Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular city commission meeting this the 10th day of November 2025 at 6:00 p.m. >> Can I get a roll call, please? >> Yes. Commissioner Mercer >> here.
>> Commissioner Dawson >> here. >> Commissioner Dansler >> here. >> Mayor Prom Yates >> here. >> And Mayor Birdong >> here. We will have an invocation by Pastor Chris Young from Grace Way
Community Church and we'll be led in the pledge of allegiance by Vanessa Castillo, our MMC city clerk. Please stand if let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you so much for the beautiful day that you've created, Father, that we are allowed to
rejoice in. Your word tells us to bless is a nation whose God is Lord. So today Lord I humbly ask you who one who rules over all of us. That I thank you for this city for those that live and work here, those
that have accepted the responsibility to lead this amazing city. Father, will you grant them wisdom that is pure, courage to do what is right, and the unity to serve our neighbors? Would you help every decision to be
made, Lord, and tonight of your will for our city, Lord? Would you promote peace in it, justice, and flourish every home and every resident? Would you protect our first responders, bless our families, strengthen our businesses, and
let our community be marked with compassion and integrity that is only found in our relationship with you. And we ask all of this in our Lord and Savior, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. >> Amen.
>> To the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty andice for all. >> We have a presentation. Okay.
What's women's club picture? >> All right. >> After a presentation, >> after. >> So, uh, good evening, mayor and commissioners, members of the audience. Uh, this evening, we have a presentation item 5A. Uh with us this evening is uh
Jane McInness, president of the Women's Club of Winter Haven, along with Kimberly Burr, one of her committee members uh to come before and speak before the pres the commission. So please do so. >> Good evening, Mayor Bird. >> Good evening,
>> Commissioner Yay. Um deputy, >> you're fine. Approach staff and Mayor Yates, Commissioner Mercer, Commissioner Dansler, Commissioner Dolison, >> City Manager,
you moved your chair staff, thank you for allowing us to address you this evening. We come bearing gifts. When we appeared before you early last spring, we unveiled our project to
create a book of photographs celebrating the natural beauty that still surrounds us. The book was pro was to provide a financial donation for the general federation of women's clubs. this president's project. It is a flight of
honor for 172 female veterans from Florida from Linder airport in Lakeland to Washington DC on March 11th, 2026. We then asked for your support and the
support of the Winter Haven community in contributing photographs. We did indeed receive that support and again our beautiful community responded. I'm happy to say we are accomplishing
our goal. We have books available for a $40 donation and those who have already pursued the pages have been most complimentary. They tell me it's a wonderfully diverse
reflection of the quiet splendor that still exists in our environments. >> I just want to say thank you again for your encouragement um bird song. You were most encouraging. Everyone was. And
this is a perfect example of a good ripple effect of community coming together for multiple worthy purposes of which we don't have time to name. But may I ask women from the women's club who are present here to stand. As we
say we >> we >> we we are honored on behalf of the Women's Club of Winter Haven to present the City Commission with a signed copy of our book, Florida is Golden, Richness
in Nature, for the City of Winter Haven Archives. May I give it to you, Mayor? >> Yes. [Applause] And do you have the compass for sale tonight? >> I certainly do.
>> All right. [Music] Right over here. Three, two, one. It's kind of needy. >> You need me to loan you some money, sir? I don't know if I need that much. >> Okay. >> We have no developments of note.
Commissioners, you have two sets of minutes. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Motion to approve the October 13th regular city commission meeting minutes as well as the October 22nd city commission agenda review minutes.
>> Thank you. I will now close commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to these minutes may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. We open the commission meeting. Is there any discussion? All those in favor of the motion, let it be
known by saying I I opposes by the same sign here. None. The minutes are adopted. I have uh one comment from the audience. Steve, come on up.
