um where there's also food service --------- through a actual contractual um catered event and you cannot use 13 CT where there is actually a brick-and-mortar license like this 2 COP that's on site, which ABT also let him
know of during the process. >> let the applicant also respond >> Yes, sir. I'd like to clarify that for you, please. Um and we can purchase a liquor license. Uh on the day that uh ATF came over our property and told us that we cannot have
that on a building. I did call my broker and um there were a liquor license available in Polk County. But in order for us to pass that hurdle, Miss Heather would have to allow us to sign for it for us to buy it.
So, we pretty much can't do it unless she allows it. So, I feel it to say if I was given the authority to own one, I can have one in a couple weeks. But she has to sign it and uh I'm not
sure she's willing to do it now. >> Well, let me clarify. On part of the state alcohol license, local zoning approval is required on all of those applications, so someone from our planning staff has to sign off on that saying it meets the requirements within
our code to allow that alcohol use there. Without special use approval, we cannot sign off on an approval for that. It's not me personally, it's our code and state law requiring it within the application. >> And to follow up with Mrs. Rider said, let's be clear. This is not the city
authorizing this use in terms of Pardon me. This is not the city authorizing the acquisition of the 4 COP license. We don't really have anything to do with that. That is a matter handled by the state vis-à-vis Mr. Anniston and his dealings. What
Mrs. Rider described is exactly the case. It is a zoning approval letter and we are merely uh ministerial in terms of is this a is it allowed? Is it authorized? In this case, in order to have what Mr. Anusat wanted, he applied for a large-scale drinking
establishment, and it has to be approved by a special use approval. >> Which is fine. I'm just asking the question because I think for them to legally operate or for us to have that understanding, we've got to ask that question. >> Yes. Correct. Thank you.
>> Commissioners, any other questions? >> I have some. Um under the um safety, you know, and the um are there more crimes? Are there uh complaints? Um noise? Um nearby homes? Um
any of that that we have records of or >> Mayor, commissioners. >> Uh yes. Uh within the last year, we had 29 complaints at this location. Majority of calls that came out were noise complaints. Uh from vehicles and from the the establishment.
Um the latest one, I think we had one call for underage drinking. And that was in uh Excuse me one second. I had it here. Uh that was um April 3rd of 2026.
Um bunch of teens inside the inside the location uh drinking alcohol. >> Were any of these late-night calls? >> Uh yes, at various times. Let me make sure. Um 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, uh Uh, 2:00 in the morning, 12:00
in the morning. Uh, 1:55 a.m. Um, those times are noise complaints. >> Mr. Mayor, I also would like for you to remember the public that there may be people here that wish to speak to this issue. >> Do you want a um an action before public comment or do you want public comment
and then an action? >> It's up to you, but I think you can have public comment now before the action. >> Mr. Mayor, would you like to go first on this? Anybody else? Okay. At this time, we'll go ahead and allow public comment. Anyone wishing to speak to this item,
uh, now's an opportunity. If you'll come up to the microphone, you'll have uh if you'll state your name and address, and you have 5 minutes uh to speak. >> My name is Teresa Hatcher. I live at 1918 4th Street Northeast, Winter Haven.
My concern in the whole restaurant, I've been in the community, I grew up in the community. I was on the other side of 4th Street instead of being on the side closest to the lake, I was on the side on the side where the uh
mobile home multiple homes where you say the apartments behind his establishment. I was back there at one time. My family moved to 4th Street. I've been on 4th Street since 1962. And I was just at the 2214
address of that 4th Street. That corner lot on 4th Street has always been a vacant lot since the road and the street was built. It's never been anything on that corner. 4th Street is a very busy corner. I came to this
a planning commission meeting and city commissioners a couple of years ago and was talking about the traffic in Winter Haven at 4th Street. At that time, the city uh came out and they assessed it and they put speed limit signs because the traffic was so
congested in that area. That's my biggest concern. You're talking about making 4th Street corner, that empty lot now a parking lot where people now are bottlenecked on 4th Street. You can't the traffic on 4th Street,
everybody's trying to take the shortcut to to Lucerne Park Road. So, everybody's cutting instead of going to 1st Street, they're cutting the neighborhood going by down 4th Street, continuing on Lucerne Park Road. The traffic, we have trucks, we have
everything on that road that should not be in that neighborhood. My concern is you're talking about the same lot July 4th, 2022, we had two killed, I mean two shot,
one killed on that corner on the 4th of July. In that same lot. Violence. These violence is not teenagers. These violence are young adults. These are 25 to 40. You know, I understand he said he would like to make
the community and give the community jobs. Well, I've been a part of the community and the establishment that you indicated has never looked like a dump. It was a laundromat. It was a auto parts store. It was a
twice, it was a laundromat again. It was a restaurant twice. It's never been a dump. It's just been a vacant building. It's never been a dump. Uh so, as far as uh improving the community, if you don't know where the community community started out, if you
haven't went through the time of seeing it, it's hard to say what it was and how you improved it if you didn't see uh pictures along the way. I would encourage you to go to the the culture Northeast Cultural Recreation Center and maybe look at pictures of Avenue T and see what the
city looked like and what we had on that part of First Street that was now Martin Luther Luther King, that's Avenue T. My part in this whole thing is violence, traffic, parking, peace, people.
This community has a lot of kids, and it's unfair. Even I understand it's a restaurant, but when you're open from 10:00 a.m. in the morning to 2:00, and just like the Chief of Police indicated, minors minors wouldn't be hanging out that late
if they didn't have anywhere to go at 12:00, 2:00, you know, during the week. When I grew up, we had a Tastee Freeze on that corner of Fourth Street, and it was closed at 10:00. On the weekend, it was 12:00. You know, so to have something established right there from
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. 7 days a week, is that helping our neighborhood or are they hurting our neighborhoods? I know he indicated he was giving more jobs and helping the community, but how are you helping if you're causing uh Mr. Maynard's
kids being arrested, kids having records. How is that helping the community? Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishes Excuse [clears throat] me, anyone else wish to speak to this item? You'll come forward, state your name and address for the record, and you'll have
5 minutes. >> Hello. My name is Frances Campbell, and I live on 1926 Third Street. So, I'm kind of directly across. My concern is other than the killings that always have been on Avenue T,
but if they're going to start having events and parties and gatherings, the parking area that they're trying to get, I'm afraid they're going to come over on the other cuz there's an open field in front of my house.
And we done had a lot of bullets flying from over there, cuz I even had a bullet come through my front window. Luckily, I wasn't in my front room. Cuz people they have the signs there, but a lot of us don't pay any attention
to what's what's there. They just going to park. Cuz they used to be all down in front of your house, your driveway. And talking about loud music, he said, you know, they're not having any of that, but I know
uh it's been loud music, nasty music. People coming out front with the microphones talking. So, maybe that's not what he's talking about that's happening now. But, it's not safe with everybody
going back and forth. So, my thing would be I was here at that last meeting, and I still would say no to that because our community don't need all of that. We have enough problems, period, than to
have people to come in with, you know, gatherings. That's what makes it bad. And my neighbor that stay on uh a house in between, uh Ms. Emma Eli,
she was supposed to come down here, but she had to go to the hospital. And her she was here the last meeting, too. So, she agreed, too, that that would be a mistake. So, thank you, and
you know, if this do happen, uh you're welcome to come out and visit and see just what we're talking about. Because people say what they going to do, but then after everybody back is turned and ain't nobody looking, we do
everything we want to do. So, thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Anyone else wish to speak? State your name and address for the record, and you'll have 5 minutes. >> Good evening. I'm Petrina Morales. I'm
here to uh represent my kids that own the residence that's immediately next door to the um this ex- the Fantasy Island. Uh I too grew up in that area. My family
owns the residence at 213, 217, and then on the corner uh 20 um I think it's 2040 on 4th Street, which is one house over from
where the uh proposed parking lot is to be. But um my problem is that a um a safe establishment wouldn't bring noise
and crime to the community. I think Fantasy Island would become a neighborhood nuisance. And um I have a 90-year-old mother that lives on 4th Street there at the 2045.
