Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular city commission meeting for this the 10th day of September at 6 pm. We will have a uh invocation by Pastor David Barry of the Mission of Winter
Haven. We will be led in the uh pledge of allegiance by Vanessa Castillo MMC city clerk. Can I get a roll call, please? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Dolison here. Commissioner Mercer here. Commissioner Dansler here. Mayor Prom Yates here. And Mayor Birdong
here. Please stand if Good evening. Father God, we thank you for tonight. We thank you for uh this opportunity to come together as a city to discuss the business of this city in your presence. Father, I lift up every
city commissioner. I lift up their their leadership. I ask that you grant them wisdom to lead and lead well. But I also lift up their families and their household to you that you will provide for their every need on a personal level. It's not just about their public leadership, but it's their private life as well. Bless them coming and bless
them going. And may everything that is accomplished tonight be for your glory and make this city even greater in the days ahead because you love us, you love this city, and you love everything that's done here. So we give you the honor, we give you the glory tonight, and we turn this meeting over to you in
your mighty name. Amen. And amen to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
All right. We have no excuse me, no presentations, no developments of uh note. Commissioners, you have the minutes. Mr. Mayor. Yes. Motion to approve the minutes of the August 20th, 2025 city commission
agenda review session minutes. Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to these minutes may do so at this time. Would you come forward? State your name and address for the record.
be sworn in? No. Do I need to be sworn in? No. What's your address? Um, are you Do you want to speak on the minutes? Nope. Okay. Well, then I just want to do the public comments when it's time. Okay. Well, yes, you sign up. I'll call
you up for that. All right. Anyone else? Saying none to close the public hearing. We open the city commission meeting. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Opposes by the same sign.
Hearing none, the minutes are adopted. Okay. I got one. The next item, state law requires the first substantive issue to be discussed at this hearing
are name of the taxing authority, city of Winter Haven. Rollike rate is 6.2254 mills. The percentage increase in the millillage over the rollback rate is 5.86%.
Millage rate to be levit is 6.5900. The reason the Avalorum tax revenues are increasing the Avalorum proceeds resulting from the difference between the proposed millage rate and the roll back rate will be used to offset
increased operating costs and fund capital projects. All right. Ordinance first reading. City Attorney.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-28. I will read this in its entirety. An ordinance of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, adopting a millate to provide sufficient funds for projected expenditures of the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget. the city of Winter
Haven, Florida, providing for severability and providing for an effective date. Whereas on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, the city of Winter Haven held a public hearing as required by Florida statute 200.065. And whereas a budget has been prepared estimating expenditures and revenues of
the city of Winter of the city for the ensuing year with detailed information including revenues to be derived from sources other than advorum levy and recommendations have been made as to the amount to be appropriated for the ensuing year. Whereas the city of Winterhaven strives
to provide a level of service consistent with the expressed desires and demands of its citizens. And whereas it is necessary that taxpayers of Winter Haven also be willing to share the common expenditures of said services and to provide funds. Therefore, now therefore be it enacted by the people of the city of Winter Haven, Florida as follows. Number one, the millage levy for fiscal
year 2025 2026 is hereby set at a rate of 6.5900 mills. The millage rate of 6.5900 is a 5.86% 86% higher than the roll back rate of 6.2254. If any word, sentence, clause, phrase,
or provision of this ordinance for any reason is held to be unconstitutional, void, or invalid, the validity of the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected thereby. This ordinance shall take effect on October 1st, 2025, introduced on first
reading this 10th day of September, 2025. Thank you. Thank you, city manager. Good evening, honorable mayor and city commissioners. Uh Florida statutes does require each taxing authority to annually set a millage rate for property taxation following a required public hearings.
City commission set the proposed rate of 6.5900 mills at the July 23rd, 2025 city commission meeting. The property appraiser used that information to prepare trim notices which were distributed in August. The millage rate must be established by ordinance and
have a public hearing at each of the two readings of the ordinance. The first public hearing is scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, and the second is scheduled for Monday, September 22nd, 2025. The 6.5900 Mills Advalorum rate will generate
31,22,469 to the city's general fund at a collection rate of 96.50%. Staff recommends the city commission approve ordinance 025-28. Thank you. Thank you. The second reading will be on
September the 22nd. However, if anyone would like to speak to this ordinance, you may do so at this time. And Mr. Mayor, you will vote on this tonight like you have in the past to move it forward for second reading. Entain a motion,
Mr. Mayor. Yes. Motion to approve ordinance O-25-28 adopting the military for fiscal year 2025 and 2026. Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open public hearing. Anyone wishing to
speak to 2528 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. We open the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. Uh the millage rate is adopted on first
reading. Ordinance. O29. Would you read by Taiwan the city attorney? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And if you indulge me, I'll read it. You'll read it in its entire it entirety. Thank you. Ordinance numberhead. Thank you. Ordinance number 0-25-29,
an ordinance making appropriations of funds for defraying the expenses of the municipal government of the city of Winter Haven for fiscal year 2025 2026. Adopting the budget of the city of Winter Haven, Florida fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 is the official budget of the city of Winter
Haven, Florida fiscal year 2025-2026 providing for severability and providing an effective date. Whereas Florida statutes require each taxing authority to annually adopt tenative and final budgets and whereas the city winner has held workshops and commission meetings regarding the fiscal year 2025-2026
budget. And whereas estimates have been made by the city manager of the city of Buunh as presented in the budget of the city of Winham Florida fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 showing that the sum of $216,326,66 will be required for defraining the expenses of maintaining the government
of the city of Winhaven Florida for the fiscal year 2025-2026. And whereas the budget of the city of Winter Haven, Florida fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025, anticipate sufficient revenues to fund projected expenditures of $216,326,66.
Now therefore be enacted by the people of the city of Winter Haven, Florida as follows. Number one, the sum of $216,326,66 is hereby appropriated out of all of the various revenues acrewing to the city of Winter Haven and set aside for the purpose of paying the expenses of and maintaining the government of the city
of Winter Haven for fiscal year 2025-2026. Number two, the budget of the city of Winter Haven, Florida fisc year commencing October 1, 2025 on file in the office of the city clerk is hereby adopted by reference as the official budget of the city of Winham Florida for fiscal year 2025-2026.
Number three, if any word, sentence, clause, phrase, or provision of this ordinance for any reason is held to be unconstitutional, void, or invalid, the validity of the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected thereby. It is the intention of the city commission that section of this ordinance may be reored or relettered in the word ordinance may be changed to chapter section article or such other
appropriate word of phrase in order to accomplish such intentions and that section of this ordinance may be reumbered or relettered and the correction typographical or andor scriveners errors which do not affect the intent may be authorized by the city manager or his designate without need of public
hearing by filing a corrected or re codif codified copy of same with the city clerk. Number five, this ordinance shall take effect on October 1st, 2025. Introduced on first reading this 10th day of September, 2025. Thank you. Thank you, city manager.
