Good afternoon. I'd like to call to order this agenda review. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Dolison >> here. >> Commissioner Mercer >> here. >> Commissioner Dansler here. >> Mayor Prom Yates here. >> Mayor Bird Song >> here.
>> Okay. We will have a invocation and then a pledge of allegiance. We have Uh no presentations tonight. We have the uh strategic plan presentation. We'll do that at the end of the meeting. We have
no de developments of note. We'll deal with the minutes comments from the audience. So then we have an ordinance second reading and since we've heard this at least twice uh >> no changes on any of those items, sir.
>> All right. Commissioners 9A 02536. Any questions, comments? Ordinance 02537. Any questions, comments? 0239. Any question, comments?
02540. Any questions or comments? 02541. Any questions or comments? 02542. Any questions or comments? All right, then we will move on to the consent
agenda. City manager, would you just give us a review of the uh items on the consent agenda, please? >> Yes, sir. Um item 10A is a Florida Department of Transportation road closure permit application. This is specific to the Martin Luther King Jr.
parade that will be held s on Saturday, January 17th. You can see the parade route in red and the detours in uh blue. This is a routine item that we need to have commission authorization to submit to DOT for the permit.
>> Okay. >> Um item 10B. This is pertaining to uh the Ritz Theater and Theater Winterhaven's operation of that site. So, we had done a the city had executed a use agreement
with Theater Winter Haven in August of 20 August of 2024 uh that updated their use of the the areas they have at Chainlakes Park. And then there was an addendum done that same evening that uh included the additional use of the Ritz Theater property. In August of this year, I
authorized an extension of that of the term of that uh use agreement with the Ritz Theater for an additional 10 years, taking it to 2044 in order for the theater to meet eligibility requirements for grant funding from the Florida Department of State. As you know, um you
have to show some long-term um operational agreement when you go after those state funds. So, that's the purpose of that. It doesn't change anything else. it just extends that that makes them eligible for those grants. There's no financial
implications with this. However, that doing uh that extended term may provide them opportunity to pursue additional grant funding for programming and physical improvements at the property. So, this is a ratification of that use agreement. Second addendum
item 10 C is travel and training for Commissioner Mercer uh pertaining to the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program CHNP. Uh their committee meetings for 2026 in January, May, September. All those take place in Port
Charlotte and uh her travel and training will be accounted for within the city commission cost center. 10 D is CRA board reappointment. So uh within the articles
and bylaws in section 3B uh states that the governing body shall appoint members of the CRA board for terms of four years. Seat two is presently up for reappointment. The current occupant of that seat, Dr. James Thurelco, has indicated in writing his desire to continue to serve for an additional
four-year term. So that is a recommendation to authorize or appoint Dr. Thrral to that uh continuation of that seat. Item 10E is associated with the Edward Burn
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant or the JAG grant program. uh residual funding for that grant program becomes available when unallocated or unspent money from an agency goes back to the granter and can then be reapplied for by other agencies. In September of this year, a
proposal letter was sent to D FDLE for upgrading the Winterhaven Police Department's body armor and requesting to be awarded JAG residual funding to sub subsidize the needed equipment. In October, FDLE notified the police
department that they had approved the request facilitating the purchase of 95 units, uh, enough that would outfit all active officers. This is a JAG reimbursement grant. Up to the award amount of $198,395.
If the cost should be in excess of that, any additional cost would be paid from the police department's uniform budget. So this is a great opportunity to enhance the protective equipment of the men and women of the Winter Haven Police Department through JAG grant authorized
by FDLE uh 10F. So Florida statutes allow law enforcement agencies to seize property that's used in the commission of a felony after successful forfeite process either use it or sell it. Proceeds from such sales must be placed in a special
account in and then used exclusively for enhancing law enforcement but cannot go towards regular budgeted operations. Winter Haven Police Department established a forefe account where these funds are deposited. The current balance of that account is $194,53.84.
The department desires to use these funds to purchase 125 Safari Land Solless paddle holsters. U this will be uh compatible with the uh the Glock 47 pistols that we're awaiting delivery on
now. Um and it will also be suitable for various duties where they may that they may be required to perform. It's a a different holster than the belt holster that our uniformed officers wear. it is a um doesn't require the full belt. So when they're doing uh other details
where they're not in that full uniform, they have that available to them. They'll also purchase two Skyo R10 patrol drones that will be added to the current fleet. Uh this will increase our uh drone fleet up to uh to a number of
five. These add additional drones will only be capable of daytime operations. However, uh cost associated with the paddle holsters is not expected to exceed $6,891.25 and for the drones, the estimated cost
is not to exceed $39,798.40. This is not something that requires commission action, but because it's enhancing our law enforcement, wanted to include it on the agenda uh forformational purposes only. Do we have the staff that's the manning
manning of those drones? Is that on the police side now or is that on the IT side? Just out of curiosity. Have Chief Vance Monroe respond to that, sir. >> Okay. Uh mayor, commissioners. Yes. Uh the manic of the the of the drones will
be done with the police department. We have a uh we're going to be sending several of them. We just uh selected a new group of individuals to um go to school to be trained and then once they're trained they're going to be deployed through each patrol shift at
which time we'll have a full complement u of drones that can deploy at any time throughout the city. >> Item 10G on your agenda. Uh this is specific to the Bradco Farms uh project. As you're aware, we entered into an
interim agreement with RES uh to do site reconnaissance and site assessment evaluations. Section seven of the Endangered Species Act in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Services, and the Ottabon Society
mandates that species surveys be conducted at the beginning of the calendar year. These surveys must document and report the effects determinations for several species to include the Florida panther, the crested caracara, Everglades snail kite, eastern
black rail, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Florida bonneted bat, sand skinks, gopher tortoises, sandill cranes, Florida burrowing owl, and the eastern indigo snake. The water department has requested res to prepare task order
three which is broken into three subtasks. Task 3A1 is for the protected species surveys and effects determinations. Depending upon that outcome, uh, additional surveying and monitoring may be required, which would be done under
task A2, which was is specific to the bonneted bat acoustic survey and um, additional task order A3, which is the caracara survey. So upon approval, work can proceed at the beginning of the 2026 calendar year and final reports can be
completed and accepted by the respective agencies. There are funds budgeted for the first part, phase 3A1 or task 3A1, $36,348. If task orders 3A2 and 3A3 are required,
funding is available within the utilities budget to cover these costs and will be will require prior authorization of a change order uh before proceeding with that work. If all of the outlined tasks are required, the total cost could range between $170,000
and $35,000. It's all contingent upon what those initial surveys uh reveal in the in that property. So, the recommendation with this is to authorize city manager or designate to enter into task order three
um and approve change order two with res for task order 3A1 and then approve additional change orders that may be necessary to complete that survey work. >> Any questions? I have a question uh T. So
under the uh first task order that will I don't quite understand how that will uh make it either necessary
or not necessary to do the other two. >> I mean I don't I don't >> I'll ask Mr. bombard to who's more familiar with the full process to clarify that. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Fishers. Um
the initial evaluation um we'll take a look at the city manager said all the endangered species that may have habitat in the area. Two the two species that have most concern but are not prevalent in the area is the carrot and the bat.
