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You're law enforcement, fire, rescue, or healthcare providers on call,

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so please silence your devices. And anyone wishing to address

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the council. The city council has requested complete a card

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at the city clerk's desk speakers are respectfully requested to

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abide by. The following or limit your comments three minutes.

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Speak to the mayor. None. Staff or the audience. No

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raising hand speaking from the audience, no debating rebuttals. Time

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cannot be allocated to others and only speak one time

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agenda. All right, so welcome tonight. We're going to start

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off with the invocation and pledge of allegiance to the

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flag. Led by our city manager, Mr. Steve Kennedy. Please

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stand. We're grateful for this opportunity to meet. We're grateful

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for all the blessings that you give us many? Way

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more than we deserve. But that's the essence of your

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being. To support in any way that you can. We

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ask that you. Meeting tonight. The discussion. That all those.

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That are participating with understanding. The issues and treat everyone

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with respect. We just ask that you cover those with

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comfort. Or suffering for whatever. They inferminate or issue with.

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Me. And lead in and guide them. These things we

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ask on Covid nine.

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Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. Aaron roll.

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Rollisson Council member Sarns council member suts. Here.

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Golf. Yes, mayor. Mayor Johnson. Attorney Arnold. Sure. City manager

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Kennedy. Assistant city manager Noel. Sure. You have a forum?

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Okay, thank you. Next, we call on members of the

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audience who would wish to speak to council. I have

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two cards for that. Without specific items. I would like

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to first ask Linda Hobbes to come to the podium.

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Please. Well, you know how terrified I am of this.

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I'd like to first say, the last time I spoke.

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Oh, excuse me. Good evening. There and council people. The

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last time I spoke, several of the couple of the

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members of the council reached out to me, and I

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appreciate that very much. Also, I live off of Houston

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street, and we use Houston street, the sidewalk, quite a

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bit, so. I'd like to give a kudos to the

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maintenance department. They cleared completely. The sidewalk has always got

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debris on it. They cleared it all the way back

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to the side. They clear above it? It's just spectacular.

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You couldn't help but notice, and so. Kudos to them,

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so thank you for that. Okay. First, I'd like to

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say that I'm truly sad by the lack of. Support

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shown by the residents of our beautiful city. As represented

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in each council meeting, especially when it comes to important

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things like rate hikes. I know, people are very busy

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these days, and I'm not sure if they don't. Care.

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Or if they think someone else will be there, of

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which I'm guilty, perhaps they've lost trust in our leaders.

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Also, I'd like to reference Mike Kelter's email to the

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mayor this week. Regarding the property. Rate study. Mike stated

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that since 2020, the city has raised the water rates

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by 55%. Which includes the 20% from last year. Wastewater

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rates were increased by 42% just in five years, including

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last year's five. He further stated that the debt service

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used to calculate water rates was 451% greater than actual

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debt. Service. Personnel services were 27% higher in the rate

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study than real cost. I understand that there will be

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increases, but these numbers are very concerning. We have no

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choice but. To be bound by the city's continued rate

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hikes, and they are all across the board, schools, water,

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wastewater, stormwater, garbage and property tax and. It's been pretty

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much like that every year for a long while now.

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There used to be. I've been in my home 24

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years. We've had a rate hike of the water or

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the property tax would go up, but it just seems

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like it's just a culmination of everything these last few

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years. It's just very difficult. I do agree with Mike

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Kelter. We need a rate study before any more rate

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increases are even suggested. Lastly, I manage my money very

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well, even though I'm on a tight budget. As many

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others do, but strapping these constant rate hikes on the

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backs of the citizens. Is crutching us as I've. Said

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before, I love our little city. I've been a part

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of it since the late 70s. Please don't text me

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out of my home for 24 years. Thank you, Ms.

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Hobbes. Felicia Hampshire. Yes, sir. But I'm always here to

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try to bring good news. All right? So, good evening.

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Mayor Johnson, council members, and everyone on the diet. My

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name is Felicia Hampshire, and I'm happy to reside in

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our beautiful city. I would like to take this opportunity

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to update you on the 24th annual Green coast rings

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soul. Food and music festival. On Saturday. And that'll be

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here before you know it, y'all. On Saturday, October. The

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fourth. The festival will kick off with a parade at

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noon down in LKG Boulevard. Followed by opening ceremonies at

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01:30 p.m. The festivities will continue. With gospel hour at

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

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be up first so please don't miss it along with

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other local and nearby county choirs and soloists. Next. Enjoy

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booths on the ground with performances by the Duvall country

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steppers. The radiant rhythm dance team from St. Augustine, Florida,

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youth Challenge and many others. Entertainment also will include performances

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by Jimmy and Curtis from the iconic group called brick.

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Dj trans the special formula band. Seven year old Ruben

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Wales, who we call RJ, will perform to Michael Jackson.

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Dances or what have you. Jazz singer Liz Owens, the

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sofa roots band from Middlebird and many more. Including a

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Lady Coleman stickers. You all got to consider, because I'm

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telling you, stop. Changing and then. We have. Attendees can

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explore over 40 vendors or more, including a doctor's network

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called vituity cares, and they will be offering blood pressure

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checks, free medications, and simple medical treatments. There will also

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be a mobile dentist available for routine cleanings and minor

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extractions for people who may not have dental insurance, they

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can come out on that day and they can get

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simple. Extractions and cleanings. This is for children and adults

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alike. Additionally, there will be a spades tournament sponsored. By

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Kappa Apple cy fraternity from St. John's County. A solemn

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party for the children, sponsored by Dr. Chanda Holsey. And.

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A kids free zone. Kids fund zone. I'm sorry. Sponsored

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by St. Benson featuring face painting balloon artists and lots

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of giveaways. Please remember to bring your lawn chairs, your

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umbrellas and tents and get ready to enjoy a boot

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stumping. Good time. And lastly. Lastly, but not least. I

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want to take this opportunity to say thank you for

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keeping. This ongoing cultural tradition in our community. The volunteers,

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along with our dedicated city staff, worked tirelessly to bring

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this all to fruition. And our community is blessed and

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better for it. So I personally want to thank Greg

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and our mouth. Kim, Heather, our police department, our electorate

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department, and everyone who's involved in making this happen. This

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is an amazing event, and we have had such great

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success with it, but it's because of you. We cannot

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do it without you. So thank you all from the

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bottom of my heart. Next year will be year 25,

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and we hope to really set it off. Thank you.

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Thank you, Felicia. We always look forward to that. Thank

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for your hard work on that organizing. I know you're

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worn out already, but thank you so much. Okay, next.

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I have Mr. Tony hayes. Ladies and

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gentlemen, I come for a reason. I live off of

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farms and West Street. And I was trying to figure

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out. It was talking one thing about one house. The

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south one went street. Like I said, I live right

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off of West street. My house is. On the corner

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of Fords and West street. I've been there forever. 70

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something years, I'm going to tell you all I could

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do. But anyway, what I was asking was I was

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asking for. A fair agreement on this. They said they

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will move. The fence line. Out 50ft from there. But.

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My union. And accident for this reason is because I

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want to know what become of that 12ft 15ft. That

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I have on city property. I'm going to say it

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this way, my lot. I'm not having anything on it

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other than I could every week, but I want to.

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Find out exactly. What you're going to do. Like I

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said, I like the house that they billing down the

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street. 501, it's fine. And I like the one that

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turns full street. It's fine, but I just want to.

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Know what's going on. With the property. On the streets

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down west street because we are not in a property.

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There? Because like I said, I was born in the

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property, and I'm playing no dime on that property, so

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I'm giving out your bank for five minutes or three

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minutes. I got. I just want you all to realize

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that and. Tell buddy and membership on that. Don't divide

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it. Right on. Five minutes so you can come. Look.

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I got a palm tree to cut the top. Out

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of it. But it was known what would cost. Electric

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company had to do it, and I gave an agreement

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to do it. But anyway, to make a long story

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short. I want to just ask you all if you

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all thinking about anything. That way. Please send it to

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me in writing. Amen. Yes, sir, Mr. Kennedy. Thank you

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for your time. Thank you.

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That's all the cards I have for items not on

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the agenda. Next we'll move into public hearings. Item number

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one. Mr. Arnold. Mr. Mayor, this is ordinance number 15,

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2025. An ordinance of the City Council of Greenco Springs,

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Florida, modifying water rates by amending city code chapter 90.

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Utility. To article roman numeral free water service division three

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rates and charges, section 92 53 entitled water usage and

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monthly minimum charges, providing for conflict, severability, codification and setting

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an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I'm going

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to start off this item. This is on the water.

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Rate changes. And this intro will apply to the next

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two items as well. As far as the rate study

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reference. So I made reference that. We did do a

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rate study for water, to waste water and reclaim water.

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In late 23, early 24 that was presented to the

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city council. Special session on February 6 of 24. Since

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that time, as we've acknowledged plenty of times in the

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public, We discovered that the fiscal year 23 information that

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the rate study was based on was different than the

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audited fiscal year 23 numbers that came out. So while

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we do have the rate study as a point of

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reference, I want to be clear for the public that.

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The request that we have before you this evening is

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for. A 12% rate increase on the water rates. And

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that is based on the budget that we have presented

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to council and that you'll be considering later on this

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evening for the next twelve months, for fiscal year 26,

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the twelve. Percent increase. Is solely based on being able

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to. Fund that budget for the next twelve months. We

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obviously acknowledge that we need to update the rate study,

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and we do plan to do so. Here over the

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next few months. So that we will be able to

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plan better. And present. Rate increases. In a more justified

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and complete manner. Moving forward. But the request this evening

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is for a 12% increase. Solely to fund the next

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twelve months of operations. The fiscal year is 14 days

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away. We have a pretty good handle of what we

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think it's going to cost to operate the utility. Over

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the next twelve months. So that is the request before

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you this evening. And for reference, since I was asked

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last time. The average customer who uses 6000 gallons a

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00:15:27,772 --> 00:15:32,224
month. That average user would see an increase in their

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monthly bill of $3.32 based on this requested rate increase.

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And overall, it will generate an additional $264,000 for the

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water department for fiscal year. 26. So that's the request

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before you this evening. Thank you, Mr. Noel. At the

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time. I'll open public hearing. I have a few cards

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on item number one. The first one. Mike Kelter.

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Thank you.

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Mike Kelter, six 30 Myrtle Avenue, Greencoave Springs, Florida. Mr.

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Mayor, members of council, thank you, Mr. Knoll, for acknowledging.

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The things. In the rank study. I knew you were

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sharper than what I saw in that rate study. First

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of all, I think it would be appropriate since nobody

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has gotten to see any of the calculations so far.

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That Mr. Null has referred to. As far as. The

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12%. I think it would be appropriate to defer this

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item for a couple of months until such time as

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you can put pen to paper and show us what

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that looks like. We're entitled as a public. And council

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is entitled. As elected officials to see that information. Before

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a vote is held on this matter. You've had substantial.

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Increases in the last five years, 39% excluding. This proposed

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12% increase compared to 25.2 inflation. So you're way above

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inflation. Rate increases would give the city the third highest

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water rate in northeast Florida. If you include the 25%

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surcharge for customers living on the north end of town.

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Or outside city limits. It gives them the highest. Water

235
00:18:00,329 --> 00:18:06,567
rates north of Akawa. You've still not provided increased water

236
00:18:06,567 --> 00:18:10,558
developer fees that we asked for two years ago. You

237
00:18:10,558 --> 00:18:13,838
continue to drop the burden of all the development on

238
00:18:13,838 --> 00:18:18,937
the existing ratepayers. That should have been done a year

239
00:18:18,937 --> 00:18:25,266
ago when it's not done now. The rate study. Depth

240
00:18:25,266 --> 00:18:29,706
service. Way over, way over stated in the thing. I

241
00:18:29,706 --> 00:18:32,946
expect to see that fix when you fix this rate

242
00:18:32,946 --> 00:18:38,186
study operations and maintenance costs are wildly overstated. The review

243
00:18:38,186 --> 00:18:43,436
of your En 50s for your cup compliance. Indicate to

244
00:18:43,436 --> 00:18:46,556
me that you're having a drop off of water sales,

245
00:18:46,556 --> 00:18:49,423
which is going to. Affect your budget. That should be

246
00:18:49,423 --> 00:18:55,127
included. In your analysis. And again. It should have been

247
00:18:55,127 --> 00:18:59,558
updated prior to doing. Any rate increase and council should

248
00:18:59,558 --> 00:19:01,398
have seen it and the public should have seen it.

249
00:19:01,398 --> 00:19:04,478
So again, I respectfully ask, you might want to defer

250
00:19:04,478 --> 00:19:10,056
this any rate increase until such time. As you get

251
00:19:10,056 --> 00:19:14,038
the paperwork done. Let us look at it, debate it,

252
00:19:14,038 --> 00:19:18,099
and then move forward with it. Then looking at these

253
00:19:18,099 --> 00:19:21,259
rate analysis that I'm looking at, it kind of looks

254
00:19:21,259 --> 00:19:25,715
to me. Like we're doing whackable budgeting. You have a

255
00:19:25,715 --> 00:19:29,760
wholesome place over here in the budget. So you move

256
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,600
a bunch of money from another fund over to patch

257
00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:36,717
sad hole, then? We have another hole in the budget

258
00:19:36,717 --> 00:19:41,234
over here where you move money next year? That's going

259
00:19:41,234 --> 00:19:43,554
to have to get filled again so the auditors don't

260
00:19:43,554 --> 00:19:47,554
catch. You. We're doing lack of budgeting and we ought

261
00:19:47,554 --> 00:19:51,219
to quit doing that. We need to do this. In

262
00:19:51,219 --> 00:19:55,688
an orderly, sane method. Thank you very much. Thank you,

263
00:19:55,688 --> 00:19:56,608
Mr. Greg will.

264
00:20:09,513 --> 00:20:15,771
Up to 18 North Magnolia. I'm going to piggyback on

265
00:20:15,771 --> 00:20:18,491
what Micah said, and one thing I want to say

266
00:20:18,491 --> 00:20:22,204
is. I feel that the people who are doing the

267
00:20:22,204 --> 00:20:25,484
nuts and bolts work are doing a great job. For

268
00:20:25,484 --> 00:20:30,265
the city of Greenville. But as I see this, and

269
00:20:30,265 --> 00:20:34,025
it's been to the rate hearings in the past year,

270
00:20:36,331 --> 00:20:42,852
I constantly hear about errors. And assumptions, and the city

271
00:20:42,852 --> 00:20:47,164
is winging it, and to me. Is a clear demonstration.

272
00:20:48,324 --> 00:20:55,585
That the people. Who are. Intended to do the strategic

273
00:20:55,585 --> 00:21:02,080
visioning and the planning to operate the utility. Do not

274
00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:06,899
have the acumen. To operate the utilities that we have.

275
00:21:06,899 --> 00:21:10,819
The planning is not there. The information is not provided

276
00:21:10,819 --> 00:21:15,179
to council in a timely fashion and tail is wagging

277
00:21:15,179 --> 00:21:19,935
the dog. We're being asked to trust that this is

278
00:21:19,935 --> 00:21:24,579
a good number. This 12% is a good number. When.

279
00:21:26,557 --> 00:21:29,237
We know there were errors that Mr. Null just pointed

280
00:21:29,237 --> 00:21:32,997
out in the 23 24 rate study, so. Now, if

281
00:21:32,997 --> 00:21:35,676
you're going to go back to the same people. How

282
00:21:35,676 --> 00:21:39,926
am I to have confidence? That they are going to

283
00:21:39,926 --> 00:21:45,077
do a better job this time. I don't see Orange

284
00:21:45,077 --> 00:21:48,957
park in this situation of extremists. I don't. Want to

285
00:21:48,957 --> 00:21:51,237
say Orange park, but at the end of the day,

286
00:21:52,983 --> 00:21:55,783
Three point thirty two cents may not mean much to

287
00:21:55,783 --> 00:21:58,783
any use fitting up there, but there's. A lot of

288
00:21:58,783 --> 00:22:01,343
people that matters, too, so we need to have our

289
00:22:01,343 --> 00:22:04,783
ducks in a row. Before we make these decisions, and

290
00:22:04,783 --> 00:22:08,837
I don't feel that that's where we're. At. I don't

291
00:22:08,837 --> 00:22:12,486
feel any confidence. In the senior staff in this building.

292
00:22:14,223 --> 00:22:17,949
That they have the skill set necessary. And the vision

293
00:22:17,949 --> 00:22:21,751
necessary to do these things. Nor do I have confidence

294
00:22:21,751 --> 00:22:26,266
in your consultant. So I would urge you, as Mr.

295
00:22:26,266 --> 00:22:29,626
Kelter just said, to get all of these facts put.

296
00:22:29,626 --> 00:22:32,924
Together. And present it to all of the council members

297
00:22:32,924 --> 00:22:36,878
in detail. And not to wing it tonight. Thank you

298
00:22:36,878 --> 00:22:42,244
for your time. Thank you, Mr. Royal. Handouts.

299
00:22:54,098 --> 00:23:02,212
Thank you. Mikey.

300
00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:09,880
Thank you.

301
00:23:21,998 --> 00:23:26,318
Van loyal 36 88 La Costa Court. The numbers that

302
00:23:26,318 --> 00:23:33,690
you are looking at right now. To Mr. Know's comment.

303
00:23:36,597 --> 00:23:40,757
Our column, Green Coast Price column, reflects the rates that

304
00:23:40,757 --> 00:23:42,797
if we pass it, that's what we'll be at tonight.

305
00:23:44,384 --> 00:23:46,624
It is based on that rate study. It's based on.

306
00:23:48,371 --> 00:23:52,148
Scott's. Needs the people that are on the ground what

307
00:23:52,148 --> 00:23:57,948
they need to operate. A safe and. Positive asset like,

308
00:23:57,948 --> 00:23:59,908
we've got the war system, just like Andy does, and

309
00:23:59,908 --> 00:24:02,628
I have great. Faith in both of them. In league,

310
00:24:02,628 --> 00:24:05,930
those two departments. I'll point out when we talk about

311
00:24:05,930 --> 00:24:10,311
where we stand. Lawrence park second. Two pages on that.

312
00:24:10,311 --> 00:24:13,431
The next page is the agenda item on the Orange

313
00:24:13,431 --> 00:24:19,025
park budget tonight. That says we need 15% more warren

314
00:24:19,025 --> 00:24:22,345
sewer rates across the board and next year and the

315
00:24:22,345 --> 00:24:25,145
year half. We need 5% on top of that. So

316
00:24:25,145 --> 00:24:28,861
if they pass the one tonight. Right now, they are

317
00:24:28,861 --> 00:24:33,021
significantly lower than us. We're like $15 based on 52,

318
00:24:33,021 --> 00:24:39,021
36. Gallons 5236. That's the average household in Florida. And

319
00:24:39,021 --> 00:24:41,301
that's why you used to pull these numbers from, and

320
00:24:41,301 --> 00:24:43,981
these are extrapolated based on the rates that we've got

321
00:24:43,981 --> 00:24:48,141
CCUA and Jea. If you take their increase, if they

322
00:24:48,141 --> 00:24:54,216
get. The 15% tonight. They're within $3 a less. CCUA

323
00:24:54,216 --> 00:24:57,496
is over us. Jea is over us. If you have

324
00:24:57,496 --> 00:24:59,576
within 2 hours of us. If you have in the

325
00:24:59,576 --> 00:25:05,811
franchise fee and the city tax. The utility tax. So

326
00:25:05,811 --> 00:25:07,931
when we look at these numbers, the reality is that.

327
00:25:09,845 --> 00:25:11,325
We're not over budget. When you look at what we've

328
00:25:11,325 --> 00:25:15,143
done in the past. Because we didn't get the rates

329
00:25:15,143 --> 00:25:20,007
over 25 years. We as residents kept that money out

330
00:25:20,007 --> 00:25:22,527
of pocket for 20 years. In the last five years,

331
00:25:22,527 --> 00:25:25,847
it's gone up. We're not higher than the rest around

332
00:25:25,847 --> 00:25:29,367
us, and I don't. Believe that we end up wasting

333
00:25:29,367 --> 00:25:32,367
money over there. Either a manpower or equipment. I. Look,

334
00:25:32,367 --> 00:25:36,564
what the mandate was 25 years ago. Mike is great

335
00:25:36,564 --> 00:25:39,444
with engineering that, and he would tell us that it

336
00:25:39,444 --> 00:25:43,164
would be irresponsible of us to not fund this. To

337
00:25:43,164 --> 00:25:46,929
where? It's a positive and not a negative. And by

338
00:25:46,929 --> 00:25:50,209
the way, on one website today, there's a borrowed water.

339
00:25:50,209 --> 00:25:53,529
They're bigger. They're bigger than we are. It happens. We

340
00:25:53,529 --> 00:25:56,717
don't have that here. Compared a little bit to Ace

341
00:25:56,717 --> 00:26:01,387
hardware and Home Depot. The reality is that. Sometimes size

342
00:26:01,387 --> 00:26:03,627
makes a difference in cost, and we're on the small

343
00:26:03,627 --> 00:26:06,933
side, but at the end of the day. Our cost.

344
00:26:06,933 --> 00:26:09,173
And by the way, could throw in the refuse there

345
00:26:09,173 --> 00:26:12,013
lower than all of them, so. When you look at

346
00:26:12,013 --> 00:26:15,213
what we do as a city within the utilities right

347
00:26:15,213 --> 00:26:18,307
now, We are not gouging anybody, and we're not really

348
00:26:18,307 --> 00:26:21,387
taking advantage of anybody outside. Of maybe a few employees

349
00:26:21,387 --> 00:26:23,027
in the past, and I hope I make that up.

350
00:26:23,027 --> 00:26:25,907
And I think we are responsible. And I agree with

351
00:26:25,907 --> 00:26:29,467
Mr. Kelter and Mr. Will going forward, a good look.

352
00:26:29,467 --> 00:26:32,580
At the rate study. Is going to be helpful, but

353
00:26:32,580 --> 00:26:34,700
at the end of the day, we funded what they

354
00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:39,729
need. Not what? Some consultant says they got to have,

355
00:26:39,729 --> 00:26:41,209
and if we're not out of line, then that's what

356
00:26:41,209 --> 00:26:46,209
we ought to do. Thank you. All right. I do

357
00:26:46,209 --> 00:26:48,409
not have any other blue cards. Is there any wells

358
00:26:48,409 --> 00:26:50,849
from the audience who. Wanted to speak on item number

359
00:26:50,849 --> 00:26:58,349
one. If not, I will close the public hearing and

360
00:26:58,349 --> 00:27:03,327
come to council for either. Comments, questions or a motion

361
00:27:03,327 --> 00:27:09,222
on item number one? Mr. Stutts. We'll defer to you

362
00:27:09,222 --> 00:27:13,717
first. There's a little bit of a delay. Can you

363
00:27:13,717 --> 00:27:18,806
hear me okay? Yes, we can. I met with Scott

364
00:27:18,806 --> 00:27:21,206
today on this, and it's not a reflection of anything

365
00:27:21,206 --> 00:27:23,486
he's doing or his people are doing. I think they're

366
00:27:23,486 --> 00:27:30,444
doing a great job. It's concerning to me though that

367
00:27:30,444 --> 00:27:33,484
we can't get the data as new council. Members to

368
00:27:33,484 --> 00:27:38,927
look at it. And look at real numbers. We're kind

369
00:27:38,927 --> 00:27:41,927
of blind going in and just doing what staff tells

370
00:27:41,927 --> 00:27:45,327
us, and I do. Think that's a problem. I agree

371
00:27:45,327 --> 00:27:49,843
that we should look at. The data before we make

372
00:27:49,843 --> 00:27:53,273
a decision on it. And. I've been on the fence.

373
00:27:53,273 --> 00:27:57,169
I really know. Almost the first time. And I really

374
00:27:57,169 --> 00:27:58,609
thought I was going to go ahead and vote yes

375
00:27:58,609 --> 00:28:00,449
on it, but I just don't think I can until

376
00:28:00,449 --> 00:28:02,929
we have the new rate study and look at it

377
00:28:02,929 --> 00:28:08,221
with real numbers. It just seems like we're pushing things

378
00:28:08,221 --> 00:28:12,101
through based on what staff wants rather than giving. Us

379
00:28:12,101 --> 00:28:14,701
all the figures so we can decide for ourselves. That

380
00:28:14,701 --> 00:28:16,901
is why we ran for city council. And why we

381
00:28:16,901 --> 00:28:19,421
get a vote. So I just feel like we need

382
00:28:19,421 --> 00:28:21,381
to hold up until we can look at some real

383
00:28:21,381 --> 00:28:29,077
data. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Council members. I took a

384
00:28:29,077 --> 00:28:33,670
ride over to the water plant today. I'm sorry, ma'am.

385
00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,400
I took a ride over to the water plant today,

386
00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:44,857
and. I just see everything over there. That's so great

387
00:28:44,857 --> 00:28:47,897
what these people have done. Scott and them have worked

388
00:28:47,897 --> 00:28:53,363
so hard. And I know that. There's things that you

389
00:28:53,363 --> 00:29:00,102
need to buy. Just. Every day. Every day. Operating cost?

390
00:29:02,467 --> 00:29:07,110
That you need to have. And. It's hard to let

391
00:29:07,110 --> 00:29:11,030
things keep going by and keep going by and waiting

392
00:29:11,030 --> 00:29:20,026
on increasing dollars. But I feel bad. For the public.

393
00:29:21,474 --> 00:29:26,853
But after talking to him and seeing things. That we

394
00:29:26,853 --> 00:29:34,061
need over there. I'm not sure that. We can wait.

395
00:29:34,829 --> 00:29:38,474
Are we really going to have another rate study? Yes,

396
00:29:38,474 --> 00:29:43,810
ma'am. We're going to update it starting in October. Yeah.

397
00:29:43,810 --> 00:29:51,649
Thank you. Any other council members? Sure. I also was

398
00:29:51,649 --> 00:30:00,692
going to vote yes tonight to this. But. Listening to

399
00:30:00,692 --> 00:30:06,300
Mr. Kelter. And folks of the city. I don't ever

400
00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:09,340
want to see nonchalant about the money they have in

401
00:30:09,340 --> 00:30:11,900
their pocket or that I have in my pocket either.

402
00:30:13,325 --> 00:30:18,463
We're all in this together. So. I got to think

403
00:30:18,463 --> 00:30:20,383
quick here on this, but I do have a couple

404
00:30:20,383 --> 00:30:25,433
of things for scott. First of all, Very respectful to

405
00:30:25,433 --> 00:30:33,504
you. I appreciate the teaching you've given me. Since I've

406
00:30:33,504 --> 00:30:37,064
been here a month and I've learned a lot. I

407
00:30:37,064 --> 00:30:39,584
haven't. Had the opportunity to come over and visit yet,

408
00:30:39,584 --> 00:30:43,298
but it is on my list to do. Maybe after

409
00:30:43,298 --> 00:30:46,644
all this budget stuff. But I wanted to just say

410
00:30:46,644 --> 00:30:49,364
a couple of things to you, if I may. I'm.

411
00:30:49,364 --> 00:30:52,684
Wondering if you could project for us an operational budget

412
00:30:52,684 --> 00:30:55,684
and incorporate the CPI for the plan for the next

413
00:30:55,684 --> 00:30:58,684
five years, and I believe this could be very hopeful

414
00:30:58,684 --> 00:31:03,199
for me. When we get to the next budget time,

415
00:31:03,199 --> 00:31:07,976
because then. I can kind of follow through and see

416
00:31:07,976 --> 00:31:13,023
what the numbers really are. And I think also it

417
00:31:13,023 --> 00:31:19,320
would be a great opportunity for. Our. Citizens to understand.

418
00:31:20,597 --> 00:31:24,695
Why? Do we need and why do we have. To.

419
00:31:25,586 --> 00:31:29,234
Have increases and it would be in writing. I know

420
00:31:29,234 --> 00:31:31,194
that you may not know, but I have asked Mr.

421
00:31:33,215 --> 00:31:38,191
Kennedy and I mentioned it to Mr. Know about. This

422
00:31:38,191 --> 00:31:43,305
was hard for us. I shouldn't speak for anybody else.

423
00:31:43,305 --> 00:31:46,505
New council? Because I'm sure they have more. Experience than

424
00:31:46,505 --> 00:31:53,595
I maybe. But this was hard for me. On all

425
00:31:53,595 --> 00:31:57,475
this stuff, all this numbers, and not always like Mr.

426
00:31:57,475 --> 00:32:00,715
Nelson, not accurate stuff, but we're doing the best we

427
00:32:00,715 --> 00:32:04,291
can to get what it is. Well, it's really a

428
00:32:04,291 --> 00:32:07,811
difficult job for somebody like Mr. Gaw. He's been sitting

429
00:32:07,811 --> 00:32:11,597
here. This is old hat for he and Mr. Johnson,

430
00:32:11,597 --> 00:32:16,825
but for us kids, it's been very. Difficult. So anything

431
00:32:16,825 --> 00:32:22,036
that I vote or say. It's not against you. Because

432
00:32:22,036 --> 00:32:25,116
I have the utmost respect for you and your department.

433
00:32:25,116 --> 00:32:27,476
I think you guys work really hard, and I love

434
00:32:27,476 --> 00:32:31,436
the way you present yourself. The second thing I have

435
00:32:31,436 --> 00:32:35,003
is. I was just looking over. Some of the bids

436
00:32:35,003 --> 00:32:36,563
and things that you had, and I know you dropped

437
00:32:36,563 --> 00:32:39,363
a lot of that. Out of here. Even your budget.

438
00:32:41,237 --> 00:32:44,910
And. I'm just thinking times have changed. In the last.

439
00:32:46,522 --> 00:32:51,088
I'd say year, maybe. And contractors are hungrier now than

440
00:32:51,088 --> 00:32:56,088
they used to be. My husband's in the business. Of

441
00:32:56,088 --> 00:33:04,665
houses and condos. And stock water. He sells windows, and

442
00:33:04,665 --> 00:33:10,425
they've noticed change, and I think we might find also,

443
00:33:10,425 --> 00:33:13,425
if we had the opportunity to rebid some of these,

444
00:33:13,425 --> 00:33:16,705
maybe the bids would be lower. Than what they were

445
00:33:16,705 --> 00:33:20,546
originally. And so I bring that up just as a

446
00:33:20,546 --> 00:33:25,399
suggestion. I'm certainly not a water kind of gal. And

447
00:33:25,399 --> 00:33:31,047
you are? Watercolor. So I just encourage you that it

448
00:33:31,047 --> 00:33:33,367
might be a time that you could go back and

449
00:33:33,367 --> 00:33:35,847
look. At some of that stuff that you wanted or

450
00:33:35,847 --> 00:33:38,647
that you took off or that you've got waiting to

451
00:33:38,647 --> 00:33:41,847
be done and see if we could get some better

452
00:33:41,847 --> 00:33:47,163
bids, because I think times have changed since. Probably eight

453
00:33:47,163 --> 00:33:50,850
months to a year. And I think that's the same

454
00:33:50,850 --> 00:33:53,570
for the electric. I think you could do it for

455
00:33:53,570 --> 00:33:56,410
both you all. And I know for me. I have

456
00:33:56,410 --> 00:34:02,524
requested to do a quarterly budget review. And in doing

457
00:34:02,524 --> 00:34:06,872
that, Go line by line, and I know it's elementary,

458
00:34:06,872 --> 00:34:11,444
but. When I work in the corporate world, we did

459
00:34:11,444 --> 00:34:14,684
line by line and that way. Then I got to

460
00:34:14,684 --> 00:34:17,044
know what was going on as well as Mr. Gomez.