Thank you, uh, mayor and commissioners. Um, I'm going to go through the fact sheet. I also would like to go back through portions of the original budget presentation for the benefit of those that are in the audience and will watch on the those that will watch online as well. As noted, Florida statutes does require each taxing authority to
annually adopt a tenative and final budget. The law also requires the local government hold a public hearing prior to the adoption of each of those budgets. The city will advertise the adoption of the final budget and the notice of tax increase prior to the second public hearing in accordance with state law. Second and final hearing will
be held Monday, September 22nd. Tenative budget has been prepared based on city needs and commission directives authorized at the budget workshop held on Wednesday July 23rd 2025. Those directives included the adoption of the current mill rate of 6.5900
mills. The budget has been prepared in compliance with the city's policies and requirements and appropriate state statutes. this point, I'd like to go through some of the high points from the uh two budget presentations that were offered
in uh July and in August. Again, City of Winter Haven's budget is built around the strategic plan that was adopted by the city commission in July of 2024 and focuses on the six pillars that are reflected here. Um there are a number of items that speak to each of these. Uh
some of those include park enhancements, continued um funding for affordable housing under community safety, the development of fire station 5, the addition of of um additional police and firefighters. In the case of infrastructure, um
continuing uh water sewer upgrades throughout that system, implementing a variety of complete street programs and projects in the area of responsible government, the deployment of the open gov budgeting platform as well as a continuation of a strong fund balance uh
for the general fund. In the area of environmental stewardship, one of the biggest projects moving forward within this budget is the acquisition of the astute financial property on North US17. And in the area of economic sustainability, some of the efforts include uh partnering with Hartford for
Winterhaven to fund the CDFI program that they're putting together as well as the city's development of a rail spur to uh further um contribute to economic investment at the industrial park. Next slide. The budget highlights you you
heard within the ordinance um the notation of a budget totaling $216,326,66. That is the city's budget once internal transfers from one department to another are canceled out. Uh we don't spend that money twice. Uh for comparison purposes,
budget year-to- budget year, the 2526 budget is 250,280,12. Um again, what's actually being spent is the 216, but when you transfer money say from the general fund to the airport fund, you only count that that once.
This 250 show reflects the expenditures in both of those different areas. as an example. The budget is balanced at a current military of 6.59. Will note that this year's budget is 45.9 million less than it was for fiscal
year 2425. That is a 15.5% reduction in total expenses. Gross prop gross taxable property values in Winterhaven this past year increased by 12.3%. Almost all of that increase is associated with new construction that
was completed and is now on the tax roles. The uh estimated advalorum revenues increased by $3.4 million bringing in general fund total revenues from advalorum to 31,12,469. city contri continues to support efforts
to increase affordable housing and and this budget includes a general fund contribution to the affordable housing trust fund of $250,000. Budget also contemplates a market adjustment that was um based off of a market compensation study completed this
past spring. And with the adoption of the budget, the city will have 766 total positions funded. Of those 653 full-time, 113 part-time, that is inclusive of 23 new full-time and six new part-time
positions. In comparison to millage rates throughout the county, this chart has been updated now that trim notices have been filed for all of our adjacent cities here in Pulk County. Uh we remain unchanged, still at number eight in the
overall scheme of things. Uh that's the lower half of millage rates throughout the county. Uh there are um three uh entities within PK County that have issued a trim notice suggesting a higher millage rate, although that is yet to be determined until they have their budget
hearings. And one uh municipality that lowered theirs being Hillrest Heights. Next slide. City continues to uh uh work through partnerships. Our community partners remain funded as you see within the the chart there. Pulk Vision, Main
Street, Winter Haven, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic Development Council. Uh we have the remaining the continuation of three service delivery partners with the addition of a fourth one being Pulk County, Keep Pulk County Beautiful. And then our externally
contracted services that are of significant value, uh the Winter Haven area mass transit program that we have, the city contributes about $294,000 uh for the bus service here in Winter Haven. that is the same amount as in the prior year. And our continued efforts
with Hartford for Winter Haven to uh implement homeless uh mitigation initiatives through a variety of different means and um they have worked with us for the past several years to implement that. Nonprofit organizations are included in the budget. This is your
grant and aid program. uh $347,000 goes out to different uh nonprofit organizations throughout our community that help deliver services that the city does not directly provide. There were 44 agencies that were recommended for approval uh this past June after that
grant aid process completed. Um and that was approved by the commission to include within the budget at a meeting in June. When we look at our how the city spends its money uh throughout the entire organization, you can see that about 29%
of the expenses are tied to capital. Those are one-time expenses associated with everything from vehicle acquisitions, police cruisers, fire trucks, garbage trucks, all the way up through uh capital construction that is sticks and bricks such as a new fire
station. uh advancements within our water and sewer infrastructure uh improvements at the airport. That's what falls within capital. Um that is down significantly from the year prior. So I mentioned we have a drop of almost
$50 million in our budget year-over-year. Last year's capital investment in Winter Haven's uh infrastructure and assets was about $133 million. So, there's a one-time projects specifically like the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural
Center, the Lake Elbert Trail, Channel Lakes Park phase two. Once those dollars are spent, they don't reoccur. Uh, so we were able to knock out a lot last year. So, that number comes down this year. Personnel makes up about, if you go back, please, personnel makes up
about 26% of our total expense and operating about 24.6%. In the general fund, we've had a lot of talk about advalorum taxes and what is uh a point of interest at the state legislative level. Advalorum taxes in
the general fund account for just over 40% of the city's total revenues. Um you can see that the to the total revenue uh budget within the general fund is a little over $78 million. Uh there are state shared revenues
within there. There are utility service taxes, franchise taxes, um local option gas tax, fees that are paid for participation and use in parks and recreation, interest earnings, um federal shared revenues, fines and
forfeertures, and then all the way down through our our state grants. If we look within the general fund specifically at how dollars are spent in terms of uh actual departments, the police department and the fire department, and that also includes our
safe neighborhoods, those combined for a total expense of about $34.8 million. Again, I hearken back to the point that I make routinely about advalorum tax revenues. Those generate about $31
million or $31.5 million. So that is less than what it actually costs to operate our police and fire department alone. So that is why that continues to be a a strong point for us in our discussions with our legislators in Tallahassee.
Uh the remainder of the departments and this is everything just within the general fund. You can see how dollars are distributed based upon the revenues received. city is self-insured and uh I've explained this at length with the commission in the past but you can see
our estimated cost for our self-insurance fund uh for 2025 calendar year it is estimated at $ 8.9 million that has risen uh about $900,000 over
the prior year and about 2 $2.5 million over 2023. um one or two significant medical claims can have a drastic impact on that self- insurance fund. Um and we have uh
included within our budget a number of different initiatives and efforts uh to increase overall health and wellness of our workforce. Employee pensions um are performing well within the general employee pension plan
and this is a closed plan meaning that no new members can join it. It is uh we still have a number of employees that are involved in this. We made the change away from the general employee pension plan in 2017. The city's contribution as a percentage of payroll for the general employee plan
this year has dropped by about two percentage points to be 35.9%. Um it is uh the plan funded ratio is at about 82.3% and it continues to outperform its assumption. What it's actually earning
uh through the investments is performing better than what the plan assumes would be the the performance in the police pension. I'm sorry firefighter pension is next. They had a slight increase in their contribution of as percentage of payroll from 34.68
up to 35.81%. their fund plan funded ratio uh bettered itself as well at 84% and they are also outperforming the assumption in terms of their investments. And finally the p the police pension
plan this has the lowest contribution of the three plans in terms of percentage of payroll at 15.2%. Uh it is funded at 85.8% and like the others uh investments performed strong over the past year.
In terms of uh compensation, we presented to the commission back in July the need to make some corrections to some paygrades uh putting certain positions in proper paygrades in comparison to like positions uh within
the local labor market. Uh these 19 positions were reclassified based upon approval that was granted by the city commission in July that took place the 1 of August. So those have all been adjusted and are, you know, all those positions now are within the
proper pay grade. That had uh a very minimal impact uh a couple thousand at best in total uh in the fisc year 24-25 budget, but it prepared us for when we look at additional adjustments as proposed for the fiscal year 2526 year.