um Rez and their staff will be working with FWC and um Bishop to make the determination uh if any had been present in the area in prior in prior areas or
in that area specifically and we expect a no effect from that because there's nobody has that we've been aware of that we've been in contact with has ever seen a car care this Okay. So, are you saying that the second
phase would be the identifying of them? >> So, no, we'll we'll we'll we will do the initial evaluation in task one for task order three. >> Um and that will work with with
res and wildlife staff to to see if there's any evidence that there is somewhere. If they find some evidence that there has been some there, then we'll have to do a larger >> the final one. >> Yes. Okay, I get it. Anyone else? Okay,
thank you. >> So, now we're down to our resolutions. Uh, R2552, city manager. So, mayor and commissioners, if if it's okay with the commission, I'd like to address 11 A, 11
C, and 11D together because they all kind of flow together in the in the way we issue out resolution numbers. 53 pertains to a different um area of town. So, I'm going to try and hit A, C, and D with this one description. So this is
all specific to the Harmony area out on the western most side of Lake Eloise. You can see from the depiction on the map. So as part of the development of the Harmony neighborhood, the developer FourStar envisioned a re a realignment of West Lake Eloise Drive to improve
safety, increase the developable area east of the roadway, and improve the overall aesthetic. With the realignment of Wake West Lake Eloise Drive now complete, Fourstar is seeking to clean up old rights of way and easements to facilitate the ongoing development of
their project. So specifically, there are three requests. First one is the vacation of West Lake Eloise Drive rightway. So fourstar request city vacate, abandon, and renounce and disclaim the public's right into and upon a 40 to 60 foot wide approximately
3,300 ft uh long section of improved right ofway commonly known as Westlake Eloise Drive. So this is the old road that was there that has been closed uh since the that project got underway and and the new road has reopened. The developer seeks this vacation of the
rightway to facilitate future development of the Harmony on Lake Eloise subdivision phase 3B and phase 5. The new road realignment is currently open and operating as West Lake Eloise Drive. The old section has been blocked
off and is currently not utilized by the public. So to clean up a remnant section of the rightway located adjacent to the Valhalla subdivision, staff extended the vacation request to include an additional 230 ft. The um the second
item is the vacation of a public utility easement. So, back in 2006, the city was granted a 45 foot wide roughly 4,000 foot long north south perpetual easement to excavate, construct, and maintained underground
water and sanitary sewer lines uh or other underground works of or utilities of a municipal or public nature. Fourstar Real Estate Group has arranged for the relocation and abandonment of all utilities within that easement and is requesting the city vacate and
release the easement again to allow for the construction and development of Harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3B and phase 5. City did contact local utility companies as well as the engineering and utilities departments. No objection letters were received. As part of the
redevelopment of this land, any abandoned or inactive utilities located within the easement area will be removed at the developer's expense. And you can see this is basically the same corridor that the road was in. So, we're not only vacating the rightway, but also the
associated utility easement that would be in that same corridor. The final item is the acceptance of improvements dedicated by Harmony Phase 3A plat. So fourstar requests the city commission accept certain improvements and dedications in favor of the public city
of Winter Haven as notated on the plat for harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3A. Subdivision consists of 33.19 plus or minus acres. It does not contain any building lots um but there are five
common lots consisting of storm water retention and open space. However, the subdivision dedicates to the city a 100 foot wide right ofway containing the realignment of West Lake Eloise Drive. All the drainage conveyances and storm water management areas will be managed
by the CDD. So again, you can see the new alignment of West Lake Eloise Drive depicted along the western side and then the balance of those larger portions of the parcel are those common lots. In August of 2024, the commission
approved resolution 2435 platting harmony on Lake Eloise phase 3A. However, certain improvements were not complete at that time. Fourstar submitted a performance bond in the amount of 3,380,9221 to guarantee completion of the required infrastructure and improvements. Recent
inspection by staff found that all incomplete improvements are now complete in the roadway, water, wastewater, and reuse utilities can be accepted by the city. So these are three different resolutions. The first one speaks to the original rightway. The second one speaks
to the easement that was associated with that rightway. And the third one speaks to the improvements and acceptance of those by the city. >> I have a question here. It's on the uh easements. We do not have any utilities
in any of those easements and don't plan on having >> all those have been relocated um and abandoned. >> It's difficult to give up easements especially if you ever plan to do
something again in that area. So >> or you have utilities in those. But the ma the master plan they has going to put houses on top of where that is now, right? So Derek, you want to speak to that please?
>> Yes, correct. That's part of their I believe it's 3B and in phase five of their project >> and presumably they'll be required to give us easements for utilities as part of the planning process. >> I've got a question Tracy just from my
own edification. If if we I understand a point about giving up um easements. You don't want to do that. But if we already have lines in another space, why would we be compelled to want to keep the easements if we already have the lines? >> Because you don't know what's going to happen in the future as far as
developments or as far as anything. >> But even we build houses on top of the old easements. >> Well, that's what I'm asking. I want to make sure that they've relocated any utilities, okay, >> out of that area and that we don't plan to ever have any >> in that area again. >> Right. Okay. Because once we give it up
and you have to buy easements. >> Oh, I know. I don't want to give up give them up either. But I mean, if we're putting houses on them, I don't know why we'd keep them, particularly if we build other roads. >> Just making sure. >> Yeah. Yeah, I got you. Okay, I understand. >> Anyone else? >> Questions? >> I just wonder t why uh
instead of those being consecutive, >> it's just the way that they got issued out. We we keep a chronology of of resolution numbers that the clerk's office issues out to us and it's it's the timing in which they come. >> No, I'm just wondering because you got
those three and then you got >> Yeah, >> 11B >> just doesn't seem to fit in there. But then I can jump to 11B if you would like. >> All right, go ahead. >> Okay, this one's probably a little easier. Um
so to serve this uh this is up in um the old Lucern Park Road area. Uh the Lucern Lake Lucern subdivision to serve the subdivision an existing 50-foot unnamed unimproved rightway extending from old
Lucern Park Road was improved to city standards for public use. As this platted rightaway was already in existence when Lake Lousern 2 was platted in 2022, it was not included in the subdivision plat. Therefore, it was
not officially named. So, the unnamed roadway connects to Green Pass, which is a short right ofway stub out platted as part of the Lake Lucern phase 6 subdivision. You can see Grepen Pass at the top there. Just comes basically the
extent of of that those two lots that are adjacent to it. Everything that you see in blue was this old, unimproved, unnamed right ofway. Um, Pulk County E911 addressing recently contacted the city regarding the need to formally name that unnamed roadway. Uh, since it
connects to the existing Green Pass, it was determined this is the best name to assign to it as it represents an extension of that road. Additionally, there are nine houses accessing this roadway. They are going to be located on the to the right above Engleberg Street.
Um, those nine houses each were previously assigned a Grepen Pass address. So, they already have that. So, there's no impact to changing addresses uh upon putting a name on that road. Uh, should this resolution be approved by the
commission, Pulk County E911 addressing will notify the emergency response agencies. The addressing office will also coordinate the posting of appropriate roadway signs with our streets and drainage division uh if approved. the this is um will have just
a small financial impact that associated with covering the cost of adding proper street name signage at the intersection of old Lucern Park Road which will be accounted for within our streets budget from their signed materials budget. >> All right, continue.
>> Okay. >> All right. Resolution 10E, I'm sorry, 11E, uh, resolution 2556. So, let me start off by saying that the city does not have a formal procedure or
policy for the naming of facilities in recognition of individuals who've made significant contributions to Winter Haven through service and impact. Our most recent facility namings, however, considered the considered and approved by the commission were those for the Ruben Williams Sports Complex, the James
School Boy Tugerson baseball fields, which are at the Williams Sports Complex, and the Otis Bird Song Gymnasium, which will be housed within the new and improved Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center. Those were approved via resolution R2404
in January of 2024. In 2017, the city began construction on its new state-of-the-art tennis and pickle ball facility. Uh, this involved raising the entirety of the former tennis center, and the new Winter Haven Tennis Center officially opened in May uh, 2018.
Continuing on, having been elected to the city commission during special election held in April of 2013 and having been reelected unopposed in 2013, 2017, and 2023. Commissioner Dansler is now the third longest tenur
commissioner, having served 12 years and eight months and has served in the role of mayor for eight years, which is longer than any other mayor in Winter Haven's history. For clarification, the only two individuals that have served longer on the city commission are Mayor Dan uh Mayor Birdong and former mayor
and city commissioner Charles Conn. Um on August 25th of this year, Commissioner Dancler announced that he would not seek reelection. Thus, he will officially leave office January 12th, 26. through his service as mayor and city commissioner. Commissioner Dancler
has been a strong supporter of improvements associated with city parks and recreation facilities and was a driving catalyst and advocate in securing the funding needed for the Winter Haven Tennis Center and also being directly involved as a city commission liaison during its design and
construction. Resolution 2556 would officially rename the current Winterhaven Tennis Center as the Bradley T. Dancler Tennis Center in recognition of his service to the citiz citizens of Winterhaven as a city commissioner and unwavering advocate for recreational facilities, programs, and opportunities.
Uh there's minimal cost associated with this simply just that that would be associated with changing the uh lettering on the entryway signage. Um and that would be absorbed within the current year's budget for parks, recreation, and culture.
>> Okay. 11F >> 11F is R2557. This is a reappointment of members to the Winter Haven Affordable Housing Advisory Committee or the AHACK, the bylaws of which state that members shall be appointed for two-year terms. Terms
begin January 1st and end on December 31st. There's no limit to the number of subsequent terms that may be served. So, the following members terms expire December 31st of 2025. Those are listed within your fact sheet. Mark Ferrer,
Carlos Nua, Lisa Watkins, Brad Bey, Hattie Wilson, Ed Smith, and Abdul Alcatib. All seven members have expressed their desire to be reappointed to the AHACK and have submitted the appropriate reappointment forms to the clerk. Uh if they are reappointed, their
terms would commence January 1st of 26 and expire December 31st of 2027. There's no financial impact. However, failure to appoint and maintain an active AHACK may delay or eliminate future funding of the SHIP program.
