>> don't
>> really city we read and a
good today is wednesday JULY
26 is finals ago. We're at the
city chambers and I call a
city commission special
meeting to order.
Commissioners smiler emerged
vice mayor like commissioner
petro there is a core
PRESIDENT For this made. Also
part our city manager
pleasures of the attorney for
leno city clerk falls we've
got police and fire chief
titus in the back. I'm
requesting participants and
staff maintain were in the
throughout this meeting, city
commission policy 2021 0, 3,
states attend the show been
gauging in personal attacks
and boisterous immaterial
implants seen profane or was
conduct. Additionally meeting
attendees must refrain from
obscene profane or disorderly
conduct including hand,
clapping and yelling and
similar demonstrations. Always
disturbs the peace and good
order the meeting thank you.
Commissioner dipietro with the
lead us in the playoffs serve.
>> united states of stands one
nation under GOD indivisible
with liberty and justice for
all.
>> thank you sir. To bring the
commissioner stow seconded by
vice mayor to approve agenda.
Please that passes 5 to 0.
Probably go to court.
>> robin thomas entail good
evening commissioners as you
are all assistance citizen do
not want any type of data
center, especially I first
online in our city you're
tired angry to continuously
hear about the lack of
commercial and industrial
enterprises. You have rezoned
our city in such a way that
you are removing our quality
of life and right to quiet
enjoyment. Understand the need
for change but not at our
expense. We will rise up and
do everything we can to ensure
this doesn't happen. We will
organize together and use our
voices and every available way
order to have our voices heard
and achieve our ultimate goals
which puts the citizen
citizenry and environment
first there are city organized
town halls for media
saturation that will change
our minds. Commissioners who
are supposed to represent the
citizens. We expect you to do
what is in our best interest
and that center's or not.
Carmen miranda commissioner
posted about center and and
the fact that he feels he can
talk about it because he
didn't sign I agree that
residents have every right to
understand how decisions are
made and that florida's public
records parts closure are not
exempt information. However, I
think important point is ever
left the question is whether
discussing important
information connected to an
act of economic development
perspective. Prospect. Process
runs. Its course serves the
public interest statue 2 88.0
75 protects more brits it
protects a couple companies
plans intentions and interest
on that and locating or
expanding in florida because
the legislature recognized
that premature disclosure can
jeopardize projects in place
communities at a competitive
disadvantage. Part of a center
MAY have a legitimate
expectation that is interest
in the city remains
confidential during the
recruitment phase. Temporary
that she only does not
eliminate the club public's
right to know. It's a late
disclosure until the process
reaches a stage for the
information can be released
without harming the covid
company's interest for the
community's ability to compete
for economic opportunities.
Residents deserve
transparency. They also
deserve a city that can
successfully complete compete
for jobs and investment those
goals are not mutually.
Exclusive but they do require
careful judgment about timing
its staff and consultants are
falling all and honoring
envelop confidentiality
request. They MAY have limited
ability to disclose
information until the
statutory confidentiality
period expires for the company
authorizes release.
>> the issue is not whether
information should become
public the issue is whether it
should become public before
the legal process and economic
development process having
completed and the broader
responsibility elected
officials have when dealing
with active perspective
>> thank you moving on to
general business item a 26
dash 9, 6, 8, city manager,
this is your item.
>> it is made as discussed a
possible action regarding the
2026 certification of taxable
value proposed millage
scheduled days for public
hearings. We do have a short
presentation to go through
with you today and starting.
There's a lot talk about the
maximum rate so we are
recommending to the boy or
rate of 3 point 7, 6, 6, 7,
been the same rate since 2021
producing revenue that
41 million 697. $1000.
>> you look at the history of
our millage rate this will be
the.
