[0:16] You're law enforcement, fire, rescue, or healthcare providers on call,

[0:21] so please silence your devices. And anyone wishing to address

[0:25] the council. The city council has requested complete a card

[0:27] at the city clerk's desk speakers are respectfully requested to

[0:31] abide by. The following or limit your comments three minutes.

[0:36] Speak to the mayor. None. Staff or the audience. No

[0:40] raising hand speaking from the audience, no debating rebuttals. Time

[0:43] cannot be allocated to others and only speak one time

[0:47] agenda. All right, so welcome tonight. We're going to start

[0:53] off with the invocation and pledge of allegiance to the

[0:57] flag. Led by our city manager, Mr. Steve Kennedy. Please

[1:02] stand. We're grateful for this opportunity to meet. We're grateful

[1:09] for all the blessings that you give us many? Way

[1:12] more than we deserve. But that's the essence of your

[1:18] being. To support in any way that you can. We

[1:22] ask that you. Meeting tonight. The discussion. That all those.

[1:30] That are participating with understanding. The issues and treat everyone

[1:35] with respect. We just ask that you cover those with

[1:42] comfort. Or suffering for whatever. They inferminate or issue with.

[1:48] Me. And lead in and guide them. These things we

[1:51] ask on Covid nine.

[2:07] Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. Aaron roll.

[2:17] Rollisson Council member Sarns council member suts. Here.

[2:28] Golf. Yes, mayor. Mayor Johnson. Attorney Arnold. Sure. City manager

[2:32] Kennedy. Assistant city manager Noel. Sure. You have a forum?

[2:36] Okay, thank you. Next, we call on members of the

[2:41] audience who would wish to speak to council. I have

[2:46] two cards for that. Without specific items. I would like

[2:51] to first ask Linda Hobbes to come to the podium.

[2:54] Please. Well, you know how terrified I am of this.

[3:03] I'd like to first say, the last time I spoke.

[3:06] Oh, excuse me. Good evening. There and council people. The

[3:14] last time I spoke, several of the couple of the

[3:17] members of the council reached out to me, and I

[3:20] appreciate that very much. Also, I live off of Houston

[3:24] street, and we use Houston street, the sidewalk, quite a

[3:28] bit, so. I'd like to give a kudos to the

[3:30] maintenance department. They cleared completely. The sidewalk has always got

[3:36] debris on it. They cleared it all the way back

[3:38] to the side. They clear above it? It's just spectacular.

[3:42] You couldn't help but notice, and so. Kudos to them,

[3:45] so thank you for that. Okay. First, I'd like to

[3:50] say that I'm truly sad by the lack of. Support

[3:54] shown by the residents of our beautiful city. As represented

[3:59] in each council meeting, especially when it comes to important

[4:02] things like rate hikes. I know, people are very busy

[4:05] these days, and I'm not sure if they don't. Care.

[4:07] Or if they think someone else will be there, of

[4:10] which I'm guilty, perhaps they've lost trust in our leaders.

[4:14] Also, I'd like to reference Mike Kelter's email to the

[4:18] mayor this week. Regarding the property. Rate study. Mike stated

[4:23] that since 2020, the city has raised the water rates

[4:26] by 55%. Which includes the 20% from last year. Wastewater

[4:32] rates were increased by 42% just in five years, including

[4:37] last year's five. He further stated that the debt service

[4:41] used to calculate water rates was 451% greater than actual

[4:47] debt. Service. Personnel services were 27% higher in the rate

[4:52] study than real cost. I understand that there will be

[4:56] increases, but these numbers are very concerning. We have no

[5:00] choice but. To be bound by the city's continued rate

[5:03] hikes, and they are all across the board, schools, water,

[5:07] wastewater, stormwater, garbage and property tax and. It's been pretty

[5:12] much like that every year for a long while now.

[5:15] There used to be. I've been in my home 24

[5:17] years. We've had a rate hike of the water or

[5:20] the property tax would go up, but it just seems

[5:23] like it's just a culmination of everything these last few

[5:26] years. It's just very difficult. I do agree with Mike

[5:30] Kelter. We need a rate study before any more rate

[5:34] increases are even suggested. Lastly, I manage my money very

[5:39] well, even though I'm on a tight budget. As many

[5:42] others do, but strapping these constant rate hikes on the

[5:45] backs of the citizens. Is crutching us as I've. Said

[5:49] before, I love our little city. I've been a part

[5:52] of it since the late 70s. Please don't text me

[5:55] out of my home for 24 years. Thank you, Ms.

[5:59] Hobbes. Felicia Hampshire. Yes, sir. But I'm always here to

[6:07] try to bring good news. All right? So, good evening.

[6:13] Mayor Johnson, council members, and everyone on the diet. My

[6:16] name is Felicia Hampshire, and I'm happy to reside in

[6:19] our beautiful city. I would like to take this opportunity

[6:23] to update you on the 24th annual Green coast rings

[6:26] soul. Food and music festival. On Saturday. And that'll be

[6:30] here before you know it, y'all. On Saturday, October. The

[6:32] fourth. The festival will kick off with a parade at

[6:35] noon down in LKG Boulevard. Followed by opening ceremonies at

[6:40] 01:30 p.m. The festivities will continue. With gospel hour at

[6:46] 02:00 p.m. featuring the Hickory Grove Children's Choir. They will

[6:51] be up first so please don't miss it along with

[6:55] other local and nearby county choirs and soloists. Next. Enjoy

[7:01] booths on the ground with performances by the Duvall country

[7:05] steppers. The radiant rhythm dance team from St. Augustine, Florida,

[7:10] youth Challenge and many others. Entertainment also will include performances

[7:17] by Jimmy and Curtis from the iconic group called brick.

[7:22] Dj trans the special formula band. Seven year old Ruben

[7:27] Wales, who we call RJ, will perform to Michael Jackson.

[7:32] Dances or what have you. Jazz singer Liz Owens, the

[7:36] sofa roots band from Middlebird and many more. Including a

[7:40] Lady Coleman stickers. You all got to consider, because I'm

[7:43] telling you, stop. Changing and then. We have. Attendees can

[7:48] explore over 40 vendors or more, including a doctor's network

[7:53] called vituity cares, and they will be offering blood pressure

[7:58] checks, free medications, and simple medical treatments. There will also

[8:05] be a mobile dentist available for routine cleanings and minor

[8:10] extractions for people who may not have dental insurance, they

[8:14] can come out on that day and they can get

[8:17] simple. Extractions and cleanings. This is for children and adults

[8:20] alike. Additionally, there will be a spades tournament sponsored. By

[8:25] Kappa Apple cy fraternity from St. John's County. A solemn

[8:29] party for the children, sponsored by Dr. Chanda Holsey. And.

[8:35] A kids free zone. Kids fund zone. I'm sorry. Sponsored

[8:38] by St. Benson featuring face painting balloon artists and lots

[8:42] of giveaways. Please remember to bring your lawn chairs, your

[8:48] umbrellas and tents and get ready to enjoy a boot

[8:52] stumping. Good time. And lastly. Lastly, but not least. I

[8:58] want to take this opportunity to say thank you for

[9:02] keeping. This ongoing cultural tradition in our community. The volunteers,

[9:08] along with our dedicated city staff, worked tirelessly to bring

[9:12] this all to fruition. And our community is blessed and

[9:16] better for it. So I personally want to thank Greg

[9:20] and our mouth. Kim, Heather, our police department, our electorate

[9:25] department, and everyone who's involved in making this happen. This

[9:30] is an amazing event, and we have had such great

[9:33] success with it, but it's because of you. We cannot

[9:37] do it without you. So thank you all from the

[9:39] bottom of my heart. Next year will be year 25,

[9:42] and we hope to really set it off. Thank you.

[9:46] Thank you, Felicia. We always look forward to that. Thank

[9:49] for your hard work on that organizing. I know you're

[9:51] worn out already, but thank you so much. Okay, next.

[9:58] I have Mr. Tony hayes. Ladies and

[10:07] gentlemen, I come for a reason. I live off of

[10:11] farms and West Street. And I was trying to figure

[10:16] out. It was talking one thing about one house. The

[10:21] south one went street. Like I said, I live right

[10:26] off of West street. My house is. On the corner

[10:28] of Fords and West street. I've been there forever. 70

[10:33] something years, I'm going to tell you all I could

[10:35] do. But anyway, what I was asking was I was

[10:38] asking for. A fair agreement on this. They said they

[10:42] will move. The fence line. Out 50ft from there. But.

[10:49] My union. And accident for this reason is because I

[10:55] want to know what become of that 12ft 15ft. That

[11:01] I have on city property. I'm going to say it

[11:06] this way, my lot. I'm not having anything on it

[11:11] other than I could every week, but I want to.

[11:15] Find out exactly. What you're going to do. Like I

[11:20] said, I like the house that they billing down the

[11:22] street. 501, it's fine. And I like the one that

[11:25] turns full street. It's fine, but I just want to.

[11:29] Know what's going on. With the property. On the streets

[11:36] down west street because we are not in a property.

[11:41] There? Because like I said, I was born in the

[11:43] property, and I'm playing no dime on that property, so

[11:47] I'm giving out your bank for five minutes or three

[11:50] minutes. I got. I just want you all to realize

[11:52] that and. Tell buddy and membership on that. Don't divide

[11:57] it. Right on. Five minutes so you can come. Look.

[12:00] I got a palm tree to cut the top. Out

[12:02] of it. But it was known what would cost. Electric

[12:07] company had to do it, and I gave an agreement

[12:10] to do it. But anyway, to make a long story

[12:13] short. I want to just ask you all if you

[12:16] all thinking about anything. That way. Please send it to

[12:21] me in writing. Amen. Yes, sir, Mr. Kennedy. Thank you

[12:25] for your time. Thank you.

[12:35] That's all the cards I have for items not on

[12:37] the agenda. Next we'll move into public hearings. Item number

[12:41] one. Mr. Arnold. Mr. Mayor, this is ordinance number 15,

[12:45] 2025. An ordinance of the City Council of Greenco Springs,

[12:49] Florida, modifying water rates by amending city code chapter 90.

[12:53] Utility. To article roman numeral free water service division three

[12:58] rates and charges, section 92 53 entitled water usage and

[13:03] monthly minimum charges, providing for conflict, severability, codification and setting

[13:08] an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I'm going

[13:16] to start off this item. This is on the water.

[13:19] Rate changes. And this intro will apply to the next

[13:24] two items as well. As far as the rate study

[13:26] reference. So I made reference that. We did do a

[13:32] rate study for water, to waste water and reclaim water.

[13:36] In late 23, early 24 that was presented to the

[13:39] city council. Special session on February 6 of 24. Since

[13:45] that time, as we've acknowledged plenty of times in the

[13:48] public, We discovered that the fiscal year 23 information that

[13:54] the rate study was based on was different than the

[13:58] audited fiscal year 23 numbers that came out. So while

[14:02] we do have the rate study as a point of

[14:05] reference, I want to be clear for the public that.

[14:10] The request that we have before you this evening is

[14:13] for. A 12% rate increase on the water rates. And

[14:18] that is based on the budget that we have presented

[14:21] to council and that you'll be considering later on this

[14:25] evening for the next twelve months, for fiscal year 26,

[14:29] the twelve. Percent increase. Is solely based on being able

[14:34] to. Fund that budget for the next twelve months. We

[14:40] obviously acknowledge that we need to update the rate study,

[14:42] and we do plan to do so. Here over the

[14:44] next few months. So that we will be able to

[14:48] plan better. And present. Rate increases. In a more justified

[14:55] and complete manner. Moving forward. But the request this evening

[15:00] is for a 12% increase. Solely to fund the next

[15:05] twelve months of operations. The fiscal year is 14 days

[15:08] away. We have a pretty good handle of what we

[15:11] think it's going to cost to operate the utility. Over

[15:14] the next twelve months. So that is the request before

[15:17] you this evening. And for reference, since I was asked

[15:21] last time. The average customer who uses 6000 gallons a

[15:27] month. That average user would see an increase in their

[15:32] monthly bill of $3.32 based on this requested rate increase.

[15:38] And overall, it will generate an additional $264,000 for the

[15:42] water department for fiscal year. 26. So that's the request

[15:47] before you this evening. Thank you, Mr. Noel. At the

[15:53] time. I'll open public hearing. I have a few cards

[15:57] on item number one. The first one. Mike Kelter.

[16:18] Thank you.

[16:39] Mike Kelter, six 30 Myrtle Avenue, Greencoave Springs, Florida. Mr.

[16:44] Mayor, members of council, thank you, Mr. Knoll, for acknowledging.

[16:48] The things. In the rank study. I knew you were

[16:51] sharper than what I saw in that rate study. First

[16:55] of all, I think it would be appropriate since nobody

[16:58] has gotten to see any of the calculations so far.

[17:02] That Mr. Null has referred to. As far as. The

[17:07] 12%. I think it would be appropriate to defer this

[17:10] item for a couple of months until such time as

[17:13] you can put pen to paper and show us what

[17:16] that looks like. We're entitled as a public. And council

[17:21] is entitled. As elected officials to see that information. Before

[17:26] a vote is held on this matter. You've had substantial.

[17:32] Increases in the last five years, 39% excluding. This proposed

[17:38] 12% increase compared to 25.2 inflation. So you're way above

[17:42] inflation. Rate increases would give the city the third highest

[17:47] water rate in northeast Florida. If you include the 25%

[17:52] surcharge for customers living on the north end of town.

[17:55] Or outside city limits. It gives them the highest. Water

[18:00] rates north of Akawa. You've still not provided increased water

[18:06] developer fees that we asked for two years ago. You

[18:10] continue to drop the burden of all the development on

[18:13] the existing ratepayers. That should have been done a year

[18:18] ago when it's not done now. The rate study. Depth

[18:25] service. Way over, way over stated in the thing. I

[18:29] expect to see that fix when you fix this rate

[18:32] study operations and maintenance costs are wildly overstated. The review

[18:38] of your En 50s for your cup compliance. Indicate to

[18:43] me that you're having a drop off of water sales,

[18:46] which is going to. Affect your budget. That should be

[18:49] included. In your analysis. And again. It should have been

[18:55] updated prior to doing. Any rate increase and council should

[18:59] have seen it and the public should have seen it.

[19:01] So again, I respectfully ask, you might want to defer

[19:04] this any rate increase until such time. As you get

[19:10] the paperwork done. Let us look at it, debate it,

[19:14] and then move forward with it. Then looking at these

[19:18] rate analysis that I'm looking at, it kind of looks

[19:21] to me. Like we're doing whackable budgeting. You have a

[19:25] wholesome place over here in the budget. So you move

[19:29] a bunch of money from another fund over to patch

[19:32] sad hole, then? We have another hole in the budget

[19:36] over here where you move money next year? That's going

[19:41] to have to get filled again so the auditors don't

[19:43] catch. You. We're doing lack of budgeting and we ought

[19:47] to quit doing that. We need to do this. In

[19:51] an orderly, sane method. Thank you very much. Thank you,

[19:55] Mr. Greg will.

[20:09] Up to 18 North Magnolia. I'm going to piggyback on

[20:15] what Micah said, and one thing I want to say

[20:18] is. I feel that the people who are doing the

[20:22] nuts and bolts work are doing a great job. For

[20:25] the city of Greenville. But as I see this, and

[20:30] it's been to the rate hearings in the past year,

[20:36] I constantly hear about errors. And assumptions, and the city

[20:42] is winging it, and to me. Is a clear demonstration.

[20:48] That the people. Who are. Intended to do the strategic

[20:55] visioning and the planning to operate the utility. Do not

[21:02] have the acumen. To operate the utilities that we have.

[21:06] The planning is not there. The information is not provided

[21:10] to council in a timely fashion and tail is wagging

[21:15] the dog. We're being asked to trust that this is

[21:19] a good number. This 12% is a good number. When.

[21:26] We know there were errors that Mr. Null just pointed

[21:29] out in the 23 24 rate study, so. Now, if

[21:32] you're going to go back to the same people. How

[21:35] am I to have confidence? That they are going to

[21:39] do a better job this time. I don't see Orange

[21:45] park in this situation of extremists. I don't. Want to

[21:48] say Orange park, but at the end of the day,

[21:52] Three point thirty two cents may not mean much to

[21:55] any use fitting up there, but there's. A lot of

[21:58] people that matters, too, so we need to have our

[22:01] ducks in a row. Before we make these decisions, and

[22:04] I don't feel that that's where we're. At. I don't

[22:08] feel any confidence. In the senior staff in this building.

[22:14] That they have the skill set necessary. And the vision

[22:17] necessary to do these things. Nor do I have confidence

[22:21] in your consultant. So I would urge you, as Mr.

[22:26] Kelter just said, to get all of these facts put.

[22:29] Together. And present it to all of the council members

[22:32] in detail. And not to wing it tonight. Thank you

[22:36] for your time. Thank you, Mr. Royal. Handouts.

[22:54] Thank you. Mikey.

[23:09] Thank you.

[23:21] Van loyal 36 88 La Costa Court. The numbers that

[23:26] you are looking at right now. To Mr. Know's comment.

[23:36] Our column, Green Coast Price column, reflects the rates that

[23:40] if we pass it, that's what we'll be at tonight.

[23:44] It is based on that rate study. It's based on.

[23:48] Scott's. Needs the people that are on the ground what

[23:52] they need to operate. A safe and. Positive asset like,

[23:57] we've got the war system, just like Andy does, and

[23:59] I have great. Faith in both of them. In league,

[24:02] those two departments. I'll point out when we talk about

[24:05] where we stand. Lawrence park second. Two pages on that.

[24:10] The next page is the agenda item on the Orange

[24:13] park budget tonight. That says we need 15% more warren

[24:19] sewer rates across the board and next year and the

[24:22] year half. We need 5% on top of that. So

[24:25] if they pass the one tonight. Right now, they are

[24:28] significantly lower than us. We're like $15 based on 52,

[24:33] 36. Gallons 5236. That's the average household in Florida. And

[24:39] that's why you used to pull these numbers from, and

[24:41] these are extrapolated based on the rates that we've got

[24:43] CCUA and Jea. If you take their increase, if they

[24:48] get. The 15% tonight. They're within $3 a less. CCUA

[24:54] is over us. Jea is over us. If you have

[24:57] within 2 hours of us. If you have in the

[24:59] franchise fee and the city tax. The utility tax. So

[25:05] when we look at these numbers, the reality is that.

[25:09] We're not over budget. When you look at what we've

[25:11] done in the past. Because we didn't get the rates

[25:15] over 25 years. We as residents kept that money out

[25:20] of pocket for 20 years. In the last five years,

[25:22] it's gone up. We're not higher than the rest around

[25:25] us, and I don't. Believe that we end up wasting

[25:29] money over there. Either a manpower or equipment. I. Look,

[25:32] what the mandate was 25 years ago. Mike is great

[25:36] with engineering that, and he would tell us that it

[25:39] would be irresponsible of us to not fund this. To

[25:43] where? It's a positive and not a negative. And by

[25:46] the way, on one website today, there's a borrowed water.

[25:50] They're bigger. They're bigger than we are. It happens. We

[25:53] don't have that here. Compared a little bit to Ace

[25:56] hardware and Home Depot. The reality is that. Sometimes size

[26:01] makes a difference in cost, and we're on the small

[26:03] side, but at the end of the day. Our cost.

[26:06] And by the way, could throw in the refuse there

[26:09] lower than all of them, so. When you look at

[26:12] what we do as a city within the utilities right

[26:15] now, We are not gouging anybody, and we're not really

[26:18] taking advantage of anybody outside. Of maybe a few employees

[26:21] in the past, and I hope I make that up.

[26:23] And I think we are responsible. And I agree with

[26:25] Mr. Kelter and Mr. Will going forward, a good look.