>> U, Mr. Mayor, can I say something about that real quick? I've been serving on Ahack now for a few years, and of course, I'm not going to be next year. One of you guys will be taking my place. I just want to encourage you to really um buy into this committee because we've really got this thing cooking on all
cylinders now and we're doing a lot of good stuff for people that um need down payment assistance and repair of homes and we're and we're spending all this money we're getting from the state and it's just really working well. But they really really really do appreciate having a commissioner at the meeting.
And I actually got appointed on the committee so I could vote because we were having problems getting a quorum. may going forward that's not going to be a problem. So you may or may not be appointed to actually serve to vote. I would encourage you to do so, but just having you there standing up for everybody, pushing this thing forward is
making a world of difference in people's lives that uh that otherwise couldn't afford um repair to their house or first-time home assistance. So I'm just putting that plea out there. Whoever takes my position, if they want to talk about it, I can get coach you up a little bit on what's going on. But you got some great staff with with who we
have now. It's going and this thing's working good like it's supposed to and it's how the how it's envisioned and it's working well. So whoever takes my place uh please keep it going and if you need any help or want to talk through it, I'll be glad to do that with you. So Mr. Mayor, I have an interest in the uh
in serving if possible. So I would love to have the chance and opportunity to uh serve on that. >> All right. as a leazison for the AA >> and we'll do liaison work that January >> we'll do liaison once the new um uh you
reorganize certain positions are associated with the mayor's role and shuffling of different liaison assignments at that time >> yeah I'm just putting that out there that's all >> and there there's a we'll get to it in their new business but uh consistent with commissioner Dancler's comments the
Ahack's um incentive strategy report is on here as well. So, we'll give some more intel on that. Okay. Um item 11G, this is R 2558. This pertains to the unsolicited proposal for
a qualifying project pursuant to section 255.065 of Florida statutes. So, this is a the next step in discussion from Monday a week ago. um hit the highlights of the
of the fact sheet. It's very consistent with what we presented at uh at last city commission meeting and I'll ask the city attorney to add in where where he have may may have additional information that's pertinent. But on October 13th,
city received an unsolicited proposal from 610 for the construction of a 292 space parking structure as as previously discussed section 255.065 065 of Florida statutes, which is also known as the P3
statute, governs public private partnerships in the process by which proposals are received as a means by which public entities can deliver projects that serve a public benefit in a more timeefficient and cost-effective manner. Uh the the project as proposed
is a qualifying project as defined by the P3 statute. the the proposer, the unsolicited proposer uh did submit a $25,000 application fee uh which is provided for
in that P3 statute to cover the city's costs associated with review of the proposal and and subsequent construction plans as well as any associated construction inspection services and related costs. The proposal details in general the
proposer's intent to design, construct, and deliver the completed parking structure to the city. Uh that pro that structure is proposed to be constructed on property currently owned by Urban Action LLC. Uh of which the proposer is
a 50% owner. Uh you heard from uh Steve Caligritus who uh spoke at the meeting the other evening is um I think the the controlling partner within that property is required by the statute. The city commission conducted the first duly
noticed public meeting on November 24th, provided opportunity for all affected public entities and members of the public to provide comments on the unsolicited proposal for the city commission's consideration. In accordance with the statute, at your
second duly noticed public meeting, which is scheduled for December 8th, city commission is afforded the opportunity to make certain findings in order to determine that the proposal is in the public's interest. As such, resolution R2558
has been prepared uh and addresses the following. the benefits to the public, the financial structure and the economic efficiencies achieved by the unsolicited proposal, the qualifications and experience of the unsolicited proposer that submitted the proposal and such
entities ability to perform the project, the project's compatibility with regional infrastructure plans, and finally any public comments that were submitted at that first meeting. In that regard, the city commission must provide a statement that explains why the
unsolicited proposal should proceed and address such comments, if any. The resolution constitutes a report that includes the public interest determinations and the factors considered in making such public interest determination.
if approved. So if the if the commission approves this, the report must then be published in the Florida administrative register for at least seven days. The resolution although also authorizes the city manager to commence negotiations on
a comprehensive agreement with the unsolicited proposer detailing the respective parties rights and responsibilities to deliver a completed parking structure to the city for the use by the general public and such a comprehensive agreement will be presented to the city commission at what
would basically be a third duly noticed public meeting for consideration and approval. So there's no financial impact with actions that you will take um or consider to take at your when you you hear this in in regular session. Um any
cost associated with this would come about as a result of executing a comprehensive agreement in terms of the um the uh the resolution and what's included in your packet. So the resolution is in there is and that
includes the proposal. The unsolicited proposal is a is a component of the resolution as is the report that has to be posted within the Florida administrative register. We also provided to you a report of public
comments received. Those were uh documented by the folks that came and spoke on November 24th. of their comments and then responses to those. Um, we also received an email with additional questions that came in I
believe a day or two after that. Uh, those were also added to that as those are p public comments that were generated by them. Um, so with that, I'll offer to the city attorney if there's anything additional that needs to be clarified within the process um,
and answer questions you may have this evening in that regard. I don't I don't think there's anything specific. I think you've done a very good job of explaining the process. I would note that there is also reference to the independent uh study that was done um and discussed as well at the November
24th meeting by Walker Consultants uh as well as reference to the 2022 downtown master parking uh study that was uh also discussed and mentioned at the November 24th, 2025 city commission meeting. Um there are, as the city
manager noted, um a compendium or a compilation of the questions that were posed at the public meeting on November 24th along with the responses to those questions. There is a summary of that in the report that will get published in the Florida Administrative Register if
the commission uh authorizes and approves the resolution uh moving forward. >> Thank you. >> I got a question. This is John. This is more of a legal question as I've been noodling on this a lot since the other night. U appreciated the people coming
and speaking that did and I suspect we'll hear from some more people Monday. Um if we were to make the motion and this is this is a question for you John. If we were to make the motion >> and the motion said that we approve this
but no more than 50% of the parking places can never be leased sold committed anybody other than to the public. So you can commit half of them, but the other half will always be committed to the public going forward. And we pass that in five years or 10
years or 15 years down the road, a commission comes in behind us and wants to change that. Can they change that? >> Yes. >> That's a that's a that's an ordinance. >> Yeah. >> Well, they can change. actually what what what you've discussed would be if what what you're going to be asked to vote on December 8th is a resolution
that authorizes mixed findings that were noted and it authorizes the city manager then to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with the unsolicited proposer that articulates all the essential requirements of the project cost. I
thought we were voting >> and >> after seven days. I thought the December 8th is when we Okay. >> No, December 8th is when you would vote on the resolution making the findings that are required by the statute that this is in the public interest that you
acknowledge the ability of the proposer to deliver the project and ex endorse the method that's been proposed and also addresses the public comments that were received and the responses there too. that is included in the resolution and
then a report which is a subset of the resolution is what gets published in the Florida administrative register for seven days. You also then would authorize the city manager to negotiate a comprehensive agreement which would be the contractual agreement between the
city and 610 LLC that would then articulate all the particular all the specifics you know uh delivery timelines costs you know all of the those usual things that you would have with a construction project requiring them to have bonds and different things. Um,
>> we would not that that would not be voted on the first meeting in January. It'd be take a while to iron out that. >> Yeah, I think that's likely the case. That would probably be in February. I'm guessing maybe >> be more of a public thing. The public would could weigh on on that. >> Absolutely. >> That would be a public >> that would be at a public meeting. Yes,
sir. Yes, sir. Now, what you're talking about is um we have an ordinance 02247, I believe, is the ordinance that was recently adopted um in 2022. And you know, truth check me on that to make sure I'm saying the ordinance number correctly. But in any event, there was
an ordinance that you adopted that said that no more than 10% of a parking structure could be leased out for private spaces unless the commission determined it appropriate to do so pursuant to either a lease agreement or a developer agreement. >> Yeah.
