[8:11] Are we good online?

[8:13] >> Good [clears throat] evening. Welcome to

[8:14] » Good [clears throat] evening. Welcome to

[8:14] Oido City Council Chambers. If everyone

[8:16] could please rise for the pledge of

[8:17] >> allegiance

[8:22] to the flag of the United States of

[8:24] America and to the republic for it

[8:27] stands one nation

[8:29] indivisible with liberty and justice for

[8:32] all.

[8:36] » Please join me in a moment of silence.

[8:46] I would like to call our meeting to

[8:47] order. It is January 5th, 2026 at

[8:50] approximately 6:30 p.m. and we have all

[8:52] members of council present. We're going

[8:54] to start off with our ceremonial items.

[8:56] So, I believe we're going to go down

[8:57] there and I'll hand it over to the

[8:58] mayor.

[9:00] >> All right. As we head down here, want to

[9:03] » All right. As we head down here, want to

[9:03] draw your attention to Noah here on the

[9:05] front row, who is a state champion for

[9:09] diving. And Coach Getty is going to

[9:11] share a little bit about him. But come

[9:13] on up here. Come on up here because we

[9:14] want to see who he's talking about as he

[9:15] is.

[9:17] >> Yeah. Face that way. Thank you. Okay.

[9:19] » Yeah. Face that way. Thank you. Okay.

[9:19] And I'm going to pass this to Coach

[9:20] Getty.

[9:22] >> Welcome everyone. And thank you for

[9:23] » Welcome everyone. And thank you for

[9:23] being here this evening. This fine young

[9:26] gentleman, Noah Stac last year was our

[9:29] state runner up at Hagerty in diving.

[9:31] This year as he hits to the board again,

[9:34] he is a conference champion for the

[9:36] seminal athletic conference, a district

[9:38] three champion for the FHSAA, the region

[9:41] one FHSAA champion and the 4A FHSA state

[9:46] champion. Noah also competes on some

[9:49] higher levels. He works with team USA

[9:51] and has competed both here in the United

[9:53] States and overseas and he will continue

[9:57] his career at the University of South

[9:59] Carolina. He has been a blessing for our

[10:01] school. He is a super talented athlete.

[10:04] He's an even better student. We are

[10:06] happy to be able to call him ours and uh

[10:08] we wish him luck and thank you for

[10:10] having us in this evening. It's good to

[10:12] see a lot of familiar faces as well.

[10:14] Thank you.

[10:17] [applause]

[10:23] We got got to add this in. So for him to

[10:25] practice, there's no pool that is safe

[10:28] for him to dive in. He goes down to

[10:31] iDrive to this pool that has a super

[10:33] deep well 5 days a week. It is an

[10:36] incredible commitment, an incredible

[10:39] show of self-discipline, and we're just

[10:40] so proud of you. So let's go to the

[10:42] middle here so we can grab a picture.

[10:43] And your family, too.

[11:10] Everybody take a few pictures. So,

[11:13] Congratulations.

[11:27] [applause]

[11:57] family has a cell phone.

[12:22] Instagram,

[12:26] Tik Tok.

[13:00] All All right, next up we have the uh

[13:04] 250th

[13:06] anniversary of the United States of

[13:08] America. Whereas July 4th, 2026

[13:11] commemorates the 250th anniversary of

[13:14] the signing of the Declaration of

[13:15] Independence, proclaiming America's

[13:17] independence and absolving all

[13:19] allegiance to the all allegiance to the

[13:21] Kingdom of Great Britain and King George

[13:23] III. And whereas and declaring

[13:26] themselves free and independent states,

[13:28] the 13 colonies fundamentally altered

[13:30] the political landscape of the Western

[13:32] Hemisphere, inaugurating an era of

[13:34] representative government that would

[13:36] reverberate across the world throughout

[13:38] the next two centuries. And whereas the

[13:40] revolutionary spirit ignited in 1776 was

[13:44] slow to reach the untamed, sparsely

[13:46] populated British controlled colonies of

[13:49] East and West Florida, which Britain

[13:51] rested from Spain during the Seven Years

[13:54] War. And whereas following their return

[13:57] to Spain's control after the American

[14:00] Revolution, East and West Florida became

[14:03] increasingly untenable possessions for a

[14:06] weakening uh empire. And whereas

[14:09] tumultuous events around the world and

[14:11] in east and west Florida led Spain to

[14:14] seed the territory to the fledgling

[14:16] United States in 1821.

[14:19] And whereas Andrew Jackson, a provincial

[14:21] governor, who also happened to be

[14:23] Florida's first governor, it combined

[14:26] East and West Florida into the single

[14:28] territory of Florida, which attained

[14:30] statehood in 1845, with much of its

[14:33] lands remaining untamed until the late

[14:35] 1860s.

