##VIDEO ID:Z8mK_umbvD0## e e evening I'd like to call to order this city Commission meeting for December the 9th 2024 at 6: p.m. can I get a roll call please yes sir commissioner dollison here commissioner Mercer here uh commissioner danler here and mayor bson here we will have an invocation by Father Paul head of the St Paul Episcopal church and we be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Vanessa Caso MMC city clerk please stand if able let us pray Heavenly Father you have blessed us with the greatest form of government the world has ever known at its best we have a form of government that allows anyone the opportunity to succeed and achieve their dreams and desires to be content and secure and Find meaning and purpose in their life at its best we have a form of government where everyone is equal under the law Heavenly Father you have given broken Humanity dominion over the Earth and you have told us that if we call to you and seek your face you will answer us and lead us in the way we should go you will also stand aside if we choose to do it our own way I ask your blessing on these our Representatives whom we have given charge over our resources here in Winter Haven help them to be good stewards of the resources they have been given not only for your people today but as a legacy for those who will follow us give them knowledge to know what they can do give them wisdom to know what they should do and give them insight to know the difference I ask your blessing on this meeting tonight for those who will state their case and those who will hear them let everyone work toward the common good and let what happens tonight be a blessing to you and a benefit to your people I ask all these things in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ amen amen amen I the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all join [Music] Hospital good evening mayor and Commissioners our Proclamation this evening for Winter Haven Hospital reads us follows whereas Winter Haven Hospital was founded in 1926 and has been a staple in our community and whereas Bay care acquired Winter Haven Hospital August 30th 2013 and continues to provide quality care and service to the residents of Winter Haven and whereas hospitals and healthc care workers are vital in the maintenance of health and well-being of our communities Bay care Winter Haven has 447 beds and in 2023 three their emergency department had 77,000 plus visits and whereas Bay care Winter Haven continued to serve and provide medical care and Emergency Services during Hurricane Milton and whereas we recognize their commitment to meeting the needs of our citizens during blue skies and gray skies as well as they deliver of this their delivery of services during emergencies such as hurricane Milton now therefore Nathaniel Birdsong Jr mayor of the City of Winter Haven Florida on behalf of the city commission and our community does hereby Express sincerest appreciation and gratitude to Bay care Winter Haven and the dedicated Hospital staff and healthc care workers who went Above and Beyond in spite of challenging circumstances and recognize their warm compassion for our community in witness whereof he is here and to set his hand and cause the Seal of the City of Winter Haven Florida to be affixed this 9th day of December 2024 signed Nathaniel J Birdsong Jr mayor ATT test Vanessa Castillo city clerk oh I'd like to I'd like to thank mayor Birdsong and and the city commission as well as te Michael and his team in the administrative section um Winter Haven hospital and uh bay Care Health System we are proud to be in the Winter Haven Community we have been here for 98 years and we are looking forward to to celebrating our Centennial in 2026 we operate very similar to the city when a hurricane or an emergency comes we bring our people in we stay uh for a lengthy period of time until the event has passed much like your law enforcement your fire rescue and all of you assisting us and keeping the city safe so we want to say thank you to the city uh on a personal note I had the opportunity to attend the Winter Haven what a great program it is you learn so much about the city uh I have been in large cities like Tampa Orlando over on the east coast of Florida but the innovativeness of Winter Haven is up there with every large Metropolitan City that I have ever been in and I'm very proud to now be a resident of Winter Haven Florida so thank you on behalf of our health system our Hospital and myself people if I may and then we'll let you get on with your meeting Diane Gibbs is our director of operation at Winter Haven hospital she operates our instant command much like your emergency Operation Center I have Dr Ari aif our chief medical officer he works with all of our physicians during those challenging situations and we have two of our board members chip Tucker who is our chairman and Todd danler and they represent our board here this evening so again thank you [Applause] all right I'm going to have you look here first on the count of three [Music] than did you like it all right we have no developments of notes Commissioners you have the minutes Mr Mayor yes approval of the October 28th regular City commission meeting minutes and the November 6th City commission meeting agenda review session thank you I will close the commission meeting and open public hearing anyone wishing to speak to these minutes may do so at this time seeing none Clos the public hearing reopen the commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor let it be known by saying I I poses by the same sign hearing none the minutes are adopted all right comments from the audience uh we have delri Lenard would you please come forward state your name and address for the record and you have five minutes good evening um I'm dri Leonard and I represent the JW Alumni Association as its