[0:00] September 15, 2026, regular city of Bellevue Commission meeting. If everyone could please rise for a moment of silent prayer and the pledge of allegiance.

[0:22] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God and in the rule with liberty and justice for all. The first item in our agenda is a roll call of the commission.

[0:42] Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Dwyer, Commissioner Livesay, Mayor Dupckowski.

[0:49] Here.

[0:50] The next item on our agenda we're going to move forward with the approval of the minutes

[0:55] of August 18th, 2026, September 1st, 2026, and August 25th, 2026.

[1:06] Commissioners do we have any amendments or a motion to approve? Motion to approve

[1:11] there. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. I'm sorry, did you have a second?

[1:20] We have a motion and a second. Leslie, call for the vote please.

[1:23] Mr. Smith? Yes. Mr. Dwyer? Yes. Mr. Livesy? Yes. Mayor Dupckowski? Yes. So Mike

[1:30] texted me he will be here in about 15 minutes. Okay, how long is your

[1:33] presentation Jim.

[1:37] Okay do you want to go ahead and we'll get you on and then we'll

[1:40] go go we'll move backwards to the budget portion. All

[1:52] right so it's full screen. Oh I'm sorry I did

[1:56] not.

[1:58] There it is. Perfect. Good evening Jim Kuhlard, Marion County Parks and

[2:04] Recreation Director. I'm here to share an update with you on our Parks and

[2:09] conservation funding program that is heading to the ballot this November.

[2:14] Many of you know that Marion counties has an extensive park system and that we

[2:20] have fallen way behind in our capital replacement and deferred maintenance program.

[2:25] So we've been working with the Board of County Commission since about mid-summer

[2:29] 2024 on providing different types of funding options for our department going forward.

[2:35] So I have a quick presentation for you.

[2:37] So, these are some of the issues that we've been dealing with, maintenance backlog, deteriorating facilities, unsafe conditions, parkland, deficiency, and high growth areas, and lack of inconsistent funding, or consistent funding to help us budget and plan projects correctly.

[2:53] Marion County has seen a huge population growth, I'm sure you've recognized that around your community as well with the amount of houses that are coming out of the ground these days.

[3:02] North-West and Southwest Marion County have seen growth in the 31 to 35% range

[3:10] respectively. These numbers are updated from Bieber for 2025 because you're in

[3:16] the middle of two senses and the numbers have actually grown. March was our

[3:22] last cutoff for new data and we have new data coming out right now that shows

[3:26] is even more growth, so you're over 100,000 people

[3:29] within the past 15 years.

[3:33] So what the need is, obviously we talked about

[3:35] a maintenance backlog.

[3:36] We've re-examined every park in our inventory

[3:40] and then that list grew to over 60,000.

[3:43] Then you add in new regional parks and some other projects,

[3:47] land conservation and water resource protections.

[3:50] And then that list jumped up to 196,000 million.

[3:54] So, explored various funding ideas to provide funding to the department including bond funding,

[4:00] impact fees, grants, corporate sponsors, tourism development doctors, excuse me, taxes,

[4:06] and then obviously dedicated military property tax. So, based on our need, which is lumped some

[4:12] funding, the board elected and has directed me to pursue bond funding. This is a list that's

[4:21] It may be a little hard to see on your screen, I can email the program to Mariah so she should be able to print it out if you don't have a clear copy for you.

[4:31] This is broken down by all five commissioner districts.

[4:34] You can see the number of parks in each district, 15 in district one, five in district two, that's a high growth area and it will have five parks, three in district, ten in district three including Belby sportsplex.

[4:50] that's Commissioner McLean's district, 18 in Commissioner's Alex's district,

[4:54] low growth area by the high density of parks and only six parks in the northwest.

[5:00] Commissioner Stone, she also had a lot of growth. We broke down our listen to asset replacements, meaning depreciation, life cycle replacement costs, newer expansion projects, an example of something like that would be adding a new bathroom to an existing park, or actually adding amenity that actually improves or increases the amount of available play. For instance, our conversion of soccer fields at rotary sportsplex from grass to synthetic turf,

[5:28] has increased triple the amount of play time right now with little to no maintenance.

[5:35] There is a long-term capital replacement maintenance for synthetic turf fields but

[5:39] we have 10 to 15 years to budget for that.

[5:42] And then we also have the new park category on the lower part of the spreadsheet so

[5:46] you can see that we're looking at seven different new facilities, two new parks out and

[5:53] or two new acquisitions out in Commissioner Bryant area three up in Commissioner Stones.

[6:00] So we have acquisition costs, development costs of those lands and sub-totals.

[6:05] So when you take a look at both existing and potential new parks and sites,

[6:10] our bottom line right now is $196,75,000.

[6:15] We did work through a series of prioritization exercises.

[6:20] is we developed eight different metrics and measures and we scored every park and every

[6:25] project within each park. According to all eight measures, that came up with a numerical

[6:32] prioritization list and then I met with every commissioner one on one and asked them that

[6:37] important question. Here's the list that came out prioritized for your district. What are

[6:42] your individual priorities? So district one, Shocker Park and the land next to it. Fort

[6:48] Mark King National Historic Landmark, Marion County, has a three-way memorandum of understanding with the Four King Heritage Foundation, the City of Ocala and Marion County.

[6:59] We're responsible for capital investments and land acquisitions, that's what we help when we can.

[7:06] District two, that's Southwest, so Independence Land Swap, there's a piece of land that we own on the green way that we're looking to swap with DEP for land along Southwest 49th Ave.

[7:17] have a new Southwest regional park, they're in dire need of that because it's not just retirees

[7:23] moving to Marion County, there's a ton of families out west.

[7:28] And then land acquisition for resource protection, either habitat protection or water resource

[7:33] protection.

[7:34] District three, you'll note the number one project on that list is Belby Sportsplex.

[7:39] The value of improvements based on our costs estimates for that park right now because when

[7:43] did our master plan in 2017 was $10 million.

[7:47] It's at $22.1 million.

[7:50] So that figure is included in all of these numbers.

[7:54] We have some work plan for Carnegie Island,

[7:56] road response flex, just converting more fields to synthetic.

[7:59] And that's it, because square, flat, green, lighted places

[8:03] are our hottest need right now,

[8:05] because of soccer, football, flag, football, and the cross.

[8:08] They all use the same fields.

[8:11] District 4, Ray Waysaw, you may remember that as the O'Cali boat basin, that needs completely to be re-overhauled and focused on paddle craft.

[8:20] Horseshoe Lake Park, District 5, a new park, a new regional park out further west north of 27.

[8:28] We have a hundred and eight, a hundred and four acre park, normal west brick park that needs to be developed.

[8:33] And more acquisition looking at conservation easements and other fee simple acquisitions for the lower wildlife corridor working with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and DEP and leveraging our grant dollars to go to a four to one bump so every dollar we spend will match it with four from state funding.

[8:54] It does take money to go after grants you have to have matching dollars so this gives us that leverage.

[9:00] Then we have two county wide projects, one's a multifunction facility.

[9:05] That's a combination facility between a special needs shelter, an indoor recreation center.

[9:11] And on weekends it would be used for indoor tournaments and increased tourism in our area.

[9:14] There's no dedicated location for that yet, so it's not assigned to any district.

[9:19] And then we'll be going through every sportsplex in Marion County and

[9:22] replacing all of the inefficient light systems with LED.

[9:25] That's one of our biggest maintenance costs across the county park system.

[9:31] Is there any questions on this prioritization list before I move on?

[9:37] Okay, so here's the ballot language that you'll see on this year's ballot.

[9:43] So it's to Mary County General Obligation Bond referendum for parks, trails,

[9:47] clean water, protection, farms, and forests to acquire and

[9:50] approve lands and conservation easements for parks, trails, and recreation facilities,

[9:54] for serving for tech natural lands, farms, forests, and quality of drinking water sources.

[10:00] Lake, lakes, shall Mary County issue bonds up to 140 million, principal amount, maturing within 20 years of each issuance, bearing interest, not exceeding the maximum legal rate, able from countywide ad valorem tax is not exceeding 0.35 mils with full public disclosure in all spending. So I'll walk you through what some of the key languages on that ballot. So 140 million is the maximum that we can issue bond.

[10:32] We do not have the capacity to issue all $140 million all at once, so we'll be executing bonds as there are needs and the ability to execute them with a small lean team of design professionals, bearing interest, we all know loans take interest, right?

[10:52] Banks like to make their money back.

[10:55] Payable from a countywide avalorum tax, not exceeding 0.35 mils.

[11:00] So the big elephant in the room is amendment three.

[11:03] Obviously if amendment three does pass, and this is pretty much the only thing I can really say about it, I'm not here to advocate for against anything here cuz this has already been turned over to the supervisor election.

