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Agenda review session of the city commission meeting Wednesday June 17th to order. Uh On Monday night, I will not be here. So, this will be Mayor Pro Tem Mercer's show on Monday night, but uh

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she is capable and ready to roll with it. Uh so, with that, we'll have a roll call for this evening. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Davis, who's not present. Commissioner Dollison. >> Here. >> Commissioner Birdsong. >> Here. >> Mayor Pro Tem Mercer. >> Here. >> And Mayor E. >> Here.

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>> All right. We'll have the invocation, then we'll have the pledge, and we do have a presentation this evening from the Citrus Connection. Aaron Killebrew will do the presentation this evening. And this is part of a annually we we ask Citrus Connection Lakeland Area Mass

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Transit District to come forward and share with you what's happening in the mass transit world serving Winter Haven, and what is on the horizon as far as our our share of cost for fiscal year 26-27. >> Ms. Killebrew.

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>> Thank you. I apologize, Mr. Mayor. I I thought you were doing the invocation first. I was not spacing. Aaron Killebrew Kenlaw, director of external affairs for Citrus Connection, Polk County's transit authority. I'm going to go through these pretty quickly. I've been given my marching

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orders by the mayor. So, this is your ridership. This looks a little bit different than it has in the past. Um I like graphs better than I like pie charts, so here we are. Um you can see from fiscal year 21 through this year

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where we stand as far as fixed route ridership goes. Um obviously we've had we always have ebb and flows. I would like to point out um fiscal year 24 25 that the ridership is considerably low there. That is not for your your last

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year. We went through our system for our buses for GPS, miles traveled, those kinds of things. It's called Avail. We went through a major overhaul um that year and it about mid-March we stopped using Avail. So that is not your numbers

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for 24 25. Just want to be completely transparent that we did from like mid-March on we stopped counting ridership totals. Um obviously fiscal year 25 is not 25 26 is not up yet. So that's why it's only 52,000. We are expected to be over

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100,000 rides at the end of this fiscal year. I also would like to point out that these numbers are only within the city limits of Lake Wales or Lake Wales or Winter Haven at your stops. These do not include our UAPs. So

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anybody that has a Polk State badge is not counted here. Anybody that has um a Polk County School Board badge is not included on here. So these are just your citizens that are riding that are not covered under any other contract that we have. At the bottom you'll see ADA and

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TD. TD is covered by the state. ADA is technically covered by you if you get rid of big bus service ADA goes away. That's kind of our first mile last mile. Um if you were in within 3/4 of a mile of a bus stop you were eligible for ADA

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service. That is door-to-door, medical appointments, those kinds of things. Uh 22 2022 till 2026 we had no increase as far as your contribution to Citrus Connection. Um you can see how much your population has increased. I did check

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double check the population with MJ. It seemed a little off in 4 years, but he said it's correct. Um you can see your mileage on there. You can see that our vehicle revenue mile increased um significantly. That is not from 2022. That's actually from 2020, but those are

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the numbers we used to calculate your pricing in 2022. We have not um increased your municipal share or what we used to call fair shares and that amount of time and we picked a heck of a time to do it now. So, I would like to say that our board

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um and our uh and staff have come up with a plan of increasing by 4% because we have not increased your dollar amount in 4 years. We feel like 4% is fair, price of fuel, diesel, all the things, um wear and tear

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on the vehicles. Again, we have proposed a year one and a year two. Um this was done before the state legislator met during the special session and we have what we're facing now. Uh so we understand if you can't go

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past the year one, we would like to talk about year one, but this is a 4% increase from what you have paid for 20 fiscal year 25-26. So, from that 200,093, it would go to 305.

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Um and again, pictures were pictures good, words bad. Um the red shaded areas in the map are what you guys cover as the municipality. The blue is the route routes in general within the city limits of Winter Haven

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and then the green is all other funding, so that would be the county grants, um FTA, those kinds of things. I give this to you every year. This is just for full transparency so you can see what we're asking other cities to do. We are asking them to do the same

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with the 4%. I do have a couple of commitments from other cities, but that's uh that could change at any any moment for that 2-year period. I think we're all going to have to look at where we go from here. Any questions?

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>> Miss Kinlaw. >> City Manager, when would we have that discussion on 1 year versus 2 years? >> So, we budgeted um based upon communications I had with uh Miss Kinlaw and and [snorts] uh

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the others at LAMTED, Tom Phillips, um on these numbers uh probably a month and a half ago, 2 months ago, anticipating um what the number would be for our budget uh development, and we have factored

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this into budget for fiscal year 26-27. We have a as you can see, um significant demand for the ridership. Um that is what you know, we when we changed our contract around, it's probably been

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I don't know what, probably 5 or 6 years ago now, or maybe not even that far back. We We combined multiple contracts into one because remember we also pay for the Sunday route for LEGOLAND, which not only LEGOLAND, but a lot of our hoteliers now depend upon that to help

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get um their workforce, their their housekeeping staff predominantly, into to take care of those properties. Um and out at in the LEGOLAND area where you have the two on-site plus the beach retreat, plus just up the way, you know,

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probably a quarter mile, uh the Courtyard, um that's impactful there. So, we we understand the the rising cost of the um the maintenance on the vehicles, and certainly fuel costs this year have been extremely impactful.