[26:29] At the rate study. Is going to be helpful, but

[26:32] at the end of the day, we funded what they

[26:34] need. Not what? Some consultant says they got to have,

[26:39] and if we're not out of line, then that's what

[26:41] we ought to do. Thank you. All right. I do

[26:46] not have any other blue cards. Is there any wells

[26:48] from the audience who. Wanted to speak on item number

[26:50] one. If not, I will close the public hearing and

[26:58] come to council for either. Comments, questions or a motion

[27:03] on item number one? Mr. Stutts. We'll defer to you

[27:09] first. There's a little bit of a delay. Can you

[27:13] hear me okay? Yes, we can. I met with Scott

[27:18] today on this, and it's not a reflection of anything

[27:21] he's doing or his people are doing. I think they're

[27:23] doing a great job. It's concerning to me though that

[27:30] we can't get the data as new council. Members to

[27:33] look at it. And look at real numbers. We're kind

[27:38] of blind going in and just doing what staff tells

[27:41] us, and I do. Think that's a problem. I agree

[27:45] that we should look at. The data before we make

[27:49] a decision on it. And. I've been on the fence.

[27:53] I really know. Almost the first time. And I really

[27:57] thought I was going to go ahead and vote yes

[27:58] on it, but I just don't think I can until

[28:00] we have the new rate study and look at it

[28:02] with real numbers. It just seems like we're pushing things

[28:08] through based on what staff wants rather than giving. Us

[28:12] all the figures so we can decide for ourselves. That

[28:14] is why we ran for city council. And why we

[28:16] get a vote. So I just feel like we need

[28:19] to hold up until we can look at some real

[28:21] data. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Council members. I took a

[28:29] ride over to the water plant today. I'm sorry, ma'am.

[28:35] I took a ride over to the water plant today,

[28:38] and. I just see everything over there. That's so great

[28:44] what these people have done. Scott and them have worked

[28:47] so hard. And I know that. There's things that you

[28:53] need to buy. Just. Every day. Every day. Operating cost?

[29:02] That you need to have. And. It's hard to let

[29:07] things keep going by and keep going by and waiting

[29:11] on increasing dollars. But I feel bad. For the public.

[29:21] But after talking to him and seeing things. That we

[29:26] need over there. I'm not sure that. We can wait.

[29:34] Are we really going to have another rate study? Yes,

[29:38] ma'am. We're going to update it starting in October. Yeah.

[29:43] Thank you. Any other council members? Sure. I also was

[29:51] going to vote yes tonight to this. But. Listening to

[30:00] Mr. Kelter. And folks of the city. I don't ever

[30:06] want to see nonchalant about the money they have in

[30:09] their pocket or that I have in my pocket either.

[30:13] We're all in this together. So. I got to think

[30:18] quick here on this, but I do have a couple

[30:20] of things for scott. First of all, Very respectful to

[30:25] you. I appreciate the teaching you've given me. Since I've

[30:33] been here a month and I've learned a lot. I

[30:37] haven't. Had the opportunity to come over and visit yet,

[30:39] but it is on my list to do. Maybe after

[30:43] all this budget stuff. But I wanted to just say

[30:46] a couple of things to you, if I may. I'm.

[30:49] Wondering if you could project for us an operational budget

[30:52] and incorporate the CPI for the plan for the next

[30:55] five years, and I believe this could be very hopeful

[30:58] for me. When we get to the next budget time,

[31:03] because then. I can kind of follow through and see

[31:07] what the numbers really are. And I think also it

[31:13] would be a great opportunity for. Our. Citizens to understand.

[31:20] Why? Do we need and why do we have. To.

[31:25] Have increases and it would be in writing. I know

[31:29] that you may not know, but I have asked Mr.

[31:33] Kennedy and I mentioned it to Mr. Know about. This

[31:38] was hard for us. I shouldn't speak for anybody else.

[31:43] New council? Because I'm sure they have more. Experience than

[31:46] I maybe. But this was hard for me. On all

[31:53] this stuff, all this numbers, and not always like Mr.

[31:57] Nelson, not accurate stuff, but we're doing the best we

[32:00] can to get what it is. Well, it's really a

[32:04] difficult job for somebody like Mr. Gaw. He's been sitting

[32:07] here. This is old hat for he and Mr. Johnson,

[32:11] but for us kids, it's been very. Difficult. So anything

[32:16] that I vote or say. It's not against you. Because

[32:22] I have the utmost respect for you and your department.

[32:25] I think you guys work really hard, and I love

[32:27] the way you present yourself. The second thing I have

[32:31] is. I was just looking over. Some of the bids

[32:35] and things that you had, and I know you dropped

[32:36] a lot of that. Out of here. Even your budget.

[32:41] And. I'm just thinking times have changed. In the last.

[32:46] I'd say year, maybe. And contractors are hungrier now than

[32:51] they used to be. My husband's in the business. Of

[32:56] houses and condos. And stock water. He sells windows, and

[33:04] they've noticed change, and I think we might find also,

[33:10] if we had the opportunity to rebid some of these,

[33:13] maybe the bids would be lower. Than what they were

[33:16] originally. And so I bring that up just as a

[33:20] suggestion. I'm certainly not a water kind of gal. And

[33:25] you are? Watercolor. So I just encourage you that it

[33:31] might be a time that you could go back and

[33:33] look. At some of that stuff that you wanted or

[33:35] that you took off or that you've got waiting to

[33:38] be done and see if we could get some better

[33:41] bids, because I think times have changed since. Probably eight

[33:47] months to a year. And I think that's the same

[33:50] for the electric. I think you could do it for

[33:53] both you all. And I know for me. I have

[33:56] requested to do a quarterly budget review. And in doing

[34:02] that, Go line by line, and I know it's elementary,

[34:06] but. When I work in the corporate world, we did

[34:11] line by line and that way. Then I got to

[34:14] know what was going on as well as Mr. Gomez.

[34:18] And it allows me the opportunity to make a good

[34:22] decision. So when Ms. Dobbs says something I can give

[34:26] her an intelligent answer. And I can also watch the

[34:30] budget as it moves. So I can figure it out

[34:34] easier if we get this money in and it goes

[34:37] into the reserve. I concentrating a lot on reserve and

[34:41] I noticed that you have very low reserve and that's.

[34:46] Scary because I know you have a lot of expenses.

[34:50] So. Not that I needed you to answer any of

[34:53] these, or you can, but those are my. Two comments

[34:56] for you, and I just want you to know that.

[35:00] I really respect what you do, and I think you

[35:02] do a very good job for our city. And I

[35:05] want to thank you. Thank you very much. Scott Schultz,

[35:10] water utility city of Greenco Springs just had a couple

[35:12] of comments. We've heard a lot tonight about a rate

[35:17] study. A rate study? A rate study. That's kind of

[35:21] a. Guide a lot of things. In this projected out

[35:24] five years. A lot of things can happen in five

[35:27] years. We did one in 2017 18 and we had

[35:32] a projection, I'm going to talk wastewater. Two years later.

[35:37] The legislature passed the law that you'll remove your influence

[35:41] from the river. And. In one snap of a gavel,

[35:46] the city was facing $20 million of expenditures. You had

[35:50] ten years to get it done. I think we're placing

[35:55] too much emphasis on a race study which. Is kind

[35:59] of a guide. Think of your personal budget. You plan

[36:04] things that might happen five years out. And how do

[36:08] you do? What do you do? To save for them,

[36:10] to prepare for them. Well, the next thing, we're having

[36:14] a child. Or a medical issue. So the budget that

[36:19] we have proposed, as Mike said, is based on actual

[36:24] expenditures. We know what we spent so trying to project

[36:29] what we're going to do over five years. And knowing

[36:32] what business cost us this year. And knowing that chemicals

[36:37] are going to go up some percentage. We pay electric

[36:42] rates too. We pay water rates. To. Fuel all of

[36:47] these things. So I think we have a pretty good

[36:50] handle on our expenditures. Once again, the rate study is

[36:56] very simply a guide to kind of give you a

[37:00] path knowing that there's going to be deviations all along

[37:04] the way, but I do appreciate your kind comments, and

[37:08] we do have a wonderful staff. I can tell you

[37:11] that. Not only my department, all of the departments in

[37:16] the city. No one is wasting money. No one. Is

[37:20] spending any elaborate way. We're doing everything we can to

[37:25] cut costs. Council member glisten came by today, and I

[37:29] showed her some of the things that my staff had

[37:33] done, where we had had bids from contractors, actual bids,

[37:37] and we did it ourselves. A little bit overtime, but

[37:40] we saved significant money. This is going on in all

[37:44] departments. I would just. Say you need to be cautious

[37:52] about all of us. Talk about a rate study. Not

[37:54] that it's not important. But many things change. And so

[38:00] I think you'll find. We had a low there between.

[38:06] When our finance director, Marley on the left. We had

[38:08] a loan there a couple of years now. We have

[38:11] Ms. Wong. Very excellent finance director. There's a tremendous amount

[38:18] of time been spent on this budget. Mike and I,

[38:21] Saturday nights. At 930 having budget discussions. I promise you,

[38:26] it's probably not what either of us wanted. To do

[38:30] and the things where we had a 20% proposal for

[38:33] water and the things we did to get it down

[38:36] to twelve. I don't want you to. Once again, I

[38:40] appreciate your kind and comments, but I don't want you

[38:42] to underestimate the amount of time. Seven days a week

[38:47] for a couple of months every time you see Sue.

[38:52] Ms. Wong. She has her computer. And. She's not looking

[38:56] at boats. She's looking at spreadsheets and calculating. I just

[39:01] want you to know there's a tremendous amount of work.

[39:04] That has gone into producing this budget. Lots of numbers

[39:07] being thrown out tonight. I haven't. Seen these emails. And

[39:12] I just want to caution you about. Caution you about

[39:15] that. Thank you. Over the past several months.

[39:26] This council has heard compelling testimony from each of the

[39:29] department heads tonight on water, wastewater. We are blessed to

[39:36] have a man of Scott's talents. And achievements working on

[39:43] behalf of Greenco Springs. When he sits down and tells

[39:46] you he put together a twelve month budget. Take that

[39:50] to the bank. Say what you will about the rate

[39:54] study. Dismiss it, discount it, do what you want. But

[40:01] something that's a little bit more impeachable is the audit

[40:04] statement. Every year, the city has its finances audited. And.

[40:11] You'll find that people will use it. For one reason

[40:15] or another. But tonight. We have an audit statement that

[40:21] says specifically. And I quote, however, the water fund continues

[40:27] to incur losses to capital contributions and transfers. The city

[40:34] has implemented rate changes which should help alleviate. These issues

[40:38] moving forward. We dismiss the rate study. A little bit

[40:44] more difficult to dismiss the audit. The information that was

[40:48] given tonight by Mr. Royal. Likewise very compelling. I will

[40:55] ask Mr. Royal. I don't know how many copies you

[40:57] have of this. But you take one look at this.

[41:02] In your hard stance. On ten cents a day. Changes.

[41:10] I compel counsel to give. Our copies to the front

[41:16] row and pass it around. Because we are in the

[41:21] game, we are competitive. Prices are going up. Prices are

[41:26] going up for everybody. This same conversation we're having here

[41:30] tonight is being had. An orange part is being had.

[41:33] At the county level is being had at the state

[41:36] level. Costs are not going down. Tariffs will continue to

[41:42] drive prices up for every department we have in this

[41:45] city and how we deal with it. How we deal

[41:49] with it will determine what we have to do next

[41:52] year. At the budget meetings. We can put it off.

[42:00] We can delay it. We can study. The crap out

[42:04] of it. We can get more race studies. We can

[42:07] get more wage studies, more. Compensation studies. But it's not

[42:12] going anywhere. At some point, you have to deal with.

[42:17] It. And that's where we are today. I look at

[42:21] that? Ten cents a day. Not to discount that, but

[42:28] in terms of safe water, And performing septic consumer systems.

[42:36] Difficult to vote against. This 12% increase. Thank you, Mr.

[42:45] Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Schultz. Okay, Mr.

[42:54] Stets, go ahead. I have one more thing to add.

[43:00] I totally disagree with. The idea that everything is going

[43:04] to continue going up, the cost of gases come down

[43:08] once it comes down, everything starts to come down. It

[43:12] hasn't really started yet, but it will. But I'm not

[43:15] saying I wouldn't vote for this. I'm just saying. We

[43:18] need to wait and make sure we have all the

[43:20] data in front of us. Like I said, I was

[43:23] on the fence. But to sit and act like that,

[43:25] everything's. Going to continue going up. We have a new

[43:28] person in the White House that is affecting some of

[43:30] this stuff going down and we. Give it time before

[43:34] we raise the rates on everybody, because we and I

[43:36] both know we're probably not going to lower them. That's

[43:40] just my opinion. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Stutts. Well, tonight

[43:44] before us. We have. A rate increase on water. It

[43:51] was originally 20%. And was it two weeks ago or

[43:56] whatever? We talked about this extensively. And I saw it.

[43:59] All five council members agreed that after compelling evidence from

[44:04] Mr. Schultz and getting the whole picture from Mr. Noel

[44:07] as well that we agreed that we need to do

[44:10] this. It's not 20% to 12% and next year we

[44:14] can talk about other percentages. I try not to be

[44:18] emotional about things here. I feel I have a job

[44:22] of getting consensus. On issues, looking at facts. But I'll

[44:25] tell you this. I will defend our city manager. Our

[44:29] assistant city manager and our directors. They are top class

[44:35] finance director. Mr. Schultz with the water department. Andy back

[44:41] here with electric. I've never seen such a professional group

[44:45] in my life. And I feel like they're being accused

[44:48] of shoddy work tonight. Shoddy work they have not seen

[44:52] shoddy where you may not agree and you may want

[44:55] more information and ask for something. But I feel compelled

[45:00] to defend them. That their heart's in this and they're

[45:03] doing the best job they can and if it's not

[45:06] absolutely perfect for you, thank you for being here and

[45:09] bringing to our attention, believe me. We listen and we

[45:12] adjust things. But I feel compelled to defend them tonight.

[45:17] Mr. Noel. Mr. Schultz. Thank you for the hard work

[45:21] you did on that water aid study, and I know

[45:24] that a lot of things were compromised because we didn't

[45:26] go to 20%. We talked about this. A couple of

[45:29] weeks ago. A lot of important things. I don't want

[45:33] to delay it another month. This next year we can

[45:36] talk about what the increase is we're proposing, like you

[45:39] talked. About maybe a 3% next year, but we can

[45:41] talk about that. But right now, what we have before

[45:45] us is the 12% that I thought a couple of

[45:47] weeks ago, we agreed that we need to pass. For

[45:50] the sake of the water department. And so that's what

[45:54] we have. Now, do I have a motion? I'll make

[45:57] a motion. To approve ordinance number. 2025.

[46:08] The city of Greencove Springs, Florida, modifying water rates by

[46:11] amending city code chapter 90. Utilities. Article three, water service

[46:17] division three, rates and charges, section 92 five three, entitled.

[46:28] Water usage and monthly minimum charges, providing for conflicts, severability,

[46:33] codification. Setting an effective date. Is there a second?

[46:44] Go ahead. Give a motion a second. Any further discussion?

[46:51] If not, we'll go to the vote. Council member Glisten.

[46:56] Yes. Council member Starnes. Yes. Council member suts. Yes.

[47:06] Vice Mayor Gaw. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank

[47:10] you. Item number two, Mr. Arnold. Mr. Mayor, this is

[47:16] ordinance number 16 2025, an ordinance of the City Council

[47:20] of Green coach. Frank, Florida modifying wastewater rates by amending

[47:24] city code chapter 90. Utilities article roman numeral four sewers

[47:28] and sewage disposal. Division three rates and charges, section 93

[47:34] 76 entitled. Which water rates providing for conflict, severability, codification

[47:39] and setting an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Noel. Thank

[47:44] you, Mr. Mayor. So the same general background information on

[47:47] this item. The 5% increase for wastewater that is requested

[47:53] this evening is based solely on. The proposed budget for

[47:59] fiscal year 26. Not based on outcome of the weight

[48:03] of the rate study. The budget was discussed at the

[48:07] August 5 council meeting, the August 7 workshop. We discussed

[48:11] it again. At the last council meeting and then again

[48:13] here this evening, the budget that we have proposed that

[48:18] you'll be asked to consider later on this evening includes

[48:20] the wastewater budget that requires a 5% increase in rates.

[48:26] To operate. And that is also after we pulled out

[48:29] more than $500,000. In needed critical capital projects for this

[48:36] coming year. We're gambling that we won't. Have any issues.

[48:40] With those items. Otherwise, it would have needed a 19%

[48:43] rate increase. So we're asking for 5%. That will generate

[48:47] an additional $194,000 in revenue over the next twelve months.

[48:52] And again, just for reference, the average 6000 gallon. Customer,

[48:58] which is the average for our system. Their monthly bill

[49:01] would go $3.01 based on the 5%. Thank you. Opening

[49:09] the public hearing. I do have some blue cards. First

[49:15] one. Mike Kelter.

[49:33] Thank you.

[49:44] Thank you.

[49:58] Mike counter, 630 merlin green coast springs, florida Mr. Mayor,

[50:01] members of council. A couple of things about what Van

[50:07] says refuse and Norwich park is not part of your

[50:10] water. System, so it doesn't count. Second thing in CCUA,

[50:15] one of the things he's including in there is. A

[50:20] couple of charges they had for environmental charges, which are

[50:23] very limited and only last a couple of months, so

[50:26] it's a temporary charge. So he may be overcharging the

[50:30] CCA number that he gave you. Scott says, don't pay

[50:35] too much attention. To. Studies. I will point out to

[50:40] Mr. Schultz that in the ten state standards, a rate

[50:44] study is. The gold standard. For boards to have in

[50:49] front of them when they consider a rate increase. So

[50:53] don't. Put that aside just because you think you know

[50:56] what you spend. You know what you spend. You spend

[50:59] a lot. Orange part was charged a little bit for

[51:03] a long time, and they still have. A very. Robust.

[51:09] Fund balance. They're not like us, where we have a

[51:12] lot of money and we've. Had it since. Sorry? The

[51:15] ban. You've been raising rates since 2016. Every year except

[51:20] for one year. So. Don't think that you can't do

[51:28] better and that you shouldn't be. Looking at your costs

[51:31] even better now. To. The vice mayor's point about the

[51:37] audits. The rest of the audit statement told you that

[51:42] you have a real problem. In the water system that

[51:46] you don't have enough funds in the fund balance, and

[51:49] they said. Either or both. Cut costs to raise rates.

[51:55] Now, we've been raising rates like crazy in the city.

[52:00] But you haven't been reducing costs. As I look at

[52:01] the amount of costs per gallon, of water perked. All

[52:08] the costs are operations costs, and our personnel costs skyrocketed

[52:11] in the last five years, and that has an effect

[52:15] on your fund balance. So don't tell them what half

[52:20] of what the auditor said the auditor told you. To

[52:25] either. Raise rates or reduce costs or both. I'd like

[52:30] to see some costs reduced. I know. Scott is very

[52:34] frugal, and he does a great job out there. It's

[52:37] where we get in trouble is up here on the

[52:39] board and at the management level that we get. Out

[52:43] of control. So I would ask you to look at

[52:46] those things. And in addition, Do something that everybody else

[52:51] has done in the state. They have raised their developer

[52:55] fees. You promised two years ago you would do that.

[52:58] And I'm still waiting to see. An increase in the

[53:02] developer fees for water and wastewater. You're half of what

[53:06] everybody else is you leaving the bar door open. Let

[53:09] all. Developers out the door without paying. Their share of

[53:16] developer fees, so get that done. Take and get your

[53:20] rate study done. You can probably do that if you

[53:23] did it in 20 hours in a weekend. You could

[53:25] probably have that done. In a couple of weeks and

[53:29] bring it back and then make a decision on these

[53:32] rate increases. Thank you very much. Thank you, Greg will.

[53:49] 218 North Magdale. Yeah. So now we're up to. Twenty

[53:58] one cents a day. And I'll just keep track as

[54:01] we go through this. It seems like. I know you've

[54:07] looked at this. All of you, but it seems like.

[54:13] If we have great planning, we wouldn't schedule to build

[54:16] the wastewater facilities over the top. Of the electric department's

[54:20] infrastructure. Costing the city an additional $10 million. So I

[54:27] know if you have great planning, you get your rate

[54:31] study done. And it's prepared so that the public can

[54:35] understand what's going on. So I don't see great planning.

[54:42] And that goes back to the point I made before.