[11:14] My job is education and information only, but we will not be able to execute $140 million of

[11:22] bonds because paying those back at a military to 0.35 will not be palatable.

[11:27] Bond markets are looking very interestingly at the state of Florida.

[11:30] They're wondering what's going on.

[11:32] You may have heard bond markets are softening a little bit.

[11:36] Yields are increasing, so there's a lot of concern about whether we'll be able to implement a total of 140 million.

[11:44] Our first plan that you saw that prioritization list is probably value just about 35 million total.

[11:52] And then we do have a couple of other options when it comes to how this works out.

[11:59] Countywide Referendum, like I mentioned, November 3rd, up to an aggregate principle of 140,

[12:05] meaning total bonds, authorizes bonds yet does not require the county to issue them.

[12:11] This is just a 20-year authorization.

[12:14] So yes, vote does not create instant debt.

[12:17] That's important for everybody to understand.

[12:19] And this gives the county the ability to pursue bonds.

[12:24] Each issuance requires a specific resolution approved by the board and our bond council.

[12:32] The board maintains full discretion to issue all or portion or none of bonds and

[12:37] can use a pay as you go approach using the tax, it says level, but

[12:42] that should say levy, tax levy revenues.

[12:45] So the 0.35 mill, if we just say a amendment 3 does not pass and the bond does pass effective for our FY 28 budget, we'll be able to budget close to $12 million just based on the levy if the board decides to go with the full 0.35 and we'll be encouraging the to follow that path.

[13:06] The resolution was passed by the board on August 18th and a 5-0 unanimous decision so they're in full support of this measure.

[13:15] They were at the time what we turned it over to the supervisor.

[13:18] So here's a quick breakdown of the two different or main funding streams, issue bonds or pays you go using the millage levy revenues approved during the normal budget process, just like you're going through here tonight.

[13:32] If not used for paying bond debt services, revenues may be used for projects, which is pretty neat.

[13:40] Or we can do a combination of both.

[13:41] We can sell bonds, we can always use milled revenues.

[13:47] So cumulative spending allocation, we have three separate buckets, the first bucket and

[13:53] this is all under authorization and implementation resolution.

[13:56] up to 10% of all total proceeds to be used towards project controls, contract administration and maintenance tied directly to program projects.

[14:09] So if we build new or we renovate, those are included and if we're funded through this, then we can use this money to help pay for the maintenance of it, which is a very nice strategy.

[14:19] If there's a lot of other counties that are wishing there are this far along with these types of bond or payment

[14:26] Resolutions heading into this this election because this gives you a lot more flexibility

[14:32] No less than 10% and no more than 20% will be used towards land acquisition and preservation

[14:40] That's a big number especially pulling in state partners and other private donors

[14:46] trust land trust that can actually help do these fee simple or conservation

[14:51] Asian project projects, and then the balance of it, no less than 10 percent or 90 percent

[15:00] 70% minimum will be used for capital improvement, so that's planning, design, permitting, site work, construction, and renovations.

[15:10] So this is a long-term funding solution. If you think about the 20-year maturation of bond funds, and say we don't issue any bonds until year 19, and then all of a sudden we start issuing bonds, we have 20 years to pay that off. So that could relate out to a 39-year funding.

[15:31] program for our department. This is a phenomenal opportunity for our community. Just to make

[15:39] sure that everyone understands the amount of oversight that's included with this is not

[15:43] just staff running this show. So we have a millage priority clause in the resolution that

[15:50] all millage avalorum taxes have to pay bond any pay back any bond debt services first.

[15:56] And then any surplus revenues are within the 10 mil cap of the county's budget.

[16:03] We're below four right now on our budget.

[16:06] Public transparency and reporting quarterly updates, so publicly published online.

[16:12] Dashboard report detailing revenue collected.

[16:16] Bond proceeds, active project budgets, payees, contract status, and spending allocations.

[16:22] That's on us to do that our team.

[16:24] And then every year we have to bring an independent auditor that will provide us an independent financial and compliance audit and then also present it publicly and post it online.

[16:36] Many of you know that we have a Parks and Recreation Advisory Council.

[16:41] Kathy Funk is actually on our council.

[16:44] You may know her from Bellby Sportsplex.

[16:47] She is a big advocate of this program.

[16:51] She's been, it's been really good to have her on our council.

[16:54] That council expands if this is a positive vote to serve a two additional member.

[17:00] So we'll have two additional members, there'll be members at large.

[17:04] Their collective expertise, we're no longer just accepting people who know a buddy.

[17:10] We want to have people on that council that have expertise in financing or

[17:15] auditing, engineering, construction, construction twice, I guess that'll work.

[17:21] Parks and recreation, water resources, conservation, agriculture, forestry, and community representation, and then their duties change.

[17:30] Prack is no longer just being informed, they have to review our program plans, our financial methods, our millage classifications, quarterly reports,

[17:41] annual audit and compliance and funding allocations, with all of that being reported to the commissioners, at least annually.

[17:46] So, I hope I made it through the presentation in 15 minutes, I don't know if anybody

[17:52] time me.

[17:54] Okay.

[17:55] Good.

[17:55] I'm here to answer any questions you may have.

[17:59] Again, I'm here just to educate and inform the public in this commission.

[18:08] Just out of curiosity because I don't know much about the bond, how it works with these

[18:16] things that go on the ballot, do you happen to know what percentage of the time the voters vote for these types of things?

[18:28] So in Florida, we've had tremendous success across the state.

[18:31] So our big partner in this whole project is the Trust for Public Land.

[18:36] They're a national nonprofit that focuses on these types of projects.

[18:40] Their success rate in the state of Florida is about 83% out of 26 initiatives.

[18:45] So they don't really invest a whole lot in programs they don't believe in.

[18:50] They will recommend no, but they have been really pro on this with our help.

[18:58] They are running eight different campaigns.

[19:01] There's multiple cities and counties within Florida that are also doing this right now.

[19:06] And she's running more campaigns up in South Carolina.

[19:08] Obviously, they don't have the property tax amendment hanging over their head like we do.

[19:13] But the pennies for parks passed at 53%.

[19:18] It only takes 50, this is not a constitutional amendment, this is 50 plus one.

[19:23] This pulled a couple months ago at 68% approval.

[19:29] The softer things in the ballot, the protection of land and water resources pulled in the high 70s.

[19:36] I mean, you got into some of the questions if you knew this would cost you $40 a year,

[19:42] $47 a year. It brought the number down a little bit, but it was still well above passing.

[19:47] So, yes, these have a lot of support behind them, and once you start sharing,

[19:53] hey, it could cost you a total of $4 a month for this program.

[19:56] people recognize that as an additional cost.

[20:00] So there is that. There is a political action committee now running this. It's called parks, people for parks and preservation. They're accepting donations to run that campaign and they're handling all the marketing and superstickers and yard signs and all that. Okay, well, commissioners, is anybody have questions?

[20:26] I'm trying to figure out how I want to work this. I know we went through this sometime back and we, I think we all had the feeling that we were getting

[20:40] the construction that was going to be done at the ballpark, the way it was explained and just looking for insurance says on the record that the citizens won't come back to us again and say, we heard from this you from before and now you're telling us, oh, there's a possible 39 year plan.

[21:01] So, you know, how, how tight of a window can we possibly expect to see some stuff move?

[21:11] So, with the perfect scenario, like I mentioned before, bond passes, sales tax doesn't.

[21:20] Our plan really is to start design because it's going to take a two-year process to go through design and permitting for that park.

[21:28] There's a lot of unknown features I've been working with Bob.

[21:32] There's flood areas that we want to help your community address.

[21:35] You have a historic landfill.

[21:37] We do not know the extent of what is underneath those baseball fields, but

[21:42] we know we've pulled up a whole lot of stuff over our years of managing it.

[21:46] There is a documented landfill underneath that park.

[21:50] So remediation of that, that lower 17 acres that's owned by the city.

[21:54] The line item for that is $4 million.

[21:56] dollars to convert that into a community park with court sports, picnic,

[22:01] pavilions, you name it, big playground, that's for your community, everything

[22:05] north of that on the county parcel will be all new sportsplex.

[22:10] Some of the facilities will get touched, you know, feels renovated.

[22:13] So our plan is we budgeted a year and a half to two years to go through that full design,

[22:18] public participation, permitting process with construction following right after that.

[22:24] And that matter fact, that project, I believe, is the first project that triggers the need for a bond.

[22:31] So pay as you go, funding out of the millage will help us allocate that $2 million for

[22:39] planning and design and permitting of the project.

[22:43] And then when you start getting into the big numbers of 14, 15, 16 million, 20 million for this park is your first bond allocation.

