediately before a council meeting. That's why that's that was my point. I mean, if if you're close on some of these, um, I think we need to don't wait don't wait till August if we don't have to. I agree 100% and I I I
will be more than happy to work with the city manager on on uh uh presenting a special meeting opportunity uh if and when um those ideas come to uh a valid proposal to bring before you. Board member Fernandez. So I I want to go back
to the the layout and the parcels and the the division. I know you talked about dividing east, west, north, south, etc. But they that 8901 is already subdivided into 13 smaller parcels. Correct. That is
correct. And if you remember those those parcels are narrow parcels that run 56 to the interior road. That is correct. Okay. So, so my question for you has to do with projects uh for construction layout or parcel
layout. Let's say that a a developer wants to develop maybe a couple of of restaurants and some public space to to help activate the the restaurants. How how flexible would they need to buy?
they they would be able to buy multiple parcels then if they needed to. They don't have to buy all of 8901. Is that correct? They can buy a portion of it. I think it's going to be project specific on that. Um we didn't
we didn't actually talk about breaking it apart in that fashion. Um, we did talk more about dedicating a portion of it to a single developer if that developer wishes to build a project in
conjunction with a public space being developed there, you know, right there too. Um, we have to be careful about how we would divide it because you don't want to bite off too much of the prime piece
and leave a parcel that is devalued, if you will, right? You want to you want to try to maintain some equity there. Regardless of how you divide the property, you still want to maintain value across the entire piece.
So basically when a project comes in front of our representatives, we we're looking at a couple of things, but they don't necessarily the developer doesn't necessarily have to purchase the whole property, but we need we are looking at the project being presented if it's only
going to use a portion of this uh property that the rest whatever remains is still a viable uh choice for that somebody else could then come in and use for a project. I can tell you that's I have to answer that in two different ways because the
first way is our broker is actually looking for a buyer that can that can acquire the entire piece and develop it appropriately. Um if if the count if the the board
subsequent to the council wishes to provide direction on separating that and dividing that um that direction has not been given to our broker. However, we have been open and and upfront with our broker about entertaining ideas that may
lead to that. We're not leading with it, but we're listening to it. Does that make sense? Yeah. I mean my I just want to make sure that whatever projects are coming up that we're looking at we're measuring them from multiple methods
saying this is a great project it's going to leave half of the property untouched that but that's still a viable piece and there's still a market for that or this is a great project but it's going to leave a small portion that's that's not a usable space. So I that's
all that's my only and then my only other question for you is with regard to the the developers or the projects that might come that you're evaluating that might come before us. At what point does
this agency and this is for the people listening at home. What what point does this agency have the ability to say yes or no to a project? Sure. I'll be happy to walk through that for everyone. Um,
our broker is our first point of contact with all potential buyers. Our broker has an established um, guidance. Most recently, as I mentioned, has recently been amended. Um, but he has an established set of guide guides that
he's going to go through when a possible buyer reaches out to him. Um, if a buyer reaches out to me or anyone else here in staff, uh, we very politely, um, refer them to our broker because the contract
is through our broker. Um, so with that said, the details of that initial process are worked out directly with U. Mr. Lochner or Mr. ODM. And when that buyer um submits a viable uh letter of
interest to the city, um that then is reviewed by myself. It's reviewed by the city manager. We look at it as um we look at it on its merits for what the uh project is and what the value of that
project is to the community. um when it is determined that the project is uh packaged. Um keep in mind we get a lot of these that are not fully worked through that are more concept and idea but really haven't addressed the nuts
and bolts of the project. When it is at a point where um those details have been addressed, then we um of course we do have to publicly notice it. It has to go out to public notice for 30 days. Following the 30 days, we get it agenda
to come before this board. This board and it's publicly noticed all the way through the process. This board will then um review the proposal and then make a recommendation to either reject the proposal or advance the proposal for
consideration by city council. And then in many cases, we would come right back to city council that same evening. We try to schedule it that way. That same evening for um the members seated as council then make a decision on whether
or not this is a project that they wish to entertain or maybe provide feedback and ask the developer to come back with some updates. Thank you, Mr. Poly. We're running short on time, so I'm I'm just going to give you my real quick my my
thoughts. That doesn't mean it's the prevailing thought. I I really hope that we don't workshop this again. I don't for years. We've all been at this a really long time and there are whole new families of businesses that didn't even exist when we began on this journey. And
so every time we meet, we inadvertently give guidance that I don't even think we mean to give. We learn we learned last time that we had given instructions that I don't think anybody knew that we had given that kind of instruction. So, um, look, I, as far as
I'm concerned, you know what we're trying to build here. You know what the vision is? It's an activated downtown that draws people there to live, work, and play. That's always been the vision. I didn't see anything on the prohibited list of businesses that I think we would want to take off that
prohibited list. I don't think we want any stockyards and junkyards down there. But if if you get something that comes to you that's a novel idea that would activate this space and bring people down there, we would probably be interested
in it. It may be something we haven't even heard of before. There's business stuff things now that we didn't even used to exist. There's boutique hotels going in that bring people down with gaming and rooftop stuff. And I mean, so I think what we're looking for is something that's going to activate that
area. And absolutely I I mean we can meet if the board wants to. That's fine. But I don't what are we going to tell you that we haven't already told you? I mean for 20 years this has been going on. It's
pretty much the same conversation. So no, I'm I'm perfectly uh good with that. Um that might have been presumptuous on my part to think that maybe you did want to Well, I don't know. Maybe the board wants to meet. I don't know. So or or we can play a case by case and as things
come in we can we can vet them in house and and u you know viable options can be brought to you. Since I made that one comment my my intention was you got if you have somebody come in you're going to bring it to us they're not going to wait till August to discuss it is what I
Okay that that that was my point. I know that we have a set schedule u once a quarter. Those are the mandatory meetings. this being one of those meetings, but our um our rules allow us to request a special meeting whenever the uh the business of the city warrants
it. I just didn't want us to wait till August if we had somebody walk in the door. So, city council meeting begins in two minutes. Any final thoughts or questions, council? Good. Okay. Thank you, sir. Sorry, I ran long.
All right. We will be adjourned and reconvene as the city council in two and a half minutes. Very good. Welcome everybody to the May 20th meeting of the Temple Terrace City Council. I'd like to remind everybody to please silence your electronic devices.
And I'll give everybody just a second to sit down and I'll ask you to stand right back up again. Miss Collins. Okay, please stand and join me in the invocation in the pledge. He just means sit down.
Lord, we ask your blessings upon our meeting tonight. Grant us wisdom and compassion as we perform the work of elected representatives of the people of Temple Terrace. We pray for your continued blessings upon our terrific employees, our residents, and business
owners. Help us to unite in purpose and remember that we are all part of what makes Temple Terrace an amazing city. Amen. 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, ladies and gentlemen. I don't there may be a couple of you who don't frequent our meetings. And for those of you who may be new, we have a tradition here at Temple Terrace where we open our
meetings with a fun or interesting fact about our uh city, a historical fact or just a fun fact about our city or the region. And tonight uh city attorney Pam Shashon is going to perform that. So, before I tell you a little bit about
Temple Terrace's history, and this has to do with who ran the city, and I wanted to preface it first with telling you about the current state of the law, the Florida Constitution has a provision in article 2 that prohibits any
person from holding more than one governmental office. There are some exceptions for notary publics and military officers and a few other exceptions, but the provision was designed to ensure that the same person would not simultaneously hold multiple
offices to avoid conflict of interest. This applies to both appointed and elected offices as well as certain employees. So, one would not be able to be say the county sheriff and a city council
member. The police chief may not serve as the city's manager or as the city's mayor. And there are dozens of attorney general opinions out there about this because the question as to whether I
particularly hold an office and so I can't do this that I want to do over here has come up many many times. And so because in the law there's no definition of what an office is or what an officer is. So you have to kind of determine
that based upon what your duties are and what your and and whether you're able to make decisions for for the government and um the a city clerk has been deemed an officer um as has the
director of animal control in the past. And the current version of this law was adopted in 1968. So I went back and I had this wonderful book called Temple Terrace the first 50 years. It's a very interesting book. And as I was going through it, it
lists throughout the years who were the different people and oftentimes not the different people who held multiple positions in the city. So it starts with I believe 1920 nope 1925 at the very beginning but I looked
at 1930 and our city treasurer was WB van Djk. He was also the city clerk and two years later our vice mayor was HG Harris and HG Harris was also our chief
of police and our fire chief. Then there was FM Van Djk. He was the city judge and he eventually became the city treasurer. Now Basil Brooks name comes up many many times throughout many many
years and after I've looked at this it seems that the whole city would pro would have fallen apart if it were not for Basilbrook who held just about every office there was. So in 1934 he was the city clerk as well as the golf pro. Now I don't know that the golf pro was
considered an office but at that time he was also the chief of police and that is an office. In 1936 Fred Best was a commissioner. He was also the chief of police and Carolyn Van Deventor was the
city treasurer and also the city clerk. Now I'm going to skip ahead to 1942 and Basil Brookke again was the city manager. He was the golf pro and he was the fire chief and RH Roller was the chief of police as well as the vice
mayor. And it kind of goes on like that year after year. But I'm going to skip ahead to 1947. It said I it's got notes from the minutes there. And it says a major change in city officials came about the
same year when Mr. HP Wardwell was appointed city manager at a salary of $200 a month. He was also appointed the tax collector, city clerk, and city treasurer, positions which Mrs. Van
Deventor had held since 1934. So she had held held these multiple positions for 13 years. And then it says Basil Brookke was relieved of his duties as fire chief and chief of police and Mr. Wardwell then assumed
those duties too. So Mr. Wardwell then held at least four different officer positions within the city. So that's my fun historical fact. So well I'm kind of glad we don't still do that.
Sometimes I feel like we do. So thank you very much Mr. shown. So, our first order of business is employee of month recognition for the month of April. And I'd like to call Corey Collins to the podium, please. This is a woman who needs no
introduction in the city of Temple Terrace. Um Corey uh is being recognized as the employee of the month, which should not come as a surprise to anybody, but I would like to remind those who are watching that we changed this system a while back. And so this is
uh chosen by your peers and your and your co-workers. So uh in my mind it adds a lot more oomph to this. Um you know it could be that just you know your immediate boss thinks you did a great job but when your co-workers vote you as the as the employee of the month that
really means something. So Corey's been with the city of Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation for 25 years and is currently the division director. During her many years of service with the city, Corey has made a positive impression on many who have had the pleasure of working with her. Corey's work ethic is
admirable as she is always taking the initiative and going above and beyond what is typically expected. I don't think anybody in this city would disagree with that. When a city event is planned, Corey usually plays a major role in its organization and is always doing her best to make the event
successful. She works very well with not only the staff at the family recreation complex, but also with other departments in the city. She is pleasant most of the time. I'll take that. She's pleasant and outgoing and has a very positive
attitude. Corey is deserving of this recognition because of her uncanny ability to get things done from an outside the box perspective. She has an abundance of energy both physically and mentally and doesn't stop moving until the job is done. And so I think everybody here would really like to
congra congratulate you as being selected as the April employee of the month. And would you like to say a few words? Yes. Thank you. Um thank you council. Thank you city manager. Um all the support. Um you don't do it without a
team and the centennial committee which two of them are back here. They're that's their vision and we brought that forward. So you know thank you to leisure services. Our team's great, you know, but we also had public works, we had fire, police, we had community
development, we had so many different people involved in this and the marketing. It was such a great event. It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun. So, thank you. Thank you. Let's give her a round of applause.
[Applause] Good job. No, I don't. Got it. Thank you. Say no. No, you didn't do the picture. We'll get one.
Thank you guys. Don't go anywhere. She's already trying to run out. Performance. Cory, I've got a little offscript recognition for you. If you'd please come back up and then sit and then
stand. So, we have a little off script. This is not on the agenda. And so, uh, little surprise for you here. It's hard to do that in a public meeting because everything's on the agendas, but, uh, we are allowed. We ran this by the attorney general.