State your name and address for the record and you have five minutes. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor and m uh commissioners. My name is Steve Jordano. the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pole County. It's great to see you all. I'm going to be very brief. We're here because in all of our 10 locations, we
don't have a better partner in a city than we have in Winter Haven. You've enabled us to do magnificent things and we just don't think it's right that you just should pass them on the street and wonder about them. So, I wanted to show you here today. We now have 419 registered members, 96% attendance, and
and understand that 99% of our kids are are are eligible for free lunch, which means they're going hungry. So that's why we prepare every morning at 7 a.m. hot meals, not shelf stable, but hot meals. We've s served 43,000 of them so far. We got 68% of our kids from single
parents uh households, which is why we try to get to 300 kids a day. Right now, we're at 235 average daily attendance every single day at that beautiful facility. Wanted to show you a picture of that real quick. It's got a giant game room. It's got six classrooms. It's
got a gigantic patio. It's got a fishing dock. Keep going. It's got a beautiful gymnasium, which not only do the kids use and the local colleges use, we rented out to a volleyball team. So, it's income producing. Go ahead. We have workforce readiness upstairs. The kids are producing podcasts and they're
learning how to DJ. And all of this is made possible because you are supportive of our kids and our organization. And we're just so grateful for that support. That's what I want to come here and say today. Any questions? >> Thank you, Steve.
[Applause] >> I got a few questions. Hey, Steve. >> How many buses do you guys have and how how many kids are actually do you bus versus uh not bus? >> Yeah, so 20% of our kids uh rely on our buses. We spend about a half million
dollars a year just on buses. We have seven of them. Uh four of them are leased through the uh uh P County school board. >> Okay. That's I didn't realize you had seven. I thought you had two or three, but And that serves the girls as well. >> Yes, sir. Okay. >> Yeah.
>> All right. That's all. I was curious. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You're doing a good job. >> Thank you. We appreciate it. >> Okay. We have no uh audences. Our second reading commissioners, we have the consent agenda. >> Mr. Mayor,
motion to approve the consent agenda in its entirety. >> I was looking to see if the >> we we pulled that item uh from I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, if I misspe, the uh the item pertaining to um the Florenceville Community Development
Corporation, we pulled that from consent and it will appear under new business for the request of the commission during agenda review. >> I had seen it. Okay. All right. Commissioner, you have the consent agenda. >> Mr. Mayor, did you ask for public comment on that? >> No. Nobody made a motion.
>> Oh, I thought you made Okay. All right. Any comments from the audience? I close the commission meeting, open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to any item on the consent agenda may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing, reopen the commission meeting. Is there
any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposes by the same sign. The consent agenda is adopted. Resolution R2551. Would you read by title on the city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Resolution R-25-51, a resolution of the city commission of
the city of Winter Haven, Florida, affirmatively accepting the conveyance of that utility easement from Breeze SPE LLC to the city of Winter Haven, Florida, dated May 15, 2024, recorded on August 5th, 2024 in official records book 13217, pages 394 through 399 and
corrected by the notice of correction dated October 16th, 2024, and recorded on December 12th, 2024, and official records book 13365, pages 1611 through 1612. public records of Poke County, Florida, and terminating, abandoning, and releasing those reserved utility
easements in favor of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, lying east of lots 1 2 3 4 5 and six, north of lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, and south of lots 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 of block three of the over street subdivision is recorded in platbook 12, page 8, public records
of Poke County, Florida, and located between Avenue D southwest to Avenue E Southwest, line between 2nd Street Southwest and Third Street Southwest, and as more specifically described in city winter haven resolutions R-28 and R-22-07 recorded in official records book 4517
pages 0741 through 0746 and official records book 12131 pages 1505 through 158 public records of Poke County Florida respectively providing for the administrative correction of scrier's error severability and providing for an effective date thank you >> thank you
>> that was a long title tonight >> like a commercial cigarettes or something. >> Feel like I just bought a car. >> Sounds some sort of pharmaceutical. >> Mayor and commissioners, uh, Breeze SP