[22:52] commission. This was Commissioner McLean's number one project on his priority. He understands

[22:59] the need for this park. He also understands the need of the community. So it's out of my

[23:07] hands, but I can tell you where it is. It's in the first five years of the program. It's the

[23:12] first project to draw bond.

[23:17] Any other questions?

[23:21] Okay, thank you.

[23:22] So I'll just spend more time with you if you need to, we can get together and I can show you all the details if you'd like, set up a lunch.

[23:29] All right, that'll work, thank you.

[23:30] Thank you for your question, appreciate it.

[23:32] Okay, thanks, Jim.

[23:33] Thanks for this opportunity, I appreciate it all.

[23:35] Okay, okay, for the record, I just want to note that Commissioner Goldman is now present and we're going to move into our budget presentation.

[23:45] For

[23:55] the record, Donna Collins, Milestone Professional Services, our address is 1970 East Aseola Parkway, Sweet 16, Kissimmee, Florida, 347, 430.

[24:06] I had to look that up because I don't have to quote that very often.

[24:09] So I appreciate the privilege to come before you again.

[24:12] We're going to do two things and then obviously questions.

[24:16] We're going to kind of fly through a little bit of what we've talked about last time we were together because it's been several weeks.

[24:21] And then I'm going to talk about the minor things that we did adjusting what we talked

[24:25] about last time to this time.

[24:27] So I got to put my eyes on.

[24:39] I got it.

[24:39] Oh, I'm driving.

[24:41] Sorry.

[24:42] All right.

[24:43] So last time we were together, the commission advised us to please bring back a budget with

[24:48] the military to 5.25 and one at the military to 5.5.

[24:52] So we're going to focus on those two things because that was our directive.

[24:55] You can see here the total budget based on that, those milleges.

[25:00] What the property tax piece would be, salaries, of course, would remain the same. There were increases, as we discussed previously, and we'll discuss in a later slide. But of course, they're not adjusted for any millage change. And then the reserves, which get adjusted because they reflect the increase in the property tax amount would flow into reserves.

[25:23] So, this is the summary of all funds. Again, the two millages that we're focusing on, and I realize that print is a little small, and the commission has that in front

[25:31] of them but just looking at where we are, this is kind of telling by fund, of course you'll

[25:41] notice that the other funds don't adjust because the main difference that we're bringing

[25:45] before you is just strictly a change in millage.

[25:48] And so the reserves and salary amount remain the same but you can see that the general fund

[25:53] budget does increase and the corresponding reserve increases.

[25:59] So, let's look at a little more detail of what's in this budget, and again, I'm flying through a little bit because this is what we discussed last time at just kind of as a refresher taxes in this presentation as a financial statement line, so it's property taxes, but it also includes gas, tax, sales, tax and utilities.

[26:17] We don't really have any grants currently in the budget, we are expecting to get a bulletproof vest and some other things, but since they haven't been finalized, they weren't included yet in the 27 budget.

[26:27] But miscellaneous revenue, the biggest piece of that is interest income.

[26:31] We've done very well in our interest income this past year and expect that to continue.

[26:37] The transfer in that you see there is consistent with what was presented in the July 21st meeting.

[26:42] And that is consistent with what we've done for the past several years from our water and sewer fund.

[26:48] So let's look at expenses for just a minute.

[26:50] Most of them in the proposed budget are fairly consistent with the amended budget that we're operating under currently.

[26:56] Again, you see you've got a column for 5.25 and the 5.5 milligrate.

[27:02] So just reminding us that our IT budget increased from our current amended budget.

[27:08] We're operating under because we're adding things that we needed to do like $130,000 for the server project.

[27:15] You will recall that there were many projects that were put on hold in the 2026 year because we were a little uncertain as to

[27:22] to exactly where our financial status was and what our reserves were.

[27:27] So some of those things are flowing into the 27 budget.

[27:29] So in IT, it's 130,000 for a server, that's a big project that have been put on hold in the cemetery.

[27:36] We have markers that are going to be included in that budget.

[27:44] And the streets, we moved some of the street money around.

[27:49] So we're going to utilize our infrastructure surtax money more efficiently.

[27:54] We talked about that last time that we actually set up a new fund for infrastructure surtax.

[28:01] So some of these numbers when you're comparing the amended budget to the proposed, there are some changes in what you'll see there.

[28:14] Recreation, there's a decrease as well because we moved some of the expenditures that originally we had been budgeting traditionally.

[28:20] in our general fund budget we moved and moved to the recreation impact fee fund.

[28:26] You'll see that there's a fairly large reserve, a 4.7 million that primarily relates to,

[28:33] excuse me, a transfer out that relates to amount money that we're moving to the new fund we're setting up primarily.

[28:40] The other thing you'll notice that we talked about last time is we've changed our budget and

[28:44] we're going to talk about that in the next slide.

[28:46] but our cash balance forward, we've brought in all of the fund balance from our prior year audit.

[28:54] We've estimated what we think revenues and expenditures would be, so the net would be through 26 to come with a true cash carry forward number.

[29:02] That isn't necessarily how we've been budgeting, but that is what is included in this budget.

[29:07] What's not needed or not appropriated in the current budget flows through to our reserve for contingencies.

[29:13] And we're going to talk about that a little bit more in just a minute.

[29:17] Let's talk about the Water and Sewer Fund.

[29:21] You'll notice that the expenditures in the proposed budget decreased significantly

[29:25] on capital outlay.

[29:26] That's because we are in the, we completed our waste water treatment plan.

[29:30] Do we get it done, done?

[29:31] Almost.

[29:32] Almost done, done.

[29:33] October, right?

[29:34] Yep.

[29:35] Okay.

[29:35] So in the 20 to the 7 budget, that number decreases significantly due to completion

[29:41] for that.

[29:41] As a gentleman who was just up here a few minutes ago was talking about we've experienced

[29:45] quite a bit of growth in our community, in the county in general.

[29:49] And so our impact fees continue to grow so you'll notice that those estimates are increased.

[29:54] And again, we talked about the cash balance carry forward, how we've changed, how we handle

[29:59] that and the reserve.

[30:03] Let's talk about the CRA for just a moment. Our fund balance at the end of last year's audit was $683,000. So, we have a fairly large cash balance forward. Again, the audit at number last year was $683,000. When we projected what we think we're going to be able to add to that fund balance through the activity for 2026 it increases it to the 921 you see there. You'll see that expenditures of 20

[30:31] We talked about this last time, we included the Christmas lights in the CRA budget that was approved by this commission, and so we've moved them to the correct place.

[30:40] Capital projects there, budgeted in the 27 year, include Lake Lullian and Cherokee parks,

[30:47] restrooms at those locations, as well as sidewalks, parking, and some picnic areas.

[30:52] The transfer, in the past, we transferred money from our CRA fund to the General Fund and

[31:02] expanded it there, but instead we're trying to keep track of our buckets of money where

[31:06] they come from and where we spend them.

[31:08] So we're not having a transfer from the CRA to the General Fund, we're actually going

[31:12] to expense the projects that we pay for with CRA money in the CRA fund.

[31:17] So that's just a little bit different.

[31:21] Recreation impact fee, again, you'll see the impact that our impact fees are increasing.

[31:30] They have been for 2026, well over budget for 2026, we're anticipating that growth to continue.

[31:36] So that number increases for 2027.

[31:39] The capital projects included in the 27 budget are projects that like Lillian and

[31:44] Cherokee Park that can be paid forward to recreation impact fees, monies.

[31:50] Again, police impact fee is another special revenue fund that we have.

[31:55] And you'll notice the increase in our impact fees in the 27 proposed budget, again,

[32:00] consistent with what we've discussed.

[32:04] The capital projects there,

[32:08] sorry, I apologize, I hadn't forwarded mine.

[32:13] Yeah, so impact fees have increased consistent with what we've seen in general with growth.

[32:20] We do have a cash balance carry forward of $299,229 of that came from last year's audited fund balance and we're expecting growth through the end of the year because of revenues that are being gathered and accumulated in 2026 and we haven't been spending them.

[32:37] So we're trying to now utilize our restricted monies such as the police impact fund more fully for the things that legally can be used for.

[32:45] So we have some capital projects you see in the 27 budget for control room expansion, a new vehicle, and some equipment.

[32:53] Again, we're trying to utilize money in the bucket where it's being earned.

[32:58] The other thing is, and we talked about this last time briefly, but

[33:01] impact fees have a life to them.

[33:04] So we have to be able to utilize them.

[33:06] I believe it's within 10 years of when they're actually collected.

[33:09] So we want to be mindful to not end up with a whole bunch of money.

