[0:19] [captioner present]

[0:29] >> Father we ask you to bless every family represented here

[0:34] today.

[0:35] It's in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus

[0:38] Christ we pray Amen.

[1:47] >> Welcome back to City Council Chambers for the first time

[1:51] since before Hurricane Ian.

[1:53] Thank you to City Council for investing

[1:57] in the space to make decisions vital to our community.

[1:59] A huge thank you to Tommy MacEy for leading this important

[2:05] project and supports team .

[2:11] Thanks to Brian for his quick work to upgrade technology

[2:13] and to Matt for being here every day to make it work.

[2:17] Thank you to Steve, Samantha, and Ben

[2:20] for your work to beautify the grounds.

[2:22] We have renewed opportunity for a meetings.

[2:26] I will turn it over to Sarah for additional announcements.

[2:51] >> City clerk Sarah Walsh.

[2:53] Council and chambers has been set up to ensure record.

[2:59] This is in compliance with procedure 34.

[3:03] The technology and procedures will

[3:06] support the following Subrules.

[3:08] Rule 34.1, any Council member desiring to speak

[3:12] will address Presiding Officer by raising a hand.

[3:16] Rule 34.2, upon recognition by a city officer,

[3:20] Council member should be confined to current agenda item.

[3:23] Rule 34.3.

[3:25] Once recognized, Council member shouldn't be interrupted.

[3:29] The member should cease speaking until the question of order

[3:32] is decided.

[3:38] Rule 34.4, all questions and comments

[3:42] from fellow members, staff, applicants and the public

[3:45] should be directed towards the presiding officer.

[3:48] Mikes are set up with indicator lights to show speaking order.

[3:53] Solid red light means the microphone is live.

[3:56] Blinking green light indicates next speaker and line.

[4:01] Solid green light means speakers are In queue.

[4:12] Council members will turn off the mic

[4:17] at the end of their comment.

[4:19] The mayor must clear the queue to activate the microphone

[4:24] at the podium.

[4:26] At the conclusion of comment, the council member

[4:28] who requested the input will have the first question

[4:31] or comment and the queue procedure will restart.

[4:34] During public comment, the speaker

[4:37] will press the talk button and the mayor

[4:38] will activate the microphone.

[4:40] The mayor is responsible for keeping time.

[4:44] Each speaker has a maximum of three minutes per mic a green

[4:47] indicator light will come on when the time has started

[4:50] and a yellow indicator will come on at the start of 30s.

[4:55] A buzzer will sound at the end.

[4:58] Speakers must speak directly into the microphone.

[5:03] Speaker should not be interrupted

[5:05] but city staff may interject to make sure comments are audible.

[5:09] We are looking forward to a great meeting.

[5:19] >> I'm pleased to announce that when we were in Colorado

[5:23] for Jerry's Brothers Memorial Gumma I was elected

[5:26] to the executive Committee of the Southwest Florida Leaders

[5:31] Committee.

[5:40] Mayor Lux: Great job.

[5:41] The next meeting will be September 9th at 9 a.m.

[5:45] Here.

[5:45] The address is 326 West Marion Avenue.

[5:50] On September 9th, we have the budget meeting at 5 p.m..

[5:58] Does anyone want to add or change anything to the agenda?

[6:08] Vice Mayor Polk: Yes, I would like

[6:09] to add a discussion on Fisherman's Village.

[6:15] Is everyone in agreement?

[6:18] Mayor Lux: That's probably a good idea.

[6:23] It is not on here but it is a discussion

[6:27] from what we agreed upon from the previous council.

[6:30] This is just something you want clarification on?

[6:34] Vice Mayor Polk: Basically wanting

[6:37] to get more clarification.

[6:38] I don't think we were clear on the avenue we were taking.

[6:42] I think it is time we do that.

[6:44] We have an attorney waiting in the lurch

[6:47] and needs to know how to proceed.

[6:48] I'm sure Mr. Liskevych could talk more about it.

[6:52] If we put it on the agenda we could talk about Mayor Lux: So,

[7:00] yes?

[7:18] Member Lockhart: I'm fine with that.

[7:21] Member Julian: I'm opposed because it wasn't on the agenda.

[7:25] We could not add an agenda item on the day

[7:28] because it hasn't been advertised to the public.

[7:34] Mayor Lux: Okay.

[7:34] We've talked about it in the past

[7:38] and is clarification for what we agreed upon.

[7:41] Majority rules.

[7:43] Mr. Janine will ask you some questions on that.

[7:47] First as our proclamations and presentations.

[7:51] The first one is the Punta Gorda Boat Club Day.

[8:12] Vice Mayor Polk: I would like to see commenters Sue Ann

[8:15] and Carol burn to accept.

[8:19] Also, anybody else who came from the boat club today?

[8:23] I just beautifully.

[8:24] I think there is room to stand up here today.

[8:33] You all look so dapper.

[8:37] Thank you so much.

[8:40] Whereas come on August 31st 1951,

[8:45] 56 residents of Charlotte County,

[8:47] Florida met approved bylaws and elected the I l brownie Brown

[8:52] as Commodore of the Punta Gorda Boat Club.

[8:55] This celebrates 75 years of continued operation.

[8:58] Whereas driven by Chamber of Commerce President John

[9:02] rose to promote water oriented tourism in the small fishing

[9:06] and cattle town, the club was organized

[9:09] to meet the American powerboat organizations

[9:11] requirements for holding sanctioned regattas.

[9:15] Whereas establishment of the club

[9:17] led to first American power Boat Club regatta in 1952,

[9:22] an event that successfully drew 9000 spectators

[9:26] to the shores of Charlotte Harbor and 400 attendees

[9:29] to the subsequent Regatta Ball.

[9:32] Whereas receiving a lease from the City Council in 1961,

[9:36] members utilized their own labor and finances to erect a seawall,

[9:40] dig a channel, and construct the enduring clubhouse at 802 West.

[9:45] Whereas today the club offers diverse boating and land

[9:51] based social activities, while fulfilling commitments

[9:54] to community organizations, including the Borders Alliance

[9:57] organization, Charlotte County Marine Advisory, Community

[10:01] Resource Network, Great American Cleanup, Adopt a, and a Saint

[10:06] Vincent de Paul Society.

[10:08] Whereas the facility serves as an essential meeting

[10:11] place for local groups, such as the Punta Gorda Sailing

[10:15] Club, Woodworker's, and owners Association,

[10:18] while the club's 501 C three Foundation

[10:22] provides contributions to local academies and networks.

[10:26] Whereas the city of Punta Gorda wishes

[10:28] to recognize the lasting history of boating in our community,

[10:32] created by the Punta Gorda Boat Club

[10:35] to express its profound gratitude

[10:37] for the 75 years of service that continually strengthen

[10:39] our community's foundation.

[10:41] The City Council of the City of Punta Gorda,

[10:46] Florida proclaims the 26th of August, 2020,

[10:50] as Punta Gorda Boat Club Day.

[10:52] We urge all residents to recognize and celebrate

[10:55] the club's 75 years of boating history, community service,

[11:01] and positive impact on our beloved city Pmec passed

[11:04] and duly adopted, August 26th, 2026.

[11:19] [audience clapping]

[11:22] >> Thank you for the presentation and the city

[11:28] for years of support they've given to the boat club.

[11:33] We appreciate everything the city has done for us.

[11:35] Thank you.

[11:42] [audience clapping]

[12:20] Mayor Lux: Thank you very much.

[12:22] You guys look awesome today.

[12:24] You don't have to stay if you don't want to. (laughing).

[12:32] Next is our presentation of the city's annual comprehensive

[12:38] financial report for the fiscal year ended September 30th, 2025.

[13:04] >> A good morning Kristen Simeon.

[13:06] I would like to introduce our CPAs to introduce our reports.

[13:16] >> My name is with Tony Smith.

[13:21] We are your auditors.

[13:23] We are located six blocks away.

[13:26] If you have any questions, we are local to you

[13:30] and at your fingertips.

[13:31] I will present the two audits we did this year.

[13:37] I will start first with the CRA, which

[13:40] leads to the general financial statements.

[13:43] The first one that you have is the CRA.

[13:49] You had set this to close out in 2024.

[13:56] 2025 was the wind down.

[14:00] It started with assets and ended with zero assets.

[14:05] Those assets were rolled to the city.

[14:10] I will go over the things we have to cover

[14:13] and we can go over any questions you have.

[14:16] Page one, second paragraph, in our opinion,

[14:21] financial statements represent fairly in all material respects.

[14:26] Their respective financial position of the government

[14:29] activities and general fund of the CRA as of September 30th,

[14:35] 2025.

[14:36] That is the full financial statements for the CRA.

[14:40] All those assets rolled over into the regular city.

[14:47] Now I'm presenting the city financial statements.

[14:51] It is this giant book.

[14:53] I would like to give a shout out to your finance staff.

[14:59] Putting in this much work for the book is incredible.

[15:04] One sign of this is included within

[15:09] your financial statements.

[15:11] Every year you can apply for the Certificate

[15:14] of Achievement of Excellence for the financial statements.

[15:18] Kristen and her team received the award for the previous year.

[15:23] It is in your financial statements now for 2024.

[15:29] We've applied and I'm sure you will receive it again.

[15:33] Within your financial statements,

[15:35] you have three different audits.

[15:38] You have an audit of the financial statements,

[15:41] one of your federal grants, and another of your internal control

[15:46] policies.

[15:47] The first opinion, like the last one, is on page number one.

[15:58] In our opinion, financial statements

[16:03] above present fairly in all material respects.

[16:07] On page 187 is your federal single audit.

[16:14] If you spend more than $1 million of federal grant funds,

[16:18] you are required to have a single audit.

[16:23] Page 187 is the opinion on this.

[16:37] In our opinion, the city complied

[16:40] in all material respects in accordance

[16:44] with federal grant requirements.

[16:48] Your financial statements are governed by the government

[16:56] Auditing Standards Board.

[16:58] Rules change every single year.

[17:01] They add more rules.

[17:04] Your book gets bigger and bigger.

[17:09] >> If you could speak more directly into the microphone.

[17:12] You can raise this up.

[17:14] >> Sorry.

[17:15] I heard you say two Inches away. (audience Laughing).

[17:35] Are firm does 26 audits of government.

[17:41] The city of Punta Gorda is best.

[17:44] I probably will get in trouble with my other audit clients.

[17:49] Your staff has dedicated to it .

[17:55] Our job requires an efficient staff.

[17:58] That goes a long way for your staff.

[18:01] I would like to thank you for Them. (audience applauding).

[18:10] I will do my best to answer any questions.

[18:14] If not, we are six blocks away.

[18:18] You have our phone number.

[18:21] I'm happy to have any conversations that you need.

[18:24] Thank you.

[18:27] Mayor Lux: Thank you very much.

[18:36] >> Thank you to the auditing team and all the work and hours

[18:39] they put in to audit.

[18:47] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[18:53] Next on the agenda is public input.

[18:58] Sarah said that you have to press the speaker to get started

[19:06] .

[19:06] We have a red, yellow, and white timers.

[19:09] State your name for the record .

[19:18] Community Member: Bob Fritz.

[19:19] Welcome home.

[19:20] A couple of comments on Troy agenda items, six A and six B.

[19:24] These both are about the public safety building ,

[19:31] possible renovation, possible relocation.

[19:36] There's a lot of money involved in these two items.

[19:40] I'm wondering if it would be prudent,

[19:44] because of referendum three coming up about the homestead,

[19:49] to delay this for two months and see

[19:52] what happens with the homestead large deduction.

[20:01] There's a comment about six H land development revisions.

[20:05] When does the public get a chance to comment on these?

[20:10] It seems staff is just going ahead and doing this

[20:13] without public comment.

[20:15] They had mitigation in their.

[20:19] It was a bad idea the first time and it is a bad idea this time.

[20:26] We have to be careful what we do with the flex commercial zone.

[20:30] We have a tax -- we have a backwards 711.

[20:41] We don't want to continue doing that here.

[20:46] Thank you.

[21:11] Mayor Lux: I like you already (laughing).

[21:21] Community Member: Hello, good morning, I am Lisa Arnold.

[21:25] I'm a 28 year combat veteran of the US Air Force

[21:29] and president of a nonprofit 501 C three, sister

[21:33] of arms of Cape Coral.

[21:35] I reside in Cape Coral.

[21:37] There's a reason I'm here.

[21:41] I moved here after retiring in January of 22.

[21:45] I love living in Southwest Florida

[21:48] but we can do better in this regard.

[21:51] As I traveled around and got acquainted with the area,

[21:55] I realized there isn't a single monument

[21:57] in South Florida that represents women in the military.

[22:02] If you've heard of Pat Tillman or Chris Kyle,

[22:07] but not Elizabeth Jacobson or Isabel Gonzalez or Shannon can,

[22:13] I'm here today because these women died for their country.

[22:17] We don't hear their stories.

[22:18] I just finished up being the American Legion

[22:22] commander in Cape Coral.

[22:24] I had my ribbons on and a gentleman asked me

[22:27] if those were my ribbons.

[22:29] Then he proceeded to say that they must give them away.

[22:32] I say all that to say that we can do better.

[22:37] Cape Coral tells itself approval heart city.

[22:41] I met with the city in this regard

[22:44] and they know that we can do better.

[22:46] It represents the 25,000 women that call themselves veterans

[22:50] in Southwest Florida.

[22:52] We will change the culture and make a difference.

[22:55] We are building this beautiful monument.

[22:58] We have the city's full support.

[23:00] They gave us a spot next to Iwo Jima at the four mile Ecological

[23:04] preserve.

[23:05] We are bound and determined to make this happen.

[23:08] We raised about $55,000 in the first two months.

[23:12] We have a $400,000 goal.

[23:15] Please share this information with this --

[23:23] with those in your city and invite us to speak

[23:25] at your events.

[23:26] I appreciate your time.

[23:28] My business card is there.

[23:30] Please let me know if you have any questions.

[23:32] I will be happy to answer them.

[23:34] Thank you so much.

[23:37] Mayor Lux: Thank you very much.

[23:40] I will be in contact.

[23:45] Anyone else wishing to speak this morning?

[24:11] Community Member: Good morning.

[24:13] I'm Niall Higgins and I'm a Punta Gorda resident.

[24:19] Thanks to the council .

[24:28] We only have -- spots out there.

[24:38] We saved over 4000 a month by getting out of the military

[24:45] Heritage Museum and not giving Lynn and her cohorts $48,000

[24:53] a year.

[24:54] We repealed the elders.

[24:57] Rebuilding after the LDR is well done.

[25:01] The infrastructure and water problems

[25:03] are being taken care of.

[25:05] We have a new commercial space coming in.

[25:08] You've done a fantastic job.

[25:11] I want to make a suggestion that there

[25:19] are a lot of retired, well educated people

[25:23] in the city who are willing to help.

[25:26] I think you need to find a way to join them in your ventures.

[25:32] The police department has a VIP program.

[25:36] They use people and I don't see why the city cannot do it

[25:40] as well.

[25:41] They can help us with some of our problems.

[25:44] I got this flier the other day.

[25:48] This is for one of the people running for city council.

[25:55] This no longer mentions that he would CEO of the Boy Scouts.

[26:00] On the front it says accountability

[26:04] with measurable results and transparent decisions.

[26:06] There's probably 82,000 children that would disagree with that.

[26:11] Thank you very much.

[26:29] Community Member: Good morning city Council and everybody

[26:33] in the chamber.

[26:37] First, I want to congratulate John Fleming and Craig Williams

[26:42] on their victory for John Fleming becoming

[26:47] the next Charlotte County Commissioner.

[26:52] There was a really wonderful thing

[26:54] that happened in the county.

[27:00] The chamber looks good.

[27:03] The chamber looks great.

[27:14] I want to share things with all of you.

[27:19] We are almost here to September.

[27:23] The Florida water quality crisis has an improved since I took you

[27:30] up for the toxic -- with Alex Earnshaw.

[27:37] It has continued to decline, Councilwoman Denton.

[27:42] You should be very concerned, attorney .

[27:49] Everyone in the chamber should be concerned, as well as

[27:54] in our city and county.

[27:56] I do not see any of you at these AI data center meetings.

[28:02] I don't see any of you getting in front of harm's way.

[28:08] How many environmental advocates in the chamber this morning

[28:12] Khimik that's right.

[28:17] One.

[28:19] My battle is every day.

[28:23] I'm a soldier of Christ fighting for you whether you like it

[28:29] or not or you like me or don't like me.

[28:33] That is your issue and your problem

[28:36] to deal with God, not mine.

[28:40] Our harbor is in very bad shape.

[28:45] The river is.

[28:48] I can tell you that I've seen some new seed grass growing.

[28:53] I cannot tell you that there is thousands or hundreds of acres,

[28:59] which is unacceptable.

[29:06] I will leave you all with this --

[29:12] our city needs great leadership.

[29:14] Please vote for Vice Mayor Janine Polk and City Council

[29:22] Member Janice Denton.

[29:25] We all deserve to have great leadership.

[29:29] Thank you.

[29:39] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[29:40] Anyone else wishing to speak this Morning?

[29:44] I apologize.

[29:47] I jumped ahead of the game.

[29:51] We need to have anyone wishing to announce themselves

[29:54] for a board or committee to come forward.

[30:00] Anyone here for a board or committee?

[30:10] It's a great suggestion to send --

[30:17] we will try not to talk from out there.

[30:22] Thank you.

[30:26] Next on the agenda is our public hearing.

[30:29] The first is quasi judicial.

[30:32] The lawyer will read it and he will swear people

[30:36] in who will speak.

[30:42] >> Quasi judicial, CCSP032026, petition for special permit

[30:52] pursuant to chapter six, section two-one E,

[30:58] Punta Gorda code to allow docks and other support structures

[31:01] to be constructed at a length of 500ft extending from the seawall

[31:05] and in configuration which don't adhere to dock location

[31:08] or alignment or extraction shape or size allowance,

[31:11] otherwise prohibited by sections two-1D6A, and two-one D6B,

[31:22] Punta Gorda code, for a proposed Marina on the submerged lands

[31:26] adjacent to and abutting the property located at 300 West

[31:31] Rita Esplanade, Punta Gorda, Florida, 33950.

[31:35] Do you want me to do it individually

[31:39] as they come up or all at once?

[31:43] If anyone wants to address the matter,

[31:48] please stand and raise your hand.

[31:52] We have five individuals.

[31:54] Do you swear to tell the truth, whole truth

[31:58] and nothing but the truth?

[31:59] Record reflects that all five agreed.

[32:08] Mayor Lux: Will you press the button?

[32:50] >> Good morning.

[32:52] Brian Clemens, city works.

[32:54] I'm here to introduce CCSP032026.

[32:57] I will give a short presentation and offer

[33:03] the applicant or their representative

[33:07] a chance to represent their portion.

[33:13] The property is at 300 West Retta Espalande.

[33:25] This is a picture of the layout.

[33:29] The original configuration was approximately 200ft with a boat

[33:35] lift.

[33:36] The proposed layout will extend about 500ft and 320ft in width.

[33:46] It will have fixed docks, floating docks, fishing pier,

[33:49] and breakwater system.

[33:52] We are here today because the code for properties on Charlotte

[33:56] Harbor or the peace River only allows for a dock extending out

[34:01] 80ft into the water from the seawall.

[34:04] It only allows for a T or L configuration for the docks.

[34:17] The layout here is more elaborate than something

[34:20] like that.

[34:21] There are 62 slips proposed in the Marina.

[34:25] There will be electrical and water pedestals, sewer pump,

[34:30] breakwater structure , trash receptacles, docks boxes,

[34:40] and a fishing pier.

[34:43] We went through the process putting in a gate

[34:48] into both docks leading out.

[34:52] That has to remain secure at all times

[34:55] until the Marina is operational.

[35:00] As part of the process, chapter six, article two,

[35:06] section two-E four, there are two sections

[35:11] you are looking at granting approval or denial.

[35:16] If anyone doesn't recommend approval,

[35:20] you have to identify the item that it is not

[35:25] in compliance with.

[35:30] Based on the staff review of the project,

[35:35] we recommend favorable consideration with two

[35:40] conditions -- the first is access gate be installed

[35:42] and secured at all times until the Marina is operational?

[35:46] The second is no construction may

[35:48] begin until the sovereign submerged land

[35:51] lease consistent with the proposed project

[35:53] has been approved.

[35:56] That is all I have.

[36:00] Is a representative here at?

[36:04] Mayor Lux: First, we will ask if council has any questions.

[36:22] >> This will take a while to get used to.

[36:23] I want to state for the record that this is elevated

[36:27] because Mr. Smith was earlier and not because I'm that short.

[36:32] (laughing).

[36:34] Derek Rooney, gray Robinson law firm on behalf

[36:40] of Punta Gorda waterfront hotel.

[36:44] I think what you've done is beautiful.

[36:46] It looks like a very resilient society

[36:49] that can survive any future hardships we may face.

[36:54] I hope we do not face any, especially next season.

[37:00] To Mr. Ritchie's point and the gentleman that spoke before him,

[37:06] the city has a lot of issues facing it.

[37:08] I think it would be a good idea to have more committees

[37:11] to get more buy in and participation in our community.

[37:15] I'm joined by Phil and John from Stokes marine.

[37:22] It is pretty straightforward.

[37:27] One thing that would be insightful

[37:30] is the resiliency measures that we

[37:33] are taking to make sure this facility would

[37:37] survive future storms.

[37:38] I know that is very important to the City

[37:41] Council with its own Marina.

[37:43] As we've gone through the process,

[37:46] one of the questions that came up

[37:49] was the code doesn't have a process for marinas.

[37:55] We are essentially extending the PGE regulations

[37:59] and those in places like Jamaica Way to commercial operations.

[38:06] This is something standards need to be

[38:09] adopted for whether the village, city, or future Marina sites.

[38:12] I would recommend this.

[38:14] If you would like to hear from the presentation,

[38:20] I may ask if Phil can come up and walk us through that.

[38:27] >> Good morning.

[38:31] Phillip -- Stokes marine.

[38:34] I don't have an opportunity to go through the presentation that

[38:38] is uploaded.

[38:40] Can you do that for me?

[38:43] Thank you.

[38:44] Is there a way I can see it as well?

[38:50] There we go.

[38:52] That is a general outline of what the Marina would look like

[38:57] from this is in 2D format.

[38:59] The bright yellow portion would be floating dock and fixed dock.

[39:06] The floating dock is bright yellow.

[39:09] The off yellow is the fixed dock portion.

[39:13] Hans Wilson and associates are the engineers.

[39:17] He designed this for resiliency and to be able to get

[39:21] through the next big storms.

[39:23] There are no guarantees for when the next big event happens

[39:30] he has designed 502 marinas.

[39:34] This Marina was designed with purpose.

[39:37] It is mostly made up of steel pilings,

[39:42] which hold the floating docks.

[39:45] Then we add standard wood pilings for the fixed docks.

[39:50] The decking will be unique, perforated.

[39:55] When we have a surge and another hurricane,

[40:03] the perforated decking allows for the pressure

[40:10] of the surge to come up and through the actual decade.

[40:15] This keeps the pilings in place.

[40:18] The floating decks float up.

[40:21] These will be 14ft above elevation.

[40:25] This suggests a 10 to 12 foot surge.

[40:30] Hopefully, this keeps the dock in place

[40:33] when the surge comes up.

[40:34] There will be 63 slips .

[40:44] This is the same thing in a 3D version.

[40:47] You see the floating docks in the center.

[40:54] You will see a breakwater around the outside perimeter

[40:59] of the fixed dock.

[41:02] If you are a boater and inside the basin,

[41:05] the dock is designed to have more space inside the slip.

[41:11] The breakwater inside is held up by a bar system.

[41:17] The panels will be at a different length

[41:20] to allow for circulation.

[41:24] You will see that there's a lot of muck and stuff

[41:27] that accumulates at the end of the canal.

[41:29] We will keep the water nice and clean.

[41:33] It will circulate on its own without a bubbler in there.

[41:38] That was designed with purpose.

[41:41] Next slide.

[41:46] This is a different angle.

[41:49] This is to scale.

[41:52] The front part has panels in place.

[41:55] Another picture at the end of this

[41:56] will demonstrate this better.

[41:57] These are the panels in place for the breakwater.

[42:05] This is the same thing with a different angle.

[42:08] The two entrance points are on the left side

[42:11] against the seawall and on the right side.

[42:15] There will be slips aligned along the long entrance

[42:20] on the way out.

[42:22] This is where you will tie up port side or harbor side.

[42:27] Next slide.

[42:28] There's a better example of the perforated decking.

[42:34] Traditional decking is wood or synthetic.

[42:37] These are holes.

[42:40] It allows 50% less uplift to allow the water

[42:44] to go through the decking and not push underneath it.

[42:48] This is an example of what it looks like.

[42:52] There will be a guardrail around the entire facility that

[42:56] is Ada compliant.

[42:59] Next slide.

[43:00] There's a ramp that will lead from the fixed dock

[43:04] down to the floating docks.

[43:06] This is an example of the wood piles on the fixed docks.

[43:14] These are the shorter piles.

[43:15] The taller piles are steel piles 16in in diameter and half inch

[43:20] thick.

[43:20] They will be driven 25ft into the ground.

[43:23] They will be able to withstand good pressure.

[43:26] Next slide.

[43:31] Next slide.

[43:33] This is a better example of the perforated decking,

[43:39] called legacy XP.

[43:41] It is a good quality decking.

[43:43] We learned how to do this after all the storms mother

[43:46] nature through our way.

[43:48] We've had this in place.

[43:49] It has proven, tried, and true, and Hans feels pretty good

[43:55] that this can withstand the next set of storms.

[43:57] One more slide, please.

[44:00] Here's an example of the fiberglass

[44:02] panels that will act as a breakwater

[44:05] and go in outside their perimeter of the fixed dock

[44:13] portion.

[44:13] The black center is a holder of the panels.

[44:20] Some will be shorter and some will be longer to retain

[44:26] the wall required -- to retain the water quality.

[44:35] That's a quick presentation.

[44:38] I'm here to answer any questions.

[44:40] I will do my best.

[44:41] I'm not the engineer.

[44:42] Hans would be here but he's at a round table

[44:45] discussion in Saint Pete.

[44:47] He's one of the better engineers in the country.

[44:50] He gave me cliff.

[44:53] If he gets too technical, I will come back to you

[44:56] on the final answers of those.

[44:58] I'm happy to answer any Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[45:05] That is a great presentation.

[45:18] >> I want to add that there's always questions about

[45:20] the property.

[45:21] I also live here and want to see the property cleaned up.

[45:25] I consulted with the engineering team.

[45:28] The probable cause for the Marina facility

[45:32] without upland permits is $4 million.

[45:35] The investment is substantial.

[45:37] We agree with the staff conditions that the Marina

[45:40] cannot be used without upland conditions.

[45:45] We bifurcated the project in phase one and phase two

[45:50] because we have an approved Army Corps permit.

[45:53] We want this constructed and want to commence in October

[45:58] and complete before the end of the year.

[46:00] The history of the property and the harbor walk in the Marina is

[46:07] as follows --

[46:09] the city had an agreement as far back as 2006 to put in a Marina

[46:15] and docks.

[46:16] Only the harbor walk materialized.

[46:18] As we look forward, the property owner

[46:22] has designed a plan for a 160 room hotel on the west side.

[46:28] The remainder of the property still doesn't have a use for it.

[46:31] He was originally planning to build two towers.

[46:36] The market may or may not be there for this yet.

[46:41] There's a possibility for a standalone Marina facility.

[46:47] I'm talking to Mr. Everton and Public Works

[46:51] about working with the city and combining work

[46:55] while we are mobilized to do seawalls and other improvements.

[46:59] We could have discussions at that time about public access

[47:02] and other things with the Marina.

[47:05] We are all here to answer if you have any questions.

[47:10] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[47:21] Member Lockhart: This is a great presentation.

[47:23] Thank you very much.

[47:24] I appreciate the thoughtful consideration

[47:26] for the breakwater.

[47:27] This is obviously needed.