LLC constructed a 102 unit multif family project known as the Breeze Apartments. As part of the project, certain sanitary infrastructure improvements related to sewer lines was required. To allow for operation and maintenance of this infrastructure on private property, a
utility easement is required. This new utility easement will replace existing public utility easements on the property. On May 15th, 2024, the developer submitted the executed new easement documents to the city for review and acceptance. The new utility
easement was reviewed by the city's engineering services division and found to be adequate for acceptance by the city commission. In addition, Breeze SPE LLC has asked that the city vacate, terminate, and abandoned abandon the city reserved perpetual utility
easements. There's no direct financial impact to the city with this request as depicted on your uh image that's before you. Subject property is noted in red. The easements to be vacated are in black and the easements to be accepted are in
blue and those are outside of the footprint of the new building that was constructed. Staff recommends city commission approve resolution R25-51 which vacates, terminates, and abandons any reserve utility easements in favor of the city by virtue of the adoption of city resolutions R28
and R2207 and affirmatively accepts the conveyance of the new utility easement recorded in 2024 and authorizes the city manager to take all further actions related thereto. Thank you. >> Thank you commissioners. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. Motion to approve resolution
R-25-51. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open the public hearing, and when wishing to speak to R2551 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. Opposes by the same sign. Hearing none, resolution R2551 is adopted. Okay. Ordinance is first reading. We will not be voting on these
tonight. The second reading will be on November the 24th. Ordinance 02530, which you read by Tylon, the city attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-30, an ordinance amending ordinance 23-25, the 2035 Winter Haven comprehensive plan
2035 future land use map series by revising the future land use map series by assigning neighborhood support future land use to one annexed parcel, repealing all ordinances in conflict here with providing for the administrative correction of scrimmers errors, providing for severability, and providing an effective date. The general
location is a parcel generally located at the southwest corner of the intersection of 8th Street Northwest US Highway 17 and Avenue X Northwest. The area covered by this request is 0.34 plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. Mayor and
commissioners Candace Ducking and Lone Etienne petitioners request the city assign neighborhood support future land use and commercial highway C3 zoning district to an annexed parcel located at the southwest corner of the intersection of 8th Street Northwest US Highway 17
and Avenue X Northwest. This property was annexed into the city July 28th, 2025 and the petitioner intends to develop the property with a 3600 square foot adult daycare center. This request is a smallcale future land use amendment. So review by the Florida Department of Commerce and other state
and local agencies is not required. The property is surrounded by multif family residential to the north across Avenue X Northwest. The city's lakeside memorial cemetery to the east across 8th Street Northwest or US Highway 17. A vacant parcel located in unincorporated Pulk County and a motel to the south and
single family residential located in unincorporated Pulk County to the west. table within your pack shows packet shows the expected potential demands on supporting infrastructure for water, wastewater and roadway uh
transit. The uh based on that analysis, there is supporting water, sewer and transportation infrastructure sufficient with sufficient capacity to support the request at this time. However, final concurrency determination shall be made at the time the property receives site plan approval and is developed prior to
annexation. The Pulk County future land use of the subject parcel was residential low or RL4. The requested neighborhood support future land use is consistent with the property's location along an arterial highway corridor and city designations in the area. The city C3 or the
requested C3 zoning district is consistent with the neighborhood support future land use designation. There's no direct financial impact to the city with this request. These are uh these this request and the AC accompanying zoning
request were initiated by an application by a private party. Therefore, they are exempt from uh requiring a business impact estimate. The planning commission heard this item at its October 7th, 2025 meeting and recommended approval. One
member of the PO public spoke with concerns about access and traffic and I believe uh Mr. The Labby commented on that during your staff or your agenda review last week. Staff's conclusions are that the assignment of the neighborhood support future land use and C3 zoning district is consistent with the property's location along an
arterial highway corridor and with developed uses and city designations in the area and there is sufficient public infrastructure capacity to accommodate the proposed development of the property at this time. Staff recommends city commission approve ordinance 025-30.