vice president and for some 38 years a group of Mr Leonard would you give us your address please oh I'm sorry uh 1709 Second Street Northwest Winter Haven thank you um I stand to or I'm here to represent the Judah Alumni Association who has been in this community as an official Organization for 38 years representing uh the predom the only black high school in Winter Haven uh up until 1969 which is JW High School this year is we're at celebrating its 55th anniversary of its graduating class of that school um we we seek to help our community by enriching the lives of young people who want to continue their successful careers After High School whether that is going to college or going to trade school or the military or the um as well as helping other local community grants uh giving grants to local community organizations who make an impact in our community as I was saying this year each year we have a wolverine weekend where we honor graduating classes this year happens to be the classes of the fours and the nines um and we are seeking to have a parade um to celebrate those and basically go back to nostalgia of what would be a homecoming parade um especially with this year's Grand Marshall being uh what we know as The Only Living member of the class of 1944 um Mrs Annie Lee Davis um the city recognized her some of um earlier as turning 100 and so we're asking for the commission to help us um by waving some of the fees that are associated with having a parade we do understand that it takes a lot to do do um this event um and with the city coming in and helping us partner with us it helps us to continue to do the things that we need to do to continue the legacy of JW High School where their motto was not the ending just the beginning enter to learn dep part to serve and for 38 years that's what a group of individuals such as myself have been trying to do me being a descendant of a 1965 graduate of JW High School um and then being able to serve this community and this organization and it'll be a great asset to us that we continue this Legacy for years to come thank you thank you Mr lard so what are you actually asking there there are some fees I believe that are associated with putting on a parade um and that we're asking the city to assist us in waving some of those fees or if not all of the fees uh that are associated with it um as we continue to do the work in this community how much are we talking about t so their parade costs and I'll ask Julie Adams to correct me if I State anything incorrectly here there's three primary costs that they have for their parade um there is the uh requirement for the Winter Haven Police Department officers that total is at $1,350 there are 10 pulp County Sheriff deputies the estimated costs for that are $1,500 and then within our streets unit the personnel and resources to close the roads along the Route are $3,629 68 for a total parade cost of $647 68 okay commission do you want to consider it we do we do this for anyone else have we done this for anyone else the only parades that we do not have fees Associated directly with are the Havendale Christmas parade which we do in conjunction with the city of auale um that's what just took place last Friday night and then the uh cost associated with the annual MLK parade which is uh coordinated by a community group with direct support from the City of Winter Haven all other road races anything that requires road closures um I don't know that we have any other parades per se other than the jwi parade which occurs every three years um but all of our road races or anything that requires road closures we do charge them for all the resources and law enforcement have we supported the effort in the past I would have to defer to staff if you have Insight on that I I know that we've done um nonprofit rates for the event but I can't speak with any certainty to the last time they did a parade that would have been three years ago so apologize I wasn't prepared for that question this evening Mr Leonard do you remember that you there was one three years ago yes sir and as far as I understand I did not based on the records that I've saw I did not see any uh cost expend to the Alumni Association I believe the city did take care of it um I wasn't aware of that at the time because of my position um that was handled by our president miss Adams may have some insight on that sir so in the past the prades to my knowledge without having to go back and look at the specific uh information regarding those events have been rolling road closure and not a full closure this is the first time that this event to my knowledge has requested through the doaa full closure and uh again previously was a rolling closure so not as labor intensive so we would only have say over which aspect of it which we regarding the city not the county you're saying that the because there was some County from the Sheriff's Department correct yes sir so if you if you just looked at the city expenses with this it's roughly um just shy of $5,000 and that's for the the law enforcement um Personnel that are assigned and then the road closure resources and Staffing anyone else well I know that in the past that um since I've been here that we have way fees before so I would recommend that we would uh wave the fees for the uh parade or the city portion City and the county I can we do the county portion of it I can't wave fees for the county those are paid directly to P County well we're going to have to pay it either way all of so that would be my question is if you're asking to to cover all their cost for the the parade then then I would need to identify the roughly $6,500 to offset those expenses and issue that I guess as a reimbursement or upfront payment to the uh organizing committee um mayor also toam Michael I was just informed by Captain mener and chief Monroe that we have