[47:29] If a boat broke loose, it would be contained.

[47:35] We know what it is like to have a boat floating around

[47:38] in the park and landing there.

[47:40] The water flow through is very important.

[47:43] Very good design.

[47:44] Thanks for the thoughtful input.

[47:46] We want the hotel and the property to move ahead.

[47:50] I appreciate all the thinking going into it.

[47:58] We are a Maritime city and this will reestablish that.

[48:04] [previous speaker was Member Denton]

[48:18] Vice Mayor Polk: This has been long in coming.

[48:21] You've been keeping us abreast.

[48:23] I'm in the process of building a home

[48:26] and it takes time to do something of this magnitude.

[48:29] I appreciate the patience of the city.

[48:32] This will take a while.

[48:34] This is a Marina coming to us.

[48:37] Like you said, we don't have anything in land development

[48:40] regulations that would help with the docking area.

[48:44] I'm so excited about this.

[48:46] I can't even stand it.

[48:48] I'm looking forward to this moving forward

[48:50] and I appreciate the presentation.

[48:52] Thank you.

[49:00] Mayor Lux: That was great.

[49:01] Anybody else?

[49:05] Derek.

[49:14] >> There were five total people who rose their hands to get

[49:17] sworn in.

[49:18] Are there others?

[49:21] Mayor Lux: We are done with the presentation.

[49:23] We had questions and now we will go to the public.

[49:27] Did you swear in, Tim?

[49:30] You need to be sworn in.

[49:42] >> Do you swear to tell the truth come a whole truth

[49:44] and nothing but the truth?

[50:02] Community Member: How many more slips

[50:04] are we going to have from what was originally there?

[50:12] Secondly, I don't want anyone to fall out of their chairs

[50:18] this morning.

[50:19] I can throw some curveballs from the mound.

[50:25] I actually like this.

[50:30] This is the type of growth I'm interested in.

[50:37] I can tell you that I haven't sent any letters to the Army

[50:41] Corps of Engineers about the project,

[50:45] but I stand adamant about no Marina

[50:50] ever in Sunseeker or Sawtooth territory.

[50:57] Ever.

[50:58] No.

[51:00] Period.

[51:02] One word sentence.

[51:04] But this is good.

[51:09] We are a fishing community, Council member Denton.

[51:14] We are a boating community.

[51:17] Too bad we aren't a surfing community.

[51:21] Too bad we don't have waves on our beach.

[51:27] This is the type of smart growth we

[51:30] want to see in the city of Punta Gorda.

[51:35] We love the idea of one hotel building there.

[51:42] What ultimately would have been the best situation for that

[51:46] property would have been for the city to purchase this and turn

[51:54] it into the detention pond that Mr. Ritchie so

[51:59] eloquently presented to the city to help save downtown flooding?

[52:05] I don't see any other leaders in town

[52:09] giving presentations like this.

[52:10] I know that Attorney Rooney is aware of my efforts,

[52:15] but I don't see other gentlemen doing this type of stuff .

[52:25] Mayor Lux: Tim, I disconnected you.

[52:27] Let's stay on topic.

[52:29] You have to press again.

[52:35] Community Member: (laughing) this will

[52:38] be some training to this, guys.

[52:40] Old dogs can learn new tricks.

[52:43] This is good.

[52:45] We like this.

[52:46] We like that the water will flow.

[52:49] I understand why.

[52:51] I saw Marina Del Rey getting built when

[52:53] I was a young man, way back.

[52:58] Thank you.

[53:05] >> I just had one follow up comment.

[53:07] I believe Derek touched on that.

[53:10] We have the state endorsement and the..

[53:14] We have the Army Corps..

[53:17] The permits have been in place for 17 years.

[53:21] This was applied for a long time ago.

[53:27] We are trying to get this done pretty quickly.

[53:31] The Army Corps permit expires in January of 2027.

[53:40] We are in position to get a lot of crews up here.

[53:44] It will be a fast start and you will

[53:47] see it go up quickly, because we are chasing the Army Corps

[53:51] permit.

[53:53] We try to pass the permit past January second

[54:02] and they didn't let us.

[54:06] Any other questions while I'm here?

[54:10] Mayor Lux: The land lease approved.

[54:13] >> I will hand that to Derek.

[54:18] >> The land lease went to the cabinet over the summer and was

[54:23] approved.

[54:23] Some of you know that I'm the president and head check.

[54:28] There's a public interest component

[54:30] that requires the landowner pay a substantial six figure

[54:34] sum of money in exchange for the land lease.

[54:37] They denied our request to have the money stay local and check.

[54:43] I'm still pursuing an appeal on the issue.

[54:47] The goal is to get the money to stay in the community

[54:50] and benefit the city.

[54:51] Thank you.

[54:53] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[54:57] Do we have any more public input?

[55:00] You need to be sworn in, Mr. Higgins.

[55:19] >> Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

[55:22] and nothing but the truth?

[55:26] Community Member: Niles Higgins, Punta Gorda resident.

[55:30] I'm a little confused.

[55:31] I think this project is a good thing

[55:33] but I'm not sure what size boats it will accommodate.

[55:39] Are these transient slips and will people live aboard?

[55:44] I didn't see anything where the pumpout stations would be.

[55:49] I can tell you that I had a boat at Trump City in Atlantic City,

[55:58] new Jersey.

[55:59] People are not entitled to drive the boat around the pump

[56:05] station.

[56:05] They wait until nighttime and dump.

[56:08] That is the last thing we need in our harbor.

[56:11] I think there has to be really good accessibility

[56:17] at Pumpout stations.

[56:21] We have to make sure people don't pump their wastewater out

[56:27] into the harbor.

[56:28] Thank you.

[56:31] >> Very good question and concern.

[56:34] I'm glad you asked.

[56:36] There is a pump out station in the design.

[56:38] No one wants to flush the water out of their.

[56:47] The Marina was designed for shallow draft boats.

[56:51] It is an aquatic preserve and dredging is not an option.

[56:55] It will accommodate boats 35 to 60ft in range.

[56:59] The draft would be anything from 60in from two feet for a smaller

[57:05] vessel, up to a 60 foot vessel, depending on where they would

[57:09] position them.

[57:10] To your point there will be a pump out station on site.

[57:18] Let's hope that they use it and do the right thing.

[57:24] Lincoln Marine will likely be the designer of the fire station

[57:32] and pump out solution.

[57:33] I don't know if it will have live aboard and transient.

[57:39] We design it and build it and I'm not sure

[57:43] how it will be used from there on out.

[57:49] >> It is intended for use as day docks at the moment.

[57:54] Until the upland use comes into play,

[57:58] the owner hasn't decided to make this a supplement

[58:01] to restaurants, retail, and hotel.

[58:04] I've spoken with the council at some point.

[58:07] There was an explanation by the owner

[58:09] into a vertical storage facility and having boat storage

[58:15] as a use.

[58:17] I've heard from the council that this

[58:19] is an appropriate for the area.

[58:21] He took that off the table.

[58:26] I think the ultimate goal is to have activity.

[58:31] Whatever the final use of the upland is ,

[58:40] there's an intention for the participant.

[58:42] There may be Dockage.

[58:44] We may work out arrangements for some storage permit

[58:52] 64 slips is a lot of docking.

[58:54] We go back to the city and property owner working together

[58:58] to have a long term facility for boats.

[59:01] This is before all the upgrades at the marine

[59:04] and before anything happening at Fishermen's Village.

[59:07] The use is still in flux.

[59:09] The goal is to get it in place and not

[59:12] let all the years of hard work disappear.

[59:16] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[59:18] We will open it back up to public input again.

[59:23] Should we close public input?

[59:45] >> Rachel, zoning official.

[59:48] I want to note that Liveaboard Marina or vessels would

[59:52] have to come back in front of you

[59:54] for public hearings for the approval of.

[59:58] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[1:00:01] Let's finish public input.

[1:00:05] Anybody else?

[1:00:27] Member Lockhart: I don't see any power pedestals.

[1:00:30] I want to ask that question.

[1:00:33] >> What was the second question?

[1:00:44] Member Denton: You need them for overnight moorage

[1:00:46] and will there be water?

[1:00:54] >> Yes, there will be there will be 64 hose bibs and 34 power

[1:01:00] pedestals from 30 to 50 amps.

[1:01:03] There will be one pedestal at every location

[1:01:06] with two bibs on each side.

[1:01:16] Mayor Lux: Last time for public input.

[1:01:17] I will lead a motion if we don't have any more.

[1:01:26] Member Julian: I move to close public comment.

[1:01:28] Vice Mayor Polk: I second.

[1:01:32] Mayor Lux: How do we do this with all in favor?

[1:01:36] We will raise our hands.

[1:01:38] All in favor of closing public comment?

[1:01:41] Opposed?

[1:01:42] Motion carries.

[1:01:45] Let's talk amongst each other.

[1:01:48] >> Can I make a procedural request?

[1:01:51] I cannot see all hands being raised,

[1:01:54] so let me know if anyone descends.

[1:02:00] Mayor Lux: Absolutely.

[1:02:01] Everyone raise their hands.

[1:02:02] Jeanine?

[1:02:06] Vice Mayor Polk: This is a wonderful idea.

[1:02:09] The concept is great.

[1:02:11] I'm hoping it will come to fruition soon.

[1:02:13] I know you guys were in a rush.

[1:02:17] I will be moving to approve the study.

[1:02:24] Member Julian: All my questions and concerns were addressed

[1:02:27] and I'm prepared to approve it as well.

[1:02:33] Mayor Lux: I want to thank the --

[1:02:42] Member Denton: I want to thank the staff for this.

[1:02:44] Hans Wilson is a great resource.

[1:02:46] That teamwork is excellent and I agree that we

[1:02:48] need to move forward on this.

[1:02:55] Mayor Lux: I agree.

[1:02:56] I think what Mr. Rooney brought up was changing section six.

[1:03:01] Maybe we need a consensus on that,

[1:03:06] so we can bring section six in for commercial.

[1:03:10] Can I have a raise of hands if you are in consensus?

[1:03:14] Everyone raised their hand.

[1:03:17] Thank you.

[1:03:18] I will need a motion.

[1:03:22] >> Motion to approve three a.

[1:03:27] Member Denton: I second the motion.

[1:03:32] >> Does that include the staff's two conditions they noted?

[1:03:38] Mayor Lux: Yes, I believe the submerged lease

[1:03:42] line was approved and the second is security

[1:03:45] at all times for the gates.

[1:03:47] Amend that.

[1:03:51] >> So amended.

[1:03:54] Mayor Lux: You okay with that Janice?

[1:03:57] All in favor raise your hand.

[1:04:00] All four raised their hand.

[1:04:03] Opposed are zero.

[1:04:06] Motion carries.

[1:04:07] Thanks for the great presentation.

[1:04:11] Next on our list is legislative.

[1:04:16] There will be public input.

[1:04:20] Doctor Leskovic.

[1:04:25] >> Item three B, legislative z a zero eight 2026.

[1:04:32] Proposed amendments to chapter 26,

[1:04:34] Land Development Regulations to update the historic Preservation

[1:04:37] Regulations and overlay districts

[1:04:40] require disclosure of historic property designation,

[1:04:45] reestablish the local register of historic places,

[1:04:48] review procedures, and amend Historic Preservation Board

[1:04:51] Authority.

[1:04:52] This is the first reading.

[1:04:57] >> Good morning Council, Rachel Berry, official for the record.

[1:05:03] As was read into the record, this is hearing ZA082026.

[1:05:07] There are several changes in the ordinance.

[1:05:12] All of them are related to historic preservation.

[1:05:15] I know there was a question at pre agenda on Monday

[1:05:19] as to whether SB 180 could be involved.

[1:05:23] I don't know if we need this clarification before we start.

[1:05:37] >> Council Julian brought up whether this could be

[1:05:40] in conflict with the Senate bill s.

[1:05:43] The Senate bill stay in effect at least until summer of 2027.

[1:05:49] There appears to be conflict with Senate bills

[1:05:56] my recommendation is to not move forward with this.

[1:06:00] We are trying to modify chapter 26 with this.

[1:06:03] We don't want the possibility of this

[1:06:06] being considered more restrictive or burdensome

[1:06:10] on a homeowner.

[1:06:16] Mayor Lux: Mr. Leskovik, even with prior land development

[1:06:20] recommendations, I think council and staff move forward

[1:06:26] with stating that it would only take effect

[1:06:29] if the SB 180 is removed.

[1:06:31] Is it okay for staff to move forward and do this,

[1:06:35] so we are not waiting and waiting?

[1:06:41] >> You can certainly move forward but for council to amend

[1:06:49] , I'm asking you to pause.

[1:06:52] Mayor Lux: We can approve pending SB 180?

[1:06:59] >> Yes.

[1:07:00] >> Thank you for that.

[1:07:03] To cover some of the changes, the proposed updates

[1:07:07] include section 3.14 of chapter 26,

[1:07:11] for the historic overlay district.

[1:07:13] Section 8.1 references demolition and --

[1:07:23] of historic buildings?

[1:07:24] Section 15.4 for the Historic Preservation Advisory Board.

[1:07:28] Also comments 16.3, applications for a Certificate

[1:07:32] of Appropriateness and 16.5, application

[1:07:36] for demolition permits.

[1:07:37] As most of you know, the Historic Preservation Board

[1:07:42] has had many meetings through the last two years

[1:07:46] to get more attraction with repairing damages

[1:07:50] during the storms and more enforceability

[1:07:55] when it comes to historic preservation.

[1:07:58] One of the discussed ideas was disclosure

[1:08:03] of historic designation when properties are sold.

[1:08:07] If approved, the city would draw up a form

[1:08:10] and we would get with realtor associations

[1:08:12] to make sure everyone is educated

[1:08:14] on what we are requesting.

[1:08:16] We would most likely require the certificates

[1:08:19] to be recorded with a deed, so it comes up

[1:08:25] with public record when people are doing their title search.

[1:08:30] Another proposed change was to the historic Preservation

[1:08:32] advisory boards role and duties.

[1:08:37] One is to strike "advisory" from the committee's name and to be

[1:08:45] known as a Historic Preservation Board.

[1:08:47] There was a question about appropriateness

[1:08:49] when it comes to replacing windows, doors, Siding,

[1:08:55] and roofing.

[1:09:00] The approvals would go to the board

[1:09:04] and then come to City Council for determination.

[1:09:07] I want to point out that this could take more time when it

[1:09:11] comes to hearing certain items.

[1:09:15] One of the other major things in the ordinance that we

[1:09:19] are most excited about is re adopting the local register

[1:09:24] of the historic places and National Register District

[1:09:28] contributing structures.

[1:09:30] As part of the process, we sent out hundreds of letters.

[1:09:36] They were customized based on whether the property was not

[1:09:40] included in the 2024 updates when

[1:09:42] the local register was adopted.

[1:09:44] There were questions whether they

[1:09:47] were added or removed in that time or remained the same.

[1:09:55] Also there's a question of whether they are designated

[1:09:59] or not and are to be included and not.

[1:10:01] We sent several hundred letters to those that apply to.

[1:10:05] For those not included before, not designated

[1:10:10] and not proposed to be designated,

[1:10:14] we didn't send letters to those 250.

[1:10:19] One of the planning Commission recommendations

[1:10:25] was to include an opt in and opt out

[1:10:29] procedure for at least six months

[1:10:31] after the local register was approved.

[1:10:39] This way homeowners that haven't had time

[1:10:42] to weigh having the designation or not

[1:10:44] would still have a time frame to say that they didn't want this

[1:10:49] and to indicate whether they wanted to be included or not.

[1:10:53] When the ordinance comes back to you all,

[1:10:56] we would bring a resolution that would outline the process.

[1:11:00] Staff would gather a list of the owners,

[1:11:03] take them to the next preservation board

[1:11:07] and have another preservation board have

[1:11:13] a discussion on whether the property would be approved then

[1:11:18] it would come to council in six months

[1:11:21] and in ordinance would stand.

[1:11:28] Last but not least, there are historic district overlays.

[1:11:38] Many properties wouldn't be on the local register anymore.

[1:11:41] They would still be located inside an overlay district,

[1:11:45] which has design regulations and requirements to keep the feel

[1:11:50] of the historic district.

[1:11:54] I believe that is all I have at the moment.

[1:11:57] Any questions for me?

[1:12:00] Mayor Lux: Thanks for the clarification.

[1:12:03] Any questions?

[1:12:10] Member Julian: I don't have a question

[1:12:11] but I want to make clear that my intention isn't

[1:12:14] to hold things up.

[1:12:16] This is good progress.

[1:12:17] I wanted to make sure we didn't get crosswise with the law.

[1:12:21] I appreciate the consideration for extended time for attorney

[1:12:26] and staff to work that out.

[1:12:36] Vice Mayor Polk: Yes.

[1:12:37] There may be things more restrictive but there are things

[1:12:40] that are not, like striking "advisory" from the name.

[1:12:49] There are other things we could have approved.

[1:12:51] If it's even one thing, it is put together all as one.

[1:12:55] That is why we couldn't approve it all today.

[1:12:57] The problem is that in the historic district there were

[1:13:01] people waiting on the list -- this is confusing and convoluted

[1:13:07] -- and prior to the storms were removed from the list.

[1:13:10] They are now up against the 50% rule where they

[1:13:14] have to knock the home down.

[1:13:16] But if they were on the list they would have been protected.

[1:13:24] This has been a real hairy mess.

[1:13:27] Thanks to staff for trying to figure it out.

[1:13:31] We need to do this expeditiously.

[1:13:35] I had someone ask me at one of the meetings what they can do.

[1:13:40] I told them that they could get an appraisal.

[1:13:42] I don't know how to help them.

[1:13:45] They were on it, were taken off of it,

[1:13:48] and now have to knock their home down.

[1:13:50] This is a big issue.

[1:13:52] Thank you.

[1:14:00] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[1:14:02] I will get with staff as quickly as possible to work

[1:14:03] on these issues raised.

[1:14:04] We will see what we can do about it and it will become lawful.

[1:14:11] Vice Mayor Polk: Thank you for that.

[1:14:14] When a realtor sold my home, I did not

[1:14:17] know it was on a historic registry.

[1:14:19] I was someone who later received a letter that I was no longer

[1:14:23] on the historic registry.

[1:14:25] I didn't know I was in the first place.

[1:14:28] It is important that this gets pushed through as quickly

[1:14:31] as possible, so when realtors are selling like homes --

[1:14:37] and they are selling like hotcakes because they are

[1:14:42] selling at a discount since people walked away from

[1:14:47] a flooded home -- we get this done as expeditiously

[1:14:54] as possible.

[1:14:57] Mayor Lux: Anything else?

[1:15:02] I think resolutions like to get their realtor letter out

[1:15:09] to help these people move on.

[1:15:11] This is very important.

[1:15:13] Thank you, Mr. Leskovich.

[1:15:18] Anybody else have anything?

[1:15:22] We will open it up for public input.

[1:15:27] Please state your name for the record.

[1:15:34] Press the button.

[1:15:38] Community Member: My name is Kurt Habel

[1:15:41] and I live downtown at 301 Goldstein.

[1:15:44] I received the letter.

[1:15:46] It was written on July 13th.

[1:15:48] The meeting was supposed to be July 27th.

[1:15:54] The letter was stamped July 24th at the Post Office.

[1:15:58] That is a Friday.

[1:15:59] It probably went out on Saturday and I might not

[1:16:03] have gotten it since Monday.

[1:16:04] I wasn't in town and was at a wedding out of state.

[1:16:07] I wouldn't be able to make it.

[1:16:09] I was told that it wasn't a big deal

[1:16:11] because there was a box checked on my particular one.

[1:16:15] I don't know the definitive reason.

[1:16:17] How can it be written on the 13th when it isn't put

[1:16:21] into the post office until the 24th?

[1:16:23] We are supposed to be here the 27th.

[1:16:25] That isn't fair.

[1:16:27] If there were 250 that got sent out,

[1:16:30] you need to ask people that didn't show up if they had

[1:16:37] a chance to go to the meeting.

[1:16:42] I had already missed the meeting because I didn't get

[1:16:46] home until late Tuesday night.

[1:16:48] That isn't fair.

[1:16:49] We need a better system.

[1:16:51] It cannot be written.

[1:16:52] Did it sit in someone's drawer for two weeks?

[1:16:55] I had no opportunity to respond.

[1:16:59] What does the box mean that was marked on my page?

[1:17:04] I may be for it.

[1:17:06] I told Adriana that I wanted to build my house.

[1:17:09] I don't know what the definitive differences and benefits are.

[1:17:14] It is complicated for me and it is probably complicated for you.

[1:17:20] If it's complicated for you, it is complicated for the citizens.

[1:17:24] I would like to ask for clarity on this.

[1:17:26] A lot of people come including me come I never got the letter.

[1:17:30] I have the letter at home.

[1:17:32] I will show it to you.

[1:17:33] I showed it to Adriana.

[1:17:35] She has been wonderful.

[1:17:37] I do not fault her because she's probably

[1:17:39] not the one that sent it out.

[1:17:41] I would like to show this to you as proof because it is unjust.

[1:17:45] When my vested rights got bumped back,

[1:17:50] it was failed to advertise.

[1:17:54] We had to bump it back, which caused me more pain.

[1:17:58] I probably would have gotten it the day of the notice.

[1:18:03] It cannot be both ways.

[1:18:05] The citizens cannot lose every single time.

[1:18:08] I would like to meet with you, show you the letter,

[1:18:12] and find out the meaning of the letter.

[1:18:16] There's a box marked on there.

[1:18:17] You should give everyone an opportunity

[1:18:19] by sending the letter again a lot of people

[1:18:22] did not get the letter or didn't get it

[1:18:23] in time to come to the meeting that was supposed

[1:18:25] to be on that Monday.

[1:18:27] That's all I got to say.

[1:18:30] I will bring it in as proof and I can email it to you.

[1:18:36] Seeing is believing.

[1:18:37] That is it.

[1:18:38] Any questions?

[1:18:43] Mayor Lux: To Mr. Havel's point, I've had people send me stuff

[1:18:48] that I've gotten well over a week later.

[1:18:50] It could be the post office.

[1:18:53] That can happen.

[1:18:57] The other thing I'm talking about --

[1:19:02] which he brought up and I have highlighted -- is, Rachel,

[1:19:08] we should have workshops for people to understand what that

[1:19:11] is.

[1:19:13] We could have people sign up so whoever

[1:19:17] doesn't respond can be reached out to

[1:19:20] to make sure that they understand

[1:19:22] that they can opt out.

[1:19:25] I don't know if that's a good idea.

[1:19:36] >> That is completely reasonable and we will get those scheduled.

[1:19:39] Mayor Lux: Anyone else for public input?

[1:19:44] I'm not sure if you got your time

[1:19:49] because we didn't hit the timer and you have three minutes.

[1:19:53] Three minutes is maximum time.

[1:19:58] Community Member: I cannot talk about the historic district?

[1:20:01] Mayor Lux: Is it okay for him to talk about historic district?

[1:20:07] Community Member: Jeanine Polk came to the realtors Association

[1:20:11] two Fridays ago.

[1:20:15] We want the city to turn around and be beautified.

[1:20:20] We want people to buy old houses and fix them up.

[1:20:23] We are not against that.

[1:20:25] These are not selling like hotcakes.

[1:20:31] I told Mr. Perry that I did not dislike him.

[1:20:37] How was he on the historic board?

[1:20:42] How many people on town have sold

[1:20:48] come a list have come or had a buyer buy

[1:20:50] these in the last three years?

[1:20:53] He couldn't name one.

[1:20:55] It is hard to buy a house and fix it up financially.

[1:20:58] It doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint.

[1:21:02] The insurance to cover these houses is drastically high.

[1:21:05] My insurance from frontline is $1,200 a year.

[1:21:08] The quote from across the street was $7,100 a year.

[1:21:13] If you got it for $6,000, you still have to have flood --

[1:21:26] Mayor Lux: I accidentally did that.

[1:21:27] Go ahead, sir.

[1:21:31] Community Member: People love the homes

[1:21:33] but they are not moving.

[1:21:34] People are making judicious financial decisions

[1:21:38] and it doesn't make sense to buy them.

[1:21:40] I have friends fixing up a house on palm

[1:21:44] and they did a wonderful job.

[1:21:45] It is beautiful.

[1:21:47] He's having so many problems and now everything is so expensive.

[1:21:54] The people who own the properties are stuck if they

[1:21:57] cannot sell the houses.

[1:21:59] Some of these houses are put in the middle of the lot.

[1:22:02] You cannot build a garage because of where it was put

[1:22:08] in 1950.

[1:22:09] Let people make a choice.

[1:22:10] You guys are saying that you cannot make a choice.

[1:22:13] People are stuck with the homes and it is way too expensive

[1:22:16] to fix them up, because you will not get your money back.

[1:22:20] Miss Jeanine, you bulldozed your house.

[1:22:24] Your actions speak louder than words your house was nicer

[1:22:28] than the house I bought.

[1:22:29] It was beautiful.

[1:22:30] Your likable your age was 1972, even

[1:22:34] though it was built in 1935.

[1:22:38] Mayor Lux: You are going off subject.

[1:22:41] Thank you.

[1:22:44] Community Member: I just wanted to let you know.

[1:22:48] Community Member: Derrick Rooney, resident.

[1:22:53] This issue isn't the city's fault.

[1:22:57] I serve as city attorney in several cities.

[1:23:00] We are also trying to address historic preservation issues

[1:23:04] because of the flood question.

[1:23:06] You are exempt from the 50% rule.

[1:23:10] I don't have a simple answer for Steve.

[1:23:13] I had to pull back one of my own ordinances for the same reason.

[1:23:18] Legislature passed Senate Bill 180 in place, ironically,

[1:23:22] for the reason of helping property owners in storms.

[1:23:32] The solution is that --

[1:23:58] Senate bill 180 says that the city cannot impose burdensome

[1:24:03] provisions.

[1:24:10] This is something that needs to be addressed.

[1:24:14] This is holding up a lot of properties that people

[1:24:16] don't want to tear down?

[1:24:18] At some point you have to live where you have to live

[1:24:24] and you have to make a decision about what to do.

[1:24:27] Thank you.

[1:24:36] Mayor Lux: Press the button.

[1:24:39] Community Member: Mike Polk.

[1:24:41] We didn't have a choice but to tear our house down.

[1:24:44] We had to tear both of them down.

[1:24:47] We were at 50%.

[1:24:49] We did not have a historic designation.

[1:24:53] That was our choice.

[1:24:55] The city wouldn't let us do anything but that.

[1:24:59] I did not try to bring subcontractors in at night

[1:25:03] or on the weekend.

[1:25:05] I did it legally.

[1:25:06] That is why we tore the house down.

[1:25:10] We had no choice.

[1:25:12] We exceeded the 50% rule.

[1:25:14] Thank you.

[1:25:24] Mayor Lux: Press the button, Tim.

[1:25:25] Community Member: Tim Ritchie.

[1:25:29] We want to keep our historic district looking historic.

[1:25:39] I have been up here more than all of you

[1:25:45] put together for years.

[1:25:49] I won't sit here and let anyone come up here

[1:25:55] and project them as being bad.

[1:25:59] The four of them sitting up here today

[1:26:03] are the best city council we've ever had!

[1:26:09] Exactly the four members here today present

[1:26:14] are the best we've ever had!

[1:26:20] If anyone wants to argue with me,

[1:26:23] I will be out in the parking lot after the meeting.

[1:26:36] Mayor Lux: Tim.

[1:26:38] Community Member: No mayor.

[1:26:40] Good mayor.

[1:26:41] If Mr. Polk said these have to get torn down

[1:26:45] because they are past the 50% point,

[1:26:46] that's what has to happen.

[1:26:48] I'm sure there building close to the historic district

[1:26:53] if necessary.

[1:26:55] I'm tired of people taking a tack at my mayor and vice mayor.

[1:27:02] I'm not going to tolerate it for one minute!

[1:27:06] I helped get rid of the previous attorney.

[1:27:13] We got rid of the previous city manager because he wasn't good!