>> So that's on the books right now. So that's the law, the the local law that that governs ordinances, as you know, can be can be changed by commission. >> Gives me pause for concern. It's like the laugh out loud guy. He's in favor of the project, but he doesn't want to not
have spaces in years to come. And I don't know how to handicap that. You know what I mean? It's like >> I think you you you handicap it to the extent that's the right word. >> Yeah. uh by you know well you you you try to ensure that by adhering to the statute or to the ordinance that you
have in the books right now and you know uh again you're one commissioner but taking the view that we're not going to be very um interested in entertaining applications or requests to allow for anything more than 10%. Um you know that
that's that's going to be a policy call that the governing body's going to have to make. I'm not sure of a way that you can bake it. >> I think that part of the motion is what I'm trying to get. >> You can if you like, >> but it won't m it won't have any teeth, >> but it it likely won't. Yeah, it it it doesn't have any Yeah, it won't have any teeth because you'd have to if you want
to do an ordinance, you got to do an ordinance and >> we undo ordinances once in a while. >> You did when you did the the the automatic increase for the utility bills when you you know, and so that happens from time to time. >> That that's just the legislative process, >> right? Commission's answer. I would
would if I could just comment further on that. I think the the ordinance that the commission amended through the one that John just referenced and forgive me I don't have the number right in front of me but the um that says you know 10% anything above
that the commission has to approve and so that puts it back upon whoever's elected at the time to evaluate those in the best interest of the community to and those are going to have to come before the commission and you're going to hear from the public we like this or
We don't like this. Um I can tell you that we looked at that there was consideration. It never came to the point of a of a 3P type project, but there was discussion of um a similar uh endeavor back when Mr. was here and I've
spoken to him since regarding that. um that was not a favorable approach that it was not going to yield but only 40 to 50 public parking spaces at the end of the day at a significant cost to the public didn't make sense. It was not a
an appropriate uh endeavor. I think in looking at I'll I'll follow the direction of the commission if you approve this and whatever guidance you give me in negotiating of things that you want to see within that. But I would I would be very hesitant to approve or
bring forward a comprehensive agreement that contemplated any lease of public spaces beyond what is presently allowable within the ordinance. The public benefit of this is the increase of 292 public parking spaces. You know,
that that number is significant in that it's about 21% of the available downtown parking within the core study area. I think that incre you know anything that would suggest oh we're going to lease back I don't see that as a as a favorable deal at the end of the day and
that's not anything that's been presented to this >> point I'm just thinking about in the future that's all and and I know I know we wouldn't do it but you know at the end of the day you have another commission up here they may do it I just want to try to save us from ourselves if we could but it doesn't sound like that's even an option so you know just
hope >> sir I'm sorry. I'm new to these. I don't know how this works back, but >> Excuse me, sir. Excuse me. Excuse me. This is a uh an agenda review for the
city commission and our process does not allow people to speak from the audience unless we call them. And so if you have something that you
would like to contribute as it relates to this particular item, you are perfectly welcome to come on Monday night and state whatever it is you want to address to the commission. That's our
process. >> Okay. because >> sir sir sir sir that's it >> all right commissioners
so I've got a question um so the owner I believe it was the the current owner of the existing parking lot that's there got up and spoke and you know I don't want to say that he threatened more or less that
something has to happen with this. You know, it's their parking lot and they don't have to let other people park. So, help me refresh my memory and and maybe it didn't come before the commission, but maybe it went through planning or something like that, but like for example, Lucille's
they don't have any assigned parking spots. So, any or or are they are they excluded from that because they're downtown on being required to have a number of spots? What I recall is that like there was a an agreement of well
lucils can use these spaces so that they have identified spaces. Can can you clarify that? >> So if there was any agreement between the property owner of the property that we're talking about and Lucille's I'm
I'm not aware if they've entered into any kind of agreement on the private side. There was no public agreement. Um any development in downtown uh in the C1 zoning district is exempt from providing off uh off- streetet you know private
parking. Um the history behind that we could go into but essentially many years ago when downtown started requiring private parking in their downtowns their downtowns were destroyed because it was covered by surface parking lots. buildings were being
demolished to create surface parking lots. Um, most communities exempt um development within their downtown district from providing property. That's why the public provides parking in downtown. Um, so there was no public
agreement. Lucille's made a business decision to locate in that location knowing that they didn't have any private parking >> uh available. And so, and I'm just kind of talking out loud here for a second, but feel free to comment on it, but I I
just I'm not a fan of threats. And and you know, maybe maybe what he did wasn't threatening, you know, but see I I took it to be that well, we can close off our parking and what everyone what is everybody going to do at that point?
Well, my counter to that I think is you know, okay, then your tenants who lease from the build the buildings from you don't have any occupants to come and park. They're going to have a tough time
staying open, I would think. So, I just, you know, and that per they're not here this evening. I assume they'll be here Monday night and seek clarity on that. But, you know, just like I don't I that's how I took it. May
maybe I'm wrong, but um I don't know if it's as much of a threat as much as a fact, but uh uh statement obvious that uh you know it it is uh a property that perhaps
would be developed in some manner in some form or fashion if not uh for this purpose but for some other purpose in the future. Therefore, you know, it would uh not be available to uh others
uh in the area to uh to utilize. Uh I um I think that's kind of how I kind of received that. I think it did come off perhaps as uh you know, because it was connected to this situation that that you know, it's almost like you were kind
of being uh somewhat pushed into it a little bit. But I think that was strategy that they utilized. But uh I I thought that might have been challenging from that standpoint. You know, uh I don't know if that person was the actual owner or not. Uh but I thought he was
speaking to just to that aspect of it. I don't know if that was the owner speaking for that. >> Just something to take into consideration. I think you know as we go into further discussions on Monday night, I'm sure that the room here will be full and probably overflow. So just something to
kind of take into consideration, you know, as as presentations and discussions continue. Um I had another question. Um the so I know we we designated that bond that we did several years back 4.5
specifically for the parking garage or event you know a parking garage at some point downtown and then the remainder is going to come from surplus and then also from transportation. How is our transportation fund look after a distribution of I think it was what
three or four million is going to come from transportation. How does that fund I I guess I could I know it's online now and I could go up and do the math but just asking that question just you know once we disperse those funds how does that fund look at that point?
>> I'm not in a position to give you a exact answer on that I can certainly work with finance to get you that. Let me I do want to clarify one thing. the when the bond was done, there was a um CJ, I believe it was a $5 million
inclusion within the bond for a parking structure. Bonds require that you spend down that money within a certain time frame. there was other construction funds that were appropriated for a separate project that we could advance
quicker because we didn't obviously didn't have a location for a parking structure and to not run a foul of bond restrictions. We used the bond dollars for that other project, took the funding that had been earmarked for that other project and put it to the parking structures. So
basically just removed the time restriction on when you'd have to spend down your parking garage money. So, it's it originated as a bond, but it's not doesn't have any bond restrictions on it at this time. It's at about 4.5 million right now because of improvements that
we had to do structurally to the existing parking garage. So, that's just a little clarity on that. Um, in the in the construction fund, there's surplus dollars that are in there that that come into play. And then in the um logistics
parkway project, that's the other primary source as you remember that project was awarded uh during this calendar year and we had anticipated the cost associated with that being significantly higher uh than what the bids came in at and that provided the
savings there. Um there I can tell you there's there's funds that are within the transportation fund separate from this project tied to um intersection improvements on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. As you all are aware, we're we are uh continuing to negotiate and
and pursue that acquisition. Um, and then, um, you know, beyond that, I'd have to to pull a report on that to see what else is fully in there. But there's the between the construction fund and the transportation fund is where you have dollars. Just be good good to know
since we are spending, you know, a good good chunk of money where that where that fund would remain. Remember what my other uh question was or comment. So, I know I brought this up before and and shared with you my concerns about overnight parking, and I I certainly
understand the the aspect of, you know, somebody having a >> little too much fun at at one of the local drinking establishments downtown and not safe for them to drive drive home afterwards. Totally get that point of it. But my concern still remains
overnight parking in the fact that and and again let's just you know hypothetically say well our our downtown doesn't require any parking spaces for anything that that's built. So
wouldn't stop a developer, whether it's this one or the next one or or or a future one down the road that we don't even know about yet to say, "Well, I'm going to buy that parking lot and I'm going to build it up, you know, 20 40 60 80 units high and they can park in the parking garage because there's no
overnight parking uh or or there's no restriction on overnight parking. So that's still just kind of in the in the back of my mind concern of, you know, developers potentially taking advantage
of a large parking garage to create more development because they don't have any parking requirements from the city and they know that their tenants can park in that garage without any worry of, you know, ticketing or or towing or