[33:11] we can't spend because we didn't spend it in an appropriately time fashion.

[33:16] Okay, and this is our new fund that we've discussed now a couple times.

[33:21] It is to track the collection and expenditure for infrastructure surtax.

[33:29] So you had the money that previously had been sitting in the general fund,

[33:32] we transferred it in here to establish this fund.

[33:35] These are the estimates we expect for 27 for miscellaneous revenue.

[33:39] I believe we're going to get as local options sales tax.

[33:42] That number actually comes from the state of Florida, they provide us an estimate.

[33:46] So that number comes from them, transfers in, where we brought the money in from the general fund.

[33:51] We previously had these monies sitting.

[33:54] The capital projects include drainage projects and some tree removal.

[33:59] So we still have a pretty healthy fund balance.

[34:02] That's the money left over from this revenue source.

[34:07] Those funds can be used for transportation, they also can be used for law enforcement.

[34:12] So, there are probably in days ahead, we'll be some discussion with this commission as to how we want to more fully utilize those funds.

[34:19] But this way we can track them and keep a better handle on what we have available.

[34:25] Okay, so that's kind of my really quick kind of what we did last time.

[34:29] We are going to just walk through real quick, what did we change this year?

[34:34] We changed the budget approach from what we had done in the past.

[34:36] We included all of our fund balance and estimated a cash-carried forward amount.

[34:41] Traditionally, that it hasn't been something that has been done, at least what I've seen in our budgets in the past.

[34:46] So we wanted to make sure you knew what was truly available.

[34:49] We created applicable reserves trying to look for where are the buckets of money?

[34:54] What can they be restricted for so that there's a more clear mapping of what is available to be?

[35:00] We aggressively looked for ways to utilize restricted revenue sources, because our policy says we're going to utilize restricted money's first before we hit general fund regular. So we're trying to make sure that we're actually fulfilling that. And then we established the new fund. So in this budget, we have personal services increases, 3% cost of living raises, a very small amount, but from the salary study, the commission had authorized. There's some additional increases there.

[35:29] We added some new positions as we discussed last time, and we're pulling out and creating an actual building official role.

[35:38] And you will recall that as we discussed this, and it had been previously presented that actually is going to result in a cost savings to the city by creating that role, because we're not paying an outside company to provide that.

[35:50] So these are the positions we discussed that are new, that this commission so far has said, yep, we agree with those.

[35:57] And that's the salary amount, so of course there would be benefits, but just reminding you what we discussed.

[36:03] Talking about capital, what's in the capital budget.

[36:06] We have a vehicle and laptop for the new building official.

[36:09] We have quite a bit of IT equipment which we previously had not spent money for because we weren't sure if that would be prudent.

[36:20] So now that we have a little clear picture of where we are, we're spending so much needed projects there.

[36:25] doing some projects at the CRA, excuse me, at the Lake Lillian and Cherokee Parks, including the restrooms, sidewalks, parking, we're doing some street improvements, including the 55 Avenue Project, which is something that's been talked about for several years, but we actually put money in the budget to begin that process some drainage projects, water and wastewater projects include lift stations, three of them, I believe in the 27 budget, and then each year we're going to be taking care of some additional needs there, the baseline 92 loop extension,

[36:54] the hydro tank for well-5 and water main extensions, and I just wanted to again express what the gentleman before me expressed, you know, he was talking about how they had an area that had been budgeted for 10 million and now it's 22 million.

[37:09] So we, as a city, talking about the hydro tank for well-5, our cost went up significantly.

[37:17] So some of our projects, the cost has significantly increased.

[37:20] The needs are there.

[37:21] We want to go ahead and get started on this project.

[37:24] So that's what's in the capital.

[37:26] What we talked about last time were our reserves for contingencies.

[37:30] We have as a commission for a while now had, we've called it different things, but basically

[37:35] it's two months of what we think our cost to operate is that we've always kept in reserves.

[37:41] So we have that.

[37:42] We've also had for a while now what we call an emergency reserve, whatever you want to call.

[37:46] We live in Florida, we have hurricanes and stuff that happens.

[37:48] So those items are included and then we had a remaining reserve for contingencies in the last

[37:55] presentation of 3.36. You're going to see as we'll look at in just a minute that's of course

[38:00] increasing with the millage increase we've been discussing. Those are the contingency reserves

[38:05] for the other funds, they remain unchanged. All right, so what the heck did we do to the budget

[38:10] since the last time we were together? That's the summary of kind of what we talked about previously.

[38:14] Obviously, we did just a couple things.

[38:17] As I mentioned just a few minutes ago, this state of Florida provides revenue estimates for

[38:21] several of our very large revenues.

[38:23] We did not have in the last meeting their estimate yet for community services tax or

[38:29] the local option gas tax.

[38:32] The community service tax, we got the new number, it dropped our expected revenue by roughly $9,000 for

[38:38] that revenue line.

[38:39] And we had pretty good gas tax numbers because Marion County had provided them, but there was a small change in what the state put out.

[38:47] So we have adjusted the budget for those revenue changes.

[38:51] We added another account to our infrastructure surtax, new fund, it's not funded with any expenditures identified yet currently.

[39:01] But it recognizes the fact that that money can be used not only for the transportation projects.

[39:06] We currently have identified for infrastructure surtax, but the funding can be used for law enforcement as well.

[39:13] So we went ahead and created the account.

[39:15] It's sitting there, no dollars in it, but this commission could move dollars into it at whatever point it projects that weren't, that would be identified.

[39:25] I've included in the presentation the 5.25 millitrate and the 5.5 millitrate that increases our property tax revenue and that flows down to the reserves we've been talking about.

[39:35] Is the need to prepare for what might happen to us in general with what's going on in the state and the vote that's coming up, as well as just growth that we're identifying for our community because we've been growing.

[39:52] So just kind of a summary, our reserve for contingency in the general fund has, as we discussed a moment ago.

[40:00] So, a cash reserve, which is two months of operating expenditures, which, again, we've had that for a while, we've just called it different things. Of 1.33 million, we have an emergency reserve, which could be used for hurricanes as a thing that comes into my mind most of all, but for whatever this commission would deem would be appropriate. We keep those amounts always kind of set aside. We have remaining reserves, as you can see, they're based on the military and the total amount of reserves. This is general fund we're speaking of now.

[40:30] So depending on whether the commission wants to move forward with the 5.25 or the 5.5

[40:35] millage rate, your total budget amount is identified in this slide.

[40:40] And that's the end of my presentation, but I'm glad to entertain any questions you may

[40:45] have.

[40:46] And I'm commissioners questions.

[41:02] So we have a presentation, we have the packet.

[41:05] Okay so we need to look at our before we do the resolution because I need to know which one to read we have to it's not going to be an actual vote but if I could get a consensus of whether the commission is looking at 5.25 or 5.5.

[41:24] Well, I know we talked last time, and I was leaning more hopefully we could get by with the 525 and looking at one of the last pages of the difference.

[41:38] We don't get me wrong. $100 plus thousand is a lot of money in this game of things.

[41:48] but I'm just looking at the difference of the two and again, I'm still questioning

[41:55] are we able to get by with the 525 until we see what happens and then if

[42:03] we need to raise it I mean I know the way we talked before go ahead and raise

[42:08] five, two, five, and then we're good and make sure lower, you know, it's kind of like

[42:15] of course.

[42:16] The challenge we're doing it that way is that if the sales tax amendment three passes

[42:23] in November then we have until the following year to basically stockpiles and money to

[42:31] help offset the loss and revenue that we're going to get.

[42:34] If we do the 5.25, now we basically lose the opportunity to stockpile that.

[42:43] And then if we raise it next year, it's not going to have the same impact on our budget.

[42:51] If that's our strategy, and that was why I wanted to go with the 5.5, then I recommend we do the 5.5,

[42:58] because that will give us the, you know, as you can see, especially with our reserves,

[43:03] it gives us, you know, a good amount more in reserves that we have,

[43:11] you know, when, you know,

[43:13] when we lose some of that revenue, if it passes, but if it doesn't pass, then the following year,

[43:18] then we can lower it to 5.35 or even lower, because we'll be, we'll be okay then.

[43:24] So this is just purely just to have that, to have that little bit of cushion because we

[43:30] don't want to not be able to fund our necessary services.

[43:34] And that's what I'm worried about.

[43:37] I agree with you.

[43:39] I think if we do the five, five now, and then with the nine towards being able to roll back

[43:48] if that's possible with the way everything goes in November.

[43:53] I think it's better to put more in the reserves now, rather than play catch up.

[43:59] Because just like Jim said tonight, our ballpark went from $10 to $20 million in nine years.

[44:07] So we got to try to stay ahead a little bit for our projects upcoming.