It's right next door to the house that's next to the proposed parking lot. She's 90 years old. She's blind. And this noise that's coming in at night, it's disturbing to her. She can't call
because, well, number one, she can't see the keys on the telephone pad. But, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. 7 days a week, I think that's a bit too much for a 90-year-old. And um
He says he's bringing jobs and jobs, but this is a little hole in the wall. How many people do you plan on hiring? And um the establishments, the events that they have there, I think they have something like a biker's
uh day or week or weekend or whatever, which brings in a lot of bikers. And um A lounge I I I'm not in agreement with. The restaurant, I have no problem, but the crime going up, this that's just
it's ridiculous. I mean, like I said, I grew up in that neighborhood. I no longer live here. I'm over in um Osceola County now, but I still have my mother and family that still lives in that immediate area.
So, Fantasy Island as a large-scale drinking establishment, I think it's a bad idea. And again, it will become the neighborhood nuisance. Thank you. >> Okay. Anyone else wish to speak to the
sign? Seeing none, commissioners, I'll hear any other questions, discussion, or an action. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. I move that we uphold the recommendation of the uh planning commission
and deny the request on this appeal. >> Okay. Motion's been >> Yes. >> Mr. Commissioner, Mr. Mayor, let me just clarify for a second. This de novo hearing and the reason I I bring this up is procedural kind of but
the this comes before you clothed with no no clothing from the planning commission other than the planning commission order. So the motion to to confirm the planning commission order would probably be better articulated as you would
you would have found >> my motion. >> Pardon? >> I move to approve and confirm the decision made by the planning commission. Is that good enough? >> Well, or and in doing that, I'm assuming
that you are then finding independently based on the information that you've heard tonight to include the planning commission order that this special use application should be denied. >> It should be denied. Yes. >> Okay. So that's the that's the that's the important part
that you're finding making the motion to deny the applicant's special use approval permit. >> Okay, so motion Yes, ma'am. >> Motion's been made to deny the request. Any other questions, comments, or discussion? >> Yes, sir.
Um I just want to explain my reasons real quick. Um I'm going to support the motion and and um and deny this for two reasons. One, um I look at the the nature the the community there, the residential nature of the community. Um I've lived across
street from a bar my times in Tallahassee and I can tell you every St. Patrick's Day, Super Bowl, Halloween, any special event, there's always a larger group than normal and people they don't care where they're supposed to park, they're just going to park where they want to park and they're going to walk across your properties to get
there. They're going to loiter all times of the day and the last thing I want is to have our law enforcement have to keep responding to that trying to enforce the the code there, who knows what else could be going on in the city. So I certainly don't think this is conducive for the community. And then second,
you know, with over 20 years in the food and beverage industry and 14 years as a bartender, I don't buy it. I do not buy that there is any kind of ignorance here. And even if there was, ignorance of the law is no defense. When you get into this industry, there are a ton of laws you have to you have to follow. You ignorance of the law, I didn't know I
could I had to card them. I did not know I couldn't serve under 21. That doesn't that doesn't doesn't fly with me. I'm looking right here at a menu of the drink specials. I don't think this was a special event from a caterer. This was absolutely the menu of the restaurant serving liquor. I don't know how many times you have to get caught, how many
times you have to get in trouble, and to keep doing it over and over again. You don't have clean hands, you don't deserve this permit. So, that's why I'm denying it. >> Okay. While I applaud your efforts as an entrepreneur to one bring improvements to the
community, I think that is certainly a a good move. I think there are great concerns as have been raised and certainly from the residents uh in who live near and around the area.
I too have been around a while. Sadly, in that area, we have had uh some major incidents and we have lost life in that area. And I think that unfortunately for the applicant because of history,
you are perhaps the the newest of those come along, but I think there are many who are concerned about uh moving forward in a very positive way. And when you look at the direction of the community right now
and where it is headed, um a large drinking establishment uh does not probably fit very well within that situation. How And also with the fact that there are many challenges with regards to parking, which is not necessarily
doable. Which would in itself create a problem. I think that uh maintaining a restaurant, I understood I understand I have not had the opportunity that the food is good. And uh I hope that perhaps you may
move in that direction and uh and comply to whatever uh is necessary in order to uh maintain a restaurant in that area. I think that would be viable and something very needed and very helpful. Uh but I think the other aspects of it
in terms of uh the drinking and that aspect may create even more of a challenge and be more of a community concern for a lot of a lot of folks who live in the area. So, I'm sad to say that uh it will uh it does not
I think meet the requirements that are necessary this time. >> Okay. All right. Uh motion's been made. All those in favor of the motion >> just before we move forward, I just wanted to make sure I'm sorry, Mayor. But Commissioner Birdsong, when you made reference to the planning commission, you found credible the information that
the city's staff presented tonight based on that presentation. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Thank you. That's all. >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed like sign. Motion carries. We will adjourn for 5 minutes and then
start the uh commission meeting. So, 6:12 we'll reconvene. >> Mhm. Part: 2
Go ahead and call to order the city commission meeting of Monday, July 27th at 6 PM to order. Can we get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Davis, >> here. >> Commissioner Dles, >> here. >> Commissioner Bong, >> here. >> Mayor Pro Mercer >> here. >> And Mayor Yates
>> here. Okay, we have the invocation led by Bishop Willie Mincy of True Holiness Tabernacle, followed by the pledge of allegiance led by city clerk Vanessa Castillo. Please stand if there we pray. Kind father in Jesus
name. We are grateful for the gift of this wonderful day. This is the day you made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for your love, your mercy, your grace, and your power. Thank you tonight that we are gathered in this chamber one more time for this commission. Thank you oh God that you
have blessed us to be here for the business of this city. Lord I ask that you would give wisdom, knowledge and direction because you say steps of good men were ordered by you. I pray your protection over our city. I ask that you'd bless it oh God and keep us by
your divine power. bless the night and all that will be done and said that it will bring glory, honor and praise to your wonderful name and we will tell you thank you for all things. We ask it in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. >> Amen.
>> To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationy andice for all. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. Uh we have but one presentation for you
this evening and this is a proclamation recognizing Florida Water Professionals Month. We have with us a number of employees from the Winterhaven Water Department. I believe Mr. David Nicholson and others will be he'll have others joining him at the podium for
this uh receipt of the proclamation. It reads, "Whereas the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association, organized in 1940, is a nonprofit trade organization that promotes the sustainability of Florida's water utility industry through workforce
development to protect the health of Florida's citizens and to preserve the state's water resources. And whereas this organization offers water and wastewater treatment plant operator and water distribution operator training courses required for the state of
Florida's operator licenses, eight voluntary certification programs and continuing education programs for operator license renewals. And whereas this organization is recognizing the importance of the Florida statutes and administrative code that regulate the
water industry acts as a liaison between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and industry personnel. And whereas the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association recognizes all who serve all who have played a significant part in operating and
maintaining drinking water, wastewater, and storm water systems in Florida by celebrating Florida Water Professionals Month, which applauds their constant efforts to protect our health and environment. And whereas water professionals are essential first
responders as defined by Florida statute 403.865B during storms and other catastrophic events working to ensure safe drinking water and safe disposal of waste water for our communities. Now therefore, William Brian Yates, mayor of the city
of Winter Haven, Florida, does hereby recognize August 2026 as Florida Water Professionals Month in the city of Winter Haven and asks our citizens to join us in thanking these water and wastewater professionals for their dedication and hard work in providing
safe drinking water and protecting Florida's environment and natural resources. and witness whereof he is here to says his hand and caused the seal of the city of Winter Haven, Florida to be affixed this 27th day of July 2026. Signed, William Brian Yates,
mayor. Attest Vanessa Castillo, city clerk. Thank you, [applause] >> honorable mayor, commissioners, city managers. My name is David Nicholson, the wastewater treatment plant manager, and I'm proud to stand here before you this evening on behalf of the water
department to accept this proclamation recognizing Florida water professionals. I'd like to sincerely thank you for this recognition. Every day, the dedicated men and women of our water treatment, wastewater treatment, collections, distribution, engineering, customer service, and our
admin and support teams work around the clock to provide safe drinking water, protect public health, safeguard our environment, and ensure reliable service for our community. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but it is essential to the quality of life we all enjoy here in Windsor Haven. As we
recognize the professionals who provide these essential services, we also encourage our community to remember that water is one of our most valuable and finite natural resources. Every drop we conserve today helps protect our lakes, rivers, aquifers, and
drinking water supplies for future generations. By using water wisely and supporting responsible stewardship, each of us play an important role in ensuring that this precious resource remains available for our families, our community, and the environment for years to come. Thank you
again for your continued support of our water professionals, for recognizing the important work they do every day. [applause] You know, they all work. These guys work the waste water plant. So, wash your hands. All right, four.