[14:37] And whereas at the 20th 27th state

[14:40] admitted to the union, Florida claimed

[14:43] its place among the free and independent

[14:46] states, eventually transforming from an

[14:48] untamed frontier into what would become

[14:50] the nation's third most populous state.

[14:53] And whereas a century after the

[14:55] Declaration of Independence, intrepid

[14:58] pioneers embodying the same

[15:00] revolutionary spirit journey down the

[15:03] St. John's River into Florida's untamed

[15:05] wilderness to lay the foundations of

[15:07] Ovido in the Lake Jessup community. And

[15:10] whereas today the city of Ovito, Florida

[15:13] joins communities across our state and

[15:15] nation in recognizing the importance of

[15:18] this milestone and in reaffirming our

[15:20] shared commitment to the ideals and

[15:22] values that continue to unite us as

[15:24] Americans. And whereas the year 2026

[15:28] offers an opportunity for all Americans

[15:30] to reflect upon and celebrate the

[15:33] enduring principles of freedom,

[15:35] representative government, and

[15:37] self-determination that have guided our

[15:39] nation since its founding in 1776.

[15:43] And whereas the United States semiis

[15:46] semiquincentennial

[15:48] provides a historic occasion to honor

[15:50] the vision, courage, and sacrifices of

[15:53] the patriots who secured our

[15:55] independence, as well as the generations

[15:57] that have since worked to expand and

[15:59] protect the blessings of liberty for

[16:01] all. Now therefore, be it resolved by

[16:04] the city council of the city of Ovidito,

[16:06] Florida, that 2026 is hereby designated

[16:09] as a year of celebration in honor of the

[16:12] 250th anniversary of the founding of the

[16:16] United States of America. And I think we

[16:19] might have some people from the

[16:21] committee here to accept this

[16:22] resolution. That is quite lengthy, but

[16:25] Oto does have a very specific place in

[16:28] the history of the United States. It

[16:30] took us a while to get in the whole

[16:32] situation, but here we are.

[16:56] It's okay.

[17:14] [applause]

[17:27] All right, this next one is so long that

[17:30] I'm not going to read the entire thing

[17:31] because it's kind of technical, but I

[17:34] want to talk about what it is. And our

[17:37] last meeting was the Hanukkah

[17:39] celebration here in the city of Ovida.

[17:42] It wasn't put on by the city. It was put

[17:43] on by uh the Ovito Winter Springs Habad.

[17:47] And I can't say it quite right because I

[17:49] can't do the Habad thing, but I'm

[17:51] trying. Uh so hoping that Rabbi Dubov

[17:54] and anyone who may be part of his

[17:56] community might be willing to join us up

[17:58] here to uh talk a little bit about why

[18:02] it is important for the city of Ovido to

[18:04] be adopting a definition of what

[18:06] anti-semitism means. uh in light of the

[18:10] events in Australia, we wanted to make

[18:13] sure that there's no confusion about

[18:15] what what what hate looks like and that

[18:18] people know how to that all of our

[18:21] police officers and all of our residents

[18:23] know how to say, you know, that's not

[18:26] just a little bit of that that's not

[18:28] that's beyond a joke. That's just not

[18:29] okay. So um read a just a few few of the

[18:33] most interesting ones from here but they

[18:35] are all from a legal perspective and

[18:38] from a welcoming perspective. I hope

[18:41] everyone will read this and that we can

[18:43] get this put on our social media because

[18:44] it is worth every word reading it. uh

[18:47] whereas anti-semitism including

[18:49] harassment on the basis of actual or

[18:52] perceived Jewish origin, ancestry,

[18:55] ethnicity, identity, affiliation or

[18:57] faith remains a persistent, pervasive

[19:00] and disturbing problem in American

[19:02] society. And whereas the Jewish

[19:05] community continues to be a targeted

[19:07] minority in the United States and is

[19:09] consistently the most likely of all

[19:11] religious groups to be victimized by

[19:13] incidents of hate. And such incidents

[19:16] are increasing at an alarming rate. And

[19:19] whereas in 1998, Swedish Prime Minister

[19:23] Goran Persan in initiated the task force

[19:26] for international cooper cooperation on

[19:29] Holocaust education, remembrance, and

[19:32] research. And whereas an international

[19:34] forum was held January 19th through 29th

[19:38] 2000, so this month 26 years ago, and

[19:42] was attended by representatives of 46

[19:45] governments, including 23 heads of state

[19:49] or prime ministers and 14 deputy prime

[19:52] ministers. And whereas the task force

[19:54] issued a declaration of the Stockholm

[19:57] International Forum on Holocaust, also

[20:00] known as the Stockholm Declaration. And

[20:02] whereas the Stockholm Declaration is the

[20:05] founding document for the International

[20:06] Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, IH,

[20:10] the successor organization to the Task

[20:13] Force for International Cooperation on

[20:15] Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and

[20:17] Research.