461
00:34:18,828 --> 00:34:22,108
And it allows me the opportunity to make a good

462
00:34:22,108 --> 00:34:26,548
decision. So when Ms. Dobbs says something I can give

463
00:34:26,548 --> 00:34:30,268
her an intelligent answer. And I can also watch the

464
00:34:30,268 --> 00:34:34,767
budget as it moves. So I can figure it out

465
00:34:34,767 --> 00:34:37,647
easier if we get this money in and it goes

466
00:34:37,647 --> 00:34:41,929
into the reserve. I concentrating a lot on reserve and

467
00:34:41,929 --> 00:34:46,089
I noticed that you have very low reserve and that's.

468
00:34:46,089 --> 00:34:49,049
Scary because I know you have a lot of expenses.

469
00:34:50,635 --> 00:34:53,115
So. Not that I needed you to answer any of

470
00:34:53,115 --> 00:34:56,235
these, or you can, but those are my. Two comments

471
00:34:56,235 --> 00:34:58,595
for you, and I just want you to know that.

472
00:35:00,399 --> 00:35:02,479
I really respect what you do, and I think you

473
00:35:02,479 --> 00:35:05,199
do a very good job for our city. And I

474
00:35:05,199 --> 00:35:10,018
want to thank you. Thank you very much. Scott Schultz,

475
00:35:10,018 --> 00:35:12,778
water utility city of Greenco Springs just had a couple

476
00:35:12,778 --> 00:35:17,450
of comments. We've heard a lot tonight about a rate

477
00:35:17,450 --> 00:35:21,832
study. A rate study? A rate study. That's kind of

478
00:35:21,832 --> 00:35:24,381
a. Guide a lot of things. In this projected out

479
00:35:24,381 --> 00:35:27,290
five years. A lot of things can happen in five

480
00:35:27,290 --> 00:35:32,349
years. We did one in 2017 18 and we had

481
00:35:32,349 --> 00:35:36,457
a projection, I'm going to talk wastewater. Two years later.

482
00:35:37,602 --> 00:35:41,762
The legislature passed the law that you'll remove your influence

483
00:35:41,762 --> 00:35:46,583
from the river. And. In one snap of a gavel,

484
00:35:46,583 --> 00:35:50,951
the city was facing $20 million of expenditures. You had

485
00:35:50,951 --> 00:35:55,568
ten years to get it done. I think we're placing

486
00:35:55,568 --> 00:35:59,419
too much emphasis on a race study which. Is kind

487
00:35:59,419 --> 00:36:04,965
of a guide. Think of your personal budget. You plan

488
00:36:04,965 --> 00:36:08,205
things that might happen five years out. And how do

489
00:36:08,205 --> 00:36:10,325
you do? What do you do? To save for them,

490
00:36:10,325 --> 00:36:14,045
to prepare for them. Well, the next thing, we're having

491
00:36:14,045 --> 00:36:19,525
a child. Or a medical issue. So the budget that

492
00:36:19,525 --> 00:36:24,245
we have proposed, as Mike said, is based on actual

493
00:36:24,245 --> 00:36:29,562
expenditures. We know what we spent so trying to project

494
00:36:29,562 --> 00:36:32,642
what we're going to do over five years. And knowing

495
00:36:32,642 --> 00:36:37,626
what business cost us this year. And knowing that chemicals

496
00:36:37,626 --> 00:36:42,150
are going to go up some percentage. We pay electric

497
00:36:42,150 --> 00:36:47,951
rates too. We pay water rates. To. Fuel all of

498
00:36:47,951 --> 00:36:50,842
these things. So I think we have a pretty good

499
00:36:50,842 --> 00:36:56,236
handle on our expenditures. Once again, the rate study is

500
00:36:56,236 --> 00:37:00,516
very simply a guide to kind of give you a

501
00:37:00,516 --> 00:37:04,756
path knowing that there's going to be deviations all along

502
00:37:04,756 --> 00:37:08,276
the way, but I do appreciate your kind comments, and

503
00:37:08,276 --> 00:37:11,858
we do have a wonderful staff. I can tell you

504
00:37:11,858 --> 00:37:16,608
that. Not only my department, all of the departments in

505
00:37:16,608 --> 00:37:20,528
the city. No one is wasting money. No one. Is

506
00:37:20,528 --> 00:37:25,128
spending any elaborate way. We're doing everything we can to

507
00:37:25,128 --> 00:37:29,877
cut costs. Council member glisten came by today, and I

508
00:37:29,877 --> 00:37:33,037
showed her some of the things that my staff had

509
00:37:33,037 --> 00:37:37,357
done, where we had had bids from contractors, actual bids,

510
00:37:37,357 --> 00:37:40,637
and we did it ourselves. A little bit overtime, but

511
00:37:40,637 --> 00:37:44,517
we saved significant money. This is going on in all

512
00:37:44,517 --> 00:37:52,383
departments. I would just. Say you need to be cautious

513
00:37:52,383 --> 00:37:54,823
about all of us. Talk about a rate study. Not

514
00:37:54,823 --> 00:38:00,357
that it's not important. But many things change. And so

515
00:38:00,357 --> 00:38:04,964
I think you'll find. We had a low there between.

516
00:38:06,684 --> 00:38:08,364
When our finance director, Marley on the left. We had

517
00:38:08,364 --> 00:38:11,444
a loan there a couple of years now. We have

518
00:38:11,444 --> 00:38:18,415
Ms. Wong. Very excellent finance director. There's a tremendous amount

519
00:38:18,415 --> 00:38:21,975
of time been spent on this budget. Mike and I,

520
00:38:21,975 --> 00:38:26,535
Saturday nights. At 930 having budget discussions. I promise you,

521
00:38:26,535 --> 00:38:30,575
it's probably not what either of us wanted. To do

522
00:38:30,575 --> 00:38:33,655
and the things where we had a 20% proposal for

523
00:38:33,655 --> 00:38:36,215
water and the things we did to get it down

524
00:38:36,215 --> 00:38:40,009
to twelve. I don't want you to. Once again, I

525
00:38:40,009 --> 00:38:42,129
appreciate your kind and comments, but I don't want you

526
00:38:42,129 --> 00:38:47,773
to underestimate the amount of time. Seven days a week

527
00:38:47,773 --> 00:38:50,773
for a couple of months every time you see Sue.

528
00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:56,407
Ms. Wong. She has her computer. And. She's not looking

529
00:38:56,407 --> 00:39:01,007
at boats. She's looking at spreadsheets and calculating. I just

530
00:39:01,007 --> 00:39:03,127
want you to know there's a tremendous amount of work.

531
00:39:04,609 --> 00:39:07,609
That has gone into producing this budget. Lots of numbers

532
00:39:07,609 --> 00:39:12,769
being thrown out tonight. I haven't. Seen these emails. And

533
00:39:12,769 --> 00:39:15,449
I just want to caution you about. Caution you about

534
00:39:15,449 --> 00:39:21,684
that. Thank you. Over the past several months.

535
00:39:26,363 --> 00:39:29,683
This council has heard compelling testimony from each of the

536
00:39:29,683 --> 00:39:36,318
department heads tonight on water, wastewater. We are blessed to

537
00:39:36,318 --> 00:39:43,120
have a man of Scott's talents. And achievements working on

538
00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:46,620
behalf of Greenco Springs. When he sits down and tells

539
00:39:46,620 --> 00:39:50,542
you he put together a twelve month budget. Take that

540
00:39:50,542 --> 00:39:54,200
to the bank. Say what you will about the rate

541
00:39:54,200 --> 00:40:01,439
study. Dismiss it, discount it, do what you want. But

542
00:40:01,439 --> 00:40:04,719
something that's a little bit more impeachable is the audit

543
00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:10,425
statement. Every year, the city has its finances audited. And.

544
00:40:11,909 --> 00:40:15,168
You'll find that people will use it. For one reason

545
00:40:15,168 --> 00:40:21,380
or another. But tonight. We have an audit statement that

546
00:40:21,380 --> 00:40:27,812
says specifically. And I quote, however, the water fund continues

547
00:40:27,812 --> 00:40:34,084
to incur losses to capital contributions and transfers. The city

548
00:40:34,084 --> 00:40:38,519
has implemented rate changes which should help alleviate. These issues

549
00:40:38,519 --> 00:40:44,410
moving forward. We dismiss the rate study. A little bit

550
00:40:44,410 --> 00:40:48,343
more difficult to dismiss the audit. The information that was

551
00:40:48,343 --> 00:40:55,389
given tonight by Mr. Royal. Likewise very compelling. I will

552
00:40:55,389 --> 00:40:57,589
ask Mr. Royal. I don't know how many copies you

553
00:40:57,589 --> 00:41:00,768
have of this. But you take one look at this.

554
00:41:02,391 --> 00:41:09,030
In your hard stance. On ten cents a day. Changes.

555
00:41:10,464 --> 00:41:16,994
I compel counsel to give. Our copies to the front

556
00:41:16,994 --> 00:41:21,667
row and pass it around. Because we are in the

557
00:41:21,667 --> 00:41:26,794
game, we are competitive. Prices are going up. Prices are

558
00:41:26,794 --> 00:41:30,937
going up for everybody. This same conversation we're having here

559
00:41:30,937 --> 00:41:33,857
tonight is being had. An orange part is being had.

560
00:41:33,857 --> 00:41:36,177
At the county level is being had at the state

561
00:41:36,177 --> 00:41:42,082
level. Costs are not going down. Tariffs will continue to

562
00:41:42,082 --> 00:41:45,442
drive prices up for every department we have in this

563
00:41:45,442 --> 00:41:49,812
city and how we deal with it. How we deal

564
00:41:49,812 --> 00:41:52,412
with it will determine what we have to do next

565
00:41:52,412 --> 00:42:00,841
year. At the budget meetings. We can put it off.

566
00:42:00,841 --> 00:42:04,654
We can delay it. We can study. The crap out

567
00:42:04,654 --> 00:42:07,854
of it. We can get more race studies. We can

568
00:42:07,854 --> 00:42:12,756
get more wage studies, more. Compensation studies. But it's not

569
00:42:12,756 --> 00:42:15,396
going anywhere. At some point, you have to deal with.

570
00:42:17,636 --> 00:42:21,165
It. And that's where we are today. I look at

571
00:42:21,165 --> 00:42:28,613
that? Ten cents a day. Not to discount that, but

572
00:42:28,613 --> 00:42:33,632
in terms of safe water, And performing septic consumer systems.

573
00:42:36,229 --> 00:42:43,429
Difficult to vote against. This 12% increase. Thank you, Mr.

574
00:42:45,166 --> 00:42:54,864
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Schultz. Okay, Mr.

575
00:42:54,864 --> 00:42:58,960
Stets, go ahead. I have one more thing to add.

576
00:43:00,657 --> 00:43:04,981
I totally disagree with. The idea that everything is going

577
00:43:04,981 --> 00:43:08,421
to continue going up, the cost of gases come down

578
00:43:08,421 --> 00:43:12,156
once it comes down, everything starts to come down. It

579
00:43:12,156 --> 00:43:15,804
hasn't really started yet, but it will. But I'm not

580
00:43:15,804 --> 00:43:18,444
saying I wouldn't vote for this. I'm just saying. We

581
00:43:18,444 --> 00:43:20,244
need to wait and make sure we have all the

582
00:43:20,244 --> 00:43:23,449
data in front of us. Like I said, I was

583
00:43:23,449 --> 00:43:25,689
on the fence. But to sit and act like that,

584
00:43:25,689 --> 00:43:28,649
everything's. Going to continue going up. We have a new

585
00:43:28,649 --> 00:43:30,769
person in the White House that is affecting some of

586
00:43:30,769 --> 00:43:34,015
this stuff going down and we. Give it time before

587
00:43:34,015 --> 00:43:36,815
we raise the rates on everybody, because we and I

588
00:43:36,815 --> 00:43:40,985
both know we're probably not going to lower them. That's

589
00:43:40,985 --> 00:43:44,861
just my opinion. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Stutts. Well, tonight

590
00:43:44,861 --> 00:43:51,713
before us. We have. A rate increase on water. It

591
00:43:51,713 --> 00:43:56,073
was originally 20%. And was it two weeks ago or

592
00:43:56,073 --> 00:43:59,753
whatever? We talked about this extensively. And I saw it.

593
00:43:59,753 --> 00:44:04,113
All five council members agreed that after compelling evidence from

594
00:44:04,113 --> 00:44:07,633
Mr. Schultz and getting the whole picture from Mr. Noel

595
00:44:07,633 --> 00:44:10,353
as well that we agreed that we need to do

596
00:44:10,353 --> 00:44:14,339
this. It's not 20% to 12% and next year we

597
00:44:14,339 --> 00:44:18,890
can talk about other percentages. I try not to be

598
00:44:18,890 --> 00:44:22,530
emotional about things here. I feel I have a job

599
00:44:22,530 --> 00:44:25,650
of getting consensus. On issues, looking at facts. But I'll

600
00:44:25,650 --> 00:44:29,250
tell you this. I will defend our city manager. Our

601
00:44:29,250 --> 00:44:35,063
assistant city manager and our directors. They are top class

602
00:44:35,063 --> 00:44:41,346
finance director. Mr. Schultz with the water department. Andy back

603
00:44:41,346 --> 00:44:45,301
here with electric. I've never seen such a professional group

604
00:44:45,301 --> 00:44:48,518
in my life. And I feel like they're being accused

605
00:44:48,518 --> 00:44:52,873
of shoddy work tonight. Shoddy work they have not seen

606
00:44:52,873 --> 00:44:55,313
shoddy where you may not agree and you may want

607
00:44:55,313 --> 00:45:00,117
more information and ask for something. But I feel compelled

608
00:45:00,117 --> 00:45:03,606
to defend them. That their heart's in this and they're

609
00:45:03,606 --> 00:45:06,966
doing the best job they can and if it's not

610
00:45:06,966 --> 00:45:09,406
absolutely perfect for you, thank you for being here and

611
00:45:09,406 --> 00:45:12,719
bringing to our attention, believe me. We listen and we

612
00:45:12,719 --> 00:45:17,639
adjust things. But I feel compelled to defend them tonight.

613
00:45:17,639 --> 00:45:21,159
Mr. Noel. Mr. Schultz. Thank you for the hard work

614
00:45:21,159 --> 00:45:24,479
you did on that water aid study, and I know

615
00:45:24,479 --> 00:45:26,799
that a lot of things were compromised because we didn't

616
00:45:26,799 --> 00:45:29,039
go to 20%. We talked about this. A couple of

617
00:45:29,039 --> 00:45:33,083
weeks ago. A lot of important things. I don't want

618
00:45:33,083 --> 00:45:36,366
to delay it another month. This next year we can

619
00:45:36,366 --> 00:45:39,166
talk about what the increase is we're proposing, like you

620
00:45:39,166 --> 00:45:41,766
talked. About maybe a 3% next year, but we can

621
00:45:41,766 --> 00:45:45,220
talk about that. But right now, what we have before

622
00:45:45,220 --> 00:45:47,820
us is the 12% that I thought a couple of

623
00:45:47,820 --> 00:45:50,835
weeks ago, we agreed that we need to pass. For

624
00:45:50,835 --> 00:45:54,138
the sake of the water department. And so that's what

625
00:45:54,138 --> 00:45:57,770
we have. Now, do I have a motion? I'll make

626
00:45:57,770 --> 00:46:04,943
a motion. To approve ordinance number. 2025.

627
00:46:08,137 --> 00:46:11,537
The city of Greencove Springs, Florida, modifying water rates by

628
00:46:11,537 --> 00:46:17,897
amending city code chapter 90. Utilities. Article three, water service

629
00:46:17,897 --> 00:46:23,977
division three, rates and charges, section 92 five three, entitled.

630
00:46:28,303 --> 00:46:33,263
Water usage and monthly minimum charges, providing for conflicts, severability,

631
00:46:33,263 --> 00:46:38,546
codification. Setting an effective date. Is there a second?

632
00:46:44,664 --> 00:46:49,830
Go ahead. Give a motion a second. Any further discussion?

633
00:46:51,880 --> 00:46:56,440
If not, we'll go to the vote. Council member Glisten.

634
00:46:56,440 --> 00:47:04,584
Yes. Council member Starnes. Yes. Council member suts. Yes.

635
00:47:06,799 --> 00:47:10,599
Vice Mayor Gaw. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank

636
00:47:10,599 --> 00:47:16,380
you. Item number two, Mr. Arnold. Mr. Mayor, this is

637
00:47:16,380 --> 00:47:20,180
ordinance number 16 2025, an ordinance of the City Council

638
00:47:20,180 --> 00:47:24,140
of Green coach. Frank, Florida modifying wastewater rates by amending

639
00:47:24,140 --> 00:47:28,740
city code chapter 90. Utilities article roman numeral four sewers

640
00:47:28,740 --> 00:47:34,020
and sewage disposal. Division three rates and charges, section 93

641
00:47:34,020 --> 00:47:39,740
76 entitled. Which water rates providing for conflict, severability, codification

642
00:47:39,740 --> 00:47:44,211
and setting an effective date. Thank you, Mr. Noel. Thank

643
00:47:44,211 --> 00:47:47,566
you, Mr. Mayor. So the same general background information on

644
00:47:47,566 --> 00:47:53,334
this item. The 5% increase for wastewater that is requested

645
00:47:53,334 --> 00:47:59,098
this evening is based solely on. The proposed budget for

646
00:47:59,098 --> 00:48:03,567
fiscal year 26. Not based on outcome of the weight

647
00:48:03,567 --> 00:48:07,735
of the rate study. The budget was discussed at the

648
00:48:07,735 --> 00:48:11,855
August 5 council meeting, the August 7 workshop. We discussed

649
00:48:11,855 --> 00:48:13,895
it again. At the last council meeting and then again

650
00:48:13,895 --> 00:48:18,095
here this evening, the budget that we have proposed that

651
00:48:18,095 --> 00:48:20,855
you'll be asked to consider later on this evening includes

652
00:48:20,855 --> 00:48:25,375
the wastewater budget that requires a 5% increase in rates.

653
00:48:26,383 --> 00:48:29,267
To operate. And that is also after we pulled out

654
00:48:29,267 --> 00:48:36,187
more than $500,000. In needed critical capital projects for this

655
00:48:36,187 --> 00:48:38,827
coming year. We're gambling that we won't. Have any issues.

656
00:48:40,666 --> 00:48:43,266
With those items. Otherwise, it would have needed a 19%

657
00:48:43,266 --> 00:48:47,186
rate increase. So we're asking for 5%. That will generate

658
00:48:47,186 --> 00:48:51,706
an additional $194,000 in revenue over the next twelve months.

659
00:48:52,901 --> 00:48:58,067
And again, just for reference, the average 6000 gallon. Customer,

660
00:48:58,067 --> 00:49:01,594
which is the average for our system. Their monthly bill

661
00:49:01,594 --> 00:49:09,103
would go $3.01 based on the 5%. Thank you. Opening

662
00:49:09,103 --> 00:49:15,159
the public hearing. I do have some blue cards. First

663
00:49:15,159 --> 00:49:15,799
one. Mike Kelter.

664
00:49:33,235 --> 00:49:33,395
Thank you.

665
00:49:44,357 --> 00:49:44,437
Thank you.

666
00:49:58,003 --> 00:50:01,723
Mike counter, 630 merlin green coast springs, florida Mr. Mayor,

667
00:50:01,723 --> 00:50:07,231
members of council. A couple of things about what Van

668
00:50:07,231 --> 00:50:10,871
says refuse and Norwich park is not part of your

669
00:50:10,871 --> 00:50:15,151
water. System, so it doesn't count. Second thing in CCUA,

670
00:50:15,151 --> 00:50:20,641
one of the things he's including in there is. A

671
00:50:20,641 --> 00:50:23,641
couple of charges they had for environmental charges, which are

672
00:50:23,641 --> 00:50:26,801
very limited and only last a couple of months, so

673
00:50:26,801 --> 00:50:30,761
it's a temporary charge. So he may be overcharging the

674
00:50:30,761 --> 00:50:35,539
CCA number that he gave you. Scott says, don't pay

675
00:50:35,539 --> 00:50:40,371
too much attention. To. Studies. I will point out to

676
00:50:40,371 --> 00:50:44,771
Mr. Schultz that in the ten state standards, a rate

677
00:50:44,771 --> 00:50:49,889
study is. The gold standard. For boards to have in

678
00:50:49,889 --> 00:50:53,369
front of them when they consider a rate increase. So

679
00:50:53,369 --> 00:50:56,449
don't. Put that aside just because you think you know

680
00:50:56,449 --> 00:50:59,009
what you spend. You know what you spend. You spend

681
00:50:59,009 --> 00:51:03,292
a lot. Orange part was charged a little bit for

682
00:51:03,292 --> 00:51:08,611
a long time, and they still have. A very. Robust.

683
00:51:09,646 --> 00:51:12,406
Fund balance. They're not like us, where we have a

684
00:51:12,406 --> 00:51:15,566
lot of money and we've. Had it since. Sorry? The

685
00:51:15,566 --> 00:51:20,724
ban. You've been raising rates since 2016. Every year except

686
00:51:20,724 --> 00:51:28,655
for one year. So. Don't think that you can't do

687
00:51:28,655 --> 00:51:31,415
better and that you shouldn't be. Looking at your costs

688
00:51:31,415 --> 00:51:37,405
even better now. To. The vice mayor's point about the

689
00:51:37,405 --> 00:51:42,578
audits. The rest of the audit statement told you that

690
00:51:42,578 --> 00:51:46,096
you have a real problem. In the water system that

691
00:51:46,096 --> 00:51:49,016
you don't have enough funds in the fund balance, and

692
00:51:49,016 --> 00:51:55,789
they said. Either or both. Cut costs to raise rates.

693
00:51:55,789 --> 00:51:58,869
Now, we've been raising rates like crazy in the city.

694
00:52:00,040 --> 00:52:01,960
But you haven't been reducing costs. As I look at

695
00:52:01,960 --> 00:52:08,011
the amount of costs per gallon, of water perked. All

696
00:52:08,011 --> 00:52:11,651
the costs are operations costs, and our personnel costs skyrocketed

697
00:52:11,651 --> 00:52:15,611
in the last five years, and that has an effect

698
00:52:15,611 --> 00:52:20,074
on your fund balance. So don't tell them what half

699
00:52:20,074 --> 00:52:25,047
of what the auditor said the auditor told you. To

700
00:52:25,047 --> 00:52:30,453
either. Raise rates or reduce costs or both. I'd like

701
00:52:30,453 --> 00:52:34,173
to see some costs reduced. I know. Scott is very

702
00:52:34,173 --> 00:52:37,773
frugal, and he does a great job out there. It's

703
00:52:37,773 --> 00:52:39,893
where we get in trouble is up here on the

704
00:52:39,893 --> 00:52:43,133
board and at the management level that we get. Out

705
00:52:43,133 --> 00:52:46,637
of control. So I would ask you to look at

706
00:52:46,637 --> 00:52:51,954
those things. And in addition, Do something that everybody else

707
00:52:51,954 --> 00:52:55,874
has done in the state. They have raised their developer

708
00:52:55,874 --> 00:52:58,962
fees. You promised two years ago you would do that.

709
00:52:58,962 --> 00:53:02,433
And I'm still waiting to see. An increase in the

710
00:53:02,433 --> 00:53:06,273
developer fees for water and wastewater. You're half of what

711
00:53:06,273 --> 00:53:09,713
everybody else is you leaving the bar door open. Let

712
00:53:09,713 --> 00:53:16,288
all. Developers out the door without paying. Their share of

713
00:53:16,288 --> 00:53:20,489
developer fees, so get that done. Take and get your

714
00:53:20,489 --> 00:53:23,009
rate study done. You can probably do that if you

715
00:53:23,009 --> 00:53:25,729
did it in 20 hours in a weekend. You could

716
00:53:25,729 --> 00:53:29,300
probably have that done. In a couple of weeks and

717
00:53:29,300 --> 00:53:32,340
bring it back and then make a decision on these

718
00:53:32,340 --> 00:53:35,964
rate increases. Thank you very much. Thank you, Greg will.

719
00:53:49,207 --> 00:53:58,221
218 North Magdale. Yeah. So now we're up to. Twenty

720
00:53:58,221 --> 00:54:01,678
one cents a day. And I'll just keep track as

721
00:54:01,678 --> 00:54:07,325
we go through this. It seems like. I know you've

722
00:54:07,325 --> 00:54:11,569
looked at this. All of you, but it seems like.

723
00:54:13,318 --> 00:54:16,718
If we have great planning, we wouldn't schedule to build

724
00:54:16,718 --> 00:54:20,318
the wastewater facilities over the top. Of the electric department's

725
00:54:20,318 --> 00:54:27,605
infrastructure. Costing the city an additional $10 million. So I

726
00:54:27,605 --> 00:54:31,605
know if you have great planning, you get your rate

727
00:54:31,605 --> 00:54:35,407
study done. And it's prepared so that the public can

728
00:54:35,407 --> 00:54:41,344
understand what's going on. So I don't see great planning.

729
00:54:42,846 --> 00:54:44,286
And that goes back to the point I made before.

730
00:54:45,897 --> 00:54:51,502
So again. It seems like. It happened with the electric

731
00:54:51,502 --> 00:54:55,689
rates a few weeks back. It's happening again with the

732
00:54:55,689 --> 00:54:59,729
water and wastewater, but it's always an emergency and we

733
00:54:59,729 --> 00:55:06,301
need to raise these rates. There's never. The association that

734
00:55:06,301 --> 00:55:10,692
the average homeowner has. Which is they have x number

735
00:55:10,692 --> 00:55:13,332
of dollars, and when they get an increase, they have

736
00:55:13,332 --> 00:55:18,656
to figure out to cut something else. So. Echo that

737
00:55:18,656 --> 00:55:20,856
we need to try to find ways to cut within

738
00:55:20,856 --> 00:55:26,290
the city. I know. It doesn't ever sound good. I

739
00:55:26,290 --> 00:55:30,161
was in an organization where on Wednesday. We found out

740
00:55:30,161 --> 00:55:33,276
we couldn't get bonds anymore. And we had to lay

741
00:55:33,276 --> 00:55:37,609
off 150 people by Friday. So situations are going to

742
00:55:37,609 --> 00:55:41,649
arise, and we do need revenues. We do need revenues

743
00:55:41,649 --> 00:55:49,010
in reserve, which we don't have. Unfortunately, that's occurred. The

744
00:55:49,010 --> 00:55:51,250
staff have been here and many of the council have

745
00:55:51,250 --> 00:55:56,751
been here. So without those reserves, we need money. But

746
00:55:56,751 --> 00:56:00,467
you don't necessarily have to always raise everything. And people

747
00:56:00,467 --> 00:56:05,002
who are out on the street can't do that. So

748
00:56:05,002 --> 00:56:08,936
again. We are at the lowest. I'm not saying we

749
00:56:08,936 --> 00:56:12,470
have to be the lowest. But I encourage, as we

750
00:56:12,470 --> 00:56:15,528
move forward in the future, That we look for ways.

751
00:56:17,187 --> 00:56:19,507
That we're doing the best we can to save the

752
00:56:19,507 --> 00:56:24,747
city money and therefore. Save the people who are responsible

753
00:56:24,747 --> 00:56:30,141
for paying everyone's salaries. Money so that they can live

754
00:56:30,141 --> 00:56:33,756
a better lifestyle. And be able to pay for their

755
00:56:33,756 --> 00:56:36,950
expenses. That's all I have to say. I know you're

756
00:56:36,950 --> 00:56:43,372
going to pass this. But I'll just keep reminding you

757
00:56:43,372 --> 00:56:46,652
how much everybody's paying more as I come. Back. Thank

758
00:56:46,652 --> 00:56:56,651
you. Thank you, Mr. Royal. I

759
00:56:56,651 --> 00:56:58,491
want to not just say dead on what I said

760
00:56:58,491 --> 00:57:00,011
before, but I want to address a couple of things.

761
00:57:05,367 --> 00:57:08,007
Numbers that I pulled came off of websites. I looked

762
00:57:08,007 --> 00:57:10,007
up CCOA, which are rate study and they got a

763
00:57:10,007 --> 00:57:14,422
rate card, and that's where it comes from. Orange park.

764
00:57:14,422 --> 00:57:16,302
You can go back and look at their calcium meetings

765
00:57:16,302 --> 00:57:18,462
tonight and you can see what they're addressing. I looked

766
00:57:18,462 --> 00:57:25,329
at their packet. I believe that Mike and Greg and

767
00:57:25,329 --> 00:57:28,929
everybody else is correct when they say that Scott, Andy

768
00:57:28,929 --> 00:57:30,649
and the department of people on the ground do an

769
00:57:30,649 --> 00:57:33,336
incredible job. I also believe that that's who put together

770
00:57:33,336 --> 00:57:36,626
this budget. You have heard me for two months ran

771
00:57:36,626 --> 00:57:42,810
rave about other aspects of the budget. And. Cut and

772
00:57:42,810 --> 00:57:44,770
scream and holler and whatever. You'll probably hear a little

773
00:57:44,770 --> 00:57:47,370
bit of that. Tonight when we talk about Miller's rate.

774
00:57:47,370 --> 00:57:48,410
But the end of the day, when it comes to

775
00:57:48,410 --> 00:57:51,650
rates. I don't think we have crazy rates, and I

776
00:57:51,650 --> 00:57:54,290
think that if you look at this sheet gave you.

777
00:57:54,290 --> 00:57:58,817
We don't have crazy rates. I would echo, please miss

778
00:57:58,817 --> 00:58:04,232
Star's request. You should do a five year budget, operating

779
00:58:04,232 --> 00:58:06,952
budget, whether the state requires it or not, you should

780
00:58:06,952 --> 00:58:09,672
know, they should incorporate whatever raises you're thinking about giving

781
00:58:09,672 --> 00:58:11,992
over the next five years to keep up with salaries.

782
00:58:11,992 --> 00:58:15,712
Whatever you got in your CIP budget. Everybody to everybody's

783
00:58:15,712 --> 00:58:18,112
comments. Here. It needs to be as transparent as possible.

784
00:58:19,528 --> 00:58:22,048
That for the next five years. Here's what we think

785
00:58:22,048 --> 00:58:26,228
we're going to do. And we'll measure. Each quarterly, every

786
00:58:26,228 --> 00:58:29,828
six months to see where we are so that pockets

787
00:58:29,828 --> 00:58:32,868
are in. So I'm big on that. I'm also big

788
00:58:32,868 --> 00:58:37,874
on what Mike said about developer. Business. No cost, no

789
00:58:37,874 --> 00:58:41,474
infrastructure is. Somebody told me the other day the idea

790
00:58:41,474 --> 00:58:43,714
what the impact fees are now for Clay County. I

791
00:58:43,714 --> 00:58:46,954
thought there are 13 or 14 or 18 going off

792
00:58:46,954 --> 00:58:50,514
on impact. Fees going up on those things for developers

793
00:58:50,514 --> 00:58:53,916
we need to do because. It doesn't need to be.