[applause] Okay, we've got no developments of note. No minutes to review. At this time, we'll take comments from the audience. Is there anyone from the audience that would like to speak to anything that is not on tonight's agenda?
Seeing none, we'll move forward to ordinances second reading, which we have none. And then we have our consent agenda. >> Commissioners, Mr. Mayor, >> yes. Move approval of the consent agenda. Okay.
Motion's been made. Any further questions or discussion about the consent agenda? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> Oppose like sign. Motion carries. Resolution R26-20.
City attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commission. Resolution number R-26-20. a resolution regarding a change in the meeting date for the September 14th, 2026 city commission meeting pursuant to section 2-26 of the city's code of
ordinances providing a conflict clause and providing an effective date. Thank you, >> city manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and commissioners. Uh the Pulk County Board of County Commissioners will hold its budget public hearing on September 14th, 2026. That happens to be the same day that we
would normally have a scheduled city commission meeting for Winterhaven. In light of that, uh it's recommended that that meeting be rescheduled for the city of Winter Haven to Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at the same time of 6
p.m. The proposed resolution is presented to the city commission for its consideration and passage in accordance with the provisions of section 2-26 of the city's code of ordinances. and I'm recommending the city commission approve resolution R26-20.
>> Thank you, commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, >> go ahead, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> A motion to approve resolution Rh 2620. >> Thank you. Motion's been made for approval. We'll close the commission meeting, open a public hearing. Anyone
wish to speak to this item? Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing, reopen the city commission meeting. All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> oppose. like sign. Motion carries. Ordinance first reading. We do have two first readings. However, they will be
both voted on this evening. So, we'll start off with 026-16. City attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-26-16 and ordinance amending ordinance 23-24 the Winter Haven comprehensive plan by amending the feature land use element,
neighborhood preservation and revitalization element, housing element, transportation element, transportation map series, infrastructure element, infrastructure map series, public school facilities element, recreation and open space element, parks and recreation facilities map series, conservation
element, intergovernmental coordination element, private property rights element, and capital improvement ment element to extend the planning horizon to 2050 repealing all ordinances in conflict with providing for the administrative correction of scrier errors and providing an effective date.
Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and commissioners. I'm going to request that Eric Lavyby, our director of economic opportunity, community investment, present this item as it originates within his department. >> Yes, sir. Mayor, commissioners. Um,
ordinance 02616 is the administrative request to adopt the 2050 Winter Haven comprehensive plan in response to our 2025 evaluation and appraisal report, which is also called the EAR. Uh as part of growth management legislation adopted
in 198 19 1985, uh all governments are required to periodically conduct evaluations of their comprehensive plans uh to ensure um that they are consistent with current state law. Uh the deadline for the city's fourth year was October 1st,
2025. We did transmit that. Um planning staff completed its review and submitted that on September 30th. Uh in response to that, report, we are required to make two modifications to our comprehensive plan. One is um to provide for a 20-year
planning horizon. Uh so in order to plan for that, we're going out to the year 2050 and to update our population projections within that comprehensive plan document. Those changes have been made. We used Kimley Horn as our professional consultant to do the
population um projections. This was presented to the planning commission on July 9th, 2026. There were no public comments and they unanimously voted to uh recommend approval of this ordinance. Staff does recommend approval of ordinance 02616.
Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, move approval of ordinance 02616 on first reading. >> Okay. Motion's been made for approval. We'll close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wish to speak to this item? Seeing none, we'll close
the public hearing, reopen the city commission meeting. Commissioners, any questions or discussion? >> And really, the only thing you're voting on is simply it's transmitt to the Department of Commerce. >> Okay. All those in favor signifies by saying I oppose like sign. Motion
carries. The second reading will be to be determined. >> Yes. >> 026-17, city attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Res ordinance number O-26-17, an ordinance amending ordinance 23-24, the 2035 Winter Haven comprehensive plan
by revising the future land use map series by adopting the 2050 future land use map series, repealing all ordinances in conflict with providing for the administrative correction of scrimmage errors, and providing an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, commissioners.
This is somewhat of a companion ordinance. Is it also generated from the ear? And I'll ask Mr. Lavyby to elaborate further. >> Yes, sir. We are required uh to adopt this separately by ordinance. So, ordinance 02617 is the request to adopt
the 2050 future land use map series. That map series did need to be updated um as over the years there are annexations um which have been applied a city of Winter Haven future land use. So we have updated reformatted that map series. Um
and they were also presented to the planning commission at the same July 9th meeting and again um they re unanimously recommended approval of adoption of that uh future land use map series and staff does recommend approval as well.
>> Thank you commission. >> Go ahead >> Mr. Mayor. Motion to approve um ordinance 02617 on first reading. >> Okay. Motion's been made for approval to submit this to uh Florida Commerce. We'll close the commission meeting, open
the public hearing. Anyone wish to speak to this item? Seeing none, we'll close the public hearing, reopen the city commission meeting. Commissioners, any questions or discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> Oppos like sign. Motion carries.
Again, second reading on that is to be determined. No votes on this one tonight, but ordinance 0-26-18, first reading, city attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-26-18, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Winterhaven, Florida, relating
to utilities, amending sections 19-80, 19-150, and 19-151 of the code of ordinances of the city of Winterhaven, Florida. adopting a revised schedule of charges and fees for the reimbursement of costs to the city for the treatment of industrial wastewater, providing for an automatic increase of
up to two and one half percent of such industrial charges and fees on the 1 of each October without the need for hearing. clarifying the applicability of certain rates, fees, and charges to industrial users subject to the industrial pre-treatment ordinance. Eliminating obsolete industrial cost recovery program requirements and
deleting sections 19-176 through 19-180 of the code of ordinances of the city, Florida, providing for the repeal of conflicting ordinances for severability for codification and for the administrative correction of scrimmers errors, providing for an effective date. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We had a uh lengthy discussion and presentation on this Wednesday evening, but I will review some of the high points of the staff's summary report. The industrial pre-treatment program, also known as IP, is a federallymandated program designed to control the discharge of pollutants
from non-residential sources into the public sewer system. This program protects wastewater treatment facilities, its workers, public health, and the environment by ens ensuring that industrial users comply with local, state, and federal regulations. Under the IP, industries are required to
pre-treat their wastewater to remove, reduce, or alter pollutants prior to discharging it into the city's domestic wastewater treatment facilities. Winterhaven's IP includes searchcharge rates to recover costs of treating high strength wastewater.