anything like that. I I don't know how we get past that, >> but that's just one of my concerns that continues to um come up as I consider continue to consider this. And and I can't like I said, I can't vote on this item anyways, but just something that I'm trying to
deliberate and and walk through my in my head. I don't know if we've got an answer for that yet or not, but >> the the um t for uh apartments and that sort of thing, they have to have parking. It's this is
for retail businesses that that's that would be the only people that would be allowed to park there on a regular basis or am I missing something? Well, it doesn't preclude somebody from parking in there. Certainly, um, my experience, and I
can't say that this is, you know, I'm I'm specifically talking about the requirements when you build a downtown structure, just like rain dance or whatever. We could not, they could not basically
get past not having their own parking and basing it on our parking garage. Am I >> so th their requirements for parking are typically tied back to their financing that to get financing
for the construction of that multifamily use. They're going to want you to have dedicated available parking for those units because again your ability to repay your financing on that is tied to your teny. And if you if you don't
provide parking, the likelihood of having tenants is going to be greatly reduced. Now, you could have a developer come in and say, "Hey, we want to develop this project. We don't have room to park it. City commission, we'd like to enter into a development agreement
with you to park to to lease out spaces." The commission would have to make that determination if they're willing to do that or not. >> And that's what I was trying to protect us against. >> We did that. We did that on the the one on Central Avenue. It didn't pass. >> Yeah. When that was
>> But that was a financing thing. If we didn't do it, they wouldn't have gotten their financing. >> But if somebody has a c if somebody doesn't need financing, >> they just pay cash. >> Just pay cash for it. >> They still can't park overnight, though. >> Sure they can. >> Not if Well, I mean, I understand your
concern, but we can set up five drunk spots for people that are drunk out here, but after 2 a.m., we're ticketing you from here. I don't know. I mean, there's got to be >> that's the that that's the that's what I'm struggling with. >> We just we got to get creative, but I I
think we can overcome that, don't you? I mean, >> I don't know. I don't know. >> But I was that's I'm sorry to interrupt you, mayor, but that's what I was trying. What I say, let's at least at least guarantee at least 50% of these that never happen. >> Well, the thing is the commission would
still have to uh enter into an agreement. Are you speaking at least overnight or are you talking about long term uh >> or or because you know just overnight that's all we're talking about or are we talking about something extended beyond that point because I you know I can see
that perhaps someone would be over there overnight. >> I think it's we we we sort of got started talking about two different things. You understand? >> We started out uh >> concerned that he >> overnight with people staying there
overnight and then I interject uh rental units and uh possibly hotels, motel that would uh >> right >> be available to park in the parking
garage. And um T made me aware that that would have to come before us in order to allow that. They just they just couldn't do it. >> I can assure you that will happen at some point. Four Seasons is going to
come up and say, "We want to build a Four Seasons in the middle of downtown, but we need half of your parking garage to make the numbers work." And we're all going to say, "Oh, we want a Four Seasons. Let's do it." Well, >> and if we if we don't put some teeth in the ordinance to stop that, we're going to do it. >> And I
>> commission then will >> No, I that's what I'm saying is that based on what we have been told that there is no way this commission can basically guarantee that the next commission >> right I know that was my point. I was
trying to um so you know it's basically my point. I have one other question T. uh as it relates to uh a comprehensive or f future uh agreement
uh how soon and and what are the the the time frames for that coming back to us? >> I certainly not in January. I I don't see that as being possible. I mean this is a the commission desires to move
forward with this. I mean that's a that's a significant lift. um the ability to do that in the month of December I don't see being realistic and I it's not something that you're gonna just throw together overnight. I think
that's probably a >> probably February >> the earliest. >> Yeah, >> February >> February I would say probably to be safe March even possibly. I mean, with everything else that we have occurring, um, we're also in the midst of
legislative session with a January start and the demands that we have in in routine operations and other, you know, legal matters. I don't I don't see it before then. >> Okay. >> Mr. Mayor, Commissioner Mar question.
Um, one of the things like 292 parking spaces is a lot of parking and let's say this uh business only needs 10 parking spaces for their downtown business and somebody else needs 10. Wouldn't it be
better to look at it from a financial aspect that they rent those from because we have plenty of parking. Um, what does the planning study say about what's needed? Does it include the businesses? Does it not include
businesses? Um, you know, because you got all this parking and you're talking about public parking. There may not be 292 people come downtown, you know, uh, for that parking area. So, um >> if if you're if the planning study
you're referring to is the the um parking plan that Walker did in in 2022, um they identified back in 2022 that based on the projects that they knew about that were proposed to be coming into downtown Winter Haven that a second
parking facility was warranted. Um, we had been talking about the possibility of a second parking facility um, in downtown Winter Haven even earlier than that, even before um, I remember it was discussed um, as we were
developing the downtown um, CRA um, CRA plan update when we were going through that process. that was part of the public comment that we received in those um in those meetings was the the need for additional parking and the possibility of a second parking garage.
>> So, I would just I would suggest that you know um that we look at some of that that parking how much is needed for those areas including the businesses they're bringing in the public too. Uh so I would you know kind of try to take
a survey or something on that so that we encompass all of it because it it's beneficial for us if we can rent those spaces and have some maintenance for or have some money for maintenance and things that we have to do on those garages because I'm sure it's going to
fall back on us to maintain them. >> No one else. All right, let's move on. New business item 13A. >> So 13A will be uploaded
Friday following the canvasing board meeting and that will be the certification of yesterday's uh runoff election for commission seat number four. >> Okay. 13B.
>> This is speaking to uh what commissioner Dancler had reported on with the AHACK. So the Saddowski affordable housing act um states that the state housing initiatives partnership or the ship jurisdictions are required annually to convene the AHAC to review their current
incentive strategies, complete the affordable housing incentive strategy report which allows recommendations to be made to the local governing body and transmit that to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. So the AHAC convened in September of this year to
formally complete their review of the existing incentive strategies and make recommendations regarding any new strategies. Um the committee recommended adoption of 10 strategies. Eight of those are without modifications and two with actions recommended. One strategy,
one of the the remaining 11th one was not recommended for adoption uh pending further research by staff. The two recommended modifications include incentive E, which is accessory dwelling units. The AHACK is recommending that the city modify its
land development code to allow for multiple water and electric meters for single family lots on which there is an accessory dwelling unit. And then incentive G uh speaks to flexible lot configuration. And this uh the AHACK
recommends that the city modify the land development code to identify affordable housing including tiny homes as specified criterion that is eligible for PUB zoning classification. The AHAC met Monday of this week um to receive public
comment and consider formal adoption of the affordable housing incentives report and its consideration by the city commission. The Ahack voted unanimously to present this to the commission for consideration. Uh this was noticed in the Winter Haven Sun November 19th, 2025
to offer the final draft of the plan for public review and comment. Um again, there's no financial impact associated with the commission's approval of this. However, if the strategies report is not transmitted, the city's future ship allocations may be withheld. So staff's
recommending the commission accept the affordable housing incentive strategies report and authorize city manager designated to transmit that to Florida Housing Finance Corporation. >> Okay, any questions? I I just have one.
um with the uh the strategic report. Uh there are things that are mentioned in there that would require us to change some of our uh codes
>> landed code. And so that would be something that we would give consideration after that report is adopted in f subsequent meetings. >> Yeah. So, so the AHACK makes a recommendation. Essentially what this
does is the state require the states that have SHIP funding. Um, their AHACK is required to look at the city's comprehensive plan, land development code, and any policies that are related to housing or affordable housing and make recommendations based on the strategies that are allowed. Um, so yes,
they made two recommendations this year. Um, if you may recall, they made a couple of recommendations last year. Um, one of them that I recall off the top of my head was a um, waiver of permit fees for affordable housing. And if if you
may recall, we adopted this last year a revision to our land development code um, to allow for a certain percentage reduction in their fees based on the number the percentage of affordable units they provide. So, that's an example of one that we've done in the
years past. So this year's recommendations, as city manager mentioned, are simply recommendations from the Ahack to the governing body, you um to consider at some point in the future. So um as part of that, what we
would do as staff is research that, look at how we could implement those recommendations, and then ultimately present that to you in the form of a um an ordinance. >> Okay. I'm I'm just concurring with what uh Commissioner Dancler said, you know,
to to have recommendations and a strategy and submit it and then it just sits there. So, that was my that was my question. Okay. Anyone else?
Item 13 C. Um we're going to request that this be pulled from the agenda. This is an agreement for purchase and sale of real property at 1725 North Lake Ship Drive. Um this is uh the Brantley
uh homestead that is on the I guess it's going to be the eastern most side of Sertoma Park. And so we're working with the family to acquire this piece of property um due to some some health conditions. Um we've not been able to to finalize that in recent days with the
Brentley. So, we want to give that time for uh to finish that with with that the ownership group and then we'll bring this back hopefully at your first meeting in January. >> All right. Thank you. >> Y >> All right. So, now we will go to the strategic review.