794
00:58:54,931 --> 00:58:59,385
The citizens if we have respect for these people. I

795
00:58:59,385 --> 00:59:01,865
think you passed like you did before. This is 5%,

796
00:59:01,865 --> 00:59:04,465
not 12%. There's no carry out in here. Like there

797
00:59:04,465 --> 00:59:07,105
was an orange bar. By the way, there's another. Five

798
00:59:07,105 --> 00:59:10,305
coming. Five coming. You won't do that until you lift

799
00:59:10,305 --> 00:59:12,745
those rates as you study. Them. So thank you for

800
00:59:12,745 --> 00:59:16,385
what you're doing. Thank you. I will remind everyone that

801
00:59:16,385 --> 00:59:19,912
we have in January. We have a special city. Council

802
00:59:19,912 --> 00:59:23,312
meeting plan to talk about utilities. And that's where we

803
00:59:23,312 --> 00:59:27,923
will plan out five years. On utilities. And have regular

804
00:59:27,923 --> 00:59:31,123
meetings on utilities because we serve not only on city

805
00:59:31,123 --> 00:59:35,043
council, but we really serve. As the utility board for

806
00:59:35,043 --> 00:59:38,884
the city as well. We'll have separate meetings, probably once

807
00:59:38,884 --> 00:59:42,652
a quarter, I believe. We'll discuss that in January. But

808
00:59:42,652 --> 00:59:45,052
that will help project out for five years for sure.

809
00:59:46,519 --> 00:59:52,702
On rates. Okay. That's all the cards I have for

810
00:59:52,702 --> 00:59:56,222
item number two, so therefore I'll close. The public hearing

811
00:59:56,222 --> 01:00:00,363
on item number two. Bring it to council. Are there

812
01:00:00,363 --> 01:00:03,123
any council members who would like to speak or you

813
01:00:03,123 --> 01:00:08,799
have questions or a motion on item number two. Mr.

814
01:00:08,799 --> 01:00:16,646
Suts, do you have anything? No. It was pretty much

815
01:00:16,646 --> 01:00:21,245
the same as the first one. I do agree. Scott

816
01:00:21,245 --> 01:00:23,485
does a great job, and he kind of won me

817
01:00:23,485 --> 01:00:26,797
over some of the things he was saying. So I

818
01:00:26,797 --> 01:00:29,317
just feel for the people that are going to be

819
01:00:29,317 --> 01:00:31,437
stuck paying a higher rate, but. We got to do

820
01:00:31,437 --> 01:00:39,914
what we got to do. Okay. So again. Context. This

821
01:00:39,914 --> 01:00:43,074
is a 5% rate increase that came at the expense.

822
01:00:44,616 --> 01:00:54,564
Of. What was it, $500,000? And not to beat it

823
01:00:54,564 --> 01:00:59,550
to debt, but can you? Describe. What made up that

824
01:00:59,550 --> 01:01:05,877
$600,000? That we are deferring. Scott Cholz water utility city

825
01:01:05,877 --> 01:01:10,767
Greencoat springs through the chair. So when you think about

826
01:01:10,767 --> 01:01:15,385
our sewer system, We have a collection system, so throughout

827
01:01:15,385 --> 01:01:19,964
the city there are pipes. Underground, flowing the sewage from

828
01:01:19,964 --> 01:01:24,004
businesses, homes, and they go into pump stations that pump

829
01:01:24,004 --> 01:01:28,083
ultimately coming to the wastewater treatment plan. So our focus

830
01:01:28,083 --> 01:01:31,483
on the reduction in the expenditures was on the collection

831
01:01:31,483 --> 01:01:35,843
side. So sewer lines and pump stations in those areas.

832
01:01:37,305 --> 01:01:42,562
You may recall. At two council meetings ago, there was

833
01:01:42,562 --> 01:01:45,442
a picture of me standing inside the old plant we

834
01:01:45,442 --> 01:01:50,288
took. Offline. And the walls are 25ft high and I'm

835
01:01:50,288 --> 01:01:53,248
standing on a hill of dirt reaching over the tank.

836
01:01:54,550 --> 01:01:56,150
Well, that dirt is not supposed to be in the

837
01:01:56,150 --> 01:01:59,390
wastewater treatment plant, and the way it gets in there

838
01:01:59,390 --> 01:02:02,670
is cave ins and the lines and dirt comes in

839
01:02:02,670 --> 01:02:05,990
and flows with the sewage and. Ultimately ends up at

840
01:02:05,990 --> 01:02:11,493
the plant. So. We've been in our budget every year

841
01:02:11,493 --> 01:02:17,415
we have a pot of money where. Approximately eight years

842
01:02:17,415 --> 01:02:20,055
ago, we did a survey of our sewer system, so

843
01:02:20,055 --> 01:02:24,215
we videoed, cleaned all our sewer lines and we videoed

844
01:02:24,215 --> 01:02:29,015
them and we identified failure points, and there are a

845
01:02:29,015 --> 01:02:30,855
lot of them. A lot of our sewer lines are

846
01:02:30,855 --> 01:02:34,673
made of clay. They're very old. And so what we

847
01:02:34,673 --> 01:02:37,993
tried to do, rather than some big, giant project where

848
01:02:37,993 --> 01:02:41,942
we go in and replace all these lines, which. Would

849
01:02:41,942 --> 01:02:45,779
be an estimate of about $10 million. Each year, we

850
01:02:45,779 --> 01:02:49,459
would take a pot of money, approximately $500,000. Then we

851
01:02:49,459 --> 01:02:52,779
would do what we call point repairs. So when we

852
01:02:52,779 --> 01:02:56,179
video those lines, we found failure points. We would go,

853
01:02:56,179 --> 01:02:58,739
in and fix those. And so we try to do

854
01:02:58,739 --> 01:03:01,059
a couple a year, and it might be we do

855
01:03:01,059 --> 01:03:03,899
a couple of point repairs in one list station that

856
01:03:03,899 --> 01:03:10,098
we rehab. So that's the nature of that expenditure. So

857
01:03:10,098 --> 01:03:13,954
we have taken that out this year. I don't want

858
01:03:13,954 --> 01:03:16,794
to do that every year, but these are the kind

859
01:03:16,794 --> 01:03:23,078
of things. That staff have spent. Many, many hours trying

860
01:03:23,078 --> 01:03:26,638
to figure out how do we minimize the impact of

861
01:03:26,638 --> 01:03:31,770
what we do to our customers. You may recall. The

862
01:03:31,770 --> 01:03:34,850
phase three where we eliminate the settle plan and bring

863
01:03:34,850 --> 01:03:39,608
it to Harbor Road and the associated expenditures. It was

864
01:03:39,608 --> 01:03:47,030
$8.7 million. And the state granted us $7 million. So

865
01:03:47,030 --> 01:03:50,710
when we talk about, once again, we did a rate

866
01:03:50,710 --> 01:03:55,788
study. When we did that rate study, We couldn't say.

867
01:03:55,788 --> 01:03:58,348
We're going to get a $7 million grant. We had

868
01:03:58,348 --> 01:04:03,287
to base it on. What are the actual costs? So

869
01:04:03,287 --> 01:04:08,548
one of the things. The 2024 rate study. Is not

870
01:04:08,548 --> 01:04:13,812
extremely inaccurate. There are some holes in it. If the

871
01:04:13,812 --> 01:04:19,758
budgets get passed tonight. And we now know the two

872
01:04:19,758 --> 01:04:24,827
main capital projects in wastewater and water. We know now

873
01:04:24,827 --> 01:04:28,827
what they cost, how much we got in grants, and

874
01:04:28,827 --> 01:04:32,267
we start feeding that into this rate study when we

875
01:04:32,267 --> 01:04:36,067
update it, and that will allow us to produce a

876
01:04:36,067 --> 01:04:39,586
more accurate rate. Study once again. That doesn't mean that

877
01:04:39,586 --> 01:04:41,826
every year, the two years you don't go back and.

878
01:04:41,826 --> 01:04:46,732
Look at it and see what has changed. You've heard

879
01:04:46,732 --> 01:04:52,132
mentioned the developer fees called capacity, connection fees. Mentioned a

880
01:04:52,132 --> 01:04:57,748
couple of times tonight. So what that is. If a

881
01:04:57,748 --> 01:05:00,148
home or a business is going to hook up to

882
01:05:00,148 --> 01:05:05,056
our sewer system. There is a capacity connection fee. The

883
01:05:05,056 --> 01:05:09,883
idea being that. They are taking capacity from your plant,

884
01:05:09,883 --> 01:05:13,843
so they need to contribute for the future of replacing

885
01:05:13,843 --> 01:05:18,152
that. Capacity in your plan. So we have done and

886
01:05:18,152 --> 01:05:23,306
have a draft. Capacity, connection fee, developer fee, impact fee,

887
01:05:23,306 --> 01:05:25,786
whatever you want to call it. We have a draft.

888
01:05:27,607 --> 01:05:31,612
We have run it through legal. One of the things

889
01:05:31,612 --> 01:05:34,132
that we need to do to finalize it, and we're

890
01:05:34,132 --> 01:05:40,759
looking at about. 60% to 65% increase in those fees,

891
01:05:40,759 --> 01:05:45,851
so. If you build a home right now to connect

892
01:05:45,851 --> 01:05:49,371
our sewer system, it's $3,000. To connect to our water

893
01:05:49,371 --> 01:05:52,691
system. It's 1000 those are going to go up in

894
01:05:52,691 --> 01:06:00,482
the 60% mark. So. Those numbers have to be reviewed

895
01:06:00,482 --> 01:06:03,682
by an attorney, and that attorney has done the cursory.

896
01:06:03,682 --> 01:06:09,516
Review and. We're doing some things. Once again, the budgets

897
01:06:09,516 --> 01:06:14,060
that we're talking about tonight. Will provide us the final

898
01:06:14,060 --> 01:06:18,824
information we need. To make decisions that, number one, are

899
01:06:18,824 --> 01:06:24,099
based on real data, and number two, Could be justified

900
01:06:24,099 --> 01:06:32,522
if challenged. So the capacity connection fee update. Is basically

901
01:06:32,522 --> 01:06:36,280
ready. And the things we're doing tonight or how we

902
01:06:36,280 --> 01:06:39,987
are going to finalize. Both the rate study and the

903
01:06:39,987 --> 01:06:47,984
capacity connection fee. Finalization. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

904
01:06:47,984 --> 01:06:54,122
Do I have a motion? Please. The thing that worries

905
01:06:54,122 --> 01:07:00,771
me about. Is. The date for the affluent water that

906
01:07:00,771 --> 01:07:04,651
you talked about, Scott, and you don't have to. Come

907
01:07:04,651 --> 01:07:09,062
up. I worry about that a lot, but I know

908
01:07:09,062 --> 01:07:11,302
that you guys have done a lot on your own

909
01:07:11,302 --> 01:07:15,092
over there. And just to let the citizens know that.

910
01:07:16,987 --> 01:07:20,467
About other things that we've talked about having to spend

911
01:07:20,467 --> 01:07:25,467
money on. I walked out behind public works today and

912
01:07:25,467 --> 01:07:29,147
looked at this big barn out there where they house

913
01:07:29,147 --> 01:07:34,278
a lot of equipment. And I thought to myself, This

914
01:07:34,278 --> 01:07:39,697
would be a great place. A good size place and

915
01:07:39,697 --> 01:07:43,297
put a few offices in it for the electrical department

916
01:07:43,297 --> 01:07:46,177
and put their trucks under there and a lot of

917
01:07:46,177 --> 01:07:50,794
their equipment and not spend $5 million. So I want

918
01:07:50,794 --> 01:07:54,354
you to think, because I asked God, I said, well,

919
01:07:54,354 --> 01:07:57,954
what did this building cost? Over there at the water

920
01:07:57,954 --> 01:08:03,517
plant, and that was a $900,000 building. I just don't

921
01:08:03,517 --> 01:08:10,578
want. The public to think that we're not thinking this

922
01:08:10,578 --> 01:08:13,938
stuff through. But then when it comes to the state

923
01:08:13,938 --> 01:08:16,818
telling us we got to do something about this affluent

924
01:08:16,818 --> 01:08:20,713
water, then we got to do it. And we should

925
01:08:20,713 --> 01:08:23,713
have put things. We should have taken care of a

926
01:08:23,713 --> 01:08:29,478
lot of things. Years before now. Thank you. I'll make

927
01:08:29,478 --> 01:08:39,110
a motion. Okay. Approved ordinance. 205 on second reading,

928
01:08:39,110 --> 01:08:47,336
authorizing wastewater rate changes for fiscal year 2026. Second. We

929
01:08:47,336 --> 01:08:52,176
have a motion. Second. Any further discussion from council? If

930
01:08:52,176 --> 01:08:57,880
not. Go for the vote. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council

931
01:08:57,880 --> 01:09:04,564
member Sorens. Yes. Council member steps. Yes. Vice mayor golf.

932
01:09:04,564 --> 01:09:09,854
Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Move on

933
01:09:09,854 --> 01:09:13,274
to item number three. Mr. Arnold. Mr. Mayor, this is

934
01:09:13,274 --> 01:09:17,114
ordinance number 17 2025, entitled an ordinance of the city

935
01:09:17,114 --> 01:09:20,874
council. Of the city of Greencoach Springs, Florida, modifying reclaimed

936
01:09:20,874 --> 01:09:24,474
water rates by mittening city code, chapter 90, utilities article

937
01:09:24,474 --> 01:09:28,554
roman numeral nine, reclaimed water system, division three, rates and

938
01:09:28,554 --> 01:09:34,077
charges, section 95. 75. Entitled water usage and monthly minimum

939
01:09:34,077 --> 01:09:38,517
charges, providing for conflict, severability, codification, setting an effective date.

940
01:09:40,482 --> 01:09:43,442
Thank you, Mr. Noel. All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

941
01:09:43,442 --> 01:09:46,202
So again, the same general comments to start. Off this

942
01:09:46,202 --> 01:09:50,911
one. For the reclaimed water system. We currently do not

943
01:09:50,911 --> 01:09:55,071
have any retail customers. However, within the next month, if

944
01:09:55,071 --> 01:09:59,959
not two, we should start having retail customers. Into subdivisions

945
01:09:59,959 --> 01:10:02,399
that are in our service area, Edgewater Landing in Black

946
01:10:02,399 --> 01:10:06,368
Creek Village. One thing I forgot to mention. On the

947
01:10:06,368 --> 01:10:09,448
water item, which is part of the driver for the

948
01:10:09,448 --> 01:10:13,368
12%, is that when folks switch from potable water to

949
01:10:13,368 --> 01:10:18,058
reclaimed water. For their irrigation. We project that we're going

950
01:10:18,058 --> 01:10:22,098
to lose about $200,000 in revenue for the year in

951
01:10:22,098 --> 01:10:26,018
the water department because. It'll now be reclaimed water going

952
01:10:26,018 --> 01:10:29,618
to those lawns. We feel pretty good about that. Number

953
01:10:29,618 --> 01:10:32,338
because those folks already have irrigation meters. It's just a

954
01:10:32,338 --> 01:10:35,298
matter of switching the main lines over. So as long

955
01:10:35,298 --> 01:10:39,098
as they maintain their current irrigation habits, those are pretty

956
01:10:39,098 --> 01:10:45,041
solid numbers. So, being as we currently don't. Have retail

957
01:10:45,041 --> 01:10:49,495
customers for reclaim water. We are proposing as the rates

958
01:10:49,495 --> 01:10:54,451
are currently set to match the potable irrigation rates. So

959
01:10:54,451 --> 01:10:57,651
therefore, we're proposing a 12% increase on this to match.

960
01:10:59,613 --> 01:11:00,933
So we can keep them in line with the potable

961
01:11:00,933 --> 01:11:06,136
water rates. That's the request. Tonight. Okay. Thank you. Public

962
01:11:06,136 --> 01:11:09,016
hearing. I do have a couple of blue cards, Mr.

963
01:11:09,016 --> 01:11:16,824
Kelton. There we go.

964
01:11:25,203 --> 01:11:27,963
Money. Kelter 630 Milab near Greencoat Springs, Florida. Mr. Mayor,

965
01:11:27,963 --> 01:11:31,443
members of council no problem. With keeping the rates the

966
01:11:31,443 --> 01:11:34,403
same as the power of the water rates. Just kind

967
01:11:34,403 --> 01:11:37,203
of concerned that you're probably going to see people wandering

968
01:11:37,203 --> 01:11:40,083
less out there so you can see a decline. In

969
01:11:40,083 --> 01:11:44,857
there. As far as this grit removal thing that Mr.

970
01:11:44,857 --> 01:11:48,881
Schultz was talking about. Easy solution. Now, I think on

971
01:11:48,881 --> 01:11:53,161
the very expensive wastewater treatment plant we just built, they

972
01:11:53,161 --> 01:11:59,304
would have thought about putting. In grit removal. It's a

973
01:11:59,304 --> 01:12:05,582
cheap system. It gets the grid out. You don't wind

974
01:12:05,582 --> 01:12:08,502
up with a whole tank full of grit. Easy to

975
01:12:08,502 --> 01:12:13,662
do and cheap. Okay, rate study for developers fee. Where

976
01:12:13,662 --> 01:12:18,102
have I heard that before? A year ago. Last year

977
01:12:18,102 --> 01:12:21,114
at the same time. The impact fees for developers. And

978
01:12:21,114 --> 01:12:24,074
I heard. Oh, yeah. We got the rate study ready

979
01:12:24,074 --> 01:12:26,434
to go. Or taking it to the lawyers. We should

980
01:12:26,434 --> 01:12:20,369
have that thing right around the corner. I was bringing

981
01:12:20,369 --> 01:12:30,034
up. Right around the corner.

982
01:12:30,034 --> 01:12:32,754
Next year, next year will be right around the corner.

983
01:12:32,754 --> 01:12:36,485
Next year, next year. Be right around the corner. Frankly,

984
01:12:36,485 --> 01:12:39,445
you lost all credibility. As far as I'm concerned about

985
01:12:39,445 --> 01:12:41,924
right around the corner. It needs to happen. It needs

986
01:12:41,924 --> 01:12:45,808
to happen right now. I know you need great studies

987
01:12:45,808 --> 01:12:49,678
to do that. Should have probably gotten on this last

988
01:12:49,678 --> 01:12:52,038
rate study a little bit sooner, got it out to

989
01:12:52,038 --> 01:12:55,278
council. And got it to the attorneys and got that

990
01:12:55,278 --> 01:12:59,918
approved and get your developer fees approved. My biggest problem

991
01:12:59,918 --> 01:13:03,198
with the reclaimed water thing. And as far as that

992
01:13:03,198 --> 01:13:08,946
goes, any utility that we're serving outside. The city limits

993
01:13:08,946 --> 01:13:14,796
is the 25%. Surcharge that we give to people who

994
01:13:14,796 --> 01:13:19,075
don't live inside the city. They're already in their rates

995
01:13:19,075 --> 01:13:25,407
because. We're. Basically doing whack them all budgeting here in

996
01:13:25,407 --> 01:13:29,007
this city. We're moving all of these costs out of

997
01:13:29,007 --> 01:13:33,087
the general fund, which is bloated over into the utility.

998
01:13:33,087 --> 01:13:36,607
So the people who are living outside the city are

999
01:13:36,607 --> 01:13:43,462
paying a huge. Price. For services. They never get the

1000
01:13:43,462 --> 01:13:47,955
services. That you all enjoy in terms of. Higher pay

1001
01:13:47,955 --> 01:13:52,015
and things like that. They don't benefit from that. You

1002
01:13:52,015 --> 01:13:53,775
need to take a look at that. It's not fair

1003
01:13:53,775 --> 01:13:58,661
to those people. They should have some representation here, even

1004
01:13:58,661 --> 01:14:02,070
though they cannot vote. In our city, and they cannot

1005
01:14:02,070 --> 01:14:06,149
vote on the board, but. They should be reached out

1006
01:14:06,149 --> 01:14:09,509
to and brought into the process so that they could

1007
01:14:09,509 --> 01:14:13,687
have. A voice in how their rates are being managed.

1008
01:14:15,407 --> 01:14:19,391
Great and or mismanaged as the case may be. They

1009
01:14:19,391 --> 01:14:21,991
need to have a voice on it. I used to

1010
01:14:21,991 --> 01:14:25,793
think. It's only 25%, but it was a lot cheaper

1011
01:14:25,793 --> 01:14:29,673
then the way that we've. Raised rates here over the

1012
01:14:29,673 --> 01:14:34,938
last ten years. It's become very expensive for them. Thank

1013
01:14:34,938 --> 01:14:40,258
you. Thank you. We'll say on that issue, Mr. Kelter,

1014
01:14:40,258 --> 01:14:42,698
that is an agenda item for January if you need

1015
01:14:42,698 --> 01:14:51,302
salary meeting to discuss that. Okay.

1016
01:14:54,014 --> 01:14:56,269
Nice. It's actually all the blue cards I have for

1017
01:14:56,269 --> 01:15:00,309
that. Anybody else to speak on item? Number three. That's

1018
01:15:00,309 --> 01:15:05,218
right. I have your card. Come on up, Mr. Will.

1019
01:15:06,003 --> 01:15:13,748
Just keep it to the side. Sidewalk 218 North Magnolia.

1020
01:15:15,648 --> 01:15:18,728
We're talking about this affluent thing. Mr. Schultz worked at

1021
01:15:18,728 --> 01:15:23,831
Butlin Street, Buckman street. Is a huge wastewater facility. That

1022
01:15:23,831 --> 01:15:27,391
JA operates. I doubt that they have a way to

1023
01:15:27,391 --> 01:15:32,471
avoid discharging their millions and millions and millions of gallons,

1024
01:15:32,471 --> 01:15:36,900
up to 20, 30 million. Into the river, so I

1025
01:15:36,900 --> 01:15:40,842
think there's alternatives. I don't know that they've been examined.

1026
01:15:42,183 --> 01:15:44,063
But what I want to talk about in terms of

1027
01:15:44,063 --> 01:15:48,758
this. This is a case that proves my point about

1028
01:15:48,758 --> 01:15:53,904
strategic planning and vision. The city needed to ensure they

1029
01:15:53,904 --> 01:16:00,907
had service territory. That they could supply. Reclaim water to

1030
01:16:00,907 --> 01:16:03,387
it's been common knowledge in the utility industry because I

1031
01:16:03,387 --> 01:16:08,471
worked in the insurance industry since 97. 98. That you

1032
01:16:08,471 --> 01:16:13,031
can only put reclaim water in new construction areas because

1033
01:16:13,031 --> 01:16:17,082
you have to have a trenches. Open and easily. Accessible

1034
01:16:17,082 --> 01:16:20,162
and not have a bunch of other utilities. So the

1035
01:16:20,162 --> 01:16:23,642
idea that we went down the road to develop a

1036
01:16:23,642 --> 01:16:29,615
reclaimed water system. Which is a white elephant. We don't

1037
01:16:29,615 --> 01:16:33,968
have any more service territory. It's extremely expensive to put.

1038
01:16:35,375 --> 01:16:39,612
That infrastructure in Phil is what it's called. So unless

1039
01:16:39,612 --> 01:16:42,812
you make a mandated law where you force people to

1040
01:16:42,812 --> 01:16:45,123
do it, It's not going to be able to be

1041
01:16:45,123 --> 01:16:49,683
done. So basically you're maxing out your capacity. You have

1042
01:16:49,683 --> 01:16:56,509
limited revenue opportunities. And. You spent millions of dollars. I

1043
01:16:56,509 --> 01:16:58,789
don't know the exact number, but I do know you.

1044
01:16:58,789 --> 01:17:03,740
Spent $1.7 million of DEp money on a study. That

1045
01:17:03,740 --> 01:17:07,100
could have been a debunked in 1998, that there's no

1046
01:17:07,100 --> 01:17:10,740
feasibility for the infill in green coast springs for reclaim

1047
01:17:10,740 --> 01:17:16,713
water. This just demonstrates. A bad decision that was made.

1048
01:17:16,713 --> 01:17:21,348
I don't know who made it, but it continues. And

1049
01:17:21,348 --> 01:17:24,229
there is no place for the water. Reclaim water to

1050
01:17:24,229 --> 01:17:28,029
be pumped because we didn't protect our service area. That

1051
01:17:28,029 --> 01:17:34,469
requires strategic planning. And coordination with our legislative people, which

1052
01:17:34,469 --> 01:17:39,886
wasn't done. So this utility, no matter how efficiently it's

1053
01:17:39,886 --> 01:17:41,766
operated, it's never going to be. Able to have economy

1054
01:17:41,766 --> 01:17:45,877
of scale, which you need in the utility business. I

1055
01:17:45,877 --> 01:17:48,677
would recommend that you turn it all over to CCUA.

1056
01:17:48,677 --> 01:17:55,802
Thank you. So the blue cards. I'll close the public

1057
01:17:55,802 --> 01:18:01,444
hearing. Bring to council. Does anyone have any comments, questions

1058
01:18:01,444 --> 01:18:11,108
or a motion on item number three? Make a motion.

1059
01:18:20,134 --> 01:18:26,531
Make a motion to approve ordinance. On second reading, authorizing

1060
01:18:26,531 --> 01:18:34,080
reclaim water rate changes for fiscal year 2026. Have a

1061
01:18:34,080 --> 01:18:41,705
motion to second any discussion from council. If not. Did

1062
01:18:41,705 --> 01:18:48,068
somebody say something? Mr. Sets.

1063
01:18:51,698 --> 01:19:00,194
I'm good. Okay. Did he second? Sorry about that. Okay,

1064
01:19:00,194 --> 01:19:05,194
Aaron. Council member Glisson. Yes. Council member Starnes. Yes. Council

1065
01:19:05,194 --> 01:19:12,981
member. Versut. Yes. Vice Mayor Gong? Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes.

1066
01:19:12,981 --> 01:19:18,818
Motion passes. Okay, thank you. Item number four. Mr. Arnold.

1067
01:19:20,331 --> 01:19:24,029
Is that you? Well, there will be something to discuss.

1068
01:19:26,214 --> 01:19:27,294
And our finance director is going to handle that. There's

1069
01:19:27,294 --> 01:19:29,694
no ordinance to read the title. Too. That's required by

1070
01:19:29,694 --> 01:19:34,295
law. Okay. Thank you. So we have Miss Swan. Thank

1071
01:19:34,295 --> 01:19:39,694
you, Mr. Mayor. Suhang, finance director this item is on

1072
01:19:39,694 --> 01:19:46,793
the proposed ministry for fiscal year 2026. You have heard

1073
01:19:46,793 --> 01:19:51,629
those numbers a number of times already. So the proposed

1074
01:19:51,629 --> 01:19:57,610
5.3 mils is the same as the current ministry. However.

1075
01:19:59,556 --> 01:20:03,156
It's an increase of 7.32% over the rollback rate of

1076
01:20:03,156 --> 01:20:11,408
4.9386. At 5.3, metastrade is going to generate 4.3 million

1077
01:20:11,408 --> 01:20:16,388
in property tax. Revenue. We budget our property tax revenue

1078
01:20:16,388 --> 01:20:22,788
at 97%. So for the city, the budget is 4.1.

1079
01:20:22,788 --> 01:20:29,578
Of tax revenue and for CRA is 43,000. Revenue. And

1080
01:20:29,578 --> 01:20:34,053
again. This five one three is based on? The concert

1081
01:20:34,053 --> 01:20:40,958
direction of option two. From last week's meeting. So staff's

1082
01:20:40,958 --> 01:20:44,929
recommendation is for the council to approve resolution number. R.

1083
01:20:44,929 --> 01:20:51,612
23, 2025. Establishing the military for fiscal year 26 at

1084
01:20:51,612 --> 01:20:57,412
5.3, which is the increase of 7.32% over the rollback

1085
01:20:57,412 --> 01:21:04,586
rate of 4.9, 380. Thank you, Ms. Wong. I'll open

1086
01:21:04,586 --> 01:21:09,308
the public hearing. Mr. Kelter.

1087
01:21:21,283 --> 01:21:24,123
Mr. Mayor or Mike Counter, 630 Myrtle Avenue, Green Coast

1088
01:21:24,123 --> 01:21:27,723
Springs, Florida. Mr. Mayor, members of council, I continue to

1089
01:21:27,723 --> 01:21:34,187
advocate for the rollback rate plus. The 5.1613, which is

1090
01:21:34,187 --> 01:21:39,056
less than the current property tax millage of 5.30. Over

1091
01:21:39,056 --> 01:21:43,816
the past five years, city has raised property taxes 47%

1092
01:21:43,816 --> 01:21:48,313
while inflation has been 25%. While taking more money out

1093
01:21:48,313 --> 01:21:52,153
of the pockets of Greencoat spring citizens, the city manager

1094
01:21:52,153 --> 01:21:54,953
and his staff has managed to wipe out millions of

1095
01:21:54,953 --> 01:21:58,873
dollars of emergency funds that we need to face a

1096
01:21:58,873 --> 01:22:02,873
disaster. I haven't seen anything like this before in my

1097
01:22:02,873 --> 01:22:07,843
life. Mayor Johnson, you said two. Weeks ago that. There's

1098
01:22:07,843 --> 01:22:11,302
a big victory that we didn't raise taxes again. That's

1099
01:22:11,302 --> 01:22:13,062
not a big victory when you keep it up at

1100
01:22:13,062 --> 01:22:18,558
record levels. That's. A sad, tragic defeat for the people

1101
01:22:18,558 --> 01:22:23,192
who are paying these bills. Ma'am said that he is

1102
01:22:23,192 --> 01:22:26,512
comfortable giving more money to the city because that way

1103
01:22:26,512 --> 01:22:30,032
he knows the city can spit it and build a

1104
01:22:30,032 --> 01:22:33,592
fund. I would like to ask Van sometime where the

1105
01:22:33,592 --> 01:22:36,592
one he pays his quarterly taxes to the federal government.

1106
01:22:36,592 --> 01:22:39,112
Does he give them a lot more? Money because he's

1107
01:22:39,112 --> 01:22:42,703
more comfortable. That the government knows best what to do

1108
01:22:42,703 --> 01:22:46,023
with his money. Then he does himself. I don't. Think

1109
01:22:46,023 --> 01:22:55,902
so. You're giving. Pay increases. Of 3%.

