call to order the city of W Haven's commission meeting for this 27th day of October 2025 at 6 pm. p.m. Can we get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Dles here. >> Commissioner Mercer
>> here. Commissioner Ginsler >> here. >> Mayor Pro Tim >> here. >> And Mayor Bong >> here. We will have a invocation by uh Pastor Phillips from uh the Bridge Church. And then we're going to be led in the pledge
of allegiance by the Junior Marine ROC Corp. Please stand. >> All right, let us pray. Lord, we thank you for your goodness. Um just for your mercies that's made new every morning. And I just pray for our leaders here. Um I pray that you would continue to give
them wisdom far beyond their years. give them a heart uh to see and eyes to see what needs to be seen, a heart of understanding. And I just thank you for that. Pray for favor over their lives and over their children's lives. And you just get the glory for everything that's going down here. And we'll be careful to give you the glory for it in Jesus name.
Amen. >> Amen. to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
All right. Good evening, honorable mayor and city commissioners. We have one proclamation for uh this evening. Uh this is in recognition of US Marine Week and we have looks like a number of our Marines with us. So invite them to uh with
George Sidler, Marine commanded the Marine Corps league, come forward to the podium while I read the proclamation. Whereas on November 10th, 1775 in Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress adopted two resolutions raising two battalions of Marines, which was
drafted by future US President John Adams. The US States Marine Corps, we know today, was reestablished formally on July 11th, 1798. However, November 10th, 1775, is still considered to be the birthday of the US Marine Corps.
This year marks 250 years of service to our country and since that time the Marines have stood first to fight for right and freedom and have fought in every climb and place as mentioned in the Marines hymn. And whereas across our region there are numerous members who
have served in the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve. And whereas Marines have continued to serve and make our city strong through organizations like the Marine Corps League, the Young Marines, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps or JOTC,
their direct contribution contributes to be continues to be of a positive impact on our society. And whereas you can find Marines as government and community leaders, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and in any walk of life. And
whereas the city of Winter Haven, Florida is committed to honoring its United States Marine Corps veterans and their roles as citizens of our community. Now therefore, Nathaniel J. Birdong Jr., mayor of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, does hereby proclaimed November 10th through November 14th,
2025 as United States Marine Corps Week in the city of Winter Haven. And we encourage citizens to learn the history and traditions of the Marines. In witness whereof he is here to set his hand and cause the seal of the city of Winter Haven, Florida to be affixed this
27th day of October 2025. Sign Nathaniel J. Birdong Jr. Mayor attest Vanessa Castillo, city clerk. [Applause] >> Well, I have to start by saying that um I can now put my little speech away
because you covered everything that I had in this. my apologies, but feel free to to reiterate. >> We all know for the most part the history of the uh of the Marine Corps. Uh it's long, it's rich, and it's
something that is held personal by every one of these people that are here. So, I'll cut to the chase here. One thing that I did want to go ahead and cover, um if you would please, if I could get the uh the Marines come on up here, please.
Marines that you see here in front of you are are representative of some of our programs because there's a lot of people that are in a community that are not as familiar with what the Marine Corps League is and what we do
specifically for the community for our communities. So, um what I've asked them to do and you could time them, but I told them I says nobody gets more than 30 seconds. So they're up. U So this is the Marine
Corps League that you see before you. Uh everyone that's dressed like I I am. Shortly after World War I, it was noted that there was 40 different organizations of veterans that felt the need to remain loyal to one another and
the core. And in 1923, the then comedan Major General John Leger organized them all into an organization that eventually was called the Marine Corps League. And in 1937, it became the only Marine Veterans Organization to be chartered by
an act of Congress. Today, there's over 1,200 detachments around the world, boasting well over 70,000 [Music] active, retired, and veteran Marines, as well as FMF Navy personnel such as
chaplain and corman, all volunteers, all an active part of every community across the country. What I then would like to go ahead and do is I will just kick it off. Like I said, we're holding it to 30 seconds. So, I would like to
just start off. Um, my one representative couldn't be here that dealt with Toys for Tots. Everyone here, I'm sure, has heard Toys for Tots. Uh, our program, just in case you hadn't uh been aware, we are the sponsors for the
Pulk County Toys for Tots. Last year alone, we uh we provided over 800 manh hours to Toys for Tots. And that's everything from the warehouse to the pickup to the deliveries, all the boxes
that you see that everyone's doing. Um on that note, I would like to go ahead and turn this then. Wally, if you would, sir. >> Yes, sir. My name is Wally. I represent the young Marine. We've been here before. Uh we cover children between the ages of eight and 18 that have to be in
high school. And what the adult volunteers do is we teach them a marine traditions. We teach them leadership, drug awareness, and physical fitness. >> Good evening. My name is James Shell. I'm the I'm the chairman of the scholarship committee. Marine Corp
league has their own scholarship program. uh which will cover Marines children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. We have a great great grandchildren. It's all part of taking care of our own. >> Good evening. I'm Larry Adrian, senior
advice on this attachment. I'm here on behalf of Scott Van Ro who is our chairman for uh the scouts of America specifically the uh
the Eagle Scout award. This is specifically designed to honor those who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. It's a program that is continually going through the year and every year and
we're proud to be a part of it. >> I am Sergeant Major Brady. I'm also a member of the league. Uh I am one of the instructors at Lake Region High School for the Marine Corps program. Uh just for us, just to give you what we did last year, we raised $8.5 million in
scholarships. We sent two Marine or two young cadetses to the University of uh uh USF for a Marine Corps program to be Marine officers when they graduate. We also sent a young lady to Duke University on a Navy scholarship to be a doctor. We sent five cadetses to a Navy
program to be Navy nurses. We sent 14 cadetses to the military last year. We are also part of the uh Toys for Tots. Uh we actually raised 185 bikes last year for the Toys for Tot program. We're getting ready to kick off the toys for Tots for our school. So, if I can donate
a bike, please send it to Sergeant Maker Bryant at Lakeidge High School. We will gladly accept it. >> And those are and those are young cadets that are in our program. Uh, Lieutenant Hernandez, please stand up. She is our commanding officer of the program. The other young ladies are my color guard.