[44:14] What do you think commissioners see?

[44:16] I'm saying 5.5.

[44:19] Okay.

[44:20] Can I see the golden?

[44:21] Okay.

[44:27] You know, if we do 525 or 55, 5.5, only 5,

[44:35] we're going to hear it that we raise the

[44:42] taxes from everybody, no matter what.

[44:45] And I think the safest way is to 5.5 because then we can lower it next year if we need to.

[44:53] but I think we need to protect the city right now and not knowing

[45:01] Everything is going to happen in the next few months, years. I think we'd be the safest by going to 5.5. Whether you raise it at 525 or 5.5, if the amendment doesn't pass, then I imagine this commission would lower taxes back down to 5 mils next year. I was just going to say that. I appreciate the mayor's concern because at 525, if one next year,

[45:30] it would be diminishing returns as the amendment is it starts to take effect the amount that

[45:36] we have to raise the military to compensate would be greater so I can appreciate the five-five

[45:44] now because if it doesn't pass we're going to lower it next year and if it does pass then if we have

[45:53] to raise it next year it won't be as bad.

[45:59] I think you're okay with that. Okay so for the resolution

[46:04] then I am going to read the tenetive millage resolution at 5.5 mills.

[46:10] Let me just get to that.

[46:12] That's 26-09.

[46:14] Thank you.

[46:15] Okay.

[46:22] Resolution 26-09, a resolution of the City Commission of the City of Bellevue, Florida,

[46:28] adopting the tenetive levying of adflora and taxes for the City of Bellevue, Florida,

[46:34] for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and providing for an effective date.

[46:39] The percentage in millage over the rolled back rate needed to fund the budget is 15.56%.

[46:46] The reasons ad valorem tax revenues are increasing are due to growth and increased property

[46:52] value.

[46:52] The taxing authority is the city of Bellevue.

[46:55] The rolled back rate is 4.7596.

[46:59] The percentage of increase over the rolled back rate is 15.56%.

[47:04] The milled rate to be levied is 5.5 mils and with that I am going to ask for public comment

[47:12] This is a public hearing is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against this resolution?

[47:18] I'm

[47:24] going to close the public portion and I'm going to turn it back to the commission commissioners

[47:39] I mean we can we can do either

[47:42] That's right.

[47:43] I mean, we already had the discussion.

[47:44] Yeah.

[47:44] We have to discuss it.

[47:45] I'll make a motion to approve 26.009.

[47:49] Second, Mayor.

[47:51] Okay.

[47:51] We have a motion and a second.

[47:52] Is there any further discussion?

[47:56] Let's call for the vote, please.

[47:58] Right.

[47:58] I believe we also need to deny the 26.08 in that same motion.

[48:05] Or do we leave it as a vote?

[48:06] Right.

[48:06] So we had prepared two resolutions because we weren't sure if it was going to be 5.25 or 5.5.

[48:15] She just read the 5.5 so shouldn't we vote on that one and then just go through and vote no on the 5.25 because we haven't, we just haven't prepared and they were on the agenda.

[48:28] Or should Leslie wants to know if they should include it all in one motion?

[48:31] Do it in, well, do the 5.5 that's on the floor.

[48:40] What I would say is that the 5.25, I guess the better practice would be to vote no on

[48:52] the 5.25, yes, on the 5.5.

[48:55] Okay, so the motion and the second on the floor is for resolution 26-09, so we had a motion

[49:04] and we had a second, so let's call for a vote on that one, please.

[49:08] Okay.

[49:09] Commissioner Smith?

[49:10] Yes.

[49:10] Commissioner Goldman?

[49:11] Yes.

[49:11] Commissioner Dwyer?

[49:12] Yes.

[49:13] Commissioner Livesay?

[49:14] Yes.

[49:14] Meredith Kowski.

[49:15] Yes.

[49:16] Do you want me to read the resolution 26-08?

[49:21] You don't have to vote on it if you don't bring it on the table.

[49:25] Okay.

[49:26] Yes.

[49:26] That was it.

[49:27] Couldn't we just market it?

[49:29] We never read it.

[49:31] Okay.

[49:31] All right.

[49:31] Thanks.

[49:32] Okay.

[49:32] So now we're going to move forward with our budget resolutions, which that's going to be the

[49:43] 26-11.

[49:45] Okay.

[49:45] And same question for that as long as we don't bring 26-10 to the table, we need to do anything

[49:51] there.

[49:51] Okay, just 26-11 matches the military that we just voted on.

[50:00] I'll see the title here. Apologize. Let me do this. Okay.

[50:16] Having technical difficulties bear with me.

[50:27] Okay. I don't know what I did, but I can read it from here. Resolution 26-11, correct? Yes. Okay. Sorry. A resolution of the city commission of the city of Bellevue adopting the tentative budget for the city of Bellevue for the fiscal year 2026 stat. 2026-2027 and providing for an effective date. And this is a public hearing and this is to adopt

[50:49] our budget matching the military that we just voted on. Is there anyone in the audience who

[50:54] would like to speak for or against this resolution?

[51:00] I'm going to close the public portion and I'm going

[51:02] to turn it back to the commission commissioners.

[51:07] Second. Give me a minute. Second is there any further

[51:11] discussion? Is this the one we're turning down? No, this is the one that matches the military that we

[51:20] We just passed, so they created a budget that was in line with the 5.5-millage.

[51:25] We're not going to bring forward the one.

[51:27] We're not even going to bring the other one up because it wouldn't.

[51:30] It would be incorrect. This is the correct budget for what we just did.

[51:35] Okay. Any other questions?

[51:39] Okay, let's look out for the right place.

[51:41] Mr. Smith?

[51:41] No.

[51:42] Mr. Goldman?

[51:43] Yes.

[51:44] Mr. Dwyer?

[51:45] Yes.

[51:45] Mr. Livesy?

[51:47] No.

[51:47] But we're not bringing forward the one that we're churning down.

[51:51] So now you're voting on the budget that matches the knowledge that you just voted for.

[51:55] I'm sorry I misunderstood you.

[51:56] It's okay.

[51:57] Yeah, we want to make sure that everybody understands.

[51:59] I mean, it's okay if you vote now.

[52:00] We want to make sure you understand that this, we're voting on the budget that matches the

[52:06] knowledge if we don't pass that budget then it's going to happen because it's

[52:15] based on the knowledge that we just that we just it's agreeing with the 5.5 you

[52:20] just approved this resolution right so this is just carrying that over yes okay

[52:24] my voters yes okay so let's look let's start over we had a mission and we had a

[52:29] second then we had some unexpected questions so we're gonna go ahead and call

[52:34] for the vote again.

[52:36] Mr. Smith?

[52:37] Yes.

[52:37] Mr. Goldman?

[52:39] Yes.

[52:39] Mr. Dwyer?

[52:41] Yes.

[52:41] Mr. Lipsy?

[52:42] Yes.

[52:42] Mayor Dupcowski.

[52:43] Yes.

[52:44] Thank you.

[52:45] I have a question real quick before I run.

[52:48] We passed the military 5-0.

[52:50] Did we have to have 5-0 for the budget amendment?

[52:52] 5-5.

[52:54] Okay.

[52:54] I just needed it.

[52:55] It's like I knew we had to have 5 for the-

[52:57] You adopted a budget based on a 5.5-0.

[53:02] I understand your question.

[53:03] And I don't think it, I don't think we had to have a, we didn't have to have a unanimous vote for that.

[53:08] That's a different thing.

[53:10] I don't think we needed to.

[53:12] Yeah, no, he could have stayed at now.

[53:15] It only took forward to adopt the, it only took forward.

[53:20] I'll have a good evening.

[53:25] Okay, sorry.

[53:26] Track, yeah.

[53:28] Okay, so we're going to move forward with our presentations.

[53:32] And I'm just going to go to the podium.

[53:33] and then I'll see which one I'm going to do first.

[54:00] Okay, Kevin, can you join me at the podium please?

[54:02] And Matt, which makes it come also?

[54:05] Okay, and this is our presentation

[54:06] for National IT Professionals Day.

[54:10] Whereas National IT Professionals Day was created in 2015

[54:15] and it celebrated the third Tuesday of September each year.

[54:18] And whereas it is with acknowledgement and appreciation

[54:22] of the technical experts, network engineers,

[54:24] system administrators, data-based administrators, business systems analyst, GIS analyst and service desk technicians who ensure our networks, applications, tools, technology and information are kept secure, ensuring technical processes, systems and devices operate smoothly.

[54:45] And whereas the City of Bellevue supports the skilled work of IT professionals to strengthen

[54:51] community communication and resiliency, connect people with technology and each other,

[54:56] And, whereas, National IIT...