And in November of 2024, uh, the chairperson of the Centennial Celebration Committee appeared before the city council to discuss the city's upcoming Centennial events. The Centennial Committee had done a tremendous amount of work in putting
together an impressive event schedule for the city's year-long presentation. Some of our members are here. The lineup included monthly activities and a signature event planned in May that was to be called River Jam. However, due to sunshine laws, the committee could not discuss the
centennial plans outside of a public forum, public meeting rather. So members were limited in being able to carry out the plans that they had spent so many months organizing. With the year-long celebration commencing in January, council members believed it was time to
have the city step in to help out and authorized the city manager to have the parks and recreation department implement the centennial committee's proposed activities. Corey Collins uh stepped up to the plate and assumed responsibility for ensuring that the year-long celebration would be a
memorable one. Corey has devoted an incredible amount of time and put forth an immense effort to successfully execute the centennial celebration monthly events and activities. Her days have not ended after eight hours because on many occasions she has worked into the evening to make sure everything is
done correctly and weekends too. She organized and executed the city's River Jam signature event. She created the schedule, lined up the sponsors, coordinated club and civic group participation, coordinated the efforts of the other departments, scheduled all the bands and speakers, coordinated the
stage rental, sound system, organized the shuttle service, parking areas, and the list goes on and on. We are halfway through the year and Cory's Cory's willingness to expend so much free time and energy to organize and execute centennial monthly events has truly made
a difference. Events have been a success have been success. So events have been a success so far and Cory's dedication to our community is truly inspiring. And so so before you speak, because I know a little bit about what you're going to say, you're going to say, "Oh, it's a team. It's the team. It's the team." And
it is truly the team. You're right. But every orchestra has to have a a conductor, right? And so you can't do it without the conductor. And so we have what we're calling the Centennial Superstar Award. Oh.
council. This is a council award. We should all go down. Thank you. That's sweet. And one more. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause]
I'm not going to say anything. My grandson has a band performance in 20 minutes in Wesley Chapel. So, thank you guys. We're following. Okay. Next up, we have a certificate of recognition for public safety
telecommunicator Venus Czecho Amante. Please come up. Approach the podium. Good evening. Hello. We missed you last meeting. You were supposed to get this then. That is correct. Yeah, that's all right. That's all right. We kept it in the
refrigerator. So, thank you for being here. I'm glad you can make it tonight. So, this is um recognition for the public safety telecommunicator of the year. Um, as an employee of the city of Temple Terrace, uh, Venus Czecho Alante has consistently
demonstrated a strong commitment not just to the communications unit, but to the entire city, uh, its departments and the community. She has distinguished herself by taking a lead on mandatory emergency medical dispatch quality assurance and by creating, reviewing,
and tracking all required monthly continuing education for the Department of Health. Venus brings optimism, persistence, and a belief that nothing is beyond the bounds of possibility to everything she does. Her compassion and dedication are evident on every shift
where she routinely goes above and beyond to help bring positive outcomes to difficult situations. For her dedication and exceptional service, Venus Czecho Alante is being recognized as the 2023 2024 public safety telecommunicator of the
year. So, thank you very much. Would you like to say a few words? Um, sure. This makes it really nervous. Um, I want to say thank you to my leadership, my commander, and also my supervisor. Um, I'm really grateful to be in a field where I have a lot of
passion for and I'm looking for the years to come. So, this is a true honor. Well, thank you and thank you for what you do. Are you a dayshift? Night shift. Night shift. Night shift. Okay. That How long have you been on nights? Uh, long time. I've been almost 10 years in February. So, wow. February 2016. Yeah.
Okay. Well, thank you for being here and thank you for everything you do for our city. I appreciate you guys all. Lord, this didn't go as planned. Oh, it's okay. I'll take it. Oh, you want me to hold it? Yes. Okay, I'm going to hold that.
Look, you get the brother one. I got it. This is the real one. Why do I have this? We don't. Go right ahead, sir. Go right ahead. I'll give you a real more. Go ahead. Oh, she wants you. She deserves a recognition.
You don't like them? No, I do love them. All right. Sorry guys. Okay. [Applause] Okay. Next, we have a proclamation for emergency medical services week. And our
assistant fire chief, Shane Sammon, is here. I see our medical director's here, too. She is. She's just going to watch you get awarded or is she coming up with you? Well, she's welcome to. I was going to point her out either way. So, yes. Well, she needs no pointing out. We all know who Brooke is. Come on, Dr.
Shepherd. Doctor, good to see you. Good to Did we skip one? Oh, did I skip one? I did. Well, I'm going to do you while we're stand right there. You're good. We're going to go out of order. Okay. Okay. Where is this? Yeah. Nobody would have even known. You just pointed
it out. Sorry. Sorry. Whereas this year's National EMS week theme is EMS week. We care for everyone. Emergency medical services are a vital public service. The members of the Temple Terrace Fire Department, both firefighters and EMS responders, provide
life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rates of those who experience sudden illness or injury. The medical emergency medical services
system consists of first responders, medical directors, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, and others. The Temple Terrace Fire Department's EMTs and paramedics engage in thousands of hours
of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills. It is appropriate to recognize the value and accomplishments of emergency medical services services providers by designating emergency medical services week. Now, therefore,
I, Andrew Ross, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Temple Terrace, Florida, do hereby proclaim May 8 through 24, 2025 as Emergency Medical Services Week. Thank you, Chief. Would you like to say a few words? Thank you. Yes, I I would. Um, first I I don't want to be too long,
but I wanted to say thank you to the mayor and the city council members for taking the time to recognize EMS week. Um, it it does not go unnoticed that we have such a great department because of the council and the folks who have come before us and kind of paved the
direction uh for our department. And uh, EMS is a very large portion of the fire department. It's about 85% of our call volume. And so, um, our paramedics, our EMTs, very wellprepared, very well trained. Um, as the the national theme
is we care for everyone. That embodies our department, uh, fully through compassion, through respect, through professionalism. Um, our our men and women of our fire department go above and beyond every day for the citizens of Temple Terrace, and they do it proudly. They do it proudly. So, you guys should feel really good about your fire
department and EMS. Uh, that being said, Dr. Shepherd needs no introduction. A fantastic uh person, a fantastic citizen of the of the city of Temple Terrace. Uh but she is the backbone of our agency and allows us to provide excellent
highquality EMS to the citizens of Temple Terrace. So, Dr. Shepard, would you like to say anything? I'll just echo the thanks for acknowledging EMS week 2025. I think it goes without saying that we have a stellar fire department that also provides our EMS services. And one thing that many citizens may not
realize is we don't outsource our EMS services like many of our um folks do in the area. We take it all in-house and take care of the citizens when they call. And we because of that, we're really able to provide not only excellent quality medical care, but excellent customer service. And as an
emergency medicine physician that's been practicing in Hillsboro County for now 18 years, I can tell you that we are definitely um leading in both of those areas. So, I do appreciate your support um and your continued support. It means a lot. So, thank you. Thank you, Dr.
Shepard and Chief. Uh we we appreciate what you and your folks do uh all the time and the citizens do. I know we get compliments non-stop from people who have to call 911 and get and get uh services from the the fire department. I
have never had one person that had anything but positive things to say in the nine years that I've been around. So, so thank you. Thank Please to tell the troops thank you for everything. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause]
Okay, thank you. Okay, we do have a very special guest with us that is no stranger to many of you. Uh Dr. Steve Spinner is here to join us to to uh tonight. And as
most of you know, he was our interim city manager for what, Steve? It was about eight months, wasn't it? Yeah, I thought so. And and really helped us to uh to get stabilized and bring some things along. So, please approach the podium. Thank you for being here
tonight. Thank you for having me. Good good evening. Um yeah, the city of Zephr Hills has um proclaimed a proclamation, I guess, uh recognizing Temple Terrace for its 100th anniversary. I remember when I was acting city manager, we were
involved in setting up the uh the Centennial Committee and then I was very nice of you invited me to the the River Jam. But we wanted to recognize you and the things you do. I think Temple Terrace is kind of an unsung hero in the Bay Area and uh we just wanted to
recognize you. So, thank you. Want me to read it? If you like. All right. I'm thinking now I wish I wasn't so verbose. But whereas the city of Temple Terrace will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary on May 3rd, 2025,
marking a century of rich rich history, progress, and community spirit. And whereas founded around its iconic golf course, the city was named in honor of the Temple Orange and the picturesque terraces seat lining the scenic uh Hillsboro River. And whereas Temple
Terrace has grown into a thriving fullervice city with 200 dedicated employees across multiple divisions, including police, fire, water, sewer, sanitation, library, administrative offices, and ensuring top quality
service for its residents. And whereas the city has built a reputation for progressive governance, leading the Tampa Bay region in policy, innovation, and municipal services. The Temple Terrace Police Department and Temple Terrace Fire Department are both
accredited and collaborate with regional partners to provide efficient, highquality public service. And whereas Temple Terrace offers an abundance of recreational opportunities, including a state-of-the-art family recreation center, parks, scenic trails, and an
expansive riverfront access, fostering a vibrant and active community. and the city's whereas the city's rich architectural heritage is showcased in its historic district featuring seven beautifully preserved 1920s Mediterranean revival style homes
as well as numerous midse century modern residents that reflect its unique character and charm. And now therefore, Melanie Barmon Monson, Mayor of Zephr Hills, along with the esteemed city council and proud residents of our community, do hereby recognize and
celebrate the city of Temple Terrace on its 100th anniversary. We honor its storied past, enduring progress, and bright future as a diverse and thriving home to 28 residents. Thank you very much. Thank you.