They're all female. Had female color guard for the last five or six years. They do a great job. They are all, most of them are seniors are getting ready to graduate. Two has already joined the Marine Corps. So, they're all doing great things. My name is Hughes. I'm actually a retired Navy chaplain and they allowed
me to join the I spent six years with the Marines. I did that with 25. So they they bring me in anyway. But my job as the chaplain for the for the league is to uh coordinate all the volunteer services
that we do um in connection with both the VA and other places. But for us, uh, the VA has a program called the Center for Development of Civil Engagement. It is the largest continuous program in the federal government for volunteer
services and we take care of that. Um, we do a lot of volunteer work here at the new Lakeland VA outpatient clinic, which is really a nice placement. And I will uh I will end this segment with uh one of my officers that couldn't be here
was our veteran services officer. Uh he deals uh specifically with the veterans as far as when they get out of the service and they are trying to make because there's a lot of them that that need help with regards to their uh uh their medical issues and their benefits
and stuff. And and we actually have one uh they're a rare breed, but uh we actually have him uh as a member. He's our uh he's our junior vice comedant. Uh now understand one thing. Everything that you just heard, if you didn't catch it or follow it, we started it from the
youngest of our society, the kids, and it worked it up all the way up until, you know, we got it to the to the scouting and everything, the Eagle Scouts and everything else, all the way to the adults. So, we have got a very long reach uh out in the community. So
the next time somebody says, "Do you ever hear of the Marine Corps League?" Now you could say, "Yeah, we kind of got an idea of what it's all about." So with that, ladies and gentlemen, we we certainly appreciate this. This is a uh we consider this to be a great honor, like I said before, because we all are
Marines and this is ultimately important to us. And we thank you, [Music] You see numbers. It's still [Laughter] [Music] [Music]
[Music] All right, ask you to look here first and then we'll >> on the count of three. One, two, three. One more. [Music] Okay, hang on. That was excellent.
[Music] [Music] All right. We have no developments of note. Commissioners, you have uh two sets of minutes, Mr. Mayor. Yes. >> Motion to approve the minutes of
September 22nd regular city commission meeting as well as the October 8th city commission agenda review minutes. >> Thank you. I'll close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to instead of these
minutes may do so at this time. >> Good evening. I did sign in. Oh. Uh. Uh, we will I'm going to call you in a few minutes after we finish these. >> I thought this was comments from the audience. >> No, no, no. This is the minutes. We approving the minutes.
>> I thought you >> No, not yet. >> We open the public hearing. >> On the minutes. Yes. >> All right. I see no one that would like to speak to these minutes. So I close the public hearing, reopen the
commission meeting. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. Motion carries. Now comments from the audience. And first on
the list is former city commissioner and mayor Jeff Potter. Would you please come forward, state your name and address for the record, and you have five minutes. I better start quick. Jeff Potter, two
twin lane Northwest, Winter Haven, Florida. My uh comments are on the uh ad valorum taxes that our uh illustrious state legislature is trying to basically
uh revamp, do away, or adjust it. Uh I've looked at the numbers. We get uh $25 million for Matt Volum. Our budget this year is or for next year
is going to be 81 million. So I'm concerned that this commission is going to be ready for whatever comes their way. I know T. Michael's working
hard on this, but I think that the amount of input from the community has been lacking totally. That's why I decided to come
forward today because I haven't heard anything from any commissioner on anything to do with the loss of our adorum. Now, I my house I get 1,300 bucks a
year. No big deal. But when you add all that together, that comes up to that $25 million, which going to be 30. And that's a hole that you guys can't fill.
And if you can fill it, I'd sure like to find out how. In the meantime, our state rep, John Albert, who is from Winterhaven, is on the
committee that has been formed to address what they're bringing forward. And I challenge all you commissioners to put your pen pen to the paper and let these people in Tallahassee know
what's at stake for what we have to do. It's so easy to say, "Oh, we can cover that." This is not one of those places. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. Next we have Pat Johnson. Would you come forward? State your name and address for the record. Patricia Johnson left. Oh, she >> Oh, you said Oh, okay. I see her back
there, so I know she Okay. You thought you had to sign in, right? >> All right. Okay, you good. >> I I think uh T. Michaels, would you want to just make a little brief statement as
it relates to Mr. P's concern because we we have Mr. Potter are very much concerned about uh the proposed tax. I just want to give t let t give you a little
snippet of of what's been taking place. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll be happy to um slow insight and uh appreciate Mayor Potter coming out tonight and staying engaged in in certainly the property tax discussion. It's that's what we need as
people to be involved in that. Um I'm going to just correct a couple of the numbers real quick. So city advalorum property taxes for 20 year fiscal year 26 total about $31 million. The operating budget in the general fund is just shy of $80 million. So pretty close
there in those numbers. Um the ad valorum that comes from homesteaded properties which is the point of discussion at the state legislature at this point in time. It's about $10.5 million and and that's you know that's 33% of our advalorum take at the end of
the day. And even if that's cut in half, you know, it's still a significant impact. Um, we we communicate regularly that the cost of uh our services and police and fire total about $34 million a year. So, Abalorum does not even cover
the true expenses associated with just those emergency services. Last week or the week prior, the U. Speaker of the House produced a list of eight different bills that were being proposed by members of the state um House of Representatives Select Committee on
Property Tax Reform. Within the language that was included in that, none of those property tax reform measures could impact schools. Uh so schools are safe in all this. Um, I will say it's kind of ironic that the one service that is essential from the state of Florida that
affects local governments the most is the provision of school services. Yet, that's the one that's not being considered there. Um, and then the other thing that came out of that was that you couldn't touch your uh law enforcement services. So, the fact that you would have to make a cut to your budget, but
you couldn't uh do anything that would necessarily impact law enforcement um really handcuffs uh local local jurisdictions. There is uh additional language that came out in another bill uh that we saw today uh from someone else in the House.