[55:00] Professional stay recognizes the importance and benefits of IT professionals as an integral role, enriching the lives of our community members, securing a desirable place to live, work, and visit. And whereas the most important part of this day is taking the time to thank the IT professionals who make modern life easier for all of us. And now therefore, I, Christine Dubkowski, mayor, do you hear my proclaim September 15th, 2026, as National IT professional stay?

[55:29] in the city of Bellevue and encourage all residents and employees to recognize the work

[55:35] IT professionals who do the critical but often unseen work to keep our networks and applications running.

[56:06] Okay, next we have our HR professional saying we don't have anyone here to accept this.

[56:12] Oh, Maria's going to accept it, okay.

[56:14] All right, great.

[56:16] Whereas the human resources professionals shall be recognized for the important work

[56:21] that they do to support all city employees and whereas HR professionals help employees

[56:27] adapt to an ever-changing and competitive environment while responding to workplace needs and economic

[56:32] challenges. And whereas these professionals enable positive organizational development and

[56:38] service strategic partners to meet public service goals by recruiting and retaining qualified

[56:43] diverse candidates for employment, recognizing our standing employee achievements, projecting

[56:49] 13 trends in the market and providing workforce planning, developing equitable compensation

[56:55] and benefit structures, facilitating change management, and preserving the integrity

[57:01] of the organization by ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, and whereas

[57:06] HR professional service leaders, business strategist, problem solvers, talent developers,

[57:12] teachers, culture curators, advocates, while displaying integrity and dedication.

[57:17] And whereas HR professionals live their mission daily by enhancing organizational decisions

[57:23] that depend on and impact people by listening, engaging, attracting, developing and supporting

[57:29] one public servant at a time.

[57:32] And whereas HR professional day is an opportunity to show appreciation for human resource professionals

[57:38] and the valuable work they do every day.

[57:40] Now, therefore, I, Christine Dupkowski, mayor of the city of Bellevue to hereby proclaim

[57:46] September 26th, 2026 is human resources professional day.

[57:51] In the city of Bellevue, and further extend appreciation to our HR professionals in the

[57:56] city of Bellevue for the vital services they perform, their dedication and their relentless

[58:00] contributions to the city of Bellevue.

[58:03] And

[58:17] we have, finally, Florida redevelopment wait, is it Shantana?

[58:20] I don't know.

[58:21] I wasn't sure.

[58:22] Okay.

[58:24] Whereas, community redevelopment agencies and redevelopment programs play a vital role in

[58:31] revitalizing neighborhoods, addressing areas of slim and blight, strengthening local economy,

[58:37] revitalizing downtowns and improving the quality of life for residents and businesses throughout

[58:42] the state of Florida.

[58:43] and whereas redevelopment initiatives encourage private investment, support small businesses, improve infrastructure, enhance public spaces and expand housing opportunities, thereby fostering vibrant, resilient and equitable communities,

[58:58] and whereas the Florida Redevelopment Association, in partnership with municipalities, counties and community stakeholders, promotes best practices, professional education, and collaboration to advance community redevelopment efforts

[59:12] throughout Florida. And whereas Florida redevelopment week serves as an

[59:17] opportunity to recognize redevelopment achievements, highlight transformational

[59:21] projects, engage residents and stakeholders, and celebrate the economic,

[59:26] social, and cultural benefits of community revitalization. And whereas the

[59:31] observance of Florida redevelopment week will raise awareness of the importance

[59:35] of community redevelopment and inspired continued public and private investments

[59:39] in Florida's neighborhoods, downtowns, and commercial corridors,

[59:43] in Florida's neighborhoods, downtowns, and commercial corridors.

[59:49] Now, therefore, I, Christine Dubkowski, the air commissioner, do hereby proclaim

[59:52] September 14 through the 18th, 2026, as Florida Redevelopment Week

[59:57] in the city of Bellevue, and encourage all residents

[1:00:00] Businesses, community organizations and public officials to recognize and celebrate the contributions

[1:00:06] of community redevelopment programs and to participate in activities highlighting the importance

[1:00:11] of revitalization efforts across our communities.

[1:00:45] Okay, we're going to move into our public hearings

[1:00:47] and for the record, commission or Goldman is no longer at the meeting. And we're going to move

[1:00:54] in to the

[1:00:59] first reading of Ordinance 2026-19 which is abandoned and vacant real

[1:01:07] personal property. Ordinance 2026-19 in Ordinance Amending Article 7, Chapter 2 of the City Code,

[1:01:16] providing for maintaining abandoned buildings in the city, providing for maintaining and

[1:01:21] enforcing an accurate registration record of all abandoned buildings and vacant buildings in the

[1:01:26] City, providing for a statement of purpose and intent, providing for definitions declaring

[1:01:31] abandoned buildings a public nuisance, providing for applicability, providing for penalties,

[1:01:37] providing for registration of abandoned property, providing for registration fee, providing

[1:01:43] for maintenance requirements, providing for structural and building standards, providing

[1:01:49] for security requirements, providing for immunity of enforcement officer, providing for authority

[1:01:55] of Development Services Director, providing for inquiry, inspection, and notice enforcement

[1:02:01] officer, providing for vacant and abandoned buildings, fund, and expenditures, providing

[1:02:06] for an effective day.

[1:02:07] Shana, is that a review?

[1:02:09] Yes.

[1:02:10] The original ordinance, ordinance 2026-7 was adopted on final reading at the April 7th commission

[1:02:17] meeting.

[1:02:18] Finally, its staff subsequently identified an error in section 2.269, which incorrectly

[1:02:24] granted authority to the clerk or does any for the collection, allocation, and expenditures

[1:02:29] of said revenue.

[1:02:31] Ordnance 2026-19 corrects this language to vest the authority in the city administrator

[1:02:36] or does any.

[1:02:37] In addition, the prior ordinance referred to a vacant and abandoned building fund that shall

[1:02:42] be administered in a separate line item.

[1:02:45] This ordinance replaces the phrase with the vacant and abandoned building fund.

[1:02:50] I'm staff recommends approval of ordinance 2026-19.

[1:02:54] Okay, this is a public hearing, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against his ordinance?

[1:03:02] Okay, I'm going to close the public portion, and I'm going to turn it back to the commission.

[1:03:10] Motion to approve, ordinance 2026-19.

[1:03:15] Second.

[1:03:17] Okay, we have a motion and a second, is there any further discussion?

[1:03:21] I just have one question Sean are they are the fees that we're going to be assessing enough or should they be more?

[1:03:29] I know we talked about it a little bit last time, but it just it seemed kind of low for like some businesses that sit on for four.

[1:03:36] But it starts out at 3.50 but in each additional year after two years it goes up so I do think that it's it goes up significantly up to like after five years.

[1:03:48] Okay, it kind of plots. Oh, so you're good with those. I'm good with the thing. Okay.

[1:03:56] Okay. Did we have a second this man? Okay. We have a motion a second. Any further questions?

[1:04:01] Okay. Leslie call for the vote, please.

[1:04:03] Mr. Smith. Yes.

[1:04:04] Mr. Eduardo. Yes.

[1:04:05] Mr. Olivia. Yes.

[1:04:06] Meredith Kowski.

[1:04:07] Yes. The next item in our agenda is a public hearing for the final reading of ordinance 2026-10

[1:04:14] 10

[1:04:18] annexation for U.S. 441 development LLC, ordinance number 2026-10, an ordinance annexing

[1:04:27] to the city of Bellevue, Florida, certainlyans in Marion County, Florida, pursuant to

[1:04:32] chapter 171 Florida statues, providing for terms and conditions of set annexation and

[1:04:37] describing the area to be annexed and providing for an effective date.

[1:04:41] Anna?

[1:04:42] Yes.

[1:04:42] The subject parcels are commercially-zone properties owned by US 441 development LLC.

[1:04:48] This application was initiated by the property owner and annexes the properties into the

[1:04:52] city of Bellevue.

[1:04:53] The properties are surrounded by commercial and residential properties and have convenient

[1:04:58] access to US Highway 440.

[1:05:00] 31 and Southeast 100th Street. Partial 368-6200-00-00, which is located on the corner of U.S. Highway 441 in 100th Street. Appears to be connected to city water. Both city and water city water and sewer are available for these three parcels. And this item was approved on first reading at the August 18th, 2026 commission meeting. Staff recommends approval of ordinance 2026-10.

[1:05:28] and final reading.

[1:05:32] Mayor, if anyone makes a motion to adopt this ordinance,

[1:05:37] the second paragraph in the Precordory Language Paras,

[1:05:41] there's a scrivener's error that says one parcel

[1:05:44] and then in parentheses, three, the number three parcels

[1:05:47] afterwards that needs to be corrected

[1:05:50] so that the language agrees and there are three parcels

[1:05:55] So I should say three parentheses, numeral three.