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Uh, that that 4% increase was something we felt was appropriate and and went ahead and programmed that into the budget for next year. And then I think in reality it's good to know what year two looks like today.

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But I also know that we've got to wait and see what does that number really look like pending current legislative uh, predicaments that are out there because um, I'm not the expert on the LAMTAD budget, but certainly there is there is

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special taxing dollars that go into their Lakeland side, but there's also county dollars that go into offset the transit as you heard. You know, some of those routes in Winter Haven are offset by county revenues, and as the county looks to should you have property tax reform,

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what impact they're going to face how that transitions into their contribution towards mass transit and so on. So, we can we factored in the 305, but [clears throat] year two we will evaluate as we get closer to it. >> I think this discussion probably rolls

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partly into our upcoming work session on this subject as well, but I I would certainly think, you know in the grand scheme of cuts, and the rest of the commission would would obviously weigh in on this, but in my opinion um

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transportation's probably at the bottom of that list that that you know, you try to do something different with, but um, you know, like you said, we'll we'll we'll see what happens and >> Yeah, I think that in the in the transportation world, the people that are most dependent upon these services

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are those that don't really have opportunities or alternatives to get to schools, doctors shopping, you know, whatever the work those types of things. So, I think that that is something to be very sensitive to. >> Yeah, it is one of those things that uh

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you know, a few years ago we actually uh uh there were a lot of people who were struggling with gypsy cab situations. People were taking advantage of that because we were actually pushing for extended routes and more routes actually. Uh so that yeah, it would be able to uh help those individuals that

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you're speaking of. Uh I think sometimes we take for granted because many of us do have automobiles, more than one sometimes, that there are many of us who do not have transportation and rely heavily upon this. Question I would ask that uh with the 4% and you also showed the

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other cities, are they asked also to do 4% as well? >> Yes, sir. We are asking So, I will be completely transparent with you. Haines City and um Davenport are not on here. >> [snorts] >> They never made it to their 33% of what we were asking from 6 years ago. So,

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they are still not to that original number. Um so, their numbers look a little bit different. We're doing 10, 15,000 dollar increases at a time, but everybody else yes, sir. We have asked uh 4% of everybody. >> So, how how has that been received? Has

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that been widely received pretty much or are you This is our first first stop? >> Uh no, sir. So, before special session, great. After that, um it's gone from 2-year conversations to 1-year conversations. Uh but everybody, just like you all, everybody

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has understood that we haven't asked for an increase in several years. Um we were trying to give it everybody a break after COVID. Um and then it just kind of turned into well, let's give everybody a little bit more of a break and then you know, we picked a heck of a year to

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to ask for that increase. And in full transparency as far as the LAMTAD uh Citrus Connection side or the the old what side, we have had no preliminary conversations with the county yet about what those cuts are going to look like to us. >> Aaron, do you know off the top of your

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head how much money comes in from the county? >> 4.3 million this year. So, you have to think 4.3 million. We also use that money as match money, so it's actually double that. >> Well, it certainly sounds reasonable. I I think that uh you know, the fact that you haven't

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raised in all these years, our population has increased, and we also see that many more are taking advantage of the services, so you know, I think that's very seemly as you stated uh city manager that uh does appear to be

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you know, reasonable in that front. All right. Thank you for the presentation. >> Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. >> All right. We uh no developments noted at this point. Uh we'll have one set of minutes to review. >> [clears throat] >> Uh consent agendas are pretty much the

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entire rest of the meeting, so we'll run through those, and I'll let you fire away. >> Well, city manager. >> Thank you, sir. I'll ask uh Brittany Hart to come forward. The first item is the North Lake Ship Drive Complete Street Project Engineering Services Award of Contract Kimberly Horn. Um

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this is uh something that you all are familiar with this project. Uh in fact, we just had today um Congressman Franklin here at City Hall uh who helped uh secure funds for this. So, Miss Hart. >> Yes, sir. Good evening, Mayor Commissioners. So, North Lake Ship Drive

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has become a critical corridor within our city transportation network. It is serving as a connection between our residential neighborhoods, the downtown area, as well as our schools and medical facilities. And as you are aware, it is um a connecting between some major arterial roadways. And as the city has

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grown, this has just become a route that is um heavily utilized by our residents and visitors throughout the county. So, this infrastructure within this corridor is aging and is requiring some significant rehabilitation and replacements um to be able to maintain for our current transportation needs as

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well as our future and our utility demands. So, in addition to the roadway construction, our project will address the drainage improvements that are needed, water and wastewater utility upgrades and relocations, and it will also enhance multimodal connectivity throughout with the addition of sidewalk

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and a multi-use path. To advance the project, the city is issued a request for qualifications for professional engineering and design services, and we had three firms submit proposals. The professional services committee met to evaluate and rank those submissions, and the rankings resulted in Kimley-Horn

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and Associates as the top-ranked firm, followed by Carter & Clay Engineering and DCCM Infrastructure as third. The committee did not request presentations from those. However, we did make a recommendation of award to Kimley-Horn, and that was posted on April 17th, and there were no protests

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received during that period. If the commission were to approve the design this award, the city manager or his designee will be authorized to negotiate the professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn for the design of North Lake Ship Drive, and in that result, there will be a final scope and fee.