[1:27:24] I'm not going to hear that!

[1:27:26] Thank you.

[1:27:32] Mayor Lux: Anyone else for public input?

[1:27:37] Motion.

[1:27:50] >> Are we tabling this?

[1:27:51] What do you suggest, Mr. Leskovich?

[1:28:01] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[1:28:03] You can approve it and move it or my suggestion is you

[1:28:05] table it for staff and myself to get together.

[1:28:08] I will take Mr. Rooney up on his suggestion

[1:28:11] and try to get this back to you guys as quickly as possible

[1:28:15] to see if there's a way we can get around Senate Bill 180

[1:28:22] and Senate Bill 250.

[1:28:25] I suggest you table it for today.

[1:28:31] Mayor Lux: Other things we would like to give guidelines around

[1:28:35] to expedite this?

[1:28:38] We are trying to expedite the poor residents stuck here

[1:28:45] in this 50-50 as to whether they can take it down or not.

[1:28:50] I would like to say if it's okay with SB 180

[1:28:54] if we can expedite it.

[1:28:56] Are you saying we should completely table it?

[1:29:02] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[1:29:03] I would suggest to table it today.

[1:29:05] We can change the name of the board.

[1:29:08] That's not an issue.

[1:29:09] When you are changing the process

[1:29:11] of how the demolition works and whether you are or are not

[1:29:14] included on the list, that has to be detailed a little more.

[1:29:22] Mayor Lux: You are saying that today we can change the name

[1:29:26] of the board and having workshops is fine but we should

[1:29:30] table a decision came -- but we should table a decision?

[1:29:40] >> I want to note real quick that we should close the public

[1:29:43] hearing.

[1:29:46] Mayor Lux: Okay, we have a motion

[1:29:48] to close the public hearing.

[1:29:53] Member Denton: Move to close the public hearing.

[1:29:57] Mayor Lux: All in favor raise your hand.

[1:30:00] Everyone raise their hand.

[1:30:04] None opposed.

[1:30:09] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney: My suggestion

[1:30:11] is to table in its entirety today.

[1:30:13] Let me get with staff and Mr. Rooney and hear the suggestions.

[1:30:17] Staff can certainly have a workshop together

[1:30:24] to try to get this back to you guys as quickly as possible.

[1:30:30] Mayor Lux: Can we get a certain date for the next meeting?

[1:30:43] I want it expedited.

[1:30:47] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney: If it's available,

[1:30:49] September 23rd could be a date and I can get with staff within

[1:30:53] the next week or two for us to get this back on your September

[1:30:56] 23rd agenda.

[1:30:58] That is pending staff availability.

[1:31:09] >> Sarah, will this need to be Re-advertised?

[1:31:28] Sara Welch, City Clerk: If we continue to a date certain,

[1:31:31] we wouldn't need to Member Denton:

[1:31:37] I move to table this and reconvene the topic on September

[1:31:39] 23rd after consideration of staff, attorney,

[1:31:44] and Derek Rooney.

[1:31:52] >>

[1:31:52] >> I second that.

[1:31:53] Mayor Lux: These are fine.

[1:31:57] Please raise your hand if you're in favor of.

[1:32:00] Motion shows everyone raise their hand.

[1:32:03] Opposed?

[1:32:04] Motion carries.

[1:32:09] Next up our ordinances and resolutions.

[1:32:27] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[1:32:28] An ordinance of city of Punta Gorda Florida amending chapter

[1:32:32] three of the Code of Ordinances to revise regulations governing

[1:32:36] the operation of golf carts on city streets and rights of way,

[1:32:41] amending section 23-seven, motorized vehicles prohibited

[1:32:47] on Tidal Creek Bridge, amending section 23-eight .

[1:33:09] This is the second reading.

[1:33:19] >> Hello.

[1:33:20] Carl Benj, urban design.

[1:33:21] We are here to discuss the golf cart ordinance.

[1:33:27] There was confusion on when it was finally approved.

[1:33:31] We are asking for clarification and discussion.

[1:33:35] >> Good morning.

[1:33:37] Chief Smith.

[1:33:39] I was not here at the last meeting.

[1:33:41] I wanted to get more clarification in reference

[1:33:44] to enforcement if the revised ordinance gets approved.

[1:33:50] In 2019, we went to the City Council

[1:33:55] to ask to allow the golf carts to travel

[1:33:58] over the bridge in reference to Fisherman's Village

[1:34:02] being able to transport things back and forth to the buildings

[1:34:05] over on the west Retta side.

[1:34:12] It has evolved into transporting elderly visitors and the cruise

[1:34:16] ship passengers to the military Heritage Museum.

[1:34:19] If we are going to put the new ordinance in place,

[1:34:25] I want to clarify that no motorized vehicles can

[1:34:27] be on the harbor walk or sidewalk without an ordinance.

[1:34:32] We would have to enforce if they decided

[1:34:35] they needed to transport.

[1:34:36] They would just have them walk or drive around.

[1:34:40] I just wanted to get clarification.

[1:34:49] Mayor Lux: Any questions for them?

[1:34:50] Discussion?

[1:34:57] Member Julian: I would like to allow

[1:34:59] the transit of the golf carts or the elderly back and forth.

[1:35:18] Vice Mayor Polk: I didn't realize

[1:35:20] when they were bringing in the busses they

[1:35:21] were coming across golf carts.

[1:35:23] That concerns me because that means more people were using it

[1:35:27] than was alluded to in the initial agreement or discussion

[1:35:33] from the last meeting.

[1:35:37] It was stated that it was just once in a while.

[1:35:41] We should eventually all agree that something

[1:35:44] will happen at the Military Heritage Museum building

[1:35:47] and it will be more crowded.

[1:35:49] We have to be careful.

[1:35:51] If we are going to allow this to happen,

[1:35:55] there are pedestrians who walk here all the time.

[1:35:58] There are bicyclists and people who

[1:36:00] live here that are trying to get into their driveways.

[1:36:04] I think it is one more thing for the citizens

[1:36:07] to have to have on their shoulders

[1:36:10] if an accident happens they are.

[1:36:12] We have to be cognizant of the health safety

[1:36:19] and welfare of the people.

[1:36:20] I was not aware that the busses were using

[1:36:22] this whenever they needed to.

[1:36:25] Mayor Lux: Another concern we talked about was liability.

[1:36:37] Member Denton: The police have many jobs

[1:36:39] are they supposed to determine who are elderly?

[1:36:42] You look like you are 70 but if you are 55

[1:36:45] then you don't qualify.

[1:36:47] How does that work?

[1:36:49] >> We don't question whether they have someone of a certain

[1:36:53] age on their golf cart.

[1:36:55] The ordinance allows the golf cart to go across.

[1:36:57] I don't know how often they transport passengers.

[1:37:00] That was something that was brought up at one point in time.

[1:37:04] They transport people that would like to go over there

[1:37:07] and do not want to walk over there.

[1:37:10] We've never had an issue.

[1:37:14] Fisherman's Village trained their people to stop, make sure

[1:37:18] no one's crossing the bridge, and then they go across.

[1:37:23] I've never even gotten a complaint.

[1:37:30] Mayor Lux: It was an impact building

[1:37:32] and that is why they have less parking.

[1:37:35] I'm not sure if variance with parking should have changed.

[1:37:44] People were living on campus and didn't need additional parking.

[1:37:50] Because this has changed and people haven't done anything

[1:37:54] about parking requirements, we have to do something about that.

[1:37:57] I worry about liability and more people coming over.

[1:38:00] We know that cruise ships are great because it brings tourism

[1:38:07] but that is more a liability with people crossing over.

[1:38:11] We may need a trolley to transport people around.

[1:38:17] Jenny.

[1:38:25] Member Denton: They don't have to use the bridge.

[1:38:28] They can use the roads.

[1:38:29] It is a cute convenience.

[1:38:34] Mayor Lux: Motion?

[1:38:45] >> As far as using the roads, golf carts cannot use the road

[1:38:50] unless it is a registered licensed vehicle.

[1:38:57] My understanding is they are not using the golf

[1:39:01] carts on the roads, which is why they are using the bridge.

[1:39:13] Vice Mayor Polk: I will make a motion to approve the new

[1:39:16] ordinance 4a.

[1:39:25] Mayor Lux: This is a second reading?

[1:39:27] Yes.

[1:39:27] Do I have a second?

[1:39:31] Member Julian: I second.

[1:39:36] Mayor Lux: We have a motion and a second for approval

[1:39:41] of the second reading.

[1:39:48] Steven S. Leskovich, City

[1:39:52] >> I apologize but this wasn't a second reading.

[1:39:54] We would like to classify this as a review

[1:39:57] of the first reading.

[1:39:58] I apologize for not clarifying that.

[1:40:01] Mayor Lux: It needs to come back?

[1:40:05] >> I apologize.

[1:40:08] Mayor Lux: So, we are approving the review of the first reading

[1:40:12] to have a second reading done again?

[1:40:15] >> We listened to the verbiage of the approval and the verbiage

[1:40:22] wasn't correct.

[1:40:23] We are asking for correct verbiage

[1:40:25] to make sure we have everything covered.

[1:40:29] We are doing it to make sure the procedure is done.

[1:40:35] That's why we brought it back.

[1:40:37] Mayor Lux: We have approval and second.

[1:40:42] All in favor?

[1:40:44] Opposed?

[1:40:45] Everyone raised their hand.

[1:40:47] This is approved for the second reading.

[1:40:51] Next one?

[1:41:06] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[1:41:08] What you guys were approving was clarifying the first reading

[1:41:09] and then you will come back on a different date for the second

[1:41:12] reading Kapec -- for the second reading?

[1:41:24] Mayor Lux: Correct.

[1:41:27] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[1:41:29] Resolution for B authorizing the city manager

[1:41:31] to accept and execute, and fund the federally funded Hazard

[1:41:35] mitigation Grant program.

[1:41:36] Watershed master plan and the amount of $225,000,

[1:41:43] recognizing a local match of $75,000,

[1:41:45] authorizing the appropriate budget amendments,

[1:41:49] provided for conflicts, and providing an effective date.

[1:42:02] >> Rick, grants coordinator.

[1:42:04] In January, Florida Division of management offered up --

[1:42:17] it was previously closed and we didn't take part in it.

[1:42:20] The county has a part in it and they are going through a process

[1:42:26] that we are not involved in.

[1:42:27] We need a separate one to participate in the CRS program.

[1:42:31] We have a building official here about the CRS program.

[1:42:36] This is the last chance for funding the watershed Master

[1:42:40] plan through FEMA.

[1:42:41] This is our opportunity to move forward with our National Flood

[1:42:47] Insurance program.

[1:42:48] If you have any questions regarding the program

[1:42:51] and importance of it, the official

[1:42:55] can answer those questions.

[1:42:59] Mayor Lux: Do you want to come up, Ron?

[1:43:08] Press it again.

[1:43:10] Got it.

[1:43:14] >> We've been partnering with Charlotte County Public

[1:43:19] it's been an enormous amount of money to get their watershed

[1:43:22] in place.

[1:43:23] They've been generous with us.

[1:43:26] This grant is to help the city pick up

[1:43:28] the portion we specifically need for our portion of it.

[1:43:33] I don't know how much you understand about it,

[1:43:35] but it is a prerequisite that is required

[1:43:38] before you get any CRS credits.

[1:43:41] CRS credits get the city as a whole discount

[1:43:45] on flood insurance.

[1:43:46] We are trying to achieve additional credit

[1:43:49] and trying to get a higher discount on it.

[1:43:53] It is a long process, probably two and a half years to finish.

[1:44:00] This grant will cover the city's portion needed to finish this

[1:44:03] process .

[1:44:13] Member Julian: This is an essential tool in our kit

[1:44:15] and we should proceed with it.

[1:44:19] Vice Mayor Polk: I am in agreement

[1:44:22] with Councilman Julian.

[1:44:23] The packet said another 5% reduction if we get this.

[1:44:27] Everyone is excited about that.

[1:44:30] I will approve this today for sure.

[1:44:34] Mayor Lux: Do you want to make a motion?

[1:44:39] Vice Mayor Polk: I make a motion to approve 4B.

[1:44:49] Member Denton: I second the motion.

[1:44:50] Mayor Lux: Motion and second on the floor.

[1:44:55] Raise your hand if in favor.

[1:44:58] All of us raised our hands.

[1:45:01] Opposed?

[1:45:02] Motion carries.

[1:45:13] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney: Agenda item four C,

[1:45:13] allowance a major to accept, execute,

[1:45:16] administer 2024 community forest D capacity grants contract with

[1:45:19] the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer

[1:45:22] Services .

[1:45:26] FDAC, number 3407892 plant 100 native,

[1:45:32] wind and salt tolerant trees and restore the tree canopy

[1:45:35] in the amount of $48,617, recognizing a local match

[1:45:41] of $5,649, authorizing an appropriate budget amendments

[1:45:46] providing for conflicts and providing for an effective date.

[1:46:00] >> Good afternoon.

[1:46:01] Rick Lehmkuhle, grants coordinator.

[1:46:03] This is a great opportunity for the city

[1:46:06] to accept funds from FDACS to plant

[1:46:11] and restore 100 trees in our city.

[1:46:17] 400 of the dollars comes from community .

[1:46:33] Pending any questions.

[1:46:38] Member Denton: Congratulations on your hard work.

[1:46:42] We love free grant money to get our city more beautiful.

[1:46:47] Thank you.

[1:46:48] Good job.

[1:46:49] Vice Mayor Polk: I agree with you, Councilwoman Denton.

[1:46:55] I 100% think we need more trees.

[1:46:59] More oxygen is always good.

[1:47:01] I appreciate that we were allotted this money.

[1:47:05] Can I move to approve?

[1:47:08] Move to approve 4C.

[1:47:19] Member Julian: I second that.

[1:47:23] Mayor Lux: All in favor raise your hand.

[1:47:24] All four hands are raised.

[1:47:28] Opposed?

[1:47:29] Motion carries.

[1:47:32] Thank you for your hard work.

[1:47:37] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney: Agenda item 4D,

[1:47:39] resolution of the City Council of the City of Punta Gorda,

[1:47:43] Florida, approving amended bylaws governing

[1:47:45] the requirements of the Building Board,

[1:47:48] providing an effective date.

[1:47:57] Sara Welch, City Clerk: Sir Welch.

[1:47:59] This was to amend bylaws to remove the lifetime provision

[1:48:04] for consumer advocates and provide an alternate for one

[1:48:07] to be designated as a contractor in another --

[1:48:14] William -- to sit on the board later this meeting come up with

[1:48:20] Kathy being considered alternate for a contractor.

[1:48:25] Mayor Lux: I could not see when you press a button.

[1:48:28] I apologize for that.

[1:48:30] Any questions for Sarah?

[1:48:34] Motion?

[1:48:38] >> I make a motion to approve 4D.

[1:48:46] Member Julian: I second that.

[1:48:50] Mayor Lux: The motion carries.

[1:48:57] Next is the consent agenda.

[1:49:01] Does anyone want anything pulled?

[1:49:05] Doctor Misty, were you going to talk about urban design consent

[1:49:12] or did you want to do that in projects?

[1:49:16] In agenda we talked about impervious and urban design

[1:49:21] because they only do it once a month.

[1:49:22] Do you want to talk about that in projects?

[1:49:25] I need motion for approval for the consent agenda.

[1:49:33] Vice Mayor Polk: No one is here to speak on five a?

[1:49:41] Someone is here to speak on it.

[1:49:42] I would hate to approve it and him not discuss it.

[1:49:53] Mayor Lux: Any questions for him?

[1:49:55] Vice Mayor Polk: No Mayor Lux: That was a quest for --

[1:50:03] that was a request for a motion to approve consent agenda?

[1:50:09] Vice Mayor Polk: I moved to approve consent agenda.

[1:50:13] Mayor Lux: We have a motion and second

[1:50:18] to approve the consent agenda in full.

[1:50:20] Raise your hand if in favor.

[1:50:22] All four raised our hands.

[1:50:24] All opposed motion carries.

[1:50:27] Does anyone want a break or continue on?

[1:50:30] We will take a quick ten minute break please.

[1:50:48] [council on break]

[2:01:12] Mayor Lux: We will get started again.

[2:01:14] Please sit down.

[2:01:41] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[2:01:42] We will move to the regular agenda 6a agreement Award

[2:01:51] to architects design group, incorporated, of winter Park,

[2:01:56] Florida for a master agreement to provide assessment

[2:01:59] and planning for the city's public safety complex at 1410

[2:02:04] Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda.

[2:02:09] >> Request for qualifications for engineering and architecture

[2:02:14] services for the Public Safety expansion project.

[2:02:17] Solicitation was issued to 700 vendors in the city received

[2:02:25] three responses from teams of consultants and architects.

[2:02:29] This was also posted on another procurement system advertising

[2:02:33] the bid.

[2:02:34] This will be the master agreement

[2:02:36] that contains hourly rates in order

[2:02:39] to negotiate authorizations for a phased approach

[2:02:42] for the project.

[2:02:44] Future authorizations will be approved

[2:02:46] by the appropriate award authority.

[2:02:50] The proposal packages were evaluated by committee,

[2:02:55] which ranked proposals.

[2:02:57] Then we entered into interviews conducted with consultants

[2:03:01] and their teams.

[2:03:03] The top ranked firm designated by the committee

[2:03:07] was architects design group of Winter Park, Florida.

[2:03:12] We entered into negotiations.

[2:03:15] This project was previously approved by the voters

[2:03:18] to be funded by the 1% sales tax.

[2:03:23] We have the consultant from architects

[2:03:25] design Group to speak to council if you

[2:03:28] have any questions regarding the project.

[2:03:31] Staff recommends a word of the agreement to architects

[2:03:37] design Group of Winter Park, Florida,

[2:03:41] of being the most responsible and qualified bidder.

[2:03:45] Mayor Lux: Any questions?

[2:03:53] Member Denton: What is the cost to this point to hire them?

[2:04:16] >> There is no cost to the master agreement.

[2:04:19] It puts the agreement in place with hourly rates

[2:04:24] for different positions to move forward to the phasing approach.

[2:04:28] The first phase will be the next agreement, amendment one,

[2:04:32] which is the assessment.

[2:04:36] Member Denton: Follow up question.

[2:04:38] We have a lot in question right now with 1% sales tax ,

[2:04:47] and we also have the possible property tax reduction.

[2:04:55] It's a lot to ask of these folks if we don't have the money

[2:05:00] to move ahead.

[2:05:02] I don't know if we should postpone.

[2:05:05] You've done a lot of work in these people are probably great.

[2:05:08] But will we be able to follow through?

[2:05:20] >> Going into it, we knew grant funding would be an integral

[2:05:27] part to making this project successful.

[2:05:30] It went out to bid one time previously.

[2:05:36] We canceled the bid because we saw there were

[2:05:40] items lacking in the scope.

[2:05:43] We added grant funding to be part of the consultants team.

[2:05:50] Amendment number one brings them in from the beginning

[2:05:53] during the assessment of the building

[2:05:56] to start looking at grant funding.

[2:06:09] >> Kristen Simeon, finance director.

[2:06:13] I wanted to speak to the funding.

[2:06:17] This is 1% sales tax that also incorporates public safety

[2:06:21] impact fees for the project.

[2:06:23] The needs assessment was determined

[2:06:27] that to be done first to determine what

[2:06:30] the project will actually be.

[2:06:32] So, depending what is determined about expanding the facility

[2:06:38] or buying land and having a facility somewhere else,

[2:06:41] that would determine what the full project would be.

[2:06:46] Also, it would involve looking for grants.

[2:06:59] Vice Mayor Polk: Where are the numbers being projected from?

[2:07:05] It said somewhere that there was a need for a 100 zero

[2:07:07] square feet?

[2:07:08] There is a need because the public safety building is

[2:07:16] currently crowded. -- there was a statement that there was

[2:07:26] a need for 100,000ft².

[2:07:31] It is currently 23,000 and the other area is 18,000?

[2:07:39] They are projecting 100,000ft².

[2:07:46] That is a lot of square footage.

[2:07:51] >> Chief of the police department.

[2:07:56] That number was not the correct number.

[2:08:00] We have the person that bid on the group here.

[2:08:05] I think they mentioned that it should be around 60,000ft².

[2:08:10] I will let them answer the question.

[2:08:14] >> Hi.

[2:08:15] Rodney McManus with ADG.

[2:08:21] There's a process we go through to determine the square footage

[2:08:30] needed based on the programs the chief wants

[2:08:33] to run out of the department.

[2:08:34] The number could flex either way.

[2:08:40] We think 110,000ft² is larger than it ultimately needs to be.

[2:08:57] Vice Mayor Polk: That answers my question.

[2:09:03] I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Fritz.

[2:09:07] We will spend this money.

[2:09:11] I know these are preliminary plans.

[2:09:14] This is the first we've heard of it.

[2:09:18] In another 10 to 12 weeks there will be two things on the ballot

[2:09:23] -- one of them is the 20 year 1% sales tax that may or may not

[2:09:29] pass.

[2:09:29] If we are depending on these tax dollars,

[2:09:33] I'm a little weary of making this choice right now.

[2:09:40] The other one is the tax reform bill.

[2:09:44] That may pass.

[2:09:49] This may be a different story nine weeks from now

[2:09:53] and I wonder if we should wait.

[2:09:56] I know they hate to hear that.

[2:10:01] We might need to wait before we take a dive.

[2:10:11] Member Julian: What would waiting

[2:10:12] that long due to the project?

[2:10:19] Mayor Lux: Go ahead, Anne.

[2:10:23] >> I will let Mr. McNamara --

[2:10:28] I will let Mr. McManus speak.

[2:10:34] >> It takes 4 to 6 months to determine the scope of the work.

[2:10:39] Regardless of whether it moves forward or at what speed

[2:10:44] it does so, the preliminary work needs

[2:10:47] to be completed for us to understand

[2:10:49] what the scope of work needs to be in the future.

[2:10:52] This is preliminary step one that

[2:10:57] leads to phase number two, which is the actual design

[2:11:00] of the building.

[2:11:01] This first part under the amendment

[2:11:09] has to do with determining the scope of the project.

[2:11:15] It doesn't have to do with the actual construction

[2:11:17] of the building.

[2:11:19] It determines what needs to be done.

[2:11:22] I would suggest that the 6 or 8 weeks doesn't change

[2:11:30] what needs to be done for the next 50 years

[2:11:34] but this is the duration of the project they want to plan for

[2:11:38] and what the chief talked about project.

[2:11:44] Mayor Lux: I agree.

[2:11:46] What we are looking at is twofold --

[2:11:52] can the current building be expanded?

[2:11:54] May be adding a second story?

[2:11:58] We need to expand this to fit everyone.

[2:12:02] This may be the best way to do it

[2:12:04] because otherwise, we may have to find a land somewhere

[2:12:09] and build a new building permit we are still going to have to do

[2:12:14] something for this department.

[2:12:18] I would like someone to have a motion to approve this.

[2:12:31] >> I wanted to comment that this was a voter approved project.

[2:12:33] We have community backing?

[2:12:35] It is a phased approach.

[2:12:37] We are taking the first step to move forward

[2:12:41] with what we need for public safety into the future.

[2:12:46] Mayor Lux: Other comments?

[2:12:56] Member Julian: I move to approve the agenda item.

[2:13:05] Member Denton: Based on the fact that it doesn't cost us anything

[2:13:08] at this point, I second that.

[2:13:12] Mayor Lux: We have a motion and a second.

[2:13:15] All in favor?

[2:13:17] All four of us raised our hands.

[2:13:21] Opposed?

[2:13:22] Motion carries.

[2:13:39] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney: Six b,

[2:13:41] a word of amendment number one to architect design

[2:13:45] group of Winter Park Florida, for professional services

[2:13:50] to assess the public safety facility.

[2:13:55] >> Again, an Hyman.

[2:13:58] City Council previously awarded the master agreement

[2:14:01] to architects design Group to provide professional services

[2:14:03] to assess and plan for the needs of the public police

[2:14:09] department and Fire Department as it relates to the Public

[2:14:13] Safety Facility.

[2:14:14] The agreement contained hourly rates

[2:14:16] to negotiate future phases of the project.

[2:14:19] Staff requested a proposal based on the rates

[2:14:22] and to assess the current needs of the Police Department

[2:14:25] and fire Department.

[2:14:26] The consultant will perform an assessment

[2:14:29] of the current facility to determine

[2:14:31] if improvements can be made or if an additional site may

[2:14:35] be necessary.

[2:14:36] The consultant will provide a report of findings

[2:14:39] to the City Council, along with a concept plan

[2:14:43] and opinion of cost.

[2:14:45] Total cost of the authorization is $335,042.

[2:14:48] Timeline to complete this is eight months

[2:14:53] from the notice to proceed.

[2:14:55] Staff is awarding of amendment number one

[2:15:01] to Architect design Group.

[2:15:03] Mayor Lux: Any discussion?

[2:15:10] Us in government believes this is a lot of money

[2:15:15] but is probably very accurate for what is needed.

[2:15:19] Going off the last conversation, we

[2:15:22] need to figure out what we can do

[2:15:25] to make this building workable to expand in the future.

[2:15:35] Do you want to say anything, sir?

[2:15:42] Vice Mayor Polk: This is task A through K. Task

[2:15:46] B said a staffing study is optional if requested.

[2:15:50] It is not included in the $335,000 cost.

[2:15:55] Can you explain that?

[2:15:57] What would a staffing study entail?

[2:16:03] >> In the actual amendment in the exhibits,

[2:16:07] there were three different levels of staffing studies.

[2:16:10] The first level determines the number of staff based

[2:16:13] on emergency calls and things like that ,

[2:16:19] with the important input of the chief and the way they run

[2:16:23] their department.

[2:16:28] The staffing study can say how many people have positions.

[2:16:37] A deeper dive on that is how positions work together.

[2:16:41] A deeper dive is pay rates compared to other communities

[2:16:46] and departments in the surrounding area,

[2:16:48] in order to make sure the police want to work there and continue

[2:16:54] to work there, rather than jumping

[2:16:56] to another facility or department

[2:16:59] in a neighboring town.

[2:17:02] It just wasn't determined whether that would be

[2:17:07] a need at the beginning or not.

[2:17:09] If it wasn't, we won't utilize it.

[2:17:15] Mayor Lux: I think Vice Mayor Polk was asking

[2:17:20] if there is an additional cost.

[2:17:25] >> It would be based on the initial information we gather

[2:17:29] talking with the chief and all the departments at the station.

[2:17:33] That would give us the information

[2:17:35] we need to know how much the staffing study would cost

[2:17:39] and then determine the level of staffing study

[2:17:42] to move forward with.

[2:17:44] Presently, it was pretty much agreed

[2:17:50] that the staffing study wouldn't be needed but is in there

[2:17:54] if it comes up.

[2:17:59] Mayor Lux: Is there going to be some point where the county will

[2:18:03] take over our 911 system?

[2:18:05] Are we taking this into consideration?

[2:18:07] We fought hard against this.

[2:18:10] It kills us if this is taken away from us but it may happen.

[2:18:16] >> That is beyond our pay grade.

[2:18:20] This is what would come out of the analysis

[2:18:24] that we are planning to do.

[2:18:31] Member Denton: Since the public approved this

[2:18:34] based on the 1% tax, I'm willing to go ahead.

[2:18:39] I want to hear from the public regarding these considerations

[2:18:43] with this money involved and whether there's still

[2:18:46] an agreement.

[2:18:47] Feel free to email me and the rest of us.

[2:18:50] I want to hear in general on these topics.

[2:18:59] >> Pam Smith.

[2:18:59] One of the discussions during the process around the staffing

[2:19:08] study is whether the facility will cover this.

[2:19:14] They will interview everyone and find out

[2:19:20] how our department works and how the Fire Department works.

[2:19:23] That would determine the size of the building,

[2:19:26] versus a full blown staffing study.

[2:19:28] That cost can be high.

[2:19:31] Benton just paid $65,000 for a staffing study.

[2:19:35] We are trying to save some money there.

[2:19:39] The 1% sales tax has been happening the past six years.