[54:45] So again. It seems like. It happened with the electric

[54:51] rates a few weeks back. It's happening again with the

[54:55] water and wastewater, but it's always an emergency and we

[54:59] need to raise these rates. There's never. The association that

[55:06] the average homeowner has. Which is they have x number

[55:10] of dollars, and when they get an increase, they have

[55:13] to figure out to cut something else. So. Echo that

[55:18] we need to try to find ways to cut within

[55:20] the city. I know. It doesn't ever sound good. I

[55:26] was in an organization where on Wednesday. We found out

[55:30] we couldn't get bonds anymore. And we had to lay

[55:33] off 150 people by Friday. So situations are going to

[55:37] arise, and we do need revenues. We do need revenues

[55:41] in reserve, which we don't have. Unfortunately, that's occurred. The

[55:49] staff have been here and many of the council have

[55:51] been here. So without those reserves, we need money. But

[55:56] you don't necessarily have to always raise everything. And people

[56:00] who are out on the street can't do that. So

[56:05] again. We are at the lowest. I'm not saying we

[56:08] have to be the lowest. But I encourage, as we

[56:12] move forward in the future, That we look for ways.

[56:17] That we're doing the best we can to save the

[56:19] city money and therefore. Save the people who are responsible

[56:24] for paying everyone's salaries. Money so that they can live

[56:30] a better lifestyle. And be able to pay for their

[56:33] expenses. That's all I have to say. I know you're

[56:36] going to pass this. But I'll just keep reminding you

[56:43] how much everybody's paying more as I come. Back. Thank

[56:46] you. Thank you, Mr. Royal. I

[56:56] want to not just say dead on what I said

[56:58] before, but I want to address a couple of things.

[57:05] Numbers that I pulled came off of websites. I looked

[57:08] up CCOA, which are rate study and they got a

[57:10] rate card, and that's where it comes from. Orange park.

[57:14] You can go back and look at their calcium meetings

[57:16] tonight and you can see what they're addressing. I looked

[57:18] at their packet. I believe that Mike and Greg and

[57:25] everybody else is correct when they say that Scott, Andy

[57:28] and the department of people on the ground do an

[57:30] incredible job. I also believe that that's who put together

[57:33] this budget. You have heard me for two months ran

[57:36] rave about other aspects of the budget. And. Cut and

[57:42] scream and holler and whatever. You'll probably hear a little

[57:44] bit of that. Tonight when we talk about Miller's rate.

[57:47] But the end of the day, when it comes to

[57:48] rates. I don't think we have crazy rates, and I

[57:51] think that if you look at this sheet gave you.

[57:54] We don't have crazy rates. I would echo, please miss

[57:58] Star's request. You should do a five year budget, operating

[58:04] budget, whether the state requires it or not, you should

[58:06] know, they should incorporate whatever raises you're thinking about giving

[58:09] over the next five years to keep up with salaries.

[58:11] Whatever you got in your CIP budget. Everybody to everybody's

[58:15] comments. Here. It needs to be as transparent as possible.

[58:19] That for the next five years. Here's what we think

[58:22] we're going to do. And we'll measure. Each quarterly, every

[58:26] six months to see where we are so that pockets

[58:29] are in. So I'm big on that. I'm also big

[58:32] on what Mike said about developer. Business. No cost, no

[58:37] infrastructure is. Somebody told me the other day the idea

[58:41] what the impact fees are now for Clay County. I

[58:43] thought there are 13 or 14 or 18 going off

[58:46] on impact. Fees going up on those things for developers

[58:50] we need to do because. It doesn't need to be.

[58:54] The citizens if we have respect for these people. I

[58:59] think you passed like you did before. This is 5%,

[59:01] not 12%. There's no carry out in here. Like there

[59:04] was an orange bar. By the way, there's another. Five

[59:07] coming. Five coming. You won't do that until you lift

[59:10] those rates as you study. Them. So thank you for

[59:12] what you're doing. Thank you. I will remind everyone that

[59:16] we have in January. We have a special city. Council

[59:19] meeting plan to talk about utilities. And that's where we

[59:23] will plan out five years. On utilities. And have regular

[59:27] meetings on utilities because we serve not only on city

[59:31] council, but we really serve. As the utility board for

[59:35] the city as well. We'll have separate meetings, probably once

[59:38] a quarter, I believe. We'll discuss that in January. But

[59:42] that will help project out for five years for sure.

[59:46] On rates. Okay. That's all the cards I have for

[59:52] item number two, so therefore I'll close. The public hearing

[59:56] on item number two. Bring it to council. Are there

[1:00:00] any council members who would like to speak or you

[1:00:03] have questions or a motion on item number two. Mr.

[1:00:08] Suts, do you have anything? No. It was pretty much

[1:00:16] the same as the first one. I do agree. Scott

[1:00:21] does a great job, and he kind of won me

[1:00:23] over some of the things he was saying. So I

[1:00:26] just feel for the people that are going to be

[1:00:29] stuck paying a higher rate, but. We got to do

[1:00:31] what we got to do. Okay. So again. Context. This

[1:00:39] is a 5% rate increase that came at the expense.

[1:00:44] Of. What was it, $500,000? And not to beat it

[1:00:54] to debt, but can you? Describe. What made up that

[1:00:59] $600,000? That we are deferring. Scott Cholz water utility city

[1:01:05] Greencoat springs through the chair. So when you think about

[1:01:10] our sewer system, We have a collection system, so throughout

[1:01:15] the city there are pipes. Underground, flowing the sewage from

[1:01:19] businesses, homes, and they go into pump stations that pump

[1:01:24] ultimately coming to the wastewater treatment plan. So our focus

[1:01:28] on the reduction in the expenditures was on the collection

[1:01:31] side. So sewer lines and pump stations in those areas.

[1:01:37] You may recall. At two council meetings ago, there was

[1:01:42] a picture of me standing inside the old plant we

[1:01:45] took. Offline. And the walls are 25ft high and I'm

[1:01:50] standing on a hill of dirt reaching over the tank.

[1:01:54] Well, that dirt is not supposed to be in the

[1:01:56] wastewater treatment plant, and the way it gets in there

[1:01:59] is cave ins and the lines and dirt comes in

[1:02:02] and flows with the sewage and. Ultimately ends up at

[1:02:05] the plant. So. We've been in our budget every year

[1:02:11] we have a pot of money where. Approximately eight years

[1:02:17] ago, we did a survey of our sewer system, so

[1:02:20] we videoed, cleaned all our sewer lines and we videoed

[1:02:24] them and we identified failure points, and there are a

[1:02:29] lot of them. A lot of our sewer lines are

[1:02:30] made of clay. They're very old. And so what we

[1:02:34] tried to do, rather than some big, giant project where

[1:02:37] we go in and replace all these lines, which. Would

[1:02:41] be an estimate of about $10 million. Each year, we

[1:02:45] would take a pot of money, approximately $500,000. Then we

[1:02:49] would do what we call point repairs. So when we

[1:02:52] video those lines, we found failure points. We would go,

[1:02:56] in and fix those. And so we try to do

[1:02:58] a couple a year, and it might be we do

[1:03:01] a couple of point repairs in one list station that

[1:03:03] we rehab. So that's the nature of that expenditure. So

[1:03:10] we have taken that out this year. I don't want

[1:03:13] to do that every year, but these are the kind

[1:03:16] of things. That staff have spent. Many, many hours trying

[1:03:23] to figure out how do we minimize the impact of

[1:03:26] what we do to our customers. You may recall. The

[1:03:31] phase three where we eliminate the settle plan and bring

[1:03:34] it to Harbor Road and the associated expenditures. It was

[1:03:39] $8.7 million. And the state granted us $7 million. So

[1:03:47] when we talk about, once again, we did a rate

[1:03:50] study. When we did that rate study, We couldn't say.

[1:03:55] We're going to get a $7 million grant. We had

[1:03:58] to base it on. What are the actual costs? So

[1:04:03] one of the things. The 2024 rate study. Is not

[1:04:08] extremely inaccurate. There are some holes in it. If the

[1:04:13] budgets get passed tonight. And we now know the two

[1:04:19] main capital projects in wastewater and water. We know now

[1:04:24] what they cost, how much we got in grants, and

[1:04:28] we start feeding that into this rate study when we

[1:04:32] update it, and that will allow us to produce a

[1:04:36] more accurate rate. Study once again. That doesn't mean that

[1:04:39] every year, the two years you don't go back and.

[1:04:41] Look at it and see what has changed. You've heard

[1:04:46] mentioned the developer fees called capacity, connection fees. Mentioned a

[1:04:52] couple of times tonight. So what that is. If a

[1:04:57] home or a business is going to hook up to

[1:05:00] our sewer system. There is a capacity connection fee. The

[1:05:05] idea being that. They are taking capacity from your plant,

[1:05:09] so they need to contribute for the future of replacing

[1:05:13] that. Capacity in your plan. So we have done and

[1:05:18] have a draft. Capacity, connection fee, developer fee, impact fee,

[1:05:23] whatever you want to call it. We have a draft.

[1:05:27] We have run it through legal. One of the things

[1:05:31] that we need to do to finalize it, and we're

[1:05:34] looking at about. 60% to 65% increase in those fees,

[1:05:40] so. If you build a home right now to connect

[1:05:45] our sewer system, it's $3,000. To connect to our water

[1:05:49] system. It's 1000 those are going to go up in

[1:05:52] the 60% mark. So. Those numbers have to be reviewed

[1:06:00] by an attorney, and that attorney has done the cursory.

[1:06:03] Review and. We're doing some things. Once again, the budgets

[1:06:09] that we're talking about tonight. Will provide us the final

[1:06:14] information we need. To make decisions that, number one, are

[1:06:18] based on real data, and number two, Could be justified

[1:06:24] if challenged. So the capacity connection fee update. Is basically

[1:06:32] ready. And the things we're doing tonight or how we

[1:06:36] are going to finalize. Both the rate study and the

[1:06:39] capacity connection fee. Finalization. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[1:06:47] Do I have a motion? Please. The thing that worries

[1:06:54] me about. Is. The date for the affluent water that

[1:07:00] you talked about, Scott, and you don't have to. Come

[1:07:04] up. I worry about that a lot, but I know

[1:07:09] that you guys have done a lot on your own

[1:07:11] over there. And just to let the citizens know that.

[1:07:16] About other things that we've talked about having to spend

[1:07:20] money on. I walked out behind public works today and

[1:07:25] looked at this big barn out there where they house

[1:07:29] a lot of equipment. And I thought to myself, This

[1:07:34] would be a great place. A good size place and

[1:07:39] put a few offices in it for the electrical department

[1:07:43] and put their trucks under there and a lot of

[1:07:46] their equipment and not spend $5 million. So I want

[1:07:50] you to think, because I asked God, I said, well,

[1:07:54] what did this building cost? Over there at the water

[1:07:57] plant, and that was a $900,000 building. I just don't

[1:08:03] want. The public to think that we're not thinking this

[1:08:10] stuff through. But then when it comes to the state

[1:08:13] telling us we got to do something about this affluent

[1:08:16] water, then we got to do it. And we should

[1:08:20] have put things. We should have taken care of a

[1:08:23] lot of things. Years before now. Thank you. I'll make

[1:08:29] a motion. Okay. Approved ordinance. 205 on second reading,

[1:08:39] authorizing wastewater rate changes for fiscal year 2026. Second. We

[1:08:47] have a motion. Second. Any further discussion from council? If

[1:08:52] not. Go for the vote. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council

[1:08:57] member Sorens. Yes. Council member steps. Yes. Vice mayor golf.

[1:09:04] Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Move on

[1:09:09] to item number three. Mr. Arnold. Mr. Mayor, this is

[1:09:13] ordinance number 17 2025, entitled an ordinance of the city

[1:09:17] council. Of the city of Greencoach Springs, Florida, modifying reclaimed

[1:09:20] water rates by mittening city code, chapter 90, utilities article

[1:09:24] roman numeral nine, reclaimed water system, division three, rates and

[1:09:28] charges, section 95. 75. Entitled water usage and monthly minimum

[1:09:34] charges, providing for conflict, severability, codification, setting an effective date.

[1:09:40] Thank you, Mr. Noel. All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:09:43] So again, the same general comments to start. Off this

[1:09:46] one. For the reclaimed water system. We currently do not

[1:09:50] have any retail customers. However, within the next month, if

[1:09:55] not two, we should start having retail customers. Into subdivisions

[1:09:59] that are in our service area, Edgewater Landing in Black

[1:10:02] Creek Village. One thing I forgot to mention. On the

[1:10:06] water item, which is part of the driver for the

[1:10:09] 12%, is that when folks switch from potable water to

[1:10:13] reclaimed water. For their irrigation. We project that we're going

[1:10:18] to lose about $200,000 in revenue for the year in

[1:10:22] the water department because. It'll now be reclaimed water going

[1:10:26] to those lawns. We feel pretty good about that. Number

[1:10:29] because those folks already have irrigation meters. It's just a

[1:10:32] matter of switching the main lines over. So as long

[1:10:35] as they maintain their current irrigation habits, those are pretty

[1:10:39] solid numbers. So, being as we currently don't. Have retail

[1:10:45] customers for reclaim water. We are proposing as the rates

[1:10:49] are currently set to match the potable irrigation rates. So

[1:10:54] therefore, we're proposing a 12% increase on this to match.

[1:10:59] So we can keep them in line with the potable

[1:11:00] water rates. That's the request. Tonight. Okay. Thank you. Public

[1:11:06] hearing. I do have a couple of blue cards, Mr.

[1:11:09] Kelton. There we go.

[1:11:25] Money. Kelter 630 Milab near Greencoat Springs, Florida. Mr. Mayor,

[1:11:27] members of council no problem. With keeping the rates the

[1:11:31] same as the power of the water rates. Just kind

[1:11:34] of concerned that you're probably going to see people wandering

[1:11:37] less out there so you can see a decline. In

[1:11:40] there. As far as this grit removal thing that Mr.

[1:11:44] Schultz was talking about. Easy solution. Now, I think on

[1:11:48] the very expensive wastewater treatment plant we just built, they

[1:11:53] would have thought about putting. In grit removal. It's a

[1:11:59] cheap system. It gets the grid out. You don't wind

[1:12:05] up with a whole tank full of grit. Easy to

[1:12:08] do and cheap. Okay, rate study for developers fee. Where

[1:12:13] have I heard that before? A year ago. Last year

[1:12:18] at the same time. The impact fees for developers. And

[1:12:21] I heard. Oh, yeah. We got the rate study ready

[1:12:24] to go. Or taking it to the lawyers. We should

[1:12:26] have that thing right around the corner. I was bringing

[1:12:20] up. Right around the corner.

[1:12:30] Next year, next year will be right around the corner.

[1:12:32] Next year, next year. Be right around the corner. Frankly,

[1:12:36] you lost all credibility. As far as I'm concerned about

[1:12:39] right around the corner. It needs to happen. It needs

[1:12:41] to happen right now. I know you need great studies

[1:12:45] to do that. Should have probably gotten on this last

[1:12:49] rate study a little bit sooner, got it out to

[1:12:52] council. And got it to the attorneys and got that

[1:12:55] approved and get your developer fees approved. My biggest problem

[1:12:59] with the reclaimed water thing. And as far as that

[1:13:03] goes, any utility that we're serving outside. The city limits

[1:13:08] is the 25%. Surcharge that we give to people who

[1:13:14] don't live inside the city. They're already in their rates

[1:13:19] because. We're. Basically doing whack them all budgeting here in

[1:13:25] this city. We're moving all of these costs out of

[1:13:29] the general fund, which is bloated over into the utility.

[1:13:33] So the people who are living outside the city are

[1:13:36] paying a huge. Price. For services. They never get the

[1:13:43] services. That you all enjoy in terms of. Higher pay

[1:13:47] and things like that. They don't benefit from that. You

[1:13:52] need to take a look at that. It's not fair

[1:13:53] to those people. They should have some representation here, even

[1:13:58] though they cannot vote. In our city, and they cannot

[1:14:02] vote on the board, but. They should be reached out

[1:14:06] to and brought into the process so that they could

[1:14:09] have. A voice in how their rates are being managed.

[1:14:15] Great and or mismanaged as the case may be. They

[1:14:19] need to have a voice on it. I used to

[1:14:21] think. It's only 25%, but it was a lot cheaper

[1:14:25] then the way that we've. Raised rates here over the

[1:14:29] last ten years. It's become very expensive for them. Thank

[1:14:34] you. Thank you. We'll say on that issue, Mr. Kelter,

[1:14:40] that is an agenda item for January if you need

[1:14:42] salary meeting to discuss that. Okay.

[1:14:54] Nice. It's actually all the blue cards I have for

[1:14:56] that. Anybody else to speak on item? Number three. That's

[1:15:00] right. I have your card. Come on up, Mr. Will.

[1:15:06] Just keep it to the side. Sidewalk 218 North Magnolia.

[1:15:15] We're talking about this affluent thing. Mr. Schultz worked at

[1:15:18] Butlin Street, Buckman street. Is a huge wastewater facility. That

[1:15:23] JA operates. I doubt that they have a way to

[1:15:27] avoid discharging their millions and millions and millions of gallons,

[1:15:32] up to 20, 30 million. Into the river, so I

[1:15:36] think there's alternatives. I don't know that they've been examined.

[1:15:42] But what I want to talk about in terms of

[1:15:44] this. This is a case that proves my point about

[1:15:48] strategic planning and vision. The city needed to ensure they

[1:15:53] had service territory. That they could supply. Reclaim water to

[1:16:00] it's been common knowledge in the utility industry because I

[1:16:03] worked in the insurance industry since 97. 98. That you

[1:16:08] can only put reclaim water in new construction areas because

[1:16:13] you have to have a trenches. Open and easily. Accessible

[1:16:17] and not have a bunch of other utilities. So the

[1:16:20] idea that we went down the road to develop a

[1:16:23] reclaimed water system. Which is a white elephant. We don't

[1:16:29] have any more service territory. It's extremely expensive to put.

[1:16:35] That infrastructure in Phil is what it's called. So unless

[1:16:39] you make a mandated law where you force people to

[1:16:42] do it, It's not going to be able to be

[1:16:45] done. So basically you're maxing out your capacity. You have

[1:16:49] limited revenue opportunities. And. You spent millions of dollars. I

[1:16:56] don't know the exact number, but I do know you.

[1:16:58] Spent $1.7 million of DEp money on a study. That

[1:17:03] could have been a debunked in 1998, that there's no

[1:17:07] feasibility for the infill in green coast springs for reclaim

[1:17:10] water. This just demonstrates. A bad decision that was made.

[1:17:16] I don't know who made it, but it continues. And

[1:17:21] there is no place for the water. Reclaim water to

[1:17:24] be pumped because we didn't protect our service area. That

[1:17:28] requires strategic planning. And coordination with our legislative people, which

[1:17:34] wasn't done. So this utility, no matter how efficiently it's

[1:17:39] operated, it's never going to be. Able to have economy

[1:17:41] of scale, which you need in the utility business. I

[1:17:45] would recommend that you turn it all over to CCUA.

[1:17:48] Thank you. So the blue cards. I'll close the public

[1:17:55] hearing. Bring to council. Does anyone have any comments, questions

[1:18:01] or a motion on item number three? Make a motion.

[1:18:20] Make a motion to approve ordinance. On second reading, authorizing

[1:18:26] reclaim water rate changes for fiscal year 2026. Have a

[1:18:34] motion to second any discussion from council. If not. Did

[1:18:41] somebody say something? Mr. Sets.

[1:18:51] I'm good. Okay. Did he second? Sorry about that. Okay,

[1:19:00] Aaron. Council member Glisson. Yes. Council member Starnes. Yes. Council

[1:19:05] member. Versut. Yes. Vice Mayor Gong? Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes.

[1:19:12] Motion passes. Okay, thank you. Item number four. Mr. Arnold.

[1:19:20] Is that you? Well, there will be something to discuss.

[1:19:26] And our finance director is going to handle that. There's

[1:19:27] no ordinance to read the title. Too. That's required by

[1:19:29] law. Okay. Thank you. So we have Miss Swan. Thank

[1:19:34] you, Mr. Mayor. Suhang, finance director this item is on

[1:19:39] the proposed ministry for fiscal year 2026. You have heard

[1:19:46] those numbers a number of times already. So the proposed

[1:19:51] 5.3 mils is the same as the current ministry. However.