[1:05:59] Okay.

[1:06:01] Okay.

[1:06:01] And this is a public hearing.

[1:06:02] Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against this?

[1:06:09] Okay.

[1:06:10] I'm going to call you as a public portion.

[1:06:11] Turn it back to the commissioners.

[1:06:12] I'm going to make a motion to approve 2026-10 with the corrections recommended by Attorney Lent.

[1:06:21] It's a second.

[1:06:22] Okay.

[1:06:23] We have a motion.

[1:06:23] The second.

[1:06:24] Is there any further discussion?

[1:06:25] Yes.

[1:06:25] John, a quick question.

[1:06:27] Refreshable memory.

[1:06:28] Exactly.

[1:06:28] Where is this?

[1:06:30] This is on 441.

[1:06:32] It's right next to Bellevue propane that we recently annexed in.

[1:06:38] Oh.

[1:06:38] annexed in these parcels prior to this meeting.

[1:06:41] Okay.

[1:06:42] Thank you.

[1:06:44] Okay.

[1:06:45] Any other questions?

[1:06:48] Okay.

[1:06:48] Leslie, call for the way.

[1:06:49] Please.

[1:06:49] Mr. Smith.

[1:06:50] Yes.

[1:06:50] Commissioner Dwyer.

[1:06:51] Yes.

[1:06:54] The next item in our agenda is the final reading of ordinance 2026-17 which is the figure arrow comprehensive plan amendment ordinance 2026-17 and ordinance of the city of Bellevue Florida relating to an amendment of 5.20 plus minus

[1:07:23] as Acres of Land to the City of Bellevue's Comprehensive Plan,

[1:07:27] amending the future land use map

[1:07:28] of the City of Bellevue Comprehensive Plan

[1:07:30] and the official zoning district's map,

[1:07:33] pursuing to application SSC25-003 by the City of Bellevue

[1:07:39] for Rocio Perez figure arrow under the small-scale amendment

[1:07:44] procedures established in sections 163.3161,

[1:07:48] Due 163.3215 Florida statutes, changing the future land use classification on parcel

[1:07:56] number 38526-0000-0000 from medium residential Marion County to medium density residential

[1:08:05] city of Bellevue and by changing the zoning classification from A1 Marion County to Ag city

[1:08:11] of Bellevue on certain lands within the corporate limits of the city of Bellevue, Florida providing

[1:08:17] Planning severability, repealing all ordinances and conflict and providing an effective date.

[1:08:22] Shanna?

[1:08:23] This subject property is owned by Rossi O'Rourke Perez figure arrow and was annexed into the city in March of 2026.

[1:08:30] It is being developed by, as a single family home, Marion County required the home to be connected to city water.

[1:08:37] Sewer lines are not available, therefore Marion County has permitted them to use a nitrogen-reducing septic tank.

[1:08:43] This application amends the future land use map and zoning map to include the property and assign future land use and zoning designations as in chart one.

[1:08:52] Applicant is requesting rezoning from Marion County General Agricultural A1 to city agricultural AG and the land use from Marion County medium residential to city of Bellevue medium residential.

[1:09:05] The proposed future land use and axoning categories are appropriate to the proposed use incompatible with the adjacent areas.

[1:09:13] This item was approved on first reading on August 18th, 2026 at the commission meeting.

[1:09:19] Staff recommends approval of ordinance 2026-17.

[1:09:23] Okay, this is a public hearing. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against this ordinance?

[1:09:30] Okay, I'm going to close the public question and turn it back to the commission commissioners.

[1:09:35] Motion to approve, Mayor.

[1:09:37] Second.

[1:09:38] The motion in the second is ready for the discussion.

[1:09:42] Okay, and as we call for the vote, please.

[1:09:44] Commissioner Smith?

[1:09:45] Yes.

[1:09:45] Commissioner Dwyer?

[1:09:46] Yes.

[1:09:47] Commissioner Livsey?

[1:09:47] Yes.

[1:09:48] Mayor DiPalski.

[1:09:49] Yes.

[1:09:49] The next item in our agenda is Resolution 26-07, Fund Balance Policy.

[1:09:59] Okay.

[1:09:59] Thank you very much.

[1:10:00] Resolution 26-07, a resolution of the City Commission of the City of Bellevue, Florida, establishing a fund balance policy, providing for purpose and definitions, establishing requirements for committed, assigned, and unassigned fund balances, establishing a minimum, unassigned, general fund balance, establishing an order of expenditure of funds, providing for implementation, providing for conflicts, and providing an effective day. Julie?

[1:10:27] John Gary spearheaded this policy, so I'm going to let him.

[1:10:34] Commissioner, is this policy was drafted and presented to you tonight.

[1:10:40] Just in conjunction with the way we're presenting the new budget to you, it does provide for

[1:10:46] guidelines as far as the classification of the different types of fun balances.

[1:10:52] Mainly it's giving your direction to the finance staff in the future as to

[1:10:59] how to establish reserves within the operating budget and the timeline and time frame.

[1:11:05] So it codifies your direction to finance.

[1:11:09] So we know exactly how to set the reserves in the future.

[1:11:18] Thank you.

[1:11:20] And this is a public hearing on this resolution.

[1:11:24] Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against this resolution?

[1:11:30] Okay, I'm going to close the public portion and turn it back to the commission.

[1:11:39] Motion to approve resolution 26-07 fund balance policy.

[1:11:45] Set it.

[1:11:47] Okay.

[1:11:47] We have a motion and a second.

[1:11:49] Is there any further discussion?

[1:11:53] Okay.

[1:11:53] Leslie Call for the vote, please.

[1:11:54] Thank you.

[1:11:55] Commissioner Smith.

[1:11:55] Yes.

[1:11:56] Commissioner Dwyer.

[1:11:57] Yes.

[1:11:57] Commissioner Livesy.

[1:11:58] Yes.

[1:11:58] Mayor Dukowski.

[1:11:59] Yes.

[1:12:00] Okay.

[1:12:00] The next item in our agenda is unscheduled audience.

[1:12:03] Is there anyone in the audience who wants to speak before the commission this evening on any topic?

[1:12:13] Okay.

[1:12:14] Any name and address for the record?

[1:12:20] Ronnie Woods, 5, 6, 3, 5, 1, 27, place.

[1:12:24] Belby, Florida, 3, 4, 4, 2, 1.

[1:12:27] I'm just an update.

[1:12:28] The sign I was working on, I'm waiting on permitting.

[1:12:31] The memorial we're waiting on the electrical to get the lights fixed

[1:12:33] and the VVA is probably going to take that over.

[1:12:37] You did very, very well at the last month's meeting.

[1:12:39] It was pretty rough.

[1:12:40] You handled it excellently.

[1:12:43] I thought that was pretty impressive.

[1:12:45] One quick question I want to know if it's worth pursuing.

[1:12:47] It's for the kids. My girlfriend was mentioning it. We have a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son.

[1:12:53] A Friday or Saturday night, between say 630 and 930, where the kids could gather at Lake Lillian or

[1:13:00] at the community center and have a kids, a teen's night. No adults, while the parents would, of course,

[1:13:06] be somewhere and we definitely need the police. But is that an avenue that the city and the mayor and

[1:13:13] Council would even be interested in, we'd look into it to see what the possibilities were.

[1:13:19] I think initially some kind of reports from the police would come up first to see what

[1:13:24] is viable and because there's going to be, there's going to be 15 and 16-year-old stuff

[1:13:29] will happen.

[1:13:30] All right.

[1:13:31] What does our communities that it look like on the weekends do we have?

[1:13:35] It's pretty booked for like in the next year.

[1:13:38] I don't know about Friday evenings, but we can check on that.

[1:13:42] I'd have to read our policies because we do have guidelines on who can rent it for

[1:13:47] what kind of things on the weekends, but it's something that we could talk about with

[1:13:53] the community event liaison.

[1:13:55] Yeah.

[1:13:56] Is he out of town today?

[1:13:57] He is this week.

[1:13:58] He'll be back.

[1:13:58] We have a Friday foodie fest.

[1:14:00] This Friday he'll be back for that so I can get with him and we can touch base with you

[1:14:04] and talk about some more ideas and there's some applications and things you'd have to fill

[1:14:08] out, but it's something that we could work on.

[1:14:11] Okay, I died.

[1:14:12] It's not in my girlfriend, it's just something for the kids to have something to do.

[1:14:15] I think if there's somebody like yourself who's willing to spearhead it and run it.

[1:14:23] I think that's a really nice idea.

[1:14:31] Yeah.