Uh the House and the Senate are not on the same page with this. This House and the Senate and the Governor are not on the same page with this. There's a lot of infighting and no one really knows what that's going to look like and what's going to make it to a ballot at the end of the day. Ultimately, whatever happens does have to go to a ballot
because your property taxes and that legislation is part of the constitution. And so, it's going to come down to what happens uh when people go to the polls in November of 2026. Our efforts in this regard um are are
quite simple. Educate, educate, educate, educate. So, we spent the past eight weeks thereabout uh with our city university team um and really helping them understand and and uh pushing them to be ambassadors for the issue. I can
tell you that this will be a primary point of discussion for us at our state of the city address that will take place in uh mid November, early November. Um, and every chance we have to appear before citizen groups. It's not to, you
know, play Chicken Little in the sky is falling, but to educate people on what it actually costs to operate a municipality. And, uh, is my team has heard me say time and time again that when when Chief Monroe's staff go out and and address a law enforcement issue
because somebody called 911 and we came to their house, we don't finish up our work and hand them an invoice for our services. when the police or the fire department comes out to care for an ailing sick person or to put out the fires that we did over the weekend, we don't turn around and provide a bill of
sale to uh to the people who we just provided the service to. When our folks go to our parks, they're not paying a fee to go into the splash pad or to observe a water ski show at MLK Park. And along those same lines, when you drive on city local roads, there's not a
toll booth that's saying this is your cost for that. you're you're paying for those things via what the um the property tax generates. Um and there's no plan that has come forward as of this point from the legislature for how to
how do you offset the costs of those services without, you know, you're taking revenue away, but you're not replacing it with anything. Um the stuff still costs the same. you know, you're still going to spend what you spend for a police officer, a firefighter, a fire
truck, um to to maintain a safe park. Those costs don't go away. Uh if anything, what ends up happening when you don't have the resources to do it and you can't deal, you can't apply those lost revenues within the the police department, you start diminishing
services in all those other areas. And what makes Winter Haven such an amazing place to live is the quality of life that we're provided. We've seen time and time again through our community surveying the areas that we score the highest are in public safety and in quality of life. And ironically, those
are the things that are going to be potentially impacted significantly because of changes in in property tax. So, um you know, Mr. Potter, again, I think for us it's it's really we've got to do an ex exceptional job of educating the public. and I tell two people and
they tell two people and they tell two people and we try and get that message out so that when people if it does get to the ballot box, people go forth and they're educated on it. Um my position, I think that of the commission, I don't want to speak for the five of you, but it is simply that these are local
matters that need to be decided by local people based upon local circumstances. In one community within this state, they may say, "We're paying too much and we have too much excess and we don't want to keep paying for that." and they have an opportunity to go to a budget hearing and to vote for elected officials locally to make those changes. In
another committee comm uh commission chamber, you may have people coming forward and saying, "We want to raise our property taxes because we're we need more. We need better services." Um that shouldn't be a one-sizefits-all dictated by the state legislature. So, we've got a lot of education to do and
that's certainly the number one legislative priority for the commission going forward into the 26th Florida legislative session and it's certainly the number one talking point for my administration and all of our staff and all the engagements that we have and we'll continue to do that through every
means possible. Educate, educate, educate. Ultimately, our position has as we have espoused as the commission has espoused is it's what is the what does the community want? But I think it's incumbent upon all of us to make sure that we understand that with what you
want, you have to know what are the costs associated with that. And if what you want is to pay less in property taxes, there has to be an offset in what you're going to receive in terms of services for that. Um, so I think that that's probably the the best summary I could give. We're watching it closely.
The bills are flying in on this matter. Um yet there's a there's definitely some um I'd say some infighting or some disagreement within the various uh rooms of the state capital, the house, the
senate, governor's office on what the ultimate solution needs to be. And you didn't state did you actually address the committee? >> And we did address the sat before the house select committee on t property tax reform for about an hour and a half one
Tuesday in early October, late September, late September. Um to to provide we were one of three cities selected to provide testimony on this issue. Um, and I think it was a it was it was a strong message, but I don't
know that it moved the needle that much, but the message was delivered and uh in factual form. Um, and we'll continue to do that. And again, what the the legislative body does on this matter really hinges upon what the voters do
when it comes to their choice. >> All right. Thank you, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Uh we have no uh ordinances second reading. Commissioners, you have the consent agenda. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda in
its entirety. >> Thank you. I will 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. We open the commission meeting. All
those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none. The consent agenda is adopted in its entirety. We have no resolutions.