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From a funding standpoint, we have $300,000 available in fiscal year 26, which is our current year, to begin that design phase, and then we will have additional funding that is anticipated in the fiscal year 2027, so we can complete that design. So, we'll just get started this year and then move it into

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completion next year. We do have, as the city manager mentioned, a $2 million federal appropriation for the roadway construction of this project, and that was secured through Congressman Franklin in 2024. I believe Congressman Franklin has also supported an additional funding request

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in consideration for fiscal year 2027. The project's going to align with the city's strategic plan under infrastructure pillar goal 3.2, which is focusing on taking a comprehensive approach to our transportation planning and the maintenance of our transportation assets. So, we will ask that the commission

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approve the award of RFQ 2622 for North Lake Ship Drive Complete Street Project Engineering Services to Kimley-Horn and Associates and authorize the city manager or his designee to negotiate and execute a professional service agreement for that design. Um, there will also need to be a budget

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transfer from the utility fund to the transportation fund in the amount of $100,000 for that $300,000 total that we mentioned. Um, and ask that they approve for any actions that is necessary to get that design agreement executed. >> Any questions?

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It's been a long time on this project, so it's nice to see it getting off the ground. Although, we're still, you know, hopeful that Congressman Franklin, um, again, carrying this is an uh, is a congressional appropriation, um, one of his, I think he said today, 15

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projects that he could submit, um, to carry this one and Willow Brook Road. Uh, so we'll be keep our fingers crossed that that comes forward. Thank you. Uh, next item is, um,

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for the, uh, conceptual design, 30% design on the East Lake Howard Drive Southwest Complete Project. Um, before I turn over to Ms. Hart, this is this one may sound familiar to some of you because it goes back [clears throat] several years. You may recall we did the

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Lake Howard Trail on the north side of the lake. We had previously done a small section of trail that went from the Heritage Park dock southward towards Avenue B. Uh, this is a continuation of that trail system going south from where it

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terminates around the Berenice Clinic offices now, all the way down to the canal at, uh, Lake May. So, Ms. Hart, if you'll take that one. >> Yes, sir. Um, so as City Manager mentioned, in 2015, the city obtained a conceptual design for a trail along the

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eastern shoreline of Lake Howard. Um, the original concept that was envisioned was extending the trail from its current end near Avenue A, Avenue B by Branco clinic south towards the Lake May Lake Howard Canal near Avenue D. Since that time the city has done a ton

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of work to progress our Lake Howard Trail network. We completed a trail and pedestrian enhancements at Avenue D Southwest, so just before that Lake May Lake Howard Canal all the way back to 15th Street. We finished those in 2025 and we are currently advancing to sign of a roadway

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and pedestrian project that will pick up at 15th Street and carry towards Avenue C Southwest just past the Lake Howard Nature Park. So as staff was evaluating the next phases of improvements along the corridor, we identified several infrastructure needs within the area of this trail.

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We also we identified the need for drainage improvements, gravity sewer rehabilitation and replacement and then roadway reconstruction. And since all of these needs overlap with the planned trail expansion, we decided that this would be an excellent opportunity to apply the city's dig once philosophy and

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coordinate multiple infrastructure improvements into one project as to not inconvenience our residents anymore. So Kimley Horn, a consultant under the city's continuing professional service contract, developed a scope of work to prepare concept alternatives for Sunset Park and the eastern Lake Howard boat

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ramp area just past Tom Jennings CPA office. In advance the project to a 30% design. We're envisioning this as a complete street project which would have a shared use path, utility replacements, roadway reconstruction and drainage enhancements. The scope of work that Kimley Horn

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identified includes surveying existing conditions assessments, right away evaluation, geotech, some sue data exploration, a public engagement activity, concept development for the parks, and then the preparation of a 30% design plan for roadway, utility and storm water.

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With those concepts and that 30% design, the city staff would then be able to determine if we're able to fit that project within all of our existing right-of-way or if there would be any additional work that may be needed. So, our plan would be to fund this out of the transportation

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fund. The a fee associated with this 30% design work is $212,750. 200 Is that Yep, sorry. Numbers. Uh so, this project is supporting strategic city strategic plan under the quality of

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life pillar. Um specifically, that is goal 2.4, expanding our access to recreational amenities with the trail. Um it also is supporting our infrastructure pillar, goal 3.2 and strategy 3.2.5, which would be a comprehensive transportation improvement project that expands our city's

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pedestrian network. So, staff is going to recommend that the commission approve the consulting agreement with Kimley-Horn & Associates for the 30% design of East Lake Howard Drive Southwest Complete Street project and authorize the city manager or his to execute the agreement and issue the purchase order.