[2:19:44] The money is there for this needs assessment now.

[2:19:47] We need to know what we can do.

[2:19:49] Do we build on top of what we have or do

[2:19:52] we have to go somewhere else?

[2:19:54] That is where we are with this.

[2:20:03] Mayor Lux: Any other questions?

[2:20:05] Any motion?

[2:20:09] Member Julian: I move to approve amendment one.

[2:20:14] Mayor Lux: Do I have a Vice Mayor Polk: I second.

[2:20:22] Mayor Lux: Motion and second on the floor.

[2:20:25] All in favor raise your hand?

[2:20:28] All raised our hands.

[2:20:32] Opposed?

[2:20:33] Motion carries.

[2:20:35] Thank you.

[2:20:40] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney: Agenda item six C,

[2:20:42] a word of amendment to Carrollo engineers Inc of Sarasota

[2:20:52] Florida, to provide professional services for the rehabilitation

[2:20:57] of well number five and well number six at the Shell Creek

[2:21:00] Reserve osmosis water treatment >> An Hyman from procurement.

[2:21:07] This is an amendment to award of amendment to Carollo engineers.

[2:21:17] This is the plan, design, provide bid assistance

[2:21:21] and technical oversight of rehabilitation

[2:21:23] of Wells five and six at the water treatment plant.

[2:21:27] The purpose of rehabilitation is to restore and possibly increase

[2:21:33] capacity and water quality.

[2:21:38] Time frame to complete authorization

[2:21:41] is six months from the notice to proceed.

[2:21:44] Staff recommends approval of the amendment to Carollo Engineers.

[2:21:57] Member Denton: Would this be considered of 197 million

[2:22:00] we are putting towards water quality and sewer?

[2:22:05] The plan.

[2:22:10] >> This was included in our budget for 2026.

[2:22:26] Vice Mayor Polk: I move to approve six C.

[2:22:31] Member Denton: I second.

[2:22:34] Mayor Lux: Motion and second on the floor.

[2:22:36] All in favor raise your hand?

[2:22:38] All four raised our hands.

[2:22:41] Opposed?

[2:22:42] Motion carries.

[2:22:44] Utilities on top of everything.

[2:22:47] You are one step ahead.

[2:22:49] I thank you and procurement for moving this forward

[2:22:52] for our residents.

[2:22:54] Thank you.

[2:22:59] Steven S. Leskovich, City Attorney:

[2:23:02] Six D, Trabue Park improvements.

[2:23:17] >> Good morning, Carl, urban design.

[2:23:20] This is a presentation for park improvements.

[2:23:23] The main focus of the presentation is grants.

[2:23:26] The city is lucky to have a proactive grants coordinator.

[2:23:29] However, one issue we hear from them

[2:23:32] is that we need concepts and plans to go for these grants.

[2:23:36] This is a high level plan for him

[2:23:39] to use to go for park improvements.

[2:23:47] This is the area in question.

[2:23:51] It starts at the Adrian Street pier.

[2:23:53] This is the end of the Harbor walk.

[2:23:56] We are calling this the Harbor Walk gateway.

[2:24:03] We have a draft, unfunded CIP, for 2027

[2:24:08] through 2031, which would allow us

[2:24:11] to pursue this project in grants that we are talking about.

[2:24:15] Some of the improvements we are talking about

[2:24:18] is the National Fitness campaign fitness court.

[2:24:24] They reached out for fitness opportunities

[2:24:27] and we thought this would be a great way

[2:24:29] to start the conversation?

[2:24:31] There are also passive park upgrades

[2:24:33] with winding path and small bridge.

[2:24:35] There are open activity areas to provide a nice, cohesive place

[2:24:40] to hang out.

[2:24:42] There is also Adrian Street pier street improvements

[2:24:47] and we would possibly expand parking.

[2:24:56] There is a possible acquisition at Harbor Work East

[2:25:00] to provide amenities within the area.

[2:25:04] We can do the special flood hazard area

[2:25:07] property purchase to increase park access

[2:25:10] and use and mitigate future property losses.

[2:25:13] These are the existing fitness stations

[2:25:16] we have by Fisherman's Village.

[2:25:19] This is where we get the idea of bookending the fitness thing.

[2:25:22] It is all at the side of the park.

[2:25:25] We usually don't have anything at the eastern side of the park.

[2:25:28] We want to bring something there.

[2:25:30] This is a national fitness campaign.

[2:25:33] These are the people who reached out to the city.

[2:25:36] They offered a $30,000 grant.

[2:25:42] They have a fitness court that starts at $200,000.

[2:25:46] There are a lot of amenities attached to it

[2:25:50] part of the process is bringing the community together.

[2:25:52] There is a wall on one side of it

[2:25:56] and it gives us an opportunity to provide a local artist

[2:26:01] an area to paint.

[2:26:03] The other is a fitness court and studio.

[2:26:08] It doubles the size of the area and offers a nice flat area

[2:26:12] for exercises and activities.

[2:26:14] The cost starts around $262,000.

[2:26:17] These are two options we can look into if we so decide.

[2:26:26] There are other ways we can make this an active park.

[2:26:30] Some of us grew up with these wooden training

[2:26:35] things in the parks.

[2:26:37] You can find them when you walk around Sarasota.

[2:26:41] They are cheaper to maintain.

[2:26:43] They may not be as durable but it offers activities

[2:26:47] and we can maintain it at a reasonable price.

[2:26:50] There are also ninja courses, which are big for kids nowadays

[2:26:55] there is an indoor one in Renton that I take my kids to.

[2:27:01] This may be fun.

[2:27:03] This is on the east side of town.

[2:27:06] Cooper Street and Carmelita have almost all of our school's.

[2:27:09] We have the Boys and Girls Club on Cooper Street.

[2:27:13] There are a lot of teens and children on that side of town

[2:27:16] that congregate to this project this is something

[2:27:19] we should think about.

[2:27:24] Back in 2005, the city worked with the trust for Public Lands

[2:27:32] and accumulated some of these properties in red

[2:27:41] that butt up against West Marion.

[2:27:44] There was 6 or 7 lands the city acquired

[2:27:49] and mitigated future loss.

[2:27:53] These were targeted in Hurricane Charley.

[2:27:57] This is part of a bigger plan the city has been working on

[2:28:00] for a while.

[2:28:01] This is the further layout of the Trabue Park Land Use.

[2:28:18] Two of these parcels are available.

[2:28:20] We would love to acquire these parcels

[2:28:22] but we understand upcoming things being voted on

[2:28:26] may limit future finances.

[2:28:31] We would love to do this all but we are separating them in case

[2:28:39] we cannot do the land acquisition now.

[2:28:41] We still want to do improvements to Trabue Park.

[2:28:48] We are keeping these separate so they don't tie each other down.

[2:28:50] This is the proposed future use.

[2:28:53] The bottom left corner is the National campaign Fitness court.

[2:28:57] Moving up there is an open fitness area

[2:29:02] that could be another fitness area come up

[2:29:05] like the Ninja court, or a passive place for recreation.

[2:29:10] Going across the street is a property

[2:29:13] we weren't able to acquire.

[2:29:15] We own the big green square but it is underutilized.

[2:29:20] We want to plant trees and make it more attractive.

[2:29:31] The little blue building is a property

[2:29:34] we want to acquire in the future if we can.

[2:29:38] It's an existing structure, so if we

[2:29:41] want to convert it to amenities, there's

[2:29:43] already water and electric which would reduce costs.

[2:29:47] Across the way is another part of NC property

[2:29:54] we want to buy for conservation.

[2:29:57] It is mostly wetlands as is.

[2:30:02] We included the park concept from 2006 to highlight the plan

[2:30:07] as something the city wanted for 20 years the city is trying

[2:30:10] to pursue these grants .

[2:30:15] In 2020, we reached out to work with trust Public Lands.

[2:30:21] This fell through in 2020 and we know

[2:30:23] that this is because of COVID.

[2:30:26] We hit a wall.

[2:30:28] Here's the proposed layout we would like to use moving forward

[2:30:32] for all the grant applications.

[2:30:34] To the left is a fitness court that could be expanded or moved.

[2:30:40] We have a winding sidewalk that goes through it.

[2:30:44] The rectangle at the top would be a pedestrian bridge

[2:30:47] to tie into the existing harbor walk that creates a circle walk.

[2:30:55] The winding path leads to another area of passive activity

[2:31:01] zone.

[2:31:01] All of this can be changed as needed.

[2:31:06] This is just a large view.

[2:31:09] This is the part by Adrienne Street.

[2:31:15] We want to fix this pier.

[2:31:20] I like to think we are still a fishing community.

[2:31:22] We want to reinstate that and create this fishing and exercise

[2:31:28] hub.

[2:31:28] We have possible expansion of the parking.

[2:31:31] We only have eight parking spots right now, and two of the spots

[2:31:36] are handicapped parking.

[2:31:38] If we want to expand this place we need more parking.

[2:31:45] I will let Richard explain the grants.

[2:31:56] >> Rick Lemko, grants coordinator.

[2:32:04] Thank you for the time.

[2:32:06] We have a couple opportunities to fund these improvements

[2:32:12] in acquisition of Trabue Park.

[2:32:21] It is ten acres but there are enclaves within it

[2:32:23] that make the park less usable.

[2:32:27] The first opportunity for funding

[2:32:29] is outdoor recreation legacy Partnership program.

[2:32:32] That is with the National Park Service.

[2:32:35] They can fund up to $15 million each grant cycle.

[2:32:41] Right now it is funded for the next five years and the funding

[2:32:45] opportunity closes on November 1st with the feds.

[2:32:51] I've worked with the trust for Public Lands

[2:32:53] for the last couple of months.

[2:32:56] I've talked with them to see how we can develop anything if we

[2:33:00] are able to acquire anything.

[2:33:05] Right now they are able to assist us

[2:33:08] with grant application.

[2:33:10] I will do grant writing internally

[2:33:13] but they will give a technical overview of it.

[2:33:16] Part of the program is dialed into access to recreation.

[2:33:20] That is what we are trying to do.

[2:33:24] We are trying to improve access to the east Side and all

[2:33:27] of our residents, so we can improve the amount

[2:33:33] of people that go there.

[2:33:35] Earlier Carl was talking about the internal discussion

[2:33:39] of calling it a gateway to the Harborwalk.

[2:33:43] As we come in from the East on Marion,

[2:33:46] this would be another thing we see in addition to the hospital.

[2:33:54] We need more going on because we've had hurricanes.

[2:33:58] This may be a first step to bring everything together

[2:34:01] to make the east side beautiful again.

[2:34:06] Increasing access to Trabue Park with expanded parking

[2:34:16] would be great.

[2:34:17] We currently only have eight spots

[2:34:19] for people to access Adrienne Pier and Trabue Park.

[2:34:30] We have an underserved East side.

[2:34:33] This grant is funded for five years

[2:34:38] but we can move forward with any grant opportunity the next three

[2:34:50] years.

[2:34:51] FERDAP is a smaller grant and is limited in the amount of money.

[2:34:57] It is harder to get and you can do less with it.

[2:35:02] FEMA offers up something through flood mitigation assistance

[2:35:07] and flood hazard mitigation grants.

[2:35:15] There are properties we are trying to acquire

[2:35:23] at Adrienne and Marion streets.

[2:35:33] One of the properties is right at the access spot to Adrienne.

[2:35:43] Side control gives us access to Harborwalk, the amenities,

[2:35:52] and the pier.

[2:35:56] The pier will be renovated at some point

[2:36:02] and the access will be helpful.

[2:36:04] We put in access to apply for the FEMA

[2:36:07] grant, which is a 25% match.

[2:36:09] It has not been applied for yet but there is an intention

[2:36:13] that we could move forward with that.

[2:36:16] I didn't mention this before but there

[2:36:19] are two opportunities for grant funding for the Outdoor

[2:36:22] Recreation grant.

[2:36:23] One is just for the improvements Carl mentioned

[2:36:27] before the improvements would be one grant and a separate grant

[2:36:30] application would be for property acquisition.

[2:36:35] We didn't mention that they are listed for sale.

[2:36:40] They are distressed properties.

[2:36:43] There's an MLS listing for them right now.

[2:36:46] Even if they aren't listed, you can always

[2:36:51] have a negotiation, a discussion.

[2:36:55] There are other grant opportunities out there

[2:36:58] that I haven't discussed.

[2:36:59] National Fitness campaign is a small grant .

[2:37:05] There are 30,000 available.

[2:37:07] Another opened up, which is coastal Partnership initiative,

[2:37:14] for access to waterfront recreation and opportunities.

[2:37:19] That is available and is a technical assistance and grant

[2:37:24] planning for the planning and design of our Piers.

[2:37:31] It is a good opportunity to move forward

[2:37:32] with increased resilience for our Piers.

[2:37:37] A lot of opportunities improve access

[2:37:43] for residents, the underserved, and improves our resilience.

[2:37:48] We don't have to go through the hardship again.

[2:37:55] Maybe a eight foot storm surge will happen again.

[2:38:02] The earlier discussion with the Waterfront Hotel

[2:38:06] talked about a 12 foot water surge

[2:38:09] that Hans designed with a dock system.

[2:38:12] This is kind of where we need to be.

[2:38:15] Construction costs increase with better improved designs,

[2:38:19] but that would be a separate source of funding.

[2:38:22] The next steps would be getting a feel

[2:38:26] for where you want to be with Adrienne Street Pier.

[2:38:34] I know this is a public works process.

[2:38:37] I talked to our administration.

[2:38:39] There's a way to work with FEMA to make sure these

[2:38:47] are improved designs.

[2:38:54] Trabue Park improvements are right around $1 million.

[2:38:58] The good thing about the ORLP grant

[2:39:02] is I can move forward with the grant application

[2:39:05] without having an actual design or permits.

[2:39:09] A lot of grants require this but all they require now

[2:39:14] is a concept.

[2:39:16] Any funding would take us past 2028 fiscal year.

[2:39:21] If we get awarded in May, it would take at least 180 days

[2:39:27] to get an executed agreement.

[2:39:31] We are realistically looking well into the end of 2028

[2:39:36] or the beginning of fiscal year 2029

[2:39:39] before we can start a project, if it is awarded with the grant

[2:39:45] cycle.

[2:39:46] We don't really need a design yet.

[2:39:50] That's in the future whenever you are inclined to do that.

[2:39:56] I have a couple grant funding opportunities

[2:39:59] I can begin moving forward with.

[2:40:01] This is kind of where we are at.

[2:40:05] We are just looking for direction.

[2:40:07] This slide deck shows what the actual fitness court looks like.

[2:40:16] It is designed to bring the community together.

[2:40:20] That is kind of where we are at.

[2:40:22] We are asking for council direction and questions.

[2:40:25] Thank you.

[2:40:28] Mayor Lux: Thank you.

[2:40:30] Any questions?

[2:40:33] Member Julian: So, we aren't obligated to spend

[2:40:37] taxpayer dollars at all until we receive the grants.

[2:40:42] Then there's cost sharing involved in it.

[2:40:45] We can proceed with the concept and applying for grants

[2:40:50] without obligating tax dollars.

[2:40:55] >> No, unless you are awarded a grant,

[2:40:59] you are not obligated to proceed.

[2:41:08] Federal grants require long time before a contract is written.

[2:41:13] We are not looking at the fiscal year budget but one

[2:41:18] down the year.

[2:41:20] When I'm looking at my numbers and dates for the bigger grant,

[2:41:25] 2029 is what I'm looking at.

[2:41:29] If we are awarded the Grand, we will look forward to a 50% match

[2:41:36] a couple years down the road.

[2:41:38] The other grants are different.

[2:41:42] The CPI grant would be awarded in March.

[2:41:46] That would also be a 50% grant.

[2:41:50] That is a smaller project for design of Piers.

[2:41:55] The FEMA grant would be a 25% match.

[2:42:00] It takes a long time to execute contracts.

[2:42:11] Member Denton: You have some great ideas.

[2:42:13] Whatever we consider, we need to think about the cost

[2:42:17] of maintenance .

[2:42:21] If it could be a natural or low maintenance park,

[2:42:25] that would be helpful.

[2:42:27] Did pickleball ever cross your mind?

[2:42:30] People always love that.

[2:42:34] Another question I had was with Piers,

[2:42:38] if it is a flow through dock that may

[2:42:42] be a better solution than wood.

[2:42:52] Sorry about the echo.

[2:42:55] Is there something we can do with a climbing wall?

[2:42:59] I know we have to think about liability.

[2:43:03] The Ninja Park idea looks fun and could

[2:43:06] attract younger people.

[2:43:07] I was hoping to get a comment from Pastor Thomas

[2:43:10] because this was near his community.

[2:43:12] I would like to hear from him and people

[2:43:17] he knows maybe he has other ideas.

[2:43:20] Maybe we need a soccer field.

[2:43:23] The east side is an underserved area.

[2:43:27] I like all your ideas.

[2:43:29] I don't want it to cost money at this point.

[2:43:32] We have so many questions ahead of us.

[2:43:34] But we have so many grants.

[2:43:49] >> Thank you Ma'am.

[2:43:53] We kicked football and soccer around a little bit.

[2:43:58] We have East Marion here.

[2:44:05] I don't think this place is appropriate

[2:44:08] this close to the road.

[2:44:10] There are a lot of considerations

[2:44:14] we took into account.

[2:44:15] Walls may be incorporated within the ninja course.

[2:44:20] There may be a little small climbing wall.

[2:44:24] There are going to be fitness courts for adults.

[2:44:32] We have these bi linear park.

[2:44:36] We want to incorporate another adult court.

[2:44:41] We really want to embrace the children.

[2:44:46] My child brings this up to me all the time.

[2:44:49] We have three schools over there there's a way for those kids

[2:44:54] to get to the water and enjoy it.

[2:44:56] It would be good if there's a way for the kids

[2:44:59] to cross the street with a crosswalk to enjoy a ninja

[2:45:03] course, amenity, or fishing.

[2:45:06] The kids are what's important to me right now.

[2:45:09] We do not have amenities for kids.

[2:45:11] We have a few parks but they are few and far between.

[2:45:14] They are typically at the schools.

[2:45:17] When I go towards Sally Jones, I see a nice park

[2:45:21] but it is closed after school hours.

[2:45:25] I think you had another question.

[2:45:27] Funding will be an issue but this

[2:45:31] is a discussion that's been in the works for 20 years,

[2:45:34] since we had a CR a.

[2:45:37] It is an underserved area and we can

[2:45:39] make things happen with this.

[2:45:41] We had a discussion with other departments

[2:45:45] in the state that do transportation in regards

[2:45:53] to crosswalks.

[2:45:53] If we have a reason to get a crosswalk,

[2:45:56] we can get one in the medical overlay district.

[2:46:01] We can bring in a crosswalk if we have a purpose for it.

[2:46:06] We can have a safety measure to bring people

[2:46:07] in from the actual city proper into the recreation area.

[2:46:11] If we design it, we can get a crosswalk of some kind.

[2:46:17] There's a number of things we can bring together to make this

[2:46:22] really nice .

[2:46:26] My thinking is that this is a gateway to the city.

[2:46:30] That is where we are at.

[2:46:34] We are looking for direction and the ability

[2:46:37] to pursue this grant.

[2:46:43] Mayor Lux: I agree with you.

[2:46:44] This is one of the biggest things we talk about.

[2:46:46] We talk about our development and what we want to do.

[2:46:52] It seems like everything stops on the west side.

[2:46:55] We need to incorporate the east side that brings development

[2:47:00] into our community.

[2:47:03] You bring up a good point, Council member Denton,

[2:47:09] with maintenance.

[2:47:22] >> Fixing Adrienne Pier is one of the projects in the works.

[2:47:31] Mayor Lux: This may be a more protected area for the kids.

[2:47:41] You are saying there are properties for sale right now.

[2:47:49] The asking price for a distressed property

[2:47:54] seems unique for their cost.

[2:47:58] If this is distressed and in a flood zone,

[2:48:02] is it really valued at this amount of money?

[2:48:06] >> It just became more valuable today because we talked about

[2:48:15] it. (laughing).

[2:48:19] Mayor Lux: That's one of the tough things about --

[2:48:23] hang >> Absolutely.

[2:48:27] This has been on the books for some years in the CRA.

[2:48:33] FEMA has a process where they have to use a yellow book.

[2:48:42] Real estate entities, FEMA coordinators,

[2:48:46] and us have to coordinate the asking price.

[2:48:51] It will be in accord with their yellow book.

[2:48:55] It is a real estate term.

[2:48:57] I've never heard about this before.

[2:49:00] There is a process to negotiate the price down

[2:49:02] to a realistic term.

[2:49:06] That is my thing on that.

[2:49:10] If property acquisition is done through ORLP,

[2:49:15] I imagine it is a similar process.

[2:49:23] Mayor Lux: We are saving a bunch of money with the 1% sales tax.

[2:49:27] Is this currently unfunded?

[2:49:31] >> That is correct.

[2:49:33] It is unfunded.

[2:49:35] Mayor Lux: There are areas where we are saving money

[2:49:40] on other projects.

[2:49:42] I personally think this is a great way

[2:49:47] to see we are nature and on the water.

[2:49:52] I understand the costs but we may

[2:49:57] find some money in our 1% that we aren't

[2:50:00] using that may help with that.

[2:50:02] >> I would have to verify.

[2:50:06] I don't believe that was ever a voter approved project.

[2:50:08] Maybe it was 12 years ago.

[2:50:12] I'm not aware.

[2:50:13] I will look into that.

[2:50:14] Otherwise, we cannot use voter approved money to projects

[2:50:18] voters have an approved.

[2:50:28] Mayor Lux: When I got on in 2023 it was funded for Trabue Park.

[2:50:38] Melissa Reichert, City Manager: I'm not

[2:50:39] recalling that as part of my review but I can look into it.

[2:50:44] Mayor Lux: The newest thing I'm doing.

[2:50:49] Got it.

[2:50:49] That's something you should look into.

[2:50:56] Melissa Reichert, City Manager: It's

[2:50:57] as simple as checking the list.

[2:50:57] Yes.

[2:50:58] Mayor Lux: Is this just for discussion

[2:51:02] or do you want direction?

[2:51:07] Member Julian: I believe they are asking for our direction

[2:51:10] and this is great vision for the future.

[2:51:11] This has been undergoing for quite some time.

[2:51:14] I think we can recommend they continue

[2:51:18] applying for the grants.

[2:51:20] We can take it from there.

[2:51:25] Mayor Lux: Does this include looking at the purchase price

[2:51:28] for a buildings as well?

[2:51:29] Member Julian: Yes, all of it.

[2:51:33] Those great collaboration between urban design and Grants

[2:51:36] coordinator.

[2:51:36] They've laid out great funding options.

[2:51:38] I recommend that we let them proceed.

[2:51:46] Mayor Lux: Second?

[2:51:46] Vice Mayor Polk: From what I'm understanding,

[2:51:49] we aren't necessarily purchasing properties now.

[2:51:51] This is something that we would like

[2:51:53] to be a part of in the future.

[2:51:57] I would imagine that if we had these properties appraised,

[2:52:03] we could have that in hand to know for sure what the market

[2:52:10] value would be.

[2:52:11] This is a great idea and wonderful concept.

[2:52:15] We just spent $400,000 on redoing one side

[2:52:19] of our entrance, the Free Man House.

[2:52:28] Now you look at this bright, beautiful yellow home

[2:52:32] and it must be a historic district.

[2:52:34] Coming through the other side , it isn't as fluffy as we want it

[2:52:50] to look.

[2:52:51] The children on that side of town

[2:52:54] need something to play with.

[2:52:57] When I was growing up, parks were the school you went to.

[2:53:03] You hung out at the school after school

[2:53:05] and you could use the swings.

[2:53:07] All the schools are completely blocked off and you cannot get

[2:53:11] in them.

[2:53:12] The program's taxpayers pay for are not

[2:53:15] able to be used outside of school hours.

[2:53:19] This is something to think about when we are discussing this.

[2:53:23] Thank you.

[2:53:32] Member Denton: I think it would be

[2:53:34] wonderful to move ahead, search out grants, and see

[2:53:35] what we can do.

[2:53:36] I don't know if we need to acquire the NC Passive Park

[2:53:44] wetlands because we cannot do anything with that unless we

[2:53:46] have a plan for the property.

[2:53:49] Mayor Lux: Can I get a motion?

[2:54:13] Vice Mayor Polk: Motion to approve 6D.

[2:54:19] Member Denton: I will second that.

[2:54:24] 6D.

[2:54:24] >> I will second that.

[2:54:26] We have a motion and a second to approve all in favor.

[2:54:31] Raise your hand.

[2:54:32] Four yeses Pierre motion carries.

[2:54:36] Thank you so much for looking into this for us.

[2:54:44] >> Agenda item 6E vacant parcel donation the city of Punta Punta

[2:54:49] Gorda, recommendation is to accept the parcel donation

[2:54:53] to provide council direction on execution of the transfer.

[2:54:59] >> Pressed the button .

[2:55:23] >> Once again, earlier in the summer we were approached

[2:55:26] by miss Carol keys who's the owner of these parcels here.

[2:55:31] There's three parcels she wants to donate.

[2:55:34] At first she wanted to donate and so

[2:55:38] there is no real value or purpose in these properties

[2:55:42] anymore.

[2:55:43] Many years ago, submerged land was parceled out and sold with

[2:55:53] no use ... this is what remains of some of the antiquated

[2:56:08] property uses that we had back in the days.

[2:56:10] So we have two submerged lines and parcels

[2:56:13] that are valued at about $30 and then

[2:56:16] we have one mangrove that is valued at $10.

[2:56:21] A lready part of Trabue Park.

[2:56:25] There's nothing for us to do with it right now.

[2:56:27] We have to do some maintenance with the mangroves, that's

[2:56:33] a question for public works but we're doing mangrove maintenance

[2:56:37] and I don't see any downside to us accepting these parcels.

[2:56:45] That's it for me.

[2:56:49] Miss keys would like to execute this transfer by October first

[2:56:54] and that was her request earlier in the summer.

[2:57:02] >> Thank you.

[2:57:04] Really we're just approving this today and we --

[2:57:08] the recorded deed is what you're saying here even though

[2:57:13] they're not any value I think it's kind of cool that

[2:57:15] she's allowing us to have these for free.

[2:57:18] I would say we approve 6E.

[2:57:23] >> Great, did you have anything to say before you approve?

[2:57:28] >> I would ask, is title search necessary ?

[2:57:39] >> I'm assuming you're asking me because you're looking at me

[2:57:42] whether it's.

[2:57:42] We did all the background on it.

[2:57:46] The information was sent to me, we

[2:57:47] verified the deeds and everything else

[2:57:49] and were able to go to a deed with it.

[2:57:56] >> Okay, so do you want to redo your motion?

[2:58:01] >> You make the motion?

[2:58:03] I'll make the motion to approve Carol keys generous donation

[2:58:09] of the three parcels named in this -- what is it?

[2:58:16] >> Just partial donations.

[2:58:20] >> I will second that.

[2:58:22] >> We have a motion -- it's almost like a keyboard here.

[2:58:26] We have a motion and a second on the floor to accept this.

[2:58:29] All in favor please say aye.

[2:58:32] Opposed motion carries all four yeses.

[2:58:39] >> Agenda 6F, CD exterior displays --

[2:58:49] City exterior displays.

[2:58:57] >> Press the button.

[2:58:59] >> I'll get used to it I promise.

[2:59:02] I'm the city manager, it's the afternoon officially .

[2:59:09] Just getting my PowerPoint up .

[2:59:23] Another exciting statement for the future

[2:59:25] for the communication side.

[2:59:29] We are seeking approval for three exterior city display

[2:59:33] placements.

[2:59:35] The displays will be remotely operated by staff and they

[2:59:40] enable efficient centralised content management .

[2:59:46] The displays themselves we already have on hand calculator

[2:59:51] 40-inch view displays and they're looking to place them

[2:59:58] in heavy foot traffic locations around the city.

[3:00:03] So Splashpad would be the first one.