So, mayor and commissioners, um, thank you for the opportunity to present again to you this evening, just some updates on what's happening within strategic pillars, um, and in activities that are somewhat out, maybe not necessarily be
as defined within uh, the strategic plan itself, but certainly support our efforts to improve elements within those pillars. So, this evening, we're going to talk about quality of life. Um again this a lot of this pertains to what happens within our parks recreation
culture and um leisured areas but it also focuses on mobility on um housing on things that give people a sense of community and belonging within the community. So this evening we're going to hear updates on the Winter Haven
Recreation and Cultural Center, uh the December holiday events which are kicking off uh tomorrow evening. The Dr. MLK Junior week activities that will take place in January. Uh we want to introduce you to our new community
engagement manager and Cedric will give us an update on SHIP followed by an update from Brad Bey on Hart for Winter Haven. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Julie Adams. >> Good evening, mayor, commissioners.
>> Let's try that again. Good evening, mayor, commissioners. >> Good evening. Good evening. >> Yes. So before you hear, we have some flyover footage that will loop. So um just taking a moment to take in the construction site and what is really
coming together in a beautiful, beautiful project and what will be a lasting legacy for the community. You can see the outdoor sport court. You can see coming together the playground, the shaded pavilions. Uh we're coming up on the pool here on the right of the screen
and the outdoor portion of the pool. Coming to the back side or north side of the facility, you can see where the driveway accesses. Uh the breezeway in between the aquatics facilities and the actual facility in total. And then of
course the gymnasium piece was just the furthest on the right here on your screen. Um just really an amazing and beautiful facility that uh this footage was taken about middle of last week. Um as you can see just some of the color
really coming to life with landscaping. Uh you can see some of the larger trees that we were able to save with the project. Again the outdoor sport court with the vibrant colors coming together. Uh just really starting to take shape and take color. And it is it's just a
lot of fun to watch the changes that are happening truly what feels like overnight with this project. So um with with this project we are moving along well with construction. Everything is going we are so so glad to
be working with our construction partners with collage construction. They're doing a fantastic job. Uh and we are working with our partners here internally with our facility manager and her support team Jiada and Malcolm. Uh
they are are getting all of our programming lined up for the facility. So, we were able to relocate some existing programming to the Rotary Park facility where operations have been uh during the construction and a karate class and a dance class and of course
our heralded afterchool program have been occurring there and will move to the new facility. We are also surveying the community to find out just exactly what they would like to see as programming in that facility. We're so excited to be able to offer
intergenerational programming and see the community come together underneath that roof for an array of available programs which we're putting together now. We are building all of our SOPs and standard operating procedures, our our use policies, our schedules, and what
that's going to look like. And it's just honestly a lot of fun to bring together the the the different teams that will be housed within that space between our facility operations, our library operations, and aquatics operations. So, getting an opportunity to build that
from the ground up as a play on words there, but has just been a lot of fun. Also, we're working to build those bonds with the community and be able to bring them together with our new team there to ensure that once we open the doors, we
are firing on all cylinders from day one. And so, with the results that we received from the programming survey, building in and on top of the goals that we already have for the facility with programming, we're certain that we're going to be able to provide a jewel to the facility again from day one.
So, we will keep you posted uh as construction continues and as we hone in on a day for uh again being able to cut another ribbon for a gift to the community. And uh with that, we're just excited to be able to continue moving forward on the progress with that
facility. And now I'm going to turn it over to Natalie Wilson, our special events and strategic initiatives coordinator to give you some highlights for the holiday events which are here. Natalie, >> thank you. >> Wonderful time.
>> Um, as a recovering show choir kid and pageant queen, this is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Um, and we are already in the thraws of it. And so I want to briefly share how meaningful the time of the year is um for me as someone who grew up attending these
events myself with my family. It's such a joy and a pleasure to be able to give that um experience back to the community. Um so before highlighting our upcoming events, I'd like to first recognize Starlight Nights which has already begun. I'm sure you've already seen downtown Winter Haven, our major
thoroughfares and surrounding areas being surrounded by all the amazing lights and decorations. And all of those are attributed to Main Street Winter Haven, all of their volunteers alongside our streets division. They help put those up kind of overnight and you all of a sudden you're driving through
downtown, you're like, "Hey, there's a Christmas tree there." And it's really again thanks to Main Street and our streets division for putting that on and that will go throughout the month of December. Um, and I would like to highlight that all of the um, events that I have coming up sharing with you this evening have been on your calendars
for some time now and I look forward to seeing you all there. So, we begin with the tree lighting ceremony actually tomorrow, Thursday, December 4th, in Central Park in partnership with Main Street Winter Haven. We will have live music and cookies and hot chocolate
donated by Richard's Fine Coffee and Gourmet Goodies. And the tree line will happen promptly at 7 pm. >> Are you gonna make sure there's enough hot chocolate to go around? >> Yes, sir. >> Last year I didn't get any. And you
know, I'm a child at heart. >> Yes, sir. We always want to make sure that everyone is taken care of. So, we have increased our hot chocolate and cookie order this year. And again, those have been graciously donated by those two businesses. And we are really thankful for their participation and ongoing support of this event every year. On Friday, December 5th, we host
the Havenale Christmas Parade in partnership with the city of Aubenddale. And this year, we have just over a hundred of entries uh with floats, marching groups, and local organizations. This parade continues to be one of our most anticipated holiday events, and we're really excited for
that to continue this year. On Saturday, December 6th, the Christmas Boat Parade returns to the Chain of Lakes, uh showcasing beautifully decorated boats and celebrating Winter Haven's unique lake culture. We close out our holiday programming with Winter Haven Winter Wonderland on
Friday, December 12th in Central Park, where families can enjoy free photos with Santa from 6:30 to 8:30. We'll be showing the movie The Polar Express, which my little brother watched on repeat for at least four years straight, no matter the time of year. So, he's really excited to come down and visit me
to watch that again. Um, with some holiday crafts, letters to Santa, some inflatables and children activities, and some delicious food vendors. Uh, Main Street Winter Haven will also be offering complimentary gift wrapping and I'm probably the most excited for that part because I cannot rap. So, I'm very
excited for everyone to take advantage of that service. Finally, we are looking forward to the annual Manura lighting ceremony on Thursday, December 18th in partnership with the Chabbad Jewish Center where we will celebrate um, Hanukkah with our community.
I'd also like to give a brief update on Martin Luther King Jr., our week-long celebration taking place from January 12th through January 19th. The MLK steering committee has been really hard at work getting all of these events put together for the community to enjoy to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Planned programming includes story time with Martin at the library, movies with Martin at the Ritz featuring the film Marshall, a wreath laying ceremony at MLK Park, uh the unity luncheon at Noro Hall where we will gather in celebration of Dr. King's
Legacy and the Legacy of our 2026 local black heroes, the MLK parade on Saturday, and then we will conclude the week with the MLK community breakfast hosted by the concerned citizens of Winter Haven at Noro Hall. A more detailed presentation and details will
be provided to you on your January 12th commission meeting where the MLK steering committee will make uh share additional planning updates and event information. So, I just want to highlight that these are all just a snippet of events that are happening here in the city of Winter Haven. These
are just the ones that are hosted by us. There is a plethora of community events happening throughout this month and next. And you can find all of the details to all of these events and the ones that are being hosted by other organizations and community groups, churches on our community calendar,
which you can find at mywinterhaven.com. And I really encourage our entire community to go and re review all those details online as well. So, thank you to you, the mayor and the commissioners for your ongoing support and thank you for the staff, the partners, the local organizations and volunteers who help
make these events truly an amazing time for our community. So, at this time, I would like to invite Katrina Hill to the stand to introduce our newest member of the public affairs and communications team. >> Can I ask you a quick question? Yes. Sorry.