These search charges are applied when an industrial user exceeds their permit allotted levels for wastewater flow. biochemical oxygen demand, also referred to as BOD, and total suspended solids or TSS. The initial ordinance was passed by
the city in the 1980s to establish an industrial cost recovery program. In 2004, the city's wastewater plants were modified and expanded without the use of federal grant aid. And accordingly, the capital recover searchcharge rates that were in play at the time were modified
as a means to recover the capital investment associated with using treatment capacity at the water treatment facilities in in excess of the amount contracted for and paid through connection fees. Ordinance 2618 is based
on a technical memorandum of July 1st, 2026 together with a draft executive summary uh dated September 9th, 2025 that was prepared by the city's consultant, Jones Edmunds. The ordinance will take effect on January 1st, 2027.
>> [clears throat] >> Uh staff is recommending the city commission approve ordinance 2618 and authorize and ratify any actions taken or to be taken by the city manager or designate related to this matter. For a little further followup, there are three
present day industrial entities that are permitted as part of our industrial pre-treat treatment program. Those include Ball Manufacturing, former Florida Can Manufacturing, New Dairy, uh, which was formerly um, Bordon Dairy
and Indian River Transport. Uh, those are the three that have industrial pre-treatment permits. The intent of this is to ensure that the costs associated with the treatment of higher concentrated elements within industrial
uh waste water from those facilities are accounted for within the rates. So Jones Edmonds crafted the rates for that based upon removing the capital recovery cost as we discussed Wednesday night, but
also adding in new uh search charges related to total phosphorus, total nitrogen, fats, oils, and greases. And Mark, I'm drawing a blank on the fourth one. >> Total suspended Total dissolved solids. Total dissolved solids. We already have
total suspense solids. Thank you. >> TDS. >> So the TDS um there was a question that came about. I responded to all the commissioners earlier today just clarifying that there is a 2 and a half% uh escalator or indexing that takes place on October 1st. That's intended to
account for the costs that increase over time just through organic inflation that we incur in terms of chemicals, electricity, the like. Um, it is also recommended that moving forward that we
re-evaluate these fees on a much more frequent basis. And my recommendation is that no later than five years those be re-evaluated or when there are changes within either uh the regulatory aspects of what has to be monitored for
industrial wastewater. um if those become more strict or consider a different uh type of contaminant within them or as we make improvements to our wastewater treatment plants which you know we are making significant improvements there um as we
achieve efficiencies related to that if that brings about a need to adjust those rates accordingly that we also consider those um so that is uh the presentation for this evening I would answer all the technical questions on waste water that you like, but I think I would rather
defer those to Mr. Mark Bombard if need be. Thank you. >> So, I just have one question on that two and a half%. So, will these go up 2 and a half% on this October 1st as well? >> They will not. They will take effect. They will increase on October 1st of
2027. They do not go into effect until January of 2027. We were intentional with that knowing that by adding these additional search charges and adjusting the existing rates there is a um a cost
increase for those that pre-treatment which is certainly justified and appropriate given the cost of treating such industrial waste water. But we wanted to be mindful of uh when businesses are are contemplating that that we're giving them sufficient notice
on that uh and with um operating years being a January one start this in our opinion gives them sufficient time to account for that within their proformer for the coming year. >> Commissioners, any other questions, comments? All right. Second reading will
be on August the 10th. So with that, we'll move on to new business. We've got the approval of task order number three for water resource facility of Hollard Road. City manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh I'll present this one and ask Mr. Bombard and
representatives of our consulting team uh to be on standby to answer questions as need be. So on March 6, 2024, the city issued RFQ 2418 for the progressive design build of the wastewater, I'm
sorry, of the water resource facility at Pard Road and wastewater treatment plant number two, abandonment. On July 22nd of 2024, the city commission authorized staff to negotiate a contract with Wharton Smith. Uh members of Wharton Smith are with us
today. The multi-year project involves the phased upgrade of plant three, the conveyance of wastewater flows from plant two to plant three, the decommissioning of plant 2, and the construction of a 12 million gallons per
day or MGD water resource facility with future expansion capabilities up to 24 MGD. Since the award, the city issued issued two task orders. Uh task order one was
issued in on March 10th of 2025 in the amount of $9.9 million. And it established the project foundation through facility planning, infrastructure evaluation, master planning, and alternative analysis to support future design, construction, and
funding opportunities. Task order number two was issued in September of 2025 at a total cost of $1.62 million and provided for the pre-construction services for wastewater treatment plant number two improvements, including the
design and permitting for a new electrical building and disc filter improvements. It also included related upgrades to support the future conversion of that plant into a reclaimed water booster pump station. Task order three, if approved,
authorizes Wharton Smith to provide approximately 20 months of pre-construction services to advance the phase expan the phased expansion of existing plant 3 into the onewater campus water resource facility. Wharton Smith and their design consultant,
Kimley Horn, will provide project management, design services, scheduling, constructability reviews, value engineering, cost estimating, construction sequencing, early procurement planning for long lead equipment, funding support, and development of future guaranteed maximum
price proposals. This task order will advance the project to approximately the 60% design milestone and allow us to establish a guaranteed maximum price proposal for the initial construction phase. Completion of this task order will
further refine the project scope, schedule, and cost. Ultimately, the project will support the planned expansion of the existing facility from its current level of 7.5 MGD to an initial treatment capacity of 12.0 MGD
with future expansion capabilities up to 24 MGD. The cost associated with task order 3 is 27,783,259 and is estimated to take approximately 20 months to complete.
Our recommendation is that the city commission approved task order number three for wastewater treatment plant number three expansion preconstruction services for the wastewater resource facility at Pard Road to Wharton Smith,
Inc. and authorize and or ratify any actions taken or to be taken by the city manager or designate and take any and all actions necessary there too. Um I mentioned Wednesday evening total
buildout of plant three is the water resource facility is in the um three to $400 million when it's all said and done. Um, and probably closer to
that higher end when you factor in uh the expansion of that site and the additional facilities that come in, the rehabbing of what is now a $50 or 50 year old project. I came across an article just recently um that Hillsboro
County ironically is advancing a onewater water resource facility. Um I think that they have been reading our meeting minutes and looking at our proposals. Uh their project is somewhere north of I want to say
at least 1.2 billion. I believe it may have been closer to 1.8 billion. Um, and when I read through the parameters of their uh, program and what they're looking to do, it's very similar of having to expand for future growth and
to mitigate uh, the challenges presented by 50-year-old um, infrastructure. In my own mind, I I was thinking about the challenges of these types of decisions and when we present the budget, some of the big expenses that
are set forth in the 27 budget and for the years that follow. And I I empathize with the city commission that is seated now because you have to make the decisions on that. But I also recognize that those are decisions that you get to
make that are legacy decisions because hopefully no one in that sits in those seats for the next 50 years has to do that just as those that came before you for the past 50 years have not had to do that. In the 1970s when the city took on wastewater treatment plant 3 in
partnership with the county it was about a 25 26 million project and was the largest project the city had ever undertaken. And those same commissioners at that time were faced with these same challenges. They're big ticket items. This is a 27 million 207.7 million uh
first part of that to design everything and get it ready for a GMP um for a much larger project. But I also think it's important to recognize that these are projects that serve a community for at least 50 years and those costs are recovered over that
entire time leading up to when the next decision has to be made on that long after we're all gone. So I just point that out because these are kind of unique times and and in and the case with Hillsboro County I think further sends a message that you're not the only
ones that are doing this. Um, there are a number of agencies that are in the exact same situation with historic legacy water and wastewater treatment facilities that are now at the point of having to make those improvements. I
think the the costs that I've recalled recently for the infrastructural needs across this nation for water and wastewater are in excess of 600 billion dollars. And that's because a lot of these systems came on uh that are
present day in use in the 60s and early 70s and they don't last forever, you know, and certainly communities grow. So that's a little more editorializing than I had hoped to do this evening, but I just wanted to share that insight with you. Uh my staff and the consultants
will certainly stand for any questions you may have. Thank you, >> commissioners. Let's ask one question. Do you think that if uh if we had not grown at the rate that we have the last six years?