Thank you. >> Thank you. We will have the second reading on 11:24 or so 2531 which you read by Tyl City attorney. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-31 an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of Winter
Haven Florida by assigning commercial-highway C3 zoning district to an annex parcel repealing all ordinances in conflict with providing for the administrative correction of scrier errors providing for severility and providing an effective date. General location at parcel generally located at
the southwest corner of the intersection of 8th Street Northwest US Highway 17 and Avenue X Northwest. The area covered by this request is 0.34 plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, decision manager, >> mayor and commissioners. This is the uh
companion ordinance that speaks specifically to zoning. Staff recommends this be advanced to second reading as well. >> Okay. Second reading 11:24 ordinance 2532 which read by Tyler Lonley, city attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-32, an ordinance
amending ordinance 23-25, the 2035 Winter Haven Comprehensive Plan 2035 future land use map series by revising the future land use map series by assigning institutional future land use to one annex parcel, repealing all ordinances in conflict with providing for the administrative correction of
scriven errors, providing for severability, and providing an affected date. General location 500 4th Street East Wanita. The area covered by this request is 13.89 89 plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Mayor and commissioners, the city of
Winter Haven is the petitioner in this case and request the city commission assign institutional future land use and public institutional or PI zoning district to an annex parcel located at 5004th Street East Wanita adjacent to the city's wastewater treatment plant 3.
This property was annexed into the city July 28th, 2025 and was originally purchased by the city for future use by the city's water department. This request contains a smallcale future land use amendment and review by the Florida Department of Commerce and other state and local agencies is not
required. Subject property is surrounded by vacant preservation lands to the north, the city's wastewater treatment plan three to the east, and vacant land zone for residential to the south and to the west. As there is no current plan to develop the property, no additional demands on public infrastructure are
expected at this time. Prior to annexation, the PK County future land use for the subject parcel was residential suburban RS. The requested institutional future land use is consistent with the property's ownership by the city of Winterhaven and location adjacent to the city's wastewater
treatment plant. The requested PI zoning district is consistent with the institutional future land use designation. There's no direct financial impact to the city with these requests. A business impact estimate was provided out of an abundance of caution since this request is originating from the
city of Winter Haven. Planning Commission on October 7th, 2025 voted to recommend approval of this request. No members of the public spoke. Staff's review uh yields the following conclusions. The assignment of institutional future land use and PI
zoning district is consistent with the property's ownership and its location adjacent to the city's wastewater treatment plant and with developed uses and city designations in the area. And there is as there is no current plans to develop the property. There are no additional demands on public
infrastructure expected at this time. At time of any future redevelopment of the property, a concurrency determination would be made at the time the property receives site plan approval and is developed. Staff recommends ordinance 025-32
be advanced to second reading. Thank you. >> Thank you. Ordinance 02533. Would you read by title only city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-33 an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of Winter Haven Florida by assigning public
institutional PI zoning district to an annex parcel repealing all ordinances in conflict here with providing for the administrative correction of scrier's errors providing for severability and providing an effective date general location 500 4th Street East Wanita the area covered by this request is 13.89 89
plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. >> Mayor and commissioners, this is the companion ordinance that specifically addresses zoning and staff recommends ordinance 025-33 be advanced for second reading. >> Thank you. Ordinance 02534.
Would you read by title, city attorney? >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-34, an ordinance amending ordinance 23-25, the 2035 Winter Haven comprehensive plan by revising the future land use map series by amending the future land use on a portion of a city-owned parcel from neighborhood
suburban and neighborhood support future land uses to institutional future land use. Repealing all ordinances in conflict or with providing for the administrative correction of scriveners errors and providing an effective date general location. The subject area is generally located on the east side of Buckeye Loop Road, approximately 1,100
ft south of Oak Drive. The area covered by this request is 10.25 plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager. Mayor and commissioners, the city of Winterhaven has the petitioner requests the city amend the 2035 future land use on a portion of a city-owned parcel from neighborhood suburban and neighborhood
support future land uses to institutional future land use and to reszone a portion of a parcel from single family residential small lot R2 and conservation CN zoning districts to public institutional zoning district.