[20:18] We are adopting their definition.

[20:21] It goes on for about a page and a half,

[20:24] but there was a definition that all of

[20:26] these heads of states came up with that

[20:29] everybody agreed on we would we would

[20:31] abide by and that's what we're going to

[20:32] use here in the city of Ovido. So, thank

[20:34] you for being part of our community for

[20:36] helping organize Hanukkah. Thank you for

[20:38] being at Hanukkah celebration with your

[20:41] dad and mom and sisters and brother too

[20:44] like one brother and one brother and

[20:45] sister one brother one sister but you

[20:48] know Oita is for everybody and so glad

[20:50] that you're here

[20:54] » thank you thank you

[20:56] and passile

[21:06] There you go.

[21:17] [applause]

[21:23] » All right. And back up we go. [snorts]

[21:47] Good start here.

[21:56] » Okay. All right. We will move on to item

[22:00] number four which is the approval of the

[22:01] minutes. What is the pleasure of

[22:03] council?

[22:03] >> I make a motion to approve the minutes

[22:05] » I make a motion to approve the minutes

[22:05] for December 1st, 2025 regular session.

[22:08] >> Second.

[22:08] » Second.

[22:08] >> We have a motion and a second. Any

[22:10] » We have a motion and a second. Any

[22:10] discussion?

[22:10] >> No.

[22:12] » No.

[22:12] >> All right. Uh all in favor? Please

[22:14] » All right. Uh all in favor? Please

[22:14] signify by saying I.

[22:15] >> I.

[22:17] » I.

[22:17] >> Any against? Motion carries. We'll move

[22:19] » Any against? Motion carries. We'll move

[22:20] on to public comment. I do not have any

[22:22] written request to speak. Is there

[22:24] anybody in the audience that would like

[22:25] to address council at this time?

[22:29] Hearing none, I will close public

[22:31] comment and we will move on to the

[22:33] consent agenda. What is the pleasure of

[22:35] council?

[22:36] >> I'll make a motion to approve the

[22:37] » I'll make a motion to approve the

[22:37] consent agenda.

[22:39] >> Second. We have a motion and a second.

[22:41] » Second. We have a motion and a second.

[22:41] Any discussion?

[22:42] >> No.

[22:43] » No.

[22:44] >> Thank you to staff for sending me a

[22:45] » Thank you to staff for sending me a

[22:45] picture of what an F240 looks like. I

[22:49] needed to see that it was different than

[22:50] a 150. So, I I do agree that probably

[22:54] that shape makes a difference. Anybody

[22:58] else? Good. Okay. I'll ask the clerk to

[23:01] call the role.

[23:04] » Council member Bterford.

[23:05] >> I.

[23:07] » I.

[23:07] >> Mayor Slick.

[23:07] » Mayor Slick.

[23:08] >> I.

[23:08] » I.

[23:08] >> Deputy Mayor Tukurtkirt.

[23:09] » Deputy Mayor Tukurtkirt.

[23:09] >> I.

[23:09] » I.

[23:09] >> Council member Britain.

[23:10] » Council member Britain.

[23:10] >> I.

[23:11] » I.

[23:11] >> Council member

[23:12] » Council member

[23:12] >> I.

[23:12] » I.

[23:12] >> The motion carries. We do not have any

[23:14] » The motion carries. We do not have any

[23:14] public hearings, first reading

[23:16] ordinances or resolutions. So we'll move

[23:18] on to item number 12, a discussion item,

[23:20] which is the committee assignment for

[23:22] city council members. Mr. Cobb.

[23:25] >> Hi. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. This is we

[23:27] » Hi. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. This is we

[23:27] do this annually. Uh these are the

[23:29] committees that you as as elected

[23:32] officials serve on that with other

[23:35] elected officials from other local

[23:36] governments as well as uh parts of other

[23:39] committees that are community oriented.

[23:42] Uh tonight, we just need direction on if

[23:44] you're if you're going to continue

[23:46] serving on the committees that you

[23:48] currently serve on or if there's anybody

[23:50] any changes are going to be made.

[23:53] >> I'm good with mine.

[23:54] » I'm good with mine.

[23:54] >> I'm good with mine.

[23:55] » I'm good with mine.