[Applause] We got to get down across. [Music] Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. [Music] Okay, one more. We have National Public
Works Week. I believe our public works director, Jason Warren Phelps, is here to receive the proclamation. How you doing? Good evening. Hey, I'm good. Good to see you. Thanks for everything you do. Whereas public works professionals
focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to the public health, high quality of life, and well-being of the people of Temple Terrace. These infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without the dedicated effort of
public works professionals who are engineers, managers, employees at all levels of government and the private sector who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other
structures and facilities essential for our citizens. It is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders, and children in Temple Terrace to gain knowledge of and to maintain a progressive interest in understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs
in their respective communities. The year 2025 marks the 65th annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association and the Canadian Public Works Association. Therefore, I, Andrew Ross, by virtue of
the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Temple Terrace, Florida, do hereby set aside May 18th through 24th, 2025 as National Public Works Week. And so, thank you, Mr. Warfell. Would you like to say a few words? Sure. Thank you, M. Thank you to the city council and the city manager for the leadership
and the guidance that the department receives um together as a united front. Now, there's over 90 dedicated staff that serve the citizens and the the visitors of Temple Terrace every day. um some of them do thankless jobs that you know don't go unnoticed but if they were to not happen it would be noticed very
easily. So thank you again for the proclamation. Thank you for the recognition and the staff definitely appreciate the week being dedicated to them for their efforts that they do. So well Mr. Warfills, I have to I have to tell you, having been around here for a while, as many of us have been, that you have really, since you've come on board,
transformed that department and and the other department employees here here, they know it, too. And uh I know a number of the people that work under you. I've worked alongside them on on certain things. And um it's an impressive crew that you've got over
there. Those folks, I wish the public could see what I get to see that they do. I mean, some of the things they do is amazing. And they just jump in and they they they work themselves. It's unbelievable how those people are animals. Some of them are just uh amazing the work that they do and
they're happy and they they're ready to come back tomorrow and and do it all over again. And so uh and they don't make enough money and and u so some of them are tremendous. So thank you not just for the week, but thank you for your work and the work that your staff
does. Going down, boy. You better go sit down. It's National Safety Week. [Applause] Okay, council members, has everybody had
an opportunity to review our minutes from our May 6th meeting? And if so, is there a motion to approve? Move to approve. Second. Motion by Vice Mayor Sistler, seconded by Council Member Fernandez. Any discussion of the minutes? If not, all
those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. No. Nays. Minutes are adopted. Next, we have persons wishing to be heard on not on items not on listed on the agenda or items on the consent agenda. There are request to speak forms in the back of
the room. We have a threeminut time limit imposed on all um each speaker has a three-minut time limit. We do ask that they come to the podium and state their name and city of residence. I currently have two requests to speak. First one is
Mr. Loe. Good evening, Mr. Loe. Good evening. Uh my name is Charles Lo, Terrace Park. First, I'm going to start by helping the city manager out a little bit by mentioning a couple of things. Uh the new carpeting has been put in the library. It's very, very cushiony and I
enjoy walking on it. That's number one. Number two, I also saw uh those those speed bumps put over on Friday over on over on at Richdale, I believe it is. Richdale. Uh so they are there. I also
did notice that the city or that light will be closed on May 28th, not just the 26th, but the city's actual annual party. But I did figure it was worth a mention uh for the employees so that the
public will know not to come on the 28th if you all want to have a nice party for the citizens there. But my main topic tonight has to do with uh Joe Latina Center and these Flamingo day
passes. Now many people here got $100. because a lot of people do actually need $100, but some people don't. And I personally gave out well 95 of the $100. I kind of spread the wealth a little bit. I uh made a as the vice mayor would
tell you a little a few thoughts about that over at the Cinco deio heart board meeting. Uh but the point is that I went over to the church over there Joe Latino's church and if anybody does need the hundred uh and if anybody does
really need the $100, it's really them to help homeless people with these passes. So if anybody does have this means the council or anybody as individuals has uh to do nothing to do with me, just go give it to them if you
can afford to do so. I kind of compared in my mind to the Boston Tea Party. I have a message for the state legislature and the state government up in Tallahassee that this is never going to be tolerated again. Comparatively,
uh for those of you who did not read that, there was over a quarter of a billion dollars in legal fees alone over that business with the court cost on on the offer transit thing. Uh that's staggering. That's unbelievable. Of
course, I'm sure that includes my $100. But the thing is, I actually thought about dumping it over in in the golf or or bis or or in the or or in the or in the bank. But I figured it'd be more practical to go over and spread the money out. But when I heard of the
church and how hard this is for them, I decided to go give them the money. Even gave them a second amount, second $10 out of the money I had. I hope everybody who can't afford to will go over and arrange with the Joe Latino Center to go ahead and give them the money if you
don't have any other use for it because they could use it really well and to help the homeless people and heart all at the same time. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Lo. Uh, Juan Carlos Perez. Good evening, Mr. Perez. Carlos Perez, Temple Terres. Good
evening, Mr. Mayor, City Council, uh, Mr. city manager and madam city attorney. I have three areas that I wanted to touch upon briefly. Uh, number one, given the success of the river jam got me wondering when I was there, and
perhaps this has been discussed, so forgive me, um, if any consideration has been given to allocating some of the funds of the river um, side park project to the River Hills Park or if corporate sponsorship could be
um, arranged to spruce up a little bit the potential of of that small park which is phenomenal. Uh number two um the city has currently a bid or seeking proposals from a qualified firm that
will do a project in terms of the canopy the tree canopy and this is um RFP 25005 tree inventory and assessment urban tree canopy assessment and urban forest management plan. Uh
this went out on the 21st of April and it closes on the 27th of this month. Um there's a resource that I wanted to share in case um the city's not aware of it, but the Arbor Day Foundation has a hurricane recovery
uh campaign that focuses in uh Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. and they have $10 million in funds for canopies destroyed by hurricanes Helen and Milton. All we have to do is apply.
As far as I could find online, Temple Terrace is not part of this campaign. I just put it out there in case somebody would want to look more into these funds and could they be brought, you know, could Temple Terrace be brought into this project. And finally, I was riding
my bike uh over the weekend and I rode by the golf course in Sutton Hall. Uh and I noticed there were white lines painted along the perimeter of the building which obviously signify the uh scheduled demolition of the building.
So that got me thinking about what are the plans in terms of mitigation efforts, you know, like does the building have asbestos? um are the environmental hazards being considered right now? Um noise and
traffic disruption and also how will that process how long will that process take and affect our property values? And that's it for tonight. Thank you for your attention. Bye-bye. Thank you, Mr. Perez. Okay. Um council members, is there a
motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Second motion by vice mayor, second by council member Chambers. All those in favor say I. I opposed. No nays. Consent agenda is adopted. Public hearings. First item is a
resolution approving the Sunnyside Road complete street design to Johnson Murmuran and Thompson Incorporated. And our city engineer, Brian McCarthy, is here to explain. Good evening, Mr. McCarthy. Good evening, honorable mayor, city council. I'm Brian McCarthy, city engineer, and I'm here
this evening to seek approval for a design task to JMT for the Sunnyside Road complete streets project. Uh the figure on the screen is a general project mapped area showing the limits. Uh the Sunnyside Road is identified in
red um extends from the southern end, which is South River Hills Avenue, all the way up to its northern end um at Fuller Parkway. Also identified on this figure are um three yellow squares that kind of represent the existing speed humps on the
roadway. Um originally we were going to resurface this roadway because of an earlier uh water mane improvement project. There there are numerous utility patches along Sunnyside Road. Um when we shifted the water man from the rear rear easements over to the front and so we we put most of the water man
within the roadway to uh save some of the tree canopy. So that's where you'll see a lot of the utility patches. Um with this figure on the screen kind of dashed out in red is North 56 Streets. And as traffic begins to build um we believe that some of the
vehicle traffic will use South Hills um Avenue and then cut up north along Sunnyside Road to get to Bullard Parkway as a shortcut. Residents have also reached out to us about speeding along the section and the city's BPAC has also identified this um Sunnyside Road as a
corridor to to review for complete streets um pedestrian uh bicyclist improvements. Um so we felt there was an opportunity to reconsider what this corridor was going to look like especially also considering that the city's um proposing a new park down there at River Hills as well as uh tying
into the downtown CRA's pedestrian master plan. Um with that the scope of work includes survey um a public workshop and design. Um typically in the FDOT process transportation planners will spend about
a year to review different options but we felt if we could have the the public workshop in the middle of uh design we thought we would expedite this process. So, the pros work in front of you tonight is will be between $184,000 and
$25,900,000 depending upon the outcomes of the public workshop. Um, with that, staff recommends city council approve a design task work order to JMT for this effort. Thank you. Are there members of the public who wish to comment on this
item? None. Council members questions. I I have one. So there'll be one public workshop. Yes. So if there's only going to be one, I mean that seems appropriate for a city street. But we'll really need to double
down on getting the word out on that because um if they there'll be people that say, "Well, I didn't know about it. I missed it and I don't like your design." And so we want to make sure that we have as much opportunity for the public to don't come to the meeting and to
comment. Maybe we could talk to the vendor about creating a project website like FAQ ability. People have the ability to comment on things on in that format also for that amount of money. They should be able to do that I would think.
So yes. Other questions council members? Just one comment. Council member Kravitz. Um there's a really active community watch uh in that area. Um the gentleman is a Mr. Hardy. Be happy to put you in touch with him. The reason why it's interesting is because he he
knows the whole neighborhood. And so, you know, he knows about 30 or 40 people who live along that street. Really nice guy. And so if you if you want to get a broad spectrum of input with not a lot of effort, um I'll see if I can send his contact over if you're interested.
Awesome. Okay, that's all. Okay, there are no more questions. Uh, is there a motion? Move to approve the resolution approving the Sunnyside Road complete street design to award to
Johnson Mer I Mer Mirin and Thompson um for the amount of approving payment in the amount of $259,22. Second motion and a second. Is there discussion of the motion? If not, all those in favor say I. I. I.
Opposed. No nays. Resolution's adopted. Thank you, Mr. McCarthy. Next is a resolution approving the annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30th, 2024, and our finance director, Jim Ingram, uh is here to
introduce our auditor, Jeff Wolf, who will re who will report the results of the audit. Good evening, Mr. Ingram. Good evening, Mayor Ross and city council. Orvis Mazars, the city's auditor, has completed the annual audit for the
fiscal year ending September 30th, 2024. The city's auditor, Jeff Wolf, will uh report on the results here. He is of the 2024 annual
finance report. and both he and I will be available to respond to any questions from the city council. I believe we have a uh slide a PowerPoint presentation that Jeff will use. Good evening. Uh good to see
everybody again. And before I get started, I'll just again I always start this with uh thanking you the council for allowing us to serve you. Um we you know we work for you. Um so again just you know thanks for that uh opportunity. With that, I'll get right into it. Um, so first you should have a part of your
agenda is a handout of our required communications. It's a pretty thick document or that kind of goes over all requirements. So I'll just kind of hit on some some key items, but feel free if there's any point you want to have more questions to reach out. But first, our responsibilities as your auditor is to render opinion on whether your financial
statements are materially correct. Um we do test internal controls over financial reporting and compliance but that really is to help plan our audit. So as we test utility billing, payroll, procurement, dispersements. It's really to just gain understanding and uh if we saw issues,
we would adjust our procedures. Um but we do not render opinion on those controls, but if we did discover anything significant or material, we would uh include those in our reports. um management responsibility ultimately they're responsible for producing that large document you have the the acter um
it is it is management's report and they're also responsible for making sure that they have internal controls in place to provide reasonable assurance that those financial statements are correct. Um I'm happy to report there was no difficulties um encountered during the audit. Um Jim and his staff
is always great to work with, very responsive, and it's a really a team effort to to get this audit um complete. And the reports once we go over them will kind of speak for themselves. Um there was no accounting transactions that did not meet GAP. Um um no real s
unusual transactions. Um fortunately, it was not a significant year for accounting standards. Um so there's really no new accounting standards adopted in the current year. Um and and lastly we uh completed the the audit in accordance with the schedule originally provided. So with that I'll I'll go
right into the reports. Um it's it'll be uh repetitive unfortunately but that is a good thing. This you know when it comes to audits I think sometimes no news is good news but so our first report is our independent audit report and that is the report on whether the financial statements are materially
correct. Um, we had an unmodified opinion, which I know that doesn't sound anything special, but that is the highest level of assurance you can receive that your financial statements are materially correct. Um, next is our report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance.
Again, remember we we don't issue opinion on these controls, but if we noted a material weakness or significant deficiencies in controls, we would communicate those to you. And I'm happy to report that that report is a clean report with no findings or no issues noted. Um this year you did meet the
federal single audit threshold of $750,000. So you did require a single audit, a single um a federal single audit. Now that was really only related to to the Corona uh fiscal recovery funds. Um those dollars were audited and
and again um no findings, no control issues noted um with with with that report. Um, our next report is our independence accountant report and this is just a report on compliance with Florida statutes as it relates to investments to make sure you're following your investment policy. And
again, um, no findings or no compliance issues noted with that report. Then our last report is our auditor general required management letter. Um, and this kind of covers uh, several things. First, if um the city was any in any kind of financial emergency or just saw
any significant negative trends in your financial um we we will report that to you. But again, no no issues uh you know noted there. As we get into the financial information, you'll see that you're in pretty strong financial position. And if if you go back six,
seven years ago, um that was not the same story. You know, we did have comments on this. So it really kind of shows the significant improvement that has been made over the last five six years. Um so you know should be you know take uh credit for that as council. Um and then if any other issues that maybe
didn't quite meet the the level of the internal control report if we had any other additional recommendations we would include that in the management letter. But again this is a clean report with um no findings or issues noted. So overall from this from the audit standpoint um it was a very clean report. Again, you know, the team was
great to work with and we appreciate their cooperation. So, um, I'll just kind of jump into some real high level citywide financial information. So, this is just your citywide analysis broken up between your governmental activities, meaning your, you know, your general fund, your governmental funds are really
supported by taxes and intergovernmental revenue, and then your business type activities, which is your your your funds that are really supported by user fees. So, your your water, sewer, you know, things like that. Um so I I think the key is the current ratio which is
really a liquidity ratio to um show your ability to pay current liabilities using current uh current assets and the governmental activities is a very strong 3.8 um then your business type activities is 10.9. It's a very, you know, from a citywide full acrruel,
meaning long-term debts, long-term assets, maybe not what they're totally accustomed to looking at through budget are probably more focused on the general fund and those fine fund level statements. Um, but you know, again, I think the current ratio shows that from overall citywide analysis, you're in a pretty strong
position. On to the general fund, which is obviously your main operating fund. Um, overall pretty consistent with prior year. um you know your liabilities that number mostly is is related to the unearned revenue related to the uh fiscal recovery funds which as you I'm
sure you know will be be spending down over the next two years um because you know the requirements will have those funds obligated by 123124 but spent by the end of of 26. So those numbers will continue to drop. Um I think the the key takeaway is your unassigned fund balance
as a percentage of total expenditures and transfers. This is really your your reserves. Um, as you see, it dropped from 68 to 55% from the prior year, but again, still a very strong number. Um, and this was really a budgeted spendown. Um, and which why I think we'll continue
to see going into 25 that number to drop and and certainly with with the hurricanes that occurred at the end of the fiscal year. Um, it was good to have those reserves to be able to, you know, be able to use those funds. So, I I think going forward you'll still continue to see that number to to drop
down, but again, a very strong strong financial position um for the city. And then just a quick comparison of of how you uh ended up compared to budget, your final amended budget. Um revenue was down um compared to budget
by about 4.2 million, but this was really just related to a timing of a state grant, I think, related to the EOC. So, just the grant didn't um didn't come in in into fruition during the fiscal year. And that kind of also goes along with the expenditures. Um you were
under by about $6.1 million uh compared to your final budget, but that again is really just capital expenditures that were coincided with the grants. So, not necessarily um funds that will, you know, be available going forward. Those will most likely be appropriated into
next year's uh current year fiscal year 25 budget. So, with that, that's all I really plan on covering, but if there's any more um questions on the audit or the reports, I'm be more than happy to answer those for you. Thank you, Mr. Wolf. Are there members of the public who wish to
comment on this item? Seeing none, council members, other questions. I just have one um just for this people watching to make sure that they do know that this document is fully public comment. It's on the website. There's a comment. Okay, we'll get to comments.