>> Of course. So I know Carol's in the Park is a was historically a Main Street event. >> Yes, sir. >> Is there anything that replaces that from Main Street's or is there any kind of like day activity downtown or >> Yes. So on Saturday, in place of Carols
in the Park, which Main Street is no longer participant or host of, Destroyer Media is doing a holidays on Central event, which is similar to um what was Carols in the Park where they highlight uh different vendors and holiday uh gifts in a market style fashion, and
that's on Saturday the 6th. >> I was going to say one thing too, Mr. Mayor, just to the commissioners, I if any of you go to the Monura lighting, I don't know if you guys know this or not, but Dave Jackson was one of the people that was very uh was always at that uh event and would go around and shake our
hands. He wasn't the actual priest or what do they call him? >> Rabbi. >> Rabbi. He wasn't a rabbi, >> but he was like up there and so he was always at the thing. Well, he died about two months ago. >> So, if y'all are looking for him or you're used to seeing him, you won't see
him. His name was Dave. So I'm just reminding you if you if it comes up you you have met him if you've been to that event. He comes every year. So anyway, >> well he passed away kind of tragically. >> Good evening. I'd like to ask Jackie to
come join me up here. Um I am excited and honored to introduce our new community engagement manager. Most of you have already met her, but officially announced um Jackie Vicker has joined our team. This role is brand new to the organization. Um it is a key position in
the public affairs and communications team. Really created to lead citywide neighborhood outreach and engagement efforts. So Jackie will guide programs that strengthen connections between residents, community groups, and the city, helping ensure our interactions
are transparent, responsive, and positive. She'll represent the city at public events, coordinate engagement strategies with leadership, develop initiatives such as the certified ambassador program for employees, um serve as a liaison with neighborhoods and community organizations, and lead
the creation of a new neighborhood um comprehensive neighborhood program. So, you're going to be busy, Jackie. Um at the core, her job is really about building trust and fostering civic pride across our diverse community. So because of the importance of the position, we h
we used a hiring process similar to what we've used for department directors. Um so that meant multiple panel interviews, including one that was all community members. Um along with written assignments and follow-up conversations. Jackie stood out every step of the way.
Um and we are thrilled that she officially joined our team on November 10th. She most recently worked with PK County Public Schools. She began her career there as a classroom teacher in 2016 and then um later became an instructional mentor. She also brings deep experience
in community and civic leadership. Her background includes serving as first vice president of the NAACP Lakeland branch, AVP of membership for the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, and a chapter representative for the Lakeland Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority to the National Panh Hellenic Council of Pulk County where she also served as event director. As you can see from the pictures on your screen, she's already brought tremendous enthusiasm, um, leadership, and commitment to Winter Haven. uh she attended the photo with her and her
little boys. She attended Hands-On Haven before her official first day and then she helped facilitate the state of the city on her third day here. Um but she's also already making connections and building databases and and brainstorming some really great engagement
opportunities for our community. So I'm really excited about the perspective, insight, and experience she brings to the team. Um and I'd like to give her a moment to introduce herself. Yes. Thank you, Katrina. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, commissioners, and city
leadership. It has been an absolute honor to accept the position of the community engagement manager of the city of Winter Haven. Um, and like Katrina mentioned, I have been able to just jump right on in. In fact, this week is my first full week. Um, due to the
holidays, this is the official first full week, but I have been able to jump in as soon as I accepted the position. As you can see in one of the photos, my four-year-old TJ and my 2-year-old Tyler
loved Hands on Haven, and already they um are happy to call Winter Haven home. And I am a strong believer that success is doing what you love. and I really believe that I'm gonna have many successful years working with and for
great people of Winter Haven. So, thank you again for the wonderful opportunity. >> Thank you and welcome. >> Thank you. >> All right, I'm going to hand it over to Eric now to talk a little bit and I will go do it over there about ship.
>> And so Cedric was supposed to be here tonight and I'm not sure what happened. I hope he's okay. So, unfortunately, you're stuck with me. Um, and Nancy ran in just in case I say something stupid. So, as you know, our SHIP program is associated with affordable housing. This
is a state program where we receive uh monies uh from them primarily to do owner occupied rehab and down payment assistance for income uh limited uh income qualified individuals. Um, as you can see from the um from the slide,
we've been pretty busy. Um, rollover funding from previous years was a little over $900,000. Um, fiscal year 2526 funding received was a little over $400,000. Um, allocated to us, we've only received
about 25,000 to date. Uh, we have reached out a couple of times to the state to see when our next allocation is coming and how much that will be. Um, we don't have clarity on that yet. Um so hopefully that will be coming soon. Um so you can see a total funding for
fiscal year 2526 of um slightly over 1.3 u million. Uh as you may recall last fiscal year we spent about 1.5 million um uh spent or encumbered. So this program really is doing well. Um we have
a waiting list uh funds encumbered since July 1st of 2024 um are almost $1.2 2 million. Um, we have program income from time to time. This is when people may pay back um some
money uh or or interest in the program. So, we have about $24,000 of program income and the balance um remaining uh is 163,000. That's currently what we have to work with. We have numbers uh we
have three residents in uh in in process where we expect to pay those um three uh out from those funds and we do maintain a waiting list. Um you know we have a number of folks on that waiting list. I'm not sure exactly how many. Yeah. But
um we do have a number of folks on a waiting list. So as soon as those funds come in from the state, they're effectively already encumbered. Um, I'm proud to say we've been able to help a whole lot of people in the last, call it two fiscal years with with these funds.
Um, and we will continue to do so as those funds uh roll in. Is there another slide or no? Is that it? I did it. I want to I want to show another thing to the commission that's important to me. If you go back one, if you look down there under down payment assistance,
there's five families got 190,000. That's not quite 40 grand a person, but it's close. Like 35,000. So that's serious money that people are getting to buy a house for down payment assistance. That's the kind of difference this is making. So I just want y'all to know that it's not uncommon for somebody get
40 grand through this program to put down on a on a home purchase. So that to me makes a difference. Everybody loves to get their house painted or the front porch redone or something, but that's five houses that people wouldn't otherwise gotten if we didn't help. So
anyway, I just I just want them to see that. >> Thank you. And I believe Brad Bey with Heart for Winter Haven is after me. >> Yeah. Uh thank you, mayor, commissioners. Uh proud to be with you all tonight. Thank you for so much for
having us. Um Brad Bey, Heart for Winter Haven, uh one of your nonprofit partners. Um bottom line up front, um child homelessness in Winter Haven public schools is going down for three
consecutive years. Uh it has continued to go down. So in 2324 it was 627. This past year it was 547. A big part of that, a big part of that is the support that the city of Winter
Haven brings uh to help us in in both preventing homelessness for stu for families and also uh rehousing homeless families. So, thank you. Um go ahead to the next one. So, um since um another
kind of big picture thing is since 2022 when uh we uh as an organization uh declared an end of homelessness in uh for children in Winter Haven by the December 31st, 2030. We said at that
point we'll no longer um tolerate this homeless situation. So since that time, 255 families have been kept from imminent eviction. That's around 600 children.
In addition to that, 140 families who were homeless here in Winter Haven with children in our public schools have been rehoused stably. So thank you for that. That's another 400 children. So in that
time frame obviously around a thousand kids who would have experienced homelessness or who were experiencing homelessness that changed and and Ben Roo a quote from him that we shared at our banquet uh as I said over the past three years in Pulk County the number of
homeless children has only decreased in one city that's here. So thank you. So that's big picture. Yeah. Um so uh and I'd like to report too on our details from just this last cycle of the grant that we've had. This is uh the
fifth year. We're entering into the sixth year that we've had this partnership with you all and I'm really proud about those results just to give you some more details. So in terms of rehousing, those are families that are literally homeless. 17 families uh were provided safe and stable housing this
past year through our grant. That includes a family that was sleeping at a local park. Um all summer long we had a volunteer that brought that to our attention over the summer. Uh she was pregnant. I think she had two or three children with her as well. They were
rehoused. They're doing well. Those are the kinds of things that um the city's making a difference in the lives of in terms of quality of life that that really is making a difference. In addition to that, there were 33 families uh who were facing imminent eviction
that would have been in those homeless roles that were able to uh prevent from that happening and and create stability there. And and I don't want to take apart take away too. One of the things that you all provide uh well help provide through the grant is case uh
case management and stabilization services. So 52 families were able to receive active regular individualized uh life planning services and assistance to help help them to navigate the future and create more s stability for their
families and create a healthier home environment. And then last year uh our city manager uh brought an idea to us that we incorporated in a pilot and that's that last number is that we created a new initiative which is a sort of a voucher
system because of the high cost of of housing that has uh gone up the last couple of years. we were able to create a a process by which uh if people's income would not qualify them for housing based on the income they had because that that average rent
was so high, we're able to help fill that gap and create long excuse me long-term stability for that family over the course of the year. In that time, we're able then to help them take financial literacy classes, employability classes, and create margin
and and savings so that they then have stability going forward. So, we we really think that this um we're early in the results for that. We think that it's going to be kind of the future of what we want to do more of. So, thank you, city manager, for bringing that as an
idea. we because it gives us an opportunity seeing long-term change for people uh which is really is really having a huge impact. Um lastly there's this slide. This is just an I give you an idea of what last
year looked at in terms of uh how the money and then of course the number of families kind of flowed. Um in December it typically is very very high. um January it goes lower. A lot of people are
getting tax returns, that kind of thing. That just gives you an an idea of of how that money um flows out. And I think uh that is it. Thank you again. I really appreciate uh being able to present to you tonight. Quick question.