Would we still be looking at this? In my thought, we would be just because it's an aging system. It's got to be. So I think a lot of the the citizens may wonder, well gosh, it's because you approved all this growth and and that that's probably a part of it, which you
know, to counter that, we're not allowed to really hamper that growth due to legislative decisions from Tallahassee. But at the end of the day, we'd still have to do something with this plant and this system if we really had not grown at all the last six years. I think
you're absolutely correct, Mr. Mayor, and that um the age of facilities, the technologies that come online. If you think about uh just consider something you you're familiar with today, an automobile, and how different that is from the 1974 era. Um you know, things
evolve and change and there's greater efficiencies to be realized. We did a lot of of efforts with plant three in the early 2000s to take that to an advanced wastewater treatment facility that allowed us to get away from the spray fields that we had out there and
brought about the interotal logistics park. um the ability to take plant two and which is really in a in a more residential area and convert that to
somewhat of a a master lift station and move all of that waste water to our south to be treated at plant 3. I think that that's a a very responsible and innovative approach to achieve uh economies of scale and efficiencies. So
yes, I think he would be doing that no matter what. I also think that taking this from a 12 MGD facility um that getting it to from a seven and a half to a 12 MGD accounts for combining the two two and three together. It also uh takes
into consideration the growth that we've seen and the future expansion to a 24 MGD really the timing of that hinges upon when you approach that need but being designed to allow for that I think is extremely smart planning on behalf of
the team >> commissioners what is the life expectancy of the new plant expected it to last. >> Mr. Bayan, would you mind coming to the to the podium to >> life cycle?
>> I expect it to be no less than a 50-year project. And and I say that because you're using you're using materials that are, you know, concrete and steels and things that are impacted by uh the acidities and the the effects of the
wastewater traveling through there. But I think a 50-year plant is is certainly realistic if not longer. Mr. Bayan, would you introduce yourself? And >> Certainly. Yeah. David Behan. I'm with Wharton Smith. Um, and previously I was with the city of Lake and Water Utilities and been in this uh industry
for uh about 25 years. So T Michael is absolutely right. Your city manager hit it on the head. It's a probably about a 50 yard 50y year endeavor. Um, and the the concrete is is usually what fails in in those cases. Yes.
>> I'd like to go on record that he said T. Michael was exactly right. >> If the record that >> we have from someone who's looking for how how much is this contract worth? >> Stop. [laughter] Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, sir.
>> Mr. Mayor, I move approval of task order number three for the water resource facility at Pollock. >> Okay. Motion's been made for approval. We'll close the commission meeting. Opportunity for public comment. Anyone wish to speak to this item.
>> Seeing none, we'll reopen the commission meeting. Commissioners, any other questions or discussion? >> All those in favor signify. Signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Like sign. Motion carries. All right. Establish a uh proposed
fiscal year 2627 mill rate. Um probably city manager wants to take this one. >> Thank you sir. Mayor commissioners each year the city is required to calculate and set an adalora millage rate per chapter 200 of Florida statutes. This is known as the
truth and millage act or trim act and it informs taxpayers of the taxes taxes levied in the amount of tax liability owed to each taxing authority. Per trim, the city is required to notify the county property appraiser of the city's
proposed millage rate for the ensuing year and provide the date, time, and location of the first public hearing regarding the budget and millage rate. Based upon the certification of taxable value provided to the city by the
property appraisers office, Winter Haven's 2026 gross taxable value is 5 bill68,674,230. This represents an increase of 4.97% over the prior year gross taxable value.
The 2627 fiscal year budget as proposed was constructed using the current millage rate of 5.900 mills. Sorry, 6.5900 mills. At a 9650%
collection rate along with city funding of the community redevelopment areas, the anticipated adorum revenue is 32,753,796. This millage rate provides a balanced budget that is fiscally responsible and aligns with the city's strategic
pillars. It maintains adequate reserves to address unforeseen events and balance balances service demands with available resources without placing an undue burden on taxpayers. City must notify the property appraiser of the current year's calculated roll
back rate, the proposed millage rate, and the date, time, and place of the city's first public hearing by Tuesday, August 4th, which is a week from tomorrow. The city is also required to complete the tax increment adjustment worksheet for the Winter Haven downtown
and Florenceville CRAAS and maximum millage levy calculation preliminary disclosure. Staff recommends sending back those completed forms with the required information by this Friday, July 31st.
The current calculated roll back rate millage millage rate is 6.5567. Um the millage rate once it's set can be reduced at either public hearing but cannot be increased. So the tenative mill rate is 6.5900.
Any millillage that exceeds the roll back rate must be advertised as a tax increase. we've shared with you each year. The total proposed budget anticipates expenditures of 371,845,623. That's an increase of $119,915,550
over the prior year, primarily due to one-time capital investments in infrastructure. As we just discussed, this budget reflects a projected general fund available balance of 28,156,751, exceeding the fund balance reserve
policy target of 30% by approximately 1.2 million. Um, I'm not going to go through the entire budget proposal for you this evening as we did Wednesday night unless you really really want to uh see it again. But I will highlight a
few things. As I mentioned, the budget is approximately $372 million as proposed for fiscal year 27, which includes $177.5 million in total capital expenditures tied to infrastructure and major asset
investments. The vast majority of that is within your water department. It is a balanced budget using the current millage of 6.59 mills. Our estimated advalorum revenues increased by about $1.5 million in the
general fund from what they were a year ago to bring it to a total of $32.7 million. Um we do continue to fund our uh investment in affordable housing through a $250,000
appropriation from the general fund into the affordable housing trust fund. We continue to fund our STEP program for our employees and we've included a cost of living adjustment of 3% to take effect on October 1st. Our budget is
proposed with 776 total employees and you can see on the screen the distribution between full-time and part-time. There are only six new positions to be added next year per the request. Only one of those is within the general fund and it is funded at midyear
and hinges upon the outcome of amendment three in November. Next slide, please. We did get some updated millage rates from uh other jurisdictions. So, this slide has been updated since you saw it just this past Wednesday. Um, at this
time the only one that we are aware of that is showing a uh millillage increase is the town of Lake Hamilton going from 7.99 to 850. Um, even with that, Winter Haven remains
the eighth lowest millage rate within the area. And as I mentioned, of those that you see, there are five jurisdictions that in addition to a millage rate also have a fire assessment fee. City Commission has inquired or
expressed interest in considering a fire assessment fee. Uh, as we weigh the uncertainties associated with amendment three and property tax reform, I hope to have that presented to you at one of your two meetings in the month of
August. Next slide, please. When you consider last year's budget to this year's budget, uh 25 26 or current year budget I should say is about 252 million. For fiscal year 27, it's about
372 million. First thing we do in determining how much we need to appropriate, we back out the intrafund transfers so that we don't double count expenses as they show up as an expense when they are transferred and an expense again when they are actually
expended by the receiving fund. Um we end up with a total amount to be appropriated next year of 329 million. The one-time significant expenditures in capital, you can see $110 million is
within the utility fund alone. That is a business operation and that is supported by the fees that we charge for water and wastewater service. The downtown parking garage is included. uh the advancement of a pickle ball facility, improvements
at Sertoma Park on the football facilities, improvements to roofing at Norma Hall or the Florida Citrus Building as well as the Ritz Theater, hardening and and improvements to fire stations 1, 2, and four. The replacement
of a fire truck, uh our portion of that after the insurance payout. This is a truck that we did not damage. This was totaled out when another vehicle struck our firet truck. That is going to cost us an additional $720,000.