The area is located along the east side of Buckeye Loop Road and contains approximately 10.25 25 acres. In December of 2023, the city purchased 370 plus or minus acres generally located along the east side of Buckeye Loop Road with the intent of creating a surface
water storage and recharge area is identified in the one water master plan and as a new location for the city's water department administrative offices and work area. The water department proposes to develop a 36,750 ft administrative office building, a
24,699 ft warehouse, and associated parking areas on a 10.25 acre campus. Future land use request is considered smallcale uh as an amendment and will not require review by the Florida
Commerce or other state and local agencies. Uses surrounding the subject property include woodlands and agricultural buildings to the north, woodlands and pasture land to the east and south, and woodlands and single family residential to the west across Buckeye Loop Road. The table in your
packet provides a summary of the infrastructure along this corridor specific to the project for water, wastewater, and transportation. The subject area is designated as neighborhood suburban and neighborhood
support by the 2035 future land use map. The requested institutional future land use is consistent with the subject area's proposed use as the city's water department office and warehouse facility. Additionally, the requested PI zoning district is consistent with the
requested institutional future land use and proposed use of the property. There is no direct financial impact to the city with these requests. Again, out of an abundance of caution, because this was originated and initiated by the city, a business impact estimate has
been provided as an attachment to your packet. The planning commission heard this item on October 7th and voted to recommend approval of the requests. No members of the public spoke. Staff's conclusions are as follow. The amendment to the institutional future land use is
consistent with the proposed use of the property as an administrative office and operations for the city's water department. Additionally, there are additional institutional properties located along Buckeye Loop Road within 1 half mile of the subject property which are designated as institutional.
The assignment of PI zoning is consistent with the requested institutional future land use and the proposed use of the property as an administrative office and operations area for the city's water department. And at this time, there is sufficient water, wastewater, and roadway capacity to support development of the proposed
water department office and warehouse facility. Staff recommends the city commission advance item or ordinance 025-34 for second reading. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Ordinance 02535
would read by title only city attorney. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Ordinance number 0-25-35, an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of Haven, Florida by reszoning a portion of a city-owned parcel from single family residential small lot R2 and conservation CN zoning districts to
public institutional PI zoning district repealing all ordinances in conflict with providing for the administrative correction of scribes and providing an effective date. The general location, the subject area is generally located on the east side of Buckeye Loop Road, approximately 1,100 ft south of Oaker
Drive. The area covered by this request is 10.25 plus or minus acres. Thank you. >> Thank you, city manager, >> mayor, commissioners. This is a companion ordinance that addresses the zoning for the subject property just discussed and staff recommends ordinance 025-35
be advanced for second reading. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. We will have our second reading on uh November the 24th. New business RFP 2537. Take that, city manager.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On August 11th, 2025, the city issued a request for proposals for the local government area of opportunity or LGAO project designation. Two submissions were received and subsequently ranked and voted on by a subcommittee of the city's
affordable housing advisory committee. Blue Sky Communities project known as Destiny Place was ranked first and recommended for the LGO designation. This recommendation was posted October 21st with no protests received in response. Destiny Place is a project is
a project is a joint venture between Blue Sky Communities and Trinity Worship Center International Ministries, Inc. under the name Blue Trinity Place LLC. Pursuant to this recommended LGAO designation, the city is supporting the
9% lowincome housing tax credit or LIHTC application for the Destiny Place development consisting of 88 multifamily units. Blue Sky Communities and Trinity Worship Center will submit the application for funding to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Inc. this
month. Blue Sky Communities has requested a loan of $610,000, which will be made available through the Winter Haven Affordable Housing Trust Fund. If this project is awarded the 9% LIHTC, staff will present an agreement or
contract at a future city commission meeting for review and acceptance by the city commission. Staff recommends the city commission award the LGAO designation to Blue Trinity Place LLC and authorize the city manager designate to execute the LGAO form and take any
and all additional actions necessary thereto. Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Motion to approve the recommendation of award RFP 2537. >> Thank you. I will close the commission
meeting open public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this new business item 13A may do so at this time. Seeing none, close the public hearing. We open the commission meeting. Is there any discussion?