already waved four officers so originally the request was or the need was for 14 officers and we have waved the cost of four up until this point that's why you see the 10 on uh the invoices how much how much do we give to the Wolverines for U in the in the do can you remember on the uh charitable thing that we do every year so that's a different organization this is the JW Alumni Association okay wver okay yes sir so you want to restate your motion I don't usually make the Motions the chairman don't make the Motions one you all all right well I move that uh we would uh give consideration we make the feed waiver for the amount that uh I think was the $647 68 all right we've had a motion I close the commission meeting open public hearing if anyone would like to speak to this item may do so at this time seconding none close the public hearing all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I opposes by the same sign motion passes thank you Commissioners savan Hancock I think that one pertains to a agenda item sir if I'm not mistaken I think that's with N9 N9 B all right we'll wait for 9B all right uh a say second reading public hearing AUD audence 02453 would read by Ty attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 4-53 an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the City of Winter Haven Florida by resoning one parcel from plan unit development PUD zoning District to single family residential dlarge lot R-1 zoning District providing for the administrative correction of sceners errors repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with and providing an effective date the general location 4020 Country Club Road South the area covered by this request is 6.02 plus or minus Acres thank you thank thank you city manager since we've this is the third time anything changed mayor and Commissioners nothing has changed on this this is an amendment to the Pud ordinance that strikes the commercial component of that ordinance uh and allows that 6.02 acre area to be residential use permitted by the R1 zoning District uh is is what the request is there's been no changes since first reading or since you heard this during your agend genda review staff recommends commission consider approval of ordinance 02453 on second and final reading this evening thank you thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes um approval of ordinance uh 02453 on second reading thank you I will close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to 02453 may do so at this time seeing none close the public hearing reopen City Mission meeting all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I opposes by the same sign hearing none 02453 is adopted 02454 would you read by title on C attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-54 an ordinance of the City of Winter Haven Florida amending ordinance number 0 23-57 which established the peace Creek Village Community Development District to expand the boundaries of the peace Creek Village Community Development District per to chapter 190 Florida Statutes 2024 providing for severability providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances providing for administrative correction of scor's errors and providing for an effective date thank you thank you city manager mayor and Commissioners nothing has changed on this item since its first reading uh just to refresh you on this this is a request by peace Creek Community Development District or CDD to expand its boundaries um the current property represents 95.3 plus or minus Acres which includes the Annabella estate subdivision that includes 324 building Lots the expansion would add 84.75% present the CDD at 180 acres 18013 plus or minus Acres uh there's been no no changes as I mentioned and staff is recommending the city commission approve ordinance 0 24-54 on second and final reading this evening thank you thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes motion to approve ordinance 02454 on second and final reading thank you I will now close the commission meeting open the public hearing miss Savannah Hancock would you please come forward state your name and address for the record College Avenue in Tallahassee um I'm here on behalf of the petitioner if anybody has any questions I'd be more than happy to answer them thank you and Mr Mayor commission there is some pre-filed testimony that was submitted by the applicant that's also part of the agenda packet that um attests to the various facts and things that are set forth in the petition filed in this matter thank you any questions Commissioners all right I'll close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I oppose this by the same sign hear none [Music] 02454 is adopted Commissioners you have the consent agenda Mr Mayor yes uh I motion to approve the consent agenda in its entirety thank you I will now 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 P public hearing reopen the city commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I opposes by the same sign hearing none the item is adopted resolutions we have resolution R2 2453 which you read by Ty Lon City attorney thank you Mr Mayor resolution number r-4 d53 a resolution of the city Commission of the city of win Haven Florida approving that certain public transportation Grant agreement between the City of Winter Haven and the Florida Department of Transportation fdot under contract number G 3639 and financial project number 451 9431 94-1 for funding for obstructions clearing project at the Winter Haven Regional Airport Gilbert Field and authorizing the city manager and appropriate City officials to execute and to take all of the necessary actions regarding the said public transportation Grant agreement providing for severability conflicts and providing for an effective date thank you thank you city manager mayor and Commissioners as