[1:19:59] It's an increase of 7.32% over the rollback rate of

[1:20:03] 4.9386. At 5.3, metastrade is going to generate 4.3 million

[1:20:11] in property tax. Revenue. We budget our property tax revenue

[1:20:16] at 97%. So for the city, the budget is 4.1.

[1:20:22] Of tax revenue and for CRA is 43,000. Revenue. And

[1:20:29] again. This five one three is based on? The concert

[1:20:34] direction of option two. From last week's meeting. So staff's

[1:20:40] recommendation is for the council to approve resolution number. R.

[1:20:44] 23, 2025. Establishing the military for fiscal year 26 at

[1:20:51] 5.3, which is the increase of 7.32% over the rollback

[1:20:57] rate of 4.9, 380. Thank you, Ms. Wong. I'll open

[1:21:04] the public hearing. Mr. Kelter.

[1:21:21] Mr. Mayor or Mike Counter, 630 Myrtle Avenue, Green Coast

[1:21:24] Springs, Florida. Mr. Mayor, members of council, I continue to

[1:21:27] advocate for the rollback rate plus. The 5.1613, which is

[1:21:34] less than the current property tax millage of 5.30. Over

[1:21:39] the past five years, city has raised property taxes 47%

[1:21:43] while inflation has been 25%. While taking more money out

[1:21:48] of the pockets of Greencoat spring citizens, the city manager

[1:21:52] and his staff has managed to wipe out millions of

[1:21:54] dollars of emergency funds that we need to face a

[1:21:58] disaster. I haven't seen anything like this before in my

[1:22:02] life. Mayor Johnson, you said two. Weeks ago that. There's

[1:22:07] a big victory that we didn't raise taxes again. That's

[1:22:11] not a big victory when you keep it up at

[1:22:13] record levels. That's. A sad, tragic defeat for the people

[1:22:18] who are paying these bills. Ma'am said that he is

[1:22:23] comfortable giving more money to the city because that way

[1:22:26] he knows the city can spit it and build a

[1:22:30] fund. I would like to ask Van sometime where the

[1:22:33] one he pays his quarterly taxes to the federal government.

[1:22:36] Does he give them a lot more? Money because he's

[1:22:39] more comfortable. That the government knows best what to do

[1:22:42] with his money. Then he does himself. I don't. Think

[1:22:46] so. You're giving. Pay increases. Of 3%.

[1:22:57] In this thing. In this millage. Okay. Disabled veterans aren't

[1:23:04] going to get that much. Right now. It's looking right

[1:23:06] about 2.6. Why are we paying? Civilian government employees a

[1:23:12] bigger coa than disabled veterans. Get that to me is

[1:23:16] obscene. And in this city that has so many. Disabled

[1:23:21] debts. You should not go higher than. What va is

[1:23:25] paying. These disabled vets. My proposal to Dr. Robback. Rate

[1:23:32] plus provides our city with $379,321 extra. Dollars than you

[1:23:39] had last year. Bucket, providing $146,612 for employee raises and

[1:23:47] still gives $100,000. $100,429 back to the people who are

[1:23:54] paying this bill to begin with. They get the smallest

[1:23:57] cut. You're getting the biggest cut here in the city

[1:24:01] hall. Okay. It would seem fair to me that they

[1:24:04] should get something. Okay. Our employees are not underpaid. I

[1:24:09] appreciate Mr. Johnson. Getting that salary study out after me

[1:24:16] harping on it for so long, we haven't. Been able

[1:24:19] to read it in the last 2 hours look more

[1:24:21] like a hail mary than the bona fide effort to

[1:24:25] let people really know what you got there. But think

[1:24:29] about this. Employees are given a choice. In that rate

[1:24:34] study to move 100 miles away to make a couple

[1:24:38] of dollars more. I don't think that's going to happen.

[1:24:43] That's not realistic in this economy. So we should look

[1:24:45] at these things a little bit. Closer to the next

[1:24:48] several months as far as rates or pay. Is concerned,

[1:24:53] but not make hasty, stupid decisions like we've made over

[1:24:56] the last five years. Thank you very much. Susan pritchett.

[1:25:09] Susan pritchett, 218 north magnolia, greencaft springs. I think

[1:25:19] we've talked a lot about the residents of Green guest

[1:25:21] Springs. I think we should think about the business owners

[1:25:25] of Greencove Springs. There have been a lot of improvements

[1:25:30] on Walnut street, and we were kind of shocked when

[1:25:34] we got our tax, proposed taxes from the county, and

[1:25:39] there's a $500. A year proposal for being part of

[1:25:44] the community development district. So that works out to $42.50

[1:25:49] a month for the folks on business on Walmont. Street.

[1:25:55] Add that to Greg's total. And. With all of the

[1:26:00] raises. In the various parts of the utility. That's an

[1:26:06] awful lot of comic books. An awful lot of music

[1:26:09] lessons that have to be given. It's going to affect

[1:26:13] folks, and our little businesses are going to go somewhere

[1:26:17] else. They simply cannot keep up with the way the

[1:26:22] rates are going up. So I just want you to

[1:26:26] hold, to kind of think about that. It's not just

[1:26:29] the residence. It's the business owners. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

[1:26:35] Thank you. Mr. Tong. Mr. Mayor. Al thompson, tronkio 605

[1:26:45] myrtle avenue, green, coal springs. Mr. Mayor council members. I

[1:26:52] agree with what Mike has said so far. I'm going

[1:26:57] to skip that part, but I'd like to ask a

[1:26:59] question of you. You fought hard to get salaries raised

[1:27:05] for people based upon. A survey that you paid for,

[1:27:11] which we got a copy of in just the last

[1:27:14] couple of days not looked at it. And some of

[1:27:17] the comparisons to me are ridiculous. But the cities that

[1:27:21] are being compared. But that being said, The city. Citizens

[1:27:27] of this city have paid taxes. More taxes on everything.

[1:27:34] Okay. Higher rates on everything. You have a simple thing

[1:27:37] like a rollback rate and cutting off a few dollars.

[1:27:41] You can't even look at that. So when are you

[1:27:43] going to start considering the people? Of this community because

[1:27:46] people are really upset about it. You have no idea.

[1:27:51] That's basically all I have to say. If you'd like

[1:27:53] to answer that question. I'll wait here. Why are you

[1:27:57] fighting like Banshee warriors? To give raises which they deserve.

[1:28:03] But you don't want to cut anywhere else, and you

[1:28:05] don't want to cut. The military. Could somebody answer that

[1:28:08] for me? Council agreed that we wanted to get raises

[1:28:15] to our employees. Some of them did not get one.

[1:28:17] For a couple of years, and that's why we have

[1:28:19] that percentage. And the others did not come up to

[1:28:25] the 50th percentile on the weight study that we all

[1:28:27] agreed last year we should bring our employees to. So

[1:28:30] that's the short answer that we agreed that we can't

[1:28:33] just go a year without giving raises. Some employees two

[1:28:37] years in a row. They like everybody else. There's inflation

[1:28:43] and. We all agreed it was the right thing to

[1:28:45] do. And the people of Green Coast. I guess that's

[1:28:50] not going to be answered. Why you won't cut the

[1:28:54] millage rate. And look at the budget. There are things

[1:28:58] in the budget that can be cut, I can assure

[1:29:00] you. Okay? Yeah. After the public hearing service, we're going

[1:29:04] to discuss the military. Thank you. Yes. Sir. Mr. Will.

[1:29:26] So Greg will. 18 North Magnolia don't have a lot

[1:29:31] to add. I do want to urge. That we establish

[1:29:36] robot grade plus. Everything has gone up. Again. It's a

[1:29:44] double whammy because. The county comes through and raises everybody's

[1:29:49] valuation. By percent. And then you hold the military. And

[1:29:56] with inflation, you're getting more money. So. A 40% increase

[1:30:02] in property taxes. Your rate gives you even more money.

[1:30:08] So at some point, I would like to see cut.

[1:30:13] Some funds cut. And in terms of. The salary employee

[1:30:19] study. Who you compare to has a significant impact when

[1:30:25] you look at the 50% down number. So I have

[1:30:27] to agree with the last speaker. That you take issue

[1:30:32] with some of those comparisons we should be comparing with,

[1:30:35] like, Northeast Florida. I've seen this in business, where management

[1:30:40] looks at salaries for high end places for their raises.

[1:30:45] And then for the rank and final, they use low.

[1:30:48] I'm not saying we do. That. What I'm saying is

[1:30:51] we use a real rate study, a real salary study

[1:30:54] analysis. People need to get pay raises. Everybody has been

[1:31:00] out there working for other people, and you need those

[1:31:02] raises to keep people motivated. But there's also benefits to

[1:31:06] having a job. Where your commute is 5 miles, five

[1:31:11] minutes. So people make lifestyle choices, but. I don't support.

[1:31:20] That salary study, and I do support. A rent rollback,

[1:31:24] which would still give you more money. So you wouldn't

[1:31:28] be able to raise things as much, but you wouldn't

[1:31:30] have. To cut as much, so please consider that people

[1:31:35] are bleeding. Everything has gone up. And the civilian sector.

[1:31:43] Hasn't gotten the pay raises everybody else has, and we're

[1:31:45] paying these fees and. Because you can pay it doesn't

[1:31:49] mean mom and pop can pay it. Thank you. Thank

[1:31:53] you. Mr. Royal.

[1:32:04] First of all, I told you all this in the

[1:32:11] past. I agree with Ms. Putchett. I think that. Businesses

[1:32:15] bore the brunt of the tax increases that we've had

[1:32:18] over the last three to five years. We own homes.

[1:32:23] 3%, in fact. When inflation was going up in values

[1:32:29] of homes going up six, seven, 8%, 3%. Businesses 10%

[1:32:34] a year from Gosh knows however long. And that's if

[1:32:37] the millage stays the same. The salary study. IPL was

[1:32:42] flawed. Told you that at several meetings I've been to.

[1:32:45] That the end needs to be looked at. So I

[1:32:47] originally supported number one, which was hold the military. Option

[1:32:53] number two. Which is? The one that I bought on

[1:32:54] the other night. But she said that was where you

[1:32:57] were leaving. And looking at that, the 3% raise, I

[1:33:00] get that. Here's the part that I do want to

[1:33:03] give you some kudos for. Because it's the first time

[1:33:05] at council. Innumerable years. Not only. Did you not raise

[1:33:13] the miller's rate? But when you went to look for

[1:33:15] the cuts, of $400,000. $5,000 made a difference. We didn't

[1:33:19] just go out and add some revenue. Stream or come

[1:33:22] up with some hokum number. I looked at 19 departments.

[1:33:26] There are 19. Different line items. That $5,000 meant something,

[1:33:29] $10,000 meant something. If you all will do your job

[1:33:34] and require everybody else to do their job every $5,000.

[1:33:37] You can put aside. What happens now is that rate

[1:33:40] increase right now that we're. Asking the citizens to meet.

[1:33:43] Everybody else sits behind me. All of that actually goes

[1:33:46] in option. Number two to the bottom line, it goes

[1:33:48] into a reserve. And that reserve is gone on important

[1:33:51] because, as you said, it's been wiped out. We've been

[1:33:54] in the negative. We've continued to be in the negative,

[1:33:57] and I hope that you all, on a quarterly basis

[1:34:00] will know. Absolute. Here's where we stand in that budget.

[1:34:05] And if we deviate and we go over then we

[1:34:08] cut something out somewhere else. And if we go under,

[1:34:10] I'm going to bring up an item number eight. We

[1:34:13] want to know what happens to that excess money that

[1:34:15] we sell. Out something. If you sell it off, it

[1:34:17] doesn't need to go to someplace else. Everything. That you

[1:34:20] all do everything the department has to do need to

[1:34:22] go to build that fund up. Okay, I got to

[1:34:24] contribute more. If my businesses. That I operate in those

[1:34:29] that just got land for buildings for. So be it

[1:34:33] this time around. I expect better. But I will tell

[1:34:37] you the fact that you've held the right this time.

[1:34:41] Is a relief. Thank you. This last card I have

[1:34:46] on item number four. Normally I

[1:34:55] just like to sit and listen to the debate. But

[1:35:01] my references regarding the employees. I have always been a

[1:35:06] great supporter. That's me. I'm talking about me. Great supporter

[1:35:11] of our employees. So I want to be brief in

[1:35:14] what I say. If we don't take care. Of our

[1:35:22] employees. They end up elsewhere. And we have raved about

[1:35:28] how wonderful. Our employees are here in the city. Have

[1:35:33] we not? We've also heard you all say they are

[1:35:38] great employers. They do a great job. So if we

[1:35:42] lose. Them to other counties. It's already hard to

[1:35:51] recruit, especially for our police department. It's very hard to

[1:35:57] recruit good workers. I say do what you have to

[1:36:01] do to keep our employees. And that's as brief as

[1:36:07] I can be. I got a whole lot more here,

[1:36:08] but. I'm just going to say I'm going to stick

[1:36:10] with that. We have great employees. Take care of them.

[1:36:14] Thank you. I will close the public hearing. We have

[1:36:22] an email that came in. For me. Okay, Mr. North.

[1:36:33] All right. This email says, I apologize for not being

[1:36:37] able to attend. Our school is having an open house.

[1:36:39] And I am prioritizing my children for my physical presence

[1:36:42] this evening did not want to go without this spread

[1:36:44] into the record. I do not envy the position you

[1:36:48] all are in. I know this is a matter of

[1:36:50] trying. To make the best decision for everyone. Our employees,

[1:36:53] our citizens, everyone. The budget trickles down to this is

[1:36:56] why I have gained so many interesting tan lines over

[1:36:58] the years. Standing on the corner. Waving science for whoever

[1:37:01] I thought was going to be the best to represent

[1:37:03] us. Well, I hope you'll remember as you make your

[1:37:06] vote tonight. Is that. Is the below. The poverty line

[1:37:10] residence we have, while a $35 increase per month for

[1:37:15] water is a nuisance for most of us. There are

[1:37:18] many people in our community that will cause them to

[1:37:20] make a choice between food, medication, and the utility bill.

[1:37:24] Adding that on top of Melodge, rate increases from the

[1:37:27] city, the county, the school board, all the little bumps

[1:37:30] add up to a hill that is a lot of

[1:37:31] our seniors and low. Income residents can't climb while they

[1:37:35] are forced to make that decision. So many items in

[1:37:37] our budget could be restructured or eliminated to give a

[1:37:40] little relief to our struggling population. I am no stranger

[1:37:43] to anyone on council. Large scale events for the community

[1:37:46] are my favorite thing. To volunteer for, the more I'm

[1:37:49] learning about just how much our events are costing us.

[1:37:52] The more concerned I've become with what we are prioritizing

[1:37:54] over what our residents and employees really need. We have

[1:37:58] three major cultural events every year, river fest, soul food

[1:38:01] and Christmas. On walnut. We also have a nearly monthly

[1:38:04] event of food truck Friday. A lot of us believe

[1:38:07] these events were revenue neutral. They are not. In fact,

[1:38:10] they cost an extreme amount of money. I am not

[1:38:13] coming with complaints or demands of removing these budget items.

[1:38:15] I'm coming with ideas to at a minimum, reduce the

[1:38:19] burden of the residents to fund these events. Most of

[1:38:22] these ideas. Center around community local business involvement to perform

[1:38:25] the tasks needed to make these events successful. Rather than

[1:38:28] paying high overtime rates for simple tasks. Below are a

[1:38:33] few ideas I've worked on for making our events more

[1:38:35] cost effective. I believe we need a volunteer board for

[1:38:38] events that may even be something that could be assigned

[1:38:42] to the CAC. They would be an incredible liaison between

[1:38:45] the city and potential volunteers for the events. If the

[1:38:48] CAC is unwilling, I am willing, as always, to build.

[1:38:52] A network of citizen volunteers to work with the city

[1:38:54] and gathering outside resources to downsize the event's budget. Businesses,

[1:38:59] churches, organization sponsoring events. Picking up trash after bagging and

[1:39:04] placing for trash pickup during regular hours, placing barricades instead

[1:39:08] of paying overtime to move them and placing them off

[1:39:11] the street, public works can place on corners during business

[1:39:14] hours. Allow businesses or churches to have a free booth

[1:39:18] set up to get info out on their outfit. Alcohol

[1:39:21] sales in byob. Or ed bring an alcohol truck beer

[1:39:28] garden for revenue. Wine tasting, maybe tickets sold to a

[1:39:32] Reds after party or corner pocket after party. At a

[1:39:36] discounted rate, but the city gets a cut. City merchandise

[1:39:40] sales Citi T shirts cove life items. Restrooms closed public

[1:39:45] restrooms to end the need for closed public restrooms to

[1:39:48] in need for during event maintenance or remove porta potties

[1:39:52] during food truck Friday. Why are we paying? For both.

[1:39:56] VIP seating, Renaissance roped off for groups, rug on grass

[1:40:00] shaded pool pavilion, front row, vip fireworks. Viewing at Riverfest

[1:40:06] add ons to make vip experience. Not a well formed

[1:40:09] idea, but brainstorming nonetheless. Ban costs. Tip the band with

[1:40:13] QR codes to Venmo or other money app guaranteed. Minimum

[1:40:16] for band revenue to entice talent to perform without fear

[1:40:19] of low weights for performance. Open mic once a year.

[1:40:23] Consider quarterly for the food truck Friday events rather than

[1:40:26] ten times per year. Consider limited vendors in addition to

[1:40:30] food trucks. In event items like light up any event

[1:40:34] items like light up toys for the kids fans face.

[1:40:37] Painting. This will be a good vendor add on, split

[1:40:39] the money. PD not at every intersection for Christmas parade.

[1:40:44] And we have volunteer road guards to limit the number.

[1:40:46] Of officers at events partner with an inflatables rental company.

[1:40:50] One to three inflatables wristband based. City gets cut, vendor

[1:40:53] gets the rest. No charge to vendor. I understand half

[1:40:58] of what I'm looking at in the budget, but what

[1:40:59] I do see is a six figure line item for

[1:41:01] code enforcement. If we can make that a reactive service.

[1:41:06] At a part time rate that would put a huge

[1:41:08] dent towards saving enough money for a coal increase with

[1:41:10] employees that citizens actually want. While I know some of

[1:41:13] you are under the impression it's only the violators who

[1:41:16] do want full time code enforcement. That is not the

[1:41:20] case. At all. We have had many conversations as a

[1:41:23] community, and the overwhelming sentiment, with a few exceptions, Do

[1:41:27] not like the idea of heavy handed surveillance of our

[1:41:29] private homes akin to Hoa living. I would imagine the

[1:41:32] few exceptions would decrease in numbers rapidly if they knew

[1:41:35] just how much it cost us taxpayers. Hope

[1:41:44] chestnut. Yes. Thanks. Mr. No. May I say so? Sure.

[1:41:49] Are you finished, Mr. No. Yes, ma'am. She does have

[1:41:54] one comment. Thank you, sir. I want to tell. Them,

[1:42:03] I guess. Here. Pay rates for the city. Means a

[1:42:09] pay cut for the citizens. But there's one thing I

[1:42:12] want to caution about. I want to caution the mayor

[1:42:16] on this. Or the city manager, the clerk, whomever it

[1:42:24] is. Our city attorney. That we want people to come

[1:42:30] to the meetings. If you let one person just like.

[1:42:37] We've had. A paper for Mr. Royal. And then we're

[1:42:43] reading one again for Ms. Chessel. If we keep doing

[1:42:48] that. We want to get people to these meetings, so

[1:42:53] I would caution everybody. About all these readings that are

[1:42:58] coming in, whether it's one, two or three of them.

[1:43:02] There needs to be caution on this. Okay? Yeah. The

[1:43:06] city clerk, city manager, working on a policy procedure. Will

[1:43:12] come out shortly. All right. So I already closed the

[1:43:17] public hearing council. Are there any comments, questions? Or emotion

[1:43:24] on item number four. Just Mr. Mayor. One. Final comment

[1:43:30] on. This back and forth. This north and back. Compensation

[1:43:35] for the employees. I mean, every meeting. We've centered on

[1:43:42] that. You've heard the complaints about. Adjusting compensation levels. To

[1:43:51] the 50th percentile. That came out of several different compromises.