[1:14:31] Cool.

[1:14:32] Yeah.

[1:14:33] To the feedback from a police officer seriously.

[1:14:36] We have nice kids in our community.

[1:14:39] Thank you very much for your time.

[1:14:40] Thank you.

[1:14:41] Is there anyone else? Yes, sir. If you could please approach the podium and just state your name and address for the record.

[1:14:47] Hi, my name is Kenneth Thompson. I'm 4941 Southeast 115 Street Bellevue.

[1:14:55] Jason, to me, they're putting in, I understand several figures on A-

[1:15:00] Eight acres, 85 and 64 and different. My fence line is on that property. If you come into

[1:15:08] my side, I'm in the county going that side, you're in the city. I can't see that many

[1:15:15] homes on eight acres. You can't even maintain 50 fifth street or avenue. Right now, I have

[1:15:23] to drive left to center to keep from tearing the truck apart because of the chuckles. You're

[1:15:29] going to put that much more on that road and the rest of the highways, you drive from

[1:15:35] here to the villages or to Ocala. You should be able to do it in 10 minutes. Now it takes

[1:15:42] you a half an hour, 45 minutes. You're going to add to that. They're building 380 homes

[1:15:49] there on the baseline right now. That hadn't started, but when they get that one done, what

[1:15:55] What are we going to do with all that kind of traffic on our environment?

[1:16:02] It's going to make a big difference.

[1:16:04] Our big problem in Florida is water.

[1:16:07] That's what worries us.

[1:16:09] Our wells are drying or dropping now.

[1:16:11] Been here 40 years on two and a half acres.

[1:16:15] Are they going to let me put 40 homes on that?

[1:16:18] If I want to build, I won't be around to see it.

[1:16:22] Most of us in this room won't be around to see the consequences.

[1:16:25] of this activity hope you consider all of that when you if you approve that property development because it's going to hurt us.

[1:16:37] Okay I appreciate your comments and we voted on several meetings ago the request came before us to allow 80 something homes and we denied that request.

[1:16:50] However, we can't stop them from developing it with the 64 homes approximately, because it was approved back in the night.

[1:17:02] They stipulated that on their plot plan.

[1:17:05] Shana, is there a requirement between residential and residential?

[1:17:09] Yes, there is.

[1:17:09] Okay.

[1:17:10] It will depend on what type of residential it is, but they do have to have a buffer in that area.

[1:17:19] in that area. Okay, so there is going to be a buffer with, I don't know if we know

[1:17:23] exactly what kind jet but there will be a buffer between your properties.

[1:17:26] I'm sure it will that be available that I can look at it.

[1:17:29] Donna, can you have not submitted a plan yet? Okay, well actually approved back in the 80s.

[1:17:35] Mm hmm. I knew it was going to be developed. I've been there 30 some odd years. I knew we weren't

[1:17:41] going to stay country forever. But the commission voted to,

[1:17:48] so.

[1:17:57] All right, thank you very much.

[1:17:58] Thank you for sharing today. We appreciate it. Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak?

[1:18:04] This evening on any topic.

[1:18:09] Okay, we're going to move forward with their other

[1:18:12] other city department other business and department updates and we're going to start with Leslie.

[1:18:20] Okay, so at the September 1st meeting there was the utility billing write-off for fiscal years

[1:18:25] years, 2024, 2025. At the time, a formal analysis was not available, but it has been completed

[1:18:32] now, so that is in your agenda packet for your review. We did find really the main causes

[1:18:38] going through all of those accounts. Main causes of those write-offs were, you know, accounts

[1:18:43] with refunded deposits. We found that there were 33% of the accounts that were written off

[1:18:50] had a refunded deposit, so if I did some math on there and if there had been, those accounts

[1:18:58] had deposits, it would have been $10,000 less, but it must be said that current active accounts

[1:19:04] with no deposit is about 1,800. Those are long-term customers. Many of you are also people without

[1:19:11] deposits if they've already been refunded for good standing, but that is something to take note of.

[1:19:16] We also had delayed disconnections.

[1:19:19] There were 24 accounts in that list that did have delays in disconnections.

[1:19:23] Some of them as many as five months without a disconnection.

[1:19:28] So with our new policy, of course, we are going to be implementing disconnections on the actual

[1:19:33] schedule that it needs to follow.

[1:19:36] With the other ones that we said, there were ones that had active accounts.

[1:19:40] So we did initiate 17 accounts to do a balanced transfer.

[1:19:44] So we did take about $3,200 out of that right off amount and then there were some others where you know

[1:19:52] We had those really large amounts of the how did this person get a $3,000 water bill so we were looking at that there were some accounts that had

[1:20:00] Major leaks or they were billing issues and that we have analyzed and we're looking at that. But since March of 2026, we're no longer refunding the deposits. Consistent disconnection dates are set. Additional deposits are being collected every month if somebody is disconnected. And then of course deposit restoration is also occurring. And then we have collections that are going to actually consistent rather than

[1:20:29] waiting a year, we now are actually allowing 90 days for the collections period.

[1:20:35] And then of course, old balances are being transferred if the customer has an active account.

[1:20:39] So of course we're looking at that, all of the steps we're taking will hopefully, when

[1:20:44] we come back in future years, that will be a lot less.

[1:20:49] Thank you for putting them together.

[1:20:51] And the transfer, that was not being done previously.

[1:20:55] And so, what we found after last meeting, which is one of the reasons Leslie brought this forward was,

[1:21:01] Leslie had previously been looking at things like Highland Homes, like Mike was upset because they were businesses that had it transferred.

[1:21:09] But what we found was, again, in the previous processes and procedures that were being done before the leadership change,

[1:21:16] when accounts were being, if Highland Homes built a house and then somebody bought the house,

[1:21:21] It's our responsibility to contact Thailand homes and tell them that they have a balance, but we were not.

[1:21:27] So those balances were just being carried over.

[1:21:30] And then we looked at, we're starting to look at all accounts.

[1:21:33] So if somebody comes in to open a water account, we are checking now to see if they had a previous account with a balance.

[1:21:38] We will immediately transfer that balance over so that those things will not be missed any longer, any further either.

[1:21:44] So that's a new thing that we've discovered when we're working through all these processes and

[1:21:49] procedures that was not being done that we've now initiated a process.

[1:21:53] So we wanted a report to you that from what we discussed at the last meeting,

[1:21:57] we further looked at our processes and are now including the transfer process properly.

[1:22:02] Okay.

[1:22:02] Great, thank you.

[1:22:04] Did you have anything else, Lucy?

[1:22:05] No, ma'am.

[1:22:06] Shana, did you have anything?

[1:22:07] Since it is Florida redevelopment week, I just wanted to let you all know that I'll be attending the Florida redevelopment association conference the week of October 19th.

[1:22:16] Okay, I also don't have some good information to bring back.

[1:22:19] Great, Julie, did you have anything?

[1:22:20] Nothing.

[1:22:21] Okay, thank you.

[1:22:22] Bob?

[1:22:22] Nothing.

[1:22:23] Chief?

[1:22:23] Nothing, ma'am.

[1:22:24] Kevin?

[1:22:25] I have nothing, ma'am.

[1:22:26] Nothing.

[1:22:27] Mariah.

[1:22:28] I think.

[1:22:29] No.

[1:22:31] Emission anything?

[1:22:32] Emission is done.

[1:22:33] I have nothing.

[1:22:34] Okay, and I don't have any.

[1:22:36] I do have something.

[1:22:37] You didn't make me a note, but were we going to talk about the first meeting in December?

[1:22:42] I didn't make you a note, but yes.

[1:22:44] I can't believe I remembered.

[1:22:46] So, the first meeting in December falls right after Thanksgiving and we've discovered that

[1:22:52] most of our staff, I mean because we're going to be closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday

[1:22:58] and Sunday and then a lot of our staff is going to be on vacation, that we're leading up

[1:23:03] to the meeting which makes it very difficult to prepare the agenda and so what we were

[1:23:08] suggesting is that perhaps we not have the first meeting in December and just have one meeting

[1:23:14] which would be the second meeting.

[1:23:17] Yeah, which would be the 15th, the 15th.

[1:23:19] Is everybody okay with that?

[1:23:20] I don't know the date, but the first meeting of December

[1:23:26] would be canceled.

[1:23:26] December 1st, yeah.

[1:23:29] It just falls the week right after Thanksgiving week,

[1:23:31] which makes it really hard for us to put together

[1:23:33] any sort of an agenda.

[1:23:35] Okay.

[1:23:36] Okay, Mary, so we're going to go ahead and do that.

[1:23:39] And I didn't have anything else, so our meeting is adjourned.

City Commission Meeting

Transcript