noted this is a request uh It's associated with a public transportation Grant agreement for the do scope of this project does include the clearing and grubbing of vegetation beyond the end of Runway number five to eliminate obstructions to prevent growth uh from recurring wetlands in the area will be filled and slded making it making them mowable for future maintenance significant portion of the project is anticipated to cover Wetland mitigation which is necessary to comply with environmental regulations estimated cost for this project is $1,844 th000 the dot Grant uh will fund 80% of the project in the amount of $1,475 1200 the city will be responsible for the remaining 20% or 3,6 $368,500 which has been included in the city's fiscal year 25 budget as matching funds staff recommends the commission approve resolution r453 and authorize city manager or design to execute the subject Grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and take all other necessary actions incidental to the implementation of same thank you thank you commissioners Mr Mayor motion to approve resolution R 2453 thank you I will close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to R 2453 may do so at this time seeing none close the public hearing reopen the commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I opposes by the same sign hearing none r24 53 is adopted R2 2454 would you read by tyer City attorney thank you Mr Mayor resolution r- 24-54 a resolution approving that certain plat entitled willbrook South for filing in accordance with chapter 177 Florida Statutes with specific conditions providing for the correction of scers erors and establishing an effective date General location subdivision is generally located north of Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and South of the lake Fanny Lake smart Canal thank you thank you city manager mayor and Commissioners KR PC willbrook LLC is requesting final plat final plat approval for willbrook South it's a 152 acre subdivision track generally located north of Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and South of the lake Fanny Lake smart Canal the applicant has requested that portions of several underlying plats be to be vacated or abandoned this a single family residential subdivision which contains 234 building lots and 10 Common Lots um the internal roadways will be dedicated to the Willowbrook Community Development District or CDD all water reuse and Sewer lines will be owned and maintained by the city while all drainage conveyances and again internal roadways and Street lighting will be maintained by the CDD a performance bond has been issued in the amount of 4,315 75045 and submitted to the city to cover the cost of the remaining infrastructure items to be completed which include some earth work sanitary sewer potable water storm water management and Engineering certification staff recommends the city commission approve resolution r- 24-54 we did include is a followup from our discussion Wednesday evening uh a layout of this site and Eric Labby I'm going to ask you if you can speak to the orientation of this I believe North is going to be the left to the left of your your page is that correct yes sir mayor Commissioners North is to the left of your screen um the red line depicts the RightWay dedication for uh future roadway um the applicant uh will construct a portion of that roadway up until the entrance of their subdivision as you can see it traverses um North and then East and then back North again up to the canal um right away will be dedicated when the willbrook north subdivision comes in to connect that and continue on uh North to L Lu Park Boulevard L lern Park Road so Eric the exit from this subdivision would be where I don't Martin Luther King Boulevard so it will be east of 11th Street down once you go past the curves yes yeah you said right where the um Duke Energy power uh I think it's further east than that Mr Mayor further east uh the road itself will follow the Duke easement I believe is how it's laid out yeah the Duke ement travels north south through this property and then as you can see it jogs to the west or towards the bottom of your page the Duke easement is the the hashed um dark line yes okay no go north go go up further further right there that's the Duke easement and then it travels North so the road General follows that easement and then it crosses that easement and goes south to MLK Boulevard okay entertain a motion Mr Mayor yes make a motion that resolution r454 thank you Clos City commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to R 2454 may do so at this time see none Clos the public hearing real open the CATE commission meeting is there any discussion and remember mayor commission when I mentioned at the Wednesday Workshop that we're working on a u hold harmless release with the developer and homeowners that will have the lots that that butt are adjacent to the golf course so we're still working on that that's a condition in the resolution yes any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I posos this by the same sign hearing none R 2 454 is adopted new business City uh manager mayor and Commissioners this is a request for authorization to submit a Grant application to the Florida Department of Commerce for construction of a rail spur the city is working in partnership with the Winter Haven EDC Council um Bruce lion is here and cannot answer any questions because he's not allowed to talk about anything but certainly will tell you that himself but in addition working with trat properties and project Reay we have an opportunity to apply for this job growth Grant from the Florida Department of Commerce to facilitate the construction of a rail spur from the Winter Haven CSX Intermodal terminal to project raise proposed 41 Acre Site within the Intermodal Logistics Park the rail