1110
01:22:57,563 --> 01:23:04,247
In this thing. In this millage. Okay. Disabled veterans aren't

1111
01:23:04,247 --> 01:23:06,807
going to get that much. Right now. It's looking right

1112
01:23:06,807 --> 01:23:12,496
about 2.6. Why are we paying? Civilian government employees a

1113
01:23:12,496 --> 01:23:16,896
bigger coa than disabled veterans. Get that to me is

1114
01:23:16,896 --> 01:23:21,368
obscene. And in this city that has so many. Disabled

1115
01:23:21,368 --> 01:23:25,684
debts. You should not go higher than. What va is

1116
01:23:25,684 --> 01:23:32,103
paying. These disabled vets. My proposal to Dr. Robback. Rate

1117
01:23:32,103 --> 01:23:39,223
plus provides our city with $379,321 extra. Dollars than you

1118
01:23:39,223 --> 01:23:47,073
had last year. Bucket, providing $146,612 for employee raises and

1119
01:23:47,073 --> 01:23:54,683
still gives $100,000. $100,429 back to the people who are

1120
01:23:54,683 --> 01:23:57,643
paying this bill to begin with. They get the smallest

1121
01:23:57,643 --> 01:24:01,573
cut. You're getting the biggest cut here in the city

1122
01:24:01,573 --> 01:24:04,722
hall. Okay. It would seem fair to me that they

1123
01:24:04,722 --> 01:24:09,844
should get something. Okay. Our employees are not underpaid. I

1124
01:24:09,844 --> 01:24:16,435
appreciate Mr. Johnson. Getting that salary study out after me

1125
01:24:16,435 --> 01:24:19,675
harping on it for so long, we haven't. Been able

1126
01:24:19,675 --> 01:24:21,795
to read it in the last 2 hours look more

1127
01:24:21,795 --> 01:24:25,955
like a hail mary than the bona fide effort to

1128
01:24:25,955 --> 01:24:29,155
let people really know what you got there. But think

1129
01:24:29,155 --> 01:24:34,807
about this. Employees are given a choice. In that rate

1130
01:24:34,807 --> 01:24:38,167
study to move 100 miles away to make a couple

1131
01:24:38,167 --> 01:24:42,222
of dollars more. I don't think that's going to happen.

1132
01:24:43,269 --> 01:24:45,669
That's not realistic in this economy. So we should look

1133
01:24:45,669 --> 01:24:48,189
at these things a little bit. Closer to the next

1134
01:24:48,189 --> 01:24:53,760
several months as far as rates or pay. Is concerned,

1135
01:24:53,760 --> 01:24:56,960
but not make hasty, stupid decisions like we've made over

1136
01:24:56,960 --> 01:25:00,726
the last five years. Thank you very much. Susan pritchett.

1137
01:25:09,781 --> 01:25:19,697
Susan pritchett, 218 north magnolia, greencaft springs. I think

1138
01:25:19,697 --> 01:25:21,737
we've talked a lot about the residents of Green guest

1139
01:25:21,737 --> 01:25:25,337
Springs. I think we should think about the business owners

1140
01:25:25,337 --> 01:25:30,485
of Greencove Springs. There have been a lot of improvements

1141
01:25:30,485 --> 01:25:34,405
on Walnut street, and we were kind of shocked when

1142
01:25:34,405 --> 01:25:39,165
we got our tax, proposed taxes from the county, and

1143
01:25:39,165 --> 01:25:44,586
there's a $500. A year proposal for being part of

1144
01:25:44,586 --> 01:25:49,699
the community development district. So that works out to $42.50

1145
01:25:49,699 --> 01:25:53,859
a month for the folks on business on Walmont. Street.

1146
01:25:55,240 --> 01:26:00,134
Add that to Greg's total. And. With all of the

1147
01:26:00,134 --> 01:26:06,748
raises. In the various parts of the utility. That's an

1148
01:26:06,748 --> 01:26:09,888
awful lot of comic books. An awful lot of music

1149
01:26:09,888 --> 01:26:13,895
lessons that have to be given. It's going to affect

1150
01:26:13,895 --> 01:26:17,695
folks, and our little businesses are going to go somewhere

1151
01:26:17,695 --> 01:26:22,518
else. They simply cannot keep up with the way the

1152
01:26:22,518 --> 01:26:26,251
rates are going up. So I just want you to

1153
01:26:26,251 --> 01:26:29,051
hold, to kind of think about that. It's not just

1154
01:26:29,051 --> 01:26:35,898
the residence. It's the business owners. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

1155
01:26:35,898 --> 01:26:45,141
Thank you. Mr. Tong. Mr. Mayor. Al thompson, tronkio 605

1156
01:26:45,141 --> 01:26:52,654
myrtle avenue, green, coal springs. Mr. Mayor council members. I

1157
01:26:52,654 --> 01:26:57,089
agree with what Mike has said so far. I'm going

1158
01:26:57,089 --> 01:26:59,409
to skip that part, but I'd like to ask a

1159
01:26:59,409 --> 01:27:05,066
question of you. You fought hard to get salaries raised

1160
01:27:05,066 --> 01:27:11,920
for people based upon. A survey that you paid for,

1161
01:27:11,920 --> 01:27:14,800
which we got a copy of in just the last

1162
01:27:14,800 --> 01:27:17,600
couple of days not looked at it. And some of

1163
01:27:17,600 --> 01:27:21,680
the comparisons to me are ridiculous. But the cities that

1164
01:27:21,680 --> 01:27:27,619
are being compared. But that being said, The city. Citizens

1165
01:27:27,619 --> 01:27:31,939
of this city have paid taxes. More taxes on everything.

1166
01:27:34,284 --> 01:27:37,992
Okay. Higher rates on everything. You have a simple thing

1167
01:27:37,992 --> 01:27:40,872
like a rollback rate and cutting off a few dollars.

1168
01:27:41,842 --> 01:27:43,562
You can't even look at that. So when are you

1169
01:27:43,562 --> 01:27:46,962
going to start considering the people? Of this community because

1170
01:27:46,962 --> 01:27:50,002
people are really upset about it. You have no idea.

1171
01:27:51,633 --> 01:27:53,393
That's basically all I have to say. If you'd like

1172
01:27:53,393 --> 01:27:57,575
to answer that question. I'll wait here. Why are you

1173
01:27:57,575 --> 01:28:01,935
fighting like Banshee warriors? To give raises which they deserve.

1174
01:28:03,477 --> 01:28:05,717
But you don't want to cut anywhere else, and you

1175
01:28:05,717 --> 01:28:08,917
don't want to cut. The military. Could somebody answer that

1176
01:28:08,917 --> 01:28:15,067
for me? Council agreed that we wanted to get raises

1177
01:28:15,067 --> 01:28:17,267
to our employees. Some of them did not get one.

1178
01:28:17,267 --> 01:28:19,707
For a couple of years, and that's why we have

1179
01:28:19,707 --> 01:28:25,086
that percentage. And the others did not come up to

1180
01:28:25,086 --> 01:28:27,646
the 50th percentile on the weight study that we all

1181
01:28:27,646 --> 01:28:30,726
agreed last year we should bring our employees to. So

1182
01:28:30,726 --> 01:28:33,326
that's the short answer that we agreed that we can't

1183
01:28:33,326 --> 01:28:37,567
just go a year without giving raises. Some employees two

1184
01:28:37,567 --> 01:28:43,492
years in a row. They like everybody else. There's inflation

1185
01:28:43,492 --> 01:28:45,583
and. We all agreed it was the right thing to

1186
01:28:45,583 --> 01:28:50,311
do. And the people of Green Coast. I guess that's

1187
01:28:50,311 --> 01:28:54,888
not going to be answered. Why you won't cut the

1188
01:28:54,888 --> 01:28:58,128
millage rate. And look at the budget. There are things

1189
01:28:58,128 --> 01:29:00,968
in the budget that can be cut, I can assure

1190
01:29:00,968 --> 01:29:04,827
you. Okay? Yeah. After the public hearing service, we're going

1191
01:29:04,827 --> 01:29:09,895
to discuss the military. Thank you. Yes. Sir. Mr. Will.

1192
01:29:26,206 --> 01:29:31,246
So Greg will. 18 North Magnolia don't have a lot

1193
01:29:31,246 --> 01:29:36,979
to add. I do want to urge. That we establish

1194
01:29:36,979 --> 01:29:44,672
robot grade plus. Everything has gone up. Again. It's a

1195
01:29:44,672 --> 01:29:49,944
double whammy because. The county comes through and raises everybody's

1196
01:29:49,944 --> 01:29:56,989
valuation. By percent. And then you hold the military. And

1197
01:29:56,989 --> 01:30:02,407
with inflation, you're getting more money. So. A 40% increase

1198
01:30:02,407 --> 01:30:06,554
in property taxes. Your rate gives you even more money.

1199
01:30:08,351 --> 01:30:11,492
So at some point, I would like to see cut.

1200
01:30:13,329 --> 01:30:19,067
Some funds cut. And in terms of. The salary employee

1201
01:30:19,067 --> 01:30:25,058
study. Who you compare to has a significant impact when

1202
01:30:25,058 --> 01:30:27,818
you look at the 50% down number. So I have

1203
01:30:27,818 --> 01:30:32,063
to agree with the last speaker. That you take issue

1204
01:30:32,063 --> 01:30:35,983
with some of those comparisons we should be comparing with,

1205
01:30:35,983 --> 01:30:40,479
like, Northeast Florida. I've seen this in business, where management

1206
01:30:40,479 --> 01:30:45,239
looks at salaries for high end places for their raises.

1207
01:30:45,239 --> 01:30:48,279
And then for the rank and final, they use low.

1208
01:30:48,279 --> 01:30:51,183
I'm not saying we do. That. What I'm saying is

1209
01:30:51,183 --> 01:30:54,383
we use a real rate study, a real salary study

1210
01:30:54,383 --> 01:31:00,531
analysis. People need to get pay raises. Everybody has been

1211
01:31:00,531 --> 01:31:02,691
out there working for other people, and you need those

1212
01:31:02,691 --> 01:31:06,611
raises to keep people motivated. But there's also benefits to

1213
01:31:06,611 --> 01:31:11,433
having a job. Where your commute is 5 miles, five

1214
01:31:11,433 --> 01:31:19,091
minutes. So people make lifestyle choices, but. I don't support.

1215
01:31:20,003 --> 01:31:24,586
That salary study, and I do support. A rent rollback,

1216
01:31:24,586 --> 01:31:28,732
which would still give you more money. So you wouldn't

1217
01:31:28,732 --> 01:31:30,932
be able to raise things as much, but you wouldn't

1218
01:31:30,932 --> 01:31:35,372
have. To cut as much, so please consider that people

1219
01:31:35,372 --> 01:31:41,409
are bleeding. Everything has gone up. And the civilian sector.

1220
01:31:43,168 --> 01:31:45,848
Hasn't gotten the pay raises everybody else has, and we're

1221
01:31:45,848 --> 01:31:49,568
paying these fees and. Because you can pay it doesn't

1222
01:31:49,568 --> 01:31:53,998
mean mom and pop can pay it. Thank you. Thank

1223
01:31:53,998 --> 01:31:56,944
you. Mr. Royal.

1224
01:32:04,345 --> 01:32:11,775
First of all, I told you all this in the

1225
01:32:11,775 --> 01:32:15,295
past. I agree with Ms. Putchett. I think that. Businesses

1226
01:32:15,295 --> 01:32:18,455
bore the brunt of the tax increases that we've had

1227
01:32:18,455 --> 01:32:23,055
over the last three to five years. We own homes.

1228
01:32:23,055 --> 01:32:29,387
3%, in fact. When inflation was going up in values

1229
01:32:29,387 --> 01:32:34,341
of homes going up six, seven, 8%, 3%. Businesses 10%

1230
01:32:34,341 --> 01:32:37,541
a year from Gosh knows however long. And that's if

1231
01:32:37,541 --> 01:32:42,761
the millage stays the same. The salary study. IPL was

1232
01:32:42,761 --> 01:32:45,561
flawed. Told you that at several meetings I've been to.

1233
01:32:45,561 --> 01:32:47,801
That the end needs to be looked at. So I

1234
01:32:47,801 --> 01:32:53,177
originally supported number one, which was hold the military. Option

1235
01:32:53,177 --> 01:32:54,777
number two. Which is? The one that I bought on

1236
01:32:54,777 --> 01:32:57,751
the other night. But she said that was where you

1237
01:32:57,751 --> 01:33:00,911
were leaving. And looking at that, the 3% raise, I

1238
01:33:00,911 --> 01:33:03,591
get that. Here's the part that I do want to

1239
01:33:03,591 --> 01:33:05,711
give you some kudos for. Because it's the first time

1240
01:33:05,711 --> 01:33:13,224
at council. Innumerable years. Not only. Did you not raise

1241
01:33:13,224 --> 01:33:15,264
the miller's rate? But when you went to look for

1242
01:33:15,264 --> 01:33:19,766
the cuts, of $400,000. $5,000 made a difference. We didn't

1243
01:33:19,766 --> 01:33:22,406
just go out and add some revenue. Stream or come

1244
01:33:22,406 --> 01:33:26,166
up with some hokum number. I looked at 19 departments.

1245
01:33:26,166 --> 01:33:29,686
There are 19. Different line items. That $5,000 meant something,

1246
01:33:29,686 --> 01:33:34,481
$10,000 meant something. If you all will do your job

1247
01:33:34,481 --> 01:33:37,841
and require everybody else to do their job every $5,000.

1248
01:33:37,841 --> 01:33:40,241
You can put aside. What happens now is that rate

1249
01:33:40,241 --> 01:33:43,401
increase right now that we're. Asking the citizens to meet.

1250
01:33:43,401 --> 01:33:46,441
Everybody else sits behind me. All of that actually goes

1251
01:33:46,441 --> 01:33:48,921
in option. Number two to the bottom line, it goes

1252
01:33:48,921 --> 01:33:51,822
into a reserve. And that reserve is gone on important

1253
01:33:51,822 --> 01:33:54,782
because, as you said, it's been wiped out. We've been

1254
01:33:54,782 --> 01:33:57,302
in the negative. We've continued to be in the negative,

1255
01:33:57,302 --> 01:34:00,382
and I hope that you all, on a quarterly basis

1256
01:34:00,382 --> 01:34:05,031
will know. Absolute. Here's where we stand in that budget.

1257
01:34:05,031 --> 01:34:08,391
And if we deviate and we go over then we

1258
01:34:08,391 --> 01:34:10,551
cut something out somewhere else. And if we go under,

1259
01:34:10,551 --> 01:34:13,071
I'm going to bring up an item number eight. We

1260
01:34:13,071 --> 01:34:15,471
want to know what happens to that excess money that

1261
01:34:15,471 --> 01:34:17,631
we sell. Out something. If you sell it off, it

1262
01:34:17,631 --> 01:34:20,151
doesn't need to go to someplace else. Everything. That you

1263
01:34:20,151 --> 01:34:22,151
all do everything the department has to do need to

1264
01:34:22,151 --> 01:34:24,590
go to build that fund up. Okay, I got to

1265
01:34:24,590 --> 01:34:29,117
contribute more. If my businesses. That I operate in those

1266
01:34:29,117 --> 01:34:33,877
that just got land for buildings for. So be it

1267
01:34:33,877 --> 01:34:37,422
this time around. I expect better. But I will tell

1268
01:34:37,422 --> 01:34:39,222
you the fact that you've held the right this time.

1269
01:34:41,015 --> 01:34:46,172
Is a relief. Thank you. This last card I have

1270
01:34:46,172 --> 01:34:55,856
on item number four. Normally I

1271
01:34:55,856 --> 01:35:01,657
just like to sit and listen to the debate. But

1272
01:35:01,657 --> 01:35:06,184
my references regarding the employees. I have always been a

1273
01:35:06,184 --> 01:35:11,278
great supporter. That's me. I'm talking about me. Great supporter

1274
01:35:11,278 --> 01:35:14,535
of our employees. So I want to be brief in

1275
01:35:14,535 --> 01:35:22,436
what I say. If we don't take care. Of our

1276
01:35:22,436 --> 01:35:28,474
employees. They end up elsewhere. And we have raved about

1277
01:35:28,474 --> 01:35:33,554
how wonderful. Our employees are here in the city. Have

1278
01:35:33,554 --> 01:35:38,661
we not? We've also heard you all say they are

1279
01:35:38,661 --> 01:35:42,448
great employers. They do a great job. So if we

1280
01:35:42,448 --> 01:35:51,297
lose. Them to other counties. It's already hard to

1281
01:35:51,297 --> 01:35:57,398
recruit, especially for our police department. It's very hard to

1282
01:35:57,398 --> 01:36:01,723
recruit good workers. I say do what you have to

1283
01:36:01,723 --> 01:36:07,017
do to keep our employees. And that's as brief as

1284
01:36:07,017 --> 01:36:08,937
I can be. I got a whole lot more here,

1285
01:36:08,937 --> 01:36:10,657
but. I'm just going to say I'm going to stick

1286
01:36:10,657 --> 01:36:14,857
with that. We have great employees. Take care of them.

1287
01:36:14,857 --> 01:36:22,480
Thank you. I will close the public hearing. We have

1288
01:36:22,480 --> 01:36:28,984
an email that came in. For me. Okay, Mr. North.

1289
01:36:33,260 --> 01:36:37,820
All right. This email says, I apologize for not being

1290
01:36:37,820 --> 01:36:39,780
able to attend. Our school is having an open house.

1291
01:36:39,780 --> 01:36:42,300
And I am prioritizing my children for my physical presence

1292
01:36:42,300 --> 01:36:44,980
this evening did not want to go without this spread

1293
01:36:44,980 --> 01:36:48,337
into the record. I do not envy the position you

1294
01:36:48,337 --> 01:36:50,497
all are in. I know this is a matter of

1295
01:36:50,497 --> 01:36:53,257
trying. To make the best decision for everyone. Our employees,

1296
01:36:53,257 --> 01:36:56,737
our citizens, everyone. The budget trickles down to this is

1297
01:36:56,737 --> 01:36:58,937
why I have gained so many interesting tan lines over

1298
01:36:58,937 --> 01:37:01,497
the years. Standing on the corner. Waving science for whoever

1299
01:37:01,497 --> 01:37:03,337
I thought was going to be the best to represent

1300
01:37:03,337 --> 01:37:06,860
us. Well, I hope you'll remember as you make your

1301
01:37:06,860 --> 01:37:10,500
vote tonight. Is that. Is the below. The poverty line

1302
01:37:10,500 --> 01:37:15,500
residence we have, while a $35 increase per month for

1303
01:37:15,500 --> 01:37:18,680
water is a nuisance for most of us. There are

1304
01:37:18,680 --> 01:37:20,760
many people in our community that will cause them to

1305
01:37:20,760 --> 01:37:23,320
make a choice between food, medication, and the utility bill.

1306
01:37:24,842 --> 01:37:27,482
Adding that on top of Melodge, rate increases from the

1307
01:37:27,482 --> 01:37:30,282
city, the county, the school board, all the little bumps

1308
01:37:30,282 --> 01:37:31,842
add up to a hill that is a lot of

1309
01:37:31,842 --> 01:37:35,522
our seniors and low. Income residents can't climb while they

1310
01:37:35,522 --> 01:37:37,762
are forced to make that decision. So many items in

1311
01:37:37,762 --> 01:37:40,202
our budget could be restructured or eliminated to give a

1312
01:37:40,202 --> 01:37:43,771
little relief to our struggling population. I am no stranger

1313
01:37:43,771 --> 01:37:46,731
to anyone on council. Large scale events for the community

1314
01:37:46,731 --> 01:37:49,691
are my favorite thing. To volunteer for, the more I'm

1315
01:37:49,691 --> 01:37:52,051
learning about just how much our events are costing us.

1316
01:37:52,051 --> 01:37:54,771
The more concerned I've become with what we are prioritizing

1317
01:37:54,771 --> 01:37:58,011
over what our residents and employees really need. We have

1318
01:37:58,011 --> 01:38:01,691
three major cultural events every year, river fest, soul food

1319
01:38:01,691 --> 01:38:04,829
and Christmas. On walnut. We also have a nearly monthly

1320
01:38:04,829 --> 01:38:07,069
event of food truck Friday. A lot of us believe

1321
01:38:07,069 --> 01:38:10,509
these events were revenue neutral. They are not. In fact,

1322
01:38:10,509 --> 01:38:13,149
they cost an extreme amount of money. I am not

1323
01:38:13,149 --> 01:38:15,909
coming with complaints or demands of removing these budget items.

1324
01:38:15,909 --> 01:38:19,309
I'm coming with ideas to at a minimum, reduce the

1325
01:38:19,309 --> 01:38:22,629
burden of the residents to fund these events. Most of

1326
01:38:22,629 --> 01:38:25,859
these ideas. Center around community local business involvement to perform

1327
01:38:25,859 --> 01:38:28,939
the tasks needed to make these events successful. Rather than

1328
01:38:28,939 --> 01:38:33,112
paying high overtime rates for simple tasks. Below are a

1329
01:38:33,112 --> 01:38:35,832
few ideas I've worked on for making our events more

1330
01:38:35,832 --> 01:38:38,952
cost effective. I believe we need a volunteer board for

1331
01:38:38,952 --> 01:38:42,432
events that may even be something that could be assigned

1332
01:38:42,432 --> 01:38:45,832
to the CAC. They would be an incredible liaison between

1333
01:38:45,832 --> 01:38:48,752
the city and potential volunteers for the events. If the

1334
01:38:48,752 --> 01:38:51,752
CAC is unwilling, I am willing, as always, to build.

1335
01:38:52,911 --> 01:38:54,711
A network of citizen volunteers to work with the city

1336
01:38:54,711 --> 01:38:59,766
and gathering outside resources to downsize the event's budget. Businesses,

1337
01:38:59,766 --> 01:39:04,996
churches, organization sponsoring events. Picking up trash after bagging and

1338
01:39:04,996 --> 01:39:08,956
placing for trash pickup during regular hours, placing barricades instead

1339
01:39:08,956 --> 01:39:11,396
of paying overtime to move them and placing them off

1340
01:39:11,396 --> 01:39:14,676
the street, public works can place on corners during business

1341
01:39:14,676 --> 01:39:18,130
hours. Allow businesses or churches to have a free booth

1342
01:39:18,130 --> 01:39:21,848
set up to get info out on their outfit. Alcohol

1343
01:39:21,848 --> 01:39:28,284
sales in byob. Or ed bring an alcohol truck beer

1344
01:39:28,284 --> 01:39:32,859
garden for revenue. Wine tasting, maybe tickets sold to a

1345
01:39:32,859 --> 01:39:36,722
Reds after party or corner pocket after party. At a

1346
01:39:36,722 --> 01:39:40,432
discounted rate, but the city gets a cut. City merchandise

1347
01:39:40,432 --> 01:39:45,573
sales Citi T shirts cove life items. Restrooms closed public

1348
01:39:45,573 --> 01:39:48,773
restrooms to end the need for closed public restrooms to

1349
01:39:48,773 --> 01:39:52,573
in need for during event maintenance or remove porta potties

1350
01:39:52,573 --> 01:39:54,613
during food truck Friday. Why are we paying? For both.

1351
01:39:56,141 --> 01:40:00,861
VIP seating, Renaissance roped off for groups, rug on grass

1352
01:40:00,861 --> 01:40:06,261
shaded pool pavilion, front row, vip fireworks. Viewing at Riverfest

1353
01:40:06,261 --> 01:40:09,198
add ons to make vip experience. Not a well formed

1354
01:40:09,198 --> 01:40:13,237
idea, but brainstorming nonetheless. Ban costs. Tip the band with

1355
01:40:13,237 --> 01:40:16,437
QR codes to Venmo or other money app guaranteed. Minimum

1356
01:40:16,437 --> 01:40:19,277
for band revenue to entice talent to perform without fear

1357
01:40:19,277 --> 01:40:22,040
of low weights for performance. Open mic once a year.

1358
01:40:23,897 --> 01:40:26,337
Consider quarterly for the food truck Friday events rather than

1359
01:40:26,337 --> 01:40:30,014
ten times per year. Consider limited vendors in addition to

1360
01:40:30,014 --> 01:40:34,101
food trucks. In event items like light up any event

1361
01:40:34,101 --> 01:40:37,341
items like light up toys for the kids fans face.

1362
01:40:37,341 --> 01:40:39,941
Painting. This will be a good vendor add on, split

1363
01:40:39,941 --> 01:40:44,414
the money. PD not at every intersection for Christmas parade.

1364
01:40:44,414 --> 01:40:46,734
And we have volunteer road guards to limit the number.

1365
01:40:46,734 --> 01:40:50,454
Of officers at events partner with an inflatables rental company.

1366
01:40:50,454 --> 01:40:53,934
One to three inflatables wristband based. City gets cut, vendor

1367
01:40:53,934 --> 01:40:58,042
gets the rest. No charge to vendor. I understand half

1368
01:40:58,042 --> 01:40:59,562
of what I'm looking at in the budget, but what

1369
01:40:59,562 --> 01:41:01,722
I do see is a six figure line item for

1370
01:41:01,722 --> 01:41:04,682
code enforcement. If we can make that a reactive service.

1371
01:41:06,912 --> 01:41:08,432
At a part time rate that would put a huge

1372
01:41:08,432 --> 01:41:10,672
dent towards saving enough money for a coal increase with

1373
01:41:10,672 --> 01:41:13,712
employees that citizens actually want. While I know some of

1374
01:41:13,712 --> 01:41:16,352
you are under the impression it's only the violators who

1375
01:41:16,352 --> 01:41:20,672
do want full time code enforcement. That is not the

1376
01:41:20,672 --> 01:41:23,672
case. At all. We have had many conversations as a

1377
01:41:23,672 --> 01:41:27,218
community, and the overwhelming sentiment, with a few exceptions, Do

1378
01:41:27,218 --> 01:41:29,218
not like the idea of heavy handed surveillance of our

1379
01:41:29,218 --> 01:41:32,298
private homes akin to Hoa living. I would imagine the

1380
01:41:32,298 --> 01:41:35,098
few exceptions would decrease in numbers rapidly if they knew

1381
01:41:35,098 --> 01:41:44,035
just how much it cost us taxpayers. Hope

1382
01:41:44,035 --> 01:41:49,662
chestnut. Yes. Thanks. Mr. No. May I say so? Sure.

1383
01:41:49,662 --> 01:41:54,807
Are you finished, Mr. No. Yes, ma'am. She does have

1384
01:41:54,807 --> 01:42:03,261
one comment. Thank you, sir. I want to tell. Them,

1385
01:42:03,261 --> 01:42:09,033
I guess. Here. Pay rates for the city. Means a

1386
01:42:09,033 --> 01:42:12,473
pay cut for the citizens. But there's one thing I

1387
01:42:12,473 --> 01:42:16,975
want to caution about. I want to caution the mayor

1388
01:42:16,975 --> 01:42:24,303
on this. Or the city manager, the clerk, whomever it

1389
01:42:24,303 --> 01:42:30,159
is. Our city attorney. That we want people to come

1390
01:42:30,159 --> 01:42:34,718
to the meetings. If you let one person just like.

1391
01:42:37,079 --> 01:42:43,645
We've had. A paper for Mr. Royal. And then we're

1392
01:42:43,645 --> 01:42:48,445
reading one again for Ms. Chessel. If we keep doing

1393
01:42:48,445 --> 01:42:53,100
that. We want to get people to these meetings, so

1394
01:42:53,100 --> 01:42:58,473
I would caution everybody. About all these readings that are

1395
01:42:58,473 --> 01:43:01,233
coming in, whether it's one, two or three of them.

1396
01:43:02,722 --> 01:43:06,131
There needs to be caution on this. Okay? Yeah. The

1397
01:43:06,131 --> 01:43:12,548
city clerk, city manager, working on a policy procedure. Will

1398
01:43:12,548 --> 01:43:17,597
come out shortly. All right. So I already closed the

1399
01:43:17,597 --> 01:43:24,410
public hearing council. Are there any comments, questions? Or emotion

1400
01:43:24,410 --> 01:43:30,009
on item number four. Just Mr. Mayor. One. Final comment

1401
01:43:30,009 --> 01:43:35,766
on. This back and forth. This north and back. Compensation

1402
01:43:35,766 --> 01:43:42,006
for the employees. I mean, every meeting. We've centered on

1403
01:43:42,006 --> 01:43:51,245
that. You've heard the complaints about. Adjusting compensation levels. To

1404
01:43:51,245 --> 01:43:55,925
the 50th percentile. That came out of several different compromises.

1405
01:43:57,263 --> 01:44:00,746
I sound like a broken record. The one thing you

1406
01:44:00,746 --> 01:44:08,243
do not hear when we talk about compensation. Performance. Nobody's

1407
01:44:08,243 --> 01:44:10,083
come up to the lectern and said, you know what?

1408
01:44:11,607 --> 01:44:15,807
Public works. Man, sidewalks are a mess. We started tonight's

1409
01:44:15,807 --> 01:44:22,516
meeting, young lady, third chair back. With compliments. About the

1410
01:44:22,516 --> 01:44:25,876
performance of the public works department. I can sense this.

1411
01:44:25,876 --> 01:44:28,556
Every department head in the back. Of this room from

1412
01:44:28,556 --> 01:44:34,305
the police chief. To Scott, who runs the water department

1413
01:44:34,305 --> 01:44:38,547
of the state of Florida. About how many complaints they

1414
01:44:38,547 --> 01:44:46,353
get. My water quality. My electrical service, the delivery of

1415
01:44:46,353 --> 01:44:50,642
electric to my house. Throughout all these budget meetings in

1416
01:44:50,642 --> 01:44:53,802
my career here as a city council member, I don't.

1417
01:44:53,802 --> 01:44:59,484
Remember. I shouldn't say any because early on there were

1418
01:44:59,484 --> 01:45:05,656
some complaints, but in the last several years. Not one.

1419
01:45:07,180 --> 01:45:09,620
So if you don't want to pay for the employees,

1420
01:45:09,620 --> 01:45:16,039
they just didn't wind. Up here by accident. We have

1421
01:45:16,039 --> 01:45:23,377
quality people. And quality people deliver quality services. And that's

1422
01:45:23,377 --> 01:45:31,022
what costs money. Even if the 50th percentile, which we

1423
01:45:31,022 --> 01:45:39,375
still. Haven't. Completed. Which I'm embarrassed by. But yeah.

1424
01:45:43,697 --> 01:45:47,630
I'll defend any salary increase. To these guys in the

1425
01:45:47,630 --> 01:45:51,656
delivery of those public services that we all enjoy. Thank

1426
01:45:51,656 --> 01:45:55,056
you. Thank you. Any other council members comments, questions or

1427
01:45:55,056 --> 01:46:02,060
motion? I had something. I'm sorry. Mr. Go ahead. Mr.

1428
01:46:02,264 --> 01:46:09,933
We had a proposal. A few weeks back where we

1429
01:46:09,933 --> 01:46:15,133
funded some raises with the traffic control devices. Now we've

1430
01:46:15,133 --> 01:46:18,983
gone back and took that off, which. It was more

1431
01:46:18,983 --> 01:46:20,783
money that would come in to pay for it, but

1432
01:46:20,783 --> 01:46:24,023
now we've just rearranged the funds. We haven't changed anything.

1433
01:46:24,023 --> 01:46:27,920
We've just cut stuff that was necessary. So what's going

1434
01:46:27,920 --> 01:46:32,362
to happen? When, say, the police department has a $12,000

1435
01:46:32,362 --> 01:46:34,322
ac unit goes out, they're going to come back to

1436
01:46:34,322 --> 01:46:37,442
us for an emergency funding for that because we cut

1437
01:46:37,442 --> 01:46:42,420
it out of their budget. So I don't understand. Just

1438
01:46:42,420 --> 01:46:45,540
rearranging the money. The money is still the same. Nothing's

1439
01:46:45,540 --> 01:46:48,420
changed with the proposal we have on the table now.