Uh the the budget as presented does contemplate an effort to align the city more so with what the market research performed by our consultant revealed. That research did show that on average the city was about 5 and a half% below
the local labor market. Uh looking at all of our positions, that doesn't mean that every position was in that situation. Um some were well below that, some were above that. Uh but based upon the data that we received in our assessment of that, we have recommended
and included in the budget a 5% adjustment to the base salary of all positions. Uh the 1680 per hour that you see on the screen, that is reflective of our lowest entrylevel position. At present time, those positions are at $16. Come October 1st, they would go to
1680. Those are vacant seats that we have. All other positions that where we have an incumbent in that role, those employees would see a 6% adjustment come October 1st. And that is factored within the budget as presented and balanced.
I mentioned um new positions that were added, three new police officers, um and I'm just going to highlight the the full-time positions because that's where the the greatest impact is. So, three new full-time positions within the police, uh, our law enforcement
officers, four new firefighters that would come on midyear. Um, a new maintenance operator within parks and recreation, as well as a recreation manager within our IT operations, smart city data analyst, a business
technology support specialist, and a smart city computer engineer. Um, as I've discussed many times, every employee has a email account, has access to a computer, the multitude of of laptops and uh iPads and cell phones and
and technology tools. We have one of the smallest IT departments given the size of the organization and the amount of equipment that is used within the building division. Um, again, building division funds can only be spent on building division operational
costs. Uh we are adding one building division customer service representative, two permit specialists and one permit specialist supervisor. And then within
the water department, a fiscal manager, two utility servicesers and one community service representative, one additional full-time mechanic within our fleet operations, and two additional driver collectors within our solid waste. So, as you can see at the bottom,
it's a total of 23 new full-time positions, six new part-time positions added to the overall organization within the general fund. Um, and this will go quickly. This is just a year-by-year comparison. General fund
increases by $2 million, which equates to about 2 and a.5% year-over-year in our operations within uh the general fund. General fund balance. This is your reserves, your rainy day fund, your emergency relief valve in the event that
we experience a natural disaster, a significant economic turn uh for the worst or something that has a direct impact on revenues. City has a um a requirement to maintain 17% of their general fund operational expenses within
that uh fund balance um and a target goal of 30%. We anticipate uh that our uh general fund fund balance will actually be at 31% which yields in excess of $641,43.
At some point later in the fiscal year, we'll come back and whatever that number is at that time recommend that that be transferred to the construction fund to help offset capital expenses. Um, I will tell you that we just last
week had a ratings call with Fitch is one of our rating agencies. They do this every year. Either S&P or Fitch comes and does a review of where we stand. This is one of those things that they look at to help ensure that we're
managing finances responsibly. Um, we have not received the uh final report of the Fitch ratings, but we anticipate that it will remain strong and very positive as it has for the past two years, and we'll present that to you at an upcoming meeting. Major investments
within the general fund, uh, new police vehicles, we're replacing a number of vehicles that are slated for replacement this coming fiscal year within the fire department. um the Drager SCBA communication system that is a a comm
system that they use when they're uh have their air packs on. Um some thermal imaging cameras within parks and grounds contractual services to help maintain our rights of way and parks. Improvements at Girl Scout Park. Uh continuation of our uh work with the
Department of Corrections for support crews from them. and then some uh replacement of vehicles as well as improvements at the lake heartridge dock in uh parks administration, modernization of Lions Park as well as a
comprehensive emergency management plan for parks and recreation, new covers for Rowdy Gains Pool, interior upgrades to the senior adult center. Exterior painting is one of the most significant expenses in the general fund for the fieldhouse. That facility is now over
five years old and certainly we see the the wear and tear on the exterior of that building. Resurfacing of the hard courts at the tennis facility and then some uh assets for the Winter Haven Recreation Cultural Center in anticipation of that new facility opening up.
Leisure service rental facilities, improvements to Rotary Park, HVAC and flooring, improvements at the women's club at Diamond Plex. We are uh improving HVAC HVAC systems also installing new safety netting at Certoma
Park. Uh within planning uh planning studies and applications we set money aside for that. We also have to have a consultant surveyor on hand to review our plat. That is what that fee is specific to. And then within streets,
you can see a number of different things specific to like the ADA transition plan, timing analysis, and t signal timing studies along First Street, traffic cabinets. They will also be engaging in a comprehensive emergency management plan. Special funds uh within
your within your budget include starting off the airport. Um airport you can see dropped significantly by about $5.6 million year-over-year. that is all tied back to capital. So they had a large number of capital projects last year. Uh
this year those are much fewer. Hence the drop in their budget overall. Um they are uh their operating revenues are their other revenues that come in also include the grant dollars that they get
from FAA and FDOT. I will say when it comes to capital projects at the airport, for every dollar that is spent on a capital project, the city's portion of that dollar is about 14 to 15 cents. The balance of that is coming mostly
from FAA and and the rest of it from FDOT. Library has an increase this year in other revenues. You can see that that increases uh from about $796,000
up to 1.1 million. That is tied specifically to county dollars that will come to the city with the opening of the new branch library at the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center. Even with the addition of that uh new facility and the staffing that were will be associated with it, the library
budget increases by only 14% by adding a whole another facility to it. cemetery operations um increased by about eight and a half% year-over-year. There are a number of projects that involve road work within our cemeteries
that contribute to that and you can see that within the capital they have about $100,000 increase in their capital expenses. CRAAS, you've had a number of discussions with your CRA advisory committees also serving as the CRA board. Both CRA uh districts, the
downtown and the Florence Villa are performing well. As you'll note at the bottom, the downtown CRA valuation increased by about 9.6%. Florence Villa CRA increased by about 15 a.5%. The largest contributor to the Florence
Villa CRA increase would be the Florence Place Housing uh facility. When that came online, that is a taxable property. So that yields greater dollars for them to be able to reinvest back into the immediate community.
Construction funds, uh, significant items that we we partition out within the construction fund. Continued improvements at Chain Lakes Park for additional parking that would include 358 more parking spaces. city attorney and uh Andy Palmer and others are
working now on an interlocal agreement with Pulk County and an amendment uh to the existing one that will contribute about $600,000 from the county towards that $1.2 million. Improvements at Diamond Plex that mostly speak to
lighting improvements at this point. Uh the construction of fire station 5 at Lake Cartridge Park. renovation of the northern portion of the city hall annex that is funded through the building division and will house the building
division as a new uh main hub for them and then the continuation of the trans of the playground replacement program transportation fund the third street northwest complete street project directly in front of city hall extending from Avenue D all the way down to MLK
Park $2 million set aside for roadway improvements in our tip PE or transportation improvement program, design studies along Sixth Street Southwest, 8th Street Northwest, 8th Street Southwest, Old Helena Road, um and uh railway improvements as well,
sidewalk improvements uh to fill gaps. And then uh we also, you see, have money in there for our quiet zones. Uh we are in the final stages of getting that ready to roll. So that uh exists within the transportation fund. Your proprietary funds, these are the
funds that operate as a business. Um the first one being our uh water fund. So again, this is a a recap of where we stand with our use costs for our water and sewer. Those will increase effective
October 1st. You can see where we stand uh at present time based upon a 5,000galon per month uh consumption. Presently that rate is at that bill for the month would be 5838. Uh after the
new rates take effect it goes up to 6177. Still remains the third lowest of all water providers here in PK County. Connection fees. We did this uh again last year. here. It took effect January 1st of this year. And this is the cost
for new development to pay their fair share of what it costs to develop a home in Winter Haven uh to cover the impacts on our water and sewer uh services. This is to place that impact back on the new construction and not on existing
residents. Uh we do have the at present time the highest connection fees for water and wastewater within Pulk County. that has not slowed down development in Pulk County uh in the Winter Haven area uh to any noticeable level.