spur is proposed to Traverse across property owned by Evansville Western Railway Inc to the proposed project site with an easement that will be granted to the City of Winter Haven the spur will be approximately 4,450 ft in length with an estimated construction cost of $3 million the total requested Grant amount is one 1,500,000 the City of Winter Haven will contribute in-kind services in the form of Grant project management estimated at a value of $100,000 track properties CSX Evansville Western Railway Inc and project Ray will be respond responsible for the remaining construction cost with a combination of cash and inine services the project is proposed project Ray has proposed the construction of a 225,000 SQ foot food grade cold storage facility with a capital investment of approximately $100 million the project is anticipated to employ approximately 200 people with an estimated average wage of $65,000 commencement of con instruction is currently scheduled for Q3 of 2025 with a completion date in Q2 of 2027 this rail spur project if funded we expect um when those funds are allocated for that project to likely be completed by the end of summer 2025 so it is a rather short project we are confident that the uh the grant will be awarded and we can get that project done we as the city would be the project managers again that additional cost would be borne by the project participants there's no direct Financial impact to us other than the staff time to manage the Grant and file the necessary reports um staff's recommending the city commission authorize myself or designed to submit the job growth Grant application to the Florida Department of Commerce and perform all related and necessary actions related there too this is a grant that we have applied for on a number of occasions the most recent uh successful Grant um we we received money from uh Florida commerce for a TR Transportation Master planning effort uh that that MJ has helped facilitate and as well Pard Road you may recall was the uh project that received Florida commerce funds uh during the covid era and that we have just wrapped up the first phase of that so uh this is something we're familiar with I want to thank Bruce Lion and the partners for pursuing this I think it's a very small investment of our resources uh with the benefit of yielding an investment on the private sector as we said of a 100 million dollar into a new facility 200 very strong paying jobs that come with that so we stand for any questions as does Mr L I got one question when will we know who it is Bruce six months all right all right all right he's not even saying he can't tell you I know you can't I know you can't entertain a motion Mr be yes move approval of the authorization to submit a Grant application to the Florida Department of Commerce thank you I'll close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this item may do so at this time seeing none close the public hearing reopen the city commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion Let It Be known by saying I I posos this by the same sign hearing none authorization to submit the Grant application to the Flor Department of Commerce for construction of the rail spur is adopted mayor thank you for that and we will keep you a priz of that effort I expect that we'll be submitting that Grant uh in in probably within the next few weeks thank you good luck yes as Bruce said in the uh worksh uh the sooner we get this maybe the sooner we'll know right that still holds okay thank you I do believe this is the first time that we'll be involved in constructing rail so that's great commissioner Lon reports commissioner merca okay um my Pap oh I attended the neighborhood service center Thanksgiving giving luncheon that they had was very good uh lots of food lots of enjoyment uh they had a birthday group and so some of them were celebrating their birthday for the month of November so um it's always good they always seem to be a happy group and so um I also attended the Florida leaga cities conference in Orlando um I'm on the municipal Services Board and we have one project that we are uh going to do and then we have a policy committee we're part of the policy committee and we're going to be doing that and it's on the bonuses for the police department um they're trying to fix um amend that so that you can't just keep going from one Police Department to another for bonuses um they want retention and so um that's what they're they're trying to write a bill that will do that the the this committee has decided to be proactive um due to the uh point that they think that if they bring up um and introduce then it's a lot easier than trying to fight something that has been already introduced by um our legislative um and then you have to try to make the best of that because there's all kinds of things in the bills so uh City Commission Mission um um Christmas tree lighting we in Central Park um was a real good uh time um I like to see the Christmas tree light as a lot of other people that attended uh like to see that lighting of the Christmas tree uh Haven Del Christmas parade um we um was kind of cold there at that night uh kind of cool riding and then I attended the Christmas Boat Parade so and that was it for me I think if I didn't forget anything all right do do well I had the opportunity to uh attend the FLC uh serve on the intergovernmental relations Mobility Emergency Management and legislative policy committee and uh we were able to uh Advance the issue of uh EV um that was electric vehicles and uh the background relative to that there was also the issue of annexation but they decided on EV because uh according to uh the background of that base was the decline in the annual fuel tax revenues at the state and federal levels has driven reduction in gasoline and so what they wanted to do that uh knowing that