And then other various capital that we have at about $50.7 million. Back all if you can go back please. If you back all that out, you can see at the bottom the total amount of personal, operating, and non- capital expenditures
rises from 138.6 million to 151.5 million. That's an increase year-over-year amongst all funds of about 9.3%. Next slide. All of the funds that we um
operate with are reflected here and I believe we gave you all a copy, a full printed copy of this presentation Wednesday evening, but this shows you um for each fund that we operate how those dollars are distributed in post this
evening's meeting. If you have question, any further questions about the projects or the operations within those or if you have those this evening, I'll be happy to answer them. Next slide. Uh I I mentioned many times during our
briefings and also Wednesday evening the comment that we often receive in local government of why don't you operate more as a business? And I'm always happy to point out that we do operate as a business where a business operation makes sense. Those are called proprietary funds. That's the water
fund, solid waste, dark fiber, storm water, and Willoughbrook operations. Those are funds that are in as they operate, the revenues they receive are intended to sufficiently offset the expenditures that they make for that
operation. In Winter Haven's case, business operations account for over 58% of our total budget. The general fund as you can see is $85.4 million for next year. And with all the
discussion on property tax, that is where Admalorum property tax revenues go is into the general fund. Next slide. If we look at how we expend money, this is a year-to-year comparison of the current fiscal year to next year's
proposed. And I'll draw your attention primarily to the graph. The yellow or gold colors are next year's expenditures. And you can see in capital we are making significant infrastructural investments for our community that in many cases will be
50-year investments if not longer predominantly in the water operations. The others have very minor changes. In fact, personnel services increase across all funds by less than 5% year-over-year.
Next slide. I mentioned adalorum is revenue that goes into your general fund and you can see by the pie chart that adalorum revenue represents 33.1 million or 38.79% of the total revenues that come into the
general fund. Going back to the discussion on property tax reform in amendment three that will go before the voters in November of this year. If that were to pass, if its full implementation, which would
be two years out, our estimation based upon numbers provided by property appraiser Neil Combi, is that the city of Winter Haven would lose 10.4 million. The more recent report by the Florida uh revenue estimating conference suggests
that number being north of $13 million. So, if you drop if it did come to that, that number depending upon what growth looks like. If it would happen this particular year, we would go from a $33 million uh revenue in advorum to
somewhere between 22 and $20 million would be what the new number would look like. Next slide. And then this is to explain a little further in that general fund how you use those dollars. So you can
see once you take out non-EP departmental expenses, debt, support of other funds, the programs and look specifically at departments. Police is just shy of $20 million, fire slightly over $18 million,
parks and recreation about 14.5 million and so on. Again, I this is just for comparison purposes, but if you think about when it comes to cutting what could be the case if you didn't
have a revenue replacement strategy and the commission has requested a study on fire fees as a revenue replacement approach to be considered considered I say at this time but if you did not do that and had to cut
$10.4 4 million and not touch your police, fire or safe neighborhoods operation, which are the three legs of the public safety stool. That shows you where you'd have to pull those from. Furthermore, when we talk about
adorum in comparison to operational costs, Winter Haven's pro public safety components have an expense proposed for next year of $ 38.8 million. Adalorum revenues, I'll remind you, bring in $33.1 million.
That's a difference of about $5.7 million between what Adalorum brings in and what it actually costs just to do public safety. Next slide, please. I mentioned we did do a cost of living uh proposal within this budget that considers not only
inflation which is um presently for the month of June year-over-year the CPI is about 3.53%. Um, I expect that to go up for July simply because in June with the conflict
in Iran, we had gotten to a point where we were at a ceasefire and negotiations were going on in public sentiment in the how it affects uh inflation and spending uh improved. However, given more recent events in the latter part of July, I
would expect that to have more of a negative effect than raising those that CPI for um for the month present. We won't know that until mid August. So, we look at that. We we certainly want to retain as many of our exceptional employees as we can and stay
competitive as we do have people that retire or move on that we can recruit new people. But we also have to take into account what is the long-term sustainability and what is our capacity to continue
providing uh the resources associated with employee pay going forward if you have a drop in advorum revenues. So decisions you make today can you continue to provide for that should that amendment go through. Uh we feel that
realistically a 3% adjustment um does take into account the uh inflation that we're talking about particularly when it's combined with the 2 and a half% step program that we have in play and this is for all of our non collective
bargaining unit employees. We are still in negotiations with uh our police union and our fire union. So those numbers remain to be seen, but what we have factored in as a placeholder across the board at present time is at 3%.
Next slide. I think this is the last one I I have for you this evening. And this is your rainy day fund. This is what you have in savings. Uh that shows that at the end of fiscal year 26 or I'm sorry, end of fiscal year 27, we expect to have
a fund balance that represents 33% of the general fund. Our target goal is established by the city commission is 30%. Anything above that 30% we identify as being able to bring back to you for
your consideration. Uh assignment or appropriation of those funds to handle one-time capital expenses. You can see that uh on the right hand text there that difference between 33% and the the
required 30% should say targeted 30% is $2.5 million. We're recommending that 1.5 million of that go towards the Sertoma Park football facility improvements and the balance be left alone until we get through amendment
three at the ballot and also until we get through our auditing process in 20 in the calendar year 27 so we know better where we stand and can have a more um I think appropriate discussion on what to do with those funds if
anything And that is just a quick snapshot of the budget. It is, in my opinion, a conservative budget. When we look at the general fund, as I've calculated, if you back out the capital, the one-time expenses, and look at
personnel and operations just within your general fund, which is where our citizens and our property owners taxpayer dollars go, their their actual property taxes, the difference year-over-year for personnel and operation is just over 4%. And to me, I
can confidently say that that is a conservative approach to budgeting. So with that, I'll gladly stand for any questions. Again, the item before you this evening for your consideration is to establish your tenative millage rate, which we've recommended you set at
6.5900 mills, and then to also establish your first public hearing to be Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6 p.m. in the John auditorium at City Hall located at 4513rd Street Northwest Winter Haven,
Florida. Thank you, >> Mr. Davis. >> Yes. So, this is my first rodeo. I've got a few questions. Um 6.59 that is above the roll back. Does that mean we are going to be advertising a tax increase? >> Okay, that is correct. And we've we've
we've done that and I'm not saying this for to give any precedent to it or imply such. Um the city has uh not adopted the roll back rate um >> at any point. In fact, I think the only time that we were
>> probably below the roll back rate would have been during the great recession >> when we would have actually had to roll up to meet the prior year's revenues. Uh this is the closest we've ever been to the roll back that I can recall though in the difference between the 6.55 and
the 6.59 bills. >> Do do we have numbers on what that difference is? Um >> we do and that's I sent that out via email to the commission this afternoon. It is basically the equivalence of what the new adalorum revenue is which is
about 1.55 million. >> Okay. And I I think that's important because that's part of our messaging when we when we speak to folks. I mean, obviously as the cost of living goes up for everybody else, it does it goes up for our costs of running the the city. U
but I am very sensitive to the fact um that property owners while they may be seeing the increase in their equity, they're not necessarily their their cost of living is going up as well and they're not necessarily seeing an increase in their budget. So I'm I'm very sensitive to that. That's something I want to keep in mind. Um I think
that's the only question I have now. I'll save comments for later. Other questions or comments? Okay, I've got one, maybe two, maybe three. We'll see. Um, >> you're the mayor, you can have as many as you want.