[1:43:57] I sound like a broken record. The one thing you

[1:44:00] do not hear when we talk about compensation. Performance. Nobody's

[1:44:08] come up to the lectern and said, you know what?

[1:44:11] Public works. Man, sidewalks are a mess. We started tonight's

[1:44:15] meeting, young lady, third chair back. With compliments. About the

[1:44:22] performance of the public works department. I can sense this.

[1:44:25] Every department head in the back. Of this room from

[1:44:28] the police chief. To Scott, who runs the water department

[1:44:34] of the state of Florida. About how many complaints they

[1:44:38] get. My water quality. My electrical service, the delivery of

[1:44:46] electric to my house. Throughout all these budget meetings in

[1:44:50] my career here as a city council member, I don't.

[1:44:53] Remember. I shouldn't say any because early on there were

[1:44:59] some complaints, but in the last several years. Not one.

[1:45:07] So if you don't want to pay for the employees,

[1:45:09] they just didn't wind. Up here by accident. We have

[1:45:16] quality people. And quality people deliver quality services. And that's

[1:45:23] what costs money. Even if the 50th percentile, which we

[1:45:31] still. Haven't. Completed. Which I'm embarrassed by. But yeah.

[1:45:43] I'll defend any salary increase. To these guys in the

[1:45:47] delivery of those public services that we all enjoy. Thank

[1:45:51] you. Thank you. Any other council members comments, questions or

[1:45:55] motion? I had something. I'm sorry. Mr. Go ahead. Mr.

[1:46:02] We had a proposal. A few weeks back where we

[1:46:09] funded some raises with the traffic control devices. Now we've

[1:46:15] gone back and took that off, which. It was more

[1:46:18] money that would come in to pay for it, but

[1:46:20] now we've just rearranged the funds. We haven't changed anything.

[1:46:24] We've just cut stuff that was necessary. So what's going

[1:46:27] to happen? When, say, the police department has a $12,000

[1:46:32] ac unit goes out, they're going to come back to

[1:46:34] us for an emergency funding for that because we cut

[1:46:37] it out of their budget. So I don't understand. Just

[1:46:42] rearranging the money. The money is still the same. Nothing's

[1:46:45] changed with the proposal we have on the table now.

[1:46:49] And I don't have a problem with the raises. With

[1:46:55] the 2.3. Percent cost of living raise. Therefore, I'm going

[1:47:00] to make a motion. To revise the resolution number r

[1:47:07] 23 2025. To change the millage rate to. 5.16.

[1:47:39] What happened, Mr. Mayor? Did you call for a second?

[1:47:49] Joe the second. 2nd okay, so we have a motion,

[1:47:53] a second discussion. I do have discussion on that. Okay,

[1:47:57] go ahead. What if we go back? If next year.

[1:48:06] That. Property stuff starts, taxes and stuff start going up.

[1:48:14] At least at the 5.1 we won't go up much

[1:48:17] higher. But if we start at 5.3. That's my thoughts.

[1:48:28] Okay. I know we had a lot of discussion on

[1:48:32] this. Honestly, I'm a little surprised. We talked about this

[1:48:35] a lot over the last couple of weeks. And I

[1:48:38] thought we agreed on standing firm on 5.3 because. Our

[1:48:42] fund balance is low. Our employees. Is there some kind

[1:48:46] of. Raise and the budget is balanced. 5.3 military.

[1:48:59] I'm going to vote no on this. Period, I believe.

[1:49:05] We should go. With not increasing or decreasing the military.

[1:49:11] Other council members comments. Let me follow the reasoning here.

[1:49:16] So we deferred expenses to the tune of 400 grand.

[1:49:21] To get to this point where we could deliver. The

[1:49:26] cost of living allowance increase to all employees. One of

[1:49:30] those expenses was a $12,000 ac unit. That the PD

[1:49:37] doesn't quite need yet, but might. Need on an emergency

[1:49:43] basis. But we took those funds out. And yet the

[1:49:49] answer. To that is to lower. The revenue that the

[1:49:55] city is going. To collect. I can't follow that. To

[1:50:04] me if you were worried about the AC unit. In

[1:50:09] addition to deferring additional expenses, The answer is, well, just

[1:50:16] raise the tax rate and incorporate all those things that

[1:50:20] may become emergencies. Lowering the tax rate and lowering the

[1:50:24] revenue. Adds to the potential emergency expenses that you may

[1:50:31] incur. In the year coming up. How does that work?

[1:50:38] This does not change the fact that you're going to

[1:50:40] give everybody a 2.3%. Raise. It just changes the fact

[1:50:48] that we're going to give the citizen some relief. We

[1:50:51] just raised the water rate, we've raised the electric rate,

[1:50:54] we've raised everything. We need to show them that we

[1:50:58] care a little bit instead of just tacking more and

[1:51:00] more on them. This is not going to change. If

[1:51:03] you looked at the proposal that we had, last Thursday,

[1:51:06] four a was proposed at a 2.3 cola. It reduced

[1:51:11] some of the funding. But it still kept everything pretty

[1:51:15] much aligned. With what option? Number two was. The only

[1:51:19] difference is it shows the people we care that we're

[1:51:21] raising everything on them. And I was never in agreement

[1:51:26] with the other millage rate. I told you that. So

[1:51:29] when we make a blanket statement? The council agreed. Council

[1:51:32] did not agree. I didn't agree. Mr. Thought you agreed,

[1:51:39] except for the gym memberships. That was my record. I

[1:51:43] gave you an option. If we took the gym membership

[1:51:46] out, I would. Consider option number two. You all act

[1:51:49] like I'd lost my mind, tried to save the city.

[1:51:52] $8,000 that we could use for stuff they really need,

[1:51:56] but nobody wanted to. Listen to that. So this is

[1:51:58] my recourse now, is to try to get some money.

[1:52:01] Back for our citizens, so. We have a second? If

[1:52:03] it doesn't pass, fine. We'll do something different, but. I

[1:52:06] think it's worth entertaining a vote and see what happens.

[1:52:11] Okay. Any other remarks? Mr. I don't have my

[1:52:21] Thursdays meetings with me, but the four a is proposing

[1:52:26] that we make the. Millie 5.116. And two point. 3%

[1:52:35] for increases across the board. For all employees. Is that

[1:52:39] right? Correct. Okay. And I'm trying to remember. I'm all

[1:52:46] about. The reserve fund. So just bear with me here.

[1:52:52] Was that $331,000 that we would then have in reserve.

[1:52:58] 379,321. And the other went to 400. And.

[1:53:07] That amount for the reserve was 400. And 21 370.

[1:53:18] It's like $100,000 more. About. Yes.

[1:53:29] But it does give some of the citizens, some of

[1:53:31] the business owners like they were talking about. Some relief

[1:53:34] on their taxes. All right. So the motion that we

[1:53:44] have would be a 2.3 instead of a 3%. Increase

[1:53:49] for. Raises. And about 100. Am I right? About 100,000

[1:53:54] less going to the. Fund balance. It's like 90, I

[1:54:00] think. Well, it was 379 321. If we vote this

[1:54:08] percentage in versus. Four. 21 370.

[1:54:22] Okay, so, Mr. Stuts, of course. And Mr. Cleston, where

[1:54:26] do you stand on this? Can. May I ask? I

[1:54:30] haven't changed anything. You would vote for that? Yes, sir.

[1:54:33] Okay. For the motion. So. There's two votes in the

[1:54:36] storms. Are you voting yes or no on this? What

[1:54:40] do you think? I think this is a three two.

[1:54:45] Correct? Yeah. So you only need three votes to pass

[1:54:50] this. You'll have to tell us now. That's fine. We're

[1:54:55] just trying to get a read on where the stands.

[1:54:57] We could go to a vote. I would think about

[1:55:00] four points. Six. It's not that much money, but remember,

[1:55:06] my eyes on the reserve. So the motion. That's been

[1:55:09] made. I could support it. Okay. I could support two

[1:55:16] also. We think Mr. I'm stuck on one, I'm stuck

[1:55:21] on two. Four is irresponsible. In what way? The percentage?

[1:55:28] On the wage increase in the fund balance in just

[1:55:31] about every way. The fund balance. And the parsing of

[1:55:36] the. Cola. No, thank you. Mr mayor.

[1:55:48] It's hard. I agree with Mr. Gall. It's just so

[1:55:53] many different things to think about. Bringing it down for

[1:55:57] the citizens. Give a nep relief. And then you think

[1:56:03] about our longer form. Staff employees. Bringing that to two,

[1:56:09] three. The reason we were doing 3% again is because.

[1:56:18] Many of our employees got no raise, and so we're

[1:56:21] looking at a 3% this year. And. We still are

[1:56:27] not addressing the 50th percentile. Employees. Bring them up to

[1:56:31] the 50th percentile. So that's why we're proposing 3% across

[1:56:35] the board. Honestly to keep them in the game while

[1:56:38] we reassess the wage study. And we are we're going

[1:56:42] to update the wage study, right, Mr. Kennedy, and do

[1:56:46] an educational process for the whole board and look at

[1:56:49] some things for next year about the percentiles and have

[1:56:52] agreement for the way forward. With the wage study. This

[1:56:58] one is being proposed. 2.3%, which is actually under, I

[1:57:05] believe the Department of Labor Statistics said 2.7. Is a

[1:57:11] two nine. Okay. So it's a lot lower than. The

[1:57:15] labor statistics. I think that in combination with the fact

[1:57:20] a lot of our employees did not get raised last

[1:57:23] year at all. That's why. I like too. The one

[1:57:28] that we all agreed on the other night. So what's

[1:57:31] changed since last Thursday when we had our special session?

[1:57:36] I guess talking about lowering. The rolling back. Not all

[1:57:43] the way. Rollback. But rolling back. The military sum not

[1:57:49] going back. Taking away the 3%, making it 2.3, which.

[1:57:56] Is again. Still a raise, but it is low. And

[1:58:02] we have less going to the fund balance, which everybody

[1:58:05] keeps agreeing we need to build up. I just thought

[1:58:08] we agreed that. Hey, we aren't raising the military. Yes.

[1:58:13] Property values went up. I thought we were standing firm

[1:58:16] on. Next year. I'm not saying we're going to roll

[1:58:20] anything back. Hopefully not. Release it next year. In our

[1:58:28] financial position right now, especially with fund balance and the

[1:58:32] need for raises for employees, which I believe is a

[1:58:36] real need. I'm telling you, I appreciate. Everybody realizes how

[1:58:41] blessed we are in Greencast. I can name some cities

[1:58:45] right down the road that are having all kinds of

[1:58:46] problems, and we don't have those problems. We have an

[1:58:50] excellent city manager, an excellent assistant city manager, and directors

[1:58:54] leading people in the city. And we are just super

[1:58:58] blessed. People have headaches around us. Maybe I don't read.

[1:59:02] The newspaper, but I do. I'm just telling you, we

[1:59:05] are blessed beyond belief to have Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Known

[1:59:09] in their staff. If we drop down to 2.3? Yeah,

[1:59:13] they get something, but I'm telling if. We stand firm

[1:59:16] at 5.3. Military, we can give them the 3%. And

[1:59:23] at $100,000. To the fund balance. So I'm sorry, but

[1:59:29] this is a conviction thing. I stand firm on option

[1:59:32] two, that. We agreed on last Thursday. But I guess

[1:59:35] we'll go to vote. Anybody else have any discussion before

[1:59:38] we vote? Mr. Mayor. When I got the new number

[1:59:42] of 379 321. The other number was 421 370. For

[1:59:48] the reserve. The difference is a little under $50,000. Is

[1:59:55] that the right. So it'd be a $50,000 difference. Not

[2:00:00] 100. That's right, Mr. Mayor. Based on my number. At

[2:00:07] 5.16. We are going to reduce tax revenue by $108,155.

[2:00:16] At 2.3 kota. That's 146,612. So the difference is about

[2:00:23] $32,000. The difference is what? 32. Thank you. You're welcome.

[2:00:31] No. If we go with 5.3 at the regional option

[2:00:38] two. Is remove. The remainder of the 50th percentile. And

[2:00:46] remove 2.3 and we stay at 3%, that's going to

[2:00:49] be additional. $104,000. Add to the fund balance. Which we're

[2:00:55] at 300 right now. Correct. Three thirds. Yeah. That's if

[2:01:01] we stay at the 5.3, correct? Yeah. That's why I

[2:01:09] think, I believe Mr. Gon. I agree that standing firm

[2:01:11] at 5.3 not raising the military. And I don't remember

[2:01:15] using the word victory about anything. I just said that.

[2:01:20] If you're talking about giving something to the citizens, it's

[2:01:23] true. We are given an increase in millage. Where we're

[2:01:27] agreeing on that. But. To draw up from. Yeah, but

[2:01:32] you got an increase on millage. You got an automatic

[2:01:36] increase. On marriage from the property taxes going up. It

[2:01:40] still comes out of the pocket of the citizens. All

[2:01:45] right. Any other discussion? On the. Look at that. Right?

[2:01:52] Comes out of the socket of the citizens. But it's

[2:01:55] due to. Appreciation. On those properties. Which comes as a

[2:02:01] result of. Quality of life. Which one you boil down

[2:02:07] to comes down to the delivery of services by this

[2:02:10] city. And again, the only job this council has. I

[2:02:15] don't know. I disagree. It's the only job we have.

[2:02:24] We have a job to represent the people. The only

[2:02:27] job we have is to deliver services to the citizens

[2:02:32] of Greenco Springs. Period. That's not the case. We

[2:02:41] can disagree. Mr. Jones gets back. Maybe throughout this year

[2:02:50] we can see how many people. That's left the city.

[2:02:54] How many people have stayed? And let's see. Or go

[2:02:59] back. Going to keep your hand over that fire and

[2:03:02] see how hot it gets? No, but we'll. Just see.

[2:03:08] For a fact. You can't run a business that way.

[2:03:11] You certainly can't run a city that way. But see.

[2:03:19] Let's just start cutting. Nobody wants anybody to leave it.

[2:03:27] Just like to see, because we've had people that's been

[2:03:30] here for 40 years. 30 years. Look at Darryl Watson.

[2:03:35] He's been here for a long time. He's made strides

[2:03:39] and gains. I'm so proud of him. A lot of

[2:03:43] our people. Two years ago, Darryl got up in front

[2:03:44] of this council at the budget meetings to protest. The

[2:03:49] salaries that were being paid at the parks department. The

[2:03:52] department had, I'll tell you. You know why he's still

[2:03:56] here? Because we listen to him. Mr. Mayor. I don't

[2:04:06] want to cut Mr. Golf. Okay. I want to make

[2:04:12] sure that. I understand. What number

[2:04:22] four A is, and that's what we're voting on right

[2:04:25] now. Right. That's what the first and the second was

[2:04:30] about was four a, which is 5.6. And 2.3. For

[2:04:36] the raises in 5.6 for the millage. And at this

[2:04:42] point, I want to know how many votes do we,

[2:04:47] I believe we need four votes to do the 5.3.

[2:04:58] And the 3%. We need four votes for that, right?

[2:05:01] We only need three votes for the. 5.6, f 2.3.

[2:05:07] Yes. Three votes for 5.16. The motion that. Has been.

[2:05:15] First and second. That only needs three votes. If we

[2:05:19] wanted 5.3 and take four votes. It's a two three

[2:05:29] vote. Then we would vote the motion down. Good news

[2:05:34] is we're voting on the three. Affirmative first. If that

[2:05:39] doesn't pass. Okay. Number two.

[2:05:51] Getting 3% raise. And the 5.3. Okay? I would vote

[2:05:57] no on that. Okay, let's have that vote. You have

[2:06:01] to pass a millage, of course. And you just keep

[2:06:03] making motions until you get it. Your duty, I guess,

[2:06:08] under the law, because you got to pass your village.

[2:06:12] So if this vote failed to pass a millage, we'd

[2:06:15] have another motion that's. Exactly what you'll do, okay? Any

[2:06:21] other discussion? I don't want to close off discussion. Any

[2:06:23] other council members with discussion? Before we vote. If not

[2:06:27] Aaron. Exactly what we're voting on. Please, just to verify,

[2:06:33] this is the 5.613. And a 2.3% Cola. Is that

[2:06:41] what? A yes on this boat would vote yes for

[2:06:44] that. 5.1613. A no voting against it. Council member Glisten?

[2:06:51] Yes. Council member starns no council member states. Yes. Mayor

[2:07:01] Goss? No. Mayor Johnson, no. Motion. Fail. Okay. Do I

[2:07:10] have another motion? Make another motion on option two. Military

[2:07:15] of 5.3. .0. Or 3%. Is there a second?

[2:07:27] I'll settle it. Motion a second discussion. On this motion

[2:07:32] in second. This was what was agreed to. At our

[2:07:37] last budget. One and two at our last one. Yeah.

[2:07:42] We agreed to this one on Thursday. I guard Mr.

[2:07:45] Setz. This takes four votes. So if we don't get

[2:07:51] four, it doesn't pass. Correct. That's right. Correct. You need

[2:07:55] four votes to pass this. Give you 66, 230 percent,

[2:08:01] but that is four votes for this five member council.

[2:08:11] Mr. Mayor. Yes. And second, so. We had motion and

[2:08:21] a second. Any discussion, any discussion from council before we

[2:08:25] vote? Okay. Erin. Okay. And to verify, this is 5.3

[2:08:33] with a 3% cola. Council member Glisten. No. Council member

[2:08:41] stones. Yes. Council member Stokes. No. Vice.

[2:08:50] Yes, Mayor Johnson. Yes. Motion fails, it fails also, okay.

[2:09:03] Got worse than I can too. You're going to reopen

[2:09:13] public hearing or whatever you need if you're going to

[2:09:15] do that. I'll tell you what. I'll reopen the public

[2:09:21] hearing if you'd like. Okay. Public hearing on item number

[2:09:28] four again. Mr. Oyle, I still have your card. I

[2:09:33] know that Mike and Greg. Whatever. All right, so just

[2:09:36] so that we're clear. You have a $300,000 house. Valuation.

[2:09:46] Let's say they value it at 275 and you get

[2:09:49] 25 or 250 round numbers and. You can move them

[2:09:52] up to give you an idea. So they value it

[2:09:56] at 250 and $50,000. Homestead exemption gives you the 200.

[2:10:02] 205 mils for the means to the city, $1,000 a

[2:10:07] year. And the difference between. The two. Is $30. Okay.

[2:10:16] For business. It's 100. At $300,000. But the difference between

[2:10:20] the two for resident. Is $30. And I just want

[2:10:24] to throw that out there that. You can decide what

[2:10:27] you want. I told Mike the very beginning that I

[2:10:30] wouldn't go. Die over item number four either. But that's

[2:10:34] what we're talking about. And whether that plugs into. How

[2:10:40] much the employee gets aware, but that's my rough calculation.

[2:10:44] And somebody else. Throw one out to them. $30 a

[2:10:48] year. For residents. Yeah, for resident. The difference between the

[2:10:54] two motions right now? Three times as much because, you

[2:10:58] see, it goes up 3% or 10%. I'm assuming that

[2:11:02] most businesses. They raise. All is running by 10%. I

[2:11:09] got cheated. It's a great piece of property, all right.

[2:11:17] That's where I pay the van. That's on a $300,000.

[2:11:22] Residence. $300,000 valuation, which the property appraiser, they don't normally

[2:11:27] hit that. So let's say. If you want to say

[2:11:33] 20% more instead of $30 is $36 for a year.

[2:11:40] $30 per $3 a month. $2 a month, okay? Mr.

[2:11:47] Kelter. Hold on just a moment. Just hold on. And

[2:11:54] so. We're talking about a 5.3 and a 5.613. Military.

[2:12:00] We're talking ABOut a 3% rate, our employees and a

[2:12:03] 2.3%. Rates to our employees. Again, I stand firm that

[2:12:07] that's the right thing to do. Yes, appropriate values are

[2:12:10] just through the roof. That's great in some ways, like

[2:12:14] you said. That your property is worth more. There are

[2:12:18] worse taxes, like regressive taxes, like utilities. And we're going

[2:12:24] to really hit a hard this next year. Looking at

[2:12:26] utilities, having a five year plan. It's not like we're

[2:12:30] not going to raise utilities, but I'll tell you what?