No ordinances first reading. No new business. We're down to Commissioner Leison reports. Commissioner Marshall. Um some of the things that I attended in
the past two weeks was uh leadership Winter Haven and um the Florida League of Cities Policy Committee. I attended that in Orlando. Also um the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs district
meeting and um the police and fire pension boards. Both of those it looks like um they are doing very well. um according to the reports that u received and then the Winter Haven High School homecoming parade. I think all of us
walked in that or for a while anyway and rode some of them. >> All right, Tracy Dazzler. >> Yes, homecoming parade. I won't say anything more about who walked and who didn't walk, but it was a I've been on
that doing that thing for 13 12 13 years. That's the crowdest I've ever seen. So, that was a very good crowd for the homecoming parade. What I was happy to see. So, uh, we had our urban forest advisory board meeting and, um, Savannah is running that, uh, committee
effectively and we talked about how we're going to get 100,000 trees in the ground and, um, but no, it's been a good, uh, that's that's that's working like it's supposed to on how to how to enhance and improve our urban forest.
Um, I went to the employee health fair and I want to congratulate T and whoever else actually uh pushes that. But that is a really good thing that we do for our employees. They take their blood and you can go in and you get your results, but then they have a a big huge thing where you can go
and talk to people about high blood pressure, whatever, diabetes, whatever's on your whatever's on your plate. And uh you know I sat there and gave blood and did it myself and took probably 30 minutes but everybody in there is laughing and having a good time and joking around. It was just a good good
experience for this health fair. So I I applaud our our leadership for putting that on and I encourage our employees to take advantage of it because um it's good it's good program. uh Pulk Vision board of directors had a meeting over in
Lakeland and um another another said kind of said goodbye to those people uh good good folks good friends of mine over at the home Pulk vision board of directors and then last but not least uh we don't have any leadership date field house I think
some of you guys are there so um but that's it for me >> all right >> good evening uh I uh I was really glad to see the uh the Marines here today. Uh kind of brought back a memory. My father-in-law was a Montford Point
Marine and that may not mean much to a lot of people. And I be honest with you, I did not know much about it until just a couple years ago, but he actually was uh received a Congressional Medal. Uh there were 20,000
men who joined the Marines. The Marines was the last uh uh to integrate in the 19 early 1940s and uh my father-in-law joined the Marines and many of them served
um uh throughout and it's just amazing. There are about only 8,000 that they've actually identified because the records actually were either lost or or somehow destroyed. And so it's almost like a great community to uh come together and
hear their stories and to remember those who served. And so it was just an honor just to be able to be uh here tonight and be able to see them and see those men who have served our great nation. Uh I had the opportunity to uh Florida League of Cities of course um I'm on the
intergovernmental relations mobility and emergency management. Uh it was interesting uh because uh kind of narrowed down at least to a couple legislative uh issue priorities and but then it was open discussion with a lot
of concerns and um and of course Mayor Potter you mentioned some one of the major concerns that many are are quite concerned about and uh as you listen around the room uh it to me it was just amazing that me are concerned about home rule and the direction that things are
moving. uh but there was still yet uh hope in the room and I was uh glad to be a part of the discussion. I was part also a favorite to be able to be there for the uh culture center the new cultural center focus group. I've been a part of the group uh since it was
established. Um and it's exciting to meet uh our new director of the uh culture center. Uh also looking at other pictures that we were able to see uh just envisioning how the building will be utilized and the impact it will have
in our community is truly uh amazing. Uh also was able to um uh be a part of the uh high school homecoming parade. I certainly enjoy that. Great attendance this year. I was told that uh certainly an improvement particularly down here in
city hall area. uh the garden club. Uh great event. Uh it was kind of interesting. I I guess I uh knowing it was in October, but to walk in a room and see all these ladies in witches hats uh was uh was quite quite quite amazing
and interesting. But uh enjoyed that as u as well as listening to the lunchon for uh the uh chamber. Um, and our superintendent, you know, does a amazing job and I commended him. I' I've uh
known all the superintendents for the last 30 years. Uh, those that were elected and those who were selected and uh and I commended him on the great job that he does and some of the challenges we have uh that face as as a as a just
as a community. And uh just good to know you got someone of his caliber that is uh concerned about all issues that that that are important to uh our youth and our children and their learning. Uh hands- on the airport was really uh my first
time attending. I'm not sure how how long we've been doing this for a while or is this three three years? But this is my first opportunity to attend. And I want to say to the you know outstanding job I you know I gota be honest with you I was out there politicking. Um but in
the process of that, you know, I came out and it was just a great atmosphere. Uh even the adults were acting like kids and having a great time. But it was just wonderful to see the kids interacting with all the equipment and uh just showing them a lot of things with police
and fire and everything else that was out there. Uh just a great entertainment. And they had a pretty good DJ out there, I must admit, too. I uh I got to give him kudos. He he kept the atmosphere, you know, really moving well. So, I appreciate uh him for for
that. Uh in closing, I just want to say that uh I uh many of you may know street preacher uh Anthony Lawrence. We call him Bishop Lawrence. And uh he's kind of a I met him years ago, over 30
years ago in fact. And from that we became friends. And uh over the years um I have been involved in many social issues and challenges in our in our county. And uh Bishop Lawrence say to me, he said, "Pastor," and you know how
straightforward he is. And he said, "Pastor," he said, "I'm not about that black and white stuff." And I told him, "I understand, Bishop." I said, "It's not about the black and white. It's about people. It's about people who are struggling on the margin. people who are
challenged in our communities. You know, it's an honor to sit here, but to know what it's like to sit out there and uh I've got a uh when I leave here in just a few minutes, I'll go to Hurst Chapel Church for a uh CPA, which is called the
uh community problem assembly. Uh 20 years I've been going to those meetings. It's where we basically uh listen to people in our listening process to understand what concerns do you see in the community? What problems do you see in our community? One of them, of
course, many of us are aware of was mental health years ago, health care in general, youth arrest, uh, adult arrest for minor offenses down the line. All those issues we championed, one in particular that we may remember, of
course, was housing and affordable housing in particular. That's where it came from. and 23 churches from across Poke County coming together cross-cultural ecumenical. It's not about black and white as the bishop said
it's about people and it's about people power to make change happen. And so I'm proud to be a part of that group and to be a part of this group as well because we would challenge leaders and and our mayor here when he was mayor, he knows
we came to him and uh saying we can do better. And in fact, he took us serious and said, "Y'all need to show up at the commission meeting." And we showed up and kept showing up. >> Yep. >> And and something happened. And now Winter Haven is one of the leaders in
that regard. And I'm proud of that fact. And uh so I want to say to all of us, you know, our vote is our voice and it's important that we exercise that franchise. There was a time in my ancestors uh not
so distant uh history that did not have the right to vote and that is a sacred privilege and so I hope everyone will exercise that right and vote. Thank you very much. >> Now pro Tim. >> Thanks. Okay. So, uh, bear with me a
couple things tonight. So, I'll first say I had an opportunity to take Brady out to Hands on Haven on Saturday. Wow. Had to be a thousand people there. I You're probably not giving I probably just spoiled the your thunder here, but there's probably had to be a thousand people out there.