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>> How much is left of Lake Howard Drive after this project that we >> So, you've got this section, um which is basically a a gap fill between one of the first segments we did and then the most recent segment. You have a segment that will go from 15th

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Street Southwest, which is uh there on the south side of the lake, uh as you come around from uh Tanners Lakeside and Old Man Franks. From there back to it just past um South Lake Howard Nature Park, we have a project

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that has federal funding uh allocated towards that. And then, the balance is really just the west edge. So, from let's say um Avenue C uh Southwest

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um back to Avenue G. And that's that's probably the the most difficult piece because there's such restricted right-of-way in there. Um but it's also the area in reality that needs it the most because there's no pedestrian

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infrastructure there at all. And you've got a lot of folks that are traveling that. You have Inwood uh elementary near there. Um that's that's going to be a uh particularly challenging segment. >> What How long do you think before it's all done? >> Michael John, you want to take a stab at

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that? >> Um so this section, you know, we would just take this out to 30% design. So, you know, it depends on the availability of funding for construction. Um you know, and then on the western side, uh there's still design work that we would need to do there. Um

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you know, and to take that out. So, if if funding was available in the next few years to do that, you know, it's probably not unfeasible that in a 5 to 10-year window, you know, you could see that completed. Sooner, you know, I mean, if if again, funding's available and we'll you know, we've chased grant

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opportunities for these projects in the past and having something like a 30% design on the shelf makes you more prepared to be able to do that. >> I was hoping you were going to say by 2030. >> Things can happen, but in this economy and this political environment could be

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tough. Um this one this this section here, you know, we actually had funding for this uh many years ago and and ended up putting that towards 7th Street because that project was ready to roll and we were able to get some trail connectivity through there. So, there is pedestrian infrastructure.

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It's just it's that farther east of here. >> All right. >> Next item is um the another Kimley-Horn item that is tied to the development of a transportation safety action plan. Uh Uh,

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several years ago uh when we had a group that traveled to DC, we talked a lot about safe streets for all. The county, in coordination with actually DOT, did do a safe streets for all project that did contemplate some specific intersections within

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our environment that were part of their network. This one now focuses on more of the local roads. So, Ms. Hart will give an update on this. >> Yes, sir. So, as city manager mentioned, in 2024, the city was awarded the US Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All

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Road Grant in the amount of $184,000, which required a local match of $46,000. We would use those funds to develop a transportation safety action plan. So, the purpose of that plan would be to identify transportation concerns throughout the city and establish projects, policies, and strategies that

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will reduce roadway injuries and fatalities while improving safety for all users. The final plan will is also intended to complement the FDOT Vision Zero plan um, by aligning our local safety priorities with broader statewide efforts to eliminate serious injuries

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and fatalities on both city and our state roads. So, as a part of our grant requirements, a completed plan must be published on the city's public website by July 31st of 2028. So, to complete this effort, Kimley-Horn, Kimley-Horn, a consultant under the city's continuing professional service contract, prepared a scope to

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create a safety action plan that meets all of the requirements of the Safe Streets for All Grant, as well as the needs of the city. Kimley-Horn will work closely with city staff and community stakeholders to establish our safety goals, analyze crash data, and roadway safety trends, and identify opportunities to improve safety

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throughout our transportation network here in Winter Haven. The project's going to include public and stakeholder engagements throughout the community, um, with workshops, an online public input input portal, and coordination with agencies such as Polk County, the Polk County TPO, and the Florida Department

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of Transportation. Kimley-Horn will also be reviewing all of our existing policies, plans, and standards to identify further opportunities to improve our transportation safety. They'll also use our crash data and field review and stakeholder input to identify the highest risk corridors within Winter Haven and develop that

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safety act safety improvement recommendation, the estimated cost of those improvement projects, and evaluate potential safety benefit benefits so we can create a prioritized implementation strategy for our future. The completed safety action plan is

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anticipated to take 18 months from the notice to proceed and a final adoption is expected in late 2027. So with that, our total project cost is $230,000. The city will receive up to $184,000

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in a federal reimbursement with our SS4A grant and the remaining $46,000, which is the city's local match, will be funded through dollars within the streets division operating budget. This project's going to align with the city strategic plan under the infrastructure pillar, specifically goal

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3.2, which calls for a comprehensive approach to transportation planning, and strategy 3.2.6, which directly says that the city will create and adopt a transportation safety action plan. Staff is recommending that the city commission approve the proposal from Kimley-Horn and Associates for

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transportation consulting services to develop a transportation safety action plan and authorize the city manager or his designee to execute said agreement, issue a purchase order in the amount of $230,000, and take any additional actions thereto. >> Okay.

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Questions? >> Nope. >> Little bit of federal money on that one, so that's always good to see. >> Thank you, Brittany. >> We can spend it better than they can. Uh next three items are all travel and training associated with my office. So

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the first is for the annual Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce strategic planning retreat. I serve as ex officio to that committee as city manager. That will be held July 16th and 18th at Streamsong.