All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I I opposes by the same sign hearing. None. RFP 2537 is approved. Um
item 13B is the certification of the election. Is that going to be the city clerk? >> Yes, sir. >> Vanessa. >> Yes, sir. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. The city of Winter Haven held its regular election for commission seat number four, currently occupied by Commissioner Dancler, and seat number
five, currently occupied by Commissioner Dawson, last Tuesday, November 4th. For seat number four, Matthew Crowley received 1,731 votes, Chad Davis 244 votes, and Manuel
Fana 486 votes. Since no candidate received a majority, which is at least 50% plus one of the votes cast, a runoff election will be necessary between Matthew Crowley and Chad Davis to take place on Tuesday, December 2nd. The candidate who wins this runoff will be
sworn in at the regular city commission meeting on Monday, January 12th, 2026 at 6 p.m. for seat number five. Clifton Dison received 2240 votes and Melinda Eve Caligritis received 2,160
votes. Since Commissioner Dawson received a majority of the votes cast, a runoff election is not necessary. He will also be sworn in at the regular city commission meeting on Monday, January 12th, 2026 at 6 PM. So, the canvasing board members for this
election are Mayor Birdong, Mayor Prom Yates, Commissioner Dancler, and Commissioner Mercer, who have attended the following election related meetings. On October 28th at 10:30, they attended a logic and accurac accuracy test. On
Monday, November 3rd at 11:00 a.m., they attended a meeting to authorize the preparation of votebymail ballots received. On Tuesday, November 4th, which was election night, at 5:00 p.m., they canvased vote by mail and provisional ballots and reviewed unofficial results of the election. On
Thursday, November 6, at 5:05 p.m., they certified the election and also met to randomly select a race, which was seat number five, and precinct 3:24, which is the Winterhaven Senior Adult Center for a post-election certification
of voting system audit, which will be happening on Wednesday, November 12th at 2 p.m. and staff recommends the city commission approve the certification for the November 4th, 2025 regular election for seat numbers four and five. And I'll
be passing down the certificate documents for all of you to sign with the exception of commission commissioner who needs to fill out a form 8B memorandum of voting conflict. So I'll pass that down. That's for your signature. >> Okay, I entertain a motion.
I'll make a motion, Mr. Mayor, to approve the certification of all of the numbers on the voting on election, the past election. >> And what I just want to point out what I passed down to you, I had also emailed to you last week, which are the final
official results. >> I'll sign. I don't have to sign a full motion, do I? >> I'm passing it down. All right. Uh, I will close the commission meeting and open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to the
certification of the election process results may do so at this time. Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. We open the city commission meeting. Is there any discussion? Only the members of the uh canvasing
board will vote on this. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Poses the certification is approved. >> Thank you. >> All right. Uh item 11 C. You going to
take that city manager or Scott or >> I'll I'll take it, sir. Thank you. >> All right. >> So, in 1997, the Florence Villa Community Development Corporation or CDC entered into a lease agreement with the city to lease the property located at 115 Avenue RO, also referred to as the
old JW Elementary School property. Since that time, there have been two extensions with the most recent having expired on February 10th, 2024. This proposed lease shall entitle the CDC to continue to utilize the se the site for the provision of certain services. The term of the lease shall commence on or
about November 11th, 2025 and coni continue through November 10th of 2026. The agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year periods provided the CDC remains in compliance with all terms and conditions herein.
Either the city or the CDC may elect not to renew by providing written notice to the other party at least 60 days prior to the expiration the initial term of any renewal. CDC the CDC shall provide the required insurance coverage is set forth in the
agreement and shall be responsible for paying all utilities associated with its use of the property. The CDC shall pay an annual fee of $1. Staff recommends the city commission approve the lease agreement with the Florence Villa Community Development
Corporation and authorize the city manager and other city officials to execute same and further authorize city manager or designate to take all necessary actions required of the city under the agreement. Thank you. >> Thank you. Entertain a motion. and I will not be voting
because I am the executive director of the Florence Villa Community Development Corporation. Entertain a motion. >> Mr. Mayor, motion to u uh authorize the Florence Villa Community Development Corporation lease agreement and
authorize the city manager to take all actions necessary. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I will close the commission meeting, open public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak to this uh lease agreement may do so at this time.