[23:56] I was going to say we've had the same

[23:57] seats for a while and we can keep them

[23:59] as is, but I guess is anybody looking to

[24:01] change their seat?

[24:05] » No.

[24:05] >> Nope. Any alternates want to swap?

[24:09] » Nope. Any alternates want to swap?

[24:09] [snorts]

[24:09] >> I guess we'll make it easy then. We'll

[24:11] » I guess we'll make it easy then. We'll

[24:11] just keep it as is.

[24:12] >> Can I ask you a question? Are um

[24:15] » Can I ask you a question? Are um

[24:15] >> some of them have alternates and some of

[24:17] » some of them have alternates and some of

[24:17] them don't. Is that something that is uh

[24:20] set by the

[24:21] >> It depends on the board. the board

[24:23] » It depends on the board. the board

[24:23] itself.

[24:23] >> So, like no, the alternate like that's

[24:25] » So, like no, the alternate like that's

[24:25] an official alternate.

[24:27] >> Okay.

[24:27] » Okay.

[24:27] >> Um I think some of them don't. It

[24:30] » Um I think some of them don't. It

[24:30] doesn't matter.

[24:30] >> Don't have an official alternate,

[24:31] » Don't have an official alternate,

[24:31] >> right? But I I I think as far as any of

[24:34] » right? But I I I think as far as any of

[24:34] these meetings, we could all show if we

[24:35] wanted to as long as you notice ahead of

[24:37] time if that's that's correct. We just

[24:39] have a main contact.

[24:41] >> Um

[24:43] » Um

[24:43] so,

[24:44] um and then I will say thank you for

[24:46] getting us all the dates of all these

[24:47] meetings because I just get to this

[24:48] [clears throat] and when we ask if we

[24:49] want to change it up, I don't know

[24:51] availability. though. [laughter]

[24:53] Okay, I guess we'll we'll keep it as is.

[24:57] Um, moving on to item number 13, the

[25:00] 2026 Chamber of Commerce dues and

[25:02] participation level. Mr. Cop,

[25:04] >> uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor. We received

[25:06] » uh, thank you, Deputy Mayor. We received

[25:06] the invoice from the Chamber of

[25:07] Commerce. Uh, it's for $5,000. We in

[25:11] your in your agenda memorandum, we put

[25:13] all of the, uh, benefits that the city

[25:15] does receive for this $5,000 membership.

[25:18] Uh we do have $5,000 allocated in the

[25:20] city budget for this year. And uh we

[25:23] just wanted to make sure before we paid

[25:25] that invoice that uh the city council

[25:27] wanted to continue at the same

[25:28] membership level that or if you wanted

[25:31] us to change the membership level in any

[25:33] way. I believe one of your attachments

[25:35] also provides the other membership

[25:37] levels that the chamber provides.

[25:40] So we just need direction.

[25:42] >> Okay. Um I guess I'll just open this up

[25:45] » Okay. Um I guess I'll just open this up

[25:45] for discussion.

[25:48] Well, we're we're a $375 level member

[25:50] for the Semino County Chamber and there

[25:53] is a 400 level $400 level for the Ovido

[25:57] Chamber. And looking at the benefits,

[26:01] we don't we don't really use those.

[26:06] So in addition to giving them $10,800

[26:09] for Taste of Oto, this is an additional

[26:12] $5,000 for benefits that create extra

[26:15] work for our staff. And I think that

[26:17] staff probably doesn't want to have the

[26:20] extra work which is built as a benefit

[26:23] of being for example the lead mentor for

[26:26] a young prof professionals workshop

[26:29] or

[26:31] um having a speaking opportunity at the

[26:34] quarterly lunchon. Right. We're the sole

[26:36] source provider of water

[26:39] and first responder services. So you

[26:42] know I'm not sure it's a benefit. We

[26:45] actually have the uh the president of

[26:46] the chamber if she want to come up and

[26:48] say a few words.

[26:49] >> Yeah. Did you want to come up? You're

[26:51] » Yeah. Did you want to come up? You're

[26:51] more than welcome.

[26:52] >> Sure. Thank you.

[26:59] [snorts]

[27:01] >> If you just come to the mic and state

[27:02] » If you just come to the mic and state

[27:02] your name.

[27:07] » Well, first of all, I want to thank you

[27:08] for the for the membership uh all these

[27:11] years. Uh we share goals together, the

[27:14] chamber and the city alignment. We share

[27:17] economic development, we share business

[27:19] retention and attraction, we share

[27:21] community engagement, we share workforce

[27:23] development, and we share city prom uh

[27:26] city promotion. What the chamber has to

[27:28] offer to the city is basically

[27:31] visibility and promotion, civic

[27:34] engagement, business and workforce

[27:36] development, event collaboration, and

[27:38] recognition.