Any questions? Okay, thank you, Mr. Wolf. Is there a motion? Yes. Move to approve the um the annual comprehensive financial report act for fiscal year ending September 30th, 2024.
Second motion in a second. Council member Fernandez, you're recognized. Oh, just want to reiterate from our CRA CRA meeting earlier for those who weren't watching that so that people watching at home do understand that this document is
public and fully available on our website uh as of right now. So, um if they have an interest in looking at the full document. Thank you. Other comments on the motion? Yes. Discussion.
Um, I'd like to specifically thank Jim and Jennifer and his staff. It's it's it's this is a a major project every year that takes probably six, eight months to complete. They did a great job. Um, and also the members of the audit committee, the citizen Tom Smith
and Peter Stephins who have sat through these meetings. Um, it's a lot different than it used to be. Those meetings used to last for a long time trying to figure out the issues that were going on and helping the staff. Um they're they're a lot easier. They're they're a lot
cleaner and uh it takes good effort on on on our finance department. To which I say thank you. It's a great job. Thank you. And thank you Mr. Wolf for your help. I just want to say Mr. Ingam real quickly, thank you for everything and I
wish Dr. Spinnel were still still here and uh city manager Bea and Mr. Ingram and your deputy director, Miss Newman, and your staff have just done a tremendous job. And I a lot of us remember when these weren't as clean as
they are now. And uh it's really a good feeling to have that confidence in finance to know that things are being done above board. Everything's the way it needs to be. And not to belabor the point, but I was with um Governor Danis
recently and he was talking to to us about finances in the state of Florida. He was talking about three things in particular that that I'll say much quicker than he did, but he talked about how much they've paid down the state debt that's been accumulating since 1845
or whenever and uh prepaid that saving hundreds of millions of dollars in future interest payments. He talked about how they've increased the rainy day fund by in the state case I think it's like three and a half times or something like that. In our case it's
like 50 times. Um and he talked about lowering taxes. Well those three things we have done here in the city of Temple Terrace. I I would like to I'm not going to argue but I'd say we did it first. And so we've done that. We've paid down debt from the high water mark of like
$30 million a few years ago. Now the whole debt's like hovering around $9 million and and it's 2% fixed. So why would you pay that off early? If we wanted to, we could. We have the money. Uh the rainy day fund it used to be like less than a million dollars. It's way
and as Mr. Wolf pointed out that's going to lower. I don't want anybody to get upset when it lowers. It's not that we I mean we have plans for spending that money. We're not just saving it in a mason jar. Some of that money's got we have earmarks. But um and we've lowered
your property tax rate twice um in the past few years. So not a lot. I know it's not a lot, but it's some. And so um all of that or a lot of that is due to the good management that our finance folks have done. So thank you Jim. And
so all those in favor of the motion say I. I opposed. No nazs. Thank you Rich. Your report is approved. Next is a resolution approving the transfer of1,316,213 from the general fund to the
water and sewer fund. Mr. Ingram is here to explain. Back again. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and councel. In dis in November of 2000, the city of Temple Terrace
purchased property at 10851 Rollers Ranch Road with the hope of building a wastewater treatment facility which was later deemed unfeasible. The purchase was paid through the water and sewer utilities
fund. This property was then sold by the city in 2023 resulting in net proceeds of five,361,975. Our auditor Jeff Wolf has recommended that the amount equal to the original purchase
amount be transferred from the general fund unassigned fund balance back to the water and sewer utilities fund. This amount is 1,316,213. So you can see after 25 year 23 years we
uh we made a little money off of that. Adding this to our other approved unassigned fund balance expenditures for fiscal year 2025 will bring our unassigned fund balance to expenditures ratio to an
estimated 35% to 37.5% by the end of fiscal year 2025. As we noted, we do have several projects that we are using unassigned fund balance this year. This is still well
above the 25% target set by council and will allow the city to use additional unassigned fund balances to fund one-time expenditures in fiscal year 2025. staff recommends that council approve
the transfer of 1,316,213 from the general fund to the water and sewer utility fund and I stand for any questions you might have. Thank you, Mr. Ingram. Are there members of the public who wish to comment?
Council members questions. Thank you, Mr. Ingram. If there are no questions, is there a motion? Yes. Um move to approve the resolution approving the transfer of1,316,213 from the general fund to the water and sew sewer utility fund. Second
motion by council member chambers, seconded by vice mayor sister. Any discussion of the motion? Yes. Yes. Council member Fernandez. Um, I just want for people that are watching that are not governmental accounting experts,
I just want them to understand that the water and sewer fund is one of those business funds that the auditor was talking about and those those funds are specifically designed to be operated
using primarily the fees that they charge. So they are not designed to provide support to the general fund. The general fund has its own funding. So this is so this is the reason that we
need to make this transfer back because since this property was not used for a water treatment of processing plant or anything else to do with the water and sewer fund. That fund needs to be
reimbursed to make that fund whole because the use of this property, obviously it was sold, but the use of the funds that we receive from that sale are going to be used for general fund
expenditures primarily creating our new um public safety complex. So that that's the reason the auditor recommended that we do this and that is the reason why city council has proposed this motion.
Other comments on the motion? If not, all those in favor say I. I opposed. No nays. Resolution's adopted. Thank you, Mr. Next is a resolution authorizing city manager BA to approve a change order with Bandy's construction for the
progressive design build of the Whiteway Utility Service Center in the amount of $1,685,872. I think Mr. Be you're going to discuss this. Yes, sir. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of city council. Um so through resolution
04722 the city council approved the list of ARPA funded projects. Um and inclusive on that list was the Whiteway Utility Service Center. Uh in 2024 the city council adopted resolution 6224 at its July 2nd meeting authorizing the
city to enter into a contract with Bandis construction for the progressive design build of the Whiteway Utility Service Center at a budgeted amount of $7 million. And that project was 100% funded by federal ARPA dollars. Since last summer, as the uh design bill
contractors progressed through its design and related due diligence, several additional cost items have been identified, resulting in the need for a change order in the amount of 1,685,872. The additional funds will be allocated, if council approves it this evening, from the water and sewer
reserve account. The items driving the need for this change order are a handful and they're as follows. The first is site work. So, there have been uh some underground site conflicts that were discovered with the piping from the city's wells to the water treatment plant. This required storm water
retention to be contained in an underground storage vault. And then the installation of this vault triggered the modification of other utilities. This item added $565,000 to the project. Second element is mechanical, electrical
and plumbing or MEP. Uh the contractor has experienced across the board price increases in MEPs uh mostly in electrical. The price of copper uh for example has increased significantly and has remained high. The generator for this project was originally planned to be a split unit but was changed to a
combined stacked unit to address space concerns. Uh the generator item alone increased the cost from 150 increased in cost from 150 to $325,000. The MEPs added total of $634,540. Third element is the
architectural design. Uh this project was originally contemplated with a very Spartan box-like style. Uh during the design, the uh contractor was tasked with changing this to more of a Spanish Mediterranean style that would that'd be more in line with the rest of our a lot of our city buildings uh such as the
library and and and the fire station and Lightoot. Um that added $336,332 to the project. Fourth element is furniture. The city's original request for proposals for this project excluded
furniture. Um, and as the project evolved, the city requested that furniture be considered. This added $100,000. And the last element is a requirement actually that was um uh uh put on the project by the development review committee to add a fence separating the uh the property from the
residential and the west side of the site. And this added $50,000. As council will recall, the federal government, and this was mentioned just earlier by the by the auditor, the federal government mandated the completion of ARPA funded projects by December 31st,
2026. If council were to approve this change order tonight, the contractor will be able to begin ordering materials. The project is expected to be before council for site plan approval sometime in June or July. the contractor's estimated breaking ground
by end of July and about 12 months for construction. Of course, as we all know with hurricane season, you know, you say 12 months for construction, it could end up being longer. So, uh we are conservatively projecting that the project if it starts in July will most more than likely be completed no later
than the end of October hopefully 2026. And again, this is all contingent on getting timely approvals. Uh time right now is our biggest enemy. Um, so we're we're right now we feel confident we can get it done, but uh the window is getting getting is closing on us pretty
rapidly. I'm happy to stand for questions. Mr. Warren Phillips is also here if you have any more technical oriented questions regarding the project. Thank you Mr. B. Are there members of the public who wish to comment on this? If not, council member questions.
Council member Fernandez. So, this is a significant change order that we're looking at and my I I obviously you and I have already spoken about this, but I just want to have some of that discussion in on the record and
that is that is there anything that the city could have done in terms of preparing for this project or thinking through what we needed for the project or anything that we could have done that would have maybe avoided the change
order and and also extended our timeline. So in terms of extending the timeline, I don't think there's anything we could have done for that. We were very concerned about the timeline from day one. Um this project that while although it's I think the important part to
remember is that if council approves it this evening, you're getting in essence a $9 million building for $1.8 million of city funds. The rest are are ARPA funds. Not to say that that's not tax money. it is but these were funds that were doled out for a purpose to stimulate the economy uh in recovery
from from co um so I think from that perspective it's it's important to keep that in mind uh we've looked at this um I I I think there was a concern initially and throughout again about making sure we stayed on course and on time so u uh
right now we're in a sort of in a situation as well as time has progressed where we have this tariff environment right now which is complic licating matters. I'm sure that played into it, particularly in the in the MEP discussion, dearchitectural design. I the concern initially was, you know, we
wanted to we wanted to make sure that $7 million was enough. So, originally when this was looked at, it was basically just give us a give us a building. And so, they presented us with a box. I think the community I I believe a community believe is is uh finds it important to have in some architectural
style. This is something that's going to live with this community probably for 40 years or more. So, I think it'd be important to have it match more or less the quality that we want and everything else that we have in our community in our inventory. Um, so hopefully that helps answer your question. Yeah, that's
it. Hey, other question comment later. I have a question. So, this is a change order. The contract already exists with Bandies. It does. Is there a um is there a clause in this? I mean, I know we approved it, but it's been a
while. Is there a clause in this contract I'm trying to remember that discusses the completion date must be by the end of December 26 and or what is there something in I'm trying to recall. Do you recall that off top of your head?