[3:00:05] There's a wall that is blank that we

[3:00:07] can get power to an internet to the display itself.

[3:00:11] T hat would be the first location

[3:00:13] it's on the south east exterior wall of the public restroom.

[3:00:18] The second is the herald court parking garage.

[3:00:22] The blank space that is there right now

[3:00:24] there's a heavy amount of foot traffic constantly going

[3:00:26] through there.

[3:00:26] We figured it would be another great location for high

[3:00:31] visibility .

[3:00:33] Finally, the harbor walk at Gilchrist park.

[3:00:38] That restroom building that faces the harbor

[3:00:40] is another excellent location for heavy foot traffic as well.

[3:00:46] So we are seeking the approval for those three locations.

[3:00:49] I'll take any questions.

[3:00:56] >> I just want to know, what would be on --

[3:00:59] what would you be putting up there?

[3:01:01] Since I have the microphone --

[3:01:03] I'm going to ask her a couple questions.

[3:01:06] The other one is is this all day?

[3:01:08] Would someone be there putting up things on it all day long?

[3:01:11] You're saying an employee would be --

[3:01:13] is that in the morning they put something up and they leave

[3:01:17] so can you talk about that a bit more?

[3:01:19] They're already purchased, when was that approved and how long

[3:01:24] have we had them and what was their purpose to begin with ?

[3:01:30] >> Great question.

[3:01:32] The company we're already using is verbal digital.

[3:01:35] That's the one you would see in public safety

[3:01:38] building over there.

[3:01:39] So it's something that is pre-programmed,

[3:01:41] something I can monitor.

[3:01:44] It is being very useful with this.

[3:01:47] They're helping me along the way and it's simply

[3:01:51] just Pre-programming our messages.

[3:01:53] Any city event that we're looking

[3:01:55] to have the fall festival tree lighting, any important messages

[3:02:00] we want to display it's just having it on a rotation.

[3:02:05] The question about where the display is, we had them prior

[3:02:08] and they're sitting in storage so it's something that I figured

[3:02:12] is a way to step into the right direction of communication

[3:02:14] and we're all about expanding them and getting messages

[3:02:17] to our residents.

[3:02:19] Why not -- put those into use and get those into those

[3:02:25] locations.

[3:02:26] >> This is a project that we had planned in a prior budget year.

[3:02:29] The reason we're bringing forth to city council

[3:02:31] is because outdoor signage has to be approved by City council

[3:02:34] before we put it in place.

[3:02:37] So we're making you aware of the project.

[3:02:39] We're not asking for any additional funds,

[3:02:40] these are all funds that have been previously budgeted.

[3:02:45] Emergency messages would also be shown on these displays, given

[3:02:50] that if we have our power and internet

[3:02:52] back we would have messages there

[3:02:55] but it also serves as a location as we

[3:02:57] get the community aware of it that we could have

[3:03:00] a central place to for them to gather at one of those sites

[3:03:03] where we could have paper information

[3:03:05] available in the case of a hurricane and things like that

[3:03:10] as well.

[3:03:13] >> I would love to see us actually have internet access

[3:03:18] over the across the whole park area because I think that would

[3:03:21] really work when there's events there and stuff like that.

[3:03:25] There's just isn't that internet which we're

[3:03:27] trying to promote revenue.

[3:03:29] I think it's something that would be cost effective.

[3:03:31] If you're looking at doing internet in the one spot could

[3:03:36] we see -- we would need consensus.

[3:03:38] If we would see about expanding that to more internet access

[3:03:42] across the whole park area and how much that would cost.

[3:03:46] >> Don't have a consensus to consider looking into that

[3:03:50] as well?

[3:03:53] >> Yes.

[3:03:53] >> Okay.

[3:03:55] So you don't need a motion or anything like this?

[3:03:57] It's -- do you need motion because it's something

[3:04:02] that's signage?

[3:04:07] >> If you could just approve the locations that would -- motion,

[3:04:11] that would be appreciated.

[3:04:13] >> Do you need for us a consensus or you're okay with us

[3:04:17] staying in consensus?

[3:04:18] >> The consensus was fine for looking into the internet

[3:04:22] for the part .

[3:04:30] >> I have one more question.

[3:04:32] The duration of time will be on on this

[3:04:34] has to do with lighting at night.

[3:04:39] I'm just a little concerned because we

[3:04:41] do have the historic district and I love the ambience

[3:04:43] of the lighting where we have.

[3:04:45] I just want to make sure it's not taking away from that.

[3:04:48] It's like stepping back in time when

[3:04:51] you're walking at night if you haven't done that recently.

[3:04:54] Then you would see this thing lit up.

[3:04:57] I just want to make sure that it's not on 24 over seven

[3:05:00] and we're not seeing something flash.

[3:05:06] >> Isn't that --

[3:05:15] >> That's a great question.

[3:05:16] Right now that's up for discussion at this point as far

[3:05:19] as the time frame.

[3:05:21] I believe 24 over seven was the initial thought.

[3:05:24] I don't know how that's going to affect the lighting

[3:05:27] but that's up for discussion .

[3:05:33] >> The one doesn't face any housing or anything like that

[3:05:41] can't get in a commercial area and then the one in Gilchrist is

[3:05:45] on the water side of the building, isn't it?

[3:05:47] Facing away from the community .

[3:06:01] >> Here's the one on the harbor -- that faces the harbor itself.

[3:06:05] This one faces -- there's the one restaurant there and then

[3:06:10] the dessert place as well.

[3:06:13] I am not sure if that's going to affect too much on the lighting

[3:06:16] side if that was 24 over seven.

[3:06:18] This one is facing the parking lot .

[3:06:25] >> This looks interesting.

[3:06:33] You can subdue the lighting maybe

[3:06:35] to have automatically subdue that light.

[3:06:37] Still there but not bright.

[3:06:40] I'm sure you thought of this, but I

[3:06:43] think there should be mounted rather

[3:06:46] high, in each location because we've

[3:06:51] had problems in those areas.

[3:06:54] Can I go ahead and make a motion?

[3:06:57] Move to approve 6.

[3:07:06] F.

[3:07:06] >> I second that.

[3:07:08] >> We have a motion and second to approve 6.

[3:07:12] F.

[3:07:12] All in favor please raise your hand.

[3:07:15] Four raises.

[3:07:16] Motion carries.

[3:07:18] Thank you for that.

[3:07:24] >> Agenda 6.

[3:07:26] G, strategic plan quarter three update.

[3:07:39] >> Assistant city manager can I care for the strategic plan

[3:07:42] update 2026 quarter three.

[3:07:45] Roger run into it getting to the fire department.

[3:07:47] Goal one for the fire department is the safer grant staffing

[3:07:53] that was reapplied for and that's in process.

[3:07:59] Goal two is the emergency response vehicle.

[3:08:02] Hiring six personnel and purchasing vehicles on track.

[3:08:05] Goal three is purchase tiger dams and material have

[3:08:08] been purchased and ready for deployment

[3:08:10] that's been completed.

[3:08:16] The first goal is to a living shoreline project,

[3:08:19] design contract was selected and that's on track.

[3:08:23] Goal two is the Bayfront Center improvement

[3:08:25] design scope work is in process and that's also on track.

[3:08:30] Goal three historic district improvements

[3:08:32] reassessment is in process and that's on track.

[3:08:36] Goal four, historic city hall rehab designed to start start

[3:08:43] may 2026 and that's on track as well.

[3:08:45] Goal five is the building permit software,

[3:08:48] the contractor selection may 2026

[3:08:50] and that's on track as well.

[3:08:53] The city clerk's office, their first goal

[3:08:59] I should say host the third annual plan

[3:09:04] for the Neighbourhood Fall festival

[3:09:06] and then the third annual event to be held in October

[3:09:10] and third annual event planning on their way, 70

[3:09:13] nonprofits which I believe that number is higher at this point.

[3:09:19] And $1500 in sponsorships which is also

[3:09:21] higher at this point as well and that's on track.

[3:09:26] Goal two to revise council policies all viewed by council.

[3:09:30] R evisions for council direction underway and that's on track.

[3:09:34] Finally goal three, finalised record management training,

[3:09:38] recently hired records coordinator has received

[3:09:40] training and basic training materials prepared digital

[3:09:44] retention materials to be finalised once rolled out

[3:09:47] and that's in process then paused.

[3:09:51] The police department got their first goal,

[3:09:54] deploy license plate readers --

[3:09:58] >> Hang on.

[3:10:00] >> It is paused because we have to get the files after it

[3:10:04] completely implemented, that took a back seat to some

[3:10:07] of the other priorities that Brian had recently with getting

[3:10:11] the communications going in here.

[3:10:14] I'm starting to get the new such as deployed.

[3:10:17] It's important but less important

[3:10:18] than a few other things we had to do right now.

[3:10:22] >> Can you press it again?

[3:10:25] >> There we go.

[3:10:26] Not sure if you heard goal one but goal one

[3:10:29] to deploy license plate reader and that's completed their goal

[3:10:32] to make this upgrade firearm spherical pistols

[3:10:34] have been received and all but six officers

[3:10:37] have completed training.

[3:10:38] They're scheduled for training July 29th.

[3:10:41] That's husband already completed.

[3:10:44] Goal three and hence radio system for public safety.

[3:10:46] All radios have been received and we

[3:10:49] are reading on Kcso radio manager Doug Blevins

[3:10:52] to program them.

[3:10:53] That's on track.

[3:10:57] Finally programming equipment for safer response

[3:11:01] during weather related emergencies

[3:11:02] in high water incidents.

[3:11:04] The barricade has been received as everybody has seen

[3:11:06] and it's waiting for administration for the city

[3:11:09] clerk's office and officers will be trained on that that's

[3:11:13] on track here human resources.

[3:11:17] Goal one, improve 88 tracking and reporting currently

[3:11:21] in procurement RFP and that is behind.

[3:11:25] Goal two safety initiative, there's

[3:11:27] a 10% decrease in lost workdays due to accidents and injuries

[3:11:31] and that's in process and finally goal three training

[3:11:35] software and content, the upskilling of employees

[3:11:38] through online training that is on track.

[3:11:43] Public works, goal one increase staffing levels

[3:11:48] got 15% more staff by march 2026 to improve

[3:11:51] infrastructure maintenance response time, that is complete.

[3:11:55] Launch of stormwater planning inspection rate 100%

[3:12:00] of high priority stormwater pipes by April 2026, developed

[3:12:04] phased replacement plan that's on track.

[3:12:07] Goal three, complete a project that

[3:12:11] could finish all phases by September 2027

[3:12:14] to improve drainage conditions.

[3:12:16] That's in process.

[3:12:17] Goal four modernise GIS infrastructure data to digitise

[3:12:21] and verify 50% of public works infrastructure,

[3:12:25] data by September 2026 that is on track.

[3:12:29] Goal five plan future infrastructure and facility

[3:12:33] needs develop GIS asset maps serving 123

[3:12:36] for maintenance planning by September 2026

[3:12:38] that is in process.

[3:12:44] Finance can go one implement invoice automation,

[3:12:48] initial scope presented to finance

[3:12:49] and I.T. due to the new I.T. Manager starting recently,

[3:12:52] no additional progress has been made.

[3:12:55] Finance also has been very busy with grant applications,

[3:12:59] interim loan RFP and loan agreement and purchase

[3:13:02] information and various council requests related

[3:13:04] to the police union research of other municipalities

[3:13:08] and counties and review of legislative developments

[3:13:10] for property taxes and utilities.

[3:13:13] Slight delay.

[3:13:15] Goal two, improve FEMA documentation,

[3:13:17] bits have been received, records obtained in committees

[3:13:20] are rescheduled.

[3:13:22] Slight delay.

[3:13:23] Finally, launch CIP planning software,

[3:13:26] initial scope is developed due to the new hiring of the I.T.

[3:13:30] manager, no additional progress has been made, slight delay.

[3:13:37] Procurement .

[3:13:39] Goal one is integrate with invoice automation system

[3:13:43] schedule a training session for procurement that's been delayed.

[3:13:47] Goal to streamline procurement processes correct procedures

[3:13:50] and technology.

[3:13:52] January 2026 review and identify improvement opportunities.

[3:13:56] They updated dispute language and agreement with the City

[3:13:59] attorney and collaborating with the departments

[3:14:02] to update the project checklist, doesn't process.

[3:14:07] Finally goal three, expanding staff training.

[3:14:12] We'll be working with the vendor to implement new system

[3:14:14] and procedures and to schedule training, that's

[3:14:17] in process as well.

[3:14:20] I T.

[3:14:26] Goal one, automate processes for finance, building utilities

[3:14:30] and police department.

[3:14:32] Replace travel request management process period

[3:14:35] that's on track.

[3:14:36] Goal two, automate processes for utilities and police department

[3:14:39] establish invoice management system.

[3:14:41] That's on hold.

[3:14:43] And goal three, automate processes

[3:14:45] for finance building utilities and police department

[3:14:48] correct establish permitting management system, that

[3:14:50] is on track.

[3:14:52] Goal four automate processes for finance building utilities

[3:14:56] and police department, establish other management systems

[3:14:59] that is on hold.

[3:15:02] Goal five, security at campus gates and facilities

[3:15:05] for utilities public works and police department,

[3:15:08] developing scope of work to support procurement out

[3:15:11] of a security camera system design vendor.

[3:15:14] Denton track.

[3:15:15] Goal six, phase one of the automatic vehicle location

[3:15:19] for public works, utilities, fire and code compliance,

[3:15:22] engaging departments to define the pilot program leveraging

[3:15:26] existing GIS tools evaluating feasibility for phase APL

[3:15:30] implementation.

[3:15:31] That is on track.

[3:15:33] Goal seven, implement call tracking and city wide --

[3:15:37] City work order solutions.

[3:15:39] Working with departments to optimise

[3:15:41] use of existing work versus them prior to pursuing new solutions,

[3:15:45] focusing on improving adoption and efficiency,

[3:15:49] that is on track.

[3:15:51] Finally goal eight set up call center

[3:15:53] cracking pair coordinating with ERP vendor

[3:15:55] to restore and evaluate call tracking functionality,

[3:16:01] assessing viability of existing solutions before replacement

[3:16:04] options.

[3:16:04] That is on track.

[3:16:10] Utilities.

[3:16:11] Goal one, implement army water system procurement finalising

[3:16:15] the RFP for release, that's on track.

[3:16:19] Goal two, oral plant expansion.

[3:16:21] E ngineering checklist for the design criteria package

[3:16:23] and the owners advisor has been finalised and transmitted

[3:16:27] to procurement.

[3:16:29] Reichert number 69381 has been entered procurement process is

[3:16:33] now formally underway, surface water plant

[3:16:37] has been separated to maintain focus on schedule certainty

[3:16:41] to the RO plant on Wellfield expansion.

[3:16:46] This prioritisation is necessary to meet interlocal agreement

[3:16:51] commitments with Charlotte county

[3:16:53] to address MFL constraints under the city southwest for the water

[3:16:59] management district.

[3:17:00] Fully funded for the combination of Florida department

[3:17:03] of environmental protection SRF financing loans and grants

[3:17:08] eliminating funding risk to schedule

[3:17:10] period that is on track.

[3:17:12] Goal three, conservation program.

[3:17:14] Foundational elements incorporated through chapter 17

[3:17:19] rewrites enforcement and irrigation efficiency standards

[3:17:22] conservation program will be formally developed as part

[3:17:25] of an upcoming WUP renewal met with engineers on 43 to define

[3:17:32] WUP renewals scope including conservation requirements

[3:17:37] program only to align with swift mud or southwest water plant --

[3:17:44] water management district to demand management expectations

[3:17:48] and demonstrate quantifiable conservation measures.

[3:17:52] Next steps to include defining programs component,

[3:17:55] tracking metrics and integrating into WP application

[3:17:58] package, that is on track.

[3:18:01] Finally, improve wastewater reliability.

[3:18:07] Ls30 project is fully funded including SRF support

[3:18:11] for the lift station and upgrades

[3:18:13] to the master and booster wastewater pumping stations.

[3:18:17] Project scope includes 8296 lfbcp0 replacement,

[3:18:23] 24 manhole reputations and connection repairs

[3:18:27] or replacements.

[3:18:28] Engineering and design phases beginning

[3:18:32] with subsequent permitting and construction

[3:18:35] to follow WWTP construction remains

[3:18:37] on schedule for June 2076 completion

[3:18:40] and will provide improved treatment performance

[3:18:43] and regulatory compliance.

[3:18:46] Project will significantly improve

[3:18:48] basin reliability calculator use in I

[3:18:50] and strengthening overall system resilience

[3:18:52] tank that is on track.

[3:18:57] City manager's office.

[3:18:59] Our first goal is complete and implement procurement action

[3:19:01] plan to facilitate the successful delivery of projects

[3:19:05] in a timely and cost effective manner.

[3:19:07] Evaluation committee currently meeting

[3:19:09] to select the vendor that's in process.

[3:19:12] Goal two, produce additional multimedia

[3:19:14] content to inform the public about city initiatives

[3:19:17] and products.

[3:19:19] Is completed and guidance printed that is on track.

[3:19:23] Finally goal three, create an AI or artificial intelligence

[3:19:27] policy, the policy is being developed in a user group

[3:19:30] framework that soundtrack .

[3:19:41] >> Any questions?

[3:19:48] >> I think the city manager had something to say so I was

[3:19:51] waiting for you.

[3:19:54] >> I want to make a quick comment that this presentation

[3:19:58] was put together at the end of the quarter,

[3:20:00] said there's been a bit of a time delay,

[3:20:02] a lot of things happened since then so you're going to hear

[3:20:05] more in my project update report in more details.

[3:20:08] Everything that is in here is correct

[3:20:10] but we advance on a few of the items

[3:20:12] from where they were reported at this time.

[3:20:19] >> I have a few questions with --

[3:20:22] there was a flood response marine.

[3:20:27] Was that this year or the year before?

[3:20:30] On a trailer for the dive team.

[3:20:39] >> Completed -- they were going into the new fiscal year and we

[3:20:43] hadn't received them yet .

[3:20:50] >> Hang on.

[3:20:52] >> Thank you.

[3:20:53] >> Hello.

[3:20:57] >> Actually the boat with the mud motors coming Friday.

[3:21:01] It was in the grant that we did last year.

[3:21:05] And then the trailer has already been received.

[3:21:08] So all that -- the mud boat, we applied for that after.

[3:21:14] So we are ready .

[3:21:20] >> Thank you.

[3:21:24] >> Anybody else?

[3:21:27] >> You may be addressing this but can you tell us a bit more

[3:21:30] about the Bayfront, we'll have another look at those plans

[3:21:34] and also city hall, a bit more detail on that?

[3:21:42] >> The Bayfront plans moving forward,

[3:21:44] you will see them at the various design stages as they move

[3:21:48] through the procurement process.

[3:21:51] After we have that vendor selected,

[3:21:55] then we'll get periodic updates I believe 30%,

[3:22:01] 60% and I'm not sure if it's 90% or not but you'll see

[3:22:06] plans every step of the way.

[3:22:07] Right now the project, all the documents

[3:22:10] are ready except for the independent estimate that

[3:22:13] is being worked on right now.

[3:22:15] We have to do that because it does have FEMA funding attached

[3:22:19] to it.

[3:22:20] As soon as we have that done, it's going to be on the street,

[3:22:22] we're hoping maybe even next week, if you will be released.

[3:22:29] >> I wanted to add that when you mentioned the user group working

[3:22:32] on the AI policy, I just met to residents that had completed

[3:22:36] their a master certification and they offered their assistance .

[3:22:45] >> Try again.

[3:22:49] There we go.

[3:22:50] >> If you could give me those names I would appreciate it.

[3:22:52] I think it would be good because as you've seen in the past when

[3:22:55] we presented this, we -- this is going to be a group effort

[3:22:59] on the AI policy and I think maybe integrating a few

[3:23:02] community members into that group would really be helpful.

[3:23:05] Thank you.

[3:23:07] I missed the comment about city hall.

[3:23:10] You should have --

[3:23:12] I'm thinking you're talking about the historic part of city

[3:23:16] hall here we should have a presentation for you,

[3:23:19] second meeting in September with some initial information

[3:23:23] regarding the process.

[3:23:31] >> My only thing is about the safety fencing the fencing

[3:23:37] around the police and fire station.

[3:23:39] I know you proved that quite a while ago.

[3:23:42] I feel like there's been a long time period because they're

[3:23:44] holed up in some way?

[3:23:49] >> There's difficulty in procuring the materials that we

[3:23:51] had wanted to use for the price that we can afford.

[3:23:55] So there's been some back and forth

[3:23:58] with that but that is moving forward and on track.

[3:24:08] >> One of the things I would like to see in here,

[3:24:11] if it's on hold or if it's slightly behind,

[3:24:13] it would be nice to have an update of like --

[3:24:16] this is on hold but we expect it to be on track at this date

[3:24:19] or slightly behind.

[3:24:21] We look at having it updated.

[3:24:23] So we're not just like in limbo because we don't know,

[3:24:27] that is very vague for us.

[3:24:29] I know we don't want to give very specific dates

[3:24:31] but we're a month behind and we plan

[3:24:34] on getting it started again next month so we're

[3:24:37] just aware that we keep that moving forward.

[3:24:39] I know we are but I think for the general public,

[3:24:42] when they see on hold or delayed,

[3:24:44] maybe make a bit more of an explanation of what is happening

[3:24:47] and what we're going to do to make it move forward and I love

[3:24:51] the fact -- thank you for saying we have some experts in there

[3:24:54] because even for writing scopes, using AI, might have --

[3:25:02] might help us move forward faster because this is --

[3:25:08] we're still working on scopes so hopefully AI and experts will

[3:25:11] help us with that as well.

[3:25:14] My other question again with utilities

[3:25:17] fantastic I know it says my water meter system on track.

[3:25:20] Do we have any kind of a date of when we're going

[3:25:24] to get it released or anything?

[3:25:28] >> We should have those documents released the week

[3:25:30] of august 31st.

[3:25:31] So next week you should see those go out,

[3:25:34] we get the plans back towards the end of last week, one more

[3:25:37] time, tom and his team are taking a look.

[3:25:41] To expedite it usually review is done independently.

[3:25:45] Tom pulled his team together to look at those documents one

[3:25:47] last time so we'll be able to do that quicker.

[3:25:52] >> Wonderful.

[3:25:53] >> You don't need any kind of motion or anything on this

[3:25:57] it's just informatory .

[3:26:03] >> 6H land development regulations revisions high

[3:26:07] density.

[3:26:44] >> Good afternoon .

[3:27:01] This presentation is stemming from an April workshop

[3:27:05] we had where we talked about land development regulations

[3:27:08] and having more consistency with the comprehensive plan

[3:27:11] since we had the appeal about a year ago.

[3:27:15] Those issues were building height residential densities,

[3:27:18] key issues downtown parking and environmental issues

[3:27:21] especially along the waterfront and then historic preservation

[3:27:25] which was discussed earlier today, that's been in the works.

[3:27:30] This one is going to deal specifically

[3:27:33] with some proposals for high density.

[3:27:36] So these are not -- these are thoughts that staff have come up

[3:27:40] with to make a compromise with the previously 2024 code

[3:27:47] and what's in the comp plan.

[3:27:55] Purpose of this update to advance consistency

[3:27:57] with the comprehensive plan.

[3:27:59] That's critical because the code that's in place now,

[3:28:03] it's not consistent with the comprehensive plan

[3:28:05] and that is one of the statute's requirements.

[3:28:09] We have to re-establish the zoning districts to align with

[3:28:11] the future land use categories .

[3:28:16] Provide downtown walkability mixed

[3:28:18] use development preserve neighborhood character,

[3:28:21] promote Amo resiliency and establish development standards

[3:28:24] that balance community concerns and redevelopment community

[3:28:30] spirit I explained earlier this is legacy zoning district don't

[3:28:36] currently align with the land use comprehensive plan

[3:28:39] categories, inconsistent zoning district structure,

[3:28:43] difficult to implement adopted policies of the comp plan.

[3:28:48] Limited form based standards, expressed

[3:28:52] predictable development outcomes and downtown mixed use district,

[3:28:56] clearly differentiated from other districts

[3:28:58] that is currently in place.

[3:29:01] With a previous code it was more directed downtown.

[3:29:08] Our approach here, the current code as mentioned doesn't fully

[3:29:12] implement the comprehensive plan previously adopted 2024 code,

[3:29:15] better implemented the plan but there were

[3:29:18] concerns about issues in building

[3:29:21] height and residential density.

[3:29:24] So we're proposing to restore the regulatory framework

[3:29:27] while reducing the previously adopted high density allowances.

[3:29:34] The charts provided here -- the base density have been reduced,

[3:29:44] more in line with what's in place now,

[3:29:47] though we did allow continued mitigation,

[3:29:51] that's within the 24 elders and mitigation required public space

[3:29:57] or parking allowances and that was part of the negotiated

[3:30:01] agreement so that would allow some flexibility that maybe

[3:30:04] unique designs by developer.

[3:30:07] I should point out this is just your downtown area this

[3:30:13] is fisherman's village, to the previous location for the house

[3:30:21] currently not operating.

[3:30:23] So that's referred to the traditional Punta Gorda area.

[3:30:29] Really the district's name change but the regulations

[3:30:34] didn't change as much in those areas

[3:30:39] outside jurisdictional Punta Gorda.

[3:30:53] >> The two to one mix I don't understand that.

[3:31:00] >> You have to read, set yourself up again.

[3:31:06] >> That's based on a commercial residential mix,

[3:31:09] so it what regulates to commercial units for one

[3:31:17] residential unit based on square footage.

[3:31:21] That's the limiting factor but then

[3:31:23] you still have the height limit.

[3:31:27] Then the setbacks cactus were not altered as much

[3:31:35] on the neighborhood transition it

[3:31:38] was zero to 20 and the proposed to be ten to 20.

[3:31:43] The downtown core is not unlike what you have in the city center

[3:31:46] right now, we have those 010 setbacks I just want to bring

[3:31:54] the density question into some context in some of these

[3:32:00] buildings that exist now.

[3:32:04] Everybody is familiar with the son of center,

[3:32:08] it's a commercial use on first and third floor

[3:32:12] and there are units on the fourth floor.

[3:32:14] For example of the third floor was converted

[3:32:16] from residential use to commercial use that could nearly

[3:32:19] double the density without increasing the building's height

[3:32:22] or footprint this illustrates increasing residential doesn't

[3:32:26] necessarily require larger building

[3:32:31] footprint another example, one story residential building

[3:32:37] similar footprint and height to many single family homes,

[3:32:41] this one is just down the street.

[3:32:47] It looks like a single family home

[3:32:49] from a distance across the street from the three unit,

[3:32:53] provides additional housing choice

[3:32:55] while maintaining traditional neighborhood scale.

[3:32:59] This summer is restoring the zoning framework better aligns

[3:33:01] with the comprehensive plan, reduce

[3:33:04] maximum height residential density permitted

[3:33:06] under the previously adopted 2024 code

[3:33:08] to continue to support downtown redevelopment mixed

[3:33:11] use development okay providing balanced approach

[3:33:14] between the proposed regulations and previously adopted

[3:33:18] 2024 standards.

[3:33:19] This is kind of a starting point on that,

[3:33:22] feedback and where we're going because we'll probably

[3:33:24] consolidate these different -- also the parking issue

[3:33:29] the environmental waterfront environmental final proposal,

[3:33:34] that's all I have here.

[3:33:42] >> Questions.

[3:33:44] >> This isn't written in stone, I want to put that

[3:33:46] on the record.

[3:33:47] This is just the avenue that staff

[3:33:49] is taking based on what they heard

[3:33:52] from the community like the one meeting

[3:33:55] we had but obviously we need a lot more meetings

[3:33:57] and I think Mr. Fritz was on the right track

[3:33:59] when he said that today we're going to need more input

[3:34:02] and we do have a flood study and if I'm

[3:34:07] making this decision at all and anybody in the community

[3:34:10] is making this decision, we really

[3:34:12] need to have the facts about that,

[3:34:14] there were 120 some people who were rescued from one

[3:34:20] of the flooding events.