Utility revenues um we do include in the budget uh consideration for borrowing associated with some of the major capital projects. We have preliminarily factored that in at a borrowing of about $24 million. We will bring back to you a proposal
that will likely be greater than that. Um, these debts that we incur within the utility fund are paid down through water sewer charges. That doesn't cause us to change what we presented in August of last year in any way. In fact, those fees were had
contemplated borrowing uh close to $200 million for utility projects through the CIP over a number of years. Um, but our anticipation is we will do that in smaller bites going forward, but the revenues to pay off that debt are
already contemplated in the schedule of water and sewer fee increases over the 5-year window of that study. You can also see water sales and sewer charges make up collectively about 24% of the revenues that come into the utility
fund. Expenditures within the utility fund. um biggest area is capital. So you've got a lot of capital projects that are lined up within utilities. A lot of those within the Bradco Farms project and the new utilities campus that will be housed
there as well as significant improvements at wastewater treatment plant 3 and wastewater treatment plant 2. And I'll talk more of those in just a moment. Operations account for about 22% of the budget within utilities and personnel about 12%.
I share this slide simply to show that when we uh where we spend money within the water department, it is a very large department. It is a very diverse department. You can see that wastewater treatment which is highly regulated um very complicated work that accounts for
about 20% of our budget. engineering which is again that new facility to be built at Bradco Farms about 20%. Non-EP departmental expenses include um transfer from the utility fund into the general fund uh debt service that
they're required to pay. Um fees that they pay to other departments for services that are provided back to the water department. Uh wastewater collection, that's our lift station program. um water treatment, obviously the distribu the processing and
treatment of our potable water followed by the distribution um all the way down through customer service which is the people handling the accounts. But that's an important slide to me because it it just illustrates the diversity of what happens within our
utilities operation. major efforts within or major projects within the utility budget. Uh ground storage tanks at the water plant, about $2 million worth of repairs to those. Um wastewater treatment plant 2 reclaim
storage tank repairs about 835,000. Aeration basin repairs at plant three. Uh improvements to the and upgrades to the fieldhouse master lift station. ongoing lift station rehabilitation throughout the system, sewer slip
lining, and then there's a variety of vehicles and major pieces of equipment that will be replaced. But these are just some of the more significant things that are outlined within the detailed budget. The capital investment program within utilities, again, just
illustrating that those capital investments aren't specific to just one area. They touch everything from uh the main campus that houses our operations to our wastewater plants, our water plants, our reclaim system, the
collection systems, the distribution systems, uh AMI metering and those types of things. All those combined make up about $39 million worth of capital projects in next year's budget specific to utilities.
Willoughbrook is another proprietary fund. Um, we're doing a lot of improvements at Willoughbrook right now. We look forward to opening that facility back up in the next uh probably two months and you can see that the biggest change in theirs is the capital. So that
$2.4 million of capital that we had to invest in the course uh in 2425 does not repeat in 2526. solid waste is, you know, there's not a whole lot of capital that goes into into solid waste other than through the acquisition of vehicles, which they will
do. So, um we are not uh doing anything significant with our solid waste rates going uh into this year. They will increase by 2 and a.5% per the existing ordinance. Uh the county has raised significantly the landfill disposal
charges for municipalities. Um we will be studying that in fiscal year 2526 and come back with uh any fee changes that may need to be considered for future budget years in response to that.
Storm water again a lot of capital projects last year uh particularly with Lake Elbert Trail uh significant improvements in storm water around that uh facility uh with the new roadway and trail system.
Next year they have investments into South Lake Howard Nature Park, the expansion of that facility, but overall a very uh small decrease in their budget year-over-year. One of the things that Winter Haven did
in 2018 was the last time that the city actually increased taxes uh millage rates. uh they were increased by 1 mil that year specifically with the commitment that those dollars yielded from that 1 mil could only be spent on capital
investment. They cannot go towards salaries. They cannot go towards operations. It has to be one-time expenses tied to capital investment. For fiscal year 26, that one mill is supporting the transportation improvement fund. That is the repaving
of roads. Uh it helps support the playground replacement program where we have playgrounds that have aged out and need to be repaired or replaced. It goes towards the re renovations at the Diamond Plex facility with the lighting that I had mentioned and also a
small contribution towards fire station 5. You will note we do have some of those projects mapped out for fiscal year 27 and 28. However, you look at the bottom of this slide, the unallocated balance, we'll have $8 roughly $20,000
next year to be appropriated towards capital projects yet to be determined by the commission. And in fiscal year 28, about $1.7 million to be appropriated uh by the commission. So to recap, um total budget of
$250,280,12. It is a balanced budget as required by state law and is balanced based upon the existing unchanged millage rate of 6.59 mills. Taxable values in Winter Haven increased
by 12.3% to a total taxable value 5.35 billion. The estimated advalorum revenues increased by about $3.4 million. Again, most of the increase that we see uh in property values, taxable property values
is associated with new construction that has come onto the tax roles uh for this coming year. City's commitment to affordable housing remains intact. Uh we do have a RFA, a request for application
out uh is advertised right now for entities that are looking to develop affordable housing opportunities here in Winter Haven. We include our uh continuation of our step program for our employees as well as the market adjustment as I had
discussed and we result with a total number of budgeted positions of 766. That is a very condensed version of roughly four to five hours of budget presentations that you have sat through.
Um, I think that we've the staff has done a a good job of of responding to what's a priority to the commission, what's outlined within the strategic plan. Um, I do want to just take a a personal point of pride and thank um, our finance department, CJ Scott and her
team have done a phenomenal job pulling this together. our HR staff and and assessing where we truly needed to make adjustments and implement new strategies related to staffing in our self- insurance program. All of our department pro uh directors um and without, you
know, certainly last but not least, the city commission for the direction that you have given us in how to prepare this budget. One of the things that I'm I'm excited about and I think we've shared this with you, we did transition at this point to the open go open gov budgeting
platform which is going to give our residents even greater access to the budget via our website. I believe at the dis you all have a um a preliminary print uh an an initial print of the budget that is what is also reflected
online. It is very navigable. is easy to read, easy to uh find what people are looking for. Um there are some minor uh adjustments we need to make within that that don't affect the numbers in any way, just some of the formatting and layout and that will be updated uh
seamlessly within the the website as well. So with that, uh my final comment to the commission is that staff does recommend the city commission approve ordinance 025-29 on first reading. Thank you. Thank you commissioners. Entertain a motion.
Mr. Yes. Have a motion for approval on first reading and public hearing. All right. I will now close the uh commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to
02529 may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing real from the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion, comments? Couple questions real quick. Yes. AJ, are you running the slides or did
you go to I think it's I think it was slide seven. Just want to ask CJ a quick question on the debt service item down there. That's 4.5% of of our is that 4.5% debt service on the total budget or just general fund
or what would that what would that number be? Do you know? Yeah, debt service that would be that's inclusive of your water and sewer debt as well as any within the general fund and and SRF funds. So that includes water and sewer as well.