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Uh those costs are accounted for within the city manager's budget. The second item is a retroactive kind of ratification for uh my travel associated with the Florida state legislative special

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session F for which I traveled 2 weeks ago. And then the third item is for a much later item um later educational opportunity for myself and Deputy City Manager Carnovali. This actually takes place in

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fiscal year 2026-2027. And this is our attendance at the International City-County Management Association annual conference. And those dollars are accounted for within our budget proposal for 2026-2027. >> Okay.

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>> Okay. 10 The next item um 10G is uh some dock and boardwalk repairs. Mr. Pruitt or Mr. Eilers will present on this this evening. >> Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, city commissioners. Uh the city maintains numerous docks and

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boardwalks to provide public access to lakes. Uh many of these facilities are more than 20 years old. Um and reaching the end of their serviceable life. Lake Maud Nature Park, completed in 2007-2008, includes two fishing docks and a boardwalk bridge that require significant repairs to remain

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functional. In addition, the fishing pier at Lake Howard, excuse me, Lake Hartridge Nature Park, originally constructed in 2006, was removed due to safety concerns and is proposed for replacement. Staff obtained proposals from EnviroBuild, an approved city contractor, totaling $102,515

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to complete repairs to the Lake Maud Docks, uh the Boardwalk Bridge, and replace Lake Partridge Fishing Pier, restoring safe public access to these amenities. The FY 2026 budget includes $60,000 uh for dock replacement and major repairs,

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resulting in a funding gap of about $42,515. Uh staff proposes utilizing available cost savings within the same account from the skate park uh maintenance project, which came in about $74,775

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under budget to cover the remaining balance. So, uh staff recommends the city commission approve uh the proposal proposal with EnviroBuild for the Lake Maud Dock and Boardwalk repairs and the replacement of the Lake Partridge dock. >> Okay.

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Questions? No, we're good. Uh and Mr. Eilers will take the next item, which is seems like our our playgrounds are getting a lot of use as they worn quickly, and this is for uh

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pour-in-place rubber safety surfacing a renovation replacement at the Ruben Williams Sports Complex. >> Yes, sir. Uh the playground and pour-in-place rubber safety surfacing at Ruben Williams Park uh are approaching 10 years uh of age and are beginning to show signs of wear,

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including holes, gaps, and deteriorated areas. Uh as part of the city's ongoing monthly inspection program uh for its 17 playgrounds, staff has identified the need for resurfacing for surfacing improvements to maintain a safe and accessible play environment. Uh the proposed renovation will restore the

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existing pour-in-place surface by removing the damaged top layer of rubber surfacing and installing a new top layer to improve safety, appearance, and long-term performance. Staff received a proposal from Rep Services uh in the amount of $92,178.66 through the Play Power Sourcewell

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Cooperative Purchasing Contract. Uh Uh, funding is available within fiscal year 2026. Uh, construction fund, which includes $500,000 budgeted for park amenity enhancements, and staff recommends using a portion of those funds for this project. The project aligns with the city's strategic

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plan under community safety, supporting annual inspections and maintenance of critical infra- infrastructure and facilities. Staff recommends city commission approve the proposal for the Ruben Williams playground pour-in-place renovation through Rep Services. >> So, that park's getting a lot of use.

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>> It does. >> Yes, sir. >> This one and, um, another one that we have significant improvements to make, just to put on your radar, will be Trailhead Park. That typically, if you can get

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10 years out of a playground, you're doing really well. Um, if you can get more than that, it's probably underutilized. Uh, Trailhead Park is probably on a 5-year major overhaul schedule because the amount of of activity there. This is

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probably the second busiest one we have. >> Even the splash pad. We're going to We did some surfacing improvements there a few years back, and I think we're probably going to have to do that in the next year or two as >> Do you think the cultural center activity takes balances it out and

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maybe a little less use on this park? >> helps alleviate some of the traffic, uh, especially the splash pad. Um, you know, if you've driven by Trailhead Park on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I mean, before the sun's up, people are claiming their spaces. I think that the, uh, the rec center is

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going to alleviate some of that. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh, next item I'm going to ask, um, Mr. Labby to present. This is a exciting project. This is a a workforce housing agreement with Galt Construction, LLC,

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uh, that speaks really specifically to um, the commission's commitment and investment in affordable and workforce housing. So, this has been a an effort to get this developed and excited to see this one come to

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fruition. Mr. Labby? >> Yes, sir. Mayor and Commissioners, this is something we've been working on for a few months now. It's the first one we've done, so we want to make sure we uh crossed our t's and dotted i's and make sure we got it right, but Langley Galt of Galt Construction LLC,

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he's proposing to construct four duplexes, so a total of eight units at the southeast corner of Avenue D southeast and Second Street southeast. He He desires to lease these units as workforce housing.