1440
01:46:49,838 --> 01:46:55,564
And I don't have a problem with the raises. With

1441
01:46:55,564 --> 01:47:00,878
the 2.3. Percent cost of living raise. Therefore, I'm going

1442
01:47:00,878 --> 01:47:07,564
to make a motion. To revise the resolution number r

1443
01:47:07,564 --> 01:47:16,682
23 2025. To change the millage rate to. 5.16.

1444
01:47:39,487 --> 01:47:46,101
What happened, Mr. Mayor? Did you call for a second?

1445
01:47:49,369 --> 01:47:53,049
Joe the second. 2nd okay, so we have a motion,

1446
01:47:53,049 --> 01:47:57,763
a second discussion. I do have discussion on that. Okay,

1447
01:47:57,763 --> 01:48:03,283
go ahead. What if we go back? If next year.

1448
01:48:06,462 --> 01:48:12,274
That. Property stuff starts, taxes and stuff start going up.

1449
01:48:14,110 --> 01:48:17,150
At least at the 5.1 we won't go up much

1450
01:48:17,150 --> 01:48:25,171
higher. But if we start at 5.3. That's my thoughts.

1451
01:48:28,588 --> 01:48:32,037
Okay. I know we had a lot of discussion on

1452
01:48:32,037 --> 01:48:35,531
this. Honestly, I'm a little surprised. We talked about this

1453
01:48:35,531 --> 01:48:38,091
a lot over the last couple of weeks. And I

1454
01:48:38,091 --> 01:48:42,965
thought we agreed on standing firm on 5.3 because. Our

1455
01:48:42,965 --> 01:48:46,645
fund balance is low. Our employees. Is there some kind

1456
01:48:46,645 --> 01:48:52,067
of. Raise and the budget is balanced. 5.3 military.

1457
01:48:59,671 --> 01:49:03,651
I'm going to vote no on this. Period, I believe.

1458
01:49:05,497 --> 01:49:11,338
We should go. With not increasing or decreasing the military.

1459
01:49:11,338 --> 01:49:14,938
Other council members comments. Let me follow the reasoning here.

1460
01:49:16,968 --> 01:49:20,128
So we deferred expenses to the tune of 400 grand.

1461
01:49:21,947 --> 01:49:26,283
To get to this point where we could deliver. The

1462
01:49:26,283 --> 01:49:30,190
cost of living allowance increase to all employees. One of

1463
01:49:30,190 --> 01:49:37,639
those expenses was a $12,000 ac unit. That the PD

1464
01:49:37,639 --> 01:49:43,017
doesn't quite need yet, but might. Need on an emergency

1465
01:49:43,017 --> 01:49:49,110
basis. But we took those funds out. And yet the

1466
01:49:49,110 --> 01:49:55,364
answer. To that is to lower. The revenue that the

1467
01:49:55,364 --> 01:50:04,877
city is going. To collect. I can't follow that. To

1468
01:50:04,877 --> 01:50:09,149
me if you were worried about the AC unit. In

1469
01:50:09,149 --> 01:50:16,412
addition to deferring additional expenses, The answer is, well, just

1470
01:50:16,412 --> 01:50:20,292
raise the tax rate and incorporate all those things that

1471
01:50:20,292 --> 01:50:24,412
may become emergencies. Lowering the tax rate and lowering the

1472
01:50:24,412 --> 01:50:31,448
revenue. Adds to the potential emergency expenses that you may

1473
01:50:31,448 --> 01:50:37,780
incur. In the year coming up. How does that work?

1474
01:50:38,052 --> 01:50:40,452
This does not change the fact that you're going to

1475
01:50:40,452 --> 01:50:48,922
give everybody a 2.3%. Raise. It just changes the fact

1476
01:50:48,922 --> 01:50:51,642
that we're going to give the citizen some relief. We

1477
01:50:51,642 --> 01:50:54,282
just raised the water rate, we've raised the electric rate,

1478
01:50:54,282 --> 01:50:58,318
we've raised everything. We need to show them that we

1479
01:50:58,318 --> 01:51:00,878
care a little bit instead of just tacking more and

1480
01:51:00,878 --> 01:51:03,798
more on them. This is not going to change. If

1481
01:51:03,798 --> 01:51:06,958
you looked at the proposal that we had, last Thursday,

1482
01:51:06,958 --> 01:51:11,598
four a was proposed at a 2.3 cola. It reduced

1483
01:51:11,598 --> 01:51:15,118
some of the funding. But it still kept everything pretty

1484
01:51:15,118 --> 01:51:19,108
much aligned. With what option? Number two was. The only

1485
01:51:19,108 --> 01:51:21,748
difference is it shows the people we care that we're

1486
01:51:21,748 --> 01:51:26,076
raising everything on them. And I was never in agreement

1487
01:51:26,076 --> 01:51:29,076
with the other millage rate. I told you that. So

1488
01:51:29,076 --> 01:51:32,236
when we make a blanket statement? The council agreed. Council

1489
01:51:32,236 --> 01:51:39,237
did not agree. I didn't agree. Mr. Thought you agreed,

1490
01:51:39,237 --> 01:51:43,583
except for the gym memberships. That was my record. I

1491
01:51:43,583 --> 01:51:46,703
gave you an option. If we took the gym membership

1492
01:51:46,703 --> 01:51:49,743
out, I would. Consider option number two. You all act

1493
01:51:49,743 --> 01:51:52,663
like I'd lost my mind, tried to save the city.

1494
01:51:52,663 --> 01:51:56,143
$8,000 that we could use for stuff they really need,

1495
01:51:56,143 --> 01:51:58,303
but nobody wanted to. Listen to that. So this is

1496
01:51:58,303 --> 01:52:01,063
my recourse now, is to try to get some money.

1497
01:52:01,063 --> 01:52:03,722
Back for our citizens, so. We have a second? If

1498
01:52:03,722 --> 01:52:06,562
it doesn't pass, fine. We'll do something different, but. I

1499
01:52:06,562 --> 01:52:09,922
think it's worth entertaining a vote and see what happens.

1500
01:52:11,703 --> 01:52:21,386
Okay. Any other remarks? Mr. I don't have my

1501
01:52:21,386 --> 01:52:26,586
Thursdays meetings with me, but the four a is proposing

1502
01:52:26,586 --> 01:52:35,698
that we make the. Millie 5.116. And two point. 3%

1503
01:52:35,698 --> 01:52:39,977
for increases across the board. For all employees. Is that

1504
01:52:39,977 --> 01:52:46,216
right? Correct. Okay. And I'm trying to remember. I'm all

1505
01:52:46,216 --> 01:52:51,457
about. The reserve fund. So just bear with me here.

1506
01:52:52,852 --> 01:52:55,972
Was that $331,000 that we would then have in reserve.

1507
01:52:58,081 --> 01:53:06,230
379,321. And the other went to 400. And.

1508
01:53:07,595 --> 01:53:15,174
That amount for the reserve was 400. And 21 370.

1509
01:53:18,072 --> 01:53:26,953
It's like $100,000 more. About. Yes.

1510
01:53:29,193 --> 01:53:31,153
But it does give some of the citizens, some of

1511
01:53:31,153 --> 01:53:34,673
the business owners like they were talking about. Some relief

1512
01:53:34,673 --> 01:53:44,459
on their taxes. All right. So the motion that we

1513
01:53:44,459 --> 01:53:49,055
have would be a 2.3 instead of a 3%. Increase

1514
01:53:49,055 --> 01:53:54,747
for. Raises. And about 100. Am I right? About 100,000

1515
01:53:54,747 --> 01:54:00,086
less going to the. Fund balance. It's like 90, I

1516
01:54:00,086 --> 01:54:08,705
think. Well, it was 379 321. If we vote this

1517
01:54:08,705 --> 01:54:15,551
percentage in versus. Four. 21 370.

1518
01:54:22,861 --> 01:54:26,781
Okay, so, Mr. Stuts, of course. And Mr. Cleston, where

1519
01:54:26,781 --> 01:54:30,446
do you stand on this? Can. May I ask? I

1520
01:54:30,446 --> 01:54:33,406
haven't changed anything. You would vote for that? Yes, sir.

1521
01:54:33,406 --> 01:54:36,766
Okay. For the motion. So. There's two votes in the

1522
01:54:36,766 --> 01:54:40,990
storms. Are you voting yes or no on this? What

1523
01:54:40,990 --> 01:54:45,793
do you think? I think this is a three two.

1524
01:54:45,793 --> 01:54:50,128
Correct? Yeah. So you only need three votes to pass

1525
01:54:50,128 --> 01:54:55,934
this. You'll have to tell us now. That's fine. We're

1526
01:54:55,934 --> 01:54:57,374
just trying to get a read on where the stands.

1527
01:54:57,374 --> 01:55:00,946
We could go to a vote. I would think about

1528
01:55:00,946 --> 01:55:06,847
four points. Six. It's not that much money, but remember,

1529
01:55:06,847 --> 01:55:09,767
my eyes on the reserve. So the motion. That's been

1530
01:55:09,767 --> 01:55:16,491
made. I could support it. Okay. I could support two

1531
01:55:16,491 --> 01:55:21,423
also. We think Mr. I'm stuck on one, I'm stuck

1532
01:55:21,423 --> 01:55:27,037
on two. Four is irresponsible. In what way? The percentage?

1533
01:55:28,924 --> 01:55:31,124
On the wage increase in the fund balance in just

1534
01:55:31,124 --> 01:55:36,765
about every way. The fund balance. And the parsing of

1535
01:55:36,765 --> 01:55:45,670
the. Cola. No, thank you. Mr mayor.

1536
01:55:48,943 --> 01:55:53,628
It's hard. I agree with Mr. Gall. It's just so

1537
01:55:53,628 --> 01:55:57,997
many different things to think about. Bringing it down for

1538
01:55:57,997 --> 01:56:03,618
the citizens. Give a nep relief. And then you think

1539
01:56:03,618 --> 01:56:09,554
about our longer form. Staff employees. Bringing that to two,

1540
01:56:09,554 --> 01:56:14,346
three. The reason we were doing 3% again is because.

1541
01:56:18,959 --> 01:56:21,799
Many of our employees got no raise, and so we're

1542
01:56:21,799 --> 01:56:27,257
looking at a 3% this year. And. We still are

1543
01:56:27,257 --> 01:56:31,377
not addressing the 50th percentile. Employees. Bring them up to

1544
01:56:31,377 --> 01:56:35,297
the 50th percentile. So that's why we're proposing 3% across

1545
01:56:35,297 --> 01:56:38,901
the board. Honestly to keep them in the game while

1546
01:56:38,901 --> 01:56:42,421
we reassess the wage study. And we are we're going

1547
01:56:42,421 --> 01:56:46,101
to update the wage study, right, Mr. Kennedy, and do

1548
01:56:46,101 --> 01:56:49,421
an educational process for the whole board and look at

1549
01:56:49,421 --> 01:56:52,901
some things for next year about the percentiles and have

1550
01:56:52,901 --> 01:56:58,079
agreement for the way forward. With the wage study. This

1551
01:56:58,079 --> 01:57:05,999
one is being proposed. 2.3%, which is actually under, I

1552
01:57:05,999 --> 01:57:11,783
believe the Department of Labor Statistics said 2.7. Is a

1553
01:57:11,783 --> 01:57:15,827
two nine. Okay. So it's a lot lower than. The

1554
01:57:15,827 --> 01:57:20,227
labor statistics. I think that in combination with the fact

1555
01:57:20,227 --> 01:57:23,027
a lot of our employees did not get raised last

1556
01:57:23,027 --> 01:57:28,123
year at all. That's why. I like too. The one

1557
01:57:28,123 --> 01:57:31,219
that we all agreed on the other night. So what's

1558
01:57:31,219 --> 01:57:34,979
changed since last Thursday when we had our special session?

1559
01:57:36,752 --> 01:57:43,381
I guess talking about lowering. The rolling back. Not all

1560
01:57:43,381 --> 01:57:49,286
the way. Rollback. But rolling back. The military sum not

1561
01:57:49,286 --> 01:57:54,531
going back. Taking away the 3%, making it 2.3, which.

1562
01:57:56,328 --> 01:58:02,209
Is again. Still a raise, but it is low. And

1563
01:58:02,209 --> 01:58:05,289
we have less going to the fund balance, which everybody

1564
01:58:05,289 --> 01:58:08,769
keeps agreeing we need to build up. I just thought

1565
01:58:08,769 --> 01:58:13,710
we agreed that. Hey, we aren't raising the military. Yes.

1566
01:58:13,710 --> 01:58:16,310
Property values went up. I thought we were standing firm

1567
01:58:16,310 --> 01:58:20,172
on. Next year. I'm not saying we're going to roll

1568
01:58:20,172 --> 01:58:28,805
anything back. Hopefully not. Release it next year. In our

1569
01:58:28,805 --> 01:58:32,805
financial position right now, especially with fund balance and the

1570
01:58:32,805 --> 01:58:36,125
need for raises for employees, which I believe is a

1571
01:58:36,125 --> 01:58:41,243
real need. I'm telling you, I appreciate. Everybody realizes how

1572
01:58:41,243 --> 01:58:45,092
blessed we are in Greencast. I can name some cities

1573
01:58:45,092 --> 01:58:46,972
right down the road that are having all kinds of

1574
01:58:46,972 --> 01:58:50,527
problems, and we don't have those problems. We have an

1575
01:58:50,527 --> 01:58:54,887
excellent city manager, an excellent assistant city manager, and directors

1576
01:58:54,887 --> 01:58:58,847
leading people in the city. And we are just super

1577
01:58:58,847 --> 01:59:02,607
blessed. People have headaches around us. Maybe I don't read.

1578
01:59:02,607 --> 01:59:05,885
The newspaper, but I do. I'm just telling you, we

1579
01:59:05,885 --> 01:59:09,685
are blessed beyond belief to have Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Known

1580
01:59:09,685 --> 01:59:13,887
in their staff. If we drop down to 2.3? Yeah,

1581
01:59:13,887 --> 01:59:16,927
they get something, but I'm telling if. We stand firm

1582
01:59:16,927 --> 01:59:23,629
at 5.3. Military, we can give them the 3%. And

1583
01:59:23,629 --> 01:59:29,237
at $100,000. To the fund balance. So I'm sorry, but

1584
01:59:29,237 --> 01:59:32,117
this is a conviction thing. I stand firm on option

1585
01:59:32,117 --> 01:59:35,730
two, that. We agreed on last Thursday. But I guess

1586
01:59:35,730 --> 01:59:38,210
we'll go to vote. Anybody else have any discussion before

1587
01:59:38,210 --> 01:59:42,644
we vote? Mr. Mayor. When I got the new number

1588
01:59:42,644 --> 01:59:48,044
of 379 321. The other number was 421 370. For

1589
01:59:48,044 --> 01:59:55,062
the reserve. The difference is a little under $50,000. Is

1590
01:59:55,062 --> 02:00:00,655
that the right. So it'd be a $50,000 difference. Not

1591
02:00:00,655 --> 02:00:07,235
100. That's right, Mr. Mayor. Based on my number. At

1592
02:00:07,235 --> 02:00:15,257
5.16. We are going to reduce tax revenue by $108,155.

1593
02:00:16,993 --> 02:00:23,273
At 2.3 kota. That's 146,612. So the difference is about

1594
02:00:23,273 --> 02:00:29,833
$32,000. The difference is what? 32. Thank you. You're welcome.

1595
02:00:31,646 --> 02:00:38,356
No. If we go with 5.3 at the regional option

1596
02:00:38,356 --> 02:00:46,020
two. Is remove. The remainder of the 50th percentile. And

1597
02:00:46,020 --> 02:00:49,860
remove 2.3 and we stay at 3%, that's going to

1598
02:00:49,860 --> 02:00:55,556
be additional. $104,000. Add to the fund balance. Which we're

1599
02:00:55,556 --> 02:01:01,722
at 300 right now. Correct. Three thirds. Yeah. That's if

1600
02:01:01,722 --> 02:01:09,404
we stay at the 5.3, correct? Yeah. That's why I

1601
02:01:09,404 --> 02:01:11,724
think, I believe Mr. Gon. I agree that standing firm

1602
02:01:11,724 --> 02:01:15,564
at 5.3 not raising the military. And I don't remember

1603
02:01:15,564 --> 02:01:19,444
using the word victory about anything. I just said that.

1604
02:01:20,280 --> 02:01:23,240
If you're talking about giving something to the citizens, it's

1605
02:01:23,240 --> 02:01:27,476
true. We are given an increase in millage. Where we're

1606
02:01:27,476 --> 02:01:32,761
agreeing on that. But. To draw up from. Yeah, but

1607
02:01:32,761 --> 02:01:36,401
you got an increase on millage. You got an automatic

1608
02:01:36,401 --> 02:01:40,892
increase. On marriage from the property taxes going up. It

1609
02:01:40,892 --> 02:01:45,964
still comes out of the pocket of the citizens. All

1610
02:01:45,964 --> 02:01:52,970
right. Any other discussion? On the. Look at that. Right?

1611
02:01:52,970 --> 02:01:55,370
Comes out of the socket of the citizens. But it's

1612
02:01:55,370 --> 02:02:01,133
due to. Appreciation. On those properties. Which comes as a

1613
02:02:01,133 --> 02:02:07,437
result of. Quality of life. Which one you boil down

1614
02:02:07,437 --> 02:02:10,037
to comes down to the delivery of services by this

1615
02:02:10,037 --> 02:02:15,415
city. And again, the only job this council has. I

1616
02:02:15,415 --> 02:02:24,006
don't know. I disagree. It's the only job we have.

1617
02:02:24,006 --> 02:02:27,859
We have a job to represent the people. The only

1618
02:02:27,859 --> 02:02:32,339
job we have is to deliver services to the citizens

1619
02:02:32,339 --> 02:02:41,447
of Greenco Springs. Period. That's not the case. We

1620
02:02:41,447 --> 02:02:50,493
can disagree. Mr. Jones gets back. Maybe throughout this year

1621
02:02:50,493 --> 02:02:54,746
we can see how many people. That's left the city.

1622
02:02:54,746 --> 02:02:59,246
How many people have stayed? And let's see. Or go

1623
02:02:59,246 --> 02:03:02,980
back. Going to keep your hand over that fire and

1624
02:03:02,980 --> 02:03:06,140
see how hot it gets? No, but we'll. Just see.

1625
02:03:08,519 --> 02:03:11,759
For a fact. You can't run a business that way.

1626
02:03:11,759 --> 02:03:17,564
You certainly can't run a city that way. But see.

1627
02:03:19,489 --> 02:03:25,265
Let's just start cutting. Nobody wants anybody to leave it.

1628
02:03:27,561 --> 02:03:30,201
Just like to see, because we've had people that's been

1629
02:03:30,201 --> 02:03:35,471
here for 40 years. 30 years. Look at Darryl Watson.

1630
02:03:35,471 --> 02:03:39,017
He's been here for a long time. He's made strides

1631
02:03:39,017 --> 02:03:43,636
and gains. I'm so proud of him. A lot of

1632
02:03:43,636 --> 02:03:44,982
our people. Two years ago, Darryl got up in front

1633
02:03:44,982 --> 02:03:49,804
of this council at the budget meetings to protest. The

1634
02:03:49,804 --> 02:03:52,964
salaries that were being paid at the parks department. The

1635
02:03:52,964 --> 02:03:56,823
department had, I'll tell you. You know why he's still

1636
02:03:56,823 --> 02:04:06,209
here? Because we listen to him. Mr. Mayor. I don't

1637
02:04:06,209 --> 02:04:12,993
want to cut Mr. Golf. Okay. I want to make

1638
02:04:12,993 --> 02:04:22,928
sure that. I understand. What number

1639
02:04:22,928 --> 02:04:25,488
four A is, and that's what we're voting on right

1640
02:04:25,488 --> 02:04:30,787
now. Right. That's what the first and the second was

1641
02:04:30,787 --> 02:04:36,266
about was four a, which is 5.6. And 2.3. For

1642
02:04:36,266 --> 02:04:42,104
the raises in 5.6 for the millage. And at this

1643
02:04:42,104 --> 02:04:47,683
point, I want to know how many votes do we,

1644
02:04:47,683 --> 02:04:51,123
I believe we need four votes to do the 5.3.

1645
02:04:58,324 --> 02:05:01,844
And the 3%. We need four votes for that, right?

1646
02:05:01,844 --> 02:05:06,244
We only need three votes for the. 5.6, f 2.3.

1647
02:05:07,898 --> 02:05:15,063
Yes. Three votes for 5.16. The motion that. Has been.

1648
02:05:15,992 --> 02:05:19,959
First and second. That only needs three votes. If we

1649
02:05:19,959 --> 02:05:29,830
wanted 5.3 and take four votes. It's a two three

1650
02:05:29,830 --> 02:05:34,777
vote. Then we would vote the motion down. Good news

1651
02:05:34,777 --> 02:05:39,610
is we're voting on the three. Affirmative first. If that

1652
02:05:39,610 --> 02:05:45,149
doesn't pass. Okay. Number two.

1653
02:05:51,075 --> 02:05:57,716
Getting 3% raise. And the 5.3. Okay? I would vote

1654
02:05:57,716 --> 02:06:01,156
no on that. Okay, let's have that vote. You have

1655
02:06:01,156 --> 02:06:03,996
to pass a millage, of course. And you just keep

1656
02:06:03,996 --> 02:06:08,685
making motions until you get it. Your duty, I guess,

1657
02:06:08,685 --> 02:06:10,285
under the law, because you got to pass your village.

1658
02:06:12,771 --> 02:06:15,851
So if this vote failed to pass a millage, we'd

1659
02:06:15,851 --> 02:06:21,212
have another motion that's. Exactly what you'll do, okay? Any

1660
02:06:21,212 --> 02:06:23,052
other discussion? I don't want to close off discussion. Any

1661
02:06:23,052 --> 02:06:27,901
other council members with discussion? Before we vote. If not

1662
02:06:27,901 --> 02:06:33,516
Aaron. Exactly what we're voting on. Please, just to verify,

1663
02:06:33,516 --> 02:06:41,367
this is the 5.613. And a 2.3% Cola. Is that

1664
02:06:41,367 --> 02:06:44,049
what? A yes on this boat would vote yes for

1665
02:06:44,049 --> 02:06:51,528
that. 5.1613. A no voting against it. Council member Glisten?

1666
02:06:51,528 --> 02:07:01,514
Yes. Council member starns no council member states. Yes. Mayor

1667
02:07:01,514 --> 02:07:10,407
Goss? No. Mayor Johnson, no. Motion. Fail. Okay. Do I

1668
02:07:10,407 --> 02:07:15,509
have another motion? Make another motion on option two. Military

1669
02:07:15,509 --> 02:07:24,966
of 5.3. .0. Or 3%. Is there a second?

1670
02:07:27,109 --> 02:07:32,311
I'll settle it. Motion a second discussion. On this motion

1671
02:07:32,311 --> 02:07:37,598
in second. This was what was agreed to. At our

1672
02:07:37,598 --> 02:07:42,553
last budget. One and two at our last one. Yeah.

1673
02:07:42,553 --> 02:07:45,753
We agreed to this one on Thursday. I guard Mr.

1674
02:07:45,753 --> 02:07:51,828
Setz. This takes four votes. So if we don't get

1675
02:07:51,828 --> 02:07:55,988
four, it doesn't pass. Correct. That's right. Correct. You need

1676
02:07:55,988 --> 02:08:01,916
four votes to pass this. Give you 66, 230 percent,

1677
02:08:01,916 --> 02:08:05,156
but that is four votes for this five member council.

1678
02:08:11,926 --> 02:08:21,621
Mr. Mayor. Yes. And second, so. We had motion and

1679
02:08:21,621 --> 02:08:25,421
a second. Any discussion, any discussion from council before we

1680
02:08:25,421 --> 02:08:33,202
vote? Okay. Erin. Okay. And to verify, this is 5.3

1681
02:08:33,202 --> 02:08:41,351
with a 3% cola. Council member Glisten. No. Council member

1682
02:08:41,351 --> 02:08:48,945
stones. Yes. Council member Stokes. No. Vice.

1683
02:08:50,960 --> 02:08:56,733
Yes, Mayor Johnson. Yes. Motion fails, it fails also, okay.

1684
02:09:03,805 --> 02:09:13,401
Got worse than I can too. You're going to reopen

1685
02:09:13,401 --> 02:09:15,401
public hearing or whatever you need if you're going to

1686
02:09:15,401 --> 02:09:21,696
do that. I'll tell you what. I'll reopen the public

1687
02:09:21,696 --> 02:09:28,905
hearing if you'd like. Okay. Public hearing on item number

1688
02:09:28,905 --> 02:09:33,996
four again. Mr. Oyle, I still have your card. I

1689
02:09:33,996 --> 02:09:36,596
know that Mike and Greg. Whatever. All right, so just

1690
02:09:36,596 --> 02:09:45,098
so that we're clear. You have a $300,000 house. Valuation.

1691
02:09:46,339 --> 02:09:49,379
Let's say they value it at 275 and you get

1692
02:09:49,379 --> 02:09:52,539
25 or 250 round numbers and. You can move them

1693
02:09:52,539 --> 02:09:56,962
up to give you an idea. So they value it

1694
02:09:56,962 --> 02:10:00,202
at 250 and $50,000. Homestead exemption gives you the 200.

1695
02:10:02,763 --> 02:10:07,683
205 mils for the means to the city, $1,000 a

1696
02:10:07,683 --> 02:10:15,032
year. And the difference between. The two. Is $30. Okay.

1697
02:10:16,469 --> 02:10:20,703
For business. It's 100. At $300,000. But the difference between

1698
02:10:20,703 --> 02:10:24,457
the two for resident. Is $30. And I just want

1699
02:10:24,457 --> 02:10:27,650
to throw that out there that. You can decide what

1700
02:10:27,650 --> 02:10:30,410
you want. I told Mike the very beginning that I

1701
02:10:30,410 --> 02:10:34,917
wouldn't go. Die over item number four either. But that's

1702
02:10:34,917 --> 02:10:40,430
what we're talking about. And whether that plugs into. How

1703
02:10:40,430 --> 02:10:44,310
much the employee gets aware, but that's my rough calculation.

1704
02:10:44,310 --> 02:10:48,946
And somebody else. Throw one out to them. $30 a

1705
02:10:48,946 --> 02:10:54,362
year. For residents. Yeah, for resident. The difference between the

1706
02:10:54,362 --> 02:10:58,927
two motions right now? Three times as much because, you

1707
02:10:58,927 --> 02:11:02,047
see, it goes up 3% or 10%. I'm assuming that

1708
02:11:02,047 --> 02:11:09,383
most businesses. They raise. All is running by 10%. I

1709
02:11:09,383 --> 02:11:13,314
got cheated. It's a great piece of property, all right.

1710
02:11:17,592 --> 02:11:19,472
That's where I pay the van. That's on a $300,000.

1711
02:11:22,005 --> 02:11:27,376
Residence. $300,000 valuation, which the property appraiser, they don't normally

1712
02:11:27,376 --> 02:11:33,943
hit that. So let's say. If you want to say

1713
02:11:33,943 --> 02:11:38,023
20% more instead of $30 is $36 for a year.

1714
02:11:40,170 --> 02:11:47,674
$30 per $3 a month. $2 a month, okay? Mr.

1715
02:11:47,674 --> 02:11:54,343
Kelter. Hold on just a moment. Just hold on. And

1716
02:11:54,343 --> 02:12:00,289
so. We're talking about a 5.3 and a 5.613. Military.

1717
02:12:00,289 --> 02:12:03,289
We're talking ABOut a 3% rate, our employees and a

1718
02:12:03,289 --> 02:12:07,049
2.3%. Rates to our employees. Again, I stand firm that

1719
02:12:07,049 --> 02:12:10,543
that's the right thing to do. Yes, appropriate values are

1720
02:12:10,543 --> 02:12:14,426
just through the roof. That's great in some ways, like

1721
02:12:14,426 --> 02:12:18,501
you said. That your property is worth more. There are

1722
02:12:18,501 --> 02:12:24,284
worse taxes, like regressive taxes, like utilities. And we're going

1723
02:12:24,284 --> 02:12:26,604
to really hit a hard this next year. Looking at

1724
02:12:26,604 --> 02:12:30,240
utilities, having a five year plan. It's not like we're

1725
02:12:30,240 --> 02:12:33,200
not going to raise utilities, but I'll tell you what?

1726
02:12:33,200 --> 02:12:37,722
Trying to be more careful with utilities than even. Property

1727
02:12:37,722 --> 02:12:42,009
tax. But we're not here tonight. Trying to raise the

1728
02:12:42,009 --> 02:12:45,977
demill. We're not. We're just trying to stay where we

1729
02:12:45,977 --> 02:12:49,217
are. And we're thankful in a way. I guess. I

1730
02:12:49,217 --> 02:12:52,497
know we'll be paying more property tax, but the values

1731
02:12:52,497 --> 02:12:56,652
have gone up. On our homes. But it really comes

1732
02:12:56,652 --> 02:12:59,372
down to this. How much do we value our employees?

1733
02:12:59,372 --> 02:13:01,732
And I know you. All value people that are your

1734
02:13:01,732 --> 02:13:04,772
employees. But I'm sold on it, man. Greencove. Is different

1735
02:13:04,772 --> 02:13:09,645
from everybody around us, and we are so. Great. I'm

1736
02:13:09,645 --> 02:13:12,805
so thankful that we have the employees we have and

1737
02:13:12,805 --> 02:13:15,365
I don't. Want to single people out in the types

1738
02:13:15,365 --> 02:13:19,173
of jobs we have, certain kind of jobs where. They

1739
02:13:19,173 --> 02:13:21,653
are getting job offers left and right, and yet they

1740
02:13:21,653 --> 02:13:23,773
could drive 30 minutes more and work for a lot

1741
02:13:23,773 --> 02:13:27,187
more money. I'm not just trying to beg them with

1742
02:13:27,187 --> 02:13:29,467
money. There are other reasons to stay here. And work

1743
02:13:29,467 --> 02:13:32,627
in Greencut Springs. But if we go another year without

1744
02:13:32,627 --> 02:13:34,707
any race for some of our employees that's going to

1745
02:13:34,707 --> 02:13:40,010
hurt. At every level. And especially those that we told

1746
02:13:40,010 --> 02:13:41,970
we were going to bring to the 50th percentile. And

1747
02:13:41,970 --> 02:13:46,074
we didn't, and. We would do a 2.3, but we

1748
02:13:46,074 --> 02:13:48,834
have a chance to give a 3%, which is right

1749
02:13:48,834 --> 02:13:53,394
at the Department of Labor statistics recommendation for races this

1750
02:13:53,394 --> 02:13:58,598
year. And so I just begged the council to reconsider.