We go to page 36 was my next question or 37. I'm not sure. I can't remember. That shows 5.34% and the total utility. So you're that's 4.8 million and the other one was
11 11 million. So you're saying this 4.8 is folded into that 11 million. Yes, sir. So go back to page seven again, AJ. Just want to make sure I'm clear on that. So our total budget 4.5% of it is debt
service on everything. The whole the whole thing. Okay. Well, I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that. So I just want to make sure I completely understand that. I don't feel like we're spending too much on debt service. So that's me
personally, but I just want to make sure I completely understood how it worked in with utilities. So I'm okay with that number. And um Commissioner Dansson, if I could just add just a further point on that. Keep in mind that with the borrowing that was done for the
fieldhouse as well as um debt service on the baseball fields, the county is contributing uh a portion of that debt service to us. So there's a revenue source that's tied back to that as well. It's not it's not part of that four and a half or
it's it's that is included within that. There's a there's a revenue that comes to us from PK County Board of County Commissioners for their portion of the debt service for the the duration of those debts considered credits against. So without that it would be greater than
four and a half%. Well, what you would have less you'd have to have revenue you wouldn't have the revenue side to offset it. So you'd probably be doing something less in one of those other areas. So it would likely go up. Yes. It doesn't move the needle though because we're not
getting that much compared to just a budget this size, but it moved it some. But that's okay. I'm just trying to let everybody know and for my own edification, four and a half% debt service is not hateful. So 11 million
bucks on a $250 million budget is not too bad. So that's good. I'm good. You want to know? I think it's nothing we can solve tonight, but it just it infuriates me that when I hear counties increasing
fees for municipalities and our residents are paying a millage rate to the county for services. It it that that just infuriates me. So, I'll throw that out there. Not that we're doing anything tonight. Not that we can do anything
tonight about it, but um Governor DeSantis, if you want to come down and take a look at that, that's something to look at. in my opinion. Anyone else? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I.
I opposes by the same sign. Hearing none, the uh budget passes on first reading. We will have a second reading on September
the 22nd. Commissioners, we have the consent agenda. Uh, Mr. Mayor, comments from the audience, I believe. Am I missing it? We have a little different agenda format because of the budget. I didn't see it at the top. It's right at the top.
Item 10. 10. Oh, we have Now is the time for you to come forward. Uh, Betty Huffman. State your name and address for the record. and you have five minutes.
I h I My name is Betty Hoffman and I live on US 17 in Winter Haven, Florida for six years. Um I want to commend you for what you have done. I I appreciate Mr. Danler. He looks at stuff and goes
into it and explains it. Sometimes it's easy for people in the audience to understand and I appreciate that. and I wish you well on your retirement. And um I'm not here to complain about anybody, but I do have a complaint and a
suggestion. Um though I attended I have attended recent commission meetings, I hope you have all been well and then been blessed. Um, I'm expressing serious concerns about the
ongoing issues at Spring Lake Plaza on US 17th in Havendale. Despite numerous 40 plus violations, there has been little visible progress. I have seen some activity over at Florida and I
appreciate that if it's you. Um, the situation demands action, not delay. The debris left behind at the former Floridaino sites is a hazard, especially with hurricane season approaching. I urge the city to pri pros
demolition immediately. The garbage collection area, which I wish would be tore down with the um restaurant, which has become an unsanitary encampment for the homeless, must also be addressed. This is a public health issue and affects the dignity of our community. I
have attended many code violation hearings and witness a troubling pattern. When Barand is a repeat offender that faces minimal consequences, they've been given numerous time lines to comply when they did not. They are rewarded with massive
fine reductions, sometimes up to 90%. Why do Landmark and Windbrand, who are repeat violators, continue to disregard the rules, yet they benefit from leniency? Why are we rewarding non-compliance? The system is lacking accountability.
Code enforcement must be enforced to empower be empowered to impose the meaningful penalties. Taxpayers should not be subsidized for the bad behavior of developers flaunting the law. I'm not being derogatory to the people that work
in code enforcement. I have children that have worked for many cities in Florida. Um, I I want to say that um just to make sure that I'm not being derogatory, but
you know, when someone gets 90% reduction and then you have to do their work on repeat offenders, you know, that doesn't set well with me and I don't think anybody else sitting here that our tax dollars is being
spent on somebody else's not doing their job. Um, the system lacks accountability. Code enforcement must be empowered to to impose these meaningful things flaws of the law. Scarc brand and Steve
Adams who previously proposed building 20 268 apartments have a history of misleading the city. They submit false traffic studies. Um have made inaccurate claims about site conditions, including
non-existent trusses and $90,000 of HVAC systems just to delay the enforcement. These tactics erode the public trust. When I raised concerns about the traffic on the US7 for the apartments, I was told to support the apartment project so
the city would impose stricter restrictions elsewhere in the mall. This is not fair, transparent approach. We should not be negotiating with developers who misrepresent facts and manipulate the system. Many of these
individuals live in waterfront homes in Winter Aman, Clearwater, and along the coast. Um, they have money, influence, and legal teams. They sue others or are being sued. They delay payments to contractors until forced by the courts
to pay those for their work that they have done. Is this the kind of leadership we want shaping our future city, our city's future? I urge you to revisit and revise your code enforcement policies. The current system punishes
tax backstators payers by rewarding violators. Let's restore integrity, enforce the rules consistently, and protect the community we all call home. Thank you for your time and attention and many others. I hope to see a
bulldozer near my neighborhood soon. And one I just got one line to go. Go ahead. Are semis permitted to be parked behind the stores at Spring Lake Plaza? If not, I asked that the issue would be addressed
promptly, but there's two semis that have been sitting back there that look fairly new and one has a landmark sticker on it out of Indiana. So, thank you for your time and thank you for your hard work and I love our city and I like you guys for the way you
manage our city. Thank you. Even though nobody else signed up, if there's someone that would like to address the commission, you can do so at this time. All right,
we'll move right along. Mr. Mayor, yes. Can I ask for um staff possibly if we could just It's been several months since we've done uh code. We I I remember we passed some certain things for that that plaza several months back. I can't remember exactly how many now,
but maybe we could get an update at the next agenda review meeting of where we came from, where we are today. Yeah. And I can um just certainly do that. I will tell you that we had a special code hearing last Thursday, I believe it was,
um regarding specifically the Finino's property. Um they I can tell you that the there's been an asbestous survey done on that property which you have to do before you do demolition that the um utility turnoffs and disconnects that are required before you can pull a
permit uh have been initiated. I don't know as of this mo point in time if that permit has actually been pulled for the demo work, but that demolition is moving forward. Uh but we'll get a full update on what the overall uh remaining issues on Spring Lake Square are and present
that back to the commission. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, commissioners, you have the uh consent agenda. Mr. Mayor, yes. Motion to approve the consent agenda in its entirety. Thank you. to our close the commission
meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to any item on the consent agenda may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? Mr. Mayor?