>> year in a row of keeping a
really great the which is
probably talk about a little
bit during our conversation
earlier today meaning that
other fully know is that and
rate is not the only tax or
fee that the city's control of
that is the largest one in our
revenues green one that people
most associated with so
keeping the snow rain say to
this law is in the coffin of
the rays have increased not
have increased. Has increased
in that time period. Looking
taxable valuation going 2
years where we have been on a
porch swing and we continue
that way growth of our city
has been locally nationally we
have been very much praise for
the growth in our tax
violations of our city. We
know that it can last at the
same rate forever, but we do
believe that people are going
to want to continue to come
and moved here that is based
on the quality of life the
successes that we have and
will leave by people who
either moved here 3 years or
30 years ago they have seen
the growth and appreciate
where we are as I mentioned
some of the so what the tactic
proposing is that you are
allowed to use a role our room
but raised 3.82 for it to make
a which is higher than our
current rate so that would
bring $42,000 revenue for an
extra $680,000 wires a
majority of the vote 3 of the
5 of you to do that that means
you know your that could be
the starting point of where
you start to look at how tall
said some of the cost of going
to it does need to be able to
layered approach to the
situation and not just looking
all expenses all the time.
Also the rollback rate as
possibility as you move role
that at one and 2% would be
4.2 1, 2 or 46.6 million
dollars for extra 4.9 million
dollars and that will require
a two-thirds vote for a battle
of the board order to pass
that do have one or that that
it was does look aggressive
most likely it is, but I think
they put that you know that
you would have rates we would
have in order to I mean the
need. Right here. We are
looking in. But of the
rollback rate and as you can
see you know public safety is
still above that what we look
at when you look at the
revenue the current millage in
the rollback rate when are
told that you can see the
public safety fired you is a
boat that mean that still have
somebody to go in order to
make sure that we make up for
that part of general fund.
Here you see red that are
right on my farm your
division. Police and fire
making up roughly 89% of the
actual. So which is the but we
know that that can't be the
target of what we're trying to
accomplish we deal with
whatever second forward
everybody an assault or even
if it doesn't happen so we're
always trying to make that he
made today a lot of partners
should you're deciding how to
make sure that we could take
care and tackle this problem
together as a city and not
heisley anyone department or
division. It's a the existing
service level. Many 0.2
million dollars budget
proposal for 2.3 million
dozens were 2 million dollars
in our cip was an additional 4
to 46. $1000 totaling 9 e
953 million dollars. When you
get know what poll 2.3 million
you can see that 802 that was
through the fire department.
Then you do services at a
million dollars a few other
funds for efficient technology
city managers and small parks
and recreation. What this
right here about 2 dozen that
up 2.0 72 million dollars.
Here's where and how we got to
love 5% of the barn size. The
problem is it is will be I'm
in year's exercise a 10%. Even
though we MAY not take that 2%
we have to perform exercise by
by law and you have to publish
it what you do it you can't
just do it and keep it to
yourself so we are going to
see next how 10% of the budget
reduction impacts our.
Services the quality services
that we provide. It's
something like I said really
want to talk about take it out
exactly what the us to do as
far I want to use an dealers
and how we move forward, but
we we will those conversations
that I knew back recess from
recess in AUGUST and SEPTEMBER
we should have more
information to share with you
just a pathway forward.
Commissioner, a federal region
earlier not waiting too. Get
out in front of the things
that's something that we talk
about what do. Earlier as
well. So next steps is of
course the certifications of
taxable due to county
appraiser AUGUST 17 the
mileage. The estimated
building of the chain noses
will happen. SEPTEMBER to be
your first public. Budget
hearing meeting attended doing
that with rate will be and I
don't is going for to be a
second public to adopt the
budget in rates. That is all
we have the question to the
board we have. Get into have
anything. And the budget. Have
any public not. And all of
emotion.
I guess so make it.
>> moved to direct city
manager to submit the 2026
certificated certificate, a
taxable value would pose
millet rate of 3.7 6, 6, 7,
>> have a motion on the floor
made commissioner stow's city
manager to submit the 2026
certificate of taxable value
with the proposed millage rate
3.7 6, 6, 7, made by
commissioner stella seconded
by vice mayor.
>> there's nothing to that
please bow. Passes 5, 0, and
you know the motion.
>> for the dates you.