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So, we have developed a workforce housing agreement. Uh the proposed agreement with Galt Construction provides reimbursement to Mr. Galt of the city impact fees, so city police, fire, library, parks and

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rec and transportation impact fees in an amount of $53,093.34. It also reimburses to him the Polk County schools impact fees, uh 80 that is $88,992 and the city water and sewer connection

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fees in about of $94,770. In exchange for reimbursement of those fees, which will total $236,855.34. Um Mr. Galt intends to provide workforce housing in those units, so lease them to occupants that are within

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the 80 to 120% of area median income limited to the rent limits published by HUD and Florida Housing annually um for 7 years. Um we will place the city will place a lien on the property to secure our interests

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uh in that the uh reimburse the the lien is forgivable. Um, it's uh forgivable over that 7-year period and if it remains forgivable for the full seven, it's it's completely forgivable um at the end of 7 years. Um

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the reason that we are reimbursing um those fees and not other county not other county impact fees is because the county adopted an ordinance a number of years ago where they actually waive um their county impact fees except for the school fees

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um for workforce housing or affordable housing projects that meet their specific criteria. So, we've worked through all those details uh in this agreement has been reviewed by the city attorney and Mr. Gault. Um, I want to

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thank um Melinda Calegaris who's also in the audience. She helped uh with this agreement quite a bit as well. And we recommend approval. Um, this would be payable from the um supplementable supplemental affordable housing trust fund that you guys set up.

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I believe there's approximately $1.5 million in that trust fund currently. Um, and this would be a total cost of $236,855 to the city. >> Okay. And this agreement has a little stronger teeth than agreements

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in the past that we've we've put forth, right? I mean kind of protects the city a little bit more. >> Yeah, I mean I I yes, yes. In comparison to some of the There was a PUD where we placed a uh condition in there that they needed to provide a certain number of affordable units. It's

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very hard to >> Yeah. >> to control or manage. Um >> But now we've [clears throat] got we've got a better agreement potentially for future deals that we may look at and yes, things of that nature. >> one of the big differences here compared to the PUDs is a PUD is really just a

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you know, it's a specialized zoning on that property where there's not a financial investment per se from the city. In this case, because you're you're providing again, $236,855 and 34 cents towards it, that's where

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the leverage comes in. You're able to lean that property to make sure that it's getting done in accordance with the 80 to 120 percent AMI, the 7-year obligation to do so. So, it it uh city attorney's office staff, uh Mr.

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Langley did a did a great job, I think, of putting this together. I will tell you, Mr. Langley did reach out. I think this is probably the first meeting he's not been at um in probably 5 or 6 months, um uh unfortunately, but I don't know if he'll be here Monday or not. Hope he will be

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here Monday, so um looking forward to get this one off the ground. >> And this so, this agreement also provides that um Mr. Galt will be required to make certain certifications that will be reviewed by Ms. Hurley um and her office

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or that position. Um and I I I would also like to um put a shout out to Ms. Caliguidas. Um she really was helpful in connecting some of the dots that this agreement, we hope, will be utilized, as you mentioned there,

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um as a template uh on a going forward basis for a much needed um say product, but a much needed a segment of of housing in our community. Um and this allows entities like Galt Construction LLC to put their you know, put their capital

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at risk um to develop these projects that that meet a meet a need. Um and so, I think with the the lean ability for the 7 years, certifications that are required on both the lease amounts as well as the eligible tenants.

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Um, I think we have something that is not as complex as some of the larger projects that are Florida Housing Finance Corporation eligible, but meet a need. Um, and and we're helping with the supplemental affordable housing trust fund do that. So, I think we're just hitting a home

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run. >> Yeah. And did did everybody else have their meeting with Blue Sky Ybor, did you you >> Mhm. >> So, you know, just looking forward, there's [clears throat] this project, there's that potential project, uh, there's another potential project

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that's coming online, so you know, if all those things came to fruition, we'd we'd pretty much, I mean, we we'd still have a little bit in there, but we're running lower. And again, you know, conversations for future meetings on,

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you know, how we continue to fund that if and fact the voters decide to um, you know, eliminate a large portion of property taxes. Um, so, like I said, yeah, just discussions to have on that front, but

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those other three, if this one and the other two come to fruition, the existing one, I mean, that's probably close to 250 or so houses that or or Um, >> Units? >> units, uh, that that will be put into place and

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I remember just getting onto the commission in 2020, um, that was the big push and um, those were numbers that we we set aside on for a goal and and we're we're well on our way for that, so I I really

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like the fact that that Mr. Gault is willing to do this project, put it out there, and you know, it's not it's not a 100 unit project, and you know, a 100 unit project isn't needed everywhere and and so we need that balance and diversification out there. So, um I mean

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it's a great project. >> I agree. I think that uh you know, we had cuz we came to this chamber and actually we're asking city of Ann Arbor by 2024 to do 150 units and uh came short of that. Uh but as you just stated uh that

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uh you know, we're seeing more and more of that. That's what you know, we recognized that was a serious uh issue that people were concerned about and I think one of the questions I guess for Eric is that uh the term and I know that became vogue uh

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with workforce. You know, because affordable housing carried a certain connotation for some people. So, then they then this workforce name comes up. But I think and I'm I'm asking are they

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interchangeable or uh what is there a difference that to be noted? >> So, so there is a difference in in the industry. Uh I think generally people use those terms interchangeably in the affordable housing world.