I'd have to I know it's not part of the change order. I'm just wondering if you don't know I get it here on that one. Don't get up. Yeah, I know. Now I feel bad. Don't get up. God plus uh Jason Morph public director. Um yes there is a clause in there and we have
discussed these timelines at every meeting we have which is weekly. Um the understanding is with the timely approvals we will hit the ARPA deadline and and the project will complete it. um should that fall outside um there is I'll need to to get the further details
but there is measures in there that would you know seek the damages so okay thank you sorry that's okay I'm going any other questions sorry okay council if there are no other
questions is there a motion move to approve authoriz the city manager to approve a change order with Bandy's construction for the progressive design build to the Whiteway Utility Service Center in the amount of 1,685,872. Second. Motion by Vice Mayor Schistler,
seconded by Council Member Chambers. Discussion on the motion. I did have one comment that u we knew when we we knew when we did this project way back when that just the fact that all this money was hitting hitting the market that we we were we were going to experience a 20
to 30% increase in just market pricing for whatever we did. So uh change orders notwithstanding it was a lot more expensive than than what was more expensive than what it probably could have been under normal market
conditions. So it but uh um just get the thing built. Okay. All those in favor say I. I opposed. No nays. Resolution approving the change order is adopted. Next we'll move on to council
business. And the first item there is a city clerk candidate selection. Um, as many of you may know, some of you may not know, we have our city clerk is retiring and we have um recruited new city clerk candidates
to come in. We whittleled the list down uh Mr. Nazario and HR and his crew whittleled the list down to the finalists. There were five finalists. We invited all five of them to come um and be interviewed and then uh three of them
removed themselves from the process. So we wound up with two of the five that did come last week to be interviewed by uh each council member individually and then we had public interviews in this room uh collectively. And so the two candidates that we interviewed are Linda
Seder and Katherine Pal Amaya. And so, uh, we'll open this up for a motion or a council discussion. And I guess I'll start over here. Council member Chambers, anything. Um, well, I'm not quite ready to make a motion yet. Okay. Would you
like to start the discussion? You want me to move past you? Then I I will make a motion then. Well, you're recognized to do just about whatever you want. So, let me change that again. I'll make a comment then a motion. Okay. you know, we we have a
couple choices. Obviously, we have the two candidates. If we don't like these two candidates or we don't think they're sufficient, then we can always go back into the process, right? So, my view is not to go back into the process. That's just and to get that out there. So, um
uh still on discussion. My choice would be uh Miss Seder. Okay. Is that a motion or It's not a motion yet. I want to hear the discussion of the group. Okay. Council member Fernandez. Um I think that both of them are very qualified candidates
and I think that we would do well with either one of them. My preference is Linda Seder being that she is currently uh employed as a clerk and is very
comfortable with that role. And even though uh coming from another state, I know that they have similar that's one of the things that we discussed in our conversation. There are similarities between what's required in Kansas and Florida. So I'm more
comfortable extending the offer or approving the mayor to extend the offer and negotiate with um Linda Seder. number one. However, I do think that uh Katherine Por Amaya would also be a
quality city clerk if the council chooses to go that direction. But I also agree. I think I would prefer to choose from one of these two versus going back out into the process. Thank you, Council Member Kravitz. I think they were both
excellent. Happy to follow whatever everyone else would like to do. So, I thought they were both excellent candidates and I'm comfortable with either one. Vice Mayor Schisler, I was was it was enjoyable talking to both candidates last week. Um uh one they
were both highly qualified individuals, although one was uh far out far and away more qualified for the open position um without having to spend an extra couple of years in order to get certified. Um, I am very comfortable with uh proceeding
moving forward and offering um or having the mayor offer the position to uh uh Linda Sadder. Okay. I I too um enjoyed talking with both of them. They were both I think very articulate, very easy to interact
with, very intelligent. Both of them were really impressive women. I I preferred Linda Seder's experience uh in this area more than I did Miss Paler Amaya. Um although Miss Paler Amaya is a
very qualified woman, it's in the area of immigration law as opposed to city clerk. And so, um, Miss Seder, I think, although it is out of state in another state, she a couple key areas that I kind of focused on when I had our
one-on-one because I knew they were priority to to many of us, not was um her experience and knowledge and savvy with document management systems. And I think we all have discussed before that
we could use some improvement in that area. um more modernized technology and maybe a better a better system and digitizing things and making it more searchable and more readily and she um had experience with that and discussed about what
they've done in tha with document management systems so it wasn't she didn't just get the concept she has experience doing that the other thing I discussed with her because I knew it was important to me and I I think it's important to others
too was um some of the administrative support for the council members in terms of forward-looking, you know, public facing calendars, um calendar invites to our commitments, those types of things. And she went into length to um discuss
what they've done in THA with that. And some of that was her work. Um, and so she talked about um the way they've got a really robust system of calendar invites so they know who's going to what. She also talked about something
that she she was quick to say she didn't take credit for creating this but it's something they have and that is a contract central repository for contracts where they have it's a basically it's a database but where they've inputed all the city contracts
from all the departments. the the front work was a lot because every you know every time you buy a widget in whatever department it comes with a user agreement or whatever. So there's all these little contracts out there that you know they're sitting in different places. They input this in
this centralized repository, the central management system and it prompts you to say okay this contract's expiring in 6 months or 8 months or whatever it is. this one needs to go out for RFP or this one needs to go out for bid or this one. So you don't just
notice 30 days out, oh my goodness, we're not going to be able to buy gas anymore. We're gonna, you know, I mean, or whatever. Um, it prompts you to take action before the contracts run out. And so anyway, I don't want to repeat everything that she told me, but I think
because of her experience and particularly in the areas that we're looking for improvement in, um I would also think that she would be the the more plugandplay candidate. I think both of them could do it, but I think the learning curve would be much shorter for Miss Seder. So that's my
book. So if that's the consensus, we do need a motion. So, I move that we allow the mayor to enter into negotiations um along with whatever staff is necessary to negotiate for the
um city clerk position offering it to Linda Seder. Second motion by council member Fernandez, second by Vice Mayor Schisters. Is there discussion? Yes. A question for you, Council Member Fernandez. um if if you are unable to
come to an agreement like so so say council approves this resolution and then you begin the the negotiations and you're unable to come to an agreement with Linda Seder do we I don't necessarily think we serve ourselves well by having to reconvene after that
so should I include in the motion that if all avenues if those negoti ations don't progress that you automatically move to Katherine Porer Amaya that if that is
the council's desire then yes it should be in the motion yeah if so the choice the decision for the council there would be do we yes tonight would you automatically want to resort to the number two candidate or would you want
to go back out to the market well and I what I'm thinking I if you go through this process. We know our city clerk is retiring. We do have a definitive timeline, but um I'm my only concern is
if you can you do whatever negotiations you would need to do without coming back to council in that uh maybe we've got the parameters of this is the expectation for what we'd offer as a salary or
whatever and and that's not necessarily coming out, but you think you're close. Can you continue that negotiation or it would it serve the city better to let that process expire and then come back to us and ask for I
don't think it does but anyway for approval to then progress with the second candidate. So the good questions, good discussion. The process is first of all, I can't do anything. It's the council that hires and fires charter officers. I
can't all I can do is negotiate and get get HR's help to negotiate with the we're doing this already with the deputy city attorney or the city attorney. We would I mean I I would be getting help, but I can't do any I mean I can't
approve anything. So the proposed contract would of course come to council for your consideration, approval, disapproval, or saying we would approve it if you change this or this or this. But I can take no action without that.
It's my opinion since we are on the clock. It would be beneficial for the council to make a decision tonight whether you want to go ahead and authorize us to move to the second candidate or whether you want to
authorize us to go back out to the market and advertise this again. If we if you if you don't do that, then we would have to wait until the next council meeting to come back before you and say um you know, it didn't work out.
Do you want to hire the offer the job to the the second candidate or do you want to go back out on the market? We're losing time and and um it would be my preference if it's the council's pleasure for you to make that decision now and include it in the motion. Do you
want to go back out if things don't work out with Miss Seder or do you want to offer the position to the second candidate? That's really the only two options. Council member Chambers. Yeah. So, um, we can either do modify the motion
to include that or we can vote on this motion and then make another motion after that. Would be cleaner if we modified the motion. Okay. I I think that actually you should take do the motion as it's been made and do the other part as a second motion because
depending on how the motion is made I'm guessing you're probably going to pass the first one but this may end up throwing um you know a monkey wrench into that motion if every if we can't get a consensus on the next step. All
right. So if we can just do the first motion. Okay, thank you. That's a good point. I stand correct in knowing that council member that makes sense. Council member Kravitz, just a quick suggestion how we might potentially expedite the process. I don't know if this is possible, but we could authorize Mayor
Ross to negotiate up to a certain salary range and conclude it potentially without having to come back here. Would that be an option? No. No. We already have a salary range, but there's only other positions in the only other the contract has to be approved by
council. I can't hire anybody. The council has to hire. So that would that would give the mayor I mean I appreciate the confidence but it would give me the mayor doesn't have that much power. I was just thinking speed is of the essence you all the Yeah. No, I appreciate what you're
trying to do. I just but unfortunately we can't. It's got to be the council. So we do have a motion on the table to make an offer to Miss Linda Seder. Doesn't seem that that part is bearing a lot of discussion. If we want to take
you want to discuss that further, you want to take a vote on that and then we'll discuss the second part. Call it. Okay. All those in favor of the motion say I. I. I. Opposed? No. Nays. Mr. Nario, you and I are meeting in the morning about something else and I think
we'll just roll into this too. Okay. Now, second decision. Thank you, Mr. Shonne, for keeping us clean. I would like to make a motion, okay, that uh if this contract doesn't work out that we authorize the mayor to enter into a negotiation with Miss Katherine
Palmaya. There is a motion. Second. Motion and a second. Discussion. I I have I'm not sure what to do because I'm conflicted on this one. I do understand the time crunch we're under and I liked Miss
Palmaya. She interviewed very well. But when we went out for the city attorney years ago and then we went out for the city manager a few years ago, the council had very specific skills, KSA skills, you know,
knowledge, skills, and abilities that we were looking for. We interviewed several city man city attorney candidates and we hired the one that had the most city attorney experience. When we went and did a national search for the city manager, we
did the same thing. We brought in finalists and we we interviewed them against the KSAs that we had already agreed we were looking for. If we're think about this process in those terms, I don't Miss Palor
Amaya, as nice as she is and as smart as she is, she she doesn't meet any of the KSAs that we are looking for. Um, it certainly expedites things and I don't think any of us would dislike her. I mean, she's very and
but on her first day in the office, how much knowledge is she going to have about being a city clerk in the state of Florida? And that concerns me a little bit. And I mean, it's not that I don't think we've established. It's not
that. It concerns me a little bit that for the first however many months she's going to be relying on our assistant city clerk to answer all the questions about how to do code board and how to how to
do public record. Well, she public records. And then one of her first tasks is to hire a deputy city clerk. and the person that she's looking for as a deputy city clerk is going to have hopefully more experience in this field than she
does, which is I don't know. So, I'm I'm good with it if you guys are comfortable and I'm just but I'm I have a little concern about that. Vice Mayor, yeah, I I kind of move go along the same lines. very nice lady, very very
intelligent, very capable, but we're not a city manager. I mean, I'm sorry, not a city clerk. Um, and it's going to take two years of training to get there, right? Not until she's certified. We have two years. Um, and again, we have
uh essentially zero knowledge of what needs to be done on a day-to-day basis. Um and in our discussions there was even hope of carryover uh or overlap of of the existing city clerk to help in the in
the initial time frame or in in the initial few months. And I don't know that that's feasible. Um I don't know that uh uh that's what we that's what we want. I don't want to be back here in three or four months when everything comes to a screeching halt and we have
to to start all over again. I I I was glad we separated the the demotions because while I'm 100% in favor of of of Miss Sadder, I can't support uh a a quick jump over um and into the second
candidate at this point. I would almost prefer to go back out into the marketplace. However, we could do that. I don't know what our fallback position is given the time crunch, but I I would have a real tough time supporting the the uh uh moving on to the second
candidate at this point. Thoughts? I'm I'm torn on this. I really am. I don't know. So I'm not dogging on I I my thoughts are I do think that my biggest concern with what we're
facing is more of the document management and retention which would actually be implementing a system that we don't have right now. So I would my preference
would be if and I I did I seconded it so that we can discuss this, but my preference would be that we actually go back out into and advertising it again just because of the skill set that I think we
need that we need this city clerk to have from the beginning because that's that's one of the things that if you look at our document management system. It is sorely in need of an upgrade and we need somebody who's can start that
immediately as well as the step right into the duties of the city clerk without without the learning curve but that so that would be my preference. Council member Kravitz would you share
your thoughts? Sure. Um so really lovely to see all the focus on document management. I appreciate that from everyone. Thank you. Um I think it's super important. Uh I think one facet that we might be judging a little harshly is the degree to which uh Palmer
Maya's skills are generalizable. So uh she is a very accomplished person with decades of experience. Uh and she's an attorney who has worked for the federal government. So she's familiar with how government works. Uh and I think that there's a value there that we might be selling a little bit short. Um, that
being said, if the temperature of the room is that we want to go back in the market, I think we could also create a motion that would immediately initiate that process and we could draw from any of the other I believe it was 37 other candidates that we received. Um, so I think that
there is already a pool uh where we could make a selection. So, I don't I don't think it's that devastating to go back into the market, but uh you know, in in defense of the other candidate, I do think she has accomplished a lot in her life, and you can clearly tell that
she is very intelligent and knows exactly what she's talking about. And I have I have no doubt that she would quickly get up to speed. And there's also some value in having someone who's able to exercise independent legal judgment when they're in the role of the city clerk when they are dealing with so
many legal and legally sensitive issues on a day-to-day basis. So that's uh my thought on that. But as I said before, I thought both candidates were excellent and I thought many of the other candidates that were in the other pool of uh candidates that we didn't bring to an interview were also excellent. I'd be
happy with most of them. So well that is an option we weren't really considering. We do have the remaining applicants that we didn't interview. I didn't really glad you pointed that out. Procedural may Yeah. Procedural question. What's
our fallback? Let's in the off chance that that the Miss Center doesn't uh uh we can't come to any kind of terms. What do we do besides tie Miss Miss Mooney up in her office and not let her retire on time? Is there I I don't know. That's,
you know, well, there's there's actually Council Member Kravitz pointed out something we weren't considering, and that is we do have the 30 whatever other candidates that met minimum qualifications that we didn't look at closely. So, we could go back and sift through that. Well, I agree with that.