the increase of electric vehicles uh is something that is coming on and uh and in as much as they do not use gasoline or any Diesel and uh so the cost dealing with that is uh what they were actually dealing with so that's what's going to be Advanced uh forward and so uh we'll see where that goes as we see more electric vehicles coming on it's exciting to see that you know the big change in that uh and also what the discussion will be uh going forward also able to attend all things Christmas and we've had a great time tree lighting was exciting and uh a lot of people came out to enjoy that the weather was just optimal for just a wonderful evening uh hot chocolate it lasted for a good while and uh but uh all enjoyed that as well as cookies for the children and also with um was it Ginger Man or or from the uh Legoland also the parade uh was my first opportunity to uh ride in the parade uh December 5th actually was was when I was elected so I just served a year it's been a year uh this month and uh uh the parade I enjoyed it I I kind of underdressed for it but uh I'll remember next time uh but it was great just great to see all the all the people meet some wonderful people as well and uh able to for the first time uh be part of the boat parade Christmas Boat Parade which was really exciting and uh really enjoyed that and uh just had a wonderful time uh we had a great uh Captain who was driving us uh so I want to appreciate them for the great work that they do and the staff just do an outstanding job all those events and all that we've enjoyed uh during this wonderful season commissioner danler uh I was gone for a good part of this last couple weeks so I appreciate you guys fing in for me but I was able to go to the ah Haack committee committee meeting and um I just got to tell you the ahck has turned 100% the opposite direction now we're going great guns we're spending money and making a difference in people's lives left and right we have committee and we have uh just a lot of good stuff going on with ah Haack so I'm here to report that that that's a committee that has is clicking on all cylinders right now and I'm grateful to be part of it I actually went to the Ritz Theater they had a theme night they had the Florida Florida State game they're playing they're going to start trying to have like NASCAR and some big events to try to gather the community come in for free and the picture was great the sound was great they had a drum band though that about made your teeth rattle every time they and they came up on every time there was a commercial they came out there and about about knocked you out there was so loud but it was fun and the Gators won so it was a good time but uh next time we may don't need so many drums but yeah they do these things he's going to do these for big events uh Daytona 500 and other stuff anybody wants to go down there and watch it's really a good picture and the sounds good so it's worth going IT Crowd no crowd was awful about 25 of us here oh there was more more band members and there in families than there were participants but Dan's Dan's undaunted and continues to uh press on and do good things commiss Dan I think they're also going to be doing those for the major award shows right the Grammys Oscars Tony that I think will will draw big crowds as well hopefully we can get some people to start coming and support it because it's free they have a bar and food and they had we they had taco truck out there so it was you know he's trying so it was good and of course I went to the neighborhood service center lunch for thank giving and always one of my favorite things is always appreciative what they do for us down there and that's it merry Christmas everybody Happy New Year we won't see you till the new year officially so happy Merry Christmas to everybody and stay safe the holiday season and good times for all thank you uh I chaired the uh Central Florida Regional planning Council finance committee uh attended the uh FLC legislative conference and our committee is the utility and natural resources committee and for the past two years our top priority this year is uh an issue that if the legislature pass it is going to tremendously financially affect the city of WN Haven and what this is is for the past two legislative sessions there has been a field it hasn't gone anywhere that would uh limit the amount of uh funds that you can transfer into the general fund from your uh Enterprise fund that would have an effect on us uh and then the other one which really would have even a more effect on us is putting a cap on how much you can surcharge residents for utilities that don't live in the city that would that would uh really uh really really affect us in fact Gary is on our committee and he said it really would affect us uh Rellis would have to probably come back and we have to do the rate study all over again so that would be a Major Impact so we the league is going to try to fight that tooth and nail because they almost certain that it will come back and then our policy position is our one water plant they adopted our one water plan to pursue that and what what that really means is that the Way Grants uh subdivided up with with water project it's all different pots just want to have a general agreement that uh water projects have a lot of other benefits and meanings and so that's on the that's our policy statement there has not been a uh a B file for that so we that's that's where we're going with that um I attended the Lighthouse for the Blind graduation and there were over uh 40 participants that were graduating and what are they graduating from well most of the people not not most all of the people that were graduating had lost their eyesight they were either Le legally blind or totally blind and what they train them to do is things that we take for granted answer the