Yes. Two two quick questions on item number 12D. This has to do with the tennis center and Hurricane Milton. I received an email this week and I hate to admit it, but I can't remember what it was about. Did anybody else get that? There was a lady who had a concern about this
and I cannot I've got a good memory but I can't remember what her complaint was. Nobody else got it. Okay. She must have sent it to me. Well, I'll bring that up at another point because I cannot remember. And then the other thing has to do with 12E the the bid construction
change order. Would you just explain that to me again real quick to how how we came up with those numbers? Certainly. Um, let me go through the actual fact sheet if I can. So, in 2023, November of 2023, the city entered into five contracts uh with different firms
for general contracting services. These are ongoing contracts when we need uh repairs within our facilities. we have somebody on staff or on under contract that we can call upon to do those. After repairs needed from the impacts of
Hurricane Milton in 2024, as well as additional work from the city, Whitehead Construction was issued a change order to their initial purchase order in the amount of $500,000. So when we have damage that's you know of a number of
facilities airport hangers um different uh issues at a at a water plant or at this building uh we call upon our general contractors that are under contract continuing contract with us to do that work. That was what was done following damage from Milton. Um so the
change order amount to their original purchase order accounts for current budget year anticipated work. Hurricane Milton, unanticipated repairs, as well as any remaining needs that we would experience before September 30th of this year, this this
fiscal year. So, we we issue out an initial purchase order based upon what we think our needs are going to be and then we adjust that throughout the year. um the anything that's done within the that PO that's specific to say it's in the utilities department or the water
department they actually pay that from the that specific department who who has ownership of the asset uh but it is part of the overall purchase order with that general contractor. So they initially bid a 500,000 or 100,000. They don't bid. They bid. Their bids are
based upon an hourly rate if it's a foreman, a laborer, the type of work that's being done. Um and then for each project that you would do, say you're you're renovating a small office, they would do a um a task proposal for
that. And we assign that under that existing purchase order. So, you're setting a purchase order that says, "Okay, here's to establish an open PO for us to assign work. Work is assigned based upon a task as needed. In this case, with the repairs post Hurricane
Milton, we have them go and as we identify what needs to be done and it's it was a variety of different, you know, projects um to account for that." So, it went to 700,000 for Hurricane Milton predominantly inclusive of Yeah, most of that is within Hurricane Milton repairs. Do we
get any FEMA money back on that? Do you know or FEMA money? We uh we we pursue every bit of FEMA money that we can. We have to go through your insurance first. So, you've got to go through your um and and and handle everything that insurance will handle and then pursue FEMA after
that. Um each one of those projects has its own um public assistance project identifier, right? And is looked at individually by FEMA. That's one of the, you know, the big challenges I mentioned with with fund balance is what happens if FEMA doesn't
provide that at some point in the future. We have been very successful in retrieving or or being reimbursed through FEMA uh because of um just the documentation and and the the diligence in pursuing that. It is probably the
most complicated effort we go through in dealing with the federal government primarily because our FEMA liaons, our reps that we're dealing with can change posttorm five, six, seven times and there's a constant well how do we how do
we do it under this person? Last year was particularly complicated. As you may recall, when Hurricane Helen took out Asheville in the western Carolas, um their availability of resources for people to work with us here in Florida was limited, but we continue to pursue
that. In some cases, it can take two, three, four years to get those dollars back. It is a a lengthy process. and just CJ drive that or so uh Cindy Hudenpile uh Cindy Strippling who you may requ
in in managing that. Um we also because of the changes within FEMA processes and the complications with that. Uh brought on a consultant to help us with that this past year um to help track and make sure that all that documentation is in check. I kid you not, if one thing is
out of check, it is it is uh discarded. And to go back, this is just a little throwback for uh everyone's benefit. 2004, we had hurricane Charlie, Francis, and Jean, and your colleague Tracy
Mercer was um in charge of that effort for us and and trying to manage how how we got those dollars back. It has only become more complicated since then, but I will say that uh Cindy Strippling, Brandon as well, the rest of the the
finance team, they are uh as diligent as you can possibly be in trying to get those dollars back. So, today Cindy, can you make sure your mic's on? Yeah. Uh we received an email from Cindy and she had collected $393,000
and that is for um Hurricane Ian. Hurricane Ian. Wow. That was a long time ago, right? I can verify all of this. I'm still dealing with some for Dundee. Um and I
can tell you we've had one that has changed the representative five times. um since Ian and maybe a benefit I mean I don't want to speculate on what the federal government does but you know there's a lot of talk of if FEMA is is done away
with in its present format that that could become uh block grant funds that go to the states state of Florida is by far more equipped and more expert in dealing with natural disasters than
anybody. Um, and I know that uh uh Kevin Guthrie and the folks that are involved in that uh the deployment of those resources I have to believe would be much more efficient and and uh responsive to to what our local needs are.
It goes back to CDBG funds which is almost as bad. Okay. I'm okay, Mr. Mayor. All right. Any more questions? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I
opposes by the same sign. Hearing none, the consent agenda is adopted. Resolution R2546. Would you read by title only, city attorney? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commission. Resolution R-25-46, a resolution confirming the acceptance of a portion of the improvements,
infrastructure, and dedications in favor of the public. City Winter Haven is notated on that certain platin titled Willerbrook South recorded in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in and for Poke County, Florida and platbook 211 pages 6 through 14 public records of Poke County, Florida and authorizing the
city manager to partially release the performance bond posted to guarantee completion of required improvements in infrastructure and to accept a new performance bond to guarantee completion of all required improvements in infrastructure that remain uncompleted for this subdivision. General location subdivision is generally located north
of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard south of the Lake Smart Lake Fanny Canal. Thank you. Thank you. City manager, honorable mayor and commissioners, on December 9th, 2024, the commission approved resolution R2454 platting the Willoughbrook South subdivision, which
consists of 152 plus or minus acres and contains 234 building lots and 10 common lots. In accordance with the city's unified land development code, the developer submitted a performance bond in the amount of $4,315,75045 cents to guarantee completion of all
required infrastructure improvements for the subdivision. While Willoughbrook was platted uh while Willoughbrook LLC platted Willoughbrook South as a singlephase subdivision plat, they chose to break the installation of required infrastructure into two phases. This
time they have completed the required infrastructure for phase one and are now seeking the city's acceptance of those improvements to be dedicated to the city and to modify the performance bonds submitted as part of the subdivision plat approval process. Staff has confirmed that the and performed
inspections of these improvements and found them to be ready for acceptance as work is incomplete for phase two. A modified performance bond in the amount of $3,132,415.76 has been submitted to ensure completion of the infrastructure. The developer
expects to begin construction on the remaining phase following the acceptance of the improvements contained in phase one. This is uh an approval of a performance bond. Uh it's not specific to anything within the strategic plan, but it does align with our economic, sustainability, and responsible
government pillars. Staff recommends the commission approve resolution R2546 and authorize city manager or designate to take necessary actions related there too. This is consistent with a similar action taken by the city commission within the past few months on the
Willowbrook North subdivision as you may recall. Thank you commissioners. Mr. Mayor, yes. Motion to approve resolution R2546. Thank you. I will close the commission meeting. Open public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to resolution R2546
may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. Reopen the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I poses by the same sign. Hear none.
Resolution R 2546 is adopted. All right. Item new, we have no ordinances. First reading, new business item 15 A. We will be having a public uh
hearing on this. City manager. Thank you, sir. The Florida Commerce Rebuild Florida 23 and 24 storms infrastructure repair program is a state administered program providing $400 million in funding to local governments for infrastructure repair and hardening
projects impacted by the 2023 and 2024 storms. Program aims to help communities rebuild and enhance infrastructure to better withstand future disasters. city is city is all as all cities is able to apply for up to $100 million and intends
to submit an application for resiliency improvements specifically at the waist city's wastewater treatment plant 3 facility. The application closing is September 29th, 2025 and is managed by Florida Commerce. There are no financial
impacts associated with the submission of the Florida Commerce Rebuild Florida 2324 storm infrastructure uh repair program. Staff recommends the commission approve the submission of the Florida Commerce Rebuild Florida 2023 2024 storm infrastructure repair program
and authorize the city manager designate to take all actions related therefore. Thank you. Thank you commissioners. Yes. Motion to approve the grant application 15.