>> It was more than that. >> I mean, it was just like nonstop. Like, we couldn't even get some stamps at some of the stations. The lines were always like crazy long, but nobody was dissatisfied. Nobody was unhappy. Everyone was having a phenomenal time out there. Um Brady as well. And I have
to say, you know, when we went over to the fire department, he did the little course and Chief New Brand, who's not here this evening, but came over to me said, "Wow, you know, we got the best we got the best one out here, don't you think?" Said, "Yeah, yeah, you guys are doing a great job." And I I agreed with
him, but then the police brought the canine out and did the canine demonstration and like ah like like I don't know. So kind of got to be a little bit of a toss up there, but phenomenal job on every uh
every part, every staff member that that participated and and worked on on a Saturday. Just uh wow, awesome. Um, I enjoyed the homecoming parade walk. Um, enjoyed the full walk from the
beginning to end. >> Um, you know, that was phenomenal. And as I'll say as again we got towards the end, I've never seen like has to be at least in the last six years, I have not seen that many people out there at a homecoming parade. And I just I love
that that you know you so often you get complaints like, "Oh, you're not a small town anymore. You're not a hometown." That's that's monarchally stuff. I'll try. Anyways, it it it just like I mean there's
nothing more small town than a homecoming parade and um those kids out there enjoyed that and hopefully we get to do some more state championship parades here coming up. I think volleyball's getting real close. Um so, you know, we'll see. But, um uh also
attended the homecoming game. Um that was full crowd out there and also had the honor to attend the uh Winter Haven High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday night. And this was the second induction ceremony. And it just I mean, Coach Morrison was an
inductee and Jordan Schaefer uh from the Atlanta Braves was an inductee and um I'm going to miss the other people, but like all those people were there when I was there or shortly came shortly after I was there. And just so many memories
and so much so much pride uh to be a Blue Devil in this community um over the past uh week or so with all the homecoming events. Um, sorry, let me get my notes here. Bear with me. Um, leadership Winter Haven City Day,
attended that. Uh, always great to attend that. Uh, full class, great class again this year. Um, look to be um, another best class ever. Just every single year it becomes the best class ever. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Um, also attended the
chamber lunch. We, you know, for for all the haters out there, I mean, Fred Hyde is, wow, he is doing a phenomenal job with our school system. Nobody's going to get bat a thousand on that, right? It's impossible. But for someone that can pivot and knows the
direction that that they want to take the the system, I mean, and what you have to work with, um, he he's doing a phenomenal job and that was a great lunch to attend. uh attended my first TDC meeting. Um got
elected and will follow in the footsteps of our uh of Commissioner Dancler as the chair of the arts uh committee uh with the TDC. So look forward to serving on that uh committee and serving on that board as well as we move forward. Um
talk about that. Okay. So last I'll end on the property tax thing. So, I'm on the Florida League of Cities Finance and Taxation Committee, and generally there's always one committee every year
that seems like they they're focus. They always have the key major point. And this year, it's it's definitely on the finance and taxation committee. Um, we uh voted many times you can vote, you know, well, let's let's go after two or three
different initiatives. Not this year. We we are only seeking to go after the initiative of um of property tax reform. And the points that I made is, you know, really and and we had all the comments around
the room. It's affordability. I mean, you're going to affect the affordability one way or the other on home ownership. You know, you're going to increase the affordability on home ownership if property tax goes away. But not every
individual is ready for home ownership. You're not ready for home own necessarily ready for home ownership right out of high school or right out of college or whatever your path may lead. And that means if you're renting, you're footing the bill on property
taxes. And I I told the committee, every every municipality that was in the room, I said, I I know us. I know what we're going to do. You know, if if you get rid of homestead property taxes, guess what? You're going to increase the fees on water. You're going to increase the fees on this or that. And then you're going
to increase the non-ad valorum on uh on non-h homesteaded properties. And you're going to take a little bit and cost everybody a little bit more money. And the people that that affects is the lower socioeconomic individual that ha
that's just getting started. That's just getting the beginning. And so I think that's that's really the the one of the main things that we have to continue to focus on. You know, it drives me nuts that the House seems like they just want to run with the jello test, right? Let's
here's eight things. Let's throw them against the wall and see if they stick. And then you get the speaker of the house saying, "Well, I believe the voters can do the right thing. Let's put them all on the ballot." Well, that means you don't have an answer for property taxes, right? I mean, there's no way you're going to get you're going
to put eight things on the ballot and get 60% of the vote for one of those items. There's a we don't know exactly what we're shooting at yet because as uh city manager uh T. Michael said, you know, the House has one philosophy, the
Senate has another philosophy, and and the governor certainly has another philosophy. And so I think it's it's a continuation of education within our communities, but also outside of our communities. If we have those opportunities, as T did to sit on that
committee in Tallahassee, as we go up to spend Pole County days in Tallahassee here in a few months, it we we've got to continue to reinforce the issues and what the real cost is when it comes to the elimination of of uh property taxes,
whether that be on homesteaded properties or whether that be across the board. So, um your comments are heard. Uh, Mayor Potter, and obviously Mayor Potter's known me since I was probably one years old, so um, sorry to date you