[27:40] A $5,000 tiers allow the speaking

[27:43] opportunities, allow all these

[27:45] interaction with the Chamber of

[27:46] Commerce, and it help us allocate all

[27:48] these resources for our mission that is

[27:50] economic development, empower businesses

[27:53] and growth.

[27:55] >> Thank you. Thank you. That's it. Thank

[27:58] » Thank you. Thank you. That's it. Thank

[27:58] you, S. Does anybody have questions?

[28:01] >> No, I mean, I'm fine with the chamber. I

[28:04] » No, I mean, I'm fine with the chamber. I

[28:04] mean, we've had a great partnership then

[28:05] with many, many years. Um, uh, I went to

[28:08] the Ovations Gala. I mean, there was a

[28:10] great turnout for that. Uh, nicely done.

[28:13] Um, [snorts] I'm fine with us continuing

[28:16] what we're doing with them. I mean,

[28:17] again, they have a signature event, uh,

[28:20] that is well known throughout the

[28:21] community, uh, the taste of a veto. And

[28:24] again, appreciate the partnership both

[28:26] ways. I know we have a couple members up

[28:28] here that make every ribbon cutting that

[28:30] they can so they can get their photo in.

[28:32] I think that's great, too. You know,

[28:33] showing the community that, you know, as

[28:36] the local government again is is there

[28:38] for them. So, I'm fine with the level

[28:40] that we're at.

[28:43] >> I think it's really hard for the city on

[28:45] » I think it's really hard for the city on

[28:45] its own to support small businesses in

[28:47] the way that the chamber does. And I I

[28:49] love that they I I mean, I have a small

[28:51] business. They do a great job ribbon

[28:53] cutting new businesses, networking them

[28:55] to others, and and supporting that

[28:57] community. So, [clears throat] um I

[28:59] appreciate all that they do as well. So,

[29:01] I would like to keep where we're at with

[29:03] them as well.

[29:04] you I I think there is value in the uh

[29:07] in the chamber. You know, I don't think

[29:10] there's a value a dollar value you can

[29:12] put on it.

[29:14] We as a city need to be engaged with the

[29:17] business community and we need to

[29:20] support them and this is this is one way

[29:22] that we can do that. I don't think it's

[29:24] something you put a dollar value on.

[29:30] Well, uh, I mean, that being said, there

[29:33] there is a dollar value. Um,

[29:35] >> in my mind, I think it's worth much more

[29:37] » in my mind, I think it's worth much more

[29:37] than that.

[29:37] >> $15,800 is the dollar value.

[29:39] » $15,800 is the dollar value.

[29:39] >> I mean, we get to decide what the dollar

[29:41] » I mean, we get to decide what the dollar

[29:41] value is. Um, and and I mean, we could

[29:43] go up, right? I mean, we could go up to

[29:45] the $10,000 level.

[29:48] >> Yeah, that's a good idea.

[29:50] » Yeah, that's a good idea.

[29:50] >> Uh, I don't know. To to me, I I look at

[29:53] » Uh, I don't know. To to me, I I look at

[29:53] this uh a couple of different ways. I

[29:56] mean for for the most part I mean I look

[29:58] at it from the perspective of the

[30:01] residents. So you know while the chamber

[30:02] does of course support small businesses

[30:04] the you know the question is to the

[30:08] average resident is this um something

[30:11] that affects them right because it's you

[30:12] know ultimately they're the ones paying

[30:14] for it out of their um you know their

[30:17] their property taxes and other taxes. We

[30:19] also collect uh I think it's 40,000 is

[30:22] that right Mr. top of uh local business

[30:24] tax um for business licenses. I looked

[30:28] it up last year about this time and I

[30:29] >> I think it's around 140,000. [snorts]

[30:31] » I think it's around 140,000. [snorts]

[30:31] >> Oh, it's 140,000. Yes, sir. Okay.

[30:34] » Oh, it's 140,000. Yes, sir. Okay.

[30:34] >> So, I mean another way to look at it is,

[30:35] » So, I mean another way to look at it is,

[30:35] you know, we collect this tax from

[30:37] businesses and then we give it to an

[30:39] organization that supports businesses.