We could go back or we could offer the job to Miss Palmaya or we could go back out. Those are really the only three that I can think of, but that's the fallback. I mean, one of those three things. No, no, no. That's not what I
mean. No, I mean logistically say um Miss Sadler doesn't Saturn doesn't doesn't accept or we can't come to terms and we we want to go back out. There's going to be it's going to take a couple of weeks or so in order to do that. What
um is is is is Miss Maggie capable of running the office for a short period of time? I mean, she's she's only been there a short while. I I'm wondering what logistically has to happen within the city clerk's office. Have you have you had experience with that, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mr. Nazario and I have talked about this scenario. So, Mr. Nario, good evening, mayor, and city council. I mean, in the event that that was to happen, um, we have a plan. We would we would go out there and try to identify an interim city clerk. Um, I think not
only will we do that, but um, I I think as as a city staff in general, we collaborate. we work together as a team. So, we would do all that we could to make sure that the city clerk's office is supported. Um, we have a plan. That's just sure we had a plan.
Council member, thank you, mayor. Is so to expand on that, is there a a program or a group like we got Dr. Spenna for our and from city manager is a group that city clerks that could bring people in, the retired city clerks that may come in for a short period of time. I'm
not aware of a group, but we we will try to lean on our professional networks to try to identify someone who's maybe retired, who's willing to offer us that service. Um I I know we would we would look everywhere we can to identify someone who can meet our expectations. Did ask staff to call Rob Duncan, which
is who we got Dr. Spinn from, that company. I don't know what the outcome of that contact has been. Okay. And I know um city clerk Mooney has a retired city clerk acquaintance that we have used that is not available to come
in as a full-time interim but is available. She has taken a position um with another city now. Oh, so she was available but there are there are other clerks that are recently retired that we could probably Okay. We've also talked about the possibility of
um peace mealing this when Mrs. Mooney gets back from her travels, maybe using her as a consulting for a consulting fee, that kind of a model. Do remember a couple meetings ago, I made a motion not to accept a resignation. I want to fall
back on that, but anyway. Um, so so the the the plan is that we we have a plan, but I'll be candid with you, the plan's kind of sketchy. I mean, we don't have names and we don't have somebody ready to step in. We have ideas, but so now another procedural
question. We have a motion and a second on the floor. Would it be better for us to for me to withdraw my motion and council member Fernandez would withdraw her second or do we need to move forward on the motion? I cannot answer that for you. Um it doesn't sound to me like that
was the consensus of the group. So, but that's up to you. What was the consensus? It seemed No, to do what? to withdraw the motion. The motion was to extend the offer to Miss Palora. Well, the two things is if the consensus of the group is not to do
that is to vote the motion down or I can withdraw that motion. Either one, you can withdraw it if the second withdraws as well or you can go ahead and take the vote and then move on from there. It may require then another motion.
So to get this off the table, we could either call for the vote or you could withdraw it and then we could discuss the next thing. So they're very valid points and I made the motion so we can discuss it. So I will withdraw my motion. I I will withdraw my second.
Okay. So was it what's that? No, it was council member Fernandez. Thank you. So, I have a I heard a couple things. One is that we could go back through the other candidates and take a
look at them. Um, but I would submit to you that we wouldn't want to tell HR to go sift through them and then wait for our approval to select the next couple to bring in. I think we should at this
point empower them to go ahead and make that invitation other than us rather than us having to wait for a meeting and say, "Well, I think these three are the next three or four." Let's just let him pick them so we don't have to wait. Is that Hang on just a second and then I'll get
you or two go back out. But if we could decide that tonight, it would enable us to kind of speed the clock up a little bit. Council member Kravis, I was just going to strongly urge just based on my own experience in hiring, uh, it would be really good to have more than 10
people or five people in the final round. You know, I would I would really cast a broad net because you have a really high drop off rate as we just saw. Of the five, only two made it to the interview. Probably going to be a similar range in the next sequence if we go into that. And then there might be people in the final selection that we don't like. So I would I would I would
try to at least double the number of people relative to the first goaround that we invite for the second goound if that is the course that we go. That's a lot of people. Oh, but it won't be. That's the thing. Well, maybe. Yeah, maybe.
Um why don't go ahead. In the event that you you go back out, the HR team can invite the applicant who apply during the first window to apply during the second window as well. We can inform them that it city
clerk wasn't selected and if they're you have more than five that are on the list already that look like they're good, like their credentials are really good. I don't know that we need to be locked at five, but I don't know that we need to be locked at 10 either. If you just
go, well, I don't really think these people are any good, but I need three more. I think that's not good. I can present as as many that are are are I'd say it's comparative or that are
that are close in comparison. So, if based off of who's in the top five, if there are candidates that are similar that have similar um skills, knowledge, and abilities, I can also include them in that selection. So, what do you think of a motion that would
say we instruct HR to go through the list of applicants that currently exists and enough of them look like they're a good enough match to schedule them based on his judgment and we'll get
Jeie to schedule another day of and that number may be more than five. It may be however, right? Cuz we only got two out of this one. So maybe we go to whatever. And if that doesn't work and in your estimation, nobody really looks
like they meet what we're looking for, go back out or I don't know, a week, two weeks, whatever it is, and go back out. That could be in one motion and we give him some direction tonight. Agreed.
Does that sound like a plan or It wouldn't be Sorry, mayor. Yeah. Wouldn't be difficult for us to do both. Do both? Yes. In the event that we did this, I would I would post a job for a short window of time to try to continue to expand on our candidate pool under the
circumstances. Okay. Well, we can make a motion to do both then cuz I don't have a better idea. I don't know what else to do. Let me cl Let me clarify that before I'll make a motion. But you said do do call what we already have plus go back
out or both do both. Mhm. Yes. Okay. Ready for a motion? Sound all right. Oh, I'm sorry. Got a better idea. I mean I don't No, it's a good idea. Two-pronged approach, I think. Yeah. Widen draw from the people we have and
then if we have to, we go out and that's in case that our preferred candidate does not accept yet. Okay. Vice Mayor, you're okay. in the off chance that the mayor is unable to uh negotiate a reasonable negotiate successfully with
our first candidate than to authorize HR to go back and review what we've got and go back out into the marketplace for a shorter short period of time uh to come up with a uh a a new uh list of
potential candidates for review. Second motion to second. Discussion of the motion. Brief discussion. Would it be a good idea to amend the motion to uh provide HR with wide discretion within HR's
discretion or some discretionary language that would give them a bit more scope of action or is that I think I think it was included. It was I think okay. Yeah. All right. Yeah. Then no problem. Good. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed? No
nays. I will You going to be here for the rest of the meeting? Yes, ma'am. You are now, right? Pretty much. All right. Um, if not, I'll call you in the morning and we'll Okay. Thank you. Appreciate your help. Any
other council business? Council members, council member Kravitz. Oh, just very happy about the document management discussion. Thank you very much for that. That's a a big relief to see that moving forward. Um, I actually have a uh request. Um, I appreciate the
uh trust in the flag project. Um, it's been a pleasure that I've been able to use my own resources to move that forward. It's been a mix of my uh campaign infrastructure, my staff, and my personal funds to try and generate uh the engagement that our community really wanted to have. Um, so we've made a lot
of progress. Uh, but the progress is at risk. Now, uh, I was informed that my staff can no longer work on this project, um, unless the city council formally authorizes it. So, that's what I'm asking for tonight. My staff, um, have been really essential in moving this forward. I've sent out emails to
thousands of people. I've used my own mailing list. I've been processing the entire workflow, uh, through their through my staff. Um, they've been handling the procurement and contact and outreach to previous submitts in the 2024 effort, but failed. and they've
been doing the intake for everyone else right now and they've been communicating with people about the design process. So, it's been a pretty significant undertaking. Um, and I don't think it was anyone's intention to block this work, but right now without this approval, the effort is going to stall.
So, um, you know, I I hope everyone here has the shared goal of having this be a really good symbol. And, uh, so that's why I'd be really sad to see all this promising work go to waste. So, that's why I'm making a motion to uh have the city council instruct the city manager
to authorize my staff to serve as volunteer assistance under my direction with access to the relevant city communication tools for the duration of the flag project. So, I hope there's a second. Um, I'll second. So, like but I have questions.
I I don't Okay, you first. I I'm not even sure I don't understand what we're talking about. I know. Oh, I understand the email part. What do you I don't know what you're doing. I What? I'm not sure what First of all, I don't what staff and what projects and what I don't know
what. So, anyway, but you first you answer. Those are my questions. So I guess specifically who's the staff and what are we what do we need our city staff to do that they're not you know that
they're not haven't been able to do without which is very true because we we did decide multiple councils ago that any any individual city council person cannot
uh incur staff time more than four hours on a project without the city council agreeing since not one of us directs the city staff individually. So that's where that came from was a past council. But so so I I guess I need more information
about what you're asking for. Yeah, no problem. Well, let's get council member Fernandez. Oh, I'm sorry. Questions. Are you yielding the floor to me? Yes. Oh, she still has the floor. She asked you questions. Yeah. Okay. Um,
so, uh, the people in question are my, uh, staffers, Alex Weston and Maria Donovan, both very talented and exemplary workers, and they've been helping me, uh, manage all of the intake. So, it is a big process to manage all of these submissions, to reach out to everyone about their designs, make sure the communication is
clear about the guidelines and the expectations for the flag designs, which we developed in a workshop a while ago with public input. And of course, also um, emailing thousands of people in order to do the outreach is great, quite difficult. So each time an email goes out, it requires about 20 separate emails. I have to
process do not contact requests for example, someone gets an email from me about this. Then they can write in they can say please don't contact me anymore and then I remove them. So I have them helping me make sure that people don't get contacted when they don't want to be contacted. Uh and so you know just
trying to do my best in terms of moving the engagement forward. The other issue with um using city infrastructure is that the city doesn't have a mailing list for people like I do because they don't access have access as far as I'm aware to um voter databases which are public. So um I've been trying to
progress this with whatever is at my disposal in order to meet the brief that was given to me um and produce a good design for everyone or at least a variety of good designs that people can then select from. So that's uh that's the background to that. Um, I've tried to work with city staff and it has been
mildly successful. So, I some posts have been made on social media once or twice. Um, there's now a a a screen on the rec center that shows uh if you have a flag that you'd like to submit, then you can look at the city website for some more information. Um and uh you know in my
discussions with uh the relevant stakeholders it was made clear to me that uh the way that I had been processing the emails in the past was no longer desired even though it's been done like that for quite some time quite transparently. Uh so that's why I'm here to make this request because I'd like to
integrate them like I said as volunteer assistance with no cost to the city. these people work for me and they're very good and they are great to have and they're very nice people and uh use these resources to promote everyone's objective up here. So that's all it is as it as has been the case for months.