[2:12:33] Trying to be more careful with utilities than even. Property

[2:12:37] tax. But we're not here tonight. Trying to raise the

[2:12:42] demill. We're not. We're just trying to stay where we

[2:12:45] are. And we're thankful in a way. I guess. I

[2:12:49] know we'll be paying more property tax, but the values

[2:12:52] have gone up. On our homes. But it really comes

[2:12:56] down to this. How much do we value our employees?

[2:12:59] And I know you. All value people that are your

[2:13:01] employees. But I'm sold on it, man. Greencove. Is different

[2:13:04] from everybody around us, and we are so. Great. I'm

[2:13:09] so thankful that we have the employees we have and

[2:13:12] I don't. Want to single people out in the types

[2:13:15] of jobs we have, certain kind of jobs where. They

[2:13:19] are getting job offers left and right, and yet they

[2:13:21] could drive 30 minutes more and work for a lot

[2:13:23] more money. I'm not just trying to beg them with

[2:13:27] money. There are other reasons to stay here. And work

[2:13:29] in Greencut Springs. But if we go another year without

[2:13:32] any race for some of our employees that's going to

[2:13:34] hurt. At every level. And especially those that we told

[2:13:40] we were going to bring to the 50th percentile. And

[2:13:41] we didn't, and. We would do a 2.3, but we

[2:13:46] have a chance to give a 3%, which is right

[2:13:48] at the Department of Labor statistics recommendation for races this

[2:13:53] year. And so I just begged the council to reconsider.

[2:14:00] That this is not the time to roll back to

[2:14:03] 5.1613. It's time to stand firm on that. And give

[2:14:09] the 3% raise to our employees. Mr mayor. Yes, I

[2:14:16] had a question. Go ahead. If we stay at the

[2:14:20] 5.16? And went to the 3% raise. What does that

[2:14:29] do, money wise? That goes deeper, digest deep, probably less

[2:14:34] to the fund balance. To Mr. Kelter. Come on up

[2:14:38] to the coding. What would be the fund balance there?

[2:14:44] Anybody know that scenario? If we did that. 5.1613 and

[2:14:53] give a 3%, what would it do to the fund

[2:14:56] balance? Get the accurate number? Absolutely. Okay, well, she's working

[2:15:00] on that. Mr. Kelter, Mr. Mayor, members, council mike elvis,

[2:15:06] 630 myrtle avenue. A couple of things. First of all,

[2:15:09] Mr. Mayor, you're incorrect in your discussion. On the pay

[2:15:14] increases. This is about millage. You're out of order talking

[2:15:18] about. Pay increases. This is about millage and millage only.

[2:15:24] Talk about. You can talk about pay. Increases in the

[2:15:27] next item in the budget. As I'm going to suggest.

[2:15:32] The pay increases are a budget item. $204,000 I think

[2:15:37] is the number you're going to see on the 3%.

[2:15:40] And that'll reduce you down by about $60,000. From. What?

[2:15:49] The 2.3 gives you, but that I can suggest you

[2:15:53] probably have enough. Bloat. In your budget. You can scrape

[2:15:59] that money up really quick. And give these guys their

[2:16:04] 3%. Cola. Keeping in mind. Members accounts. Mr. Mayor, members

[2:16:10] of council. They're not going to pay that 3% just

[2:16:13] this year, you pay it next year plus. Next year

[2:16:18] plus, and that will compound itself into eternity. So just

[2:16:22] think your way through that. As you go through that

[2:16:24] process of thinking it, we all guarantee you I'm straight

[2:16:28] to your budget. And find out much money in a

[2:16:31] heartbeat. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments for close

[2:16:41] the second public hearing on item number four. I'm going

[2:16:46] nuts over here. For Hampshire. Would it be asking too

[2:16:55] much? To ask you. What group? Are we talking about

[2:17:02] that aren't at the 50% level? Mr. Kent. Came from

[2:17:12] a study and we don't. That's okay. I know there

[2:17:17] is a. Way you said before, and I know that

[2:17:24] we had to do some of the same. So I

[2:17:28] stick with my comments earlier. Take care of your employees.

[2:17:32] Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Meghan. Mr. Kenny go

[2:17:41] ahead. Make his comments. Okay, go ahead. Mr. Will. Greg

[2:17:45] will. Magnalia. So the general fund budget is over 4

[2:17:53] million. We keep talking about all of these. Numbers. So

[2:17:58] 4 million. Half a percent of that. Is 20 grand.

[2:18:03] Percent of that would be 40 grand. So I would

[2:18:08] think we could find 1% in your budget. To help

[2:18:12] with your raises, which we shouldn't really be talking about

[2:18:14] yet, but we are. Thank you. All right. You want

[2:18:23] to get in by without hearing from me tonight? We

[2:18:30] actually already did. I watched. Thank you, Mr. Nol. One

[2:18:34] thing I want taken into consideration that nobody's talking about.

[2:18:37] Yes, our home values are going up. But how is

[2:18:39] that putting money in our pockets now? It's costing us

[2:18:41] more. It's not putting money in our pockets. And at

[2:18:44] this point, I'll price that at a Greencove. I need

[2:18:45] a bigger house. I can't afford one, so. Yeah, my

[2:18:48] property values went up more than we're. Supposed to do.

[2:18:50] I am stuck at a house that's too small and

[2:18:52] it's. Just continuing to cost me more money. So great,

[2:18:56] your property value went up. What's the reward? I don't

[2:19:00] want to leave Greencoat can't afford. Another house in Greencoave.

[2:19:02] So instead, fish is going to cost me more and

[2:19:04] more money. Not trying to sound too ugly here, but

[2:19:08] I need you all to remember you're representing. Not only

[2:19:10] our employees, who I do love and my volunteer offers

[2:19:14] wide open, let me help by all means, let me

[2:19:16] help. It doesn't sound a whole lot like you're representing

[2:19:21] the citizens, though, because we're not a piggy bank and

[2:19:25] part of a serrano. Have our little cork at the

[2:19:27] bottom. It's done falling out. There's nothing left. So please

[2:19:30] just remember you're. Representing both. Thank you. Thank you. All

[2:19:37] right, I will close the public hearing. Ms. Kennedy. Mr.

[2:19:42] Mayor. Council. I just wanted to make a couple of

[2:19:45] comments. For the extra effort, we scheduled a meeting last

[2:19:51] Thursday. So that we can answer any question. We could

[2:19:56] address all those issues and thoughts and concerns that were

[2:20:00] there. The idea was. Let's try to get to a

[2:20:08] point where. We wouldn't end up experiencing. Whatever happened, doing

[2:20:16] what we're doing. And that is Nicole and. 10,000 here,

[2:20:21] 10,000 there. Comments remain. Requests remain. I think fairly obviously

[2:20:31] staff responded to that. We've got interpretations. That are being

[2:20:38] put forth. Which some may or may not have value.

[2:20:45] Or they may not be complete. But my point with

[2:20:48] this is we took the effort to talk. With everybody

[2:20:51] to get everybody to ask any question they had. And

[2:20:55] that's why we moved forward with. At least the majority

[2:21:03] indicated we needed to do. And I would be totally

[2:21:08] remove. Has nothing to do with the range piece or

[2:21:13] whatever it has. To do. We went through the process.

[2:21:16] To get the fish by and then also allow individuals.

[2:21:24] And the public to come. And put their comments. We

[2:21:29] also. Even know they're not physically here. We've got a

[2:21:34] lot of employees. Who are listening and. Are interested in

[2:21:41] what you want to do and. They hear the words.

[2:21:48] And we had a pretty good discussion this morning and

[2:21:51] staff meeting. Words. But they want to have that concurrence.

[2:21:59] That when the words are that the actions are supporting

[2:22:02] them. We put it out there. That. 's what the

[2:22:11] ideal was, and I think it helped. Some of them.

[2:22:17] Or probably most of them to be able to say.

[2:22:19] Yeah, they're looking out for us because they are. Doing

[2:22:23] the increases. We can work through that process with the

[2:22:28] schedule of looking at. The study. Revisiting the study again.

[2:22:36] I'm not sure from the standpoint. Of. And I've said

[2:22:44] this before. And I'll continue to say it reluctantly. We

[2:22:47] get a budget direction. That's what we go with, but

[2:22:52] I think. We've gone through this with multiple interactions, and

[2:22:57] we have responded. We have given. And we did cut.

[2:23:03] And from the standpoint. Of a blanket statement. And there's

[2:23:08] more cuts in there. Yeah, we can find cuts, but.

[2:23:10] What other things are we not doing? Like air conditioners?

[2:23:15] And what other things are we not doing? I just

[2:23:19] put that out there. I think we put effort in

[2:23:24] to try to move forward with this and provide all

[2:23:27] the information. And answer any questions. That you all had

[2:23:32] for us. And then now we're coming at a point

[2:23:36] where. Okay. Where were we headed with? The meeting on

[2:23:46] last Thursday, right? Last Thursday. We met. We did give

[2:23:50] you direction. On the 5.3 military. That's what we're on

[2:23:54] right now, 5.3 million. We don't have four votes. To

[2:24:01] go to 5.3. That means. One or two people have

[2:24:06] dropped off, they've changed their mind and they have the

[2:24:08] right to, I guess, but. I know you guys have

[2:24:12] done a Yoman's job in reacting. Two weeks ago was

[2:24:15] a September 2. The first public hearing on the budget.

[2:24:21] A lot of questions, a lot of input from the

[2:24:24] community, and you took that. And you want to explain

[2:24:28] the process that you've been through, even getting ready for

[2:24:32] the meeting last Thursday. You gave? Well, I'll just tell

[2:24:35] you. He gave us Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Wong and Mr.

[2:24:38] Noel, especially the three of them. Worked many hours. Many

[2:24:42] hours putting together different options. They presented those options to

[2:24:46] us last Thursday. We met for quite a while talking

[2:24:50] about these options with the military, with raises for employees

[2:24:54] and that's why we are tying two together, because they

[2:24:56] went together. That was the hot, contentious issue. Are we

[2:25:00] giving raises and if so, how much? And we agreed

[2:25:03] on 3%. So we get here tonight and a couple

[2:25:07] of people are saying, no, they don't. Want to give

[2:25:10] 3%, they want to give 2.3%. And. They want to

[2:25:15] change the military. So that's two changes tonight. And that's

[2:25:18] why we're having this discussion when we thought we were

[2:25:21] going to preclude this discussion. By meeting last Thursday, correct,

[2:25:25] Mr. Kennedy? That's the direction. That's why since Thursday. You

[2:25:30] have obviously worked pretty hard to get the budget packet

[2:25:34] together for the speeding effect, I think. It came out

[2:25:36] on Friday because I know it took you a while.

[2:25:39] From Thursday night, it's. Not like it's going to come

[2:25:41] out on Thursday. Took a while to get it. Out

[2:25:44] on Friday because. You were revising the budget for what

[2:25:48] we told you to do. And now we're meeting tonight

[2:25:51] and we're not doing what we told you to. Do.

[2:25:53] We're going against what you worked hard putting together. Is

[2:25:57] that correct? Mayor johnson. Yes, Mr. Sex.

[2:26:07] I would propose the 3% cola in the next part

[2:26:11] of the next ordinance that we're. Supposed to vote on.

[2:26:17] If we do the 5.16. I don't have a problem

[2:26:22] with that, since that's the sticking point for some. Of

[2:26:25] you on the raises. But I do think we need

[2:26:29] to show our citizens that we're giving them a little

[2:26:32] bit of relief. It's not that much money. $30 a

[2:26:37] year. I got to trust you to make that deal.

[2:26:42] You got my word. Yeah, I had your word. Thursday.

[2:26:49] Thursday. You did not have my word. I never agreed

[2:26:51] to any of this. Yes, we gave. If you remember?

[2:26:56] Both. We gave staff. I wasn't on board. I voted

[2:27:01] no. All right, well. It's fine. So, hey, let's go

[2:27:09] ahead and take it one at a time. Then. We

[2:27:13] had an option that there's a combination of a military.

[2:27:17] And a rate increase. For our employees. Let's just start

[2:27:22] with one at a time. We've got the military. Do

[2:27:25] we have four votes? For a 5.3. I know we

[2:27:30] have one, two, three. Ms. Glisten, you say no. Mr.

[2:27:34] Sutz, you're saying no to 5.3 correct. Correct. Okay. He

[2:27:40] just told Mr. Gault that he would give his word

[2:27:44] to go. With the 5.16. And. 3% colon. You're not

[2:27:50] with that, Mr. Gar? Garcia way before this started.

[2:28:00] What kind of deficit? We don't want to have. More

[2:28:05] deficit than ever before. So we're going to lower taxes.

[2:28:08] So this is the way. That we're going to help

[2:28:12] out the citizens and help out. The workers. And the

[2:28:18] fund balance. So the lower we put taxes, the better

[2:28:23] it is for everybody we got. To give somebody a

[2:28:25] break. Sometime. Ms wanger. I just want to make sure.

[2:28:35] Talking about ministry. But the next item. Is operating budget

[2:28:42] and that operating budget is prepared with military to 5.3.

[2:28:48] So in terms of process, I am not sure. How

[2:28:52] to proceed. Without. A specific number, so I might need

[2:28:59] some help with Mr. Arnold here. But also just to

[2:29:03] make sure that we understand the numbers. With option two

[2:29:07] at 5.3 and 3% increase. That is adding additional fund

[2:29:15] balance of $104,000. If we lower the manage rate to

[2:29:21] 5.16. Percent. That's going to reduce. That's additional reduction of

[2:29:30] fund balance of $4,000. So we're talking about. Yes. So

[2:29:36] we're talking about swing of $100,000 here to fund balance

[2:29:41] a swing of $100,000. I thought you said just 4000.

[2:29:46] Okay, well, you got to have a balanced budget. What

[2:29:50] you have to do on the next item. And what

[2:29:55] they have to do on the next item because you

[2:29:57] can't have an unbalanced. Budget, obviously. So I guess my

[2:30:01] question. Is when we get to the next item. We

[2:30:07] don't have a total budget number because. Now we're changing

[2:30:11] everything. We won't have a resolution because we don't have

[2:30:15] a final budget number. Right. You were planning on a

[2:30:23] 5.3 that we agreed on list, correct? That was the

[2:30:26] direction from the council based on last Thursday's meeting. I've

[2:30:32] got to have four votes and Mr. Sets, Ms. Glisten

[2:30:35] are not voting. For 5.3. So therefore. We are at.

[2:30:46] Stall here. Mr. Royal raised his hand. Even if we

[2:30:51] were to pass. A different, other than 5.3, a different

[2:30:59] military. Ms. Wellman is saying that the budget we have

[2:31:04] on the next agenda item. Is relative to that, 5.3.

[2:31:09] So we couldn't vote on the budget if we wanted

[2:31:11] to. She's going to have, somebody on staff is going

[2:31:13] to have to change the budget numbers. To give you

[2:31:16] something to meet the Midlands because you can't have a

[2:31:19] budget larger than your anticipated revenues. Obviously, Steve later can

[2:31:24] address that better than I can. Probably, but I mean

[2:31:26] that's. The practicality of it. It'd be nice to pass

[2:31:35] a 5.3 military tonight. And then we've got time to

[2:31:40] talk about something different next year. But this year we

[2:31:42] agree. We've had a meeting two weeks ago. We had

[2:31:46] the meeting last Thursday. We've given direction to the staff.

[2:31:51] This is. What they produce for us. Based off of

[2:31:54] what? The direction we gave them? A balanced budget. At

[2:32:00] 5.3 mils. I thought we talked about this the other

[2:32:05] night. There's no way you'll go with the 5.3. Ms.

[2:32:13] Clifton. That's what the budget is balanced at 5.3. Yes.

[2:32:19] Okay. Thank you. Do I have a motion? Make a

[2:32:27] motion to adopt. Miller grant 5.3.

[2:32:40] Approved resolution number r 23 2025 resolution establishing a military

[2:32:46] status year 25 26 at 5.3 per thousand, which is

[2:32:51] an increase of 7.3% over the rollback. Is there a

[2:32:56] second? We have a motion. Second any discussion from council.

[2:33:05] if not Okay. This is.

[2:33:20] The approved r 23, 2025 Council member glisten yes. Council

[2:33:25] member storms yes. Council member. States. No. Vice marathon. Yes,

[2:33:35] Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Okay, thank you. Item number

[2:33:40] five. Mr. Mrs. Wall.

[2:33:51] Mayor council, this item is the second and the final

[2:33:53] public hearing. For the annual budget for fiscal year 2026.

[2:34:01] So the total budget for fiscal 2026 is that 61,

[2:34:06] meaning 228,141. Business based on the ministry. The 5.3. That

[2:34:14] is 3.5 million, or 5.5% less than fiscal year 2025.

[2:34:22] In the staff report. You have a reconsideration? Of.

[2:34:33] The revenue and expenditure increases or changes from the tentatively

[2:34:38] adopted budget from the September 3. The major item is

[2:34:43] take out the 400,000 school zone revenue. We also increase

[2:34:47] revenue by $41,000 and then reduction of general fund expenses

[2:34:53] and it reduction. That adds up to $359,000. So the

[2:35:01] total impact on the farm balances. We're removing the second

[2:35:07] half of the 50th percentile. We're removing 2.3% cola. We

[2:35:13] are adding 3.0% cola. So the net impact is additional

[2:35:20] increase to fund balance of $104,000. Also included in a

[2:35:25] stop report. It's a comparison of the proposed budget versus

[2:35:30] the tentatively adopted budget. So the proposed budget at 61,000,061.2

[2:35:38] meaning compared to the tentative budget 61.8, meaning that of

[2:35:44] 577,000 reduction. So staff recommendation is for the council to

[2:35:50] approve resolution number. R 24 2025. Setting forth the annual

[2:35:57] operating budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025. And

[2:36:02] ending September 30, 2026. Thank you, Ms. Wong. Mike kelter.

[2:36:16] You missed a chance to take care of your sentences.

[2:36:19] Sorry, folks. Okay, the next thing you can. Do to

[2:36:23] help your citizen? Mike helps her. 630 Myrtle Avenue Greencom

[2:36:26] Springs, Florida. Mr. Mayor. Okay. The one thing you can

[2:36:29] do in this budget. Try and help your citizens for

[2:36:32] once, just once. This year. Take a look at. What

[2:36:37] you got in the budget to take and give $400,000

[2:36:41] to habitat for Humanity? Instead of taking care of the

[2:36:44] 38 families that live over. On some of our unpaid

[2:36:49] roads that haven't been paved yet. Like foster Lane. Okay,

[2:36:55] like. Olive circle. You're giving money to a whole bunch

[2:36:59] of watts there that have nobody living. On them? No,

[2:37:02] they paying gas taxes on them. Nobody doing anything on

[2:37:06] it. You need to. Remove that item. For $400,000, which

[2:37:12] takes almost all your gas tax and then some. And

[2:37:15] give that instead to paved the road for the people

[2:37:18] who live here. Remember that just once, think about the

[2:37:23] people who live here. Thank you. Mr. Will.

[2:37:40] 218 North Bangna. Greg will. It sounded like in the

[2:37:44] last agenda, having been on the council. You're not following

[2:37:49] the agenda. And you were discussing pay raises, which are

[2:37:51] item number five. So it was a way to coerce

[2:37:55] everything. If you're going to make these decisions, as you

[2:37:58] said, you met last Thursday. Don't have the public hearing.

[2:38:03] It's just a rubber stamp you're looking for. I know

[2:38:05] you have to do it legally, but just put in

[2:38:07] a public hearing. We've already decided what we're going to

[2:38:09] do. We really don't want to hear you. You wonder

[2:38:12] why people don't? Come. But you never listen to anything

[2:38:14] anybody says. Come to these hearings and you just do.

[2:38:18] Whatever you want to. I want everybody to get pay

[2:38:20] radio, but you are out of order. Discussing pay raises.

[2:38:25] It's not part of item number four. Thank you. Susan

[2:38:30] pritchett. I totally agree with

[2:38:40] Greg. Susan Pritchett, 218 North Magnolia. Okay, I got three

[2:38:45] things that I want to talk about one of them.

[2:38:47] The garbage truck. Is there a schedule for cleaning the

[2:38:52] new garbage truck? Mic knows. Have you developed a schedule?