Seeing none, close the public hearing. We open the commission meeting. All those in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. >> I. >> Opposes by the same sign. Hear none. Motion carries. [Music]
All right. We're down to city commissioner le on reports. Commissioner Dler. Okay. Not a whole lot to report on other than a lot of election stuff. I'll let you guys talk about that. But um
attended the friends of the library 50-y year anniversary. It was good to be with a bunch of old friends that we had been together. I was reliving how I've been on the ball with the library for over 30 years, probably 35 years. Um,
want me to wear that? No. Uh, had a had a cake and a good time with everybody reliving a bunch of old stories. So, it was good to good to be with my friends from the friends of the library. Went to my very last arts council meeting for for the county and we had it over in the
lake in Lakeland. and also had lunch today with uh Commissioner Yates and um uh Chris uh Caprios to talk about handing the reigns over to the TDC and to the arts council and Brian's going to be an arts afficionado before you know
it. So Brian, congratulations on taking over the arts for for me and don't let me down. So that's it for me. >> Commissioner Mercer. >> Yes. Um I um attended the TPO Pope Vision Zero
um ensuring safe and efficient travel. They aim to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040. Um they're committed to making roads safer for everyone, including bicycles. So um also we had a lot of election
activity as the city clerk uh noted. Um and then um I we did a class in order to do that election uh certification and um on signatures and that was very very
interesting. You uh took a section took a test and for about four hours. So, um very interesting on um open and closed E and um where you cross your uh T's and Fs and everything. And um if you had a
curl on the end of the signature and um it was just I never realized I'd ever be doing that. So, so um that was um my week or two since the last meeting.
All right, Commissioner Dles. Uh, good evening. I was able to uh attend the planning commission uh and u also to uh be president for the Cypress Junction Montasauri
groundbreaking uh very exciting u it's going to be a just what is already shaping to be a beautiful beautiful site uh a lot of children were there and uh just a lot of great speakers who were
happy to see the day come. So, we're just excited about uh Cypress Junction and what it will bring in terms of u opportunities for youth and children and education uh for many years to come. Also would like to express my gratitude
and and thanks to uh any of you for u just the opportunity to serve the city of Winter Haven. Last two years has greatly been an honor for me to do so. Um, I can't help but remember brother JP tonight and think fondly upon him and uh
kind of one of the forces that kind of encouraged me to uh consider running for city commission. So, I'm honored to have the privilege to uh serve. Uh it was a close vote. uh want to certainly give appreciation to uh my opponent uh Miss
Caligritus and uh pray that she will stay engaged and involved in uh in serving the city in whatever way she possibly can as well. So again, thank you very much. >> All right, may I pro Tim Yates? Yeah,
just appreciated uh being part of the election process and on the canvasing board and attending all the meetings and and audits that we've got to do pre-election and post-election to ensure that um the democratic process is is
being followed and uh so was expecting to be hopefully done with that. Maybe not have a runoff next time around but looks like we got a runoff. So we'll do it all again and that that's okay. That's part of the process. um just to ease uh city attorney
Murphy's um mind because I I I saw the wheels turning over there, but uh Commissioner Dancler and I was it was a mere we did not discuss anything that potentially we could be voting on or anything of that matter. Uh it was uh
purely a an introductory of that particular TDC staff member and um all was all was above board. >> That's awesome. There were witnesses. >> Music to my ears. That's all. >> I wanted to add one thing. I did attend
the 50 years of the Friends of the Library. >> So, >> okay. Well, I didn't have too much, but boy, I had one event that just uh made my hair literally stand up on my head.
[Laughter] though it was at the theater of Winter Haven. They had over a thousand youth that were here for a national statewide conference and they were doing plays and
I mean so I got to address them in the evening before they had their uh dance and I told them to just go ahead and break a leg. That's what we would do back in my day and they fell out about that letting them know how old I was.