So council member Chambers I I too I don't understand you your two staff members just want us to say okay. Yeah. So it's a it would be it won't change anything just us saying okay it will change something now. Sorry I apologize for
interrupting. No I was just cur that's my question. I mean what are you asking for us just to say okay? Yeah. So I was told recently about a week and a half ago that the integration that I had assumed possible for these two people to be able to help me was not acceptable.
And so I needed a city council vote to authorize them to um engage in that way with the city communication infrastructure, email systems, and so on. So that's it. Basically, they've been using my email. I'm also happy to run it through an email that's assigned to them. Anything like that would be
fine. Um I don't want it coming from a private email because we have um Foya and Sunshine records retention issues with doing that. So, if I were to move it completely outside of the city system, that would easily be possible for me, but I don't think it would be compliant. And I'm trying to make sure
that we do this by the book. So, I I'd have a followup. Well, you have the floor, so Thank you. Thank you. Um, okay. So, you're just requesting that uh your staff or anybody that's
working on that uh through you can have more city resources? No, no city resources at all. All of it, it's absolutely no burden to the city other than the provision of an email account. So, um my understanding is that in the past this has been done once or twice like with Frank Chalura and that he had
some people that he brought. Okay. And my last question is how do I get staff? U you can hire them on the market like I do. I like I said, I'm good. Thank you. I'm perfectly, you know, I'm perfectly happy to um try and use my own effort on this,
but it it can't be a oneman lift. This is too big of a project. Oh, man. But no more questions. You know, I can't I can't do the entire A to Z process as one individual. I also have other obligations that I need to attend to. There are only so many hours in the day.
And if I'm, you know, processing all of these emails and all of the submissions, the do not contact requests, sending out emails to thousands of people, organizing workshops, that kind of thing requires a lot of effort. And as council member Fernandez pointed out, that isn't
an effort that the city employees should have to provide and or can provide potentially because they also have other things to do that are very important. So this is an additional from my perspective symbolic project um that we're trying to do right and uh I'm more
than happy to do it but it it needs your help now because as of a couple uh a week and a half ago um I can't do the way that I was doing it. I have to do it this way and that's why I'm here asking you for your support. So that's all it is
and that means approving two email addresses to be given. Vice Mayor, um I have real problem with it. Uh there's this question. Do we have a motion? We do. We do have a motion. So there's comment. Um
I think this thing's becoming way out of hand. Um it's a lot bigger bigger scope than what I think it was initially intended to be. Um, I can't I I I just don't see it being of of uh any
value to us at this point. I really don't. And uh to to if we're told not to use city emails, I don't want to authorize city emails. I don't I don't know when this was done before. I'm not aware of this. um in uh for for prior
individuals and uh I'm still fuzzy on staff. I mean these people you hired personally to work your legislative aids was more or less or Okay. Well, I this is getting way out of hand. I'm sorry. My opinion. Okay.
So, first of all, I don't think we we can even if we wanted to approve this for a couple reasons. One is I think the charter well I know the charter very clearly distinguishes this between legislative and administrative and this is clearly 100% in the
administrative. This would be akin to us telling the city manager that I don't care what you want. Jason's going to buy a dump truck. I mean, we we just can't do that every time that we want to feel
the need to inject and give the city manager that. Moreover, even more importantly is we are required by state statute to observe certain cyber security protocols
which include vetting people in the hiring process. It includes ongoing training for access to our databases even even just email. It it requires certain best practices which are getting tighter all the time. I think we're working towards
two-factor authentication if I'm not mistaken. If you um open suspicious fishing emails, accidentally open the attachment, there's consequences to that for employees and council members, which I don't think we have
this. This would be in my opinion if we approved this motion, it would be approving something illegal is probably too strong a word. I'm not sure, but contrary to the charter and to state law, I don't know if it'd be illegal. That might be too strong. But it would certainly be
against the state statute that requires us to adhere to cyber security practices as defined by the state. We don't have a choice in some of this stuff. Aside from all that, I can, you know, you're an elected official. We
don't work for us or anybody else. But I I have to a little concern about what are you doing? This is You've been on council 9 10 years or whatever. Cumulatively, I've been on it nine. You guys have been on it almost eight. I'm
the mayor. I'm This is all I do. 40 hours a week, sometimes more than that. I don't have any assistance. You have two employees. You're sorting data. You're making mailing lists. you're doing. I have to wonder, are you are you
acting in concert with this council cuz we don't know what you're doing or are you doing your own thing? That's not our form of government. It is to do your own thing. I don't I mean, I'm the mayor. I'm out here every day doing the politics of the city and I don't speak
for the city unless this council empowers me to. I I come I always come back to you and say, "Look, I'm going to this thing. you want me to be in favor of this or not? We're going to Tallahassee. Should I advocate for this or not? Now, that's, you know, neither here nor
there, but it does beg the question. So, anyhow, I respond. Um, well, in a second when I'm done, you can. Yeah, you um you're you're the maker of the motion, so you'll sum it up. But I can't be in favor of this primarily because I think
it's contrary to the law. So now you have the floor. Thank you, sir. So just let me break down the chain of command here. There was a 50- vote authorizing me to promote the flag project and to proceed with it on my own
discretion. And the goal was to maximize community engagement because that is where it failed previously. I have reported whenever there's been any news about what I'm doing. There have been multiple sessions here where I said under old business I have sent emails to everyone importing
uh informing them about what we are doing with the flag project. There have been three I think such comments for me. One was that I was planning a public workshop which I then subsequently planned in full public view. It was in these council chambers that it occurred and anyone including you, Mr. Moss,
could have attended. So, I'm not acting out of any sort of sense of ill order here or trying to disturb anyone. I was asked to take this project on. It was not part of my original plan when I was elected. I did not campaign on the issue. It fell into my lap because the previous group failed to bring it to
conclusion successfully. I didn't ask for any of this, but I'm going to do a good job. Now the other thing is that I have also reported on the subsequent intake of designs. I have said we have reached out to the people who have previously designed flags. That took 4
months for me to just get their email addresses from staff in order to reach out to them and contact them to see if they would still like to be part of the process. I have informed everyone up here about the fact that we have adopted the NAVA guidelines after the public workshop as being the reason why we are
going back to the original submitts and asking them to potentially adjust their flags. And I have also reported on the new submitts that we have received when we have received them. And I have not done any of this outside the scope of what council has asked me to do. So I
firmly reject all of the accusations that have just been made against me. Completely roundly reject them. and I have the receipts. So, I will not have my character or my actions bismerched in that way. Here, please. I wasn't accusing you or bismerching you
of anything. That I'm a rogue agent is essentially what you were saying. I believe I did not say that. Play the tape. Acting outside of council authority, doing my own thing. Those were the words that I heard. Okay. I I I have a question though.
Council member Fernandez. So, I I I know you're asking council to uh give to agree, but I don't I still don't really know what you're asking me to agree to. So, are we asking for the the people the
staff people that you have that have been helping you to actually be assigned like city email addresses? Um, so just to address one other concern, if there is an intake process to put these people through so that they qualify in terms of whatever is
required, I'm perfectly fine to put them through that. I know that other staffers have interns. I'm sure there's some process for bringing people into the city to do work unpaid. I know that some of the interns here are unpaid. So, put them through whatever process is
required if that's needed. Um, all I'm asking for is for two email addresses so that they can do outreach to people who live in Temple Terrace who are interested in the flag project and who would like to do it. And if it's too much trouble up here and there's no way forward on this, then I'm happy to give
the project back. Believe me. So, so I just want to clarif So, what you're asking is basically the marketing department to take in two interns. That would be fine. If they can work under my direction, that would be perfectly fine. Absolutely. To help market the project. That's what that's what you're asking.
No, that is not the motion. That's what it sounds like. That's why I can I can adjust the motion solution. I'm not I'm not hung up on how we get to the goal. My goal is to have a good symbolic flag produced and for me to not have to literally walk doortodoor without any
staff assistance begging people to submit a flag because I don't know how I'm supposed to do outreach if all I have is my own two feet and I'm not allowed to call people or email people or do any of these other things that you need to do and I have zero budget for marketing. So, if someone would like to
explain to me how the flag project was supposed to proceed without me using my own resources, then I would absolutely love to hear how that would theoretically look like. Please, anyone, I yield the floor. Okay. If there's no dis further discussion, all those in
favor, wait, I I have a comment on that. You've already gone through this process. You've had some middles, correct? You do have some middles, correct? Yes, we had some medals last time. I I disagree the fact that your
your statement was the previous procedure failed. We produced a flag that we voted on. Some people didn't like it. That's what restarted this. But we had a procedure. It did not fail. It wasn't to the liking of some people. So, we have those. You have other ones. Why
don't we just Why don't you just bring forth what you have? We could authorize you going to the marketing team. Quit asking the questions. You've asked this for months to get some medals. You've got them. Bring them forward.
May I have the floor? Yeah. Well, he asked a question. You can certainly answer. Sure. Wanted to comment that the previous flag was produced by staff. The mandate was to produce a flag from the citizens. A bottomup effort. I'm sure that if we asked staff to produce a flag, they would be in a position to do
so. and I'm sure they would be able to quickly produce a flag, but it would not be one from the citizens and it would not be what the mandate was that was given to me. I do have some submissions and I'd be happy to bring them forward any time. I've been sharing them as time goes along and um I I I don't think that
the process has fully concluded and I'd like to do more outreach. Um, we are just starting. Like I said, it took four months to get the previous submissions, the the contact information for the people who previously submitted over 20 people. It took four months just to get
their email addresses. And right now, we are trying to reach out to them to see if they would like to update their designs. That has not concluded because 4 months puts us just a few weeks ago. So, just a few weeks ago is when I finally got the contact information for the first batch of submitts. So if you want to cut the process off now, yes,
there is an outcome that I can provide. I do have flag designs that meet the NAVA guidelines that have been submitted by citizens and temple terrorists that I can share. But you would be cutting the process off very early and you would be denying all the people who previously uh
submitted an opportunity to revise their designs, which they still might like to do. I don't know, they might not, but there's a there's a possibility there. So that's that's the consequence. Thank you. Sorry, I have more questions. And so I
so what I'd like to know is what what specifically is the effort that is needed to meet the outreach goal that you have in mind? Okay, we need to dispose of the motion, not continue,
haven't I? But the there's a motion on the floor for two email addresses. So are you ready for the question? Point of order. I don't think the discussion on the motion is concluded. Okay. The discussion on the motion is for two email. That's the motion. So, is
there discussion on the motion? Yes. A question to the staff. Can we do this? I know there has been some security concerns. So, uh our based on our interpretation of the cyber security policy we have, this
is not allowed, which is the reason that we've explained that to the council member. That's hence the reason that he's bringing it up here this evening. Um what happened whether what happened 1015 years ago it's kind of irrelevant. Uh cyber security has become something
more of a concern. I wasn't here 10 or 15 years ago and now there was probably Sally in this position. So we're looking at the the rules and the controls we have in place today. That's been our determination um as to why we're not you know we've not allowed this to happen.