>> I mean know I move to
approve the days of SEPTEMBER
10th 2026 at 5 oh 01:00pm and
SEPTEMBER 24th 2026 at 5 oh
01:00pm for the budget
hearings.
>> motion on the floor made
vice mayor to approve the
dates of SEPTEMBER 10th 2026 5
oh 01:00pm SEPTEMBER 24th 2026
at 5 oh 01:00pm for the budget
hearings made vice mayor and
seconded by commissioner
nothing to that please vote.
Not pass is 5 to 0 moving on
to item 26 dash. 0, 4, sitting
does your
>> is that JULY 21st meeting
commission took action
>> directed the city manager
schedule a special meeting for
data center moratorium in the
month of AUGUST in clearing
the commissioners I could not
find a date that all
commissioners could be present
in the month of AUGUST so I
have provided states that the
majority of the commission can
be present for you all
determine what date would work
best for you or if we should
push until the SEPTEMBER
meetings.
>> and just a reminder. We're
just discussing that days
before the meeting in this
conversation we are not
discussing any of the unders
just to set up this meeting so
commissioner steps. Question
for seeing that today. Is
there any impact on. Strength
of any legal arguments. We
schedule this like. It's a
parolee and this week and for
first week of SEPTEMBER there.
I mean just that period of
time. Any on how the court may
look this.
>> I don't think it's going to
have much of a difference
either way. Commissioner spoke
up. Admire.
>> I'm just and and looking my
calendar we wanted to try to
adhere to the letter of the
law. Monday is AUGUST 31st and
we are all back in we could
schedule with and still be in
otherwise my only concern
would be for city with with
never done anything like this
we do have some good examples
without AUGUST 31st, give you
enough time to do a good job
on ordinance.
>> that's the first.
>> but that we're looking at
SEPTEMBER alternative what's
the difference in the week.
Think that would be much you
so that that's anybody else.
We have the public
>> it is extremely important
that any meeting the schedule
thus far in advance as
possible. So that public
comment can the most simple
public comment can be the most
important at this time, none
of the request dealing with
the disasters have been
responded to by the city. Rob
thomas sent good evening
commissioners with the
citizens citizens of north
port would like to first the
first reading of the or more
06:00pm meeting in order to
allow for full participation
of the citizens, this is too
much of an important topic to
have it held at 10:00am when
the majority of our citizens,
our work. Please consider this
a sense first in your
decision. Carmen miranda.
Commissioner posted about this
is the exact same public
comment that we received for
the last one do you want me to
read into the record again I
just.
>> for legality purposes I
suspect for both commissioner
about the data center and the
and the fact that he feels he
can talk about it because he
didn't sign it.
>> I have everybody to
understand how decisions are
made in that parks non-exempt
information. Think an
important point is that real
up the question is whether
discussing information
connected to an act of
economic development prospect
before the statutory process
runs its course serves the
public interest. Florida
statute 2 88.0 7, 5, protects
more than trade secret to
protect company's plans
intentions, an interest
locating or expanding in
florida because the legislator
legislature recognized that
premature disclosure
jeopardize projects in place
communities at a competitive
disadvantage.
>> company evaluating front
center MAY have a legitimate
expectation that its interest
in the city remains
confidential during the
recruitment face temporary
mentioning confidentiality
does not eliminate. The
public's right to if the
latest closure until the
process reaches the stage for
the information can be
released without harming the
company's interest for the
community's ability to compete
for economic opportunities.
residents deserve
transparency. Deserve city
that can successfully compete
for jobs and investment.
Vessels are not mutually
exclusive, but they do require
careful judgment about timing
if staff and so those are
honoring about confidentiality
request, they MAY have limited
ability to disclose
information to the statutory
confidentiality period expires
where the company authorizes
release the issue is not
whether information should
become public. The issue is
whether it should be become
public before the legal
process and economic
development process have been
completed and the broader
responsibility elected
officials have been dealing
with active prospects models
all there.