1751
02:14:00,799 --> 02:14:03,759
That this is not the time to roll back to

1752
02:14:03,759 --> 02:14:09,751
5.1613. It's time to stand firm on that. And give

1753
02:14:09,751 --> 02:14:16,888
the 3% raise to our employees. Mr mayor. Yes, I

1754
02:14:16,888 --> 02:14:20,766
had a question. Go ahead. If we stay at the

1755
02:14:20,766 --> 02:14:29,591
5.16? And went to the 3% raise. What does that

1756
02:14:29,591 --> 02:14:34,660
do, money wise? That goes deeper, digest deep, probably less

1757
02:14:34,660 --> 02:14:38,459
to the fund balance. To Mr. Kelter. Come on up

1758
02:14:38,459 --> 02:14:42,136
to the coding. What would be the fund balance there?

1759
02:14:44,246 --> 02:14:53,939
Anybody know that scenario? If we did that. 5.1613 and

1760
02:14:53,939 --> 02:14:56,459
give a 3%, what would it do to the fund

1761
02:14:56,459 --> 02:15:00,900
balance? Get the accurate number? Absolutely. Okay, well, she's working

1762
02:15:00,900 --> 02:15:06,188
on that. Mr. Kelter, Mr. Mayor, members, council mike elvis,

1763
02:15:06,188 --> 02:15:09,719
630 myrtle avenue. A couple of things. First of all,

1764
02:15:09,719 --> 02:15:14,666
Mr. Mayor, you're incorrect in your discussion. On the pay

1765
02:15:14,666 --> 02:15:18,106
increases. This is about millage. You're out of order talking

1766
02:15:18,106 --> 02:15:24,273
about. Pay increases. This is about millage and millage only.

1767
02:15:24,273 --> 02:15:27,233
Talk about. You can talk about pay. Increases in the

1768
02:15:27,233 --> 02:15:30,826
next item in the budget. As I'm going to suggest.

1769
02:15:32,422 --> 02:15:37,208
The pay increases are a budget item. $204,000 I think

1770
02:15:37,208 --> 02:15:39,128
is the number you're going to see on the 3%.

1771
02:15:40,829 --> 02:15:48,038
And that'll reduce you down by about $60,000. From. What?

1772
02:15:49,308 --> 02:15:53,868
The 2.3 gives you, but that I can suggest you

1773
02:15:53,868 --> 02:15:59,873
probably have enough. Bloat. In your budget. You can scrape

1774
02:15:59,873 --> 02:16:04,137
that money up really quick. And give these guys their

1775
02:16:04,137 --> 02:16:10,629
3%. Cola. Keeping in mind. Members accounts. Mr. Mayor, members

1776
02:16:10,629 --> 02:16:13,749
of council. They're not going to pay that 3% just

1777
02:16:13,749 --> 02:16:18,189
this year, you pay it next year plus. Next year

1778
02:16:18,189 --> 02:16:22,029
plus, and that will compound itself into eternity. So just

1779
02:16:22,029 --> 02:16:24,909
think your way through that. As you go through that

1780
02:16:24,909 --> 02:16:28,589
process of thinking it, we all guarantee you I'm straight

1781
02:16:28,589 --> 02:16:31,632
to your budget. And find out much money in a

1782
02:16:31,632 --> 02:16:41,221
heartbeat. Thank you. Okay. Any other comments for close

1783
02:16:41,221 --> 02:16:46,798
the second public hearing on item number four. I'm going

1784
02:16:46,798 --> 02:16:55,013
nuts over here. For Hampshire. Would it be asking too

1785
02:16:55,013 --> 02:17:02,311
much? To ask you. What group? Are we talking about

1786
02:17:02,311 --> 02:17:12,015
that aren't at the 50% level? Mr. Kent. Came from

1787
02:17:12,015 --> 02:17:17,521
a study and we don't. That's okay. I know there

1788
02:17:17,521 --> 02:17:24,241
is a. Way you said before, and I know that

1789
02:17:24,241 --> 02:17:28,638
we had to do some of the same. So I

1790
02:17:28,638 --> 02:17:32,558
stick with my comments earlier. Take care of your employees.

1791
02:17:32,558 --> 02:17:41,452
Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Meghan. Mr. Kenny go

1792
02:17:41,452 --> 02:17:45,897
ahead. Make his comments. Okay, go ahead. Mr. Will. Greg

1793
02:17:45,897 --> 02:17:53,230
will. Magnalia. So the general fund budget is over 4

1794
02:17:53,230 --> 02:17:58,129
million. We keep talking about all of these. Numbers. So

1795
02:17:58,129 --> 02:18:03,607
4 million. Half a percent of that. Is 20 grand.

1796
02:18:03,607 --> 02:18:08,506
Percent of that would be 40 grand. So I would

1797
02:18:08,506 --> 02:18:12,449
think we could find 1% in your budget. To help

1798
02:18:12,449 --> 02:18:14,809
with your raises, which we shouldn't really be talking about

1799
02:18:14,809 --> 02:18:23,137
yet, but we are. Thank you. All right. You want

1800
02:18:23,137 --> 02:18:30,432
to get in by without hearing from me tonight? We

1801
02:18:30,432 --> 02:18:34,915
actually already did. I watched. Thank you, Mr. Nol. One

1802
02:18:34,915 --> 02:18:37,315
thing I want taken into consideration that nobody's talking about.

1803
02:18:37,315 --> 02:18:39,155
Yes, our home values are going up. But how is

1804
02:18:39,155 --> 02:18:41,395
that putting money in our pockets now? It's costing us

1805
02:18:41,395 --> 02:18:44,272
more. It's not putting money in our pockets. And at

1806
02:18:44,272 --> 02:18:45,872
this point, I'll price that at a Greencove. I need

1807
02:18:45,872 --> 02:18:48,552
a bigger house. I can't afford one, so. Yeah, my

1808
02:18:48,552 --> 02:18:50,912
property values went up more than we're. Supposed to do.

1809
02:18:50,912 --> 02:18:52,632
I am stuck at a house that's too small and

1810
02:18:52,632 --> 02:18:56,118
it's. Just continuing to cost me more money. So great,

1811
02:18:56,118 --> 02:19:00,151
your property value went up. What's the reward? I don't

1812
02:19:00,151 --> 02:19:02,831
want to leave Greencoat can't afford. Another house in Greencoave.

1813
02:19:02,831 --> 02:19:04,751
So instead, fish is going to cost me more and

1814
02:19:04,751 --> 02:19:08,994
more money. Not trying to sound too ugly here, but

1815
02:19:08,994 --> 02:19:10,754
I need you all to remember you're representing. Not only

1816
02:19:10,754 --> 02:19:14,594
our employees, who I do love and my volunteer offers

1817
02:19:14,594 --> 02:19:16,434
wide open, let me help by all means, let me

1818
02:19:16,434 --> 02:19:21,632
help. It doesn't sound a whole lot like you're representing

1819
02:19:21,632 --> 02:19:25,392
the citizens, though, because we're not a piggy bank and

1820
02:19:25,392 --> 02:19:27,632
part of a serrano. Have our little cork at the

1821
02:19:27,632 --> 02:19:30,232
bottom. It's done falling out. There's nothing left. So please

1822
02:19:30,232 --> 02:19:37,242
just remember you're. Representing both. Thank you. Thank you. All

1823
02:19:37,242 --> 02:19:42,553
right, I will close the public hearing. Ms. Kennedy. Mr.

1824
02:19:42,553 --> 02:19:45,593
Mayor. Council. I just wanted to make a couple of

1825
02:19:45,593 --> 02:19:51,059
comments. For the extra effort, we scheduled a meeting last

1826
02:19:51,059 --> 02:19:56,731
Thursday. So that we can answer any question. We could

1827
02:19:56,731 --> 02:20:00,211
address all those issues and thoughts and concerns that were

1828
02:20:00,211 --> 02:20:08,950
there. The idea was. Let's try to get to a

1829
02:20:08,950 --> 02:20:16,827
point where. We wouldn't end up experiencing. Whatever happened, doing

1830
02:20:16,827 --> 02:20:21,940
what we're doing. And that is Nicole and. 10,000 here,

1831
02:20:21,940 --> 02:20:31,546
10,000 there. Comments remain. Requests remain. I think fairly obviously

1832
02:20:31,546 --> 02:20:38,516
staff responded to that. We've got interpretations. That are being

1833
02:20:38,516 --> 02:20:42,983
put forth. Which some may or may not have value.

1834
02:20:45,364 --> 02:20:48,244
Or they may not be complete. But my point with

1835
02:20:48,244 --> 02:20:51,044
this is we took the effort to talk. With everybody

1836
02:20:51,044 --> 02:20:55,961
to get everybody to ask any question they had. And

1837
02:20:55,961 --> 02:21:03,044
that's why we moved forward with. At least the majority

1838
02:21:03,044 --> 02:21:08,813
indicated we needed to do. And I would be totally

1839
02:21:08,813 --> 02:21:13,253
remove. Has nothing to do with the range piece or

1840
02:21:13,253 --> 02:21:15,453
whatever it has. To do. We went through the process.

1841
02:21:16,789 --> 02:21:20,069
To get the fish by and then also allow individuals.

1842
02:21:24,776 --> 02:21:29,443
And the public to come. And put their comments. We

1843
02:21:29,443 --> 02:21:34,975
also. Even know they're not physically here. We've got a

1844
02:21:34,975 --> 02:21:41,695
lot of employees. Who are listening and. Are interested in

1845
02:21:41,695 --> 02:21:46,363
what you want to do and. They hear the words.

1846
02:21:48,284 --> 02:21:51,124
And we had a pretty good discussion this morning and

1847
02:21:51,124 --> 02:21:57,872
staff meeting. Words. But they want to have that concurrence.

1848
02:21:59,669 --> 02:22:02,469
That when the words are that the actions are supporting

1849
02:22:02,469 --> 02:22:11,949
them. We put it out there. That. 's what the

1850
02:22:11,949 --> 02:22:15,395
ideal was, and I think it helped. Some of them.

1851
02:22:17,071 --> 02:22:18,111
Or probably most of them to be able to say.

1852
02:22:19,796 --> 02:22:23,762
Yeah, they're looking out for us because they are. Doing

1853
02:22:23,762 --> 02:22:28,775
the increases. We can work through that process with the

1854
02:22:28,775 --> 02:22:34,206
schedule of looking at. The study. Revisiting the study again.

1855
02:22:36,613 --> 02:22:44,348
I'm not sure from the standpoint. Of. And I've said

1856
02:22:44,348 --> 02:22:47,861
this before. And I'll continue to say it reluctantly. We

1857
02:22:47,861 --> 02:22:52,221
get a budget direction. That's what we go with, but

1858
02:22:52,221 --> 02:22:57,122
I think. We've gone through this with multiple interactions, and

1859
02:22:57,122 --> 02:23:01,566
we have responded. We have given. And we did cut.

1860
02:23:03,151 --> 02:23:08,337
And from the standpoint. Of a blanket statement. And there's

1861
02:23:08,337 --> 02:23:10,977
more cuts in there. Yeah, we can find cuts, but.

1862
02:23:10,977 --> 02:23:13,617
What other things are we not doing? Like air conditioners?

1863
02:23:15,476 --> 02:23:19,104
And what other things are we not doing? I just

1864
02:23:19,104 --> 02:23:24,398
put that out there. I think we put effort in

1865
02:23:24,398 --> 02:23:27,198
to try to move forward with this and provide all

1866
02:23:27,198 --> 02:23:32,062
the information. And answer any questions. That you all had

1867
02:23:32,062 --> 02:23:36,534
for us. And then now we're coming at a point

1868
02:23:36,534 --> 02:23:46,488
where. Okay. Where were we headed with? The meeting on

1869
02:23:46,488 --> 02:23:50,128
last Thursday, right? Last Thursday. We met. We did give

1870
02:23:50,128 --> 02:23:54,204
you direction. On the 5.3 military. That's what we're on

1871
02:23:54,204 --> 02:24:01,235
right now, 5.3 million. We don't have four votes. To

1872
02:24:01,235 --> 02:24:06,498
go to 5.3. That means. One or two people have

1873
02:24:06,498 --> 02:24:08,898
dropped off, they've changed their mind and they have the

1874
02:24:08,898 --> 02:24:12,259
right to, I guess, but. I know you guys have

1875
02:24:12,259 --> 02:24:15,539
done a Yoman's job in reacting. Two weeks ago was

1876
02:24:15,539 --> 02:24:20,322
a September 2. The first public hearing on the budget.

1877
02:24:21,957 --> 02:24:24,477
A lot of questions, a lot of input from the

1878
02:24:24,477 --> 02:24:28,970
community, and you took that. And you want to explain

1879
02:24:28,970 --> 02:24:32,090
the process that you've been through, even getting ready for

1880
02:24:32,090 --> 02:24:35,290
the meeting last Thursday. You gave? Well, I'll just tell

1881
02:24:35,290 --> 02:24:38,475
you. He gave us Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Wong and Mr.

1882
02:24:38,475 --> 02:24:42,564
Noel, especially the three of them. Worked many hours. Many

1883
02:24:42,564 --> 02:24:46,284
hours putting together different options. They presented those options to

1884
02:24:46,284 --> 02:24:50,467
us last Thursday. We met for quite a while talking

1885
02:24:50,467 --> 02:24:54,347
about these options with the military, with raises for employees

1886
02:24:54,347 --> 02:24:56,627
and that's why we are tying two together, because they

1887
02:24:56,627 --> 02:25:00,406
went together. That was the hot, contentious issue. Are we

1888
02:25:00,406 --> 02:25:03,446
giving raises and if so, how much? And we agreed

1889
02:25:03,446 --> 02:25:07,486
on 3%. So we get here tonight and a couple

1890
02:25:07,486 --> 02:25:10,286
of people are saying, no, they don't. Want to give

1891
02:25:10,286 --> 02:25:15,249
3%, they want to give 2.3%. And. They want to

1892
02:25:15,249 --> 02:25:18,849
change the military. So that's two changes tonight. And that's

1893
02:25:18,849 --> 02:25:21,369
why we're having this discussion when we thought we were

1894
02:25:21,369 --> 02:25:25,649
going to preclude this discussion. By meeting last Thursday, correct,

1895
02:25:25,649 --> 02:25:30,951
Mr. Kennedy? That's the direction. That's why since Thursday. You

1896
02:25:30,951 --> 02:25:34,151
have obviously worked pretty hard to get the budget packet

1897
02:25:34,151 --> 02:25:36,911
together for the speeding effect, I think. It came out

1898
02:25:36,911 --> 02:25:39,991
on Friday because I know it took you a while.

1899
02:25:39,991 --> 02:25:41,511
From Thursday night, it's. Not like it's going to come

1900
02:25:41,511 --> 02:25:44,071
out on Thursday. Took a while to get it. Out

1901
02:25:44,071 --> 02:25:48,489
on Friday because. You were revising the budget for what

1902
02:25:48,489 --> 02:25:51,569
we told you to do. And now we're meeting tonight

1903
02:25:51,569 --> 02:25:53,889
and we're not doing what we told you to. Do.

1904
02:25:53,889 --> 02:25:57,249
We're going against what you worked hard putting together. Is

1905
02:25:57,249 --> 02:26:01,116
that correct? Mayor johnson. Yes, Mr. Sex.

1906
02:26:07,191 --> 02:26:11,551
I would propose the 3% cola in the next part

1907
02:26:11,551 --> 02:26:14,231
of the next ordinance that we're. Supposed to vote on.

1908
02:26:17,748 --> 02:26:22,993
If we do the 5.16. I don't have a problem

1909
02:26:22,993 --> 02:26:25,393
with that, since that's the sticking point for some. Of

1910
02:26:25,393 --> 02:26:29,846
you on the raises. But I do think we need

1911
02:26:29,846 --> 02:26:32,486
to show our citizens that we're giving them a little

1912
02:26:32,486 --> 02:26:37,566
bit of relief. It's not that much money. $30 a

1913
02:26:37,566 --> 02:26:40,246
year. I got to trust you to make that deal.

1914
02:26:42,868 --> 02:26:48,040
You got my word. Yeah, I had your word. Thursday.

1915
02:26:49,043 --> 02:26:51,723
Thursday. You did not have my word. I never agreed

1916
02:26:51,723 --> 02:26:54,723
to any of this. Yes, we gave. If you remember?

1917
02:26:56,641 --> 02:27:01,145
Both. We gave staff. I wasn't on board. I voted

1918
02:27:01,145 --> 02:27:09,948
no. All right, well. It's fine. So, hey, let's go

1919
02:27:09,948 --> 02:27:13,125
ahead and take it one at a time. Then. We

1920
02:27:13,125 --> 02:27:15,845
had an option that there's a combination of a military.

1921
02:27:17,917 --> 02:27:22,451
And a rate increase. For our employees. Let's just start

1922
02:27:22,451 --> 02:27:25,928
with one at a time. We've got the military. Do

1923
02:27:25,928 --> 02:27:30,605
we have four votes? For a 5.3. I know we

1924
02:27:30,605 --> 02:27:34,006
have one, two, three. Ms. Glisten, you say no. Mr.

1925
02:27:34,006 --> 02:27:40,496
Sutz, you're saying no to 5.3 correct. Correct. Okay. He

1926
02:27:40,496 --> 02:27:44,256
just told Mr. Gault that he would give his word

1927
02:27:44,256 --> 02:27:50,834
to go. With the 5.16. And. 3% colon. You're not

1928
02:27:50,834 --> 02:27:58,607
with that, Mr. Gar? Garcia way before this started.

1929
02:28:00,915 --> 02:28:05,900
What kind of deficit? We don't want to have. More

1930
02:28:05,900 --> 02:28:08,900
deficit than ever before. So we're going to lower taxes.

1931
02:28:08,900 --> 02:28:12,500
So this is the way. That we're going to help

1932
02:28:12,500 --> 02:28:18,427
out the citizens and help out. The workers. And the

1933
02:28:18,427 --> 02:28:23,067
fund balance. So the lower we put taxes, the better

1934
02:28:23,067 --> 02:28:25,507
it is for everybody we got. To give somebody a

1935
02:28:25,507 --> 02:28:31,961
break. Sometime. Ms wanger. I just want to make sure.

1936
02:28:35,117 --> 02:28:42,715
Talking about ministry. But the next item. Is operating budget

1937
02:28:42,715 --> 02:28:46,395
and that operating budget is prepared with military to 5.3.

1938
02:28:48,342 --> 02:28:52,831
So in terms of process, I am not sure. How

1939
02:28:52,831 --> 02:28:59,594
to proceed. Without. A specific number, so I might need

1940
02:28:59,594 --> 02:29:03,418
some help with Mr. Arnold here. But also just to

1941
02:29:03,418 --> 02:29:07,996
make sure that we understand the numbers. With option two

1942
02:29:07,996 --> 02:29:15,206
at 5.3 and 3% increase. That is adding additional fund

1943
02:29:15,206 --> 02:29:21,186
balance of $104,000. If we lower the manage rate to

1944
02:29:21,186 --> 02:29:30,724
5.16. Percent. That's going to reduce. That's additional reduction of

1945
02:29:30,724 --> 02:29:36,565
fund balance of $4,000. So we're talking about. Yes. So

1946
02:29:36,565 --> 02:29:41,125
we're talking about swing of $100,000 here to fund balance

1947
02:29:41,125 --> 02:29:46,543
a swing of $100,000. I thought you said just 4000.

1948
02:29:46,543 --> 02:29:50,836
Okay, well, you got to have a balanced budget. What

1949
02:29:50,836 --> 02:29:55,382
you have to do on the next item. And what

1950
02:29:55,382 --> 02:29:57,102
they have to do on the next item because you

1951
02:29:57,102 --> 02:30:01,634
can't have an unbalanced. Budget, obviously. So I guess my

1952
02:30:01,634 --> 02:30:07,310
question. Is when we get to the next item. We

1953
02:30:07,310 --> 02:30:11,316
don't have a total budget number because. Now we're changing

1954
02:30:11,316 --> 02:30:15,198
everything. We won't have a resolution because we don't have

1955
02:30:15,198 --> 02:30:23,356
a final budget number. Right. You were planning on a

1956
02:30:23,356 --> 02:30:26,556
5.3 that we agreed on list, correct? That was the

1957
02:30:26,556 --> 02:30:32,599
direction from the council based on last Thursday's meeting. I've

1958
02:30:32,599 --> 02:30:35,879
got to have four votes and Mr. Sets, Ms. Glisten

1959
02:30:35,879 --> 02:30:44,861
are not voting. For 5.3. So therefore. We are at.

1960
02:30:46,606 --> 02:30:51,630
Stall here. Mr. Royal raised his hand. Even if we

1961
02:30:51,630 --> 02:30:59,352
were to pass. A different, other than 5.3, a different

1962
02:30:59,352 --> 02:31:04,672
military. Ms. Wellman is saying that the budget we have

1963
02:31:04,672 --> 02:31:09,333
on the next agenda item. Is relative to that, 5.3.

1964
02:31:09,333 --> 02:31:11,293
So we couldn't vote on the budget if we wanted

1965
02:31:11,293 --> 02:31:13,825
to. She's going to have, somebody on staff is going

1966
02:31:13,825 --> 02:31:16,985
to have to change the budget numbers. To give you

1967
02:31:16,985 --> 02:31:19,865
something to meet the Midlands because you can't have a

1968
02:31:19,865 --> 02:31:24,065
budget larger than your anticipated revenues. Obviously, Steve later can

1969
02:31:24,065 --> 02:31:26,145
address that better than I can. Probably, but I mean

1970
02:31:26,145 --> 02:31:35,253
that's. The practicality of it. It'd be nice to pass

1971
02:31:35,253 --> 02:31:40,206
a 5.3 military tonight. And then we've got time to

1972
02:31:40,206 --> 02:31:42,926
talk about something different next year. But this year we

1973
02:31:42,926 --> 02:31:46,442
agree. We've had a meeting two weeks ago. We had

1974
02:31:46,442 --> 02:31:51,011
the meeting last Thursday. We've given direction to the staff.

1975
02:31:51,011 --> 02:31:54,838
This is. What they produce for us. Based off of

1976
02:31:54,838 --> 02:32:00,237
what? The direction we gave them? A balanced budget. At

1977
02:32:00,237 --> 02:32:05,191
5.3 mils. I thought we talked about this the other

1978
02:32:05,191 --> 02:32:13,052
night. There's no way you'll go with the 5.3. Ms.

1979
02:32:13,052 --> 02:32:19,157
Clifton. That's what the budget is balanced at 5.3. Yes.

1980
02:32:19,157 --> 02:32:27,248
Okay. Thank you. Do I have a motion? Make a

1981
02:32:27,248 --> 02:32:32,895
motion to adopt. Miller grant 5.3.

1982
02:32:40,527 --> 02:32:46,567
Approved resolution number r 23 2025 resolution establishing a military

1983
02:32:46,567 --> 02:32:51,607
status year 25 26 at 5.3 per thousand, which is

1984
02:32:51,607 --> 02:32:56,542
an increase of 7.3% over the rollback. Is there a

1985
02:32:56,542 --> 02:33:03,390
second? We have a motion. Second any discussion from council.

1986
02:33:05,801 --> 02:33:15,480
if not Okay. This is.

1987
02:33:20,885 --> 02:33:25,765
The approved r 23, 2025 Council member glisten yes. Council

1988
02:33:25,765 --> 02:33:35,736
member storms yes. Council member. States. No. Vice marathon. Yes,

1989
02:33:35,736 --> 02:33:40,631
Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Okay, thank you. Item number

1990
02:33:40,631 --> 02:33:44,078
five. Mr. Mrs. Wall.

1991
02:33:51,182 --> 02:33:53,782
Mayor council, this item is the second and the final

1992
02:33:53,782 --> 02:33:59,825
public hearing. For the annual budget for fiscal year 2026.

1993
02:34:01,327 --> 02:34:06,167
So the total budget for fiscal 2026 is that 61,

1994
02:34:06,167 --> 02:34:14,483
meaning 228,141. Business based on the ministry. The 5.3. That

1995
02:34:14,483 --> 02:34:20,683
is 3.5 million, or 5.5% less than fiscal year 2025.

1996
02:34:22,463 --> 02:34:31,799
In the staff report. You have a reconsideration? Of.

1997
02:34:33,622 --> 02:34:38,102
The revenue and expenditure increases or changes from the tentatively

1998
02:34:38,102 --> 02:34:43,165
adopted budget from the September 3. The major item is

1999
02:34:43,165 --> 02:34:47,965
take out the 400,000 school zone revenue. We also increase

2000
02:34:47,965 --> 02:34:53,925
revenue by $41,000 and then reduction of general fund expenses

2001
02:34:53,925 --> 02:35:01,477
and it reduction. That adds up to $359,000. So the

2002
02:35:01,477 --> 02:35:07,726
total impact on the farm balances. We're removing the second

2003
02:35:07,726 --> 02:35:13,923
half of the 50th percentile. We're removing 2.3% cola. We

2004
02:35:13,923 --> 02:35:20,123
are adding 3.0% cola. So the net impact is additional

2005
02:35:20,123 --> 02:35:25,281
increase to fund balance of $104,000. Also included in a

2006
02:35:25,281 --> 02:35:30,363
stop report. It's a comparison of the proposed budget versus

2007
02:35:30,363 --> 02:35:38,361
the tentatively adopted budget. So the proposed budget at 61,000,061.2

2008
02:35:38,361 --> 02:35:44,001
meaning compared to the tentative budget 61.8, meaning that of

2009
02:35:44,001 --> 02:35:50,793
577,000 reduction. So staff recommendation is for the council to

2010
02:35:50,793 --> 02:35:57,576
approve resolution number. R 24 2025. Setting forth the annual

2011
02:35:57,576 --> 02:36:02,952
operating budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025. And

2012
02:36:02,952 --> 02:36:08,780
ending September 30, 2026. Thank you, Ms. Wong. Mike kelter.

2013
02:36:16,720 --> 02:36:19,880
You missed a chance to take care of your sentences.

2014
02:36:19,880 --> 02:36:23,000
Sorry, folks. Okay, the next thing you can. Do to

2015
02:36:23,000 --> 02:36:26,200
help your citizen? Mike helps her. 630 Myrtle Avenue Greencom

2016
02:36:26,200 --> 02:36:29,680
Springs, Florida. Mr. Mayor. Okay. The one thing you can

2017
02:36:29,680 --> 02:36:32,960
do in this budget. Try and help your citizens for

2018
02:36:32,960 --> 02:36:37,051
once, just once. This year. Take a look at. What

2019
02:36:37,051 --> 02:36:41,011
you got in the budget to take and give $400,000

2020
02:36:41,011 --> 02:36:44,731
to habitat for Humanity? Instead of taking care of the

2021
02:36:44,731 --> 02:36:49,544
38 families that live over. On some of our unpaid

2022
02:36:49,544 --> 02:36:55,184
roads that haven't been paved yet. Like foster Lane. Okay,

2023
02:36:55,184 --> 02:36:59,504
like. Olive circle. You're giving money to a whole bunch

2024
02:36:59,504 --> 02:37:02,664
of watts there that have nobody living. On them? No,

2025
02:37:02,664 --> 02:37:06,864
they paying gas taxes on them. Nobody doing anything on

2026
02:37:06,864 --> 02:37:12,372
it. You need to. Remove that item. For $400,000, which

2027
02:37:12,372 --> 02:37:15,532
takes almost all your gas tax and then some. And

2028
02:37:15,532 --> 02:37:18,852
give that instead to paved the road for the people

2029
02:37:18,852 --> 02:37:23,252
who live here. Remember that just once, think about the

2030
02:37:23,252 --> 02:37:26,982
people who live here. Thank you. Mr. Will.

2031
02:37:40,124 --> 02:37:44,124
218 North Bangna. Greg will. It sounded like in the

2032
02:37:44,124 --> 02:37:49,382
last agenda, having been on the council. You're not following

2033
02:37:49,382 --> 02:37:51,942
the agenda. And you were discussing pay raises, which are

2034
02:37:51,942 --> 02:37:55,809
item number five. So it was a way to coerce

2035
02:37:55,809 --> 02:37:58,809
everything. If you're going to make these decisions, as you

2036
02:37:58,809 --> 02:38:01,929
said, you met last Thursday. Don't have the public hearing.

2037
02:38:03,523 --> 02:38:05,083
It's just a rubber stamp you're looking for. I know

2038
02:38:05,083 --> 02:38:07,003
you have to do it legally, but just put in

2039
02:38:07,003 --> 02:38:09,683
a public hearing. We've already decided what we're going to

2040
02:38:09,683 --> 02:38:12,323
do. We really don't want to hear you. You wonder

2041
02:38:12,323 --> 02:38:14,923
why people don't? Come. But you never listen to anything

2042
02:38:14,923 --> 02:38:18,363
anybody says. Come to these hearings and you just do.

2043
02:38:18,363 --> 02:38:20,643
Whatever you want to. I want everybody to get pay

2044
02:38:20,643 --> 02:38:24,293
radio, but you are out of order. Discussing pay raises.

2045
02:38:25,963 --> 02:38:30,318
It's not part of item number four. Thank you. Susan

2046
02:38:30,318 --> 02:38:40,197
pritchett. I totally agree with

2047
02:38:40,197 --> 02:38:45,117
Greg. Susan Pritchett, 218 North Magnolia. Okay, I got three

2048
02:38:45,117 --> 02:38:47,237
things that I want to talk about one of them.

2049
02:38:47,237 --> 02:38:52,862
The garbage truck. Is there a schedule for cleaning the

2050
02:38:52,862 --> 02:38:59,080
new garbage truck? Mic knows. Have you developed a schedule?

2051
02:38:59,080 --> 02:39:03,099
I don't develop that schedule. No, ma'am. I'd like to

2052
02:39:03,099 --> 02:39:04,699
personally. We have folks that do that, but I don't

2053
02:39:04,699 --> 02:39:08,579
do that I'd like to personally offer the greg, mike

2054
02:39:08,579 --> 02:39:12,001
and myself. Will wash out the garbage truck so that

2055
02:39:12,001 --> 02:39:15,801
we don't lose a garbage truck. We simply seem to

2056
02:39:15,801 --> 02:39:22,242
fail to maintain things. That makes me furious because. What

2057
02:39:22,242 --> 02:39:26,071
puts us in an emergency situation constantly. I kind of

2058
02:39:26,071 --> 02:39:31,111
heard somebody talk about police department. Air conditioning is going

2059
02:39:31,111 --> 02:39:34,665
to need to be replaced. All the air conditions are

2060
02:39:34,665 --> 02:39:38,105
going to need to be replaced. Okay. At some point,

2061
02:39:38,105 --> 02:39:41,065
does anybody maintain those air conditioners. I'm sure they do.

2062
02:39:43,710 --> 02:39:46,750
To the quality that they get their full life expectancy.

2063
02:39:48,127 --> 02:39:52,167
My expectation would be yes. Okay. Just as you would

2064
02:39:52,167 --> 02:39:56,127
on yours. No, it seems to be a piece. That

2065
02:39:56,127 --> 02:40:02,419
city seems to fail on maintaining equipment properly. Mr. Arnold,

2066
02:40:02,419 --> 02:40:04,779
can I ask how things are going with the school

2067
02:40:04,779 --> 02:40:12,045
board? In the wastewater fees. Pending right now. Still pending.