[2:38:59] I don't develop that schedule. No, ma'am. I'd like to

[2:39:03] personally. We have folks that do that, but I don't

[2:39:04] do that I'd like to personally offer the greg, mike

[2:39:08] and myself. Will wash out the garbage truck so that

[2:39:12] we don't lose a garbage truck. We simply seem to

[2:39:15] fail to maintain things. That makes me furious because. What

[2:39:22] puts us in an emergency situation constantly. I kind of

[2:39:26] heard somebody talk about police department. Air conditioning is going

[2:39:31] to need to be replaced. All the air conditions are

[2:39:34] going to need to be replaced. Okay. At some point,

[2:39:38] does anybody maintain those air conditioners. I'm sure they do.

[2:39:43] To the quality that they get their full life expectancy.

[2:39:48] My expectation would be yes. Okay. Just as you would

[2:39:52] on yours. No, it seems to be a piece. That

[2:39:56] city seems to fail on maintaining equipment properly. Mr. Arnold,

[2:40:02] can I ask how things are going with the school

[2:40:04] board? In the wastewater fees. Pending right now. Still pending.

[2:40:12] No, there's not. Okay. There's a funding source that we're

[2:40:21] kind of waiting to see what's going to happen. Folks,

[2:40:25] we are in dire situation here. I can remember. Jerry

[2:40:33] Williams. We all loved her. But I can remember ten

[2:40:35] years ago, Jerry saying I can't. Afford to water my

[2:40:38] lawn because the water rates are so high. I would

[2:40:42] like to suggest that the city of Greencoat Springs could

[2:40:45] someday become the city of Brown Coke Springs. Because people

[2:40:49] will not be affordable. They can't afford to water their

[2:40:53] gardens. Water. Their properties. It kind of makes me angry

[2:40:58] because. Why are we in this situation? We had so

[2:41:02] much money in reserve, and suddenly we're. Scrambling, trying. To

[2:41:08] come up with very small amounts of money. Just think

[2:41:11] about it, folks. How do you spend your money. Thank

[2:41:14] you. Van Royal.

[2:41:26] I got to be honest with you. I supported 5.2,

[2:41:32] but what you all do is disingenuous and it wasn't

[2:41:35] correct. You've got a budget sitting in front of you.

[2:41:37] I don't. Know what it looks like. It could be

[2:41:39] 50 linear items, it could be 300. Somebody on the

[2:41:43] staff should have stepped up and said, if I want

[2:41:44] to balance a budget and I want $100,000 less. Than

[2:41:50] I take $100,000 either out of that fund balance or

[2:41:53] out of one of those expense lines. And to think

[2:41:55] that you can't or be told you can't. Because you

[2:41:59] can't make a change. That budget, that's what you're sitting.

[2:42:01] There to do. You're sitting there. If you got to

[2:42:03] go line by line, you can. Change that budget. It

[2:42:07] isn't because Ms. Wong. Made it. You had that opportunity.

[2:42:13] I'm fine with it, but if you dropped it, you

[2:42:15] were discussing $60,000. Difference. And you go, okay, in order

[2:42:20] to make. From 2.3 to three. It would have been

[2:42:25] $60,000. You could have made the decision in this discussion

[2:42:30] that says. Okay, we're stuck with a 5.163. And again.

[2:42:35] What I wanted, but it was the majority. And because

[2:42:38] the rules were contorted. By staff and not told. Hey.

[2:42:45] You can make a change to that budget. Take a

[2:42:48] pen and go take out that $10,000, and I got

[2:42:51] a balanced budget. Balancing that budget. Sitting in front of

[2:42:53] you right now is not a difficult task. After you.

[2:42:58] And somebody should have been able to stand up and

[2:43:00] say yes. This is how we can do it, and

[2:43:04] it didn't happen. By God, this happens next year. I

[2:43:09] don't blame. People. When I'm not calling out. But somebody

[2:43:17] could have said, yes, you can, you can balance. That

[2:43:19] budget to whatever millage you had, whatever you decide on.

[2:43:23] Because that's why you. Do the millage first. I will

[2:43:26] scream at hog. Make your budget first. And somebody said,

[2:43:28] you can't. You have to do the millage first. I

[2:43:31] think that was Mr. Arnold. So if you set the

[2:43:32] millage. That budget in front of you, you could have

[2:43:36] changed and bounced it. Yeah, exactly. And you could have

[2:43:41] changed it. I'm sorry. You may not have heard it,

[2:43:44] but I told the council you give us a number

[2:43:47] and we. Said, which I have done the whole time.

[2:43:53] It could have been done tonight. It could have been

[2:43:56] done tonight. We met Thursday. With the

[2:44:05] public, everybody. Through all of this. The military, the budget

[2:44:11] raises, whatever. Agreed to. Honestly, Mr. Roy, I just don't

[2:44:17] see any overwhelming evidence to change what we did Thursday.

[2:44:20] Night. I'm listening, but I don't see anything new that

[2:44:25] wasn't brought up. Jersey night, and it's overwhelming to change

[2:44:28] the budget that we have. That's your take. And I

[2:44:32] get that, Ms. Pritchard. Then don't have a public hearing.

[2:44:38] And if there was a compelling, if Miss Glisson heard

[2:44:41] something tonight. Being spoken by the public. That changed her

[2:44:45] mind. That's what she does. And I did not hear

[2:44:51] because it wasn't broadcast the rest, and I'm not. Sure

[2:44:53] that anybody else heard it that said, we can change

[2:44:56] that budget right here. We can take it out of

[2:45:00] fund balance. We can take instead of having a 331

[2:45:02] or $431,000. Change. It can be 331, it could be

[2:45:06] 300, it could be 210. You could cross out this

[2:45:10] set. There were ways to make it done. There were

[2:45:13] ways and. I don't think that the current council as

[2:45:17] a whole knew that, and I think that that? Just

[2:45:21] like I said. Me. I thought 5.2, but I thought

[2:45:24] the way you all got to it was again. Not

[2:45:27] transparent. Trying to remember where we are. I think everybody

[2:45:36] in this room. Got out its red pen. I'm sorry.

[2:45:43] I think everybody in this room should be nervous. If

[2:45:45] we got out a red pen and started making cuts

[2:45:48] and changes to the budget we gave. Direction to Mr.

[2:45:52] Kennedy and staff. Okay. I think that was the public

[2:45:58] hearing. So I'll close the public hearing. Bring it to

[2:46:02] council. What we have before us is approval. Of. Resolution

[2:46:08] R 24 25 for the annual operating budget. Do I

[2:46:14] have any questions? Discussion? Or a motion. I had something,

[2:46:20] Mr. Sutz. I agree with van. It's all the same

[2:46:30] stuff with the rate study, with the water. Study with

[2:46:34] the electric study. Whatever study you all come up with,

[2:46:37] you don't give us all the information. This is not

[2:46:40] the easiest position to be in to make decisions. When

[2:46:45] you withhold that formation, it is a problem. And it

[2:46:49] should never, ever happen. When we ask for information, it

[2:46:54] should be given. I brought up stuff the other night

[2:46:56] that. You all made out like nobody gets raises unless

[2:47:01] we change these races. That is not true. The police

[2:47:05] department is on a step plan. I believe maybe some

[2:47:07] of the other departments are, but. When you withhold information.

[2:47:11] You're not being honest with the new people on the

[2:47:13] council because they don't. Understand how it works and bands.

[2:47:16] Exactly right. Glee probably changed her vote because you all

[2:47:19] sat there. And act like we couldn't pass the budget

[2:47:22] because now we changed the millage rate. That was not

[2:47:26] transparent, and it was wrong to do it that way,

[2:47:28] and I'm sorry. But something's going to change. In the

[2:47:33] future. Going with the council to make sure we're informed

[2:47:36] the staff works for the council, not the other way

[2:47:40] around, and we're to be informed about what's going on,

[2:47:42] so. We can make a good decision based on what

[2:47:45] information you give us. Mr. Mayor, let's start with the

[2:47:48] process. This whole process is backwards. First thing you have

[2:47:53] to come up with is the military before you even

[2:47:56] have the first budget. Conversation. Where does that happen, other

[2:48:02] than here? In local government. Local government.

[2:48:12] Is a local government. Analysis.

[2:48:24] So, yeah, the whole process is a little twisted. Thank

[2:48:29] you for coming, Tony. Thank you.

[2:48:41] All right. Well, Ms. Glitzen, I don't know if we

[2:48:44] can readdress. The military. If you fail with your pressure

[2:48:49] to do it because of the change in the budget.

[2:48:53] And I apologize about pressuring you to do that. Again.

[2:48:57] I felt that we need to be going back and

[2:49:00] forth, back and forth, back and forth. You asked somebody

[2:49:02] for a vote. Have they given your vote? You need

[2:49:06] to go with it and don't keep going on and

[2:49:09] on and on. I've already voted, and that's the end

[2:49:12] of it. Okay. All right, so we do have the

[2:49:18] budget before us. Any discussion? Well. Is there a discussion

[2:49:24] or a motion? Because after a second we can still

[2:49:27] discuss the motion and second. That's been put forth. I'll

[2:49:33] make a motion. Okay. Approve resolution number r 24 2025.

[2:49:40] Resolution setting forth the annual operating budget. For fiscal year

[2:49:46] beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. There

[2:49:52] a second? We have a motion or a second? Any

[2:49:58] discussion from council before we vote? What does this vote?

[2:50:01] Need to be. 32. Majority vote. Mr. Suits,

[2:50:11] do you have any comments? On the operating budget. No.

[2:50:19] Anyone else? We have a motion? A second. Let's go

[2:50:24] to the vote. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member Starnes.

[2:50:30] Yes. Council member studs. No. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion

[2:50:38] passes. Thank you. Item number six, Mrs. Wall.

[2:50:51] This item is the second and final public hearing on

[2:50:55] the five year CIP. Beginning October 1, 2025 to September

[2:51:02] 30, 2020. To turn the CIP for fiscal year 2006

[2:51:07] for all funds is. 19,647,000 born in $2. We had

[2:51:16] extensive discussion about the CIP projects. The staff recommendation is

[2:51:21] for the council to approve. Resolution number r 25 2025.

[2:51:28] 2nd fourth the annual Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal year

[2:51:31] beginning October 1, 2025 to September 30 2020. Thank you.

[2:51:38] Open the public hearing, Mr. Royal. Katie. Anyone else wish

[2:51:45] to speak on item number six? Not. I'll close the

[2:51:53] public hearing, bring it to council. Do you have any

[2:51:56] questions, discussion? Or a motion.

[2:52:06] Abstine any discussion. Approve. I'll make a motion. Approve resolution

[2:52:11] number r 25 2025. A resolution setting for annual capital

[2:52:16] improvement plan for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 to

[2:52:21] September 30 2030. Second. Motion second. Erin,

[2:52:31] I'm sorry. Is there any discussion before the vote? Hearing?

[2:52:36] None. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member Sorens. Yes. Council

[2:52:45] member sets. Yes. Mayor johnson. Yes. Thank you.

[2:52:54] Consent agenda. Are there any items council member would like

[2:52:58] pull from the consent agenda? Okay. We're pulling eight. Most

[2:53:06] the entire consent agenda. Okay, so we're pulling 89.

[2:53:17] Therefore, do I have a motion to approve consent. Agenda

[2:53:21] item number seven. How much? A motion

[2:53:31] to approve the soul food festival proclamation. Do I have

[2:53:37] a second? Okay, motion a second. Council member Glisten. Yes.

[2:53:42] Council member Sorens. Yes. Council member sots. Yes. Mayor got.

[2:53:50] Yes. Mayor Johnson. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you, Aaron. Hang

[2:53:54] in there. Need your voice a little bit longer. We're

[2:53:57] almost there. All right, item number eight. Mr. Royal.

[2:54:11] I'll address it to you. Mr. Mayor. What happens to

[2:54:13] that money? Let's just say it's worth 80,000. They get

[2:54:17] 40, what happens to. That money. Somebody can tell me.

[2:54:22] Those are the general fund and surplus revenue. Does he

[2:54:27] go to the bottom line first to get to reallocate?

[2:54:32] Okay, so here's my suggestion. And I'd like to see

[2:54:38] you all discuss this at the next meeting and see

[2:54:43] where we end up. Any monies like this. That are

[2:54:48] over and above what you've got that budget. Go to

[2:54:52] that bottom line. Period. If you've got another expense. That's

[2:54:57] come up and you can go and ask for it

[2:55:00] at some level, whatever that level is. But I not

[2:55:03] only like that money in the general surplus. But let's

[2:55:06] just say that we had an air conditioner in the

[2:55:09] police department budget. Which we don't, but we decided not

[2:55:12] to spend it. I want that money to go to

[2:55:15] the bob. I would like that money go. I would

[2:55:17] expect. You all to take that money to the bottom

[2:55:20] line as opposed to just reallocated, because I got extra

[2:55:23] money over here. I'm going to go spend it over

[2:55:24] there. If you don't pay attention to this budget. You're

[2:55:28] not going to be any better off than you've been

[2:55:29] the last three. Years when you've been bitch it, when

[2:55:31] you've been complaining about not having any. Money in that

[2:55:34] surplus. So it's incumbent upon you all to do that

[2:55:38] job and make the staff do that. If it changes,

[2:55:42] given a certain amount in here, $10,000, $5,000 every $5,000,

[2:55:47] you take the bum out. Makes it easier next year.

[2:55:50] And if you don't? Do that. Every business, every business

[2:55:53] that I know does that. If they save money, I

[2:55:56] got extra money, I'm going to spend it here. Thank

[2:56:00] you. Thank you. Mr. Kelter. I'm sorry. We're taking one

[2:56:07] at a time here. Any council members discussion on item

[2:56:12] number eight, or do I have a motion? I have

[2:56:16] something to say, Mr. Mayor. I wrote here. I'm guessing

[2:56:26] we get 50% of what probably we paid. For this.

[2:56:30] 79,100 and 796. And I just want to say that.

[2:56:36] I'm excited because if we are going to look at

[2:56:40] the budget quarterly, we're going to see this money in

[2:56:43] reserves and. I am really. Passionate about. Watching the reserves

[2:56:50] grow. So I just wanted to say I hope this

[2:56:54] will go to the reserve. Because. That would be very

[2:56:58] helpful to us. So I'd like to see us have

[2:57:01] $2 million in reserve as soon as we can possibly

[2:57:05] get it. So my eyes on that. And that's what

[2:57:09] I wanted to say. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments

[2:57:13] or a motion, Ms. Wong? Mr mayor. I do want

[2:57:20] to make sure everybody understands and apologize. If my staff

[2:57:24] report. Is not clear. So what this is. Is $79,000

[2:57:31] worth of inventory that we're getting rid of. So essentially,

[2:57:37] this is a cost to the city. Most of these

[2:57:40] items are electric inventory. So it's going to. Reduce the

[2:57:46] electricity department. Bottom line. And how can the consul approves

[2:57:52] tonight? We will seek. The most. Beneficial way to dispose

[2:57:58] of this inventory items, and that's going to bring in

[2:58:03] some revenue. To offset this cost. The reason that. They

[2:58:08] are surpassed inventory items. It was mostly from the Covid

[2:58:12] time, because at that time, like everybody else. We just

[2:58:17] accumulated too much inventory item, so I just want to

[2:58:20] make sure everybody understands. The $79,000 is not revenue to

[2:58:26] the city at this point. The cost to the city.

[2:58:31] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that clarification. Okay.

[2:58:37] Do I have a motion for item number eight? Make

[2:58:41] a motion to accept consent. Item number eight, sir. Second.

[2:58:48] You have a motion? Second. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council

[2:58:51] member thorns. Yes. Council member suits. Yes. Mayor Golf? Yes.

[2:58:58] Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you, Adam. Number nine,

[2:59:02] Mr. Kelter. That's the reason I pulled it. Nobody else

[2:59:06] wanted that fold, right? He had a blue card from

[2:59:14] him to discuss. Number nine. Yeah. Does anybody have any

[2:59:18] comments or questions on it or number nine? I do,

[2:59:24] okay? I don't know what Mr. Celtics were, but I

[2:59:30] just want to understand. So I'm clear out of the

[2:59:35] $40,997.25? That it's going to cost to repair the problem

[2:59:43] on the road. That's the tearing up of stuff. And

[2:59:51] the digging and all that, but we are going to

[2:59:54] only be responsible for $20,000 of that, approximately. Because the

[3:00:00] air was made by the engineers. The new company that

[3:00:04] we used as an engineer because they didn't catch that

[3:00:07] and they're going to pay. Approximately $9,800 for the paving

[3:00:13] of the roads and the equipment that it takes. To

[3:00:17] tear up throat. And surface of the road. Is that

[3:00:22] correct? Do I understand that right? Yes, so correct. They're

[3:00:27] not going to physically hand us a check for that

[3:00:29] money, but they're going to do it through a deductible.

[3:00:31] For example, they already requested a cancellation of an invoice.

[3:00:37] For around $5,600 to start. So. There's still money exchange

[3:00:43] in hands, and they're going to deduct till they make

[3:00:46] us whole for their oversight. Okay. Thank you. I just

[3:00:50] want to be sure I understood. I read it. Okay.

[3:00:54] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For Miss Stark. Would

[3:00:59] you like to make a motion on item number nine?

[3:01:01] Sure, if I can. Find my motion. Approved change. A

[3:01:09] motion to approve item number nine. Okay. Motion to approve

[3:01:13] item number nine. On the agenda. Consent agenda. Consent agenda.

[3:01:20] Okay. Do I have a second? We have a motion,

[3:01:22] a second. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member storns. Yes.

[3:01:29] Council member. Yes. Vice. Mayor golf stepped out. Mayor Johnson?

[3:01:36] Yes. Motion passes. Okay. Thank you. Item number ten. Mr.

[3:01:43] Noel. All right. Thank you. So this item is for.

[3:01:49] To award a bid for build out of 1700. Unfinished

[3:01:53] area at the front, upstairs of City hall. This was

[3:01:57] first brought to council in January of this year, January

[3:02:00] 21 meeting. The Clay Economic Development Council was looking for

[3:02:06] a place to move into the lease where they were.

[3:02:09] At was running out, so they approached the city. We

[3:02:14] ran some numbers forth, went to the council in January.

[3:02:18] And council was generally agreeable to move ahead. So we

[3:02:21] have. Since bid out the construction. We received. Seven proposals.

[3:02:32] The lowest bidder had submitted some obviously errant numbers, so

[3:02:36] we let them withdraw their bid. So that left us

[3:02:39] with six bids. The lowest bidder was stratum contracting, I

[3:02:44] believe. Their base bid was around 299,000. Dollars. But they

[3:02:50] came in, they opened up their books, they showed us

[3:02:52] everywhere that. They had kind of where they had all

[3:02:55] their costs. So prior to the bid award, we've been

[3:02:59] able to do quite a few deducts. Through some value

[3:03:02] engineering and take a couple of the additive alternates so

[3:03:05] that we wind up with a total contract award of

[3:03:08] 299. 299,000. 490,000. This will be. For. Again, build out

[3:03:17] a 1700 sqft. They're going to build out basically three

[3:03:19] offices, a conference room, bathroom, small break area. It room,

[3:03:25] kind of the necessary areas for. That business. For that

[3:03:30] corporation. So then to accompany that. So that's the first

[3:03:34] item or first action on this item. Was to authorize

[3:03:37] a warrant of a contract for 299 490. For design

[3:03:41] and construction. They're doing the design and construction designed just

[3:03:44] sufficient enough to pull building permits. The city staff. Through

[3:03:50] the process is going to install. It drops, so that

[3:03:53] saves overall 6000. But we will add $1,000 into the

[3:03:57] next item, which is the lease that Clay DC is

[3:04:01] going to. Have to pay us back. So the total

[3:04:04] lease amount at this point would be $300,490 to be

[3:04:08] repaid. Over a ten year period at this .3.5% interest

[3:04:15] rate. Which is similar to interest rates that are other

[3:04:19] invested monies we're making currently. So, assuming approval tonight, we

[3:04:25] do have a draft copy of the lease agreement. We

[3:04:27] would ask also for approval of that draft agreement. And

[3:04:32] then over the next probably five months, we'll design and

[3:04:34] construct the improvements, and then. When we're ready for move

[3:04:37] in, we'll bring the final contract document back to. The

[3:04:40] council with the final construction cost to the penny if

[3:04:42] they've changed. And also. To work out the actual start

[3:04:48] dates of the lease and everything. So that's generally it.