Follow up. So you clearly said that it's not allowed, but you also said that's why it's here tonight. So if we vote for this tonight, it would be allowed or is it still No, I said it's here tonight. The reason he's the council member is bring it up, I don't control what the council member chooses to bring up. Okay. Brought up. I understand. Thank
you, Vice Mayor. One last question. I believe that the motion also indicated or requ also included that the city manager would have to devote communication staff
at your direction. No. Then I think the motion needs to be restated so that we're on the same page because right now the motion is very simple. It's for two email addresses for council member Kravitz's staff. That's the motion. May I briefly just briefly
because you've had the floor about six times. So yes, you may sum it up and then we're going to call the the question. So yes, you may have the floor. I'm sure there are technicalities and I'm sure that with all the expertise that we have up here, we'll find some
way to address those. Even if, for example, I thought the very creative solution there was to have them come as interns for the marketing department and be at my direction. I know that there are interns at the marketing department. I don't see how we can have interns there that comply with this policy, but
it would be impossible for other people to comply with it just because they're helping me with this project. So, um I'm sure there is a clever way of addressing this. I'm not prescribing a particular method. If there is no desire to do this, then I'm happy. As I said, I will bring my results from the flag project
and then I will happily give it back. I have no issue of doing that at all. So, if that is the outcome here, then I'm happy to withdraw my motion and I will give you the flag project back. Thank you very much. May may I address the intern question just for clarification. So, the interns that that the council
member is referring to are interns that were included in the city's budget. They are employees of the city. They undergo a background check like any other employee with the city. They work in the departments that they've been assigned and they work for the supervisors in the department who are city employees. It's it's a different animal than what is
being discussed here this evening. Just to clarify that they're they're also cover they're also covered under a workers's comp and they they even if they're not paid and they're just volunteering because we've had legal interns in my department. They fill out
the same application forms. It goes to HR. Their background is checked and they're they're covered under a workers's comp, but they're supervised by city employees, not supervised by a council person.
Okay, the motion has been withdrawn. I'm going to pass the gavl to the vice mayor and that has to be recognized. Okay. I make a motion that we table the flag project. Okay. I'll second you for discussion and then I just I have a question.
Oh, and that has to do with I'm sorry. I have to shock. I wasn't expecting this, but Council Fernandez, you're recognized. Thank you. You get to play. Well, and that so I just have a question
about is there a way that be this topic comes up often about outreach, not necessarily about this project specifically, but outreach to the community when we're trying to get them information or request some sort of
information. There's a motion to table, right? So, I I just want to know if after we discuss this, if we table this motion, are we still able to talk to staff about other ways to outreach?
There's a motion on the table to table the flag project. Point of you can bring up Excuse me. If if the point of this was I'm raising a point of order. May be recognized. Well, I'm going to recognize you. Would you let me recognize you, please? Okay. Bill point of order. You
recognize now if the motion was withdrawn as I just heard from Mayor Ross then what is the point of the motion to table a non-existent motion? So either the motion has been withdrawn which I don't remember doing but I'm happy to accept it because I suggested I
would do it. Um I don't understand what the point is of the motion to table. I don't believe it's procedurally appropriate to table a motion that has been withdrawn. I don't believe I'm not asking to table a motion. I'm asking to table the whole flag
project. The motion withdrawn has nothing to do with the motion. I'm asking us to Thank you for the clarification. So when you say table the flag project, is he recognized? I I have another point of order. The flag project is not an agenda item that we can table. We can make a motion to
end the flag project, but a tableabling motion only applies to an item that's on the agenda. Okay. I revised the motion to end the flag project. Sir, who seconded that? I did. I I seconded the original motion.
Okay, Steve. Okay. I didn't know. So, the revised motion is now to end the flag project. Do we have a second? I will second that. Okay. Any discussion on the motion to to to t to kill table or kill? Yes, sir.
To end. Did you recognize me? Hi. Hi. Okay. No, the the motion to table or you know if we table in now in the flag project. You know, our goal was to have a temple terrace flag. It's
been talked about forever. I'm not willing to stop that goal. I still think we need a flag. We've had a flag in the past. So, I don't want to just kill it. However, it's gotten out of hand. So, uh, I but I don't want to get rid of
this project forever unless, you know, we can it'll be revisited by another council down the road a year or two from now when after elections. I guess I can do that, but I don't want to stop the flag project, you know. Okay, we have a motion and a
second. motion is to stop the flag project alto together. I have a comment that that that I'd like to make in that regard and that is I agree it's gotten out of hand. I was at the only public hearing that or public
session that I knew about it and before it was over out of the five people here 25 or 20% of the people were saying I'd like to vote for nothing. So, I think it's it's it's it had a little bit of traction, but it it's go it's it it
seems to have gone nowhere fast. So, I I would support that motion. So, any other further comment on You said you would support the motion to get rid of the project, the flag project. Okay. So, Okay. Any other comments? Yes. Real quick, it can be brought back
up by anybody on the prevailing side of the vote at any time in the future. So, it doesn't have to be dead forever. Okay. As long as you're on the prevailing side of the vote, you could make another motion in the future to resurrect it.
Okay, we have a motion to second. All in favor, please take saying I I I I oppose like sign. Motion carries. I get that back to you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Any other council business? I
council member Fernandez. I have I do I have three items, but I have spoken with the city manager about them and I think he's going to discuss them. So, I don't know if if you want me to ask the questions in council business or wait
until the city manager's report. If if he's going to discuss them, why don't you wait? Maybe he'll answer your questions and then but I'll be sure to give you plenty of opportunity. I I think he's going to I mean, we we talked about it, so I think he's going to talk about So, is that okay with you? Yes. Okay. Any other council
business? Okay, new business board reports, city managers report. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of council. Um, at the last council meeting, we had a resident u who's also a um a chair of our Riverwash task force, I believe, Mr. me Lewis who spoke
um and presented us with a binder of information on a u termite eradication pilot project that has worked in uh city in New Orleans and Chile and Spain. Um presented the information we've staff has reviewed it. Uh he was looking at in
the proposal to have the city uh take on the leadership of this project if we wanted to look at doing it here u in a particular area that he recommended. uh there was a cost associated with that of about $96,000 out of a total cost of 192,000 that he had projected for the pilot. It
would have impa impacted 96 homes in the area roughly uh uh east of south of St. Augustine Avenue, east of Riverside Park and west of Glenn Arvin. um we've researched and looked through the the material that that was provided in the
cases of of definitely in New Orleans and Chile the the the program was funded entirely by the federal or national government in in those in those entities. Um in New Orleans case it was an earmark and it kept going for about eight years and then after that when the when the government phased out earmarks
they did away with that program. uh and this request here was unclear from the material whether the who was going to be responsible for the other half of the cost. Uh we assume that that might the responsibility would lie with perhaps with the property owners. Uh we also had questions about the uh uh in
the other instances it seemed like all the properties were involved. Uh in this instance here if we had property owners who have to pay for this or we couldn't figure out a way how to compel property owners to participate in this in this project as well. So that led us to questions about the efficacy of this beyond just the basic question of how we
would pay for it too and if that's the direction the council wanted to go. Um so it we we think it's a it's a it's an interesting program. Uh obviously in in our community we know for termites are are are you know they're a pest that's definitely we're sort of the epicenter of that. Um but because of these
questions and because of the fact the others were funded 100% by the federal and national government at this point we're staff is not recommending that we pursue this but of course this is up to the council if you wish us to take a look at this we will but our recommendation right now would be to uh thank obviously Mr. uh Mr. Lewis for
bringing it forward. We we we'd send him a note of appreciation for that. Uh but at this time we're not proposing to do anything else with this uh unless council directs us otherwise. council discussion and I agree. Okay. Thank you.
And now you want me to answer your questions. Sorry. Do you want me to ask them or I I think I remember a couple. I think I've got a couple of them. So I if I miss one, please tell me. Okay. So I believe you had a question about the tree study. Yes. So the tree study actually Mr. Pettis mentioned it
earlier. So he kind of took the wind out of my sales. So uh council member Fernandez had asked about where we were with the tree study uh as was mentioned earlier. So the tree study was uh this the request for proposals pretty substantial request for
proposals was released on April 21st. The uh due date is May 27th. There will be an evaluation assuming we get responses. There will be a evaluation period that'll start uh as of the 28th. Uh we anticipate having a short list of
respondents notified by June 9th. Uh and then we're hoping to start preparing awards to announce who would be the preferred firm uh by June 26th and then have them have a contract to the council
at some point uh in perhaps uh August is what it's looking like right now because a big period of time we'd have to negotiate a contract. Um, this was again just for the public who may be tuning in. This is for a tree inventory and condition assessment for the urban tree
canopy and um for trees located on specified city-owned properties and within public rights of way through the city. This was per the council's budget to allow us to take a look at our tree canopy and best means of maintaining it and trying to enhance it uh going forward. Does that answer your question?
Yes, there were there had been some questions online, so I wanted to see if we could update it then. U believe the next question had to do with uh water our water main system and our water lines in in our community. Yes. And so um there have been a couple
of breaks in in the in the water manes that have come recently. Obviously, we know during Hurricane Milton, we had a lot of water main breaks. Uh the ones during Milton were almost entirely due to the hurricane and the movement of trees and root lines bringing up the lines. Um a community in in in this case
in our community we've got uh infrastructure that is of different vintages. You've got infrastructure might be brand new such as the River Park development off of Temple Terrace Highway. You have other infrastructure that probably dates to the 60s, other to the 80s, uh some to the 1920s. 1920s
infrastructure has probably largely been replaced what's in the public right ofway. Uh but the connection sometimes might still have some older remnants to them. So because of that with the different vintages it is not uncommon for there to be cracks that emerge over time and in different service lines.
Sometimes not just sometimes but it's pretty common that the water man itself may not be what what's broken the sort of main service line down the middle of the road but it could be some of the service lines. For example, in the Capwood Avenue in in instance recently, it was a service line that had suffered
a crack. So again, the city has inherited a lot of this infrastructure, perhaps almost all of this infrastructure from different developments over the years. They were built, they put infrastructure in, we inherit it, and we we maintain it as best we can. So when we have those uh
those breaks, our goal um our primary goal is to make sure that we can make that repair without losing pressure to the line. Um because once we lose pressure to the line, then we have to do a precautionary boil water notices. So we try to avoid that at all cost. That's why you've probably seen images of our
workers, you know, up to their shoulders in water. Well, because they're trying to keep the line open so they can keep make that repair. does complicate the repair but it prevents us from inconveniencing people. Now there are instances where that's not possible. We just for the circumstances involved we
can't do that. Um and so when that happens we issue a precautionary boil water notice. Um typically in the past what we would do is if there's a a small area of service that's impacted let's I'm using a number just for reference sake 10 or 20 homes. We'll just put door
hangers on those homes to let them know this is what's happened. Now, if we have a break that deals with a much larger area, we'd have to take other instance put on the city's website and try to do social media and other things. So, that's typically what our process has been um being uh proactive. Mr.
Warrenfeltz and I have talked about is there a more proactive approach we can take to some of our infrastructure. In fact, we fund this council funds uh lining for example of our sanitary sewer pipes. So, we're trying to come up with a a more uh comprehensive approach to
doing that so we can actually map this out in a more systematic way and show our staff and the community this is where we're going to be operating on to replace and line our pipes. The water lines are slightly different. Um there are some areas we know of that are concerning, for example, where we may
have already noticed some some depressions or some areas we know the this kind of pipe is problematic. If we can get ahead of it, we will. But there is some inconvenience and definitely some cost to going in proactively and trying to do that because then you're impacting a wide swath of area where you may not have a
break. Um but you know that is one approach that we can look at. But again that that is a different more intensive approach there. And then the third one you're going to have to remind me of. I apologize if there's uh well that had to
do with the new city app. Oh yes. And people subscribing to it. How how are we doing with that? and how are we getting people connected for when something like this happens? Sure. So, thank you for that. The So, the Temple Terrace InTouch app. So, anyone who's watching, I
encourage you to download it from the uh the app store or or the Google store. Um, this is it's called Seclick Fix. That's sort of the back backend uh name for this. And what it allows is anyone who wants to use this, they would register for it and then they're able to
take a picture, for example, of something they see in the community. It may be a pothole. It could be a tree down or whatever it might be. Uh if you take the picture through the app, it geoloccates uh the address. Uh there there are menus there so you can pick which category you're you're you're sort of answering.
If it's potholes, you know, you pick that. Uh that will be then directed to the staff who's germanine to that particular issue. Uh it allows us to track our performance a lot better also uh systematically. Uh and the good thing
also is if you register um by registering you're allowing you're allowing us to create basically a subscription list that we hope to build over time allows us to push more information out to the public uh in addition to our other means that we currently have newsletters and things we're looking at for the budget for next
year also. So I I just have one question about that. Um would it be possible to do a an an app tutorial and broadcast it on our TV channels? Yes. Yes, we can do that.
Anything else, Mr. Bea? No, sir. City attorney's report. I have nothing. Good. Anything else to come before the council? Yes, sir. Okay. If not, we will stand adjourned. [Music]
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