on that one, sir, but uh, but you know, it it's, uh, we hear it loud and cleared up here and and and trust me, we're not sleeping on it. That's all I got. >> All right. Okay. So, I I'll start with
the homecoming parade and I will con concur with uh the comments that have been made. Uh it's one of the largest crowds that I've seen and I have been around for at least 10 years. So, it's
one of the largest crowd and I wonder who who didn't walk. Did you enjoy your walk? Who didn't walk? >> Who didn't walk? >> I didn't see anything, sir. But it it was really nice. um the Florida League of Cities uh policy
committee. I'm on the uh utilities and natural resources. And you know, not only are we potentially faced with the tax issue, there are two other
issues that have surfaced that uh the legislature has been pursuing that will have a tremendous budgetary impact on the city of Winter Haven as that deals with the amount that
we charge for our utility rates outside of the city limits. They want to limit that. I mean, if if that one item
if if if if that's changed, then the rate study that we just completed would have to be reinstituted because it was based on those rates. So we would have to go
all the way back and spend more money to come up with a rate system that going forward that we could basically uh implement. That's number one. Number two,
the other thing that the the other bill that has been proposed in in previous legislative sessions has to do with uh not being able to transfer but x number of dollars
out of your enterprise fund into the general fund. Well, if we I mean if we can't transfer any monies out of the enterprise fund, then that means we've got another problem,
budgetary problem. So, uh, Mayor Potter, I mean, I've been around for 23 years. I've never seen it like this ever. Ever. the attack on
local government rule. I mean, I've never seen it like this. It's it's And if some of these things pass, I mean, we're going to be tremendously challenged. And I don't know what the answer is.
>> Vot I agree. All right. So, um, hands on Winter Haven. I've I've gone to those two. I There were definitely more people than I'd ever seen out there. And uh it was such a beautiful day.
The weather cooperated. It wasn't humid. And so, I mean, people just came out. In fact, I went to uh I had three events that day. So, I left there and I went downtown. There were a ton of people downtown. I'm
saying, "Oh my goodness. uh half of our residents out. No, but we had several thousand of people uh out. And then uh one of the final things I did, I went to a uh Nick's uh book
signing at the library and and supported some of the local writers. In fact, a young lady uh that used to work for me at the CDC as the secretary has written a book and she was also a member I think
probably Reverend Dolison baptized her at First Missionary Baptist Church. And so, uh I bought a few books and just supported the uh the book signing. Uh when I walked into the uh Florida Feder
Federation of Garden Clubs, one of the ladies said to me, she said, "I bet you you haven't seen this many witches in one place." I said, "You said that I could never call all you women witches." And if I said that,
y'all probably would hit me over the head with some of them. >> I will say which hats y'all had on. But uh it was a good event and uh I thoroughly u enjoyed being there. Always
like going to the um the membership lunchon and the leadership to uh to see and always have a little story to tell about uh leadership because that's sort of where I launched
my uh political career. I don't know, maybe I would have ran. I don't know if I hadn't have been in that leadership for a whole year and Mike Easternly had not been my roommate. And then Sam
Killer Brew was in my class and they both were nudging me on, you need to get into the political arena. Uh the one thing at the uh chamber event with uh Superintendent Hyde, he said we are now
a B school county, which is really good. And uh was thought interesting. He was saying that the the what what was the most challenging area was in mathematics
and the way uh they teach algebra at the lower grades and then the higher grades. And so he he uh asked the question uh how many of you in the audience uh really had trouble with math? And a lot
of people raised their hand. and I didn't raise my hand. And I told him out was, you know, I didn't raise my hand because in high school I had no trouble with math and in college I had no trouble with math because I ended up
teaching high school and junior high school mathematics for four years as a public school teacher. He said, "Oh, I did not know that." So, we had a good little conversation. >> Uh, good job. uh lakes advisory committee met and um
the only other thing is is the uh the I went to the groundbreaking this is historic the central pole parkway um the next leg
is under construction and so we did the groundbreaking for the leg that's going to go from um where it ends in Winter Haven to Barto
at 60. And what I found out after that is that uh the planning is to bypass Lake Wales >> 60 17 >> and and go to uh
Winter Haven and because there's something some problem with Lake Wales don't want no involvement. I don't know what that's all about, but that was the first time >> that I had heard that. And then the
interesting fact is that the completion date for the extension and uh T. Michaels raised the question uh afterwards to me about the uh
completion date because he said, "Oh my goodness, that's going to take a long time." And and so I went and asked the uh the director of the turnpike and what she told me is that what they do
is they get very conservative and they plan in hurricanes and rain and all of the delays and stuff. say, but uh the way it was moving that they really were not
just uh on schedule, they were a little bit ahead of schedule for where it was. So I I said to her, I really wanted to be uh young enough to still drive on it when it's completed. And so uh she said,
"You will be able to." So uh they were talking about uh around uh 20 37 was it T was it >> I think the section from 17 down to 60 was 2031 >> 31
>> like a six-year build >> and then the the the balance of the project on the east side of town is >> but that 31 she said uh it may end up in 2029 or 2028 >> sounds I'll still be driving during that
time if I'm still here hopefully. Um, and then the final thing is um I met with the MLK uh committee for planning the MLK uh festivities for the uh 2026.