>> So, the the one-time expenditure items, um, those even though they're one, well, I guess obviously, let me just ask the question. So like the pickle ball courts or certoma
football or noro roof or Ritz theater are those coming out of funds that are already on board or is the millage rate going into a portion to cover those. So when we look at and Mr. Reer feel free to
weigh in if I misstate anything here please. But as I mentioned, Satoma Park, that comes off of uh our recommendation is that we use some of the available funds within your fund balance for that. Pickle ball courts are considered an expanded recreational component,
something we don't have at present time. So, we are able to use parks and recreation impact fees to go towards that. Um that is those are fees that are paid when new homes are constructed in the area as you're as you're well aware. um other capital expenses are budgeted
based upon what's available within the general fund. So in the case of uh police vehicles and some of our fire equipment, we're able to use some impact fees legislatively, we're allowed to do that and we do that wherever we can. If we can use impact fees, we try and and
move that. You also have grant dollars that come in for some of those one-time expenses. Um and the rest of it is a balance between what we receive and the advalorum uh revenues that come in. It could be off of franchise fees. It could
be off of the uh utility search charges, uh communication services taxes, parks and recreation fees. It's not like those are peeled out specifically for item A, B, or C. It's only when it's if it's grant money that can go specific towards
a project that we've applied for, then yes, it has to be used there. If we can fund a capital project with impact fees, we always want to do that. And the rest of it is you've got basically a singular bucket that you're working from. >> And so,
so what I'm kind of getting at and another um so let's just pick on pickle ball courts for a second. So if we were to say no to the pickle ball courts, not suggesting that we are pickle ballers, don't call me, just using that as an example.
the pickle ball courts. If we said no to that, that would not that that wouldn't be like, okay, well, there's a million5 we just found. We can take that out of the military. >> No, because that's coming from an impact fee. So, it's specific. You you would
you'd have that still within your impact fees to use towards other expansion projects when they come to fruition. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Lobby, I've got a question for you.
>> Yes. >> What you were trying to ask though is what what part of the room is basically being budgeted as it relates to particular project. I think the Soma
Park project would fit. So that's coming from your adalora or your your general fund surplus fund balance. >> That's the >> So that that particular one if we said no to certoma that could impact the
military. Again not suggesting that we are. I'm just educating myself. Well, I would say it's not a recurring revenue. And that's where I would advise you to be cautious because if you're going to take something that is for a capital project
and put it towards a not towards something that is a recurring expense, you don't have those dollars in future years. That's why we appropriate them towards one-time expenses. They're dollars you have that particularly in that case of general fund that's not
necessarily going to replenish itself or come back again. Maybe a better example is grant and aid. If we said no grant and aid, that money could directly relate to our military. >> There you go. That that is a recurring expense that you have. Um I think this
year your grant and aid is $380,000. >> Okay. Plus and other we contribute towards >> EDC, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street, etc. >> Okay. So Mr. So, question for you and hopefully this
is not a Bruce Lions moment for you. What's coming in Macy's? It's an uh indoor pickle ball facility. It will have six um pickle ball courts and it's will be accompanied with um
what I would call like food hall uh type uses. There'll be food and beverage um retailers in there as well as other retailers. There are, I believe it's 10 or 11 individual retail spaces that are being developed along the front of that
building. So, you'll have a mix of retail, food and beverage, and recreation. >> Okay. So just and and I'm fine with moving forward, you know, tonight at the 6.59 and you probably going all the way
with it, but just I'm just have I'm just asking these questions to so that we can ponder thought as we move forward through the budget process of what else is going on. And you know, I I think even though we sorry, this is probably
going to start the pickle ball columns and that's fine, but I think we we really need to think about, you know, is that the right move in the event, let's say, voters in November
vote, you know, to reduce military. Is a is a pickle ball facility the right thing to add? If private the private sector is creating that same facility. I >> think you're spot on, Mr. Mayor. And I
would say that when we look at capital projects, you've got, you know, what I say $170 million plus of capital projects. Those projects don't advance necessarily October 1st. You know, you have time to
make strategic decisions on those. um particularly in light of and and I'm not I'm not trying to create a a sense of fear,
but there are communities around this state that in anticipation of amendment three, should it pass, of selling off parklands and closing down recreation centers and
reducing libraries and those things. I'm not saying that we are That's certainly an option that any commission could could take on. Um, but I think that if it's a matter of do we build new or keep an existing facility
that we've already invested millions of dollars into, keep it up and running. I think that's a pretty easy decision to make. So, I think just as as we continue through this this uh this budget season
and and beyond, I think those are the things that we need to really continuously think about and consider um what what direction we want to go forward and you know we don't have any crystal balls. I think the last polling
that I saw, you know, would indicate that it is starting to scale back um towards the probability of it passing. Um but you know, there's been presidential polls that said absolutely no way this person's going to win and
they win in a landslide. So I don't trust polls completely. It's it's at the will of the voter and who shows up. >> It's kind of like sports, Mr. Mayor. >> You got it. So, um, I probably would not place a wager on whether it would pass or not, but it's things that we're going
to have to take into consideration and in the direction that that we're moving forward and and spending public funds, which we do very conservatively now, I might add. But I think when someone picks up this budget, they're probably going to pick out, why are we putting a
million five in pickle ball courts? Well, that's why I wanted to have this discussion as to well that it's not impacting your impact fee, but and it's not set in stone that we're going to move forward with this. Um, so lots of discussions to be had. That's the And
let me just say, I don't know that I've ever articulated this as such to any commission, but your budget is a financial plan that is intended via numbers to convey the priorities of the elected body who represent the citizens.
It is a plan and you adopt a budget. And I think that our approach to budgeting is such that if you get to November and certainly an amendment three does not impact a fiscal year 27 operation. It
would not impact us until fiscal year 28. But when we look at can you add positions, can you continue to fund uh cost of living adjustments for the operation of facilities. If the dollars aren't going to be there to do that,
then I would advise that you look at okay, what do we what do we not move forward with that we had hoped we would able be able to do? I think it's the same thing that any of us in our personal lives is we want to do things, take a vacation, buy a vehicle, renovate a house, whatever it may be, based upon
the income that we have and that's our plan. But should that occupation that we have cease to be, we don't do those things. And I think that governments are in the exact same boat that we'll have to make those decisions as we know more.
We're kind of in a bit of limbo, but you have a plan for how to advance things in fiscal year 27. >> All right. Uh, any other questions or discussion or is there a motion? I I I just I my my take on uh
setting the avalor rate is uh we can always uh lower it but we can't raise it. >> Yes, sir. That is correct. >> But and I'm not even suggesting that we would even consider lowering it. My my take is is that uh
whether we have uh tax reform or not, I think uh when I look at a budget and look at what we're proposing to do for the next fiscal year, I'm looking at it
from the standpoint of the revenues that we need to provide it. And if I feel comfortable with that, then I I I'm comfortable. But if I don't, then I I won't vote for it. So that being said,
I'd like to move that we establish the uh tenative millage rate at 6.5900 mills. and that we have our first public hearing on September the 15th and a
subsequent our final hearing on September the 28th. Okay, motion's been made. We'll close the commission meeting, open the uh public comment portion. Anyone wish to speak to this item?