[3:34:21] I think it may have been the first 1I think but that needs

[3:34:23] to be taken into consideration before we even look at density

[3:34:27] or decide on density.

[3:34:29] In my opinion, when you see and try to pull out of your driveway

[3:34:34] and see those rescue trucks coming and picking up people

[3:34:37] it gets real.

[3:34:40] So, you know, this density thing with 25 units an acre

[3:34:43] which is currently in the historic district

[3:34:46] I don't know how it could ever fly but thank you

[3:34:50] for bringing it down to something that is realistic

[3:34:52] and at least looking at that but again,

[3:34:55] I want a lot more input from the citizens

[3:34:57] before I speak and step on anyone's toes

[3:35:00] because I feel like this is really

[3:35:02] going to be a big decision.

[3:35:05] Again thank you for your presentation and staff,

[3:35:08] that you are hearing us, appreciate that .

[3:35:16] >> Are you going to press it?

[3:35:18] I do have a pretty good concern here

[3:35:23] like I know the comprehensive plan had

[3:35:27] a lot of this traditional thing you

[3:35:28] were talking about which seems to be the focus of everything we

[3:35:31] are doing here and I know the room was

[3:35:35] filled with people who didn't want the comprehensive plan.

[3:35:38] Didn't want the elders and comprehensive plan.

[3:35:40] Now we're facing this but let me tell you, even with what you're

[3:35:45] saying, if you're looking at the changes of the 2024 charter

[3:35:49] to state this before the comprehensive plan was approved,

[3:35:52] did you know that Make her village is not

[3:35:55] in the comprehensive plan?

[3:35:57] Neighborhood transition is not in the comprehensive Plan.

[3:36:00] Residential edge is not in a comprehensive plan.

[3:36:03] Traditional residential is not in the comprehensive plan

[3:36:06] and we must do commercial.

[3:36:12] In 2022 with the elders complaint

[3:36:15] states that transitional neighborhood,

[3:36:17] not traditional residential.

[3:36:19] So I think there's a lot of issues

[3:36:20] and these are the things I try to talk about back then.

[3:36:22] S o it sounds like we really need

[3:36:24] to have a comprehensive plan that is accurate with what we're

[3:36:28] looking for here I agree we need to have

[3:36:30] the public input, especially with the residents downtown

[3:36:33] because this whole traditional point guard really

[3:36:36] relies on downtown residents.

[3:36:39] We had the one time, the one meeting where people didn't want

[3:36:42] duplexes and it was already a mixed use street

[3:36:45] and the residents downtown who are building

[3:36:47] the single family homes want duplexes

[3:36:50] and triplexes next to them?

[3:36:52] We have to have that input.

[3:36:54] Again I agree with you Jeanine.

[3:36:56] I don't think about flooding study.

[3:36:58] We have to have that to see what we're doing.

[3:37:02] I think like Greg was saying, we should

[3:37:04] be looking at some of the easier articles of the land development

[3:37:08] regulation that are not more burdensome

[3:37:10] because even with the mitigation and stuff in farm base,

[3:37:13] that is more burdensome.

[3:37:15] S o we have to be careful how we're doing it

[3:37:18] but I think some getting the easier articles

[3:37:22] of the 2022 versus 2024 like we could do several of them that

[3:37:27] are very similar, we just have some discussion with some

[3:37:30] of them are awarded.

[3:37:32] In the meantime let's look at the first element, future land

[3:37:36] use of comprehensive plan and let's see

[3:37:39] do we want that many zonings?

[3:37:42] Adding all the extra zonings, there's

[3:37:45] liability to city and staff to make mistakes accidentally

[3:37:48] because on this one side of the street

[3:37:50] you have higher density higher height.

[3:37:53] Oops we made a mistake and somewhere in these litigations,

[3:37:57] I really do think, let's find these easier LDR,

[3:38:02] let's work on them and get a definitive date

[3:38:04] to say we're going to work on article one, two, four

[3:38:09] and five, how many we can handle in a meeting.

[3:38:12] Get those set aside and in the meantime let's look

[3:38:15] at the comprehensive plan and really make the map when future

[3:38:19] land use because if you're looking --

[3:38:24] we have 21.9 males 15.5, six males is watery.

[3:38:30] They don't expect the increase of population to go up very many

[3:38:33] and we need to concentrate on our east side, that's

[3:38:36] why I think this conservation with the park and everything

[3:38:39] is wonderful.

[3:38:40] Our concentration shouldn't be on the west side it should be

[3:38:43] more focusing on the east side park I hope everybody agrees

[3:38:46] with that that's what we want we want our city to grow but we

[3:38:50] need to have the growth on the east side because we're doing

[3:38:52] great development and plus the comprehensive plan is also

[3:38:56] inaccurate because it used even when they were talking about

[3:38:59] annexing, they use the John slope areas as commercial and we

[3:39:04] know how -- that change for residential.

[3:39:07] So there are issues even with the comprehensive plan

[3:39:09] that was done in the future land use

[3:39:11] and I think we need to correct those issues because I think

[3:39:15] it will be more of a realistic workshop

[3:39:18] then we can have other residents residents.

[3:39:30] Thank you.

[3:39:30] >> Those are really important comments.

[3:39:33] I think simplifying those zones would be very helpful.

[3:39:36] Like you said, so much interpretation with staff,

[3:39:40] something more simple would be great

[3:39:42] and this is just a small point, but when I saw 1 to 10,

[3:39:45] I know we're developing this but 1 to 10 feet

[3:39:50] in the downtown core for setbacks.

[3:39:52] Then we have people who want little tables

[3:39:54] and you can't get a walk by get a loaner wheelchair.

[3:39:58] So if we could have higher setbacks without hurting

[3:40:01] the builder, because every foot they buy matters --

[3:40:05] to have some vegetation kick some trees, planters,

[3:40:09] I look at some of the beauty they have on their streets,

[3:40:12] they have wide sidewalks and then you can have the tables

[3:40:16] and chairs and it works.

[3:40:20] So something to consider.

[3:40:23] And then of course the parking lot --

[3:40:26] what about this two to one dot Greg mentioned?

[3:40:30] Give me an example how that would apply.

[3:40:35] Because finding two businesses that want to open in order

[3:40:41] for person -- residents I don't know how that would work.

[3:40:47] >> Mixed use development as proposed,

[3:40:49] they're going to construct a building and have to set aside

[3:40:52] a commercial space without being in residential space as part

[3:40:58] of the design.

[3:40:59] So it would be -- definitely be market research determine

[3:41:07] whether it can fill the spaces .

[3:41:20] >> Thank you.

[3:41:22] >> Mixed use can be very difficult to ask of someone

[3:41:26] because not everyone wants to live above a bar or restaurant.

[3:41:30] I t takes a special person.

[3:41:35] That's great if you have a lot of high traffic city area here

[3:41:41] people in New York City live in mixed use downstairs

[3:41:44] and upstairs, living areas and then the downstairs is not.

[3:41:49] Is that really realistic for our city,

[3:41:52] mostly retired people up here I don't know,

[3:41:55] I think it works for some that are already downtown, but again,

[3:42:00] this is a conversation to be had by the citizens,

[3:42:04] also the complaint here point, Mayor Lux,

[3:42:08] I think that's going to in the end get us a comp plan is what

[3:42:13] most developers will be looking at to guide them and then they

[3:42:17] look at the land development regulations that are supposed

[3:42:22] to be for -- contiguous and are supposed to be the same.

[3:42:28] So the future land use map is really

[3:42:31] what's going to need to be changed because if you're still

[3:42:34] on your future land use map have 25 units

[3:42:35] or 50 units per acre it doesn't matter what your land

[3:42:39] development regulations say.

[3:42:41] That's the bible that's what you go by.

[3:42:44] From what I understand, and Rachel

[3:42:46] you can correct me if I'm wrong, I

[3:42:48] would never want a developer to come along and go

[3:42:51] your comp plan says this and I think that's what

[3:42:54] we're running into now.

[3:42:55] So do we change the land development regulations

[3:42:57] and then back the comprehensive plan into that

[3:43:00] or do we change the comp plan?

[3:43:03] I'm sure this is a dilemma this staff talked about a bazillion

[3:43:07] times here but kicking that around, I

[3:43:10] think the citizens need to understand that.

[3:43:13] The comp plan is what's going to drive this land development

[3:43:17] regulations.

[3:43:18] Thank you .

[3:43:21] >> I wanted to add two things.

[3:43:23] To answer your question about mixed use development,

[3:43:26] we currently have a development plan application on file.

[3:43:30] The ground level is going to be parking underneath the building.

[3:43:34] The second floor is proposed to be retail third floor office

[3:43:38] and the top would have eight residential units.

[3:43:42] So basically the square footage of the residential units

[3:43:45] is half of the square footage of the commercial units.

[3:43:48] So that's how they're working that project together.

[3:43:52] Would be the same for the same building.

[3:43:54] They have the two floors of commercial and then one

[3:43:57] residential.

[3:43:58] That's where the two to one came from.

[3:44:07] >> Like Janine said, people don't want to live downtown,

[3:44:11] they want residential retirement life.

[3:44:13] Is it a development if there aren't people

[3:44:17] who want to live in the core of a building

[3:44:21] has businesses and music and stuff.

[3:44:23] I s it required for it to be optional?

[3:44:28] We have to think about it anyway.

[3:44:30] What's going to work for developers and residents

[3:44:33] might live somewhere.

[3:44:35] >> Everything feasibility study, is that what you're getting at?

[3:44:38] I'm not sure.

[3:44:40] >> Are we committed to the mixed use?

[3:44:43] Is that something we can talk about?

[3:44:46] Isn't that part of what the LDR were discussing.

[3:44:51] >> I think that's what the residents --

[3:44:53] >> I like their input.

[3:44:56] >> So Janine you want to go next or do you want to let Rachel go?

[3:45:05] >> To answer the first question, the mixed use currently is used

[3:45:11] permitted with conditions.

[3:45:13] It's not required.

[3:45:14] So they could just do pure commercial.

[3:45:18] But if they want to do mixed use,

[3:45:20] they're capped at half residential to the commercial.

[3:45:27] The comprehensive plan, when the form based code 2024tpg code,

[3:45:35] when that was in place, there were specific provisions

[3:45:39] in there that you could not apply for a planned development

[3:45:42] in that area that's whatever the regulations in the code were,

[3:45:46] that was your cap.

[3:45:48] Right now, with that not being in the code,

[3:45:51] someone could apply for a plan development

[3:45:53] to go up to the densities in the comprehensive plan.

[3:45:58] So we do have an option of when the elders are rewritten

[3:46:00] to add that cap back in there to say you can't do a planned

[3:46:04] development in these areas.

[3:46:07] Whatever density is in that zoning designation,

[3:46:09] the density of that zoning designation .

[3:46:22] >> Can we get it clear on the work code when the date is,

[3:46:26] when the.

[3:46:27] >> SPEAKER-01: 80 will be completed and we can make

[3:46:32] changes that the public wants to see being made.

[3:46:38] >> Go ahead .

[3:46:47] >> There we go.

[3:46:49] >> Currently it's October 2027.

[3:46:55] >> Did you just say something that might be extended?

[3:46:58] That's another concern for us.

[3:47:03] I still think we need to really look at the comprehensive plan

[3:47:05] right now as our guide.

[3:47:08] That's our master guideline and I really think we need to focus

[3:47:12] on -- with some of these, even when we do the articles like

[3:47:15] something might be more -- a form based code is more

[3:47:19] burdensome but we really have to take a look at --

[3:47:22] even a sideline, this is what we're going to accept if this is

[3:47:26] lifted, we can talk about implementing these other things.

[3:47:33] >> One more point to make.

[3:47:36] As of right now our code is not consistent with the comp

[3:47:40] plan, the zoning districts with the land use districts,

[3:47:43] so it's an issue we have to deal with the state

[3:47:47] actually requires some type of schedule.

[3:47:50] Our thought going back to April was a lot of time and expense

[3:47:54] went into the comp plan that is currently in place.

[3:47:58] Just two and a half years ago, so the more efficient fix

[3:48:02] was to modify the elders to make them fit the comp plan

[3:48:07] but if you want to go all over again,

[3:48:10] that's going to take more time.

[3:48:11] I just wanted to bring that.

[3:48:13] >> Only looking at the first article at the first 37 pages

[3:48:16] not the whole 1200 pages so it really is as expensive

[3:48:20] or thoughtful and even with what you proposed it doesn't match

[3:48:24] the comprehensive plan.

[3:48:25] So that's what I'm saying if we're going to describe

[3:48:27] the comprehensive plan and we're going to have to revise revise

[3:48:31] it correctly the first time .

[3:48:43] >> I was going to say, we have to be consistent at implementing

[3:48:47] the goals of the policy, doesn't have to be a match to the 50

[3:48:52] units per acre or whatever is in the comp plan.

[3:48:55] So there's some flexibility there.

[3:48:58] >> I'll give this to you so you can see what I'm talking about

[3:49:01] it really is consistent even with what was just proposed here

[3:49:05] with the comp plan.

[3:49:06] That might help and what I can do is maybe clean this up I can

[3:49:10] give it to you so everybody can see this .

[3:49:20] .

[3:49:22] Greg ?

[3:49:27] >> I think we need a consensus because sometimes this is what

[3:49:29] is happening to us I found in past meetings that we don't give

[3:49:33] proper direction.

[3:49:33] I think this is so important for us

[3:49:35] to give direction to staff because sometimes they

[3:49:38] hear things and we if we had a consensus on it

[3:49:40] and not talking about it like they're not sure

[3:49:42] if it's just me saying it or if it's saying it

[3:49:47] so we do need a consensus.

[3:49:49] I would love somebody to say let's take a look at the land

[3:49:53] element of the comprehensive plan,

[3:49:55] that the way the residents wanted, not the way I wanted,

[3:49:57] not the way anybody else here wants it but the way

[3:50:00] the residents want it so we have --

[3:50:03] like I said I'll provide this and then have workshops and what

[3:50:06] I was suggesting and Greg suggested earlier,

[3:50:09] let's get the easier articles of land development regulations out

[3:50:13] of the way .

[3:50:19] >> I'm in favor for having more discussion on this

[3:50:22] and definitely we're going to have to change the comp plan.

[3:50:26] I don't know why that hasn't been in the process

[3:50:29] yet because it is one map.

[3:50:34] The community overall didn't agree with and it was pushed.

[3:50:39] So I'm in agreement with you I think we should have at least

[3:50:42] some sort of --

[3:50:44] I. don't know if you want to call it town hall meetings

[3:50:48] or whatever meetings to get information

[3:50:52] from everybody in the community to have their say.

[3:50:56] Should be the complaint.

[3:50:57] I think people need to understand the difference

[3:50:59] between comp plan and land use.

[3:51:01] L ike I said before the Land development regulation that's

[3:51:04] another thing we need to educate the community on.

[3:51:11] >> I like the idea of public discussion and input as soon

[3:51:14] as possible even though we do have quite a bit of time.

[3:51:19] If we change the comp plan --

[3:51:24] I would like the input on if you think simplifying the zoning

[3:51:27] and all the different -- all the different things would be

[3:51:31] beneficial for you and for the community.

[3:51:34] So you don't have to tell us now,

[3:51:35] but is everybody okay with that if they look at that?

[3:51:39] Simplifying things a little?

[3:51:41] Those are my comments.

[3:51:48] >> I think if we want to have effective workshops we need

[3:51:50] to not do them in the format we tried the last couple of times

[3:51:53] in order to accommodate the law because it simply isn't working

[3:51:57] where you all sit on the dais and then people aren't sure when

[3:52:00] they're supposed to come and when they're not supposed

[3:52:02] to come.

[3:52:03] We really need to have that interactive type session

[3:52:06] that we did back when we did the city wide master plan, that

[3:52:10] would involve all of you not necessarily being involved

[3:52:13] in all those conversations but the information we would

[3:52:16] probably work with a partner to do that.

[3:52:19] T he information would come back to you synthesised.

[3:52:23] You're welcome to attend but really the focus would

[3:52:26] be on the residents and you would allow the staff

[3:52:28] to do dual listening for you from their residents

[3:52:32] and bring that data back to you where

[3:52:33] you could discuss on this dais.

[3:52:35] That would be my recommendation on how

[3:52:37] to move forward with workshops.

[3:52:42] >> Is there an opportunity for some kind of a questionnaire

[3:52:46] or something that people can do electronically online if they

[3:52:50] can't make it to the meeting?

[3:52:53] Did they do --

[3:52:54] I. thought they tallied up votes.

[3:52:59] >> We would have the ability through our website to do

[3:53:01] a survey.

[3:53:02] We can do a SurveyMonkey.

[3:53:05] We're limited -- we can drive people to the website that

[3:53:08] aren't necessarily subscribed to any of our newsletters or things

[3:53:11] but we can definitely push that survey out to residents that are

[3:53:16] registered.

[3:53:17] W e have a lot of people that are in that database period

[3:53:21] the only disclaimer I'll give to that is that there are people

[3:53:25] that don't actually live within the city limits of Punta Gorda.

[3:53:29] That would receive that survey also.

[3:53:35] >> One of the things -- the comprehensive plan regulation,

[3:53:41] I think we're still going to be under 26000,

[3:53:44] 47% of our city is in conservation.

[3:53:48] When you think about it we don't have a whole lot.

[3:53:51] How we're developing again -- that's why we need

[3:54:06] to concentrate on the east side of 41.

[3:54:09] I think this is really good.

[3:54:11] Again I'm going to give this information

[3:54:12] but I would like to see a time.

[3:54:15] Can we get a specific time frame for let's work

[3:54:17] on the other articles?

[3:54:19] Is that okay with everybody to work on the other articles that

[3:54:22] are not more burdensome?

[3:54:24] Let's start getting stuff done so it doesn't look like we're

[3:54:28] getting this stuff done so we don't always look like we are

[3:54:30] delaying, delay and, delaying.

[3:54:32] And let's also take a look at the comprehensive plan

[3:54:34] to make sure that those first 87 pages

[3:54:36] with the map and these major guidelines is for us.

[3:54:41] Let's make sure it's well within what the residents want.

[3:54:43] We can probably direct some of it through traffic

[3:54:46] and then have residents finish it.

[3:54:56] >> I just want to clarify.

[3:54:58] I don't want to have us go through the exercise of putting

[3:55:02] these items on an agenda and then

[3:55:04] City Council say well we haven't had enough resident input.

[3:55:07] Would you like us to schedule the workshops?

[3:55:10] And then after each of those workshops that is when

[3:55:13] you would discuss the item?

[3:55:15] Or how would you like that?

[3:55:17] And we can't just pull the workshop next week.

[3:55:20] It will take some time to put the schedule in place

[3:55:23] and have things ready for you.

[3:55:26] >> I think some of it is language between the two

[3:55:29] of them.

[3:55:29] But I agree, I think workshop.

[3:55:31] And in the meantime everyone, if they

[3:55:34] are looking at these different articles,

[3:55:36] just give our suggestions independently.

[3:55:38] That might help as well.

[3:55:39] I know when I had my town hall I presented

[3:55:42] a lot of what the residents wanted through that.

[3:55:44] I think that if we kind of direct it and then let

[3:55:49] the residents decide, I think that's what is most important.

[3:55:53] >> I would also like to say on the record,

[3:55:55] maybe Rachel Berry could give you this explanation,

[3:55:59] but there's a lot of development going on right now.

[3:56:02] And anyone saying that the Land development

[3:56:04] regulations are holding up development,

[3:56:06] that is absolutely wrong.

[3:56:08] So I don't feel like even though we are in limbo here,

[3:56:12] it doesn't feel like, to me, but maybe Rachel

[3:56:15] can correct me if I'm wrong.

[3:56:16] It doesn't feel like we are holding anything up.

[3:56:19] I am maybe hearing that properties

[3:56:22] have sold at our commercial right now in downtown

[3:56:25] and people are getting ready to develop on it.

[3:56:27] So interesting that that is what is happening.

[3:56:30] I'm sure it can all come to fruition from this young lady.

[3:56:39] >> So actually just the other day I looked back at the total

[3:56:42] number of development applications received

[3:56:45] for calendar year 2025, and we currently in calendar year 2026

[3:56:51] have more applications on file than we did all of 2025.

[3:56:55] So we are not necessarily seeing a decrease in activity.

[3:56:59] But there are certain parcels that may have issues

[3:57:03] that they want to redevelop.

[3:57:06] But currently the vacant parcels that we are seeing we

[3:57:09] are still getting applications coming in.

[3:57:13] >> Do you have enough direction from us?

[3:57:15] Okay, fantastic.

[3:57:16] Let's go ahead and move forward.

[3:57:29] >> Agenda item six I quarterly revenue and expenditure

[3:57:35] financial update.

[3:57:38] >> Oh, sorry.

[3:57:41] >> Good afternoon finance director,

[3:57:42] we are bringing you our third quarter update for our major

[3:57:47] funds, we provided them all in the packet,

[3:57:51] there were 15 funds going over in total.

[3:57:54] We have general funds coming this is 75% of the year,

[3:57:57] so this is through June 30th of 2026.

[3:58:01] So for the revenue we are at approximately almost $31.9

[3:58:06] million that has come in.

[3:58:11] Oh I'm sorry, oh yes.

[3:58:14] And at 25.4 million of expenditure,

[3:58:16] so we are exceeding the expenditures.

[3:58:21] One thing I would like to note, and you may remember from

[3:58:24] our past discussions, that on our expenditures and especially

[3:58:29] our operating expenditures we are always a month behind,

[3:58:32] because our --

[3:58:34] like our October invoices are genuine --

[3:58:36] generally played in November.

[3:58:38] And so then at the end you have two months where you accrue

[3:58:41] the final month back to the correct official -- fiscal year.

[3:58:45] We are doing well there.

[3:58:48] Did you have questions on the general fund?

[3:58:51] And then we have our PGE, we are at approximately $7.3 million

[3:58:57] of revenue collected, 6.3 million of expenditures.

[3:59:01] Exceeding at this point in time.

[3:59:03] We have budgets for items that have not been completely

[3:59:07] spent yet, so we often do show you the encumbrances as well.

[3:59:13] Those encumbrances, if they are not fully spent sometimes

[3:59:15] they are carried over if they're like a purchase

[3:59:17] order for commitments.

[3:59:18] If they are a blanket purchase order those go back to the fund,

[3:59:22] they do not carry over.

[3:59:28] The, $1.1 million, expended as of June 30th,

[3:59:34] only 142,000 of expenditures, I think they are kind of just

[3:59:37] getting started on some of those projects for the year.

[3:59:42] They do have encumbrances of over 800,000,

[3:59:49] especially for their -- regular program.

[3:59:56] Going on to the special use fund,

[3:59:59] we have collected roughly $1.3 million.

[4:00:02] We have spent about $400,000, we have a lot of carryover projects

[4:00:08] in that fund though.

[4:00:10] We have not done the Reappropriation yet

[4:00:12] so some of those the appropriations

[4:00:14] will still be coming over for this.

[4:00:17] Because some of it is FEMA money that is in the fund balance,

[4:00:20] projects for that are transferred to the General

[4:00:23] Construction Fund, that part has already

[4:00:25] been done because we did bring in the construction funds.

[4:00:28] So again, we are doing okay there.

[4:00:33] The additional five cent gas tax,

[4:00:36] we are at $949,000 in revenue, $36,000 in expenditures ,

[4:00:45] I believe they have put in their requisition for their annual

[4:00:49] program.

[4:00:49] As you will recall for next year's budget

[4:00:53] we are reducing that fund for transfer from the general fund.

[4:01:03] We have our six cent gas tax fund,

[4:01:07] total revenue to date is about 516 000.

[4:01:10] Operating expenditures have spent approximately 643,000.

[4:01:14] A lot of our contracts are with the state and don't come

[4:01:20] in until the final quarter of the year,

[4:01:22] so that's why you will see those .

[4:01:28] >> I do have a question on this, one's a 5% sales tax

[4:01:30] and one's a 6% sales tax, that's on the same gallon used right?

[4:01:35] So maybe my math is way off but when

[4:01:37] you look at the year to date for the 5% it's

[4:01:40] a lot less than the 6%.

[4:01:42] And I don't think 1% would make that huge of a difference,

[4:01:46] is there something I am missing?

[4:01:48] >> The part that is being missed is that one of the gas tax funds

[4:01:53] is based on the straight, whatever the state determines

[4:01:57] as the percentage between the city and the county,

[4:01:59] another one is an interlocal agreement that was agreed upon

[4:02:03] with the percentages.

[4:02:04] The state does review that every five years as well.

[4:02:09] So part of our gas tax, we do have

[4:02:14] to provide transportation information on a transportation

[4:02:17] report every year to the state.

[4:02:20] >> Thank you.

[4:02:26] >> The next fund is the 1% sales tax,

[4:02:27] so revenues to date are approximately 3.7 million,

[4:02:31] we have expended approximately 1.9 million so far this year,

[4:02:35] about $1 million still in encumbrances.

[4:02:37] And again that was as of about June 30th.

[4:02:43] For our city leased property funds,

[4:02:47] this one has the two different divisions,

[4:02:49] so we have the Herald Court division as well

[4:02:51] as the non-departmental division,

[4:02:53] in the Herald Court division revenues are approximately

[4:02:57] 151,000, expenditures are approximately $186,000.

[4:03:01] And we do know that that was going to happen,

[4:03:05] because we are using a lot of those units for city offices

[4:03:11] at this time.

[4:03:13] The non-departmental side, we have 140 000 in revenue and no

[4:03:18] expenditures at this point.

[4:03:20] Although we do have 380 000 in encumbrances.

[4:03:26] And that was for the, there was more

[4:03:31] in the other division in that whole part was

[4:03:33] for the sealing of the garage.

[4:03:38] General construction, we have only had our transfers so far

[4:03:43] of 310,000 from the general fund.

[4:03:45] Expenditures to date are 936 000,

[4:03:48] again a lot of these are carryover projects .

[4:03:57] Utilities Operating fund is 22.5 million in revenue

[4:04:04] and 20.1 million in expenditures to date.

[4:04:08] They do have approximately 1.4 million

[4:04:11] in encumbrances still outstanding for the year.

[4:04:16] Utilities construction funds are actual to date revenue double

[4:04:26] expenditures are a little over 6 million

[4:04:29] and we have encumbrances of 15 million.

[4:04:31] Again, we have a lot of large projects on that front as well.

[4:04:40] The sanitation fund, 3.6 million in expenditures,

[4:04:46] they have about 700 thousand in encumbrances outstanding.

[4:04:53] The building fund we have approximately just over $1

[4:04:59] million in revenue, expenditures to date are approximately 1.3

[4:05:03] million, and we have about 120 000 in encumbrances.

[4:05:14] The Lashley Park Marina we have approximately 103,000 in revenue

[4:05:18] and we are at about 250 000 for expenditures.

[4:05:22] We do expect that revenue will start increasing, now

[4:05:27] that some of those slips are starting to be rented.

[4:05:32] And then we have our information technology division,

[4:05:35] again this fund is -- all of the revenue comes from other funds

[4:05:43] to support the staff.

[4:05:45] So total revenue is approximately $3 million

[4:05:48] and about 2.6 million in expenditures with 350 thousand

[4:05:54] outstanding in encumbrances.

[4:05:57] And I know I went through that very quickly,

[4:05:59] but if you have any questions I am here to answer those.

[4:06:07] >> Did we find out if we can charge for the boat ramp

[4:06:11] at Lashley?

[4:06:11] I think that was one of the questions that we had.

[4:06:15] >> I think we were still working on that.

[4:06:18] I'll talk to Rachel about it but we will have to look that up.

[4:06:23] >> Because that could be more revenue there,

[4:06:25] so I didn't know if that was -- >> It might be the boat ramp

[4:06:30] and also possibly parking as >> That would be great,

[4:06:33] especially to help maintain that.

[4:06:35] That would be awesome.

[4:06:36] Anything else?