But uh I really enjoyed that. Um that's a great conference. um also attended the uh TPO vision zero and um the Cypress Junction uh Montasurer
School and find out that they ultimately want to go all the way up through 12th grade and uh they they also mentioned Katrina Hill is one of the uh
original people that were involved in in getting it off the ground. And uh it's been 10 years since that school opened. So it was it was a great great great
great day. And uh and finally the uh division zero that that Tracy mentioned you know um that's a lot to go
and u you know when at the location where the CDC is I've personally finally witnessed two deaths,
a 16y old and a 37 year old crossing the street. And then the other night uh there was a lady killed and it actually was a hit and run. And
um so Vision Zero is real and I I like the commercials that they that they have advertised. Um, and it's just you don't realize it,
but if you slow down five miles, the chances if you hit somebody, if you're going less than 25 miles per hour, the chances of that person surv surviving increases tenfold.
And so it's just little things that you really don't think about, but hopefully we will get to a vision zero. But it's a lot to go. But it's even if if there was only one person killed, that's still one
life. So it's it's really it's the numbers. And unfortunately, Pope County leads in that category of accidents and deaths, which for our
size, we shouldn't be in the top five, but we are. So, but any rate, um, that's all I have. City attorney. >> Uh, nothing this evening, mayor. Thank you, >> city manager. >> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to
start off by uh wishing a happy early veterans day to all of our veterans. We have a number of men and women on our workforce who served their country in the armed forces. Um certainly want to celebrate them and and so many others in our community. City offices will be
closed tomorrow in observance of Veterans Day. I'm sure there's a number of events going on around town and hopefully the cold weather tomorrow will not put a damper on that. A couple events coming up I want to make sure that you are all aware of. Tomorrow evening, Hartford Winter Haven will have
their annual um banquet at H Heartland Church. I understand a number of you are maybe in attendance at that. That is one of our partners that we work with at at your strong leadership to try and address homelessness among school age
children here in Winter Haven. Specifically, Thursday morning, uh, at the Rich Theater, we'll have the state of the city address, doors open at 8:00 a.m. with the program to commence at 8:30 and we intend to have everybody out by 10:00
a.m. unless they have a whole bunch of questions that entertain us and then we'll stay as long as they wish. Uh, Friday evening, if you happen to be in downtown, Main Street Winter Haven will have the wine, chocolate, and cheese annual event. So that will be a great
event to start getting people into this holiday season. A lot of activity, people milling about our streets downtown. A phenomenal event that Anita Strang and the folks at Main Street Winter Haven put on. And then I wanted to share with you that I will be traveling uh at some point over the
weekend. I'm not sure exactly when just yet, to Tallahassee to uh pay our respects to Lester Abger. Uh his memorial service will be Sunday late afternoon. So I intend to represent the city at that. So that's all I have for this evening. Thank you.
>> All right, deputy city manager. Nothing this evening, sir. Thank you, >> city clerk. >> Thank you. Thank you. As I mentioned previously, there will be a voting system post election audit this Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the supervisor of elections office and a quorum of the
canvasing board is required. At this meeting, the S SOE staff will be auditing seat number five and the Winter Haven Senior Adult Center, which is precinct 324. And this seat and precinct number were randomly selected at the last week's canvasing board meeting. I
have >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I was t is this Lester's funeral or you just want to pay respect? >> Yeah, his funeral is um Sunday. Uh it's a it's a celebration of life from 4 to 7 Sunday afternoon. Is it do you think flowers would be appropriate? Because
I'd love for us as a commission to send flowers. I'm happy to throw in money if that's what it takes. But >> let me let me reach out to his his wife and and see what their their requests are with that. >> It' be a nice touch if we if we had representation up there for that >> and we'll take care of that if that's so
desired. >> And for the benefit of the audience, Lester Abger was the city's lobbyist for since 2016. So just shy of 10 years. Deputy city clerk, you have anything? All right. Emergency matter is not
received for the agenda. Motion to adjourn. So move. This