Seeing none, we'll close the public comment, reopen the city commission meeting. Any other questions or discussions? Commissioner Davis? >> Yes. I just want to add um so I'm going to go along with this for now. Uh I don't have any plans. I I don't want to you know reduce our revenue without
having a plan of where I want to see that uh like the spending reduced. But I do think that you know should amendment three not pass in November, I would like to uh put a good faith effort out there to see if we can maybe go you know cut the budget somewhere and come back on
the roll back just to show our voters that we do hear them. I understand that this is a part of its talking point, but part of it's also concerned because it's year after year after year and uh and I would actually, you know, once we get our our fire assessment study back, um assuming a amendment three does not
pass, would like to see if we were to implement an assessment and then roll the millillage back even further to kind of balance it out a little bit so that way there is more of a um you know, pay for use as opposed to just putting on on property. So that that's kind of where
I'm headed. Um I I am fine with going forward with it with it now uh with the idea that we could always reduce it later. I do not want to us going in not knowing what's going to happen in November. >> Thank you, sir. >> And I'll just add I've said the similar similar items and I think that you know
I think it's it's going to be real interesting. I I kind of I guess I I kind of hope it November doesn't it doesn't pass so that we can kind of come back and and you know look at some different ways and different things and
and that that's going to be u um I think a very positive thing for the city going forward and the citizens and and proof that you know local municipalities and commissions can can uh can balance things out and and make
it favorable for all and still provide public safety and public services. So, >> Mr. Mayor, can I just add a comment before you all vote on this? Um, and it kind of goes along those same lines. I think you as a commission are doing a phenomenal job thinking strategically
and fiscally responsibly. Amendment three in November is, as we've said all along, is a very rushed approach. um what's intended to achieve some level
of a haircut becomes a decapitation for many governments who don't have the opportunities for replacement revenue. Keep in mind that it is, I'd say, the first major issue with property tax
reform that's going to come before cities, counties, and our constituents in 2027. The state legislature will impanel the taxation and budget reform
commission which happens every 20 years. And that is a much more deliberative and um researched base look into property tax by not elected officials,
but by an appointed panel um appointed by the governor at the time, the speaker of the house, and the president of the Senate. And they will spend a considerable amount of time further researching property tax reform. That would if
there's an outcome from that would go before the constituents, the voters in November of 2028 as I understand it. And so we'll go through a process this November
that will either [snorts] I think kind of nullify the effectiveness of the TBRC or if it were to pass or if it doesn't pass I think gives the TBRC a good starting point for their work. So, I
only say that in that if you do consider moving forward with a um a fire fee that you know the issue of property tax reform is not over and done with November of 26. There's a whole another
chapter to be written yet. And so, I just advise all commissions, this and any other I come across to to be mindful of that that there as you make decisions, it's it may not be uh the same playing field in two years again. So just throw that out.
>> Yeah. My my concern is that you know a lot of the talk I think that I think will go into that committee is it'll be more targeted approach. So potentially to, you know, impact the seniors or impact the working class, which many in
Tallahassee have defined as teachers, nurses, and and while they certainly are are qualifiable and deserving of those, everyone is deserving, you know, to to live a life of affordability. And so
that's that's where I worry about come under that commission is being a more and depending upon who's in the governor's mansion, but you know, it to me you it's got to benefit all. It can't benefit a selected target group.
And u so I hope that that's the the the direction that starts to unfold. But anyways, um motion's been made. All those in favor signify by saying I post like sign. Motion carries. >> Thank you very much.
Okay, liaison reports. Uh we'll start with uh Commissioner Davis. He looks like he's ready. >> Yeah, sure. I'll be quick. We've been here for quite a while. Um so, kind of in the same vein of what we were just discussing, and I want to thank the city manager for uh once again laying out the
budget in a way that I think is accessible. Um it's thorough. Uh, and it's very detailed and it shows that we are not using people's homes as an ATM for every wasteful spending scheme imaginable, which is something that we
have been alleged of doing this past week. Um, you know, and I also I I I'm want to echo what our mayor has said. I you you know, the voters have chosen us to make these hard decisions. They have chosen us to listen to the property
owners, the business owners, every member of our community to hear how these are these choices are impacting them, what their burdens are. And that is what we're here to do. And we just want the opportunity to make you proud. We want the opportunity to hear you and to implement what you are telling us you
want to see happen. So that's why we keep bringing this up. That's why we keep speaking out against these awful, you know, tactics, these these talking points that are just not accurate and that really portray us in a bad in a bad way. I don't think it's it's fair. I don't
think we deserve that. I don't think our staff deserves that. So, I just wanted to to comment on that. As far as my activities, it's been kind of a light week. Um I really the only only couple things that I got to do I attended the leadership Winter Haven lunch and the graduation with the chamber and uh city
manager I want to thank you again um for allowing our staff to participate in that. We had quite a good representation from the city there and I'm very proud of our staff doing that. I want to encourage anyone uh who's looking into doing this. I think that um the deadline's already passed for this year but I think it was July 15th is what I
saw in the email. So, uh, next year for sure, any other subsequent year, it took me a few years of trying to get a a year where I could guarantee that I could do it, but it was a wonderful experience. And also, I attended the leadership Winter Haven alumni event um on Thursday. That was a lot of fun as well.
So, uh, can't can't speak highly of enough of that program. I think quite a few of us sitting up here have all done that program. So, uh, you know, give give it a try. Um, we're two weeks away from school starting in my day job. That's all we're working on right now is getting everybody back to school, getting our
principles and our schools set up. So, I want to uh you know, wish all the families and children out there a happy two weeks left of summer vacation. Um it's coming to an end, but uh you know, I think we have a back to school um uh event we're doing with our police
department is that this Saturday. I want to give a plug for that. I hope to see a bunch of people out there. I plan to be there. And that's all I got. >> Commissioner Bson. I only have a few things. We we [clears throat] uh had our haven EDC uh board meeting
and welcome uh our new executive director. uh had a pension board meeting and the pension fund did pretty well this past fiscal year and uh attended fund
makashan's retirement party and attended a 100th birthday celebration which was the highlight of my last two weeks. That's it. >> Commissioner Dolison, >> um I've been out of pocket for a few days. I had to go out of state for some
personal matters. But I was able to attend the uh birthday celebration and uh of Miss Angela Katon Davis and uh it was a grand event and uh she was all smiles and said I look forward to seeing you all next year.
>> Yes. >> So uh that was certainly encouraging but uh but to uh certainly echo the same sentiment too that responsible government and I think uh you know try not to take it so personal. I think that
uh it is business and it is matters that uh that have to be given serious serious consideration. I think we're doing that. I think you're doing a great job and I want to commend uh staff for the work that you do. Um many many ways I think
that uh because of the great efforts you all do and working out the finer details that we're able to see big picture and be able to assist and help in any way we can. and move the city in a positive
direction. So that's all I have for tonight. Just glad to be back. You may proter. >> Yes, I agree with Mr. Commissioner Dles on they make it really easy for us and
um we're all concerned about I guess some of the the funding in the future. um not even not only here but on a personal level. So, you know, we never like to hear that. Um also wanted to say
I attended the pension board for both police and fire and they're performing very well. So, I'd leave you on a good note tonight. >> Uh I'll not repeat everything that was said that I attended. So, I've said enough tonight, but uh I'll I'll uh move
forward with the city attorney report. >> Nothing this evening. Thank you. >> City manager. >> A few things if I may. Mr. Mayor, um uh communicated with the commission earlier today. My intent is to be away from the office later this week to uh on
Thursday, Friday, and then again on Monday of next week during my absence. Director or I'm sorry, director and deputy city manager Carnival. I didn't mean to demote you there, sir. Um will be available to to handle emergency
matters as will assistant city manager Bird uh should they that be the case. Um also want to make note uh and Chief Monroe if you could just give me a head knot. I believe it's August
4th is the uh kickoff of National Night Out for the city of Winter Haven. You'll see more information going out on this if it if you haven't already. Um National Night Out is a nationwide
effort to uh engage citizens with law enforcement to create positive outcomes and foster healthy relationships. Uh, city of Winter Haven has done this for a number of years and we identified in our strategic plan the desire to expand
those. Um, we do this in a number of different areas of the community. But on that evening of a Tuesday, August 4th, we will be doing kind of our kickoff for uh the things that will happen throughout uh August, September, and
October with an event in Central Park where the chief and deputy chief and their teams will bring out number of our resources in law enforcement and public safety uh for the community to to see and interact with and again try and
foster uh strong cooperative collaborative relations with all of our citizens. So, I believe that's all I have for this evening. >> Deputy City Manager. >> Nothing this evening, sir. Thank you. >> City clerk. >> Nothing this. >> I do have one more thing.
We have a very special birthday tomorrow. >> Our city manager is turning 70. [laughter] So, I'd >> like to announce my retirement this evening.
So, I'll extend a happiest birthday to him. I hope you have an awesome birthday and awesome time off and take take a break. You've earned it. You deserve it. >> Happy birthday. >> Happy birthday. Happy birthday. with that willer.