[4:06:38] Okay, thank you and congratulations

[4:06:42] on your hard work to actually have an accountant

[4:06:44] say we're number one basically.

[4:06:46] Thank you.

[4:06:48] >> Thank you.

[4:06:57] >> Six J, doctor Richards project updates.

[4:07:08] >> We get a lot of questions about the --

[4:07:10] Harbor Walk and some residents think

[4:07:12] the city is not doing enough to hurry up and get

[4:07:14] areas of the harbor walk open and things like that,

[4:07:17] getting those fences down.

[4:07:18] I did just want to give council an update on that.

[4:07:23] That area in front of the event center,

[4:07:25] that's the responsibility of the county.

[4:07:28] They have let us know that about two years after they received

[4:07:32] their Army Corps of Engineers approval

[4:07:35] that's how long that project will take to get done.

[4:07:39] So just setting expectations there.

[4:07:41] The area in front of TGS that has not been done,

[4:07:46] the fencing, that goes to the code board in September

[4:07:48] and then our areas that we have, the bridges and the fishing

[4:07:52] Piers, those are all going under evaluation and permitting.

[4:07:56] I will get into that a bit further down in my report.

[4:07:59] But just making clear it's not actually

[4:08:03] the city that controls all of that area of the harbor walk.

[4:08:06] And I wouldn't say that -- it's certainly not the county

[4:08:10] dragging their feet or anything, it's seriously just how long it

[4:08:13] takes to get Army Corps approval to do that kind of work.

[4:08:17] The gazebo at Veterans Park will be completed by September 30th,

[4:08:20] very excited about that.

[4:08:22] Lastly Marina, the city has completed

[4:08:24] all of the temporary repairs at Lashley that can be done.

[4:08:28] So we have 32 slips rented and there are 76 operable slips,

[4:08:32] as we move into season we fully expect all of those

[4:08:36] to be rented.

[4:08:38] We now receive the copies of all the insurance and applications

[4:08:43] and everything as they come in.

[4:08:45] My office is managing that, it's really working well.

[4:08:49] The historic district infrastructure evaluation,

[4:08:52] that was done by staff, they have just

[4:08:55] recently completed that.

[4:08:56] The next step is determining what can be done by public works

[4:09:00] and what we need to bid out.

[4:09:02] We are very excited about moving that forward.

[4:09:04] That has sales tax funding attached to it.

[4:09:08] But as much as we can do in house and more cost effectively,

[4:09:11] we will go ahead and do that.

[4:09:13] Just really working through that.

[4:09:15] The procurement action plan, that kicked off two Fridays ago.

[4:09:20] Mike Buenos Aires and my office will serve

[4:09:23] as the project manager of that.

[4:09:25] We have site visits that will take place beginning

[4:09:28] on September 29th.

[4:09:29] We are currently providing all of the documents

[4:09:31] that the consultant needs to look at,

[4:09:33] such as our procurement policies and financial policies.

[4:09:36] There will be a survey that is developed that will also go out

[4:09:40] to our vendors to find out how we may

[4:09:43] be able to improve things to make it easier

[4:09:47] for them to bid on projects.

[4:09:48] And to point out any areas that we could possibly improve.

[4:09:52] So if you can't tell I am super excited about that project.

[4:09:57] The permit software, we have seven firms

[4:10:00] that provided demonstrations to our team.

[4:10:02] The committee evaluated and ranked

[4:10:04] the top firm, with this we have them doing a proof of concept

[4:10:09] so that we can make sure it works with our systems.

[4:10:12] That will take place on this Friday.

[4:10:15] That permit software will do a lot to improve permitting

[4:10:18] efficiency, we also pulled together

[4:10:20] a working group of staff that is now

[4:10:23] looking at improving the efficiency of our permits,

[4:10:26] aside from that software that will help a lot,

[4:10:29] what can we do in the meantime until that's fully

[4:10:32] up and operable?

[4:10:34] We will also do a video series of setting expectations

[4:10:37] for the community of how that permitting process works.

[4:10:39] What can they do to check on their permits,

[4:10:43] just trying to make things easier for everyone involved.

[4:10:47] We have a lot of cases where someone says --

[4:10:50] a home owner will call up and say why hasn't our permit moved?

[4:10:55] And it's the contractor that hasn't even

[4:10:58] submitted the permit.

[4:11:00] It happens time and time again.

[4:11:02] And the other one that really sticks out to me also,

[4:11:04] permit applications will be dropped off on a Friday

[4:11:07] and we will get a call from a business owner

[4:11:10] or resident on Monday saying where is my permit?

[4:11:12] Why isn't it approved?

[4:11:13] It takes a little bit longer than that.

[4:11:16] And we follow all of the statutory guidelines

[4:11:18] for when permits have to be issued and completed,

[4:11:21] Mike will do a series that educates the public on what

[4:11:25] those statutory requirements are,

[4:11:27] and what the city of Punta Gorda averages are.

[4:11:32] And the grand construction is out to bid,

[4:11:37] the Library Association has been selected to remove --

[4:11:40] review the proposals they will meet by September 8th.

[4:11:43] So that is making good progress.

[4:11:45] Another draft has been approved to release,

[4:11:48] working on that independent estimate

[4:11:51] as soon as we have that.

[4:11:54] The well field improvements and the plant study

[4:11:59] are available for the study committee.

[4:12:03] The FEMA grant will meet by September 9th,

[4:12:06] that investigation will be ongoing.

[4:12:08] You can kind of see a theme here,

[4:12:09] everything is really starting to come together

[4:12:12] and it's a lot of hard work over the year to get to this.

[4:12:15] The crosswalk study evaluation committee will meet on September

[4:12:19] 9th.

[4:12:19] I mentioned the engineering library but I do have the date

[4:12:23] of September 15th that they will meet by.

[4:12:26] I did have some questions come in about the fishing Piers

[4:12:30] and docks and all of those kinds of things,

[4:12:32] those are all handled by one vendor who was mentioned earlier

[4:12:38] today, Hans Wilson, he has all the drawings and setups done,

[4:12:43] those are all in place.

[4:12:45] He has done the surveys on different areas and the Lashley

[4:12:53] Fishing pier.

[4:12:54] What we are doing, we have him working

[4:13:00] on all these concurrently so that we

[4:13:02] can package up the Army Corps permits

[4:13:05] and put them all through together.

[4:13:07] So basically anything on one side

[4:13:09] of the bridge that is not in the Manatee protection

[4:13:12] zone, those permits are expected to take about 18 months.

[4:13:16] Everything that is in the Manatee Protection zone

[4:13:19] is about 24 months.

[4:13:20] And construction on all of those Piers is at 12 months.

[4:13:23] So it will be a little while yet.

[4:13:26] But all of the steps are moving to make that happen.

[4:13:33] Nature park come with the same with the fishing pier there,

[4:13:38] the drawing is complete and the Army Corps permit

[4:13:40] should get out over the course of the next week.

[4:13:43] As far as oversight of all of the work

[4:13:46] that we have done on docks and Piers,

[4:13:48] we have in our contract that we are to get updates frequently,

[4:13:52] once a week, on the status of the fishing Piers and docks.

[4:13:56] I'm not going to bore you with sending it out every week

[4:13:59] but I do want to let you know that that check is there

[4:14:03] and staff are monitoring those situations.

[4:14:06] A couple of situations that were not necessarily listed

[4:14:09] as large projects but I think are pretty important that

[4:14:12] happened over the break, all of the bollards on Linear Park

[4:14:16] where we installed.

[4:14:17] The benches and parks that had been taken away

[4:14:19] by the hurricanes and floods, those have all been replaced.

[4:14:23] So we are all set with that now.

[4:14:25] The Hans Pavilion had some repairs in the Lashley Pavilion

[4:14:32] had some rust repair and were painted,

[4:14:34] so those look very nice.

[4:14:35] And I will take questions about anything I didn't mention.

[4:14:41] >> I think that is fantastic.

[4:14:43] Considering we had two back to back major historical floods,

[4:14:46] I think that you directing staff have done a tremendous job

[4:14:50] in trying to get all of this stuff done,

[4:14:53] like you said it's all coming together all at once.

[4:14:56] And thank you for doing that.

[4:15:07] >> Great work, a couple of questions.

[4:15:09] There are 32 slips rented at the Lashley,

[4:15:15] the water is pretty shallow there,

[4:15:17] have we applied for the permit for dredging?

[4:15:19] Or how does that fit in?

[4:15:21] In regards to that also we are dredging the waterway

[4:15:26] into where the dinghy dock is correct?

[4:15:29] Or we have -- did we get, I have so many questions and I have

[4:15:33] to say them all at once.

[4:15:35] Did we get funding for that?

[4:15:38] For the dredging?

[4:15:40] For the dinghy dock waterway?

[4:15:45] >> Yes, we did get funding, grant funding to dredge the area

[4:15:49] by the boat club.

[4:15:51] That is in process.

[4:15:52] We are working through the grant agreement

[4:15:55] right now to make sure we follow all the protocols,

[4:15:57] but that is moving forward.

[4:16:00] And the Lashley Marina Dredge, we

[4:16:03] are looking to see if we can piggyback that on a contract

[4:16:05] that we already have to get that moving.

[4:16:08] And all of our work with Hans Wilson

[4:16:12] includes applying for the permits.

[4:16:15] So it's all together and moving forward.

[4:16:17] And since I still have the microphone,

[4:16:21] and since the mayor graciously thanked me,

[4:16:23] I cannot accept thanks without recognizing all of my staff that

[4:16:27] have put in so much hard work to make all of these things happen.

[4:16:31] They are simply amazing.

[4:16:34] >> That's awesome.

[4:16:38] Greg?

[4:16:41] >> Is there anything happening with that public private

[4:16:44] partnership for Gilchrist Marina that we heard about a while ago?

[4:16:50] >> Yes, I had just reached out to Reeves again,

[4:16:52] he was looking for a bit more time to get through some

[4:16:56] projects that he is working on.

[4:16:57] There is still interest, but nothing that I have

[4:17:00] that I can bring before you at this point in time.

[4:17:11] >> I guess we will go on to boards and committees.

[4:17:13] Sara are you ready?

[4:17:15] Oh wait. >> Item six K right?

[4:17:22] >> Yes, I'm sorry.

[4:17:25] You have the floor.

[4:17:30] >> As long as I have the floor, I'm just asking

[4:17:31] for clarification because we did engage an attorney.

[4:17:35] My understanding was that we were

[4:17:37] going to go ahead and do whatever we could in

[4:17:43] order to get the property back 100%

[4:17:46] into the hands of the people.

[4:17:49] I remember saying that, but maybe not

[4:17:52] you don't hire commercial litigator to just give

[4:17:55] an opinion you typically want them to litigate for you

[4:17:58] and figure out a mess you might be in.

[4:18:00] So I just want to make sure and clarify that that is definitely

[4:18:03] what we put him in place for.

[4:18:05] And I know that you would like to talk on this Mr. Leskovich

[4:18:13] >> Absolutely, I'm hearing some public rumors and sentiment out

[4:18:18] there about having the city lost its opportunity on both

[4:18:23] of the reverter deeds, or the one Reverter deeds

[4:18:27] and the amendments laws and the contracts and everything else.

[4:18:30] I'm letting you guys know that no, the city has not

[4:18:34] lost its opportunity or given up any rights or procedural rights,

[4:18:38] any jurisdictional rights when it comes to the reverter deeds.

[4:18:43] Some things procedurally and jurisdictionally

[4:18:47] have held up the city from filing the deed itself,

[4:18:51] whether that be foreclosures or flooding or the

[4:18:56] deed itself, whether it be bankruptcies,

[4:18:58] something has held us up.

[4:19:01] And that caused us -- instead of filing the deed the way that we

[4:19:07] have it.

[4:19:08] It was recognized and the reverter deeds

[4:19:11] are recognized by what is now the former trustee's

[4:19:15] of the bankruptcy and of the foreclosure

[4:19:19] matters that we have the reverter,

[4:19:22] the parcels can come back to us.

[4:19:25] But again, it was procedurally held up

[4:19:27] and jurisdictionally held up because of some other court

[4:19:30] issues.

[4:19:31] Counsel did here, maybe 2 or 3 months ago,

[4:19:36] we did engage Barlow who has been fantastic at communicating

[4:19:43] with me to get specific documentations

[4:19:46] that he may need in the event that new buyers,

[4:19:50] or the previous trustees of Fishermen's Village contest

[4:19:55] the deeds.

[4:19:56] When I spoke with him as late as last Friday,

[4:19:59] or whatever day that was, he is looking for additional direction

[4:20:04] from you guys because now that the trustees and the receivers

[4:20:09] from the bank are out of the question

[4:20:11] there was an agreement where the city did not have to sign.

[4:20:18] But between the buyers and the receivers

[4:20:20] to completely eliminate them from any negotiations

[4:20:23] that go on with the city regarding the reverter process.

[4:20:27] So what Mr. Barlow is looking for from you

[4:20:31] guys now is how you want him to proceed.

[4:20:34] Because the buyers have, in essence, proposed to the city

[4:20:39] that they are very interested in working with us,

[4:20:42] in coming to some kind of common ground

[4:20:45] that is beneficial to not only the city

[4:20:47] and the residents of Punta Gorda but also to Fishermen's Village,

[4:20:51] the discussions have been coming about.

[4:20:54] Potentially the buyers may want to look

[4:20:58] into a new contract with the city,

[4:21:00] potentially a new reverter deed with the city,

[4:21:03] some sort of alternative that was previously in place,

[4:21:07] potentially a land lease where the or the property

[4:21:11] does actually come back to us and there's a land lease.

[4:21:14] Or potentially just buying out the whole property again.

[4:21:20] Their attorney was incapacitated for a little bit

[4:21:25] now that he's been back in the groove I've

[4:21:26] been back in contact with him.

[4:21:29] And they've been getting back in contact with Doctor Reichert

[4:21:35] and I. And I explained to Mr. Barlow

[4:21:38] that once I got direction from you guys

[4:21:40] about whether you wanted him involved with the negotiations

[4:21:42] resolving the buyers, and what they're looking for, whether you

[4:21:45] wanted to just say no let's just go ahead and proceed judiciously

[4:21:49] through the court system and get the deed actually recorded.

[4:21:52] But he's looking for additional guidance from you

[4:21:56] now that the property has closed and it's

[4:22:02] completely out of the picture.

[4:22:03] But the city has not lost its opportunity

[4:22:05] to come with the parcels are there, we have the deeds,

[4:22:08] we have them recognized.

[4:22:09] We are good to go with those.

[4:22:18] >> Jeannine for the record, we do not have the property though

[4:22:24] right now.

[4:22:24] I would like to see this deed recorded so that we have

[4:22:27] more of a position of strength.

[4:22:28] I am not okay with not recording it.

[4:22:32] Not at all.

[4:22:34] I feel like this has been a very long and arduous process.

[4:22:38] A lot of it is not our fault, but I do know that both Melissa

[4:22:45] Lockhart and --

[4:22:50] Councilwoman Lockhart and Mayor Lux were on the board

[4:22:56] when we move forward and said let's get these properties back.

[4:22:58] So that's why I thought we really

[4:23:01] need to cross our T's and dot our eyes here

[4:23:03] to make sure we have it in the hands of the people.

[4:23:05] That's my take , before we do any negotiating it's better

[4:23:10] to make sure we have that already tied up.

[4:23:13] Thank you.

[4:23:20] >> I was going to say that I agree.

[4:23:21] The previous council as well as the current council all

[4:23:25] agreed to get the Reverter back.

[4:23:27] So I think we do need to record it that we have it back

[4:23:30] and then we can negotiate.

[4:23:32] Whether it's leasing it or selling it,

[4:23:34] that's in the future.

[4:23:35] But right now I think it's most important for us

[4:23:38] to get that recorded and have it as the city.

[4:23:42] Because that's what the residents and we all

[4:23:44] agreed upon as the old council and the current council.

[4:23:49] Anybody else?

[4:23:58] >> I just want to make sure I'm hearing correctly,

[4:24:00] because I told Mr. Barlow I would speak to him today

[4:24:02] depending on what time we get out of the meeting.

[4:24:04] But what I'm hearing is go ahead and move forward

[4:24:06] with the filing of the deed, but I

[4:24:10] want you guys to understand it's not just we take the deed

[4:24:13] and walk down to the tax collector and the city clerk's

[4:24:16] office and everybody else and just record this thing.

[4:24:19] It's not like a typical deed with some of the hurdles

[4:24:23] that we have to jump over.

[4:24:24] I will speak to Mr. Barlow about how we can do this judiciously

[4:24:28] and expeditiously at the same time so that we have it recorded

[4:24:31] and then go from there with it.

[4:24:37] >> Consensus yes?

[4:24:39] >> If that's what I'm hearing.

[4:24:40] We could -- because normally you can just take a deed and go

[4:24:46] right down and have it recorded.

[4:24:48] But this is a bit different.

[4:24:49] So we have to be a bit more careful.

[4:24:57] >> Again I'll just repeat what I said,

[4:24:59] I think we need to negotiate from a position of strength,

[4:25:01] period, end of story.

[4:25:03] I think this has been going on forever,

[4:25:05] my personal opinion is this process

[4:25:08] should never have been sold the land, not the property,

[4:25:11] it should never have been sold.

[4:25:14] It was given to the citizens of the city of Punta

[4:25:17] Gorda for safe keeping.

[4:25:18] Some people allowed it to be sold.

[4:25:21] And here we are with an opportunity to get it back.

[4:25:25] Please, please, give it back to the people

[4:25:28] and then we can decide what we want to do after that.

[4:25:35] >> Can you go into a bit more detail about what the process

[4:25:38] would be for recording the deed?

[4:25:39] The cost?

[4:25:47] >> We have to go into court with the deed because the original

[4:25:53] deed was destroyed in the hurricanes.

[4:25:56] So what we have, and it's no fault of the city,

[4:25:59] all parties have recognized that there is a copy of the deed

[4:26:04] there.

[4:26:04] But we still need the courts to recognize

[4:26:06] that what we have as the deed, a copy of the deed,

[4:26:11] that it's a copy of the original.

[4:26:13] So once we have that declaratory judgment

[4:26:15] recognizing that, then we can go to the clerk's office

[4:26:19] and have it recorded.

[4:26:21] It could take anywhere between 30 days or upwards of 60 days.

[4:26:28] Doing a court filing can cost about 400

[4:26:31] and something dollars, roughly $460

[4:26:34] to open up the case with the clerk system.

[4:26:38] In terms of legal fees, whether I do it,

[4:26:41] you know what my rates are, or if Mr. Barlow does it

[4:26:44] and he's an expert in that field I

[4:26:46] can't imagine it would cost more than 3 or $5000

[4:26:51] to actually do it if Mr. Barlow did it.

[4:26:55] That is entirely up to you.

[4:26:57] I can come back to you guys after I speak to him,

[4:27:00] or get with doctor Reichert on it

[4:27:05] and give me direction on how to proceed with it

[4:27:08] and we can go from there.

[4:27:09] But that's kind of the process.

[4:27:15] >> Again Jeannine for the record,

[4:27:18] let's not forget this is a cost of nothing,

[4:27:22] this is a multi-million dollar property.

[4:27:24] Let's go ahead and do this come on get it done.

[4:27:28] Give Mr. Leskovich the leverage that he needs to say yes

[4:27:34] we can move forward with this.

[4:27:35] Thank you.

[4:27:37] >> I am in agreement, and if you can get back with us by next

[4:27:41] week perhaps with some best suggestions to move forward.

[4:27:44] Obviously you have the steps coming up

[4:27:46] whether it's you or Barlow, it doesn't matter too much.

[4:27:50] But just keep the process moving to get this done.

[4:27:53] Thank you.

[4:27:55] >> I am going to go back to --

[4:27:58] I agree I think you a very well qualified

[4:28:00] but if you have ways to expedite it faster then what you can do,

[4:28:05] and again even when I could do everything

[4:28:10] that I could in my previous procession

[4:28:12] I still sometimes gave it to specialists who

[4:28:13] could do it faster and better.

[4:28:15] So I'm in agreement, let's find out

[4:28:16] how much it would be to find out how much it would

[4:28:18] be for him to execute and get the thing done,

[4:28:21] he might have the right connections

[4:28:22] and then we can figure out how much we're

[4:28:24] going to lease it for how much we're going to lease it,

[4:28:26] or to look at selling it, or whatever.

[4:28:27] But it's important for us to get it back right now.

[4:28:31] So consensus?

[4:28:33] Good?

[4:28:34] Okay.

[4:28:35] Thank you.

[4:28:38] Wait, sorry.

[4:28:42] >> I will contact Mr. Barlow then this afternoon and I will

[4:28:47] get back to doctor Reichert this afternoon about my conversation.

[4:28:53] >> I think we are ready now.

[4:28:55] >> Good afternoon again, city clerk Sara Welch,

[4:28:58] for the record, under boards and committees we have a few

[4:29:02] announcements of vacancy.

[4:29:03] On the building board we have one consumer advocate alternate

[4:29:07] position that has been created now based on the resolution that

[4:29:09] was improved -- approved earlier.

[4:29:11] We have one seat on the Code enforcement board.

[4:29:14] We have one seat for a city resident member of the police

[4:29:17] officer's pension board.

[4:29:19] Under nominations the first one we have up on the building board

[4:29:22] is a consumer advocate seat.

[4:29:27] We had someone express interest in serving but now

[4:29:29] that we have fixed it so that his previous involvement

[4:29:32] with the building industry is no longer an obstacle,

[4:29:34] if City Council would like you can nominate and appoint him

[4:29:39] by motion at this time.

[4:29:47] >> Sorry come on hold on

[4:29:48] >> Motion to approve, appoint and nominate him to the building

[4:29:54] board.

[4:29:56] >> Do I have a second?

[4:29:58] >> I will second the motion.

[4:30:00] >> We have a motion and a second.

[4:30:01] All in favor raise your hand.

[4:30:04] For, opposed?

[4:30:07] Nothing.

[4:30:08] That's done.

[4:30:10] Thank you.

[4:30:20] >> Next up on the building board also we have the alternate seat

[4:30:23] which is for a contractor.

[4:30:25] We had a previous application with previous experience

[4:30:32] if you would like you can also nominate and appoint her

[4:30:34] to that seat by motion at this time.

[4:30:37] >> I do have one question about this, I asked you Mr.

[4:30:44] Leskovich but I don't know if you recall, for the contractors,

[4:30:48] is she the one who owns the contractor license?

[4:30:51] Because if she's not this is a contractor position.

[4:31:07] >> I her raising her hand over here.

[4:31:09] >> Okay hold on.

[4:31:11] >> I just wanted to point out that in her application she does

[4:31:14] have a certified building contractor license with

[4:31:16] the city.

[4:31:19] >> Did you verify that?

[4:31:20] I couldn't find it when I was looking for it.

[4:31:26] >> Page three of her application.

[4:31:28] >> I understand that, but actually looking to see if she

[4:31:33] has a contractor's license with the state of Florida.

[4:31:43] >> That's what it's >> But not verified?

[4:31:45] I just wasn't sure if she actually

[4:31:47] had a contractor's license.

[4:31:48] I saw that she -- her husband did but not that she did.

[4:31:52] If she's stating that she did, and if she doesn't then it's

[4:31:59] not appropriate for her to have this position.

[4:32:12] >> Give me one second, I will pull up their bylaws.

[4:32:27] The bylaws state appointment shall

[4:32:30] be made by the City Council with reference

[4:32:32] to the following professions available to serve,

[4:32:36] engineering, architecture, general building, contracting,

[4:32:39] plumbing, electrical, and miscellaneous building trades.

[4:32:43] It doesn't speak to any certain license

[4:32:46] in particular, but more of just a general involvement

[4:32:50] in the building industry.

[4:33:05] >> Thank you.

[4:33:08] I think Mr. Leskovich is going to speak.

[4:33:15] Okay, go ahead.

[4:33:18] >> I nominate and appoint Kathy to the position on the building

[4:33:22] board.

[4:33:32] >> It's an alternate position, I will just second it.

[4:33:39] >> Did you want to say something?

[4:33:41] >> Maybe we should look over, if those qualifications are a bit

[4:33:44] vague we may want to look over and just make sure that we have

[4:33:47] --

[4:33:48] I mean it sounds like I would qualify.

[4:33:51] I have done a lot of work rehabbing a house.

[4:33:54] We may want to refine that a bit.

[4:33:56] In the future.

[4:34:03] >> So we have a nominate and appoint for a motion,

[4:34:05] all in favor?

[4:34:08] Okay, for, opposed?

[4:34:11] Motion carries, but again I agree with Janice,

[4:34:14] we need to have that more detailed.

[4:34:16] I don't know the consensus, Janine?

[4:34:19] Greg?

[4:34:19] Okay 3 to 1.

[4:34:26] While you've got it there do you want

[4:34:28] to go ahead and go with your information?

[4:34:31] >> I do have one last one to bring up.

[4:34:33] The last item we have under nominations

[4:34:36] is the Code Enforcement Board we have two regular and one

[4:34:39] alternate seats up.

[4:34:40] We have three applicants, if we would

[4:34:44] like to bring them back for appointment

[4:34:45] at the next meeting the plan would be to have voting first

[4:34:48] for the regular seats and then whoever is not appointed

[4:34:51] to a regular seat could take the alternate seat,

[4:34:54] if that is acceptable to council.

[4:34:59] >> And both Carl and Mark are currently on it and Teresa is

[4:35:02] asking to currently be on it?

[4:35:04] Is that correct?

[4:35:06] >> That's correct.

[4:35:12] >> Not.?

[4:35:13] We'll just -- >> We'll do it at the next meeting.

[4:35:16] >> So this is just a nominate all three?

[4:35:20] >> I'm sorry Carl is the only one who's a current member

[4:35:23] of the board.

[4:35:26] >> So we just have to have a nomination for all three of them

[4:35:28] this this time?

[4:35:29] >> Correct.

[4:35:31] >> Do I have a nomination?

[4:35:38] >> I will nominate all three.

[4:35:39] >> A second?

[4:35:41] >> I second.

[4:35:42] >> We have a motion and a second to nominate all three.

[4:35:45] All in favor raise your hand.

[4:35:47] Four yeses, opposed?

[4:35:49] Motion carries.

[4:35:56] >> Thank you, if it's okay I can do my report

[4:35:58] >> Hold on just a second.

[4:36:01] >> Sarah do you explicitly need, because you are nominating two

[4:36:05] regular and one alternate, which one of the three,

[4:36:08] which two of the three are designated as the regular

[4:36:11] members and which one is the alternate?

[4:36:18] >> The intention is to figure that out at the next meeting

[4:36:21] by vote, who would be which.

[4:36:38] And on my report I would just like everyone

[4:36:40] to know that we have just over a month

[4:36:42] left for businesses for new city business tax receipts.

[4:36:46] To date 393 renewals have been processed,

[4:36:49] of the 111,000 active businesses of the current fiscal year.

[4:36:53] Late fees will begin October 1st for businesses that do not renew

[4:36:57] prior to the September 30th deadline.

[4:36:59] We are encouraging everyone who has not

[4:37:03] received a renewal notice to reach out to us to update

[4:37:06] their contact information and if possible to not get

[4:37:08] the renewal in one fell swoop.

[4:37:10] I'm also excited that the Fall Festival is going

[4:37:13] to be here before we know it.

[4:37:15] We have 22 nonprofits signed up for the trick or treat circuit

[4:37:20] to donate resources and contribute

[4:37:22] to the community with their services.

[4:37:24] We have also secured a very important party sponsor,

[4:37:27] thank you to Quantum Fiber by AT&T.

[4:37:31] And thank you to the firm advertising agency, Chapman

[4:37:36] Insurance Agency and two custom sponsorships

[4:37:42] Joe's Pizzeria and Restaurant and Bath Theater.

[4:37:45] We have plenty of space for nonprofits

[4:37:47] to join in lots of ways for local businesses

[4:37:49] to support the festival with monetary or in-kind donations.

[4:37:54] If you're interested in knowing more

[4:37:55] you can reach out to the City Clerk's office.

[4:37:58] By phone or email.