[30:41] So, you know, in that case, maybe um

[30:45] maybe that does make sense. Um you know

[30:48] the other thing I look at with it is um

[30:51] there are multiple chambers and we

[30:54] support one with um you know

[30:57] considerable amount more money than um

[31:00] than the other and you know is it the

[31:03] job of government to be picking winners

[31:06] and losers in that way right? Um,

[31:12] I feel like if we want to support small

[31:14] businesses, we could do things like uh

[31:17] getting rid of the local business tax,

[31:18] right? I mean, to me, that is a

[31:21] uh it's a junk fee as far as I'm

[31:23] concerned. Um, I'm not sure what local

[31:27] businesses get for that except for, you

[31:29] know, the right to conduct business in

[31:32] the city. Um,

[31:34] so you know, and if we did something

[31:36] like that, then that's a way that we

[31:37] could support, you know, every small

[31:39] business regardless of what uh chamber

[31:41] or other business organization that that

[31:43] they were a part of. So, um, I don't

[31:47] know, there's a lot of ways to look at

[31:48] it. I mean, and we have we have three

[31:50] people who want to keep it the same, so

[31:52] it looks like that's what we'll probably

[31:53] end up doing. But I I think things like

[31:56] this are always worth the conversation

[31:59] of, you know, we've been doing this for

[32:01] a long time. Is this the right way? Is

[32:03] this the best way? Um, you know, are

[32:05] there other organizations or, you know,

[32:06] all those kinds of things.

[32:08] >> Okay. If I could just add, I I

[32:11] » Okay. If I could just add, I I

[32:11] appreciate that the chamber has made it

[32:13] clear that they only help people who pay

[32:15] to be chamber members. And I did run the

[32:18] math and 9% 8 to 9% of Ovito small

[32:22] businesses are chamber members. So 8% of

[32:25] the small businesses at Ovido are

[32:27] eligible to receive the services offered

[32:29] by the chamber. That 15 heard that

[32:32] number is not accurate that it was

[32:34] misinterpreted. Uh so I don't know. Do

[32:37] you know what the actual number is?

[32:40] >> The number changes every day. So I I

[32:42] » The number changes every day. So I I

[32:42] didn't bring the number today. I'm

[32:45] sorry.

[32:45] >> Well, I I sent the information to Mr.

[32:47] » Well, I I sent the information to Mr.

[32:47] Cobb. So we do have that number from the

[32:50] Semino County Chamber, which is a lower

[32:52] number. and we have what was reported

[32:54] from the Ovita Whitter Springs Chamber

[32:57] and you know so there there it is

[33:00] substantially

[33:02] smaller than all of the businesses being

[33:04] served. So I think that's an important

[33:05] thing for us to state from here as there

[33:08] is consensus to move forward with

[33:10] continuing to subsidize this private

[33:13] organization's operational expenses to

[33:16] the tune of $15,800.

[33:19] >> Okay. Do we have a consensus?

[33:21] » Okay. Do we have a consensus?

[33:21] >> Yep, we have consensus. So, um, Mr.

[33:24] » Yep, we have consensus. So, um, Mr.

[33:24] Crab, you understand?

[33:25] >> Yes, ma'am.

[33:25] » Yes, ma'am.

[33:25] >> Okay, we'll move on to the city manager

[33:28] » Okay, we'll move on to the city manager

[33:28] report.

[33:29] >> Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new

[33:30] » Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new

[33:30] year.

[33:31] >> Okay. City attorney's report.

[33:34] » Okay. City attorney's report.

[33:34] >> Happy New Year.

[33:36] » Happy New Year.

[33:36] >> Mayor Slated.

[33:38] » Mayor Slated.

[33:38] All right. Every few years I bring up

[33:41] the idea of putting a conservation

[33:42] easement on the Twin Rivers golf course,

[33:44] and we have a little bit different

[33:45] composition up here than we ever have

[33:47] before. Is there interest in putting a

[33:50] conservation easement on this? Since

[33:52] that is that though that that is the

[33:54] pretense on which we purchased the golf

[33:56] course, I would like to put a

[33:58] >> how we purchased it. We purchased it for

[33:59] » how we purchased it. We purchased it for

[33:59] a flood plane.

[34:00] >> We purchased it to be never developed,

[34:03] » We purchased it to be never developed,

[34:03] which is why we can put a conser to

[34:05] that's why we need a conservation

[34:07] easement.

[34:08] >> I would like to put a conservation

[34:10] » I would like to put a conservation

[34:10] easement on it. I get that you would

[34:11] like to build something on it.

[34:12] >> Well, hold on. We're in reports. So, if

[34:14] » Well, hold on. We're in reports. So, if

[34:14] you want consensus to discuss this at a

[34:16] future meeting, we can do that. But

[34:17] we're not discussing right now.

[34:18] >> All right. There is there consensus to

[34:20] » All right. There is there consensus to

[34:20] discuss a conservation easement at a

[34:22] later date?

[34:25] >> We can discuss it.