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Um Housing that is provided below 80% AMI is considered affordable. If it's between 80 and 120, it's considered workforce. >> Okay. Yeah, and I I kind of knew that. I thought I thought that was the case

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because you know, one of the challenges even with what you just shared one of the go about with Blue Sky and other uh rents are going up. And it just recently went up for a lot of people. And a lot of them are really struggling

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just you know, trying to you know, deal with that those increases and uh that's the world we live in today and sadly that affordability piece that many people are all a lot of people are struggling with. And uh so I think the need

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is uh is only going to increase over time. And I think you know thankfully you do have developers who have an interest in doing this because we know that that's not a particular area that a lot of people

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gravitate to because they know they can make much more money uh in you know, market value and taking advantage of those situations. Uh because they see this as a ripe area in order to for development.

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So I'm hopeful that you know, we can see more of that happening. Uh as as you know, the mayor said that this you know, being a smaller situation here that also the uh you know, the way that is crafted I think it is very simple and under to

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understand and appreciate. And and I think it's a good use of of the least the money that we are allocating or giving so that these can be realized in our city. So thank you guys very much for that. >> Okay.

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Um All right, next three items invite Gary Hubbard, our director of water to the podium to present on these. These are pretty straightforward in terms of service agreement on our smart water our sewer covers or we need to buy more

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of water meters cuz we continue to grow and then also an item that speaks to our engagement for the Orchid Springs water system. So Gary, if you'll take the Mach 10 portable water meters first, please. >> Thank you, city manager. And good

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evening, Mr. Mayor and commissioners. Uh the first item on the agenda is a normal item that we we bring to you at least once a year. Um this item is to purchase Mach 10 5/8 inch water meters.

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This is to replace our stock items. We're running low or will run low before the end of the fiscal year. So, we're proposing to purchase 2,800 uh meters for total cost of about $986,000.

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Our our teams are replacing about 500 or installing about 500 meters each month. So, they're keeping very busy with growth and replacement of meters that are not working correctly or they're not registering. So, this will be a long-term effort. We

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can expect this each year, at least once a year and sometimes twice a year. Just depends on how much effort we we and progress with that we're actually making. So, Monday evening, we'll be asking for your approval to to make this

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purchase and authorize city manager to take care of the the necessary documents. Any questions? >> Expensive piece of plastic. >> Yes, but it's 2,800 meters, too. So, it's

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it's quite a few meters. This next item um is is related to the Orchid Springs um water and sewer system. Uh back in 2008, uh the city entered into an agreement with Orchid Springs to

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take care of maintenance of that system. And um that was very challenging for the utility department because of the um the type of materials that were used to uh provide water and sewer service in that area

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were sub standard, to say the least. We actually found electrical conduit used to provide water service um in Orchid Springs. So, we in '22, we were able to negotiate agreement with Orchid Springs to get out

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of the maintenance for that development. And now they are in the process of selling the Oak Orchid Springs utility system to uh CSWR Florida. And um what they're asking is that we

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assign our current agreement, which uh they have with the city, and assign it to this new business. And we're recommending approval of that assignment. >> And part of the um what what we have is we have an an interconnect

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for for emergency purposes for water. As Mr. Hubbard noted, we'd no longer have the contractual obligation to maintain their water system, which is a positive. And uh we also um we take their their wastewater flow

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um via a metered um system. And that agreement that Mr. Hubbard referenced was in 2022 that we updated and restated. And so they're We went through a Public Service Commission process, mhm, uh they being the Orchid

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Springs um Development Corporation. Um and as part of that process, there's some time limits, but they needed to assign or get our consent, our being the city's consent, to their assignment of this contract to their

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buyer. And you know, that I think it's the July 16th is when they need to have all these things wrapped up. And um and so we are we are proposing to recommend for you all to approve the assignment by Orchid

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Springs and the assumption of their contractual obligations by the CSWR Florida Utility Operating Company. So really nothing will change materially other than the identity of the parties. And I guess for whatever reason,

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uh Orchid Springs is getting out of the business. >> Right. There is no financial impact to the city related to this. >> I have a question. >> Yes. Yes. >> Gary, is that system improved any? I remember it. So. >> Um, since we

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>> Overall, has it improved any? >> Since we have not been involved with the maintenance of the system now for some four years, really can't speak to what improvements they may have made out there. Um, we just know that

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we're not obligated to And it was it was very hard on on staff because there there were always problems in Orchid Springs. >> I agree with >> And I know you know that. >> Yeah. I know that very well. >> Any other questions?

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>> [clears throat] >> Our next item is associated with our smart manhole covers. Um We're I think we're probably in the fourth year maybe of using smart covers and and the purpose

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of the smart covers is for us to identify um, areas in our system where we might have high flows and alert us before a sanitary sewer overflow occurs. Um, this has helped us tremendously with

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DEP and showing them the amount of spills that we've been able to avoid because of this technology. And basically what what this does is there's a unit underneath the manhole cover

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um, that senses the level in the manhole and then that's transmitted to a satellite and then it transmit back to the phone the phones of our crews so that they know what the levels are in the sewer system.