>> all right, I'm going
request a motion mayor if I is
a scheduled for 10:00am
meeting. Which is a problem I
think I don't any problem with
public comment to set that
should be an evening meeting
so.
>> you know I don't know how
we handle if we. You to push
it out for SEPTEMBER but
unless we can switch time of
that meeting from 10 flooded
before. Well one.
>> one local city clerk, you
know when the next meeting
would be the 6 o'clock that's
quite a ways down the road.
>> ok back to city attorney
delay in that would that have
any effects to what we're
trying to do legally I know
would like to do it as soon as
possible what that was today
and it was 22nd, I believe she
predator.
>> tell you I think now the
report about you MAY start
running into some problems
there.
>> we also MAY be suggestions.
We have the day meeting just
schedule, a special meeting at
city managers are paid for
06:00pm just for that one
item.
>> and we can do
>> we will
>> got put down or city
manager we couldn't be here
today on the 22nd because we
have a court about vision
hearing that's the. Creep into
that very quickly 22nd that
we're you being the day
because to do the opposite
correct.
>> now we're talking about not
waiting until the end of
SEPTEMBER having it on the
case. Having a special meeting
at 6 o'clock you can so what I
do have a scheduled for right
now right sitting blocking
they're saying they keep a
10:00am meeting on SEPTEMBER 8
regular special meeting at
06:00pm for just the one item.
>> first reading of the
ordinance. And keep the 22nd
where is according to I mean
we've changed to more city
clerk to where.
>> we've done our best to do
it a day and night meeting but
we have. Donald meetings to
where it's both daytime and
both nighttime so why would
this differ in that category
we could still the 6 o'clock
at night and then the 6
o'clock in the 20 seconds
still yes, get it done nothing
to say.
>> I don't want to vote you
the practice I want the past
before for. Citizen
consumption we just both not
that that's even better for
the citizens.
>> it's just one of during the
day which is why you have to
practice understand that sir.
I just want
>> I
>> the times and do the
meeting on 8th. At 6 and do
the meeting on the 20 whatever
it is at 10 and you what the
times you know there you can
even be here for that we can
do so we won't have the
official poor you that would
be or simply schedules second
reading during a special
meeting as well to both in a
special meeting and not have
to spring all I mean the years
while there I questions of
city attorney because I want
to make sure that there
wouldn't be any legal
prejudice in terms of the port
of but there's also.
>> the fact that we want this
before us we don't want this
can kick down the road for a
month 2 months 3 months people
are concerned about this and
the sooner we address it the
sooner. In my personal opinion
we put a moratorium in place
you're all so if we could do
it tomorrow, I'd be happy to
do with them so if earliest is
the 8th of SEPTEMBER. So be
it. Let's do a special
meeting, let's just get it
done.
>> mayor if I MAY.
>> I'll call on
>> here you've got a city
preference.
>> I'm if you want I think the
vice used to second. We are
all second meeting morning 10
days before publication of the
final.
>> it you know be 9 days if
you how we just thought.
>> you know it's going to say
same attorney was that we do
it in the month of AUGUST so
plea let's let's stick to
motions.
>> and not going all the way
till SEPTEMBER. Maybe we can
do it earlier and one of us is
missing and the quarter was
there.
>> and unanimously
>> the motion so. Percy know
major changes on hand. As far
as actual ordinance to the I
see trying to get isn't
working.
>> I see trying to get there
but with that said you know,
everybody makes plans and
stuff like that so if I don't
think it's fair that we have a
meeting without full bore I
don't think it's for I mean we
have to make concessions to
where we can meet when
everybody comey I mean you
that stuff that you are going
on. Just met without you it
wouldn't be fair to you. So we
that's why we need discuss
haven't a speeding and in for
everybody, so commissioner
vice mayor yeah, I just think
that this topic is too
important to not have a full
board thank
>> person would work. As a
city attorney. Which first.
And this is that need correct
city manager here and that you
just for your consideration.