telephone text I don't know how they do it work on computers and out of the 40 or 50 people that were graduating half of them weren't there cuz they had got them trained so that they could work and they had jobs and so they didn't come and one of my childhood friends and buddies that I grew up with he's legally blind and he graduated from the program as well so it was I spent from 10: to 12:30 with them so it was a it was a it was a good day uh I also on yesterday did something that I normally don't do is go and present a proclamation on Sunday the job doesn't require you to work on Sunday does it t um I can't speak for the mayor sir but I can certainly speak for the city manager well I presented a a proclamation at the hilltop and uh one good thing about it I got some really good food so that made it made it worth it but they were deleting a um a new uh building they're starting a academy uh that goes through fifth grade I think it is and so it has a gym and all the classrooms and and it's right there on MLK in 11 Street that's the location of it uh always enjoy the neighborhood service center I need to gain a few pounds and they make sure that I do and so I enjoyed that the cryst Christmas parade rib I was prepared for the Christmas parade cuz I knew it was going to be cold and so I it's I've been colder than what uh last uh Friday night was and the Christmas tree lighting I always uh enjoy that and uh on Saturday my CDC we painted 3 8 six plus year old senior citizens houses for free we did three houses and we were finished by 11:00 and unfortunately I had two funerals that I attended on Saturday as well but all in all it has been a great two weeks and I just want to say this to uh our staff the city staff uh going to the Christmas tree lighting and seeing how y'all have to set things up and how y'all take care of things and then at the uh parade to see everybody out there working I mean I want to just tell you all that we really I appreciate the job that you all do and uh you're the greatest staff This Side of Heaven and so we really do appreciate you so on that note I would like to wish all of you including our residents that are here a very happy prosperous and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and with that s their attorney thank you Mr Mayor commission and I would did to those remarks I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year we uh we have a lot on the plate but the plates are spinning well so we have great great leadership all around thank you City major thank you for comments Mr Mayor and Commissioners um certainly from my office we echoed the sentiment towards City staff I don't know when they ever sleep they are nonstop with these events and they they do exceptional work with that um when give a special word of thanks to to Julie Adams and to Natalie Wilson who end up coordinating the vast majority of those and uh just Relentless pursuit of Excellence all the way around couple events still yet to come um this week there is a winter wonderland that will take place Friday evening in Central Park uh this is a fun family night out downtown they will be showing a movie in Central Park and have a number of activities going on uh that event begins at 6 and is it uh the movie will start sometime after that we expect the event to wrap up sometime 8:30 9:00 um and then also on Monday December 30th if you are available and in town we have our annual manora lighting and parade that uh is put on uh oftentimes that falls Before Christmas this year it happens to fall the week after Christmas so that is I believe on your schedules for those who have registered to be in attendance uh want to remind you that we have the ridge League of cities dinner this Thursday evening in auale there are a few of you that are uh sign up to attend that uh myself I believe the city clerk Deputy city clerk will be in attendance as well to represent Winter Haven this Saturday is the city of winter Haven's employee Christmas party uh which I believe that you are scheduled to attend so give you an opportunity to spend some time with your almost 700 employees and um have a a nice evening to celebrate the holidays with them I do want to wish a happy early birthday to our Deputy city clerk latan Harris and to our parks recreation and culture director Julie Adams who all both with will complete another Journey around the Sun uh this Friday so happy birthday to them and then a reminder that city offices will be closed on Tuesday December 24th and Wednesday December 25th 5th in observance of the holiday we will still provide of course all of our Utility Services law enforcement fire rescue um and we'll be back right up to business on December 6th so look forward to that he is the manora parade a walking parade or a riding parade do we know Julie can you come speak it is a vehicular parade so no walking they'll depart from the Fieldhouse and head to downtown of Central Park okay and that's a great event um with our our Jewish community that we do each year and uh Mr Mayor if you if you do need a couple extra pounds they bring the most delicious donuts that you oh yes I know all about them i' join just with the donuts so it's a it's a great and I think it represents our commitment to the diversity that does exist within our community so who plan be there on that note wish you all a very special and magical holiday season and look forward to everything that comes about in the new year all right thank you assistant uh city manager nothing this evening just I everybody's comments about uh Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year all right thank you city clerk Merry Christmas to all happy New Year and happy early birthday to Julie and Lan Deputy city clerk you got anything way back there all right okay emergency matter is not received for the agenda announcements adjin me so move oops