[3:04:53] We can answer any questions. Mr. Mayor, can I add

[3:04:56] one thing? To that because Mike and I talked about

[3:04:57] this today as well, and I told I was going

[3:04:59] to bring this up. We actually dealt with this a

[3:05:02] couple of times before. I was looking because I knew

[3:05:05] we had to have some ordinance on the books to

[3:05:08] deal with. Leasing city property. So Aaron pulled up the

[3:05:11] 2017 ordinance where. We dealt with a general swell. We

[3:05:16] dealt with the Augustus Savage being able to lease part

[3:05:19] of that. And then we put in a phrase there

[3:05:21] or other city owned property, provided that. It's approved. That

[3:05:26] is a lease as approved by subsequent resolution of the

[3:05:28] city council and that's typically how we've done it. Another

[3:05:32] example of the charter where it says you have to

[3:05:34] have an ordinance to borrow money. We'll do an ordinance,

[3:05:36] pretty general ordinance that says. We're going to need to

[3:05:40] borrow up to 10 million or whatever, and then we'll,

[3:05:42] put the terms and the conditions, the interest rates and

[3:05:45] all that in a subsequent resolution that's perfectly fine and

[3:05:48] in compliance with the charter. I think just because. The

[3:05:54] way this was drafted, where I said that the city

[3:05:56] is authorized and empowered to lease all or a portion

[3:05:58] of the Augustus Savage Arts center and other city owned

[3:06:02] real property to any approved tenants. And then later in

[3:06:05] the ordinance, it talks about doing it by resolution and

[3:06:08] stuff, since we've got. Obviously we've got time here. I'll

[3:06:13] go back and revisit that and bring you back a

[3:06:15] little bit better. Ordinance and a current resolution with a

[3:06:19] little bit better draft. And I don't mean. It's a

[3:06:23] bad ramp and I preach it, I guess might put

[3:06:24] it together and one that we had before. But there's

[3:06:27] just a few things. I'm sure you all looked at

[3:06:31] it. Like in paragraph 1.1. The premises. We don't really

[3:06:37] describe the premises, and we just need to add that

[3:06:39] in. Second floor, however we want to describe it. So

[3:06:42] many square feet or whatever, and maybe that's. Another part

[3:06:45] of the lease, but that's little things like that. We'll

[3:06:48] change that. So really, what you're approving on the lease

[3:06:51] is just. You're just approving a rough draft. With the

[3:06:55] follow up action that I just described. If you do

[3:06:59] that or just make mention of those comments by me

[3:07:01] that you can incorporate those in your motion if you're

[3:07:03] so inclined to do that. It won't work out. I

[3:07:06] just wanted to clean it up. Mr. Mayor, I have

[3:07:08] something. Mr. Noel is nice enough. When I asked to

[3:07:14] look over the. Lease. He gave it to me, and

[3:07:17] I thank him. I also noticed on the utility charges.

[3:07:23] That. I think we need to address that a little

[3:07:25] bit closer. $150 a month is what we're going to

[3:07:32] charge on that 1700 sqft. But as we all know,

[3:07:38] And. I feel like. Really? No. It goes up every

[3:07:42] year. This is a ten year lease. So I'm not

[3:07:46] sure. I read it over, and I don't see where

[3:07:49] the spot says that we can increase it. It does.

[3:07:52] Right behind. Okay. Maybe 4.2. Okay. I caught that as

[3:08:00] well, too. Thank you. I didn't catch that, so I

[3:08:04] just want. To make sure that we were doing the

[3:08:06] same for them as we were doing for ourselves and

[3:08:08] all our citizens that they too were going to feel

[3:08:10] the increase. Okay. Thank you. All right.

[3:08:23] Would anyone like to make a motion? Mr. Mayor. Yes,

[3:08:26] Mr. Suits. I had a question. What happens if they

[3:08:34] walk away before? The ten years. Are we on the

[3:08:37] hook for the money spent, or is there a contract

[3:08:41] with them to keep that from happening. I meant to

[3:08:44] say that a minute ago, Darren. And thank you for

[3:08:46] bringing that up. Until you have at least with them

[3:08:51] actually sign and approved. We're spending money. We are. At

[3:08:54] risk. Of doing upgrades, signing a contract. I don't know

[3:09:00] how you get around doing that, because that lease isn't

[3:09:03] quite. Ready to be approved in total yet. So that's

[3:09:08] going to take a little bit of time to do

[3:09:09] that. That's a risk. And Darren has pointed it out.

[3:09:16] And even if they sign a lease, of course, it

[3:09:19] says in there. There are some provisions in the lease.

[3:09:22] I read it very carefully about how you go about.

[3:09:24] Collecting, you would have to sue them. It also says,

[3:09:27] of course, you have the right, like any landlord in

[3:09:29] a commercial leash, you have the right to. Release or

[3:09:33] relent the premises. And then you offset that against what

[3:09:36] they would owe us if. You can find a tenant

[3:09:39] to step into their shoes. If you can't, they remain

[3:09:42] on the hook all along for the payments and would

[3:09:45] have to pay us. Or we would have to sue

[3:09:48] them if they wouldn't pay us. So, yes. Inherently, there

[3:09:52] is some risk in this transaction. I think it's pretty

[3:09:54] obvious. You'd like to think that. Where does that 300,000

[3:10:00] come from, though? Is it budgeted in this budget or

[3:10:03] is it something else for that borrow money on? Somebody

[3:10:07] does. I'm sorry. Let me go to the staff report.

[3:10:16] It's coming out of funds that are currently invested in.

[3:10:18] So who can probably answer that? Better than I can,

[3:10:20] but basically, funds that are currently invested, that are earning

[3:10:24] around three and a half percent interest. We're taking 300,000

[3:10:31] of those funds. There is $100,000 budgeted in the fiscal

[3:10:37] year 26 budget that was intended to be the completion

[3:10:41] of the project, but we're behind schedule getting it started.

[3:10:45] Mr. Known? Yes. Could Ms. Wong answer that?

[3:10:56] What we said in the staff report was we've utilized

[3:10:58] restricted Sur tax dollars. They can't be used for anything

[3:11:04] else to be repaid in an interest rate comparable. To

[3:11:06] our current investments, which is the three and a half

[3:11:08] percent. Yes.

[3:11:18] So, Mr. Mayor. As Mr. No said. The budget.

[3:11:28] Is trying to find my budget number. I didn't have

[3:11:31] that memoir just yet. In next year's CIP. We have

[3:11:36] 100,000 budgeted again that was intended. To be the completion

[3:11:40] of the project. Is 100,000.

[3:11:50] Originally, the plan was to complete a project in fiscal

[3:11:53] year 2025, so that was. In the projection for fiscal

[3:11:57] year 2025. The funding source. Is going to be the

[3:12:04] fair tax money. For this project. So when we have

[3:12:09] capital projects that we start one year or intend to

[3:12:12] start one year. Projects that we start in one year

[3:12:19] and carry over to the next. They bridge over the

[3:12:22] two. Years. That generally, if we're not exactly on schedule,

[3:12:26] which we're doing, estimates twelve months. Out. Then there may

[3:12:30] need to be adjustments in that following fiscal year because

[3:12:34] we didn't get as far as we thought we would

[3:12:36] in the previous year. Thank you so much. That's a

[3:12:38] very generic answer, but that's the process. It's bond, and

[3:12:42] I appreciate that. I have one more question. You'll come

[3:12:50] back with a lease agreement and we'll approve that later.

[3:12:54] Is that. What you said. The exact terms. You would

[3:12:57] have to do that because. This one you have here

[3:13:00] is. A good model, and it's got, I'd say, 95%

[3:13:05] of the terms that need to be in it. A

[3:13:07] few of them need to be tweaked a little. Bit.

[3:13:11] Mr. Stuts. And we kind of discuss those a little

[3:13:14] bit tonight, and then I'm going to beef. Up a

[3:13:15] little bit just based on comments I've heard here, too.

[3:13:19] And of course, they've got to approve. It's going to

[3:13:22] go bring that back later. It's going to come back

[3:13:24] to you at least twice. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, I understand.

[3:13:30] Okay, so do we still need to approve this draft

[3:13:33] lease agreement? You can go ahead and approve. The draft

[3:13:36] with changes to be made by staff and or myself

[3:13:39] and staff. It does say draft. It's not a final

[3:13:45] at all. Make a motion to approve the draft. City

[3:13:52] hall, vacant space build out. To. Contracting and construction management

[3:13:58] in the amount of 299 $490,000. The improved draft lease

[3:14:03] amendment with Clay EDC to be finalized at completion of

[3:14:08] construction. Is there a second? Here. We have a motion,

[3:14:12] a second. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member Thorn? Yes.

[3:14:18] Council member. Yes. Mayor Gome. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion

[3:14:25] passes. Okay, thank you. Now for city manager. City attorney

[3:14:29] reports. Just have a couple of quick things, Mr. Mayor.

[3:14:37] We're meeting tomorrow. Staff meeting tomorrow. With Mr. Scruvy. And

[3:14:45] Kelly Hartwig representative. For the project. 16 and 17 there

[3:14:50] at the corner. Regarding stormwater. And. Certainly staff will give

[3:14:56] you a report on the outcome of that meeting, obviously.

[3:14:59] The idea is to try to avoid litigation. If we

[3:15:01] can't. They may. And I wouldn't be surprised by this

[3:15:07] that I've already told staff. This, they may feel the

[3:15:09] need to file suit because they have a limited number

[3:15:13] of days within which to file a lawsuit pursuant to

[3:15:16] that resolution. On stormwater 20 days. And so they may

[3:15:21] file a lawsuit just so they have at least gotten

[3:15:25] their position legally. Where they can continue to negotiate and

[3:15:29] don't lose their rights. I perfectly understand that as a

[3:15:32] lawyer, and it's not going to offend me, and it

[3:15:35] shouldn't really. Offend anybody if they feel they have to

[3:15:37] do it. And we'll negotiate with them in good faith.

[3:15:41] And, of course, you all will make any final decisions.

[3:15:43] We'll bring back whatever we can accomplish at that meeting.

[3:15:47] If we can accomplish something. Fine. If we don't, then

[3:15:49] we understand that. And still are going to be looking

[3:15:53] through our engineer. To make sure that we're doing the

[3:15:57] things the right way that we should do them. And

[3:15:58] apply them fairly and equitably and so forth. That's one

[3:16:04] thing that I have, and I'm happy to answer her

[3:16:06] staff. Steve can answer any questions you might have about

[3:16:09] that meeting we're having. I think 130, right? Tomorrow. Just

[3:16:13] a staff meeting with. So what's the possibility of extending

[3:16:17] that review? In that part of the world. Because we

[3:16:21] heard testimony from attorney Scruvy that support pays nothing.

[3:16:33] To me. We heard possible sources around you out there

[3:16:36] tonight. I look at sport and go, they haven't. Ever

[3:16:39] paid their fair share. Any of the history that I've

[3:16:42] read. And we're now going to be sued by the

[3:16:47] corner piece. And the neighbor is another 1500 acres. And

[3:16:56] paying nothing. I don't understand how that. I don't see

[3:17:00] how that changed this year. But the study that the

[3:17:04] engineer don't let me. Take. Your report here, away from

[3:17:08] you. But the engineer is going to readdress all of

[3:17:12] these things, and we're going. To probably take another look

[3:17:14] at the ordinance. That's my belief. Engineer needs to be

[3:17:17] given. Instructions to include the port in that review. I'm

[3:17:22] sure that he'll look at large landowners. I can't imagine

[3:17:25] that. He wouldn't do that. I can't speak for that

[3:17:27] engineer for some reason, counselor. That has gone. Completely under

[3:17:31] the radar. There's no discussion of it at this level,

[3:17:35] ever. When we address the entire stormwater, utility ordinances, policies,

[3:17:41] everything against starting October. We're going to look at the

[3:17:45] entire city limits. We're going to look at everything. Look

[3:17:49] at all the properties. Look at the nature of the

[3:17:51] stormwater utility, look at our policies. Procedures, look at law,

[3:17:54] look at funding needs. We're going to look at everything.

[3:17:56] It's going to be comprehensive review. So the question of

[3:17:59] how come they've been omitted to this point. Is. Where

[3:18:05] do you go for that answer? That was our takeaway

[3:18:11] from when we started, the user fees, since they had

[3:18:14] their own permitting. And everything going to the river. They're

[3:18:18] responsible for all of their stormwater. Similar to make a

[3:18:23] point. So we have followed. That. Line of thought consistently

[3:18:29] with those properties. Despite the absence of any engineered stormwater.

[3:18:35] Facility. That was our takeaway. When we had those meetings

[3:18:40] in 2020. Discussion specifically about it all.

[3:18:52] Certainly was not. There was no reason to exclude any

[3:18:57] particular. Landowner for any other reason. What might just describe

[3:19:01] gets back to the omission by the tax assessor's office.

[3:19:06] Of the port and the undervalued. Fact of the matter

[3:19:11] is, they haven't paid their fair share into anything. Citizens

[3:19:13] of Green Cove, subsidize the port. Can I address my

[3:19:22] other matter? Yes, sir. Okay. I'm going to ask you

[3:19:25] to let me appear remotely in the second meeting in

[3:19:29] October. If you all would allow that, I would very

[3:19:31] much appreciate it. Sir. I'll assume that's okay and. It's

[3:19:38] not okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. That's

[3:19:41] all I have. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Mayor.

[3:19:44] First thing I wanted to do. Is to apologize to

[3:19:48] you. For. Comments to Mr. Royal. I have kept it

[3:19:58] practiced, and I do that. But at some point, Amidst

[3:20:04] all of the actions and activities and comments. It's frustrating.

[3:20:12] To have casual accusations. About. Inefficient, not doing things. Whenever

[3:20:19] we did. And. It was probably. The most professional thing

[3:20:26] to do. Humans do. And there's only so much I

[3:20:30] think. That. So much. Accusations and insinuations.

[3:20:40] That somebody should take before then you're able to respond

[3:20:43] and answer those. My apologies for that. The legislative policies.

[3:20:54] That had handed out. The three areas of home rule.

[3:21:00] At Lauren. And the cra. I handed out everyone. We're

[3:21:04] going to take that and use that. As a kind

[3:21:07] of a framework on the 30th. For, I guess. You're

[3:21:12] going to present those? And what I'm trying to ask.

[3:21:17] If I could meet. With each of you individually and

[3:21:21] go over. Three projects that we're looking at. That Joe

[3:21:27] mobile are unobvious sort of encouragers and directed us. To

[3:21:33] go in that direction relative to. I guess the pulse

[3:21:38] that's at the state now for various topics. So if

[3:21:42] you all are receptive to that in the next. I

[3:21:47] don't know if I can get it all done this

[3:21:48] week, but early next week. Before that meeting, I want

[3:21:51] to go over and just explain what the projects are

[3:21:54] and what impact they will be. In the cost. If

[3:21:57] everyone's okay with that. Yes, sir. Sorry.

[3:22:08] That's all that I'm having. That's good. Thank you. All

[3:22:11] right. Ms. Cliff, any comments? No, sir. Mr. Stutts, any

[3:22:16] comments? Yes. I just want to thank Erin for helping

[3:22:22] me figure out how to remote in. They couldn't be

[3:22:27] there tonight. I didn't realize until lunchtime today that I.

[3:22:30] Was running about 102 fever, so didn't think I needed

[3:22:33] to come and get everybody sick. So I just stay

[3:22:36] home, and she sounds like she feels about as bad

[3:22:38] as I do. Sorry I wasn't there, but I appreciate

[3:22:41] her helping me. Thank you for staying home tonight, Mr.

[3:22:45] Says. You're welcome. Ms starnes. Folks have left.

[3:22:55] And that's because. They think we don't hear them? I'm

[3:23:00] sure. Makes me feel sad. But. That be sad if

[3:23:09] they didn't have some of the services that we offer.

[3:23:13] Now. But I think we're going to have to somehow.

[3:23:21] There's a real wedge between our community. And us. And

[3:23:26] I think. We need to be. Aware of that. And.

[3:23:33] Face it. I don't know what we can do about

[3:23:35] it. I'm not trying. To say there's lots we can

[3:23:38] do about it. But I guess. I've taken, like building

[3:23:43] the reserves, having the money, being more conscious on how

[3:23:47] we budget. I know we all are very careful. I

[3:23:51] get it. But I do think we're going to have

[3:23:54] to face it. There's going to be some panties in

[3:23:58] the wad going forward here, and I think we need

[3:24:01] to be aware of it. And I do feel like

[3:24:05] we did our work and that is our job, to

[3:24:07] do those things. That we do. But I'm thinking we

[3:24:14] need to be cautious. Thank you. And I'd like to

[3:24:18] thank everybody. For coming. Yeah. Thank you, Ms. Servers. Mr.

[3:24:23] God. So that feeling that you have right now, That

[3:24:27] feeling you have that you should exercise caution, that never

[3:24:31] goes away. Every budget season you come to the end.

[3:24:36] And those people that feel strongly. And have. Opinions. Bring

[3:24:42] them before you. And tell you what it is and

[3:24:45] how it is and what it should look like. This

[3:24:49] job is not easy, but what makes it easier is

[3:24:53] the quality of people in this room. And the danger

[3:24:58] we get into. Is. The suggestion that we can run

[3:25:03] these departments. Staff works for us. Right. I don't know

[3:25:09] what the organizational chart looks like. But staff knows what

[3:25:14] they're doing. It's not their first year. They come up

[3:25:21] with budgets way more times than I've looked at a

[3:25:25] budget. To actually get involved in the minutiae or the

[3:25:31] details of telling any one of these. Department heads. What

[3:25:35] and how. They feel the pressure as much as we

[3:25:41] do. Producing budgets. That may not cover the cost of

[3:25:49] operations this year. So don't expect that feeling to go

[3:25:54] away. And those loudest voices. I sympathize.

[3:26:03] But as loud as they'll shout, they'll shout back louder,

[3:26:08] and that's the process. That's how it works or that's

[3:26:11] how it doesn't work. This council has come to the

[3:26:16] end of a budget session. We'll lick our wounds.

[3:26:26] Here. Next year starts now. Yes. It really does. So

[3:26:32] in the process. Of trying to deliver services to everybody.

[3:26:39] Don't expect the seats to be filled anytime soon. Unless

[3:26:44] you want to raise water rates next month. But. As

[3:26:49] glad everybody has come to come to the end of

[3:26:53] this budget meeting. But I think we all walk away

[3:27:00] a little smarter. Thank you, Mr. God. Thank you. I'll

[3:27:04] take it one step further. Our employees, our city. Employees

[3:27:07] they work for ultimately. Our city manager, Mr. Kennedy, and

[3:27:14] he and our assistant city manager. Others, like I said,

[3:27:17] worked hard. Thank you, Ms. Swan. A lot of hard

[3:27:21] work, a lot of extra hours. Really trying to figure

[3:27:23] this out and split up on judge pressuring you. I'm

[3:27:29] sorry. That's not one only regret. Because that's what I

[3:27:34] thought we agreed on last week, so I apologize. But

[3:27:38] I want to say this. Good work, counsel. I'm super

[3:27:44] impressed, Mr. Stuts. Stutson especially. We've been up here a

[3:27:49] while doing this for, like, five years now. But, hey,

[3:27:53] stand your ground. And keep working with all three of

[3:27:57] you. Bring great dimension to this, and it's hard. Work.

[3:28:01] We appreciate it. I really do. Thank you. I value

[3:28:05] your opinions. And admire you to stand firm. You may

[3:28:09] not disagree with us of Edna. You think we agree

[3:28:12] on everything we've found? Out. And we're going to go

[3:28:16] at it again. But that's how council works for five

[3:28:18] individuals doing our best for the city of green coast

[3:28:22] greens. And in the end, The best product we can

[3:28:25] agree on comes forward. Nothing is what we've done tonight.

[3:28:28] Thanks. Everybody have a great.

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