2068
02:40:12,045 --> 02:40:21,921
No, there's not. Okay. There's a funding source that we're

2069
02:40:21,921 --> 02:40:25,604
kind of waiting to see what's going to happen. Folks,

2070
02:40:25,604 --> 02:40:33,058
we are in dire situation here. I can remember. Jerry

2071
02:40:33,058 --> 02:40:35,818
Williams. We all loved her. But I can remember ten

2072
02:40:35,818 --> 02:40:38,778
years ago, Jerry saying I can't. Afford to water my

2073
02:40:38,778 --> 02:40:42,672
lawn because the water rates are so high. I would

2074
02:40:42,672 --> 02:40:45,912
like to suggest that the city of Greencoat Springs could

2075
02:40:45,912 --> 02:40:49,992
someday become the city of Brown Coke Springs. Because people

2076
02:40:49,992 --> 02:40:53,072
will not be affordable. They can't afford to water their

2077
02:40:53,072 --> 02:40:58,640
gardens. Water. Their properties. It kind of makes me angry

2078
02:40:58,640 --> 02:41:02,616
because. Why are we in this situation? We had so

2079
02:41:02,616 --> 02:41:08,284
much money in reserve, and suddenly we're. Scrambling, trying. To

2080
02:41:08,284 --> 02:41:11,604
come up with very small amounts of money. Just think

2081
02:41:11,604 --> 02:41:14,804
about it, folks. How do you spend your money. Thank

2082
02:41:14,804 --> 02:41:16,947
you. Van Royal.

2083
02:41:26,005 --> 02:41:32,403
I got to be honest with you. I supported 5.2,

2084
02:41:32,403 --> 02:41:35,043
but what you all do is disingenuous and it wasn't

2085
02:41:35,043 --> 02:41:37,483
correct. You've got a budget sitting in front of you.

2086
02:41:37,483 --> 02:41:39,603
I don't. Know what it looks like. It could be

2087
02:41:39,603 --> 02:41:43,008
50 linear items, it could be 300. Somebody on the

2088
02:41:43,008 --> 02:41:44,888
staff should have stepped up and said, if I want

2089
02:41:44,888 --> 02:41:50,333
to balance a budget and I want $100,000 less. Than

2090
02:41:50,333 --> 02:41:53,653
I take $100,000 either out of that fund balance or

2091
02:41:53,653 --> 02:41:55,933
out of one of those expense lines. And to think

2092
02:41:55,933 --> 02:41:59,253
that you can't or be told you can't. Because you

2093
02:41:59,253 --> 02:42:01,413
can't make a change. That budget, that's what you're sitting.

2094
02:42:01,413 --> 02:42:03,933
There to do. You're sitting there. If you got to

2095
02:42:03,933 --> 02:42:07,813
go line by line, you can. Change that budget. It

2096
02:42:07,813 --> 02:42:11,758
isn't because Ms. Wong. Made it. You had that opportunity.

2097
02:42:13,119 --> 02:42:15,319
I'm fine with it, but if you dropped it, you

2098
02:42:15,319 --> 02:42:20,979
were discussing $60,000. Difference. And you go, okay, in order

2099
02:42:20,979 --> 02:42:25,785
to make. From 2.3 to three. It would have been

2100
02:42:25,785 --> 02:42:30,305
$60,000. You could have made the decision in this discussion

2101
02:42:30,305 --> 02:42:33,945
that says. Okay, we're stuck with a 5.163. And again.

2102
02:42:35,761 --> 02:42:38,841
What I wanted, but it was the majority. And because

2103
02:42:38,841 --> 02:42:44,472
the rules were contorted. By staff and not told. Hey.

2104
02:42:45,871 --> 02:42:48,957
You can make a change to that budget. Take a

2105
02:42:48,957 --> 02:42:51,317
pen and go take out that $10,000, and I got

2106
02:42:51,317 --> 02:42:53,957
a balanced budget. Balancing that budget. Sitting in front of

2107
02:42:53,957 --> 02:42:57,604
you right now is not a difficult task. After you.

2108
02:42:58,328 --> 02:43:00,368
And somebody should have been able to stand up and

2109
02:43:00,368 --> 02:43:04,283
say yes. This is how we can do it, and

2110
02:43:04,283 --> 02:43:09,345
it didn't happen. By God, this happens next year. I

2111
02:43:09,345 --> 02:43:17,007
don't blame. People. When I'm not calling out. But somebody

2112
02:43:17,007 --> 02:43:19,527
could have said, yes, you can, you can balance. That

2113
02:43:19,527 --> 02:43:23,367
budget to whatever millage you had, whatever you decide on.

2114
02:43:23,367 --> 02:43:26,330
Because that's why you. Do the millage first. I will

2115
02:43:26,330 --> 02:43:28,890
scream at hog. Make your budget first. And somebody said,

2116
02:43:28,890 --> 02:43:31,010
you can't. You have to do the millage first. I

2117
02:43:31,010 --> 02:43:32,930
think that was Mr. Arnold. So if you set the

2118
02:43:32,930 --> 02:43:36,250
millage. That budget in front of you, you could have

2119
02:43:36,250 --> 02:43:41,417
changed and bounced it. Yeah, exactly. And you could have

2120
02:43:41,417 --> 02:43:44,595
changed it. I'm sorry. You may not have heard it,

2121
02:43:44,595 --> 02:43:47,315
but I told the council you give us a number

2122
02:43:47,315 --> 02:43:51,832
and we. Said, which I have done the whole time.

2123
02:43:53,087 --> 02:43:56,408
It could have been done tonight. It could have been

2124
02:43:56,408 --> 02:44:05,903
done tonight. We met Thursday. With the

2125
02:44:05,903 --> 02:44:11,036
public, everybody. Through all of this. The military, the budget

2126
02:44:11,036 --> 02:44:17,857
raises, whatever. Agreed to. Honestly, Mr. Roy, I just don't

2127
02:44:17,857 --> 02:44:20,497
see any overwhelming evidence to change what we did Thursday.

2128
02:44:20,497 --> 02:44:25,162
Night. I'm listening, but I don't see anything new that

2129
02:44:25,162 --> 02:44:28,442
wasn't brought up. Jersey night, and it's overwhelming to change

2130
02:44:28,442 --> 02:44:32,784
the budget that we have. That's your take. And I

2131
02:44:32,784 --> 02:44:37,319
get that, Ms. Pritchard. Then don't have a public hearing.

2132
02:44:38,913 --> 02:44:41,993
And if there was a compelling, if Miss Glisson heard

2133
02:44:41,993 --> 02:44:45,688
something tonight. Being spoken by the public. That changed her

2134
02:44:45,688 --> 02:44:51,195
mind. That's what she does. And I did not hear

2135
02:44:51,195 --> 02:44:53,315
because it wasn't broadcast the rest, and I'm not. Sure

2136
02:44:53,315 --> 02:44:56,595
that anybody else heard it that said, we can change

2137
02:44:56,595 --> 02:45:00,010
that budget right here. We can take it out of

2138
02:45:00,010 --> 02:45:02,810
fund balance. We can take instead of having a 331

2139
02:45:02,810 --> 02:45:06,290
or $431,000. Change. It can be 331, it could be

2140
02:45:06,290 --> 02:45:10,210
300, it could be 210. You could cross out this

2141
02:45:10,210 --> 02:45:13,050
set. There were ways to make it done. There were

2142
02:45:13,050 --> 02:45:17,536
ways and. I don't think that the current council as

2143
02:45:17,536 --> 02:45:21,456
a whole knew that, and I think that that? Just

2144
02:45:21,456 --> 02:45:24,906
like I said. Me. I thought 5.2, but I thought

2145
02:45:24,906 --> 02:45:27,586
the way you all got to it was again. Not

2146
02:45:27,586 --> 02:45:36,950
transparent. Trying to remember where we are. I think everybody

2147
02:45:36,950 --> 02:45:43,043
in this room. Got out its red pen. I'm sorry.

2148
02:45:43,043 --> 02:45:45,603
I think everybody in this room should be nervous. If

2149
02:45:45,603 --> 02:45:48,723
we got out a red pen and started making cuts

2150
02:45:48,723 --> 02:45:52,563
and changes to the budget we gave. Direction to Mr.

2151
02:45:52,563 --> 02:45:58,164
Kennedy and staff. Okay. I think that was the public

2152
02:45:58,164 --> 02:46:02,056
hearing. So I'll close the public hearing. Bring it to

2153
02:46:02,056 --> 02:46:08,395
council. What we have before us is approval. Of. Resolution

2154
02:46:08,395 --> 02:46:14,128
R 24 25 for the annual operating budget. Do I

2155
02:46:14,128 --> 02:46:20,993
have any questions? Discussion? Or a motion. I had something,

2156
02:46:20,993 --> 02:46:30,543
Mr. Sutz. I agree with van. It's all the same

2157
02:46:30,543 --> 02:46:34,703
stuff with the rate study, with the water. Study with

2158
02:46:34,703 --> 02:46:37,983
the electric study. Whatever study you all come up with,

2159
02:46:37,983 --> 02:46:40,663
you don't give us all the information. This is not

2160
02:46:40,663 --> 02:46:45,873
the easiest position to be in to make decisions. When

2161
02:46:45,873 --> 02:46:49,941
you withhold that formation, it is a problem. And it

2162
02:46:49,941 --> 02:46:54,181
should never, ever happen. When we ask for information, it

2163
02:46:54,181 --> 02:46:56,981
should be given. I brought up stuff the other night

2164
02:46:56,981 --> 02:47:01,118
that. You all made out like nobody gets raises unless

2165
02:47:01,118 --> 02:47:05,023
we change these races. That is not true. The police

2166
02:47:05,023 --> 02:47:07,623
department is on a step plan. I believe maybe some

2167
02:47:07,623 --> 02:47:10,223
of the other departments are, but. When you withhold information.

2168
02:47:11,891 --> 02:47:13,451
You're not being honest with the new people on the

2169
02:47:13,451 --> 02:47:16,771
council because they don't. Understand how it works and bands.

2170
02:47:16,771 --> 02:47:19,531
Exactly right. Glee probably changed her vote because you all

2171
02:47:19,531 --> 02:47:22,051
sat there. And act like we couldn't pass the budget

2172
02:47:22,051 --> 02:47:26,001
because now we changed the millage rate. That was not

2173
02:47:26,001 --> 02:47:28,841
transparent, and it was wrong to do it that way,

2174
02:47:28,841 --> 02:47:33,264
and I'm sorry. But something's going to change. In the

2175
02:47:33,264 --> 02:47:36,978
future. Going with the council to make sure we're informed

2176
02:47:36,978 --> 02:47:40,098
the staff works for the council, not the other way

2177
02:47:40,098 --> 02:47:42,458
around, and we're to be informed about what's going on,

2178
02:47:42,458 --> 02:47:45,298
so. We can make a good decision based on what

2179
02:47:45,298 --> 02:47:48,923
information you give us. Mr. Mayor, let's start with the

2180
02:47:48,923 --> 02:47:53,926
process. This whole process is backwards. First thing you have

2181
02:47:53,926 --> 02:47:56,886
to come up with is the military before you even

2182
02:47:56,886 --> 02:48:02,676
have the first budget. Conversation. Where does that happen, other

2183
02:48:02,676 --> 02:48:07,766
than here? In local government. Local government.

2184
02:48:12,803 --> 02:48:21,786
Is a local government. Analysis.

2185
02:48:24,683 --> 02:48:29,755
So, yeah, the whole process is a little twisted. Thank

2186
02:48:29,755 --> 02:48:31,275
you for coming, Tony. Thank you.

2187
02:48:41,108 --> 02:48:44,428
All right. Well, Ms. Glitzen, I don't know if we

2188
02:48:44,428 --> 02:48:49,279
can readdress. The military. If you fail with your pressure

2189
02:48:49,279 --> 02:48:51,839
to do it because of the change in the budget.

2190
02:48:53,129 --> 02:48:57,879
And I apologize about pressuring you to do that. Again.

2191
02:48:57,879 --> 02:49:00,199
I felt that we need to be going back and

2192
02:49:00,199 --> 02:49:02,559
forth, back and forth, back and forth. You asked somebody

2193
02:49:02,559 --> 02:49:06,945
for a vote. Have they given your vote? You need

2194
02:49:06,945 --> 02:49:09,225
to go with it and don't keep going on and

2195
02:49:09,225 --> 02:49:12,801
on and on. I've already voted, and that's the end

2196
02:49:12,801 --> 02:49:18,516
of it. Okay. All right, so we do have the

2197
02:49:18,516 --> 02:49:24,520
budget before us. Any discussion? Well. Is there a discussion

2198
02:49:24,520 --> 02:49:27,840
or a motion? Because after a second we can still

2199
02:49:27,840 --> 02:49:33,201
discuss the motion and second. That's been put forth. I'll

2200
02:49:33,201 --> 02:49:40,837
make a motion. Okay. Approve resolution number r 24 2025.

2201
02:49:40,837 --> 02:49:46,299
Resolution setting forth the annual operating budget. For fiscal year

2202
02:49:46,299 --> 02:49:52,899
beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. There

2203
02:49:52,899 --> 02:49:58,194
a second? We have a motion or a second? Any

2204
02:49:58,194 --> 02:50:01,994
discussion from council before we vote? What does this vote?

2205
02:50:01,994 --> 02:50:11,961
Need to be. 32. Majority vote. Mr. Suits,

2206
02:50:11,961 --> 02:50:16,931
do you have any comments? On the operating budget. No.

2207
02:50:19,471 --> 02:50:24,203
Anyone else? We have a motion? A second. Let's go

2208
02:50:24,203 --> 02:50:30,430
to the vote. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member Starnes.

2209
02:50:30,430 --> 02:50:38,438
Yes. Council member studs. No. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion

2210
02:50:38,438 --> 02:50:43,825
passes. Thank you. Item number six, Mrs. Wall.

2211
02:50:51,416 --> 02:50:55,136
This item is the second and final public hearing on

2212
02:50:55,136 --> 02:51:02,113
the five year CIP. Beginning October 1, 2025 to September

2213
02:51:02,113 --> 02:51:07,394
30, 2020. To turn the CIP for fiscal year 2006

2214
02:51:07,394 --> 02:51:16,047
for all funds is. 19,647,000 born in $2. We had

2215
02:51:16,047 --> 02:51:21,047
extensive discussion about the CIP projects. The staff recommendation is

2216
02:51:21,047 --> 02:51:26,207
for the council to approve. Resolution number r 25 2025.

2217
02:51:28,114 --> 02:51:31,834
2nd fourth the annual Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal year

2218
02:51:31,834 --> 02:51:38,991
beginning October 1, 2025 to September 30 2020. Thank you.

2219
02:51:38,991 --> 02:51:45,502
Open the public hearing, Mr. Royal. Katie. Anyone else wish

2220
02:51:45,502 --> 02:51:53,486
to speak on item number six? Not. I'll close the

2221
02:51:53,486 --> 02:51:56,286
public hearing, bring it to council. Do you have any

2222
02:51:56,286 --> 02:51:58,966
questions, discussion? Or a motion.

2223
02:52:06,105 --> 02:52:11,585
Abstine any discussion. Approve. I'll make a motion. Approve resolution

2224
02:52:11,585 --> 02:52:16,785
number r 25 2025. A resolution setting for annual capital

2225
02:52:16,785 --> 02:52:21,705
improvement plan for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 to

2226
02:52:21,705 --> 02:52:31,417
September 30 2030. Second. Motion second. Erin,

2227
02:52:31,417 --> 02:52:36,238
I'm sorry. Is there any discussion before the vote? Hearing?

2228
02:52:36,238 --> 02:52:45,285
None. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member Sorens. Yes. Council

2229
02:52:45,285 --> 02:52:54,808
member sets. Yes. Mayor johnson. Yes. Thank you.

2230
02:52:54,808 --> 02:52:58,128
Consent agenda. Are there any items council member would like

2231
02:52:58,128 --> 02:53:06,874
pull from the consent agenda? Okay. We're pulling eight. Most

2232
02:53:06,874 --> 02:53:15,691
the entire consent agenda. Okay, so we're pulling 89.

2233
02:53:17,995 --> 02:53:21,435
Therefore, do I have a motion to approve consent. Agenda

2234
02:53:21,435 --> 02:53:31,303
item number seven. How much? A motion

2235
02:53:31,303 --> 02:53:37,217
to approve the soul food festival proclamation. Do I have

2236
02:53:37,217 --> 02:53:42,995
a second? Okay, motion a second. Council member Glisten. Yes.

2237
02:53:42,995 --> 02:53:50,278
Council member Sorens. Yes. Council member sots. Yes. Mayor got.

2238
02:53:50,278 --> 02:53:54,897
Yes. Mayor Johnson. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you, Aaron. Hang

2239
02:53:54,897 --> 02:53:57,937
in there. Need your voice a little bit longer. We're

2240
02:53:57,937 --> 02:54:02,778
almost there. All right, item number eight. Mr. Royal.

2241
02:54:11,570 --> 02:54:13,570
I'll address it to you. Mr. Mayor. What happens to

2242
02:54:13,570 --> 02:54:17,575
that money? Let's just say it's worth 80,000. They get

2243
02:54:17,575 --> 02:54:20,995
40, what happens to. That money. Somebody can tell me.

2244
02:54:22,716 --> 02:54:27,170
Those are the general fund and surplus revenue. Does he

2245
02:54:27,170 --> 02:54:30,290
go to the bottom line first to get to reallocate?

2246
02:54:32,010 --> 02:54:38,914
Okay, so here's my suggestion. And I'd like to see

2247
02:54:38,914 --> 02:54:43,074
you all discuss this at the next meeting and see

2248
02:54:43,074 --> 02:54:48,244
where we end up. Any monies like this. That are

2249
02:54:48,244 --> 02:54:52,014
over and above what you've got that budget. Go to

2250
02:54:52,014 --> 02:54:57,533
that bottom line. Period. If you've got another expense. That's

2251
02:54:57,533 --> 02:55:00,013
come up and you can go and ask for it

2252
02:55:00,013 --> 02:55:03,194
at some level, whatever that level is. But I not

2253
02:55:03,194 --> 02:55:06,775
only like that money in the general surplus. But let's

2254
02:55:06,775 --> 02:55:09,295
just say that we had an air conditioner in the

2255
02:55:09,295 --> 02:55:12,175
police department budget. Which we don't, but we decided not

2256
02:55:12,175 --> 02:55:15,260
to spend it. I want that money to go to

2257
02:55:15,260 --> 02:55:17,500
the bob. I would like that money go. I would

2258
02:55:17,500 --> 02:55:20,180
expect. You all to take that money to the bottom

2259
02:55:20,180 --> 02:55:23,100
line as opposed to just reallocated, because I got extra

2260
02:55:23,100 --> 02:55:24,500
money over here. I'm going to go spend it over

2261
02:55:24,500 --> 02:55:28,794
there. If you don't pay attention to this budget. You're

2262
02:55:28,794 --> 02:55:29,914
not going to be any better off than you've been

2263
02:55:29,914 --> 02:55:31,994
the last three. Years when you've been bitch it, when

2264
02:55:31,994 --> 02:55:34,634
you've been complaining about not having any. Money in that

2265
02:55:34,634 --> 02:55:38,502
surplus. So it's incumbent upon you all to do that

2266
02:55:38,502 --> 02:55:42,187
job and make the staff do that. If it changes,

2267
02:55:42,187 --> 02:55:47,307
given a certain amount in here, $10,000, $5,000 every $5,000,

2268
02:55:47,307 --> 02:55:50,187
you take the bum out. Makes it easier next year.

2269
02:55:50,187 --> 02:55:53,507
And if you don't? Do that. Every business, every business

2270
02:55:53,507 --> 02:55:56,947
that I know does that. If they save money, I

2271
02:55:56,947 --> 02:56:00,004
got extra money, I'm going to spend it here. Thank

2272
02:56:00,004 --> 02:56:07,252
you. Thank you. Mr. Kelter. I'm sorry. We're taking one

2273
02:56:07,252 --> 02:56:12,725
at a time here. Any council members discussion on item

2274
02:56:12,725 --> 02:56:16,984
number eight, or do I have a motion? I have

2275
02:56:16,984 --> 02:56:26,233
something to say, Mr. Mayor. I wrote here. I'm guessing

2276
02:56:26,233 --> 02:56:30,378
we get 50% of what probably we paid. For this.

2277
02:56:30,378 --> 02:56:35,378
79,100 and 796. And I just want to say that.

2278
02:56:36,730 --> 02:56:40,090
I'm excited because if we are going to look at

2279
02:56:40,090 --> 02:56:43,010
the budget quarterly, we're going to see this money in

2280
02:56:43,010 --> 02:56:50,328
reserves and. I am really. Passionate about. Watching the reserves

2281
02:56:50,328 --> 02:56:54,808
grow. So I just wanted to say I hope this

2282
02:56:54,808 --> 02:56:58,408
will go to the reserve. Because. That would be very

2283
02:56:58,408 --> 02:57:01,797
helpful to us. So I'd like to see us have

2284
02:57:01,797 --> 02:57:05,757
$2 million in reserve as soon as we can possibly

2285
02:57:05,757 --> 02:57:09,322
get it. So my eyes on that. And that's what

2286
02:57:09,322 --> 02:57:13,399
I wanted to say. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments

2287
02:57:13,399 --> 02:57:20,590
or a motion, Ms. Wong? Mr mayor. I do want

2288
02:57:20,590 --> 02:57:24,150
to make sure everybody understands and apologize. If my staff

2289
02:57:24,150 --> 02:57:31,949
report. Is not clear. So what this is. Is $79,000

2290
02:57:31,949 --> 02:57:37,109
worth of inventory that we're getting rid of. So essentially,

2291
02:57:37,109 --> 02:57:40,357
this is a cost to the city. Most of these

2292
02:57:40,357 --> 02:57:46,527
items are electric inventory. So it's going to. Reduce the

2293
02:57:46,527 --> 02:57:52,496
electricity department. Bottom line. And how can the consul approves

2294
02:57:52,496 --> 02:57:58,803
tonight? We will seek. The most. Beneficial way to dispose

2295
02:57:58,803 --> 02:58:03,083
of this inventory items, and that's going to bring in

2296
02:58:03,083 --> 02:58:08,441
some revenue. To offset this cost. The reason that. They

2297
02:58:08,441 --> 02:58:12,641
are surpassed inventory items. It was mostly from the Covid

2298
02:58:12,641 --> 02:58:17,658
time, because at that time, like everybody else. We just

2299
02:58:17,658 --> 02:58:20,578
accumulated too much inventory item, so I just want to

2300
02:58:20,578 --> 02:58:26,200
make sure everybody understands. The $79,000 is not revenue to

2301
02:58:26,200 --> 02:58:29,649
the city at this point. The cost to the city.

2302
02:58:31,315 --> 02:58:37,702
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that clarification. Okay.

2303
02:58:37,702 --> 02:58:41,286
Do I have a motion for item number eight? Make

2304
02:58:41,286 --> 02:58:44,726
a motion to accept consent. Item number eight, sir. Second.

2305
02:58:48,601 --> 02:58:51,909
You have a motion? Second. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council

2306
02:58:51,909 --> 02:58:58,856
member thorns. Yes. Council member suits. Yes. Mayor Golf? Yes.

2307
02:58:58,856 --> 02:59:02,176
Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you, Adam. Number nine,

2308
02:59:02,176 --> 02:59:06,589
Mr. Kelter. That's the reason I pulled it. Nobody else

2309
02:59:06,589 --> 02:59:14,429
wanted that fold, right? He had a blue card from

2310
02:59:14,429 --> 02:59:18,967
him to discuss. Number nine. Yeah. Does anybody have any

2311
02:59:18,967 --> 02:59:24,136
comments or questions on it or number nine? I do,

2312
02:59:24,136 --> 02:59:30,589
okay? I don't know what Mr. Celtics were, but I

2313
02:59:30,589 --> 02:59:35,488
just want to understand. So I'm clear out of the

2314
02:59:35,488 --> 02:59:43,612
$40,997.25? That it's going to cost to repair the problem

2315
02:59:43,612 --> 02:59:51,234
on the road. That's the tearing up of stuff. And

2316
02:59:51,234 --> 02:59:54,354
the digging and all that, but we are going to

2317
02:59:54,354 --> 03:00:00,311
only be responsible for $20,000 of that, approximately. Because the

2318
03:00:00,311 --> 03:00:04,119
air was made by the engineers. The new company that

2319
03:00:04,119 --> 03:00:07,439
we used as an engineer because they didn't catch that

2320
03:00:07,439 --> 03:00:13,084
and they're going to pay. Approximately $9,800 for the paving

2321
03:00:13,084 --> 03:00:17,647
of the roads and the equipment that it takes. To

2322
03:00:17,647 --> 03:00:22,086
tear up throat. And surface of the road. Is that

2323
03:00:22,086 --> 03:00:27,053
correct? Do I understand that right? Yes, so correct. They're

2324
03:00:27,053 --> 03:00:29,733
not going to physically hand us a check for that

2325
03:00:29,733 --> 03:00:31,893
money, but they're going to do it through a deductible.

2326
03:00:31,893 --> 03:00:35,573
For example, they already requested a cancellation of an invoice.

2327
03:00:37,149 --> 03:00:43,674
For around $5,600 to start. So. There's still money exchange

2328
03:00:43,674 --> 03:00:46,034
in hands, and they're going to deduct till they make

2329
03:00:46,034 --> 03:00:50,532
us whole for their oversight. Okay. Thank you. I just

2330
03:00:50,532 --> 03:00:52,892
want to be sure I understood. I read it. Okay.

2331
03:00:54,832 --> 03:00:59,463
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For Miss Stark. Would

2332
03:00:59,463 --> 03:01:01,903
you like to make a motion on item number nine?

2333
03:01:01,903 --> 03:01:09,082
Sure, if I can. Find my motion. Approved change. A

2334
03:01:09,082 --> 03:01:13,242
motion to approve item number nine. Okay. Motion to approve

2335
03:01:13,242 --> 03:01:20,219
item number nine. On the agenda. Consent agenda. Consent agenda.

2336
03:01:20,219 --> 03:01:22,951
Okay. Do I have a second? We have a motion,

2337
03:01:22,951 --> 03:01:29,556
a second. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member storns. Yes.

2338
03:01:29,556 --> 03:01:36,806
Council member. Yes. Vice. Mayor golf stepped out. Mayor Johnson?

2339
03:01:36,806 --> 03:01:43,011
Yes. Motion passes. Okay. Thank you. Item number ten. Mr.

2340
03:01:43,011 --> 03:01:47,797
Noel. All right. Thank you. So this item is for.

2341
03:01:49,295 --> 03:01:53,295
To award a bid for build out of 1700. Unfinished

2342
03:01:53,295 --> 03:01:57,031
area at the front, upstairs of City hall. This was

2343
03:01:57,031 --> 03:02:00,271
first brought to council in January of this year, January

2344
03:02:00,271 --> 03:02:06,350
21 meeting. The Clay Economic Development Council was looking for

2345
03:02:06,350 --> 03:02:09,590
a place to move into the lease where they were.

2346
03:02:09,590 --> 03:02:14,443
At was running out, so they approached the city. We

2347
03:02:14,443 --> 03:02:17,243
ran some numbers forth, went to the council in January.

2348
03:02:18,485 --> 03:02:21,845
And council was generally agreeable to move ahead. So we

2349
03:02:21,845 --> 03:02:30,770
have. Since bid out the construction. We received. Seven proposals.

2350
03:02:32,715 --> 03:02:36,275
The lowest bidder had submitted some obviously errant numbers, so

2351
03:02:36,275 --> 03:02:39,275
we let them withdraw their bid. So that left us

2352
03:02:39,275 --> 03:02:44,355
with six bids. The lowest bidder was stratum contracting, I

2353
03:02:44,355 --> 03:02:50,011
believe. Their base bid was around 299,000. Dollars. But they

2354
03:02:50,011 --> 03:02:52,451
came in, they opened up their books, they showed us

2355
03:02:52,451 --> 03:02:55,514
everywhere that. They had kind of where they had all

2356
03:02:55,514 --> 03:02:59,130
their costs. So prior to the bid award, we've been

2357
03:02:59,130 --> 03:03:02,210
able to do quite a few deducts. Through some value

2358
03:03:02,210 --> 03:03:05,730
engineering and take a couple of the additive alternates so

2359
03:03:05,730 --> 03:03:08,050
that we wind up with a total contract award of

2360
03:03:08,050 --> 03:03:17,030
299. 299,000. 490,000. This will be. For. Again, build out

2361
03:03:17,030 --> 03:03:19,390
a 1700 sqft. They're going to build out basically three

2362
03:03:19,390 --> 03:03:25,070
offices, a conference room, bathroom, small break area. It room,

2363
03:03:25,070 --> 03:03:30,377
kind of the necessary areas for. That business. For that

2364
03:03:30,377 --> 03:03:34,357
corporation. So then to accompany that. So that's the first

2365
03:03:34,357 --> 03:03:37,677
item or first action on this item. Was to authorize

2366
03:03:37,677 --> 03:03:41,848
a warrant of a contract for 299 490. For design

2367
03:03:41,848 --> 03:03:44,928
and construction. They're doing the design and construction designed just

2368
03:03:44,928 --> 03:03:50,620
sufficient enough to pull building permits. The city staff. Through

2369
03:03:50,620 --> 03:03:53,780
the process is going to install. It drops, so that

2370
03:03:53,780 --> 03:03:57,860
saves overall 6000. But we will add $1,000 into the

2371
03:03:57,860 --> 03:04:01,060
next item, which is the lease that Clay DC is

2372
03:04:01,060 --> 03:04:04,525
going to. Have to pay us back. So the total

2373
03:04:04,525 --> 03:04:08,965
lease amount at this point would be $300,490 to be

2374
03:04:08,965 --> 03:04:15,957
repaid. Over a ten year period at this .3.5% interest

2375
03:04:15,957 --> 03:04:19,402
rate. Which is similar to interest rates that are other

2376
03:04:19,402 --> 03:04:25,603
invested monies we're making currently. So, assuming approval tonight, we

2377
03:04:25,603 --> 03:04:27,243
do have a draft copy of the lease agreement. We

2378
03:04:27,243 --> 03:04:32,066
would ask also for approval of that draft agreement. And

2379
03:04:32,066 --> 03:04:34,386
then over the next probably five months, we'll design and

2380
03:04:34,386 --> 03:04:37,506
construct the improvements, and then. When we're ready for move

2381
03:04:37,506 --> 03:04:40,146
in, we'll bring the final contract document back to. The

2382
03:04:40,146 --> 03:04:42,946
council with the final construction cost to the penny if

2383
03:04:42,946 --> 03:04:48,277
they've changed. And also. To work out the actual start

2384
03:04:48,277 --> 03:04:53,245
dates of the lease and everything. So that's generally it.