[34:26] » We can discuss it.

[34:26] >> I'll discuss it.

[34:27] » I'll discuss it.

[34:27] >> Okay. Um also wanted to bring up that

[34:31] » Okay. Um also wanted to bring up that

[34:31] there have been some scientists over the

[34:33] years and this is going back to like

[34:35] 2018ish.

[34:37] Um, it is possible that we used some

[34:40] funding for the acquisition of

[34:42] Riverwoods Park that requires it to be

[34:46] managed and possibly the land adjacent

[34:49] to Shane Kelly Park. Uh, and by managed,

[34:52] I mean prescribed burns. And if you go

[34:55] look at where fire is burning in the

[34:57] state of Florida at any given time, it's

[35:00] somewhere. And if we do not proactively

[35:03] manage the lands in ways that will keep

[35:06] it from setting on fire unpredictably,

[35:09] we could we could create a situation

[35:11] that is less ideal. So just wanted to

[35:13] throw it out there. I don't know if that

[35:15] this isn't really a discussion item so

[35:17] much as making sure that all of us up

[35:19] here are aware that well yeah I I guess

[35:23] maybe it is ask for a discussion item. I

[35:25] would like an update on which of our

[35:26] lands uh we used state level funding for

[35:29] that requires us to do prescribed burns

[35:31] or [clears throat] any specific

[35:32] management activities. And I know we

[35:34] have management plans on a lot of our

[35:36] parks that we use F FRS money for or not

[35:39] not FRS what is it called? FRDAP. I'm

[35:42] mixing all my state level acronyms. Uh

[35:45] but the FRDA app grants require

[35:47] management plan. Not not necessarily

[35:48] prescribed burns but some sort of

[35:50] management plan. And if any of them

[35:52] require burning, let's let's talk about

[35:54] that. Is everybody okay getting an

[35:56] update on that at a later meeting?

[35:58] That's okay. Um, and earlier this

[36:02] afternoon invited everybody on council

[36:03] to come to this space right here at

[36:06] 12:00 on Wednesday to uh watch a webinar

[36:10] from the Thousand Friends of Florida on

[36:12] the legislative uh all all the things

[36:14] that have been filed with the

[36:15] legislature so far and just sort of a

[36:17] jump start thing. So the entire public

[36:19] is welcome to attend. It's going to be

[36:22] somehow maybe we'll figure out how to

[36:23] get it on a big screen, but worst case

[36:25] scenario, we'll huddle around my

[36:26] computer, which will live stream it from

[36:29] there. Um, and following up on Mr.'s

[36:33] idea, I I've been wanting to eliminate

[36:35] the local business tax forever. Um, in

[36:38] talking with the chamber u president,

[36:41] uh, I I think she I don't know that

[36:44] she's allowed to enter. I don't know the

[36:45] extent to which you're allowed to

[36:46] interact with me or others are, but uh I

[36:49] got the impression from the chamber that

[36:50] they're not interested in eliminating

[36:52] the business tax, but I think we should

[36:53] do that anyway because it's the right

[36:55] thing for local businesses, even if

[36:58] that's the way we fund

[37:01] a an organization's salaries.

[37:04] So, is can we at a later date have a

[37:07] discussion about eliminating the

[37:08] business tax? It always comes up at the

[37:10] state level. I'd like to get rid of it

[37:11] proactively even if the state does not

[37:13] because it is a junk fee.

[37:15] >> I'm okay with it the way it is.

[37:17] » I'm okay with it the way it is.

[37:17] >> Can we discuss it though? Does anybody

[37:19] » Can we discuss it though? Does anybody

[37:19] else want to discuss it?

[37:20] >> I have this label.

[37:21] » I have this label.

[37:21] >> Yeah. Okay.

[37:22] » Yeah. Okay.

[37:22] >> Do we have a consensus?

[37:25] » Do we have a consensus?

[37:25] >> I mean, you're talking about the like

[37:27] » I mean, you're talking about the like

[37:27] the $25 business tax receipt.

[37:29] >> Well, I'm talking about the $195

[37:32] » Well, I'm talking about the $195

[37:32] I pay because I'm a regulated business.

[37:34] So, because I'm regulated by the state,

[37:35] I have to pay extra lots.

[37:38] So yeah, a lot of people pay I and I pay

[37:41] three different business taxes because I

[37:42] have different

[37:43] >> businesses running out of my house.

[37:46] » businesses running out of my house.

[37:46] >> I'm not interested in discussing it

[37:47] » I'm not interested in discussing it

[37:47] right now.

[37:50] >> I'm not interested. Okay.

[37:51] » I'm not interested. Okay.