>> Yes. So question for you and this may actually be a question for the city attorney or maybe even Eric if he's lucky enough. Um, so when we do when we see projects come in like a blue sky project,
I know there's federal housing restrictions like and I don't know the exact terminology. I apologize, but you know, you couldn't say like, okay, it's only Winter Haven people that get this housing. It has to go into a system or a voucher system or something along those
lines. And so you could you're inevitably pulling from Ocola County or Miami Dade County or Hillsboro County or wherever. And so the you're you're greatly seeing an impact on the individuals that you're helping locally, you're you're getting some, but you're
not getting all. And like if if you had one project that you just did all Winter Haven, then you end child home homelessness potentially one with one project. If Hartford Winter Haven endeavored on a
similar project like that, would would they be a private entity and excluded from that so that they could control who occupies that or who who they rent to in those capacities
>> or or does that fall under those same rules and requirements? >> That those are good questions. I don't have an immediate answers to those. I'm sure that the team could likely, you know, observe on that. I think there's probably some fair housing uh standard,
you know, requirements that certainly would apply both at the federal and state level. I know Miss Hurley is somewhat of an expert on these matters as well as um Mr. uh Cox. So, they might could be able to >> The reason the reason why I posed the
question is, you know, I'm this isn't today. this isn't tomorrow. This is, you know, who when the opportunity presents itself. But if there was land or there was some partnership that that we could help collaborate with or from funds from our affordable housing trust fund, you
know, I I just I want to see us tackle Winter Haven's problem and then we can work on expanding and and trying to help, you know, others as well. But >> well, I think there's some fair housing issues, but um in in the past when we were working with developers and things
like that, you can write certain things into the contracts if you're dealing with different developers or different funding sources. So, there's a way to take a look at that and and I think there's a way to to um positively approach that >> for future.
>> If they own the house, let's say, let's just hypothetical if they own the housing >> about Hartford Winter Haven. >> Yes. >> Okay. If if Hartford Haven owned the housing, they know where these individuals are. They could say, "Hey, come rent from us for and then that kind
of gets around that." >> Well, I think they they would be working with their uh clients and their case management. I think they can funnel them through that way as they're preparing them to be housed >> and but again, we'd have to look into the fair housing issues.
>> Okay. Again, I I just bring it up for conversation and potentially looking for additional opportunities to where we can be more impactful for local first because that's our responsibility up here
>> and then get that problem nullified and then move out from there. >> Yeah, I think it's a a good something good to look at and we certainly could take a look at it and address it. >> Thank you. and for future. >> And I just like to say to you, uh,
Commissioner, that's that's a a noteworthy idea, but I want you to know that, uh, people >> shut me down already. >> No, people that build the the affordable housing, people that the financing, you know, especially if you get tax
credits, you there's no way you could do that. Well, I'm just saying, but I tell you the way to do it, >> if we would do it, if we could afford to do it, is to fund the development
100%. And I don't think we can afford to do that. >> We can't do it, but I'm just presenting the conversation so that there's a portion that we can do. And we certainly maybe that portion is 5%, 10%, maybe
it's 50%. I I don't know. I'm just I'm just presenting the com. If you don't have the conversation, you're never gonna get to the answer. >> I get it. We get it. Thank you. >> I I think that uh I don't say this because I think it's important. Uh the
issue was actually championed by Peace Poke County and uh and that's where it actually uh emanated from. We uh recognized the issue of homelessness for the students in Poke County, 4,000 at the time and um we actually uh
challenged two cities in particular, Lakeland and WA and um to the credit of my my fellow commissioner who sits to the right of me. Uh we met with him and uh it was it
was uh it was interesting in the beginnings of it. Brad will tell you uh because I think many did not know the or appreciate fully the the extent of the problem or the concern or the urgency. I would let me use that word because I think that was really the concern is
that something needed to be done and and right now uh Winter Haven and to the commission's credit some of you most of you you were up here along with Brad uh I was not here uh because I was on the other side pushing the issue uh with uh with our group and uh but Winter Haven
embraced it brought on Brad and to look at the issue took it very serious and I think that speaks to the fact that Brad shared tonight uh that Winter Haven uh is a city where the numbers are going down and that's because to the credit of
this city uh who took this matter very serious from citizens uh in the community who who recognized that this was a major problem that we have and that our children should have a place to lay down at night. And uh so I just want
to say uh to uh Brad, you were there at the time and uh I appreciated the uh conversations because you were open and you were uh willing to uh listen to what we had to say and uh that was very important. And I think when you have
officials who uh you know will not take the time to listen to what the people have to say then I think you know then we suffer I think the the challenges of of of people not appreciating that their city is working hard for them. So uh this issue is very near and dear to my
heart and to hear that those numbers are going down um is uh is truly a blessing and great to hear tonight. So I want to say great job well done and uh that's why I said that you know being part of Ahack or whatever I can do to continue to support that effort I think is
important to do. So again to uh Mr. Dancler thank you sir yep for your great work and uh I know that you'll be supporting us even when you're not up here. >> It's working. >> Mayor Birds if I could just add a comment on to Mr. Bey's presentation. I
think commission should really celebrate the fact those numbers are going down and and it shows on the numbers that were on the screen. What it doesn't really discuss within that is that that's at a time when population
continues to increase. >> Exactly. >> It's not just a matter of moving a static number down. it's moving it down and and also preventing it from rising in the face of economic challenges,
inflationary, whatever. Um, and a growing population still. So, I think that what you see is impressive when you contemplate it and everything else that contributes to that, it's even more impressive. >> Yes, absolutely.
>> So, that's our uh pillar update for this evening. will be back before you in January um to give you an update on what's happening in the arena of environmental stewardship and I look forward to that. >> Thank you. All right, emergency matters not received.
>> I got emergency matter not received. I've got one more item personal but you know this weekend was a rather busy weekend and uh big game. >> Oh, you know >> Oh, oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. No, before you do that, city clerk, I
know you have something. Come on. Come on. Come on. We We won't let them do that. >> I just want to present this gift because I won't be here next year, but I know Brian's a man of his word. And I offered last year to call off the bet, but we didn't. >> So, I'm going to give this to him. And so, for the next four years when the
Gators win, I will look online to see if he's wearing this. If you'd hand this down to Commissioner Yates and I expect him to wear that for loan committee meetings and all day on Monday or he can wait till the first meeting in January. I don't care. But I just want to make sure he has that. You can put that in
your ty rack right in a very prominent place. Every time you go in there, you can think of me. So, we just say go Gators and um go Gators. So, >> didn't we didn't we need to rename a sewage plant or something? >> City clerk.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, relative to our runoff election, just please be reminded that there is a canvasing board meeting this Friday, December 5th, here in China auditorium at 10 a.m. and that'll be for the random precinct selection and certification of election results. Uh, as you already know,
provisional ballots will be reviewed at that meeting. I do not have for those yet, and a form must be present. So once that meeting is over, I'll be adding the provisional ballots uh to that um December 8th summary sheet and the certificates at the canvasing board receipt for um also next Tuesday we have
a post election audit at 11:00 a.m. at the Supervisor Elections Operations Center and that is to audit whichever precinct is chosen at random at this Friday's meeting and a quorum must be present for that. Of course, both of these meetings were properly noticed as
required. And lastly, just happy belated birthday to Commissioner Mercer. Her birthday was last Thursday, Thanksgiving. Uh, so we usually tend to miss yours every year. Um, and happy birthday to Mayor Prom Yates, whose birthday is this Saturday. That's all I have. >> Oh, don't we have to notice that we're
not going to meet the last >> Thank you, sir. Um, so that is a a question. It's not required for any resolution or action based upon the way the charter is written. However, um what we have done over the past, I believe four or five years, if there is
consensus amongst the commission to cancel your next commission meeting, um we can do so. And that would be the meeting of Monday, December 22nd, I believe it is. So, uh we'll take direction from the commission on if it is your pleasure to not meet that
evening. >> You don't have to notice it or anything. We we'll we'll put it out that the commission is not meeting, but it does not require a formal resolution that we've had to do. If you're changing the date, if you're cancelling, you do not. >> Okay. >> So, I don't know if you want to offer
consensus to that at this point. >> Just cancel. >> I'm Yeah, it's fine with me. >> Cancel. >> All right. Anything else? Uh just a reminder, Florida legisl legis Florida Florida League of Cities legislative
conference commences tomorrow. Um I will be out of the office attending that tomorrow and Friday. Um Mr. Carnival will be present to address any matters that need city manager's office. >> All right, we'll be there too. >> Matters not received for the agenda.
Motion to adjoin. Stand to join.