2385
03:04:53,245 --> 03:04:56,205
We can answer any questions. Mr. Mayor, can I add

2386
03:04:56,205 --> 03:04:57,845
one thing? To that because Mike and I talked about

2387
03:04:57,845 --> 03:04:59,245
this today as well, and I told I was going

2388
03:04:59,245 --> 03:05:02,643
to bring this up. We actually dealt with this a

2389
03:05:02,643 --> 03:05:05,906
couple of times before. I was looking because I knew

2390
03:05:05,906 --> 03:05:08,226
we had to have some ordinance on the books to

2391
03:05:08,226 --> 03:05:11,346
deal with. Leasing city property. So Aaron pulled up the

2392
03:05:11,346 --> 03:05:16,266
2017 ordinance where. We dealt with a general swell. We

2393
03:05:16,266 --> 03:05:19,426
dealt with the Augustus Savage being able to lease part

2394
03:05:19,426 --> 03:05:21,826
of that. And then we put in a phrase there

2395
03:05:21,826 --> 03:05:26,084
or other city owned property, provided that. It's approved. That

2396
03:05:26,084 --> 03:05:28,644
is a lease as approved by subsequent resolution of the

2397
03:05:28,644 --> 03:05:32,512
city council and that's typically how we've done it. Another

2398
03:05:32,512 --> 03:05:34,032
example of the charter where it says you have to

2399
03:05:34,032 --> 03:05:36,872
have an ordinance to borrow money. We'll do an ordinance,

2400
03:05:36,872 --> 03:05:40,367
pretty general ordinance that says. We're going to need to

2401
03:05:40,367 --> 03:05:42,967
borrow up to 10 million or whatever, and then we'll,

2402
03:05:42,967 --> 03:05:45,647
put the terms and the conditions, the interest rates and

2403
03:05:45,647 --> 03:05:48,967
all that in a subsequent resolution that's perfectly fine and

2404
03:05:48,967 --> 03:05:54,776
in compliance with the charter. I think just because. The

2405
03:05:54,776 --> 03:05:56,416
way this was drafted, where I said that the city

2406
03:05:56,416 --> 03:05:58,656
is authorized and empowered to lease all or a portion

2407
03:05:58,656 --> 03:06:02,416
of the Augustus Savage Arts center and other city owned

2408
03:06:02,416 --> 03:06:05,856
real property to any approved tenants. And then later in

2409
03:06:05,856 --> 03:06:08,296
the ordinance, it talks about doing it by resolution and

2410
03:06:08,296 --> 03:06:13,608
stuff, since we've got. Obviously we've got time here. I'll

2411
03:06:13,608 --> 03:06:15,928
go back and revisit that and bring you back a

2412
03:06:15,928 --> 03:06:19,608
little bit better. Ordinance and a current resolution with a

2413
03:06:19,608 --> 03:06:23,366
little bit better draft. And I don't mean. It's a

2414
03:06:23,366 --> 03:06:24,246
bad ramp and I preach it, I guess might put

2415
03:06:24,246 --> 03:06:27,966
it together and one that we had before. But there's

2416
03:06:27,966 --> 03:06:31,181
just a few things. I'm sure you all looked at

2417
03:06:31,181 --> 03:06:37,515
it. Like in paragraph 1.1. The premises. We don't really

2418
03:06:37,515 --> 03:06:39,675
describe the premises, and we just need to add that

2419
03:06:39,675 --> 03:06:42,715
in. Second floor, however we want to describe it. So

2420
03:06:42,715 --> 03:06:45,075
many square feet or whatever, and maybe that's. Another part

2421
03:06:45,075 --> 03:06:48,722
of the lease, but that's little things like that. We'll

2422
03:06:48,722 --> 03:06:51,722
change that. So really, what you're approving on the lease

2423
03:06:51,722 --> 03:06:55,553
is just. You're just approving a rough draft. With the

2424
03:06:55,553 --> 03:06:59,006
follow up action that I just described. If you do

2425
03:06:59,006 --> 03:07:01,446
that or just make mention of those comments by me

2426
03:07:01,446 --> 03:07:03,686
that you can incorporate those in your motion if you're

2427
03:07:03,686 --> 03:07:06,468
so inclined to do that. It won't work out. I

2428
03:07:06,468 --> 03:07:08,748
just wanted to clean it up. Mr. Mayor, I have

2429
03:07:08,748 --> 03:07:14,182
something. Mr. Noel is nice enough. When I asked to

2430
03:07:14,182 --> 03:07:17,236
look over the. Lease. He gave it to me, and

2431
03:07:17,236 --> 03:07:22,001
I thank him. I also noticed on the utility charges.

2432
03:07:23,506 --> 03:07:25,706
That. I think we need to address that a little

2433
03:07:25,706 --> 03:07:32,181
bit closer. $150 a month is what we're going to

2434
03:07:32,181 --> 03:07:37,047
charge on that 1700 sqft. But as we all know,

2435
03:07:38,466 --> 03:07:42,186
And. I feel like. Really? No. It goes up every

2436
03:07:42,186 --> 03:07:46,843
year. This is a ten year lease. So I'm not

2437
03:07:46,843 --> 03:07:49,243
sure. I read it over, and I don't see where

2438
03:07:49,243 --> 03:07:52,683
the spot says that we can increase it. It does.

2439
03:07:52,683 --> 03:08:00,484
Right behind. Okay. Maybe 4.2. Okay. I caught that as

2440
03:08:00,484 --> 03:08:04,324
well, too. Thank you. I didn't catch that, so I

2441
03:08:04,324 --> 03:08:06,444
just want. To make sure that we were doing the

2442
03:08:06,444 --> 03:08:08,724
same for them as we were doing for ourselves and

2443
03:08:08,724 --> 03:08:10,844
all our citizens that they too were going to feel

2444
03:08:10,844 --> 03:08:20,714
the increase. Okay. Thank you. All right.

2445
03:08:23,718 --> 03:08:26,718
Would anyone like to make a motion? Mr. Mayor. Yes,

2446
03:08:26,718 --> 03:08:34,025
Mr. Suits. I had a question. What happens if they

2447
03:08:34,025 --> 03:08:37,852
walk away before? The ten years. Are we on the

2448
03:08:37,852 --> 03:08:41,092
hook for the money spent, or is there a contract

2449
03:08:41,092 --> 03:08:44,519
with them to keep that from happening. I meant to

2450
03:08:44,519 --> 03:08:46,879
say that a minute ago, Darren. And thank you for

2451
03:08:46,879 --> 03:08:51,536
bringing that up. Until you have at least with them

2452
03:08:51,536 --> 03:08:54,576
actually sign and approved. We're spending money. We are. At

2453
03:08:54,576 --> 03:09:00,925
risk. Of doing upgrades, signing a contract. I don't know

2454
03:09:00,925 --> 03:09:03,845
how you get around doing that, because that lease isn't

2455
03:09:03,845 --> 03:09:08,165
quite. Ready to be approved in total yet. So that's

2456
03:09:08,165 --> 03:09:09,565
going to take a little bit of time to do

2457
03:09:09,565 --> 03:09:16,468
that. That's a risk. And Darren has pointed it out.

2458
03:09:16,468 --> 03:09:19,228
And even if they sign a lease, of course, it

2459
03:09:19,228 --> 03:09:22,028
says in there. There are some provisions in the lease.

2460
03:09:22,028 --> 03:09:24,108
I read it very carefully about how you go about.

2461
03:09:24,108 --> 03:09:27,461
Collecting, you would have to sue them. It also says,

2462
03:09:27,461 --> 03:09:29,581
of course, you have the right, like any landlord in

2463
03:09:29,581 --> 03:09:33,221
a commercial leash, you have the right to. Release or

2464
03:09:33,221 --> 03:09:36,821
relent the premises. And then you offset that against what

2465
03:09:36,821 --> 03:09:39,381
they would owe us if. You can find a tenant

2466
03:09:39,381 --> 03:09:42,181
to step into their shoes. If you can't, they remain

2467
03:09:42,181 --> 03:09:45,781
on the hook all along for the payments and would

2468
03:09:45,781 --> 03:09:48,474
have to pay us. Or we would have to sue

2469
03:09:48,474 --> 03:09:52,502
them if they wouldn't pay us. So, yes. Inherently, there

2470
03:09:52,502 --> 03:09:54,862
is some risk in this transaction. I think it's pretty

2471
03:09:54,862 --> 03:10:00,301
obvious. You'd like to think that. Where does that 300,000

2472
03:10:00,301 --> 03:10:03,141
come from, though? Is it budgeted in this budget or

2473
03:10:03,141 --> 03:10:07,685
is it something else for that borrow money on? Somebody

2474
03:10:07,685 --> 03:10:14,014
does. I'm sorry. Let me go to the staff report.

2475
03:10:16,413 --> 03:10:18,653
It's coming out of funds that are currently invested in.

2476
03:10:18,653 --> 03:10:20,613
So who can probably answer that? Better than I can,

2477
03:10:20,613 --> 03:10:24,613
but basically, funds that are currently invested, that are earning

2478
03:10:24,613 --> 03:10:31,519
around three and a half percent interest. We're taking 300,000

2479
03:10:31,519 --> 03:10:37,414
of those funds. There is $100,000 budgeted in the fiscal

2480
03:10:37,414 --> 03:10:41,334
year 26 budget that was intended to be the completion

2481
03:10:41,334 --> 03:10:43,774
of the project, but we're behind schedule getting it started.

2482
03:10:45,407 --> 03:10:48,807
Mr. Known? Yes. Could Ms. Wong answer that?

2483
03:10:56,562 --> 03:10:58,562
What we said in the staff report was we've utilized

2484
03:10:58,562 --> 03:11:04,040
restricted Sur tax dollars. They can't be used for anything

2485
03:11:04,040 --> 03:11:06,520
else to be repaid in an interest rate comparable. To

2486
03:11:06,520 --> 03:11:08,280
our current investments, which is the three and a half

2487
03:11:08,280 --> 03:11:15,683
percent. Yes.

2488
03:11:18,610 --> 03:11:27,323
So, Mr. Mayor. As Mr. No said. The budget.

2489
03:11:28,976 --> 03:11:31,016
Is trying to find my budget number. I didn't have

2490
03:11:31,016 --> 03:11:36,394
that memoir just yet. In next year's CIP. We have

2491
03:11:36,394 --> 03:11:40,794
100,000 budgeted again that was intended. To be the completion

2492
03:11:40,794 --> 03:11:43,896
of the project. Is 100,000.

2493
03:11:50,569 --> 03:11:53,409
Originally, the plan was to complete a project in fiscal

2494
03:11:53,409 --> 03:11:57,967
year 2025, so that was. In the projection for fiscal

2495
03:11:57,967 --> 03:12:04,679
year 2025. The funding source. Is going to be the

2496
03:12:04,679 --> 03:12:09,686
fair tax money. For this project. So when we have

2497
03:12:09,686 --> 03:12:12,126
capital projects that we start one year or intend to

2498
03:12:12,126 --> 03:12:19,346
start one year. Projects that we start in one year

2499
03:12:19,346 --> 03:12:22,178
and carry over to the next. They bridge over the

2500
03:12:22,178 --> 03:12:26,637
two. Years. That generally, if we're not exactly on schedule,

2501
03:12:26,637 --> 03:12:30,087
which we're doing, estimates twelve months. Out. Then there may

2502
03:12:30,087 --> 03:12:34,567
need to be adjustments in that following fiscal year because

2503
03:12:34,567 --> 03:12:36,087
we didn't get as far as we thought we would

2504
03:12:36,087 --> 03:12:38,647
in the previous year. Thank you so much. That's a

2505
03:12:38,647 --> 03:12:42,607
very generic answer, but that's the process. It's bond, and

2506
03:12:42,607 --> 03:12:50,795
I appreciate that. I have one more question. You'll come

2507
03:12:50,795 --> 03:12:54,555
back with a lease agreement and we'll approve that later.

2508
03:12:54,555 --> 03:12:57,455
Is that. What you said. The exact terms. You would

2509
03:12:57,455 --> 03:13:00,408
have to do that because. This one you have here

2510
03:13:00,408 --> 03:13:05,683
is. A good model, and it's got, I'd say, 95%

2511
03:13:05,683 --> 03:13:07,723
of the terms that need to be in it. A

2512
03:13:07,723 --> 03:13:09,283
few of them need to be tweaked a little. Bit.

2513
03:13:11,148 --> 03:13:14,140
Mr. Stuts. And we kind of discuss those a little

2514
03:13:14,140 --> 03:13:15,820
bit tonight, and then I'm going to beef. Up a

2515
03:13:15,820 --> 03:13:17,940
little bit just based on comments I've heard here, too.

2516
03:13:19,541 --> 03:13:22,079
And of course, they've got to approve. It's going to

2517
03:13:22,079 --> 03:13:24,519
go bring that back later. It's going to come back

2518
03:13:24,519 --> 03:13:28,589
to you at least twice. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, I understand.

2519
03:13:30,143 --> 03:13:33,503
Okay, so do we still need to approve this draft

2520
03:13:33,503 --> 03:13:36,703
lease agreement? You can go ahead and approve. The draft

2521
03:13:36,703 --> 03:13:39,503
with changes to be made by staff and or myself

2522
03:13:39,503 --> 03:13:45,524
and staff. It does say draft. It's not a final

2523
03:13:45,524 --> 03:13:52,750
at all. Make a motion to approve the draft. City

2524
03:13:52,750 --> 03:13:58,406
hall, vacant space build out. To. Contracting and construction management

2525
03:13:58,406 --> 03:14:03,951
in the amount of 299 $490,000. The improved draft lease

2526
03:14:03,951 --> 03:14:08,431
amendment with Clay EDC to be finalized at completion of

2527
03:14:08,431 --> 03:14:12,744
construction. Is there a second? Here. We have a motion,

2528
03:14:12,744 --> 03:14:18,572
a second. Council member Glisten. Yes. Council member Thorn? Yes.

2529
03:14:18,572 --> 03:14:25,592
Council member. Yes. Mayor Gome. Yes. Mayor Johnson? Yes. Motion

2530
03:14:25,592 --> 03:14:29,533
passes. Okay, thank you. Now for city manager. City attorney

2531
03:14:29,533 --> 03:14:34,302
reports. Just have a couple of quick things, Mr. Mayor.

2532
03:14:37,039 --> 03:14:45,178
We're meeting tomorrow. Staff meeting tomorrow. With Mr. Scruvy. And

2533
03:14:45,178 --> 03:14:50,967
Kelly Hartwig representative. For the project. 16 and 17 there

2534
03:14:50,967 --> 03:14:56,161
at the corner. Regarding stormwater. And. Certainly staff will give

2535
03:14:56,161 --> 03:14:58,241
you a report on the outcome of that meeting, obviously.

2536
03:14:59,659 --> 03:15:01,939
The idea is to try to avoid litigation. If we

2537
03:15:01,939 --> 03:15:07,143
can't. They may. And I wouldn't be surprised by this

2538
03:15:07,143 --> 03:15:09,423
that I've already told staff. This, they may feel the

2539
03:15:09,423 --> 03:15:13,223
need to file suit because they have a limited number

2540
03:15:13,223 --> 03:15:16,143
of days within which to file a lawsuit pursuant to

2541
03:15:16,143 --> 03:15:21,612
that resolution. On stormwater 20 days. And so they may

2542
03:15:21,612 --> 03:15:25,692
file a lawsuit just so they have at least gotten

2543
03:15:25,692 --> 03:15:29,152
their position legally. Where they can continue to negotiate and

2544
03:15:29,152 --> 03:15:32,472
don't lose their rights. I perfectly understand that as a

2545
03:15:32,472 --> 03:15:35,112
lawyer, and it's not going to offend me, and it

2546
03:15:35,112 --> 03:15:37,472
shouldn't really. Offend anybody if they feel they have to

2547
03:15:37,472 --> 03:15:41,177
do it. And we'll negotiate with them in good faith.

2548
03:15:41,177 --> 03:15:43,697
And, of course, you all will make any final decisions.

2549
03:15:43,697 --> 03:15:47,137
We'll bring back whatever we can accomplish at that meeting.

2550
03:15:47,137 --> 03:15:49,897
If we can accomplish something. Fine. If we don't, then

2551
03:15:49,897 --> 03:15:53,246
we understand that. And still are going to be looking

2552
03:15:53,246 --> 03:15:57,003
through our engineer. To make sure that we're doing the

2553
03:15:57,003 --> 03:15:58,603
things the right way that we should do them. And

2554
03:15:58,603 --> 03:16:04,042
apply them fairly and equitably and so forth. That's one

2555
03:16:04,042 --> 03:16:06,522
thing that I have, and I'm happy to answer her

2556
03:16:06,522 --> 03:16:09,562
staff. Steve can answer any questions you might have about

2557
03:16:09,562 --> 03:16:13,856
that meeting we're having. I think 130, right? Tomorrow. Just

2558
03:16:13,856 --> 03:16:17,336
a staff meeting with. So what's the possibility of extending

2559
03:16:17,336 --> 03:16:21,880
that review? In that part of the world. Because we

2560
03:16:21,880 --> 03:16:26,160
heard testimony from attorney Scruvy that support pays nothing.

2561
03:16:33,398 --> 03:16:36,732
To me. We heard possible sources around you out there

2562
03:16:36,732 --> 03:16:39,572
tonight. I look at sport and go, they haven't. Ever

2563
03:16:39,572 --> 03:16:42,671
paid their fair share. Any of the history that I've

2564
03:16:42,671 --> 03:16:47,270
read. And we're now going to be sued by the

2565
03:16:47,270 --> 03:16:56,086
corner piece. And the neighbor is another 1500 acres. And

2566
03:16:56,086 --> 03:17:00,723
paying nothing. I don't understand how that. I don't see

2567
03:17:00,723 --> 03:17:04,489
how that changed this year. But the study that the

2568
03:17:04,489 --> 03:17:08,888
engineer don't let me. Take. Your report here, away from

2569
03:17:08,888 --> 03:17:12,447
you. But the engineer is going to readdress all of

2570
03:17:12,447 --> 03:17:14,687
these things, and we're going. To probably take another look

2571
03:17:14,687 --> 03:17:17,407
at the ordinance. That's my belief. Engineer needs to be

2572
03:17:17,407 --> 03:17:22,335
given. Instructions to include the port in that review. I'm

2573
03:17:22,335 --> 03:17:25,655
sure that he'll look at large landowners. I can't imagine

2574
03:17:25,655 --> 03:17:27,455
that. He wouldn't do that. I can't speak for that

2575
03:17:27,455 --> 03:17:31,409
engineer for some reason, counselor. That has gone. Completely under

2576
03:17:31,409 --> 03:17:35,722
the radar. There's no discussion of it at this level,

2577
03:17:35,722 --> 03:17:41,769
ever. When we address the entire stormwater, utility ordinances, policies,

2578
03:17:41,769 --> 03:17:45,731
everything against starting October. We're going to look at the

2579
03:17:45,731 --> 03:17:49,524
entire city limits. We're going to look at everything. Look

2580
03:17:49,524 --> 03:17:51,204
at all the properties. Look at the nature of the

2581
03:17:51,204 --> 03:17:54,204
stormwater utility, look at our policies. Procedures, look at law,

2582
03:17:54,204 --> 03:17:56,915
look at funding needs. We're going to look at everything.

2583
03:17:56,915 --> 03:17:59,435
It's going to be comprehensive review. So the question of

2584
03:17:59,435 --> 03:18:05,071
how come they've been omitted to this point. Is. Where

2585
03:18:05,071 --> 03:18:11,461
do you go for that answer? That was our takeaway

2586
03:18:11,461 --> 03:18:14,141
from when we started, the user fees, since they had

2587
03:18:14,141 --> 03:18:18,781
their own permitting. And everything going to the river. They're

2588
03:18:18,781 --> 03:18:23,665
responsible for all of their stormwater. Similar to make a

2589
03:18:23,665 --> 03:18:29,284
point. So we have followed. That. Line of thought consistently

2590
03:18:29,284 --> 03:18:34,324
with those properties. Despite the absence of any engineered stormwater.

2591
03:18:35,971 --> 03:18:40,890
Facility. That was our takeaway. When we had those meetings

2592
03:18:40,890 --> 03:18:50,725
in 2020. Discussion specifically about it all.

2593
03:18:52,813 --> 03:18:57,485
Certainly was not. There was no reason to exclude any

2594
03:18:57,485 --> 03:19:01,930
particular. Landowner for any other reason. What might just describe

2595
03:19:01,930 --> 03:19:05,050
gets back to the omission by the tax assessor's office.

2596
03:19:06,525 --> 03:19:11,233
Of the port and the undervalued. Fact of the matter

2597
03:19:11,233 --> 03:19:13,833
is, they haven't paid their fair share into anything. Citizens

2598
03:19:13,833 --> 03:19:22,934
of Green Cove, subsidize the port. Can I address my

2599
03:19:22,934 --> 03:19:25,925
other matter? Yes, sir. Okay. I'm going to ask you

2600
03:19:25,925 --> 03:19:29,325
to let me appear remotely in the second meeting in

2601
03:19:29,325 --> 03:19:31,565
October. If you all would allow that, I would very

2602
03:19:31,565 --> 03:19:38,355
much appreciate it. Sir. I'll assume that's okay and. It's

2603
03:19:38,355 --> 03:19:41,195
not okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. That's

2604
03:19:41,195 --> 03:19:44,962
all I have. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Mayor.

2605
03:19:44,962 --> 03:19:48,963
First thing I wanted to do. Is to apologize to

2606
03:19:48,963 --> 03:19:58,600
you. For. Comments to Mr. Royal. I have kept it

2607
03:19:58,600 --> 03:20:04,098
practiced, and I do that. But at some point, Amidst

2608
03:20:04,098 --> 03:20:10,249
all of the actions and activities and comments. It's frustrating.

2609
03:20:12,496 --> 03:20:19,753
To have casual accusations. About. Inefficient, not doing things. Whenever

2610
03:20:19,753 --> 03:20:26,874
we did. And. It was probably. The most professional thing

2611
03:20:26,874 --> 03:20:30,287
to do. Humans do. And there's only so much I

2612
03:20:30,287 --> 03:20:38,985
think. That. So much. Accusations and insinuations.

2613
03:20:40,997 --> 03:20:43,837
That somebody should take before then you're able to respond

2614
03:20:43,837 --> 03:20:51,523
and answer those. My apologies for that. The legislative policies.

2615
03:20:54,801 --> 03:20:59,245
That had handed out. The three areas of home rule.

2616
03:21:00,953 --> 03:21:04,660
At Lauren. And the cra. I handed out everyone. We're

2617
03:21:04,660 --> 03:21:07,340
going to take that and use that. As a kind

2618
03:21:07,340 --> 03:21:12,765
of a framework on the 30th. For, I guess. You're

2619
03:21:12,765 --> 03:21:17,089
going to present those? And what I'm trying to ask.

2620
03:21:17,309 --> 03:21:21,143
If I could meet. With each of you individually and

2621
03:21:21,143 --> 03:21:27,669
go over. Three projects that we're looking at. That Joe

2622
03:21:27,669 --> 03:21:33,935
mobile are unobvious sort of encouragers and directed us. To

2623
03:21:33,935 --> 03:21:38,503
go in that direction relative to. I guess the pulse

2624
03:21:38,503 --> 03:21:42,343
that's at the state now for various topics. So if

2625
03:21:42,343 --> 03:21:47,159
you all are receptive to that in the next. I

2626
03:21:47,159 --> 03:21:48,239
don't know if I can get it all done this

2627
03:21:48,239 --> 03:21:51,119
week, but early next week. Before that meeting, I want

2628
03:21:51,119 --> 03:21:54,559
to go over and just explain what the projects are

2629
03:21:54,559 --> 03:21:57,622
and what impact they will be. In the cost. If

2630
03:21:57,622 --> 03:22:02,195
everyone's okay with that. Yes, sir. Sorry.

2631
03:22:08,196 --> 03:22:11,889
That's all that I'm having. That's good. Thank you. All

2632
03:22:11,889 --> 03:22:16,774
right. Ms. Cliff, any comments? No, sir. Mr. Stutts, any

2633
03:22:16,774 --> 03:22:22,977
comments? Yes. I just want to thank Erin for helping

2634
03:22:22,977 --> 03:22:27,855
me figure out how to remote in. They couldn't be

2635
03:22:27,855 --> 03:22:30,335
there tonight. I didn't realize until lunchtime today that I.

2636
03:22:30,335 --> 03:22:33,455
Was running about 102 fever, so didn't think I needed

2637
03:22:33,455 --> 03:22:36,175
to come and get everybody sick. So I just stay

2638
03:22:36,175 --> 03:22:38,135
home, and she sounds like she feels about as bad

2639
03:22:38,135 --> 03:22:41,566
as I do. Sorry I wasn't there, but I appreciate

2640
03:22:41,566 --> 03:22:45,053
her helping me. Thank you for staying home tonight, Mr.

2641
03:22:45,053 --> 03:22:51,895
Says. You're welcome. Ms starnes. Folks have left.

2642
03:22:55,281 --> 03:23:00,450
And that's because. They think we don't hear them? I'm

2643
03:23:00,450 --> 03:23:09,104
sure. Makes me feel sad. But. That be sad if

2644
03:23:09,104 --> 03:23:12,424
they didn't have some of the services that we offer.

2645
03:23:13,412 --> 03:23:19,744
Now. But I think we're going to have to somehow.

2646
03:23:21,446 --> 03:23:26,510
There's a real wedge between our community. And us. And

2647
03:23:26,510 --> 03:23:32,614
I think. We need to be. Aware of that. And.

2648
03:23:33,888 --> 03:23:35,968
Face it. I don't know what we can do about

2649
03:23:35,968 --> 03:23:38,288
it. I'm not trying. To say there's lots we can

2650
03:23:38,288 --> 03:23:43,514
do about it. But I guess. I've taken, like building

2651
03:23:43,514 --> 03:23:47,314
the reserves, having the money, being more conscious on how

2652
03:23:47,314 --> 03:23:51,728
we budget. I know we all are very careful. I

2653
03:23:51,728 --> 03:23:54,248
get it. But I do think we're going to have

2654
03:23:54,248 --> 03:23:58,273
to face it. There's going to be some panties in

2655
03:23:58,273 --> 03:24:01,673
the wad going forward here, and I think we need

2656
03:24:01,673 --> 03:24:05,179
to be aware of it. And I do feel like

2657
03:24:05,179 --> 03:24:07,899
we did our work and that is our job, to

2658
03:24:07,899 --> 03:24:14,530
do those things. That we do. But I'm thinking we

2659
03:24:14,530 --> 03:24:18,679
need to be cautious. Thank you. And I'd like to

2660
03:24:18,679 --> 03:24:23,581
thank everybody. For coming. Yeah. Thank you, Ms. Servers. Mr.

2661
03:24:23,581 --> 03:24:27,954
God. So that feeling that you have right now, That

2662
03:24:27,954 --> 03:24:31,554
feeling you have that you should exercise caution, that never

2663
03:24:31,554 --> 03:24:34,834
goes away. Every budget season you come to the end.

2664
03:24:36,802 --> 03:24:42,056
And those people that feel strongly. And have. Opinions. Bring

2665
03:24:42,056 --> 03:24:45,572
them before you. And tell you what it is and

2666
03:24:45,572 --> 03:24:49,872
how it is and what it should look like. This

2667
03:24:49,872 --> 03:24:53,832
job is not easy, but what makes it easier is

2668
03:24:53,832 --> 03:24:58,039
the quality of people in this room. And the danger

2669
03:24:58,039 --> 03:25:03,645
we get into. Is. The suggestion that we can run

2670
03:25:03,645 --> 03:25:09,909
these departments. Staff works for us. Right. I don't know

2671
03:25:09,909 --> 03:25:14,530
what the organizational chart looks like. But staff knows what

2672
03:25:14,530 --> 03:25:21,172
they're doing. It's not their first year. They come up

2673
03:25:21,172 --> 03:25:25,212
with budgets way more times than I've looked at a

2674
03:25:25,212 --> 03:25:31,479
budget. To actually get involved in the minutiae or the

2675
03:25:31,479 --> 03:25:35,719
details of telling any one of these. Department heads. What

2676
03:25:35,719 --> 03:25:41,807
and how. They feel the pressure as much as we

2677
03:25:41,807 --> 03:25:49,103
do. Producing budgets. That may not cover the cost of

2678
03:25:49,103 --> 03:25:54,943
operations this year. So don't expect that feeling to go

2679
03:25:54,943 --> 03:26:01,126
away. And those loudest voices. I sympathize.

2680
03:26:03,590 --> 03:26:08,390
But as loud as they'll shout, they'll shout back louder,

2681
03:26:08,390 --> 03:26:11,310
and that's the process. That's how it works or that's

2682
03:26:11,310 --> 03:26:16,561
how it doesn't work. This council has come to the

2683
03:26:16,561 --> 03:26:23,119
end of a budget session. We'll lick our wounds.

2684
03:26:26,153 --> 03:26:32,866
Here. Next year starts now. Yes. It really does. So

2685
03:26:32,866 --> 03:26:37,949
in the process. Of trying to deliver services to everybody.

2686
03:26:39,526 --> 03:26:44,143
Don't expect the seats to be filled anytime soon. Unless

2687
03:26:44,143 --> 03:26:49,845
you want to raise water rates next month. But. As

2688
03:26:49,845 --> 03:26:53,325
glad everybody has come to come to the end of

2689
03:26:53,325 --> 03:27:00,554
this budget meeting. But I think we all walk away

2690
03:27:00,554 --> 03:27:04,655
a little smarter. Thank you, Mr. God. Thank you. I'll

2691
03:27:04,655 --> 03:27:07,775
take it one step further. Our employees, our city. Employees

2692
03:27:07,775 --> 03:27:14,883
they work for ultimately. Our city manager, Mr. Kennedy, and

2693
03:27:14,883 --> 03:27:17,523
he and our assistant city manager. Others, like I said,

2694
03:27:17,523 --> 03:27:21,254
worked hard. Thank you, Ms. Swan. A lot of hard

2695
03:27:21,254 --> 03:27:23,814
work, a lot of extra hours. Really trying to figure

2696
03:27:23,814 --> 03:27:29,717
this out and split up on judge pressuring you. I'm

2697
03:27:29,717 --> 03:27:34,708
sorry. That's not one only regret. Because that's what I

2698
03:27:34,708 --> 03:27:38,752
thought we agreed on last week, so I apologize. But

2699
03:27:38,752 --> 03:27:44,128
I want to say this. Good work, counsel. I'm super

2700
03:27:44,128 --> 03:27:49,769
impressed, Mr. Stuts. Stutson especially. We've been up here a

2701
03:27:49,769 --> 03:27:53,369
while doing this for, like, five years now. But, hey,

2702
03:27:53,369 --> 03:27:57,805
stand your ground. And keep working with all three of

2703
03:27:57,805 --> 03:28:01,725
you. Bring great dimension to this, and it's hard. Work.

2704
03:28:01,725 --> 03:28:05,205
We appreciate it. I really do. Thank you. I value

2705
03:28:05,205 --> 03:28:09,441
your opinions. And admire you to stand firm. You may

2706
03:28:09,441 --> 03:28:12,401
not disagree with us of Edna. You think we agree

2707
03:28:12,401 --> 03:28:16,308
on everything we've found? Out. And we're going to go

2708
03:28:16,308 --> 03:28:18,988
at it again. But that's how council works for five

2709
03:28:18,988 --> 03:28:22,028
individuals doing our best for the city of green coast

2710
03:28:22,028 --> 03:28:25,437
greens. And in the end, The best product we can

2711
03:28:25,437 --> 03:28:28,517
agree on comes forward. Nothing is what we've done tonight.

2712
03:28:28,517 --> 03:28:29,957
Thanks. Everybody have a great.