and and probably one of the biggest discussion items was the uh timeline and the uh planning of the uh MLK lunchon. Uh and so there was some great
discussion about that. That's all I have. Um city attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor Commission. I have nothing this evening is hello to former mayor Potter the audience. Thank you, >> city manager. Uh, three quick things if I could, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners.
First off, uh, the health fair. Thank you for those comments, Commissioner Dancer. That is Sean Dykes, our HR director, and her team that make that happen. Uh, with a lot of support from the other departments that you saw that day. Phenomenal event. Had a great turnout for that this year. So, thank you for being a part of that. Uh,
Hands-On Haven. Appreciate all the phenomenal comments about that. Katrina Hill is the uh, champion of that and takes the lead in making that happen. And I want to make sure credit goes where credit is due. And with her team and a whole lot of help from other people, some that dressed up as traffic
cones and traffic signals from what I understand, um, we had a a slew of people out there that day to to make that happen. And our staff love doing that. That's a a fun time to be at work. Uh, you know, when you're out working with little kids and showing them what a
vac truck is, it's a lot different than what we're usually normally using that back truck for. Um, and then the last thing I I sent some communication to you last week about Fino's restaurant. Remember we had an update from uh I think Chief Bird or Assistant City
Manager Bird provided an update on code compliance stuff that was happening out there at Spring Haven or Spring Lake Square. One of the issues was uh Florida's that building came down last week and uh and I'm not exaggerating when I say this. I drove past the building at 10:30 that morning and the
fence was up um and the there wasn't a single piece of construction equipment on site and I got a call uh three hours later that the building was completely on the ground. Um and uh when I drove
past it on Friday of last week, it is just nothing more than a cleaned concrete pad. So that uh that happened very quickly. Um, we're glad to see that that's an eyes sore. That's a code issue. That's a life safety issue that has been uh removed and I'm sure that
the the people that we have heard from concerning that matter are equally proud to see that that's that's down. So, with that uh post meeting this evening, um, Mr. Carnival and I will head back to Tampa and finish out the next two days with 5,200 and some odd other city
managers from around the world that have gathered in Tampa for the next uh few days. >> Mr. Mayor, >> can I ask a question real quick? City manager. >> Um if you don't have the answer tonight, that's perfectly fine. Um but maybe we
could get an update in the an upcoming next meeting. Federal shutdown continues to loom on. Is there any impact that you know what impacts can the city start to start feeling the longer this thing goes on? Um and again if you if we want to do
that next meeting that's perfectly fine. >> Well I I'll say this. So you know certainly when we're dealing with federal grants that comes into play. Um, some of those folks like FAA, we've we've had some communications with them as of late that some of the key people
we're dealing with administratively are in office. Um, when it comes to some of the grants that we have that are managed by HUD, you know, it's touchandgo. I don't think that those are in jeopardy in any way, but certainly it's just this this disruption, this pause in the
process. Those are the biggest things that we're seeing. Um, I think there's the potential for uh some of our families locally, just as in every community that are involved in the federal government um to feel that pinch. You know, there's there are
federal government employees that reside here in Pulk County and and so I think um making sure that we have access or at least the information on resources to provide to them. But those are the the primary things that I'm seeing at this
point. Um, you know, there's there's not a a whole lot beyond the the coordination and particularly in in the in the in the federal grants. That's where that comes into play. But, um, yeah, I think that that's the the most
obvious at this point. I'll look to CJ. CJ, we don't have anything from a financial standpoint that's that's lagging in that in that arena. So, >> thank manager. I will add one item to city manager list. Um, quiet zones, something
we've worked on for for a while now. Uh, we were supposed to have an FRA, Federal Railroad Administration inspector, come out October 8th, uh, which is one of the last check boxes we need to move that project forward. He is still furoughed. So, but we're we're on the list for when
they do get back, but other than that, nothing. >> So, it's like a it's this pause in the process. Pause in the process. >> Yeah. Is that the clerk? >> Yes, sir. So, we have an election in about a week. So, just bear with me while I go over a few things. So,
election day is next Tuesday, November 4th. As you all know, um mailers to registered voters with their specific polling locations were mailed out early last week. So, most of you should have already received them in your homes. Um the last day to register to vote was October 6. Last day to request a vote by
mail ballot was October 23rd. Registered voters need to update their name or address with the supervisor elections prior to election day. Um early WA walk-in voted voting started today and continues until this Friday, October
31st. The hours are 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. And those locations are at the Poke County Supervisor Elections Operations Center in Winterhaven, Poke County Supervisor of Elections Headquarters in BTO, and the Poke County Government Center in Lakeland. Again, I know I
mentioned this at a couple meetings ago. This year, there are two new polling locations. So, Spring Haven Senior Living um on Havenale is replacing Abiding Savior Church. Cypress R Presbyterian Church is replacing Calvary
Baptist. And on election day, the polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. So, all of this information is available on the city's website. There is also helpful information on the Poke County Supervisor Elections website. And lastly, there is a logic and accuracy
test of voting equipment tomorrow, October 28th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Operations Center in Winterhaven. All candidates were invited to attend. And of course, Mayor Prom Yates um agreed to attend to represent the canvasing board. And this
advertisement for this meeting was prepared by the elections office per state statute. And that's all I have this evening. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Sorry. Can I ask a clerk question? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> So, number of phone calls on polling
locations. It seems like and we've had some switching arounds and I guess I don't quite understand and maybe maybe it's a rule, maybe it's our I don't know. I don't know the answer to this and that's why I'm asking it. We have some phenomenal locations
that are owned by the city of Winter Haven. Soon to be the Winter Haven Recreational Cultural Center, the Fieldhouse, Fire Station 3, um soon to be Fire Station 5 potentially on Haven Boulevard. So
why can't we put the polling locations at these loca at city locations for not all all you know other elections are handled by supervisor I get that but for the city elections why couldn't we
use I mean noro hall the public library I mean more like and that way you can have locations that are more constant you know election after election. Is that possible? Is that something we can look into?