[4:38:16] >> I was reported to that they have collected lean payouts,

[4:38:20] so for this year that's over last year.

[4:38:22] Staff has been working with a group called Seahawk,

[4:38:25] they have the ability to provide technical assistance

[4:38:29] in the area of sustainability which also includes design.

[4:38:32] We are going through our plans that we already have in place

[4:38:36] and looking at what we think would

[4:38:39] be the best use of this technical assistance.

[4:38:41] But if City Council has anything you

[4:38:43] would like to add or chime in on that you would like

[4:38:45] us to consider for that, just send me an email

[4:38:48] and let me know about that.

[4:38:51] We were submitted a submitted alternative water supply

[4:38:56] application which would put additional wells on sites,

[4:38:59] should we need them.

[4:39:00] Because when wells are rehabbed we take one out of service,

[4:39:03] it would give us some additional reliability.

[4:39:06] We submitted our paperwork for the legislative appropriation

[4:39:12] for water meters.

[4:39:13] As I mentioned before that bid should go out next week.

[4:39:16] I want to ask if you would consider

[4:39:20] an item regarding ribbon cuttings and outdoor music

[4:39:24] permits.

[4:39:24] It was recently, we had one business

[4:39:27] that was turned in by someone to complain that they did not

[4:39:31] have this particular license and frankly city staff

[4:39:38] has not ever enforced these two that are actually on the books.

[4:39:43] Would you be interested in discussing these

[4:39:45] at a future agenda?

[4:39:47] To possibly amend this requirement?

[4:39:54] >> That was a yes by everybody.

[4:39:59] >> Some updates by f dot, the final asphalt layers across

[4:40:03] the corridor, will shift U.S. 41 northbound where surface prep

[4:40:08] and normal strips will be installed in late August through

[4:40:12] September.

[4:40:12] The final striping and lean configuration and signaling

[4:40:16] will be September to October, trafficking monitoring

[4:40:21] and thermoplastic loops, and then the signal

[4:40:24] will turn back on in October or November.

[4:40:27] So it's making progress.

[4:40:28] I know it took a while but it's getting there.

[4:40:31] We will have a ribbon cutting at the beginning of the next City

[4:40:35] Council meeting.

[4:40:35] That will be September 9th, we will do that right away,

[4:40:38] our first item at 9 a.m.

[4:40:41] To officially cut the ribbon on this place.

[4:40:43] And one other piece of excellent news, AdventHealth

[4:40:47] received their development order approval last Friday.

[4:40:51] So we are moving forward.

[4:40:53] And that is all I have, thank you.

[4:41:01] >> You are speedier than I am in talking but it's the MPO with

[4:41:04] the traffic signal?

[4:41:06] That's going to be October or November that's

[4:41:08] when it's getting turned on?

[4:41:10] Fantastic.

[4:41:11] That is correct from her.

[4:41:19] >> I think I've spoken more today than I have in the last

[4:41:22] year.

[4:41:22] Several things have been going on, as doctor Reichert mentioned

[4:41:29] in her project updates and just now call her office has been

[4:41:32] building in -- busy in helping things move along and closing

[4:41:40] out lawsuits.

[4:41:40] I'm pleased to announce that right now we have participated

[4:41:46] in the R.J. Corman mediation yesterday, we were able to,

[4:41:51] at least for now, we came to an agreement.

[4:41:55] We believe that it is saving Punta Gorda residents

[4:42:00] and the city over $1 million.

[4:42:03] We are proud to announce that.

[4:42:08] Doctor Reichert and I signed the agreement yesterday

[4:42:13] but it's contingent on your approval on September 9th.

[4:42:16] Once RJ Corman is approved by you guys

[4:42:19] on the ninth then all lawsuits in which the city could

[4:42:21] be potentially on the hook have been resolved,

[4:42:25] there are no more pending lawsuits that

[4:42:29] could come out of your fund.

[4:42:30] I had a few phone calls while you were on break,

[4:42:34] we have been able to curtail potential lawsuits

[4:42:38] where those are no longer going to be sought after.

[4:42:42] You will start seeing now and increase,

[4:42:46] or we're moving forward now on a lot of code cases

[4:42:50] that have been pushed off for many reasons.

[4:42:54] Whether that's because of bankruptcies or foreclosures,

[4:42:56] we have now been bringing code cases back on the docket

[4:43:00] to get rid of a lot of these old homes,

[4:43:04] and homes that have issues.

[4:43:06] So we're going to start seeing a lot of movement on those cases.

[4:43:09] We are looking to close out some of those that quite a few

[4:43:13] residents have been showing concerns about .

[4:43:19] And two more things, it was brought

[4:43:23] to our attention on Monday that potentially if elected officials

[4:43:30] have a non-disclosure agreement because they

[4:43:33] have some kind of interest in a business or a property,

[4:43:36] if they are still potentially subject to a conflict

[4:43:40] of interest announcement when it comes to a vote.

[4:43:44] I think it will be something we will have to discuss.

[4:43:47] Not just with this council but for many councils

[4:43:50] coming down the years as well.

[4:43:53] How those procedures may have to come about as well.

[4:43:58] And Dallas is still doing a wonderful job but not here

[4:44:02] today.

[4:44:03] She was appointed as a board member

[4:44:06] to the United Way of Charlotte County.

[4:44:09] Outside of that, everything is moving smoothly

[4:44:13] through the legal department.

[4:44:15] We will keep you guys Apprized after I hear from Mr. Barlow

[4:44:19] today.

[4:44:23] >> Thank you for that, great update.

[4:44:25] Do we have to wait until September 9th or can we do

[4:44:27] a consensus to finish it?

[4:44:29] Do we have to wait?

[4:44:37] >> It would probably be best to wait until September 9th

[4:44:39] because of the way the agreement was written is that it would be

[4:44:42] addressed at the September 9th Council meeting.

[4:44:53] >> I have a question?

[4:44:54] How many lawsuits were coming against the city

[4:44:58] when you came into office more or less?

[4:45:00] Are we talking about like 10 or 20?

[4:45:05] >> There was seven, four of them never got to the point

[4:45:12] of actually being filed we were able to correct the problem

[4:45:15] pretty quickly.

[4:45:16] Two were dismissed through the court systems because of motions

[4:45:20] to dismiss.

[4:45:21] And then we just have RJ Gorman who is

[4:45:24] the last one floating around.

[4:45:26] Now the city does have other suits

[4:45:28] that are being done by insurance companies.

[4:45:31] Whether that's for some kind of personal injury

[4:45:36] claim a slip and fall, but they're not coming out

[4:45:38] of the city's coffers.

[4:45:39] They'll come out of insurance.

[4:45:41] That's why you have those.

[4:45:49] >> I appreciate that.

[4:45:50] And I wanted the public to know that you have been working hard.

[4:45:53] And we've been working behind the scenes.

[4:45:55] But it's very important to get these things dismissed and taken

[4:45:59] care of in every way possible.

[4:46:02] So thank you.

[4:46:03] What would be the actual plan regarding

[4:46:05] the NDA issue you brought up?

[4:46:08] If we were going to do something what would we do?

[4:46:16] >> Let me give you kind of an example of it.

[4:46:17] Let's say that you owned 100 acres out in farmland somewhere

[4:46:23] in East Charlotte County.

[4:46:25] And a data center wanted to come in and buy your land.

[4:46:30] Let's say that land is going to be using the city's water

[4:46:35] sources, and then you're sitting on council voting on it.

[4:46:39] There could be a conflict of interest,

[4:46:42] so there's also some public officials now

[4:46:47] in the state of Florida who have non-disclosure agreements

[4:46:51] because of corporate reasons or personal reasons

[4:46:54] for their interest in corporate entities,

[4:46:58] such as maybe a 501 C three or potentially an S Corp

[4:47:06] that owns land, I'm just using this as an example.

[4:47:09] But if you had a non-disclosure agreement where

[4:47:11] you can't disclose that you own part of the property

[4:47:14] but they're an elected official.

[4:47:16] So there could be a conflict where if someone,

[4:47:19] you could say I have an NDA I can't talk about this

[4:47:22] and not have to disclose it.

[4:47:25] So it's being addressed statewide,

[4:47:29] that's how it'll have to come about because of the sunshine >>

[4:47:36] So no immediate remedy but something

[4:47:38] that we should be aware of?

[4:47:39] How do we know, if someone has a nondisclosure agreement

[4:47:42] we don't necessarily know what it's about

[4:47:44] or what it pertains to.

[4:47:45] What are our options to protect citizens

[4:47:48] from having someone vote where they might have a conflict?

[4:47:53] >> A lot of it has to do with your ethical duty to just

[4:47:56] announce that you have a conflict.

[4:47:57] But it will be something that I will

[4:48:01] have to look into and kind of dig around in as well.

[4:48:05] I'm not saying this has to come into effect immediately,

[4:48:07] but it is something that we're going

[4:48:09] to have to look into as we move forward as well.

[4:48:14] And how we implement a conflict of interest vote

[4:48:18] that comes about.

[4:48:26] >> In the whole state is dealing with this now?

[4:48:28] Have they always been dealing with it,

[4:48:29] has it just come up more recently?

[4:48:31] Is this a new problem?

[4:48:34] Or just something that we haven't addressed before?

[4:48:39] >> It's coming about on Monday we were given some documentation

[4:48:43] which kind of raised some eyebrows and makes it look

[4:48:49] or seem like we might have to look into it.

[4:48:53] I guess it's becoming more relevant and prevalent

[4:48:56] around the state.

[4:48:57] But it's something that I will have to look into

[4:48:59] to see how we can protect ourselves in that way.

[4:49:17] >> Who do I have marked down as the contact regarding that

[4:49:20] donation?

[4:49:21] >> You can start with me.

[4:49:31] >> I am on the FB board which is the Metropolitan Planning

[4:49:34] Organization and we work very closely with fDOT and it's both

[4:49:41] Punta Gorda and Charlotte County and then the airport is also

[4:49:44] on that board.

[4:49:46] And what is happening within the state

[4:49:48] is obviously funding maybe short.

[4:49:53] So the state is trying to make it

[4:49:57] so our MPO board is consolidated,

[4:50:00] and that's not a good situation.

[4:50:02] Because we could be consolidated with Lee County, Sarasota,

[4:50:07] we don't know right now how large that MPO board would look.

[4:50:16] And it gives us a disadvantage as far

[4:50:20] as having a seat at the table.

[4:50:22] And I just want everyone to be aware of that,

[4:50:24] that is going on with the MPO right

[4:50:26] now throughout the entire state.

[4:50:29] There are some that have consolidated and have

[4:50:32] said it works fine for them, but we have a small airport here

[4:50:36] and they have a seat at the table

[4:50:39] and they want to continue that.

[4:50:40] And I don't know about you but I definitely want them to.

[4:50:42] And I want us as a city to be able to have a voice.

[4:50:46] And I'm only one person on this board,

[4:50:51] so this is not a good thing for us.

[4:50:53] And I'll try to keep you abreast as things go on.

[4:50:56] I also sent through doctor Reichert

[4:51:01] some information about the Strategic Highway safety

[4:51:04] plan they're trying to get down to net zero serious injuries

[4:51:07] and absolutely zero deaths.

[4:51:08] They do that through various ways

[4:51:11] of working closely with fDOT and making sure that roadways also

[4:51:15] have walkways and bicycle paths and things like that.

[4:51:19] So it's a very important thing for citizens

[4:51:24] to know about, we care about your safety and everything

[4:51:27] that fDOT does, even lighting, it's very important to them.

[4:51:31] It's all been studied, crosswalks, they

[4:51:35] study even circles, the driving circles you go around,

[4:51:40] they have people involved who are very knowledgeable

[4:51:44] and they do all kinds of studies.

[4:51:48] And I just want you to know that MPO consolidation is coming up.

[4:51:52] And from a citizen who has asked me twice

[4:51:55] on this, the fencing around the parking lot behind the City Hall

[4:51:58] building.

[4:51:59] Citizens want to have access to 41

[4:52:02] if they're walking so they can cross over

[4:52:05] without having to walk between the city chambers right here

[4:52:10] and the hibachi restaurant.

[4:52:12] I go there a lot and I love that place

[4:52:14] but it's difficult when a car is coming out for a car to pull in.

[4:52:18] And then you have pedestrians that

[4:52:20] are forced to walk through that parking lot

[4:52:22] to get out to 41 to cross.

[4:52:24] They're just asking, if I park here can I --

[4:52:30] or can there be an area in the fencing that's wide enough

[4:52:34] for pedestrians to walk through and have access to 41 so they

[4:52:37] don't have to walk through the parking lot?

[4:52:39] Another thing I want to bring up to you

[4:52:44] is thank you Sara for encouraging civility

[4:52:49] and engagement, thank you for those exercises.

[4:52:51] I think it's very important.

[4:52:53] I'm also appreciating these as much

[4:52:56] as you don't like your fingers working so quickly,

[4:52:59] I like that you can't interrupt someone else.

[4:53:02] It just forces you to not be able to interrupt other people

[4:53:06] so I appreciate that.

[4:53:07] Thank you also again for the civility engagement

[4:53:10] exercises that you have given us.

[4:53:14] Miss Eunice Wiley was a very important woman in the city,

[4:53:18] she recently passed away and in 1970 she

[4:53:23] became the first black teacher to integrate East Elementary

[4:53:28] School in Punta Gorda Florida stepping into a role that

[4:53:32] required uncommon courage and resolve

[4:53:34] despite facing resistance from those who did not recognize

[4:53:37] or welcome her presence.

[4:53:38] She faced every challenge with grace and patience

[4:53:40] and the unwavering belief in the power of education

[4:53:43] to unite children of all backgrounds.

[4:53:46] She went to break barriers as a black female principal,

[4:53:53] she was the black female principal at Neil Armstrong

[4:53:57] University --

[4:53:59] elementary inspiring leadership until her retirement in 2005.

[4:54:02] Throughout a distinguished career

[4:54:04] spanning more than three decades she

[4:54:05] served the children, families, staff of Charlotte schools

[4:54:10] with tireless dedication and passion and integrity.

[4:54:12] Her leadership and resilience and lifelong commitment

[4:54:14] to equity and education left an indelible mark

[4:54:17] on Charlotte County Schools and the Punta Gorda community.

[4:54:21] Her story continues to inspire all who hear it.

[4:54:23] My message today is to extend a heartfelt thanks

[4:54:27] for her trailblazing service and her commitment

[4:54:31] to the students of this community

[4:54:32] and her legacy of courage and excellence

[4:54:34] that she leaves behind.

[4:54:35] Her memorial service will be August 29th if anyone

[4:54:39] doesn't know about that.

[4:54:41] It will be at the Life Celebration Center at 4:00.

[4:54:45] They ask you to wear shades of yellow and orange in her Memory.

[4:54:49] Thank you to all of the staff.

[4:54:52] This was wonderful today comments staff we cannot thank

[4:54:54] you enough.

[4:54:55] This was a property that they were going to tear down .

[4:55:03] This is a savings of not only a lot of money

[4:55:08] but it just feels good here it feels like home.

[4:55:10] So I appreciate you all so much.

[4:55:13] Thank you doctor Reichert for being at the lead of all

[4:55:18] of this I really appreciate it.

[4:55:20] That's all I have comment thank you.

[4:55:23] >> I agree, great discussions here today.

[4:55:27] One of the things I do want to bring up,

[4:55:30] we have one gentleman here in our city

[4:55:33] who has been so influential and so kind in getting everything

[4:55:39] done, including putting the Vietnam wall up and making

[4:55:43] sure the grounds are beautiful.

[4:55:46] He's bringing the Huey over to our Vietnam wall,

[4:55:50] he's one heck of a wonderful veteran

[4:55:53] and I would love to present a mayor's award to General Carr.

[4:55:59] And I think I can do it on my own,

[4:56:01] but I want a consensus from everybody

[4:56:02] to say let's give this man a thank

[4:56:05] you for recognizing our heroes.

[4:56:06] And I wish Lisa was here to hear that as well.

[4:56:09] But I think this is really important for this gentleman,

[4:56:13] who is going through some medical issues right now.

[4:56:15] I would like to make sure that he

[4:56:18] knows we want to thank him so much for all

[4:56:20] he has done in our community.

[4:56:21] Is that okay?

[4:56:23] Fantastic.

[4:56:23] And hopefully we can do it when they

[4:56:28] have the MIA and POW and the Huey and everything,

[4:56:31] maybe we can do it at that time and have him here.

[4:56:35] Thank you, I'm glad that you will

[4:56:39] be looking into transparency of people

[4:56:42] who don't hide behind nondisclosure agreements

[4:56:45] and things like that and claim they don't have anything.

[4:56:48] Think it's very important for all of us.

[4:56:50] And even if you you know study that on all of us

[4:56:52] I think that's important and to find.

[4:56:54] And I did hear, I don't remember who agreed,

[4:57:00] but I know we have talked about this

[4:57:01] before but we really do need committees for public input.

[4:57:05] I think it's so important.

[4:57:06] I know it's more of a burden for staff time and stuff come up

[4:57:09] but this is really what we're supposed

[4:57:11] to do for the residents.

[4:57:12] We need to accommodate and make sure we

[4:57:15] have the residents heard.

[4:57:16] And like Greg was saying we have some experts here.

[4:57:19] Let's utilize these experts to help us out.

[4:57:23] Also thank you so much for October and November,

[4:57:27] I know the accidents, thank you Jeannine

[4:57:35] I know you're pushing that along so thank you.

[4:57:37] The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Boards

[4:57:38] is one of the boards I'm on, it's

[4:57:40] very similar to the Florida League of Cities,

[4:57:42] it's an excellent group, what they

[4:57:43] do is get all of the communities together more locally here

[4:57:47] and I'm really enjoying it.

[4:57:49] And I think even having other people come

[4:57:51] I know we can go to Florida League of Cities stuff

[4:57:53] and I think it's very important for us

[4:57:55] to listen to what other people are doing and help them out.

[4:57:58] And I know I present this stuff to Doctor Reichert who

[4:58:05] has passed it on to staff.

[4:58:06] And that might help us in the future.

[4:58:08] So I gave you that this morning.

[4:58:10] For that invoice, do we need to do anything with that?

[4:58:15] >> That had been a city council decision to not be a member

[4:58:20] themselves of the Regional Planning Commission.

[4:58:24] You do know they have done a lot of work

[4:58:26] with us in the beginning stages of working on these LDR.

[4:58:29] We are technically a member through Charlotte County.

[4:58:33] If we choose to join again I think it was under $4,000.

[4:58:37] That does then reduce Charlotte County's burden by that amount

[4:58:42] as well.

[4:58:45] >> I know it's more money coming you keep on talking about it,

[4:58:48] but it's more localized and what it does is it allows all

[4:58:51] the leaders to discuss everything that's going

[4:58:54] on around here in their communities,

[4:58:56] and sometimes it gives us ideas about how we can make things

[4:58:59] more efficient in our city instead of reinventing the wheel

[4:59:02] all the time and being like what's happening over here kind

[4:59:06] of like with the MPO.

[4:59:07] This is us locally, that's under 4000 I think that's less than

[4:59:11] a lot of what other boards ask for in price..

[4:59:14] We spend more money by going to meetings and stuff

[4:59:18] like that we spend a lot of money on that.

[4:59:20] I think this is a drop in the hat compared to everything else.

[4:59:24] Consensus?

[4:59:28] I do vote on it, yes.

[4:59:35] The city has not paid any fees for us to be there.

[4:59:41] So in order to make things smoothly for anything

[4:59:46] they need money, and I think us as a city need

[4:59:50] to pick up and pay for the benefits

[4:59:52] that we've been receiving from them.

[4:59:58] >> Didn't someone say the county was paying for it?

[5:00:00] They haven't been?

[5:00:01] Well that's on them.

[5:00:10] >> In the document that you provided to me it looked like

[5:00:12] the county contribution would then be reduced by what the city

[5:00:17] would pay

[5:00:18] >> That's correct but they have not paid it.

[5:00:21] >> Do we know why?

[5:00:23] Okay.

[5:00:29] >> So I'm asking for a consensus to go ahead and pay

[5:00:31] the city's portion.

[5:00:32] Which the city would be paying to the county anyhow,

[5:00:35] just that they haven't done anything.

[5:00:44] >> I'd like to think about it.

[5:00:59] >> Could we bring it back as an agenda item?

[5:01:00] Let's do >> We'll bring it back as an agenda item.

[5:01:05] Yes, that's a yes on that.

[5:01:07] >> Then we can truly understand the value that the organization

[5:01:09] would provide to us.

[5:01:10] They have already been providing us

[5:01:12] with some great value, working hand in hand with Rachel

[5:01:17] and I think it's something you need to have all

[5:01:20] the information to consider.

[5:01:23] >> I think someone may even come out and talk to us during

[5:01:26] an agenda time so you could hear all the valuable stuff

[5:01:29] that's so important there.

[5:01:31] So welcome back, thank you staff again you've

[5:01:36] done a tremendous job thank you for everything

[5:01:37] you've done to push us along.

[5:01:39] And thank you to all of the improvements

[5:01:42] during this crazy hurricane and stuff.

[5:01:45] I think that we as a whole, our council

[5:01:49] has done a tremendous job thanks to you.

[5:01:51] You make us look good.

[5:01:53] So thank you very much for everything.

[5:01:55] And we are going to open it up to public comment.

[5:01:59] I think this has been a great meeting even

[5:02:02] though it's been a long one.

[5:02:05] >> I just want to address the fence issue around the parking

[5:02:08] lot, the fence is there because of a very expensive lawsuit that

[5:02:12] the city paid for with someone falling down that slight

[5:02:17] embankment.

[5:02:17] So it was put in place for safety reasons,

[5:02:21] and because of that lawsuit.

[5:02:28] >> So that means a big no?

[5:02:29] Not at all?

[5:02:29] Not at all possible, even in like a different area

[5:02:32] to put an opening?

[5:02:33] I'm just more concerned about people walking,

[5:02:36] you should see it.

[5:02:39] When there's people walking and driving both ways

[5:02:41] there's a lot of traffic there.

[5:02:44] Because of course you have the Italian place

[5:02:46] back here also, in the evening.

[5:02:49] So I'm just a little concerned people just walk through there

[5:02:52] like no tomorrow.

[5:02:54] >> We can certainly look at that.

[5:02:55] That is scheduled to be replaced in the future.

[5:02:59] At that time potentially there could be an access upgrade.

[5:03:04] I would give it to staff to explore.

[5:03:09] >> Didn't we also agree that we would put up signs that were not

[5:03:12] liable for all these trip and falls on city and public

[5:03:14] property?

[5:03:15] I think we definitely need that.

[5:03:17] Especially hearing that we have had a nice lawsuit.

[5:03:22] >> That sign has been placed in that particular parking lot.

[5:03:26] >> So hopefully that won't happen again.

[5:03:29] Never stops anyone from doing it though, unfortunately.

[5:03:32] But thank you for the input.

[5:03:34] Are we ready for public input?

[5:03:38] Yes, we are getting there.

[5:03:45] Okay nice soft tone, we've had a great day

[5:03:50] today come a deep breaths, everyone's doing wonderful,

[5:03:52] we are here for you.

[5:03:54] There you go come on now you can speak.

[5:03:58] State your name also.

[5:03:59] >> My name is Samuel, thank you all for allowing me to speak

[5:04:03] today.

[5:04:04] Yes I do have a soft tone today.

[5:04:08] In this historic moment of being back in the building,

[5:04:11] it's very great to be here.

[5:04:12] Part of me is very sad for each and every one of you

[5:04:17] because the state legislature with SB 180.

[5:04:23] They're taking control out of many of your hands.

[5:04:26] So we spend many hours today talking

[5:04:30] about the comprehensive plan.

[5:04:31] I was in Desoto County yesterday and in Desoto they

[5:04:35] had hired a consulting firm from the state in order

[5:04:39] to explain because there comprehensive plan was

[5:04:42] on the table.

[5:04:44] And in that conversation, and what

[5:04:47] came out of that after the meeting,

[5:04:51] that they allowed me to be there and participate and learn from,

[5:04:54] is that your hands are tied.

[5:04:57] So you're getting a lot of pushback that none of you

[5:05:02] have control over.

[5:05:03] And it would be nice that if we could explain to people so when

[5:05:08] all the folks are in the room today

[5:05:10] and we're getting maybe a bit anxious about what they wanted

[5:05:15] to see happen is that you have to realize

[5:05:17] that the state legislators are taking more and more control.

[5:05:21] So you have SB 180, SB 684, I'm sorry if I got those wrong,

[5:05:26] but you also have the live local act

[5:05:29] which has taken much control.

[5:05:32] A lot of the things that you talked about today

[5:05:35] were actually addressed in Desoto yesterday

[5:05:37] saying that legislatively you have no control.

[5:05:43] Regarding density, regarding how high you want the buildings

[5:05:48] to be or how low you want them to be ,

[5:05:54] there's many things that are going on that as a citizen

[5:05:56] I've had to learn.

[5:05:58] For myself.

[5:05:59] Many times citizens don't have times to read all the things.

[5:06:05] So as you know coming up here and wanting

[5:06:11] to scream and yell and say why aren't you doing this for us,

[5:06:13] but when I go and read I realize it's not your fault.

[5:06:17] And one that I feel embarrassed about sometimes,

[5:06:24] because I've read all these laws and figured out that there's

[5:06:28] more things put into place.

[5:06:31] So for SB 180 for example, the 2027, October of 2027,

[5:06:38] there are talks that they're already trying to extend that.

[5:06:42] What also came out of the Desoto meeting yesterday

[5:06:45] was if a hurricane comes within 100 miles of Florida,

[5:06:49] SB 180 automatically is extended.

[5:06:55] >> Yes it is.

[5:06:56] >> God bless you and thank you for letting me talk to you

[5:06:58] today.

[5:06:59] >> Thank you.

[5:07:00] I'm just going to leave it live.

[5:07:10] >> I have to say hands down I think everybody is going

[5:07:12] to agree that this was probably one of the best meetings

[5:07:16] we've had at Punta Gorda City Council in a long time.

[5:07:21] I didn't see one interruption on the dais.

[5:07:25] Imagine that.

[5:07:27] I would like to first talk about,

[5:07:30] I'm seeing some campaign signs around the city.

[5:07:34] I need to know, is our fire department

[5:07:39] endorsing these candidates?

[5:07:41] Is this like a fire benevolence program?

[5:07:46] Like the police?

[5:07:47] I need to know who is doing that.

[5:07:51] Another thing I want to talk about,

[5:07:54] I want to talk to you all about toilet to tap.

[5:08:01] Isn't that going to be great when

[5:08:03] we're drinking toilet to tap?

[5:08:06] That's what they have in plan for us.

[5:08:11] I'm glad you brought up some of that stuff Samuel

[5:08:16] because I want to talk about our legislative delegation.

[5:08:20] You'd think they're representing us in this chamber?

[5:08:25] No.

[5:08:26] Because if they were we wouldn't have SB 180.

[5:08:32] We wouldn't have half of the shenanigans going on

[5:08:37] up in Tallahassee and down at the P

[5:08:41] oh, same with the Democratic Party of Florida.

[5:08:43] You know those two parties are just

[5:08:46] subsidiaries of one another.

[5:08:54] Our river is dying.

[5:08:57] I want to tell you, all of you that the park, those properties

[5:09:06] that we want purchased.

[5:09:08] I want retention ponds come I don't see anyone else

[5:09:12] up here bringing solutions or improvements to downtown

[5:09:17] flooding, except Tim Ritchie.

[5:09:19] I don't see anyone coming to test my canal either to find out

[5:09:25] what is in my canal.

[5:09:26] I have tested, I know what is in there.

[5:09:30] And lastly we should be protected on social media.

[5:09:39] You hear me?

[5:09:41] I expect every citizen in this city to be protected.

[5:09:52] Every one of you should be concerned about somebody

[5:09:55] impersonating you and using your home address.

[5:10:05] My aunt was in Vietnam, she went in as a lieutenant

[5:10:09] and came out as a captain.

[5:10:11] God bless everyone.

City Council

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