All right. Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to the Florida Commerce Infrastructure Repair Program Grant application may do so at this time. Seeing none, I'll close the public
hearing. Open the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. The grant application is approved. Uh item 15B,
protecting Florida together alternative water supply grant application. City manager. Thank you, sir. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection through the Protecting Florida Together program promotes alternative water supply development through funding grants for projects like reclaimed water use,
aquifer recharge, and water conservation. City is committed to the one water master program and the future of the sapphire necklace, which will provide sustainability and resiliency of our future water resources. The alternative water supply transmission loop project
will continue to expand the distribution of reclaimed water, creating an interconnect interconnected 30 mile loop around the utility service area. This particular grant will support the installation of approximately 4.38 miles of new reclaimed transmission main. That
main will run along the east end of Thompson Nursery Road, go through the future preserve at Lake Ashton development project and connect to Cypress Gardens Boulevard. City is requesting $3,97,800 in grant funding for the project which
anticipates a total cost of $8,684,000. Application closing for this uh grant is September 19th, 2025. And this is a program that will be managed by D. If the city is awarded the grant funding, the matching funds in the amount of
$4,776,200 will be through sewer connection fees and reuse uh payment in lie of fees in fiscal years 26 to fiscal year 28. Staff recommends the commission approve the submission of the protecting Florida together alternative water supply grant
application and authorized city manager designate to take all necessary actions required for the application process. Just one additional point on this one, Mr. Mr. Mayor, um, and commissioners, you know, we bring forward, uh, a CIP for the utility department. You know, we
have we have lofty goals internally of what we might be able to acquire within uh, grant funds. We budget very conservatively for grant funds, realistically in about the 5% range, although our aspirations are closer to 40 or 50%. And I just want to publicly
comment Gary Hubard and the team at Winter Haven Water for being very aggressive uh working with our consultants to identify appropriate grants and uh pursuing those in this fashion. Thank you. Thank you commissioners. Yes.
Motion to approve 15B um protecting Florida together alternative water supply grant application and public hearing. All right. Thank you. I will close the commission meeting. Open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this
item may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. Reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? Questions? All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing
none. The protecting Florida together alternative water supply grant application is approved. Item 15 C, city manager. This is the interlocal agreement for the collection of Pulk County impact fees.
So, in order to maintain compliance with the transportation impact fee requirements and the fee collection requirements of Florida statutes, the interlocal agreement between the city and Pulk County governing the collection of Pulk County impact fees by the city must be amended. Specifically, the IIA
or interlocal agreement has been terminated by the county effective October 1st, and a new interlocal agreement must be effective on or before that date. The proposed interlocal agreement provides for, among other things, the city to collect all required county impact fees prior to the issuance
of a building permit, the distribution of those county impact fees collected to the county, the collection of administrative fees, which are actual costs incurred by the city, and the collection of the county's impact fees, and transportation capacity impacts coordination. Staff recommends city
commission approve the interlocal agreement and authorize the mayor and other city officials to execute same and for the city manager or designate to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the terms of the interlocal agreement. Thank you. Thank you commissioners.
Mr. Mayor, yes. Motion to approve the interlocal agreement for collection of pole county impact fees. Thank you. I'll close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this item may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing.
Reopen the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. General local agreement for collection of Poke County's impact fees
is passed. Right. All right. Commissioner Leison reports. Commissioner Dancler. Okay. Not a whole lot to report on for me. I was of course with all of you at the Albert Elementary um ribbon cutting
today. U good event there and love to see what's going on uh on out at Lake Albert Elementary. Also the legislative wrapup yesterday. We had a a good turnout. I was impressed with how many people showed up. And then last but not least, I had a my final TDC
meeting out at Camp Margaritavville last week. That was my swan song. I've been on the TDC for 12 years. and they they turned me out and um it was nice. They had a nice plaque for me and some other stuff. So, good. It was good, bittersweet to say goodbye to everybody
at the TDC, but I know Commissioner Yates can take my place and um he might end up being an arts maven before if he doesn't watch out. Uh but he may we might get him on uh sports, but he may be end up being an arts guy. So, you never know. We'll see. But that's it for
me. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Mercer. I attended the chamber legislative warm-up and uh also Lake Elbert. Um I know that Inman um the school down there is one of the other elementary schools
that probably needs to be replaced. It's really small. When you go in it, you don't really when you look at it, it's still the ceilings are real low, everything. Yeah. So, um and I said that's the way Elbert was before, too.
So, but uh they got a beautiful school and and opportunities um for lots of improve u improvements in skills and and everything else. So, it's really great. That's it.
And he's a graduate of it. Good evening. It's uh I had some of the similar uh opportunities as well. The legislative meeting was also very good. Um, also able to attend the planning board as well as the library board and
ribbon cutting of course for uh, Elbert. Uh, exciting, very exciting and a lot of us were excited about the new school and uh, it certainly appears to be a wonderful uh, addition to the community.
Uh, and I was impressed by our uh, mayor pro Tim. uh full circle moment. Uh that was really special for him to stand there and be able to have opportunity to share those words. Pretty cool. Uh Surma Sartoma, excuse me. Uh football jamboree. Uh a lot of kids I tell you.
glad to see that really thriving and I think it's really uh it's good to know that you know some things that uh that have been uh main stays in our community and a new group have stepped up to uh take up the challenge and keeping that
uh as viable as it has been in the past. So I'm really excited about that. Um, and I'm also want to, you know, I'm just impressed with, uh, the entire staff, uh, city manager and CJ, uh, for responsible government as relates to
this budget, uh, the way you've laid it out so wonderfully and as transparent as we are as well. Uh, that's one thing that I I believe is so important that, uh, you make it simple enough where, you know, citizens can in fact understand
and appreciate uh, what we're doing with their money. Um I will close by saying this and this is just something that you know I am who I am but I will say this you know all life is precious and I think today
the assassination of Charlie Kirk was uh unsettling and so sad and uh I couldn't help but you know think about his family and his uh wife and children and uh young man that um
had a lot to say about a lot of things and put himself really in a in a position where he tried to you know make a difference and uh for his life to be cut short in such a horrible way uh is tragic to see that and to know that happened in America and so uh I believe
all of us tonight uh certainly will pray for uh families Charlie's family and uh remember him fondly uh for the contributions that he made to this Thank you. May pro tamp. Thank you. Uh just a few things wanted
to talk about and um yes I also attended the Winter Haven Youth uh football league uh kickoff. Thanks to the Parks and Rex team. I mean you guys did a phenomenal job out there. Um you can tell those kids are so appreciative for
having the opportunity to play. Um, and you know, not too long ago, I I got a call from some of the administrators out there wanting to continue on with this league. And it was just it was so close to things kind of falling apart and not
moving forward. And uh appreciate again you just staff working with them, putting things together, putting things in motion because the last thing that should interrupt kids sports is red tape and staff was
able to cut that, eliminate it and really do some big things out there for those kids. So that's that's super special and thank you for that. Um I as mentioned yes attended the Elbert uh elementary uh ribbon cutting. Yes I I
graduated there a long long long time ago uh needed glasses and I didn't pull them out midway through my my my comments today. So I was didn't need glasses uh
back then and I was a heck of a lot smaller. So that lunchroom cafeteria seemed a lot smaller today than it did 30 years ago or more or more. Um after that I first have to say if you get a chance to go and tour that
facility do it but make sure you go up into the library into the live up there. You can see Bach Tower through the corner window. I mean it's an absolute stunning view. It's got to be one of the best views in any PK County school. Really?