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It also helps us to identify um, areas where we may have excessive inflow and infiltration into the sewer system that would point us to relining systems or replacing gravity sewer systems. So,

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this is very um good technology that we're using. What we're asking on Monday evening is uh a maintenance contract and actually a renewal of a maintenance contract to keep this equipment uh operational. So, um

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on Monday evening, we're asking approval for a maintenance contract that is budgeted for roughly $125,000 per year. I'll be glad to take any questions. >> Make sure we don't have any crocodiles

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living down there. >> No. >> MJ can tell you a story about a young lady who just became city manager over on the coast and in her first week, they had a manatee First day, they had a manatee up in a storm water system. Um so.

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>> I have heard of alligators in our storm water system, but uh no no crocodiles. >> I'm pretty sure it was a a kids book. I remember a kids book crocodiles in the sewers or something like that. All right. I think that's everything. >> Thank you very much.

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>> Same Andrew, do you have anything else? >> I Yes. Thank you, sir. Um first of all, I want to thank uh publicly um Vance Monroe, our chief police uh for his hosting of the governor

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yesterday. Uh you all were in attendance. Also, Katrina Hill. Uh we couldn't have have made that happen without her team and her leadership. Um I think we had a very good showing. Uh great that that many people showed up

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just to see Vance. Um and it just so happened that the governor was also there um along with the state attorney and or the uh the attorney general and several members of our uh delegation. And then, as I mentioned,

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um Congressman Franklin is in town and doing his his district tour. Uh had the opportunity uh with the mayor today to spend time with him and give him updates on projects of significance that he and his team have

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have led uh helped you know lead the advocacy for us. Um A lot of great things happening there. We're we're fortunate to have Scott Franklin uh carrying our banner for us on a lot of the funding requests. And and we look forward to seeing more of that.

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Um reminder that uh following this meeting, I will be out of the office until next Wednesday addressing some family matters. Um Mr. Carnavale will be running point on the city manager's office. Of course, I'm available by phone, me, mail, should any of you need me.

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Um and we will make sure that commissioner mayor pro tem Mercer is uh well prepared to to lead the charge on Monday evening. Uh want to extend well wishes to Mr. Davis. Understand he's under the weather, so hope for a speedy recover recovery for

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him. And last but not least, like to introduce this evening. I failed to do this last Monday. Uh Ethan Cajuste. Uh Ethan, if you would stand up, please, yes, sir. Ethan is a administrative intern uh working with the city

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manager's office this summer from Centre College, is that correct? In Kentucky. Um graduate of uh attended All Saints Academy here in Winter Haven High School, correct? And is on a scholarship to play soccer up in Kentucky. Um

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He uh he gets the distinction as a intern uh of spending yesterday in the uh the air of the governor and other Tallahassee officials and today with the congressman. So, not everything not something you get to

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do in every internship. We also have a young man from Florida State University who is interning with our public works department who also started this week. And then we will have another intern beginning in July with our public

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affairs and communications office specifically working alongside Jackie Vickers who is in the midst of pursuing a master's degree I understand right now this student a FAMU graduate who will be coming on board. So, excited to provide

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some very unique experiences for these students and convince all of them that there is no greater calling than to be part of local government and change their career paths to come to the dark side. >> [laughter] >> So. With that

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I'll hand it off to others. >> That's a good way to leave it. Well >> Speaking of Mr. Mayor Commissioner speaking of students and I've introduced you individually with with us tonight is Owens Parker who is a law student at the Stetson University Law School over in Gulfport

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and Owens is also the son of my law partner Shawn Parker who you all may know as the city attorney for the city of Bartow and Owens is going to is clerking with us this summer and helping us with research projects and other things and he also I have the pleasure of having Owens

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as a neighbor lives across the street I've known Owens since he was very little and anyway it's a pleasure to have Owens here tonight he wanted to come and observe the local government meeting in the in in Winter Haven and he has attended

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some Bartow meetings and hopefully we'll be able to get exposed to a number of local government matters this is a great summer for him to do that as we know a lot of issues that will be coming forth. So, just wanted to publicly introduce him. And uh

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that's it. Thank you. >> Well, if you're there, if you ever want the real story, make sure you come to one of us commissioners. We'll We'll We'll give it to you. >> Hear, hear. And on that note, I would say commissioners are are are as elected officials have have a great latitude on

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what you can say and the opinions you can express. So, >> And we don't hold back, so. >> Nor should you. >> [laughter] >> Nor should you. Thank you. >> Well, welcome to both of you. Hope you enjoy uh your time here in Winter Haven, and uh we appreciate you. Appreciate you being

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here, and and welcome Good luck in your future studies, as well. So, All right, with that, if no other uh concerns or comments, we'll uh we'll adjourn.