>> So, I work with the elections office on these locations, like especially these new locations. They like for the polling locations to be a particular distance in certain quadrants of the city. So, they can't be too close, they can't be too far away. So, that's how we get to the
ones that we get to. They uh provide a list to me of polling locations that they're familiar with. They've worked with them. They work well with them. and they provide them to me and basically say, "Hey, Vanessa, these are some polling locations that will work. Voters are familiar with them." Um, it's not to
say that in the future we can't use a city built uh uh building that's in that same quadrant. Um, that's something that I can look into, but that's why we got to where we're at. >> I mean, it's not my decision if if the rest rest of the commission agrees. I I
just I just see that as somewhat of an that the current system is somewhat of an obstacle to get voters to the polls. Whereas if it's always at fire station 3 uh for Southeast Winter Haven and Noro Hall for a central
location and the fieldhouse and it just seems to me like that is more access for voters and a more um because those those loca they're not going anywhere, right? they're going to be there year after year and you don't have to worry about well the church isn't going to participate in it this year or no we
don't want to do it this year you have to worry you're always going to have so I I'd really like to see that happen if if the rest of the commission agrees to that >> yeah I've always thought that's ideal in a previous city I worked in we used just city facilities um we did use the prior
for to it um being called the advent fieldhouse the chain of lakes and then when all that construction happened we had to move it to another location which ended up being Southside Baptist. Um right now we only use um one city
facility um the senior center and then the other five. Yes, we have to um work with those facilities and hope everything goes good. We we've had a really good relationship with the other um locations, but that's something that we can look at in the future. I thought
you said that that that one of the the driving factors they wanted uh polling locations in different quadrants. >> Yeah, that's why >> of the city. And so >> you could look at that and see if we >> if we have a location in the different
quadrants. And uh >> if I could add a comment on that for what it's worth, you know, the we used the supervisor of elections past few years or certainly last um midterm election utilize Noro Hall is a not as a polling location but as an early voting
center. Um and a routine polling location for those elections and ours is the senior center. Those are right next door to each other. So having both of them doesn't make sense. Um there is the opportunity to to utilize uh the fieldhouse because it's a a fair
separation away. I would would caution strongly against using fire stations as polling locations because the availability of space within those to do actual polling without disrupting our emergency services that we need to provide becomes a challenge. Same with
an airport. you know, you you when you open up a polling location, you pretty much shut down your operations of that facility. Um, one of the biggest challenges we have is in that in that eastern part of the of the city where you're dealing with our residents that reside in Cypresswood out on uh the east
end of Dundy Road um out into the uh Thompson Road 653. We just don't have city facilities out there. And anytime you can utilize facilities that are being used during mid routine midterm elections breeds a certain level of familiarity for the people that are
voting there as well. Um and that's historically what we've been able to do. This year unfortunately we had a couple churches that said no we don't want to we don't want to be used anymore for and that a lot of that has to deal with you know the the challenges that come with being a polling location. not only from
the disruption but also the attention it can draw to your your facility that you may not want. So, we continue to work with that and certainly try and make it as convenient for people in locations that are familiar, consistent, and easily accessible. >> Yeah. And I I thought about the fire
station problem that you you mentioned, but I also thought, you know, gosh, I mean, are quite it's just they're not that big, so you don't get that many people, you know, to the polls typically. Um, but just an idea I just throw out there. I mean, it just seems like there's a lot of confusion out
there this year and um, but nobody else agrees and that's fine. >> Certain certain early early voting uh, wasn't you was it normal hall? >> No, I don't think we did normal hall this year for city elections. We did it for our midterms with the uh, the
supervisor of election reserve that last year because they lost the Gil Jones campus. Yeah, I I'm just saying that's totally inconvenient, but uh you know because lot there have been people complain about the fact that being out there at the racetrack, you know, it's not convenient to anybody and
consequently it's kind of dead out there in terms of people going out that far. Uh so that that didn't help. You know, if the goal if the goal is to encourage and that's one of the things we talked about uh at the league that the goal is,
you know, make it accessible, easier for people to vote, not more difficult for them to vote. >> Some of these places are kind of small and parking would be an issue if you got a lot of people coming and going. >> All right. Well, we're not going to
solve it tonight. That's for sure. But it's something that we can look at. Deputy City Clerk, Mr. Chris Samuels, we'd like to uh welcome you to see you back with us for at least a meeting. For those that don't
know, Chris Samuels was a an employee of the city of Winter Haven. So, good to see you back. >> Retired. >> She retired. >> Yes. Emergency matters not received for this agenda.
A motion to adjourn.