>> when when we thought was
going to go and I don't think
we can really change it too
much around anyway just based
on electability we workshop
for housing for this topic
SEPTEMBER the 3rd which was
going to be in advance of you
or your first meeting of the
day that meeting that will be
important to you as a workshop
in here you comment public
comment. And then represen to
talk about the power side of
the conversation. Peace
represent what we can talk
about the worst of the
conversation. Made it a dana
this within range from the
outside that window that will
recommend that if you want to
go see one go visit him before
that time. So you're going to
see yourself staff will do the
same and that way down first
time that you'll actually have
some more independent
observations and data in order
to help you mission begin the
topic of conversation. I don't
think even the choose to make
your fertile 31st is going to
impact that in a very negative
way just making sure that
you're aware of it and you
make your decision on your
day.
>> thank you yeah, but it MAY
impacted too with prosser was
the thinking about different
avenues and what what's being
projected to side rather have
more information prior to this
meeting less which is
appreciate that. I want a
motion. Believe in towards the
8 oh I think
>> I make a motion that we
schedule the first on the 31st
at 6 o'clock be a special
meeting. Second.
>> motion on the floor made by
commissioner stokes to have
the first AUGUST 31st at
06:00pm seconded commissioner
pedro. There's nothing to that
please
and passes 3 to myself
and vice mayor dissenting vice
and do yeah and just say if.
>> if we don't take advantage
of for more information and my
concern is we are running on
emotion and not on facts. So
I'm way more inclined to go
back to the asa and have an
opportunity to have a workshop
and I would very much like to
visit ahead for scale data
center and see it for myself
have not had that opportunity.
>> and I think it would be
good for all of us to have
that opportunity learn really
important that we make our
decisions based on facts.
>> there would be appropriate.
>> to comment on because
between first and second
reading plenty of time to do
that.
>> politician just commented
on same yeah and now get my
reasons why and then you can
comment on the ticket. If you
choose. No I was on the same
boat of this I wanted more
information prior to that and
one thing I was going to ask
city manager though
>> MAY need to wear prior to
the AUGUST 31st. If get some
not not scheduled workshop or
anything like that would I
would be.
>> available that have on one.
>> time with either some of
these vendors or just a brief
synopsis with the oil and
staff.
>> one-on-one prior to the
31st about any new. Stuff
that's coming out, you know
different types technology
that the reason and also with
the onsite visit was I going
to be plans AUGUST if we could
possibly go to the on site
plan.
>> was going to for you to
schedule so you can all go
most like to independently
owned and there. Leaders.
>> the.
>> the independent information
that will commit feel directly
of peace river we will not
have before they come to our
site we have to talk about
what we know as you requested
you the #
#
to help you in
any way we can I think rivers
and ability to present and
answer questions from you in
the community is going to be
extremely helpful in your
decision MAY.
>> yeah, I understand
commissioner stop saying
>> you know between first and
second reading this that other
but you know I'd like to have
information prior to the first
reading is just a front that's
my own personal. Yes, certain
point but. Anybody else got
anything to city attorney.
>> so have this second really
has a temper
>> it's not that's not 10 we
get to another special
meeting. After the 10 days is
a look at what the what the
statute requires is a second
10 days after publication.
Speight. So if we pass time.
>> we could publish it before
frustrating have time. Some of
the title doesn't change
>> changes in joe. If you're
reached. Make that we can
schedule
>> and that would be
throughout the day time
meeting specialist because
we're going to do the 31st at
do the daytime on okay look
for a motion for that.
Somebody make a motion.
>> you know make a motion on
the whole the entire just for
the ace of the game for the
secondary make a motion that
the second reading for on the
8. As part of the regular.
Ordinance procedure. Yeah.
>> okay got a motion on the
floor made by commissioner
stokes too confirmed the day
of the a's for the second
reading of the ordinance do I
have second second seconded
by commissioner ponchos
there's nothing to that lead
>> it's good solution by just
0. You know anything else.
City attorney city manager
city clerk. Everything good on
the yeah, I think alright is 5
old. I'm sure meeting.
>> at wheels greece things
that don't belong in the
system.
>> see a lot