What about that music room? That did you go to the music room? I did. They started banging uh the war chant on the drums when I walked in. Music room as big as this room. We started doing the tomahawk chop in there, you know, on those drums. And those kids really had it going on. So,
thank you for that reminder and that opening. Um, but encourage you to go up there and check out that view. It's pretty special. Uh, Lake Elbert Trail. I took the opportunity um to kind of go around the
orange cones after visiting Elbert today. And that that place is special. having grown up around Lake Elbert um and remember walking the whole lake and and walking home from school back in
the day when you could walk home from school and having to walk in people's yards and getting yelled out from old guys saying, "What are you doing in my yard?" All I was doing was trying to be safe and get home. But um kids are not going to have that problem anymore.
They're going to have a safe place to walk. our citizens and visitors to our community are going to have a place to exercise with just uh tremendous views and u maybe I'll even get out there to
try to lose a couple uh pounds or more. Um so we've got that to look forward to. But thanks to all the hard work and staff that has gone into Lake Elbert Trail out there. Can't wait for that ribbon cutting. also attended the Pulk
Vision annual meeting, attended the chamber legislative wrapup or excuse me, legislative warm-up and that's a new one. Normally it is wrapup. Um but to have the legislators come down, meet with us, give us a a preview of what they're going to be seeing in October,
that was different and that was appreciated and hopefully we get to do that again and again uh in future years. One thing I wanted to get a quick update on um was Willoughbrook and the cart path. I know we've kind of talked about
that and I was just kind of curious if we had been able to find any money or make any progress to repairing some of the the really bad areas of cart path out there. The pictures are phenomenal. The updates are phenomenal that will Willough Brook's putting out.
Good evening. Um we are uh the project's going very well. We are in the process. I think when we brought that to you two and a half months ago, we had talked about that there we were looking for opportunities for cost savings and contingencies and and that has gone very well. We're we're finalizing some of
those uh items and really seeing where our cost savings are and uh we are that is on our list of that we're currently evaluating. So, we're hoping to hit some of the uh we were uh actually able to do some of the drainage items. we were able to move forward with some of the drainage items and uh we are looking at
prioritizing some of the remainder of those projects and cart some cart paths are on that but we'll we can update you probably in about another two to three weeks on exactly how that's panning out. Fantastic. Thank you. And opening is sometime in November. We're
we're shooting for mid November. Yes. Okay, cool. Thank you. That's all. All right. I'd like to start off by saying uh to T. Michaels and the staff CJ,
I've sat through numerous 23 budget sessions. 23 going all the way back to a suggestion of zerobased
budgeting starting all over again. We have gone through some things and I have to truthfully say this has been the most informative,
the less stressful budget session and presentation that I have ever experienced. in those 23 years. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That means So, I just wanted you all to know and I
wanted to publicly say it so that y'all know because I was a little skeptical along the way. I have to say that because I was, but I want you to know you all have done
an outstanding job. Uh, now to you, Mayor Promail, I I'm I'm I'm You didn't officially thank me for letting for me letting you be able to inert today. I, you know, I knew it
would be special for you and so I am so pleased. You sort of set the stage, too. I I I was hoping you say I raised the bar. You well set the stage, raised the bar, you did it all. And then were you in
there when they did the Tommy Hulk chop? I was in there. You see that? You see that? I mean, between that Rocky Top I didn't know Tennessee. Can you Can you believe all in one day? Next it was go Bulls. I took a tour with a guy with a Georgia
t-shirt. Oh my gosh. But really it was uh just it's a fabulous school. I remember I had members of that school as well because my uh youngest son also went to that
school. So and I knew assistant principal from way back. So have a little interactions there too. But it's a great school and I'm so proud and pleased. And um I also drove to look at
the uh walking trail and man it's looking good. And I was so happy that uh the eastbound lane is still closed but the westbound was open so I could open.
You just came through it. No it was open. Yes. The westbound the west the westbound lane around the lake was open. It said no. It said no through traffic. But well, I wasn't going through. I was just going
[Laughter] open traffic. I wasn't going through. I just went a little short ways. But man, I love it. Love it. Uh, and with the the chamber, I've got to give you all kudos because
what you did, now I don't know if it was on purpose or or if it was just by accident. You let our representative speak and present long enough where you could only ask two questions before time
ran out. I don't know if that was on purpose or if it just happened that way, but it really I I thoroughly enjoyed that too. So, hats off to you all and uh it was a good breakfast.
Uh attended the uh and you've got the TPO. We had the TPO. We had TPO and um so things are going good there. And um I just want to say the uh
the Pope Vision annual presentation. I mean that was really good. I mean I I thoroughly enjoyed that too. and uh you know to to think back and with Colleen Burton uh Senator Burton who is now the
was the one of the first uh directors there and I was a part of that years ago the the the whole formation and the meetings and all of the things to get Poke Vision. So, it was sort of great to see that it has withtood the test of
time really and has made a con uh a meaningful contribution to this county. That's all I have. City Attorney, nothing this evening. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commission, city manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. A couple things if
uh if I may. First, I want to give a big shout out to the people over in the conference room. you have with you this evening cohort 4 from leadership I'm sorry from city U are there get raising hands over there so there's about 25 or 30 folks that are going through that
program they had a little briefing on how a commission works before the session began this evening and they have hung through it so thank you I'm going to do my best to get you out of here quicker than I did on your first session but they are uh they are actively engaged and learning a lot about our
city um I do want to extend my appre appreciation for your comments, Mr. Mayor. Um, and and more so even to the staff, CJ and her team, uh, all the department directors do a phenomenal job putting this budget together. I'm glad it was stress free for you. Um
I I think I think the finance team was ready to pull their hair out with uh all the things that we had to jump through, but it's a very responsible budget that is geared towards service to our citizens first foremost and as the absolute priority. Um, I have been uh
invited to uh travel to Tallahassee uh at the time of your next commission meeting uh to testify before the House Select Committee on Property Taxes. And um we'll be doing so and uh there's a travel training form that will come
forward to you, but I just wanted to make that announcement ahead of time as my travel is required to be approved by the commission. So, I'll bring that to you uh on the 22nd. Actually, uh deputy city manager will do so because that will be one of the days that I will need to be there. Is this that committee that Josie was
talking about? That's Yes, exactly it. So, the league is the league is going to uh have um time with them on the second day of their session and um have asked me if I would come speak on behalf of uh Florida
City. So, beautiful. um looking forward to that and sharing our story and hopefully swaying some votes. If it doesn't happen that way, please don't hold that against me. I'm only one person. Uh so, um and then the other thing is reminder, and this is for everyone that is with us
this evening. Tomorrow evening, we will have our honoring our heroes special event here in Winter Haven. Tomorrow marks the anniversary of the tragic events of 911. Uh we commemorate that every year with a an event that takes place uh in Central and South Central
Park. Uh that program will begin promptly at 5:30 tomorrow evening with a honor walk that will go through downtown where we uh recognize and remember those that were taken from us on September 11th followed by a short program uh that
if you have not seen is a very moving program that involves law enforcement, first responders, paramedics, firefighters from throughout Pulk County and beyond. So that is tomorrow evening beginning at 5:30 and uh we hope that you'll be able to join us.
That's all. Thank you. Thank you deputy city manager. Uh nothing this evening sir. Thank you. City clerk. I do. As you already know um the city's reg regular election will be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. Candidate qualifying for city commission is for
seats number four and five. And qualifying begins on Monday, September 15th at noon, ends Friday, September 19th at noon. And this information has already been posted in various city buildings and on the city's website. Uh candidate packets are available in our
office. And we also have an electronic uh format. And lastly, I just want to wish uh city attorney Murphy and assistant to the city manager AJ Nicholson a early happy birthday. That's all I have. All right. Thank you, Deputy City Clerk.
Emergency matters not received for the agenda. Motion to adjoin. We stand a joint.