[37:51] >> All right. Well, the tax the junk fee

[37:53] » All right. Well, the tax the junk fee

[37:53] stays. All right. That's all I've got

[37:55] for now. Thank you. [clears throat]

[37:56] >> All right. Council member Rat.

[37:59] » All right. Council member Rat.

[37:59] >> Uh nothing further. Happy New Year.

[38:03] » Uh nothing further. Happy New Year.

[38:03] >> Council member Bford.

[38:04] » Council member Bford.

[38:04] >> Yes. Uh happy new year. Um, again, shout

[38:07] » Yes. Uh happy new year. Um, again, shout

[38:07] out to our parks and recck team for a

[38:09] great job they did for the for the

[38:10] holiday season and uh all the events

[38:12] that they pulled off. There was a great

[38:13] turnout by everybody out there. Um, it's

[38:16] great to have that in the community and

[38:18] to see the people get out there and

[38:19] really kind of get together and come

[38:21] together as a community. So, that was

[38:23] great to see. Also, I attended the uh

[38:26] Christmas in the city. I know all you

[38:28] were there as well. U think you might

[38:30] have missed when I got hit by the car,

[38:31] but that was interesting. [laughter] So,

[38:34] >> um, you're okay.

[38:36] » um, you're okay.

[38:36] so to speak. Yes. Physically, mentally

[38:38] we'll do questionable. But uh great

[38:41] great job by that. Also want to commend

[38:43] um what uh both uh Lisa and Chief you

[38:46] guys doing with the uh ebikes and the

[38:49] mobility. I think I thought saw the

[38:51] articles out there. I saw the news. I

[38:53] saw what you put out there in social

[38:54] media again that the officers are

[38:56] actually doing education. So, you know,

[38:59] and talking to the kids uh unless

[39:01] they're, you know, way out of line. I

[39:04] mean, you guys are trying to, you know,

[39:06] navigate them to to be reasonable and

[39:08] then uh and safe when they're out there.

[39:10] So, I know it's a lot going on with that

[39:13] right now. So, again, appreciate

[39:14] everything that you guys are are doing

[39:16] with that. So, and then again, happy new

[39:20] year and uh we're off to a new year and

[39:23] we had a great start to the meeting

[39:24] today.

[39:26] >> Councilman Britain,

[39:27] » Councilman Britain,

[39:27] >> um happy new year also. And I just want

[39:30] » um happy new year also. And I just want

[39:30] to clarify on the uh the uh the burning

[39:34] the controlled burning. Brian, if if

[39:36] you're going to give information on

[39:37] that, could you give us an idea what

[39:40] size area that usually gets controlled

[39:42] burn? I know at the during the years I

[39:44] was at the space center, it was usually

[39:46] thousands of acres or a thousand acres

[39:49] or more that they would set on fire. And

[39:51] if I remember the

[39:54] SNID park, I guess that's Riverwoods

[39:56] between the two neighborhoods. That's

[39:59] What? Five acres at the most?

[40:01] >> It's 34.

[40:02] » It's 34.

[40:02] >> 34 acres. Yes. I'm not sure going in

[40:04] » 34 acres. Yes. I'm not sure going in

[40:04] there and burning 34 acres next to

[40:06] houses is a good idea. So, just find out

[40:08] what what the state uses as their

[40:11] criteria.

[40:17] » And while you're at it, on the golf

[40:18] course, could could you reiterate that

[40:20] the golf course is designated as a as a

[40:23] golf course and not a park? So

[40:26] overlaying a uh easement over it is not

[40:29] is not appropriate.

[40:32] That's all I have.

[40:34] >> Okay. Uh I'm up next and all I have to

[40:36] » Okay. Uh I'm up next and all I have to

[40:36] say is I want to say thank you to our

[40:37] staff who work the holidays. You know,

[40:39] we do work in government. So I

[40:42] appreciate all the the police and

[40:43] firefighters and our core staff who work

[40:45] the holidays for us. And happy new year.

[40:48] Is there anything else for the good of

[40:49] the order?

[40:51] It is 7:03 p.m. or 7:02 p.m. And this

[40:54] meeting is not adjourned till I read

[40:57] that our next meeting is not on a

[40:59] Monday. It's on Tuesday because of

[41:01] Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Uh so

[41:03] January 20th at 6:30 p.m. is a regular

[41:05] session. Monday, January 26 at 5:30 p.m.

[41:08] is a work session and Monday, February

[41:11] 2nd at 6:30 p.m. is a regular session.

[41:14] Now it is 7:03 p.m. and this meeting is

[41:16] adjourned.

1/05/2026 - Council Regular Session

Transcript